As always SM owns them, I just threw them in a new adventure!
Bella finished her sip of water before answering, her eyes never leaving Maddie's and her face neutral.
"Some, my focus was mainly on getting her away from you."
"She's right you know? I am damaged goods, that bitch almost killed me." Maddie cried, jumping up from the couch and pulling her new tank top up to display the angry scars that marred her entire left side, it had been years since it happened but burns like that never heal all the way. I ached for my little girl, hating Tanya more than I thought possible for putting her through this. For reopening these wounds years later and scarring her physically and emotionally for life.
"We're all damaged Maddie," Bella said patiently, not flinching over Maddie's display in the least. "We all have scars, some you can see and some you can't. I can't tell you how sorry I am that you went through what you did, I am sorry that she hurt you but I am so damn thankful that you survived and trust me when I tell you I understand how you feel." At Bella's words Maddie scoffed, her anger still ruling her as Bella tried to get through to her.
"Like you could ever understand how it feels to be this damaged. You're fucking perfect." Maddie growled, swearing at Bella once again. Something we would have to address later, when things had calmed down. She was so torn between being able to act her age and having the weight of the world on her shoulders. Dealing with things most adults never have to deal with let alone at such a young age. I watched as Bella stood up as well, calmly walking toward Maddie slowly as she pulled her running tank over her shoulders leaving her in a sports bra. Maddie gasped as Bella turned the right side of her body toward us. Revealing a jagged scar that ran from her ribcage around to her lower back that was surrounded by smaller scars that covered a majority of her side.
"I understand more than you know Maddie and I promise you that scars do not define you. These scars are badges, physical proof of your bravery and strength that you carry with you forever to remind you of everything you've overcome. You. Aren't. Damaged. You. Are. Strong." She ground out each word with more conviction than I had ever heard from anyone in my life.
"She almost killed me." Maddie sobbed, collapsing into Bella, all of the anger leaving her body as quickly as it filled her. "Why can't she just leave us alone?"
"Shh sweet girl," Bella soothed as she walked them back to the couch and pulled Maddie closer to her and motioning for me to join them. I slide into the spot next to Maddie and rubbed her back as she cried on Bella, her petite shoulders shaking with unrestrained sobs that were breaking my heart all over again.
"She passed out smoking after she had been out all night partying, she snuck out after I'd fallen asleep and came back before I woke up. Apparently if I was asleep while she was gone it was okay." Maddie sneered. "Her and her boyfriend were high and drunk and passed out with a lit cigarette, when they woke up with the house in flames they ran outside and forgot me. Or at least that's what she said, sometimes I wonder if she left me there on purpose. She was always terrible to me, even at five I knew she didn't want me. Losing me in a tragic fire would have probably made her happy, let her walk away without any guilt and get the sympathy. Dad heard the address on the radio when he was working patrol and ran code to the house with Uncle Emmett. He said they got there at the same time the fire department did and when he didn't see me with her he ran into the house to get me. Emmett and a couple of the firemen ran in after him but my room was already up in flames. I tried to stay away from them, I hid in my closet. Dad got them there just in time, if he hadn't shown up I would have died. They never would have known to look for me in the first place."
"I'm so fucking sorry sweetheart, I never should have let her take you from me in the first place." I pulled her toward me, tears falling down my cheeks freely now as I listened to her recount that day. I hadn't heard her talk to anyone about it since it happened, not even the therapist I had her see for years after it occurred.
"It's not your fault Dad, you didn't know she was a psycho." Maddie sniffed, sitting up and leaning back against the couch between Bella and I.
"I got her parental rights terminated after that, "I continued for Maddie filling in Bella in the rest of our soap opera life. "We got a permanent no contact order and she was ordered to go to rehab and community service for endangering a minor. She hasn't seen Maddie since that day, Maddie spent about six weeks in the burn unit of Children's Hospital. That's when Emmett and I really became close, we had been working together for a year or two already but were just coworkers. After he ran into a burning building with me and spent every day in the hospital with me watching over Maddie we got a lot closer. He stepped up out of nowhere and handled everything with work for me. He started a compassionate leave bank that others donated to so I could stay home with Maddie on paid leave longer than what I had accrued on my own. He packed up my tiny apartment with a couple of the guys and got me into this place before she got out of the hospital. They had everything unpacked and completely furnished Maddie's bedroom with everything she could ever want and had the place cleaned top to bottom so it was as clean as possible for Maddie when she came home from the hospital." I took a deep breath, trying to get my emotions under control as Maddie reached over to hold my hand. Emmett had become a brother to me after everything he did for us, I would never be able to repay him for the kindness he showed us in the worst time of our life. He made it possible for me to just focus on Maddie, to take a break from the real world and give my daughter everything she needed to recover. He stepped up and handled everything else, without me asking, so that when I had to come back to the real world I still had a job and a house so I could continue to do what was best for Maddie.
"I'm sorry I yelled and swore at you." Maddie broke the silence, her remorse tangible as she stared down at her lap refusing to make eye contact with Bella.
"Oh sweet girl, you do not need to apologize. I'm sorry I yelled at you to get in the house earlier too. I was terrified that she would hurt you and I couldn't let her do that. I won't let her do that again…I know you've already got your Dad and your Uncle Emmett but you've got me too Maz." Bella sighed as she leaned back against the couch, turning her head slowly to make eye contact with me as she smiled sadly and gave me a quick wink.
"What do you say we try those last few blocks again? I need a rematch. Plus, I wouldn't mind beating your Dad so I can brag about it at work tonight." Maddie snorted at Bella's dig and hopped off the couch, leaning down to offer both of us a hand up.
"Get dressed Dad!" Maddie laughed as she walked toward the front door, pausing to stretch her calves out before smirking at Bella and I and closing the front door behind her.
"Thank you." I sighed, smiling as I watched Maddie through the window. Amazed at Bella's ability to take it all in and bounce us back from our dark place after hearing our story.
"There is no need to thank me Edward, I love that girl. I would do anything for her, for both of you. I'm so sorry I didn't get to her faster, and knowing what I do now, she's lucky I didn't shoot her ass when I had a justifiable reason to do so. I won't make that mistake again."
"I don't know what we've done without you all these years Isabella Swan." I said honestly, knowing what Emmett had said earlier couldn't be more true. She was good for us, for both of us. "We are here for you too, and I'm here when you want to tell your story, any time." She nodded quickly, her eyes glassing over momentarily before she shook it off and headed for the door as well.
"Thank you, and I promise I will tell you soon. Just not today?" She pleaded, her brown eyes begging me to give her more time.
"Whenever you're ready we're here." She let out a breath and gave me a shaky smile as I leaned down to give her a kiss. Letting out my own breath when she returned it without hesitation, thankful that this morning's events hadn't made her change her mind about whatever was happening with us.
"I'm going to go change, I'll meet you guys out there okay?" I whispered as I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, my thumb caressing her cheek before I finally released her. Smiling as she nodded her assent and headed the same direction as Maddie. I watched her sit down next to her and fall into a stretching routine immediately, giving Maddie exactly what she needed. A little bit of normalcy and levity to bounce back from the heaviness and drama of this morning. If I had thought I had it bad for Bella before, nothing could compare to how I was feeling about her now. I was going to do everything in my power to make her a permanent part of our little family. I, Edward Masen, had officially fallen for the first time in my life and I couldn't be happier about it.
So we hear a bit of Maddie's story...and our boy Edward is falling for Bella.