Author's note: We did it- we smashed 2000 reviews! I can't tell you how happy this makes me- THANK YOU so much! I don't know how many more times I can tell you how amazing you are, but this story would be nothing without your kind words and encouragement. Not forgetting Fran, who helped massively with this chapter :)

Chapter 33

Edward has been quiet since he joined me in the car a short while ago. In many ways, I'm grateful because the silence allows me a chance to process the events of the past few hours and days. Edward seems to be contemplating what happened too; His hand that is resting on my shoulder runs lightly over my skin, tracing a path down my arm, but I can feel the hesitation in his movements.

I discreetly glance up at him a few times, but he's staring out into space. There's a forlorn look on his face; he's deep in thought. He remains quiet for the rest of the journey, apart from telling me we are going straight to the hospital. I had nodded in agreement; welcoming the check-up to put my mind at rest. Right now, our baby is my only concern. As soon as I know he's okay, then I'll worry about everything else.

We arrive at the hospital, and the car comes to a standstill, but Edward insists we wait inside until our security team is in place. When he's happy it's safe, he steps out first. Holding the door open, he offers me his hand and helps me from the car.

I see him surveying the area, on constant guard. He's cautious, despite the two cars and numerous guards around us. His uneasiness, in turn, makes me concerned. Looking around, I can't see any obvious signs of danger, but with Marcus on the loose, I'm glad Edward is being extra vigilant.

He tucks me against his side, shielding me as we walk through the reception, straight into a private room where the doctor is already set up and waiting. Just looking at all the equipment and machines makes me nervous. It doesn't help that I can sense Edward worrying by my side; His eyes are glued to my stomach like he's afraid to take his gaze away even for a moment.

It's agony waiting for the doctor to get started. I pray everything is okay. Taking my hand in his, Edward stills my trembling fingers as the doctor begins her examination. His hand stays firmly clasped in mine as the obstetrician performs a few tests. I have my blood work done and blood pressure taken, which confirms both are elevated and hardly surprising.

I watch anxiously as she picks up a pen and clipboard, making a few notes before moving on to the ultrasound. She runs the familiar device over my stomach. Several agonizing seconds later, I wait, but there is no sound ... no picture …

Nothing.

My eyes become blurry, and I hold my breath waiting. It's torture; all I can hear besides the sound of my own ragged breathing is the ticking of the clock on the wall.

Glancing up at Edward with tears in my eyes, I can see he's equally emotional; tears are glistening in his eyes, too. His grip on my hand tightens, matching the weary expression on his face. Sensing my gaze on him, Edward sends me a tight smile. He's trying to hold it together for me, but I can see the fear in his eyes.

What if, after everything we've been through to have this baby …

No, I refuse to think about such things.

However, the doctor's silence doesn't inspire confidence.

"Is everything okay?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, it's just warming up. These things can sometimes take a little time to get going." She informs.

Still, every second feels like a lifetime, and the moments I wait to hear the baby's heartbeat nearly breaks me. I can't explain the relief I feel when the baby appears on the screen, and the strong heartbeat echoes through the room.

The sound brings with it a stream of tears to my eyes I can't control. Edward leans over and kisses my forehead. We share a look before the moment is broken when the doctor speaks.

"You hear that? That's a nice strong heartbeat there, and the baby is moving around freely."

Only then do I release the breath I've been holding. I vaguely hear the sonographer talking in the background, but I'm too focused on the screen to take in all of what she's saying.

"The good news is both mom and baby are doing well. I'm concerned your blood pressure is high, and you're also a little dehydrated, so we need to up your fluids over the next couple of days. However, I'm confident that with rest and complete relaxation, this will come down. I wouldn't go as far as to say bed rest; just take it easy for the next few days. And I want you to come back if you feel any other symptoms develop. We will have another check-up in a few days to make sure there aren't any other effects," she suggests, much to my relief.

"Don't look so worried, Bella. This is good news; The baby is perfectly healthy and happy. I would, however, recommend some counseling. Ordeals such as this tend to creep up on us. I can recommend a counselor to discuss any issues you may have," she says gently.

I doubt she knows the full extent of what happened, but I can only assume Edward gave her some details about my ordeal when he made the appointment.

