I'm so sorry I didn't post last night! Yesterday was absolutely amazing! I got to hug half of my family and spend some much-needed time with them. Oh, I m on such a high. I'm just gutted that my brother, sister in law and little nephew couldn't come. My brother has his next brain operation just after Christmas and they just can't risk him getting ill, so they couldn't come.

"She'll be okay, Edward. She just needs time to work things through and process what you told her. God knows what she's been through, and you have to remember she's only eighteen. She took the life of a man, regardless of who he was, and what he was doing, when she was only thirteen. Not only that, but we have no idea if she actually witnessed what happened to her mother and stepfather. That's on top of everything she's been through all these years, some of which we may never know the full details of. It will take time," Mom stressed as I sat at the kitchen table.

Alice and Rose had arrived a few minutes beforehand, and Mom, as usual, was on the ball for food and tea. Dishing out anything we wanted or needed.

"I can't even remember what I was like at eighteen. I think I spent most of my time getting drunk and playing at target practice with Grandad and a new gun." I chuckled slightly. Had it been only ten years? It felt like a lifetime. I had responsibilities back then, but nothing like those I have today.

"Oh, I can remember like it was yesterday. Between you and Emmett, I'm surprised I don't have to dye my hair to cover the gray hairs! I was constantly getting phone calls from the school about you and him. If it wasn't to praise you both, it was to scream that you had done something again and I would have to pay for repairs of some sort." She laughed, and I smiled.

I was a good boy in school, top of every class, but I got bored easily, too. So, I got up to no good. If I got up to no good, then Emmett was right behind me.

"Thank God you turned out okay, all things considered." She smiled sweetly as she handed me a cup of coffee.

"Thanks, Mom."

…

With early afternoon's arrival, came the others. We were all waiting outside the front door for them, except Isabella. She had taken herself back to her room and locked the door.

I was desperate to see her, to comfort her but didn't know why or how. Dad said to give her some space, but that tore at me. I knew I needed to stay professional with her, but I just couldn't.

"Hey, bro!" Emmett called out as he got out of the car. His arm was in a sling.

"I thought you said everyone got out okay?" I asked, fear gripping me.

"Minor flesh wound, dear brother, minor flesh wound." He chuckled, and Rose rolled her eyes.

"He was being an ass and got shot," Alice groaned as she, too, got out of the car.

"He got hit by a ricochet, not even a full bullet." Jasper chuckled as Emmett frowned.

"I was still shot, and none of you are taking it seriously," he all but demanded while we all helped unload the bags and headed into the house.

My mind was on Isabella the whole time.

"So, where is she?" Alice asked when their bags were dumped at the bottom of the stairs and we'd walked into the sitting room.

"In her room," I replied quietly.

"I'll go up and see her in a bit," Alice said as she all but skipped over to the couch. She was excited to properly meet the girl who had saved her life. She was more than grateful to Isabella, but she hadn't been able to show that when they first met.

"So how was it?" I asked when everyone was settled.

The grin on Rose's face dropped like a lead balloon. "Harsh. We had traces on seven girls, but we actually found fifteen, all in different stages of neglect and abuse. We managed to trace another eleven who had been sold or passed on, but it will take weeks, if not months, to go through all their paperwork," she said quietly from the corner of the room.

Rose was the computer girl. If she didn't know how to do something, it wasn't worth knowing. All the information they had found had been passed onto the police. We didn't like working with them, but in cases like this, we had no other choice. These girls needed to be safe, and they were all our number one concern now.

"Any casualties or injuries?" Dad asked as he walked into the room and wrapped an arm around, Mom.

"Just one girl. She was badly dehydrated and malnourished, but the doctors think she'll make it. Physically at least." Alice said sadly.

I was so grateful to have gotten Isabella out when I did.

…

By late afternoon, Isabella still hadn't come down. Alice was bouncing in her seat, desperate to meet her; the rest of the family was eager, too, but were better at hiding their excitement. She finally gave in to the temptation and went up the stairs in search of her.

I was desperate to follow, but I had to control myself around her. Before I could sink further into my seat, the internal house alarm sounded. A quick look to the panel on the wall and I was off, straight to her room. I didn't know if anyone was following, and I didn't care. I needed to get to her. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight of Isabella on the bathroom floor.

"Boys, leave the room, she doesn't need this," Dad said firmly when we stood there watching him examine her, his medical training taking over.

She was awake, but barely. Her eyes were rolled back, and she was shaking slightly. It reminded me of how I found her that first night. Void of everything.

"Edward, that goes for you, too," he said not taking his eyes from Isabella's body. He finally got her to focus on him, on his face.

I looked at her, almost pleading. I couldn't bear to tear myself away from her while she was like this.

"Edward," she croaked out ever so quietly.

My heart crashed in on itself. It was the first time she had said my name. I almost pushed Rose out of the way to get to her, to take her hand in mine. "What is it, what's wrong, sweetheart?" I was pleading now.

All she did was look down. Her skin was cold, but dripping with sweat while the pulse in her neck beat so damn fast.

"Isabella, please tell me," I said desperate to help in any way I could.

She wouldn't lift her eyes, so I followed to where they stared.

"Shit," I hissed, then looked up to the others who were hovering in the doorway.

"You can leave us, now." It wasn't a question or a request, it was a statement. A demand.

They all nodded and then left us alone, Dad included.

"That first night I found you, I gave you a bath, do you remember?" I asked quietly.

She nodded her head just a fraction as she reached out to me, clinging to my shirt.

"I'm going to give you a shower this time. I promise to be respectful," I said gently loosening her fingers from my shirt and then starting to get her undressed. "Has this happened before?" I asked while slipping off her top. I knew she was only eighteen, but most girls her age had been through this by now, surely.

Isabella nodded her head.

It occurred to me she was in worse condition than we'd realized. "Do you trust me?" I asked while I got her to stand up. Her body wavered slightly, and my arms wrapped around her instantly to stop her from falling.

"Yes," Isabella replied almost silently.

Alice pushed the alarm in the house. Any idea why Isabella was on the floor? The next couple of chapters are going to be hard for Edward, but he'll get through it. See you later for another update, as I missed yesterdays. xxx