Edward

Bella was silent as she helped me finish draping the fresh linen sheets over the bed. Her eyes were solely fixed on the guest bedroom Jazz and I insisted she take. Looking everywhere but at me.

She hadn't uttered a single word to either of us after we left Paul in their home to rot for what he did.

For cheating on her.

I gritted my teeth at the mere thought of it.

Fucker.

The fucker had cheated on Bella. This wonderful, kind and selfless woman who never hurt a soul. A hard worker and loyal friend. I honestly never met someone like her. A woman I couldn't take my mind off even if I tried—not that I wanted to.

I still couldn't wrap my mind around the knowledge of how he could so easily throw everything that she was away. How did he not see? And then he easily chased after her, promising to change, as if he hadn't been caught with his dick inside someone else moments ago.

What a fucking hypocrite.

"The bathroom down the hall is all yours whenever you want to use it," I said as I straightened once I settled the plush comforter onto the mattress and smoothed the sheets over with my hands. I glanced up again, hoping to draw her out, get any reaction out of her. I hated that she shut down like this.

It was something I'd never seen her do before, and in all honesty it scared me. It scared me just as much as it angered Jasper, not at her but for her.

Bella still hadn't looked at me and I doubted she even heard me when she kept staring out the window. I walked around and placed a hand on her shoulder, startling her.

"Bella..."

"I'm so stupid, aren't I?" She asked hoarsely as if she'd been screaming up until now. "It was so obvious. The drinking and always going out. The sex. The way he was...rough even when I didn't agree to it. Even when he didn't ask me."

An ache started in my chest. Her words piercing through me. That last confession especially. I sincerely wished I'd thrown a punch or two at the prick now more than ever.

I stepped a little closer, my hand squeezing her shoulder as I tugged her to me. She went without fighting me, letting me wrap my arms around her back and hold her to me. She was so small in my arms. So fragile.

All I wanted to do was protect her.

"I'm so sorry, love. I truly am." I murmured into her hair, cupping the back of her head with one hand.

I could feel the way her body trembled against my own and I rested my head against her shoulder, morphing my towering height into her petite one so that she could feel how sorry I was, how I would never leave or stop comforting her. No matter what.

Bella's hands curled into fists around my shirt and I heard it then. The muffled sound of her cries as her lips pressed against my chest. My hold on her tightened as we stood there for the longest time. I rubbed her back comfortingly as she cried, her tears soaking the front of my shirt, but I didn't mind.

I'd much rather she let it all out with me or Jasper than close herself off from us. Harboring all this pain inside her heart.

I kissed her temple just as I caught movement in the corner of my eye. I glanced up to see Jasper standing in the doorway, shoulder leaning against the frame with a solemn expression on his face. I held back a sigh and granted him a small smile.

He'd been more than ready to kill Paul tonight. Hell, I'd been willing to let him. If it hadn't been for Bella's fear rippling off her, her concern for both Paul and Jasper, I had a feeling Jasper wouldn't have had a problem sending him to the hospital.

"I'm so stupid," she said as she leaned back, stepping away from me as if she'd just now realized I was holding her. Her hands covered her face as she sat on the bed, bending forward until her elbows rested on her knees.

"Love, no," I said as both Jasper and I went to her. We sat on either side of her while she cried in silence. My hand rubbed her back as Jasper frowned deeply, feeling the same pain I did for our closest friend. Our precious Bella. "This is in no way your fault, Bella. Believe me, there are so many men who cheat on their wives and girlfriends. So many it should be considered a crime."

Bella let out a humorless laugh, looking straight ahead with bloodshot eyes and tears rolling down her cheeks, "I should have left him before this, before seeing him and that woman."

I was just about to speak when Jasper suddenly knelt before her and captured her face with his hands. I was sure his touch was possessive yet gentle as she gasped, looking at his cool blue eyes. I knew that touch. Experienced it so many times it always left me craving it—him. I looked between them as Jasper said, "You still can. You did leave, and now you can make him sorry for ever treating you badly. That will be his punishment, Isabella."

