-14-

BPOV

I saw James.

I knew it was him.

He was driving my truck.

I am so lucky he didn't see me, especially with Edward. He would have caused a huge, scene and probably would have hurt Edward. I felt myself shudder at the thought.

I liked my life here, with Edward, and his family, and the hospital. I liked the safe little bubble I was living in.

I bit my lip as I tapped my foot on the carpet. I was in the waiting room in Dr. Embry's office, waiting for my appointment, I definitely needed to talk to someone, and I knew he wouldn't, couldn't, say anything to any of the Cullen's.

I had a feeling my bubble was about to burst.

I was scared for my life. There had been a few other times I tried to run from James, and he made me pay, because he had always found me. But never had I ever actually escaped, if he found me now I knew that he would do something more drastic than ever before.

Edward was at work, he had told me to stay home today, since yesterday I had pretty much had a panic attack, and then he called Jasper to schedule an appointment with Dr. Embry today.

I was grateful that he let me stay home, James was way too close. If he had come to the hospital just thirty minutes earlier, he would have seen me at the gift shop, and it could have gotten really bad.

I was just going to have to go back to constantly looking over my shoulder, and double checking everywhere I was going, and not leaving a trace of where I was. He wouldn't find me.

I would make sure of it.

"Bella." Dr. Embry greeted warmly as he opened his office door. He was a nice looking man, about Jasper's age, russet skin, and cropped jet black hair. He had caring brown eyes, and an easiness about him that really made me feel comfortable enough to open up to him.

"Hi Dr. Embry." I forced a smile and followed him into his office. His office was spacious, one entire wall was windows that faced a beautiful garden. He had two couches, an oak desk which is where he usually sat, and two comfortable chairs. I usually sat on the couch directly across from his desk, it was easier to have a conversation facing him.

"So, tell me, what brings you here today?" he asked, leaning back in his chair, looking genuinely concerned.

I gulped, and retold the events from the diner the previous day. The entire time he nodded, and leaned forward, jotting down notes.

"Bella, I'm concerned." He stated truthfully. "You need to tell Edward the truth, and the two of you need to contact the police, it's only a matter of time until he tracks you down."

I bit my lip, knowing that he was right, but I was scared, James was the police.

"But James is the police." I repeated out loud, tracing the designs on the couch with my fingers.

"Bella, there are hospital records of abuse, it doesn't matter who he is, there's evidence against him." He informed me, he was stern, but comforting at the same time.

I began to feel panicked again, trying to take deep breaths.

"Bella, just like we've practiced, focus on one spot in the room, take slow, deep breaths." He coached me, like he had many times before, helping me come out of the panic.

"Thank you." I breathed, once I felt normal.

"Please consider going to the police Bella." He said, concerned.

I nodded, and by the end of the session he had me feeling a little better, but I still was unsure of what to do.

About an hour after I had gotten home from my appointment, I decided to go over to Emmett and Rosalie's to see if either of them were home, I didn't want to be alone with my thoughts anymore. I slowly made my way over to their side of the house and knocked on the door. I was standing there, maybe thirty seconds before the door wildly flung open to reveal Emmett, standing in a pair of basketball shorts and black undershirt.

"Bella!" he grinned wildly at me "Coming over to the dark side?" he winked, stepping aside to let me in.

"Something like that." I giggled as we walked into his living room, where he had a video game paused. "What are you up to?"

"Grand Theft Auto." he said simply, flopping on the couch, resuming his game. I plopped down next to him on the other end of the couch, stretching out, resting my feet across his knees.

We stayed like that for a while, him effortlessly beating the game, and me watching him, and laughing at the vulgar language he screamed at the game, as if it could hear him. Emmett was exactly what I needed to get out of my own head.

"Oh man I love this game." he said as he paused it, leaning back and stretching his arms over his head, letting a loud yawn escape his lips.

"You are pretty good at it," I pointed out "Hey, no work today?" I asked curiously.

"I own the company, kiddo, I can come and go as I please." he winked, rustling my hair playfully.

"Touché."

"So, do you have any brothers or sisters?" He asked me, leaning back against the arm of the couch. I know Emmett knew about my past from James, and over the few months I had been here, we had spent a lot of time together, aside from Edward, he was probably the person I spent the most time with, but he still knew very little about me.

"Nope. It was just me growing up." I smiled "I always wanted an older brother and maybe a sister too" I told him, shrugging.

"Well, it's a good thing you wanted that, because me and Alice have un-officially adopted you." he winked at me, grinning wildly, I cocked my head to the side looking at him and smiled. "Well, I don't know Bells," he shrugged "You just fit, so it only seemed right. And you definitely need an older brother to keep an eye on you, to protect you, and toughen you up." He chuckled loudly "And Alice seems to think you need a shopping partner all the time. So like I said, you fit."

