I adopted this plot bunny a year or so ago. It really intrigued me. I posted a poll in my group asking which story I should work on next, and this was the winner. It's definitely a WIP. I've only got a rough outline figured out and I'm going back to my roots with this … writing with a vague plan. I hope that I can do this justice.

None of this is mine … I wish it was. Sigh …

To be continued … in this chapter. Bella's story is not pretty. Just warning you all now!

*Trigger Warning*

Chapter Thirteen

Edward

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice deep and raspy from her tears.

"I had to make sure you're alright," I answered honestly.

"I'm alive," she said coldly, moving to close the door. "But, leave me alone."

I put my foot against the door, preventing her from closing it. "No, Bella. I'm not leaving you alone," I said. "Obviously, you're upset, and I don't blame you. I need to know you're okay. Please, let me in?"

"Why should I?" she snapped. "You probably believe Paul."

"No, I knocked him out," I shrugged. "He's an asshole and what he did was absolutely deplorable."

"Yeah, well, welcome to my life," she grumbled, stepping away from the door. I walked in, closing the door, and locking it. "What Paul said and how he acted was how Seth's sperm donor and his father treated me for almost four years. I thought I was over that emotional abuse, but clearly, I'm not." She crawled onto the bed, curling around a pillow. "Hearing those things … it broke me to pieces. I was that eighteen-year-old girl who found out that she was pregnant after having sex one time. The one time I wanted to feel something other than grief."

Tears tracked down her gorgeous face. Her mascara was smudged, her eyes were puffy, and her cheeks were pink. She looked so shattered, but still beautiful. Tragically beautiful. I crouched down, reaching to wipe the tears away. She jumped back, her body trembling. "I won't hurt you, Bella," I whispered.

"How do I know?" she asked, her eyes vacant and her voice tortured. "I'm not even human anymore. I'm a shell. A broken, battered shell. No one cares. The bruises, the scrapes, the bleeding … it never stops. It will never stop."

"Bella?" I choked out, my own eyes filling with tears. "I would never hurt you."

She just stared blankly at me, unseeing, as she cried. I crawled into bed with her, gathering her into my arms. She struggled against me, but she eventually broke down completely. I knew that Bella had a story, but it was clear that she'd been broken and shattered by this Jacob Black character, through the extension of Paul Lahote. I wished I'd broken Paul's jaw.

Asshole.

I carefully gathered Bella into my arms, cradling her sobbing form against my chest. She cried, gripping my shirt. I held her until her sobs eventually dwindled to quiet whimpers and then, nothing. I looked down, seeing that Bella was in a troubled sleep. I kissed her forehead, holding her closely to my body. I prayed she got some rest and was able to calm down.

Unfortunately, her sleep was anything but restful. She battled nightmares, screaming out in agony. I held onto her, trying to calm her. It didn't work very well. I barely got any sleep, eventually drifting off around dawn.

When I finally woke up, I was alone in the bed. I sat up, scrubbing my face, and searching for Bella. She was curled up on the couch, huddled underneath the robe from the room. She was holding a steaming cup of coffee and looking out the window. However, her eyes were unseeing, empty. "Bella?"

"You need to know," she whispered.

"I need to know what?" I asked, getting up and dragging my exhausted body to the couch.

"The truth. My story. The nightmare," she said emotionlessly. She looked at me. Her espresso-colored eyes were vacant, and her face was drawn. "You need to know everything. It all began when I was a junior in high school …"

Bella

"… I lived with my dad. He was the police chief of Forks, Washington," I explained. "My mom took off, not caring about me or Charlie. So, for as long as I could remember, it was the two of us. Occasionally, we'd hang out at the nearby reservation since my dad was close to the tribal leader of the Quileute Nation, Billy Black. He had a son who was about my age. We were friends from the moment we met."

"Jacob?" Edward asked.

"Yeah. He had two older sisters. They used to babysit us when I was younger until they went away to college or to get married. Rebecca lives in Hawaii with some Samoan surfer. Rachel lives in Vancouver, working on getting her doctorate in sociology. They're not close with Jacob or Billy. The tribe doesn't think highly of women," I sneered. "Both of Jake's sisters were sexually assaulted by members of the tribe. Jake, at first, was appalled. It was before he was brainwashed by the tribal elders. Billy, however, condoned it. He said that it was a rite of passage for the boys who wanted to become men and the girls just needed to submit. Rachel and Rebecca both left within weeks of their attacks."

