Chapter 19

Edward POV

I knelt on the floor, listening intently to the conversation going on below with my head in my hands. Every part of my being wanted to go and comfort her, and it took everything I had to stay put.

I knew now that Bella blamed herself completely for everything we had done, but once she realized that it was entirely my fault… Well, I couldn't bear to think of what would happen.

There was a knock at my door and I heard Jasper's thoughts. May I come in, Edward?

"Yes," I managed to say, even though I didn't want to talk about how I was feeling. Then, just as he was opening the door, I realized my position would alert him only further to the truth of it. Standing up, I succeeded in standing in what I thought was a casual position.

He glanced at me, at the floor, and back, and I realized immediately through his thoughts that he had seen me stand so abruptly when he'd entered. I looked at the floor in shame.

He put his hand on my shoulder. "I think you need to talk to Dad about it."

I was about to object, but I saw in his thoughts that he would be obliged to tell Carlisle sooner or later anyway.

With a mild glare that he returned with a sympathetic smile, I nodded and stubbornly walked to Carlisle's office.

"Dad?" I called softly outside the door. "Do you have a minute?"

"Of course, Edward."

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and entered the room. Soft classical music was playing in the background, and it took a moment for me to recognize my own compositions. He gestured towards the seat across from his desk.

When I was seated, he leaned towards me with folded fingers. "I suppose you are here… concerning Bella?"

I nodded, looking down at the floor again. Within seconds, he lifted my chin so that my eyes met his. He didn't let go as he looked at me closely.

Guilt, fear, and anxiety. That's all I see. Care to elaborate? He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands thoughtfully.

"Bella…" I began, and my eyes instantly wandered everywhere but on him.

Eyes on me, Edward.

Returning my gaze to him, I continued, "Bella's… condition. It's my—"

He stood up before I could continue. "Don't say any more, Edward."

"But Dad!" I felt the pain I had been holding in appear on my face. "It's the truth."

He sat back down and shook his finger at me. "Listen, son. You made a choice that you thought was best at the time. But can't you see that we've already forgiven you, and that Bella has already forgiven you with her choice to put the blame on herself?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but he continued on. "We can all play that game. As you know, Alice blames me for listening to you. I'm the one in charge and I chose to follow your wishes. I certainly didn't have to. You can blame Alice for not seeing Bella's condition sooner. You can blame Jasper for nearly attacking Bella on her birthday. You can blame—"

"Stop," I finally said, my head in my hands. "Can't you see? You followed my wishes! Alice did too! Jasper… Well, if I hadn't fell in love with a human, do you think any of this would have happened? The pain I caused you and Esme and Alice and Emmett when I demanded that we leave…"

"Edward! All is forgiven! Yes, you've done wrong, but those days are behind you! You and Bella are so alike. Before we can move on, the first thing that you must do is forgive yourself!"

I took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right."

Aren't I always? he teased.

"You know what, Dad, from this moment forth, I forgive myself. I need to be strong for Bella."

An understanding smile appeared on his face and he patted my shoulder appreciatively.

Rosalie POV

I watched Esme make Bella breakfast from the kitchen doorway. Bella's back was to me, but Esme saw me in her peripheral vision and gave me encouraging nods. I swallowed my pride and approached Bella.

"Bella?"

She turned towards me on the stool. Her expression was cautious but curious. I still couldn't believe how she looked. She appeared to be so different from the Bella we'd known a few months ago. Her hair was cropped short and her face was blotchy from her most recent breakdown. Her clothes were loose about her; her arm was loosely wrapped around her torso, a mark of the pain that we would never fully understand. This was the first time I had gotten to look at her so closely; all of her time had been occupied by the others.

I thought about what Carlisle had said to me.

Rosalie, I think that you should know that upon examination of Bella while you were away, I have seen many similarities between her condition and the one you were in when I found you. The physical severity of yours is equivalent to the emotional severity of hers.

Since Carlisle saved me from my…attack, and changed me, I've had trouble trusting people. Somehow, of all the people in my life, the single person I trusted completely, besides Emmett, was Carlisle. It was thoughtful of him to think of me while he was so worried about Bella. If he took time to say this to me, I knew he meant it.

I looked into Bella's eyes. Aside from the immense physical changes, I could suddenly see her emotional pain in clarity. Carlisle was right.

I knew what this was like. I could help her…if she'd let me.

I grimaced, thinking about the two times since her arrival that she'd begged for my wrath. Please, Rosalie, tell me what a horrible person I am. This is what I need right now. Just kill. Me. Now. If that wasn't a demonstration of what she thought about how I felt about her, I didn't know what was.

Would she even accept my friendship? Would she accept me as a sister? I was suddenly hesitant.

All of this contemplation took place in less than a second. There was no more time to waste.

I stopped a few feet in front of Bella. "May I have a word with you?"

She blinked a couple times before nodding shyly.

