Disclaimer: All Twilight related material is the sole property of the original author. Mask'Charade belongs to Chynnadoll

A/N: Welcome all new readers and thank you you to all who have been with the story from the beginning. Some seem to be worried about the angst. I apologize if it's too much, but with this topic there has to be angst. I will try and keep it at a minimum and warn when it will be high. Also, right now with the way things are looking, it's hard to envision a HEA, but I promise there will be one.

Foolforedward edits.

Mask'Charade chapter 24, Diagnosis D.I.D

EPOV

Liz and I arrive at Doctor Aro's suite. True to his word, he'd agreed to see me as soon as he'd gotten settled in New York. Being in Aro's presence had always left me with a nervous feeling. He'd been pleasant enough, but his bedside manner left a lot to be desired; at least that's what I can remember from when I was a kid.

I recall thinking that he looked like one of the villains in my comic books; pasty skin, jet black hair slicked back, not a strand out of place. He always wore a smirk, like he knew the punch line to some joke the rest of us were struggling to figure out. His voice had been calm and reassuring, but not very masculine, in my opinion.

After the accident, Liz had taken me to see him, because I'd stopped talking altogether. I remember not uttering a word to him for two weeks. He hadn't ever become upset, nor had his demeanor changed one iota.

Liz senses my apprehension about being here and encourages me to relax; a lot of good that's doing. After our talk the other day and everything she'd revealed about Isabella, I'm more determined than ever to find out what's wrong with me.

"Maybe I have a tumor. I've been reading up on them. They can very well cause memory loss." I state as soon as Doctor Aro invites us in.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Edward. It's very good to see you." He smiles reassuringly, as I've barely made it across the threshold before my paranoia kicks in. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. Can I offer you something to drink?"

I decline with a wave of my hand, while Liz settles on a cup of coffee.

"I apologize for the unprofessional setting, but as you know my office is back in California."

"We understand, Doctor, and thank you for seeing us on such short notice. We know that you're here on business." Liz responds, as I impatiently sit on the edge of the sofa, my knee bouncing.

"Well, Liz tells me that you've been having headaches and some lapses in your memory?" He turns his attention to me.

"Yes, that's correct." I clear my throat awkwardly.

"Explain them to me; how frequent and how severe are they?"

"It varies. Sometimes they're mild, and at other times they can be unbearable. They've become a little more frequent lately."

"Okay, well first things first, I want you to make an appointment with your primary care physician for a full exam…" He begins scribbling something on his prescription pad. "…when you make your appointment, inform the nurse that I've prescribed you this medication."

He tears off the script and hands it to me.

"Are you still seeing Doctor Maynard?"

"Yes."

"When's the last time you've visited him?"

"Um…about six months ago, why?"

"I'm just inquiring, Edward. I will give Doctor Maynard a call and brief him on your case. That will expedite matters, once you've made the appointment. Now, I want to know about these lapses in memory you're experiencing."

"There isn't much to tell, because I don't remember having them. All I know is that my aunt and Isabella Devereux had both shown up at my apartment acting oddly." I shrug.

"Now, I'm familiar with Aunt Liz," He smiles warmly and nods at her. "I'm sorry I can't say the same about Isabella Devereux."

"She's the wife of a new business associate of mine."

Although his expression doesn't change much, I can almost sense where his mind is going.

"Okay, and were the two of you in the middle of some business meeting when Liz arrived?"

"No. I assumed that they arrived at the same time, since they were both there when I answered the door."

He looks to Liz for confirmation.

"Um…Bella was there first. I arrived shortly after."

Her response creates an awkward silence. Doctor Aro waits patiently, as the moment intensifies.

"What happened when you answered the door and saw Isabella and Liz there?"

"I don't see what that has to do with what's wrong with me." I snap without thinking.

"I'm just trying to get a better understanding of what we're dealing with, Edward."

"Well, it's not Isabella Devereux, I told you she's an associate's wife."

"She was at your door for some reason… now, you say that you weren't having a business meeting with her, so I'm switching gears a bit. Maybe she was there for a more intimate reason?"

"Intimate?" I narrow my eyes at his insinuation.

"I apologize, maybe that wasn't the correct word choice. Personal maybe?"

"There's nothing personal or intimate about Isabella Devereux and me, Doctor." I retort angrily and get up to put some distance between us. I suddenly wonder if it had been a good idea to have scheduled this meeting. I'm clearly becoming pissed off, and we haven't begun to scratch the surface of what's going on.

