Hey! Remember me? lol

School, work, bad luck, car accident, full chapter written then lost, tears... yeah, that's why this is so freaking late. I'm sorry.
I just started a new job and I won't be going to school this summer so updates should be much more regular! Thanks for all of your patience, I really appreciate it. This is a long chapter, so I hope that helps. I also really appreciate all of your kind words and feedback.

Kimmcarr, whatobsession and Jessypt are my amazing team for this story. I appreciate you guys more than you know!

I did make some changes to this chapter after it was sent back to me so all my mistakes are my own.

Even thought two months have passed, I still don't own these characters. I have a feeling time won't change this.


So, we left off with Edward hearing that Jake stabbed the old woman, Mrs. E, that has helped them both so much.


Has someone taken your faith?

It's real, the pain you feel

The life, the love

You'd die to heal

The hope that starts

The broken hearts

You trust, you must confess

Is someone getting the best

The best, the best, the best of you?

Were you born to resist, or be abused?

I swear I'll never give in, I refuse.

-Foo Fighters

"Edward, tell me what happened. You look like you're going to be sick."

"I feel like I'm going to be sick," I say as I collapse into a chair.

Bella runs to the sink and fills the little cup left by the maids with water. I drink it down, and for the millionth time in the past hour run my hands over my face.

"What's wrong?" Bella asks, softly running her hands through my hair. I lean into her touch and take comfort from it for a second. She seems to sense I need a minute and continues to rub through my hair and the muscles in my neck.

"Are you ok? No one hurt you, did they?" She can't hide the tremor in her voice.

"No. No one hurt me," I say, wrapping my arms around her waist holding her against me.

"It's Jake; he... he fucking stabbed Mrs. E."

"What?" Bella asks in shock, trying to pull away from me. I don't want her to and bury my face into her stomach.

"Wait... what do you mean, Edward? He just went and stabbed her? Why would he do that?"

"Well shit, Bella." I say exasperated. I can tell that I'm at the end of my rope and I don't want to snap at her. "It wasn't him... I mean it was but-"

"Sam," she breathes, shock in her voice.

"Yeah, Sam." I scowl. "Motherfucker," I add in anger under my breath.

"Is she ok? Where's Jake now?"

"She's in the hospital. Jake's rotting in a cell somewhere, I'm sure."

"Oh, jeez. Edward, I'm so sorry. That's... it's just awful."

I nod not wanting to speak at the moment.

"Did you have any other... you know... trouble?"

"Nah, just this shit news." She doesn't need to know people are out looking for us. No reason to scare her.

"Go to the hospital with me?" I ask looking up from her waist to her eyes.

"Of course... do you think she'll mind the visit?"

I shrug. "There's only one way to find out. Besides, I want to make sure she's okay and apologize."

"Apologize? What for?" When I don't answer she steps back and continues. "You have nothing to apologize for, Edward." She looks straight into my eyes, her hands on either side of my face. "So you left; you started your own life... there's no crime in that," she says with conviction.

Her words bite me, and my temper that's been on the verge of blowing does. I stand and step towards her.

"Not my fault? Right! It was okay for me to just skip out of town leaving my sick best friend here alone," I shout, throwing my hands in the air.

Her voice rises to reach my tone, and she takes a step towards me. "I understand you feel bad, but no, it's not your fault."

"Fuck, you just don't get it! This happened... all of this is because I was off playing fucking house with you!" I roar, taking another step in her direction.

She backs down immediately. Taking a large step, her back hits the wall. Her eyes widen in shock, and the look that crosses her face is one of pure fear. I know immediately I've pushed her too far. I take a second to breathe, and when I take a step towards her, she recoils from me, and the tears that automatically leak from her eyes are almost enough to bring me to my knees. I stare at her, disgusted with my behavior but have no idea how to fix it. As quickly as I can, I go into the bathroom and slam the door.

Like a coward, I hide. Before I even got the entire sentence out I knew the pain it would cause, the guilt, the anger - I said it anyway. This whole situation is so frustrating and I placed the blame on her when she didn't do anything to deserve it.