Looking across at Edward, I try to gauge his reaction because he's been quiet throughout the entire examination. His expression gives nothing away because I can't see his face; he's looking down. It's then, I notice his eyes are focused on my wrists - specifically, on the purple bruises formed when James held me down.

Sensing my gaze, his eyes meet mine; his face is filled with anguish and self-loathing. There's a hint of anger too. That one look provokes a memory, and suddenly, I'm back in our living room, reliving the argument and the painful accusations he hurled at me. I pull my hand away from his, ignoring Edward's hurt expression when I do so.

Turning away, I return my focus to the doctor.

"I'll think about it," I tell her as I adjust my clothes back into place.

Throughout the remainder of our appointment and discussions, Edward remains silent. It's only as we leave the office that he finally finds his voice and thanks the doctor.

...

The journey back to the house is difficult, to say the least. We've barely spoken since we got back in the car. I think both of us are too relieved by the news that our baby is okay to even attempt conversation; and even then, it would only be forced.

To be honest, I don't know what to say to Edward or even how to start what I know is going to be a difficult conversation. Edward is distracted; he's frantically texting on his phone. He also makes a few heated calls, losing his temper when he learns there is no news on Marcus' whereabouts.

"I don't care what you have to do - just find him," he shouts angrily.

When he's finished his call, the atmosphere is palpable ... cold ... stifling. The silence is deafening. The only time I break the silence is to voice my confusion when I notice we are heading towards a familiar part of the city, but not our own home. Edward quickly explained it is safer for us to stay with the family. I'd looked at him as if to say isn't that risky - us all being together, but he brushed off my concerns, telling me the house was more secure than the pentagon.

"There's no safer place for you right now." He assured me before silence descended.

...

We arrived at the Cullen house, and once again, Edward held out his arm for me as we walked towards the entrance. As we do, I take note of the extra security, not just around Edward and myself, but the entire property. There are at least five additional security guards and extra cameras too. I even see a few dogs.

Edward leads me inside, where many of the family are all gathered in the living room waiting. Their faces show their relief when they spot us. Esme, Alice, and Rose all rush over to embrace me.

However, when Rosalie pulls away, I notice her demeanor change when she spots Edward talking to Emmett on the far side of the room. A sense of dread fills me when she marches towards them. Before I can stop her, she slaps Edward hard across the face.

She doesn't stop there; she shouts and jabs her finger into his chest while the rest of the family watch in both shock and amazement. Even Edward's security look perplexed by the attack, but he holds up his hand, preventing them from intervening. It's such a baffling scene, and it takes me a few seconds to react before I attempt to calm her.

"Rose… Stop it now!" I warn, but she's livid, almost uncontrollable as she lays into my husband.

"No…Bella. Someone needs to put this asshole in his place." She vents, uncaring of the scene she's causing before glaring back at Edward.

She angrily pounds her fists into his chest, but what surprises me most is that Edward doesn't stop her or even attempt to restrain her. He takes the hits almost willingly. Rose shows no sign of letting up despite his surrender, and in the end, it takes Emmett wrapping both arms around her waist for Rosalie to pause her assault.

Still, she won't be silenced.

"It was your fucking stupidity that put us in danger!" She yells. "Do you have any idea, or even care what a mess your wife was in?"

"Of course, I fucking do," Edward snaps, losing his cool for the first time since Rose started laying into him. "You think I don't know what a fool I was; how close I came to losing her…losing them both." He chokes.

"So, that makes it okay? You caused this, Edward. You and your fucking idiotic thinking! Bella would never look at another man, let alone a creep like your cousin! " she fumes.

Sensing this is about to turn even more ugly, I step in.

"Please, stop, Rose. Now is not the time."

Finally, she relents, but only after Emmett whispers words in her ear, I can't hear. The two of them leave the room without another word.

Afterward, Edward stands awkwardly by my side as I speak to Alice. I haven't seen her in a couple of weeks, and I can just about make out her small bump highlighted by Alice's tiny frame.

"I'm so happy to see you. We were so worried," she tells me with tears in her eyes, but I can't afford for Alice to be emotional; it will only set me off.

"I'm okay, Alice, we both are." I place my hand against my bump, but the look she sends me tells me she isn't convinced. She's her usual assertive self, insisting I take a seat while she gets me a drink and something to eat.

