A/N: BlackheartedBella, you can stop PM'ing me about it! ;)

See you at the bottom…

"I uh … I'm sorry?" Bella's heart was slamming against her ribcage. "What do you mean?"

Esme's green eyes shone bright with tears as they bounced between Bella, Carlisle and Edward.

"Esme, I need to speak with you." Carlisle stepped from behind Bella, wrapping a hand around her bicep. She flicked her eyes to Carlisle before jerking away; sighing she turned, and walked from the office. "Isabella, I'll be right back." He left, following the path of his wife, and pulling the door closed.

Bella rotated towards Edward, her eyes searching his face for answers.

"What's going on?" Edward looked towards Emmett then back to Bella.

"I'm not sure," He replied, clearing his throat. "I think it's best that we wait for my father."

Bella moved across the room to stand right in front of him. She reached inside his jacket, her fingers closing around the end of his gun that was concealed in the shoulder holster.

"I don't think so." Edward's hand gripped her wrist, squeezing tightly.

"Then tell me what the fuck is going on!" Bella couldn't keep her voice down as her anger rose.

"I told you. Wait for my father." He growled, jerking her hand free of his weapon. Bella hit his stomach with her fist, causing the air to expel from his body in a quick gust. She turned with a smile and sat back in the chair.

"The more I'm around her, the more I like her." Emmett laughed, his large shoulders shaking.

"Shut up." Edward bit off, straightening his jacket.

"Too bad you can't hit her back, huh?"

"Who the hell says I can't?"

"He's hit me." Bella rolled her eyes. "He's such a gentleman. This asshole slammed my head into the door when I told him to leave my apartment."

"Dude…" Emmett glanced at Edward, who rolled his eyes.

"She's exaggerating. Just don't listen to what she says."

The door to the office opened and in stepped Carlisle. He closed it firmly behind himself before sitting behind the desk. He seemed agitated as he pulled the button of his suit coat free and leaned back in the chair with a sigh.

"Isabella." Carlisle said quietly, his eyes never leaving the top of his desk. He took a deep breath then looked over to Edward. "I imagine you have several questions."

"Uh … yeah," Bella nodded. "Like how the hell did your wife know me when I was younger?"

"Technically speaking, we all knew you when you were younger. You and Edward were inseparable, in fact." He pulled a stack of photos from his desk drawer and handed the top one to Bella.

Bella looked down at the glossy paper; a five-year-old Bella with braids stared back at her. In the photo a boy that she assumed was Edward, given the red hair and green eyes, had his arm wrapped around her and a huge smile on his face. They were at her parent's house, in the tree-house her dad had built for her. He had built it for her and her best friend … her best friend Edward.

"Oh my God," Bella dropped her head into her hands. Long forgotten memories started to flood her mind. "This can't be happening."

"Edward! Push me higher!" Bella laughed; Edward pushing her so high the bottom of her swing set was leaving the ground.

"No. My father was an officer; he was a detective and upheld the law. You-you're a criminal." Her chest was heaving, her pulse racing and sending blood rushing through her ears to the point where she couldn't hear anything going on around her.

"Bella?" She could faintly hear Edward's voice.

"Auntie Esme!" Bell yelled running down the stairs towards the front door. She jumped into the arms of Esme Cullen, breathing in the warm scent of cookies and lavender.

"Hello pretty girl." She smiled, placing Bella on her hip.

"Esme," Charlie Swan's voice sounded from behind her. "Where's Carlisle?"

"He'll be along any minute; he's just getting Em and Edward out of the car."

"I don't understand." Bella's voice sounded foreign to her own ears. Edward crouched in front of her, placing a hand on her knee.

"I need you to calm down before you hyperventilate and pass out."

"You're a doctor now?" She snapped, and Edward smiled.

"There's my lovely Isabella." He replied sarcastically.

"I thought your name was Anthony?"

"That's the name we put on his birth certificate so that when the FBI intercepted it, they wouldn't be looking for an Edward."

"This is all so fucked up." She sighed, slapping Edward's hand off of her leg and leaning back against the chair. "So, um … I don't understand." Bella licked her dry lips.

