October 26

Courtroom Hallway

11:55 AM

Niamh Wood

Walking around the courthouse was, at best, a difficult experience. It felt like my insides had been hollowed out just for me to be left alone on the street to deal with that however I could. To say I was in a bad place emotionally and mentally was a grave understatement, but I didn't bother to say anything about it. Everyone else already knew. Given the circumstances, how could they not know? I had been living with assassins for the last few days because it was the only way for me to stay alive, and now, I just had to go back to my regular life as if nothing happened despite knowing the leader of the Emsthorpe ring was still after me. I didn't know if I was ever going to be able to sleep again, and I certainly wouldn't know peace until after this was over and he had been stopped once and for all.

My extended family seemed more than happy to approach the subject with care though, and they didn't want to push me any harder than was absolutely necessary. That was massively appreciated, but I knew there was still a lot more to the situation no one wanted to bring up. Instead of talking about it, I just bit my tongue and followed them out into the hallway so we could have a little bit of privacy. After that, we made for an empty defendant's lobby, and I was happy to settle down on the couch. Even though I hadn't done much of anything these last few days, I was exhausted, and standing for long periods of time only seemed to drain me more.

"How are you feeling?" Aunt Melinda asked carefully. She sat down beside me and took one of my hands in her own. Normally, I was averse to being touched, but right now, I was glad to just know there was someone else there for me in the face of everything I had been through. That meant more to me than any pile of riches ever could, if I was being honest.

"I... If I'm being honest, awful," I confessed, quickly seeing there wasn't much of a reason for me to lie. They already knew just how bad I felt, and if I tried to hide it, that would probably just cause more issues for me. It was best to just get it over with. So I shook my head and leaned back against the wall. Touching the wall grounded me a lot more than I had expected it to, and everything seemed to calm down, at least a little bit.

"I can't say that surprises me," Aunt Melinda hummed to herself. "You've been through a lot."

"We wanted to pull you aside for a moment so we could tell you that no matter what you need, you can come to us," Uncle Conrad said. He hesitated before continuing, and I already knew the general idea of what he was going to tell me before he even opened his mouth. "And we would also like to share a few safety tips with you when it comes to dealing with the Emsthorpe family."

"Never go anywhere alone, and be careful of anything that seems suspicious at a first glance," I told them simply. I had been dealing with this for years without their help, and even though I had gotten used to dealing with it on my own, that didn't mean I liked it. In fact, I absolutely hated it. Everything felt terrible when I thought about it, and my stomach sank into my feet.

"You already understand the situation well, I see," Uncle Conrad said softly, and I could hear the frown in his voice. "I suppose you've already been dealing with this for quite some time before you met up with the rest of us for the first time... I'm sorry you've been put in this situation. You're far too young to deal with so much on. your own."

"Thanks," I murmured, not quite sure of how to respond to that. "Right now, I just wish everything could go back to normal... Augustus Emsthorpe hasn't done anything to target me in years, and I'm really hoping he goes back to not doing anything to make my life harder. I know that's probably a long shot, but... I don't know. I'm really desperate for him to just leave me alone for a while."

"Of course you want him to leave you alone," Harvey frowned. He had his arms crossed, but I could tell he wasn't glaring at me for the sake of upsetting me. He was trying to make sure I was alright in his own special way, though I still didn't entirely understand the ways in which he showed affection, if I was being honest. "He's dangerous."

"You can say that again," Neptune remarked as she walked into the room with Clarith and Buddy in tow. The three of them had stepped off to the side to talk to each other before coming inside, and the difference from then to now was like night and day. Buddy, who had previously been pacing constantly while staring at me, had calmed down to the point of being able to stand still. He was still anxious, and everyone could see it, but it was a step in the right direction.

"What are we going to do now?" Buddy questioned, turning his attention to my aunt and uncle. "Everything happening right now is dangerous. If you ask me, it would be a bad idea to leave her unattended for long periods of time. It might be a bad idea to leave her unattended at all."

