The next day was tense. Everyone could feel the anger between Alice and Marie. Breakfast was uncomfortable. The conversations, Esme tried starting failed miserably and they were all left in uncomfortable silence.

Alice and Marie wouldn't look at each other much less speak. The two girls seemed further apart than ever which made Alice wonder if they'd ever be close again. Watching her parents dote and obsess over Marie made the jealousy rise within her. She wanted her parents to love her like that.

She stood outside of Jasper and Rose's house and lightly knocked on the grande white doors. The door opened and Rose was surprised to see Alice. Her eyes were red and puffy as if she'd been crying for the past few hours. Without warning, Alice launched herself into Rose's arms, making them both stumble backward.

Alice rarely cried. The last time she had seen her this upset was when Bella was kidnapped. She became depressed and wouldn't leave her room. Six months after, Carlisle finally had to force her to eat and get out of bed because she had basically become catatonic.

Ever since then, Alice has been constantly on the move, not letting herself think too much about the negative. She didn't want the same thing to happen again.

"I-I'm sorry," she cried. Rose shushed her and softly shut the door. Alice was hysterical and her sobs just got louder.

"What happened?" She asked. "Is it something to do with Bella?"

Alice nods her head and wipes the snot away from her nose. The two of them sit down in the living room. Alice leans against Rose, feeling exhausted.

"Tell me what happened."

"Nothing is going right." She said. "Everything was supposed to go back to normal when she came back but that's not happening."

"You've got to give her time," Rose softly says. "She's got to readjust to everything. I bet this all feels so scary for her. We've got to give her time."

"I know," Alice sighs. "And I think I made everything worse. We got into a fight last night and I said some awful things to her."

Rose's heart drops to her stomach. When Alice was angry, it was scary. She didn't hold back her opinions no matter how much they hurt.

"What did you say?" Her voice was weary.

Alice pauses. "I-I, um, basically told her that she ruined my family."

She bursts into tears, remembering how horrible her words were. The look on Marie's face screamed anger and pain. Why did she do that? Bella had been through so much, it's not like she chose to be kidnapped.

"Alice…" Rose doesn't know what to say. She just lets Alice cry, knowing this is what she needed to do.

"I- I was just so angry. She's all my parents think about. Everything they do is to make sure she is happy. I understand that she needs help but they are my parents. It's like they love her more than me!"

"That is not true. Your parents love you so much! They'd do anything for you!" Rose exclaimed. "Maybe if you tried talking to them, things would be better. I'm sure that they aren't intentionally ignoring you."

"I know," Alice sighs. "But I feel bad at the same time. They look so stressed with everything and I don't want to make it worse."

"Alice, listen to me," Rose said. "They are your parents and they love you. I'm sure they would want to know what's going on."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Rose whispers. "I'm positive."

"Are you feeling alright, honey?" Esme asks.

Marie had sat in front of the TV all day watching, House Hunters. She couldn't stop thinking about Alice. What she said. How much pain she was in. Did she make matters worse by coming? She thought that they would be happy to have Bella back.

This family wasn't as perfect as everyone thought.

Marie glances up at Esme as she comes to sit down beside her on the couch. She hands her a mug of hot chocolate and wraps the blanket over her shoulders.

"Where did Alice go?" She ignores her question.

Esme sighs, looking at the ground. "Alice snuck out. She probably went to Rose's house."

Marie nods her head. "Is she in trouble?"

Esme thinks carefully about how to answer. She doesn't want to alarm the girl but she wants to be honest.

"No." She slowly says. "But, we are going to have a talk with her when she comes home. She knows that she is not allowed to leave the house at the moment."

Marie's face is emotionless. Her mind is somewhere else. She's still thinking about what Alice said. Alice blamed Bella for ruining their family. She hated Bella. Marie wondered how long she had to wait to say that. How long had she been thinking that?

"Am I worth it?" Marie whispers. "I've caused so much stress. It seems like everyone is constantly fighting. Is it worth it to have me here if I cause so much pain?"

