Hopefully this chapter will be a little more exciting than the last one, although I have to say that I'm thrilled so many of you enjoyed that last one. Hopefully you'll have some love for this one too.

Stephenie Meyer still owns Twilight and I am owned by a cat that insists on draping himself over my arms while I'm typing.


Alice's girl's day wasn't as torturous as Bella had imagined it would be. She had booked them in to a very expensive-looking spa where they were treated to the most incredible skin treatments, facials, massages, manicures, pedicures and, much to Bella's chagrin, Brazillians. She knew that Edward would be surprised, but she wasn't so sure that she would be going through the torturous procedure on a regular basis just to keep Pandora's runway clear for Adam's landings.

After the spa, they went shopping for dresses to wear to the graduation, and to pick out a few maternity pants for Rose, who was starting to expand on a daily basis. Bella was relieved that going through this with her wasn't making her feel as sad. Maybe things would be okay after all?

That evening, when she spoke to Edward before he went off to work his graveyard shift, she told him about how much fun she'd had shopping with the girls.

"It didn't make you feel bad?" he asked.

"No, it didn't at all. I was actually excited for her. I think I'm over the disappointment, Edward. I think I'm going to get through this."

"Of course you are, love. You've gone through worse things and come through it just fine. I have the utmost faith that this is just a tiny bump on the way to something great."

"Oh, here come the platitudes," she mumbled, grinning.

"What was that? I couldn't hear you, Bella."

"Nothing, sweetie. I have a present for you when I get home."

"Oh you bought me something already? What is it?" he sounded excited.

"It's a surprise. I am pretty sure you're going to enjoy it."

"Could it fit in a breadbox?"

She snorted. "I really don't know how to answer that. You'll just have to wait and see."

"Well, I hate to do this, but I have to run, love. I miss you."

"I miss you too. There's food in the freezer in Ziploc containers for you, and if you dig near the back of the deep freeze you'll find a box of cookies. You can take them in to the gang at the ER."

"You, my Bella, are THE best! I love you!

"I love you more."

He laughed. "I don't have time for your reindeer games tonight. I'll let you win this round."

"Whatever! You'll just say it again when you hang up."

"Give my love to everyone."

"Be safe, Edward."

"Sleep well, Bella."

Jasper's graduation was long, stuffy and frankly, a little boring. Bella found herself nodding off a couple of times before Emmett elbowed her. She felt Mr. and Mrs. Hale looking over at her disapprovingly. She blushed and tried harder to stay awake.

The reception Alice had planned was unbelievable. There were hundreds of people there. Bella felt out of place and out of sorts, especially when several of Jasper's classmates were hitting on her. One blonde guy in particular was paying a lot of extra attention to her. He made her uncomfortable enough to prompt her to try to hide in the washroom. She just needed to get her wits about her. She still didn't feel completely at ease in a crowd without someone with her, and she didn't feel right about saddling one of her family members into being tied to her all night.

She was standing in front of the mirror fixing her hair and taking deep breaths when she heard the door open, then quietly clicked shut. The panic didn't begin to rise until she heard the lock being slid into place.

"Bella?" a strange male voice called, "are you in here?"

She seized up. She tried to make it to a stall to hide but he grabbed her arm and spun her around.

"There you are," it was the overbearing blonde guy, "I was looking for you."

"Who are you again?" she asked nervously. "What do you want?"

"I'm Mike. We met earlier," he said, running his fingers of his free hand through his hair. He was Edward's size, about six foot one, blue eyes, boy-next-door kind of looks. He smiled at her. "I think it's a great idea that you wanted to come in here."

"What...what are you talking about?"

"I saw the way you were looking at me. I know what you want and I'd be glad to give it to you," he leaned in to kiss her.

"No. No, my god, no! I'm engaged! You're mistaken! I think I should go." A familiar panic boiled inside her, bile burning her throat. She reached into her sweater pocket and flipped open her phone and blindly hit the speed dial key that she desperately hoped was Emmett's.

"Come on, Bella, you know you want it," his mouth came in even closer to hers.

This was SO not happening. She tried to get past him but he shoved her against the wall. His breath smelled of alcohol and it burned her eyes when he spoke.

"I DO NOT WANT THIS! LET ME OUT OF THE BATHROOM NOW!" she said loudly. She hoped that someone was listening on the other end of the phone.

"Don't fight it, Bella," Mike held her face and kissed her, his alcohol-soaked tongue darting sharply into hers as she tried to scream again. His other hand tore at the neckline of her dress and grasped her breast roughly.

