It is foolish to fear what you cannot avoid.

Stultum est timere quod vitare non potes

Publius Syrus

Chapter One

Wednesday

BPOV

"Hey, freak!" One of the immature, annoying, prepubescent boys called after me, but it wasn't just any boy at the orphanage, it was James. James and I had, had our fair share of confrontations in the past, though they never did end well.

With a shaky breath I turned around to face them looking at the ground. Mere moments ago I had fallen – to the great pleasure of my audience, my "peers". It was not my fault that I could not walk correctly on a flat surface let alone the ground that was scattered with rocks and debris. Mom had told me that I should blame my absence of skills on my biological father. I thought absent mindedly about what she would say now.

A smile slid across my face as I thought of my mother, the outgoing, brave, beautiful, witty person that I was proud to call my mom. I knew exactly what she would do in this type of situation. Let us just say that it did not end so well for this poor excuse of a person. Lucky enough for him she was dead and buried six feet under the ground several states away from where we stood now. I could feel the earth tremble with her fury.

"Oh, my dearest Bella, drop something?" Chills crept up my back at his sickly sweet voice.

I lifted my eyes to him the edges of them brimming with tears. There in his pudgy little hands my locket dangled swinging back and forth. I gasped frantically searching for the familiar touch of the cool metal around my neck. I even looked quickly around at the ground, hoping for an instance that it was by chance that he had, had a necklace in his hands that looked like mine did. The chances that this was a coincidence were not good.

"Not funny James, give me my necklace back," I glared at him shooting daggers with every ounce of my hate. The angry words slid like snakes off of my tongue and low through my teeth. I was not here to play games.

That locket had been custom made for my mother by Phil –her first husband, Charlie, did not work out. Phil spent an unheard of amount of money on it. The three people I loved and still love are in there with all that is left of them. My only reminder of what they looked like and the times we had together were in the two tiny heart-shaped pictures on the inside. I would not lose it, not to him, not to anyone. That piece of jewelry was my home and family. So help me God he better hand it over with no ifs, ands, or buts. I should know better. My luck is not that great.

"Or you'll what? Have Cullen beat me up? Oh please Bella, anything but that," he snickered at his own sarcasm and his posse joined in quietly. "Grow up Bella. You're seventeen and still in an orphanage. No one is going to adopt a lousy girl like you with scars covering her whole body and freak written on across her forehead," he continued taunting.

I refused to cry. I will not cry. You can do this Bella. You will not cry. I chanted over and over again in my head. In theory this worked, in theory, but in reality, I should have known I could not lie to save my life, especially not to myself. A traitor tear rolled gently down my dirty face and over my mouth. The salt stung getting into the cracks of my lips. I welcomed the pain. It kept me here in reality, here and out of insanity. I watched, unable to move, as James yanked open the charm heart.

"These are your parents?" He paused looking at me waiting for some type of acknowledgement. I nodded, not trust my voice enough to speak at the present moment.

I willed my tears to stop as I looked to the sky wishing for a miracle - anything, something, someone. I remembered how just last night I lay stroking the right hump of the heart with my thumb. I had done this countless times, lying silently in my makeshift bed. It was the only way I could sleep, that or being in Edward's arms. Now I would probably never hold my charm again. I thought of the future restless nights and all because of this moron. This guy who thought he had control over my life. I closed my eyes now as the tears that leaked were from anger now instead of sad pity.

"So," James went on. "You have two dads? What? Your mom couldn't figure out whole the real father was typical. I see where you get it from. You're a filthy whore just like your damned mother, aren't you? No shame it's okay. I don't believe you can get into a worse predicament than you are already in, slut."

My blood boiled from his accusations. I felt as if I was on fire. My nails dug into my palms and soon the faint rusted salt smell wafted up to my nose. The smell made me cringe, but at this moment it was what I needed to distract me from wanting to rip his head off. I swayed and moved my feet further apart not completely relying on my balance skills.

"Bella, how many times have you fucked that man whore of yours? And where have you done it? You know, just so I can avoid those places as to not get aids," a smug grin was plastered on his face and how badly did I want to tear it off.

My sight began to blur around the edges and the red tint set in, I am sure the smell of blood was not helping this. My mother – the woman I was proud of – would have this sorry punk on the ground by now. So what was up with me? I had the same potential right? I could do the same thing, right? Besides my inability to stay vertical I would say I had a good chance to take him. No one talks about my family like that and sure as hell no one can talk about Edward that way, to my face, and not knowing what they were talking about. I was pumped now. I could feel it. I could feel the excitement of anticipation. He was going down. He was going down now.

So I lunged for him, screaming like a banshee.

