I am so, so, so sorry. There really is no excuse for my disappearance. I hope that this chapter makes up for it.

Chapter 11

BPOV

This day was supposed to be amazing. One of the best days of my life, though that's not really saying much. But how could a day that was supposed to be so wonderful go so horribly, horribly wrong.

You're probably pretty confused right now so I should start at the beginning…

*I*LUV*EC* I*LUV*EC* I*LUV* EC* I*LUV*EC* I*LUV*EC* I*LUV*EC*

I must admit that these last few weeks have been amazing with the Cullens. They always treat me so wonderfully. It has felt like I've actually been part of the family. I don't think I've ever felt so loved. But I think that has a lot to do with Edward.

Edward has been… there are no words to describe how he's been; "perfect" doesn't even come close. It's like he worships me. He's helped me through so much. He was there after I talked to the detectives a couple weeks ago and he's there every night after I wake up from one of my nightmares. He encourages me to say what I feel and do what I need to and to write down everything I'm thinking. He's even helped me take up photography again.

School has been a nightmare, but as long as I had one of the Cullen's by my side, I'd survive. Everyone has been giving me these looks. Most of them pity or disbelief, I mean would you expect the nicest girl in school to have a father that beat the shit out of her? That's what I thought. When I'm not looking at pity or disbelief, it's disgust and death glares. The disgust I can understand. There were some rumors going around that I liked what Charlie was doing until Emmett stood up on the lunch table and shouted at the whole school "Those rumors are sick and twisted! Bella would never actually think of liking any of the shit she's been through and if you don't believe me, just listen to her screams every night. And if you still don't believe me, your face has a meeting with my fist."

Yeah, I wish he'd never brought up the screaming but I really appreciate the thought.

Now the death glares I was where you really pissed me off. It was all Jessica and her followers that sent them towards me. It's not my fault that her boyfriend didn't love her. She was bitch! I do feel a little bad that Edward left her for me. If I were in her place, I'd be devastated. So I guess I deserve her death glares, but I did nothing to her friends. I don't get why they look at me like that.

Butterfly kisses on my neck and shoulders brought me out of my thoughts.

"What are you thinking so hard about, love this early in the morning?" asked my angel, sleep still lingering in his voice. It was four AM after all.

Since I keep waking up in the middle of the night, screaming and Edward is the only one who can calm me down, he convinced me to just sleep in his bed with him. That way, when I start having nightmares, he can wake me up before the whole house is up. I didn't think that it was fair to him at first, because he'd be losing sleep because of me, but I haven't had a nightmare since I moved into his room. My dreams every night in his arms were always about him.

"Nothing important," I said, answering his question.

"Are you nervous about today?"

Today was Charlie's trial. I can't believe it was so soon. I thought it would be months before he was to appear in court to hear his verdict and sentence.

"Sorta. I mean, what if he's found not guilty? What do we do then? Will I have to go back to that hellhole of a house and live with him? He'll kill me if I do!" I ranted.

"Whoa, calm down. Everything will be fine. There is no way that the jury could find him not guilty. I mean, they have to have some kind of intelligence to them if they're on the jury of a case like this. And if they are stupid enough to set him free then we'll make sure that he can't get anywhere near you. Okay? Everything's going to be fine?" he said, and I believed him. He's never let me down before, and there was no reason not to believe him. I just hope he'd right.

"Do you promise?" I asked.

He sighed and turned me around so that I was facing him on the bed. "I can't promise that he won't be set free or that he wont come after you, but I promise that no matter what happens, I'll make sure you're safe. I'll do everything I can to make you safe."

"Thank you. I love you, Edward," I said. That was to only thing that I could even think of saying to him, no matter how inadequate it seemed.

"I love you, too, Bells. More than anything else in the world. More than I thought possible."

We just spent the rest of the time we had before we had to get up in each other's arms, where nothing bad could ever happen to us. But soon five o'clock rolled around and we had to get ready for the trial at nine. I really was not looking forward to this.

*I*LUV*EC* I*LUV*EC* I*LUV* EC* I*LUV*EC* I*LUV*EC* I*LUV*EC*

It was eight-thirty when we pulled into a parking space in front of the courthouse in Seattle. It was amazing that we even found a parking spot. It seem as if the whole town was here for the trial! I honestly wouldn't be surprised. The most exciting thing that has happened before this was a phony murder a few years ago. We were so dull; we couldn't even come up with a real murder.

Anyway, I hoped that everyone would just ignore this whole incident or not care; I'm not very picky. I just wanted this whole thing to blow over without much attention and I hate being the center of attention. Especially when I have to talk about what happened again. I really wish that I didn't have to do this.

