First of all, I would like to dedicate this story to the alumna who died earlier this year. You're were the best person I have ever known.

Secondly, I am SO SORRY this has taken so long. Between school, homework, and various events, I barely had enough time to sleep let alone write. But thank you to everyone who followed this story all the way through. A special thanks to SparkleInTheSun for advertising for this story as much as she did. And super special thank yous to everyone who reviewed. I hope you enjoyed the story and this final chapter!!!

Sonny's lip quivered and she was unsure if she was hallucinating from the anxiety pill she had just taken. He nodded softly – terrified she would push him away. Sonny had half the mind to do it, too. "I thought you were in Mexico?"

"Ari found me a couple weeks ago. She was worried about your health, apparently she missed something. When she found out you were home, she offered to stay with me until I was ready to return as well. I told her I wanted to, but it took a while for us to start moving. I've been trying to build up the nerve to come find you," Chad explained. "Have you been crying?"

"I, um, a little, but I'm okay, it was just…"

"Did it have anything to do with this?" Chad held up the medicine capsule. "It's my fault, isn't it? You're on this medication because of me, and that means you're going through therapy because of me. Sonny, I'm so sorry," Chad wrapped his arms around her so he would not have to look at her anymore.

"Chad," Sonny pushed him away extremely softly. He did not want to look at her, but she needed to look at him in the eyes when she addressed him. "Yes, I am in therapy, and yes, I do have to take this medication because of the trauma caused by the kidnapping. And yes, Chad, it is your fault. My doctor has taught me that I cannot pretend like you are not to blame."

"I understand," Chad turned to leave.

"Wait, I'm not done," Sonny reached out and grabbed his wrist with her unbroken arm. "But she has made me understand something else too."

"What's that?" Chad cringed. He believed she had changed her mind about not pressing any charges against him.

"I found, someone, Chad," Sonny dropped his hand but took a step closer to him. The bruises had begun to fade, but she was still obviously damaged. Make-up did a fabulous job of covering the reminders when there were interviews. That way, no one would know she was still suffering.

"Oh," Chad's face dropped. "I'm happy for you, Sonny, I'm sure he's perfect for you."

"He is," Sonny smiled sadistically, unsure if she could make him wait much longer. "He protects me, he makes me smile, and the thought of being without him just hurts so badly." Sonny pulled Chad closer to her so he would not run off again. "Dr. Carmen showed me that I really relied on him more than I could imagine. Even though we've only know one another for a handful of months, I love him."

"Do I know him?" Chad inhaled sharply, praying it was not someone at Condor Studios.

"I think you're getting to know him more and more every day." She grabbed his hands again, finally leaving only a few inches between them. She gazed up into his eyes, imploring him to ask the question.

"Who is it, Sonny?" Chad sounded half irritated – relinquishing to Sonny's demand.

"You," Sonny quickly pushed herself onto her toes and connected her lips with his. He immediately responded by leaning down into her so she would not have to force herself off the ground.

"No, this isn't right," Chad quickly pulled off and turned away so he would not have to stare at the beautiful mess. "We can't. They already think you're crazy for defending me. I won't let you ruin yourself by keeping you for myself."

"Chad, if you leave, you'll be hurting me more than anything that happened before."

"Sonny, you're not stable minded, I'm sorry," Chad quickly turned his head and gave a soft smile, "Goodbye." Chad picked up a slow jog, but it was just fast enough to keep Sonny – who was a bit lightheaded from the medication – from following him.

"Chad," Sonny felt as though she had shouted, but it came out as a mere whimper.

***

"Sonny!" A male's voice called out from behind her once she had entered the building the following morning. Sonny quickly spun around to see Ferguson running straight towards her.

"Ferguson!" Sonny cheered, allowing him to engulf her in a giant, teddy-bear-like hug. His face was nearly flawless, and no one could recognize anymore that he had been hit. "How are you?"

"How am I?" he stepped back and held her out at arm's length. "How are you? I have so much to be grateful for, Sonny. If it weren't for you, I don't know what kind of damage Chad would have further inflicted. Plus, if you hadn't gone missing, no one would have come out looking for us. You saved my life."