The look on his face was priceless. No one would have been expecting me to fight back. No one was expecting the quiet "emotional" kid to strike back. You know what? I hate labels. That made me even angrier. For being a generally clumsy person I think I was doing well. My arms flailed at his face, sometimes my hands in a fist and others it was my open palm. One of my nails on my right hand sliced his skin under his left eye. He panicked, screaming in pain.

"Get this bitch the fuck off of me!" He yelled to the surrounding kids.

Hands from the older group grabbed at my arms, but I held fast. I did everything I could besides strangling him. What fun would that be if he died so quickly? I pulled and nagged at his hair. I slapped, punched, and scratched his face multiple times over. I had to admit, I was not one to cause pain or endure it, but this was fun. He had hurt me so much in the past. James was going to pay, with interest.

"Bella..." it was a whisper in the slight breeze, but I heard it over the chaos. I knew I would hear that voice even if we were in space. It was Edward, my Edward's voice that I heard. No one else seemed to notice.

I lost my concentration and was easily jerked away and thrown to the ground. An excruciating pain shot through the back of my head as it snapped against the concrete curb. The smell of blood worsened and so did the nauseous feeling in my stomach.

I can not remember what I had heard first, Edward laughing at the sight of James, or the crunch of James's nose under Edward's fist. Both were more glorious that a choir of singing angels – well not my angel of course. Though it didn't matter which came first, I was going to die, and I went down fighting. I went down fighting. Just like you mom.

EPOV

No matter the amount of time that I spent with Bella she will always amaze me. From the way she pushed back her chestnut hair when she was frustrated to the sparkle of happiness when she was with me. Every day felt as if she was saving me from my own personal hell hole. I needed a pick-me-up, she was there. I needed to rant, she was there. I needed to talk about something that I did not know I needed to talk about and she was there to get it out of me. I felt so insignificant to her. Was I ever going to be good enough for her? Where I lacked confidence, she tore someone's head off. Where she was weak, I was strong. We complimented each other like day and night and went together just as well. Though I know I would never be able to look into her beautiful chocolate kiss eyes and be her equal.

Last night I held her in my arms. I felt at peace with her there. It was so easy to forget everything. The only things that mattered were things that involved her, her feelings, her emotions, what she did, when she did it. And the best part – was that she felt the same about me. It was Bella in the first place that initiated our relationship, Bella that brought me from my despair. She had saved me in more ways than one and I had no way of thanking her. No way of showing my appreciation. So I was going to stay and protect her. Help her when she was weak and boost her when she is strong. I was going to be her back bone.

I was taken from my thought by obnoxious loud laughter. I knew who it was. I loathed who it was. James. The name was a cursed thing. He tormented my Bella day in and day out. Jealousy I assumed. Once or twice he had approached me about Bella. He loved her. That much was evident. Though it was not normal love, no, normal love does not include this kind of hate.

I turned to see the cause of the laughter only to find my angel bringing herself from the ground. I could see blood leaking trough the pants on one of her knees. I went to stand but thought better of it. Last time I had interfered with one of Bella's fights she did not talk to me for a week. I've learned my lesson. I sat back down behind one of the old headstones in the grave yard across the street from the church that is the orphanage. It's not a fancy place, but serves a purpose giving us children shelter.

"Hey, freak!" I heard James yell. It was not the first time he had called her this. And every time he said it I vowed it would be his last by I never could seem to hurt him. Maybe it was because I knew he loved her even if it was on some sick demonic level.

I watched Bella slowly turn around. God, she was beautiful. From behind I could see her cheeks rise. Something was off, Bella, smiling in front of James? I suddenly felt fear for him.

"Oh, my dearest Bella, drop something?" I growled softly to myself. She was my dearest Bella. He had no right to call her his. I noticed something hanging on a chain and something in my stomach dropped. I watched Bella search around on her neck and my suspicions were confirmed. He had her necklace – her lifeline. Bella had often tried to explain to me the significance of the charm to me. I understood. A rock was all I had left of my family and I cherished it like gold. It would never let me forget the good times.

"Not funny James, give me my necklace back," my heart swelled with pride. She was so amazing.

"Or you'll what? Have Cullen beat me up? Oh please Bella, anything but that," I snorted. The last thing James had to worry about was me beating him up. Bella was going to tear him to shreds. Then I was going to laugh and maybe get a punch in myself. "Grow up Bella. You're seventeen and still in an orphanage. No one is going to adopt a lousy girl like you with scars covering her whole body and freak written on across her forehead," he continued. She didn't need to be adopted. Once I turned eighteen, we were out of here. I had money; I just couldn't have it yet.

