I dialed the number on the house phone, and waited for someone to pick up while it was ringing. I totally forgot that it was a Saturday, meaning that everybody would be home.

Before I could change my mind, someone answered. "Hello?" It was Edward. Awkward.

"Hey…this is Bella. Can I talk to your mom for a second?" I asked.

Not awkward at all.

Disclaimer: I really and truly wish I had the patience to write a novel on my own, but, alas, I don't. Which means, I obviously didn't write Twilight. That was Stephanie Meyer.

My Big Mister Perfect

Take off the Band-Aid

There was a small moment of silence on the other end of the phone. If it was any other time, I wouldn't have noticed it, I was just so gosh darn nervous.

"She's at the grocery store…sorry, Bella. Do you want me to take a message for her?" he asked politely. I groaned internally. Well, darn it!!!

"No, thanks. Do you know when she's going to be home? Could I come over to talk to her?" I asked, still feeling like a nervous goober.

"Yes!" he said excitedly. A bit too excitedly, if you ask me. If he was even a fraction of a bit interested in me that would most certainly go down the toilet when he figured out that I was broken. Ah, well.

"Thanks, Edward. I'll be over in a few," I replied. We said our goodbyes and hung up. I let out a breath of relief, and fanned myself with my hand, turning to Emmett. "That was the most awkward, yet short, conversation I've had in a while," I said as nonchalantly as possible. It really was, though. You could have cut the tension with scissors, and I would have fallen into the abyss of un-self confidenseness…it's a real place. I've been there.

"So, what's gonna happen, Bells?" he asked in a very fake English accent.

I replied with, "I'm not really sure, Govna'," in the same horrible accent. Going back to my normal voice I said, "Emmett, I'm so nervous about this. I'm going over their house…and they're all going to know now."

"You don't have to tell them the truth," he said, even though I knew he thought that was wrong.

"I know, but I'll feel guilty forever and a day if I do that. I can't lie to them; they're my only friends here."

"Well, then, I guess we'd better get going," he said, rubbing his hands together.

I smiled at him gratefully, fully knowing that I wouldn't have been able to brave it by myself. I felt like Odysseus when he knew six of his men were going to die by Scylla. That scary? Yes.

We situated Carly in the car seat again. She seemed to be getting irritated with the whole driving thing.

Emmett drove and I sat in the back with Carly. "Hey, Pumpkin-Pop, how's life?" I asked rhetorically. She stared at me inquisitively, and I giggled a little bit at her expression. At the sound of my subtle laughter, she made her baby gurgling noises and gave me a huge smile.

We stared at each other like that for the rest of the ride to their house. I forgot about my nervousness and the dramatic problem at hand when I looked at her lovely face. When the car stopped and I came out of my mini-coma, however, the nerves came back with even more force than before. Cheese-muffins.

I gave her one last smile, and got out of the car. I walked around to her side, and got her out of her seat quickly. I picked up a few blankets and her baby bag; you never know when something might happen. I was started to get off balance, which Emmett noticed, so he took my bag, and started up the front steps of the Cullen's magnificent abode. I noticed that Esme's car was in the driveway, so she must have just gotten back.

I looked at Emmett, and slowly brought my finger towards the doorbell, for annoying dramatic effect. He, of course, got ticked off, so he just rang it for me, shaking his head, and ruining the dramatic moment. I was just trying to make myself feel better.

I could hear shuffling inside, and the door opened to reveal Edward looking about as confused as he could. He noticed Carly, and his eyebrows quirked up. He opened the door wider for us to enter.

"Um…hi," he said awkwardly. I smiled at him.

"Hey, Edward. This is Carly, my daughter," I said quickly, like taking off a Band-Aid. It was to be expected that he would be surprised. His eyes widened, and he looked at me with his jaw slacked.

"Your…daughter?" he whispered.

"Yeah, look, I know I have a TON of stuff to explain, but I don't want to have to say it more than once. Could you call your mom and Alice? Carlisle…already knows. I guess he can come too, if he's here," I rushed out. I took in a breath and looked up at him. He was still recovering from the shock, but he nodded, and gestured towards the living room before running upstairs for everyone.

Alice was the first to come running. She was about to give me the omg-your-back-i-missed-you-huggles-where-were-you-missy act, but she noticed Carly and froze. That seemed to be the reaction I was getting from everyone in this house.

I smiled tentatively at her, and she looked at me with a betrayed expression on her face. I knew she'd be upset that I didn't confide in her before…but we really did just meet…

Esme and Carlisle came down quickly after, but not with as much energy as my pixie friend.

Carlisle was the first of the parents to do anything. He let go of his wife's waist, and came over to me. "Bella, how are you? Emmett?" he asked sweetly. He was the first to actually show concern towards me, but he did already know everything.