"Agh!" I scream as I pull painfully on my hair. I should've known things would turn out this way. I came back to the room angry, hurt and frustrated, and I took it out on her. I didn't mean to. I knew it was shitty; It happened so fast and I didn't know how to stop myself from doing it.

Feeling a little calmer, I splash some water on my face before I go back into our room. Bella's sitting by the window staring out of it. I know she's staring at the bench - our bench - and I wonder what she's thinking. When her shoulders stiffen, I know she feels me behind her. She doesn't turn around or acknowledge me in any way, and it hurts. I was the one who caused this reaction in her. I don't know how to make this right.

"I didn't mean what I said, and I'm sorry, Bella."

Her head shakes but she doesn't turn to me. She sits in silence for a moment and neither of us moves. She doesn't turn to face me when she finally speaks. Her voice sounds as cold as frozen steel.

"I know this is hard for you. I get it; I do... but you can't do that." She turns to face me, and her face is blotchy with the evidence of tears. Even though her pain is obvious, I also see resolve in her eyes. She's had enough, and she's not backing down.

"When you scream at me... it takes me to a really bad place, Edward." Her voice is calm but shaky, evidence of what she's saying. "You don't need to do that to get your point across."

My feet move as fast as they can to make it to her side. I drop to my knees by her chair, and I pull her into a hug, my arms secure around her waist. I can't speak. I knew I had lost my temper, and figured she'd be pissed at me, but I never thought she'd compare me to him - ever. My arms wrap around her, but she doesn't respond at all. Her arms sit limp at her side. Her heart beat gives her away. It's beating so rapidly against my cheek. I know how hard it is for her to confront me. I stay quiet; I deserve whatever she's going to say.

"How... I mean, how could you say that? Is that what this has been to you - what I am to you?" she demands. "Playing house?" she whispers with disbelief in her voice.

God, I can't believe I said that shit. I'm terrified I won't be able to make this right. I can't look at her in the eye. If the pain in her voice is any indication of what I would see in her eyes right now, I wouldn't be able to take it.

"I didn't mean it, baby," I whisper kissing her cheek, then her neck. "I'm an asshole for saying that. I was angry, frustrated, and fuck, I don't know why I said it. I didn't mean it," I say forcefully.

I finally pull back to look into her eyes. "I didn't mean it," I whisper again, praying she will believe me.

When she says nothing I sit up on my knees and place my hands on either side of her face. "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. I was angry and took it out on you. I wouldn't trade this time with you for anything."

She stares into my eyes, and I can't read her. I can't tell what she's thinking. We sit in silence staring at each other until a single tear escapes her eye and slowly rolls down her cheek. I wipe the tear gently off her face, and she stays stoic but doesn't push me away.

"I was so out of line, and I'm so sorry. Please tell me you believe me," I plead.

"I believe you," she replies softly. So quietly I can barely hear her.

"You know I would never hurt you."

"I... know," she says tentatively. "Still though, my mind... it doesn't always match what I know and I get scared."

I'm glad she can be honest with me, but it kills me that she still feels this way.

"I promise it won't ever happen again," I declare, holding her tighter.

A teary laugh. "You can't promise that, Edward. I don't expect you to. Just try, that's all I ask."

"I promise I'll try." She's right; I can't promise I'll never yell at her again - overreact, but I can promise to try.

"Would you still go to the hospital with me?" I ask nervously. I know I have no right to expect her to do anything for me. I'm lucky she's still in the same room as I am.

"Yeah," she sighs. "I'd really like to see Mrs. E, too. Just let me wash my face," she says as she stands.

She leans down and kisses my forehead before leaving me to stare at her empty chair. Her kiss tells me she forgives, me but I can tell she's not over it. With a sigh I drop my head down on the cushion. I need to get my shit together, or this trip is going to turn into a disaster. Before Bella comes back from the bathroom I grab my phone and call a cab. It's going to take a chunk of our money, but I won't risk walking knowing there are people looking for us. I'm just hanging the phone up as Bella walks back into the room.

"Who was that?" she asks, slipping her shoes on.

"Oh... just a cab," I say, slipping the phone back into my pocket. I know she will find it odd since I've never done it before, but I grab her hand leading her out of the room before she asks me any more questions.