"These are your parents?" I watched Bella's shoulders shake. I would wait it out for just a little longer and then go over if it got worse. "So," James went on. "You have two dads? What? Your mom couldn't figure out whole the real father was typical. I see where you get it from. You're a filthy whore just like your damned mother, aren't you? No shame it's okay. I don't believe you can get into a worse predicament than you are already in, slut."

I wanted to scream and thrash his head from dawn 'til dusk. My angel is not a slut. He will understand that. I watched the crowd gathering. Something was wrong. Bella was never this quiet. She always had something to say. What could she possibly be thinking about? Where were the adults?

"Bella, how many times have you fucked that man wore of yours? And where have you done it? You know, just so I can avoid those places as to not get aids," I sighed quietly at his comment. Bella and I were still virgins. We both wanted to change that but wanted to wait until we were married. We were not the street tramps that stereotypically come with being an orphan.

I began to worry when neither of them said anything for a while. I began to stand once again when Bella flew at James. The yell that came from her sent chills down my spine, but I could not help but smile. She had wanted to do that for a while. I walked over to them unnoticed and wanted as she slammed her hands against his face. I only then realized that she was bleeding from her palms. When people started rushing at her to get her off I shook my head.

"Bella. . ." I mumbled softly. It was now time to go get her before she killed the poor boy. Her head snapped up and looked in my direction, though it seemed like she didn't see me. She was thrown off of him and hit her head on the curb. I growled quite loudly and stormed toward James. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw his face. She did a pretty good job, but I could do better. I pulled back my arm and snapped it forward my fist creating a satisfying crunch sound when it connected to his nose. He fell backward on to the ground and I walked over crouching next to him.

"You're going to listen and listen well," I waited while he realized it was me and nodded his head quickly. "Now, Bella is mine. I love her. She loves me. Get that through your thick head. And you will refrain from calling her the names that you did. Oh yes, you didn't think I heard that. Be afraid very afraid. I'm not done with you. Don't even look her way, don't think about her, and don't do anything that involves her. And you better swear to God she is ok," I gave him one last kick to the gut for good measure and went over to Bella. "C'mon sweetie," I picked her up gently bridal style. Her palm had covered her nose leaving blood smeared across her face.

I left the swarm of orphans and a few adults that were finally making it to the scene. Bella was going to be fine. I hope. She just needed rest. I brought her to her room that she shared with several younger kids. They loved her so much. She had a way with kids that amazed me. I loved seeing her with them and imagined her playing with our kids. We had already talked about having kids. She seemed excited that I wanted them. I was equally excited to have her agree with me. We were going to have a good life. We just needed to make it past this. I laid her on the small bed that never seemed to be enough. I wrapped her hands with some cloth that I always had on me.

Feeling better about her situation I sat on the floor next to her holding her hand watching her sleep. I felt like something was wrong, but I dismissed it. Too bad I didn't know better. I should always follow my gut.

I must have fallen asleep because I woke up to a loud knock on the door. Tiredly I stumbled to the door unlocking it and letting the head of the orphanage program, his lackey, and what seemed to be a doctor into Bella's room. Secretly, I was glad that a doctor was here. Bella's head hit the curb pretty hard and I was hoping that there was no sever damage. I would die if anything happened to my angel. Then I would come back and haunt the bastard that did this to her.

The doctor stepped in with a nod to me and went over to Bella. He was dressed casually, but had a certain air about him that made him seem like he was well established and knew what he was doing. Immediately I trusted him. The head of the program, Mr. Bailey, was a short man. He almost had the facial features of a mouse, but not in an ugly way, his wife and he ran the orphanage. They were both really sweet people. Bella adored them. The co-owner, Mr. Bailey's lackey, Roman, looked suspicious as always. He was always looking around as if he was going to get caught for doing something wrong, and he always gave Bella looks that I hated. He was dressed like a homeless person on the street, didn't have an ounce of dignity in him.

I watched as the doctor knelt down on the floor so that he was at Bella's level. He sat down a large tote bag of what I could safely assume held medical instruments. Mr. Bailey and Roman walked into the room and I took a seat at the end of the bed by Bella's feet, I didn't want to get in the way. Gently the doctor shook Bella's arm.

"Bella, can you wake up for me?" He asked softly as if he was speaking just to her.

My heart began to race when she didn't answer. Had I let the woman I love die right next to me without me knowing? What could I have done to prevent it? What are some great ways to kill James? These thoughts twirled around quickly in my head until I realized that her chest was still rising and falling.

The doctor turned to me.

"How hard do you think she hit her head?" he asked genuinely concerned as he started her full body examination at her feet.