"Your father and I knew each other growing up, your grandfather and my father were very close, as well. Not as close as your father and me though." Carlisle smiled and looked as if he was lost in a memory. "We did everything together, even found your mom and Esme together."

"But my dad …" She couldn't process what he was telling her.

"He was a police officer, yes. Charlie and I had an agreement; he would look out for me, and I'd look out for him, just like when we were kids. Charlie had enemies on the force, but with my family's reach we could keep him safe."

Bella felt rage scorch through her, and she was quickly on her feet.

"Kept him safe?" She yelled. "How'd that work out for you?"

Carlisle stood, moving to try and keep her calm. "What happened to your parents was awful, Isabella."

"Awful?" She laughed. "Awful? He thinks it was awful. Try a fucking nightmare! I had to stand there; my parents bled out while I stood there helplessly and watched!"

"I tried to stop it." Carlisle offered. Bella's palm came across his face in a hard slap. Edward moved to grab her, but Carlisle stopped him.

"You did a bang up job there Carlisle Cullen." Bella pushed against his chest, the tears in her eyes were threatening to fall. "Please tell me my parents didn't die because of you." His eyes fell to the floor, guilt washing over him. "No, no, no, no, no." Bella shoved against him again, causing Carlisle to fall against the wall. Tears were falling freely down her cheeks as she paced the room.

"Isabella," Edward reached out towards her but she pushed his hand away. "Please sit down."

"Leave me alone! You were his friend Carlisle, and you got him murdered! Because of you, my entire family was ripped from me, and I was left with no one. Do you have any idea what I had to endure in those foster homes?" She screamed. Somewhere in the back of Bella's mind she knew she was acting irrationally, but these emotions that she had hidden for so many years seemed to be bubbling out of her at a rate she couldn't control.

Carlisle's eyes darkened as he watched her, his jaw set. "Nothing like what would've happened had we not been there!" He stepped closer, moving within an inch of her. "Your first home was a disaster. That vile man and woman, what they did to those children, it was unspeakable. So, we had you moved very quickly. The second one, your foster-father went crazy and shot a cop. We took care of him. Your third home, Isabella, I know that he hit you, but if you can recall, the last week you were with him, he didn't so much as look at you. He stayed clear of you for good. The last home was fine; the couple was outstanding, and you had no issues. However, you rebelled and they kicked you out at eighteen. So cry me a fucking river, little girl; I've been taking care of you since the day you were born."

O…O

"Edward, I don't think we should be doing this."

"Be quiet, you're gonna get us caught." Edward pushed the door to his father's office open and crept inside; Bella following closely.

"Edward." She whispered harshly, trying to keep her ears trained for any sound.

"Here it is!" He whisper-yelled triumphantly. Edward lifted his father's large gun from the drawer, holding it with both hands. "It's really heavy." Bella's eyes widened as she stared at the silver weapon.

Bella busied herself by looking over the files that littered his desk, but it wasn't long before a loud noise rang out through the office causing her to jump. She looked towards Edward, but he was lying on the ground, blood spilling out of his leg.

"Edward!" She screamed running over to him. "Edward! Are you okay?" He was groaning and trying to sit up, but Bella pushed him down. "Um … don't move! Esme!" She yelled at the top of her lungs.

Esme came running into the office, her eyes wide.

"What did you two do?" She quickly picked Edward up and ran through the house, screaming for Carlisle. Bella curled up on the floor crying, her bloody hands wrapping around her knees.

"Bella? Bells? Where are you?" Charlie yelled running to the office. His frightened eyes took in his daughter's tiny frame. Blood covered her shirt and jeans; she was shaking and had her eyes squeezed shut. "Baby, are you okay?" He picked up her hands, surveying her body. "Bells, talk to me." Bella opened her eyes and looked at her father with a distant stare.

"She's in shock, get her to the doctor. He's in the ward with Edward."

"Isabella?" Bella sighed rolling onto her side, letting her face fall into the cool feathers of the pillow. "Isabella." Edward whispered, running his fingers along her jaw.