"NO! LET ME GO! PLEASE! HELP!" Bella shouted as she struggled against him.

Mike's hand slapped hard across her cheek. "Shut up," he spat.

Bella continued to scream. He slammed her back into the wall a couple of times, in an effort to silence her. In an attempt to stabilize his position, he straddled her leg. When she saw this, she it as her best, and possibly only, window of opportunity; she brought her knee up and caught him in the nuts. He fell to the ground screaming in pain, bringing her with him. She pulled herself out of his grip, crawled toward the door, pulled out her phone again and yelled: "Help! In the bathroom!"

The door burst open and in came Emmett, Jasper, Carlisle and Mr. Hale. Bella was curled up in a ball, rocking back and forth while the men dragged him out. Rose ran in and wrapped her arms around her. "Bella, are you okay?"

"I want to go home. I want Edward," she started to sob.

"Let's get you back to Alice's and we'll take it from there."

"I just..." Bella couldn't finish her thought.

Emmett, Jasper and Mr. Hale dealt with Mike while Carlisle checked out Bella. "Are you okay, dear?"

She nodded tearfully.

"Did he hurt you?"

"I'll survive."

"Are you sure? Your face is red. Did he strike you?"

She nodded again before collapsing into his arms and crying.

Alice stood horrified in the doorway wit her mother. "Bella, I'm so sorry. I...don't..." she didn't know what to say.

"Alice, dear, is there a less conspicuous exit we can use?" Carlisle asked.

She thought for a moment, then led them through a service door. Rose drove Bella back to the loft, where the two of them curled up in the guest room bed and cried together.

"Why?" Bella cried softly into Rose's shoulder, "why?"

"I wish I knew, hon, I really do. You're a gorgeous girl. I know it doesn't give him an excuse to do what he did, but jerks are usually attracted to the pretty ones. Beauty is a curse."

"I want Edward."

"Should I call him?"

Bella thought about it for a moment. "No, it'll just upset him. I'll wait until I get home. There's no point in worrying him. I want to go home tomorrow."

"Why don't you drive with me and Em?"

"I'd like that. I don't think I can deal with a plane full of strangers," she said before starting to cry again. "Where's a teleporter when you need one? I just want to be home, safe in my own bed."

"Soon, sweets. We'll leave early tomorrow morning. I think everyone will understand under the circumstances. Why don't you get some sleep? You look exhausted."

"Can you stay until I fall asleep?"

"Of course."

Rose curled up with Bella in her arms and sang to her. Some of the songs made Bella giggle--Mr. Brightside as a lullaby? She couldn't help but think that Rose was going to be the coolest mom ever.

Eventually Bella fell asleep. Rose got up and went down to the living room where members of the family were returning. Everyone was pale, tired, and visibly upset by the events of the evening.

Alice ran over to Rose. "Is she okay? I'll never forgive myself if that douchebag hurt her."

"She's bruised, scared, and upset. I figure someone is going to have to stay nearby, the nightmares are bound to start soon." She turned to her husband. "Emmett, honey, we're leaving in the morning. We're going to drive Bella home; she's in no shape to be flying. Also, DO NOT breathe a word of this to Edward. She wants to wait until she gets home. There's no need to set him off when she's pretty much okay. Are we agreed?"

The family nodded in agreement and went about getting settled, putting things away and making sandwiches.

A blood-curdling scream cut the tension in the room. Emmett jumped into big brother mode and ran to the guest room. It was like some sick déjà vu. Bella was thrashing and screaming in the bed. He sat down beside her and pulled her into his arms. "Easy, Belly, it's okay."

Rose popped her head around the corner. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she'll be okay. Rosie, sweetie, would you mind if I stayed here with her tonight?"

"Everyone's camping out here in the living room. Alice just went out to find a 24-hour Walmart to pick up some air mattresses. I'll go pack up the stuff at the hotel, say bye to Mom and Dad, and check us out. I'll come back and sleep here with the others so we can leave first thing." She walked over to the edge of the bed and placed a kiss on her husband's forehead. "I've never met a family quite like this one."

"They're pretty awesome, aren't they?"

He looked down at his sister, ran his fingers through her damp hair, and sighed. "I thought this would have ended when James was killed. I never expected to be cradling my adult sister and rocking away the monsters.

"That Mike bastard is lucky I didn't go postal on him. If Carlisle and Jasper hadn't stopped me—I could have killed him with my bare hands."