"Fuck," Edward spat. "That's fucked up."

"Yeah, it is," I shrugged. "However, we didn't know, at the time, that Billy was a misogynistic pig, a monster, really. At first, he was just my dad's best friend and fishing buddy. Before his true colors were shown, he was a kindly, sweet uncle type who gave me hard candies."

"Your dad didn't know about any of that?"

"No, he didn't. I wouldn't have known either until it happened to me," I whispered. I waved my hand, trying to wish my past was a horrific nightmare. Unfortunately, it wasn't. It was a reality. A sick, twisted reality that absolutely broke me. "Anyway, my dad, right around the time of my seventeenth birthday, started to feel really crappy. He was diagnosed with advanced cancer, and it had metastasized all over his body. He had to resign from the force because of his diagnosis, going on disability. But, Forks is a tiny town and there was not a lot of money with my dad's disability benefits."

"He didn't have life insurance or anything?" Edward pressed.

"He did, but it barely covered the cost of his funeral," I answered. I blew out a breath, curling up into a tiny ball. "While I was giving my valedictorian speech at my high school graduation, my father was taking his last breaths. When I got home, the funeral parlor was already loading up his body to take it to the morgue.

"During my senior year, my dad, despite his illness, wanted me to have as normal as a childhood as possible. I went to homecoming and prom with Jacob as my date. We were friends, or so I thought. However, he started looking at me like I was a side of beef after homecoming. I tried to keep him in the friend-zone, but … the day of my father's funeral, I had to feel something more than grief," I sniffled. "I went over to Jacob's place. I kissed him and we had sex. I lost my virginity to my supposed best friend the day I buried my father. I also got pregnant that same day."

"The condom broke," Edward surmised.

"Exactly. When I found that out, I went to the local pharmacy to get the morning after pill. But, the close-minded, Bible-thumping pharmacist wouldn't give it to me. It was against her conscience. She also said I needed a parent's approval. I went off on her, saying that I had no parents. I'd buried my father and my mother was missing in action. I was eighteen and it was my fucking body. I was arrested by my father's deputies because the woman felt threatened by my tirade, but released a few hours later. The pharmacy owner didn't want to press charges, but I was forced to go to a pharmacy in Port Angeles, a town an hour away, for any prescriptions I needed in the future. Anyway, the whole condom scare went by the wayside because I had to deal with my father's mounting medical expenses. Our house was foreclosed, and I had to declare bankruptcy. For a while, I stayed with my friend Angela and her family. But, her father was the pastor of the church …"

"I can only imagine what he said," Edward growled. "Bella … you don't need to tell me …"

"I do, Edward. In order for you to understand, I need to tell you," I said, sipping my coffee. "Around my nineteenth birthday, I started to feel really sick. I bought a pregnancy test at the grocery store I worked at and discovered I was pregnant. Pastor Weber threw me out, calling me a harlot and a jezebel. I had no other choice than to go to Jacob and Billy. They were my 'family', or so my father's will said. Billy was supposed to be my legal guardian should anything happen to Charlie. I was a legal adult, though. However, the friendly man I knew from my childhood was replaced by a cold, angry monster.

"I was their indentured servant. I cooked, cleaned, and paid 'rent' even though I took care of them. Jacob would just take from me on a nightly basis. I wasn't his girlfriend. I was his fuck toy. I wasn't allowed to say no. I drew the line when Jacob brought a few friends over. I ran out of the shack I'd shared with him and slept in a cave close to the reservation. I refused to be gang raped by a bunch of teenaged boys who wanted to become men," I choked out. "When I came back home from work the following day, exhausted and shattered, Billy said that Jacob had crossed a line. But, I was not allowed to say no to his son. So, that night, Jacob took. Again."

"Bella … why is this Jacob not in jail?"

