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When the morning of his trial came, Ayden awoke far more refreshed than he had been over the week he had spend inside that small prison cell. Both James and Marcus had come to visit him a few more times during those days. As did Miss Schultz, to discuss in further detail their plans for the day that was now upon him.

As he sat up on the edge of his bunk, he ran wiped away the sleep from his eyes, opening them slowly to adjust to the dim light that filled the room. As he looked around he realized that this may be the last time that he sat in this very spot. If by chance there was a miracle today.

The way he had felt up till this moment, he wouldn't have held his breath for things to go his way. But now something felt different. Intuition told him he was going to be okay. He smiled at the thought, as he ran his hands through his thick brown hair, which had already grown noticeably longer since he had left home all those nights before.

Soon came the guard to bring his breakfast. He ate in silence, his mind still racing at what he would say once he entered that court room. Finishing his meal quickly, all he had to do was wait for whomever to come get him.

A short time later, there was a knock on his cell door. He stood up and back against the wall, allowing the person on the other side to enter. His eyes had to adjust as the light from the outside came pouring in once again. In the doorway he could see three figures, all of which he knew all too well.

His escorts entered one by one. First his godfather, followed by Marcus who appeared to be holding a bag of something. And finally his lawyer, Miss Schultz.

"You ready kiddo?" James asked, as he stepped aside to allow the other two in, which caused Ayden to press himself against the far wall tightly to make room for everyone.

"As ready as I can be I guess," he answered.

James nodded and gave a small forced smile. "You got this,"

Ayden nodded back, as fake as the smile he had received. In truth neither of them were sure about what the day would bring.

Marcus stepped the rest of the way into the room, holding out the bag to Ayden.

"Brought you a change of clothes. Figured you'd better look your best for the judge and all that, ya know?"

Ayden took the bag, and looked inside. There folded neatly was a black suit, complete with matching tie and shoes.

"Thanks," Ayden said.

"No problem," Marcus nodded.

"We're running short on time, so while we do a bit of talking before we head out, go ahead and change quick," James said, gesturing at the bag with one hand, and twirling his other for the rest of the room to turn around to give him some privacy.

Ayden began changing as soon as everyone was turned around. As he did, he listened as Miss Schultz began to talk from the other side of the room.

"I've got good news and bad, Ayden," she began. "First off we have physical proof that backs up your story, as far the assault on your mother went. I went to the hospital to try and talk to her about what exactly happened that night. And the damage done was still clearly present," she informed him.

"Bad news, she still is refusing to tell us her side. She is sticking to the story that you attacked Mr. Cross. With her statements and the written statement from Mr. Cross, things are still looking the same as they were when this all started," she finished.

"I did get a chance to talk to the judge overseeing your case. Told them what we talked about. Unfortunately all I got for an answer was that they would make their decision once everything was in front of them. Which means they want to look all parties involved in the face and decide what to do from there," James interjected.

"That's fair," Ayden answered, as he finished tying his shoes. "You guys can turn around, I'm done, except for this stupid thing," he held out the tie. "Never had to deal with one before," he shrugged.

James turned around and seen the tie dangling from his godson's hand, and smirked slightly. "You know August hated those things as well," he laughed, taking the tie from Ayden.

"Turn around, I'll get it."

Ayden did as he was told, allowing his godfather to properly tie the cloth around his neck and adjust it in place. As soon as James was done he stepped back and let Ayden turn around for everyone to see.

"Looks good," James said, smiling with a nod.

"Feels off," Ayden said, pulling the collar away from his neck slightly. "Definitely not something I think I'd get used to."

"Well it's only for today," James said, gesturing his hand in a circle motion for Ayden to turn around once again. "Only thing left to do, unfortunately, is I have to cuff you

before we can bring you out of here."

Ayden nodded and turned around, placing his hands behind his back as he had done so many times during his stay within the walls of the prison. Once his hands were secured, he turned back towards the door and his entourage.

"I think we'll take the scenic route. A bit of fresh air should do everyone some good," James said, as they each made their way out into the hallway.

As they walked, Ayden kept his head down, watching his feet to avoid the gaze of eyes that peered from the other side of the closed cell doors they passed. Ayden felt his feet quicken their step, wanting to get beyond the set of doors he hadn't seen since the night he had first been brought in.

He looked up from the floor to see the guard on duty stand up from his chair positioned near the doors, and press his hand to the senor that disabled that locks. He nodded slightly at Lydia and James, and gave a look of disapproval to Ayden as he passed through the doors.