"I have to wonder if perhaps it would be safer for you to come and stay with us until all of this blows over, but I don't want to take you away from your family when you need them the most," Uncle Conrad remarked. "I understand you want to be with the family you have chosen after all of this even though we're your blood family. It wouldn't be right for me to force you to leave them behind so you could come with us."

"I don't think I could even if I wanted to," I confessed. "Right now, I just want to go home and forget all of this ever happened. I know that's not going to be possible, but... I can't help it. That feels like the best option even though I know it's not going to happen."

"Maybe it won't happen, but you can at least come to us if you ever need the support," Everett pointed out. "We've been dealing with the Emsthorpe family for years too. Now that the head of the family has lost his children and won't be able to use them to carry out assassinations anymore, he's on his own for the most part. Hopefully, that will put us at an advantage when we decide to make his life hell."

"It all depends on what he chooses to do with it, I suppose," Neptune shrugged. "I have a bad feeling about this no matter what happens, but there's not much we can do about it right now. We deserve to take a break, and if you ever need one too, you can come by to visit."

"Thanks," I murmured. I took in a deep breath before letting out a heavy sigh. "I'll have to think about it. I might come by at some point soon, but for now, I just want to go home. I couldn't sleep all that well when I was with the assassins, and I need to catch up on all that rest I lost." I didn't say the next part out loud, but I was also hoping to go back home so I could help Nevada. She had been so quiet and nervous ever since the kidnapping took place, and I wished there was something I could do to pull her out of her shell. We were still working on settling our differences, but her suddenly going quiet worried me. She wasn't normally like this. I could only hope going home to see our parents would help her to feel better about everything.

"You should return to your family now," Aunt Melinda suggested. "I can tell you want to go back to them. We'll still be here whenever you need us. Take all the time you need, alright?"

"Thank you," I repeated as I pushed myself to my feet. Walking was still harder than it had any right to be on account of me feeling like I had been hollowed out and dumped on the side of the road, but it was something, I supposed. I took a careful breath as I started toward the door, though I paused halfway through to look back at my extended family before offering them a wave. "Thank you for all of this. I guess I'll see you again, huh?"

"And we'll welcome you when the time comes," Uncle Conrad smiled with a nod. He returned the favor of waving, and the others were quick to follow suit. I waved back before starting into the hallway and back in the direction of the others in my family.

In all honesty, I was exhausted after everything that had happened, and the idea of going home had never felt quite so sweet. I needed a chance to breathe after all that I had gone through, and I was more than happy to embrace that opportunity as soon as it came up. This wasn't going to be an easy thing to recover from, but I was determined to at least try and push through to recovery. I owed myself this, and I wasn't going to back down no matter how difficult things got.

I was going to be okay. One way or another, I would find a way to be okay.

October 26

Defendant's Lobby No. 6

12:15 PM

Pieter Fury

When Prosecutor Wood came back into the defendant's lobby, I let out a sigh as I looked to the rest of the group. "I guess we should get ready to go home, huh?" I murmured. I was desperate to leave this place behind and finally have a chance to rest after everything that had happened. My stomach had twisted itself firmly into a knot, and I knew the only thing that could relieve that was going back home.

"We can go back to the agency to celebrate everything that happened," Felicity suggested. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't think I'd be able to go back home to think about all of this even if I wanted to. That just sounds like it would be miserable, and I'd like to believe I know better than to just sit around thinking about how much everything sucks. I've done that more than enough."

"You can go on and do that then," Sora told us. "For now, I think Ghastly and I are going to take Niamh back home so we can help her to rest. A lot is going on, and we want to look after her as much as possible."

"You don't need to do that," Prosecutor Wood frowned, though I could tell she was too tired to protest much more than that. She knew she needed to rest, but she didn't want to inconvenience anyone either. However, her exhaustion trumped all of that, and she wasn't going to push it if others weren't going to.

"Nope. I've already made up my mind," Sora told her. She took her daughter's hand in her own before she glanced back to the rest of us. "We can talk more about this another time. Until then, I'm wishing you all nothing but the best. We've got a lot to take care of now that all of this is over."

