Hi guys,

I'm sorry for taking this long to post another chapter. I've been quite busy, but I also had a bit of trouble getting this chapter right and honestly I'm still not completely sure! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter! I think there will be one more chapter after this one.

Matt spread a blanket out over Taylor, who had quietly taken up the space in the corner of the couch. He heard the kettle was done and pored Taylor a cup of camomile tea. He took off his tie and jacket and sat down next to her. She shifted so she was leaning into him now and let her head fall to his shoulder.

Matt and Taylor had found an easy intimacy in the last month or so that she had been living with him. Once she had gotten out of the hospital, she came with him. He had set her up in the guest room, helped her to paint it a minty green color and bought some stuff to make the room more personal to her.

Matt had asked Gabby and Shay to go shopping with Taylor, to get her some other clothes than the second hand ones from charity boxes. She also had taken one of his old CFD vests, which she basically wore non-stop. 'But it's so nice and warm' Taylor would whine mockingly, when he laughed at her again for wearing his clothes. The vest looked big and baggy on her, which was mostly nice on her arms, since her skin was still painful, because of the burns she sustained at the fire that burned down her whole life.

Otis had given her his old phone so she could keep in contact with Matt if needed, but also so they could text about Harry Potter, ending every textathon with "Mischief managed". Otis had also helped her to reinstall her Apple account and recovered some pictures that she had made with her phone. Shay and Gabby had given her some new jewelry and took her with them on girl time regularly. On the days that Matt was working, Taylor often came over and helped Connie with paperwork. Strangely Connie had taken a great liking to Taylor, which surprised everyone in the House. At those nights that Matt was working, Connie would drop her off at Hermann's place, where she would stay over for the night. She helped Cindy with the kids and around the house. Hermann told Casey that his son Lee Henry had taken a particular liking towards Taylor and would not shut up about her.

Everyone in firehouse 51 loved Taylor to bits and pieces and Taylor loved being there. For the first time in her life she felt like she was truly welcome somewhere.

On those days Matt would see a faint hint of a smile on Taylor's face. Matt had never seen her smile without a streak of sadness in her eyes. Even though any smile on her face was beautiful he hoped that he would see a genuine smile one day, as he imagined it would be like a ray of sunshine.

Today however was not one of those days. The trial against her mother had started today and Taylor was the crown witness in the murder case. She had been so nervous that morning, that she barely managed two bites of the toast Matt made for her.

Taylor had seen her mother being led in before the judge, heard that she was being charged with first degree murder. Taylor had been asked to take the stand today and was asked about her parents' relationship, about her relationship with them, about what happened that day.

The lawyer had torn into Taylor about letting her mother into her father's house. Her mother had just knocked on the door and Taylor had unknowingly opened the door. Her mother had stalked past her screeching she was going to kill her father for ruining her relationship with her daughter. The lawyer kept trying to lay the blame on Taylor, saying she wanted it to happen to her father, that she was even an accomplice to her mother's actions.

'I didn't expect my mom, I didn't expect her to… kill my dad and set fire to the house. I lost everything because of her, I never wanted any of this' she cried. Taylor had almost crumpled into a ball, afraid to look at anyone. She felt ashamed and guilty over something that wasn't her fault.

Matt's blood had boiled listening to that scumbag of a lawyer. How could they make her feel even more guilty? Severide, who had been with them, squeezed his hand in order to distract him from his anger. Severide tagged along because he had to testify himself, but also in support of his friend and Taylor. It was a difficult and confronting situation for Matt and he was grateful for Sev's presence. Both Matt and Taylor had received tons of supportive messages from their firehouse family, which was absolutely heartwarming.

Matt had testified himself, something he had done in other cases before. His seething anger towards the lawyer defending Taylor's mom didn't help. It took everything he had to not spit out his answer, or worse, pull the man over the bench and punch his nose until it broke.

Taylor's mom testified too. She said she did it because she wanted to see Taylor, wanted to be a family with her and Taylor's father denied her that. Taylor had sobbed on Matt's shoulder as her mother revealed more and more of what happened. She had planned it all even the fire. She admitted that she had wanted Taylor's father dead for a long time, no matter the consequence. She even admitted she had been high while going over to Taylor's house.

Now Taylor was on the couch with a tear-stained face, cradling the cup of tea in her scarred hands. Matt pulled her close and rubbed her arm. He placed a soft kiss on top of her head.

Casey couldn't help the memories of his mother's trial flashing through his mind. His mother had been brought in with handcuffs on her wrists. He and Christy sat side by side, Christy squeezed Matt's hand just before he had to take the stand. Nerves were rocking his body and he kept biting on the skin between his thumb and index finger. The scar still faintly visible on his hand.

He sat down on the bench, waiting for the prosecutor and the lawyer to ask their questions. He had been prepared for the prosecutor's questions and answered them without too much trouble, but then it was his mother's lawyer's turn to ask questions. Matt hadn't seen the questions about the house key coming. The lawyer had torn into him, suggesting that he wanted his mother to kill his father. He suggested that Matt had left the key out on purpose.

Matt hadn't, he had come to his mother's house after a fight with his father over a bad grade he had received on an English test. His father had yelled at him, told him he would never amount to anything. His father had shoved into the wall and would have punched him in the nose if he hadn't ducked out of the way. Matt had ran out of the house in tears, while his father was yelling after him. When he got to his mother's place, she was drunkenly climbing the stairs. Matt threw his keys on the counter and sprinted to his mother's side who was losing her footing on the stairs.

Matt had helped her up the stairs and put her to bed. After that he went to his room to start his homework, so he wouldn't get a B- next time, but at least an A-, that would usually satisfy his father. Christy left for college on the other side of the country a year ago and rarely ever came back. So Matt was left to deal with his parents on his own and he was failing spectacularly. Christy had been his father's favorite, he didn't even try to conceal that fact.

Later that night Matt heard his mother argue with someone on the phone, he assumed it was his father on the other end of the line. He heard the door slamming shut and the car starting. His mother probably went to get more booze, so Matt let her, he didn't want to fight her too.

'It was no reason to kill' Taylor said quietly. 'No, it wasn't' Matt sighed, being pulled from his thoughts. 'She could have just asked me to, I don't know, go drink coffee or something' Taylor sighed and went quiet again. 'Why did your mom do it?' Taylor asked after a short while. 'I only found out a year ago, never told anyone... ehm she killed my dad, because he said something nasty about me' Matt admitted. 'Was it a good enough reason?' Taylor asked. 'No, but what is?' Matt countered. Taylor shrugged not knowing the answer.

'What did he say, if I may ask' Taylor asked, making sure he only told her if he wanted to. 'He... eh he said he wished they had stopped having kids after my sister, he wished that I never had been born' Matt swallowed around the lump in his throat. 'He told me that himself, though. I think he just never said when my mother could hear it' Matt admitted.

Taylor gave him a sympathetic look. 'Well... I'm sorry he said that' she started as she cuddled closer to him 'but I, for one, am really happy you were born, so is everyone in the firehouse, the people you saved or going to save. They are all very happy that you are here, Matt' she said a she snuggled even closer to him.