Ayden felt himself let out a sigh of relief as he heard the click of the door behind them as they closed. No matter what was coming for him, he was one step closer to facing the unknown that had weighed on his mind since the day he had left home.

The sun was slightly overcast ash stepped out of the final set of doors to the outside world, just enough for him to have to lower his head as the light his his eyes. The parking lot that he had first been brought to was now empty.

Just to his right he could see the huge fence that surrounded the yard which the other inmates used for recreational time. Several of them stopped their various activities to watch him and the rest of the group as they made their way past.

Ayden avoided their eyes as he had the ones inside, keeping his head down as James placed a hand on his back once again, leading him towards the sidewalk that lead in the opposite direction of the fence, around the side of the entire prison.

Once they were safely away from prying eyes, Ayden found himself lifting his gaze upward once again. The others around him shifted their positions, so that the four of them now stood side by side, taking up the entirety of the sidewalk.

They walked in silence, each of their minds racing with words to break the tension. But none brought themselves to be the first to do so.

"So James..." Marcus said suddenly.

"I know you oversee the piloting side of the HARM program. But how would you say the engineering side of things are doing these days? Like hypothetically speaking, could someone, lets say, be part of both the combat side and the more technical side?"

Ayden was surprised to see James suddenly stop dead in his tracks, causing the rest of the group to follow suit.

There came another moment of silence as James just stood there, looking at Marcus. Although he was sure that Marcus didn't notice, Ayden watched as James' eyes flew through several emotions, one after the other, in a split second.

Confusion to sadness, sadness to intrigue. Intrigue to, well Ayden wasn't exactly sure what the last one looked like.

As quickly as the emotions had shown themselves, they were gone. Leaving only the default look of intensity and boredom in those brown eyes of his godfather.

"Before I answer that, let me ask you something?" James inquired, his eyes never leaving Marcus and his hand never leaving Ayden.

"Fire away," Marcus replied with a slight shrug.

"Given who your mother…was," James said. "It's safe to assume that your interest stems from her, correct?"

"Are you asking if I enjoy building shit just because my mom did?" Marcus retorted.

"No, sir. I enjoy it cause it's the one thing I truly understand. Don't get me wrong, I don't deny where it comes from," he added.

James nodded in understanding. "Your mother was by far the greatest mind of our time, no doubt." He watched Marcus' nod of agreement, before continuing on.

"That being said, you do know that they don't just let anyone near those labs, right? Your blood will only shine a light on you. By all types, mind you," James said.

"Sir, with all due respect, do you think for one

goddamn second that I was planning on using my mother's name to open doors for me?" Marcus interjected, a fixture of amusement and annoyance painting his face.

"I have spent my entire life under the radar. Hell up until a few days ago, none of you even knew I existed. And I could have happily kept it that way. It was the system that found me, not the other way around."

For a moment a slight smirk spread across James' mouth.

"Of course, I didn't mean to offend you," he said with a shake of his head, the smirk disappearing as he did.

"But no matter your intentions, there are those people who will always hold who she was, against you," he continued.

"Yeah, well fuck em," Marcus said shrugging.

At this Ayden had to suppress the laugh that tried to force itself up his throat, by pretending to cough into his shoulder.

James on the other hand, chose to ignore the comment and Ayden both.

"All I'm saying is, before we get into me introducing you to anyone on that side of things, you understand what it means, you're asking exactly," James explained.

"They will test you, and perhaps judge you harsher based on who you are. The son of the very woman who's mind created the very thing that gave our world hope in this war. That alone is a lot of pressure. But then to want to be a pilot as well?" James paused a moment.

"Well, honestly, I can't say. Don't think anyone's thought about it, let alone tried," he concluded.

Marcus simply nodded and turned back toward the direction they had been walking.

"Well, before I really worry about any of that, we need to find out the fate of our boy," he turned back towards Ayden and smirked.

"Got a feeling you're gonna be just fine brother."

"Yeah…we'll see," Ayden replied, with a shrug of his shoulders and forced smile.

The four of them made their way through the doors that lead to the side of the compound that held the courthouse.

As they stepped through, they were met by two more guards and metal detectors. The two were preoccupied in conversation as Ayden and others entered unnoticed.

After a few moments, Lylia cleared her throat to get their attention. The eyes of the guard who looked first grew wide at the sight of the four of them, but Ayden suspected it was the sight of James that threw the younger officer off.