Esme had finished preparing Bella's breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast. Without thinking, I reached forward and asked, "May I?"

Esme beamed. "Certainly." She handed me the food and disappeared from the room.

I looked at Bella. "You don't mind if…" I said, gesturing towards the plate.

She automatically shook her head 'no' and I prepared a forkful for her to eat.

After she had taken her first bite, I began to explain. "Bella, I'm sorry for being so horrible to you. Before I really get into this, I thought you should know… I love you as a sister, and I have since the day Edward brought you here, and since Alice told me what you were to become."

Her mouth opened a little in surprise, but she quickly caught herself and continued to chew and swallow. I prepared another bite, but before she took it, she hastened to speak. "Rosalie, I feel the same way. And I'm not just saying that." She sniffled a little and I saw a few tears begin to appear in her eyes. "I know you didn't hate me. I actually thought… that if I had a big sister… What I mean is… the way you acted, I knew was just that. An act. You were just being the big sister I'd always wanted. I love you too."

I smiled hugely at her words. I was very happy with this new bit of information, but I was also a little frightened by the tone of her voice, though I tried to hide it. She just sounded so much different; it was really upsetting. Her light and playful voice was long gone, replaced with a quiet monotone, careful and sad.

As she ate the next bite, I began to talk to her about my past.

"Bella, there's something you should know about me." I told her all about my human life. About how it was perfect, and how all I ever wanted was a house and a family to call my own. It would've been so easy to get. I told her about how my beauty was all my parents ever cared about. I told her about my engagement with Royce, the most eligible bachelor around. I told her about how he took advantage of me. About how Carlisle found me, to him a child that he had watched grow up, and how I felt after he'd changed me. I'd thought I was alone.

"But I feel differently now," I assured her. "I accept Carlisle as my father and the rest of them as my family. I just needed some time to adjust. Oh!" I'd forgotten about feeding her. I quickly prepared another bite, which she took without hesitation, so absorbed in my story.

"So… What I mean to say is that I know how you feel," I said with a smile, taking her hands in mine. "And you can tell me anything."

Her face glowed with happiness, and she even sat up a little straighter in confidence. She just looked so…glad that I had finally accepted her, that she had someone to confide in fully, someone who understood.

At that moment, my phone vibrated as I received a text message. It was from Alice.

I just had a vision. Charlie is on his way here, looking for Bella. Make sure she doesn't find out. Keep talking to her. You're doing great. A.

Carlisle POV

I heard the rumble of an engine as it travelled down our three-mile driveway. Everything was prepared. Rosalie had taken Bella safely to her and Emmett's room to talk more. I knew for sure that the appearance of Charlie would only cause Bella further anguish.

I didn't have a plan for what I was going to do when Charlie arrived. All I knew was that he was going to leave.

How dare he come here after what he'd done to Bella? I couldn't believe that he had abandoned her in the first place, but the brutality was… I stifled the growl that was building in my chest. I wanted to tear him to pieces for touching my daughter.

I heard a door close and the gravel crunch outside as Charlie approached the house. So as only to cause a minor disruption, I met him outside. Edward, Esme, Jasper, Emmett, and Alice followed at a short distance.

"Where's Bella?" demanded Charlie immediately. "I know she's here. And don't bother lying to me again. I'll have you arrested for kidnapping faster than you can say—"

"She's not here." I didn't mind lying because, besides our vampire strength, my family had the money and the resources to solve any problem that crossed our path.

"Listen, Doctor Cullen," he said sarcastically. "She's here. I know it. So you'd better give her to me—"

I felt the anger that had been growing inside me fog my vision. Jasper placed a calming hand on my shoulder, but I shook it off.

I approached Charlie slowly. "You will never lay a finger on my daughter again, is that clear?"

He blinked a couple of times in confusion before comprehension dawned on him. "She's my daughter, and I can do whatever I want!" he yelled, taking a step closer to me.

I shook my head with a malicious smirk on my face. "I'm afraid she isn't any longer. Not only is she in my custody, but she is also eighteen years old and has chosen to stay."

Charlie took the remaining steps forward and punched me in the face, using all of his strength.

"OUCH!" he yelled in pain.

"You harmed my daughter," I said slowly, and images of Bella's bruised body appeared in my mind.

Charlie stepped back, rubbing his hand and looking frightened at the venom in my voice. His eyes held no remorse for what he had done.

That was what lit the fire.

I flew at Charlie, every ounce of self-control vanished. Emmett collided with me mid-spring and held me back from returning to my attack.

Charlie looked at me for a moment before shrugging his shoulders.

"Fine. You can have her," he said carelessly as he turned and walked back to his cruiser.

I was frozen in place for a few seconds before finally accepting this as real. I couldn't believe that a father could abandon their daughter like that… Not once, but twice.

"And don't come back!" I yelled as he drove away, knowing that he couldn't hear me.