With Alice busy fussing in the kitchen, Esme joins me on the sofa while Edward hovers around us. I'm filling her in on the details from my check-up when Emmett returns. He walks towards us, pulling the phone that's glued to his ear away to address Edward. "Dad's on the phone; he wants to talk."

"I'm staying with Bella," Edward flat out refuses, taking me by surprise.

"He wants to update us," Emmett persists, looking at me apologetically. "He might have some new information."

"You go," I encourage, giving him a gentle nudge. "I want to know what's happening."

Edward relents and agrees to join the meeting, albeit with some reluctance.

"I won't be long..." he tells me, and I watch both men leave the room, presumably to go to Carlisle's office.

In a way, I'm relieved to have a moment to myself without Edward breathing down my neck. I know he means well, but it pains me to see him so awkward…so clingy.

...

With Edward gone, Alice comes to join me, bringing the sandwich she's prepared. I take a few sips of water and a few bites to appease her, but it does nothing to ease her concerns.

"You look dead on your feet; why don't you get some rest?" she encourages.

"Honestly, I'm too worked up to sleep. Why don't you check on Rosalie? I'm sure she could use a friend right now, and I don't know if I pissed her off by defending Edward," I tell her sheepishly.

"I wouldn't worry about it; I'm sure she'll calm down," Alice says before she goes in search of Rose.

Now it's just Esme and me (and the watchful eyes of the family's security team) her caring nature takes over as she inspects me for any sign of injury.

"Come with me, dear. Let's get some ice on that cheek," she suggests. I follow her into the kitchen, where she instructs me to sit while she goes to the freezer, coming back with a bag of frozen peas.

Despite Esme's gentle touch, I can't help flinching when the cold blast of ice presses against my face. Thankfully, the initial chill soon wears off, and I relax a little; the coldness soothes my sore cheek, but I can see Esme watching me cautiously. Her concern is visible as she asks, "How are you really doing ?"

"Honestly, right now, I don't know how I feel. My head is all over the place; scrambled ..." I admit.

"And you and Edward? You two seem a little tense..."

"I don't know what to say to him, Esme. I don't know how to act like everything is okay when it's not."

"Then, don't say anything."

I look at her questioningly.

"Take your time; talk to him when you're ready and not a moment before. You need to process everything that happened in your own way."

Reaching across the table, she takes my hand in hers, giving it a comforting squeeze.

"Just know that I'm here for you anytime you want to talk."

I nod back, swallowing the lump in my throat at her obvious concern

"Thank you, Esme," I tell her tearfully, grateful for her support. I feel tears gathering in my eyes, but I quickly brush them away.

"I'm so glad you're back," she says, equally emotional. "I was so worried - we all were."

"How was he... how was Edward while I was missing?" I ask nervously.

I want to know how he coped while I was taken, and I know Esme will tell me the truth; she won't sugar coat it.

"Edward loves you so much. I know you must be furious with him, but I can't explain how desperate he was. He was a mess without you, Bella."

The tears in her eyes surprise me because Esme is so strong … so assertive. It takes something major to get her to crack, but clearly, the days have taken their toll on her too, as I'm sure they have the whole family.

"I'm not telling you this to make you feel sorry for him. Edward screwed up - he knows that. I can't tell you how much he regrets what he said or how disgusted he is with himself. But it's his place to tell you all this, not mine."

Fighting back the tears, I confide in her. "I want to talk to him, but I'm so angry ... so disappointed. He doubted me so easily. I never thought Edward was capable of being so cruel… so vindictive. He really hurt me, Esme."

The threat of tears was back, and it sounded in my voice, but I'm determined to hold it together. I refuse to cry because once I start, I don't think I'll be able to stop.

"I know, dear. We all are angry and disappointed with him. Believe me; he's had it from all sides of the family too. Don't for one minute think any of us are letting him off lightly or letting him forget what a fool he's been. But that doesn't mean he's not struggling too. It nearly killed him ..." Esme's voice wobbles slightly, but she quickly composes herself before continuing.

"I've never seen him so desperate. And I don't even want to think what he would have done if anything had happened to you. I know a lot has been said and done, but you two need to talk. When you're ready and only then, hear him out. In time, I'm certain you can get through this."

