"Are you ready to go home, Val?" George asked. I excitedly nodded and started getting my stuff packed up. My scar was just about healed, I got the bandage taken off of it yesterday. I looked down at my chest. I still couldn't believe I worked up the courage, or that I had a foster parent who was finally willing to pay for the surgery. 

"Are you proud of yourself, Via?" Will asked, scooping me up in his arms. I grabbed on to him and he held me tightly. He kissed my nose and said, "Because we're certainly proud of you."

"I'm proud of myself." I said. "I'm prouder of this." I held out my arm and looked down at my elbow. The pump was gone and was replaced with a purple Band-Aid. 

"Sure, I've had surgeries to survive before. But none of them really meant anything to me. This, this makes me feel like I've won. I've won the battle." I said. 

"You're my little trooper, Val." George said. "I don't know many kids who could deal with their parents dying, getting abused, and on top of that, having a heart condition, and still manage to have a smile on their face. You're the bravest, strongest, kindest little girl I've ever met." 

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. George looked through the peephole and gasped. "Someone hide Valerie." he ordered. Will stared at Gerard and put me down. Gerard took my hand and opened the window.

"What are you doing? She's not jumping!" Katlyn yelled.

"Relax. I have a plan." Gerard said. He ran to the bathroom and grabbed a step stool and threw it out the window. He then scooped me up in his arms and climbed out of the window. I was terrified he or I would fall. 

"Who's at the door?" I asked Gerard once we were safely out of the window.

"I think Penelope is." Gerard said with horror in his eyes. "Hang tight, I'm running." I started to sob and Gerard said, "It's okay, George and the others are dealing with it."

"Where are you going?" I asked softly.

"The theater. Penelope doesn't know musicals, does she? Because if she does, we need a different plan." Gerard said, almost out of breath from running.

"No." I said. Gerard stopped for a moment and said, "Good. I hate to say this, but just in case, hide your accent." I nodded and I heard a door unlock and then open. Gerard put me down in front of a closet door and said, "We're hiding in here. Do you have a phone on you?" I said, "Yes, but it's still at the hospital. All my stuff is still there."

Gerard thought over his options, then handed me his phone. "Hang on, let me text George and Will and let them know you have my phone. If anything happens, call one of them. And don't say it's you."

"But-how will they know?" I asked.

"Use a code name. I got an idea. Your nickname is Via, right?" Gerard asked. I reluctantly nodded.

"Okay, good. Say 'It's Olivia.' Because Via is usually short for Olivia. And Olivia is nowhere near the name Valerie." Gerard said.

"Can't I just say Via? Penelope doesn't know that you guys call me that." I said.

"I'm worried Penelope's gonna catch on." Gerard said. "Trust me, okay? I just want to keep you safe." I nodded, and said, "Just saying, Penelope isn't the brightest person."

"She an alcoholic?" Gerard said, and I nodded slowly. "Yeah. She doesn't drink all that often, she smokes cigarettes more. But when she does drink, she gets super drunk." 

"Sheesh. She probably just sobered up and realized you were gone. But how did she know you were in the hospital?" Gerard asked, deep in thought. 

"Actually, now that I think about it, I don't know. I ran away from a doctor's appointment, but she switched my care to a different hospital. George must've switched it back, but I never told him which hospital I usually go to. So he must've switched it himself out of caution. Penelope must've assumed I was there and asked for me." I said. 

"I have to go, Via. I'm going back to the hospital and just checking to make sure everything's okay." Gerard said. He started to leave and I started crying. Gerard stopped walking and kneeled down next to me.  

"It's going to be okay, Via." Gerard said. He put his arm around me and hugged me into his side. "We all love you, so much. Don't worry." he said softly. I sighed and Gerard got up. "I really have to go, Via. See you in about an hour, at the latest." I waved to Gerard and curled up in a ball. 

I eventually fell asleep.

________

"Val...wake up..." I heard. I woke up to someone rubbing my back gently. I rolled over and realized my head was in George's lap. "You're safe now. It's over."

"W-what happened?" I stuttered.

"Penelope came into the hospital and claimed that she was your parent. I showed the doctors the foster papers, and they banned Penelope from the hospital. Luckily, I took some pictures of your bruises and cuts, so they now have proof of the abuse." George said. "See, I kept my promise to you, sweet pea. She's never going to touch you again."

George pushed my hair out of my face and looked into my eyes. "You're an amazingly brave young woman, Valerie. I'm so proud to call myself your dad." 

"I love you, Daddy." I said, hugging him.

"I love you too, my sweet little pea." 

AN: I was originally gonna have a much eviler plan for this chapter, then realized that I should take a break with torturing my smol children. But Valerie is gonna get her dose of evil chapters pretty soon, just warning you. Anyways, hope you enjoyed! Catch ya later!