⚠️Warning: Mentions of abuse and trauma mentioned. Please read with caution if affected.⚠️

~~~~~

《1991》

*Tommy*

The Christmas holidays were pretty quiet, especially for the Sixx family, but we all still celebrated the New Year together and it was great.

MJ's injury looks a bit better than before. The bruise is fading, but the subconscious bloody helium thingy with her eye is still taking some time to heal.

... Yeah, those big doctor words she knows hurt my brain...

There's like two months left for the wedding and thankfully everything is all done with. MJ's eye is still healing, a little bit light purplish now and still some blood showing, but the doctor says it should be completely healed by the time she's ready to walk down the aisle.

Right now we were all in the courthouse in Tuscon since today was the hearing for the charges on MJ's mother and stuff. We had flown in since apparently MJ's mom had to be tried here.

It was initially just gonna be Nikki, Mick, MJ and Dina, but Vince, Tommy, Sharise, Heather and I wanted to be there for MJ.

Skylar unfortunately caught a flu, so Sharise had to stay. Vince was going to stay, too, but Sharise didn't want MJ alone either and decided to handle Skylar's flu on her own, letting Vince be there for all three of them. There was some arguing over it, but Vince finally agreed, and that he'd be home soon.

She's a bit on edge about it, but Dina says the case seems like an easy win. There may or may not be some jail time for MJ's mother, but if there isn't any, then there's gonna be some pretty big fines and a restraining order, too.

"How are you feeling?" Mick asked her as we sat in a waiting room.

"Honestly, I preferred our last court date when we were in Tokyo and Tommy and Nikki broke that bullet train," she sighed, leaning against the wall. "At least that was more bearable than this."

Nikki snickered quietly as I laughed, and Mick smacked my arm to shut me up. "Owww!"

"Quiet, you," Mick snarled as I pouted and then he looked at MJ. "Look, its all gonna be okay. Lawyers said it themselves, its an easy win, and as much as I hate it, you still have that big shiner on your face as proof."

She sighed and nodded, Nikki wrapping his arm around her.

"We'll be there for you the entire time," Heather said.

She nodded, smiling. "Thanks, guys," she said.

Soon, Dina walked up to us.

"Its time," she said.

We nodded and walked in.

***

*Nikki*

"I understand Mr. Sixx, that your fiance, Miss Smith, was returning from a dress appointment, correct?" Dina asked.

Mr. Sixx... I like the ring to that.... Mr. and Mrs. Sixx.... Shit, focus Nikki...!

I nodded as I sat on the witness stand. "Yeah. I had gotten back from dealing with the catering company for Mal and I's wedding, she had this final fitting for her wedding dress, same for the bridesmaids and their dresses."

It was a bitch at first, since they tried to make Mal look like she was severely mentally ill by bringing up her suicide attempts and her time in rehab and other stuff, which really pissed me off and made we question how I'm not sitting in a cell right now.

Lucky for us, though, Dina is really good at her job and got those allegations dismissed, since they were from Mal's medical files, the main reason we're here to begin with.

"In two months I believe, correct?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"What had happened next?" she asked.

"Well, Mal had come home and we were about to just relax when the doorbell rang," I said. "I had ordered some pizza earlier before Mal got home, but it was still too early for it to have arrived."

"Mallory went to get the door?" she asked.

"Yeah..." he said.

"What happened next?" she asked.

"She went to get the door, and a couple of seconds later, I heard her yelling, and then a kind of thud noise, a loud one, and Mal screamed," He said. "When I ran over to see what was happening, she was on the ground covering her face, and the woman was standing over her, yelling... That's when i kinda pretty much figured what happened."

"And that woman is in the courtroom today?" Dina asked.

Nikki nodded.

"Can you point her out?" She asked.

Nikki then pointed across the room to where MJ's mom sat.

"That's her, the fucking bitch who hurt my girl," Nikki snapped, making the judge slam the hammer thing on the table.

"Mr. Sixx, I ask you to please use appropriate language when in the courtroom," the judge scolded at me.

"Right, right, sorry," I sighed, then pointed at MJ's mom again. "That woman, her. Ramona Bennett"

"I also understand its not the first time she's come to your home and assault one or both of you," she said. "I have a report here that states that in 1982 early in the morning she had found Miss Smith, who had run away about four years prior."

"Oh yeah," I nodded. "Woman stormed my place at the crack of dawn wailing on me and asking for Mal, when we all calmed down and talked, she wanted Mal to divorce me and go back to Phoenix, then slapped Mal when she practically told her to go to hell."

"Mr. Sixx," the judge scolded.

