A/N I absolutely love reading the reviews you guys post. Its so nice to know that people are reading and enjoying.

Thank you for your questions Saltycocacola I'll do my best to clear things up

Is this an ExB story?
Yes. This will definitely end as ExB and it won't take very much longer to get there. After her confrontation with the Joker, she will begin to accept Edward as more than a friend.

Will the Joker be facing/fighting the vampires?
He will definitely try. He will have a plan that will render the Cullens pretty much useless, though. To be continued…

How will it end with the Joker?
The Joker will come for Bella, but he will not succeed. But not for the reasons you think…

Any clues?
Lets put it this way: Bella will ultimately save herself AND the Cullens. Stay tuned to see how that happens!
I don't want to expose too much, but I do have a plan in place for how this story will progress. I have two endings for this story in mind. When it comes closer to the time, I might make a poll so you guys can vote on the direction I should take it!

I hope this helped some! Again, thank you to everyone reading and reviewing and remaining patient with me!

Carlisle's POV

It had been two days since Edward confronted Bella. Two days in which they had been completely ignoring one another's existence. I sincerely worried about my son. It was evident that he didn't like not speaking to Bella, especially now that they were in such close proximity to one another.

Bella had been responding well to the medication. Her memory had improved greatly. Her awareness followed suit. She was still quite impulsive and her obsession with The Joker bordered on extreme Stockholm Syndrome, something I planned to talk to her about during therapy in a few minutes.

Right on time, I heard a knock on the door.

"Come on in," I say.

She walks in, wearing denim shorts and a vest. Alice had finally convinced her to put her other… outfit in the laundry. As per usual, she takes a seat at the desk across from me and puts her feet up.

"Pick my brain, doc," she said.

I nod. "Bella, I would like to ask you some personal questions today, if you don't mind?"

She shrugged. "I'm an open book."

I nod again. "Tell me about The Joker."

She froze. Her feet lowered to the floor and she leaned back on the chair.

"You already know about him."

"I do," I say, "but I've yet to know about your relationship. The extent of it, at least."

"What more do you wanna know?" she snaps.

I try to smile gently at her, letting her know that I'm not her enemy. This seemed to calm her down just a little.

"Why do you think you love him?" I ask.

"What does that mean?"

"What about him do you love?" I probe. "What qualities are attractive? Why are you so drawn to him?"

She furrows her brow as she thinks about this before sighing and leaning forward.

"You would never understand."

"Try me," I say.

She thinks again. "He's… a good man, Carlisle. He saved me, ya know. Without him, I'd be alone and maybe even dead. He gave me a reason… to be alive. With him."

I nod. Just as I suspected. "You love him… because he saved you?"

"He was there for me when no one else was. I had nothing."

"You had a job," I remind her. "A family that loved you. You had a promising future."

She sighed. "None of that mattered to me. It wasn't satisfying. I was empty. I was broken. He put me back together."

"You shouldn't just love somebody because you feel they saved you," I say. "You have the power to save yourself, Bella. You don't need anyone to do that for you."

"He saved me from myself. I owe him my life." She seemed to be reminding herself of that 'fact' as she spoke the words.

"You don't owe him anything, Bella. You don't owe anything to anyone other than yourself."

She looked away. "What do I owe myself?"

I smile, despite that fact that she can't see it. "You owe yourself a better life."

She stopped responding, and I could tell that she was shutting down. I needed to give her something, but I wanted to get it done before she raises her walls.

"I have something for you," I tell her, standing up.

"What?" She still hasn't looked up.

I shuffle over to the shelf against the wall and pull out a cylindrical container that held what I hoped would be able to save her.

She hears the pills in the container and her head snaps up. "More pills?"

I shake my head. "These aren't antipsychotics."

"What are they?"

"They're a specially designed antitoxin. I formulated it myself."

I sit back down and her eyes stay on the container.

"What's that for?"

"When you fell… jumped into the toxic waste, it did a number on your senses. I called Amanda and had her send me a sample of the particular toxin. I used it to formulate this, to counteract the effects."

"So… that's the magic cure, then?" she asks expectantly.

I chuckle. "I'm hoping so. They're safe. The worst that could happen is that the formula isn't correct and that can be easily rectified."

"How long does it take to work?" She narrows her eyes.

"I've made it as concentrated as I could without it becoming harmful. Some of the effects can be present in only two days. So on Friday, the two day mark, I will conduct a few tests to see how you're responding to it."

