The group crowded Alex by his bedside, while the adults stood together by the wall across from the bed. Julia stood alone on the far right of the room, her incensed gaze surveying the boisterous Moonhaven residents. And then there was Martin, puttering about the center of the room with his hands folded behind his back. He had thrown on a pair of purple thick-framed glasses and rolled up the sleeves on his white dress-shirt — the mood of the room changing considerably after he had done this.

"Are you kidding me right now?" Julia snapped. "You're a maniac if you think you can do this without an real Judge present!"

Martin's vacuous gaze lolled sideways over at Julia. "Do not fret, Ms.-?"

"Jaxen," Grayson answered. He saw from the corner of his eye Julia glancing at him, but forbade himself from looking in that direction.

"Ms. Jaxen," Martin went on. "Nothing official is really happening here. We're simply going to get some things cleared up — issues, facts, possible solutions. That way if this situation still requires a Judges judgement, that is, if we can't come to a solution without the need of a trial that could take weeks to reach the end of, then of course we'll take it there."

"But for now, let's try and work this out ourselves. Beginning with the issue that has brought us all here today, the ignition of a twenty year old male. According to the police, who were told by Mr. Prior," he gestured a poised arm at Alex, "said male is an active dealer of Vampire Dust. Mr. Prior devised a plan to lure him out to the area by the entrance of the town, claiming he wanted to purchase the drug himself. When the deal was completed, the male had his back turned when Mr. Prior shot an aflamed arrow at him, going through his chest."

Mixed expressions flew around the group as they imagined the shocking scene for themselves, some of mild horror, nausea, even amazement. All but Jeremi, who looked like the blood had drained from his face in scant seconds.

"And why did you even do something like that?" Grayson retorted. He wasn't sure who he wanted to answer that question, whether Martin or his son, but he did look at Alex as he asked. "Where did you even get such an insane idea? No, never mind that. I wanna know why first."

Ridley guided her hand onto the crook of his shoulder, which Grayson relaxed instantly into. Julia noticed, though her slight glare went unnoticed by the two.

Alex squirmed anxiously in bed. It was the first time in weeks since the incident with his mother, that Alex had seen his father so upset. And it was because of him. He stole a quick glance at Jeremi, who was nervously biting his lower lip while he eyed the ground.

"I overheard him earlier today while he was on the phone," Alex started, "the dealer, I mean. Someone on the other end — his boss apparently, told him to go hurt someone else. A friend of mine. One of the first ones I've ever had. I figured it wouldn't be enough to just call the police...He could find a way out of jail and try to finish the job. So I thought it'd be better to stop him myself...for good. I didn't really think about the consequences then, and I didn't think the guy would still be alive, in a coma. There's a part of me that's glad that I didn't finish what I did, but another part telling me I should have...I called nine-one-one before I tried to."

Jeremi gripped the bed railings with clammy hands, his expression downcast. "Dude..." he said to Alex.

"Dude?" Alex returned, his smile sincere.

"I'm the friend he's talking about, I guess," Jeremi admitted.

"Dude!" the rest of group exclaimed simultaneously.

"Dude!" Iker screamed from the back wall.

"You said you weren't involved in that," Ziro accused, quite assertively, "that it was something you wouldn't even consider. You lied."

Jeremi winced at the sound of the 'L' word. "I did. Fuck me, I did. I wish I didn't, but I knew none of you would let me go through with it, and I needed a fast solution. There was eviction note on our front door, and this was all I could think of to help stop my dad and I from getting kicked out of our house. I didn't think it'd be that hard to get out of dealing. One thing led to another — I owed a debt and paid it off, but it wasn't enough. I'm sorry, guys." His eyes met Alex's as clear droplets began to spill down his cheeks. "No-Nick, I'm so freaking sorry, man."

"Don't be. It was my choice," Alex assured.

"You two and your choices. Nice leadership, it really shows," Lev said the last part to Ziro, partly mocking.

Ziro glared back before inflicting a stinging slap to Jeremi's upper-back. "Never again," he warned Jeremi. "You're done. Don't even look at V-dust. If someone tries dragging you back in, you tell me and I'll do worse to them than Alex has to the other guy."

Jeremi only managed a slow nod, grimacing as he tried to reach the spot on his back that Ziro had struck.

"Remi, you know you can always grab a part-time shift at Halcyon," Carsyn interjected. From the wall, Silas expressed a sound of agreement from where he stood.

"Oh," Jeremi said, realizing the idea, "oh yeah. Can't believe I never though of that. Would've saved a whole lotta trouble, that's for sure." He hadn't noticed until he felt a palm caress the spot on his back that had been struck, and glanced back to see that Iker had appeared next to him.

"I'm sorry you saw the eviction notice, Remi," Iker began. "Usually I'm on top of hiding it. If you still want to work part-time, I won't stop you if it's not gonna put too much on your plate. Just know that I have a job now — an actual good one. Full-time with all the bells and whistles."

"Speak complete English or not at all, Iker," Arthur grumbled.

"Yes, alright," Iker chuckled. With this new job I've got benefits, sick days, at least an hour lunch break, and a magnificent pay that I can use for the house dues. I even get to carpool with the owner every morning. You, my only child, are looking at the newest employee at Prior's Hardware Priorities."

Alex shifted eagerly in the bed. "You got the job?" he said to Iker. Every pair of eyes in the room fell on him.

"I did!" Iker cheered. "And thank you, Alex. Grayson told me how this was all your idea."

"Seriously, dad? That's awesome!" Jeremi rejoiced, practically leaping into his father's arms for a hug.