"You think we can?" I worry. That was one of my biggest concerns; would we be able to get past this?

"You have a baby to think about, and you love each other too much not to try working through this."

The softness of her voice, combined with the hopeful expression on Esme's face, broke me, and despite my resolution to stay strong, the tears gathered in my eyes.

I take a deep breath and hope she was right because loving Edward wasn't the problem. Trusting him again, was.

When Edward returns a short while later, Esme is still holding the peas to my face.

"Esme, can you give us a moment."

His voice is hesitant - I'm not used to seeing Edward so unsure of himself. It's unnerving.

"Be gentle," I hear Esme warn as she hands over the bag. Somehow, I don't think she's talking about the frozen veg.

"Let me," he offers. He reaches out, gently brushing his fingers against my swollen cheek before placing the bag against my face. For a few moments, we do nothing but stare at each other before I've had enough of the awkwardness and break the silence.

"How did it go with Carlisle?" I ask, knowing already Edward is not pleased with the outcome of their conversation. His jaw is set hard, his eyes angry.

"Marcus is gone. Carlisle has looked everywhere he can think of. Someone must have tipped him off that we were on to him. We think he's gone underground. We have all the family looking, but he's nowhere to be found." Edward revealed.

"Oh."

I don't know what to say. Maybe I should be alarmed, but right now, I feel safe, and I refuse to waste my time thinking about that monster.

Silence descends again; a long-drawn-out awkward silence. Finally, Edward speaks, and when he does, I'm surprised by the direction of his thoughts.

"I'm sorry you had to witness what I did to James; you were in shock ... I shouldn't have exposed you to that." He apologizes, his voice filled with regret.

"Don't be sorry, because I'm not. Seeing James so powerless and weak was exactly what I needed. Are you going to go to him soon - See what you can find out?" I ask to keep the conversation going - barely.

It's like pulling teeth. There was a time I could talk to Edward about everything and anything; we'd laugh, joke, and tease one another, shamelessly flirting. But all that is gone now. Instead, we're both hesitant and awkward, walking on eggshells around one another. It's not too dissimilar to when we first married—what a depressing thought. We're back to square one.

"I'm visiting James tomorrow. We'll get some information out of him to help us find out where Marcus is hiding," Edward confirms, breaking me from my thoughts.

"For the time being, he's going nowhere. I want him to suffer. I meant what I said, Bella. I'll make him pay for what he put you through."

"You never told me how you figured it out. How it was James and Marcus, not the Russians." I point out. In all the drama of our escape, I've not given much thought to how Edward found us, but now my curiosity is spiked.

"I wish I could say I figured it out myself," he admits sheepishly.

At my sharp look, he elaborates.

"You've got to understand, Bella, that at the time, I wasn't thinking clearly ... I wasn't thinking at all. I thought you left me ... I thought you were with Rose; that you were safe with her. It was only when Rose failed to show up for her date with Emmett that he realized something was off. He told me you were both gone. He suspected you had been kidnapped; I was frantic; irrational." His fists clench then unclench, and I can see he's reliving the memory.

"I wanted to burn down the whole fucking city to find you. I was ready to destroy every single thing associated with the Russians. Only Carlisle prevented me from going off on my own because, believe me, I was close to breaking every rule our family is bound by to get you back."

"I don't understand," I say, confused.

"Carlisle knew what I was planning. He stopped me; he persuaded me to hold off at least until we had evidence that proved it was definitely the Russians. He was positive they didn't have anything to do with it."

"How did he know it wasn't them?"

"Because he's not a fucking idiot like I am. He's smart … levelheaded. Most of all, he doesn't let his emotions affect his decisions. Ever since the raid at the anniversary, he'd been keeping tabs on the Russians; trailing their movements. It's how he knew none of the key players had a hand in taking you. Of course, they could have hired lower-level members of the family, but it was unlikely. That's not how they work. It started to seem a little too convenient. Too obvious to blame them. Besides, what did they have to gain from a war between the families? After that, we started looking further afield. We asked Ben..."

At my puzzled look, Edward confirms, "he's our tech guy. He'll find information about anybody. That's how we found out Irina's part in this."

