63

Like they had too many days lately, they found themselves sitting inside the same courtroom as usual. Once again, she found herself sitting in the between Edward and Rosie, both of whom were holding her hands, always trying to keep her from falling apart. They told her how strong she was, how brave she was, how she fought. And maybe she had, but she was still scared that Sam Uley would talk his way out of everything, free himself, and come after her again. And he would. If the men and women of the jury believed him, he would come after her. He wouldn't let her live after calling him a rapist and a monster.

Edward lifted their joined hands up to his lips, pressing a kiss against her knuckles. She smiled, looking up at him. He had been by her side all night, holding her, replaying each and every home movie of her mom and dad, her and Rosie. He had given her parents back to her, memories that had long been forgotten, the love they had for her.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too," she echoed back, leaning her head against his shoulder. "He can't hurt me again."

"That's right," Edward said. "Never again."

"I hope you're right."

Everyone had been reassuring her that Sam Uley wouldn't be let go, that there was no way the jury would find him not guilty. She desperately wanted to believe them, but how could she? Sam Uley had broken her spirit too many times to count over the eight years. He made her believe that she was a nothing, a nobody, that she had hurt Vanessa.

The door to the back corner of the room opened, like it had every day for the last two weeks, and two guards dragged Sam Uley into the courtroom. Like he had since day two of the trial, he was covered in bruises, his eyes black and swollen, his nose still broken, his lips busted, and he was limping from one side to the other, his face crinkled in pain with each step he took. And as he had done since day one, he turned and looked right at her, his lips pressing into a thin line. Only, this time she didn't turn away from him. She refused to look away, refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing that she was terrified of him. She had to be brave, strong, and fearless. She had to fight him, keep fighting him.

Eleazar cleared his throat, wrapping his fingers around his arm, pulling his attention away from her. Sam yanked his arm out of Eleazar's grip, but sat down with a noticeable wince. Kate shifted her eyes back to her, throwing her a wink before the door opened once more and Judge Dwyer walked into the room, settled behind his bench, and banged his gavel, calling court to order.

He paused and looked around the room, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before he cleared his throat, and said, "Ms. Denali, is the State ready for closing arguments?"

"Yes, your honor, we are," Kate replied, standing up.

"Please continue."

Kate placed her hands on her stomach before she walked around her table and stood just a few feet away from the men and women sitting on the other side of the half-wall, looking at her with anticipation. It was odd, she thought, how her fate laid in the hands of men and women who didn't know her, not the real her.

"Ladies and gentleman of the jury, over the last fourteen days, you've heard it all. Every bit of pain and humiliation that Samuel Uley put Bella Swan though for eight years. She was a little girl with a mom and dad who loved her so much they died fighting to keep her safe. Samuel Uley killed them because they knew it was inappropriate for a man — not a boy — but a man at the age of eighteen years old to play with an eight year old little girl, because they saw the way that eighteen year old man looked at that little eight year old girl. They died fighting to save her from what they knew was going to be years of pain and torture." Kate shook her head. "Unfortunately, though they fought with their very last breaths, they were unable to stop Samuel Uley from taking their little girl. Bella spent a year locked inside a box that was barely the size of one of our tables," she said, gesturing to her table before walking over and placing her hands on top. "Eight years old and stripped naked, raped, and shoved into a box every single day."

Kate turned back to the jurors. "He beat her down until she truly believed that she didn't have a name. She watched him beat another little girl to death because she tried desperately to get someone to help them, to save them. She sat helplessly while another little girl fought for their survival, and when that little girl lost that fight, he beat her until she stopped fighting, and then he threw her in the river, leaving her alone and dead, and it took seven years, six months, and twenty-two days before we knew her name was Gianna Abigail Romans. She was a daughter, a friend, a sister. She was somebody important, loved, wanted, and Sam Uley killed her."

Kate paused, bringing her fingers up to her mouth for a moment before she said, "The defendant wants you to believe that he's innocent, that he simply loved the wrong girl. But that right there is the problem. Bella Swan was a little girl. Eight years old. Gianna Romans was a little girl. Seven years old. Samuel Uley is a predator, a child-rapist. He kept Bella Swan locked away in buildings, rooms filled with filth and darkness. He raped her every day. He got her pregnant at the age of thirteen years old. She gave birth alone. She was a little girl, scared and lost. She didn't know what was happening to her body, she didn't have anyone to hold her hand and tell her it was going to be okay. She gave birth to a beautiful, healthy little girl all by herself. And what did the defendant do when he arrived back to his hideout seven days later? He took her baby from her. He took that sweet little girl away and left Bella lost and alone. Samuel Uley said the first time he raped her was after their wedding, but how could that be true when she gave birth to a little girl a full year before he took her into the mountains and let men rape her?

