I didn't think it would be that hard. I really thought that in the last couple days, my feelings toward my aunt would just... disappear. But seeing her tied up in that chair? It was like a punch to the gut. It hurt, and part of me wanted her to remain there, getting what she deserved. The other part, the part I hate, is how much I wanted to free her.

Sam's thumb moves in circles across my hand, it brings me a weird sense of comfort.

"What's going to happen now?" she asks, her voice quiet.

I shift to face her. "I'll be sent home. My punishment will most likely be even worse now." I take a shaky breath.

Sam tilts her head to the side, her blonde hair falling over her shoulder. "What if... what if you didn't go home?"

A harsh laughter breaks from me before I realize she's being serious. "I don't have anywhere to stay here. I also can't just... abandon my family."

She turns and looks in the direction we just came from. I know she's thinking of my aunt.

"You ungrateful-" I try and shake her words away.

"It seems like some of them were willing to abandon you."

I shift in my chair, pulling my attention to the wall. "My aunts... my aunts just like that."

"But you're parents?"

"They're nothing like that."

"Will they welcome you home after what you did?"

I don't, no, I can't answer that question. Not truthfully, because I don't know.

Silence descends around us. Sam continues to trace circles with her thumb on my hand. Slowly, the silence starts to suffocate me. Without saying anything I rip my hand from hers and stand up.

"Where-"

"I can't sit still," I tell her, as I start to pace the room.

For a while her gaze follows me back and forth. Eventually she slumps back into the chair, her face turned to the roof, but my pace never falters. If it did I think I'd crumble.

When I think they've forgotten about us, footsteps echo down the hall and increase in noise as they get closer.

Glancing over at Sam, I walk over her and shake her awake before her parents can walk in. I'm jealous that she was able to rest.

"What?" She grumbles, blinking blurrily up at me.

"Your parents are coming."

That wakes her up. She sits taller in her seat, and runs a hand through her hair in an attempt to smooth it. While she does that I reach up, with my sleeve covering my fingers, and wipe the drool on her lip away.

Her eyes widen. "No. I-"

I smirk ."You do. It's cute." I kiss her cheek quickly before sitting in the chair beside her.

When her parents enter the room, I can tell that my aunt wasn't easy to break. Whenever I had seen them around their house, Mrs Mars' hair would always be slicked up in a bun without a hair out of place. No, loose strands frame her face. Mr Mars' who always seemed to have some energy, and a little more joy than his wife, seems weighed down, and dark bags line the underside of his eyes.

"Lets get this over with quickly," Mrs Mars says.

Mr Mars nods in agreement.

"Tell us everything that lead to this point, Emma."

I nod, and as Sam grabs my hand, the whole story spills out of me.

***

"That's... a lot," Mr Mar says when I'm finished.

I nod and shallow. It's like a rock is stuck in my throat and scratches all the way down.

"We can't send her home, can we?" Sam asks.

Her mother raises an eyebrow. "What are you suggesting, Samantha?"

Sam glances my way. She takes a deep breath and turns to her parents. "In the end, Emma helped us. You would have lost a lot if it weren't for her telling us about her aunt. So, I'm suggesting, that instead of sending her home, she lives with us."

My eyes widen. "I- No, I can't do that."

"She still lived with us with the intent to hurt us."

"Not physically."

"There was still intent to hurt us, Samantha," her father says, an edge in his voice.

"But if we send her home, who knows what kind of punishment she'll receive! Are you really willing to let her get hurt? She's still a child."

I bristle at that. "And you aren't?" I snap.

Her eyes widen. "I- I didn't mean it like that."

"You're both children," Mrs Mars says, with what I think is emotion in her voice. "How about this? Well me and your father decide, she can still live with us."

"Are... are you sure?" I ask, inching towards the edge of my seat.

She nods. With a glance at her husband, she continues. "Sam is right. We do owe you at least something. If you hadn't told us what was to happen today, we would have lost a lot. So, thank you."

My jaw drops. "I- You're welcome." The words feel strange coming out of my mouth. Something warm flutters through me.

"Now, how about we all go home and rest?" Mr Mars pushes himself off the wall and claps his hands together."I believe Jax will be waiting for us to have supper with him."

"And I know he'll be glad to see you, Emma," Sam says with a sparkle in her eyes.