Once again, he looks uncomfortable, but I encourage him to continue.

"I know about Irina," I tell him, my voice tight.

"You do?" Edward seems surprised.

"James told me she helped them. How does she fit into all this?"

"She got sloppy; we found proof of her and James meeting - regularly. We broke into her house; found your clothes ... your bank card. It wasn't difficult to see they were working together, but I knew they weren't calling the shots; there had to be someone helping. That's when I realized it was Marcus who put this all in motion. He'd been suspicious - he encourages me to look at James ... he goaded me into investigating him, and I fell for it." Edward is angry again, but thankfully his anger is not aimed at me. He's annoyed at himself.

"They thought they were smart, but we have evidence of the three of them meeting up at remote locations where they did all their plotting. It's the same house they were holding you and Rosalie in," Edward grounds out.

"They weren't as smart as they thought they were, and once we got Irina, she was quick to spill her guts to save her own skin."

"She confirmed it all?"

"She didn't have much choice."

"Where is she now?"

"Back with the Russians; at least until we decide what her punishment will be," Edward reveals, his voice cold … heartless.

"What do you mean? Surely, they won't hand her over willingly. She's family!" I say, shocked.

"A family she betrayed. Remember, she was trying to set them up to start a war with another family; our family. If they want peace, they will hand her over. We have an agreement." Edward reveals..

Wow ...

I don't know what to say.

Edward brings a hand up, and I shiver as his fingers gently run down the side of my cheek. It so soft it's almost as if he's afraid I'm going to break down and start crying. My eyes meet his, and I can see concern etched on his face

"Does it hurt?" He asks, his face filled with anxiety.

"Not really," I reply, downplaying the pain, but Edward reads me so easily.

"Don't lie to me, Bella."

Unable to stand the anguish on his face, I brush his hands away and put some distance between the two of us. He's too close – physically, even though I can't stand the distance between us.

I hear Edward let out a weary sigh.

"Bella … about what happened with James…" he begins.

"We don't need to talk about that now." I shut him down; I know where Edward is going with this, and I'm not ready to have this conversation.

However, Edward isn't letting it go so easily. His voice appears behind me.

"I fucked everything up; I know that. I can't tell you how sorry I am. Scream at me, shout at me, hit me if you want to. Do whatever you need to. I can't bear this distance between us. We need to talk."

Turning around, I glare across at him in exasperation.

Is he for fucking real?

Oh, the irony.

I can't control the laughter that falls from my mouth.

"Now you want to talk? Funny, only a few days ago, you wouldn't listen to a word I had to say." I snap.

"Please, Bella."

"No! Just don't Edward," I walk to the far side of the kitchen; he knows better than to follow me and stays where he is.

"You're angry - understandably so. I fucked up, but we can't keep avoiding each other."

I can see how guilty he feels, how sorry he is, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to listen.

"I can't do this right now. I'm too tired, too angry to have a rational conversation with you. I'll only say things I end up regretting. Give me some time to process everything that happened. I need a long hot shower and some sleep."

"Of course," he nods in understanding, but I can read the disappointment on his face. I can see my words have hurt Edward, but I can't help that.

I'm not dropping this - believe me, I'm not rolling over and forgiving him.

This is not the time to talk. The way I feel now, I want to scream and shout and lay into Edward - to call him out for all the hurtful accusations he hurled at me. But that won't get us anywhere. Too much has happened tonight to go crazy saying things in the heat of the moment. There are tough conversations ahead - just not tonight. I'm physically and mentally exhausted.

"I'm going to take a shower," I tell him as I make my way upstairs.

Edward knows better than to follow.

I grab my towel and head to the bathroom. Stripping out of my clothes, I wait until the water is at a reasonable temperature before stepping inside, relaxing instantly as the hot water flows. The water feels glorious on my skin, and I apply a generous amount of body lotion and soap, eagerly scrubbing. During our captivity, I'd not thought about it because there were more pressing concerns at the time, but now I feel dirty. I scrub my skin until I'm satisfied it's completely clean, before moving on to wash my hair, before applying a generous amount of conditioner. I stay inside until the water runs cold and my skin is beginning to go all pruney.

Stepping out of the shower, I dried off quickly, and as I'm doing so, catch sight of my reflection in the mirror and gasp.

