Stephenie Meyer owns all rights to Twilight and the characters that lie within it. I own, a copy of each book and a laptop that allows me to entertain myself with the stories that I have created here. This is my fourth ff in progress and a story that keeps interfering with the others. I hope I do it come justice.

There is more than one secret that Bella has kept from Edward, and now the truth must be told before it is too late.

Preface

*BPOV*

Looking across the desk at the man who was holding my fate in an ugly manila folder I began to feel nervous. In his hand rested a file that would determine the course of my future and my families as well. I would love to say that he was a lawyer or even a loan officer, but he wasn't. Dr. Aro held my test results from last week and the expression on his face was unreadable. He looked from the papers in front of him up to me. He clicked his pen and I knew before the words came out of his mouth, it wasn't good.

"Well as you know the results have come in. And it is what I had anticipated." His eyes met mine. I thought back to when we discussed his original prognosis; it was all cold medical language that made no sense to me. I researched and knew without a doubt he would be right. I hated that thought. My leg began shaking uncontrollably and I tried shifting to stop it. I was afraid that if I didn't I would bounce right out of the chair I was sitting so uncomfortably in. My mind began to spin out of control with all of the things that I knew were going to have to happen now. I didn't like the idea of any of it.

Dr. Aro put my file down and calmly said "Ms. Swan we need to discuss treatment plans. As well as counseling and support groups." I tried to focus on what he was saying but it all seemed so unimportant. I tried my best to keep my emotions in check. My mother, Renee, always told me I could be read like a book because I wore my emotions so clearly. I shook my head.

"No. Not today. I need time to process all of this, and spend time with my family right now." I picked up my bag and shook Dr. Aro's hand then headed toward his door. He looked concerned as I left his office, but I knew that he had other patients to deal with as well. His concern would be short lived. I pondered having my file send to my childhood home, for a second opinion or rather to be treated by the one doctor who always told things to me in a manner that I could handle.

I headed down the corridor to where three of the most important people in my life were awaiting the news of my test results. I knew Renee was waiting for what she prayed was good news, and Charlie, my dad had flown in to be here as a support for us. I didn't know how I was going to break it to Renee that her prayers were in vain. As for my father, his insistence to not take no for an answer had brought the two of them back together after 27 years of separation. Charlie had never let go of his love for my mother, and she had tried desperately to make it work with a semipro baseball player named Phil but after three years of moving around and no commitment from a team or him caused her to give up. Their need for everything to be okay with me had lead them to comfort each other, and now as I watched their interaction from down the hall I saw him holding her hand, fingers intertwined like two teenagers. I smiled to myself, something good would come of this at least I hoped it would.

The two of them didn't hear me approach, but the third of the party did. Her green eyes turned to me immediately, they widened in anticipation. Renesme, my beautiful child read me better than even my mother. She knew by my weak smile and whatever lay in my eyes that the news was anything but good. She hopped down from the chair she sat in and walked toward me. I lowered myself to her level and she placed a small hand on my cheek. I closed my eyes and sighed into her touch. When I opened my eyes to look at her she was waiting with her question.

"We're going to find him now aren't we?" Her small voice held more wisdom and understanding than her seven years should have allowed. I toyed with a bronze ringlet that fell from the braid I had haphazardly woven this morning. I lifted her up in my arms and she placed her chin on my shoulder. I looked to my parents, and that brought on the tears that my mother must have been storing during the excruciating wait. She clutched my father's shirt to her as the flood began and the sobs over took her.

My father always the protector, always the strong one asked the question I knew he didn't want to. "How long?" His voice broke as the words came out. I shifted Renesme so that I could hold her and display the number with my fingers. As I held up my fingers so that only he could see he signed and closed his eyes. Then my small angel leaned back and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, making me think of the millionth time today how like her father she truly was. The tears began to pool in her eyes, as I kissed her forehead.

"I will always be right here with you. You got that kiddo. Always." I said placing my hand on her heart. My voice faltered and I knew she would be angry when the time came. I would let her be, because I would be angry right along with her. She knew the truth of things even without me telling it to her. She was so like her father. As I set her down and we ushered my mother into the elevator to leave, Renesme pinched the bridge of her nose. Another of her father's habits that their one knew she had.

"He's not going to be happy about any of this you know." Her small voice let out an adult sigh. I held her hand and squeezed. Looking at her but talking more to myself I said "He will get over it." I thought of him and how things had been. How our lives were always connected, but never interwined. That was until our senior year of undergraduate school. For a brief time, our lives had interwined and the result was a gift I could never regret. It was also a heartbreak that I would never outlive. Both literally and figuratively.

I allowed myself to think back knowing that when I faced him next it would not be pleasant, but it was something I would have to do.

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