"What the hell?" Bella shot up, slapping his hand away and looking around the room. It was dark, made even darker by the blue walls and black furniture. The curtains were drawn, and the only light came from under the closed bedroom door. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light, and she noticed Edward standing by the bed.

"You're finally awake. When's the last time you've eaten?"

Bella sighed and fell back against the bed, letting the warm mattress engulf her body.

"I don't know, yesterday sometime," She furrowed her brow. "I think." When did she eat last? "I've had other things on my mind, Edward."

"You need to eat, come on."

"Leave me alone." Bella clenched her jaw and slipped from the bed. She slipped her shoes back on and looked for her coat. "Where is my coat?"

"You didn't wear one."

"Where's my gun?" She ran her palm over her forehead.

"In my car."

"Well, I need it before I leave." Bella moved towards the door, but Edward's hand stopped her.

"Isabella, you need to rest, and eat."

"I need to leave." She clenched her jaw and stared at Edward with fire in her eyes.

"Do you want to talk about what happened last night?" Last night? She thought.

"What do you mean, last night? How long have I been out?" Edward glanced at his watch.

"About ten hours."

"Why the hell did you let me sleep that long?"

Edward sighed. "Are we going to keep going over this?"

"Get me out of here."

"No, we need to discuss what happened."

"You're the only man in this world that wants to talk this much." She groaned, sitting down on the bed. "What do you want?"

"Do you remember anything?"

"I remember that I'm not the first person to shoot you in the leg." Edward smiled.

"So you remember when I shot myself? My dad beat my ass after I recovered because I could've shot you or me in the head."

"I remember your mom coming over to my house, but I'm having a hard time remembering anything else."

"Do you remember a lot of things before your parents' murder?"

Anger seared through Bella, but she tried to tamper it down. "No, no I do not."

"Do you think it's because of that trauma?"

"Well gee, Edward, I don't know. Why don't you ask my therapist?"

"You go to therapy?" Edward quirked a brow.

"Do you think I go to therapy?"

"Good point. So, any questions?"

"No. Can I go now?"

"No. My mother wishes to speak with you."

A memory hit Bella, a recollection of making fun of Edward.

"That." She pointed at him. "I remember that."

"What?"

"When I used to make fun of you because of the way you spoke."

"I seem to recall that as well." Edward rolled his eyes.

"I do have one question."

"What?"

"If you were my best friend, why did you hate me so much when we first met?"

"You still get on my nerves Isabella, but I never hated you. When I met you, though, I didn't know who you were. I didn't know until later when my father informed me of your identity."

Bella nodded slowly looking around the room. "So, when you killed the man in the warehouse, you knew who I was?" Edward nodded. "And is that why you wanted to know who abducted me?"

"It is." Edward nodded again. "And I figured he ultimately had ties to the man that ordered the hit on your dad."

"So you think my mom was…" Bella waved her hand.

"Collateral damage," Edward stared at the ground. "I thought you died too, that's what my dad told me; that you were killed along with your parents. I was in Italy at school, so I couldn't validate what he told me. I was under the impression that you were gone, up until a few weeks ago that is.

"Your name never clicked because you always introduced yourself as Isabella or Detective Swan. I had only ever known you as Bella, and it was so long ago. Of course, the girl I knew … well she was nothing like you." He laughed. "She was timid, shy and became easily embarrassed, blushing at the blink of an eye. You're strong, fierce and independent. When I told you that you'd end up like your parents, I meant the man would come after you too, not that I would kill you. I just want to clear that up."

"If you're looking for an apology about hitting you i-,"

"I'd know to look elsewhere." Edward replied quickly.

"Why did your dad want you to believe I was dead?"

"To protect you." The response confused Bella, but she brushed it off.

"So what do we do now, Edward? Kiss and make up; then forget about all that's happened? I already had the case taken from me."

"This isn't about the case anymore, Isabella, it's about keeping you safe, and finding the people responsible for the murder of your parents."

"You said you knew who killed them."

"We know who did the killing, but we don't know who hired them."

"Well, I'm going to leave now. Just let me know when you figure all this shit out." Bella stood and opened the door, looking both ways down the hall. "How the hell do I get out of here?"