"Because, all of my …" I stopped. I couldn't say that I was raped. I refused to say that. It meant that I was a victim. I wasn't a victim. I was a survivor … Was I? "What Jacob did to me, they happened on reservation property. If I went to the police, the Forks deputies wouldn't have any jurisdiction. If I went to the peace officers on the reservation, they'd do nothing because Billy was their chief. So, I was fucked. I couldn't leave because I had no money, and I was pregnant.

"Fast forward to when I gave birth … Billy refused to let me go to the hospital. It would cost too much, but as you can see, I'm tiny. My baby was not. After days of laboring, the midwife called the ambulance. She saw what I was enduring with Jacob and Billy. She and I worked out a plan for me to leave because she saw the torture that I'd suffered. However, my son's birth did not go as planned. I had to have a C-section. I wouldn't stop bleeding and they … the doctors had to perform a hysterectomy to save my life," I cried. "There were days I wished I'd died. That I had bled out on the table …"

"Bella, no," Edward frowned, reaching over to take my hand.

I pulled away, curling into a tinier ball. If he touched me, I'd lose it, and this was not the worst part of my history. "Anyway, I was ready to leave Forks with the help of Sue, the midwife. Unfortunately, when I woke up from my surgery, Jacob was there, and Sue was gone."

"What happened to Sue?" Edward asked.

"I don't know. I asked around the reservation, but she just disappeared," I answered. "Anyway, Jacob was there at the hospital. He said he would take care of me. He played the role of a doting boyfriend. He drove me back to the reservation. Once I was back in the shack, he essentially that I had to go back to work, one week after having a baby and major abdominal surgery. I had to pay off my medical bills. The manager was shocked to see me there, but took pity on me and let me work as a cashier. She was nice, but her boss was an asshole. I still passed out when my incision got infected."

"Fuckers," Edward sneered. "They were supposed to care about you. Love you and they … I cannot believe that. Total bullshit!"

"Yeah," I sighed. "But, it was my life. I had no choice. Well, no choice until Jacob kicked me out when Seth was about four years old. I apparently fulfilled my usefulness, and he didn't even care about his child. I had a day to pack up my shit and leave. I had saved some money, but not enough since Billy and Jacob were draining me dry for their 'rent'. Anyway, I left Forks after I was fired from my job because my boss, the asshole, at the grocery store was a douche. I couldn't stay in Forks. I had to leave. I got into my truck and drove to Seattle."

"Why do I get the idea that it wasn't smooth sailing after you left Forks?" Edward grimaced.

"Because, it wasn't. It took me almost five years to get from Forks to San Francisco," I said. "Along the way, I found jobs and made a few friends, but I'd been beaten up, stabbed, almost raped multiple times and was essentially homeless for those five years. There was one point in time where I had to fight off an attacker and I killed him. I'm a murderer, Edward. I should be in jail!"

"It was in self-defense, gorgeous," Edward whispered. "Would he have hurt you?"

"He wanted to take like Jacob," I sniffled. "This is my body. No one is allowed to touch me without my permission."

"No, Bella. You're in control," Edward said.

Wiping my tears away, I sighed, "Occasionally, I'd come across a kind person who'd help me, but I didn't stay in one spot for very long. My son was my sole purpose for living and everything I did was for him."

"Wait a minute, your book … is it your story?" Edward asked.

"A watered-down, fairy tale ending version of my story, yes," I nodded. "Charlotte didn't go through half of what I'd endured."

"Holy shit," Edward gasped. "Bella …"

I didn't let him continue. "When I arrived in San Francisco, I had a single dollar to my name, and I used it to buy my son a cup of hot chocolate at McCoffee Café. I was skin and bones and probably would have died if it hadn't been for Emmett and Rosalie. They saved me. They gave me a soft place to land, a safe harbor. Taking me and Seth in, I was able to begin healing from my past. They became my family, along with Jasper. I persevered when everything was stacked against me. Everyone who helped me, I paid back, including Emmett and Rosalie. However, I do not trust anyone. I doubt I ever will, to be perfectly honest," I muttered.

"You can trust me, Bella," Edward said, moving closer to me and taking my hand. I allowed him to touch me, but I was trembling uncontrollably. Why would he want to touch me? I'm a killer. I'm used and I don't deserve his kindness. "I would never betray your trust in that way, Bella. Never."

