EPOV

I knew something was going on when Bella didn't show up for school today. Carlisle, Esme, and Alice have been cautious with their thoughts around me. I drove over to Bella's house to see what I could learn there. I could hear Bella crying and Charlie was comforting her. I knew she never left the main room when Charlie greeted me; his thoughts were also guarded. I was immediately suspicious that something had happened while my family was hunting and Carlisle was called away. I waited, hoping to get a glimpse of her, and maybe have some light shed on why she was avoiding me. I didn't think I had done anything too serious to offend her. If I don't hear anything before she went to bed, then I would talk to her in her room after Charlie went to bed.

"Hey, let's go make dinner. You're going to have to teach me how to cook so I won't starve after you marry that boy." I listened to Charlie say to her with humor in his voice. I watched from the trees across the street and saw a smile. It made me feel better that I hadn't offended her, but I was still curious. I waited while Bella instructed him on how to make the meal for the night. It wasn't until they were seated at the table, that the conversation turned serious.

"You know you have to face him eventually."

"I know." Bella sighed.

"I still think you should have told him when it happened." So something did happen.

"I don't want to hurt him." Bella's voice was in despair. Why is she feeling like this?

"You're hurting him more by not saying anything."

"I don't want him to leave me when he finds out. I love him so much and I know I won't be able to handle it if he leaves me again." I flinched. There is nothing that could make me leave her again. I thought she knew that.

"If he loves you as much as you love him, he won't leave. I'll have to hunt him down if he did that." Bella smiled in gratitude. I smiled at the thought of Charlie hunting me.

"Well, you have choices to make and they affect him just as much as they do you. You're going to need and want his support. If you don't tell him by the weekend, I'm going to tell him." Huh? What the hell is going on?

"NO! Dad, please don't rush me. I will tell him. It's just so hard. I'm scared and I don't know how." Bella was pleading with him.

"He's going to figure it out, Bella. It's going to hurt him even more if it doesn't come from you. I mean it. You have until Monday morning before I take action." Bella slumped in her seat; she knew he was serious and wouldn't be budged. It was a Swan trait I was familiar with.

"Ok, you win. I'll find some way to tell him this week."

"Good." They ate in silence after that. I tried in vain to probe Charlie's thoughts, but I came up empty. Somebody warned him not to think about it. I wonder how it was done, so as not to give up my secret. I knew that there would be nothing further discussed on the subject, so I ran home to see what I could learn there.

Alice was waiting for me on the steps. I didn't even pause to talk to her.

"It's not going to work." She said casually as I breezed by. I went straight to Carlisle's office.

"Come in, Edward." I opened the door and noticed that there was some new medical equipment in the room, but it was covered so I couldn't discern what instruments had been delivered.

"What's all this?"

"I've taken on a patient privately and this equipment will help me."

"Is it the same patient that called you away from hunting last weekend?"

"Yes. You know I can't tell you anything, Edward; not without breaking confidentiality."

"I know. I just want to know what is being kept from me. I'm getting it from you, Esme, Alice and Charlie. I'm under the impression that something happened to Bella from a conversation I'd just overheard at her house."

"I don't know what to tell you, Edward. I try not to listen to people's private conversations. Bella clearly knows what is going on. Talk to her and see if she'll tell you."

"ARGHH!" I growled and left him standing there. I went up to my room and carefully slammed the door, signaling everyone to leave me alone. Naturally, that didn't happen.

"Edward, can I talk to you?"

"I'd rather not." I muttered to Jasper.

"Maybe I can help you. Let's go for a walk." Jasper was a little more forceful this time and I picked up on the urgency of his thoughts. I sighed and let him in. We left through the window of my room.

"I don't think I need to tell you the amount of frustration I'm feeling from you right now." Jasper began conversationally after we had run a few miles from the house.

"No, you don't." I snapped and then felt bad because he wasn't the source of it and didn't deserve my anger.

"What's going on? I'm going crazy at the house."

"What are you feeling?"

"Carlisle, Esme, and Alice are hiding something. They're also very sad. It's been going on since we came back from our family hunting trip. From you, I'm getting restlessness, frustration and now anger."