"Are you okay, though? Chad hit you really hard, and you were pretty unconscious."

"I'm fine. The doctor said nothing was broken, and after the bruising faded, it was like nothing ever happened – well almost nothing."

"What do you mean?"

"They shut down both So Random and Mackenzie Falls while you guys were gone. I know So Random is back, but our show is still on shaky grounds. Without our Mackenzie, we can't do anything. Do you have any idea where he is? He must have told you."

Sonny thought back to the previous day. The kiss, the abandonment, and the hurt were all still too fresh in her mind. "No, I haven't seen or heard from him since he left me. I'm sorry."

***

"Tawni, what's that on the television?" Sonny looked over, putting her sketch pad down. Tawni turned on the volume and they focused together.

"This morning, Chad Dylan Cooper, fugitive felon, marched up the stairs of the District Courthouse and turned himself in for the kidnapping of Sonny Monroe. When asked why he finally turned himself in, he replied he had moral issues which needed to be rectified. His first court hearing will be held this afternoon. We will keep you updated as this story develops."

"What's wrong with him?" Sonny immediately exploded. "We were giving him a free pass. Tawni, can you drive me to the courthouse?"

"No," Tawni declared firmly.

"Why not?"

"You're shaking."

"What?"

"You're hands, they are shaking. I don't think it is a good time for you to confront him."

"I'm not confronting him," Sonny explained as she dug through her purse to find her anxiety pills. "I'm getting him out of a mess he caused – again!"

"Why do you even care? I mean it's Chad Dylan Cooper. He kidnapped you – remember?"

"Tawni, please," Sonny begged.

"You like him – don't you!"

"If I say yes, will you take me?"

Tawni stood, shaking her head and smiling. "Let's go, before we're too late."

***

"Sonny Monroe?" a strange man paced outside the court room. "Hi, I'm Chad's attorney. What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to get Chad out of this."

"I don't even know if that's possible, sweetie. The D.A. has an incredible case. She is trying to tack on extra charges which Chad will not confess to. She's even using your statement against him. Miss Monroe, I don't think there's any chance of winning this case. Even if I am the best lawyer in California."

"Well you're definitely the most expensive one!" Sonny cracked up, nudging him slightly, but the lawyer was too nervous to understand any jokes. "Besides, we don't have to win, we just have to keep him out of trouble, and I have the perfect argument."

"You do?" the lawyer and Tawni both stared her down dubiously.

"Hey, what else was I supposed to do all that time? Create sketches for two weeks straight? That's crazy!"

"Just get in there," Tawni pushed her a bit, remembering the numerous sketches they had created in her absence. Sonny nodded and cautiously entered the court room where Chad was sitting at the defense table with his hands in his hair, his elbows planted on the table, and his eyes glued to the floor.

At first she had snuck inside unnoticed, but as soon as one person saw her, they all did.

"Sonny?" Chad finally turned around, hearing the great uproar behind him. "What are you doing here?"

"Chad!" Sonny called out, literally being drowned by a ferocious wave of people.

"Order, order in this courtroom!" the judge reentered the room unannounced. "I will have order in my courtroom!" The judge's tone sent a cold silence through the room. Chad's attorney reentered the courtroom with Tawni. "Counselors, approach the bench," the judge order firmly. Both Chad's lawyer and the District Attorney walked up to the bench.

"Your honor, I must object to this! Sonny Monroe was not on the approved list of witnesses," the D.A. argued.

"Your honor," Chad's attorney fought back, "if the prosecution is permitted to use Miss Monroe's statement, then why can the defense not use her as a viable witness?"

"Sonny Monroe has not passed the needed psychiatric requirements."

"She obviously qualified to give a legally binding statement!"

"I'm going to allow this," the judge allowed and banged his gavel.

The defense attorney quickly ushered Sonny forward and began his questioning. "Sonny Monroe, approximately four weeks ago, Chad Dylan Cooper," Chad's lawyer pointed at him, "kidnapped you in cold blood – yes?"

"Yes," Sonny looked at him nervously.

"And is the statement you told the police department one-hundred percent accurate?"