"S-sorry," he spit out, his focus now solely on the group. He cleared his own throat to catch his composure.

"How can I help you all this morning?"

His eyes scanned all four of them and came to rest on Ayden and James once again, only this time, he noticed the restraints on Ayden's wrists. A look of disappoint shot over his face, only for a brief moment. No one else seemed to have noticed, so Ayden simply ignored it.

"Here for the Cross versus Alexander case," Lylia answered for them all.

"That must be Alexander then?" he nodded in the direction of Ayden.

Lylia nodded in response.

The guard stood there, continuing to look Ayden over. Finally he waved them through final set of detectors.

They made their way down the hall and up a set of stairs to the second floor to which the trial was to take place. As soon as they hit the top of the stairs, they were overran by a crowd of people, including what seemed to be reporters. A barrage of flashing lights and questions were hurled at Ayden.

"Is it true that August Alexander was your father?" a woman screamed, pushing her way through the throng of people, and pushing a microphone into Ayden's face.

All he could do was stare at the woman, uneasy at the whole situation. His eyes darted away from the woman toward the set of doors that was meant to be their destination.

"How bout all of you back the fuck up?" Marcus' voice rang through the hall suddenly.

"We clearly have places to be." With this he began to force a path for the four of them.

Ayden watched as the crowd parted to either side, deciding it best to let them through. With a final gentle push from James, he made his final approach towards the room that he would soon learn the next step in his own future.

As they entered the almost empty room, minus two guards placed to the front and back of the room, and the stenographer who sat patiently in her spot just between the stand and where the jury would come to sit.

Ayden was relieved to see that they had been the first to enter.

Although he had accepted what may come this day, the thought of his mothers eyes on him as he entered still cuffed still brought shame. That same feeling of disappointment he knew would be placed upon her face, that had all but broken his heart the night this nightmare began, weeks before.

The guard at the back of the room lead Ayden and Lylia to the table on the defense side of the room. As Ayden was getting ready to sit, the guard stopped him and pulled out a set of keys. Without a word said between them, the guard quickly removed Ayden's shackles, then returned to his post near the door.

Ayden stood there a moment, rubbing his wrists and watching as James and Marcus took their place just behind him and Lylia. Once they were seated, James gave Ayden a nod, as if to say its going to be okay. With a nod back, Ayden turned and sat to wait.

The silence that covered the room was broken by the sounds of the crowd that still waited outside the room, as the doors opened. Ayden was able to pick out enough words among the broken sounds that overlapped each other, to know that it was his mother coming through those doors.

Just as he was about to turn to confirm, he felt a hand touch shoulder. He knew it didn't matter whose hand it was, it meant only one thing. Keep your attention forward it said. So he did.

From his peripheral he watched as the figure of his mother came up and stopped. He kept his focus on the front of the room as he felt her eyes on him. After what felt like an eternity, she sat down at her spot.

"You okay?" Lylia learned over and whispered in his ear.

"Yeah, I'm good," he replied, stealing a glance towards his mother.

She sat alone, with her head down. In front of her was what appeared to be a folder. The contents he could only guess was her evidence against her son. No surprise there.

What did catch him off guard is that she appeared to believe whatever she came with was enough for her to face this day alone. The fact that Leonard wasn't present was understandable, considering the damage Ayden had done. But for her to not even lawyer up, took balls to say the least.

And honestly the way Ayden looked at it, she might be right.

A few more minutes passed before the door settled in just beside where the jury was meant to see opened. Out of it poured the twelve people who would listen to both sides of the night in question, and ultimately decide his face.

Ayden made eye contact with each of them as they took their seats.

A mixture of reactions were painted on their faces. Confusion, sadness, and a few smirks at the sight of him.

Guilty in those eyes before hearing a single word of the story.

Let them think what they want…

Once they were all seated, the front guard stepped forward.

"All rise for the Honorable Judge Maria Daughtry," his voice rang through the room.

As they stood, Ayden stole another look towards his mother. An obviously quick makeup job and sunglasses covered her face. A poor excuse to hide what lay beneath it all, Ayden knew. But would anyone else pick up on her little game was the question. Pushing the thought from his mind, he looked forward once again.

He watched as from behind the wooden door just behind the judge's stand, came a woman dressed in the typical black garments her profession wore. From the way she walked slowly, it was easy to see that the years had already taken their toll on her body. This was made more evident when the one who had announced her arrival extended his arm to help her up the few steps that lead to her place before them all.

