A loud buzzing sound awoke me from my peaceful slumber. It sounded like a doorbell. I sat up quickly, grabbing my crutches and hobbling to the door. Esme and Alice were waiting patiently with trays and covered dishes. I ushered them in and closed the door as they set the table for me.

"Sit." Ordered Esme.

They began uncovering bowls. Before me sat spaghetti with meatballs, peas floating in butter, salad, and what looked like homemade garlic bread. I fell back into my chair in simple astonishment. Alice smiled and began serving me. They had already eaten, but joined me as I complimented them throughout the meal. Esme left soon after finishing, with a kiss on the forehead and a promise of breakfast.

After I was finished, Alice helped me to the couch and we sat in companiable silence for a while.

I was turning ideas around in my head. Could it be possible to be here and to be happy? I don't know if I could intrude on these people's lives any more than I already had. Would they let me leave, still being a minor? They had already expressed that they would help me in anyway. Should I? Could I?

"Bella, Please make up your mind about saying soon." Alice blurted out hurriedly. "I know that you will be happy and accepted here. The indecision is killing us. We all want you to stay."

I didn't know what to say.

"At least let Carlisle set your leg and let yourself heal before you go. He really wants to do that for you." She said.

I looked at her. The willingness and the hope in her eyes decided for me and in all reality, I had nowhere else to go. She seemed to smile before I started my answer.

"OK," I said. "But, only until I heal. Then I need to go. I don't want to be a bother."

She rolled her eyes, but smiled. "I'll tell Carlisle tonight. Can I take you shopping?"

"What now?"

"Yes, silly!" she strolled over to a desk and brought back a laptop. She began to browse various websites. The prices were astonishing and I quickly refused. I explained to her that for a while, I was going to be in a cast and in all reality, I would be immobile, so sweats and t-shirts from Wal-Mart was fine. I also told her that I'd pay her back as soon as I could but she waved my offer off.

"Fine," she finally said. "but I get to pick out underwear and pajamas. You have to splurge for comfort."

As we sat chatting about their lives before me, the doorbell rang.

"That's probably Jasper and Emmett," Alice said. "Can they come in?"

"Yes, of course." I responded quickly.

She let them in and they gathered around us, talking video games. I had no idea what they were saying. It was like they were speaking another language.

"Wanna play, Bella?" Emmett asked.

I looked at their hopeful faces and nodded my head. Jasper grabbed me and carried me to the theater, while Emmett sat up a Wii and Alice explained the controls. I loved it and thanked the almighty Nintendo gods that the games were easy to play. We bowled, played tennis, raced karts, and even killed zombies. They looked like they could continue through the night, but I was fading fast.

Jasper nodded in my direction to Alice and she talked me into going to bed. After I changed my clothes, she was waiting on the bed for me.

"You washed your make up off. Are you OK?" she asked sadly.

I nodded. My face still hurt to look at, but not the shock of last night. As I climbed into bed, the doorbell rang again.

"Jasper." Alice predicted, raising her eyebrows at me.

I nodded to her. "What's with the doorbell? You can just come on in. This is your house."

She let Jasper in. "Nonsense. This is your space, you have the only key." She said.

I understood. They were trying to make me feel secure. "Really, just come on in. It won't bother me."

"The door is soundproof. This was all part of the theater once. The buzzer is so you can hear us."

"Well, then just buzz, and come on in. That goes for the others too. I feel like I can trust you guys. I kind of have to." I added sadly. "I just don't want to intrude."

Jasper spoke. "There is no way you could. At one time, I felt like and intruder here too. When I joined Carlisle's family, I felt lost and at the end of my rope. He helped me, all of us, and if you let us, we can help you too." He squeezed my hand. "Don't keep her up too long, wife. She's tired." He kissed her tenderly and left us alone again.

Alice grabbed my hand and looked at it thoughtfully. "When I came to Carlisle, my childhood was so bad, that I remember nothing but darkness."

I stared at her in shock.

She nodded. "We all have a past. Because of this family, we are whole again. We want you to have that. You deserve that."

"Does everyone feel that way?" I asked, thinking of Rosalie's flippant attitude and Edward's outright anger.

"If you are referring to Rose, She's always a bitch, but we love her. You being around brings up some not so pleasant memories for her, but she'll get over it."