"If I may, Doctor, I think I can shed some light on the situation." Liz adds, then looks at me.

"Is it something you and Edward haven't discussed yet? Because if it is, I'd rather you two do that before I'm privy to any information. I'm sure Edward would appreciate that as well."

"No…unfortunately it isn't. I didn't want to say anything, until we met with you."

I frown at Liz, wondering what she's talking about. I'd always suspected she'd been holding back something, but I'm clueless as to what it is. I can only guess it has to do with Devereux's wife.

"Well in that case, I'll give you two some time to talk first." He rises from the sofa in an attempt to leave the room.

"No. Whatever is on her mind, she can say right here and now, I've had enough of the cloak and dagger routine" My voice escalates, causing Doctor Aro to resume his seat.

Liz appears crestfallen, as she realizes my anger is pinpointed at her; as well it should be. I've been trying for days to get answers from her, and she continues to play the protective mother hen. Well, finally we're going to get to the bottom of something.

She clears her throat and scoots to the edge of her seat. I've witnessed this manner before, pure psychiatrist mode.

"Isabella Devereux isn't just the wife of an associate. I know, because I've been in her company recently."

Her eyes lock with mine, and I get the feeling that she's trying to keep something from me again.

"Spit it out, Liz! Who is she?"

"She's the woman you've been having an affair with."

Her words floor me, rendering me speechless, and I stand there gaping at her in shock.

"Edward, you seemed surprised by what Liz has just said."

"Wh-I-I am! I'm not romantically involved with her. Why-Why would you say that?"

"It's the truth. If I may, I'll explain…."

I'm sure my expression doesn't change much, as I continue to stay rooted to the spot, while she continues.

"Bella and I had lunch at her place last weekend; she'd invited me as a neighborly gesture to welcome me to the city. I liked her from the start. She seemed very sweet and easy to talk to. I remember thinking she'd be a perfect match for you…"

"Of course you did. Meddling as always." I respond tersely.

Aro smiles warmly, but it's laced with a slight warning glare at our exchange.

"Anyway…we talked a bit about her opening her own restaurant and the man in her life, which dispelled any chance of me playing matchmaker."

"Bet that threw a monkey wrench in your entire convoluted plot."

"Edward, please. Let her finish." Doctor Aro interjects.

"As I was saying, Bella was telling me about her significant other and almost on cue, you appeared. I was so surprised and confused, but happy at the same time to see it was you. My mind went to a million places at once. I was happy to see you, because it had been the reason for my coming to New York in the first place, and I was peeved that you hadn't told me that you'd met someone, but then I became excited to know that you had. God, Edward, for you to finally meet a beautiful, young woman to spend your life with; to know what a special person you are, is all I've ever dreamed about for you. I was over the moon."

I stare at Liz and the amount of sincerity in her eyes. She's being completely honest, but how can that be?

"No…no, y-you must be mistaken. I…"

"Edward, I'm not. I was there, and so were you, and it was clear that you and Bella are together as a couple."

"That is insane! She's married!" My temper boils over. I can't believe what I'm hearing. I know Liz would never lie to me, but this makes absolutely no sense at all; Isabella Devereux and me a couple, and me being in her home?

"Edward, I want you to try and calm down, have a seat and try and sort this out." Doctor Aro urges, but I really don't want to hear another word of this, although I know I need to let her finish. At the very least, this promises to be an interesting tale.

"Now, Liz, you said Edward walked in, while you and Isabella were having lunch. Did he recognize you?"

"Yes, right away…"

I frown, not recalling any of this shit, but remain silent.

"…but he was upset with me….more than upset, he was livid and I couldn't understand why. He didn't greet me the way he normally would, with a hug and kiss to my forehead. He became belligerent at my presence instead. That was then when I noticed that something was off. Edward and I have always been close, you know that, Doctor Aro."

"Yes, I do, so I can imagine how you must've felt seeing the way Edward reacted to you."

"I had been surprised by his reaction when I believed it was Edward, but it wasn't. After he'd thrown me out of Bella'a house, I had some time to process the fact that it wasn't Edward I'd come face to face with, but Ned."

"No!" I snap. "Stop saying that."

"Edward," She comes over to me. "I didn't believe it at first. It hadn't even dawned on me right away. I just thought that I'd done something to make you angry, like just showing up at your girlfriend's place-"

"She's not my girlfriend!"

"Edward, please calm down. Liz, when did you actually realize that you weren't talking to Edward, but Ned?"

