Edited by Stilldreaming85 and Banshee69

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Isabella.

I felt cold, not because I was sitting outside - somewhere in the undergrounds back alley - in nothing but my pj's and socks, but because of him. The cold concrete and the falling snow had no effect on my current state. I was cold and numb all because of him.

His actions only further proved he had no notion of what love actually was. How can someone claim to love you and accuse you of being unfaithful with no proof other than 'he said she said'? How can someone who claims to love you, want to physically hurt you?

None of it should have come as a shock to me, not after everything, yet it did. It hurt he thought so little of me. It hurt because I was beginning to feel something for him.

I will admit that yes, Michael had kissed me, and a part of me enjoyed it. However, I didn't enjoy it because of any physical attraction but because of what Michael would have represented for me. Freedom, a fresh start, an escape. They were all the things Edward, no matter what he claimed, could never give me.

"Are we going to sit out here all night? I'm cold and you're going to catch pneumonia dressed like that out here," Garrett said.

It hadn't taken much convincing on my part to get him to take me outside somewhere for fresh air. Although, a dingy back alley was not what I had in mind, but it was better than nothing.

"I doubt anyone would miss me if I died," I said into my palms.

"That's not true. I would miss you."

Garrett, he could be sweet at times, almost like the big brother I never had.

"And regardless of what you may think right now, he would miss you also."

His words had me laughing out loud, so much so the echo it created bouncing off the buildings in the alley hurt my ears.

"I believe I'd be doing him a favor. For whatever reason he can't bring himself to kill me, so maybe I'll just do the job for him."

"Stop talking like that," Garrett said, as he cleared some snow off the step and sat down beside me.

"He's angry. He said some things in the heat of the moment. That doesn't mean he means it." He tried to justify. "We've all said shit we didn't mean in the heat of the moment."

"Please don't defend him in front of me. He's your boss, I get it, but he's also…"

"An asshole," Garrett said, taking the words right out of my mouth.

I chuckled softly. It wasn't like him to say anything bad about Edward.

"Remember I told you you can always talk to me. Rather than you sitting here contemplating your death, how about you tell me what really happened?"

I trusted Garrett. He had never told Edward anything that I had shared with him in confidence. Sure, I could keep my mouth shut now. I could keep it all bottled up inside and let it eat away at me like I'd done so many other times. But a part of me wanted to let it all out because I wanted someone to take my side. I wanted someone to tell me, 'yes, Isabella, you're right.'

"Anthony told him about something that happened between Michael and I back in Ragusa." I sighed. "Lord only knows how Anthony found out about it."

"One of the advantages of being dead." Garrett shrugged. "He could be anyone, anywhere, and at anytime."

"Did you know he was alive?" I asked.

"I did."

"Oh."

"I also knew he flew to Europe after Edward had left to come get you."

"Why did Anthony come to Italy if his family thought he was dead at the time?" I asked.

"Beats me. But if I had to guess, things were going on and Edward was only telling him the bare minimum. I assume he didn't like being kept out of the loop... You know even though they're twins they are nothing alike."

I scoffed at that. "You sure about that, Garrett? Because the Edward I saw tonight was a mirror image of Anthony."

Edward did have a dark side. Anthony always said his brother had a raging monster inside of him, one that could make his look like child's play. I believe it now. I saw that monster that hid inside Edward with my own eyes, felt its rage, back in Italy and again tonight.

The only difference between Edward and Anthony, Edward could control his demons better than his brother, or so I thought.

I hated the element of surprise and ever since Edward has came back into my life, surprising me has been all he has done.

"You know, I never liked surprises, not even as a child," I said. I closed my eyes for a brief second and it all flashed before my eyes. The memory of that moment, my first surprise hit me so hard, it was almost hard to breath.

"When I was thirteen, my parents threw me a surprise birthday. They asked me for weeks what type of party did I want? What did I want? And I always told them, 'nothing, not this year'," I said as I let my mind wonder and stay there, in that dangerous place where all the memories of my parents were. The parents who thought I was dead. The parents I would never see again.

"They threw me a damn party anyway. I had been at a dance class. My teacher kept me a little late, she said I needed more work on my piruet, which was complete bullshit because I had perfected that years before.

When my mom came to pick me up, I noticed that she was dressed nicely. She even had her hair done. She was so beautiful," I said, willing myself not to cry at the memory. It was losing battle, though. Garrett rubbed my back in support.

"What happened after?" he asked, encouraging me to go on.