"When she practically told her to go away," I corrected, slightly annoyed at the scolding. "We didn't see her since, well, I haven't, until recently. Last time Mal saw her was at her father's funeral a few years back. Beginning of '87 I think."

Dina nodded. "No further questions for Mr. Sixx. If I may I would now like to call to the stand Ramona Bennett," Dina said.

*Mallory*

I sat in my place on the prosecution side as Nikki was escorted out of the witness stand back to the seats with the others.

My mother sat on the witness stand as Dina approached.

"Ms. Bennett, I have records indicating that your late husband's company is under serious turmoil, mostly financially," Dina said.

My mother was quiet. "And what of it?"

Its very serious loss of money from investors and charities, almost millions for each," she said. "And from what was discovered from your husband's testament, he didn't leave you much... Let alone anything."

"Objection!" my mother's lawyer said. 

"Overruled," the judge said. "Continue, Mrs. LaPlott..."

"I have a copy of the last will and testament of Johnathan Xavier Bennett II, your honor, provided by the old family lawyer of the Bennett family, requested by Alexis Marianne Donner, cousin of Mallory," Dina said.

Mother looked shocked as I smirked while Dina handed the testament I asked Alexis to get for me to the judge.

The judge read it over and his eyes widen.

"States clear as day," The judge asked.

"It is clear, Ms. Bennett, that you had no money to your name, so then you took advantage and got a hold of your daughter's medical files and exposed them for some sort of heavy compensation," Dina explained. "Is that correct?"

"Objection," Mother's lawyer snapped. "There is no proof that-"

"It's true," she suddenly said.

We all looked at her surprised. Even her own lawyer did.

"I won't deny it, I sold her medical file to the press for a couple thousand dollars," She said simply.

We were all quiet as then the judge spoke.

"Ms. Bennet, you do realize you are pleading not guilty to this case, correct?" he asked.

"I'm aware," she said with a shrug.

"Well then I guess the question is simple enough," Dina said. "Why? Why did you do this to you one and one child, your daughter?"

"Having her ruined my life enough. To have kids at all was already hard enough," she snapped. "All I asked was for a strong son to carry the lineage with.... I get a useless daughter who didn't even want to listen to what was told, even after providing her with everything. The best food, the best schools, the best clothes, the best tutors, even the best suitor!! And apparently that was never enough for her!! No, instead of a lawyer and wife of a business entrepreneur, she rather be a doctor of all things and wife of some loser drug addict!!"

I looked at her shocked as my blood immediately hit past boiling point and I slammed the table with my hands as I shot up from the table. "Your god damned 'best suitor" beat me into a fucking ventilator for a whole fucking month!!! I was almost fucking brain dead!!!"

"Maybe if you just minded your own god damn business and knew your place, he wouldn't have!!!" My mother sneered.

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!" Nikki suddenly roared, and that's when the rest of the band suddenly shot up from their seats and started shouting stuff at her, followed by the rest of the courtroom who was shouting some other stuff, the jury murmuring and shouting in shock as well, before the judge banged the gavel repeatedly.

"ORDER!! THAT IS ENOUGH!!! ORDER IN THIS COURTROOM IMMEDIATELY!!!" the judge shouted. "EVERYBODY SIT DOWN RIGHT NOW!!!"

The room went silent as Dina had rushed over and tried to calm me down, Tommy and Vince forcing Nikki into his seat as he looked like he could charge at my mother at any second, same with the other guys.

"I'm calling a fifteen minute recess for the courtroom to calm down," the judge said, slamming the gavel.

I rubbed my temples as Dina rubbed my back.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"I don't know.... I just want this to fucking end already...." I said.

"Come on, there's some food in our waiting room," she said, then motioned the guys over as we were escorted out with us, Nikki immediately at my side.

We were seated as Nikki got me a small sandwich from the provided food table and some chips with water.

"All because of wanting a fucking son," Vince grumbled. "Still no fucking reason to take it out on MJ her whole life."

"Easy, Vince," Mick snapped. "There's satisfaction in knowing she won't be avoiding jail after this. And if she doesn't, there's still that restraining order against her."

"Mick is right. Law's on our side no matter what," Nikki said, his arm around me as I somehow managed to eat a little.

"She's jealous," I sighed, making everyone turn. "It honestly the only thing that makes sense... Why do you think she shows up every time good things happen?"

"God, what a bitch," Tommy grumbled.

"I know...." I mumbled, looking down at my food.

Nikki looked over and sighed. "Guys.... Give us the room," Nikki said.

Mick nodded and motioned everyone out, Tommy quickly snatching some snacks before Mick dragged him out by the hair leaving me and him on our own.

