A/N: It's been way too long, I know, and I doubt anyone will still remember this story. My brain seriously took a hiatus on this and all my other stories that have been left unfinished, but I am slowly trying to pick them back up again to complete them. I don't like leaving things unfinished. I'm trying to set a goal of the end of the year, if my health and mojo cooperate. For anyone who has come back to read, even though it would likelyrequire a reread by now, thank you. I truly appreciate it! Take care and happy holidays to those who observe!

Chapter 10 ~ The Long and Bumpy Road

Indeed, the road has been a long one when it came to delving into a lifetime of dysfunction within my family. There was a lot of frustration bottled up inside the two of us Cullen boys that has come out in anger. Our mother has spent a good majority of the time in tears.

And none of this has surprised me.

What has, however, is my father. He's never been a man to admit to his mistakes, and for years, has justified his treatment of his wife and children as "the way he was taught", and therefore, it was the correct way. What I have seen over the last few months from him has made him nearly unrecognizable to me at times. There have definitely still been moments where it all comes rushing back, and I see the man that dominated over us throughout my entire life, but the instances are growing less frequent… though that's still not saying much. He was groomed this way for more than two decades before even I came along, so I'm not expecting him to become a model father of the year overnight, if ever.

Despite this, I find myself exceedingly uncomfortable with the suggestion from Jane that it might be a good idea for Bella to join us for at least one session.

"No. Absolutely not," I instantly reply, my posture stiff and my fist clenched tight. "She doesn't need to be subjected to this."

"Don't you believe that she already has been, even if indirectly?" Jane asks calmly, tilting her head in question. "I understand your reservations, Edward, I honestly do. However, she's been a member of this family since the moment she married you, as much as Rosalie has. You've mentioned that you've had difficulties in your marriage, and at least partially due to the effect your upbringing has had on you. Shouldn't she at least be given the choice?"

I glance over to Rosalie, who is seated beside my brother with her hand wrapped securely around his, while her other arm cradles their newborn son. One would never believe that they've been together longer than Bella and I have; since their sophomore year of high school, married the summer after graduation and had the first of their three children the following spring. Their love and devotion to each other is astounding and has never wavered once over the years, and their support of one another is mutual and equal on both sides. That's something I am still learning, and if there is one thing I still hate myself for, it is that.

And it is with this thought that I realize that Jane is right. Bella has been through a lot with me throughout the duration of our relationship, having to cope with the effects of my family and upbringing before even knowing the root of it all. Everything had been thrown on her all at once, and to her credit, she amazed me with the level of grace she was able to conjure to hold herself together, in addition to her husband as he fell apart.

Yes, she deserved the choice and opportunity to confront it all.

"I'll ask her and let Bella decide."

~oOo~

The metal handle of the spoon she was holding clangs against the stovetop and the tile of our kitchen floor as Bella stares at me in shock when I pose the question to her the following day.

"Are you serious?" she asks with wide eyes as she clicks the burner off and turns to face me.

"You don't have to. Jane just thought you should be presented with the option, and I agree. But I'm not going to make you go if you're not comfortable with it. It's not a requirement that you go, baby."

"Edward, stop." Bella cuts off my rambling and proceeds to close the distance between us. "Of course, I want to. Why would you think that I wouldn't?"

I close my eyes and rest my hands on her hips, guiding her closer. "It's not really that I don't think you would want to."

Bella's hands run along my arms in a soothing motion. "Then what? Do you not want me to go?"

I slide my arms around her waist and rest my forehead on hers, grounding myself within her embrace. "I still don't trust him, Bella. And with the way he's treated and spoken to Rosalie over the years, I don't trust myself to be in the same room with him if he treats you with even a fraction of that amount of disrespect. I couldn't bear it if he hurt you."

"Edward, I'm a big girl. I can handle myself," Bella answers, tracing her fingertip along my jaw. "Baby, the only way he can hurt me is by hurting you. Nothing else matters, because he doesn't know me any better than I know him. And if he starts anything, there is nothing saying that we have to stay. We can leave at any time. It'll be fine."

She pauses for a moment, gazing at me as she links her fingers behind my neck, and I stare back at her with questioning eyes. "What is it?"

"I'm just wondering why you didn't say something last night instead of waiting until now."

I sigh and tighten my arms around her; I've fucked up again. "I'm sorry. I was going to, but when I got home, you looked so beautiful and happy. I didn't want to weigh down our date night with a heavy topic like that. And then this morning…"

Bella bites her lip and her smile grows, as does the warm flush on her cheeks, as if she's recalling the memory as well. "Yeah, I guess we were both a bit distracted this morning."

Her words are mumbled softly against my lips, and I brush hers with a gentle kiss. "I really am sorry."

"I'm not upset, I was just curious. I like to enjoy our time together on Fridays, too, but if there's something we need to talk about that happens to arise on a Friday, don't think that you can't discuss it with me. Even if it's heavy, we'll get through it together, okay?" she says, and I answer with a nod, and she pecks my lips gently with hers. "Good. Now, dinner is almost ready. Can you set the table after you change your shirt?"

My eyebrows knit together, and I look down between us, and sure enough, a spot of spaghetti sauce has transferred from where it splattered her to the front of my shirt. "Sure thing, on both counts."

"I wear an apron while I cook for a reason, Edward," she calls after me as I make my way down the hall, unbuttoning my shirt and chuckling.