"I want to trust you, but the last man who I trusted, he started me on this path where I was hurt, completely shattered and damaged. Seeing Paul and hearing him spread those lies … I'd only ever been with Jacob. Once, it was by choice. After that? He … he took," I cried.

"Paul's gone, Bella. After hearing his bullshit, I got him fired. The president of Summit will be taking over the movie and to be honest, I trust him much more than Paul or anyone else," Edward said.

"Why would you want to continue with the movie, knowing my story?" I asked. "I'm a murderer. I killed someone."

"You killed someone who wanted to hurt you," he argued. "It was justified."

I wiped my tears away, trying not to completely lose it. Again. I was over being so broken. I didn't want to be, but I didn't know how to fix it.

"Bella, have you considered talking to someone?" Edward asked.

"Rose, Emmett and Jasper have all mentioned it. I always used the excuse of not having insurance," I mumbled. "Therapy is expensive."

"It is, but it's worth every penny. I went to therapy. Hell, I still go to therapy. I have control issues," Edward shrugged. "It makes a sense since I'm a type-A personality. But, Bella, you can't use the money excuse anymore."

"I know," I huffed. "I just don't want to be a victim."

"You're not, Bella. You never could be. You're stronger than I can ever imagine," he breathed, pulling me into his arms. "You said it yourself that you persevered when everything was stacked against you. You have a beautiful, loving son and you're fucking amazing. I'm in awe of you, Bella."

"You shouldn't be," I argued. "I'm broken, Edward. I should have been stronger at that dinner. I shouldn't have let Paul get to me."

"Paul got to me," Edward snarled. "He was an asshole." He sighed, leaning his cheek against the crown of my head. "Will you come back to my house? I don't know about you, but I didn't sleep well."

"I didn't sleep. Period," I muttered. "Maybe about fifteen minutes."

"Why? You drifted off …"

"Nightmares," I whispered. "Horrific nightmares. I haven't had many in the past few years, but seeing Paul … my past came rushing back. Each time Jacob took from me invaded my mind like a cruel reminder of what he stole from me."

Edward was quiet, his eyes swirling in anger. "I want to kill Jacob. He's an animal, a monster. His father is even worse …" he growled.

"I agree," I sniffled, wiping my tears away.

"Please come back with me. Hell, I'll even give you the house. I'll go stay with my parents," Edward breathed. "I don't want you to stay here … or leave …"

"You don't have to give up your house. Hell, you gave up your room for me," I frowned. "Please, stay."

"Only if you stay," he argued. "We need to meet with the president of Summit. I know he'll want to smooth out the rough edges that Paul caused. I'm supposed to call him, but he'll have to wait. You are my priority. You'll always be my priority." He stood up, taking my hand. "Let's get you checked out and back to my house."

I got up on shaky legs, picking up my shoes and purse from the floor. "I'm going to …" I gestured to the bathroom.

"Take your time," he smiled.

I walked into the bathroom, frowning at my appearance. I looked like a ghost. My skin was pale with haunted, vacant eyes. Shaking my head, I took care of my human needs. I washed my face and hands, walking back out to the room.

"Thanks, Alec," Edward said, sliding his phone into his pocket. "Come on, gorgeous. We're going to go."

"But, the hotel," I argued.

"Alec will check us out," Edward explained. "I got a text from my pain-in-the-ass sister, the paparazzi are staked out outside. So, he dropped off another car in the back. He'll drive my car back after he'll check us out."

"I can pay for my own hotel room," I frowned.

"I know you can, Bella," he said. "But, right now, we need discretion and privacy. Alec will give us that." He held out his hand, threading our fingers together. "We have sneak out the back. Come on, love."

He gently tugged on me, guiding me out of the room and to the stairwell at the end of the hallway. I was a little lost at his last statement. He helped me into an older model silver Volvo. I could hear yelling. Edward handed me a pair of sunglasses. "It's about to get pretty bright, Bella. Trust me?"

I nodded and watched as he sprinted around the front of the car. He got inside, turning it over and backed out. He tore out of the parking lot while some paparazzi were chasing behind us. "Holy crap. They're vicious!"

"Things calmed down after I stopped acting, but with the drama with Paul …" Edward sighed, getting onto the freeway. "Check out my phone. The code is 1918. There's a text from my sister."