"I'm guessing you're feeling almost the same way I felt in that hotel that day..." he said.

I sighed. "You really are the only one who gets me," I smiled sadly.

"Shitty moms are my specialty," he shrugged.

I frowned. "Things would have been so much easier if my parents just gave me up for adoption or something..." I said. "Its times like this I'm actually glad kids are a low chance for me... I don't know what it means to have parents who love you and take care of you.... If I'm ever lucky, how could I ever be able to provide that to my child?"

Nikki frowned and then put his other arm around me.

"Love is just something you're born with," he said. "And despite the people who made you... Baby, you have so much love inside you..."

I looked over at him.

"If we do ever get lucky and have them one day," he said. "I know you'll be an amazing mother, Mal... And those kids are gonna love you more than anything."

I couldn't help but smile at him. What did I ever do to deserve a guy like him?

I reached up and gently placed my hand on his face.

"I'm sorry you can't have a normal girl with zero parental issues to marry," I said.

He smiled and leaned into my hand. "Who wants normal anyway? You know this family you got at your side is far from it already."

I chuckled softly as he then pulled me into a hug and I rested my head on his shoulder.

"Look, I swear, after this, you'll never have to see her again, ever," He said, placing his hand over mine. "I'll make sure of it."

I smiled. "I love you."

"I love you, too," he said.

***

We were soon back and sat down, my mother back on the witness stand.

"Now, Ms. Bennett, once again, despite confessing you also pleaded not guilty," Dina said.

"I know damn well what I said," She scoffed.

"Language, Ms. Bennett," the judge snapped.

I sighed as I sat in my chair, looking at Nikki, who gave me an assuring look..

"Ms. Bennett, you attacked, extorted, and humiliated your daughter, abused her majority of her childhood, didn't even give her a single sign of affection and just left her to either raise herself or an occasional caregiver you or your late husband hired that you barely even kept for long..."

"Giving birth to her was next to impossible," she snapped. "Us women are lucky if we even carry full term," my mother snapped.

"And yet, Mallory was not enough?" She asked.

She was quiet.

"You had suffered four other miscarriages before Mallory was born..... Yet you rejected her, all because she wasn't the son you wanted,"  Dina said. "You and your husband deprived her of a happy childhood... Never showed her affection.... Never let her enjoy friends or other family... Shunned her whenever she defied what you wanted.... Left her to the hands of an abusive suitor... She did everything to try and make you proud.... Yet that wasn't enough..."

My mother was quiet as Dina continued with her.

"Yet when she finally left you, found a life on her own, you still had a problem with that," she said. "Why?"

She scoffed and looked the other direction.

"You can't even look at anyone because you know I'm right," she said. "You just can't stand the fact that your own daughter was happy, even after hell," Dina said. "Because you only seemed to show up when she was doing so well....."

"Objection, an exaggerated excuse," the lawyer snapped.

"Sustained," the judge said, curious.

"What the hell do you want to know, huh??" she snapped.

"It just seems like you were jealous of your daughter," Dina said sternly. "She found someone she truly loved... Studied and practices a profession that she chose..... A happy family... All of which you never had to begin with, did you?"

"Objection!" The lawyer shouted again. "A ridiculous speculation!"

My mother was quiet.

"Fine," she scoffed. "You're right.... I grew up in poverty as the daughter of working class, left that backwater and worked hard for a successful, rich life, and I struggled to give a loveless husband a son, but end up with a pathetic daughter instead who can't do anything life and just had to have a damn soul, another useless woman who could never be able to have children!!!!"

I looked at her in complete shock.

"I went through hell just so I can have a better life, to suck it up and make her perfect, and it was all for nothing when she decided to free herself and do whatever the hell she wanted!! Why the hell does she have to be the one to get the happy life I wanted for me!?" she snapped. "I deserve it!!"

I frowned as I stared at her.

Dina then turned to the jurors. "No further questions."

The jurors then quietly murmured to themselves.

"Order," The judge said quietly.

The head of the jury then stood. 

"Your honor... I believe we are ready to discuss a verdict," I said.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes, your honor," He assured.

"Very well.... Fifteen minute recess for the jury to determine their verdict," The judge said.

We hear the gavel bang and I groan quietly as Dina and also Nikki walked up.

"This is going on forever," I said.

"Don't worry, it's almost over," Nikki said.

"Umm, Mallory?" Dina spoke. "I want to actually talk to you, but about something else."

I furrowed my brows. "What is it?"

"Best we don't discuss it now. We can discuss it in my hotel room tonight," she assured.

I looked at Nikki, but nodded. "Okay, yeah..."