I smile at her, before turning a grateful smile to her parents.

***

They didn't make their decision right away. It killed me inside a little bit more with everyday they didn't say something. Eventually, I stopped worrying. Maybe if they weren't saying anything it meant I could stay here.

During that week we stayed home from school. Everyday, me and Sam would find ourselves curled into each other on the couch watching the news. Specifically the investigations into my aunt and the company who hired her. Which eventually led to the downfall of the company.

All within a week.

They didn't show everyone they arrested. Nor did they capture everyone. But out of all the ones they did, my parents were in that crowd. I didn't know it would happen, but I think part of me knew they'd be up there on the tv screen. I didn't want to watch when they appeared, but I couldn't look away.

They hadn't even been on the run. They were taken out of my childhood home. Our safe haven. They didn't resist either, they went easily. I still don't know if that makes it easier for me, or harder. Part of me wonders if they know all of this happened because of me. I wonder if they still love me, or if they hate me for playing a hand in their arrest.

A cold hand grabs mine, forcing me back into the present.

"It's going to be okay," Sam says in a quiet but soothing voice.

I nod once, blink multiple times to dispel the tears before I can find my voice. "Do you think they know it was me?"

Sam bites her lip before saying her next words slowly, "They might have an idea. But I'm sure they won't hate you."

"I hope you're right," I whisper, my heart breaking in two as the screen flashes back to the reporter.

After a few minutes Sam stands up, places a kiss on my forehead and says, "I'll be back. Gotta use the bathroom."

I nod, not bothering to move from my comfortable spot.

With her gone, I sink back into my mind. The world around me fades as my thoughts take center stage. That's why I don't notice them until they clear their throats.

Blinking to refocus my vision, I find Mr and Mrs Mars standing before me, blocking the tv. Maybe that's for the best. I'm so sick of seeing what's happened this past week. I'm sick of the reminders.

"Emma," Mrs Mars starts, her voice soft, but not quiet. "I think it's time we talk about your situation."

I gulp. I knew it. Even though I helped them in the end, I'm joining my family in prison. My gaze falls to my lap, where my hands are clasped together. "I understand," I say.

A moment of silence passes. A weight settles beside me and when I turn to look, it's Mrs Mars. She smiles at me with a hint of confusion in her eyes. "What do you think you understand?" she asks.

I glance over at Mr Mars, who's remained standing.

"That you're kicking me out? Sending me to prison with my family?"

They share a look. "Why would you think that?" Mrs Mars asks.

I shrug. "Because why would you keep me around?"

"We know none of this has been easy, and that we haven't been the kindest," Mr Mars says.

"But after much discussion, we don't think you deserve what your family is getting," his wife says.

"In the end, you did help us. And all along you were just following orders."

"But you're still a girl." Mrs Mars pats my hands before pulling them into her lap. "You still have a lot to learn, and how could you grow if you went to prison?"

My gaze flicks up to her as something like hope warms me from the inside. "Are you saying..."

"That you can live with us," Mr Mars says. He comes and sits down beside me. "We believe you deserve a second chance. But-" here his gaze turns dark. "If you hurt my daughter in any way, that second chance will be gone."

I gulp and nod hurriedly, like my life depends on it. "Thank you so much," I say as tears slide down my face. "You don't know how much this actually means to me."

They both smile at me.

"Emma's living with us?" a tiny voice calls out. We all spin around to find Jax hanging off the back of the couch.

I nod, the tears now blurring my vision. "Yeah, Jax. I do get to live with you!"

He squeals before racing around the couch and jumping into my lap. "We're going to have so many play dates! And movie nights with lots and lots of popcorn and-"

Laughter bubbles up inside of me.

"She's my girlfriend and I'm the last one who gets to hear she's living with us?" Sam stands at the end of the couch, her hands resting on her hips and her mouth turned down into a frown.

I smile up at her. "At least its good news?"

It takes a moment, but her frown softens into a smile. She drops her hands to her sides before making her way over to us. "Yeah. That's true," she says softly. She leans in, puts her hand beneath my chin, and kisses me.

"Ewww!" Jax cries.

When she pulls away she sticks out her tongue at him.

I wipe my eyes as a smile forms on my face. Something starts to stitch my heart back together, just a little bit.