The room looked on and waited as she found her seat, adjusted the thick glasses that sat upon her face, and finally cleared her throat.

"You may be seated," her voice carried through the room, both soft yet with authority.

Heeding her command, everybody sat once again. Judge Daughtry took a moment to look over the papers that sat in front of her. As she read through the document, she paused and looked up at Ayden, then to his mother.

Her eyes returned to the pages a moment longer, before she began the proceedings. After going over the basic information of what the jury would have to decide, she looked to Gwen Cross.

"Mrs. Cross, first of all, please remove the sunglasses from you face," Judge Daughtry said.

Gwen hesitated a moment, then did what she was told. A few gasps could be heard from members of the jury at the sight that was hidden below the shades.

"Thank you," Daughtry continued. "Now, I understand youhave chosen to represent yourself, and your husband who is currently still in intensive care. Correct?"

"Yes, your honor, that is correct." Gwen replied meekly.

"If that is what you believe is best, the floor is

yours to present your opening statement."

"Thank you, your honor," Gwen said as she stood and grabbed the folder in front of her. Bringing it close to her chest, she made her way to just in front of the jury.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I'm here today to see justice for the man I love, who is currently fighting of his life. Fighting for his life, because of the actions of my own son, Ayden James Alexander." She turned and pointed at Ayden.

"My own flesh and blood, who in a fit of rage, attacked my husband, Leonard Cross," she continued.

Ayden could only sit there, listening to the lies that spilled from the lips of the woman who had given him life.

In disbelief, he could nothing but sit in wait as she painted him as a monster. Shaking his head to try and calm the urge to stand scream is all he could do. His vision blurred as tears welled at the corners of eyes. The words being spoken by woman who was suppose to love him more than anyone, soon became scattered as he retreated into his own head.

Fuck you…fuck you…FUCK YOU!!!

His mind screamed. No other thoughts came through. No other words could describe the hurt and anger that pained his being. He wanted to laugh, but there was no joke. Seeing this, Lylia placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Calm down," she voice, though only a whisper, broke through the screaming in his head.

"We're only at the start of this," she whispered.

Ayden nodded, and wiped away the tears. Returning his focus to the jury, he watched as each passed around the contents of the folder his mother had brought as evidence.

Once it was went around to each member, it was brought briefly to Lylia to see.

Ayden glanced over to see the images of Leonard laying in a hospital bed, tubes connected to his throat, along with other random bits of equipment. He appeared to be awake, but the damage Ayden had done could clearly be seen.

Gwen took the photos and brought them up to the stand for Judge Daughtry to see herself. Looking over them for a moment, she turned her attention towards Ayden once again, frowning.

Gwen left the images there and made her way back to her seat. "That's all for my opening statement," she said.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," Lylia said as she stood and made her way around the table.

"You have heard from Mrs. Cross a sad tale, of a man brutally attacked for no other reason but the jealous rage of an unstable child. A picture painted to tug at your very heartstrings. To paint the Crosses as mere victims of the defendant." she continued.

"Objection," Gwen Cross spoke up suddenly.

"That was out of line, I'm sorry," Lylia said, before the judge had a chance to say anything.

"It is hard not to see it that way, if one were to look at the story as a whole. Which is what we the defense aim to do," Lylia turned, gesturing towards Ayden.

"It is true that the images you have been shown, are the result of my clients actions.

He will not deny that for a moment. But what you are not being told is how it was not brought forth the way it has been told, but in self defense, and the defense of the very woman who tried to sell you otherwise," she said, pointing towards Gwen Cross.

"That is all for the defense's opening statement,"

"Very well," Judge Daughtry said.

"Now Mrs. Cross, do you have any witnesses you would like to call to the stand?"

"Your honor, I believe the evidence speaks for itself. Plus the defendant has admitted his own guilt. So there is nothing more to do but find him guilty, right?" she replied, as she turned and smirked at Ayden.

Ayden looked back at the woman who resembled the one he once called mother. As he did, a moment of realization came to him. She was broken. Had been for as long as he could remember actually. Whatever sanity she had managed to hold onto all these years had shattered because of him. This time it wasn't an anger that passed through him, but sadness. All from a truth that said that he had lost both his parents the day his father had died. A truth that said that this moment wasn't about him being on trial, not really. No this was about him seeing and accepting this truth. By the end of this day, he would have to let her go forever. For his sake.