"Are you alright?" Nikki asked.

"I feel... Lighter...." I admitted. "I don't know if that makes any sense... I can't even describe it, honestly.... If I had to guess, this is what Vince mentioned to me once.... This is the closure I need."

He smiled, placing his hand over mine.

"I guess that's a good thing then," he said.

I smiled back.

After a break, the jurors soon had their verdicts and were reading it out.

"For the charges of identity theft, and exposure of classified documents, we the jury find the defendant Ramona Bennett guilty," the jury said.

I sighed with relief and smiled.

For the charges of extortion, we find the defendant not guilty," hes said,

I sighed. Well I guess only one can't be too bad.

"For the charges of battery and assault against her daughter, Mallory Bennett now Smith, we find the defendant guilty," the juror added.

Dina smiled as she placed her hand over mine and I nodded happily at her.

"Jury is this your final decision?" The judge asked.

"Yes, your honor," the jury nodded.

"Very well," he said. "Ms. Bennett, you now understand what you are charged with and will read you your sentence."

We all listened as the judge then spoke.

"Three years under house arrest, and $80,000 in fines, parole to be determined on a later date," The judge said. "You are also to abide to the restraining order filed against you by Mötley Crüe and the families. You are to not get within 5,000 ft of the individuals listed under the order, and the order is granted for 10 years before expiration. Failure to break house arrest or the restraining order may lead to up to 10-20 years in federal prison"

As soon as the gavel hit the desk, I suddenly felt like I was able to breathe and let out a deep breath. Like, this invisible weight that was on my chest and shoulders just suddenly disappeared.

I'm free...

"Finally," I said to myself as I then felt hands on my shoulders and look to see Nikki and my family there.

"Let's go home," he smiled.

I smiled, getting up and jumping into his arms as Vince and Tommy laughed and pulled us into a hug, Mick and Dina watching from nearby with smiles.

"Well, it's not prison, but at least we don't have to worry about her anymore," Mick said.

I then looked over and watched as they handcuffed my mother, watching as she glared at me.

I frowned and looked away, burying my face into Nikki's shoulder and quietly placing my hand on his chest and feeling his heartbeat.

He rubbed my back as I felt myself relax more, and then put me down before we all headed back to the hotel.

***

"So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked as me and Nikki sat down on across from Dina in her hotel room, Mick, Tommy, Heather and Vince behind us, Tommy abusing of the snack bar in her room.

We went back to the hotel and packed for our flight tomorrow, but Dina still wanted to see me, so we met up in her hotel room.

"Well, we took a closer look at your father's will," she said. "Despite whatever has to be paid will go to the companies and charities he tricked... There will still be a lot of money left over."

I frowned. "I mean, I guess so...." I shrugged. "But I don't see what that has to do with me..."

"We looked into it and despite a large amount being taken, there is still a large amount leftover..." She said. "Which... Which he left to you...."

My eyes widen as even Nikki looked shocked.

"W-What?" I asked. "My biological father left me money?"

"Smells like bull crap even for me, Dina," Nikki said with a frown.

"Its here in black and white, guys," She said, showing me the paper.

I take it and read it over it. It pretty much just describes how he wanted to be buried and what friend or family member gets what, then I got to the last paragraph.

"To my daughter, Mallory Jane Bennett, all leftover fortune to be left in her name, as compensation for all that occurred in the past. I hope this covers for all the damages caused..."

I stared at the paper in shock, my jaw practically on the ground.

"Compensation?!" Nikki snarled. "That bastard only visited her in the hospital once when she was in a coma all just to pull the plug on her and now wants to pay her off for it!? That was his fucking kid, not some pissed off customer at a store!!!" Nikki snapped, making hold his hand to help calm him. "He's acting like he ran over her backyard fence with a car instead of being the one who made her life fucking hell!!!"

"Hope he's burning in Hell, damn it," Mick mumbled, making me look and see everyone, even Heather, looked upset.

"Nikki, guys, i-its okay,... He's dead anyway, this money practically means nothing..." I said, then turned to Dina. "But then one question... They're paying off millions, how much would even be left anyway?"

"From what I got faxed over from your father's financial adviser..... There's about $4 million dollars left...." she said.

I took a deep breath. "Shit..."

"How are we just learning about this?" Nikki asked. 

"My guess is my mother knew and got bitter about not getting a cut, right?" I scoffed.

"Probably explains why she started this whole mess to begin with," Mick scoffed in annoyance.

"Still.... $4 Million dollars.... Mal, that's a lot even for me...." Nikki said.

I sighed. "I know....." I said.

