Here's the second day as promised! it and the first day are a little late, I can only blame it on my ADHD brain because I swear i uploaded it yesterday!

Chapter 22
Mother Knows Best Part 4

Day 9

The Beginning of the End

March 7th, 2003

"You sure?" Rose murmured behind me as I glowered out the window.

"We don't have another choice." I clenched my jaw. "We need to hit her hard before she can even think of fighting back." I pressed my knuckles between my eyes. Since Renee had shown up I had been getting sharp headaches scrambling just to keep my sisters and myself in this sleepy little town.

I hated that I couldn't have fixed this sooner, hated that I had to get help from the Cullens to protect my family. And I hated that my sisters still had those damn looks on their faces that begged me to save them! It was the same look they had given me when we'd been reported to the church.

Alice rested her chin on my shoulder. "I really hope this works," she whispered so softly I wasn't sure I was supposed to hear.

"It will, little nymph." I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her in for a hug.

"How can you be so sure?" I felt a tear drip onto my shoulder and my heart squeezed at her pain. "You thought that the other plans would work too."

I knew she hadn't said it to hurt, but her words made me flush with shame. I did. I promised them I'd get rid of her, and all I've done is fail.

I pressed my lips into a thin line. "If it doesn't, I'm cutting her break line. She's a terrible driver and it wouldn't take much for her to have a nasty crash."

Alice shook her head into my chest. "But that could come back on us." She squeezed me into her, her tears soaking my shirt. "I don't want to lose you because of her. Not again. I can't. I can't."

My throat closed up as the memory of being locked in that shed came rushing forward. It was the one and only time we'd been separated and it was something I knew Alice still had nightmares about.

When we were four, we'd made a mess of the garden searching for worms to play with. We hadn't known Renee would be bringing a date home, but when she saw us covered in dirt and her flowers ruined, it was the first time I'd seen true hatred in her eyes. Most of the time she looked at us like we annoyed her, but that was the first time I'd been afraid of her.

That night she locked me in the garden shed and told me I could come out when I'd learnt my lesson. The next morning I waited and waited, hoping she'd let me out for breakfast. She didn't.

The next night, I'd cried and cried, banging on the door, begging her to let me out. "Mummy! Mummy, please! I'll be a good girl! I've learnt my lesson! Please let me out! I'll be good!"

She didn't.

The next day was one of the hottest the state had ever seen, but still she didn't come out. I couldn't remember much of that day except wanting to go inside again. That night, I was silent and I waited. I waited for her to let me out, for her to come and give me a hug like she always did after we'd learned our lessons. She didn't.

By the third day, I'd learnt my lesson. Not the one Renee had wanted me to, but the one she'd forced me to. One a child should never learn. I learned that my mother hated me and she was never coming. So I rescued myself.

At that age I was still just a four year old, all three of us were, despite the memories that had begun to come back to us. But I knew what she was doing was wrong and I knew I had to find my sisters, so when an older neighbour came to tend to her own garden on that third day I had cried as loud as I could. The shed had been pressed against the fence and my voice easily carried through the flimsy wood as I spilled my guts to the kind old lady about Renee's treatment and how I was in the shed as a punishment without food or water for three days.

The police had come, and my sisters and I spent the week with Renee's mum. When we were sent back to our abuser, I decided that the child protective system was full of idiots and I'd protect my sisters myself. Still, Renee didn't come out of that unscathed.

People in that town hated her from then on. They threw things at her, shoved her in the street, and loudly asked us if we were okay whenever we went out with her. We moved to another city within the month and Renee never tried such a thing again.

I frowned at Alice, pulling myself out of that awful memory. "I know it takes a bit of magic and isn't really practical, but we can do the same spell we cast on the neighbours back in Phoenix. Make her an afterthought. I'll take the spot of the anchor and we'll start it the moment she's dead. We'll be starving afterwards but you already know that."

"It won't come to that, love."

I looked up to see Edward, standing in the doorway with his brothers behind him. The warm and tender look on his face made my heart constrict before I batted the feeling down with some effort.

"We don't want you and your sisters to have to punish yourselves for that vile woman's behaviour." He smiled softly at me. "You've done enough, love. Let us deal with the rest."

"If you want to kill her, Bella, we're on your side." Emmett leaned against the doorframe. The determination and compassion in his eyes made my knees a little weak. "We have your back, regardless of what you decide. Even if you go all catholic or whatever and decide to turn the other cheek."

"And before you get annoyed at Emmett for even making the suggestion." Jasper smiled at me. "We have a plan for when you kill her." He stood straight behind his brothers, but the respect for me in every word made it hard to breathe.

I smirked through the emotions. They were smart enough to know my killing Renee was a foregone conclusion.

"While we were in Florida, we created a stalker. One big enough to have the police's attention in several states. This morning they found that the Dwyer household was broken into and several things were out of place. Particularly her underwear drawer." Jasper crossed his arms across his chest with a look of distaste crossing his face.

My eyes lit up. "My sympathies for having to see her disgusting lingerie that she swears makes her look years younger." I sniggered.

He shuddered slightly. "One of the reasons I'm glad I can't sleep. No nightmares from that." He shook his head, his eyes focusing again. "And there was a note left on her pillow, going into detail about the way she looked in the shower, and how she was always undressing in front of the cameras all for him. But how she never should have left Florida without telling him. And how when he finds her, he'll teach her a lesson about walking away from him."

