All things Twilight belong to the awesome Stephenie Meyer, some subtle plot points in the beginning were inspired by V.C. Andrews the song and lyrics belong to the respective band and their record label and the rest is from my strange mind. The blog is umm behind again . . . sorry! I apologize for the delay! Happy Tuesday!

Whore Du Jour

Freeze without an answer
Free from all the shame
Then I'll hide
Cause I'll never
Never sleep alone
The Widow by The Mars Volta


Peter's cold hand came down hard over my mouth to stop the sound from escaping any more than it already had, but it was too late. I could hear my door being thrown open, the sound of the handle smashing against the drywall followed by hammering footfalls of someone as the came up the stairs two at a time.

I didn't know who it was, and at this point I didn't care. I just wanted him off me, away from me. I wanted to curl up into a ball and pretend none of this ever happened. I wanted to stop my mind from going down the 'what if' path. I couldn't think like that, not now, not when . . .

Peter disappeared from on top of me and I could see Emmett push him away, his face contorted with rage. I had never seen him like that before. Peter rushed forward again to try and get at me, but Emmett's long arm swung and his fist made contact with a dull thud sending Peter on his ass.

His eyes flickered between Emmett and I and I couldn't stop myself from pulling my legs up to my chest and huddling against the headboard to put more distance between us.

There was extra movement on the bed and my eyes flickered to the source as my body shuddered in terror.

Rosalie. It was just Rosalie.

Her arms opened and I scrambled to where she was. The shivering and shakes making my body impossible to control, and forcing me to crash into her with more force than I had originally intended.

"Get out of my fucking way, Emmett."

His voice, not his own, made my body shudder. They way he'd said "Mine" just seconds earlier echoed through my mind. I was hanging onto my sanity by a thread, fear and lethargy battled for dominance, but I couldn't let either take control. I had to be focused; I had to keep my mind sharp.

"Bella?" My dad's voice echoed up the stairs, the sound followed by his heavy footsteps. "Was that you screaming, I thought I heard . . . What the hell is going on here?"

He'd only just reached the top of the stairs but his steel gray eyes were scanning the scene before him. It wasn't hard to see that he was already processing the possibilities. Emmett had his hand firmly on Peter's shoulder keeping him down on the ground. Rosalie was still wrapped around me, her fingers working through my hair. Me, in my underwear because I was so tired.

I was an idiot.

"Someone say something," dad demanded. His eyes shifting from me to Emmett and then down to where Peter was being held down.

"Peter, he was . . ." Rosalie started, but couldn't. I was starting to believe she was just as overwhelmed by all of this as I was.

"He what?"

"He tried to . . . force himself, on Bella," Emmett finally choked out. I could see how difficult it was for him to say the words. He may not have got along with Peter, but he was still his brother.

It took a few seconds for the words to sink in; I could see the color draining from dad's face as the realization sunk in. He gripped the post at the top of the stairs and rocked on weak legs before his hardened eyes locked on Peter. In a breath he took off toward him, his cheeks flushing scarlet with anger as he closed in on his target.

Panic struck deep in my chest as I realized what was about to happen. He was only two steps away from reaching him when Emmett finally moved into action and caught dad in the chest, his thick arm catching dad's torso and hauling him back.

"He's not worth it, Carlisle," Emmett muttered. "Relax, he's not worth it."

"I want him out of the house. NOW!"

"Excuse me?"

All of us turned to the stairs where Tanya was stood in a soft, pink, satin robe. Her hair was twisted up onto her head, but her eyes were narrowed in anger. My room was beginning to feel smaller by the second.

"I. Want. Him. Out."

"Why?"

"Because he's a sick little pervert."

"Of all the . . ."

"He's telling the truth mom," Emmett interrupted. He looked down at his brother who was now rubbing his jaw where Emmett had smacked him. "He must have got into dad's stash again. He's fucked up."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Tanya fired, her head held high.