"You're right about that. They are hiding something from me. So are Bella and Charlie. I was listening to a conversation between Bella and her father tonight just before I got here; he's insisting that she tell me before I find out on my own. She says that she's scared that I will leave her when I find out. She still loves me. Charlie had her start to teach him how to cook so he can feed himself when she marries me. We haven't told him about that yet. I'm suspicious that something happened to her and also that Charlie knows more about me than he is letting on right now. He told Bella that if she didn't tell me by next Monday, he's going to do it. I'm curious about Carlisle's new patient. He's got all this medical equipment in the house now as if he's going to treat him or her from here. I feel like I have all the pieces except for the one piece that will put the puzzle together for me." Just then, my phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hi."

"Hello love, did your dad tell you I came by?" I was still trying to get something from her.

"I think you already know that I was in the room. I'm not stupid." Jasper tried to hide his smile when Bella snapped at me.

"Yes, you're right. I'm sorry for underestimating your intelligence." I hated looking whipped in front of my brothers. I turned away from Jasper so I wouldn't have to look in his face.

"How long did you stay around to listen? I know you didn't leave right away."

"I heard enough to know that there's something Charlie wants you to tell me. I don't know what it is though, Charlie's guarding his thoughts."

"I told him to. There is something that I need to tell you, but I'm scared; as I'm sure you've heard."

"I did. Love, what's going on?" I heard Jasper tell me in my head that he was going to run a few more miles to give me privacy. I nodded to acknowledge him.

"As much as I'd love to take the coward's way out, I can't tell you this over the phone. Can we go out tomorrow after school to our meadow and I will do my best to tell you there?"

"Absolutely. I'll throw a blanket in the trunk for you." I would do anything she wanted in order for me to know what's going on.

"Thank you. Also, um, my dad is going to take me to school in the morning because I have an appointment. I'll be there by lunch." I was suspicious again, but played along to placate her. Hopefully she will be able to summon the courage to tell me after school. I couldn't wait that much longer.

"Ok, love, I will see you tomorrow afternoon."

"Don't come by tonight. I want to be able to see you at the same time you see me." I was a little hurt by her not wanting me in her room tonight.

"Ok."

"I miss you." It warmed my dead heart a little.

"I miss you too."

"I have so much to tell you. I'm going to be honest; you're going to be seriously pissed off about some of it. You may want to go out and gorge yourself before seeing me again. I know it's been a while for my scent, but I also know that it will be my words that drive you over the edge." That's not good.

"I'm extremely worried right now. I will go hunt though. You're right; it's been too long since I've been near your scent. I won't stay, but could you leave the clothes you wore today on your windowsill? I'll come get them and it will help me to re-acclimate myself."

"Sure. I love you."

"I love you too."

"Would you bring my ring to school tomorrow?" I couldn't fight the smile when she asked that.

"Absolutely. Will you be wearing it during school hours?"

"Not until my dad knows. He deserves to know before our friends." Although they weren't really my friends, I appreciated the gesture of her words. I just wanted to rub it in Mike Newton's face.

"Ok, love. I'll keep it with me. I'll see you at lunch."

"Good night, Edward."

"Good night my love." I hung up and took off to find Jasper. He was waiting for me as I knew he would be.

"Everything alright? You're frustration has been replaced by confusion and worry."

"She said she's going to tell me everything tomorrow after school. She said it's going to seriously piss me off. We have to go to her house right now so I can get her clothes and get used to her scent again. She also told me to gorge myself."

"Let's go." We ran to her house and as I was coming out of the trees, she was shutting her window to me and closing her curtains. I saw her clothes sitting on the sill just as I'd asked. I jogged over and leapt up to her window. I grabbed the clothes and was back by Jasper's side in a flash. We ran back toward the house and I inhaled her scent the entire way. She was right; I needed to desensitize myself again. I love her. We walked through the house and I dropped her clothes off in my room while Jasper collected anyone who wanted to go hunting. This is how I spent the rest of the night.

BPOV

My dad listened to my side of the call. He knew, just as I did, that my appointment was completely false and just another stall tactic. He said nothing thankfully. He waited while I got ready for bed. I put my clothes on the sill as I said I would. I knew he was close by, I could feel it. I closed my window, a first for me, to remind him not to come to my room. It broke my heart to have to do that, but I knew I was having nightmares. I didn't want to tip him off in my subconscious before I had the chance to tell him consciously. It didn't matter much, because halfway trough the night, I ended up on the sleeping bag in my dad's room anyway. I was beginning to notice some changes since that fateful night and I'm just glad that my dad has been supportive the entire time.

