So here's the sequel, guys. Probably next week (once I'm ahead enough) I'll start updating every other day, not including Sundays. Enjoy!

Who I am today- Chpt 1- first steps.

BELLA POV-

"Ma!" Connor walked towards me with his arms outstretched, and I picked him up. He had started walking about a week ago while Edward was on a long distance trip, and I couldn't wait until he got back tonight and saw. It may be mean to keep it from him, but it would be worth it to see the look on his face. I'd even gotten the video camera set up to capture it. Of course everyone else knew, including Esme and Carlisle, but I'd sworn them to secrecy, and so far no one has slipped. It's been painfully hard for Emmett, though.

Rose and Emmett would be having their own baby in about six months, and everyone was anxiously awaiting the babys arrival. Alice couldn't wait until the sex was determined, so she could empty all of the available children's clothing stores within a two hundred mile radius. I couldn't blame her, I'd had Connor for a year and a half, and I was still obsessed with all of the cute clothes there are.

I refrained myself from squealing when I thought about Edward seeing Connor again. He may not be his biological father, but he's become the best father any child could ever have. He was already Connors father, and I doubted that Connor even remembered Jacob Black. After the final court case had happened just over two months ago, I have been more carefree and happy. It seems like a huge weight in my life is gone now, just because I know he will be locked behind steel bars for the next five years. At first Edward was mad at himself for Jake getting away with so little, after he had broke his restraining order and landed me in the hospital, but I convinced him that it would be plenty of time. I shuddered remembering the case.

Of course my parents had been completely hostile and on Jake's side. They had always cared more about my boyfriends than me, having been so old fashioned that I was surprised they didn't drown me when I wasn't a boy. After I had been born my parents couldn't have any more children, increasing their hate towards me. I might as well have been the devils spawn for the way I was raised.

I was hit by a huge depression after court. It wasn't that my ex husband had been put in jail, or that he had hurt me so badly. It was actually seeing my parents take the other side, literally. Parents were supposed to be there for you no matter what, stand up for you in court even when you've committed murder. Mine wouldn't even take my side when my ex husband had beaten me. I had vowed a long time ago that if I ever had children then I would be a good mother. I would say that I had done a pretty good job so far. I had a healthy handsome little boy, who was learning and growing every day, it seemed. It's incredible how fast he's grown.

"Okie?" Connor tilted his head and whispered in my ear. Edward had taught him how to whisper right before he left. He didn't get it at first, and would still squeal at full volume in his ear, but he was getting the hang of it now.

"No, Connor. No cookies until we eat dinner." I sat him down in his highchair and got his train plate down from the cupboard. I put some green beans and chicken on his plate, and filled a sippy cup with milk. He loved the 'grown up' food, and I was having more and more trouble feeding him baby cereal or baby food anymore. He was just in a huge hurry to grow up, apparently.

I gave him his food and went to get my own, and then sat down with a sigh. Days were so long without Edward. I anxiously glanced at the clock. One hour. Time had been dragging on and on today. Well, for the past two weeks, to be precise. I fed Connor and myself, cleaned up, and started cleaning the apartment. I had cleaned it this morning, but it's amazing how messy little boys can be.

I had lost track of time and snapped out of my cleaning rant when I heard a key in the doorknob. Shoot! It was nine already! I grabbed Connor and ran to the video recorder, pushing record. I plopped Connor down so he could do his thing. Two things happened next. The phone rang, and the door opened, revealing Edward looking stunning in a black suit, contrasting his alabaster skin. I quickly ran over to the phone, so it wouldn't mess up my video.

"Hello? Can you please hold, a moment?" I tried to keep my patience, but they had wrecked my perfect moment I'd been planning all day.

"No, I'm afraid I can't. This is the Anchorage Borough police department. Is this Bella Black?"

My heart stopped beating. "Bella Swan, actually. But yes? May I ask why you are calling?" My face must have alerted Edward because he walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. Just his scent calmed me as I inhaled deeply.

"Your parents have been in a car accident, and are in critical condition. They are in the Anchorage Hospital, and it is requested that you go there immediately."

"I will. Thank you, sir." I hung up the phone in a daze. Why had my parents been in Alaska? They definitely preferred their sunny Florida much more than Alaska. It was January, and reaching ridiculous temperatures.