"Oh just stop it, mother. It's amazing we got this far with you and dad as parents. You know what goes on in that house. I know you remember the first time Peter found dad's shit, you complained about having to sit in the hospital for a week."

"Emmett –"

"What? You want me to stop talking so no one will know what a failure you are?"

"That's enough, Emmett. Even if Peter is high, why is that reason to throw him out? He needs help from us. Not to be turned away like a stray dog."

"I will not have him around my daughters. Not after what he did tonight," Dad barked out, stepping past Tanya and toward the bed.

Her cold eyes turned to me in accusation. I could almost see her mind working behind her eyes. Calculating another excuse so she could lay the blame anywhere other than at her feet.

"And what happened?"

"Your animal of a son tried to force himself on my daughter. You're lucky I don't call the police and press charges for attempted rape."

"Rape? Oh come on Carlisle. Your daughters are both sluts. I saw her outside with Edward Masen tonight. The way she was draped over him . . . the poor kid looked smothered."

I choked out a whimper at her choice of words. I knew she was up to something, but accusing me of starting this atrocity was too much. I couldn't do this; I couldn't be here and listen to this anymore. I refused to be accused of starting whatever Peter was trying to do. I refused to take the blame for being a victim. I refused to . . .

"Look at her. She's in her underwear for Christ's sake."

My cheeks flamed as I realized I was huddled into Rosalie in my bra and boy shorts. I'd thought about it earlier and chastised myself for it, but now – now I was humiliated as well as ashamed of myself.

"So?" Rosalie piped up. I could hear the anger in her voice. "I sleep in my underwear too, are you saying I would deserve to be attacked in my own bed while I was asleep because I couldn't be assed to put pajamas on?"

"Why are you even here?" Tanya snapped, her cold eyes moving the mere inches to Rosalie's face.

"Don't you dare, mom," Emmett cut in.

Everything was being blown into a huge mess around me. I hadn't said a word, I couldn't I was still too dazed at what had happened; yet this whole this was escalating into a huge mess in front of me and I was helpless to stop it. I needed to get out of here, and it needed to be soon. My stomach was rolling uncomfortable and I could only assume I was hurting Rosalie with the way I was clinging to her.

"Rose, can I stay at your house tonight? Please?" I whispered, another uncontrollable shake rattling my bones.

"Of course, Bella," she cooed, pulling the throw blanket up from the bottom of the bed and wrapping it around me. She coaxed my fingers from where I was clinging to the too big shirt she was wearing and slowly worked me to my wobbly legs.

"Bella, your wrists," dad shouted, stepping forward and making me shrink back. I couldn't explain my behavior, but I saw the pain shoot through his eyes. "May I see, please?"

I nodded, and held out my wrist for him to examine. His warm hands were gentle as he held them tentatively, his fingers prodding gently along the red marks that were still bright and angry.

"No breaks or fractures, but you'll have some bruises there. Does anywhere else hurt?"

I shook my head. I didn't want him to see my thighs that were still aching from Peter's knees digging into them. The humiliation of having bruises on my wrists was enough.

"I'll come get you tomorrow, you me and Izzy will go to lunch while Peter's dad comes and gets his things."

"Yes, sir."

"Thanks, Rose," Dad mumbled before turning back to Tanya, who was holding Peter's chin in her hands.

Rose guided me away, but it didn't seem to stop the unfolding of the dramatics. Tanya wouldn't let this go. Dad was trying to protect us; she was trying to protect her claim on dad's money. It was obvious in her next question.

"I can't believe you hit him, Carlisle. You do realize what this means don't you?"

"I hit him, mother, Emmett snapped. It was the last thing I heard clearly as Rosalie guided me into the closet and pulled the door closed behind us.

"You okay? You've barely strung a sentence together since we found you."

"Shaken up," I mumbled, covering my eyes with my hand. "I was out of it, Rose. I'd just put dad to bed and thrown out all the liquor bottles. I was mentally and physically exhausted. I just wanted to sleep. I didn't think I just . . . I just . . ."

