AN: I know a lot of you skip these, but seriously, our team deserves major love and I hope you guys read at least a few of these so you know how important these ladies are to us. Thanks so much kitchmil, Judy and Mana for everything!

BPOV

"Here, try these." Alice throws some more clothes over the dressing room door. Rose and I have been here for hours, and Alice's still finding things for me to try on.

When I try to tell her I can never afford the stuff she sells here, she offers me a deal. I model some of the clothes for her online store, allowing her to use pictures of me there and be placed around the store, and she'll pay me with clothing. Trying to convince her she's insane for wanting to use me is hopeless and I'd be an idiot to refuse, so I agree.

"Your stuff is beautiful, Alice," Rose tells her, looking lovingly at her packages that contain several outfits.

"They really are. I've never seen so many gorgeous clothes in real life." My own fashion knowledge is limited, but she's very talented with her creations and at choosing clothes from other designers.

"At one point I thought about just designing, maybe having my own clothing line. But I want to be more in control and this way I still get to design, but I also get to help other designers and do it all in my own shop."

Coming out in each outfit, Alice gushes about each one. She's set aside several that she wants me photographed in that she likes the best.

After I've seemingly tried on everything in the shop, we go get something to eat.

We head back to Rose's house after we get our food since Em's at work, piling around the kitchen table and digging in. For a while we focus on our food before Alice breaks the silence.

"So, how are things going with my brother? You both seem really happy together."

Rose perks up too. She loves being nosy.

"Everything's good. We're still taking things slow, but it's been nice. I have to admit that at first I hated it. I wanted to jump right back into bed. But I've started to really enjoy just dating like normal people. I'm still ready to jump his bones, but … sorry, that's your brother. You probably don't want to hear about sexual stuff."

Rose lets out peals of laughter, while Alice looks a little pale. "No, I'd rather not hear about my big brother and anything sex related. As far as I'm concerned, he has Ken doll genitals. But I'm glad things are going well. I've seen my brother with dates and girlfriends throughout the years, but I've never seen him like he is with you. It's amazing to see."

I ask her about Whitlock, and like every time he's mentioned, the chick talks like a sappy romance novel. Still it's nice to see her happy … even if it's with a guy whose brother tried to kill me. I will begrudgingly admit, though, that after our double dates, Whitlock is growing on me a bit. I'm still not sure he can be totally trusted, but he seems okay. Hopefully no one else in that family is insane. I wouldn't want Alice marrying into some wacko family, and that's certainly where they appear to be heading.

"How about the shelter? Do you like working there?"

Rose touches my arm, breaking in before I can respond. "She's amazing. Everyone loves her. She's really doing great."

"Well, I really enjoy it. I like all the women there, and it's so good to have an honest job and actually feel like I'm helping people. I'm still not sure it's the kind of work I want to do forever, but it's perfect for me right now."

Alice's face turns as serious as I've ever seen it. "I'm really happy for you, Bella. We haven't known each other long, but you're one of the best friends I've ever had. I know you've had a rough life and even though I don't know all the details, you deserve good things."

Dammit! These Cullens know how to get into my heart. Between them and the McCartys, I'm becoming a total softy.

"Thank you. It would've been easy for either of you to write me off before you even met me knowing what I used to do, but neither of you did. You both have always treated me like a friend." I get a bit misty eyed.

Rose takes my hand. "You are our friend. Your past is just that … the past. I'm not sure what led you to where you were, but that isn't who you are. Plus, you know my past so I have no room to judge. Not that anyone does since no one has walked in your shoes or lived your life."

I'm guessing she wants to make sure Alice doesn't feel left out, because she spends the next few minutes telling Alice her story. The same story she told me when we first met. Alice in turn tells us about finding out she was pregnant her senior year of high school.

"No one knows this, and, Bella, I hate to ask you to keep anything from my brother, but I'd really prefer he not know."

"I don't like keeping things from Edward. I remember how upset I was with him when I thought he kept something from me."

She looks at me with her big, sad eyes. "I know. It's shitty of me to even ask that from you. Just, please, I don't want him to know. He'll look at me differently."

I lean over and take her hand. "Alice, your brother loves you. Nothing you could ever say to him will make him think differently of you." Taking a deep breath, I blow it out. "I won't say anything to him since it isn't my place … as long as it doesn't directly involve him. But I really want you to consider telling him and I won't lie to him. If he ever asks anything, I won't pretend I know nothing."

