Chapter 26—Complicated Explanations

A/N: On June 4, I learned that Monona, a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin, recently adopted an ordinance that allows cops to write tickets to the parents of chronic bullies. The parents are giving a written warning that their child is bullying, and if the bad behavior happens again in a 90 day period, the parents can be fined. Talk about stepping up and doing something about the problem!

Esme stepped away from Edward, wiping away the sudden tears that had formed during his declaration. It was touching how Edward's voice was so tender that he had even brought me to tears. What was even more touching was that he had gone from being mad that his adoptive parents had kept the truth about his godparents from him for seven and a half years to understanding why his parents asked for it to be kept secret. It still puzzled me what their letter had said, despite what he said it meant.

"I never wanted you to find out this way," Esme admitted sadly. "It wasn't fair for Renee blurt it out the way she did."

My focus was still on Edward and Esme. Edward closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose like he did whenever he composed himself into a musical corner. The way his shoulders hunched forward told me it was not a musical corner he was stuck in, but rather, it was something different. It was as if he was trying hard not to say something he would regret later.

"I'd like to think that deep down I know that." His voice was tight, barely containing his pent up frustration. "But, at the moment, I find it shocking that the ones my parents trusted to protect, guide, and love me betrayed that trust. I don't think I can readily forgive that—my parents were wrong in asking for… hell."

Esme bristled at the curse that slipped from Edward's mouth, but she didn't chastise him.

A gasp had me turning my gaze to Mom—I'd forgotten she was in the room. She looked like she was about to correct him, but sheepishly looked away, embarrassed at being caught—much like I would have done if I were in her shoes.

"I didn't mean for it to come out the way it did, Edward," Mom said, her eyes locking with his. "When we discussed telling you the truth, we all agreed it was time for you to know. We just didn't discuss the proper way to tell you."

The clearing of a throat drew my attention to where Carlisle and Dad were standing, having joined us from wherever they had been in the house.

"I agree that the way it came out wasn't tactful," Dad commented once Edward's attention had swung to him. "But while I feel that your silent reaction was to be expected, the early morning fight was unnecessary. All it did was tell us you needed more time to process. We want to answer your questions." Dad rubbed the back of his neck.

The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife as Edward glared at Dad. I knew he was close to losing it, having witnessed this same tense reaction when Emmett teased Edward about hooking up with me before we had slept together.

Thinking fast, I moved next to Edward and took hold of his left hand. "Why don't you tell us what you can," I suggested to our parents. It was my hope to diffuse the situation before Edward exploded.

I felt rather than saw Edward's eyes on me.

"You have questions, and they have the answers," I said in way of explanation, turning to gaze into his eyes. I saw the love he had for me shining in their depths.

He dragged me over to the nearest chair and sat, pulling me down to sit between his legs. I guessed he needed me close; it wasn't like I hadn't needed him close in the past few days. I understood.

His breath was warm on my exposed neck and caused me to shiver. He took another deep pull and sighed in such a way that suggested he didn't know what question to ask first. Looking over my shoulder, I noticed his eyes were closed. The sight made it seem as though he wanted the matter settled already and everything to go back to normal.

Turning back, I took the lead, lobbing out a question. "When I overheard you guys talking on Thanksgiving," I started, a little unsure this was the right one to start with. "Why did you ask me not to say anything?"

"Thanks," Edward whispered loud enough for only me to hear, his breath once again tickling the nape of my neck.

Carlisle's chuckle was a bit bewildering, and not the reaction I expected. "Throw us an easier one, Bella." He took a seat on the couch next to where Esme had sat.

"First, before we answer that question, let me give you two a little background," Dad said, sitting on the arm of the couch next to Mom. He exhaled a long breath before going on. "Your parents, Edward, were being targeted."

"Targeted?" Edward asked, wrapping an arm around me and resting his chin on my shoulder. "How?"

"I can't rightly say," Dad remarked. "They came to see me the day of the incident. They asked me for help, but I couldn't offer it."

I stared at Dad. He couldn't help them?

"Don't look at me that way, Bells. I wish I could have helped them."

"So you did nothing," Edward stated, slumping back into the chair, taking me with him.

The position I found myself in, half-laying, half-leaning on Edward's chest, hurt my back, but I remained in his arms. I did shift to ease the pain. He didn't sound mad, just sad.

"No," Dad said firmly, leaving no room for questions.