I tried to swallow the tears. I managed to keep them at bay for this long I wasn't ready to let go of them just yet.

"Like I said, Bells, I do it all the time. Don't let that witch get to you. She's grasping at straws. She'll say anything to shift the blame onto someone else. You did nothing wrong. This is your room. Your house. You're supposed to feel safe and comfortable here; your room is your sanctuary. Lets get you some clothes so we can get the hell out of here."

"Thanks, Rose," I sniffed; her words were reassuring to me. I had been going back and forth over what happened and I still couldn't understand it.

"Hey, I'm your hag remember," she said, winking. "You can come to me for anything."

I dressed quickly in sweats and pulled some things into a bag for the next day before letting Rosalie lead me out back out into the war zone that was my room.

Rosalie passed Emmett and reached for his hand squeezing it gently before letting it go, when his eyes met mine I could see the silent apology lingering there and I wished I had time to ease him of the guilt he was so obviously feeling. Emmett wasn't Peter's keeper, he wasn't his parent and he had no control over Peter's actions. I hated that he had to suffer unnecessary guilt because of this.

Rosalie drove like a bat out of hell and hauled me up to her room without having to stop to give explanations. I loved her room; it reminded me of the first night I'd come to live here. It felt like a million years ago now, but in reality it was a few short months. The only new addition was the pictures of our small group on every available surface. Her bed was huge just like mine, and she fell into the middle of it with a sigh.

"That was intense."

"Don't remind me." I fell down beside her and covered my eyes with my forearm.

"You realize Edward is going to kick his ass right?"

I groaned. There was no hiding this from Edward, or Leah or anyone really and I was just too tired to think about how blown out of proportion this would all get. Add to that the terror if Peter still showed up at school on Monday and you had my living and breathing worst nightmare.

"It's only because he wants to protect you," Rosalie said gently, patting the top of my head. "No need to get upset."

"It's not that. It's everything. What if Peter shows up on Monday? God, what about when Leah finds out? Things are going to get so complicated."

"Yeah well I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of Leah's wrath, but she's your best friend, you, her and Alice have become my girl world, so please, don't ask me to lie to her, she will beat it out of me."

"You won't have to. She'll know something's wrong the next time she talks to me. Don't ask me how she does it. I asked her once and she said I breathed funny."

Rosalie snorted and I took my arm from my eyes.

"Is it bad I just want this all to go away?"

"No, I get it," Rose answered thoughtfully. "But it needs to be addressed. It was lucky Emmett wanted to go to your house in the first place; he was worried about you after Edward said you'd insisted on staying there. Who knows what would have . . ."

"Oh no, please don't."

"Sorry."

"No, it's fine, I just. I can't think about that."

"I understand. Why don't we try and get some sleep? Maybe things will be a little easier to process if you're not so tired?"

"Maybe, I just . . ."

"Let's just lie down and talk then?"

I nodded and shifted to the side of the bed I would be sleeping on. It felt so weird to be lying down in a bed after everything that had happened and I had to fight to stop the panic from sending me into hyperventilation. I hated that I felt this way, that I was letting this affect me so deeply.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" Rosalie asked, absently playing with the ends of my hair.

"Will you tell me how you and Emmett decided to become a couple?" I asked, turning my head to look at her.

"Really?"

"You've never said before. It was just one day you were holding hands and inseparable."

"We talked," she started, her fingers combing through my hair as she thought. "It started after you talked to him, which I told you not to, but was glad you did . . ."

Rosalie continued talking and playing with my hair. I tried to give her my full attention, but her fingers were tugging at a memory in the back of my mind. I must have been around eight. Leah and her family had gone to Astroworld in Houston for the weekend. I was invited but Renée had supposed to be coming to visit. The Clearwater's had only been gone for five hours when Renée called to say she couldn't make it.