"Bella Swan suffered through Hell every day for eight years, four month, and two days, until she found the strength to help herself by jumping in front of the car of a complete stranger. And when Samuel Uley found out that she had left, that she had defied him, he went after her uncle, tried to beat her location out of him. And just like Charlie and Renee, James Swan fought for his niece, fought to keep her out of the hands of the man who had been tormenting her for eight long, miserable years.

"Ladies, Gentleman, do not let Samuel Uley deceive what you know to be true. Do not let him get away with killing Charlie and Renee Swan, and Gianna Romans. Do not let him get away with raping Bella Swan, with kidnapping her, with beating her until she believed she wasn't worth fighting for. Samuel Uley is guilty of murder, attempted murder, rape, child-endangerment, kidnapping, assault, and it's time he is held accountable for his despicable actions against a helpless little girl and her family." Kate looked each and every member of the jury in the eye before she said, "Thank you."

As she turned and walked back to her table, Kate locked eyes with her, giving her a reassuring smile. Kate settled back in her chair and Judge Dwyer turned his attention to Eleazar and Sam Uley.

"Mr. Santiago, is the defense ready to proceed?"

Eleazar stood, his eyes shifting from the judge down to his client and back up to Judge Dwyer before he said, "We will not be presenting a closing statement, your honor."

Kate glanced at him before looking back at her.

"Okay," Judge Dwyer said, the tone of his voice clearly as shocked and surprised at they all were. He turned toward the jury. "Ladies, Gentlemen, you must analyze all of the evidence presented to you, the testimonies, and the facts of this case pertaining to the law. You must be unanimous beyond a reasonable doubt. Do you understand what I am saying?"

Each and every member of the jury nodded.

"Thank you. You are excused to begin your deliberations."

The men and women of the jury stood and exited through the backdoor of the courtroom, and she wondered how long it would take them to reach a verdict. Either they would see through Sam Uley's lies, or they'd let him go.

—SfH—

She found herself seated in the closet again, unable to handle waiting in the living room with everyone. Of course as he always was, Edward was at her side, holding her together. The judge had dismissed court and Kate said they would call her as soon as the jury came back with a verdict, but said it could be a few days. She was tired of being inside that courtroom, looking at that monster. She wanted to move on with her life. She was tired of being the nothing, the nobody who was locked in a box.

She heard the door to the bedroom open and when she looked at the door of the closet, she bit the inside of her lip when she saw Angela standing there. She glanced up at Edward before saying, "Hey."

"Hey," Angela said, smiling. "May I join you?"

"Sure," she murmured, tightening her arms around her knees as Angela settled on the floor, staying close to the door. "I didn't know you were coming over."

She laughed. "It was kind of a last minute decision. Ben and I were at the house, and we were feeling restless. Vanessa was playing with Blue, and I thought, maybe, you might want to see her."

"She's here?" She asked, her eyes widening and felt Edward tighten his arm around her.

Angela nodded. "She's downstairs with everyone. My Dad came, too, so I thought I should talk to you first, prepare you."

"Oh." She bit the inside of her lip. "Is he a good Dad?"

Again, she nodded. "My mom died when I was a little girl. She had breast cancer. She fought really hard, Bella, but it was really hard on her. Um, anyway, my dad had to raise me on his own, and he never . . . he never made it seem like I was a burden, you know?"

"And he loves Vanessa, right?"

Angela laughed. "He adores Vanessa, Bella. Spoils her rotten, but that's what granddads are for, right?" She reached for her hand, which she gave. "He's been worried about you."

"He has?"

"Yeah," she murmured. "Every day he asks about how court went, if you were holding up okay. He . . . I think he knows that you're important to me and Ben, to Vanessa. He wants to be supportive."

"I'm important to you and Ben?"

"Of course you are!" Angela insisted, squeezing her hand. "Bella, you're Vanessa's mother, but even if you weren't, we would still love you. And you know why?"

She shook her head, sending tears down her face and feeling Edward press his lips against the top of her head, which only caused Angela to smile wider.

"Because you're a fighter, because you never gave up, you never let him win, and I respect the hell out of you, Bella, because I don't know if I could have survived what you did. Vanessa is so lucky to have you as her mom, and Ben and I are so thankful that you're letting us help raise her."

"I just want her to have . . . have the life that was stolen from me," she whimpered.

"Sweetheart," Edward whispered.