Edward pushed me up and, once again, snaked an arm around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder. I was going to get whiplash from his mood swings.

"I did what I could. I arranged for them to talk with the FBI while they were in Seattle for the day."

I couldn't help the question that spewed out of me. "Why couldn't you help?"

"Jurisdiction," Dad answered. "Your parents did go to the local authorities here in Forks, but the officers couldn't find solid evidence of a threat. The letters your father received were typed, not postmarked, and worded in such a way that you couldn't tell if there was a threat or not."

Dad rubbed the back of his neck, waiting for another question. I was about to ask when a strained laugh escaped him.

"If you asked me, the old sheriff didn't have the manpower or balls to ask for the FBI's advice on the veiled threat."

"Do you know what my parents told the agents?" Edward asked, his voice somewhat tinged with fear.

His tone made me recall when I wanted to walk along the path through the trees in Bellingham back home and he asked to stay on the sidewalk. Then there was his strange reaction when I arrived for Thanksgiving as he escorted me into his adoptive parents' house. The way he looked around was eerie. I shivered, pushing the thoughts out of my mind.

"Somewhat," Dad answered, eyeing my wearily. "If I remember right, your dad told them he had received a number of death threats if he didn't do something—what I have no idea. He had the letters and envelopes, but like I already said, they were typed and not postmarked. I think whoever placed them in their mailbox also threatened your mother."

Edward gulped and tightened his hold on me.

I got his message and patted his hand. I couldn't imagine losing him either.

"Other than that, I don't really know."

Esme continued. "A few days after the funeral, an officer brought you to stay with Carlisle and me. Of course, that was after Renee and Charlie were called in to see your parents' lawyer."

My gaze momentarily fell on my parents. What had the lawyer told them?

Mom answered my unspoken question. "We received the sealed letter Bella gave you and read us their will. Though, sadly, we already knew what it said, having witnessed the signing a few years earlier."

A sinking feeling overcame me as my head started to throb. Edward was about to learn what his parents' wishes were—well, the letter did touch on their wishes, but not the reason.

"The lawyer surprised us both by reading an addendum when it came to your care," Dad said flatly.

"Wh-what did it say?" Edward asked in a small voice.

I could see him as a little boy, staring up at his parents, asking them that question.

"It was brief and directed at Charlie and me," Mom started. "'Take care of Isabella, guys, and find a couple in Forks to take Edward in—preferably, Carlisle and Esme Cullen. Also, don't tell Edward, Jr. that you're his godparents until he turns twenty-one. You can tell him only if he asks, you feel you have to because of some life-altering event, or he falls in love with your daughter.'"

My mouth dropped open. Dad's comment from last night now made perfect sense—you're holding the reason.

Dad nodded when I looked at him.

"There was no explanation for the addition of the stipulation." Mom fell silent; a gloomy look crossing her face. It was clear that she missed her friends, Edward's parents, and that she felt sad for Edward.

"But... I fear… it was motivated by the threats," Edward remarked slowly. "They apologized for the decision in the letter stating that they were doing what they thought was best for me. I see that, now, their decision was right. Whoever was targeting them could have come after me."

The woods again came to mind as my head felt like it was going to split open.

"I think… that answers… my initial question." I was in a daze and the pain in my head wasn't helping.

"Not exactly, love," Edward stated, kissing my temple.

The pain eased some at the brief contact but flared back to life. I held in my groan of discomfort, wanting to know everything our parents could tell us.

"I asked you not to say anything because of what Thanksgiving made Edward remember," Esme supplied.

"Plus, you two had just met," Carlisle added. "There was no way to know if he would have believed you had Esme not made the request."

I grimaced. I had asked Edward the same question before I'd given him the letter, and he'd said he wouldn't have.

"You were very perceptive with your question earlier," Edward whispered before kissing my cheek.

"Edward wasn't mentioned at all in the police report. Who doctored it?" I asked.

"What report?" Dad asked, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

"Do you remember the term paper I wrote in high school on unsolved murders?"

Dad nodded.

"Edward, Sr. and Elizabeth's case was one of the many I was given as primary sources."

"Shit!" Dad exclaimed, his eyes growing large. "I didn't know the clerk was giving you that one." He took a deep breath. "I documented the facts at the scene, nothing more. I did so to protect you, Edward. I didn't want the press to get wind that you had been taken into temporary custody by Child Protective Services. I talked to my superior about my decision before I submitted the report. He agreed, having already spoken with the FBI. They took over the investigation."