"If that is how you want to play this out Mrs. Cross, then the defense has the floor to plead their case," Judge Daughtry said, snapping Ayden back to the moment.

"Miss Schultz, you have the floor."

"Thank you, your honor," Lylia nodded.

"The defense would like to call the defendant Ayden Alexander to the stand as our first witness."

As he began to stand, the sound of Gwen Cross scoffing could be heard. Ignoring it, he made his way to the stand.

Stopping only to swear on the book held out before him by the guard. A tradition held for as long as recorded history.

A formality and nothing more.

Once he was seated, Lylia made her way forward, stopping just in front of him. "Please state your name for the court," she began.

"Ayden James Alexander," he replied.

"Thank you. Now what would say your relationship is with Mrs. Cross?" she continued.

"She's my mother," Ayden said. "I mean she gave birth to me, if thats what you're looking for," he added.

"So would you say you were close, or no?"

"Honestly, no. I'd say we have coexisted for the last ten years since my dad died. Distance has grown more with each passing year," he said, looking towards Gwen.

"And do you believe that has anything to do with her remarriage to Leonard Cross?" Lylia questioned.

"Yes and no. I believe she had checked out as a mother the day we buried my dad. Leonard coming into the picture didn't help matters. Like I said, we coexisted. I tried to stay out of their way. Spent most of my time alone,"

"I see," Lylia said. "Now Ayden, what was the

relationship like with your stepfather, prior to the night in question?"

"Terrible. Not that he showed it in front of her. There was many times when she would leave the house to run errands that he would lose his temper and take it out on me. But he was smart about it, aiming his blows only for the body, so they were easier to hide..." his words drifting a moment.

"And if by chance I did ever show any signs of anything happening, he would convince her that I had done it to myself somehow while doing my chores," Ayden concluded, his head shaking slowly as memories replayed in his head.

"And how long has the abuse been going on?" Lylia asked.

"For as long as I can remember," Ayden said. At this point he sat forward, and rested his elbows on the stand to lift himself up slightly. Looking from the Lylia to the jury, and finally to the Judge.

"I know what you're going to ask next Miss Schultz, did I do what I did because of the years of pain that man had put me through? Was that the motive behind my actions?" Ayden injectioned.

"Was it?" Lylia asked, tilting her head slightly.

"No, it wasn't honestly. If I had wanted him dead, you don't think I couldn't have done it countless times over the years? All the times he was passed out drunk, I could have justed ended him," he replied, his eyes shifting between Lylia and his mother.

"But I didn't. What I did wasn't because of my personal pain. That I had learned to live with, because she seemed to love him. And I knew that even though I didn't agree with it, I wasn't going to take away her happiness," he explained.

"Even if it was fake. If she believed in it, who was I to destroy it?" Ayden finished, shaking his head.

"So what happened that night that changed your mindset on the matter?"

"It changed because for the first time, it wasn't me on the receiving end of his rage. Like I said, that I could live with. Had lived with. But when it came to it being her, I couldn't simply stand by anymore," he answered.

"Objection!" Gwen Cross interrupted.

This time it was Judge Daughtry that shut it down.

"Mrs. Cross, you had your opportunity to speak, now be quiet. Please finish, young man," she said.

Ayden nodded before continuing. He went on to tell the events as they played out that night, from the moment he first laid eyes on Leonard Cross over his mother, beating the very life out of her. Told how even though he was disgusted with himself, he knew if he didn't go as far as he had, the man would only recover and kill both of them. That he had no doubt about, in that moment, or now.

As he told his side of the story, he stole glances of every person listening. The members of the jury wore different looks on their faces than when they first laid eyes on him. Where there was once disdain, there was now only sadness and disbelief.

For the first time since that night, a different look was painted on the face of Gwen Cross as well. A mixture of doubt and sadness, at her son's words. There was moment when their eyes met. A moment that told Ayden she knew, like him, how this was all going to play out. That there was no getting away from the truth anymore. She had lost. Not just the day, but him as well.

He watched as she lowered her head once again in a sad attempt of escaping the moment.

"No more questions for the witness," Lylia said as soon as Ayden was finished telling his side. With a nod and a smile at Ayden, she turned and made her way back to her seat.

"Very well," Judge Daughtry said. "Mrs. Cross, do you have any questions for the witness?"

The only sound that came from Gwen Cross was the muffled sobs she tried to hide. Lost in her own sorrow, she didn't hear the words aimed at her.