When we get downstairs the car's already waiting for us. The driver barely acknowledges us with a nod of his head when I tell him where to take us. The cab carries a heavy silence until Bella speaks up.

"Is the hospital too far to walk?" I can tell she's trying to not pry, to trust my judgment, but she's curious.

"Yeah, it's pretty far." I leave it there, and she doesn't ask any more questions.

I'm not trying to hide what Ben said from her, but I see no reason to worry her. The hospital is too far to walk, but we could have taken the buses. I just won't risk it. Take a cab to Mrs. E, and then find Jake. After that I plan to have us stay in the hotel tonight until we leave for Bend tomorrow morning.

The ride up the steep hill that leads to the Oregon Health and Science University Hospital is winding, causing Bella to slide back and forth on the slippery seat in the back of the cab. I sling my arm around her pulling her close to me; so happy when she doesn't pull away.

"Thanks," she says shyly, and for the first time since we left the hotel I take a full breath. I was worried she retreated back into her old shell completely.

I see the big OHSU sign come into view and pull out the bills I'll need to pay the driver. We come to a stop in front of the main entrance, where we wordlessly climb out of the cab. It pulls away before I have the door all the way shut.

"Ready?" I ask, staring up at the giant building that houses so many. It's strange to look at a building where you know that life is beginning and ending at the same time.

"Now or never," she smiles at me taking my hand.

I've never spent much time in hospital but still get that feeling walking through the doors. Anyone who has ever stepped foot inside a hospital understands the feeling of unease and quiet that settles over you. At the same time people run around, and the sterile, white hallways that seem to swallow them up. We pass the gift shop and make our way to a customer service desk to find directions to Mrs. E.

After getting directions and a map to navigate through the giant hospital, we make our way to her room.

"Are you nervous?" Bella asks.

I shrug. "Not really nervous, I just don't want to make the situation worse if she doesn't want to see us."

"I'm sure she'll be happy to see you, Edward."

"When did you become so optimistic?" I ask with a smile, bumping her shoulder.

"It's hard not to be when everything seems to be working out for us."

She makes a good point. I can't help but slip my hand into hers, tangling our fingers together. She helps improve my mood that declined so rapidly once I found out what happened with Jake this morning.

I still feel like shit for how I treated her in the room. I keep telling myself that I can control my temper and my reactions, but I can't let that happen again. I decide when we get back to Forks I might ask Dr. Carmen's advice - maybe. Bella's worth my discomfort and that would show her I'm serious about my promise.

"This is her room," I say as we approach the closed door. "Should we knock?"

"Probably," Bella says but makes no move to do the actual knocking. I stare at the door for a second before tentatively knocking on it.

There's no answer on the other side. Bella and I look at each other for a second, then she slowly raises her hand to tap three times on the wood. Nothing.

"Maybe they told us the wrong room?" Bella suggests, looking around the hall.

I don't see a nurse or a station close by, so I tap on the door, firmly two more times before opening it and peeking my head in. I laugh when I see Mrs. E sitting in bed with large headphones on her ears, playing finger drums on her legs, and rocking out to some kind of music.

"Here, look," I whisper to Bella, moving aside so she can see before Mrs. E catches us watching her.

Bella slaps her hand over her mouth to keep her laugh contained but Mrs. E's head whips in our direction.

"Edward! Bella!" she screams way too loudly, probably because of the music she has playing in her ears.

We both smile and wave a little, waiting to be invited into the room. She pulls the headphones off and we can hear the music across the room.

"What are you two doing hanging in the hallway? Get your booties in here!" She smiles broadly as she waves us into the room, messing with the headphones trying to get the music to stop.

"These stupid machines you can't ever get them to obey you," she says handing me a slim, remote looking object.

It has a screen and a circular button in the center but no power button that I can see. After I mess with it and have no success I just pull the cord that attaches the headphones, and the music in the room stops.