"But it's a cold case, right?" Edward asked.

"Uh, well, about that," Dad started, looking away while fidgeting.

I followed Dad's gaze and saw Seth leaning against a column near the kitchen. His legs were kicked out in front of him, and his arms were crossed. "Edward, I need to talk to you." He pushed off the column and walked toward where Edward and I sat.

"Right now?" I could hear the confusion in Edward's tone.

Heck, if I was being honest, I was confused, too. But there was nothing I could think to say. Seth was already heading toward the front door. Standing, I helped Edward to his feet. With a peck to my cheek, he followed Seth out. I felt helpless as I watched the door close, pivoting only seconds later to face our parents.

"You guys know something," I stated rather than asked. "What?"

My hands came to rest on my hips. The pounding in my head was starting to annoy me, but I couldn't and wouldn't be bothered by it. Not to mention that my mood, despite the pain, was quickly slipping from understanding to petulant. It was almost laughable that I didn't care if I was about to be childish and throw a tantrum if they didn't answer my question. How could my mood not be fueled when Edward's question was met with Dad looking away?

Dad sighed, rubbing his chin. "Bells—" he sighed again. "It's no longer a cold case. Seth allowed us to talk with Edward first before asking to speak with him."

"We didn't want Edward to retreat in silence again," Carlisle added. "Seth agreed and gave us time to explain things."

My arms fell to my side as understanding returned.

"What was found?" I wasn't ignorant to police procedure, and I was pretty sure the FBI wouldn't have reopened the case for kicks. There had to have been new information found or brought to their attention.

"I don't know." Dad swiped at his face. "I tried to get answers from Seth, but all he would tell me was that the case was reopened."

"Seth came to Carlisle and me before you went on the walk. I informed your parents when they arrived," Esme said. "What I didn't count on was Edward's reaction. He's always been accepting of whatever Carlisle and I told him."

I snorted, Christmas coming to my mind. Edward had had a hard time believing me when I'd told him I had known about his parents' murder before he'd told me on Thanksgiving—and that had been huge. But what I had just learned was ginormous in comparison. His parents had been receiving death threats, at least his dad had been. Our parents keeping the truth a secret hadn't been a betrayal of trust like I first thought. I understood why everything had been kept from him. There was one thing I had to know, though. "How could you readily accept their instruction to keep things secret?"

"What secret?" Alice asked.

All heads turned in unison toward the stairs. Alice was stepping off the last step. Her arms immediately crossed when she came to a stop at the foot of them.

How much had she heard?

"You know I hate secrets. Spill."

Her demand might as well have fallen on deaf ears for no one said a word. It wasn't really our place to say anything—Edward had to tell her.

I watched as her foot started to tap. She was getting impatient, which was a bad sign—I learned that the hard way freshman year. She threw a stuff bear at me for ignoring her for three days, and her foot started tapping right before the soft thing hit my head. And from everyone ignoring her questions earlier, she had a right. I had to think of something—something she wouldn't question. Instantly Jasper came to mind. I hoped he would go along with what I was about say once I called him.

"You know it wouldn't be much of a surprise if we told you," Mom lied.

Alice bristled with indignation. "You lie," she said, pointing an accusing finger at my mother. "I heard enough to glean to know you were talking about Edward. I sat on the stairs as Edward walked out of the house behind Seth. Tell me what the secret is." She crossed again over her chest.

"Alice!" Edward roared from where he stood behind her in the doorway. "Stop it!"

Alice swung around facing her brother.

"Why? What are you hiding?"

Edward pinched the bridge of his nose. "Once I wrap my head around what I was told, I'll find you and fill you in… and not a moment before."

"Fine!" Alice huffed, stalking toward Edward. She shoved him to the side and stormed out the door, yelling "I'm leaving" over her shoulder.

I sunk into the chair I'd been sharing with Edward before he went outside. I was mentally exhausted. I rubbed at my temples. Alice's behavior was uncalled for. We weren't deliberately keeping secrets. And where in the world was she going?

Carlisle jumped up and rushed to the window when a car door slammed.

"Who the hell is that?"

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Edward standing next to Carlisle.

"Rosalie," Edward muttered. "What the hell is she doing here?"