I took my time in the morning, trying to stall and delay as long as possible. Charlie waited for me, giving me a pep talk the entire time. I finally declared myself ready to go to school, after throwing up my breakfast. I wasn't sure if it was nerves or something else, but I told myself that it was just nerves. I made sure my cell phone was charged in my pocket before grabbing my bag and following Charlie out to the cruiser. He'd been nice enough to get my homework for me while I was gone, so there wasn't that much I had to catch up on. I knew I'd missed at least one test in my absence that I would have to make up but I didn't care. My grades were excellent.

Charlie walked me to the main office, even though I was perfectly capable of walking myself there to check in for the day. I needed that last bit of support. It was the period just before the lunch hour. Gym, perfect; it was the one class that I didn't have with any of the Cullens. I preferred it that way, so they wouldn't have to see me fall on my face all the time and lower their grade by helping me. Emmet would have been the worst with all the jokes he liked to make about my clumsiness. Thank goodness he graduated last year along with Rosalie and Jasper. It was late enough in the hour that I didn't have to change my clothes for Gym. I went to class silently and tried to stay out of everyone's way. I was stuck next to Mike Newton, who didn't seem to grasp the concept that I was with Edward because as soon as he saw me walk in the room, he lit up.

"Hey, I've missed you." He jogged up to me as soon as I walked into the room.

"Thank you."

"Where have you been?"

"I had to go to Florida to take care of my mom; she was really sick and Phil was out of town for a game."

"Oh. Hey, your dad came to talk to me the night after the party. How did you end up getting home?"

"He picked me up. I'm uh, not in the mood to talk about it."

"Oh, ok then. I'm sorry that I didn't look for you. When I didn't see you, I just assumed you had Cullen pick you up."

"Mike, please just drop it." I never once looked at him; I fought to keep my eyes on the games in front of me so I wouldn't run out of the room in tears. He was pushing my breaking point. I could feel the snap coming on.

"Hey, would you want to catch a movie this weekend?"

"No, Mike I wouldn't. Please just leave me alone, ok? I don't want to talk about that stupid party and I don't want to go out with you. I'm with Edward. Please get that through you head." I left the class as fast as I could. No one tried to stop me. I found a quiet place to hide under some stairs near my classroom. Hopefully, neither Alice nor Edward would come looking for me. I just wanted to be alone for a few more minutes. I kept my sobs as silent as I could, especially when someone walked near by.

I was there longer than I thought as I heard the bell ring for lunch. I stayed where I was until I was sure that the halls were empty again. I stopped at the bathroom to freshen up and erase any evidence of tears before going to the cafeteria. I opened the door, took one whiff of the room and turned back out. I ran around the corner to fight the revolt my stomach was threatening. I felt his presence before he even said a word. I flinched when he touched my back.

"Love, are you alright?"

"I'm nauseous." I was still bent over with my head close to my knees.

"It wasn't because of me was it?" I could plainly hear the insecurity in his voice.

"No, it's not you." I had to change the subject.

"I yelled at Mike." I thought I heard him chuckle as he lowered his body to meet my eyes.

"I heard." I sunk to the ground, knowing he would join me. I leaned into him, taking strength from his embrace.

"Everything is so hard all of the sudden. I want to tell you something without hearing any kind of reprimand. Can you do that?" I finally looked into his beautiful golden eyes.

"I will do my best."

"There are days, not many, but there are days that I wish that van had crushed me. It didn't even have to be the van, it could be any one of the near death experiences I've had. There are times that I wish one of them had come to fruition. Then I start thinking about how sad my dad and mom would be and how much I love them and how desperate I am for you and I snap myself out of it. Now is one of those times. I just want to stop the people I love from feeling pain because of me."

"Bella, I for one, am glad that none of those things have come to fruition. I have found my life with you and it would kill me to be without you; it very nearly has already. It saddens me that you feel this way, for as rare as it is and I know that your family feeling pain because of you is a sign that you are loved. It means that we all wish we could take that pain away from you and carry the burden alone. You do the same for us."

"Thank you. Can I tell you some of the news now or do you want it all at once?"

"You can tell me now if you want. We've still got some time."

"I told my dad about the engagement and that you come to my room at night."

"Why did you do that?" I could hear curiosity, anger, and confusion all laced together in that one question.

"After you hear the entire story, you will understand, but his reaction wasn't what I expected. After talking to Carlisle to confirm my story that you only hold me while I sleep, he said you can actually stay over without having to climb in the window. I told him that you kiss me for a bit and then we curl up together on my bed and you hold me. I told him that I sleep better in your arms; which as you know is completely true." Edward smiled a little at that.

