Author's note: The last chapter split opinion, but for the most part, you felt sympathy for both Bella and Edward. That's good - I'm a little protective of them both. Neither is innocent.

Loved it or hated it, I'm so lucky to have people who are still reading and are so passionate about this story 30 plus chapters in. Thank you so much:)

Special mention as to my incredibly patient and supportive beta, Fran. She does far more than correct my spelling, my Britishisms (is that a word?), and terrible grammar and punctuation. She guides me through difficult chapters, is never afraid to talk about story ideas, and highlights things that never cross my mind. I can't thank her enough.

Disclaimer: It goes without saying, but in case you didn't know, I don't own Twilight or its characters.

*Chapter 35*

"Carlisle!" I exclaim as I go over to greet him. Reaching out, he places his hand on my shoulder and pulls me towards him in a gentle hug.

"It's so good to have you back, Bella. How are you feeling?" he asks when he releases me from his embrace.

"Much better now," I say in the most upbeat voice I can manage. "Thank you for letting me stay here."

"Nonsense, we are family. That's what we do; we stick together when times are tough. Speaking of which…" he says, turning to face Edward.

"I need you to go with Emmett; he's paying James a visit, and I want you there to ensure he doesn't go too far."

Edward grimaces, making it clear he would like nothing more than to let Emmett loose on his cousin. Clearly, Carlisle picks up on his thinking because he warns against such actions.

"I mean it, Edward - He's no use to us dead. We need him alive. Get the information first, and then you and Emmett can do whatever the hell you want with him, but not a moment before we have what we require. Do you understand?"

Carlisle's voice is strong, firm and leaves no room for argument. And while he isn't happy, Edward reluctantly agrees.

"Understood," he says, through gritted teeth.

Even then, he doesn't leave. He's worried about leaving me - I can tell from his reluctance to leave my side. Sensing this hesitation, I give Edward the nudge he needs to get moving.

"You go … I'll be okay. I want to spend some time with Rose anyway; make sure she's really okay," I explain, offering him a small smile.

Edward still looks unconvinced.

"Bella is perfectly safe here. Besides the fifteen or so guards around the property I'm staying in. I would like to spend some time with my family too." Carlisle adds, which seems to put him at ease.

Before he leaves, Edward closes the space between us. He leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead before he gives me an awkward, slightly clumsy hug. When he pulls away, I look up, and he's staring intently back at me. What he is waiting for, I'm not entirely sure. His eyes drift down to my lips for the briefest of moments, or maybe I'm imagining it before he shakes himself out of whatever he was about to say and do.

"You don't have to worry; I'll be fine here," I say, not taking my eyes off him.

"I won't be long," Edward promises.

And with that, he turns and leaves.

...

With Edward gone, Carlisle encourages me to follow him into the living room. He nods at the overwhelming number of guards, instructing them to leave while I make myself comfortable on the sofa. He takes the seat opposite me.

In the past, I would have felt nervous and intimidated being in a room alone with Carlisle; now, I feel relaxed; reassured by his presence. We've come a long way since those awkward first interactions. In sending his men away, I realize he's giving us privacy to talk without the fear of anyone listening in to our conversation.

"It's so good to have you back. Edward tells me you had the all-clear from the hospital," Carlisle says softly.

"Yes, we are doing okay. The doctor wants me to go back in a couple of days for another check-up just to be on the safe side." I explain with relief.

"This is good news…" He seems to be holding off on his next sentence, and when he continues, his words are cautious.

"I'm sorry for interrupting earlier… I couldn't help notice the tension between the two of you when I walked in. How are you and Edward doing?"

I sigh, wearily, unsure how to respond.

"I don't know what to tell you. It's complicated," I utter back, feeling apprehensive

That's putting it mildly. I've said my peace ... got everything I needed to off my chest. But other worrying issues came from my talk with Edward, not the least, his offer for me to leave him once all this drama with Marcus is over. I'm still trying to process that.

Carlisle's voice breaks me from my reverie.

"I hope you don't think I'm overstepping … I know Esme has spoken to you before."

I lift my gaze to his, and seeing my alarmed look, Carlisle quickly clarifies. "Don't look so worried - Esme didn't tell me any of the details, only that she has spoken with you. I know you're angry, and I'm not defending his actions or making excuses for his behavior, but I want you to understand why he reacted the way he did."

"That's okay, Carlisle. I've already spoken with Edward. I can see why he came to the conclusion he did."

Carlisle nods in understanding. His eyes are filled with both concern and compassion.

"Those pictures threw him into a tailspin ... but it is much deeper than that. I know the way that boy thinks; it wasn't just about the photos. He felt abandoned ... like he did when his parents died. Even now, years later, their death still haunts him—his decisions … his actions … especially his reactions. I would hate for this to come between the two of you," he finishes, sadness lacing my words.

Carlisle reaches over and places his hand on my arm, giving it a comforting squeeze. I nod back, swallowing the lump in my throat at his obvious concern.