Emmett looked up at his wife, his eyes radiating pain and sadness. "My god, Rosie, why Bella? Why does this keep happening to her?"

"She was wondering the same thing. I wish I had an answer."

Rose grabbed a quilt from the closet and covered Emmett. "Get some sleep, baby. We have a long drive ahead of us."

"It's only six hours, I'll be fine. You, however, are sleeping for two. Get that hot little ass of yours down to get some rest. Oh, could you get someone to bring me a sandwich?"

Rose kissed his lips and promised to send up a snack.

"I love you, Rosie."

"Ditto, big guy."

Bella awoke to her phone buzzing in her pocket. Oh, crap, I forgot to call Edward!

She unhooked herself from Emmett's iron grip and quietly answered the phone. She dreaded this call. She couldn't lie to him and he'd know something was wrong.

"Hi, baby," she said quietly as she slipped into the bathroom.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?"

The sound of his voice brought a lump up in her throat. She tried desperately to swallow it.

"Nothing's wrong."

Big sigh on the other end of the line. "You're lying."

"I miss you," she said, trying to hold back the tears.

"I miss you too, but is that really all that's wrong?"

Crap. Crap. Crap.

"Yes."

He sighed again. She knew he was pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. She could picture it as clear as if he was sitting beside her.

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"I have good news," she choked out.

"Are you crying? Bella, what happened? Is everyone okay? Are you okay?"

"I'm coming home tomorrow. I should be home after lunch."

"Should I pick you..."

She cut him off. "I'm coming with Emmett and Rose."

"What the hell happened, Bella? Why are you driving instead of flying? Why are you coming home early? Why are you crying and what the hell is so bad that you feel you have to hide it from me?"

Bella held the phone away from her face and sobbed. When she composed herself enough to speak, she could hear Edward calling her name frantically.

"Edward, please, calm down. I'm okay. I just miss you. It's been a long day, I'm tired out. I just wish I was there with you right now."

"I swear, Isabella Marie Swan, if you don't tell me what the fuck is going on I'm going to call Emmett and he'll spill faster than an overflowing glass of water teetering on the edge of a table during an earthquake."

"Please, Edward, don't. He's sleeping. I'll tell you everything when I get home. Can you please trust me?"

Five long seconds of silence. It was deafening. Bella choked back a couple more sobs. "Please just tell me you love me. I'll tell you tomorrow. I just can't right now."

"Okay, I trust you, I love you and I'll be waiting for you. Be safe, love. If you need anything, you call, okay?"

She hiccuped. "Okay, I love you too. Can you hum for me, please?"

"Of course."

"Just let me get back in bed."

"What's that noise?"

"Emmett snoring."

"Okay, I really am worried if you're sleeping with Em. I wish you could tell me what happened."

"You promised."

"You're right, I did. Sweet dreams, love, and I'll see you soon. I love you."

"I love you too, Edward. Hum, please."

Edward hummed her melody and she wasn't long falling asleep.

"Edward? Why are you humming into my sister's phone?"

"Emmett? Is she asleep?"

He yawned. "Yeah, she is. Is she okay?"

"No Em, and she won't tell me why? Can you please shed some light on what the fuck is going on there? Why was my fiancée sobbing? Why are you coming home early?"

"Calm down, little brother. If she didn't tell you, I sure as hell won't either. I need to go before she wakes up."

Edward sighed sadly. "Em, please, is Bella okay?"

"She will be, brother. We'll see you tomorrow."

"Drive safe."

"Always. I've got the three most precious people in the world with me. Now let me get some sleep so I don't fall asleep at the wheel tomorrow."

Edward barely slept a wink, which was not good. Working doubles and graveyard shifts were starting to get to him. Instead of sleeping, he paced and made himself crazy trying to figure out what had happened in New York.

Sleep finally tackled him in his favourite chair.

Bella crawling into his lap and crying softly awakened him after four restless hours. Emmett carried her bags in, smiled sadly, and then left without a word.

"Bella, love, what's going on?" he held her tight to him and kissed her forehead.

"Please don't be mad."

"I'm sure there's nothing that would make me mad at you. Please tell me what's going on. I can't take this."

Bella inhaled a deep, ragged breath before she began. "A guy in Jasper's graduation class...he...oh God...he cornered me in the bathroom and..."

"Sweet Jesus, Bella!"

Sobs tore through her before she could answer.