She laughs, but there's no humor. "Trust me, he'll never ask about any of this. He thought his sister was perfect in high school. I do understand where you're coming from, though, and I respect that."

"I understand if you don't want to share anything with me now." I It would suck, but she has to know the truth when it comes to Edward.

"I appreciate your honesty, Bella. I'd still like to tell you both."

"Then we're here for you," Rose tells her.

"Okay. Thanks." She gives us each a small smile before starting her story. "I had a boyfriend in high school. Of course I thought we were in love. We'd been dating a year. He came from money, and my parents liked him. My mom was already planning our wedding."

I laugh a little because I can definitely picture Mrs. Cullen doing that.

"Things were great until I got pregnant. He dropped me as soon as I told him. He even started telling everyone I cheated. I guess he was trying to make sure I couldn't pin the baby on him. I was heartbroken and humiliated. My mom was on my case wanting me to try to work things out with him. Of course she had no idea what was really going on. I was terrified to tell my family the truth, so I scheduled an abortion out of state. The only true friend I had took me. The whole procedure was horrible. I was terrified the entire time, but I knew I couldn't have the baby. The recovery was rough. A lot rougher than I expected, but at the time I just assumed it was normal. But recently I found out that it caused some scarring and I might have trouble conceiving if I want children someday."

Tears are running down her face by the time she finishes talking, so Rose jumps up and grabs some tissues.

"So no one knows except us?" I can't believe she trusted us enough to tell us. It makes me love Alice Cullen even more.

"No. No one knows. I'm not sure how to tell Jasper, but I need to. I'm really scared, though. But I've needed to talk to someone since I found out, and I knew I could trust you both not to judge me." She continues to sniffle and wipe at her face.

"You should talk to Jasper. If he really loves you he'll understand and be fine with everything. But you'll feel so much better if you talk about things." Rose hands her more tissues and helps her wipe her face.

Watching them, these two women who have become such good friends to me, I know it's time for me to tell my own secrets. After Alice calms down and seems to be under control again, I decide there's no better time than now.

"You both are so brave, and I really am grateful you're my friends. If you want to know, I'll tell you about my life before I came here. You must be curious about how I ended up working for James, but you've both been so nice to me by never asking specifics and giving me time. But I'm ready to tell you now if you want to know."

Alice speaks up, "Only if you want to tell us."

"We'll definitely listen, and we'd be proud that you want to talk to us, but only if you really want to. No pressure." Rose lets her know in a soothing voice.

"I want to tell you both. Edward knows, but I've never told anyone else."

"Then we'd be honored," Rose says as they both lean forward, giving me strength in their compassionate faces.

I tell them about being born to a flighty mother who moved us around all the time. How she refused to ever tell me anything about my father or any other family. Then I tell them how she met Phil when I was thirteen.

"Phil was younger than her, but she didn't care. They married quickly and seemed to be in love, so I was happy for my mother even if I thought the whole thing was a bit crazy and fast."

I go on to tell them about moving in with Phil, his career as a minor league ball player, and his injury that resulted in not being able to play anymore.

"Once he was injured, he became a different person, or maybe he was always like that and just hid it before. Either way, after his career was over he changed from who he seemed to be before. He became cruel. It seemed I could do nothing right for him. He constantly yelled, and before I even knew what was happening, my mother started drinking."

I take a breath, and my mind goes back to those terrible days. "Over time he started to become abusive. Slaps, pinches and escalating to punches and kicks. Then the touching started."

Rose sucks in a breath and grabs a tissue for herself. I give her a sympathetic glance.

"The touches and threats got worse. I knew it was only a matter of time before I lost my virginity to my mother's husband, so I decided that wasn't going to happen. I knew I might not be able to stop him from eventually raping me, but no way was he going to be my first. I didn't have many friends since I had to keep so many secrets, but I was desperately lonely. I ended up hanging with a bad crowd. They never asked any questions and didn't care that I never wanted to go home. It felt like they just accepted me as I was."

I hate that I can't just tell the story, but I also relive it. It's hard to disconnect myself from that time as I talk about it. "One of the guys seemed to like me. He was a much better choice in my mind than Phil, so one day I fucked him. It was horrible and not at all romantic, but it was perfect because it was my choice. After that I learned sex was a useful tool. Suddenly all the boys liked me, and if I had sex with them I was able to escape from my real life for a while. I could even stay overnight with some of the older boys as long as I fucked them. It seemed perfect. They got sex and I got away from home."

