Chapter 334: Closure

"I'd known Braxton was a bastard and I warned you too!" Charlie grumbles, blinking back her tears.

I don't know if this is just hormones, or if she would be crying even if she wasn't pregnant. Normally she's pretty reserved. But I guess this is a time when it's okay to cry.

I don't really feel like talking to anyone about what happened yet. I'm sure I'll tell the girls... later. Just not now. Maybe they will finally come clean about what it was like for them. I know Jos can't remember most of it, but she remembers what it was like to be with James.

I'm still overwhelmed and I try to blink back my tears. This is all really a lot right now.

When I pull back from my sisters embrace, Liam wraps a protective arm around me and kisses my temple. "See, we were all looking for you. And none of us were giving up."

That made me feel better.

And then there was Jeff! Beaming at me from the center of the room.

I can't help a silly giggle as he rolls out a trolly with a huge chocolate cake on it! I guess Rick must've called him as soon as he bribed me to go to the hospital.

"Liv! The house has been way too quiet without your chaos! I figured I'd have to bribe you to stay home more often," he chuckled handing me and Liam both a slice of chocolate cake. "Here is for the little Drama Queen and the Hero," he says with a wink.

We walked around the room, chatting with family and friends. We eventually made our way over to Levi and Brad, and a few others of Liam's friends. They both gave me a hug too! (And Liam didn't even look jealous about it!)

"Well, we have some news," Brad says with a smirk. "Ava's in custody."

"Along with her mom. They were both trying to book-it out of town. I was driving and following while Brad was calling for back up!" Levi cheered. "It was so fucking cool!"

"It was a real high-speed chase! Anyway, they are both behind bars now, and they will never be bothering your family again!" Brad pronounces.

"Thank God!" Josie sighs, coming up behind us. "That whole family is messed up. I didn't charge Beth with anything when I finally moved in with Rick, only because I knew Ava needed her. But now that I think about it, it might have been better to have Ava in an orphanage than stay with her mother. She was a bad influence," she grumbled, softly bouncing my niece on her shoulder.

"Can I hold her?" I ask. I haven't held her in a few days, and I really want something good right now. I want to forget all the horrors of the last few days and just enjoy a small bundle of happy in my arms.

"Sure," Jos beams, carefully placing the baby in my arms.

Sophie looks up at me with big curious eyes. She probably doesn't remember me right now. That's okay. She will eventually. But the smiles she sends me has me giggling and I look up.

There is a gentle look in Liam's eyes as he watches me with Sophie. I can't help but blushing.

"You wanna hold her?" I ask. He really should've been with me the night she was born. I think he deserves to hold her now. He's my hero, after all.

"Me?" He asks a little startled.

"Yeah! You've held a baby before, right?" I tease.

"Well, yeah I have, but..."

I hold her out to him and he carefully takes her, pulling him into his arms and starts cooing at her. It's the most adorable thing.

After what feels like forever, I'm tired. My adrenaline has crashed and I just need to lie down.

I give my sisters a kiss on the cheek before pulling Liam behind me and up the stairs.