"Mrs. Cross," Daughtry called again. Again, nothing but the continued sound of tears. "Mrs. Cross!" the judge repeated, her voice raising several octaves.

This time Gwen raised her head, wiping away the tears as she did. "Yes?"

"The witness," Judge Daughtry answered with a sigh. "Do you have any questions for Mr. Alexander?"

"Umm…no your honor," she answered, before lowering her head once again.

"You may step down then, young man," the judge said, turning her attention toward Ayden.

"Thank you, your honor," Ayden said with a nod, before returning to his seat.

"The defense calls Mrs. Cross to the stand," she announced as she made her way to the front of the room.

Gwen Cross lifted her head, confused at her name being called. A look at said she hadn't thought she would be put into question that day. From Ayden's point of view, she hadn't really put any thought into any of the day, or how it would play out. As it played out now, he wondered why he was so sure he would be put back into that cage when it was all said and done.

He watched as his mother hesitated at first, before standing to make her way to the stand. The same process he had gone through played out, before she was seated.

"Mrs. Cross, we have now heard both sides of the events of that night," Lylia began.

"Two sides that tell a very different story, if I'm being honest," she continued, turning towards the jury as she did. "The question is, which side is the truth Mrs. Cross?"

Gwen Cross stared at Lylia Schultz, saying nothing.

"If you cannot answer that question, allow me to ask another. Can you please tell the court exactly how the bruises on your face came to be? The ones you seem to have tried to cover up with makeup?" Lylia asked, moving in closer to the stand, and coming to lean on its side.

"I-I don't recall…" Gwen Cross lied.

"Mrs. Cross, I believe you do in fact recall. And may I remind you that you are under oath. So I will ask once again, how did the…"

"He didn't mean to. He was angry. He wasn't himself…"

Gwen blurted out suddenly, cutting Lylia off. "He loves me, he didn't mean to," she pleaded, tears beginning to run down her face.

"Who didn't mean to, Mrs. Cross?"

"You know who!" Gwen screamed.

"You just want to take everything from me. It wasn't enough to take August from me, was it? No now you wanna take my last chance at being loved away as well," she continued, now standing and gesturing her hands at every person her bewildered eyes caught sight of.

"Fuck all of you. I deserve to be happy as well don't I?" she sobbed.

"Mrs. Cross, that is enough. Sit down now, or I will be forced to have you restrained!" Judge Daughtry called out, smacking her gavel down in front of her.

"I will not!" Gwen screamed in return.

"He's the one that Leonard hated. Not me. He's the one who made it impossible to just be happy," she continued, pointing at Ayden.

"He's the one who we both had to look at each day, and see a constant reminder of something that died years ago. And I tried, god knows I fucking tried to be a good mother to him. But how can I know resent someone who reminds me so much of the man who left me. Left me alone with his ghost?"

Ayden could only sit there and watch as the woman who gave him life, rant on like a madman. Yet in all the seemingly insane ramblings, he knew she spoke the truth. She resented him, all because he was the last reminder of his father to her.

He felt his body begin to move on its own. The rage over taking him, wanting to stand and scream, to attack.

Placing his hands on the table before him, he began to push himself forward. She wanted to see him as a monster, so a monster is what he would give her.

He loved her, but she had denied that love, all because it was too much to face reality. So he would destroy her reality, as she had tried to do to him. She wanted to see him put away, so why not give her am actual reason?

"Don't," he heard James voice in his ear, as he felt his hand come down on his shoulder, pushing him back into his chair.

"It's gonna work out, so why throw that away?"

Taking a deep breath and wiping away the tears that blinded him, he nodded and relaxed. He knew his godfather was right, after her outburst and her complete joke of a performance today, things were certainly in his favor now.

"Mrs. Cross, this is the last time I will tell you,

calm yourself or I will be forced to have you detained," Judge Daughtry said loudly, as she slammed her gavel down in front of her.

Ignoring the warning, Gwen Cross turned her focus on James now, having finally noticed him as he attempted to keep Ayden at bay.

"You…!" she screamed, as she made her way up and over the stand.

Hitting the floor face first, she stopped for a moment as she tried to catch her breath. The moment passed, and her rage returned. She stumbled to her feet, and made a rush towards James, who was now standing in the open behind Ayden. Lylia quickly side stepped to avoid being taken out by the rampaging Gwen Cross.

"It should have been you who fucking died, not him," her words venom, her pace quickening as she continued towards James.

