Towards the Edge

Summary: Bella moves to Forks because Charlie finally gets custody of his 16-year-old mentally ill daughter, and gets her away from her psychotic mother and her care-taking husband. Nothing is as it seems with Bella. She's witty, smart, and downright beautiful. There's something about her that gets Edward curious. That and he understand her mind. Bella doesn't understand why Edward is drawn to her so much when she is so broken, but Edward hopes to change her view on herself as he vows to protect this vulnerable, too curious, daring little creature with his immortal life. And maybe along the way, find out what on earth is after her. The downfall of Edward's plan; Bella can barely communicate without it being incoherent and jumbled. And; something dangerous and terrifying is after Bella's life and soul.

Rating of this chapter: T- Just in case, ya know. Emmett just might let a few nasty curses out and Alice just might join him. I'm just warning you. There will be some talk about sexual activity between Edward and Bella. Just letting you know.

Pairing: Obviously, it is Bella/Edward, and Edward has been put into motion!

Chapter Pairing: The relationship….HAS BEGUN!

Disclaimers: I don't own Twilight. It all belongs to S. Meyers and her publishing company, and all that. I'm not making money off this, though I wish I could… I don't own the characters of Twilight, I just play with them. The story plot is mine, and any other characters that I come up with. Feel free to message me about any of them.

Warnings: There are mentions of mental disorders in this story. Also mentions of attempted suicide caused by the mental disorders. I myself am diagnosed with one of her mental disorders, so I'm going off my experiences, and the doctor's information. Also, there may be some gruesome parts sometime ahead from now. Just to warn you, so if you get light headed easily or just hate those types of things, stop reading now.

Author Note: Yes. I'm very late. I have been having major writer's block. I am making a warning now: I am deleting a few stories on my page for construction. They are honestly, in need of serious repair. A few brave honest souls brought up some true facts about them that has me moving on it now. I will try very hard to keep updating this story, but I am having so much family trouble; it isn't even funny. Anyway, this is a warning that if you want o re-read a story I have delete, just e-mail me. I will make them better for everyone. Just give me some time.

''Bella.'' Phil called out calmly.

Phil was in the middle of putting on his shoes to go to the store with Renee who was becoming more and more tired of waiting from that foot of hers tapping. Esme and Carlisle had their shoes on and were going with them. Alice had stated that there was no sun today for once in their two week visit somehow, and the two adults were taking the chance to socialize. The Cullen teens and Bella were staying at the house and had plans of running around in the forest outside the house for a few hours to enjoy themselves and taste freedom once more.

Bella came into view from around the corner in just her pajamas as she ran her fingers through her hair. She had just taken a nap, and was still very sleepy. Edward had woken her up a half hour ago, and she had heard Phil call her.

Phil looked over to his step-daughter. ''Okay, Bella. Your mom, me, Carlisle and Esme are going to the store for a few things. The others are staying with you. You follow the house rules and your ground rules while I'm gone, okay?'' Phil told her.

Bella nodded and turned to see that paper stuck to the wall with tape. The paper must have held her ground rules that Phil was talking about. The Swan girl walked over to the wall where Carlisle was standing who gave her a smile like Esme did as they watched the girl focus on the paper as sh took it all in her genius brain.

Phil watched proudly at the form of the girl he called his daughter. ''Now, Bella. I will buy you your juice you like so much, and your snacks, alright? What else do you want?''

Bella took her brown eyes off the rule list to look at her step-father who stood up and gazed at her calmly. Bella wanted to try and use that speech therapy to make Carlisle and Edward proud of her. She hadn't been doing well since she came back to Momma, and she was worried she was letting Edward down.

''A book.'' Bella stated clearly and slowly.

Carlisle let a proud smile grow on his face at his daughter's clear words of what she wanted. He was deeply worried that she wasn't taking to the therapy anymore from her closeness to Renee again, but it seemed Bella still knew how to do things. It was wonderful that she was trying still.

