Yea, I know...2 months...sorry a lots been going on... bsb concerts and going to NY for the album release... finding out I gotta find a place to live...yea life happened lol... but here is another chappy and I hope you are still interested.

IIIIIIIII

The day came for the trial to begin. Ryan had be agonizing over this for the past two weeks. Seeing the man who was supposed to be a father to him but instead was his tormentor. They walked into the court room and Sandy, Ryan and his lawyer took a seat at the prosecution table. Ryan looked over and saw his fathers lawyer but his father wasn't in the room yet. He looked around and there was a good size crowd in the court room. It made Ryan very nervous. 'Why do all these people have to be here?' He thought. 'They are all going to see and hear what I went though.' Ryan suddenly got very nervous. Sandy put a hand on his shoulder.

"It will be ok." He whispered sensing Ryan's fear. Ryan looked over at him hoping he was right. Ryan heard a door open and saw his father come in. He was wearing an orange jumpsuit and his wrists and ankles were shackled. Ryan felt his breath leave him. His father glared at him and Ryan looked away, still afraid of him. "Don't worry. I'm here." Sandy said trying to get Ryan to calm down a bit. His father sat down.

Since his father was pleading guilty there was no jury. The judge was going to look at the evidence and determine how long his prison sentence was going to be.

"Please rise for Judge Carter." The bailiff stated and everyone rose to their feet. The judge walked in and sat down.

"Be seated." He stated and everyone sat down. "The case of State vs. Atwood is now in session." he stated and looked down at the folder on his desk the up at John. "John Atwood you were caught holding Caleb Nichol and your son Ryan Atwood hostage. From what I see here the evidence is not in your favor at all. The pictures that are here are unbelievable." The judge then looked over at Ryan. "I heard you had a pretty bad time of it growing up with your father." The judge stated. Ryan swallowed and nodded.

"Yes sir." He said just loud enough for him to hear.

"The records go back pretty far on this." The judge stated absently. "Well I have already gone over everything in my chambers so I already know what my ruling is. Mr. Atwood please stand." The judge said and John stood up. "I sentence you to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole." He stated and Ryan heard Seth and Kirsten behind him say a small 'yes'. "What you have done to these two people, especially your own flesh and blood is despicable. For all that you have put this boy through in his young life you should be ashamed." The judge stated. "You will be sent to a maximum security prison so you can not escape this time. Court adjourned." The judge banged his gavel, everyone stood and the judge got up and left the court room. Ryan was in shock. That was quick. He felt Sandy hug him and Seth, Kirsten and Caleb came soon after. He looked over Sandy's shoulder at his biological father.

"I'll get you for this you little shit!" John yelled at Ryan. Sandy looked over at him.

"I wouldn't be yelling shit like that Mr. Atwood. And if Ryan even so much gets a headache thinking about you then you're the one that will be hurting." Sandy said and John was lead out of the room. Sandy turned back to his family.

"Ready to go home?" He asked and they all nodded.

IIIIII

The ride home was pretty silent. Everyone was taking in what just happened. They pulled into the driveway and Ryan was the first to hop out of the car.

"I'm uh just gonna go get changed." He said before disappearing around the back to the pool house. He needed time to think and be alone. He still couldn't grasp what happened. The kidnaping and his own father getting a life sentence. He couldn't grasp that these people he lived with still wanted him, after all that. Maybe he was meant to be with this family. He sat on his bed for a while lost in thought. After a while he heard a knock and someone open the door.

"Hey kid, You've been in here a while." It was sandy. "You're still in you're suit too." He sat down next to Ryan.

"Oh, yea..um I kinda got side tracked." Ryan stated still looking down.

"It's gonna be ok. We will get though this." Sandy said and Ryan nodded.

"I hope so." Ryan stated looking up, unsure. Then for some reason unknown to him he blurted something out he never thought he would. "Would you guys adopt me?" Sandy was taken back by his question and even Ryan was in shock. "I mean um...well...never mind." What the hell was he thinking. Sandy quickly recovered.

"We have thought about that yes. But we weren't sure how you felt on it." Sandy stated much to Ryan's surprise.

"Really?" He asked and Sandy nodded.

"Really. Did you want to be?" Sandy asked making sure Ryan's question wasn't a fluke.

"It would mean my folks could never come back and take me back...ever...right?" Ryan asked. He wanted to make sure that his mother or father couldn't come back to 'claim' him.

"Yes. They couldn't take you back." Sandy said. Ryan smiled.

"Would you?" Ryan asked. Sandy smiled.

"Thats the best gift we will ever get." Sandy said. "Lets go tell everyone inside." Sandy stated and got up. Ryan got up too still dressed in his suit and headed in to the house. They walked in and told everyone the news. Kirsten was so happy she nearly suffocated him with a hug. Seth had to tell her to let go.

"Mom, he's turning blue. Let go." He laughed. She laughed a bit and mumbled a sorry. She ordered in some pizza, Ryan's favorite and they ate as a family, a real family.

When they were done eating Ryan began to help Kirsten clear off the table.

"Thanks sweetie." She said to him as they walked to the sink.

"No problem, mom." He said and she looked back at him in shock at first then she smiled and began to cry. He looked at her confused. She saw his confusion and went over to hug him.

"You don't know how much that means to me." She said pulling away and cupping his face in her hands. He smiled shyly.

"I'm going to go get the other plates." He said and went into the dining room for the other plates. Kirsten watched from the door way. "Dad can you hand me your plate?" Ryan asked and Sandy looked up at him, he to in shock. Ryan said it with such ease. Ryan knew that Seth was looking at him in shock as well. Sandy handed him the plate and Ryan said thanks and headed back to the kitchen.

Ryan smiled to himself. It felt good and natural to call them mom and dad. Life was looking up.

IIIIIIIIIIIII

ok that's it ! Might be a sequel... I left it open but for right now I have been to busy...so we will see... please let me know what you think!

Edit: I said this before I don't know anything about the legal mumbo jumbo... someone pointed out that the case was set up wrong... should be state vs atwood and not the way I had it... I fixed that. Also the trial and stuff was fast cause I wanted to finish the story... I have little time for writing at the moment.

Also spell check doesn't catch everything... I am not the best speller in the world...so sue me...sheesh