Edward stepped into the room, the look in his eyes making me shiver. "The point is, love, if you want to kill her today, you don't have to hurt yourself to cover it up." He stopped in front of me. "Let us take care of it for you."

I narrowed my eyes at him. A week ago I would have been infuriated by his insinuation that I couldn't take a bit of discomfort for my sisters and that I needed caring for. But now I only felt relief and a bit of longing. Surely it wouldn't be so bad to let myself be cared for, just this once? Almost before I finished the thought a terrible pain shot through my head and I gasped, swaying unsteadily on my feet.

Edwards hands shot out immediately and steadied me. The pain passed almost as quickly as it had come and I shook my head. What was I thinking indulging in such useless thoughts? My duty was to my sisters. I cared for them and that was the end of it. It was my job, my duty to see it through.

"I don't need your help," I growled. Really, it was just a headache. I was probably just a little faint since I hadn't had lunch. I should be making the girls proper roast beef sandwiches, not standing here indulging in their insults.

His hand was a cooling balm against my forehead and without thinking I leaned into it. I almost didn't notice when Jasper pulled Alice gently from my arms. Edward cupped my jaw, his thumb tracing mesmerising circles on my cheek. I didn't want to pull away even if I knew I had to.

"You are the strongest person I have ever met," he murmured, holding onto me. "Accepting my help doesn't change that. I'm not trying to overstep or be selfless, or however you see me." He stepped closer again. "This is me being selfish. The sooner Renee is out of our lives, the sooner I can have you all to myself again."

"Plus, we want to repay you, Bella."

I looked over Edward's shoulder to see Jasper watching me with eyes that seemed to see into my soul. "You've given us everything we could have ever dreamed of." He glanced down at Alice buried in his arms and smiled, absolutely besotted with her. "Let us repay that debt to you by getting rid of this problem."

I disentangled myself from Edward, putting a few steps between us as their words echoed in my head. My resolve faltered slightly, but then another sharp pain sliced through my head. This one brought me to my knees as I sharply inhaled and the room spun. I felt something dripping from my nose and touched the area, when I pulled my hand back my fingers were stained crimson. "Fuck."

What the hell? I never get nosebleeds. Ever.

"Bella?" Edward's arms were around me in an instant, concern in his eyes as he cradled my face. "What's going on, love? Why are you bleeding?"

"Jesus fuck!" Emmett stepped forward as Rose crouched on my other side with a tissue. "What the fuck was that?"

I groaned, momentarily grateful for Edward's cool hands against my aching face. After a minute I pulled back. "I'm fine. Just hungry. I haven't eaten in a while."

"That is not what hunger looks like." Jasper hovered over me, with wide eyes and an exhausted Alice clinging to his sides.

"It is with witches," Alice murmured, blinking blearily at me. "I get them when I haven't slept in a week, I'm hungry and my visions are messing with my head. Hunger affects witches differently."

"But they're from your magic, not hunger," Edward argued.

"It's a combination," I groaned again, getting slowly to my feet. "I haven't eaten today and sleep isn't exactly an option most days for me."

"You slept well last night," Edward murmured and I raised an eyebrow at him. He shook his head. "After that. You slept for almost eight hours."

"But she's been using a lot of magic this week to keep on top of all our plans," Rose added, her brows furrowing slightly.

"She used every drop against Victoria, and she didn't get like this," Emmett growled. "What the hell's going on?"

I stood straight, ignoring the ringing in my head as I did so and glared at the boys. "I am hungry. I haven't eaten today, I'm stressed as fuck from all of this, and just because I slept for a solid eight hours doesn't mean I'm magically cured. So instead of arguing about things you know nothing about, let's get ready for when the bitch arrives." When Edward went to argue, I held up my hand. "If you're so worried about my health, go make me a fucking sandwich."

Being both bored and myself I naturally wanted to cause chaos so I immediately made a beeline for Jasper who was too relaxed for my liking. Alice had volunteered to make everybody drinks while we waited for Renee. Her lawyer had shown up exactly on time, but half an hour later and there was still no sign of Renee. So now it was time for me to amuse myself. I plopped into the seat next to Jasper and smiled at him.

"Congratulations, Jasper, I'm bored and you have the honour of being my entertainment. Now I have a few questions I've wanted to ask for a while but Alice kept protecting you from me. Question one, do you use your southern drawl to make my sister drop her panties? Question two, did you know my sister has always had a thing for guys with longer hair?" I asked with a pointed look at his shoulder length hair. "Question three, has she ever offered to mount your stallion if you catch my drift?"

I grinned. Jasper was annoying sometimes, but he was always good for entertainment purposes.

"Counter questions," he leaned back with a wicked look in his eyes I respected. "First: How quickly did you fall apart when Edward whispered in your ear how much he loved you? Second: Did you know my brother has a weakness for girls with short skirts and wicked tempers? Third: Did you know that he's walked into exactly seven walls fantasising about all the different ways you can bring him to his knees? Something I know because he mumbles to himself when he does."

I laughed delightedly as my eyes brightened. "I'll answer but then you have to answer as well." I cackled. "Let's see. It was his fingers that had me falling apart, not his words, and in that case about five minutes—I wasn't exactly counting. Secondly, no I did not but it looks like i'll have to wear my mini skirts more often and torture him in school. Third, I didn't know that either but thank you for the ammunition, I'll be sure to give him more ideas." My eyes glinted.