"We've agreed to give each other time and space, but honestly, I'm scared; I love him so much, but what if we can't get past this? You saw how awkward it was earlier. I can't bear the tension between us." I pause, my voice thick with emotion. I need a second to calm myself before I can continue.

"What if we can't go back to what we once had? He offered to let me leave - to let me go." I admit painfully.

"Edward is still trying to come to terms with everything that's happened in a relatively short amount of time. He's processing in the only way he knows how. You might be struggling now, but I have every confidence that the two of you will work through this. And as for him letting you leave, it's not a decision he has taken lightly, or one he even wants you to entertain. I can guarantee Edward won't let you go without a fight."

"He sort of told me as much," I admit with a half-smile.

Carlisle sniggers before his expression turns serious.

"Edward is a very possessive man. He's never been in love before … he's learning … understanding how to deal with those feelings … those instincts. Men are territorial - jealous creatures, and Edward is even more territorial because he's not experienced love before. Marcus understood this and used that knowledge against him. It doesn't make it right, but can you see why he would react the way he did?"

"Of course, I can. I love how protective Edward is of me. I know he only wants to take care of me and keep me safe. That's not the problem. I know they tricked him - it's how he dealt with what happened that hurts the most."

"Edward is devastated by what he said," Carlisle says, immediately knowing what I'm referring to.

"Believe me, you can punish him all you want, but no one can punish him more than he is himself."

"I don't want to punish him! I know he's sorry. I want to forgive him - I do forgive him to some extent. It's the forgetting I'm struggling with."

"That will take time. I'm not saying let him off the hook- he needs to learn the hard way that words have consequences. He's willing to do anything for you, Bella. Believe me; it's a hard burden knowing you have let your partner down."

"It sounds like you're talking from experience?" I observe.

"I suppose you could say that," he admits looking sheepish.

"I almost lost Esme once."

My eyes bulge out in surprise.

"What happened?"

"We were out one night not long after we got engaged. I had gone to get us some drinks from the bar, and when I returned, a man was hugging her ... kissing her … on the cheek," he's quick to add. It's the first time since I've known him that Carlisle appears embarrassed … flustered … maybe even ashamed.

"It was completely innocent, of course, but all I saw was a man with his hand on my fiancée. I'm not proud of my behavior Bella. I pride myself on being fair and level-headed, but in one crazy moment, I snapped. I lost my temper; attacking an innocent man - an innocent man who turned out to be Esme's cousin. I've never been so ashamed of myself in my whole life. Esme was devastated."

"What did she do?" I ask, sensing the story wasn't over.

"She left me, Bella," Carlisle reveals, his expression tight. "I could have lost everything all because of one stupid moment of madness."

"But you didn't," I point out.

"Eventually, yes. But believe me, the days and weeks trying to win her back were awful. I was very lucky; Esme agreed to give me another chance. After that, I spoke to a counselor; learned how to control my anger, and nothing like that has happened since. That's not to say I've not been close to losing my temper when another man has been too close to my wife. It's not easy," he laughs, his smile slightly devious.

"And sometimes I have to be smarter … be sneakier in the way I go about things," he says with a wink.

"Have you been talking to Edward by any chance?" I raise my eyebrow at him in question. His words sound familiar to something Edward mentioned earlier.

"He offered to go to counseling too."

"I may have put a buzz in his ear when I was done knocking some sense into him," Carlisle smirks before his expression turns serious. "It's nothing to be ashamed of; counseling worked for Esme and me," he reveals.

I find it hard to picture Carlisle and Esme in trouble because they always seem so … sorted … untouchable. In a way, it's comforting ... reassuring; I don't feel so much of a failure knowing they have had troubles in their relationship too.

"It might seem bleak now, but give it time, and things will be clearer." Carlisle's voice breaks me from my thoughts.

"Let Edward take care of James and Marcus, then, when there are no distractions, the two of you can talk again. Rome wasn't built in a day; you can't fix your problems overnight. The important thing is both of you want to make it work; that's half the battle."

When Carlisle put it like that, I felt hopeful for the first time in hours because that's the most important thing - we do want to make it work; we just need to figure out how to make that happen. There's so much going on at the moment it's impossible to focus on just us. As Carlisle said, we need to let the dust settle, so to speak, before focusing on our relationship.

"You two will get through this," Carlisle says with confidence.

"I hope so because I hate the distance between us. I know we need to have this time apart—it's just hard, you know? I miss him." I whisper.

"You both need this, Bella; it's going to take time for everything to settle down. You both have your own problems to work through; You are coming to terms with the danger - the aftermath of your abduction. And for Edward, he's still dealing with the fallout from it."

"What do you mean?"

"Taking care of Sam hit him hard. That betrayal runs a lot deeper than simply killing someone who works for the family- And Bella, it was Edward's first real kill."