My nervousness must have been obvious because Edward grabbed my hand over the consol in the Volvo and said, "Just look into my eyes, baby. Just look at me and tell me everything. There'll be no one else in the room but you and me."

I looked over at him and couldn't imagine my life without this amazing person. I never would have been able to get through this whole ordeal without my angel here to help me.

I nodded at what he said and sighed, opening the door and stepping out into the light mist. Edward came around the car and wrapped his arm around my waist as we met up with his family and our friends and walked into the courthouse.

Every seat in the hall was taken. There even were a few people standing against the wall. When I walked into the hall with my friends, it got quiet and I could feel every pair of eyes on me. Edward kissed my crimson cheek when we reached the gate to the prosecution table. He made sure to sit right behind me so he could whisper encouraging and soothing words to me.

Edward held my hand and rubbed soothing circles with his thumb as we waited for court to come to order. I felt him stiffen and looked to my left just as Charlie and his lawyer entered the courtroom with a bailiff. My breathing stopped and my body became rigid as I stared into my father's cold, uncaring eyes. His eyes narrowed as he looked back at me. I could see the hatred radiating off of him. This was not going to be pleasant.

Five minutes after Charlie came into the courtroom, a judge entered. We all stood and waited for the judge to permit us to sit down. When she did, she asked Charlie's lawyer to give their opening statement.

"My client Charles Swan was wrongfully accused of despicable crimes against his own daughter. It is just blasphemy, what is said that he did to her. Now, I don't know how Isabella Swan could live with this kind of accusation on her conscience, but my client is definitely not guilty," Charlie's lawyer, Mr. Davids, said.

When he said that, I swear I heard Edward growl behind me. I don't blame him in the least. That entire statement was complete BS.

The judge called on my lawyer, or rather the Cullen's lawyer, Ms. Denali, for her witness. Ms. Denali, Tanya, she kept telling me to call her, was an excellent lawyer. She was definitely intimidating in her pencil skirt and blouse and her cat-eye glasses. And, as an added bonus, she was a complete hard-ass. She always got what she wanted and, as she told me, she wanted Charlie behind bars. With her as my lawyer it was easier to believe that Charlie wouldn't ever hurt me again.

"Your honor, I call Mr. Charles Swan to the stand," Tanya said.

Charlie got up and took the oath before he took a seat at the stand.

Tanya cleared her throat and started, "Mr. Swan, do you recall the night your daughter was sent to the hospital, barely alive? More specifically, October 25?"

"I do recall that night," Charlie simply stated.

"Can you tell us the events of that night?" Tanya asked, annoyed by his short answer.

"After I my shift ended at the station, I went over to my friend Billy Black's house to watch the game on TV. Around half time, I got a call from Levi Uley, another old friend, who needed some help in Portland. I, being the good friend and caring person I am, got in the car immediately and headed to Portland. About thirty minutes later, I was pulled over by a state police officer and was arrested," he said.

"So you didn't go home at all?"

"Not once."

"Then how come I have a witness who saw you enter your house and exit fifteen minutes later looking rather disgruntled?"

"Objection, you honor!" Mr. Davids called. "I know nothing of this witness and have no idea if the witness is legitimate."

"Overruled," the judge said. "Ms. Denali, continue."

"Thank you, your honor. Now Mr. Swan, how did your wife die?" Tanya asked.

"She was in a car accident almost nine years ago," Charlie said.

"And what caused this car accident?"

"A drunk driver ran a red light and hit her. She was killed instantly on impact."

"Why was she out on the roads?"

"She was on her way to pick Isabella up from school."

"Oh, so do you possibly see that your wife died because of you daughter, since she was the reason your wife was out and about?"

"No, it was the driver's fault. If he hadn't been driving drunk, then he wouldn't have run that red light and I'd still have my wife."

"And Isabella would still have her mom right?"

Charlie cleared his throat. "Of course. That goes without saying."

"Right, silly me. But then why did you often go to the local bar instead of taking care of you distraught nine year old at home? I understand that drinking must have been your way to cope with the loss of your wife, but did you care, or even help, Isabella deal with the loss of her mother?"

"Objection! She's antagonizing my client!" Mr. Davids said.

"Overruled," the judge said once again. "Mr. Swan, answer the questions."

Charlie sighed. "Yes, I went to the bar after work to deal with my loss, but I always made sure Isabella was taken care of and that she was alright."

"You always came home to make sure Isabella was alright?"

"Yes."

"Then how come I have a statement from the owner of the bar you often went to saying that, quote, 'I felt sorry for the poor man. Drowning the sorrows of losing his wife in Heineken and Jack Daniels almost every night. I almost always drove him home after closing.' Now I had asked when closing time was and the owner said that the bar 'closed at two AM. It hasn't changed, ever.' Now if you stayed every night until closing, drinking copious amounts of alcohol, how could you check to make sure your daughter was okay? Would you wake her up at the ungodly hour you got home and ask her if she was all right? Would you just peek into her room to make sure she was there? Or would you just not check on her at all?"