Phil nodded. ''Alright then. A mystery, adventure, or something else?'' He questioned. He knew Bella liked a variety of topics.

Bella thought over it. ''History.'' She had the urge to read that new history novel that was out.

Phil knew which one she was talking about somehow. ''Got it. I'll get it for you. You're doing great on your therapy, honey.'' He commended before giving her head a kiss and leaving the house with Renee bouncing away before him. Esme and Carlisle said their goodbyes to Bella as well, who smiled widely at the two parents of her boyfriend and locked the door after them like she normally did.

Bella now wondered what she could do to entertain herself. Emmett, Jasper, Alice and Rosalie had all gone into the forest for a hunt and some fun, and Edward was still in her room. Bella decided to go back to her room ot spend some time with her boyfriend who she thought she was neglecting over these past few weeks. She was just changing so rapidly and she didn't understand it. Her momma just brought something else out in her, and she didn't know what it was at all. It kind of scared her, but she knew the Cullens would protect her form anything happening.

Th Swan girl looked inside the room to see her dear boyfriend flipping through one of her books before he looked up to see his mate's mischievous face that signaled something was on-coming.

Edward smirked at his mate who jumped onto the bed and laid next to him with a big grin.

''I heard you using your speech therapy well. It'll become easier after a while, but you're doing wonderful, Bella.'' Edward told her honestly.

He had been the most worried about Bella not talking coherently again, but hearing it today, and her thoughts: he knew she was trying. Renee was just a terrible influence on the defenseless human who tried so hard to please her mother and Phil at the same time. Renee just wasn't able to correctly care for Bella. She did the most negative of things, that even Emmett was fearful of something bad happening to his little sister who was confused on the lectures that Carlisle gave her on why what she had done was wrong and not a good thing, when her mother had done the exact same thing. Phil had always gave Renee his own lecture on why to not drag Bella into anything, and to let the sixteen year old figure things out for herself like she had been doing wonderfully with the Cullens in Forks.

Renee had continued doing what she pleased with her daughter. That made poor Bella even more confused on those lecture Carlisle had given her the times before. She usually just went with it until decided against it and leaving her mother to do something else. Carlisle was very proud of Bella rejecting some of the things Renee wanted her do do due to his words of how what she was doing was bad. He knew the poor little human was so confused, but tried to follow his rules and Phil's. Phil mostly went with Carlisle's rules and kept Bella on his schedule so Bella was regimented. All Esme wanted to do was get her little daughter away from the influence of the unpredictable Renee Dwyer. It hurt the mother vampire to see Bella so lost at times and try to keep herself positive for the sake of being calm and with Edward.

Bella smiled to Edward at the praise he gave her. ''For you.'' She said clearly and softly.

The Cullen boy gave a smile and turned to his side to face Bella. ''You're doing wonderful, Bella. I'm very proud of you.'' He insisted.

Bella liked hearing Edward was proud of her. She really was trying. All Bella Swan wanted to do was make Edward Cullen proud of her.

Edward heard her thoughts and ran his fingers through Bella's long hair that was growing. He tried to make sure that Bella knew he was proud of her for doing what she could. He knew things were stressful for the Swan girl right now. Edward reminded himself to send the Chief another e-mail to tell him that Bella was doing just fine and using her speech therapy more. He kept in touch with the Swan father regularly as did Carlisle who swore he was watching his daughter closely.

''What do you want to do, Bella?'' Edward asked curiously.

Bella thought on it. All she had really been hearing was the information on mating from her momma. She had stated that vampires needed a claim on their mates. Bella and Edward had done nothing but a few innocent kisses. Bella really didn't know anything on the subject. She never read up on it because she didn't think she would ever have sex. But her and Edward were mates, so would they eventually have sex?

''One day we would, love. But not until you're completely ready.'' Edward answered her question softly.