"Follow me." Edward stepped out, walking down the corridor. "Why don't you want to help us with this, Isabella?"

"Because Edward, I can't lose myself again. I have other cases that I would be better suited to work on." Bella mindlessly ran her fingers along the wall as they neared the stairs.

"My mother still wants to speak with you."

"She can wait, I'm not ready for all of that just yet." Edward nodded silently and led her down the second set of stairs towards the front of the house.

"We should slip out now then." They walked along the driveway towards Edward's waiting car.

"Who else knows who you really are?"

"No one outside of the family."

"Is that mob speak, or do you mean your actual family?" Edward chuckled, opening the back door for Bella. She slipped into the warm car, noticing the sun starting to rise.

"You do know we don't actually call ourselves the mob, right?"

"You do know I don't actually care, right?" She smirked, and Edward nodded.

"Anyway, I meant our family as in, my brothers, mother and father. Of course, their wives know also, but no one else is privy to the knowledge of my existence except you."

"Well aren't I just so damn special?" Bella rested her head back against the seat.

"I think so." Edward murmured before pulling his phone out to text someone. Bella ignored his comment and pulled her legs into the seat, wrapping her arms around them.

The car drove along the mile again, and she watched the sun start to shine off the small man-made ponds that littered multiple lawns. Bella let her mind wander, trying to recall any small semblance of a memory. Something from before the night her life changed forever. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and concentrated.

"Baby, what are you doing down here?" Bella turned at the sound of her mother's voice.

"I don't want to go back up there." She frowned turning back to her book. Renee lifted Bella's feet, seating herself on the swing.

"And why not?"

"They made fun of me." She muttered, fingering the edge of her paperback.

"Who?"

"The stupid Cullen boys," Bella dropped her novel to her lap and looked at her mom. "They said I can't play because I'm a girl. Then they told me to go home, so I did."

"I'm guessing Edward started it?" Bella nodded. "You know he just likes you."

"He pushed me down the hill at school today!"

"That just shows how much he likes you; boys never know how to express their wants, so it comes out in all the wrong ways." Renee laughed.

"Isabella." Bella's eyes snapped opened.

"Yes?" She turned her head towards Edward.

"What are you thinking about?"

"My mom." She replied quietly.

"You must miss them a lot; you were a very close family."

"I hate that I can't remember very much about them."

"Why are you so afraid of investigating their murder?"

Bella took a deep breath and looked back out the window. "I told you why."

"No, you said you can't lose yourself again. What does that mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

"Damn it Isabella, will you give me one real answer?" Edward snapped.

"When I first became a cop I was determined to find their killer. I became obsessed with it to the point that I wasn't eating, sleeping or worrying about anything else. I almost lost my job because of it, and had my dad not had such loyal friends, I would have."

Edward nodded, and silence filled the small space between them for the rest of the ride. When they arrived at her apartment, Edward quickly exited the car.

"Have a good day, Detective." Edward replied as he opened her door. Bella stepped out, looking up at her building. She couldn't stop the smile that broke across her face when she realized she was finally home. He reached inside and pulled her gun from the seat, slipping it back into the band of her slacks. His fingers ran slowly over the skin of her exposed hip, leaving a fire in their wake, before pulling back.

Bella cleared her throat.

"Thank you for the ride." She nodded and stepped around him.

"Thank you for accompanying me."

"It turned out to be rather … interesting."

"That it did. Would you like for me to walk you up?"

"I can manage, thank you though." Bella walked to the front and entered the code to unlock the door. "Have a good day as well, Mr. Masen." She waved before disappearing inside.

Bella checked her phone, stepping inside her apartment. It was close to dying, but thankfully they hadn't been called in over the weekend for a scene. She plugged it in, looking around her living room. Something seemed off. Bella pulled her gun from the waistband of her pants and slid it under her pillow where she normally kept it. As she walked her apartment, Bella couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Nothing seemed out of place or missing though, so she quickly shook it off as nerves.

O…O

10:48 p.m.

Bella glanced at her watch, groaning at the time. She tossed the file she had been working on, onto her coffee table and stood to stretch. She needed to shower and to get ready for bed. Letting the hot water wash over her muscles, Bella let her mind drift away yet again.