Jasper snickered. "First: of course I do. First time I did I didn't even touch her, and the punishment I got for making her fall apart in class was delicious. Second: she and I both love how long my hair is, and third: Alice has tried everything."

"Really? Everything? Even ana—"

Suddenly there was a hand over my mouth and a smaller one over Jasper's. Edward leaned close, his eyes wide as fuck as he whispered, "Stop. Please."

Beside me Alice had her hand over Jasper's mouth and I could feel her magic snapping in the air as she growled, "Not another word. My father is listening."

"Word," I said from behind Edward's hand and he shivered slightly as my tongue flicked out to lick him.

If vampires could melt, Jasper was a puddle of fucking goo beside me. I don't think I'd seen a guy get so hard so quickly. Alice leaned in even closer. "And you haven't even begun to see my everything, cowboy."

I batted away Edward's offending hand. "Next time you put your hand over my mouth you better be fucking me into oblivion or I will cut it off," I said sweetly, batting my eyes at Edward. Then I turned to Jasper and said, "Bottom."

Rose glanced over at us. "Yeah, totally a bottom," she agreed before turning back to her conversation with Emmett and the lawyer—apparently his name was Matt?

Alice slowly pulled her hand away from his mouth, her eyes dangerously narrow as Jasper twitched below her.

"Are you gonna spank him?" I giggled.

One glance at Dad showed he was a bit green and trying not to listen. Carlilse just looked at us all with exasperation while the lawyer was looking at me a bit curiously. And just because I could (and to make Edward a tiny bit jealous) I blew him a kiss.

He, Rose and Emmett were in a conversation about vigilantes of all things, and barely listening, I'd heard him mention his name. I'd only caught his first name—Matt—and his last name was something starting with 'm'? I didn't know. I didn't expect to see him again after this, but he looked delicious enough to flirt with. And if Edward's reactions when I did were anything to go by, he must have thought similarly about me.

Yesterday he'd been all professionalism in a suit, but today in my Dad's living room, he was relaxed and laughing like he belonged here. When he'd shown up, I'd expected to continue the legal runaround we'd started yesterday, but instead he'd held out his hand and said he enjoyed everything I threw at him.

"Well, you'd be a pretty shit lawyer if you didn't enjoy arguing," I'd said. "But then, I'm not exactly giving you five star ratings right now."

He'd laughed and said, "If the defense doesn't like me, it means I'm doing a good job."

I'd narrowed my eyes at him and stepped closer. "I don't like you because you're defending the woman who has ruined every moment of my sisters' lives, and wants to make us miserable so she can be happy."

Seriousness had set into his face then. "She sounds awful. And not awful like most teenagers say their parents are, but like she did something to earn your hatred."

"Something like poisoning her eldest daughter to make her infertile?" I'd raised an eyebrow at him.

To my surprise he'd nodded. "It's a serious allegation, one my firm cannot ignore, particularly if there's hard evidence." He'd then stood straighter and looked me in the eye. "Do you have such evidence on you?"

I'd stared at him carefully. "I'll have it ready for court."

"If my firm comes across it, court would be unnecessary. We would be contractually bound to drop the case based on various morality clauses."

It was then that I'd realised what he wasn't saying. If I gave him a reason, he could walk away and this would be over. All I'd had to do was hand over the evidence and Renee would lose

"No," I'd said instead. "I want to make her suffer for what she's done to us. So I'll give you the proof you need when she's in the room, and you can see for yourself what kind of person she is. How's that sound?"

His smile had been almost sinfully good. "Sounds like I have a role to play. I can't wait."

With that, he'd walked past me and into the house. But I hadn't been about to let him get the last word, so I'd said, with half the desire to shock and half the desire to put Edward on edge, "You walk like you fuck hard. And you talk like you fuck good."

He'd stumbled, spinning around in shock, and I'd heard something shatter in the kitchen.

"Well?" I'd prompted with a tilt of my head. "Are you a good fuck?"

Edward had appeared behind him, as had everyone else, and like the lawyer could sense our audience, his shock had melted into a devilishly heated look. He'd looked me up and down with a searing gaze before he reached my face with a slight smirk. "I haven't heard any complaints. Why? Do you want a free trial period?"

I'd been about to say yes, just to see the reactions, when Edward had rushed past him and wrapped his arm around my waist, growling, "No."

I'd been about to rip into him purely for thinking he could answer for me, when the lawyer had stepped back with an easy grin. "No harm, no foul. I don't do cheating."

After that we'd all headed to the living room to wait for Renee, and Edward's jealousy hadn't stopped. It was delicious. Particularly when Matt kept sending me winks just to stir him up. I wasn't the type to cheat, not ever. But causing chaos and getting to see Edward get jealous? Gods yes.

It makes sense if his last name starts with 'm' because mmm that boy looks delicious, I thought and like he could read my thoughts the corners of his lips turned up in a sinful smirk that made me want to bite them off.

Edward poked me in the side, and I glanced at him to see the glower/pout he was sending me and I grinned. Gods you're pouting like a kicked puppy.

When Jasper got back his ability to think, he rolled his head back on the couch to stare at me, looking mildly fucked out as he answered my earlier taunt, "Alice does love a brat."