I pulled his phone from its holder in the car. I unlocked it, opening up the texts. There were a few photos from Alice. "Holy crap! You really laid him out!"

"He deserved it," Edward growled coldly. "But, it happened on the patio of The Ivy. The paparazzi caught all of it."

"This is bad," I gasped. "Edward, you could have gotten arrested."

"The optics aren't great, but my PR team is already spinning it," Edward said soothingly. He pulled the phone from my hands and twined our fingers together over the center console. "I know that trust doesn't come easily to you. Let me take care of this, please?"

"I bet Alice is loving the fact that I'm being painted in a negative light," I scoffed.

"No, she isn't," Edward argued. "Even though I fired her, she went to bat for me when Paul started sharing some not-so-positive facts about you to the press. A lot of the stories are not even going to print."

"Why would she do that?" I asked.

"Because she fucked up," he replied. "She wants to come and talk to you."

"Not today, okay?"

"No rush, love," he said, kissing my palm. "Let get you back to my house and get some sleep."

I nodded, staying quiet for the rest of the drive. It took longer since Edward found a more roundabout way to his neighborhood. We pulled into his garage. He helped me out, his eyes wary. With what I told him; I didn't doubt his wariness.

"I know with all that happened, this is the last thing you want to worry about," Edward sighed, scrubbing his face. "What does this mean for us?"

"You said that I'm in charge. Is that still true?" I asked in return.

"Always," he breathed, stepping in front of me. "Bella, what happened to you does not diminish what I feel for you. Like I said, I'm in awe of you and your strength. I'll back off …"

"No! I don't want that," I said, gripping his wrist. "For the first time since I lost my dad, I feel … safe. I love Rose, Emmett, and Jasper. They're my family. They helped me more than words can describe, but what I feel for you? It's more. The biggest thing is that I feel safe, protected with you. I …" I stepped toward him, caressing his scruffy jaw. I rose onto my tiptoes, tentatively kissing his lips.

He returned my kiss, cradling my face in his too-large hands. It was gentle, beyond sweet. Sweet passes of his lips against mine. Tender caresses of his mouth, ghosting over my mouth. It was the perfect kiss. Too quickly it ended, but we were both breathless. He pressed his forehead to mine. I gripped his t-shirt, breathing him in. "I guess that answers my question, love."

I nodded, sliding my arms around his waist. He held me tightly like I was going to disappear. I yawned widely. "Sorry."

"Upstairs and get some sleep, gorgeous," he smiled, brushing his lips over mine.

xx Blockbuster xx

While I slept for an entire day, Edward was putting out a million fires with his publicist, Summit, and the tabloid media. I woke up the following day, I was refreshed. Still very raw, emotionally, but I felt like I could cope with the bullshit that Paul had dished out along with its aftermath.

Padding down to the main level, I smelled coffee. I was in a pair of jeans and t-shirt. Turning the corner, I saw Alice sitting at the kitchen counter. I bristled. I was not ready to deal with her. I didn't want to deal with her or her nasty behavior. I tried to turn around, but she saw me. "I know I was a raging, epic bitch."

Damn it. "That's putting it mildly," I deadpanned. "I'm not going to fight with you, Alice. I just don't have it in me."

"Neither am I," Alice sighed. "I'm truly sorry for not giving you a chance."

"And, why should I believe you?" I asked. "You did everything to make me feel even less than I already do …"

"Bella, it's rare for me to say that I'm wrong. I am a lawyer. We argue for a god damned living, trying to prove to the world that I'm always right. I was very wrong about you and about everything. I let some mystery asshole paint you in a negative light," Alice muttered. "I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have let unsubstantiated claims … I was wrong."

"Who was the mystery asshole? It seems a bit circumspect," I muttered. "The timing is also pretty sketchy, too."

"I still don't know who the mystery asshole is, but I have a good guess that Paul may have been involved," Alice explained, her eyes flashing. "Look, you've made my little brother happy. I've never seen him smile so much. He's always been guarded when it came to relationships, but with you? He's … ecstatic."

"Edward makes me happy, too," I blushed. "Happier than I've ever been in my entire life. I never thought I'd be this happy, but I'm terrified it'll be yanked away, like everything else that's good." I shook my head, trying to ward off the overwhelming fear of loss and negativity.

