Finding a New Life Ch. 17

"Good morning Caroline," Lily said politely as she walked into the diner across from the court house with Greg.

"Lily. How's Mia and David this morning?" Caroline asked.

"They're doing well. They're with Grace and Grant. Eli stayed with them in case Grant needs to take Grace to the hospital," Lily answered.

"I'm so excited for Grace," Caroline said. Lily nodded and smiled.

"So am I. I just hope Ty gets to see his niece soon," Lily murmured. The waitress set cups of steaming coffee in front of them. Greg frowned when Lily ordered a bowl of fruit and a side of toast. "I don't think I could eat anything heavy," Lily said when Greg called her on it.

"Oh God, I think I'm going to throw up," Lily groaned an hour later. Greg took hold of Lily's elbow, holding her firmly in place.

"I know this is hard on you, but you need to stay strong for Ty and for the kids. You will sit here and you will stay calm and be here for your husband," Greg said gently but firmly. Lily nodded and took a deep breath as the judge told them to be seated. Lily listened to the opening arguments and wanted to yell at the district attorney when she said that Tyler had killed Carter and Jenni in cold blood. Greg's hand curled around Lily's and squeezed it gently, reassuringly.

"Mrs. Billings, how did you know the victims?" the district attorney asked. Lily took a deep breath before answering. "I dated Carter for nearly a year and I didn't really know Jenni very well," Lily answered. The district attorney asked a few more questions before turning over the questioning to Tyler's attorney.

"Mrs. Billings, why did you and Carter break up?" she wanted to know.

"Because Carter nearly killed me," Lily answered.

"Can you describe that event?" the lawyer wanted to know.

"I got pregnant and Carter wanted me to have an abortion. He didn't give me a say. I didn't have the abortion, and when he returned from a business trip and saw that I hadn't had the abortion, he stabbed me repeatedly in the abdomen. Carter caused me to miscarry, and after the attack, I couldn't stay in the relationship any longer, I didn't feel it was safe," Lily answered.

"And when did you meet Jenni?" the lawyer wanted to know.

"When Ty came back to town after graduating from college. I ran into them at his parents house when I was visiting with his sister Grace," Lily said.

"And you and Tyler weren't together at that time?"

"No."

"And yet, you had a daughter together," Tyler's lawyer said.

"Yes, we do. Her name is Mia," Lily answered.

"What happened there?" the lawyer asked. Lily met Tyler's eyes from across the room.

"To be honest, I don't feel what happened before either Ty or myself had ever met Jenni has any bearing on this case," Lily said, rubbing her eyes.

"Answer the question," the judge prodded gently. Lily sighed.

"I had a hard time when my uncle died, and we got caught up in a tornado of emotions and slept together," Lily answered.

"Lily, breathe," Greg encouraged after the judge had announced a break.

"Why couldn't they just believe this was self defense?" Lily asked, on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Because my daughter would NEVER do the things you're accusing her of," a woman said, her voice harsh and cold. Lily looked up and Caroline stood in front of Lily protectively; a move that surprised both Lily and Greg.

"My daughter in law is not a liar, and my son is a good man, something you both should know," Caroline said.

"I'm surprised you're defending this little whore," Jenni's mother said. Lily flushed.

"Lily may have made a few mistakes, but she is far from a whore," Caroline said. Lily and Greg exchanged surprised glances.

-Two weeks later-

"Mrs. Billings, I know this request will be hard for you to fulfill, but would you be willing to show the jury what was done to you during the time that you were held hostage by your captors?" the judge asked. Tyler's eyes widened, his anger obvious.

"Your honor, I must object to this!" the district attorney protested.

"Mrs. Billings?" the judge asked, ignoring the district attorney. Tyler looked back at Lily as she stood up.

"Lil, you don't have to do this," Tyler murmured. Lily squeezed his hand as she walked past him.

"My daughter didn't do anything to this little bitch!" Jenni's mother shouted from the back of the court room. Lily spun around, her eyes flashing with pain, hurt and embarrassment as she tore her sweater over her head. Due to the slice on her breasts, Lily couldn't wear a bra, despite how long it had been since she'd been free of Jenni and Carter. The jury gasped and Tyler swallowed hard as Lily slipped her skirt down her legs.

"I meant in private," the judge said, his voice just barely audible despite having the microphone at the bench in front of him.

"Your daughter did the majority of these wounds. Carter restrained me, raped me, hit me and tried to smother me! Your daughter told me the only way she'd let me leave alive was if I left my husband forever! You may have loved your daughter, and as well you should, you're her parents, but she was no angel!" Lily shouted, on the verge of hysterics. Tyler stood up, walked around the table he sat at with his lawyer, despite the protests of his lawyer and the district attorney and pulled Lily gently into the judge's chambers, the bailiff closed the door behind them and stood in front of the door with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Mr. Billings, you need to come out now," the bailiff said gently, opening the door. Tyler nodded and led Lily back to the court room. Greg took Lily's hand from Tyler and helped her sit down while Tyler rejoined his lawyer at the table.