"What if I dint wanna take it?" she asks, a little too quickly.

My eyes harden. "Then we will have to hold you down and force it into you. You need this, Bella. It would be in your best interest to at least try."

She said nothing more, but when I held the pill out to her, she grabbed it and placed it on her tongue. I checked to make sure she swallowed before letting her leave. This was some progress.

~2 Days Later~

Bella's POV

I looked in the mirror as soon as I got up. I could see the changes already. Carlisle was right. I was stuck taking that pill twice a day since Wednesday, and he was right on the mark.

I was starting to feel… somewhat normal. I could think a lot clearer. My voice softened a little. I could even see a little better.

The outside differences were much more obvious. My hair, almost white before, was darkening. It was almost an ashy blonde now. My eyes darkened, too. They weren't brown yet, but they were hazel. My skin had always been pale, but I did look like I'd gone out in the sun more.

I could tell everyone in the house was very happy about the physical changes, as if they in some way represented the internal changes that went with them. The more my outside changed, the wider the smiles became.

And the more I realized how awfully I'd been treating them.

They opened their home to try to help me, and I threw it back in their faces.

I hadn't felt guilt in years, but I remembered it. And this was guilt. Seems like my conscience has made a reappearance.

I changed and walked out to the living room. I knew what I had to do.

"Esme?"

She was sitting on the sofa, reading a magazine. She looked up as soon as she saw me.

"Bella? You look good," she noted, looking at my darkening locks. "Can I make you something to eat?"

"No thanks," I say. "Actually, can you call the others? I want to speak to everyone… together. If that's okay…"

Her eyes widened briefly before she composed herself. "Of course! Give me just a moment."

She disappeared. A second or two passed before she was back in the room. I watched as the other filed in after her, one by one.

Carlisle was first. He took a seat next to Esme. Next were Rosalie and Emmett. Emmett was the only person I've been comfortable speaking to, especially when I worked out. He always joined me as if the human equipment offered any challenge for him. Alice and Jasper then came in. Finally, Edward walked in, looking at the ground.

I could tell he was pleased with my changes. Every time I passed him in the house, he looked content. The more 'normal' I started the look, the more pleased he got. He hasn't spoken to me since Monday. I was glad.

Now that my head was a bit clearer, I could initiate it and be sure of myself.

I suddenly got nervous. How could I say this without peeing myself? But it needs to be said.

"Thanks," I start, "for coming. I have something to say to you guys."

They all looked at me encouragingly. All but Rosalie, that is, who was staring at her fingernails like they held the answer to life itself.

"I'm… sorry," I say through gritted teeth. I stare at my hands. When did I last feel nervous? "I… haven't been the best house guest. I know you've tried to help me. I haven't been appreciative. Even though I don't want the help," I looked pointedly at Carlisle, "I'm grateful that you've offered it."

They were all staring at me. That was it. What do I do now? After an uncomfortable silence I cleared my throat.

"That's it, I guess," I say.

Rosalie got up and walked out without a second glance. I saw that coming. Carlisel stood first.

"I think I speak for all… most of us when I say that we are happy to help. You are family to us, Bella. We only want what's best for you. And you've improved greatly in the time that you've been here."

I smile at him.

He presses my shoulder as he goes back to his study. Esme smiles warmly at me before going to the kitchen, mumbling about getting me breakfast. Emmett winks and hops out of his seat.

"See you in the gym?"

"Definitely," I say.

"Wanna bench today?" he challenges.

"You're on."

"I'd better go practice then," he laughs before punching me in the shoulder and going out the back door.

Jasper smiled at me. "You don't need to be nervous around us, Bella. We don't bite… well, we try very hard not to."

He chuckled, and I actually smiled at his little joke. He and Alice stood up together.

"I can't wait to have my best friend back," Alice said, running up to me and pulling me into a hug. I'd longed for this hug for so long; I just hadn't realized it until now. Her tiny, stone like arms were oddly comforting.

They exit the room. Only Edward is left, standing in the corner, peering at the ground.

I gather up all my courage and turn my body to face him.

"Can we talk?"

He didn't even have to look up. Whether it was the fact that no one was in the room, or the fact that my voice was quivering, he knew it was directed at him.

Without speaking, he walked up to me and grabbed my hand. I was about to argue, but I was on his back before I could open my mouth.

Suddenly, we were flying. No, running. The forest was passing us in a blur as he ran me through it. I couldn't help the adrenaline infused laugh that escaped my mouth.