I nodded.

"Me and Jasper are very happy you are here. I just know that we're going to be best friends and Jasper has already begun planning a study schedule to help you get caught up for school or to get your GED."

I stared at her dumbfounded, mouth agape.

"Emmett just called you his little Mario Kart buddy tonight, so I hope you don't mind if he wakes you up at four a.m. to play when he can't sleep."

"If you are referring to Carlisle and Esme, I honestly believe that my mother would nail the door shut to keep you here and force feed you pancakes, and then help my father hold you down while he fixes your leg."

I giggled at the thought.

She sighed to herself. "But you probably mean Edward, right?"

I nodded, somber once more.

"He's having some…personal issues." She said.

"What, like girl problems?" I asked.

She grinned hugely. "You could say that. She kind of caught him off guard, and you got him on a bad day."

I nodded, I hoped she was right.

She stood to leave. "I'll be back in the morning to help you with your face and Esme will bring you breakfast."

I nodded and she left, closing the door behind her. The images of today and tonight swam in my head. I was lying on the bed, happy, content, and hopeful. Somebody wanted to keep me. They wanted to help me. If the family thing Esme wanted me to do with them went well, I might be more comfortable with them. With the promise of a re-broken leg, but a promise of a brighter future looming on the horizon, I slept.

Alice buzzing the doorbell and letting herself in woke me the next morning. Esme followed behind her.

"Sadly," Esme began. "Carlisle won't let you eat before the procedure, so breakfast will be a little late. More like brunch. I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's fine. I'm a little nervous about re-breaking my leg."

Jasper buzzed and entered. "No time like the present." He said sadly, holding his arms out to me.

As he carried me to the elevator and to Carlisle's study, I realized that I was always calm around him. It must be because he had saved my life, so I figured he wouldn't hurt me.

I was settled and the good Doctor started the morphine drip, I got dizzy and soon was rendered unconscious.

I awoke with a headache and a heavy leg. Propped up on pillows on the couch, was a dark blue cast covering my lower leg, letting my toes peek out from the end.

"I picked the color." A melodic voice spoke from the desk behind me.

I jumped and turned quickly towards the sound, fearful of the unknown voice.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." He came around and sat where Carlisle had sat the day before, across from me, and held out his hand for me to shake. "We haven't been properly introduced, I'm Edward."

I held out my trembling hand and he gripped it lightly.

"I was waiting on Carlisle, and was told to keep an eye in you."

I nodded, looking away to the window. My heart thudded in my chest. Tension mounted in the room and the silence stretched out. Luckily, Alice came in, and I almost breathed a sigh of relief.

"I come bearing toast and water. Not exactly gourmet, but it won't make you puke." She said.

Edward hid a grin.

Looking at her offerings, my stomach growled in anticipation.

"Oh, and Esme wants to do something with everyone tonight and wanted to know if you had any ideas."

"What do you usually do?" I asked. "Dinner? A movie?"

Alice smiled. "Sometimes, but we like the outdoors a lot, so we usually go camping or hunting. I doubt you're ready for the wild blue yonder." She said gesturing to my cast and laughing.

"So, is a movie Ok then?" I asked.

The door to the study opened as I was finishing.

"A movie sounds perfect." Carlisle said, entering the room. "I only have a few minutes before work, but I'll be home around eight. I just wanted to check up on you before leaving. How are you feeling?"

"Groggy, but fine, I guess." I replied.

"Well, I've put you in a walking cast so you could get around."

"Thank you." I told him gratefully as he examined me.

Before he exited, he stopped and turned to face me. "Eight o'clock?" he asked.

I nodded.

"It's a date." He said leaving with a smile.

"What would you like to do today?" Alice questioned.

"Can we go downstairs?"

She nodded and I began to rise, happy to be able to walk on my own, alone and unaided, though a bit wobbly.

A worried look suddenly crossed her features. "Bella, I'm a bit worried that you might fall, are you dizzy?"

I considered it and shook my head. I was a little lightheaded, but I thought I would be fine. "I think I'll manage."

I made it about four steps before the dizziness crashed in. Thankfully, Edward caught me roughly in his hard arms.

"Allow me?" he asked, picking me up gently. "We don't want you breaking your other leg, now would we?"