It's not a pretty picture; In the light, I see the marks; There's a bruise on my shoulder, finger marks around my wrists, and my cheek is also angry and red where another bruise is beginning to form.

However, none of those marks compare to those on the inside, those unseen scars that hurt the most. Forcing my gaze away from my reflection, I distract myself by changing into my underwear, a loosely fitted nightshirt, and lounge pants.

However, it's not long before my eyes drift back to the mirror. Unable to stop myself, I lift my T-shirt so I can see the precious life growing inside me. Looking at my bump, the thought crosses my mind about just what could have happened if Edward hadn't turned up when he did.

What if James had succeeded?

What if … I can't even finish that thought.

All the strength leaves my body; I grip the sink to keep upright. All the blood rushes from my head, and for one horrifying moment, I think I am going to faint as the weight of what happened suddenly hits me.

A sob catches in my throat at the thought of losing the baby. At first, a muffled cry broke free, but it didn't take long for my tears to turn into full-blown sobs. I'm so caught up in my emotions that I jump a mile when suddenly, a pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind. I didn't even hear Edward come into the room, let alone notice him slip in behind me.

"Just breathe, Bella ... Breathe. I've got you. You're safe now," he whispers soothingly. If anything, my tears escalate as Edward continues to calm me

"Everything is going to be okay. No one is ever going to hurt you again."

He wraps both of his arms securely around me and tugs me against him. Unwittingly I began to relax. Being curled up in Edward's arms provided me with a lovely feeling of security. Resting my head in the crook of his arms, I give into the inevitable overwhelming range of emotions that rush through me. The tears come thicker and faster, but this time I don't hold back. I've tried to be strong - it's the only way I could get through this ordeal. Now I feel weak, and I slump against him. It feels good to let it all out.

Meanwhile, Edward strokes my hair and holds me tightly until my whole body relaxes. I know we will need to talk, but right now, I'll take the reassurance I can only get from my husband's touch.

"You're safe. I'm here, and I'm never letting anyone hurt you again," he said softly, reverently, and I believe him.

I don't know how long I stay curled against his chest, but Edward is in no hurry to release me. He holds me close, stroking my hair until the trembling subsides, and I'm breathing evenly again before pulling away slightly.

Lifting a shaky hand to frame my face, Edward brings my gaze up to his. Our eyes meet, and I'm startled by the intensity in his eyes; the hurt, the relief, the guilt is all clear to see.

His hand drops to my stomach, where he rubs gentle circles on my bump. The relief, the love, the warmth in his eyes brings fresh tears to my eyes.

"I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you." His voice is croaky and full of emotion, and when he pulls back, I'm not surprised to see tears in his eyes.

"I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if anything had happened to you. I was so stupid, so fucking stupid to ever doubt you. I let you down … I let our baby down - so fucking badly."

When he looks back at me, there's both pain and anger in his eyes, but that quickly changes to warmth and softness when his eyes meet mine.

"You're the only thing that matters to me; you and this baby are everything to me." He tells me passionately.

Reaching out, he takes my face in his hand. He leans down, his eyes focused on mine. His warm green eyes are honest and open, filled with determination.

"I swear to you, Bella, I will deal with anyone responsible for what happened. They are going to regret the day they hurt you."

Before I can react, his lips press against mine in the briefest and most gentle of kisses- a complete contrast to the harshness in his voice. When he pulls away, there's that concerned expression on his face once again.

"It's been a long day - I'm sure you could use some rest. You heard what the doctor said. Let me show you to your room." Edward offers; I nod back, and his hand falls on my back as he leads me out of the bathroom.

We walk down the corridor before we hover outside the door, which Edward confirms is his.

"This is my room. You can stay here ..." he pauses awkwardly, looking as exhausted as I feel.

"Or there's a room prepared next door if you would prefer to stay there. Whatever you feel most comfortable in. I didn't want to presume …" his voice trails off.

"I'll take the room next door," I say decisively, much to Edward's disappointment.

"You want to be alone ... tonight?" His voice sounds choked, like it's a struggle for him to force the words out of his mouth.

"Yes ... I think that would be for the best," I say solemnly.