Alice snorted, her dark look disappearing as she plopped herself on the arm rest beside him. "Yes, but that's not a detail I wanted my father to know."

Dad rubbed a hand over his face. "I'd really prefer not to know any details of your sex lives." He gave us all exasperated looks. "You're still my daughters. I'd lock you all up in an anti-man tower until you were eighty if I could." Then he sent me a glance and sighed. "Make that an anti-person tower. I wouldn't take any chances."

I smiled. "I'd just fuck a fae instead." I was tempted to say vampire, but Edward was emo enough to assume I meant that I didn't think vampires were people.

Dad shook his head. "I don't want to know. I'm going to erase all of this from my memory."

"I could do that if you wanted me to." I waved a hand dismissively but he was already back to talking to Carlisle. I tugged Edward down to sit next to me.

Meanwhile, Matt was sending me an interesting look. There was a confusion in the human's eyes that was to be expected, but there was also a heat that made me absolutely delighted.

If I'd met you before Edward… I thought, leaning into said vampire's arms.

Like he could tell what I was thinking, Matt's eyes grew hooded. His expression said, …you wouldn't be able to walk for a week.

Earlier I had heard him and Carlisle talking about being young in such professional fields, and Matt had mentioned he was twenty-six. But Edward had murmured to me he was actually twenty and had just graduated early. He'd stupidly thought I'd been attracted to Matt because of the "age difference", but I'd just stroked his cheek and assure him age only bothered me with minors. The look on Edward's face had been priceless.

Beside me, Edward let out a faint growl. It was so faint even I could barely hear it, but I felt it rumble through his chest as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.

I grinned and patted his arms. Easy tiger. I'm a horny woman. I can enjoy ogling hot guys, but it doesn't mean I'm going to fuck them. I reached around to tip his face towards mine. You're mine. So I'll enjoy looking at the buffet, but I'm sure as hell coming home for the full nine courses.

Like he could read what I was thinking, the tension dropped from him and he pressed his forehead against mine, humming lightly. My eyes fluttered closed for a moment before Carlisle stood up, murmuring something about getting a drink from the kitchen.

When he was gone, Dad turned to Edward seriously. "Son, I'm sure I don't have to warn you that if you break my daughter's heart I'll be coming after you."

Edward attempted to school his face into a serious expression, but didn't quite manage it before he replied, "No offence sir, but I'm more afraid of what Bella would do if I did."

"I'd have revenge sex with Matt," I answered automatically. Edward stared at me as if he was trying to judge if I was being serious. Which I was. I was completely committed to Edward, but if he broke my heart and turned out to be a complete asshole, I would 1000% have revenge sex with the almost devilish lawyer opposite me.

Matt tipped his head back a little, a dark and daring look in his eyes. "It would be unethical to sleep with the defense and my client's daughter, Miss Swan. But after this case…" His smirk was pure panty dropping sin. "I do have an open door policy."

I batted my eyes dramatically. "I hope if I come to visit you'll have a closed door policy; exhibitionism isn't on my list," I said with a wink.

His smirk grew. "I aim to please. And I've never had any complaints before."

I grinned and looked at Edward. "Don't fuck up; I have options."

Dad stood up, pointing at Matt. "You. In the kitchen." He pointed at Edward. "You've been warned." He glanced at Jasper and Emmett. "All of my daughters have options, so don't even think about crossing them."

Emmett snorted, not lifting his head from where it was resting on Rose's lap. He almost looked like he was sleeping in that position. "We learned that lesson the day we met." This time he looked up, seriousness in his eyes as he stared down Dad. "And I intend to worship at your daughter's feet for the rest of my existence, or for as long as she will have me."

Dad nodded, satisfied and turned to Jasper with a raised eyebrow. The cowboy grinned, his head resting on Alice's arm. "Oh, I cross Alice daily." He tipped his head back, practically leaking adoration. "But only with her permission."

Dad's face screwed up a little at that, but seemed satisfied enough to turn to Edward. He didn't say anything, just pointed at him sternly.

I sighed. "Dad, are you the only one in this room who doesn't know I'm just flirting with him to annoy Edward?" I said, just to get Matt off the hook a little—and to make Edward stop radiating jealousy beside me.

"I'm well aware, Bells." He shooed a bewildered Matt into the kitchen. "And I'm saving the poor boys from combusting on my couch."

"Party pooper."

"I also know you take your threats seriously." He pointed at me. "So I'm going to give the lawyer boy a stern talking to about pissing you off too."

I grinned. I knew Dad did not know about Matt's true age, so I said, "If it makes you feel better I'll promise not to have sex with anyone over the age of twenty." Edward didn't count since technically he was forever seventeen, and Matt was not over the age of twenty until summer (I'd found his myspace page).

Edward's arm wrapped around my waist tighter. "You've made your point, my love," he growled, his lips pressing against my ear and making me shiver. "Now stop flirting with the child or I'll give you something else to think about."

I smirked, turning my head to watch him through hooded eyes. "Look at you go. You made me come a few times last night and now you think you're the one in charge."

His eyes grew dark and hard. "I made you come three times last night." Then his lips curled into a sinister smile. "And you enjoy when I'm in charge."

Before I could agree with any of that, a screech of tires sounded on the driveway. Just like that, the fun mood in the room soured.

Matt stepped toward the door first. With his hand on the door handle, he turned back to me. "Ready for the show to begin?"