"You can say that again," Chrysalis agreed. "We'll see you later. Stay safe out there."

Sora nodded with a wave before she started toward the door with Prosecutor Wood and Chief Prosecutor Bespoke hot on her heels. Once the two of them had rounded the corner, Victoria let out a heavy sigh. "I'm ready to go home whenever you guys are. I agree with Felicity that we've definitely earned a chance to breathe and have some fun after all that," she declared.

"I'm glad we all feel the same way," Cotoli said with a light smile. He was still completely exhausted from all he had done to look after Chrysalis, but he was at least starting to bounce back, and I was glad to see it. "Come on, everyone. We've more than earned this, and I'm not going to let his chance escape without a fight."

Nobody dared to object to that, and we all started toward the door of the defendant's lobby before making our way out of the courthouse as a whole. We were exhausted after everything that had happened, but the air was still filled with some degree of hope. This was the end of our first major battle against the Emsthorpe assassins, and we had actually won in some way. It wasn't a perfect victory nor was it a hard and fast one, but it was a step in the right direction, and I was willing to take that given what we had already endured.

All that remained now was for us to face Augustus Emsthorpe. I had no idea how that was going to end, but I didn't want to think about it at the moment either. We had more important things to do like taking this chance to breathe and rest before we were inevitably thrown into another conflict. I didn't think I had ever been this relieved for a case to be over, and I was going to enjoy it with everything I had.

We had earned this, and I would never be able to forget that.

October 26

Bespoke-Lin Residence

2:35 PM

Niamh Wood

When we got back home, Mom decided to make us a delicious meal to help ease the transition back into regular life. Considering the fact that I hadn't eaten much of anything due to anxiety these last few days, I was beyond thankful for the chance to enjoy some of her homemade cooking. Dad was doing his part to help out as well, though both of them insisted on me just resting on the couch after everything I had gone through. I wanted to object to them treating me like I was a fragile china doll, but I knew it wasn't going to have much of a point. After all, I really felt that fragile when all was said and done, and I didn't have the energy to push back against them. Too much was going on, and I knew it.

I remained quiet as I stared at the floor throughout the process of them making dinner. It was strange when I thought about it, but I really thought of them as my parents now. It had taken a long time for me to reach this point because I was afraid of overstepping any boundaries, but now... I knew there were more important things than me holding back because I felt bad for associating with them. I had almost died a few days ago, and if I had passed on... I never would have been able to tell them just how much they meant to me. I wasn't going to just hold back on telling them how I felt when I had come to understand the danger of my life so well a few days prior. I owed it to them to be honest, and I was going to keep that dream alive no matter what.

When Mom was finished with dinner, she sat down beside me and extended a plate in my direction. "I hope you like it," she smiled to me. I gladly accepted the plate as she continued. "I wanted to make all your favorites. You look like you could use the extra boost in energy after everything that happened these last few days."

"Thank you," I murmured, hating just how soft my voice came out. I didn't want to feel weak or fragile, but at this point, it was just about all I knew how to do. This case had torn out my heart, stomped on it, and then forced me to go back to my regular life. Even though there was bound to be more to life than just shuffling through the rest of my days feeling miserable about the fact that Augustus Emsthorpe wanted me dead, that was all I could think about. How was I supposed to focus on something else when his obsession with me had almost resulted in my death? If Emmeline, Balthazar, and Belladonna hadn't decided to stab him in the back, I would have died when he ordered them to come after me. It was horrifying to think that I could have died without ever being given the chance to make my peace with the rest of the world. I didn't want to die, and I couldn't stop thinking about how scary it would have been if I had.

Dad sat down on my other side, and he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. I gladly leaned up against his side, and Mom took that as her cue to lean in a little bit closer. I had always been picky about who I allowed to touch me, but these two were among those allowed. They had done so much for me over the years, and I was beyond glad to have them in my life. I loved them more than words could ever hope to describe. They were my family. Even though we weren't related by blood, they were a piece of me most others could never hope to match up to or comprehend. They were still there for me when I was recovering from everything that had happened throughout this case, and I was beyond grateful for it. This was perfect, and I would never be able to forget it.