He of course wanted to mate with his Bella, but she it wasn't the right time yet. She didn't know anything on it, so he could just take her and not expect something to happen. He fought his vampire every day to not claim Bella wherever she was standing ten times over to have his scent on her and mark her as his.

''When?'' Bella asked him innocently.

Edward sighed. ''I don't know, love. You should study the subject first before we do anything sexual. I don't want to scare you with something you don't know of.'' He told her.

She thought kisses were sexual.

Edward chuckled. ''Some types are. It all depends on the intent of the two people who are kissing. What we are doing: it isn't sexual.'' He explained to the girl who understood it.

Bella hummed. She thought perhaps she should talk to Carlisle about it one day. She made that plan and put it in the back of her mind for later. Right now she jut wanted to do something fun with Edward.

''How about some chess?'' Edward tried. They had been playing for a few days now, and he quite liked the time they spent doing it.

Bella agreed quickly with a wide smile and left the bed to get the chess board on her shelf for them, and she set the red and black colored board and bag of pieces on the floor for them. Edward sat on the floor with Bella and began the game.

Bella and Edward's game passed time quickly and pleasantly until the other Cullen teens came back and came into Bella's room to see the two in a game of chess.

''What's up kiddies?'' Emmett asked happily and sat on the bed contently. He had some major fun in the forest today. He was so revealed to have a break and leave the house of Renee. It was like a broken mirror fun house in here some times. Renee certainly needed watched twenty-four seven. He now knew why Phil sometimes worked at home or had the neighbors watch the woman.

''Just having some fun playing chess.'' Edward commented. ''Okay Bella. I give. You're too good.'' He admitted defeat against the genius child who giggled.

''Let me play her.'' Jasper asked and took a seat next to his brother who set the board up with his speed. ''Alright, Ms. Swan. Show me what you got.'' Jasper said in a battle tone.

Bella took to the challenge from that look in her brown eyes.

Alice giggled and went over to Bella's computer to go online for a little bit while her husband battled the sixteen year old in his favorite game that he was the master at.

Rosalie had placed herself with Emmett on the bed as she looked around the room of the girl she was wrong about. The room was filled with childish happiness and the side of Bella that was interested in the world around her. The pictures showed that she had only one friend who had passed way from his own mental illness before Bella left for Forks. The boy looked so innocent and carefree like Bella was. Bella loved her family, her dog that just came in the room and made himself home on the bed by Bella's pillows and sighed heavily. The ferret was somewhere in the house, either curled next to the cat that thought the ferret was her own baby, or just chasing the same cat around for nothing.

Rosalie took notice of all the books the human had. None of it was on fantasy. She really didn't take to fantasy. Edward was right. She was a realist, and liked facts. The trinkets Bella had were odd but cute in a way. She had a few odd toys just scattered on the shelves that must have been her old toys as a child. She had plushies of different animals from the ocean, forest, jungle, and other environment. They must have some meaning to the girl. Bella never kept anything that didn't have meaning to her in some way. Rosalie didn't see anything in the beauty department. The vampire didn't think she would. She had never seen any make-up or anything on Bella. Sometimes the girl didn't even brush her hair until Esme did it for her.

Bella just didn't care for her looks or health. Carlisle was the main one who watched Bella's fragile health. Edward just made sure Bella was perfectly safe, and following Carlisle's orders. Esme and Alice usually cared for Bella looks. The two women never added any beauty product, but they just made sure she was presentable. Bella just didn't take to the tasks that well by herself. She really did need care, observation, and a stable family and home life.

Rosalie thought that perhaps she over thought things on the human. Edward did love er for that struck look to be glued to his face around her. Like now. They weren't even doing anything but chess, and Edward had that look on his face. That prideful look that was like what Emmett gave her at times. That trust, love, devotion, and kindness that Emmett had shown her and still did. Bella returned those looks as well. Rosalie didn't know if the human even knew that she was doing it, but the vampire did know she meant it.

In Bella's own way: she was showing her love for Edward. As she attempted to make Edward proud of her. When she tried so hard in those therapy lessons to have her words coherent and where people could understand them.

