03. ♞ ALIVE

     "THE COURT FINDS THE DEFENDANT, guilty. Sentenced to five years in prison for armed robbery, Phoebe Baldwin will be serving out her time at Fox River Penitentiary." The judge informed the crowd in front her. Phoebe sighed. Being sentenced to prison felt terrible but she trusted the hard work Michael had put into the lengthy plan.

     "But your honor, Fox River is a level one security all-male jail, we can not send Miss Baldwin there, a women's prison outside of the state would be better." Phoebe's lawyer defended, to which the judge nodded.

     "The defendant requested a penitentiary in Chicago, and she's not the only female to be sentenced there. The female's side of the penitentiary will be completed within a year and a half and she'll be transferred there." The judge finalized. The people scattered across the courtroom then stood, exiting the room quietly. Phoebe was escorted out into the hall by a guard, with Grace and her lawyer walking out behind her.

     "I doubt there will be a bail for you and Michael anytime soon." Her lawyer said quietly as he towered above her and the guard left. Phoebe nodded. Her lawyer, Grant Baldwin, held a nervous look on his face. Grant Baldwin is the middle Baldwin child— Phoebe's older brother.

     "No worries, Grant. I'll be out soon." Phoebe reassured. Grant knew the plan Michael and Phoebe had going on and even though he didn't approve, he was willing to help. He, unlike Grace, has always been supportive of whatever Phoebe does, no matter what it is that she's doing.

     "I guess so." Grant responded with a sigh. Grace glared at her siblings in shock.

     "I can't believe you two!" Grace snapped. "You knew about this, Grant? And you were okay with it!" Grace seethed, moving closer and closer to Grant's face.

     "Yeah, I knew!" Grand retorted. "I didn't encourage it, but I was supportive in case they decided to go through with it!" Grant spat back, "I may be her lawyer, but I am also her brother." Before Phoebe could interfere in the feud, someone called out her name, making the trio all turn around as LJ, Lincoln's son, approached them.

     "Aunt Phoebe? What's going on?" LJ questioned sullenly. "Why are you and Uncle Mike doing this? I've already lost my dad, though that doesn't really matter, but I just... I can't lose you guys, too." LJ's eyes were coated with tears and Grant cocked a brow curiously. Phoebe turned and stepped closer to LJ.

     "We're family. Family doesn't get left behind, LJ, always remember that." Phoebe explained and sighed, "That's why Michael and I are doing this. To save our family." LJ sighed, giving Phoebe a tight hug which she gladly returned, planting a kiss on the top of his head.

     "I love you Aunt Phoebe... you were always there for me when my dad wasn't. Promise me you'll be okay." LJ begged quietly. Phoebe frowned, kissing the top of LJ's head again.

"I promise, LJ. We will be okay. I love you. Michael loves you. Your dad loves you. He loves you so so much." She kissed his head once more. "Be safe, okay?" LJ nodded sadly, giving Phoebe a small squeeze.

"I better get going... I snuck out to come see you before you get sent away." He explained. Phoebe smirked at him.

      "You better stop doing that, kiddo." She scolded playfully. "Thanks, LJ. I love you bud." She said reassuringly. LJ smiled.

      "I love you too, Aunt Phoebe." LJ replied. "See you soon..." He sighed before he sadly turned on his heels and rushed out of the courthouse. Phoebe watched him get smaller and smaller as he got farther away.

     "Who was that?" Grant asked after LJ was gone, the Baldwin trio watching the young boy from a distance.

     "LJ. He's Lincoln's only son. He's a good kid, he's tough, but I still can't imagine what he's going through with his dad in jail, and then his uncle, and now me..." Phoebe mumbled as she shook her head. "I can't believe Michael and I didn't think about how hurt LJ would be." Grace scoffed and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.

     "He's not your son, Phoebe. The boy will be perfectly fine without you." Grace sneered bitterly. She was obviously still upset about Phoebe "giving up her life" for a family she "doesn't belong with".

     "That's what someone who doesn't know what real family is would say." Phoebe sneered in return.

     "Alright, you two. Stop it." Grant scolded his older and younger sisters. "Phoebe and I didn't get the same piece of heaven you got after mom and dad died, Grace." Grant explained. "I've also found my own family while being separated from you two growing up." Grant said calmly. Phoebe nodded in agreement, motioning to Grant as if saying, see? Told you so.

      "Why do you two always bring up how we grew up?" Grace asked in annoyance and then scoffed. "I was adopted by a wealthy family; so what?! I wanted to be with you two but you both know that wasn't gonna happen!" Phoebe rolled her eyes.

"Grace, you were adopted by a super rich couple who only had one other child. They were always home, always spoiling you, always loving you endlessly, and your adoptive sister also loved you and gave you expensive presents and took you wherever you wanted!" Phoebe recalled, remembering the times she'd been able to visit her sister in the large mansion that was now Grace's. Phoebe remembered how jealous she was of her sister when she was a child, seeing all the amazing toys and gadgets she was gifted. Grace rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, and I don't owe my adoptive sister anything! If she gets arrested, I'm not putting my ass on the line for her! I owe my adoptive parents, because they raised me, but not my so-called sister, cause she's not my actual sister!" Grace said in a breathy high-pitched tone, as if she was trying to explain something to a dumb person. Grant and Phoebe shared an annoyed look before looking back at Grace.

"My brothers were basically abused all throughout their childhood." Phoebe explained, referring to Michael and Lincoln. "They took care of each other and they took care of me, specially since I was the only girl and smaller than them. They protected me, and if it weren't for them, maybe I wouldn't even be alive today." Phoebe voiced as memories flooded her brain, tears brimming in her eyes.

      "Phoebe...." Grace mumbled softly with a sigh. "Look, I don't know what happened in your childhood. Or in Grant's." She admitted. "But I do know that they are not your family." She said. "We are." She finalized as she pulled Grant into her side and the two stared at Phoebe, who clicked her tongue loudly before speaking.

      "You're such a fucking bit—"

      "Miss Baldwin." A guard interrupted as he approached Phoebe with cuffs in his hands. Phoebe turned with a sigh and put her hands out to him as the cuffs were slapped onto her wrists and quickly tightened.

     "Where are you taking her?" Grant asked. The guard stopped, looking back towards Phoebe's siblings.

     "Fox River. Her sentence is to be carried out immediately."