"Mom, it's an iPod. You need one of these..." Mrs. E mimics in a man's voice. We laugh but she doesn't seem to notice, continuing her rant. "I keep telling that son of mine, Aaron's his name - I've told you about him, yes?" She doesn't give me the chance to respond before she continues. "Anyway, I keep telling him that my tape player was just perfect, but one day it's gone, and this little contraption is sitting in its place." She rolls her eyes and tosses it in the drawer next to her bed.

"But ol' Tom..." she says wistfully. "I'll listen to him any way I can get him."

"Tom?" I ask.

"You know Tom, Tom Jones... What's up pussycat? Woah wooooaaah..." she sings loudly and we laugh. "Oh never mind!" she laughs, waving her hands around.

"Sit, sit! How are you two? My goodness, Bella, look at you. You are beaming and gorgeous! Do a spin, let me see you," Mrs. E insists much to Bella's embarrassment.

With her cheeks bright red she turns in a little circle before trying to disappear into the chair.

"Just beautiful!" she says, reaching her hand out grabbing Bella's. "Love suits you two." She winks in my direction.

"So don't tell me you came into this hospital just to see me for my silly little scratch," she says with a big sigh.

"Scratch, huh?" I say, rubbing my hand over my chin. "The way it was told to me it sounded more like... a stabbing."

She makes a big show of rolling her eyes.

"Everyone is making such a big fuss, but I'm fine. Jacob is the one who needs help. Who's fussing over that poor boy, huh? Tell me that. It's just a shame, a shame that no one will help that sweet boy."

"I don't know what to say, Mrs. E. He tried to get help... it's just not available to people like us." She already knows this.

"People like you... no! No, no, no... you are too good for those people, Edward - don't you forget it." She shakes her finger at me.

She's given me this speech many times. Even though she believes what she says, society sure doesn't and that's who makes the decisions. I hear her talking to Bella about what happened that day, and I find myself getting more and more interested in my shoes. I don't want to hear the details of what happened. Soon enough the subject changes to us. Bella goes on and on about our new life. Happiness radiates from her.

All I can think about is how my best friend is screwed.

"Edward." My head snaps up hearing Bella call my name. She points to Mrs. E, when I look over she has a sad expression on her face.

"Why are you here?" she asks sadly and reaches out to hold my hand.

"To make sure you're ok," I say dumbly.

She shakes her head.

"What?" I ask. I have no idea what she means.

"It's not your fault, Edward." My eyes snap to meet hers. "It's not. I know you, Edward. You're blaming yourself. You have an exterior like steel," she says, grasping my hands tightly to prove her point. "You are strong. Nothing can break your barrier ,but it's just the exterior - it's not you."

I shake my head.

"No, you knock that off and let me in, if only for one second," she demands.

I look back up at her and see Bella move out of the corner of my eye.

"You look great, Mrs. E. Thanks for letting us visit. I'm just going to let you and Edward talk, and I'll wait in the hall."

"You don't have -" I try to stop her from leaving the room.

"It's fine. You two catch up," she says giving me a kiss on my forehead.

"As soon as you get this dream apartment you're talking about I better get a phone call, young lady," she says to Bella as she gives her a big hug.

"You're staying close?" I ask when Bella gets to the door. Panic rushes over me at the thought of her waiting outside the room by herself.

"Yeah, I'll just be on the bench in the hall," she says with a soft smile as she disappears out the door. Once Bella's gone, neither Mrs. E nor I speak for a minute. I can feel her staring at me but I keep my eyes on the floor.

"Edward." I look at her, and she smiles softly, reaching over to run her hand over my cheek. "You've seen too much, sweet boy. Been through much too much. You are far too old for your young years."

I don't know what too much is. My life is all I know.

"You be there for your friend the best you can be, but it's ok, Edward. It's ok to live your life. There's a girl sitting right outside that door that loves you more than anything; it's a great thing, something not everyone in this world experiences. Don't let it go because you're letting guilt eat at you."

I nod my head appreciating her words. It's almost like she knew what happened this morning. Like she knows I'm not handling everything well. I know Mrs. E would never bullshit me. Her words take the boulder off my shoulder and shatter it on the ground.

"Now," she says pulling the headphones and music player out of the drawer. "Get the heck out of here, so I can get back to my Tommy."