I smirked. "Don't fuck up."

He winked, before all levity on his face disappeared, replaced by stern professionalism as he swung the door open. Just in time for Renee to storm through and huff, "Well? Are we going to get started or not? What's everyone waiting for?"

Matt sent her a flat look. "You. You're forty minutes late. Next time you show up like that, my firm will drop your case entirely."

I smirked. "Mr Murdock you might warn your client about how judges react to people who are late. Since we may very well be going to court, I won't have it said we won simply because Renee is featherbrained."

He didn't take the bait, just stalked into the living room and retook his seat. Meanwhile Renee snarled at me. I shot her a smirk and headed back to my seat next to Edward.

Before I moved a single step, Renee shrieked, "What is this?"

I glanced over my shoulder to see her glaring at the drawing Dad had framed and hung in the entryway. I snickered. It was a sketch Alice had made last week of Renee with a cow's head up her skirt and a look of an encroaching orgasm on her face. Dad had hung it this morning before she'd arrived. Matt and the boys had looked at in amused confusion, but Carlisle had gone into a coughing fit when he'd seen it.

It was a niche insult from our first life, but Renee was smart enough to recognise the intention, even if the meaning went right over her head.

She shrieked in rage and tried to rip it off the wall but it wouldn't budge. I snorted in surprise and behind me Dad calmly remarked, "Harry's homemade superglue. It'll be stuck there until this house falls apart." When Renee spun around in fury, he smiled politely and said, "Well you want to stay here for your visitation rights, right? I thought you'd like a photo of yourself here too? Was I wrong?"

Renee spluttered, but couldn't find a response so she stormed over to the couch next to Matt.

I turned to Dad, giggling a little. "Superglue?"

"I figure you can use whatever fancy secret you're hiding from me to get rid of it when she's gone," he murmured out the corner of his mouth.

I shrugged with a grin. "Maybe she'll find it at the bottom of her luggage when she gets home."

Dad laughed loudly, wrapping his arm around my shoulders when Renee scowled at us from the couch. "That's my girl."

"I suggest we get down to business," Matt said clearly, before Renee could kick up a fuss again. "If everyone taking part in this conversation will take a seat."

I shrugged. And sat down as did the others in the room, only there wasn't enough seating. I was just about to suggest Renee stand when Edward wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me onto his lap. I glowered at him as he smiled smugly at Matt.

Matt cleared his throat and began. "Now, I'd like to detail my client's offer with you. My client is demanding her legal rights to visitation two times every few months—"

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, pressing play on the video I had ready. "Shut up, you stupid bitch! You shouldn't even be pregnant! I paid good money for that poison! It was supposed to make you infertile and I would finally have paid you back for all the times you stopped me from disciplining those sluts you call sisters! If I'd known what an ungrateful whore you would have grown into I would have drowned you at birth!" Renee's voice screamed through my phone's speakers. I watched Matt pale as his eyes focused on the phone in my hand.

Renee started shaking on the couch next to him. "You b—"

I flicked to the next recording from yesterday. "I did what I had to. That bitch can't be allowed to breed. I'm just pissed I couldn't get all of them. By the time I could get more pills the little bitch had caught onto me. I only got to put the pills in Rosalie's food once but she didn't even let the whore eat the fucking food! She switched their plates when the little slut wasn't looking! And she paid for it too! I'd already fed her those pills that morning, so she was throwing up all night. It served her right for messing with my plans!"

I tilted my head. "Should I keep going, or…?"

Matt's eyes were wide like he hadn't expected it to be so explicit and sudden. I glanced at Carlisle giving him the go ahead.

He nodded and cleared his throat. "That is not the only evidence of abuse. May I assume your client did not in fact bring you her daughter's medical records or have them faxed over?"

Matt shook his head silently.

"I thought as much, the reason she hasn't given them to you is simple—they don't exist." He brought out a slim folder with a single sheet. "This is the entirety of their medical history in Phoenix. This report is about a sudden unprompted fertility check when she was twelve."

Dad blanched as Renee reddened.

"That was not unprompted!" Renee growled. "One of the girls in my book club said I should check! She did it for all her daughters!"

"And why did you only have Bella checked and not the others if it was a suggestion by your 'book club'," Dad snarled

Renee floundered, her face getting redder before she pointed at Dad. "You have no right to make any comments on how I raised them! You never did anything at all to help!"

"So the thousand dollars I sent a month in child support along with all those christmas gifts were nothing? Let me remind you that you were the one who said the court mandated five hundred wasn't enough to help so I doubled it!"

She scoffed. "Don't turn this around on me! Money can't solve everything! You could have sent me two thousand and I still would have struggled raising those brats!"

I wanted to roll my eyes at her idiocy, but instead I focused on Matt. The recording had stopped, but his eyes were still firmly focused on my phone. His eyes were wide and thoughts seemed to be racing through his mind, and the way his body was tilted towards the door, it looked like he was ready to drop this case and run.

"Wait, what gifts?" Alice asked, confused

I looked up, the same thought dawning. "You mean the notepads and pens?" I screwed up my face. "How were they presents?"

Dad looked confused. "No, I sent you clothes, shoes, money, and other things when you asked in letters. I remember Alice asking for some gold tennis bracelet she couldn't afford two years ago and I got it for her with the guys at the station chipping in. I sent you notebooks and pens, but that was when your mother complained you didn't have enough school supplies."