He smiled down at me and my heart stopped. Beautiful golden eyes, framed by lush lashes, and breathtaking beauty fogged my mind. I nodded dumbly and looked away, trying to breathe right as he carried me downstairs. He led us to my bedroom and placed me in my bed.

"I'll see you at eight." He said with a worried look at Alice.

"So," she said after he left us. "what would you like to do?"

I thought about it for a spit second before answering her honestly. "I want to take about a two hour bath." I laughed. "I don't guess this thing is water proof?" I said tapping my cobalt cast.

She grinned wickedly. "No, but a trash bag and duct tape are. Stay right here, I'll be right back."

Seconds later, she returned and covered my cast quickly; taping the bag to my leg and sealing it shut.

"Thanks, but I'll probably break my neck getting in or out of the tub.

"That's what I'm here for." She stated.

I didn't really want her to see me naked again. It shamed me that although the bruises and bumps would fade, the scars were a permanent reminder of what had happened to me. I started to shake my head no.

"It's fine, Bella. I've already seen you naked, and if you want, I'll cover my eyes until the bubbles cover you. I can give you a facial and a mani/pedi too. And we could talk some more." She pleaded.

She was right. She had already seen the damage to me, so what did it matter? The bath would help soothe my sore muscles. I agreed begrudgingly, and she prepared my bath with excitement.

When she helped me into the tub, she obliged me, by covering her eyes. As soon as I submerged myself in the steaming water, I relaxed instantly, and I closed my eyes, sighing.

She started to work on me, explaining each thing as she was doing it. She scrubbed my face gently, mindful of the bruising that was still there, and removed the makeup she had lovingly applied earlier.

I must have dozed off because the water had cooled and my face felt fresh. I looked down at my one visible foot. The toenails were polished and painted. Alice sat beside the claw foot tub, giving my left hand a French tip, as she had already done to my right.

She smiled. "Welcome back, sleepy head."

"Oh, Alice! I'm so sorry." I exclaimed.

"Nonsense, I soothed you to sleep with my amazing, ninja, massage skills." She kidded.

I nodded and noticed a lot of the bubbles had pooped while I was out. While I was rearranging myself to get better cover, I noticed Alice staring at my chest over my left breast.

She glanced up at me and looked away quickly. "Sorry." She muttered, resuming work on my hand.

I looked up at the ceiling, allowing my head to roll back onto the cool porcelain of the tub and ran my right hand over the big, ragged J carved into my chest.

"James did it." I whispered.

She stopped and looked up at me from her position on the floor. "Bella, you don't have to tell me anything. I'll listen, but you don't have to say anything until you are ready, if at all."

I nodded, acknowledging her statement. "I trust you." As I said it, I realized that I did, and continued.

"The first night I was there, he chained me up and did this. He said that he wanted me to remember that I was his property. He beat me around a little bit too, just to prove his point, and… and then he raped me."

She looked stunned. "Bella, I… I'm…so sorry." She stammered.

I shrugged. "He's dead. He can't hurt me anymore." I stopped, thinking to myself for a moment before continuing. "It's just a reminder of the past, kind of like my face, right? This one's just going to be with me a lot longer."

"How about on your eighteenth birthday, we go and get a cover up tattoo. It could be therapeutic." She suggested.

I shuddered. "I'm not too fond of needles, but I'll think about it." I promised.

She helped me out of the tub and got me dressed in pajama shorts and a Cullen T-shirt.

She unwrapped my leg and finished the pedicure on the foot she couldn't get to. We ate lunch, or rather, I ate lunch while she ate a few bites and pushed her food around on the plate. I guess my story had upset her.

We talked a while longer and Jasper, Emmett, and Rose drifted in. Soon after, the door buzzer sounded. Carlisle stuck his head into the living room where we all had gathered.

"I believe we have a date?" he joked.

We walked to the theater were the couches were. Alice and Jasper sat in one of the front couches, with Esme on the other waiting for Carlisle. Rose and Emmett sat in the back, so I followed them, sitting on the only other vacant couch, alone. There were tables to the sides of the couches covered in Sodas, popcorn and candy. I smiled genuinely.

Edward walked into the room and hesitated when he saw me in what I assumed was his seat originally, and frowned, cutting his eyes at a grinning Emmett for a moment, before walking over to me.