I don't even notice the tears running down my face until Rose wipes them away. Each of them grabs one of my hands, offering support.

"When I was sixteen, I was finally cornered by Phil one day while my mom was at work. I didn't know he was there. He was supposed to be at work too, but I guess he was too hungover to get his lazy ass up. If I had known he was there, I never would've gone inside. I was in my room getting some clothes together. I had plans to stay with someone for a few days. He came up behind me and threw me on the bed before I even knew what had happened. He was on top of me before I could get my bearings. I struggled and fought, but he managed to get my clothes off and force himself on me. When he discovered I wasn't a virgin he was so pissed. He got even rougher and ended up choking me until I nearly passed out. I really thought he was going to kill me that day."

"Oh, Bella." Alice's tears run down her face again.

"I went to my mother and begged her to leave. I told her what had happened. She refused and blamed me. I knew then that I had lost my mother forever. She was drunk, as usual, so I managed to get some information out of her about my father and where she was from. If I wanted to live, I knew couldn't stay. The thought of going back in my room made me physically sick, so I just grabbed any clothes I could from the laundry room, stole what money I could find and got the hell out of there."

"So you met James while trying to find your father?" Rose inquires.

"Not exactly. I met Victoria first. She took me in and was a friend to me. She was also a Madame, and soon enough I started working for her. It was my choice and she tried to talk me out of it, but by then I didn't see sex as anything special and only as a means to an end. Vic knew I wanted to come to Forks, so when she found out James was coming she introduced us. You pretty much know the rest."

That was rough to get through, but I actually feel like a huge weight has been lifted. It even feels like I'm breathing a bit easier.

"Bella, have you been to therapy?"

Knowing Rose only means well, I don't mind her question at all. "No I haven't. I realize I probably should, but until recently I've never been ready to admit that. I'm not sure if I'm actually ready to go, but I have been thinking about it."

"Maybe you could think about sitting in on some of the group sessions we offer at the shelter. You wouldn't have to do or say anything, but maybe with time you could consider sharing your story. Trust me, the more you tell it, the more empowered you feel and the less hold it has on you."

Knowing what Rose has been through, the suggestion doesn't piss me off like it would coming from anyone else.

"I'll think about it," I assure her.

After that we move on to lighter topics.

We're all still sitting around laughing and talking when Emmett comes in. "Aww … you ordered Chinese. Is there any left?" He looks absolutely crushed when he finds out we ate it all.

Shortly after, Alice says she needs to head home and that she'll call me about the pictures she wants me to pose for.

