Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, or any characters associated with Twilight.
Reader Warning: While I will not be publishing any explicit sort of content, there may be some mention of physical/emotional abuse and, or sexual assault. I do not condone these behaviors, but due to the storyline, mentioning them will likely be necessary. I do realize that speaking/reading about these behaviors may be painful or triggering for some people. PLEASE, if this is you, just skip over this story, and I won't be offended in the least. I'd much rather it wasn't read than to have it cause anyone that sort of distress.
Authors Note: First of all I just want to thank you for reading this story. Some of you out there may recognize it, as I did have it published before. I am now in the process of re-doing it, because there were several things about the original that I did not end up liking. This version will be a bit different than the last, but not drastically so. I cannot promise regular updates. I tried that before, and it simply didn't work. As I republish, there may be frequent updates, and there may even be several chapters done in a day. This will likely be a rarity, though, and updates may take anywhere from several weeks to several months.
Happy reading!
"Isabella, wait!" cried Edward Masen, running after the dark-haired girl who was hurrying down the winding garden path in front of him. "Isabella, please!" Finally he caught up with her as she paused next to a tree. Her dark-brown eyes looked scared, and as he watched, she visibly shivered, despite the warm March evening. Edward quickly closed the distance between them, and put his hand on her shoulder, wincing when she flinched , "Are you sick?" She looked at the ground, straightened her shawl, and then finally met his eyes. Her voice came out in nearly a whisper, "No, Edward, I'm not sick." He carefully led her over to a stone bench and took a seat, "Isabella, what's going on? You've been acting strangely for weeks now." She sighed, and studied her clasped hands as she thought of how to tell Edward the truth. He was her closest friend, male or female, and had been courting her for nearly a year. She hesitated, knowing that verbalizing this news would shake both of their worlds. "We...I...well, I'm..." she paused, pressing her hand to her mouth. There was no right way to say this. She started again, and her words came out in a rush, "Edward, I'm having a baby."
For a moment Edward sat in shocked silence, feeling as though he had just been punched in the gut, then slowly he brought his eyes up to Bella's face. Surely she hadn't really said those five words. He must have just misunderstood her, and soon they would laugh about it, and this would all be over. But as he focused on her expressive eyes, he knew that she had stated the truth. There had been no misunderstanding. Then Bella spoke again, more timidly this time, "Edward? Did you hear me?" He nodded, clearing his throat, "Y-yes…I heard." She nodded, looking away as he silently studied the ground. Finally he spoke, "Are you absolutely sure? You-you have no doubts?" "I'm sure." "How do you know?" She hesitated, then spoke, "The doctor at Beachtown. He confirmed it." Edward quickly looked up, "You went to Beachtown?" Beachtown was what everyone called the poorest part of the city, down by the docks. It was dirty, and rough, filled with all kinds of criminals… "Yes." "Alone?" She looked down, then back at his face, "I-I had to Edward. No-one knows me there, and I had to know." He swallowed hard, "Of course." The very thought of Bella anywhere near Beachtown, alone, turned his stomach. The thought of her walking down those dirty streets, among criminals, going to the doctor…the examining room…alone… He looked up as she spoke, "The doctor said-said to expect the baby sometime in September." Edward slowly shook his head, "How did I let this happen?" A tear trickled down her cheek as she watched him, "I don't know." "I'm sorry, Bella. I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I never..." Bella shook her head, not wanting to hear his apology. It was just another reminder of what had taken place, "Edward, it doesn't matter. Our parents…You're going to be a doctor. This will ruin your name…" she was overcome by tears as the reality of the situation once again hit her full-force.
Edward felt tears begin to prick his own eyes, and quietly put his arms around her, "Come here." She stiffened at his touch and he winced again, but then she slightly relaxed. He looked down at the thin girl beside him. Her dark head rested just below his shoulder. Her shoulders shook with sobs, but he had no idea how to comfort her. This was the first time in his life that he could ever remember feeling completely helpless. He had always had a plan. He had always been in control, always been in charge...But now he had hurt the one person he had sworn never to hurt. He had hurt the one person who he had planned on spending the rest of his life with. The thought tore him apart.