Rose's jaw dropped. "But, we never got anything like that! Grandma Ester would help Mom out with the bills and stuff because Mom said you weren't paying enough in child support. Grandma's the one who got us clothes and stuff. Mom would have had us dressed in second hand rags if it wasn't for her."

I ground my jaw. "And we never sent you those letters." I glared at Renee while still talking to Dad. "Nor did we ever get any from you."

Alice curled a little into Jasper. "We actually thought you didn't care," she whispered.

I winced, realising I'd forgotten to tell them about finding his letters and emails, as well as Renee's responses to them.

Rose looked down and fidgeted with her fingers. "I got a note. When we were eleven I sent you a letter asking if we could come live with you. Renee gave me a note in private from you saying you didn't have time to take care of three little girls and you wanted us to stay with her. Did you really send that?" she asked suspiciously.

I had forgotten about that note, supposedly from Dad. Alice had ballet that day so she wasn't there when Rose came running to me with tears in her eyes

"No!" Dad shook his head vehemently. "Absolutely not! I said I would love for you girls to come, but then Renee called that night and said you'd only sent that because the kids were teasing you at school." His eyes filled with tears. "And when I said you could come for a holiday anyway, she said you were too busy with tennis lessons! I couldn't even get you girls on the phone for a month after that!"

Rose glared at Renee. "The kids were teasing us but we could not have cared less! Renee knew that. We always laughed about their stupid jokes; it never bothered us we just wanted to come live with you," she seethed. "And we hated tennis! Renee forced us to go because all the wealthy kids played tennis and she wanted to flirt with the single dads!"

"Oh you have no idea what you're talking about!" Renee spat. She turned to Matt. "Can't you do something about these lies?"

Matt rubbed at his face, and I could almost see the thoughts running through his head at a thousand miles an hour.

I hissed in anger. "Have you ever told the truth? All those years we thought Dad didn't give a damn about us, didn't want to see us, that his job and this town were always going to be more important than us. It was nothing but a lie! We put off moving here because we thought we weren't wanted and at least for a while with you we had Grandma Ester. Gods, you are so fucking narcissistic!"

I turned to Dad. "You remember how distant we were when we first got here, yeah? Renee told us it had taken her weeks to convince you to take us on, and then only because she guilt tripped you saying we missed you and felt abandoned."

Dad shook his head, tears dripping down his cheek. "No. No. Never. I have wanted you girls home with me from the moment I knew Renee was pregnant. Never for a second did I ever want you to stay away. Even when I thought you hated me, I still wanted you with me. Even when you're here in Forks, I still want you with me." He looked like he wanted to stand up and give us a hug, but I knew if he did I would break down entirely.

My hands shook as I fought to control my magic which was just crackling under my skin. I gave Edward a look demanding he do something before we ended up having to erase a few memories. That spell was one of the more powerful ones we knew, and no matter what it took a lot out of us.

I still remembered the day and a half of torture we went through after casting it. We'd bought as many calorie filled things in the airport's convenience store and demolished them on the plane, then got more when we landed and ate everything on the car ride over making excuses about how we were nervous and hadn't eaten since the day before. Circe, we were here for two days before we started school and had been running on vapours.

"The lawyer wants to leave," Edward murmured behind me, too soft for anyone but the vamps and me to hear. "Carlisle, give him an out, and Renee loses everything."

Carlisle gave a slight nod, turning to Matt. "I have not heard of you before, but I have heard of the work your firm does. They are retained by the Seattle medical board, one of your firm's largest clients. I consulted with them on several cases last year and I know that anyone they work with, especially the law firms they use, sign strict morality clauses. A case where one of your firm's lawyers defending an abusive parent would certainly go against this, particularly since the medical board has just publically funded a program for abused children."

At that, Matt sat up straighter. He turned to Renee promptly. "The doctor is correct. There seems to be a conflict of interest here. My firm also has a strict morality clause with the Washington Board of Medical Advisers. Both Boards are our biggest clients and any breach of that clause is grounds for them to terminate their contracts with us." He closed his folder and grabbed his bag, standing up. "So I apologise Ms Higgenbottom, but I can no longer represent you in this matter."

My eyes lit up as Renee's face twisted into a snarl. "It's Dwyer, and I hired you, so you can't quit!"

Matt's head tilted. "I apologise," he said insincerely. "I'd heard rumours of divorce papers being drafted. And yes, you hired me, and as is my legal right, I quit. And since we're also talking about legal reasons, since the medical boards have pre-existing contracts I must withdraw from your case. All of the cases we take on must be above board and even the possibility that you are abusing your children allows me to back out of our agreement."

I grinned. Oh I love this. Humiliate her more!

He then turned to Dad and handed over a business card. "If you and your family require legal aid in this or any further cases, feel free to contact my firm. If you mention my name it'll get you through the door."

As he headed to the door, I asked, "What's your name again? I know you said it when we met, but you weren't a candidate for revenge sex then, so I didn't care. What is it in case I need it?"

"Matthew Murdock." He shot me a wink before nodding at Edward. "Call me if you ever get tired of the kid."

I blew him a kiss while relaxing back into Edward's chest—half to keep him from biting Matt's head off, and half because I was addicted to his touch. "Don't hold your breath."