"What are you going to do with that?" he asked.

I sighed, thinking.

"It is up to you, Mallory... You get the final say," Dina said.

I frowned. "I don't want it..."

Everyone looked at me like I lost my mind.

"This is dirty money... A fucking bribe...... Money paid off to make me forget the monsters I grew up with.... I could never forget the 17 years of abuse I went through, especially with 4 big bags of money.... I accept that, and I'm just as bad as them... Its bad enough my body is tainted with their blood.... It disgusts me..... But at least I can sleep at night knowing no matter what, I will never in my life be like them," I said sternly. "Burn it for all I care, but I don't want it."

"Uhh, MJ... I might not exactly be the smartest one of the bunch here, but $4 million dollars still sounds like a lot of money," Tommy said. "And I do mean A LOT of it."

"The kid's right, Mallory... This is a crazy amount of money, too much to just throw away..." Mick said.

I frowned, knowing he was right.

"I mean, can she donate it?" Vince shrugged.

I looked over and then it clicked. Vince was right....

This money... Despite the badness it represents, it can still go to something good... 

"Well, of course. It all depends on her of course," She said. "But she has to decide if she wants it."

I took a deep breath. "Then I know the perfect place to donate all this money, too...." I smiled. 

*Days Later*

We stepped foot out of the Los Angeles Planned Parenthood, smiling as we saw everyone was gone, posters laying on the gorund.

"Mallory, Nikki, I cannot thank you or the rest of the band enough for the massive donation," the head of the location said. 

"It's nothing, really. This place is something important, especially for the future," I stated, looking over and picking up one of the signs one held. "I only wish people didn't use their faith as an excuse to harass like they did."

"We can handle them," she smiled. "Though thanks to that strange skinny friend of yours, I doubt they'll be back for a good while."

"Leave it to a heavily caffeinated and sugar induced T-Bone to handle crowd control," Nikki snickered, making me laugh and roll my eyes as the woman laughed.

"Again, thank you so, so much," she said.

I smiled and held her hands. "Anytime." 

We said our final goodbyes and walked out, cleaning up the sign mess into a nearby trash bin, and then heading to the car.

"Well, I guess we should find Tommy, hoping he hasn't harassed anyone or something. It's Vince's turn to pay that fine," Nikki said with an eyeroll, making me giggle as he then opened the door for me. "Milady."

"He's a fast runner, but I doubt he made it too far," I shrugged as I climbed in.

"True," he chuckled as we climbed in. "That was still a really good thing you did, Mal.... I'm proud of you."

I smiled as he leaned in and kissed me, and I kissed him back.

"By the way, I kinda have a surprise for us back home," He smiled. "Kind of like an early wedding gift, in a way."

I furrowed my brows and laughed. "Really? What is it?"

"You'll have to wait and see," he smirked. "Mick should have dropped it off by now."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes with a laugh as he started the car and drove off.

***

"Nikkiiiiii!!!" I laughed as he carefully lead me up the stairs at home, his hands over my eyes. "Where are you taking me!?"

"Relax, babe," He laughed. "Trust me, you're gonna love this."

I scoffed a laugh as I felt us finally reach the end of the stairs and soon lead me to a room.

After finding Tommy and dropping him off at his house, we headed home and as I walked in, Nikki was behind me, covering my eyes and leading me through the house.

"Okay, ready?" he asked.

"Yes, now what is it?" I asked.

"A new family member," he said, removing his hands. "Surprise!!"

I looked and gasped in surprise at who I saw running up to me excitedly.

(Picture: Jack, puppy)

"Nikki, oh my god!!" I laughed as I knelt down and caught the puppy in my arms. "He's adorable!!!"

"Right? Got the poor little guy from a shelter," he said sadly as we sat down on the ground. "Nobody liked his eyes apparently."

"Awww, who could say no to this wittle face!?" I said as I cuddled the puppy, who was teething softly on my finger.

"His name is Jack, but we can always change the name," Nikki shrugged.

"I think Jack Sixx suits him just fine," I said as I planted a kiss on Nikki's lips. "I love this present, baby, thank you."

"Anything for you," He smiled as we kissed again before spending the rest of the day with our new family member.

Life is good....

~~~~~

A filler chapter, and a fucking hell of a long one, but hey, we've all got a lot of free time. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyway, I was thinking and decided "Fuck it, let's throw some puppies into this!" 🐶🐾❤

🎹 Currently in Sapph's playlist:

Prince Royce ft. ChocQuibTown
"90 Minutos (Futbol Mode)"
(Translation: 90 Minutes (Soccer/Football Mode)

♡~ sapphire.