"She was pushed pretty hard against the curb," I answered as I remembered the events from this morning.

The sun was at a point in the sky where it shone into the window and no matter how you turned your head you couldn't escape the rays blinding you. Quickly I stood and shut the stained dollar-store curtains. Now I could get a much better look at his face. It was perfect, as if carved of stone, very masculine, but there was a seed of kindness that couldn't go unseen.

"And why was Ms. Swan thrown against the curb Mr. Masen?" Roman asked with a smile.

"You would know if you were doing your job and out there Roman," I sneered back. The distaste for this man that I held was obvious to everyone in the room.

"That's enough both of you," Mr. Bailey interrupted. "Edward, Roman is an authority figure, you treat him with respect," he commanded and then turned to his other addressee. "And Roman, so help me God if she is not ok because you were not doing your job right, you're out of here. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in my program."

Roman nodded sharply like he was just given an order by the president; all I could do was look at my Bella. She will be ok. For my sake at least.

We all watched as the doctor put on a pair of gloves and slowly ran his finger tips over Bella's exposed skin. Every so often he would flinch when his hand came in contact with a large scar on her arms or legs. He moved her so that she was completely laid out on her back and checked her stomach. I had to close my eyes when he got to her chest. It wasn't sexual for me; I just didn't like the thought of another man touching her in that way. He felt all through her hair and lifting her head up to feel the back. He finished by correctly wrapping her hands in sterile dressings and cleaning the few blood marks still on her face. After that he pulled of his gloves and threw them in to the small beaten up waste bin in the corner.

"So did you find anything?" Mr. Bailey asked as the doctor picked up his bag.

"She seems to have a large sized bump on the back of her head, which is to be expected. Her stomach is a little distended, but that might be due to her menstrual cycle. I believe she will be fine."

"Well in that case I really should be going, Roman and I had an appointment with the pastor that should have started about five minutes ago," Mr. Bailey said as his brow wrinkled and he glanced down at his watch. "I trust that Edward can show you out?" He looked to me and I nodded acknowledging. "Ok, thank you doctor once again for coming on short notice."

"No problem at all, I'm glad to be helpful to you," he said with a smile like he really meant it.

"Then we really must leave. Come on Roman," he finished sternly, almost as if he was talking to a puppy in training.

"Why are you not taking her to the hospital or something?" I asked angrily as soon as the two older men were out of the room. I'm not sure where it came from, but I felt better after once it was said.

He looked at me and hurt colored his expression.

"As an orphan she is a ward of the state. Luckily enough she belongs to this program which offers minimal coverage. Unfortunately, what she does have does not cover a CAT scan, which I would rather give her."

"There has to be something that can be done right, you can't just leave her here. Can you?"

"If I truly believed that she was in any real danger I could take her in and have all the tests I wanted performed on her, but I honestly believe that she will be fine."

It wasn't intentional, but I found myself taking all of my anger out on this poor man.

"Couldn't you have done something? Anything? You're just going to leave her here? Lie if you have to!"

"Edward, please. If I lied I will lose my license to practice medicine and then I couldn't help anyone," he sighed and reached into his pocket. "What I can do is give you this."

He handed me what looked like a business card.

"Call me every day for two weeks giving me an update on Bella's condition. If it worsens, or does not get better by the end of those two weeks, I will make sure to immediately come and take her to the hospital to have necessary tests ran on her."

I nodded though I really didn't like having to wait, what if it was too late?

"Now, she is probably going to have a massive headache when she wakes up," he reached into his bag and grabbed n orange bottle of pills. "You need to make sure she takes two of these and no more. Two a day, or if it get bad later on she can have one more. Legally, you can't get these without a prescription, but she is going to need it. It's our little secret ok? It should last her at least a week, if it doesn't then that something else you can tell me. It's perfectly fine if she does not remember the events from today and is a little disoriented when she wakes up."

I stuffed the card in my pocket and shook hands with the man.

"I believe I can show myself to the door. Stay with Bella, she needs you. Anyone can see that," and with that he left, shutting the door behind him.

"What they don't see is how much I need her as well," I mumbled to myself, walking over to Bella.

I pulled the sheets up to her chin and situated her into a more comfortable position. When I was confident enough to where I knew she would be fine I resumed my place on the floor, my hand securely in hers.

I pulled the small business card back out of my pocket to examine it closely. It had the name of hospital in the middle and two other numbers that I could safely presume were his work and pager number as they were clearly labeled to where a mentally retarded person could read it. In the middle towards the bottom was his name in bold red lettering.

Dr. Cullen. Dr. Carlisle Cullen.