He felt tears rolling down his own face, and roughly swiped at them with his sleeve. He loved this girl. He loved her. How could he have failed so miserably? He had known that she was special the moment they met. She had just turned 14, and he had been 15. He had loved the way her eyes lit up when she laughed, the way she lightly skipped when she walked…Everything she had said or done, he had admired. The next year, he had asked her parent's permission to come courting, and it had been granted. They had gotten along, laughing and talking together. They had understood each other on a level that no-one else had ever been able to reach. They had shared secrets, and hopes, and dreams...and then that one night…he had ruined everything that night. Edward shook his head, not wanting to think about it. And now, now Bella clung to him, shaking as she cried. Her face was down, and her eyes were still full of unshed tears. Edward was disgusted with himself. For years he had been trying to prove that he was a man, but now he had no clue what to do. He couldn't think of any words that would amount to much; Bella was hurting, and he had to take most, if not all, of the blame, and yet, he couldn't make this any easier for her. He watched as her shoulders gradually stopped shaking, and waited a moment before gently pushing her back to look at her face, "Bella? Are you alright?" She wiped her eyes, and slightly nodded, "I will be."
He sighed, "I know it wouldn't be easy, but maybe…maybe we can just announce our engagement. If you marry me, no-one ever has to know that this child was born out of wed-lock. Will you marry me, Bella?" She felt a chill roll down her spine at the thought of growing old with him. Before, she would have jumped at his proposal. At any proposal, even a half-hearted one like this, but now...she studied his face, "Edward, you know that our parents would never agree to us getting married right now. They'll say that we're still too young." He nodded, "I know, and I know that's true, but I think we have to try."
"No! My answer is final!" "But father", began Edward, "If you would just listen to us-"The older man broke in, "Edward, I advise you not to make me repeat myself." His mother spoke up, "Listen to your father, Eddie. Marriage at your age would not be wise." Edward glanced over to where Bella stood, and saw that her parents shared the opinion of his own. "Anyway", his father continued, "There's no reason to rush into marriage with Isabella. Why not wait a year or two more?" Edward looked down at the hardwood floor. A year or two would be too late. Then Bella spoke up, looking at her parents. She knew that the final decision would be against the marriage, so she might as well try to act convincing, for Edward's sake, if nothing else, "Please, reconsider. We aren't too young-" Her father cut her off, ".It's not in your favor to argue when we've made our decision; you're only 16-years old. Surely you can wait until you're a little older." "Father, what difference will it make? It will still be Edward, and it will still be me!" "Do not talk back to me," her father said sharply, giving her a hard look. She turned desperately to Edward, and he didn't think before he spoke, "We have to get married!"
Suddenly the room was completely silent as both sets of parents turned to look at him. Bella felt her face heat up as she realized what was about to happen. Her father spoke first, "Exactly what does that mean?" "W-well…" Edward stammered, "Just that…that we…that I…" he trailed off, not sure what to say. His mother was the next to speak, "Eddie…surely you don't mean that you must marry Isabella...do you?" He sighed, slightly nodding, and Bella crossed the floor to stand next to him. "Isabella", her mother nearly whispered, "What have you done?" When neither she nor Edward replied, Mrs. Swan quickly left the room. Edward's mother studied Bella for a moment, and then looked at her son pleadingly, "Are you sure?" He closed his eyes briefly, and then nodded. "Dear God…" his mother sighed, shaking her head. Bella saw the tears in the older woman's eyes and started to reach out her hand in some show of comfort when Mrs. Masen suddenly turned and hurried out the front door, allowing it to slam behind her.
When her father stepped forward, Bella nervously moved closer to Edward. "There will be no marriage. Get out of my home, and away from my daughter", he told Edward, in a voice so cold and calm that it sent a shiver across Bella's skin. When Edward didn't move, he grabbed Bella's arm to pull her away, "I said leave; now get out, and don't put your filthy feet on my property again." Edward's father yanked him roughly towards the door, but he protested, "Sir, please, let me help…" "You have done quite enough." "Mr. Swan, please!" "You compromised my child!", the older man yelled, "There is nothing that you can ever do to make up for that!"Bella tried to twist free of her father's grasp, but he held her firmly, "Don't make him go!" Edward clung to the doorframe, desperate to stay, but his father pried his hands loose, and Mr. Swan firmly shut the front door. When he turned to face Bella, she shrank back, afraid that he would strike her. He never had before, but she felt if he did it now, she deserved it. Instead, he only looked at her, and the pain and disappointment in his eyes hurt her more than any physical blow ever could have. When he walked away, she sank down into the nearest chair, crying alone in the cold, dark parlor, for the life that she had previously known.