Mom watched me take my first few bites quietly, and she smiled gently when she realized I seemed to like it. She was a good actress, but I could tell she was still holding back her anxiety about everything that had happened. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she was afraid of the way everything had ended, and she was worried about me above all else. "How are you feeling?" Mom asked after a few seconds of silence.

I hesitated before shrugging. "I'm not entirely sure," I confessed. "There's a lot going through my head right now. I didn't think it would ever come to this, and now that it has... I don't really know what to do," I murmured. "I want to try and go back to normal after all of that, but at the same time, I don't know if that's even going to be possible. There's someone out there who wants to kill me, and no matter how much I try to avoid it, I... I'm afraid. I don't know how I couldn't be afraid given everything that happened. I'm scared, and I don't know how I can just step back into my regular life after all of that."

"You don't need to feel bad for that," Mom assured me, and she began to run her fingers gently through my hair. I practically melted at her touch, beyond glad to have that extra bit of proof that she was there for me. "You can take all the time you need before you come back to work. I'm sure everyone would understand. We certainly do. If anyone wants to throw a fit about it, then they can go through us. We're not going to let them get away with hurting you. I promise."

"Thank you," I murmured, and I felt the tears starting to form before I had the chance to stop them. I set my plate down, and Dad took it away from me just in time for me to start rubbing at my eyes. "I... I'm afraid. I don't know what I'm going to do about all of this, but I'm scared of what it could mean."

"You've faced a lot of uncertainty these last few days. No one is going to blame you if you need a bit of time to grapple with all of that," Mom reminded me. "And we're going to be there for you no matter what you end up needing. That's what family is for, and we're your family to the bitter end. No matter how afraid you get or how much happens, you'll never be alone as long as we're here. I promise."

That was all it took for the dam to swing wide open, and my tears came gushing out like rivers. I let out a few strangled sobs before my parents wrapped their arms around me. I hadn't felt this good since before this entire nightmare began, and it meant everything to me to be able to just sit there and feel safe for once. I had gotten used to not knowing what it was like to feel protected years ago, but... This was what I had needed all along. I needed support from the start, and now that I had it, I felt good. It wasn't a perfect solution to everything that was happening in my life, but it was a step in the right direction, and after everything I had dealt with up to this point, I was willing to consider that a victory.

"Thank you," I whispered, and I knew deep inside that the words were coming from not only me, but Nevada as well. She was still uncertain about stepping out into the world again after everything that had happened, and I couldn't blame her at all, but she wanted our parents to know she cared. She loved them more than anything, and in all honesty, her being so open with accepting them helped me realize how much I love them too. Nevada and I, for all our differences, had come to need each other in more ways than we anticipated originally, and we just wanted the best for each other.

At least we wouldn't be alone in dealing with all of this. We had each other, and we had our family too.

"What do you want to do tonight?" Dad asked gently as he grabbed a tissue box from the nearby table and passed it over to me. I gladly took a tissue and began to wipe at my face as Mom rubbed circles across my back. It was a small gesture, but it had always calmed me down when I started to get stressed.

"I... I just want to stay here with the two of you," I told him softly. My impromptu trip away had told me just how much I needed them in my life, and I intended to enjoy tonight as much as possible as not only a step back into my regular life, but as a chance to breathe easily and happily after everything I had suffered through. It wouldn't fix everything I had gone through, but it would be a start, and I would take it.

"We can do that," Mom smiled. "No matter what you need, we'll be here for you. That applies to right now, tomorrow, and every day after that. If anyone at the office tries to give you trouble for it, all you need to do is come to us, and we'll happily get involved. They don't know what they're getting into by crossing us, I'm sure."