"Like I said, Doctor, it wasn't that day. I mean, I ran over what had happened in my head, but it wasn't until I showed up at his apartment the next day, that I'd put it all together. That morning, prior to going to his apartment, I'd contacted Bella for a meeting, so I could explain something's to her, and hopefully she could do the same for me, before I went to see Edward. Not long into our conversation, it'd become clear that Bella wasn't aware that Ned had died in the accident. In fact she thought the man she was in love with was Ned."

"This is unfucking believable." I grip my hair and walk over to the bay window, before I really lose it.

"Continue, Liz." Aro instructs.

"Bella had run off to see you, after I'd informed her that Ned had actually died years ago. I followed her, knowing that the situation would become more complicated, when she confronted you. I knew that it couldn't end well because you were no longer acting as Ned, but as yourself."

"This is ridiculous! My brother is dead. You know what he meant to me. Why would I do something like that?" I yell angrily.

"I assume that when you opened the door, Bella and Liz were both there?" Aro adds without addressing my tirade.

I exhale and think back to that day.

"Yes…she was banging on the door, calling his name."

"Whose name, Edward?"

"His…my brother's…Ned!"

This is the part I've always hated; the unnecessary bullshit questions that make me feel like I'm unable to comprehend. Even as a child, I remember feeling like I was being dumbed down.

"And what did you think about that?"

Her huge brown eyes flash through my mind, as I recall opening the door. They looked frightened and pleading.

"I thought she was crazy, the entire situation was; her, Liz, just showing up there, them arguing…"

"Why were you and Bella arguing, Liz?"

She hesitates momentarily, as she looks at me.

"Because she wanted to tell you the truth, but it was obvious at that moment that the person we were seeing was not the same person I'd encountered the day before. You were now reacting to Bella the way you'd originally reacted to me when we were at her place."

She then turns to Doctor Aro.

"I'd known then that he'd 'switched'; that Edward had resumed control. What I couldn't figure out is what had triggered Ned in the first place."

"Alright enough! Enough of this psychobabble bullshit! And no more talking about me like I'm not here. Now, I recall you and Devereux's wife showing up at my apartment and the arguing and what not, but that's it. The rest of that garbage, me having an affair with her and whatever else, I don't remember, which means it didn't happen! I'm done with this shit. Both of you."

"Edward, you're going to have to calm down. Lashing out isn't-"

"Fuck you! You're damned right I'm going to lash out. Do you understand the severity of what's been said here? My aunt, who I love, and who I thought loved me, is accusing me of seducing a married woman by pretending to be my dead identical twin brother! It-it's disgusting and asinine!"

"Edward, listen to me…" Liz takes my hands in hers. "…you didn't do any of this on purpose. You didn't know."

"Right…" I laugh sardonically. "…because I have a split personality, two people inside my head. It's just so convenient that the second person happens to be my 'dead, identical twin brother.' How's that for justification. Wow! That would make it easy to dupe anybody!"

Doctor Aro has clearly had enough of my sarcastic rant, as he now approaches me.

"Edward, it's all very vague right now and much too early to-m"

"To what, make a diagnosis? It's funny, I remember you saying those exact words when I first came to see you all those years ago."

He frowns with a look of confusion.

"I know you don't remember. The two of you," I nod at Liz, "were too busy thinking I was in some sort of catatonic state, but I overheard you discussing me. You both knew there was something going on with me, but never said a word!"

"Edward, you were a child! Matters were delicate back then, you couldn't possibly have understood what was going on." Liz says emphatically.

"I knew, Liz. I understood that my mother, father and brother had died. I watched them drown. I knew; the minute the rescue divers dragged me from that river and not them. I remember seeing the look on Ned's face, as he took his last breath. He didn't struggle anymore, his eyes wide, staring back me, as I was being pulled to the surface. It was if I was seeing myself fade into the distance." I whisper the last part, scrubbing a hand over my face.

"Just the fact that you remember that and had those feelings as a child, scared me to death." She places a comforting hand on my shoulder. "No child should have those memories, Edward."

"But I did have those memories, I still do, and now you're telling me that I've…" My voice cracks, but I quickly clear my throat, getting rid of the emotion that's threatening to break through. "Your explanation for all off this, even back then, is that I've been impersonating my brother? For what reason?"

"Doctor Aro?" She looks to him for confirmation, and he nods.

"I think that you've been taking on Ned's personality as a coping mechanism to deal with the tragic loss of him and your parents."