"When we got home, everyone was there and I mean everyone. They had invited my whole class, even the kids I barely spoke with. I was so mad. I said some awful things to them. I told them they ruined my life with their stupid party, they knew I hated surprises, and they did it anyway. I told them I hated it... Everyone still stayed and enjoyed the party, despite my tantrum. I think I even enjoyed it; although I never let them know that." I smiled, seeing in my mind my mom and dad's faces. "All I wanted for my birthday was some headphones and to watch reruns of Full House."

The tears rolled down my cheeks. I tried to wipe them but there was nothing left of them but a frozen trail.

"After that day, they never surprised me again, not even with just a dinner."

"You must have been a stubborn child." Garrett laughed.

"I guess in a way. I don't like not knowing. I didn't like guessing what was going to happen or what was to come. I had everything planned right down to the last detail. College, my ballet, my life. There were no surprises. I knew what I was going to do and what I needed to do. I loved it like that; I loved having control of my own life. And then…" I trailed off.

"My mother was the spiritual type. She believed everything had a purpose, a reason. No one meets by chance, it's all been planned by a higher power. I believe that," Garrett said.

"I'm only here because of a choice someone else made. My father danced with the devil and pissed him off. I'm not here because of some higher power, purpose bullshit. Fate or destiny didn't bring me here, bad choices did," I said as he watched me with a sad expression.

"Then all you can do is make the best of what has been thrown at you," he said.

"My point in all of this; I thought all elements of surprise were gone with Edward. With Anthony, Carlisle, even Carmen and Eleazar, I never knew what was going to happen, or what they would do next. I never knew what I was going to get with them and I hated that. However, with Edward, it was simple; he'd always been consistent. He was either angry or he wasn't. He didn't flip his switch like Anthony, and it was comforting not having to worry, not having to guess, or tread on eggshells around him. But now, I don't know what changed in him."

"He changed a lot after you left," Garrett said. "He became someone else cold, heartless, if you want to put it that way."

"He was always heartless. He was just nicer about it," I said.

"I'm going to say something you aren't going to like, but I have to get it through your head somehow... You're the reason for the change in him. You're the reason for his anger."

"What the hell have I ever done to him!?" I yelled, pushing Garrett's arm off of me. I scooted further away from him.

"Hear me out," he said, holding his hand up in defense. "After you got married, he tried everything, everything he could to get you to trust him, to make you comfortable. Do you know he even asked me for advice?"

"And?" I said, folding my arms. Was any of this suppose to mean something to me?

"Whether you want to admit it or not, he does love you. It may be fucked-up but he does, and I know a part of you believes that."

"You can't possibly know that," I said. Edward doesn't love, he doesn't know how. I don't think any of them know the meaning of the word.

"Look Isabella, you don't have to believe him but believe me. I know because I paid the price for it. I heard every word that came out of his mouth."

I closed my eyes and let out a deep and frustrated sigh, thinking about what Garrett must have gone through at the hands of Edward because of me.

"I'm sorry. I don't think I could ever apologize to you enough, but anyone else in my position would have done the same thing I had."

"Maybe, or maybe someone else would have opened their eyes and realized what was right in front of them."

"Don't turn this around on me," I said, jumping to my feet, letting them bury in the snow. "I didn't make him become a monster. I didn't make him kill someone in front of me. I didn't make him hurt you, or me, or anyone else for that matter. He did that all on his own because he is fucked in the head."

"Jesus Christ, Isabella. You really are fucking stubborn. No... no, you're just plain stupid," he said.

"I am not stupid," I said with narrowed eyes. "But I am beginning to believe that you are."

"Edward is a man who trusts very few. Hell, he doesn't even trust his own father half of the time, but he trusted you. He tried to make things better for you, but you were so stubborn that you wouldn't allow him to. Then you went and trusted his father and then this Michael guy. Can you see what that did to him?"

"I never trusted Carlisle," I said.

"You trusted him enough to leave with him that day. Do you understand now?" Garrett asked.

I stayed quiet because I had nothing to say. In a way I knew Garrett was right; I had trusted Carlisle that day. Although Carlisle had been true to his word, trusting him had been my first mistake and I know Michael was my second.

"You betrayed his trust, and so did I."

"You didn't do anything, it was all on me," I said.

"No, that's where you're wrong. My job was to keep you safe and to bring you back home, and I failed."

"You were outnumbered, Garrett. Even if I had said no to Carlisle, there were five of his men and only one of you."