"I . . . I want her to be loved and taken care of, and I can't . . . I can't give her the life you and Ben can." She blew out an emotional breath. "I love her too much to take her away from you. I just . . . I'm not able to be her mom, not the mom deserves at least."

"Like I said: stronger than anyone I've ever met, Bella." Angela squeezed her hand again. "Now, are you ready to go down and see her?"

She nodded and hurried to her feet, causing Edward and Angela to laugh. When they got downstairs, she saw Marcus standing next to a tall, extremely thin man with the same dark hair and eyes that Angela had. Even though Marcus was talking to him, his attention was on Vanessa, who was sitting on the floor in front of Esme and Beth.

Vanessa spotted them first. She smiled and scrambled to her feet, rushing over, squealing, "Bewa!" before throwing herself around Bella's legs.

She threw a glance toward Angela, who tilted her head encouragingly, and reached down, picking Vanessa up. Vanessa threw her arms around her neck, giving her the biggest hug she had ever gotten, and though she tried, she couldn't stop the tears from seeping from her eyes.

"Bewa, crying?" Vanessa asked.

"I'm okay," she whimpered, holding her with one arm and bringing her other hand up to her face. "I'm okay, sweetheart."

Vanessa giggled and wiggled out of her arms, hurrying over to Beth and picking up Blue. She held it out to Bella, who carefully took hold of it before sitting on the edge of the coffee table, just next to Esme, who was holding Beth on her lap.

"Baby!" Vanessa giggled and knelt in front of Beth, reaching for her tummy and giving her a tickle. Beth laughed, a full belly laugh, which had her smile. "Look, Bewa, a baby!"

"Her name is Beth," she murmured, running her fingers through Vanessa's hair. "Can you say Beth?"

"Bef," Vanessa said tickling her again.

"She likes you," Angela's father said, and when she looked over, she saw him walking over and squatting on the other side of Esme, Beth, and Vanessa. "I'm Felix, Bella, and I'm honored to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you, too," she whispered, thankful he didn't offer her his hand to shake. "You're Vanessa's grandfather?"

Felix grinned, his eyes shifting to the little dark-haired girl between them. "She calls me Pappy." He glanced back at her. "The first time I held her, after they brought her to the hospital, I couldn't get over how beautiful she was. And I see where she gets her smile and her eyes," he added, smiling. "I made a promise to always be there for her, to help Angie and Ben love her, take care of her, and I'm going to make you that same promise, Bella, okay?"

She nodded quickly, dislodging the tears that had built up in her eyes. "I . . . I love her, I do."

"Of course you do. You're her mother, too, just like Angie is." Felix placed his hand on the back of Vanessa's head, running his fingers through her hair. "You're important to my family, Bella, and that makes you important to me. I take care of those who are important to me, so if you need anything, and I do mean anything, you let me know, okay? Us Dad's like to take care of our daughters."

She inhaled a sharp, shaky breath, but before she could respond, the sound of a cell phone echoed throughout the room, causing everyone to turn toward Kate, whose eyes widened as she stood up and pulled her phone out of her pocket.

"This is Kate," she answered, her eyes shifting to her before she nodded. "Thanks."

She ended the call and said, "They've reached a verdict."

"Already?" Jasper asked, standing up and placing his hands on his hips. "It's only been like three hours, Kate?"

"I know, but they've reached a verdict. Judge Dwyer is reconvening court in an hour."

A heaviness settled over each of them, an awkward silence that she knew wouldn't leave until they found out how the jury voted. She brought her hand up to her chest, toying with the neckline of her shirt, trying to wrap her mind around what was about to happen.

"Well, a quick verdict is usually a good sign, right?" Garrett asked, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"Most of the time, but this case . . ." Kate shook her head, her eyes flickering over to her. "No matter what happens, honey, we're going to keep fighting him, okay?"

She nodded, though she knew better than anyone what would happen if Sam Uley was found not-guilty.

—SfH—

An hour later, they were seated inside the courtroom again. Edward and Rosie were on either side of her, with Carlisle and Esme next to Edward, Emmett, Jasper, and Alice on the other side of Rosie. In the row behind them, Garrett, Angela, Ben, Marcus, Maggie, Peter, and James were sitting with a tall, dark haired man that James had introduced to her and Rosie as Laurent. When she asked why he was there, James simply smiled and said, "Because I need him."

She was overwhelmed with all the people who had stood up for her, shown up for her. Felix had offered to stay at her pancake man's house with Vanessa and Beth, since it was too late for Esme to get a sitter and she insisted on being there to support her, she said.