After only a minute, he stopped. It was a meadow. It didn't look like the one in Forks, but it was close enough. Smaller.

He set me down and I fell on my butt with a thud. I laughed at that too. He cracked a smile.

"I don't remember you enjoying running that much," he said, lowering himself into a sitting position across from me.

"A lot's changed," I say.

I looked up at the sky. It looked like it could start raining at any moment. I'd better make this quick.

"Edward," I start, "I want to say thank you. For not giving up on me this time."

He sighed. "I never did give up on you, Bella. I wanted so much better for you."

I looked at him quizzically. "Really? Even after you left?"

He nodded. "Especially then."

I was confused for a moment, before I accepted this.

"I guess we do wish well on our exes, even after it's ended." I shrug.

He furrowed his brow. "It didn't end for me, Bella." His tone was kind of accusatory.

I frowned. "What are you talking about?"

He sighed. He looked like he was about to lift his hand to touch me, but thought better of it.

"I know you've moved on. I do wish it would have been with someone who wasn't a psychopathic criminal gangbanger, but you moved on nonetheless. That's essentially what I wanted for you. But you deserve to know that I've never been able to. That's why you being here is so hard for me."

I was confused. "What do you mean you haven't moved on? You dumped me," I reminded him.

He shook his head. "Don't you understand, Bella?"

I shook my head no.

"I left because I loved you. I wanted to protect you. I never would have had I known this would be the outcome." He looked pained. "I'm not sure what I was thinking. I was desperate to keep you safe."

It was quiet for a while as I tried to process what I was being told. He loved me? He still loves me? He left… to protect me?

"Bella," he said after a while, looking up at me from under his lashes. "I want you to know that I'm still very much in love with you. I know you're not yet well, but I do still want to be with you, Bella. You're the only person I could never live without. You could never imagine how miserable I have been without you. And if you ever deemed me worthy of another chance-"

"Edward stop," I cut him off, looking down at the grass. "Look, I'm sorry. I don't want you to be miserable and I guess I can kind of understand why you left… but I can't be with you, Edward."

"You don't trust me anymore," he said, decidedly. "It's my own fault. I deserve this."

To his surprise, I was shaking my head.

"It has nothing to do with trust," I try to explain. "I'm in love with Mistah J. I can't be with you, because he's the one I love."

A disarray of emotions flittered across Edward's face. I recognized a few. Sadness, regret, pain… finally, he settled on anger.

"How could you love someone who blatantly manipulates you?" he demanded. He continued before I could answer. "He doesn't deserve you, Bella. At this point, neither do I, I'll admit. But him. He uses you, Bella! He's left you for dead! He poisoned your body, your mind. You're his puppet and you're so obsessed with him that you can't even see it!"

I saw red. How dare he? After all he's put me through, how dare he tell me who I should and shouldn't love?

I was fuming, but I didn't react. My impulse to attack was submissive.

"Take me back," I say simply.

He grabbed both my hands.

"Look at me, Bella."

After a few moments, I could tell he wasn't going to take me back if I didn't. Hesitantly, I peered up at him.

"I told you I'm not giving up on you. I hold true to that. It's not over yet. I promise you, I'm fighting for you. As hard as I can. I'll keep fighting."

I didn't say anything. When he realized this, I was in his arms, being sped back to the mansion.

I made a beeline for my room as soon as we were through the door.

"What happened?" I heard Esme ask.

No response.

I didn't bother to wait.

I went to the bathroom and dug out my phone. I typed out a message.

Mistah J, I don't want you to hurt them. They're my friends. When you come for me, don't try to blow them up. I've changed my mind. I just want to come home with you and leave them behind.

I knew this was true. I didn't want them to be harmed. Even after Edward's outbursts. All I wanted was to be in Mistah J's arms. The Cullens shouldn't have to give up any more than they already have for me.

Once I got out the shower, I checked the phone. I didn't expect a message to have already come, yet one was waiting for me.

I'm coming tomorrow. Be ready. I've made the plans. – Mistah J.

I didn't want to consider what these plans may be. I'd change his mind when he got here. I would.

Suddenly, there was a tap on the door. In panic, I dropped the phone onto the tiled floor, effectively breaking it in half.

"Bella, would you like to open this door and explain yourself or shall I break it down?"

Alice.

A/N Okay, the next chapter will include the Joker, unless I somehow change my mind last minute. It will be up once I've completed my assignment. It's due in a few days so the upload shouldn't take that long.

Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think!