The more I think about it now, it was blatantly clear that even if I had refused Carlisle's offer, he would've taken me away - only with a different outcome. He came prepared that day. He was prepared for a fight and, I dare say, he was disappointed when he received none.

"It doesn't matter, it was my job; it was all I had to do. He lost his trust in me that day. He put me to work right back down at the bottom; I had to earn my way back up to where I am now."

"To the bottom?" I asked, curious as to what he meant by that. However, he was not giving anything away.

"Are you ready to go back inside now? My ass is freezing on this step and you look like an ice block," he said, quick to change the subject.

I nodded. Garrett held the large steel door open, waiting for me to go in first. I stayed quiet the entire walk back, even though my mind was swimming with a million thoughts at once.

I understood now how Edward could have interpreted my trusting his father over him as betrayal. I understood how that could make him hate me. However, what I didn't understand was what his problem was with Michael being my friend? I can't understand his behavior and his actions either.

I walked down the hall towards the room I shared with Edward. I stood outside weighing up my options. I could put my big girl panties on and go in there and deal with everything head-on, or I could turn around and walk away and spend the night in another room.

Being the coward that I was, I chose the latter option.

"He's not in there, if that's what you're worried about?" Garrett said, tugging on my arm just as I prepared to walk off.

"Oh," I said. I don't know why it bothered me that he wasn't here. "Where is he?"

"He left shortly after I took you outside," he said as he looked at his watch. "And he hasn't come back."

I slowly opened the door and stuck my head in first, having a look around. It's not that I didn't trust what Garrett told me, but he had no way of knowing for sure if Edward was, in fact, back or not when he had been with me the entire time.

"Can I offer you a piece of advice?" Garrett asked.

I turned back to face him with my arms folded. What could he have to say now that he hasn't told me already? I thought.

"You need to tell him about Michael."

I threw my hands up in frustration. I was sick of defending myself where Michael was concerned.

"There's nothing to tell. Nothing happened. Why is that so hard for you all to understand? Why are you making me out to be some whore?" I said in frustration.

"Hey, no one is making you out to be anything, especially that," he said, grabbing a hold of my shoulders, making sure I was looking right at him. "I don't know what happened in Italy, and it wasn't Anthony's place to say anything to Edward either, but he did and now you have to deal with it. You're too naive and may not see it, but Michael is not who he says he is. Can you see why that would have him worried sick about you? Especially when he shows up wherever you are. I'm not trying to make you feel guilty or upset you, but open your eyes. Stop and think about everything that's happened with Michael and ask yourself, 'is it normal?'"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked down at my feet. Deep down inside I knew Garrett was right. But right now, everything was still too fresh for me to accept that.

I left Garrett standing there and closed the door. I was cold, my toes still felt as if they were frozen stiff. I needed a hot shower to warm myself up.

I stood under the hot running water. My body slowly started to thaw. It wouldn't surprise me at all if I were to get sick after this.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around myself. Wiping the steam off the mirror, I stared back at my own reflection. I thought about what Garrett said and I hated to admit he was right. I played a part in Edward's downfall. I betrayed his trust with Carlisle and then again with Michael.

The more I thought about Michael the more I started to see that there was something not right about him. I wanted to smack myself for not opening my eyes to see it sooner.

Michael had been there that night at the ball; I had seen him with my own eyes. I was certain of it. Michael was also in New York after we all left Italy. He admitted to me that he was staying in the building opposite to Edward's. Michael was everywhere that I was.

Garrett was right, I was naive. How could I have been so blinded as to not see this earlier? Was Michael the one responsible for shooting Carlisle? Was he the one stealing his money? If so why?

So many thoughts were running through my mind, it was giving me a headache. I had to make this right. I had to tell Edward about Michael.

As I walked out of the bathroom I almost jumped out of my skin. There - in front of me - stood Edward, stripping off his coat. The tip of his nose and his cheeks were rosy from the cold outside. I had to admit, he looked almost cute.

I studied his face, trying to see if I might be able to guess his mood. Was he still mad at me? However, all I saw was hurt, maybe even regret.

"Hi," I said, testing the waters. He said nothing in reply. "I'm sorry," I blurted out.

"Don't you dare apologize to me," he said sternly.

I looked down at my feet. I clutched the towel around my body tighter, hoping that maybe it might make me disappear out of this room. Instead, I was glued to this spot in nothing but a stupid towel.

I saw his feet approach me. I closed my eyes waiting for something, anything to happen but it never did. He stood in front of me for the longest time. Several minutes past until he put his finger under my chin and lifted my head up to look at him.