"To the best of my ability, yes."

"So why in the world, Miss Monroe, are you defending him? Is it possible what you said wasn't true? Maybe he was protecting you. Maybe you were the one at fault and he was keeping you out of trouble with the police!"

"Objection, your honor, speculation!"

"Withdrawn, your honor," Chad's attorney accepted. Both Sonny and Chad were getting frustrated with him. If he was not careful, he was going to ruin both of them. What neither of them realized, was that the attorney was only trying to build the jurors' interest in her reasoning. "I'm sorry, Miss Monroe, why don't you just explain it to me yourself."

"When Chad first kidnapped me, I wanted him to rot in a tiny prison cell with someone named Big Burney as his only friend. But then, the longer I thought about it, the more I feared this happening. When I returned home and saw that Condor Studios had suspended both of our shows due to our absences, reality only confirmed those fears."

"Would you elaborate Miss Monroe? What fear exactly are you speaking of?"

"Coming from a rival show, it horribly pains me to say that Mackenzie Falls does indeed accumulate the most profits out of any of the shows filmed at Condor Studios. Without their Mackenzie, Mackenzie Falls is nothing. If the show was to be canceled because Chad Dylan Cooper could not fulfill his role, then Condor Studios would crumble. Mr. Condor would either have to find a brand new hit show which would take the world by storm within two days, or everyone would be out of a job! Now, I'm not saying Mackenzie Falls is the only thing that holds the entire studio set together, but if Chad gets in trouble, I get hurt even more. I'll lose my job, my friends, and possibly my career."

"You do not want any further harm inflicted on you, do you Miss Monroe?"

"No, sir. I don't. The relationship between Chad and I is so interlinked on a level that no one could possibly comprehend unless they were with us. If I go down, he'd go down. If he goes down today, I go down forever. Make him do community service or something. Just don't get rid of him. Please," Sonny turned to the jury, "I am begging you, don't make me suffer any more."

"That is all, your honor," Chad's attorney winked at Sonny and sat back down next to Chad who held a look of bewilderment on his face. Sonny relaxed slightly, forgetting the D.A. still had her turn in the spotlight.

***

"Hi, welcome to Tony's Big Burger, how may I help you today?" the young teenage boy stood behind the counter looking rather bored.

"Can I just have a Tony Burger and a small pop?" Ari asked softly. She had finally gotten Chad back to Hollywood and was prepared to leave for Santa Fe the following morning.

Connie's head snapped up. That voice – it was unmistakable. "You," Connie's voice quivered.

"Excuse me?" Ari turned around with her greasy bag in one hand. Connie swatted the bag to the ground. "Hey! That was my lunch!"

"You! It's you!" Connie continued to repeat. "You're the person on the phone! You're the one who would not get my Sonny to safety!"

"Mrs. Monroe?" Ari finally understood.

"Yes, it's me. But more importantly, who are you? I need to know for the police statement when I call 911!"

"Mrs. Monroe, you need to calm down. Let me explain."

"Explain? No! You sheltered Chad Dylan Cooper while he kidnapped my daughter. You had a million opportunities to call the police and you didn't. You wouldn't even tell me where she was. You let that monster leave with her again. If it wasn't for your ignorance, she wouldn't have been involved in that car accident. My baby can't sleep at night thanks to you."

"Connie, I did everything I could for Sonny. If I called the cops, we don't know what Chad could have done. He was in a horrible mental state those nights we were together. I didn't know if he had a weapon. I didn't know what lengths he would go to. I can tell you this, though. He had no intention of hurting her. Chad was scared."

"So you let him go?" Connie screamed.

"I tried to convince him to stay. But he found out about Sonny's phone call to you. I warned Sonny that if I helped her get a phone, he would take her away, but she insisted upon it, because she was so worried about you."

"Listen, you, I know my daughter is kind, gentle, and loving. I know she'll do anything to keep me from worrying. I'm not concerned about my daughter. You're the one I'm turning in tonight."

There was a loud roar coming from the corner of the building. Connie and Ari looked over to see what was going on. Everyone in the building gathered around a large television attached to the ceiling. The two listened to the words, but could not believe any of it.