In the back corner of the courtroom stood the two detectives who had testified about the night Sam Uley stole her away. Newton and Crowley, that's what Jasper had called them. Almost like they felt her watching them, they turned and looked at her, frowning before nodding and turning away. Next to them stood three men with long black hair and the same russet skin he had, though the way they looked at her was kind, compassionate. Next to them stood a woman with the same tan skin and long black hair, but her eyes were heavy, dark, filled with a sadness as she looked right at her. There was a familiarity to her, like they shared a secret. The woman simply smiled and turned away as she brought her hand up to her chest.

Sitting in the seats in front of them were the people who had run out of the courtroom the first day she testified. Jasper told her their names were Demetri and Heidi Romans, and they were the parents of Gianna Romans, the little girl she was with in the house by the river. She hadn't had the courage to speak to them yet. How was she supposed to look them in the eye and tell them how their daughter died trying to save them? How she just sat cowering in the corner while Sam Uley beat her to death? No, she wasn't ready to talk to them yet.

Sam Uley was already seated next to Eleazar, who looked stiff and uncomfortable next to him. He turned and looked back at her as the door to the room opened and the eight men and four women of the jury were lead back into the courtroom, taking their seats.

"I understand that you've reached a verdict," Judge Dwyer said, ending the deafening silence that had settled inside the courtroom.

The juror sitting in the first chair, a man, stood and turned toward Judge Dwyer. "Yes, we have, your honor."

"Please hand your verdict to the bailiff."

The bailiff crossed the courtroom, accepting the folded piece of paper from the man and carried it over to Judge Dwyer, who accepted it with a nod. He unfolded the paper, reading through it, before folding it back in half and handing it back to the bailiff, who then returned it to the juror.

"Will the defendant please stand?" Judge Dwyer asked, making it clear with his tone he wasn't asking, but telling Sam Uley to stand, which he did with a wince as he cradled his right arm against his torso. "On the first count of murder in the first degree, how does the jury find?"

"We, the jury, find Samuel Jared Uley guilty."

She felt the breath she'd been holding rush through her lips as her tears fell once more. Behind her, she felt several hands reach up, grabbing her shoulders, making sure she knew they were there, they had her back. Edward lifted her hand up to his lips, and when she looked up at him, he smiled, leaning his head down so that his forehead was pressed against hers.

"I love you," Edward whispered.

"I love you, too," she sobbed, unable to keep her tears from falling. "I love you so much, Edward."

Judge Dwyer's voice pulled their attention back him as he asked, "On the second count of murder in the first degree, how does the jury find?"

"We, the jury, find Samuel Jared Uley guilty."

"On the third count of murder in the first degree, how does the jury find?"

"We, the jury, find Samuel Jared Uley guilty."

"On the charge of attempted murder in the first degree, how does the jury find?"

"We, the jury, find Samuel Jared Uley guilty."

"On the count of sexual assault of a child, how does the jury find?"

"We, the jury, find Samuel Jared Uley guilty."

"On aggravated kidnapping, how does the jury find?"

"We, the jury, find Samuel Jared Uley guilty."

"On the aggravated assault, how does the jury find?"

"We, the jury, find Samuel Jared Uley guilty."

"On the count of child endangerment, how does the jury find?"

"We, the jury, find Samuel Jared Uley guilty."

She glanced over at Sam Uley, who stood next to Eleazar, a shocked, surprised look on his face. Almost like he could feel her eyes on him, he turned and looked back at her, his face hardening, but he couldn't hurt her again. Never again.

"Ladies, Gentlemen of the jury, the court thanks you for your service. You are dismissed."

The eight men and four women filed out of the courtroom, letting the door close behind them with a loud thud. Judge Dwyer shifted his attention back to Sam Uley.

"Guards, please escort Mr. Uley out of the courtroom. We will reconvene next week to begin the sentencing phase. Mr. Santiago, Ms. Denali," he added, his eyes shifting to her for just a moment. "Court is dismissed."

Picking up the gavel, he banged it one last time as the two guards grabbed Sam Uley by the arms and dragged him back out of the courtroom. Loud sobs echoed throughout the courtroom, and it wasn't until Edward wrapped his arm around her, pulling her against him that she realized how hard she had been crying. She was finally free of Sam Uley.

Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews! I know a lot of people think I should have just had Sam killed in prison, and trust me I wanted to! Lots of ideas ;) But I didn't because Bella needed to stand up to him, to fight back, and she needed to sit there and hear the eight men and four women of the jury find him guilty. She needed to know that people who weren't invested in her like everyone else is would hear the facts and find him guilty. We have one regular chapter, one-three epilogue (haven't decided yet), and several outtakes left.