Esme is shocked. What would prompt her to ask such questions? Her heart hurt for Bella. She wanted her to feel as loved as possible. After going through so much anguish she deserved to have a place to call home.

"Don't ever doubt your place in this family," Esme firmly said. "We love you so much. I just want you to be happy."

They both have tears in their eyes. Why did Bella have to go off with that man? She could have been safe and happy. Now, nothing would be the same.

"Carlisle and I were thinking that maybe," Esme breaths. "Maybe you could see a therapist. The doctors at the hospital said that you would need some help-"

"How come you can't help me?" Her heartbeat increases.

"Carlisle and I are not qualified. You've been through a lot of trauma and talking to someone can be very beneficial."

Marie pulls at the strings of the blanket. She didn't want to talk to anyone. They would find out she's a fake. She'd be arrested and sent to prison. Marie didn't want that to happen.

"We have a therapist at the hospital for you to see. She's a very dear friend of ours as well. I think that you will like her. She's very kind and patient and won't rush you into talking about anything."

"When do I have to see her?" Marie whispered.

"Whenever you feel comfortable. She can always come here if that will make it easier. We have her number so we can call her anytime."

She gazes out the window, watching the rain droplets splatter against the glass. She didn't want to think about this therapist woman. She could cope fine on her own.

"There is something else, Carlisle and I wanted to talk to you about," Esme sighs.

Marie cocks her head, confused at the sudden change of attitude. Esme sounded annoyed.

"The police called and said that there has been a break in the case. They want to ask you a few more questions," she breathes.

"Do they want us to go to the police station?"

"Yes. They wanted us to come this week, but I told them that we had to make sure that you are in a good place… emotionally," Esme struggled with the right word to use.

"So when do we go?"

"That is what they are still trying to decide. They say that it's urgent but I want to make sure you are absolutely comfortable."

Marie's eyebrows furrowed. "Is that all?"

Esme shakes her head. "The DNA test is taking longer to come back. They mixed up your sample with another person's so they are trying to track it down or something."

"What does that mean?" Marie's voice was coated in worry.

"Well, to speed things up, they went to look at your old dental charts before you were abducted. Remember they took new scans of your teeth at the hospital?"

Marie nods her head. "Mm-hmm."

"Well, they are comparing them to each other to see if they align. You see, when you were seven you had two cavities filled and they should still be there."

"So that means it can prove that she is really Bella?"

Marie and Esme swing their heads around to see Edward leaning against the doorway. His arms are crossed over his chest.

"Edward!" Esme gasped. "Don't you dare talk like that!"

He feels bad for saying what he said. Despite the overwhelming feeling that this girl was truly Bella Swan, he still wanted factual evidence to prove it. He wouldn't be fully satisfied until he could see the results with his own eyes.

"You are Isabella Swan!" Esme turned toward the girl. It was as if she was trying to convince herself more than Marie. "Don't listen to him. The police are just doing their jobs but there are too many similarities for you not to be her."

"I'm just being realistic," Edward said. "I don't want to get my hopes up just to have them crushed all over again-"

"Edward Cullen! Leave the room this instant!" Esme demanded. She gave him a look saying- you've crossed the line.

Edward bites his tongue, not wanting to get into any more trouble. He grumbles something under his breath and walks right out the front door.

"Edward!" Esme yelled.

A moment later, a grumble from the driveway is heard. Edward can be seen through the window, driving off on his midnight black, Harley Davidson Motorcycle.

"Why do I even bother with rules?" She mutters to herself. "They never listen to them."

Marie fidgeted on the couch. She didn't know how much longer she could pretend. She had never been to a dentist a day in her life and that would show on the scans. Everything was unraveling. Marie wanted to run yet wanted to stay.

She had become too close to Esme. She loved Esme as if she were her own mother. Marie wanted Esme to be her mother. She had never wanted anything more in her whole life.

Marie couldn't remember anything from her childhood. James never answered her questions. He told her that her family didn't want her and they had stuck her with him. She had come from a bad home and should be grateful for all that he's given her. That is what he beat into her mind until she stopped asking about her past. She only had him to live for because there was no one else.

