The next day was Saturday. Adrian and the girls went to visit Trudy for the whole day. Before they went though, Adrian got a visit from Judge Joseph Rusell.

"Here's the deal," Joseph told his friend, "I am convinced of Trudy's innocence. My concern is if I set her free the girls would be in danger."

Adrian nodded. He understood how true that was.

"When is Faith's surgery," Joseph asked.

"It's scheduled for the 30th," Adrian said.

"I'll release her on the 29th," Joseph said, "But you're going to have to have protective detail until Rickover is caught. I will arrange it. I will pay for it."

Adrian hugged his friend. Joseph smiled and left.

The girls came into the family room. They were all clamoring to go visit their mother. Bella took Faith's hand and led her out to the car. She helped her to get into her seat and buckled her in. Adrian made the short drive out to the prison. The girls all raced to see their mother.

Marsha and Dwight were already there. Adrian hugged Trudy, Masha and Dwight.

"Everyone sit down," he announced.

Trudy, the girls, Marsha and Dwight sat down.

"I have great news," he said, "I just talked to my friend Joseph."

"You mean judge Rusell daddy?" Faith asked.

"Yes sweetheart," Adrian said, "Mommy's coming home the day after tomorrow. Things are going to be different for a little while though, until the bad man is put away."

Those two days passed very quickly.

Trudy took advantage of her freedom and celebrated with the girls at their favorite restaurant and then she and Adrian spent the evening together after the children were asleep.

They went to bed early because they needed to be at the hospital early.

Faith found it hard. She was tired and thirsty and hungry. They explained to her that she couldn't have anything to eat or drink before her surgery but that she would go to sleep quite soon. She felt a bit tired and sore but gradually she'd feel better and they would get her whatever she liked. "It's nice to think about that part." She decided

Dwight and Marsha came over to stay with the other girls and bring them to school.

Hope didn't want to go. She wanted to stay with Faith.

"I can't go to school. I'll only think about Faith."

Marsha sat down beside her. "Faith loves you very much. She would want you to have a good day with your teachers and friends. Mom and Dad are with Faith and they won't leave her."

Marsha also promised that she would meet them after school and let them know how Faith was.

The girls saw the show Fiddler on the Roof. They all loved it. Hope was busy thinking about her little sister. Dwight and Marsha picked them up at the school.

"How is she," Hope said as she got in the car, "Can she see again?"

"The doctor is going to take off the bandages when you girls come into the room," Marsha said, "She wanted her family to be the first she sees."

As soon as they got to the hospital the girls clammered into the room. Hope held Faith's hand. Bella held her other hand.

"Okay sweetheart," Adrian said, "The doctor's going to take off the bandage now."

"Is that gonna hurt?" Faith asked.

"Not at all," Dr. Gold promised.

She held her breath while the doctor took off the bandages. It was blurry but she could see Hope, the rest of her sisters and her parents as well as Dwight and Marsha.

"Its bright."

They all smiled at her. Faith could see. She had a long way to go but it was something.

Faith was allowed to have something to eat. She asked if her sisters could have ice cream too.

Adrian and Trudy took the other girls home after that. They explained that Faith needed to rest. And she would be home very soon.

Faith spent a week in hospital before being released.

The nurse who'd looked after her, Michelle, allowed her to pick a bead before she left. She would add it to the string for all of her procedures.

The day that Faith was released it was a beautiful summer day. All her sisters came with her parents and grandparents to pick her up.

"Hey mommy," Bella asked, "Could we go to Fun Zone tonight?"

Trudy smiled.

"What do you think Faith," she asked, "Do you want to go?"

Faith loved Fun Zone. Before the attack she used to want to go there all the time.

"But they'll see me," Faith said quietly, "and I'm ugly."

"You are not ugly," Bella said, "You're beautiful."

"I have scars all over," Faith said.

"I know," Bella told her, taking her hand, "but that doesn't make you ugly. You have the best personality."

"I do?" Faith asked.

"Of course you do," Bella replied.

She whispered something to Faith.

They had a great time that evening.

Adrian and Trudy got into bed.

"I hope this doesn't affect Faith's sense of self worth," Adrian said.

Trudy squeezed his hand. "I know what you mean. But I'm glad she has her sisters. I don't think they'll let her feel like what happened is something that changed who she is or that it makes her any different than anyone else. Did you hear her and Bella? And then they all had fun. Faith wasn't self conscious or thinking about her scars."

Adrian nodded and kissed Trudy's hand.

"You're right. You always are."

"You know it."

Adrian laughed. He did know that Trudy was always right.

The next day was a Saturday. Adrian went to pick up breakfast for Trudy and the girls. There, he ran into Rickover.

"I don't know what you did," Rickover said angrily, "But I do know that Trudy was released."

"She was released on the 29th," Adrian said, "You're slow on the uptake aren't you?"

Rickover growled.

"Did you see what happened to Faith? Diana Rose Alexandra had the acid sprayed INTO her. She was eaten alive from the inside out. How did you convince your friend to release her?"

"Because she's innocent," Adrian said, "And just for the record you're not going to cause any more trouble for us… or else!"

"Or else what," Rickover demanded.

"Let's just say I know what you did ten years ago," Adrian replied.