Hallie

It's been 6 months.

6 months in protective custody.

6 months of being known to be dead by the people
I love.

As I await to enter the courtroom, I can't help
the nervousness that filled me.

Damien....

It has been hell without him. But knowing he was safe with our kids helped me get through these past few months.

I can't wait to see him. But how will he react knowing I'm alive?

I didn't have time to ponder over that as I'm being told that I'm to take the witness stand.

I stood up and took a shaky breath.

I started to walk and every step I took brought me closer to Damien. to seeing him again for the first time in a long time. 6 months. Not that long to some, but an eternity when it comes to the one you love.

The doors open and immediately my eyes were drawn to where he was sitting. His back facing me, but I know he knows. I feel his tension,
shock and confusion radiating off of him.

Then I moved my gaze and saw Nate, Lia, Dave... I swallowed the lump in my throat. His family is here. Shock in all their faces. Tears in some.

I kept walking, my gaze remaining on Damien urging him to turn so I can catch a glimpse him, but he didn't. He didn't look. Not when I walked right next to him. Not when I took the stand and swore to tell the truth. Not when I sat down.

Not when Marcus burst out in anger and started yelling angrily.

"You fucking bitch," he said.

"Councillor control your client!" The judge ordered.

But that didn't stop Marcus. He kept telling angrily, so the judge asked the bailiff to remove him.

Damien still didn't look at me.

I saw Nate say something to him. He remained in a trance.

The judge spoke again. "This court is adjourned and will resume tomorrow morning at 10am with Hallie Scott on the stand," she said.

And only then... Only then did he look up and looked at me.

I shuddered.

There he was looking at me.

It's me.

It's me, Damien.

My hair is longer and hair darker, but it's me.

I saw happiness, but something rendered me frozen. It shattered my heart.

I saw his pain.

I felt my own tears pool in my eyes.

He watched as I was led by an officer.

He had tears in his eyes. Tears that matched my
own.

"Damien. She's alive. Hallie's alive," I heard Nate say.

All he did was nod.

Damien

I was brought to the same room I had my talk
with Vin.

I took a deep breathe before walking through the door.

There she was. Standing there. Looking every bit of the woman I love, yet different somehow.

Her lip quivered as tears filled her eyes.

I found my own eyes filling with tears.

I couldn't move. I was rooted.

She slowly made her way towards me as she shook with tears.

She stopped in front of me and smiled.

I slowly raised my hand to cup her face, but stopped right before I touched her, afraid that she would disappear.

"It's me. I'm here," she whispered softly.

I cupped her face and broke off in sobs. I ran my hands down her arm before holding her face in my hands again.

Then I pulled her into my arms.

"God. You're here," I choked.

She wrapped her arms around me tightly. "I am. I missed you so much..."

I don't know how long we stood there simply holding each other.

Then we pulled back and I still can't believe she's here. In front of me. Safe.

"I don't understand," I said.

"We don't have a lot of time right, but I promise to explain everything to you," she said.

I nodded.

"How's Ty and Michy? My dad?"

"They're doing good. They miss you everyday," I
said. "Your dad's away on business, but like us he's here everyday."

"I miss them. God it has been a nightmare these past few months without you. Without our kids. My dad..."

I stiffened.

"I need to know what happened. We had a plan. You didn't stick to it," I couldn't help the sound of betrayal from my voice.

"I know that you have a lot of question and I promise I will answer them all, but right now, I need to go with them."

"When can I see you next? When do I talk to you?"

"You can't. Not until after the trial is over. They're just doing is a favour."

"I need to know that you'll be safe," I said.

"I will be. But for now, I need to go with them. I'm sorry, Damien. I know that I hurt you and I have a lot of explaining to do, but please understand that I did what I did to keep you and our kids safe. It's because I love you so much that I did what I did." she explained. 

"We need to go," one of the officer's said.

She closed her eyes and nodded.

"Will you kiss our kids for me?" She asked. "Tell them I love them."

I nodded.

"My dad, will you tell him that I'm okay. And that I miss and love him?"

I nodded again.

"I'll see you soon," she said.

I looked at her not able to say or do anything, but watch her leave.

I just felt so numb.

"Everything okay?" Nate asked beside me.

"I don't know," I said. "I honestly don't know."

"This is just..."

"I've dreamt this... I didn't think it was possible, but she's here. She's alive. God knows that's all I ever dreamed of and now it's a reality, I feel like I've been made a fool. Like I've been cheated. Betrayed. Fuck. I should just feel happy," I said.

"You're in shock. We all are. You're entitled to feel the way you do."

"I love her, Nate," I breathed. "I love her so fucking much, but honestly, at this moment, I just feel so numb."

"I know. But the important part is that you didn't lose her. I know that you two have a lot more to talk about, but right now, you just need to focus on the bright side."

I nodded.