"What happened earlier... It should have never happened. I shouldn't have come here looking for you, not until I had calmed myself down first," he said.

"It's-"

"Don't say it's alright." he cut me off. "It's not alright, dolcezza. None of it was alright."

"Then what do you want me to say?" I asked softly. He was too close to me, he was there in my personal space. I could smell the crisp winter air that still lingered on his skin.

"I can't even let you forgive me. But I am sorry. I'm sorry I let Anthony's version of the truth get the better of me. I'm sorry I put my hands on you. I'm sorry I scared you. Fuck, dolcezza, let's just say I'm sorry for everything up until this point."

"I had a part to play in this as well, Edward. I'm sorry it's taken me this long to realize things and come to my senses," I said. "I'll tell you everything I know about Michael. But Edward, whatever it is you think happened between the us... it didn't."

He let out a deep, long sigh. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against mine as his hands cupped my face.

"The thought... I…" he started but never finished. "The thought of you with… fuck."

I didn't know what to do with him now not like this. He shocked me when he opened his eyes and a few stray tears fell freely. My heart broke for him in this moment. He looked vulnerable and that was something Edward was not.

"I only ever wanted to bring you some sort of happiness out of this whole mess," he said.

"I know."

"Then stop fighting me at every turn and let me."

"Edward…"

"Ti amo, dolcezza, pui di quanto ne sai," he whispered, as he brought his mouth closer and closer to mine.

There was something in me that stirred at his words, something was awoken. Even though he had told me numerous times that he loved me, I never once believed him, not until now Maybe it was because of the vulnerability he showed, or maybe the clouds were just starting to disappear from around my head.

While one of my hands was clutching the towel around my body for dear life, the other found its way to his face. The tips of my fingers brushed against his parted lips. He kissed them as I moved them back down.

Whatever was happening between us in this moment, it felt magnetic like there was some invisible force bringing us closer and closer together until our lips met. It was a soft and gentle kiss, his lips slowly moved against mine almost as if he couldn't believe it was happening.

I brought my hand back up around is neck and held him closer, deepening our kiss.

He pulled back much to my disappointment. His hands moved down from my face to my shoulders and down my arms till they rested on my hips.

"Dolcezza, you have no idea how hard I am struggling to hold onto what little control I have left right now, and you standing here the way that you are, it's not helping," he said.

"Edward," I said softly, bringing my hand back up to his face.

He leaned into my touch sighing contently as he turned his face towards my hand and kissed the inside of my palm.

There was something in me that awoke, something almost animalistic that screamed to not back away now. Maybe it was nothing more than need, my own mind and body seeking some sort of comfort and attention. Or maybe, maybe it was something more.

"Let go of the towel," he demanded.

So I did. I released my fingers from the death grip I had around the towel and let it fall to the floor, pooling at my feet. I ignored the feeling of embarrassment as Edward's eyes roamed up and down my body. I pushed all of my self doubts away.

"Fuck!" he cursed as he backed me up against the wall and pinned me there with his body. "It's you and me, dolcezza, only you and me," he said. "Say it."

"Only you and me," I repeated his words.

"Il mio." He breathed against my skin.

No words were needed after that. I helped him as he tore away his own clothes, leaving him as naked as I was.

There was something happening between us in this moment, something more than just a physical release. I didn't know what it was but it felt strong. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach, taking hold of every part of me and it scared me to death.

My eyes found Edward's and there it was, my wake-up call, my earth to Isabella moment. Somewhere along the way, I had fallen in love with him.

Everything felt different now. I felt different; Edward felt different to me. All those years ago, I remember every time we were together and the way he made me feel; it was never like this. This was urgent, desperate, and pure need.

The way our bodies moved together. The way his mouth claimed every part of me. I don't think there was a spot he hadn't touched that hadn't set me on fire again and again. We were as close as it was physically possible for two human beings to be, yet it still felt as if it wasn't close enough. I needed and wanted more and so did he.

What we were doing wasn't making love, I wouldn't even call it sex. No, this was Edward staking his claim on me, and I on him. Il mio, mine; I'm his just as much as he is mine.

Edward was asleep when I escaped out of our room. There was something I needed to do. One person I needed to see and I knew exactly where his brother was holding him.

I made my way down the halls, past the bedrooms, past his office, to a lonesome door at the end of a corridor. I wasn't stupid, I knew what was down there. I knew what happens to those unfortunate enough to end up down there. I wondered what Edward had done to his brother and if he was, in fact, still down there.