"In the midst of the hearing of confessed felon, Chad Dylan Cooper, his victim, Sonny Monroe, dashed into the courtroom. During the defense questioning, Monroe revealed she did not want Cooper to get penalized for her own personal benefit," the report announced. Both women's jaws dropped. "We now take you live to the courtroom where the District Attorney has begun questioning on behalf of the prosecution."

***

"Would you please state your name for the people of the jury," the District Attorney began.

"Sonny Monroe," Sonny answered confidently. Her first round of questioning with Chad's lawyer had gone so well, she thought this part would be easy.

"And Miss Monroe, can you please summarize what happened in the first two weeks of this past month?"

"I was kidnapped," Sonny said remorsefully but blatantly. The jury knew what had happened, the judge knew what had happened, and the entire world knew what had happened. It was not a real shocker. The only point the D.A. was trying to prove, was that Sonny had been kidnapped – a crime.

"And who kidnapped you, Miss Monroe?"

"Chad," Sonny muttered.

"Who?" The D.A. pushed. "Can you please give us the full name of your attacker and tell me if said person is sitting somewhere in this court room."

"It was Chad Dylan Cooper, and he's sitting right there. But my word is irrelevant – he's already confessed!"

"It's just for the record, Miss Monroe, please do not speak out of turn. Now, you were hospitalized immediately following your return; is this correct?"

"Yes, but a missing person must be taken to the hospital if the police are involved. It's not unusual."

"No, Miss Monroe, you're right, but what is unusual is the amount of time you were forced to spend in the hospital. Would you care to explain what for and why you were in the hospital for at least a week?" Sonny bit her lip but continued slowly. The judge was going to make her reply anyways. Everyone sat in shock as they heard the horrible list of injuries and illnesses Sonny had accrued over her time with Chad.

"And Miss Monroe, would you not say that this was a crime?"

"No, it was, that is what I am saying. I mean, he has already admitted to kidnapping me. And I get that the state wishes to press charges beyond what he has confessed to, but instead of sending him to jail, please just have him do community service."

"I'm going to show you some pictures, Miss Monroe, and I would like you to tell me if any of these people should 'just do community service.'" The D.A. walked over to her briefcase and pulled out multiple pictures of past criminals. All of these men were big, burly, convicted kidnappers. Their mug shots alone made one nervous.

"Matthew Lammings, age 46. Two years ago, Mr. Lammings kidnapped 16-year-old Margaret Clark. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison. Stanley Plink, age 23, kidnapped 10-year-old Jackson Michaels. 11 years in prison. Christopher Gray, age 38, kidnapped 13-year-old Michelle Davis and her 6-year-old younger brother. 18 years in prison. Finally, Dr. Richard Conreaux, age 39, department head of one of the largest business chains here on the West Coast. On December 24, 2002 – Christmas Eve – Dr. Conreaux kidnapped his best friend's 14-year-old daughter, Kristen Elizabeth straight from her bed. I'm sure that was not the Christmas Day surprise her family was expecting. This is a picture of 16-year-old Kristen Elizabeth the day she was found, two painful years later."

The D.A. showed the whole court two pictures. One was of Kristen Elizabeth, pale, beaten, barely alive, and another of Sonny. It was the picture of Sonny Officer Buck had taken of her on Marshall's desk. The similarity of the two pictures was overwhelming. Kristen Elizabeth was also a brunette teenager who had a cut on her forehead, a broken arm, and was covered in bruises. She had lost even more weight than Sonny had, but after two years, Sonny could imagine why. It was a dirty trick the District Attorney was playing – but it was certainly working.

"All these men were fully convicted of the crimes they committed. Now, I'm sorry, but the similarity between the two is irrefutable. Could it be any less obvious that Chad Dylan Cooper is guilty of battery, kidnapping, and welfare neglect?"

"Objection, your honor!" Chad's attorney exploded. "Unlawful comparison to unrelated crimes and there was no question directed at Miss Monroe."

"Sustained. You know better, counselor," the judge admonished.