"Who was that?" Edward breathed in my hair, and I had to shake my head to focus.

"The police. We have to go to the hospital. My parents were in a crash."

Edward immediately went into panic mode and began packing all of the things Connor would need while I packed us a bag. When I walked back out in the living room I realized I had left the camera rolling. I went over to shut it off when Connor decided it was time to show Edward his surprise, and rose up to his feet and took a few wobbly steps. Edward came flying down the stairs, saw the end of it, and promptly dropped the bag he had been carrying, his mouth flying open

"B-Bella?"

I laughed to myself. "Yes Edward?"

"D-D-Did he just walk?"

"Yes."

"How long?"

"About a week and a half." I remained nonchalant, as if it wasn't a big enough deal to have told him.

"Why didn't you say anything?!" He scooped up Connor and began tickling him, causing the soon to be cranky toddler to begin his squeals.

"I'm sorry… I just wanted to surprise you. But Edward? As much as I would love to tell you all of his wobbly step stories, we have to go."

He suddenly remembered what was happening before and picked the bag back up, Connor still tucked under his arm.

I quickly shut off lights and locked up, jogging out to the car. Edward had already put Connor in his car seat, and was starting his truck when I got out.

We didn't really talk as Edward sped to the hospital, partially due to the horrible roads and partially because I just needed to think.

There was no reason why my parents would be in Alaska. There was nothing here for them, and tourists hardly came during the coldest months. I wasn't even used to it yet, and the temperature shock could probably kill someone as old as Charlie. Besides, would they even want to see me? They had made it very clear that I was no longer their daughter, so I don't see why my presence, much less Edwards, would do anything to benefit them. They had abandoned me. I had raised myself. So why was I so worried about them?Because even though they don't want to be, they are still my parents. Because even though they had abandoned their only daughter, I didn't have the heart to abandon them, too. I couldn't deny it; there would always be a hope inside of me that wished they would take me back. Say how they just wanted to make sure I was tough enough, it was just a big joke, let's go for coffee and catch up on the twenty some years they'd missed out of my life.

Stop it, Bella. Your stupid little fantasies were never going to come true. If they had actually planned on that then they would have done it when they saw you could successfully live on your own. Not when you're almost 25.

Edward cut the engine as he pulled up to the hospital.

He looked over at me, his face etched with worry and concern. His face was tired, and I absentmindedly wondered when the last time he slept was.

"Bella. Are you okay?" His forehead was creased with worry wrinkles, and I reached over to smooth them out.

"Yes." I tried my best to keep my voice steady and firm, and it must have worked because Edward simply nodded and opened his door.

Moments later we walked through those dreaded doors. It would always be the same. The smell of the disinfectant, the flowers sent in by bosses, friends, husbands, parents, and children. The smell of the coffee shop nearby. But most of all fear. How many people had walked through these doors knowing that what awaited them was not a new baby, not good news. How many people had felt the emotional pull towards those doors, drawing them closer and closer, and hearing them swoosh shut behind them, seeming to seal them to whatever fate was awaiting them.

I walked up to the front desk to an elderly woman who looked overworked and overtired.

"Can I help you, miss?"

"I'm here to see Renee and Charlie Swan. The police called me…" I trailed off, waving my hand.

"Of course. Are you all family?"

Shit. "Yes." I lied through my teeth, hoping it was believing. She doesn't know anything about me, after all. For all she knows we're just a happy family here for a not so happy ending.

"Room 312" Things must have been worse than I thought. The third floor ominously stood for death. That's where they put all of the critical condition people, people with cancer, dying people. People they didn't expect to walk out on their own. Instead be carried out on a stretcher, headed to the nearby morgue.

Get a grip. You have other things to worry about, Bella.

"Thank you." I whispered, grabbing Edwards hand. We walked over to the nearby elevator, Connor gurgling in Edwards arms, blissfully unaware of what was going on.

There was a nurse in the elevator, and as we stepped in she asked which floor we would be going to.

"Three."

The look she gave me was fully of pity. She knew much more than I did about that horrible third floor.

The doors opened with a chime, and I walked through them, Edward right behind me. I took a right at the nurse station and walked a short ways down the hallway. 310…. 311… 312. I stopped short and took a deep breath, bracing myself for what I would see.

Starting out with some drama... Hope you like!