"So is that what he meant about teaching him how to cook last night?"

"Yes. He's accepted it. He knows." I felt him tense up at that statement. I tried to separate myself a little, but he locked his arms around me.

"What? Why would you put him in danger like that?"

"We did it for his safety. Carlisle and Esme were there when we all told him. He took it well. He knows that I'm your mate. He knows all about the many times you've saved my life and the one time I went to save yours. He's not angry with you any more. He sees you in a new light. Before we told him the truth, I told him not to even think about me because you are so intuitive that it's almost like you can read his mind."

"You've just given him the same fate you have. What are you going to do if he doesn't make the same choice?"

"The same thing I would do if he does make the same choice; support his decision like he is supporting mine. He's safe as long as the Volturi don't find out."

"You know they will when they check to make sure we've changed you. You know that Aro won't be able to stop himself from touching one of us."

"We've got some time. My dad has so far decided to get to know all of you and learn the pros and cons of what you are like the speed, immortality, strength, and diet. He will make an informed decision just like I did."

"You can trust him?"

"Yes, absolutely. I let him see my scar and learn the truth about it. I even showed him what it looks like in the sun. Who knows, maybe he will want to be changed and then he'll find his true other half. Lord knows, it wasn't my mom." I tried to lighten the subject up and then cringed at the same time due to talking about my dad's love life.

"After what has happened, I'm anxious to leave my human life behind and the painful scars that I've recently acquired; both physically and emotionally."

"You've been hurt?" I couldn't hold back my humorless laugh.

"If only it were as simple as that. If you stay with me, we're in for a rough road. We will have some difficult decisions to make. If you don't choose to stay with me, then I will find the strength to face these changes alone." His fingers tilted my face up towards his and he placed a tender kiss on my mouth. I felt the tears start to stream down my face, but didn't bother to wipe them away. I wrapped my arms around him and threw myself into his kiss; just in case it was the last time I would get to do so. He broke it off one second before the bell rang. He got up and helped me to my feet.

"Are you able to finish the day or do you want to get out of here?"

"I want to leave, but I can finish the day. I have to; I've missed a lot of school." He wrapped his arm around my waist and led me to my locker. We gathered my books, which he carried before getting his from his locker. We saw Mike on our way to class and I looked at Edward.

"I should apologize."

"I love that you are so forgiving. I'll meet you in the classroom." He pecked my lips once more and left me to face Mike.

"Mike, wait up." He turned to me, reluctantly.

"What is it Bella?"

"I wanted to apologize for my behavior. A lot has been going on lately and I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I'm sorry."

"Are you ok?" He was concerned for me again.

"No, I'm not, but one day I hope to be again. I'm sorry for embarrassing you in front of the class. You are a good friend, Mike. I'd like to keep you as that." He dropped his head a little with the title I gave him.

"You didn't go to Florida, did you?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"Because it all started when I brought up that party. Did something happen there?"

"It's nothing you have to worry about. It was just miscommunication on both of our parts. Are we still friends?" I was careful not to touch him. I also knew that Edward was listening to our conversation through Mike's eyes and thoughts.

"Friends, sure."

"I know that there is someone out there for you; it's just not me, ok?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll see you around, Bella."

"I'm really sorry Mike." He waved without turning to look at me. I walked to class feeling dejected. Edward was waiting for me.

"I feel like I just broke up with him even though I've never even had the inclination to go out with him. Is that weird?"

"No, Bella, it's not. He's finally accepted that you will never be more than a friend to him and it's a hard lesson to learn because you are an amazing woman. He really didn't want to accept defeat; especially to me." His tone was just a little bit smug.

"Keep the smugness in check, pal. Nothing's for certain until we are both wearing rings." I joked with him and he smiled.

"I'll take you to Vegas tonight if you want."

"If you still want me by dinner time, sure, let's go." A flash of hurt ran across his face.

"Don't worry Alice, we will still have the wedding as planned." I said in a low voice and looked at Edward.

"She said it's not the same thing."

"I'll talk to her later. It's about you and me." I assured.

"She's pouting, but will be waiting for you." We were forced to end our conversation there due to the inconvenience of high school.

A/N: What will he do when he hears the entire story? How will the rest of the family react when they find out? Reviews are wanted and appreciated. Have a great day!