In Bella's way: she was trying to protect the Cullen family. When she tried to control her emotions around her mother to where she would leave the room to vent those pent up emotions away from her mother and them. She didn't want them to see her released emotions. She didn't even want Carlisle to help her deal with them when he tried to help. Those times, Carlisle would give her a sedative to sleep off that destructive anger the Chief had warned then about.

In Bella's own way; she was loving Edward. In those touches she innocently made with Edward who returned them fully. While Edward fought his instincts to claim his mate to mix his scent on her; Bella just wanted someone understanding and someone to love her. Bella was trying to express those emotions that Edward understood the second she did them.

Rosalie thought she understood, but with Bella Swan: no one ever knew.

A few more days of wonderful weather for the Cullens passed, and they fully enjoyed themselves in the forest, and even in the shopping areas when Alice had said it would be just fine.

Currently: The Cullen family had taken Bella on an outing to exorcize that ball of energy for a girl. Alice and Bella were really having a good time causing as much mayhem that the two parents would allow the two girls. Edward was simply enjoying the time that they all spent as a family. He was very pleased that his mate was having so much fun with Alice in that art isle he was keeping an eye on. Jasper had gone with them to make sure Alice didn't do anything naughty. That pixie was trouble. Nothing else to say.

''Well, this is very nice.'' Esme commented as she looked down the isle to see see her three children pick out some art books and drawing utensils.

Carlisle hummed in agreement and kept his topaz eyes on Emmett who was picking out a game for his DS on the shelf in front of them. Rosalie was standing with them neutrally as she rolled her eyes at her husband.

Edward chuckled and saw Bella come up to him and she the book she had. ''Alright. Put it in the cart.'' He told her. He was spoiling his mate today to please his vampire in some way. He desperately wanted to claim Bella, but he couldn't just yet. Bella was still studying the subject and getting used to the idea and learning from Carlisle. So instead: spoiling his mate was the next best thing that pleased his vampire in a way. He loved giving Bella what she liked and wanted. It made her happy. If Bella was happy, Edward was happy as was his vampire.

''This is so fun! We should go for ice cream!'' Alice exclaimed, making a few people look to her before going back to whats they were doing. People weren't very nosy in Phoenix. Everyone pretty much made one comment to themselves about how beautiful the Cullens were before going on with their days.

''Just what Bella needs. Sugar.'' Emmett said sarcastically and put a game into the cart that he wanted.

Bella thought she did need it. Ice cream sounded nice right now.

''Why not? It's Bella's day, so let's go.'' Carlisle commented and took hold of the small girl's hand as he began walking. Bella contently looked around the building at things that stood out to her. Like the things with bright colors. Bella liked those.

''Not too much sugar, please. She'll never sleep.'' Edward chuckled. Bella had some sugar the other day and it took him a few hours to wined Bella down for bed. Renee had given her too much candy, and Bella went wild with energy to where Phil took all the candy and hid it somewhere in the house where Renee couldn't get to. Or the hyped up Bella who had ran around the house to work off that energy. Baxter and Ricky had taken to the task that day to help her work off the bouncy feelings. Baxter had been great with Bella, and Phil really liked the Doberman.

Esme giggled and ran her fingers through the endless hair that she had given a trim to on Bella asking her to. ''Don't worry, dear. She'll sleep tonight. It's only one.'' She soothed the silent fear in Edward who was the responsible one at night to wined the human down.

After Edward and Emmett paid for the items, they went to a nearby ice cream shop for Bella to pick our what she wanted.

Bella went inside alone and with the money Carlisle gave her. On the inside, Bella took notice of a person she knew. It seemed that person saw Bella as well due to the girl standing with the two boys she was with and come over to the group.

''Bella! Long time no see, girl!'' The female Bella knew as Stacey stated happily.

Bella nodded with a smile.

