Sometime in June (this year) there was an alleged interview of Stephenie Meyer posted on the net, and the question was about the publication of Midnight Sun. Sadly, she said she's not motivated enough to write the second part of Midnight Sun. (Wasn't there a petition before? Signed by 1 million of Edward Cullen fans?)

Chapter38/Breaking (or Broken Part1)

It was a fucking busy tone. Again. One continuous, eternal, busy tone.

I stomped out of the house, my limbs heavy with frustration, and in a thoroughly juvenile action I threw my fucking useless iPhone away. Then I stopped and forced my anger down and under control.

I eyed my newly-delivered Volvo, calculating the speed I had to be in to get to her condo real fast. I was about to jump in my car when my phone started ringing, and I looked for the goddamned thing. I was momentarily distracted with the thought that this fucking unit was indeed, built packed that throwing it with vigor wouldn't break it.

"Hello?" I snapped at the receiver without looking who the caller was.

"Mr. Cullen? This is Beth from Dr. Weisberger's office. I'm to remind you of yours and Ms. Swan's appointment for this weekend? It's for 11am."

"Thank you." Now I have an excuse to go to her.

I took Bella to Renee's place three days ago. I stayed for as long as I could until her mother's not so subtle hints forced me to leave. I left but only after reminding Bella – for the 100th time – to make sure her cellphone was attached to her self at all times.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I promised her. Our goodbye kiss was short and hurried and it left me unsatisfied.

I haven't talked to her since. I tried to establish regular communication without acting like a stalker (if I was I'd be standing under her window every night). I dropped her text messages daily and would call at least twice a day. I knew Bella wasn't the typical girl whose mobile was linked to her hand and mouth, but fuck she should at least reply to one fucking text and answer my fucking calls!

I clenched my teeth, still standing at the entrance of the garage. In three strides I was in the car and out of the driveway in a heart beat. My phone rings again. This time it was my mother.

"Edward, I hear your tires screeching from where I'm standing in the bedroom. Slow down," she said calmly. I eased my foot on the gas.

"Sorry, I'll be careful."

"We'll see you and Bella at dinner?"

"I'm going to her now, Mom."

It wasn't a yes or a no and it was telling Esme that I still was not able to talk to Bella after she had left the house.

"Drive safely." She sighed and cut the line.

I echoed her sigh and restrained my natural instinct to drive until the speedometer was pointing to near 100 miles per hour.

I tried calling Bella again so she would know I was arriving in 45 minutes. Nothing. What if Renee disconnected her line and she didn't even know about it? Or, maybe they'd fucking left the state, or the country! The only way her mother could manage that was by drugging Bella and transporting her like a mental patient. Hell it sounded stupid, even to me, but I was getting paranoid.

I inhaled deeply, punching her floor number. The fucking elevators couldn't move fast enough.

She hurled herself at me as soon as the door was opened and I breathed a sigh of relief. My hands roamed her upper body to check for damage. Yeah, I know. I'm fucking paranoid.

"I called you," I whispered against her neck. She tightened her arms around my own neck and let out a ragged breath.

"I'm sorry." She peppered kisses all over my face. We were still in the hallway.

"Sweetie, bring Edward inside," Renee reminded her.

Bella dragged me in and was walking straight to her bedroom when her mother stopped her.

"Bella, I'd like to talk to Edward, please? I hope you don't mind?"

She gripped my hand harder and we sat down on the sofa, facing her mother. In the light of day, the living room seemed smaller, and since the blinds were blanketing the big windows, it wasn't as bright as it should be.

"Renee." I forced my tone to be friendly.

"How are you, Edward?"

We were both tentative and circled around boring small talk. I used the time to observe Bella.

She looked the same but somehow different. Her eyes seemed tired, droopy. Her skin was still pale but underneath her eyes, there was a faint bluish tinge, as if she had not been sleeping properly.

"I'm taking Bella to dinner tonight, with my family," I told Renee and I couldn't help it, my stance was a little defensive, daring her to say no.

"Oh, of course, she'd love that. Wouldn't you, sweetie?"

Bella bit her lower lip and slowly nodded. I placed my arm around her shoulders. She leaned closer to me and mumbled about the party. I understood and squeezed her shoulders in assurance.

"And, Renee, my mother and sister are hosting a party this Saturday. Bella is invited." I paused and left unspoken words in the air. I wasn't trying to snob her, but I asked my mother to extend her own invitation to Renee since it was her party after all.

"Lovely," she said, pasting a bright smile on her face. I also informed Renee of Bella's and my appointment with the psycho-therapist soon, it was in fact one of my reasons for being here.

"Well now, I'm sure you two want to be alone." She held out her hand to me. "It was nice seeing you again, Edward." She turned her cheek and I obligingly gave her a barely-there peck.

Bella stood up and once again, dragged me to the direction of her bedroom.

I sat on her small bed and watched her stand still near the door, her ear flat against the wood, listening.

"What are you doing, Bella?"

"Oh. Nothing." She perched herself on my lap and gave me a shy, nervous smile. "I missed you."

I cupped her face and brought her lips to mine, and I felt whole again. I gathered her body closer and I moved to the center of the bed, my back comfortably resting against her headboard. I nuzzled her cheek, breathing her sweet scent.

"I text you everyday, call you everyday." I schooled my tone to something less accusatory. But the truth was that I was hurt that she had ignored me for three days.

She looked away and was silent, and has started to chew her lower lip again.

"Where's your phone, Bella?"

Now she was biting her nails. "I lost it."

And a dark suspicion, which earlier was just anxious speculation, was forming. "It was disconnected."

"No!" she burst out. She sat up and was facing me fully. "No, Edward. I lost my phone. It was my fault."