"I always made sure she was safe in her bed at night."

"Are you sure you didn't do anything else besides just look into her room? There were reports of violent behavior against you when you were sober. I can only imagine what would happen to the girl you blamed for your wife's death when you were drunk and incoherent."

"I said I didn't blame her and I would never hit my daughter!" Charlie yelled.

"Mr. Swan, lower you voice and calm down!" the judge ordered.

"It sounds like you have pent up anger, Mr. Swan. I wouldn't be surprised if you hit your little girl. Just because you said you didn't blame her doesn't mean that you truly believe it. And as for the hitting, how come a few of Isabella's teacher over the years reported bruises on her arms? I don't know how those reports were overlooked for abuse, especially occurring so closely together and so often. Maybe you could enlighten me?" Tanya said.

"Isabella is a very clumsy girl. She trips over air. Bruises don't surprise me," Charlie said.

"No one is that clumsy, Mr. Swan. And no fall could result in fingerprint shaped bruises. Are you sure that you didn't take out the anger and misery of losing your wife on the reason she was gone in the first place?"

"I never hit my Isabella. I did everything I could to make sure she was safe and happy because she was the only thing I had left. I am appalled that you would suggest that I ever hurt my dear, sweet angel. Now I have answered your questions willingly and honestly, and I would appreciate it if you would stop accusing me of things I didn't do and quit asking me ridiculous questions," Charlie stated.

"Mr. Swan, you will answer any questions related to the case that Ms. Denali asks honestly. Now quit your complaining and listen to Ms. Denali," the judge said.

Tanya sighed and said, "That's alright. No more questions, your honor."

She walked over the table we were sitting at and sat next to me. She leaned over to whisper in my ear. "Is it just me, or did that sound like a whole bunch of rehearsed bull?"

"It's not just you," I whispered back. And it was true. It sounded like Charlie went over those answers again and again to make sure he always said exactly the right thing and never let anything slip.

"It's alright, hon. We'll get him," she said.

I felt Edward inconspicuously place a comforting hand on my shoulder.

In the next hour before lunch, Mr. Davids questioned Charlie, asking the most ridiculous questions that Tanya felt the need to object to. Unfortunately, she was overruled every time. By the time Mr. Davids was done questioning Charlie I was seething and I could tell Edward was just as livid. Tanya, thankfully, tried to reverse some of the damage made by that stupid testimony and when we were released for lunch, I felt a bit more confident.

"Don't worry, sweetie. As soon as you, Edward, and Carlisle testify after lunch, there will be no way that the jury would classify Charlie as 'not guilty'," Tanya said as we walked out of the courtroom. Edward had his arm around my waist again and our friends and family were right behind us.

"Just relax, have a good lunch, and don't worry about this," Tanya continued. "Everything's going to be fine."

I nodded and said goodbye as we parted ways, Edward and I going to his Volvo and Tanya headed to her Porsche. I wrapped my arms around Edward's waist and snuggled into his side as walked. He brought his other arm to my waist and hugged me to him.

"Listen to Tanya, Bells. Don't worry about any of this for now. Just relax and have a nice lunch with me," he said, resting his cheek on top of my head.

I nodded and said, "I'll try, but I make no promises." He seemed to accept that as he squeezed me tighter to him.

"You better watch it Eddie. You'll end up squeezing the life outa her," Emmett said, coming up behind us with Alice, Jasper, and Rosalie.

Edward rolled his eyes, but said nothing. We reached the Volvo then and Edward and I just leaned against the side, facing our friends.

"Mind if we join you for lunch?" Jasper asked.

"Yeah, Edward was monopolizing you this morning before we left, Bella, and we just want to spend time with you," Alice said.

"Please, Belly Boo?" Emmett asked, sticking his bottom lip out.

"If it's alright with Edward," I said, looking up at him.

He smiled down at me and nodded. "It's fine with me as long as you actually eat something, Bells."

"Yes! I'll go pull up my Porsche," Alice said, skipping off to her ostentatious car.

"So Bella, how are you holding up?" Rosalie asked and I sighed.

"I've been better, but I'm okay. Tanya has really boosted my confidence with this whole thing," I said.

"Yeah, she makes it kind of hard to lose confidence in the cases she takes up. I'm surprised she hasn't broken that bastard down yet," Jasper said as Alice's car pulled up next to the Volvo.