"May I?" he gestured to the couch.

I nodded and he sat gracefully next to me.

Carlisle spoke from the front of the room. "As our guest, Bella, is there anything you would like to watch?"

Everyone turned to me, awaiting my answer. "Anything you all haven't seen is fine with me." I blushed.

Carlisle nodded and continued. "So that means we have two choices. Mindless zombie movie or cute and furry talking animal movie. Bella?" he asked again.

Seven sets of eyes flashed from him to me again. I froze. "Could we take a vote?"

He nodded again. "Mindless zombie movie?" he asked everyone.

All the kid's hands shot up, my own surprising me.

He sighed and looked at Esme. "All those in favor of trading in our children?"

Her hand came up along with Emmett's, which earned him a smack on the head form Rose and laughter from us.

Carlisle started the movie and joined his wife's side. During the credits, Emmett and Jasper threw popcorn at each other, eliciting groans from their wives and mother.

I kept shifting in my seat. I couldn't get comfortable with my bulky cast on. Edward glanced over to me, confused.

"Sorry," I whispered. "my leg." I explained.

He patted his lap.

I shook my head no.

He sighed and said in a loud voice, "Carlisle, please tell Bella her leg will be more comfortable if she elevates it." I blushed again.

Carlisle turned to us and nodded. "He's right."

"Shhh." Emmett hushed us. "Some of us are trying to watch a movie here." That remark earned him another smack from Rose.

Edward rolled his eyes at me. "Please." He asked.

I nodded in defeat as he pulled my legs onto his lap.

He patted my cast. "Better?" He asked.

I nodded to him and sat my sights on the screen. From my position I caught glimpses of him form the corner of my eye. He was sitting perfectly still, barley breathing, I noticed from my stolen looks. He was beautiful. Every time the screen lit up it was apparent to me. His face was soft and open. He was a work of art from a great master come to life. I was nodding off around the middle of the movie, when I chanced another look at him.

He was staring angrily at my foot Alice had pampered. I looked along with him. About three months ago, Laurent had come into my shed with a knife and cut my pinky toe off and left. No explanations, no nothing. I shuddered at the memory.

Edward's eyes flashed to my face and his gaze softened. He offered me a small smile and his hand found mine and squeezed. He turned his attention back to the movie again, but his hand never left mine, rubbing circles on the back with his thumb.

It was soothing, and I soon drifted peacefully into sleep.

My un-casted leg woke me up. It was cold. I had tried turning over and felt something shift beneath me. I sat up quickly, taking in my surroundings. I was still in the theater, alone, except for Edward who was currently pinned under my legs.

I swung them off him quickly and released his hand. "I'm so sorry Edward! You should have woke me."

He glanced down at his now empty palm. "It's alright. I fell asleep after you did and woke up about five minutes ago."

I nodded and stretched. I was not sleepy anymore. "What time is it?" I asked him.

"Almost seven a.m." he said. "still sleepy?"

I shook my head

"Hungry?" he asked.

My stomach answered for him by growling loudly. He laughed loudly, his whole being changed. This was a happy Edward and he was perfect.

He held out his hand for me when he stood. I took it without thinking and he helped me to the elevator and upstairs to the family kitchen.

Esme pointed to a chair and Edward steered me toward it. She ceremonially placed in front of me enough food to feed at least two people. Carlisle stepped up and ordered me to eat every bite as he kissed his wife goodbye.

I sat, consuming breakfast quietly, and watched their lives unfold before me. Esme was humming to herself as she washed dishes, while Emmett complained to Rose about her taste in music. She rolled her eyes at him and turned it up louder, only to change it soon after with a kiss for him. Alice and Jasper seemed to only exist for each other. She was sitting on the countertop and he was standing before her. They were not speaking, just staring into each other's eyes. You could almost see their emotional intensity hovering around them. I felt like I was intruding on a private, intimate moment between the two of them and quickly looked away. I looked up from my plate and glanced at Edward. He too was staring at Alice and Jasper.

Even in the sadness there, in his eyes, the beauty shone through. He shifted his eyes away from them to the window, thoughtful.

These people had lives. Could I fit in here? Was it even possible? I wanted, no, needed to believe that I could.