Marie wasn't sure if she believed him anymore. His version of love and this family was completely different. Carlisle claimed that using physical violence on another person was abuse. He said that this family didn't condone that type of brutality.

She had never thought of it as brutal up until now. Yes, it was painful and dehumanizing but it was for a purpose. James had taught her that he beat her because he loved her. He was teaching her to be a good and that he had no other choice.

But Marie knows now that there was always a second option. A gentler, calmer way to punish her. He didn't have to rape her. He didn't have to punch her until she was black and blue. This made her furious. Her blood boiled in rage and she couldn't contain herself any longer.

Marie was blind and deaf to the world around her. All she wanted to do was hit something. Hurt something. Why did she have to go through the pain? She didn't ask for this. She didn't want to be given away. There must have been something wrong with her. That is why her parents didn't want her.

"Isabella!" The sound of the girl's name brings her back to the present.

She's huddled on the ground with someone restraining her. Marie's hands are cut up and bloody. She stretches out her fingers only to be met by excruciating pain. Someone is holding her wrists together, preventing her from hurting herself or others.

What happened?

Like a waterfall, tears come pouring down her cheeks. She gasps for breath, feeling her heartbeat increase. What had she done?

"Nice and easy breathes," the voice says. It's Carlisle.

She listens to his calm voice. He counts with her starting from one up to ten. That always managed to calm her down.

"... five, six, seven, eight-"

"Nine, ten," she whispered.

Exhausted, she collapsed against his chest. His arms went slack but still were wrapped around her fragile, shaking body. Carlisle didn't want to do anything else to upset her.

He had been in his office finishing up some paperwork when he heard the crash. At first, he assumed that something must have been dropped. He continued working, not giving it any thought. A few minutes later he heard another one. There was an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Then a few seconds later, he heard a scream.

Dropping everything, he raced down the stairs to find Bella surrounded by broken glass. Several plates had been smashed. She was in a blind rage as she threw anything she could get her hands on. Esme stood back having realized there was nothing she could do.

Her voice wouldn't get through to Bella. She was in a different world.

"I HATE HIM!" She roared. "Ifuckinghatehim!" Heart-wrenching sobs sounded from the girl. She sunk to the ground, curling up into a ball. She was unaware that Carlisle was behind her, He sat down beside her, hugging her tightly, making sure that there wouldn't be another outburst. It took twenty minutes for her to calm down and another ten minutes to bring her back to her senses.

Esme didn't know what had happened. She left Bella sitting on the couch and the next second, it was as if she was possessed. Nothing she did or said could calm her down.

"Do you want to get up?" Carlisle whispers.

Marie shakes her head. "Stay."

She grabs onto his cardigan and leans against him. Her bloodied hands stain his sweatshirt but he doesn't care. All that matters is the sobbing girl. He was able to reach her when Esme couldn't. Carlisle was able to calm her down and instead of flinching away, she came closer.

Marie wanted him to stay. Her heart doubled in beat, realizing that she wasn't shying away from this man. Marie trusted Carlisle not to hurt her. Marie knew that she was safe.

The new notion set off a whole another round of tears. She tried apologizing but Carlisle wouldn't hear it. He just let her cry, knowing that she had to get this all out.

"P-please don't let them take me," she cried. "I don't want to go to jail."

"You are not going to jail," he firmly stated. "The police aren't going to touch you. There is no reason to be afraid."

Marie didn't believe him. There were many reasons to be afraid.

"I will keep you safe if it's the last thing I do," he whispered. "You are our daughter and nobody can tell you differently."

Carlisle didn't know how she would respond. Was it too soon to say that? After all her parents she had just learned that her parents were dead. He didn't want to make it seem like they were replacing them.

Marie closes her eyes and lets Carlisle hold her. She's numb to the throbbing pain as shards of glass dig into her knees.

It's nothing compared to what she's been through before… and what's next to come.