There was a tall and very well built man standing by the door, playing on a small DS console. It seemed like no one was allowed a smart phone down here. He turned his back and began walking in the opposite direction.

I ignored his presence, even though his size intimidated me, and made my way to the keypad by the door, hoping he wouldn't turn back around. I'd seen Edward punch the code in a few times as he was leaving me to go down there, I just prayed I memorized it correctly.

5-2-2-5

The light on the door turned green and I heard a small click. My hand was on the handle, ready to open the door when that same large figure wrapped his hand around my wrist and squeezed tightly.

"Ow, let go," I said, trying to yank my hand out of his grip.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, glaring at me. "You aren't allowed down there. Get out of here."

But this man didn't know I was on a mission. I had a bone to pick with Anthony and I wasn't going to leave until I did just that.

"I have to go down there," I said.

"There's nothing for you down there."

"Yes, there is."

"Oh, yeah, and what might that be?" He asked with a raised brow.

"I don't have to justify myself to you. Let go of me and let me go down there, or else," I said. I didn't know where this was coming from, or what had came over me. What could I possibly do to this man? What could I threaten him with when he was five times the size of me.

"Listen here, sweetheart," he said, getting in my face as his grip around my wrist became unbearably painful.

"What the fuck are you doing Mario!?" I heard Garrett yell out. I turned enough to see him running towards us with a pissed off look on his face.

"No one's supposed to go down there," Mario said. "Boss' orders. I'm not gonna get my ass handed to me cause she's fucking curious," he spat.

"I need to go down there," I said, looking at Garrett, silently pleading with him in the hopes he will help me out.

"You're also not meant to put your hands on the boss' wife, Mario," Garrett said as his eyes flickered from Mario's face to his hand firmly around my wrist. "What do you think he'll be more pissed off about?"

Mario glared at Garrett as he removed his hand from me. Garrett looked down at my wrist and started shaking his head. "You better pray she doesn't bruise," He said as Mario's face paled and I couldn't help the satisfied smile that spread across my face.

I didn't turn back around to look at either Mario or Garrett as I opened the door and headed down the stairs.

"Hey, wait," I heard Garrett behind me. "What the hell are you doing coming down here?" He asked finally catching up to me.

"I know Anthony's down here," I said.

"How do you know that?" he asked with his arms folded across his chest.

"Come on Garrett, I'm not stupid." I saw Edward take his brother down here after we had returned from the club and Anthony hasn't been seen since. "I need to see him."

"Why?" He asked, confused.

To be fair I was just as confused as Garrett was about my sudden urgency to see Anthony. However, I was so mad, so angry with him that I wanted to hurt him. If only I could just hit him once. I knew it would satisfy me and I knew he wouldn't be able to hurt me back.

"Because I want to knock his fucking teeth out."

Garrett's eyes widened in surprise, although he looked amused. "This way." He shrugged.

I followed Garrett, watched him as he opened a door and motioned for me to go in.

Inside was a dimly lit room with concrete walls and floors. There were no windows, only a small vent. It smelled terrible in here. The scent of urine and vomit permitted the air. A shiver went down my spine. This room resembled the same one I'd been held in all those years back; only this time it wasn't me slumped in the corner defenseless. It was Anthony.

I didn't know what I expected to find down here, or better yet, what state I had expected to find him in, but this wasn't it.

He was bruised and battered. Every part of his body I could see was covered in blood and cuts.

I kneeled down beside him, taking him all in. I was shocked at what Edward had done to his own brother, his own flesh and blood.

Anthony let out a small whimper as he tried to move.

"Jesus Christ," I said. I moved my hand to wipe some of the blood from his face. He felt hot, burning up, as if he were running a fever.

"Anthony," I whispered, afraid to raise my voice any higher.

"You came back," he mumbled.

"Anthony, we have to get you upstairs. Can you please stand up," I said. No matter what, I knew I couldn't leave him down here. I knew he would die.

"I missed you," he mumbled out.

"Garrett, can you help me please?" I asked.

"You really are trying to get me killed?" He said.

I put my hand under Anthony's head. It was so damp. His blood stained my hands, it ran down my palms and onto my shirt.

He groaned as I tired to help him move. His eyes slowly opened and he looked directly at me.

"Don't let him take you from me baby, please, not again," he said although his words were a struggle to get out. I didn't know what he was talking about. Obviously he was having some sort of delusion, some dream.

With whatever strength Anthony had left in him, he brought his hand up to the back of my head bringing me closer to him.

"I love you, Kate," he whispered before he crushed his lips to mine.