I head to my room and call Edward. I tell him about talking with Alice and Rose and revealing my past to them. He says he's really proud. We talk until I can't stop yawning, and after we exchange I love yous we hang up. I fall asleep feeling lighter than I can ever remember.

~~~~~WS~~~~~

A couple of weeks later, Alice drops me off from a photography session for her clothes when I recognize Swan sitting on the porch. I'm almost tempted to ask Alice to turn around and take me out of here, but I think about my talk with Edward. I need to talk to him at some point; may as well be now.

Getting closer to him, I notice he's looking rough. He has dark circles and he's lost some weight.

"You look like shit."

He actually grins at me. "Yeah, I know."

"Why are you here?"

He stands. "I just wanted to see you. I know you hate me, and I know you have no reason to believe me, but it's killing me to know I have a daughter and that she wants nothing to do with me."

"I don't hate you. I don't like you, but I don't hate you. I don't know you. All I know is that you hid the fact that you could be my father even though you knew I was looking. You also tried to keep Edward away from me and he's the best thing to ever happen to me."

"I fucked up. You have to understand. I never expected that Renee was pregnant when she took off. It was the biggest shock of my life when I found out who you were. At the same time I find out we have a dead officer and my best detective had gone and fallen in love with our witness. I didn't handle things well, but my mind was having trouble processing everything."

My mind turns over what he's saying, and I can understand where he was coming from then. "Okay, I can see that, but what about the other times you met with me? Why not tell me then?"

"Honestly, I don't know. In my heart I know you're my daughter, but we have no proof. Plus, the trial was going on and I knew you were under so much pressure having to go on the stand. It was a stupid choice on my part, but I didn't keep it a secret because I wanted to hurt you."

There are two questions I need answers to right now. "Why didn't you go with my mother when she left here? Why didn't you stay in touch with her?"

"I was crazy about your mother, but she was wild. She hated her life here. Some things went on with her parents, but she'd never talk about it. I don't think she was physically abused, but there were definitely problems. We started dating and I loved her. Then one day she's just gone. She left me a letter telling me she couldn't stay here, that she felt like she couldn't breathe in this town and with me. That was it. No one knew where she went. Her parents wouldn't tell me anything. She was eighteen so the police didn't care, especially since her parents weren't worried. I tried to find her, but I was young with no money. It's one of the reasons I eventually went into law so I would never be helpless like that again."

"And you never heard from her again?"

"No. Her parents died a few years ago, but they never mentioned her again. Until you showed up, it'd been years since I heard her name. I thought about looking for her as I got older and even did a small search, but I just figured she left everything behind … including me. If I had known she was pregnant I would never have stopped searching. I swear."

Scrubbing my hands over my face, my mind is whirling. My mother just took off and never told Charlie she was pregnant. She obviously didn't want me, so why not let my father know? All these questions are getting louder in my head. Only one person can help me right now.

"Charlie, I need some time. I still don't know you and I'm not sure I want to, but I'm willing to get the DNA test done to prove that you're my biological father. And I'm willing to talk to you again. For now, though, I need to go see Edward. Can you please give me a ride?"

He isn't crazy about Edward and me together and I'm almost daring him to say anything. If he wants any part of my life, if I decide that's something I want, he's going to have to accept Edward because he's going to be in my life forever I hope.

"Sure. Yes, I can take you there."

The ride is silent, but not uncomfortable surprisingly. As he drops me off he lets me know that he'll schedule the test and let me know what I need to do. I'm definitely not ready to accept the man into my life as my father, but it feels better to have talked to him.

~~~~~WS~~~~~

Edward opens the door and steps out before I even make it up the porch. He watches Swan back out and must see the look on my face because he immediately pulls me to him. "Hey, baby. Are you okay? Did Charlie do something? What's going on?"

He guides us back into his house and to the couch. "I'm sorry to just show up. Charlie came by Rose and Emmett's. We talked a little, and all I could think of was being with you."

"You know you can come here anytime, love. Now what did you talk about?"

"He just told me my mother never told him she was pregnant and that she just took off one day. I just don't understand." I curl myself into him, needing his strength. "She never wanted to be a mother. She barely took care of me. Why not let him know she's pregnant and leave me with him? I just can't help but wonder how different my life might've been then."

He pushes me gently back. "Hey. You can't think like that." He runs one hand over my hair and ends up with his hand cradling the back of my neck. "If you had lived with Charlie, you would be someone different from who you are today. I love who you are. I hate with every fiber of my being that you had to suffer and struggle so much, but it has made you into the most amazing woman I've ever met."

I lean my head against his, forehead against forehead. "I might not have ever met you. Everything I've ever gone through is worth it because it brought me to you."

"I can't even imagine never meeting you. You're my life now. I can't even bear to remember the times before I met you. All of that was dark and gray. You brought sunshine and color into my world." He brings his hands up and places them around my face. He pulls me back until I can see his eyes. "My life is so much better with you in it. Those days without you, during the trial, were some of the worst days of my life. I want to make sure we're never apart again. Hold on a second, okay? I'll be right back."

Before I can even question what he's doing, he runs from the room. He returns as quickly as he left.

He kneels down in front of me. "Marry me, Bella?"

"Are you serious? You want to marry me?" My heart is pounding and I think I must have officially lost my mind and am now hearing things.

"Well this isn't how I planned to do this exactly, but yes, I want to marry you. I love you and want you to be my wife." He holds out his hand, and in it is a beautiful ring. The center stone is square and the band has diamonds all around it. I've never seen anything so gorgeous.

"Ouch!"

He laughs. "Baby, stop pinching yourself. This isn't a dream. Now are you going to answer me?"

"Fuck yes, I'll marry you." He starts to slide the ring on my finger. "Wait! I'll marry you on one condition."

His brows furrow. "What condition?"

"That we don't have to wait for the wedding night to have sex again."

More laughter erupts from his lips. "I can accept that condition. In fact, I love that condition."