"He didn't rape you, did he? Is that bruise on your face from him? I'll kill the bastard!"

"No, he didn't, but he tried. He kissed me and ripped my dress trying to feel me up. He knocked me around a few times before I kneed him. Emmett, Carlisle, Jasper and his dad broke in and saved me."

"Oh, baby, I'm so sorry. If I had been there..."

She sat up and pulled away from him. "DON'T!"

"What?"

"Don't blame yourself. It happened. It sucks. I'm a fucking mess, and I'll eventually get over it, but it's not in any way, shape, or form, your fault."

"It's so hard not to feel that way, Bella. I feel so protective of you. The first solo trip you take and this happens."

"Baby, I'm tired. I just want to go lie in bed and be with you. Hold you. You hold me. Please. No Adam. No Pandora. Just Edward and Bella."

"Anything, love."

Edward stood up slowly and carried her up to the bedroom. He laid her on the bed before walking around to the other side to take his spot.

The bruise on her pale face was getting darker. His fingers ghosted over it and silently cursed the bastard who dared lay a hand on his fiancée.

"I love you, Bella. You're safe now."

"I was so scared; I didn't know what to do-I froze. He was bigger than me and he was really drunk. You'd think that after all I've been through..." she cried harder, "why me, Edward?"

Edward's heart shattered. This was the first time he'd ever heard her ask that. Through the horror of what James had done, she'd never once asked 'why me,' she'd just accepted it as something that sometimes happens to good people.

"I don't know. I wish I knew," he said as tears spilled from his own eyes as he comforted her. Why anyone would want to hurt his sweet girl he didn't know.

She trembled in his arms so he pulled her favourite blanket up to cover her. "We'll get through this, sweetheart. It's just another pot hole in the road."

When Edward woke up at eight, Bella was still asleep beside him. He hated that he had to leave her, but he had to work, there was no way around it.

Propping himself on an elbow, he stared down at her. He watched as her chest rose and fell with each even breath. He observed her face as it twitched lightly. He lamented the bruise on her cheek, just below her eye, that had darkened even further and he sighed. She was so delicate, so vulnerable, and he had to leave her.

He got up and went downstairs to make coffee. As he leaned against the counter, his mind wandered to what Bella had told him about what had happened in that bathroom. How could that parasite think that he could possibly have the right to touch her, to force himself on her while she screamed? Then his imagination flew into overdrive; visions of a faceless monster slapping her beautiful face, ripping her dress, groping her roughly.

In a fit of pure rage, he threw his coffee cup across the room, smashing it on the wall. He slid down to sit on the floor and rested his head in his hands. What kind of husband was he going to be if he couldn't protect his wife?

"Edward? What happened? Are you okay?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to wake you. Just had a...moment."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, now come here, please."

Bella sat between his legs on the floor. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck. "How are you? Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, I did. I'm actually feeling a lot better."

"That's good."

"Yeah, that stupid 'why me' thing snapped me out of it. How selfish of me to say that! How self-centered. It could have been anyone. I'm glad it wasn't Rose, he could have hurt the baby. The fact of the matter is, I'm okay; a little bruised, but in the grand scheme of things, I'm okay.

"I realized that I've been acting really self-absorbed lately, what with being all pissy about Rose being pregnant, and I've been snapping at you so much. I really am sorry."

"It shouldn't have happened to anyone in the first place, Bella. That asshole should have kept his hands to himself."

"Well, it happened and it's time to move on. Now why don't you go grab a shower while I make Brlupper."

"Brlupper?"

"Breakfast, lunch, and supper!"

He laughed as he hugged her. "God, I missed you."

He was extremely shocked when he was presented with Bella's 'surprise' a couple days later, and much to her chagrin, he was quite fond of Pandora's new look.

"I hope you understand that this," she said, pointing at her hairless state, "is not going to be a regular thing."

"Oh, but why not? It's so...hot!"

"Edward, I look like a ten year-old girl, which creeps me out, and not only that, it hurts like a motherfucker to get it done. How would you like it if I waxed your balls?"

He cringed. "Point taken. Would you do it for my next birthday? Or perhaps for special occasions?"

She sighed. "We'll see. Just don't get used to it."

So...the angst makes a reappearance. I know a lot of you wonderful folks were hoping the angst was done for a while, but we all know that isn't going to necessarily happen.

Montréal is next! Pack your English/French dictionaries, some comfortable walking shoes and your camera because it's going to be a trip to remember. Going to Montréal is ALWAYS a trip to remember.