A/N: So this is probably the last chapter cause I was really focusing on the Jessica/Charlotte relationship and well... I also changed the death scene slightly because it breaks my heart that they got no closure. Anyway, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER 7.

"Mom, I swear I didn't know it was Ali," Charlotte was crying uncontrollably, "I thought it was Bethany. She stole my clothes and – "

"What have you done?" Jessica's voice cracked, "What have you done?"

Charlotte flinched, "Mom, I'm sorry."

She cried as she watched her mom fill in her little sisters' grave. She really had thought it was Bethany. She'd never hurt Ali on purpose. Bethany stole her clothes. She had a way out of Radley and she was always threatening her mom. So when she'd seen… she'd thought… and she couldn't ever let anyone hurt her mom. The only person who'd ever loved her.

Except now that she was the one who had caused the pain her arms mom's eyes.

Her mom who could barely look at her. Who couldn't even return her hug. Charlotte watched her through the car window, out of tears. She didn't know when she'd see her mom again. She didn't even know if her mom ever wanted to see her again. If her mom would ever forgive her.

In one night, she'd lost any family she'd ever had.

She was back to being alone.

"Mommy, no," Charlotte shook her mom's body, "You can't leave me here. Please, mom," she cried into her mom's shoulder.

"Charlie."

Charlotte pulled back to see her mom's eyes struggling to open, "Mom! You're okay. You're going to be okay."

"No, Charlie," her mom's breathing was laboured, "I'm not."

Charlotte spoke through tears, "No, mom, you'll be fine. You're going to be fine. You're okay."

Her mom's shaking hand reached for her daughters' face, "Honey, listen to me. I'm not going to be around anymore."

"No, no, no," Charlotte shook her head, "Who did this do to you? I need to get you to hospital – "

"Charlotte," her mom struggled to speak over her hysterical daughter, "You need to listen to me. I don't know who attacked me. But you need to be really careful. And honey," her eyes fluttered, "don't wait too long. Alison's alive."

"I know she is," Charlotte sobbed into her mom's chest, "Mommy, do you hate me for hurting Ali? I'm sorry, I didn't – "

She felt her mom's hand in her hair, "I could never hate you," she mumbled, "You're my precious little girl. You were always my favourite."

Charlotte wiped her eyes as she pulled back, "Thank you," she choked out, "I love you, mom. For everything. You're my everything."

"I love you too, honey," Jessica's eyes grew heavy, "Alison loves you. She'll still love you when you tell her. She's your family. Don't live alone."

Charlotte couldn't see through her tears but when she wiped them away, her mom's eyes were closed. Her chest was still. Charlotte leant her head against Jessica's chest. Nothing. Her eyes blurred up again as she took her mom's limp hand and tried to find a pulse. Nothing.

"I can't…," she cried, "Mommy, wake up. Please, mom. You can't leave me here."

She stayed with her mom for over an hour. But she couldn't just leave her here like this. It wasn't right. Charlotte's head hurt. She couldn't seem to form a coherent thought. All she knew was that the person who loved her the most… maybe the only person who would ever love her… was dead. Gone. Forever.

Maybe that's why she did it. She couldn't comprehend that she might regret it later. That it might not be the smartest move. She wasn't acting rationally. She was acting emotionally. She couldn't stand the sight of her mom just lying there like that.

So she dug the grave.