Bella stared at him for a long moment. None of us said anything as we waited for her to speak. But all she did was nod. Jasper nodded right back before wiping her tears while I kept my hand on her back.

Once she calmed and exhaustion seemed to weigh her down, we decided to leave Bella to get some rest.

I was just about to turn and head into the hall when Jasper pulled Bella into his arms without warning and held her close, clasping his hand against the back of her neck and settling the other around her waist. I watched the emotions swirl around in her brown eyes as she looked up at the ceiling—a mix of surprise and resignation, sorrow. Then she finally wrapped her arms around him, accepting him.

I swallowed thickly, wanting to go to her too and make all this go away.

"We love you, Bella.," Jasper murmured as he pulled back albeit reluctantly and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek.

Bella looked at him for a long moment before nodding, "I love you guys too. Thank you for everything you do for me. I can't begin to express how much you both mean to me. I..."

I stood beside Jasper and took her hand, "You mean the world to us, Bella. We're glad you're here."

"Despite the circumstances," Jasper added. "There shouldn't be any doubt in your mind that you can stay as long as you like."

Bella bit her lip and I couldn't ignore the heat that pressed in on my stomach as I wondered what it would be like to kiss her lips. Feel her lips on my skin while I hold her.

Damn it, I have to get it together.

Definitely not the right time to be thinking about my best friend in any way that could even touch the surface of what I—we—felt towards her.

"If you need anything let us know. We'll be in the kitchen for a little bit before going to bed," Jasper said.

"Thanks. Good night," she watched us go and I closed the door behind me before looking to Jasper.

There was lament pouring off both of us as we forced ourselves to walk away from Bella's bedroom and leave her to her own thoughts. Even though it was the last thing either of us wanted to do.

Bella

As soon as Edward and Jasper left me alone, I immediately crumbled onto the bed with a heavy sigh. I sat there, facing the ceiling to floor window in the guest bedroom they'd let me stay in and stared at my reflection contrasting against the night beyond.

As much as I didn't want it, images of Paul and that woman having sex in our home haunted me. His pleading words and the way he grabbed me hard enough to leave a bruise. It all...crushed me. More than I would have liked to admit or thought it would.

Tears welled in my eyes and I swallowed the knot in my throat. I couldn't get enough air into my lungs and before long I was crying into my hands, rocking back and forth as the sorrow and heartbreak wrecked me.

How could he do this?

Why did he insist on not getting a divorce if he was going to cheat anyway—or had been cheating this whole time?

I'm sad but I'm angry too, so angry that I didn't know what to do with myself other than cry. What's worse is I let him convince me that we could fix things.

I'm so stupid.

The more I tormented myself and cried the worse I felt and the gaping hole in my stomach made me feel sick.

Then I realized, I felt nauseous.

I lurched forward and ran to the bathroom unsure if I was going to throw up, but not wanting to do so all over the beautiful comforter and bed.

I hunched over the toilet and gagged. Nothing came up, thankfully however nothing happened. My hands were shaking as a completely different fear ran through me then.

"Oh my god..."

No. No, that's not possible. I was on the pill and we hadn't had sex for two months. Not that...that means anything right?

But what if?

Now I felt sick for an entirely different reason because I knew the last person I wanted to have a child with would be Paul after everything.

I took a deep breath and stood, washing my hands before staring at my reflection in the mirror. I nodded to myself "Get it together, Bella."

After composing myself and making sure I wouldn't throw up, I wandered back into the room and swiped my phone off the nightstand. I stared at the screen for a long time before ultimately typing out a text and sending it before I could second guess myself.

Reaching out to the one person I felt I could talk to—other than Edward and Jasper.

For some reason telling them I may or may not be pregnant but most likely not pregnant wasn't a special little surprise I wanted to give them.

With a heavy sigh, I placed the phone back down on the nightstand, curled up on the bed, and clutched the pillow beneath my head. Hoping more than anything that the test will come out negative tomorrow.