I couldn't help but laugh at that, and I rubbed at my eyes once again. They had always been so protective of me, and... It was nice. I had been forced to look after myself for most of my life between living at Ashbrooke without knowing my parents and then being taken in by a foster family that didn't care much for me at all. Having other people to protect me was such an incredible breath of fresh air, and even if I had been living with them for a while, it never got old.

"I love you," I murmured before I could stop myself. Part of me was embarrassed to be admitting something so vulnerable out loud, but I decided to not take it back once the words were out there. After all, it was the truth, and I... I did love them. They had done so much for me, and I would never be able to forget any of it. They had gone out of their way so many times to ensure I was safe and cared for, and that was more precious than anything I could hope to express.

"We love you too," Dad returned, and Mom nodded. They both wrapped their arms around me gently, offering room in case I decided I wanted to leave, but I didn't take them up on it. Instead, I just held them close in return and let my eyes slip shut. I was exhausted and had no idea where I was going to be taking my future after all of this, but that was okay with me. I was still safe and alive, and I had my family there by my side to take care of me. That was what mattered most, and I loved it more than words could possibly say.

The case had finally ended, and even though it wasn't a conclusive ending to the Emsthorpe family's story, it was at least a chapter that brought us closer to the day all of this finally stopped. I had no idea what was waiting for us in the future, but I would get there one day. Until then, I was just happy to be alive and loved above all else.

October 26

Morix Law Offices

4:15 PM

Chrysalis Starr

When we all got back to the agency, the first thing we did was practically collapse on the different couches to rest for a few minutes. It was hard to want to celebrate when you were exhausted from perhaps the biggest case you had ever taken on. I had been working as a legal assistant for years by now, and I would still agree that this was in the top three biggest cases we had ever been involved with assuming it didn't take the top spot. It wasn't every day you were caught up in the internal politics of the Emsthorpe family to the point of seeing it fall apart right before your eyes.

It wasn't every day you were named as the reason for the family members stabbing one another in the back either.

I had been doing my best to not focus too much on the details of the case for the sake of my own sanity, but I had long since decided it wasn't going to be quite so simple for me to let it go. I would need to grapple with all of this eventually because of the fact that it had caught me so off guard, and even if I wasn't looking forward to it, I would get there with time. Until then, I just needed to be patient.

I glanced around the room at everyone else. Since our arrival back, we had started to celebrate with a few snacks and drinks, though most of it was just soda in martini glasses for the sake of feeling fancier than we felt like being after that train wreck of a court case. It was nice to see everyone smiling at least even if their exhaustion was clear as could be. We were free of this case at last, and it was sweeter than any of us could have ever imagined.

My gaze drifted over to Pieter, and I watched him with a small smile. It was nice to have him back after all this time. It may have taken a while for all of us to fall back into our old routine with him, but that was okay. We were finally safe together, and we were able to look to the future despite everything we had been through. It was a sweet way of looking to the road ahead, and it meant everything to me. At long last, we were together.

I had no idea where this road was going to take us in the future, but I was confident it would be dangerous. Of course it would be. We were going up against the Emsthorpe assassins, and even though the father of the family was the only one left, that was still risky. For a few moments though, everyone was allowing themselves to forget about the risk for the sake of celebrating. It would be a while before we had to return to the courtroom, and we intended to enjoy every moment of peace we had been given.

I smiled and allowed my eyes to slip shut. There was still so much we didn't understand when it came to the world around us, but that was fine. We would find the truth with time. Until then, we deserved to rest. There was a lot waiting for us in the future, but we would get there when the time was right. I wanted to take a few moments to breathe easily and just relish in the fact that we had survived all of that, and despite my better judgement, that was just what I was going to do.

We were all alive, and that meant more to me than any amount of gold or precious jewels ever could. We had survived, and we would continue to fight. That was what it meant to be a member of our team, and we would never forget it.

At long last, we had been mostly freed from the chains of justice past, and even if there was more truth to find, we would get there in time. After all, there was still a world of justice to be found in the future, and we would embrace it when the moment finally arrived.

TURNABOUT JUDGEMENT

END

only one week remains

-Digital