Therapy … you've put it off long enough, Swan. You're fucked up. Get it fixed!

"Bella, I was a heinous twat. I didn't get to know you. I just saw you as …" she sighed.

"Trailer park trash who was going to bring down your Academy Award-winning brother," I spat. "I don't see him as anyone but Edward. I don't see the money or the accolades. Just him. If you had taken a moment to actually talk to me, get to know me? You would have learned that, Alice."

"Stop!" she growled. "I fucked up! I get it. Will you let me make it right?"

"How? I already feel like shit when I'm around you. How can you fix that? You can't make a first impression a second time. You made your thoughts about me abundantly clear."

"I was wrong!" Alice yelled, throwing her arms up in frustration. "I was beyond wrong. Edward has told me, time and time again, that you were the real deal. My parents were pissed at me, ashamed of how I'd behaved. Even Jasper said that you were the epitome of goodness, but I was determined to see you as a money-hungry bitch. You're clearly not. You are good and sweet and completely undeserving of my bullshit. I know that we'll never be friends." She looked at me, expecting me to respond. I didn't say anything, just staring at her with my arms crossed over my chest. "Or have any sort of relationship …"

"Alice, you hurt me without even trying. Why would I want a relationship with you?" I asked. "When you could turn that friendship against me, throwing it at my face!"

"I don't blame you," she frowned. "Look, I'm going to try and make it up to you. I may not be able to do so, but my first step is to represent you and Edward when you go back to Summit. Edward has a strong relationship with the president, we both do, really, but Paul truly mucked things up. It should be used for your advantage. More money. More notoriety."

"I don't want to make any hasty decisions, Alice," I frowned.

"I don't blame you, but what Paul did was abhorrent. As soon as I got the photos sent to my phone from Edward's temper tantrum, I sprang into action. It's rare for Edward to lose his cool. He has to deal with temperamental divas and over-the-top actors. He has to maintain an even demeanor. For him to slug Paul? Yeah, he'd crossed a huge line. So, I mobilized the public relations team. I also worked to get any stories pulled before they were published with a cease-and-desist order. You're my brother's girlfriend. You're also in this realm of movies where image is everything …"

"Are you saying …?" I growled. "That I'm not pretty enough? If that's the case …"

"I'm not saying anything. If anything, you have this sexy, girl next door vibe. Innocent face, wide eyes, but with curves for sin," Alice explained gesturing to me.

"What?" I squeaked. "I'm a mom with stretch marks and saddle bags."

"You may be a mom, but you are gorgeous. I'd kill for your figure. I have negative A-cups and no ass," Alice snorted. "Anyway, Paul was not painting you in a very positive light. I saw some of the stories before they went to print, before the cease-and-desist order was sent to every rag tabloid, and he said that you were this whore," she explained, taking out her cell phone. She handed me her phone with an article pulled up. "That you sold your body for drugs."

"I never did any drugs," I sniffled. "I never sold my body, either. Everything I ever did was for my son, but not that. Never that." I looked up at her. No holding back … "I've been with one person and that was my son's sperm donor. He didn't exactly ask if he could take."

"Fuck," Alice gasped. "You were …?"

"Don't say it," I said, stomping to the coffee maker and pouring myself a cup. Deep breaths. In through your nose, out through your mouth. "I know what happened to me. It's something I have to live with for the rest of my life. Now, I wouldn't trade my son for anything. He's my world, my everything. I love him so much, but the man who fathered him was a monster, as was his grandfather."

"And, you have no other family?"

"No. Not by blood. Seth is it. But, my adoptive family is Jasper, Emmett, and Rose," I explained. "They're everything to me." So is your brother …

"Regardless of the truth, we need to get ahead of Paul's BS. Summit, Edward and I are willing to go to bat for you. Hell, Jasper is on his way down to help, too," Alice said, her face flushing. "He was really worried about you."

"I bet you're happy about that."

"I am happy to see Jasper, but he made it quite clear that he didn't want to be with me when I was so awful to his family," Alice explained. "And, he has every right to be. I have a lot to make up for. I'm not certain if I can do that. He said that … family always comes first. You're his family. With my prejudices, I might have fucked up the best relationship in my life. Jasper is the real deal."