The next morning I woke to the sound of rain falling outside, the thunder rumbling coaxing me out of the comfortable bed.

I ran a hand over my face and through my long hair, shaking away the sleep as best I could only to wince when I felt how swollen my eyes were from crying so much. Wonderful.

Looking over, I noticed the sky was dark outside but when I picked up my phone it read that it was only seven in the morning. It would be a bad weather day today. But this was Forks after all.

The scent of fresh brewed coffee and bacon made its way to me as I pushed the covers aside and sat up. I was extremely aware of my nausea situation when I woke up however so far, nothing happened and I didn't feel the urge to throw up.

Maybe that was a good thing.

It has to be...

I started rummaging through my bag to pull out a thick blue flannel and a pair of leggings when the doorbell rang.

Anxiety immediately bubbles inside me when the image of Paul coming here to "claim" me or try to persuade me to go back home invades all rational thought.

I quickly get dressed and take care of my other needs before heading out of the room. Voices filter up from downstairs and I recognize Edward and Jasper's immediately. Sounding calm and welcoming as they spoke to whoever the visitor was.

That's good I suppose, considering the way Jasper nearly got into it with Paul yesterday for grabbing me. I doubt they would have been on friendly terms a day later.

A warm sort of pressure built in the pit of my stomach when my best friend became this overprotective, intimidating fighter. And at the same time he could be this gentle man whenever he touched me, gazing into my eyes with so much emotion beneath those piercing irises it took my breath away.

Reminding me he was all those things even when he was kind and tender with me.

The same could be said about Edward with an air of serenity he always seemed to carry with him. The way Edward held me last night, the way his arms wrapped around my back and held me close, mocking himself to me as if I were the perfect size for his towering build.

I never knew I craved their affection as much as I did now.

You're being too sentimental now, Bella. Get a grip.

I shake the intrusive thoughts away and hurry down the stairs just as I heard Esme's voice, "What? Can't a mother come visit her favorite son?"

"I'm your only son," Edward murmured.

Esme challenged, placing her hands on her hips, "Oh I meant Jasper."

"Clearly, I'm the son they wish they had," Jasper teased, earning himself a playful pinch to his side from Edward.

The last step creaked under my foot and all three turned to face me, Edward and Jasper's eyes staring at me with unabashed worry.

I felt my face warm under their attention. Wringing my hands together in front of me, I murmured, "Morning."

"Morning darlin'."

"Good morning, Bella. Sleep well?" Edward asked me.

I nod and smile at Esme who watched me with sympathetic eyes. Words couldn't begin to explain how grateful I was that she agreed to come see me after I gave her the news of...well everything. Via text.

"Ready to go?" Esme asked, wasting little time and pulling her purse over her shoulder whimsically.

I made it move, but stopped as a thought occurred to me.

If I was pregnant...what would I do with the baby? Would I keep it? Love it and deal with Paul's involvement or lack thereof? All these thoughts were drowning me and I couldn't keep up. I didn't know what to do. I was freaking myself out before knowing what was happening. I need to stop.

That's why I have Esme with me today.

"Yes, I'll go get my bag and we can go," I force myself to say.

"Go? Where are you ladies heading to so early?" Jasper asked with a raised brow.

"And in this weather?" Edward noted.

I couldn't bring myself to answer them with the shame and frankly, embarrassment that I'd gotten myself into this mess. Or didn't, you never know. Luckily I didn't have to, because Esme answered for me and I could not love her more.

"Oh you know, shopping our sorrows away and gossiping about the Newton's. Did you hear the Newton boy was caught skinny dipping with one of his many girlfriends by Mrs. Newton? What a sight. Chased him all along the front yard with nothing but an empty pizza box to cover his bits." Esme giggled.

"Mom," Edward sighed as if he's been through this kind of conversation with his mother before. "I don't need to picture Newton's naked ass or bits. It's too early for that."

With a small smile, I turned to run upstairs. However I paused when I caught Jasper's gaze. He wasn't joining in on Edward's banter with his mother.