I'd thrown a tempter tantrum and then broken down and cried, not because I had missed out on a weekend of fun, but because my mother hadn't wanted to see me. Mamére had known, like she always had in her wise way. I sat on the couch with her as she tried to tell me about my mother's free nature, but I couldn't listen because I was so hurt, instead I focused on her fingers combing through my hair, the strands tugging gently at my subconscious until I drifted into the inky darkness of sleep.

Hands clamping down on my ankle made me sit up screaming in terror.

Then I stopped.

The room was flooded with the muted light of the winter sun. If it hadn't been for the light I wouldn't have thought I'd slept at all, but I had, and now I'd managed to alert the entire house to my presence and wake Rosalie up at the same time.

"Shh, it's okay Bella it's just me. It's Rosalie."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"No it's fine. I was dozing anyway. Your dad called about an hour ago, and asked me to wake you up around noon so he could come get you."

"What time is it?"

Rosalie turned, her white blonde hair slapping me in the face as she checked.

"Eleven forty-five."

"I should probably take a shower. Should I go explain to your parents about the scream?"

"No need. They came in at ten this morning and asked if I wanted to go antiquing with them. I don't think my parents know me at all."

I laughed. It was a short genuine burst of laughter, but it didn't last long. "Thanks, Rose."

"What for?"

"Being here for me. Being my friend. Helping me sleep last night."

"Bella, you're one of my best friends. I said it last night and I will say it again and again every time you thank me, I am here whenever you need me."

I threw my arms around her and she reciprocated. Not saying a word. It was what I needed in that moment and she seemed to know it. I pulled back and grinned at her.

"Oh and Leah called. I dodged that bullet and let it go to voicemail."

Leah. I couldn't not tell her what was going on, but time was running out. Dad would be here with Izzy soon and I had to get ready. I should have called her last night but it had been after one in the morning when Rosalie and I had arrived here.

"I'll call her when I get home. That's going to be a conversation that will take more than thirty minutes."

"I figured. You go take a shower and I'll call Emmett and let him know what's going on."

"Is he okay?"

Rosalie offered me a sympathetic smile and patted me on the back gently. "He's fine, just worried about you. He feels responsible because you egged him to come home last night and he very nearly didn't."

"He can't blame himself."

"I already told him that. He knows but it doesn't change anything. Emmett is Emmett, you know that just as well as I do."

I nodded, but knew I would have to talk to him anyway. I wouldn't let him feel guilty for something he couldn't control.

~oOo~

Dad and Izzy showed up at exactly twelve-thirty and I was glad I was up early enough to take a shower.

With everything that had happened I had forgotten Izzy. Did she know? Had she been told? The look she gave me when I got in the car told me she'd been informed of everything. She looked . . . sorry?

"How are you feeling this morning, Bella?"

"Better thank you. I managed to get some sleep."

"Marcus came to get Peter last night but came back to get Pete's stuff, so we're vacating the house for a while. He and Tanya don't tend to agree on much."

"Who does agree with Tanya?" Izzy piped in.

"Izzy . . ."

"Please don't defend her dad. I heard what she said last night," Izzy turned around to look at me in the back seat. "I heard the commotion and was eavesdropping. Figured it was better to stay out of it. Tanya doesn't like hearing my thoughts on anything."

So that was how she knew. I guess I couldn't blame her for staying away. I don't think I would have wanted to
walk in on that mess either.

"How the hell could she blame Bella? Peter has always creeped her out. Everyone knows that."

"Because she can't accept she's a bad mother," I snapped before I had time to stop myself.

Izzy threw her head back and laughed, but I could see the cringe in dad's face through the mirror.

"I'm sorry," I sighed. "I just can't forget what Emmett said last night. Do you really think Peter was on drugs?"

Izzy's laughter died immediately. Maybe I should have just kept my mouth shut.

"Oh he was," dad said, his eyes flickering to the mirror. "I didn't need a drug test to tell me that. Marcus wasn't too happy either."

"Marcus?"

"Peter's dad."

"Is that why Tanya left him?"