I sat up and launched myself across the couch at him, wrapping my arms as far as I could around his large muscular body. He laughed again, wrapping his strong arms around me.

"Now, stop being sappy, I need to finish this game!" he said once I let him out of my death grip.

We stayed like that for a little while longer, and I finally decided what I had to do. Just in case.

"Emmett, can I talk to you for a second?" I asked, biting my lip nervously. I wasn't sure how he was going to react to this.

"What's up?" he asked, pausing the game, shifting so that he was facing me.

"I haven't been completely honest with everyone…" I trailed off, looking down, not being able to bring myself to look at him.

"Okay." he said making it sound more like a question than a statement.

"Well. My name isn't Bella. It's Marie. Isabella is my middle name. I didn't want to lie to everyone, I just, at the time I didn't want James to find me. I had my way out, and I knew I had to take it. I didn't expect to stay with anyone, or make such good friends." I did my bes to explain, trying my hardest not to cry.

"Hey." Emmett said sternly "Look at me." I took a deep breath, and looked up at him, to see that he wasn't mad, more worried. "Listen, I completely understand why you did that. Everyone else will too. But you do have one thing wrong."

I looked at him questioningly.

"Your name is Bella. Bella Elizabeth Masen to be correct." he winked at me, pulling me into another rib crushing hug. "Everything is going to be okay Bella."

"I also need to tell you where I used to live, just in case, James is getting really close Emmett, and I don't know what he's going to do. We live in Forks, about an hour south of here, In a two story white house on Denali Street." I rambled, I was really worried James was going to find me.

"Bella. Stop it. I don't want to hear anymore" Emmett demanded, now he was angry. I pulled away from the hug and looked at him curiously.

"Nothing is going to happen to you. We won't allow it. Alright?" he looked at me, grabbing my shoulders tightly. "Do you understand what I'm saying to you?" he asked again. I nodded, letting the tears fall from my eyes.

For the first time in my entire life, I felt safe.

I sighed; staying at home alone was so boring. It was Thursday, My third day not going to work. Three days after I broke down to Emmett. I tried to go back to work, but Edward insisted that for the remainder of the week I stay home.

It was annoying.

I had already cleaned the house from top to bottom, three times, and that was just today. I also took a walk to the corner grocery store and picked up more food than necessary. I was going to end up fat.

All I had been doing was munching on food, and watching daytime television. Not exactly my number one choice activity. But I understood Edward just wanted to protect me.

I heard the door click open, and glanced at the clock on the cable box underneath the TV and crinkled my face. It was only three thirty; Edward wouldn't be home for at least another two hours.

"Hello? Bella?" Jaspers familiar calming voice echoed through the halls.

"In the living room Jas!" I called, sitting up farther on the couch, making room for him. I smiled widely at him as he rounded the corner and took a seat on the opposite end of the couch. "So what do I owe the pleasure?" I giggled as he sent me a wink.

"Just dropping by to make sure everything is alright, The last few times I've seen you, you've been radiating scared, and timid, and it's been worrying not only me, but Alice, and you know Alice." he laughed, I had never really noticed before, but he had a thick southern accent, Rosalie had one as well, but most definitely not as thick as her brothers.

"Well, I'm glad you decided to come by, it's pretty boring around here." I feigned disgust, causing him to chuckle lightly at me.

"Well I had a break in between patients, so I decided to take a trip over." he grinned at me.

"Well, that was nice of you, thanks Jas." I smiled up at him.

"How are you holding up?" he asked curiously "I don't mean to pry or anything, Edward and I have talked, and I've talked a little with Dr. Embry. You've been through so much, I just wanted to tell you how strong you are, you are a warrior." he stated, looking at me as if he could feel the pain I had been suffering my entire life.

"Thank you, honestly." I said softly, "The truth is, I never really thought of the pain, I just, kept living my life, and trying to get through each day the best I could," I bit my bottom lip "to be honest, the first time I have ever let myself grieve over anything, or anyone was when I lost my baby." I sighed, trying not to remember the pain that alone had caused me. "I've never had anyone to really talk to about things, ya know? My mom and I used to talk, but that was before anything bad had happened, and then when I moved in with my dad, we didn't really talk about my mom at all, he was always in love with her, after all, it was she who had left him, so he was hurting almost as badly as I was, so we just, didn't bring up that subject ever. Then when my dad died, the only person I really had to talk to was James, and he never listened."