"If you think I'm tough, you will get your ass handed to you by Jasper's twin sister," I snorted. "I love Rosalie. She's my best friend and she will cut a bitch for fucking with her family. Which you did …"

"I'm royally screwed," Alice groaned, falling forward on the quartz countertop.

"Pretty much. You were a 'heinous twat' to me and were using Jasper to get dirty details about my life," I said, giving her a wry grin. "Where's Edward?"

"He went to go pick up breakfast. He's an awful cook," Alice replied. "He could burn water. He also didn't have any food in the house." She looked at me, her eyes wide. "Bella, will you give me a chance?"

"A chance to be my friend?" I asked. "A chance to be burned again? To be judged? I don't know, Alice."

"A new start," she pleaded.

I arched a brow at her. I looked out the window, watching as the waves crashed against the shore. "I'll give you another chance. But, it'll take a lot to make it up to me. I don't know if you're being genuine or if you're pulling my chain. It's hard for me to trust people, but I'll try. That's all I can say."

"I'll take it," Alice breathed, a smile spreading over her face.

"You'll take what?" Edward asked, walking in with a few reusable grocery bags.

"Bella isn't going to kick my ass and she's going to give me a chance," Alice beamed.

"I don't want you two to fight," I said. "Besides, she's already stepped up to put out fires with the drama involving Paul and his bullshit."

"I'm glad, but it'll take a lot more than that, Mary Alice. One toe out of line and you're done. Permanently," Edward chided, pulling out the groceries. "I got some healthy things, Greek yogurt, fresh fruit and pastries. I also got some nuts and granola if you want to make … I don't know. I didn't want greasy food."

"I'm glad for that," I smiled, looking at the spread. "Yogurt parfaits would be really good."

Edward gave me his crooked grin, leaning down to kiss me before pulling out plates and bowls. Alice swiped some pastries and fruit. I made myself a yogurt parfait, splitting a croissant with Edward.

"Okay, so, I know you need to meet with Aro," Alice said. "I think it would be smart to have me with you. I know he's going to bend over backwards to kiss your asses."

"Aro?" I asked.

"Aro Volturi is the president of Summit," Edward explained. "He's also a close friend of the family."

"He's my godfather," Alice said. "He just recently acquired Summit. The previous owner wanted to take a step back, retire and enjoy the finer things in life. Aro was eager to jump into another aspect of entertainment business."

"What did he do before he bought Summit?" I asked.

"He was a television producer at first and then, he was the head of a television studio. So, a lot of what of he did transferred over to what he's doing now," Edward said. "His son, Marcus, now runs the television side of things while Aro moved over to movies."

"Wait, was Aro the head of the television studio where you got your start when you were a kid?" I asked.

"Yep," Edward grinned. "Like I said, he's an old family friend. He was also the one who funded my first movie. He believed in me. With his support, I believed in myself. The rest, as they say, is history."

"I'm surprised that Aro put that asshole, Paul, on your film in the first place. You're like a son to him," Alice mumbled. "I thought Laurent was the studio executive assigned to the movie."

"Aro didn't know that Paul bogarted the movie from Laurent," Edward sneered. "He was completely blindsided. That's why he wants to make it right."

"Regardless of his family connections to us, he needs to atone for his employee," Alice grumbled. "When do you want to meet with him?"

"I want to wait until Jasper comes in," I said.

"Until then, let's discuss a plan of attack," Alice grinned maliciously. "Paul is going down and he's going down hard."

A/N: So, we heard Bella's story. I didn't want to be overly graphic. Imagine what she went through, times ten. She just pulls at my heart strings. Also, what do you think about Alice? Do you trust her motives?

Anyhow, up next will be the meeting with Aro and moving forward with the movie. We're also going to have some romantic moments between Edward and Bella. Again, this will be an extremely slow burn. Unfortunately, I will have to separate them soon. She is a mom, and her kiddo is important to her. We're going to have some Seth and Bella bonding over the phone. I miss that kid!

Pictures for this chapter (not that there are many) are on my blog. I'm also on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation. I'm on twitter, too: tufano79.

Leave me your thoughts and thanks for reading!