Izzy laughed bitterly and turned in her seat so she could see me. "No. She left because he was broke. She's a money grabbing whore who uses sex and her children to trap men."

"Elizabeth Cullen."

"What? It's the truth."

Dad sighed. The sound was morose and filled with frustration. Izzy seemed to know she'd crossed the line so she sat back in her chair and maintained her silence. It felt strange to be going to lunch after everything that had happened. Izzy didn't even seem bothered by it all. I wasn't sure if that was because this was another step in the direction of getting rid of Tanya, or she really just didn't care. I couldn't get a read on her.

The silence we'd accomplished in the car seemed to follow us into the restaurant. The only word any of us spoke was to order. It felt oddly detached from realty, like a bad dream that wouldn't go away. It hung unspoken between us. I knew Izzy had questions. That was obvious after she slid down in her chair and watched every move I made.

"Doctor Cullen," a voice said from behind me. "How very nice to see you again. You probably don't remember me but . . ."

"No, Mrs. Dupont, how could I forget you?" Dad offered with a warm smile. "How is Sophia, she must be going on thirteen now?"

I could see why he had such a good reputation. Seeing him talking to someone he had probably only operated on once and he still knew her name. I didn't think there were many doctors out there who could do that anymore.

"Are these your girls? Their positively beautiful."

Dad beamed, his pride swelled his chest and brought out the smile I had missed these past couple of weeks. He nodded happily and launched into the story of how I was found, when I was never really lost.

"He was high on Cocaine, and he'd taken an acid tab. He should be dead."

"What?" I asked turning from the conversation dad was having.

"Peter, he was mixing his narcotics."

"Please, don't say his name right now."

"Oh don't be such a fucking drama queen Bella," Izzy hissed under her voice, leaning forward with a plastic smile in place. "You were a game to him, one he was determined to win. He doesn't seem to like the word no. How do you think he and I ended up . . ."

"Stop it," I hissed through my teeth, my head turning so we were almost nose-to-nose. "He came into my room while I was sleeping, he tried to force himself on me when I very clearly said no. Did he do that to you?"

"Don't flatter yourself, Bella. He was trying to get back at me."

"You're so sick."

"Whatever you say sister dearest."

"Oh they're so sweet together," Mrs. Dupont crowed from behind me, pulling both Izzy and I out of our stare down.

"Thank you," dad smiled, placing his hand on my shoulder. His smile faltered as he realized how shaky I was. My whole body was trembling under his hand as the anger coursed through my body. I didn't care about the reasoning behind Peter's actions; I didn't care who he thought I was or what he was trying to prove. He did what he did, and he wouldn't have stopped. I was the one haunted by the look in his eyes. I was the one with the nightmares.

Dad politely excused himself from the conversation with Mrs. Dupont and said his goodbyes. The moment she was out of earshot he crouched down beside me at the table and took my hand in his.

"Bella, are you okay? You're shaking."

"I'm fine, I don't think I got as much sleep as I thought I did," I lied, offering a weak smile. What I wanted was to get away from everyone. I wanted to see Edward. Since everything had happened it felt like it had been days rather one that I had seen him. I craved the safety I felt when I was with him. I knew that something was wrong not feeling safe around my dad, and I felt guilty about it, but up until yesterday he'd been flat out drunk and ignoring everything going on around him. He would have never heard my scream last night.

I somehow managed to make it through lunch, although I couldn't really say I'd eaten much. I succeeded in pushing the food around my plate, as Izzy inhaled her food next to me. She even went as far as to order desert while chatting happily at dad.

I should have been hurt by Izzy's words earlier, I should have been angry, but it was classic Izzy. A reaction was exactly what she wanted. Her convoluted mind probably believed I had been trying to steal Peter from her. I hadn't trusted her, even when things were great, so this really didn't feel like the betrayal it should have.

Dad's mood was lighter since his run in with Mrs. Dupont. In some way the validation of his little family had pleased him. I think it was the first time the three of us had been out alone and I couldn't even concentrate on the progress we'd made since I had arrived.