Lily checked on David before returning to her bedroom to fold some clothes. She hadn't been able to return to the court house, her nerves wouldn't let her, and as much as she wanted to be at there when the jury came back with a verdict, David had woken up with a fever and she couldn't leave him with a babysitter. A knock on the door had Lily looking up. "Has the jury come back already?" Lily asked seeing Caroline in the hallway. Caroline shook her head and walked into the bedroom. Caroline sighed and handed Lily a key. "What's this?" Lily asked.

"Go to the hotel Lil and just get away from everything for a little while. I know David has the flu, I'll stay here and take care of the kids and call you if we need you to come back," Caroline suggested. Lily nodded and took the key from her mother in law.

"Thanks Caro," Lily said, grabbing a few pieces of clothing and stuffing them into a duffel bag and leaving the house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Grant, wake up," Grace said, her voice shaking.

"What's wrong?" Grant asked, groggily. Despite the fact it was nearly two in the afternoon, Grant was still fast asleep. He had been at work until nearly nine that morning working on getting a patient's medication regulated.

"I think my water broke," Grace answered. Grant sat up, instantly awake and his eyes met Grace's; her eyes were wide.

"Have you been having contractions?" Grant asked. Grace nodded.

"A few, but they've been sporadic and not too bad," Grace said. Grant swallowed but smiled gently.

"Sporadic they may have been, but if your water broke ..." Grant trailed off as Grace's eyes widened even more and she gasped in pain. "Let's go love," he added after the pain ended and Grace's breathing eased.

"I'm scared," Grace murmured as Grant helped her into the car. Grant smiled.

"You'll do fine," Grant assured Grace as he closed the passenger side door and hurried to the driver's door.

"What's up Caroline?" Greg asked, answering his cell phone in the hallway of the court house.

"I just got a call from Grant. Grace went into labor a few hours ago, he would have called earlier, but there wasn't time. We have another granddaughter," Caroline said. Greg smiled.

"That's wonderful. How's Lily?" Greg asked.

"She's stressed. I sent her to the hotel. Has the jury come back with a verdict yet?" Caroline wanted to know.

"Yes, but I don't want to talk about it over the phone. I'm on my way to the house now," Greg answered.

Lily was shaken awake and she sat up with a gasp. Lily blinked a few times before focusing on the face of the person who had shaken her awake. "Ty?" Lily asked, her eyes wide, hopeful.

"They found me not ..." Tyler's voice trailed off as Lily launched herself at him.

"I love you so much," Tyler groaned as he and Lily pulled each others clothes off.

"Ty wait," Lily gasped as Tyler reached for the buckle of her belt.

"What's wrong?" Tyler asked.

"I can't," Lily gasped.

"What? Why?" Tyler wanted to know. Lily stepped back so that her body was bathed in the light the lamp provided.

"Look at me Ty, I'm ugly," Lily whispered.

"Lily, you could never be ugly to me," Tyler assured her. He reached for her again but Lily took another step back.

"I want to, but I can't. Give me time Ty, please," Lily whispered. Tyler sighed but nodded.

"Take all the time that you need," Tyler assured her, pulling his shirt and jeans back on.

"You're not mad?" Lily asked.

"I love you Lily, and after what you've been through, I can't be mad at you for needing some time," Tyler promised. He handed Lily her tee-shirt and watched as it was pulled over her head. "Oh, mom called Dad right after the verdict got passed down; Grace had her baby. She and Grant named her Hope Rose," Tyler added. Lily smiled broadly.

"Finally, a baby for us to spoil and send home," she said. Tyler laughed.

"Are you hungry?" Tyler asked. Lily nodded and he reached for the phone. "I'll order us up some dinner and we can catch up on the last few months," Tyler said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tyler opened his eyes and turned towards Lily to find her laying on her side, silent tears streaming down her face. "What's wrong Lil?" Tyler asked gently, brushing his thumbs over her cheeks.

"Nothing," Lily said, her voice just above a whisper.

"Lily, you're crying, something's wrong," Tyler said.

"I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see Carter and Jenni," Lily said finally.

"Lily, listen to me. What happened wasn't your fault, Tyler said.

"I know," Lily whispered.

"I love you," Tyler murmured, pressing a kiss to Lily's forehead.

"Even looking like this?" Lily asked, pulling her night gown over her head. Tyler forced himself to look at the scars, healing, but still pink and angry.

"No matter what happens, how you look or how old you are, I will always love you," Tyler promised. "I hate that this happened, but it doesn't change my feelings a bit," he added when Lily looked at him in disbelief.

"How can it not?" Lily wanted to know. Tyler sighed and lit the candle that sat on his bed side table.

"Lily, when I married you, I promised in sickness and in health and to death do us part. I meant it," Tyler murmured.

"You promised that to Jenni too," Lily whispered. Tyler resisted the urge to growl and roll his eyes.

"I made a mistake with Jenni Lil, but you, Mia and David, you aren't mistakes. I don't know what I would do if I lost you," Tyler said. Lily moaned as Tyler's lips covered hers and all resistance melted away as they made gentle, yet passionate love.