I laugh and lean over the bed to hug her.

"Bella has my phone number. I'm not joking; I better be getting that phone call," she says with a wink.

"You'll be the first," I promise.

Before I make it out of the room I can hear the music blaring behind me. I can hear Mrs. E's voice shouting lyrics out even from the hall, and when I leave her room I feel a hundred pounds lighter.

I walk down the hall looking for Bella and find her in a little waiting room not too far away. She's on the phone, so I sit next to her, curious as to whom she's talking; it doesn't sound like Alice.

"Really, thank you. You don't know what this means to -" she stops abruptly and nods her head. "No, I understand. Just... whatever you can do would be... amazing. Okay, great." I lean in trying to hear who's on the other end and she shoos me away. "Okay, yeah, okay bye." She closes the phone but says nothing.

"Well?" I ask. I don't want to seem nosey but it's not like we call people often.

"Uh... don't get mad."

"Why would I get mad?" I ask and feel shitty at the same time, because she feels like she has to ask me to not get mad.

"Well... It just seemed like maybe we could use some help. After talking to Mrs. E, I really feel for Jake, and I just think he deserves some help."

"So..." I say trying to get her to continue.

"So..." she looks at the ground and fidgets with her hands. "I called Charlie to see what he could do."

"Bella," I say frustrated. The last thing I want is for Charlie to know more about my past and personal life. I want that dick as far away from me as possible.

"I know. I know. Just listen," she says running her hand through my hair. "He feels bad, really bad about how things started. He's been trying - coming to dinner and stuff, but I know he wants to do something to show us that he really wants everything to be ok. He wants us - both of us - to give him a chance. This is a way for him to do that."

I take a deep breath. I know it wasn't easy for her to call him.

"So... what did he say?"

"He's going to make some calls and figure out where Jake is. When he was... well, looking for me, he became pretty good friends with the police chief in Seattle. He's made some phone calls and is hoping to pull some strings here."

"How's that going to help us here?"

"I don't know. He didn't say; he just said he was going to try."

"Really?"

"Really. I know; I was surprised too. I wasn't sure if calling him was the right thing to do. I didn't know if he'd help us or just judge more."

I nod, not sure what to say.

"Thank you for calling him. I know that wasn't easy for you," I say, kissing her on the head.

"I feel like I can never help and wanted to do something," she smiles at me.

"So, what now?" I ask. I was planning on searching for Jake myself. Now that Charlie's doing the work we have an open afternoon.

"Lunch?"

"What sounds good?" I ask.

"I saw a Burgerville on the way here..." she hints, smiling. It's a local burger chain, and it's only here in the Northwest; she's only had it once and is hooked.

"Sounds good."

We leave the hospital and grab another cab, taking the short drive to Burgerville. Bella is silent in the cab, obviously uncomfortable around the driver. The ride here wasn't nearly as expensive as the first. The sun is high in the sky, and the temperature is comfortable, so we sit outside as we eat our burgers. Before long I feel the phone vibrating in my pocket. Surprised, I answer it. I just assumed Charlie would call Bella.

"Hello," I say trying to not let my nervousness leak through the phone. While I'm not scared of Charlie, I really don't want any more trouble with him.

"Edward?" Who else would be answering my phone?

"Yeah," I say, wiping my mouth with my napkin and push my tray to the side.

"It's uh... it's Charlie... Bella's dad." I don't mean to, but I laugh. It's obvious neither one of us have much experience talking on the phone and aren't comfortable.

"Yeah... I uh, figured," I say. An awkward silence follows, and I really wish he would've just called Bella's phone.

"Yeah, well I talked to the chief down there. Sounds like your friend has found himself in quite a load of trouble."

"Mhmm," I say, annoyed all ready. I'm trying to control my attitude. I know he doesn't have to help us but I don't want to get into another interrogation with him.

"I wouldn't normally help someone who's committed the crimes he has, but it sounds like it's a little... out of his control."

"He's not a bad guy. He's sick - he needs help."

"The chief says the woman he stabbed is refusing to press charges and will barely speak to them."

I laugh into the speaker. That sounds like Mrs. E.