"Oh ... "

And then there's silence; complete, utter, deafening silence between us like there has been for most of the day.

Edward honestly looks heartbroken. I feel sympathy for him; I ache to be back in his arms, with him comforting me, telling me it will all be all right ... that this is over; that the baby and I are safe and well and we are a family again.

…Then I think back to what he accused me of, and my anger flares.

I'm not willing to forgive and forget; right now, I'm still struggling to look at him without anger and resentment taking over. Despite everything; how incredible he was during my meltdown, I still feel hurt—betrayed—that when all is said and done, he didn't believe me - that he so easily doubted me.

"If you're sure," his voice breaks me from my reverie.

Am I sure?

No, I'm not. It would be so easy to fall into Edward's arms and pretend everything is okay.

It's at that moment I remember what Rosalie said to me on the day of our marriage; 'don't be a doormat.' Her warning echoes in my mind.

The old Bella would have backed down and given in, but since that fateful day, a lot has changed. It's not just James; it's the raid, it's Garrett's death, being part of this family. All of those things have made me more assertive, braver. I refuse to stand down, especially now. It doesn't matter that he's said he's sorry; it doesn't change the fact that he doubted me in the first place.

And it's not about punishing Edward or getting revenge.

We need to talk; I know that. But tonight isn't the right time; as I told him earlier, I need a good night's sleep before facing that difficult conversation in the morning.

"I'm sure," I confirm, watching as Edward's expression looks hurt and resigned. When he left me alone that night, I was hurt and wounded by what he said. So I know how he feels.

"If you don't need me, then I'll go ..." his voice drifts off like he's willing me to contradict him.

I stay silent…

Suddenly, his expression changes.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Edward says, looking pleased with himself. "Wait here."

I do as he says, watching in bemusement as he rushes into his room. He comes out a few moments later with a wide smile on his face and my beloved cat in his arms.

I reach out, clutching Arlo against my chest as I stroke his fur. In all the madness, I'd not thought about him. I fuss over him, trying to make up for being such an awful cat mom, as Edward explains he found him at Rosalie's house.

"I'll leave you two while I go find out what I can from James."

Looking up, the forlorn expression on his face very nearly makes me cave and encourages him to stay - almost.

"You're safe here, Bella. The house is guarded, and I'm getting you new protection; someone we can trust this time. Someone will be outside your door all night, so if you need anything, call them."

"Thank you," I appreciate how sensitive he's being- he's trying to put me at ease. His concern makes me crack - a little.

"Be careful..." I caution because I'm not that heartless. I don't want Edward taking any risks, especially with Marcus on the loose.

Reaching across the space between us, I take his hand in mine, squeezing tightly as I meet his gaze. The warmth spreads through me instantly. I feel my heartbeat quicken. It's like that every single time. It's reassuring that our connection is still there, despite all the shit we've been through.

"Don't take any unnecessary risks, okay? Go to James. Do what you have to do but come back to me, and we'll talk in the morning." I say, offering him an olive branch.

Edward offers me a curt nod before a small smile pulls at his lips. It's not the crooked one that I love, but it's the closest he's come to a smile all day.

Edward takes a step back; he goes to walk away but seems to change his mind at the last minute. Instead, he takes my face in his hands and leans down very slowly. His thumb brushes my cheek and the fullness of my lips before lowering his face so that our eyes are level. His gaze holds mine as we stare at one another.

"For what it's worth, I'm so fucking sorry, Bella, really I am. I messed up, and I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to make this right."

Finally, he leans forward and kisses my forehead. His lips brush over my forehead with his words." I love you, Bella," he said softly before he pushes off the doorframe.

He turns, and then he's gone.

I watched him go …

"I love you too," my whispered reply came as he strode down the hallway like a man on a mission.

Author's note: I'm not sure how you all feel about this chapter. I know so many of you want Bella to confront Edward, but be patient. All I'll say is that Bella isn't the wallflower she once was. Remember the last chapter, when she pulled a gun on James? She's grown in the story.

Until next week, stay safe and well :)

Remember, I post teasers on the It All Started with Twilight Facebook group so make sure you join us there for updates on this, and many other wonderful stories

I've tried posting a link below (just replace the dots!)

www dot facebook dot com/groups/896806390388220/?ref=share

xx