I stare at her blankly and then smirk.

"You have an answer for everything, don't you? What do have to say about this, Doc?"

"I think it's a fair assessment. Normally, I wouldn't agree to a conclusion so prematurely, but there is a history that both Liz and I are familiar with, Edward. Everything that she's said today, coupled with your behavior in the past, suggests Dissociative Identity Disorder."

"I-I heard of the term, but…."

"Dissociative Identity Disorder derives from the previous term M.P.D., Multiple Personality Disorder. It's a form of dissociation, a mental process, which produces a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity, and is brought on by some trauma experienced by the individual with the disorder."

"The accident?"

"Yes, Edward. The dissociative aspect is thought to be a coping mechanism - the individual literally dissociates himself from a situation or experience that's too violent, traumatic, or painful to assimilate with his conscious self. After listening to Liz, I believe that the severity of tragically losing your mother and father, and more so your twin brother has caused you to dissociate and take on your brother's persona. I realize that I haven't witnessed you in Ned's identity today, but what Liz has described is cohesive with what I've experienced in your assessment all those years ago."

"So, you're telling me that I was impersonating my brother all those years ago? If that's true, when did it stop?"

"I monitored you closely at first, and even took you to a therapist after the incident. He simply told me that it was understandable for you to be hurt and confused after dealing with something like that. The therapist also mentioned that it was 'normal' for you to dissociate somewhat due to the trauma. So, when you didn't speak for weeks, I waited, hoping that one day you just would. I finally realized you had been talking, but it had been when you thought you were alone. I watched you, as you talked and played as if Ned were in the room with you, only…I realized you were acting out as Ned."

"I was a kid. Imaginary play isn't something unusual," I sniff, clenching my jaw in anger, as I quickly brush away a stray tear that starts to trickle down my cheek.

"You're absolutely correct, but it becomes an abnormality when a child has experienced something as traumatic as you did, Edward. Along with the silence, nightmares, glimpses of depression and sleepwalking, I'd never discounted the disorder. When Liz enlisted my help in diagnosing you, as she said, you didn't speak for weeks, and I too, witnessed you carrying on a conversation with your 'brother' when I'd left the room. You fell silent once more, when I returned."

"Again, if that were true, when did you decide that I was okay? When did I get better?" I snap.

"You never presented yourself as Ned in my or Doctor Aro's company. We just continued with therapy and assumed that with time you had subconsciously buried everything that had happened. I wanted you to have a normal life, and after a while, you began to open up to me, trust me. You needed someone in your life to be there for you and love you. I was that person. I guess I convinced myself that was all you needed, Edward." She sighs dejectedly.

I remember the day I woke up screaming in the dark, and my aunt Liz was there by my side, comforting me. She would gently brush her fingers through my hair, just the way my mother would, when I was upset about something. She had truly been all I had.

"Why is this happening now?" I ask calmly.

"Anything could've brought this on; a memory, or photograph, but it would require more sessions and treatments for me to get to the root of the trigger. Now, I'm going to be here for a few weeks, and I'm willing to schedule sessions with you, while I'm here. The decision is entirely up to you, Edward. I think that I can successfully treat you."

"I-I need to think. I have to get out of here." I walk briskly across the room to the door.

"Edward, please wait…" Liz tries, but I'm already out of the suite, as I hear Doctor's Aro convincing her to give me some time.

.

.

.

I drive around aimlessly, before I finally pull over alongside a local park. The bright, beautiful day makes a mockery of what my life seems to be turning into. Nothing makes sense, yet it makes all the sense in the world. I take a seat on a nearby bench, as I try to process everything.

Liz has protected me practically my entire life, and I know in my heart that today has been no exception.

Could I really be assuming Ned's personality, because I haven't been able to deal with losing him?

Then there's Isabella Devereux, and all the drama surrounding her. It's the one thing I can't seem to wrap my head around. It's as if I can understand some sort of personality disorder being the reason for the headaches and memory loss, but it's inconceivable that I could be carrying on a relationship with this woman. That part has got to be a fabrication on her part, and she must've duped Liz really well. I can't fathom why I'd been in her home, when Liz claimed she'd seen me, but it can't be for the reason she thinks. That's the one thing that I need to find out.

I pull out my phone and place a call.

"Hey, it's me. I have something important to discuss with you, but we need to do it in person. How soon can you meet with me...?

I scrub a hand over my face in exhaustion.

Okay, I'll see you then."

Bella's POV for this chapter is also you and see You all next chapter.