The trial came faster then I would have liked. Between the playoffs, moving, selling Alley's house and her being close to her due date, our plate was full.

I still was iffy about Alley testifying. I know that her therapist really wanted her to because it was supposed to provide closure, but I didn't want Alley to relive that night.

Fuck, I didn't want to have to relive it either, but I would bare that cross for Alley to make sure her and our child was safe.

We had told our parents about the engagement and of course my parents were so excited.

Alley's dad and I had a long talk before I even asked her, so when she told her parents he knew and was happy for her. Her mom on the other hand believed it was because she was pregnant that I professed my undying love.

Her and Alley had a huge fight over the phone and hadn't spoken to each other in over a month. I was glad though that my parents thought of her as a 2nd daughter, so she at least had them and her dad for support.

Her dad had flown down the week of the trial to give Alley some extra support. I was glad he was there for her too. She really missed him and you could tell he missed his daughter.

The day of us having to testify finally came and we had to sit in this really hot, small room and wait for our name to be called.

We weren't allowed to talk about what we were going to say and the court officer watching us made sure of that.

I was sitting there with Alley and my best friend Jeff, when the court officer called Alley's name. She got up and I gave her a hug and a kiss wanting so bad to be in that courtroom with her. Her dad was in there so at least she had him there.

After a little over an hour, the court officer called my name and I stood up and made my way to the courtroom.

As I was walking up I saw Alley sitting beside her dad and it looked like she had been crying.

I just wanted to take her in my arms at that moment and take her away from all this.

I got into the witness box and stood there and got sworn in.

I looked over to the defense table and saw Nikki there. She looked over and smiled at me and believe it or not winked at me. I turned my head back and tried to focus on what the District Attorney was asking me.

"Please state your name for the record", he asked me.

"Ryan Anderson," I said.

"Now, Mr. Anderson can you please state the nature of your relationship with the defendant," he said to me.

"Nikki and I used to see each other," I say not really wanting to go into the details. It wasn't a relationship, it was just sex and maybe a dinner here and there.

"Please take us back to the night where you were facetiming your girlfriend and the defendant here showed up unannounced," he asked me.

I explained to the jury and judge what happened and what I saw and heard through the facetime call.

How I begged Nikki not to hurt Alley and how I heard Alley begging for her life.

How my heart broke when Alley thought her time was up and recited verbatim what she had said to me.

I started to tear up when I got to the part when I heard the shot and the call ended and I had no idea what had happened till I was back in Boston an hour later.

The District Attorney thanked me for my testimony and then it was her lawyer's chance to question me.

"Mr. Anderson, is it true that you and my client had more than just a going out for dinner relationship. That you and my client were intimate on several occasions?" she asked me.

"Yes, we did have an intimate relationship", I answered.

"This relationship lasted over several years though, no? 4 to be exact?" She asked looking at me.

"I guess, but if it was 4 years it was on an off, not like it was 4 straight years," I said.

"And then you met Ms. Hudson and you never saw my client after that?" She asked

"No, after Alley came back into my life, I didn't see Nikki again," I said.

"Interesting Mr. Anderson, then why did you not have her name taken off the authorized list of people to be let into your gated community?" She asked me.

Fuck, I think to myself, that is how she got in that night.

"I guess I forgot I had even authorized her. I hadn't seen her in so long," I said looking at Alley.

"Or was it that you were just leading my client on. Letting her think you were trying to make her jealous by dating Ms. Hudson?" She asked me.

"That is not at all what I was doing. When I realized that Alley was living in Boston, I forgot about any other woman that I was seeing. My only focus was Alley." I said starting to get a little angry.

"So you were seeing more than one woman at a time?" She asks looking right at me.

"Yes, I'm not particularly proud of my actions from the past. I was in a bad place and trying to fill a void with women, but it all changed when I got Alley back," I answered.

"So I guess some could say what happened that night was your fault with all your womanizing ways?" She asked.

"Listen, I take responsibility for hurting Nikki emotionally and not being up front that I want to stop seeing her, but I figured she would get the hint when I stopped calling and answering her calls. Hell I went as far to block her number. I do not however take responsibility for what happened that night. Nikki came over on her own, I hadn't talked to her in months and she nearly killed my fiancée and my unborn child. That is on her." I say getting emotional again and looking at Alley.

She is tucked into her dad's side and is starting to cry.

"Well whatever helps you sleep at night Mr. Anderson," she said to me.

"Objection" says that District Attorney standing up.

"Withdrawn, I am done questioning this witness," she said.

"You can step down sir", the judge tells me.

I nod and step down. Immediately going to Alley. She unravels herself from her dad and I wrap my arms around her tightly.

"I love you so much Doc," I whisper in her ear

"I love you too," she whispers back.

Jeff is up next and the District Attorney asks him to recall what he witnessed. He tells his story much like mine.

The defense lawyer is next and she once again attacks my character and tries to blame me for all of this. Saying her client is a victim as much as Alley is.

Jeff holds his own and defends me and my character as he looks straight at me. His testimony is shorter than mine and Alleys and he gets excused.

The case after closing arguments gets handed over to the jury.

Alley and I head out with her dad to wait and see if the jury comes back today.

On our way out Nikki starts calling out my name and begging me to look at her and starts professing her love for me.

I walk out quickly with Alley and her dad not even bother to acknowledge Nikki's pleas.

Sitting on the bench outside the courtroom I just hold Alley and keep asking her how she is.

"I'm okay. I was a little shook up after I got done up there, but I survived and my therapist was right it is a form of closure, she says to me.

"Ryan I respect what you said up there and am proud you took responsibility for your part in hurting that woman," Alley's dad says patting me on the shoulder.

"Thank you sir," I say looking up at him.

The District Attorney comes over to us about an hour later and tells us that the jury is back with a verdict.

We all head into the court house and I sit holding Alley's hand.

"Madame forewoman has the jury reached a verdict?, the Judge asks.

"We have your honor", she says.

"On count one of indictment, Assault with a deadly weapon, how do you find the defendant?" he asks.

"We find the defendant guilty", she says.

"On count two of the indictment, Forcible Confinement, how do you find the defendant?" he asks.

"We find the defendant guilty," she says.

"On count three of the indictment, Trespassing on private property, how do you find the defendant?" he asks

"We find the defendant guilty," she says.

Alley and I both looked at each other and start to cry and hugged each other. It was finally over and we could move on.

For everything Nikki was sentenced to 10 years in prison and had a life time restraining order against her that covered myself, Alley and any children we would have.

That night when we got home we all were very tired. We had some dinner and Alley and I went to bed.

As we were wrapped in each others arms she turned to me and said, "I want to get married as soon as possible Ry. Life is too short to wait to be your wife."

"You got it Doc. I will move heaven and earth to make it happen," I say to her.