"When did you last see it?"

She frowned. "I'm not sure. In the kitchen?"

"When?"

"The next morning I was here."

I sighed. I didn't tell her that when I was calling her line, all I get was continuous busy tone, the kind one get when a line was temporarily disabled.

And then she tried to smile and leaned closer to me, her lips brushing against mine. "I didn't get your texts or calls. And I was worried."

"Bella, you should've known I'd be calling you," I chided her gently. "Didn't you wonder why you haven't heard from me in three damn days?"

"I thought you were busy."

I dropped the subject. It wasn't important anymore. I decided to get her a new phone and a new line.

I glanced at my watch. We had four more hours until we should be at the restaurant.

"Would you like to leave now, Bella?" I wanted to take her somewhere where there would be more privacy.

She eagerly nodded yes. In 20 minutes we were out of the building.

We drove aimlessly around until our direction hit the borders of Oak Street Beach. She squealed excitedly when she saw the ocean line.

We parked in one of the quaint little cafes along Lake Shore Drive. We rented blankets and took our milk chocolate shakes outside in the little park.

Bella told me what she had been doing for the last three days.

"She took me with her everywhere. She shopped, bought me clothes and then every night we would go out."

"What did you talk about?" I asked and fucked me if I wasn't feeling jealous. Of her own fucking mother!

"You," she said, perplexed.

Not fucking surprised.

"What did you tell her about me?"

She blushed, looking away.

"Bella?" I raised a brow at her, giving her a slanted smile.

"She asked me if you were my boyfriend."

"And?"

"I said yes." Then, hurriedly, "she asked me if we were sleeping together and I said yes. She … she told me I could get pregnant and that I shouldn't because of my genes and I -"

That got my attention and I couldn't believe her mother's insensitivity. "Your what?"

"Well, she's right. My baby's going to be sick, too," she said in a broken voice.

I took her milkshake and laid us down on the blanket. Her head was on my chest and I kissed her head. I tried to control my agitated breathing.

"Listen to me, Bella," I said and I was thankful my voice was relatively calm. "We were careful and I won't get you with child." She expelled a breath and I continued, "And, sweetheart? Any child of yours will be healthy and as beautiful as you are, believe me. Not sick as your mother so asininely puts it."

"I was scared," she whispered. "I don't want my baby to be like me."

Words, especially dejected words coming from Bella's lips, could cause physical pain.

My parents chose one of the newest Mediterranean restaurants in town. We haven't dined here yet as a family. Everyone was already at the table when we arrived. My brother and sister joined us for dinner.

I looked at my brother with a silent inquiry. I called Emmett earlier and requested that he purchased Bella a phone and to enroll a new line for her. He gave me a thumbs up as soon as we were near the table and I smiled.

My mother and Alice both got up to give Bella a hug. My father and Emmett greeted her warmly as well. I tolerated my brother's slightly enthusiastic peck on her cheek.

"You look very nice, dear," Mom told Bella.

It was a pleasant table. My family was at its best when they wanted to convey welcome to a precious guest. Even my father, who I often felt was against Bella moving in with us for good, was very charming and genuinely friendly to her.

It didn't take long for my mother and Alice to bring the conversation around to the coming party, which was in four days.

Alice was sitting beside Bella and I shamelessly eavesdropped on their conversation. She seemed to be consulting my sister about clothing.

"You could wear the dark blue short dress, you know, the one with the crisscrossed back straps?"

She kind of looked unhappy with her suggestion and I could only assume that the dress was too revealing for my demure Bella.

Alice noticed. "Or, we could go out tomorrow and find something else."

"I really don't want to buy a new dress, Alice," she said. "I have more than enough."

"Oh! I know, come around the house early on Saturday and I'd lend you one of mine. It should be great, Bella. Say yes!"

I thought this was a brilliant idea. It would also give us extra private time before the party. In my room.

"I'll pick you up after lunch, Bella," I quickly butt in, forgetting to mask my nosiness.

We were lingering in the lobby, neither of us wanted to separate yet. Bella was sitting very close to me almost in my lap on a loveseat, our heads pressed close together, whispering.

"Wish you were coming home with me."

"Just 26 more days," she breathed the words against my neck and I shivered.

I gazed around the almost empty lobby, looking for a damned broom closet or something. My eyes intercepted the wily grin of the night doorman.

I sighed and decided to put a temporary end to my masochistic tendencies and escorted Bella to her door.

Yeah.

Twenty-six fucking days.

On the day before the party, my stress level has about reached its limit. It was, technically, Bella's sixth day living with her mom.

Several times during the last two days I found myself cutting across Washington Park Square on my way to Number Eight-oh-Thirty, Bella's building. But desperate as I was, I didn't give in to it, although my protective instincts were screaming at me and giving me "the finger" every day.

I didn't get the chance to see her again after our dinner with the family. I would call but she could only talk very briefly. I text her but she rarely replies. Apparently, Renee brings her along every where she goes.

Today was different. This time, it was late morning and I was standing outside of her building. I was across the street, opting to park my own car instead of valet.

I was about to walk towards the entrance when the huge glass doors opened and there was Bella and her mother.

My feet didn't move but my focus zeroed in on her.

Renee clutched Bella's arm - and I grind my teeth because it was a little too rough from where I was standing - and they walked hurriedly down the pavement. A black sedan was waiting for them and they quickly got inside the car before I could call their attention.

In that brief look I had of her, I scanned her features and I saw enough. She was sickly pale and even at this distance, I could see the defined bruise-like appearance of the skin under her eyes.

I stared blankly forward and a plan began to form in my head.

***a/n

Broken Part 2 up next.