I went home that day to try to get some work done, but I couldn't get past the truth. I couldn't stop thinking of the moment Hallie's name was mentioned and when she walked into the court room and I laid eyes on her again after 6 long months.

I ran my hands through my hair.

"Sir, Mr. Winston is here to see you."

I sighed. Shit. Of course. I should have called him.

I pushed off my desk and went down to see Hallie's dad.

"Larry," I greeted. 

"is it true? Is it really her? She's alive?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Oh thank god," he choked.

I went to him and clapped his back in comfort.

"My little girl. She's okay. She's alive," he breathed. 

"Yes. She is."

"I jumped on the flight back as soon as I heard," he said. "I was in New York and had just finished my meeting when I heard on the news about this witness who was kept under protective custody."

"I should have called you right away. I'm sorry, it's just that... I just can't believe it."

"I know. I understand. The shock you must have had sitting in that court room and suddenly she's being called."

"I had a chance to talk to her for a few minutes. She said she'll explain everything as soon as the trial is over," I said. "She'll be testifying tomorrow," I let him know. "Marcus made threats in open court so my brothers assured me that security will be tight tomorrow and for the rest of the trial. No harm will come to her."

He nodded. "I'll be there in court tomorrow," Larry said.

I nodded. "She'll be happy to see you."

Later that night as I lay in bed, I was thinking of the same thing.

Hallie.

I need to know what happened.

I can't wait till after the trial. It's going to drive me insane. But fuck! What choice do I have.

Hallie

I didn't sleep a wink last night.

How could I? I can't get the look on Damien's face off of my head.

The pain. The look of betrayal. It cut me deep.

How do I make him understand that I did what I did out of fear. How do I explain to him that not a single second has gone by that I didn't think of him and our kids. That what I did was the hardest thing I ever had to do and I was scared that Marcus was going
to do something to harm them. I had to do something.

I closed my eyes.

But if your original had worked? A voice inside me asked. To be honest that voice have haunted me every single day for the past 6 months. But at the time, I just did what I thought was right.

I just need to get through this trial and once I've testified and he's convicted then everything will be okay. I'll be free and I can come home to my family. For good.

The next morning I wasn't nervous. I wasn't scared. I was determined. Determined to speak the truth and let the jury know what a monster Marcus is and show them that he deserves to rot in jail.

I waited to be called and the whole time all I thought about was seeing Marcus and showing him how he failed. That I outsmarted him.

"Ms. Scott," an officer of the court called me. I followed him and entered the court.

Damien was there and he turned. I drew strength from him. Beside him was my dad. Who has tears in his eyes.

I gave him a smile.

I told myself in time. Soon, I'll be able hug my family.

I continued to the stand and was sworn in.

"Ms. Scott," Mr. Mulroney greeted. "Please state the court your relation to the accused," he asked.

"He was married to my mother...." I began and told them the rest.

Mr. Mulroney continued to ask me questions and just like he told me, I answered each question specifically.

"I feared for my life and the life of my children and the people that I love that I made a plan. I needed to ensure their safety and in exchange I told him that I would marry him if he signed away his rights to my kids."

Yes. Kids. Marcus have no claim to them. I made sure if it.

"You were so scared that you entered witness protection just to stay away from him?" He asked.

"I have seen him kill people. He has no conscience!"

"objection," the defence said.

"Overruled," the judge said.

The questions continued and I revealed everything. From escaping and running away with
two toddlers in tow to finding solace with Damien and his family.

Then it was the defence turn to ask the questions and he tried so hard to rattle me and make me look like a bad guy.

"You said you feared him yet you agreed to marry him? That doesn't sound like you feared him?"

"I did it to keep my children away from him! I wasn't planning on going through with it."

"So you lied?"

"Yes, but," I started to say but he cut me off.

"You lied once to get what you want so who's to say you're not lying now?"

"I..." I started to say again, but he cut me off once again.

"Nothing further."

"I am not. I lied to keep people safe from him. He killed my mother and my son's mother! I wasn't going to let his hands on two innocent children!" I grounded out.

"Nothing further," he said again. "Your honour!"

"The jury will disregard the last statement."

I sighed in frustration. 

"Redirect," Mr. Mulroney said.

"Ms. Scott. Why were you so determined to keep
your kids away from the defendant?"

"He has repeatedly expressed his want for a son. A son that would inherit his business. He doesn't my daughter. He resented her for being born a girl. I was afraid that he would make good on his threat and sell her once she became of age. I wasn't letting him do that."

"Nothing further tour honour. At this time the state rests."

I was shaking by the time I left the stand. I looked at him and his anger was palpable.

I turned my gaze away from him and refused to let
him get to me.

I looked over to my family and they smiled and nodded my way.

Except for Damien.

He looked furious and avoided my gaze.

I frowned.

I just want to talk to him. I need to talk to him.

I'm not waiting any longer. I can't stand this.

With that, I came up with a plan.