"We're engaged!" My arms wrap around him and my lips start landing all over his face until I hit his lips. His hands tangle in my hair as soon as our lips meet.

What started as fun, excited kisses quickly morphs to slow and sensual.

He stands and pulls me up with him.

"Are you going to fuck me now?" If he says no I may have to kill him.

"Not right now." I start to protest, but he keeps talking. "Right now, I'm going to make love to you." He lifts me into his arms and walks us to his bedroom. I haven't been back here since we were forced to leave, but I miss it. And now I'm finally going to share his bed.

I feel the mattress underneath me as Edward lays me down. I look up in time to see him pull the shirt over his head. The body I've grown so familiar with is just as gorgeous as the first time I saw it. Reaching down, he removes my shoes. I lift just enough to pull my own shirt off and then reach down and unbutton my jeans. Before I can unzip them, his hands are there moving mine out of the way. "I want to do that."

Slowly my pants are unzipped and carefully pulled down my legs. I'm lying in front of him in only my bra and panties. He removes his jeans so we're both left in only our underwear.

I close my eyes and moan as warm lips trail kisses from the sole of my foot, up my leg, tongue peeking out in spots leaving a wet trail. His nose runs across my panties before repeating the entire process. My body is aching and every nerve is on fire.

The bed dips and kisses continue to rain on my stomach, my sides, my chest, up my neck before taking my mouth kissing me, drinking me in, molding his mouth to mine. Our tongues twirl and taste, neither one seeking to dominate, only taste and feel.

His hands reach behind me and unclasp my bra before pulling it off.

Breaking away from my lips, he whispers his love for me before moving his lips back down my neck, stopping to nip and tease my earlobe. The sound of his breath, the feel of his lips, it's almost enough to make me combust and he hasn't even touched any truly intimate parts yet.

Finally his lips move to wrap around a nipple. I never knew before Edward that I could orgasm just from stimulation to my tits. Of course Edward knows my body so well and knows every spot that makes me gasp and exactly how to play me like I'm a fine instrument.

Once I'm a panting writhing mess, his mouth makes a path down while his hands remove my final piece of soaked clothing until his tongue makes contact with my clit.

My hands fist into his hair, tugging him up. "Baby, that feels so good, but please, please, I need you inside me now."

He swirls my clit once more before placing a kiss there and moving to settle between my legs.

My eyes fly open now, not wanting to miss one more second of his beautiful face. He's flushed, hair a mess. So gorgeous and all mine. With no choice but to bury my hands in his hair, our eyes lock. He lines himself up and slides into me.

He stops and lets us both take a moment to adjust. "You always feel so good, baby, so tight." The vein on his forehead throbs, showing the restraint it takes for him to remain still.

"Well it's been a while and I practice my kegels every day. Now please move."

He pulls out before pushing back in. His thrusts are slow and deep. My legs wrap around him, my fingers now digging into his back. Our mouths meet, languid and wet.

Then he adjusts his angle so his pubic bone rubs against my clit with every thrust. Before long my orgasm is rushing forward. He speeds up, and before I can draw another breath, it crashes over me, causing my muscles to clench and my back to arch.

Even though I'm lost in pleasure, his swelling and pulsing inside me setting off a series of mini ripples of pleasure, almost too much to bear.

We both lie together, coming down from our high. He tries to move, but I lock my arms and legs around him and hold him in place. Even though he's not hard, I still love feeling him inside and his weight on top of me.

Before long he rolls us over and I find my ear over his heart listening to one of my favorite sounds. I may enjoy the wooing, but I've missed this.

As I hold my hand up and stare at my ring, I think back to everything we've been through up until now, especially our beginning. "See, I knew from the first time I was here that I'd end up in this bed."

I feel his smile against my hair. "As much as I tried to fight it, this is where you belong."

"Well, there's no getting rid of me now." I sit up, and he starts to harden again. "Ready for round two, Detective?"

"With you, always."

AN: Soooo… not sure what you guys might be happier about, the engagement or the sex. Lol. Hopefully both!

Our couple is moving forward and things seem to be going well. Bella is opening up more and seems to really be finding her place in life. Let's hope this positive turn in her life lasts…

***Also, don't forget to check out Fyre's story Sharp Left Turn. You can find it on FFn and on TWCS. It's soooo good! If you're not reading it, why not?

See you soon! XOXO

Lissa