"That doesn't really surprise me. So, does that mean he's off the hook?" I ask, hopeful.

"No, not by a long shot. She doesn't have too. The state will still go after him."

My shoulders sag a little hearing this information.

"So, there's nothing that can be done?"

"We're pushing for the non-traditional route. The chief there, Johanson, Peter Johanson is his name. He's looked into Jake's records. The kid's been in and out for these... episodes, or whatever you want to call them, more times then we care to count. Someone should've stepped in to get him some help - he fell through the cracks."

I listen, nodding my head even though he can't see me. Bells is watching and listening intently across the table.

"We're going to use that and try to take the medical route rather than jail time."

"So you want to lock him in an insane asylum?" The thought of Jake alone, in a padded room makes me sick.

"It's not like the movies, Edward," Charlie's voice comes out exasperated. "He will need to be hospitalized for a time, but I'm hoping he can get into some job training or something once he's stable."

"Wow... I don't know what... I mean... thanks, Charlie. Really." I'm at a loss of words. It's a better outcome than I could have hoped for.

Bella mouths a silent 'what' to me, anxious to hear the news.

"Don't thank me yet. Nothing is settled, but he's got the right people on his side now. That old woman not pursuing him doesn't hurt his case either."

Another long awkward silence passes without either of us knowing what to say.

"Uh, so your friend's at the Multnomah County Jail. He's not supposed to have visitors, but we got your name cleared so you could see him. Do me a favor, Edward?"

"Yeah, anything," I say, feeling so grateful for all of his help.

"Don't take Isab-Bella," he says catching himself - he's trying. "I just... I don't like the idea of her being in a place like that... I know you think I have no right -"

"No," I say cutting him off. "I agree. I wouldn't take her there."

Bella's eyebrow shoots up, and she gives me a questioning look. I know she won't like another decision being made for her, but I know she wouldn't be comfortable there. Not with a bunch of men who are criminals around her.

"Okay, good then. Well... I think that's it. I'll call one of you once I know more," he says, sounding more uncomfortable than he did at the beginning of the phone call.

"Yeah, okay. Thanks again, Charlie."

I hear a muffled goodbye before the line disconnects.

"Well?" Bella asks expectantly as soon as I'm off the phone. While I finish my lunch I tell her about the conversation with her father.

"Wow. He really did all that?"

I nod, taking a sip of my drink before I speak. "I know. I'm kind of shocked."

"What were you talking about when you said 'I wouldn't want her there'?"

"I don't talk like that," I say, mocking outrage at how she imitated my voice.

"C'mon, just tell me."

"The Jail. Your dad didn't want you to go. I don't either. Trust me, Bella, it's not a place you want to be."

She looks at me then down at her food. She doesn't seem to be pissed, yet.

"Bella?" I ask, after the silence seems to stretch on forever.

"You're probably right," she sighs.

"Whoa... hold the press, what?" I say jokingly.

"Oh shut it," she huffs, picking up her tray throwing it into the garbage. It feels good to be able to go back to being us - joking and playing - after the tense morning we had.

I walk up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. "Thank you for understanding," I whisper into her ear, and then kiss the spot right below it making her shiver.

"No problem," she says leaning back into me. "I'll have a blast at the bars while you're gone."

"Oh, you are just too funny," I say tickling her sides, making her scream out.

The restaurant is close to the hotel, so we're able to walk back without incident. When the sun starts to set, I can't put it off anymore and need to go see Jake.

"You sure you're going to be okay here?" I ask one more time, scanning the room for... I don't even know what. I'm feeling paranoid.

"Yeah, I'm gonna have a phone date with Alice and soak in the tub."

"Oh... well, I didn't know there would be a tub session, maybe I should stay," I say wiggling my eyebrows at her playfully.

Her cheeks blush. "Maybe next time," she says smiling but looking at the ground.

"I love you. I'll be back as soon as I can," I say kissing her cheek.

"Love you too. Be safe, tell Jake hi and hurry back," she says, a little anxiety creeping into her voice. She's come so far but I know it's still hard for her to be left alone.

"I will. You have the number I left?"