As Matt left, Emmett snickered, "Well, looks like you need to find a new lawyer. Maybe one without morals."

"You bitch!" Renee whirled on me, from the corner of my eye I saw Emmett and Jasper taking out their phones and recording. "You ruin everything, you always ruin everything!" she screeched.

I scoffed. "I've done nothing but expose your lies, you hung yourself. I just let you."

Her face reddened in anger. "I'll make you pay for this! Once I convince Phil that what I did was for the good of humanity he'll stop this temper tantrum he's having with this ridiculous divorce farce, and I'll bring a case against your father. I'll say he's an alcoholic. I'll say he's vicious. I'll say whatever the fuck I have to to make sure you get taken away from him and any investigation lasts for years!"

She stood up, seething with her fists clenched. "You think you can handle the system? No one will be willing to take you in like when you were younger! No one will want to care for practically grown triplets! You'll be separated and you won't see each other until you're eighteen, I'll make sure of it. And say goodbye to that parasite—"

I was just getting ready to interject when someone beat me to it. I felt rather than saw Carlisle come to stand behind me. I fought to keep myself relaxed. What was he doing? Him interacting with Renee was most certainly not part of the plan.

"Mrs. Dwyer," he said with a voice of cold stone. "I think you are forgetting yourself. Cease this disgusting display. How one such as yourself could ever be considered a mother is beyond me. In all my time as a physician I have never come across anyone quite as selfish as you. Furthermore, my wife and I are established foster parents. Should the girls become wards of the state we would volunteer to take them in. Chief Swan will of course be welcome at my house at any time. You, on the other hand, would not even be allowed on the property!"

Dad stood up too. "You have nothing left to stand on, Renee. You have no proof of those things you said Bella did, your own lawyer dropped you, and your husband is filing for divorce. Meanwhile, we have audio and video recordings of you admitting to poisoning Bella, as well as the medical evidence to back it up, and proof of medical neglect. Not only that, we have an entire town ready to testify that you are an awful, money-hungry, power-sucking, narcissistic pathetic excuse of a person and you always have been."

"Not to mention the number of times you stated on camera that you wished you'd killed my sisters and I when we were babies, and how you hoped I'd have a misscarriage just to be petty," I added sweetly.

"How dare—" Renee started to say, but Dad stepped into her face with a snarl that had her stumbling back.

There was a knock on the door and suddenly two officers were standing in the doorway the lawyer had left open.

I recognised the two senior officers at the door immediately. They were essentially our designated babysitters in the station when we were younger. I blamed Rose, she was the one who suggested we play hide and seek, and then hide in the ceiling. In the end it was Grandma Lilian who found us. We hadn't gained our memories back at that point, however looking back it was obvious she wasn't exactly mortal, but she'd died shortly after our seventh birthday and it didn't seem to matter much even though we did give her a proper pagan send off when she passed.

"They're here to escort you to Seattle where you'll catch a plane back to Florida." Dad pointed out the door and snarled, "Now get the hell out of my house."

I weaved around everyone suddenly standing in front of me and stopped beside Dad. "The only reason they aren't arresting you right now is because I asked Dad not to." I waited until she turned to me. "Not to be kind or forgiving or whatever other bullshit you can come up with, but because I plan to ruin your life so much prison would seem like paradise in comparison."

I could feel everyone settling in behind me and I raised my chin. "Because of me, you have no husband, no reputation and no one to trust you. I trust Phil to ruin everything you have right now in Phoenix, but I plan to spend the rest of your life making sure everything you've worked for turns to ruins around you." I stepped closer.

"Besides, what's the point in you rotting in prison? You wouldn't survive. You'd piss off the wrong person and be shanked in a month. But on the outside?" I smiled and real fear set into Renee's eyes. "On the outside, you're in my territory, and I plan to ensure you live a long life of utter misery."

Before I killed her of course. But she didn't need to know that yet. What she had done was unforgivable, and for that I would torment her until she was begging for death, I would strip away everyone and everything she holds dear, and when she had nothing. When all she asked was to be put out of her misery I would smile, and I would deny her. I would continue to tear her apart until all that was left was a catatonic husk of her former self. Only then would I end her pathetic existence, long after the light had left her eyes.

With that, the officers dragged her out, and for the first time in this life, I felt like I'd finally beat her. Beside me Dad let out a long hard breath.

"Holy shit," he breathed. "It worked."

"She's gone," Rosie whispered. "She's actually gone."

"We did it!" Alice leaped onto my back, wrapping her arms around my neck. "We won!"

I laughed and patted her arms. "Did you ever doubt me?" I teased.

Emmett stepped around me, heading for the door after them. "Yeah, well I'm not going to be happy until that bitch is boarding the plane. I am going to make sure she gets on that damned plane, even if I have to tie her to the wings."

"I second that," Jasper growled.

In a blink the boys were gone and I wanted to slap them for their idiocy. Despite how much we joked about it around Dad, he still knew absolutely nothing about the supernatural world. Something they seemed to forget as they used their vampire speed to run after Renee's car and the station wagon. Luckily though, Dad was busy hugging Rose and spinning her around in happiness.

Beside me, Edward hesitated, his eyes on the door and I bumped my shoulder with his. "Go. I need proof she's gone. Send me a photo so I'll know."

"I swear I'll be back the moment her plane leaves the runway." He cupped my face, bringing his close to mine.

