Disclaimer: I own nothing of Twilight.

A/N: So here we go. I just about forgot to do this yesterday but thankfully was going through my reviews and realized that I was a little late in doing this. I'd like to thank inluvwith for reminding me. :) Enjoy this next chapter, I won't keep you much longer. ON WITH IT! haha


Chapter Song:

Not Afraid - Eminem

I'm not afraid (I'm not afraid)

To take a stand (To take a stand)

Everybody (Everybody)

Come take my hand (Come take my hand)

We'll walk this road together, through the storm

Whatever weather, cold or warm

Just letting you know that, you're not alone

Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road (same road)

Chapter 12:

B POV

I was quickly wrapped up in a blanket and carried off into a truck under the care of Thomas while Edward was quickly tended to by Carlisle and the other medics. I began to cry when they said that he needed surgery. The bullet was still inside and he needed transfusions or else he would die.

We were rushed to the hospital, Edward being rushed into surgery almost immediately while I was attended to and cleaned up with Thomas and Tyler hovering by. My forearms were bandaged up; there were new burns and cuts there. Apparently I'd suffered through a concussion.

"... Mrs. Cullen? Mrs. Cullen?" the doctor's voice startled me out of my thoughts.

"Bella," Jasper called me back into the present. I looked up to see the doctor, Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper standing inside the room while Thomas and Tyler stood guard outside of the room.

"What?" I asked, looking at him in a daze.

"He asked if you wanted a rape kit done," Emmett said, clearing his throat uncomfortably.

"Does it really matter?" I asked numbly before turning to look at Carlisle. "Has Edward come out yet? Is he all right?"

"He's still in surgery, Bella. But right now, we need to focus on you." He told me quietly. I sighed quietly.

"We took a blood sample," the doctor began to say but I tuned him out and as soon as he realized this, he turned to speak to my father-in-law and brother-in-laws. "... pregnant for a while now. And we're not sure if-"

"Pregnant? What?" I asked, snapping out of it.

"Yes." the doctor nodded as the men in the room tensed at his answer, looking at me warily.

"And so I think that the rape kit could-"

"How far along am I?" I asked him, cutting him off.

He frowned at me but still answered, "About four months now."

I inhaled sharply, counting back the months and shaking my head in denial.

"Its a wonder that you still have the baby after the stress that your body has been put through." The doctor said quietly as I began to hyperventilate, my panic rising quickly. "But it seems to be going well and-"

"Bella, calm down. Breathe in deeply and exhale," Carlisle said, quickly taking charge of the situation and trying to calm me down.

"Carlisle, I can't. If the twins didn't kill me, this baby will," I began to cry quietly. "Edward... we can't do this again. That's why I had the..."

"I know Bella," he assured me quietly.

"Let's worry about one thing at a time, Bells." Emmett said quietly. "There's no point in passing out because you're panicking."

I nodded in agreement before realizing something. "The boys," I jumped out of the hospital bed, startling them, "Edward was there. Where are Anthony and William?"

"Mom, Ali, and Rose have them. They're all under rounds of protection. I'd offer to bring them here but we're going to have to wait. We're having enough trouble hiding away from the press and they'd love to print this story," Jasper muttered, reassuring me quietly and scaring me at the same time.

"What do you mean, the press?" I asked anxiously.

"Bella, you're Edward's wife and you're in the hospital. That would be enough of a story by itself but the both of you are here," Carlisle said gently and I sighed, nodding quietly.

"What do we do?" I asked.

"We're already running a story," Emmett assured me quietly and I nodded, thanking them silently.

"I need you guys to do something for me," I whispered quietly. They looked at me warily but nodded their agreement anyways. "I want to be the one to tell Edward of my pregnancy."

"Bella, I think we should-" Jasper began to protest but I shook my head at him.

"That goes the same for you two, Thomas!" I called and he reluctantly nodded his agreement.

"I'll take care of the rest," Carlisle assured the doctor and he nodded before leaving the room and us alone.

"Bella, we can't keep secrets. Its against-" Emmett began to protest and I looked at them angrily.

"If you tell Edward, I can assure you that he's going to beat the shit out of you. He didn't want this to happen again because it would endanger my life again. Do you really want to take that risk?" I snapped at him and they pursed their lips, knowing very well that I spoke the truth. "Do you really want to be the bearer of bad news and practically tell him that I'm going to die?"

They stayed silent and I knew what they were thinking but weren't saying as the tension in the room changed to a new one.

"I'm not getting a fucking abortion!" I shouted angrily, glaring at them.

They sighed, already having known my answer but not willing to ask me the question themselves. It was pointless. I'd lost a child against my will and lost another because of my shitty past. I wasn't going to kill one willingly.

"We know, Bella." Carlisle said quietly, sighing.

"Just let me tell him," I mumbled quietly.

"When? When you're already showing?" Jasper mumbled angrily.

I shook my head and sighed, making them promise me to let me deal with this. Reluctantly, they nodded their assent.

"Mr. Whitlock, this was sent for Mrs. Cullen from your wife," a guard said, breaking the silence as he brought in a large bag.

"Thank you," Jasper nodded, taking the bag before warily looking through it and blushing. He shoved it in my direction as Emmett snickered, realizing what it was. I blushed as well, realizing that they were clothes and things to help me shower and change out of the hospital gown I'd been put in.

I thanked him quietly, making a mental note to thank Alice for the clothes. I hadn't even really thought of it at all.