I left her the jail's number, just in case, because I know they'll take all of my personal items away when I get there.

She points to the table. "It hasn't moved from the other three times you asked," she says sweetly, giving me a kiss on the lips. I start to deepen it, but she pulls back laughing.

"Go, or you'll be gone all night."

"OK, stay in the room." She doesn't need me to tell her that but, I feel better knowing I said it. I don't know why.

It's a ten-mile cab ride - an expensive one, but I have no other choice. I need to get there and get back.

I've been in juvi a few times but other than one night stays at the police station, I've never had to stay in the jail. Standing outside the concrete building I'm thankful for that.

I leave all my personal belongings at the desk and wait in a room for Jake. When the door opens my body tenses and a guard, bigger than Mike Tyson, escorts him in. Jake looks like shit. His hair is grown out and shaggy. There are dark circles under both eyes and his eyes themselves look dull and lifeless.

"Jake, man," I say standing.

"Hold it," the guard says, forcefully, his voice deeper than anyone I've ever heard. "You have to stay in that chair. I know you have special arrangements but you still have to go by the rules," he says pointing to all the cameras around the room. I nod, a little intimidated by it all. The guard lets go of Jake and stands by the door watching us.

Jakes hands are cuffed in front of him, and the grey standard jumpsuit he wears looks baggy on his huge form. He falls into the chair across from me, his hands lying in his lap and his head hung down.

"What the fuck are you doin' here, man?" he asks not looking up.

"What do you mean, what am I doing here? You're fucking locked up, Jake."

He looks up and a sad smile creeps across his face.

"Gee, thanks for the insight."

I roll my eyes.

"How you holdin' up?" I ask.

He shrugs his shoulders but doesn't respond. Silence stretches out, and I'm not about to make small talk.

"I... uh, I saw Mrs. E today," I say, unsure if I am making a mistake by bringing her up. I have no idea how he'll react.

He doesn't respond, just stares at his hands. His shoulders start to shake, and it takes me a minute to realize he's crying. I'm fucking mortified and don't know what to do. Jake and I have been through some serious shit, and neither of us has ever shed a tear.

"I don't even fucking remember, Edward. Nothing." His cuffed hands come up to wipe his nose. "Everything..." he pauses to compose himself. When he speaks emotion is still thick in his voice. "I don't remember anything from that day. When I came to, I was sitting in a fucking jail cell. Everything is so fucked." His voice rises a little at the end, and he rocks a little in the small metal chair.

I don't know how to respond. I know Jake isn't looking for comfort. He's broken. Seriously fucking broken.

"I could've killed her," he says horrified. For the first time looking me in the eyes, and I don't recognize him. He's haunted by what's happened. What he's done.

"You didn't though, Jake. You couldn't help it - it... it wasn't you." He scoffs at me and another tear rolls down his face before he forcefully wipes it away, leaving an angry red mark behind.

"It wasn't, man. You're sick..." I let my words trade off, because I'm not the best at comforting someone. I always say the wrong shit, and it's the last thing he needs right now.

"Did you call your family?"

He laughs darkly, "Yeah."

He doesn't need to say anymore. I know how they treat him. I don't want him to hurt more by having to repeat the way they blew him off.

"You shouldn't have come back," he says once he has himself composed.

"Whatever. Why wouldn't I come back?"

"First off, Roy's fuckers trying to hunt your ass down. They've been looking for you, you know?"

I nod. "I don't give a fuck," I say rudely. I'm so tired of the bullshit I left behind here.

"Why did you leave then?" he fires back at me.

"Ugh... well, I took Bella back to her hometown to see her mom's grave, and she ran into some people she knows..." I shrug not able to tell him we found a family, that we're happy, that I have a stable job, and support; something neither of us has experienced for longer than we can remember.

"You're still with Bella?"

I nod. "She said to tell you hi."

"Hi," he laughs. I smirk and the thick tension that's been in the room has finally broken.

"You're happy then?"

It doesn't feel right to tell just how happy I am, so I just shrug.

"You're happy, Masen. It's ok, I'm happy for you."

"Thanks, Jake."