"Yeah, yeah, Tanya's a hard ass. We know that. Now let's get some food! We only have half an hour left of lunch!" Emmett exclaimed. We all laughed and headed towards the café in town.

Lunch was an exciting event with Emmett present. He acted like such a drama queen! I swear I heard sighs of relief from the staff and other patrons when we left. But as much of a good mood lunch put me in, I knew it wouldn't last when we got to the courthouse.

It was my turn to testify and when Tanya asked me to recall what happened that night, I froze. I looked at Edward, took a deep breath, and imagined that it was just he and I. It surprised me when it actually worked, but I should have known it would when Edward suggested it. He always knows exactly what to do.

When I finished I looked away from Edward and glanced around the hall. Some people had looks of horror on their faces and others had tears in their eyes. Well, I'm glad they believe me.

Tanya asked me a few more questions like how long the abuse has been going on and what the injuries were like. Then it was Mr. Davids's turn.

He questioned me like Tanya did, none of the questions too bad. Some of them, though were just plain disrespectful. For example, he asked if I ever had feelings inappropriate in a father/daughter relationship. The look of disgust was obvious on my face and Tanya quickly objected to the question while Edward glared at Mr. Davids. Thankfully, that was the last of the questions and I was called off the stand.

Mr. Davids then called Edward to the stand and asked him what happened that night, what my injuries were, stuff like that. Tanya asked pretty much the same line of questions, so that wasn't too bad.

Then Tanya called Carlisle to the stand. She asked him what my injuries consisted of and how well he knew me. After she was done questioning him, Mr. Davids started his interrogation. His questions were basic and easy to answer until he brought up the fact that I started slitting my wrists.

"Now Mr. Cullen, why would someone who obviously wanted to end her own life, call someone to save her when she was supposedly being 'abused' by her father? Could it be possible that she injured herself and you son found her later?" he asked.

"Mr. Davids, I have known Bella for a very long time and let me tell you that even when she was young, she has been the happiest person I have ever known, even after her mother died. Obviously she wasn't as happy, but you could still see the light in her eyes. It was only after she first woke up in the hospital that I didn't see that light and let me tell you, it scared me. And after learning of what had been happening to her all of these years, I'm shocked that she could still be as happy as she has been. She has shown no signs of depression over the years. She has practically lived in my house. I have seen her every single day, so could honestly diagnose that. Bella is so smart, too. If she really wanted to end her life, she would have known how to do it so that even God couldn't bring her back. She just lost her way for a while. She needed to be reminded of the people who loved her and cared for her. Isabella Swan didn't want to die and I'm so proud of how strong she's been. And I'm so glad she finally asked someone to help her, even though I wish she had asked sooner.

"To answer your question, Mr. Davids, Bella didn't want to kill herself in the first place so it wasn't possible for my son to just 'find' her. She called him, begging him for help, to save her from the nightmare she had to live through for nearly nine years. Her father was abusing her and you have seen the proof from the photos of the bruises and cuts on her body from that abuse. Now if you or anyone in this courtroom don't believe me, then God help your souls," Carlisle said.

Mr. Davids looked down and cleared his throat. "No more questions, your honor."

Both Tanya and Mr. Davids called for no more witnesses so the judge told them to make their closing statements.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, Isabella Swan has been living a nightmare since that fateful day when her mother died. She has been repeatedly beaten up and raped by her father over the course of nine years. Help her escape that nightmare for good and put Charles Swan in prison," Tanya addressed to the jury. She then walked over to our table and sat down next to me, watching Mr. Davids walk toward the jury.

"Charles Swan has been wrongfully accused of doing things to his daughter that only an extremely disturbed man would do. He loves his daughter unconditionally and wouldn't never even think of hurting her. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, do what's right and set this man free."

He then went to sit by his client as the jury exited the room to deliberate. Since it was still only three in the afternoon, we had to stay in the courtroom until the jury reached the verdict unless they needed more time to deliberate, then we'd meet here again tomorrow.

I turned around in my seat to face Edward. He cupped my face with his hands and leaned his forehead against mine.

"You were wonderful, love. I'm so proud of you," he whispered to me before he pressed his lips to mine.

"There is no way that the jury will find him not guilty. Our evidence is solid; everyone's testimony went perfectly well. We have this in the bag," Tanya said.

Everyone else was saying pretty much the same thing to me, but I was still nervous. There was a feeling in the pit of my stomach that the verdict wasn't going to be what we expected.

Surprisingly soon, the jury reentered the courtroom and said they had reached a verdict.

"Your honor, the jury finds the defendant Charles Swan…not guilty."

A:N/ Please don't kill me. I was actually going to stop right before the not guilty part but i figured i owed you guys. I'll try to update as soon as i can. i just want to update my other stories first. Anyhoo, please review!!!!!

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