"Whose car is that?" Izzy asked, leaning forward and eyeing the white car that had an emblem that looked like a trident on the front.

"What kind of car is that?" I asked.

"It's a Maserati, and it's Marcus'."

Dad threw the car in park and got out, holding his hand up to stop us from following. "Girls, stay here."

"You're kidding right?"

"Izzy, now is not the time to . . ."

"If you seriously want away from the bitch, you kids walking in on this would be great in court."

"Stop it, Elizabeth."

Izzy rolled her eyes, her hands planting on her hips. I stepped up next to her and watched dad make his way toward the house on his own.

"We're not staying here, are we?" I said quietly, already knowing the answer.

"You can do what you want," Izzy snapped marching forward. "But I know her, No one's home, what do you think she's doing?"

I stayed on the spot. Did I follow? Did I get in my car and go to Edward's?

Izzy threw a look back at me with her eyebrows raised in question, and against my better judgment, I followed.

We caught up with dad quickly, staying behind him and taking off our shoes as we entered the house. I don't even think he realized we were there as he made his way to the front of the house. We got to the bottom of the stairs quickly, but a breathy sound flowed from the living room giving away the locale of our wicked stepmother and her ex-husband.

Izzy was the first to make a move, spinning on her heel and tiptoeing toward the door, I followed next, wondering what the hell I was doing. The moment I reached the entrance to the room I froze. Tanya was on her knees on the couch, her dress up around her waist as the guy behind her kept working.

The silence of the room ensured we heard exactly what they were doing.

It was like a car wreck; you couldn't look away if you wanted to. I knew what Izzy saw, a way out from having to live with this monster. I knew what dad saw, his wife blatantly cheating on him in his own living room. I didn't know what I saw. Was it simply sex? Raw and brutal. Or was it this woman literally throwing away the lifestyle she'd always wanted for a quick fuck with her ex?

"What a whore. I told you daddy, I told you she was a whore."

The room suddenly shifted as the two on the couch jumped into action. You could almost see Tanya's mind working and failing to come up with an excuse. The man she was with, the man that had Emmett's build and Peter's nose, simply smirked.

"Get the fuck out of my house and take her with you," dad growled from behind me.

"Carlisle," Tanya implored, her dress falling down and covering her up. "Please, I . . ."

"I said get the fuck out of my house. You will be hearing from my lawyer in the morning."

Marcus McCarty stepped forward, but instinctively Izzy and I stepped in front of our dad. Marcus laughed, his eyes moving over the two of us.

"At least it makes sense now," Marcus drawled, his thick southern accent rolling from his tongue with ease.

"Get the fuck out. NOW."

Izzy smirked at Tanya but held her tongue as the two made their way to the door.

"I'm going to get some of my . . ."

"No, you're leaving with nothing, exactly the way you came into this marriage," Dad snapped uncharacteristically.

Tanya didn't argue she followed her ex-husband out of the house without looking back once.

A/N: Ding Dong the Witch is dead, the mean old witch, the wicked witch, ding dong the wicked with is Dead! Yes, I believe we just saw Tanya get that boot out of the house and was told do not pass go! Do not collect $200, just Leave ya hoe! Ahem Sorry!

It seems Izzy hasn't lost her touch or her snark!

Thanks to Annabanana, my wonderful beta, she's been having web problems, so I will re-upload when I get the beta'd version! I apologize for the many Punctuation and Grammar mistakes ;)

Miztrezboo, Bendingmirrors, Hev99 and Newmoonaholic! I love you guys and I am so glad we're friends. I am honored to have you guys in my life, even if you do slap me upside the head and tell me when I am being a moron!

Thank you to everyone who reviews. You guys keep me smiling and your thoughts and reactions always keep me on my toes. I know I say this every week but you guys are awesome and I love you! And I seriously think your the best reviewers/readers on this site! SO thank you for sticking with me! Only 7 more to go!

Much love and huge hugs ~Weezy~