I wrapped my hands around his wrists, leaning into him. "Good," I murmured. "And when you get back, I'll make good on my promise."

A fire lit in his eyes and he slammed his lips against mine in a heady rush before disappearing.

I turned to my family when I'd composed myself again and grinned at the happiness on their faces. We won! We really beat her! It's over!

"I'll leave you to your celebrations." Carlisle's voice cut through my happiness.

I turned to see him heading to the door and sighed. "I'll walk you out."

The surprise was evident on his face, but he was quick to hide it as he nodded and we walked outside. When we got to where he'd parked his car, I screwed up my face and said the words I knew I had to say. "Thank you. For your help."

The words left a bad taste in my mouth, but my mother had raised me right, and pastors be damned I wasn't going to ignore her lessons.

With a seriousness I didn't expect, he looked me in the eye and said, "You never have to thank me, Isabella. I will forever be making up for what I did to you and your sisters, and even then my debt will never be paid."

I pulled away, entirely grossed out by his sincerity. "Yep. Uhuh. Okay. Goodbye."

I spun around and headed to the door, eager to be away from him as quickly as possible, but when I got to the door, I had to stop. I dropped my forehead against the doorframe with a groan.

"Dr Cullen?" I turned around to see him staring back at me, about to get into his car and I sighed. "Forever is a long time to be making up for something that happened over three hundred years ago."

He froze, utterly shocked and not moving with one foot poised to step into his car as his brain apparently broke.

Ugh. Gross. I need to leave. I shuddered at the gross sentimentality of the moment.

"Alright well if you'll excuse me I have plans to go fuck your son." I chirped and headed inside, slamming the door behind me.

~Scene~

I sat on my bed fiddling with my phone as I worried at my lip. Edward would be here soon. It had been hours since he'd left. Surely Renee was gone by now?

I shook my head and scoffed. What was I doing? It wasn't like I was some virgin teen girl waiting for her boyfriend to sneak through the window.

It's just sex, nothing you haven't done before, I scolded myself. Just because you happen to be in love with him doesn't change anything. Immediately my eyes caught on the metal bed frame and I blushed. Until early this morning I had had a solid cushioned bed frame with a matching headboard,

Only Edward wasn't quite in control of himself during my blowjob and had gripped it so tight he broke it beyond repair. Luckily dad still had a lot of grandma's things including her black metal bed frame that was still in good condition. Edward had been apologetic and had tossed out the old one before getting this one from the storage room. He'd promised to replace the one he broke, but I almost didn't want him to, the metal bar was perfect for certain ideas I had.

I heard a soft thump and looked up to see Edward gracefully climbing in through the window. I frowned. Even though the wards had been adjusted to let the Cullens in when I was home they should have alerted me the moment he stepped onto the property.

Edward smiled crookedly. "I thought you would have been happier to see me," he chuckled.

I smiled automatically and flushed slightly. This was not starting out as I planned. I toyed with the belt of my kimono robe and took a deep breath before I looked up at him from under my lashes.

"I'm ecstatic to see you," I purred. "The question is, how happy are you to see me?"

I let the top of my robe fall open, slipping off one side to expose the entire right side of my chest. The flimsy fabric barely covered my breast. It was a move I had perfected a while ago, and it had the perfect reaction.

[ deleted smut scene, if you wish to read it please head over to AO3 my name on there is Mysteryheart]

I opened my eyes and yawned, then frowned as I heard movement behind me and turned around to see Edward pulling on his pants. A small frisson of annoyance went through me and I smirked.

"I didn't take you for a love 'em and leave 'em type of guy," I teased.

He was beside me in an instant, tilting my head up and pulling me into a gentle kiss. After a moment he broke the kiss and pressed his forehead against mine as he stared at me, his eyes dancing with amusement.

"Don't pout, I need to hunt," he said, pecking my lips which had somehow pursed without my permission.

The small bit of annoyance evaporated as I realised he wasn't ditching me, he just needed to eat. Knowing that, I pursed my lips in an exaggerated pout and dramatically sighed.

"Why hunt when you can eat me?" I asked with an innocent smile.

Edward's eyes widened as he choked out a laugh and shook his head before narrowing his eyes playfully at me. "I'm not sure of your nutritional value," he teased before pulling me into another kiss. "You, Miss Swan, are bad for the heart."

He ended it far too quickly and I pouted again.

"I'll be back tonight," Edward said, his fingers soft and gentle against my cheek, like he couldn't bear to pull away.

"I'll be waiting," I said, biting my lip to contain my smile.

"I'll only be a few hours." He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. "I swear."

In the next second he was gone.

I grabbed my robe off the floor and quickly put it on, covering my nude body. As I tied the belt I blushed thinking back on what we had just done. I hummed as I brushed the tangles out of my hair before braiding it loosely over my shoulder and sat down on the window ledge, looking into the night sky with a soft smile. It was a beautiful night.

At that moment I decided to stay there and wait for Edward.

I sat there at the window, watching the evening night fade to pitch black, hardly aware of the hours passing until the soft rays of dawn broke over the horizon before a sudden realisation rose with the sun like a knife to my heart.

He wasn't coming back.

He left me. I sat back, my heart clenching at the heart ache he'd sworn never to cause. I'm such a fool. He got what he wanted and left me. Just like everybody else, just like Elisa.

I'm alone. Again.