"My apologies, your honor," the D.A. turned around and gave Chad's attorney a quick smirk. Even if her attempt was discredited, there were certain things the jury members could not unsee or unhear. The D.A. quickly finished her questioning, and Sonny was permitted to leave the stand. She was shaking slightly from the barrage of questions, but Tawni assured her that she had done fine.

"We will now take a recess while the jury deliberates. Court is adjourned for six hours," the judge hit his gavel against his desk and stood to leave.

***

"May I have a moment alone with Sonny?" Chad asked once he, his attorney, Tawni, and Sonny had all entered the private room they were forced to stay in. Because Chad had technically been arrested, he could not leave the room.

"Chad, I'm not sure if that is a good idea," his attorney warned.

"I'm not going to hurt her. I just want to speak with her for a moment. We haven't seen one another in a long time."

The lawyer nodded and slowly pulled Tawni from the room. "I'll be right outside if you need anything," he whispered in Sonny's ear. Sonny nodded but knew that she was perfectly safe already.

For a long time, the two just stared at one another. It was good to see him again without the large, bulky, black glasses. His blond hair was beginning to push through the black dye. His face had lost its tension.

"What were you thinking?" he finally spoke. "You could have gotten yourself in trouble as well." Chad took a step closer to Sonny who firmly stood her own ground.

"I'm here to help you."

"I don't need your help, Sonny."

"Apparently you do!"

"Why do you say that?"

"I don't know. It's just a feeling – more like a dream. And you told me you had one too, so don't act like you don't. Why won't you just let me help you?"

"Because I don't want you to get hurt more than you already are. I mean look at you! The bruises have faded, but you still look sleep deprived and emaciated, and your arm is broken! You had kidney failure, Sonny! And I completely ignored it. I'm sorry."

"I know you are, Chad, and I have forgiven you. I completely understand what happened and I don't blame you for everything."

"One more question. When you said that you were asking for community service only for your own benefit, was that completely true?"

"Not really," Sonny faded off. "It was also for Tawni, Grady, Nico, Zora, and Marshall." Chad's face dropped. Sonny giggled a little and Chad instantly knew she was kidding. "Of course it was for you, Chad. Why else would I have gone through all of that trouble?"

"I-I-I love you, Sonny Monroe." Chad crossed the rest of the floor and grabbed her hands. "But it's too dangerous for you to be with me." His eyes lost eye contact with hers. "Whenever I'm near you, I hurt you."

"That is not true, Chad," Sonny's eyes began to tear. "You are the one person I feel really safe with. The only time you really hurt me was when you left me. Don't leave me again, Chad, don't."

"We're going to have to wait until the jury's decision."

"Then will you at least sign my cast? You're the only one who has not yet signed it." Chad hesitantly agreed and found a marker. Sonny could not help but smile as his arm brushed against hers as it positioned the marker over the cast.

"Hey, guys, sorry to interrupt, but the jury is in," Chad's lawyer opened the door.

"Already? But it's only been like ten minutes!" Chad fret.

"Come on," Sonny encouraged, "We'll do it together."

***

Sonny sat directly behind Chad as the judge and jury members entered the courtroom.

"Mr. Foreman, would you please stand and read the jury's decisions," the judge ordered.

"Yes, your honor," the foreman of the jury stood. "In the case of California against Chad Dylan Cooper, for the charge of kidnapping a minor, we find the defendant guilty." Chad's heart sunk, even though it was a predicted conviction. "For the charge of battery, we find the defendant not guilty." Chad's spirit soared. If he had to go to jail, at least he would be going with people knowing he would never lay a hand on her. "And for the charge of neglect, we find the defendant not guilty."

"Thank you, Mr. Foreman. Mr. Cooper, please rise for your sentencing," the judge demanded. "Well, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Chad Dylan Cooper, is there anything you would like to say in your defense."

"Yes, your honor. I would like to tell Sonny Monroe how truly sorry I am for what happened. It was stupid and I don't know how it happened and why I carried it on for so long. And I'm sorry to everyone who worried so desperately for us. This was entirely my fault, and I'm sorry."