I groaned. Rosalie being here could only be Alice's doing, and I had the sinking feeling Rosalie was going to drag my ass out of the house—kicking and screaming, I might add. Seth would follow, and Edward would try, but, if I knew Rosalie, she would declare it was a "girls' afternoon." Another groan escaped at that thought. Alice was going to pester me the whole time.

All I wanted to do was stay in this chair and not move. Edward needed me. And I wanted to keep avoiding Alice until he was ready to talk to her. I dropped my chin to my chest, eyes locked on the floor.

"Bella." Edward raised my head, and I got lost in his eyes.

"Yes," I whispered.

"I want you to go with Rosalie and Alice."

"Why?"

"You've been cooped up here since we arrived and haven't been very active."

"What about you?" My voice dripped with concern. "Don't you want to tell me what Seth said?"

Edward shook his head. "It can wait." His hand came up and caressed my face. "At this very moment, all I want to do is eat and be alone, to process. And, I think, you need time with Alice and Rosalie, time away from this drama."

"What about Alice?" I rubbed at my temples again. The rare, and far between, headache seemed to be getting worse, and that wasn't good.

"I'll speak to her before you guys leave." Edward held out his hand after he stood.

The moment I was on my feet the room swirled, like it had seven and a half years earlier. I gripped Edward's forearm preventing him from moving away from me.

"Mom. Dad," I cried. "It's starting again."

Willing myself not to collapse, I sat back down. The room settled.

Edward kneeled in front of me, taking my hand in his. "Are you okay?"

I didn't have a chance to answer.

"Move out of the way, Edward," Carlisle said in an authoritative voice, like every doctor I'd seen during my illness.

Rubbing my temples again, I met Edward's concerned gaze as he stood and took a couple of steps back. I was glad I had told him of the freak and mysterious illness that I suffered during one of our long phone conversations before Christmas break. Thinking back to that chat, I recalled that he had sounded really distressed and had asked question after question, wanting to know everything I had experienced and how to recognize the symptoms.

"Let's go, Bella," Rosalie called as she came into the house.

"Give her a minute!" Mom yelled as a sob escaped.

From what I remembered, Mom had been terrified when test after test came back negative. She cried with me as the pain had coursed through my head. Before then, I had never had a headache, and every drug they had tried didn't work. A neurologist had been called in, and he had given me an injection at the base of my head. Another week had passed before the pain had been reduced to a dull tingle. No explanation had ever been found, but soon I was healthy again. At that time, sleep had been my only relief.

"Where's the pain?" Carlisle asked as he took my pulse.

"In my temples," I replied.

"Relax, love," Edward whispered in my ear, taking my free hand.

Warmth spread up my arm at the tender squeeze he gave me. "I wondered what would happen if you massaged my temples," I whispered, knowing Carlisle would hear.

He was currently shining a pin light in my eyes. It hurt, and I wanted to look away, but I knew it would be worse a second time, so remained still.

"Carlisle?" Edward asked.

"It couldn't hurt to try. Keep the pressure even and not too deep," Carlisle instructed.

Several minutes passed before I moaned. The tension eased, and a couple of minutes later, disappeared completely. I removed Edward's hands and smiled at him.

"Much better," I announced.

A half hour later, I was in the backseat of Rosalie's car. Alice wasn't happy with Edward's demand that she wasn't to pester me but agreed when he promised to share what he learned sometime tonight.

A/N: This was a long chapter, I know, but I covered a lot of ground. Hopefully, this chapter helped to clarify why Edward's parents made the decision they did. My beta, shelikesthesound, commented that she liked how their parents didn't seem to try to be justifying Ed, Sr. and Elizabeth's action, but wanted to let Edward, Jr. and Bella know why things happened the why did. I wholeheartedly agree with shelikesthesound, and it was my intention. Plus, everything wasn't explained to Edward and Bella's satisfaction, but enough for them to step back and analyze what they were told. Like Charlie stated, they want to answer Edward's questions, but know he'll need time to process.

What did you think about Alice's reaction to not being told the "secret?" I'm not a huge fan of Alice having to know everyone's business, but I wanted to be true to Stephenie's depiction of her. I think I did a great job of capturing Alice in this chapter, and so do my betas.

I haven't started writing the next chapter. I'm hoping to do a little writing this weekend, but since it's Father's Day Sunday, I'm not sure how much I will get done. There's still a lot more ground to cover. 'til the next chapter!