Lev studied Alex with inquisitiveness. "So that's what was in that letter for your dad." Alex nodded cheerfully.

"Wait a minute," Aoife interrupted. "I think...you implied that...have you kids been doing drugs?"

They all looked to Ziro for an answer, kids and adults and even Julia glanced his way after following everyone else's line of sight, but Ziro only looked at Tate.

Tate grinned back in response then looked at his mother. "Mom, do moths fly during an earthquake?"

"Well, no-" Aoife started.

"Exactly," Tate concluded, his smile efficient. "There's your answer."

Save for Julia, a round of head nods passed through the adults, somewhat satisfied with the answer. Arthur didn't buy it though, but instead of outing the group, he said, "don't do drugs. Just promise us that."

Hesitantly, the group all simultaneously said, "noted."

Julia looked cross. "Enough of this! Alex, how could you get mixed up with drug dealers?"

Evan scoffed. "I'll tell you how. He uses his weird-as-shit powers of persuasion and storytelling."

"Watch your language," Emilio inserted.

Evan waved a dismissive but assuring in the air as her response before continuing. "He's the angel's advocate, a friendly politician, public ally number one. He's a new milkshake flavour that none of us knew we wanted to try at first."

"I don't understand how you got only a seventy-nine on that public speaking assignment last year," Nyne added.

Evan turned to her. "Right?" She turned back, "because of him, I was able to finally say what I've always wanted to in a super long voicemail to my mom about leaving me and my dad. I'm not really angry anymore. I feel...better." Emilio caught her gaze, his own imperturbable.

"Because of him I have another buddy to go bug-hunting with," Tate added. "One with a sense of humor, and an interest in the life of bugs." Aoife beamed at her son, the corners of her lips curling upward endlessly.

"Because of him, Six finally realizes that she is much more than she thinks she is," Nyne revealed. "Indeed, she's the brilliant mind behind the birth of I — another brilliant mind!" Arthur didn't say anything, but a tiny breadth of a smile broke through his stoic exterior.

"Because of him, my uncle S. called my parents and finally told them off. It's brought us a bit closer again," Carsyn said. Silas pointed a heroic glance between both his niece and Alex.

"Because of him...I've been listening to my heart more and more these days," Lev admitted. Kaia quietly observed her son, considerably jubilant.

"Because of him," Ziro went next, "I've made peace with an old friend." He, Ridley and Kaia all glanced favorably at Lev, but a timorous Lev decided that Alex's blanketed legs were more crucial to face.

Julia was seething. She sought out Grayson in the crowd of adults, hoping for some interference of the absurd situation. But all she saw was her ex-husband appearing drastically calmer, now clasping the hand that rested on his shoulder, belonging to the woman whose name she still did not know. Julia looked livid.

"Are you kidding me?" Julia yelled.

Grayson didn't have to look, he knew she was glaring right at him. He gave in and looked her way, both parts exhausted and wishing she would disappear.

Julia's laugh was cynical. "He's got a point, you know? Wylliam." Grayson jaw went rigid, both rows of his teeth pressing tightly against one another. "When I got the call about Alex and told him, he told me that you've always had this 'pushover' side to you. He warned me to be more attentive whenever I visit, to make sure you're not letting our son off so easily with anything. And he was right. You've always let him do what he wants. You don't push him hard enough, and now look where he is."

Grayson, waspish and wordless, ready to let loose a potent stir of angry words, but someone else beat him to it.

"You're still seeing him?" Alex snapped, his voice low and unsweetened.

The accusation was a grating presence, and it changed the mood of the room. Julia flinched back, seemingly realizing the name she had mentioned.

"How is it that you've managed to condemn me, dad, and the other people in this room that you don't even know, all in under an hour? What about you? You're not sorry for what you did, just that me and dad found out. You don't care why I did what I did to end up here, just that I did it at all."

"Dad is a lot of things, and most of them are great. He's always there for me, always thinking about how I'll feel, and he knows when not to push. I wasn't happy back in New Orleans. That school, and the people...they weren't for me. But you never noticed, or you just didn't care. I know for sure that you wanted me to be like everybody else, happy or not. I can't live with someone like that. I don't want to live with you."

The room had become woefully silent, and several deprecating eyes shifted to Julia and her shrinking form. Lev's hand slowly slid down onto the bed to wrap around Alex's, and Alex hadn't realized just how angry he was feeling until he felt Lev's hand clasp his own.

Julia balled her fists, her head hanging low. She glanced at Grayson one last time, but he ignored her once again, this time in favour for their son.

"Let's say," Martin spoke, first time in a while, "about fifty-five seconds left. Ms. Jaxen, anything else you'd like to add?" Julia's eyes flickered down at the floor, and she shook her head 'no'. "Mhm. Okay. And Mr. Prior, how about you?" Alex also shook his head, much slower, not looking at anyone either. "I see. Then, how about everyone else?" All the adults as well as the group collectively shook their heads for 'no'. Martin then brought his hands together for a single profound clap. "Thus ends The Great Trial of Alex Dean Prior. I hope I don't have to spell out the verdict."

Everyone followed Martin's gaze back to Julia, who lifted her chin and straightened her posture before starting for the door. She stopped just before, her hand clutching the handle, and turned back to Alex. No one, not even Alex or Grayson, could read her expression.

"I'm going now. See you another time," she said to only Alex. "Hopefully under uncomplicated circumstances." Alex gave a single nod as he finally met her eyes. She turned away facing the door, missing the one genuine gaze Grayson was now giving her. "Goodbye...Grayson."