"Chad Dylan Cooper, I have heard quite a few different ideas as to how to handle your case. But there is only one I think will work." Chad held his breath for the judge. "I have decided to follow Miss Monroe's idea and order you to one-thousand hours of community service. You will be put on probation for the next two years minimum. Mr. Cooper, I do not want to see you in my court room again. Do you firmly understand?"

"Yes, yes your honor," Chad glowed.

"In the case of California vs. Chad Dylan Cooper, Mr. Cooper, you are free to leave. Court is adjourned."

Then whole courtroom erupted with joyous noise. Certain people seemed frustrated by the judge's decision, but there was one girl who seemed perfectly content.

"You saved me," Chad leaned over the railing separating him from Sonny. "You helped me. I couldn't have done without you, Sonny Monroe. Don't ever leave me. If I've said it once, I'll say it again. I am so sorry for everything. But I want to make up for my wrongs." At last, Chad placed his hand on the back of Sonny's head and pulled her willingly into a kiss. She could feel the warmth in his touch. He could smell the scent of her hair. She was not being hurt by his gentle hands. He seemed to care about nothing else but her in that very moment.

"Sonny Monroe," Connie marched into the courtroom.

"Mom," Sonny quickly pulled away, acting as if she was trying to hide where she was. "What brings you along?"

"Sonny Monroe, what were you thinking? You are not in the right mental state to take this kind of stress on."

"No, Mom, I think for the first time in a long time, I'm okay," Sonny reached out and grabbed Chad's hand, interlinking their fingers. "Everything is going to be just fine."

***

EPILOGUE

"Chad, please," Sonny begged in a grave tone. Every muscle lining her body twitched and ached with fear. Her legs were becoming weaker by the second. She did not know how long it would take for them to fail completely. "Chad, don't, I'm begging you."

"I'm sorry, Sonny, but I just can't do it anymore," Chad sneered. The boy held the girl roughly by her shoulders, forcing her to look over the edge of a large cliff.

"But Chad, I helped you – I did!" Sonny's voice finally cracked. "I kept you out of trouble, I saved your career, we're together, we're happy! You promised you were going to take care of me."

"I'm sorry, Sonny, I love you, I always have, and I always will, but I just can't."

"Chad, please!" Sonny cried as she felt her feet sliding through gravel – it hurt. Sonny looked down and saw she was barefooted. Chad's hands seemed to be causing her a tremendous amount of pain wherever they touched her. She looked over her shoulder at the black-haired boy pushing her forward. "I love you, Chad, please don't do this." Sonny's toes touched the end of the ground. All that was left before her was air. Digging her heels into rock, bits and pieces broke off and tumbled down the side – a bleak picture that was soon to include her.

"Goodbye, Sonny," Chad gave one final push. Sonny's arms flailed, trying to catch his arm, but down she fell, screaming his name all the way to the bottom.

The spiked rocks at the bottom signaled sudden death. Sonny watched them get closer and closer. She let out one final cry – a somewhat final huzzah on life – then the world went black.

Sonny shot up from the bus seat she was sitting it. She, Chad, Tawni, and Ferguson had been sent on a small road trip across the state to help cast new actors for a new television series Mr. Condor had thought up. Sonny looked down behind her. Her 'pillow' was still sleeping quietly and seemed not to be shaken by the sudden burst. Chad, whose blonde hair had fully come through, still slept like a baby, in the same position she had fallen asleep on. Looking around, Sonny noticed Tawni and Ferguson were still deeply asleep and the only other one awake was the bus driver himself. The coach bus was decent but a little overzealous for four people. The driver of the grand vehicle did not appear to notice her nightmare.

It had been over a year since the kidnapping incident. Chad had just finished the last bit of his community service – three and a half hours every day except Sundays all year. Sonny had stopped seeing Dr. Carmen, her psychiatrist, several months before. Everything had returned to normal – well, almost everything.

Sonny lay back down on top of her boyfriend and nuzzled her head into his neck, finding her previous position. She wanted to fall asleep again in his arms, but the dream had shaken her awake. She had forgiven him, they had moved on, he never hurt her ever, and yet she was still having these horrible nightmares almost weekly. Sometimes, some scars are just cut too deep.

THE END