We talk a little longer, and I catch him up on where I've been - a shortened version of the past months.

"Bella's dad sounds like a fucker," he says after I explain our first meeting.

"He's not so bad," I say, feeling like an ass, bitching about him after what he did today.

"He's not so bad? What the fuck have these people done to you, Masen?" he laughs. "You would still be steaming over that shit before."

I shrug and laugh, because he's right. Before I would still be holding a severe grudge against anyone who tried to mess with me but not anymore. I'm trying to get past that.

"Well, he's kind of redeemed himself," I say.

"How so?"

"He's trying to get you out of here."

"No shit," Jake says with disbelief in his voice.

"Shit," I say laughing. "He's been working on it all day. He's trying to get you help."

"No shit," he says again but it comes out in a whisper. "Why? Why help me?" he asks.

"I dunno. These people have this weird idea that you actually help your family." I laugh then stop when I realized what I just did. It doesn't go unnoticed by Jake either. I lumped myself in with them. Made myself a part of their family. Accepted what they've been trying to do all along.

"Five minutes, guys," the guard says.

"Ah, it's cool." Jake says, forgoing his last five minutes. "Get back to Bella and tell her hi for me," Jake says pushing off the table, standing up.

"You gonna be ok?" I ask, keeping my ass in the chair, so I don't get tackled by Mr. T over by the door.

"Time will tell," he says, smiling. He turns when he gets to the door "Edward, no one's ever... I mean -"

"It's cool," I say shaking my head. Sappy has never been our thing; there's no need to start now.

"I'll see you around," I say as he's lead out of the room.

Even though Jake is pretty torn up, I think he'll be ok. If he can get the help he'll be ok. I hope.

I call Bella the second I get my phone back. She says she's fine, but I can hear the slight tremor in her voice. I suggest she call Esme to see what she's up to, hoping if she has a distraction, she won't be so scared alone.

Once I sit in the cab, I can't get away from the jail fast enough. That's not a place I want to go back to again. I hope Charlie really can help get Jake out.

When I get back in the room I find Bella curled up in bed watching something on T.V. I catch her up on Jake, telling her a little of how he was.

"I feel so bad for him," she says after I told her most of what happened.

"I do too. This could be the best thing if he can get help though,'' I say.

Bella chatters on about how Alice is head over heels for someone she had a coffee date with.

"Wait, didn't you say she was into Jasper?" I have a hard time keeping up with Alice and Bella's conversations.

"She was - is still - but he's worried about being professional, so he hasn't made any effort to be with her. I know she'd rather be with him. My case should be done soon, hopefully and then maybe they can see each other."

She catches me up on what Esme and Carlisle are up to. It's still kind of early but before long exhaustion takes over.

"What time do we leave tomorrow?" she asks curling into my side.

"We need to check out of here early and go straight to the train station," I say. One more stop then we're done with this. We can close this chapter and start our new lives. I just hope I can face my old hometown.

"What are you thinking about?" she asks quietly into the darkness, drawing circles on my bare chest with her fingers.

"I just feel like shit for what I did this morning. I'm sorry," I whisper, feeling her cuddle tighter into my side.

"We're both learning, Edward. It's over, okay?" She places a soft kiss under my jaw.

I lean down and kiss her forehead. We sit in silence before she asks again.

"What are you thinking about now?" I can feel her smile against my chest.

"Bend," I say.

"Are you nervous to go back?"

"Yeah," I say, surprising myself.

Normally I would shrug or brush the question off, but in the darkness of the room honesty slips from my lips.

"Does it help that I understand?" she whispers leaving a trail of goose bumps on my skin after brushing her lips against me.

"Yeah." This time it comes out in a sigh. I'll be facing things I've avoided for years tomorrow - my past, my mom and putting it all behind me.

There are no more words to exchange. If nothing else, in two days we'll be back home and able to start our new lives. In the comfort of the silence and each other, we both fall into a peaceful sleep.


The next chapter is in the works!

Oh, and Burgerville... yeah, if you haven't had it, find one and eat there. Best place ever! Just sayin'.

See you all in a week or two! Find me on twitter for updates kdc2239