"I'm good, Carlisle. Do you want to hold her?" I whispered, still not in control of my own voice.

He nodded, and I handed her to him. He held her with expert care; the two examples of his good parenting were in this room.

"So, Bella, are you going to tell us what the hell's going on?" asked Alice. I flinched at the icy tone of her voice. Carlisle turned to her with a sour expression on his face.

"Alice, young lady, do not use that tone of voice with her. She's one of your best friends."

"If she was one of my best friends why didn't she tell me she had a kid before today? Huh?" she hissed.

"Alice, I'm so—" I began, but was interrupted by the angered Alice.

"Oh, Bella, of course you're sorry," she said with false sweetness. This wasn't a side of Alice that I liked. "How does your little boyfriend back home feel about you taking the baby all the way to the middle of freakin' nowhere?!" she screeched.

I felt tears burning in my eyes. This was far worse than I ever thought it would be. I really thought Alice wouldn't judge me…I guess I was wrong. No one would ever want to be close to someone like me, unless they were forced by blood: Emmett being the prime example.

"I bet he's just peachy, isn't he? I bet he's as glad as your so called best friend is right now!"

I'd had enough. I just couldn't handle this right now. My stupid womanly hormones kicked in, and I stood up, ready to defend my dignity with tears starting to roll down my face.

"Oh, yah, Alice. That's really nice! I come over here, ready to tell you all my story in a peaceful, calm manner. But, no. Your damn pride had to get in the way, and you start acting like a bitch. You want to know where Carly's daddy is, Alice? He's in a friggin' jail for ten years, for RAPE!" I screamed at her, not really looking at the other people in the room. "I kept the baby, because I couldn't kill anything innocent, even if it was created by something evil. I gave her up for adoption when she was born. I came here for a fresh start, so I wouldn't have to deal with it. I was doing great, until my fucking lawyer calls to tell me that the adoptive parents are both dead from a car crash. So, the horrible" I seethed out that word, "person I am, I went down to Phoenix with Emmett and picked her up, because I didn't want to be away from her any more. I thought it was a sign, and we were meant to stay together. I come over here to ask Esme a simple question, and her daughter friggin' screams at me!" I finished with a huff, sitting down on the sofa, and hugging Em to me. I started to sob.

I heard Esme say, "Oh, dear," and Carlisle let out a whoosh of air. Then, I heard something that really surprised me. Alice started crying, too. It wasn't any of that dainty crying, either. She was full on weeped.

"Oh, God, Bella! I'm so sorry. If I'd known, I would have never—" I didn't let her finish the sentence, because the hug I was giving her was squeezing her too hard.

"It's ok, Alice," I whispered. "I would have felt the same way."

"I just," she hiccupped, "thought you'd share something like this with me…but I understand why you'd want to keep that a secret. It's not in my rights to yell at you for keeping your personal stuff personal."

"Thanks, Alice," I said.

Then, I actually glanced from her face, and looked around the room. Of course, my mother's instinct made my gaze first go in the direction of Carly and Carlisle. Carly didn't really seem bothered by the situation, for which I was glad. Carlisle was looking at us (me and Alice) with a proud expression, probably because everything was out in the open, and we forgave each other. Esme looked at me with a kind sadness in her eyes, not pity. She knew I went through a rough time, and was sorry for that. Emmett was surprised, to say in the least. I never swear or shout, so that was easy to justify. At last, I looked to Edward. He wasn't looking at me, but he looked very angry and sad at the same time. I saw him bring a hand up to wipe his face from…tears.

Wow. Everyone took that news pretty well. Except for the whole…argument, I think that it went pretty smoothly.

Esme and Carlisle came over to join the group hug, and I was pretty happy. Then Edward came over to join. When his hand touched the skin on my arm, it felt like a static shock. I was surprised, but I didn't mention it, and neither did he. He obviously didn't feel it. But, I back tracked my thoughts when I looked up into his eyes. They were indefinite pools of emerald green that seemed to read my very soul. They were beautiful, and I couldn't help but fantasize that he was looking at me with love. Our gaze was broken by the hyper, yet wonderful, Alice.

"Ohmigosh, Bella! I've got to call Rose!" From the mischievous tone in her voice, I could only assume that our plans with Rosalie would involve a long shopping trip. It also didn't escape my notice that Emmett stood up straighter when her name was mentioned. Everyone chuckled at the pixie that was bouncing with excitement.

"So Bella, you had a question for me?"

Jeeze, guys. I'm sooo sorry. I updated on Thanksgiving last? I'm seriously not good at this whole updating thing. I had a major writer's block, and nothing was working for me. I kept giving up way too fast, and I had some personal issues. Then, when I finally got into it, it just kept spewing out. Thanks to thee-dark-enchantress for the support and inspiration! I probably wouldn't have gotten this chapter out if it weren't for you. Please review!