Error Number: 505

24 - glory to god

Eleanor's POV:

-3 months later-

I sit in a courtroom next to my lawyer and Rachel as the judge comes back into the room to sentence my pastor. Rachel has little to no clue what's going on, but she grabs my hand and squeezes it tight.

She sits down. The jury stands up. My stomach drops.

"The jury finds the defendant guilty on two counts of child sexual abuse and two counts of pornography. You're sentenced to 50 years with no possibility of parole."

The weight that gets lifted off of my shoulders makes me burst into tears. Rachel looks at me.

"Uh-oh. Was that good or bad, Ellie?"

"That was so good, baby! He's going to jail!" I pull her into my arms.

"Oh. Yay," she whispers into my shoulder. "He can't hurt me anymore?"

"No baby. He can't hurt you anymore." I rub her back and hold her tighter. She clings onto me. I stand up with her in my arms. She wraps her legs around my waist and buries her head into my shoulder.

"Thank you," she says softly. I stroke her hair before putting her down. I hug Eden first, who holds me so tight I can't breathe. But that's okay. I'm holding her back just as tight. I sob into her shoulder.

"I'm so proud of you," she says, voice breaking. She kisses my head.

"I'm so fucking proud of you, Eleanor." I pull away and smile. She kisses me.

I recognize the gaze of him on me, but for the first time ever in my lifetime, I'm not scared. I'm relieved.

"You are so amazing. Ellie- you are so fucking amazing." I smile and laugh. She wipes my tears.

"I feel so- like, light!" I smile and take a deep breath. "I can breathe. I-" I laugh. I laugh until I start to cry again. I hug her. Again.

"I don't know how to feel!" I sob.

"I know. I know baby. It's okay. It's okay!" She strokes my hair. "I'm right here. Okay? I'm not going anywhere." I hold her tight. She holds me tighter.

"I'm so so so so so so proud of you, Eleanor," she whispers. "You're so amazing. I knew you could do it." She strokes my hair.

"This shit has me crying fuck," Adina says. I pull away and hug Maria. She holds me tight.

"I'm so proud of you," she says. She pulls away. "So proud of you."

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Eden's POV:

I take her out to the bookstore and fabric store so she can get some yarn and books she wants. And then I take her out for ice cream.

"So, how do you feel?" I ask her. She puts a spoonful of vanilla with cookie dough in her mouth.

"I feel... relieved," she says. "Of course. But... I'm also- like, terrified. To go back to school after this. Because everyone's going to know, you know? And I don't want their fake ass sympathy so they can get into my business."

"Yeah," I say, nodding.

"And it's like- they're all gonna pretend they cared. And they noticed. When they didn't. They- they didn't." She looks at me.

"I was gonna say you did but- did you? Like- actually?" I nod.

"That's what prompted me to hack your phone. I mean- I was... broken myself I knew you were too. I knew-" I swallow. "The signs. So I looked. And then- there were... more signs."

"Like me going insane."

"You were just untreated mama," I say. "That's not fair to yourself don't do that."

"It's kinda embarrassing." She chuckles. "I became like- scarily obsessed with you it was bad. I was so scared of losing the one person who knew me for who I was and didn't leave. But- I mean..."

"It was a valid fear, Ellie," I say.

"Crazy times those were!" She chuckles and looks down at her hands. I reach across the table and grab them. She looks up at me.

"Thank you for not leaving me, Eden. And thank you for trusting me enough to... give me a second chance."

"I've loved you ever since 6th grade, Ellie I wouldn't give up on you that easy. And I never will. I want you to show me your true self because I will love you no matter what," I say.

She comes to my side of the table and hugs me. I stand up so I can embrace her fully.

"I love you," she says. "And- I want you to be my girlfriend."

"Yes," I say. "Yes of course I will, baby." She grins and hugs me again but tighter. I look at her and put my hands on her face.

"My beautiful baby." I kiss her forehead. "Do you wanna go home?" She nods.

"Okay," I whisper.

I drive us home. My mom sits at the island with Kila. They look at us.

"Hi," I say.

"Hi, my loves," my mom says. We go upstairs and into my room.

"Eden, is it wrong of me to be horny right now?"

"Ellie, it's you. You're always horny." She sighs.

"It feels inappropriate! But my god Eden I'm so horny."

"Okay, mama get off then!" I say laughing. I take off my shirt and my bra.

"I'm going to shower though." I blow her a kiss and get in the shower. I hear the door open midway through.

"Eden."

It's Ellie of course.

"Yes?"

"I want to see your boobs." I laugh.

"Eleanor!" I say laughing.

"Can I get in the shower with you?"

"Yes, mama. Come on." She gets in with me and looks directly at my boobs. She leans against the wall and starts to rub her clit.

And of course, I step closer to her and move her hand. I start to rub her clit for her. She whimpers and arches her back off of the wall.

"Eden," She moans. "I'm gonna cum."

"Do it." She sighs and finishes. She looks up at me and kisses me. She puts her arms around my neck and deepens it. She pulls away, looks at me, and then kisses me again.

"I love you."

"I love you too." She kisses me. Again.

"Okay. Now you can finish your shower." I laugh and grab her waist. I hug her.

"Well, I was about to get out. So you enjoy yours and I will meet you in bed." She smiles. I get out and do all of my self-care while she sings Always Been You by Jessie Murph.

I put on my pjs and get in bed. I turn on Spongebob and start to drift off. But I wake up when Ellie slides in bed next to me.

She pulls me into her arms. I rest my head on her chest.

And then I fall asleep in her embrace.

A/N - filler!

I love you all sooooooooooooooooo much. 💛