"None of this would have happened if it was you. My family would still be whole, if it was you who was in the fucking ground,"

Ayden watched as she made it to James, striking him across the face. The sound of her hand meeting his skin echoed through the room, as every other body fell silent.

Gwen continued her assault on James, slamming her fists into his chest over and over. Yet through it all, James just stood there looking down at the broken woman he once called friend. The only movement he made was to wipe away the tears that welled in his eyes.

"You're right, it should have been," he said finally, as he took a step back. "I've told myself the same thing, almost everyday since that day," he continued.

"I know you can't hate me, as much as I hate myself Gwen. I'm sorry," he said, lowering his head.

Taken aback by the words, Gwen retreated back a few steps. "Y-you…" the words she searched for caught in her throat.

"I should what? Have been there?" James cut her off.

"Another regret I live with everyday. One that I aim to make right," he said, his eyes drifting to meet with Ayden's. "I should have been there for both of you. Especially Ayden.

But I wasn't. But you see the difference between us is, I know I fucked up Gwen. I put no blame for my actions on anyone but myself. You though, you're a completely different story,"

"What the fuck do you know?" Gwen snapped.

"I know that this entire situation is fucked. Look around you. Look at your son, sitting there because you couldn't and still can't face reality. You would rather forsake your own flesh and blood than face being alone again," James answered.

"You have no idea the pain I've endured, all because of you," Gwen sneered.

"You're right, I don't. But let me ask you this Gwen? If its me you hate so much, why put that boy through the hell you are now? Huh?" James gestured towards Ayden once more.

"He has done nothing but try and protect you from your own mistakes. You aren't the only one who has been hurting," he spat.

"And yet he continued to do what you're suppose to do when you love someone. And the sad thing, he reminds me so much of the old you. A perfect mix of you and August both. There was a time you loved deeper than anyone I have ever seen. Now…I don't know," James finished.

From his seat Ayden watched as his mother's eyes filled with tears. Her head lowered a moment, before she turned and looked in his direction. For the first time in as long as he could remember, there was a look of sadness for him. Sorrow mixed with love and regret.

She stood there a moment, before starting to make her way back to the front of the room again. She walked past Ayden, giving him a slight side glance as she did.

"Your honor," Gwen said as came to stop just in front of Judge Daughtry.

"I have made a huge mistake," she confessed, turning to look at her son. "Pardon my language, but I've been a bitch. Every word my son has said, is true. Every word Mr. Mitchell has said, is true. I have no excuse for my actions. No reason besides my own selfish fears," she continued.

"Mrs. Cross, first of all, you have made a spectacle of yourself and this entire procedure, if I'm being honest. You should consider yourself lucky that I have not had you put in cuffs yourself for your many outbursts today. From what we have seen here today, the verdict has always been in favor of your son,"

Gwen lowered her head slightly, the embarrassment in herself painted all over her face. A moment passed in silence, before she turned to face her son.

"Ayden…I'm sorry," she said quietly.

Ayden stood up from his seat, as if the words he heard had sent a shock through his entire body. He remained still for a moment, staring ahead at the woman before him. His mind raced for the right words. Words not consumed by rage.

That he couldn't let out, not here. He had all but won the day, no use in destroying it in a moment of passion. So he began his next move with a deep breath.

Letting it out slowly, he made his peace.

"Why?" he asked, his voice eerily calm.

"Why are you sorry, exactly? Is it because you knew what was going on and did nothing, even when it was you on the receiving end of that monster's rage? Or maybe its cause you got caught up in your own lies. The fantasy you chose to live in has been shattered, and for the first time you see the damage you've done. For the first time, you see me," Ayden continued, his tone remaining the same.

"I've always…" Gwen tried to interrupt.

"You've always what? Seen me? Bullshit. You chose to be ignorantly blind. You chose to look away. But don't get me wrong, I understand why you did. Its hard to look at the one person who reminds you so much of what you lost, isn't it?" Ayden sneered, his head shaking uncontrollably back and forth.

"I…" Gwen tried to begin, before being interrupted again by her son.

"I don't wanna hear it. You chose to throw me away. And now that its all backfired, now you wanna try and play the role of loving mother? We both know you haven't been that since dad died. In all honesty, I lost both of you the day we put him in the ground. I've been alone all this time, so walking away is no skin off my back Gwen. No matter what happens to me now, you lost me," Ayden finished.

He sat back down in his chair and returned his attention back to where Judge Daughtry sat, her eyes on his mother who remained unmoving in front of him. From his peripheral he could see her trying to find any words to counter his. But none came.