"Go and take a shower. There's no point in worrying yourself over Edward." Carlisle told me quietly. "We'll handle things until you're back."

I smiled and thanked him quietly, walking out of the room and heading towards the showers with Thomas and Tyler following me and standing guard at the doors of the showers to make sure that I was the only one inside and safe.

Wrapping a large plastic bag around my forearms, I was careful in washing out my skin. I washed the blood out of my hair and off my skin. I shook my head, berating myself for not trying harder in fighting against James.

When I'd first met Jake, he'd taught me how to fight close combat and despite Charlie being a lousy father and all, he was a cop. A drunk cop but I had learned his way of shooting effectively and knew how to handle a gun personally after escaping from James.

I knew how to defend myself but it was my past memories that made me hesitate when it came to James. The previous fear and trepidation of what I knew he was going to do seemed to overshadow my knowledge in how to defend myself. And he used that moment to hit me. I'd given him all he'd needed without meaning to.

And despite my attempts to ward him off, he already had the upperhand on me.

I checked myself over as I dried myself and rewrapped my bandages before dressing slowly. I was sore in my nether regions from his constant sexual advances. I had bruises scattered along my body and face. I could cover them easily, I knew how to do that after years of living under his torture.

I was thankful that Alice had gotten me a long sleeved shirt so that I wouldn't have to worry about hiding my cuts and bruises or the bandages. There were black slacks and a hoodie along with some comfortable flats. I was even more grateful for the coverup that Alice had shoved inside the magical bag.

I wiped the fog away from the mirror in the showers and carefully began to apply the coverup, surprised that Alice got the skin tone correct. She must be psychic.

My eyes scanned my face for any spots that I'd missed. I looked as good as new and even though my body was sore, I was feeling strangely refreshed and energetic. It was the stitches that ran along my temple that seemed to stand out among my new made up face. The dark stitches were a large contrast against my pale skin.

I shook my head to myself, knowing that I couldn't do anything about that and grabbed the bag before exiting the showers.

"Where's Carlisle?" I asked Thomas and watched as he and Tyler looked at my face with surprise, realizing that the bruises that had once been there were gone. It was as if they were never there. Ah, the wonders of makeup.

"He's with Mr. Cullen. We were to inform you that he's finally out of surgery." Thomas said finally, clearing his throat nervously.

"Thank you," I smiled a small smile and he nodded curtly. They followed me as I walked towards the room that Carisle had previously told me they would put Edward in.

{-_-}

Edward had barely woken up two days after being hospitalized. Nearly a week afterwards, I finally managed to convince Carlisle to move Edward to the house under his supervision. Carlisle agreed at Esme's urging. So Esme and Carlisle stayed with us in our home.

Soon, Alice and Rosalie were also asking me if they could move into the house as well. For the meantime, at least, until Edward got better. With my consent, they moved in.

I didn't like how the security seemed to amp up with these decisions but it was better being surrounded by family rather than being alone. I finally got to see Anthony and William and even though Carlisle told me that I shouldn't carry them because of my condition, I had smothered them in kisses as soon as I got them within arm's reach.

The sound of their laughter had been music to my ears and I had burst out into tears, startling them and making them cry suddenly as well. The rush of emotions of all of the events mounted on me as the three of us cried and I couldn't even comfort them correctly.

They refused to part from my side and I had fallen asleep on the bed next to Edward with them with us, sleeping as a family as we had the first nights that they were first brought home after coming into this world.

I had managed to pull myself together after waking up to soft caresses. I cried silently, smiling at Edward once I realized that he had woken up. He smiled at me, kissing my forehead and caressing our sons who laid asleep between us.

We talked in low voices, watching over Anthony and William. And then it was brought to his attention that he had meetings to attend for both his company and mafia side of his jobs. Knowing that Edward couldn't be running around and be attending meetings across the country when he should be resting, I volunteered to do the job.

"Bella," Edward began to protest, not wanting me out of his sight, "I can do it. I just need a while to get ready."

"Absolutely not. You are going to be resting." I said sternly and he frowned at me. "I'm not severely injured like you and I can cover up my bruises easily."

He sighed, obviously still in disagreement but his protests were silence when Calrisle agreed with me. I smiled triumphantly and watched as Carlisle reasoned with Edward and told him that he would watch over me.

It wasn't exactly what I wanted but I would settled for it.

"But what about the meetings in Chicago?" Edward asked, his voice hardening and I knew he was worrying for my safety in front of the mafia alone.

"Can I bring a gun?" I asked and they both gaped at me. "What? So its right for Edward to shoot people and not me?"

"Love," Edward said gently, looking at me with cautious eyes, "handling a gun isn't as easy as it seems. And shooting someone-"

"I know how to handle a gun, Edward." I huffed and his eyes widened in surprise. "I'm not naive and I've shot a person before. I admit that I didn't kill him but I hadn't been aiming to kill. I just... maimed him."

"Where did you learn how to shoot a gun?" he hissed at me as Carlilse watched our exchange with amusement.

"Charlie was a cop. And even though I didn't technically learn how I should have, I observed his tactics. And then I bought myself a gun after escaping from James the first time." I whispered calmly, still quite aware that the boys were sleeping between us.

"Well, if you know how to shoot I think that's good enough. Yes, you can bring a gun." Carlilse nodded his consent and I smiled while Edward narrowed his eyes at us, still not liking that I would be leaving his sight for a day or two.

I kissed him chastely, trying to soothe his worries.


A/N: Drop your opinion in the box below. And I will see you guys next week! :)

- Eli