"Bella, if you ever need to talk, you can call me at any time, although from what I've been hearing, Dr. Embry has been a tremendous help to you." He reached across the sofa and took my hand in his, holding it reassuringly.

"Jasper, thank you, for all that you've done, as well as Dr. Embry." I said softly, trying not to cry again, it had been an emotional week.

"Bella. I am proud of you. You are a wonderful woman who deserves nothing but happiness, any way that I can help, I'm here." he continued.

"Oh Jas!" I gasped, as the tears burst through my eyes and he pulled me into a comforting hug. It felt nice to have people who cared.

It felt nice to have a family.

After Jasper had left, I took a relaxing bath and changed into my pajamas, I was exhausted, the week had been emotionally exhausting. But I did felt extremely happy that I had been able to connect with both Emmett and Jasper on a deeper level, it meant a lot to me that they cared about me.

I planned on staying in bed the entire day tomorrow while Edward was at work.

It was about eight o'clock and I was just finishing up dinner, lasagna, hoping Edward would like it.

"Honey! I'm home!" his velvety voice bounced off the walls as he opened the front door. I had to use all the remaining energy I had not to jump up and down in excitement; this is what this man did to me. "It smells amazing." he said, sniffing the air as he walked into the kitchen.

I turned to him and smiled, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck, inhaling his scent.

"Mmmm." he moaned softly, kissing me passionately on the lips. We broke apart and I grinned, watching him run his fingers through his already messy hair.

I loved this time of the day. When he came home from work, and was just happy to see me, and spend time with me. It was always so perfect.

"Can you grab some plates for me Edward?" I asked as I bent down to take the pan out of the oven. I felt him stand behind me and place his hands on my hips. I embraced the chills that reverberated through me.

"Anything for you, love." he moved away, my body felt cold and incomplete whenever he stopped touching me.

I served us dinner and we decided to eat on the back porch since it wasn't rainy out, for the first night in as long as I could remember.

"I like when you come home." I told him absentmindedly as we ate, watching two squirrels playing together in the backyard.

"I do too." he grinned at me, leaning across the small table and giving me a quick peck on the lips "I hate being away from you." he admitted, taking another bite of the food.

"Ditto." I said simply, enjoying the moment.

"So, I have some... not so good news." he said, sighing as he set his now empty plate down. I looked up at him, worried.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, as I set my plate on top of his, and walked over to his chair, sitting on his lap, nuzzling my face in the crook of his neck.

"Everything is okay." he chuckled lightly, tracing circles along my forearm. "I just have a medical conference this weekend, my father and I are leaving tomorrow morning, and will be back sometime early Sunday afternoon. I tried to get out of it, I swear, but we signed up for it so long ago, it's locked in." he sighed, I stifled a giggle.

"It's okay Edward. Go. Enjoy the time with your father, have a good time. I was thinking of cooking dinner and inviting your family over anyways. I will have Alice call Esme, I would love to finally meet her," I told him placing a kisses on his cheek. He pulled my body closer into his chest.

"You are amazing." he said softly, almost melodically against my hair. I could feel his chest vibrate as he spoke. We sat there like that, me curled in his lap for what seemed like hours, but at the same time it wasn't long enough.

Suddenly, the door to Emmett and Rosalie's back porch slammed open and shut, causing me to jump, and Edward to chuckle at my silliness.

"Howdy NEIGHBORS!" Emmett yelled as he walked over to us, and plopped down in my previous free seat.

"Hey." we responded in unison. They must have had the same idea as we had, because Rose walked over a moment later with two plates, and took a seat on Emmett's lap. How they managed to eat comfortably like that was beyond me.

"So guys, while Carlisle and I are gone for the medical convention this weekend, Bella is going to have a big dinner for you guys, and Esme." Edward informed them, proudly, wrapping his arms tightly around me.

"Oh I can't wait to eat more of Bella's food!" Emmett exclaimed happily as he was shoveling his own dinner in his mouth, Rosalie scowled.

"Maybe you could come over and help me prepare Rose?" I asked her, her scowl changed into a smile and she happily agreed.

"I don't know if that is such a good idea Bella, my Rosie is not the best cook..." he trailed off, trying to hide his enormous grin.

"Hey!" Rose exclaimed, slapping him in the back of his head. Edward and I laughed. But I stopped immediately at the hurt expression on Emmett's face.

"Well baby, you know I don't mind! Mac and Cheese is good enough for me!" he defended himself shoveling a huge spoonful of macaroni into his mouth for effect.

We sat outside together until the sun completely set and it started raining. It was nice, we easily bantered back and forth like four old friends.

Life was good.