"Ayden…please…" is all she managed.

"Mrs. Cross, you will take your seat. I have warned you more than enough times," Judge Daughtry broke the silence.

Gwen Cross hesitated a moment, as she looked from her son to Daughtry then back to Ayden. Finally with a heavy sigh, she seemed to accept her reality. She returned to her seat, dropping her weight heavy down into the chair.

"Now, if we are done with the theatrics, I would very much like to be done with this entire day," Daughtry addressed the entire room.

"First of all, I have made my decision when it comes to the over all ruling of this case," she continued, turning her attention to the members of the jury.

"I would like to thank each of you for being here today, but from what we have witnessed here today, I believe that my judgment would mirror your own, should you give it.

So we can just skip the formalities and be done with all this."

Ayden watched as the entire jury nodded in agreement. A few sighs of relief could be heard in the silence that fell the room.

"Now, if the defendant would please stand," Daughtry said, turning her graze toward Ayden.

He rose slowly, his eyes fixed on those of the woman who would decide his fate. He felt as his hands tightened into sweat fill fists, as his heart began to race within his chest. He swallowed hard and waited.

He watched as Daughtry sat there a moment, looking between his mother and himself. There was a sadness that shown on her face as she did. For what exactly, Ayden couldn't make out.

All he knew is the entire room seemed to hold their breath, waiting for what came next. With a heavy breath from Daughtry, it came.

"Mr. Alexander, I would like to first say that I am truly sorry for the hand you have been handed thus far. From what I have seen here today, you are just another victim of the world we all live in. One affected by the hands of the war that takes from each of us," Daughtry said. "In your case, not only has it taken one parent, but both it would seem. One buried in the ground, the other left broken under the weight of our reality. And for that I am sorry. No child should have to endure that kind of loss. Especially one who seems to be cursed with a heart such as yours," she continued, before pausing a moment.

The look of sadness intensified at those words. Another moment passed in silence, before she continued.

"Young man, I have no doubt that your actions were driven by nothing but the need to protect what you hold dear. From what I have gathered, you were simply thrown in a situation in which a choice had to be made. And you made it, I have no doubt out of nothing but concern and love," she said.

"Now I may not fully agree with your approach, but I cannot deny that it was in the defense of both yourself and that of your mother. If you had not made the choice you had, I honestly fear neither of you would be drawing breath this day."

She turned her attention towards his mother at the words, perhaps looking for a reaction. When she got nothing, she turned back towards Ayden.

"Now, as I have said, this is a pretty clear cut case. It is my judgment that you acted in self defense. But before I let you go free, there is the issue of what to do with you exactly," Daughtry continued.

"Your honor, if I may approach the stand?" Ayden asked.

With a nod from the woman, he made his way forward. With a glance back toward James and Marcus, he began his plea that would forever change his life.

"Ma'am, I know that I cannot return to the home I once had. So I would like to be emancipated. I believe that I would be better off in my own care," he said.

"Mr. Alexander, I fully agree. Unfortunately, you are not of legal age to be allowed to as such. Even if it is only a few months away from you being of legal age, I cannot allow it," Daughtry answered.

A sinking feeling hit Ayden. It appeared that he would have to go back to the life he had tried to leave behind.

"Your honor," Marcus' voice rang out suddenly. "If the court will allow it, I will take on the role of his legal guardian for the remaining months."

"And you are?"

"Marcus Young, ma'am. And before you ask, I am of age. I also have the means to take care of Mr. Alexander. Both in terms of shelter and finance," Marcus said.

Daughtry looked from Ayden to his mother once again. Then finally to Marcus.

"I'll allow it," she said with a nod. "Now that that is taken care of, I hereby declare this case to be closed. Court dismissed," she finished with the slam of her gavel.

Ayden turned just in time to see Marcus, James, and Lylia making their way quickly towards him. He had to catch his breath quickly as he was lifted in celebration by James.

He couldn't help but let out a laugh as he was spun through the air. It was over finally. He was free to focus on the rest of his life. Free to live.

The smile that had made its home upon his face was quickly washed away. As the world blurred past him, as he spun, he caught a final glance of his mother. She look near the back of the courtroom, looking on at the celebration of his victory. As the spinning stopped and he was set down, he came to see her more clearly.

He looked on as tears streamed down her face. Watched as she faked one last smile and turned away to walk out of his life for the last time.