No. He was looking at me. Eyes unreadable yet, something they told me he saw everything I was trying to hide. Everything I had no idea how to handle should my worries become reality.

I had to look away to keep from telling him everything in that very moment.

Once we were on the road, Esme told me we were going all the way to Port Angeles, knowing full well there was absolutely no way I could be seen in Forks buying a pregnancy test.

Not while I could very well run into a busybody neighbor or an acquaintance could take the news back to Paul.

We drove in a peaceful sort of silence for a moment until we got onto the highway. Then Esme asked me what happened and I told her what I couldn't quite explain through text. I told her everything that had really been going on between Paul and I. She listened, got angry for me, and even cried when I did.

And when I finished telling her everything, ending it with my freak out about being pregnant—she held my hand.

I wondered if this was what having a mother was like. Someone who supported and listened to you without passing judgement.

She didn't leave me, not once when we went to the pharmacy and bought the test. Not once making me feel like the biggest fool on the planet during breakfast either which she insisted in buying despite my protests.

I knew then that Esme was without a doubt my friend, and probably always would be after today.

After she dropped me off, I wasted little time hurrying up the steps just as the rain started pouring down heavily. By the time I rang the doorbell, I was absolutely drenched head to toe.

Sometimes I really hated living in Forks.

"Oh my god," Edward said as he opened the door, eyes widening as he took me in. He ushered me into the house quickly, "You're freezing. Jasper, get a towel!"

My teeth chattered as I kept my arms wrapped around my midsection, clutching my bag to me as Jasper appeared with a towel in hand. He looked at me reproachfully as he wrapped the towel around my shoulders.

"Decided to take a shower, darlin'?" He teased as I trembled.

"S-shush," my response made them both chuckle. "It snuck up on me."

Edward rubbed his hands up and down my arms to help me soak up as much of the water as I could before I toed off my sneakers and walked into the house.

"Here let me take your bag," Jasper said as he reached for it and I couldn't help myself when I staggered back.

"No!" They both looked at me with concern as I said, "I...I'm just gonna go take a shower if you don't mind."

"Bella...what's in the bag?" Edward asked, eyeing the paper bag the pharmacist had put the test into before handing it to me. It was sticking out of my purse. Of course they had to see it.

Jasper being as perceptive as he was must've recognized the pharmacy logo on the bag because he asked, "Are you ill?"

"No," I said a little too quickly, avoiding eye contact. "It's nothing."

Edward started to ask, "Do you need to go the doctor? We can have Carlisle take a look—"

"I'm fine!" I snapped and immediately felt like an ass for reacting this way towards them when they were just concerned.

Water dripped down my long strands of hair as I looked down at the bag and took it out. I held it out to them and they looked into the bag before Edward slowly pulled out the long rectangular box inside. The silence was deafening after that.

I hurried out the words, "I felt nauseous last night and completely freaked out. I mean who wants to be pregnant when they're about to get divorced and have to start all over? A crazy person right? A-and how could I be so careless when I knew things were off to begin with?" I was rambling but I couldn't keep this in anymore. Not when Jasper and Edward were both looking at me with concern and no judgement at all.

That was almost worse.

It almost broke me, this unending compassion they held for me.

"It could be nothing..." I practically whispered.

Edward handed me the test and asked, "Are you okay?"

I swallowed, "I...I don't know. I guess I'll find out."

"If you need anything, let us know." Jasper said as I walked past them.

I turned and nodded, sighing before spinning back around, "Can you...wait with me? I don't know what I'll do with the anxiety of it all—"

A hand landed over mine and I stared up into Edward's eyes, silencing me completely.

They glanced at one another before nodding, following me upstairs. Suddenly they were both offering me their support, Edward holding my hand while Jasper kept his in the small of my back.

"Of course we'll wait with you, darlin'. Anything you need."

Sorry for the little cliffhanger but if anyone's freaking out about Bella being pregnant, don't worry :)