I look at him in disbelief. "I know Edward has killed people before," I tell him.

Edward might not have told me all the details of his involvement in the family's business, but I'm not that naive.

"Yes, he's killed before, but it was personal this time, not some thug from a rival family. This is the first time it was someone close to the family ... someone, he knew and trusted. And while I'm sure Edward does not regret for one moment the action he took, he's still processing it, while trying to deal with James and find Marcus too."

"I didn't know that … We don't talk about anything related to the work he does for the family," I tell him.

"Perhaps that's my fault. I've always thought it best to keep business and relationships separate. I've encouraged my boys to do the same. In many ways, I've tried to shelter them both. Edward more so, because of the brutal way his parents were taken …."

"I don't understand how any of this happened; why Marcus would betray the family. I'm amazed how well Edward has taken it." I tell him truthfully.

"I don't think he's come to terms with Marcus' part in all of this. He was so focused on finding you that he hasn't processed the betrayal. There'll be a time when he does, but I hope that despite whatever is going on between the two of you, that you will be there for him."

"Of course, I will," I say quickly, mildly offended that after everything we've spoken about, Carlisle has to ask. No matter what has gone on, I would like to think it's obvious how much I still love and worry about my husband. And I tell Carlisle as much.

"I love him, and I'll be there for him. You don't need to worry about that," I assure him.

"Thank you, Bella. That puts my mind at ease," he replies, looking relieved.

Speaking of Marcus, now that Carlisle has mentioned him, I can't help but wonder what he thinks about his betrayal and what effect it had on not just him, but the rest of the family.

"So, Marcus…" I begin, not sure how to voice the niggling feeling at the back of my mind.

It just doesn't add up ... Why would he betray the family?

Carlisle sighs wearily. It's the first time I've seen him look fallible. Usually, he's unfailing … in complete control, but I can see the betrayal has cut him deeply, which is hardly surprising.

"I never saw it coming in a million years. He's been a part of this family for so long; I'm struggling to get my head around how he could do this to you … to Edward … to the whole family. He's always been so loyal. His sudden need for power has come out of nowhere." He admits.

"How did he join the family? He's Edward's mom's brother, right?"

"Yes, he was doing the odd favor for the family before, but he really stepped up after Edwards' parents were murdered."

"Is that how he came to be involved with the family?"

"In part, yes. Marcus was instrumental in catching and punishing those involved, so I rewarded him for this. But mostly, I wanted Edward to have a connection to his mother too."

Alarm bells are ringing when he says this. It all seems a little convenient; how did Marcus become so dominant?

I can barely believe the words that come out of my mouth, but something just doesn't add up.

"So, you're saying he benefited from their death?"

"What are you saying, Bella?" Carlisle asks.

"I don't know … Something he said when we were being held captive stuck with me. 'There's always someone in the way,' or words to that effect. It stood out to me because it's such an odd thing to say. I think there's more to it ... I have this awful feeling … I think …"

I pause, unsure how to voice the crazy thoughts running through my mind. I think he may have been involved in the deaths of Edward's parents - but surely, I must be mistaken.

However, before I can voice this, Carlisle's phone starts ringing. He looks at me apologetically before saying, "Excuse me, Bella; I need to take this call; it's Emmett."

"Go ahead," I encouraged.

As I make a move to give him some privacy, Carlisle shakes his head, indicating I stay where I am while they talk.

Despite only having one side of the conversation to go by, it's not difficult to understand what they're talking about.

"And you're sure he's telling the truth?"

"It's not another one of his tricks?"

"Okay, come home … We need to form a plan first."

Soon after, Carlisle ends the call, and when his eyes meet mine, I know something has happened. His next words confirm my suspicion.

"That was Emmett; they know where Marcus is hiding."

And with those words, I know everything is about to change because they'll find him and get to the truth, even if the truth is something I don't want to imagine.

...

Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse in a run-down part of Seattle…

Taking Emmett's place in front of our bound and beaten cousin, I don't even give James a chance to catch his breath before I grab his chin, forcing his bloodied, swollen face up to meet mine.

"I can keep this up all day, James," I taunt, watching as he sags against his bonds. "Believe me; nothing would give me more pleasure than to torture you for the rest of the day." I revel in his suffering.

"I gave Sam mercy by killing him quickly, but I can make this so much more difficult for you. This is personal, James; you hurt my wife. You have no idea the lengths I'll go to just to make you pay for that mistake."

"Edward," Emmett warns, but I brush off his warning - I know what I'm doing.

"Fine ... I offered you the easy … honorable way out of this, but the hard way it is. Emmett, pass me the bolt cutters…"

Author's note: Surprise! I gave you a tiny insight into James' punishment, which so many of you have been desperate for. More may come in the new chapter. I haven't decided yet.

I love reading your thoughts - keep them coming. I even try to sneak some into the story (pointing at you, sassy noles:) Until next week, it goes without saying, stay safe and well.

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