''You got shorter.'' A blonde male named Connor said, making Bella kick him in his shin. ''OW!'' He exclaimed before laughing with the others.

''She can still kick like hell.'' The other male pointed out and chewed the gum in his mouth with a smirk. Bella remembered him as Damion.

''Course she can. She was the soccer star of Phoenix!'' Stacey said merrily.

Bella shook her head before pointing out what she wanted to the worker who understood the girl she had served many times before.

Stacey laughed. ''Anyway girl. Who you with?'' She asked and looked out the window to the group standing outside the building.

''The Cullens.'' Bella stated softly and slowly.

''Holy shit! You speak!'' Connor pointed out.

Damion smacked the boy's head. 'Shut up. Of course she can speak. She's human dumbass.''

Stacey rolled her eyes. ''This one is on me, girl. You give that money back to your man.'' She said and pulled out her skull designed wallet to pay the money and gave the cone to Bella who thanked her.

''Not a problem. You must be working hard to talk so clearly. The least I can do is pay your ice cream cone.'' Stacey told her.

Damion looked to the window as he chewed his gum to see one of the men that he clarified as Bella's man look in the window to Bella before going back to the blonde man who Damion thought the father.

''I'm going for a smoke. Later Bells. Keep up the good work, doll.'' Damion told the small girl who he gave a brief hug to and left with Connor who did the same.

Damion stood ways away from the family in a polite distance to smoke and Connor did the same.

''She looks good, man.'' Connor laughed.

Damion rolled his eyes. ''I don't see what you see, ya perv. She's taken. Leave her, bro.'' He ordered and took a drag. He felt those eyes of Bella's man's family on him and his friend.

Connor laugh and blew out some smoke. ''Just saying what I feel. Free country, man.'' Connor pointed out with a wide smile.

Damion rolled his eyes again. ''You white trash. Leave the poor girl alone. She's doin great now. Don't you have a white trash party to go to or something?'' He reminded the teen.

''Shit. I do. Tell Stace to ride with you. Maybe you can get a little something from them both.'' Connor laughed and walked away.

''Fucking perverted white trash.'' Damion muttered. Damion had no wish to ''do'' Bella. She was a sixteen year old girl with some issues to work out in her mind as best as she could to get by in this cruel world. If that boy over there with the family that was looking at him was just the thing: So be it. Besides. Damion already had someone at home that was happy to wait for him to return to everyday. Bella and Stacey were just friends.

Damion watched Bella and Stacey come out of the building and the older teen gave Bella a hug before going over to Damion who stomped out his cigarette. ''Had fun lesbo? Let's leave.'' Damion told her and saluted Bella who waved hm goodbye. Damion saw the one that took Bella's hand nod in his direction before they left for another store.

Stacey sighed as she followed Damion to his truck. ''Damn. She's doing great. I'm glad for her.''

Damion was too. Bella deserved some happiness in her life after Anthony had died.

''Goodnight you two.'' Phil sang out before disappearing into his room with Renee already asleep.

Bella crawled into bed with Edward waiting for her already. The Swan was tired after today's outing. Edward had done a sneaky job to tire her out this much.

Edward chuckled as Bella snuggled up to him naturally. ''You caught on too late, love.'' He stated quietly. He had wondered when his little mate would finally catch on to his and Carlisle's plans to tire Bella out tonight while letting her have some freedom and fun at the same time.

Bella sighed deeply. She really didn't care too much. She had a wonderful time with the family. It was worth the exhausted feeling she felt.

''Goodnight, love. We'll have some more fun tomorrow.'' Edward promised her, and watched Bella fall asleep rather quickly.

Edward wondered how long he could stand not claiming Bella. It had been a few months already. He was close to his end. He just had to let Bella study a few more days. Then he would approach Bella sexually. He just hoped that he could hold out that long.

Again: sorry it is so late.

Remember: I'm deleting a few stories for construction purposes. Not this story, so don't worry. I'll try to get over this writer's block!

-Col. Rage