"Just … just do it quickly." Bella scrunched her nose.

"Count to three then we'll go but at the same time." Bella nodded in agreement.

"One." She said.

"Two." Edward replied.

"Three." They both said together. Edward leaned forward quickly and pecked her lips before pulling away just as fast. Bella giggled, her blush lighting up not just her face, but her entire body and covered her mouth.

"That was weird." Bella muttered.

"Well, now you can always remember that I was your first kiss." Edward responded proudly.

Her cell phone cut through her remembrance. She momentarily thought about ignoring it, but when it silenced and started ringing again she thought it was best to answer. Figuring it was work; Bella shut the water off and wrapped a towel around her body. Just as she reached for the door, a loud crash sounded, and a powerful blast of air threw her back into her bathtub, causing her head to smack against the porcelain.

"Bella!" Someone yelled, but she could hardly hear anything over the high pitched ringing in her ears. "Bella!" She shook her head, trying to quiet the incessant sound.

"What the hell?" She sat up and pulled the now dirty towel around her. Her door was gone, and the towels that once hung on a bar next to it were on fire. She could see her bedroom, now completely ruined and covered in smoke and debris.

"Isabella, can you hear me?"

"Edward?" She coughed and stood, cutting her feet on the pieces of glass that littered her floor.

Edward rounded the corner from her living room; his once immaculate suit was covered in dust and ash. There were dark lines of dirt on his face and neck, pieces of her once cozy apartment lay in ruins around him.

"Oh thank God, are you okay?" He rushed over to her, checking over her arms and face.

"Just a little banged up. What the fuck just happened?" She couldn't stop the fear from seeping into her words.

"Your apartment, it … uh, it blew up." He reached up and wiped the blood away from her ear, before it began to run down her jaw. She could hear his words but her mind refused to process them.

"What do you mean it blew up?" Her voice cracked.

"Let's get you out of here, there could be another one." Edward lifted her, cradling her in his arms.

"Put me the hell down. I need to investigate what just happened to my god damn apartment."

"Please be quiet and cooperate, your apartment was just blown to hell, your feet are bleeding along with your ear, and you have a gash on your upper arm."

"Did you do this to my apartment?" Edward's jaw twitched.

"Why would I blow up your apartment, Isabella?" He asked angrily.

"Because you were mad that I figured it out?" She shrugged.

"I would've just shot you; this is stupid and reckless. Who blows up a fucking apartment for one person?" Bella coughed, waving at the thick air as they walked through the living room. Pieces of her furniture were either on fire or blown to multiple places all over the room. She glanced up toward her loft, thankful that the safe was fireproof.

Edward took the steps two at a time as he rushed Bella to the ground floor. The echo of sirens and people yelling became clearer as they neared the last door. When he kicked it open, her vision and ears were assaulted with blaring lights and sounds.

"Jesus Christ." She covered her ears, the ringing began to set in once again.

"I need an ambulance."

"Right this way Mr. Masen, are you hurt sir?"

"Not for me, asshole," He lifted his arms to motion to Bella. "She was in the apartment that was blown up. She needs to be seen right now."

He placed her on a stretcher that was sitting at the mouth of an ambulance. The EMT took over, checking her vitals and cleaning her wounds.

"Edward!" His eyes snapped to Bella. "You brought me down here in a fucking towel!" Edward chuckled and shrugged off his coat.

"That would be your biggest concern." He draped it over the top of her body. "I'm going to go talk to someone, I'll be right back."

"Find someone that's going to tell me what happened!" She yelled as he walked away.

"Ma'am, where were you when it happened?" She tried to focus on the young EMT.

"Uh, in my bathroom; the blast was mostly contained to my living room and kitchen." He nodded and pulled a large sliver of glass from her foot causing her to wince.

"Bells!" Seth ran over to her gurney, quickly glancing over her body. "Jesus Christ, I heard your address come over the scanner. What happened?"

"I was making popcorn and something went terribly wrong." Bella rolled her eyes. "What does it look like? The whole front of my apartment is gone." She motioned towards her floor.

"Swan!"

"Oh God." Bella groaned hearing her captain's voice. "Hey, Cap." She nodded as Jacob Black neared.

"Who the hell blew up your apartment?"

The EMT bandaged her feet, casting worried glances at her partner and captain.

"Gee, I can't believe they haven't told you yet, Cap, because, you know, we all know who did it."

"Stop being such a damn smartass, Swan. The bomb squad is up there now doing a sweep of the place. I'm going to go get briefed, and I'll be right back."

Bella turned towards Seth. "My head is ringing like a god damn school bell."

"Your eardrum is busted, ma'am." The EMT spoke up, placing gauze on her ear.

"You really should watch your mouth." Edward laughed, coming up behind her. "You've been cursing nonstop."

"That's because I'm in a lot of damn pain and if I want to curse I will say every fucking word in the book. I think I've earned that since my apartment is now in shambles."

"Well, the good thing about living in an old warehouse is that most of it is still intact. The bad thing about living in an old warehouse is that it's all open, so there's damage throughout." Edward wiped dirt from her cheek.

"And you know this because … you're secretly a member of the bomb squad? Or you've blown up people before?" Edward smirked at her.

"The last one," He whispered. "And I was up there right after it blew." Edward mentioned to Seth. Seth's eyes moved between the two of them.

"So, you two were together?"

"No." Bella answered quickly.

"I was bringing something to her when it happened." Edward replied easily.

Seth nodded, but Bella could tell he didn't believe Edward. Before she could comment, Seth was pulled away by her captain.

"Do you think these are the same people?" Bella asked, looking towards Edward.

"I do." He nodded briefly.

"Can you please find these bastards?" She whispered, looking around for anyone near them.

"I'll need your help." Edward turned towards her, and braced himself on the side of her makeshift bed. "I'll need access to police files, hacking them would draw attention, and I'll need you back on my case." Bella nodded. "Then, when the time comes, you'll pull the trigger."

"Swan, it was a pipe bomb," Her captain yelled, interrupting their conversation and causing her to jump. "The idiot didn't secure the cap correctly, so it wasn't as bad."

"It was plenty bad, Captain." She muttered angrily.

"Well, you're not going to be cleared to go in until sometime tomorrow, so you'll need to stay with Seth or at a hotel. The crib is always open at the precinct if you'd rather go there. We need to make sure it's secure though, I don't want these bastards going after you again." He ran a hand through his hair looking towards Edward. Jacob's brow furrowed. "Mr. Masen?"

"Mr. Black," Edward nodded. "Bella can stay at my penthouse." He offered nonchalantly.

Bella's eyes widened, and her head snapped towards Edward.

"What?" Bella and her captain both asked at the same time.

"My penthouse, no one knows about it. It's not even listed under my name so there's no way anyone would be able to trace it to her or me." Edward replied easily. "It's in the middle of town, but as far as everyone knows, I have my house, a townhouse in New York, one in D.C. and that's it. Not even the IRS knows of my penthouse. It's also heavily guarded; you need a key card to get in, be cleared by the security guard who is behind bulletproof glass and my hand print to get to my floor." He smiled.

"Sounds like the safest place in the city." Jacob muttered with a hint of sarcasm.

"Captain no, I can go to the house and sleep in the crib."

"Bella, even though it's a precinct, you know people aren't there 24/7. If I put you at Seth's I'm risking him and his family in addition to your own safety."

Bella bit her lip, feeling guilty over just realizing that her partner's family would be at risk because of her.

"I think the best choice would be Mr. Masen's penthouse," Jacob nodded as if trying to convince himself that it was the best option. "But first, you're going to the hospital." He motioned to the EMTs who quickly strapped Bella to the gurney and pushed it inside the small ambulance. "And that's an order, Swan." The doors slammed shut.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." Bella sighed, letting her head fall back.

A/N: Fun fact: When a traumatic experience happens it's true you can have a hard time remembering things from before then, so I didn't just make that up lol

Secondly, I didn't update last week because of the holiday, this week we were hit by that damn winter storm and I was without power for three days. So thanks to the ice storm you guys got your update two days late.

But tell me what you thought!