First and foremost this is the original story before I started to rewrite it... and got stuck in the writing of the rewrite. If you are following the rewrite you will notice quite glaring differences between this and the one you have already started following. I do not intend on giving up with the rewritten version, however, I think you guys waiting for me to get over my blank slate of a muse isn't going to happen any time soon. So I am re-posting the original. This was my first completed story and it is very different from how my last stories flow.
Secondly, this is not beta'ed. NOT AT ALL. There will be mistakes in spelling (I'm Australian and some words we spell differently). The layout will honestly have you wondering what the hell I was thinking. I wasn't; well that's not true. What I was thinking was that I knew what I was doing and screw anyone else... yes I was a conceited little shit even at the age of 31.
Thirdly, there are 68 chapters to this story, including the epilogue and two outtakes. All of which have been uploaded to my profile I will try to upload as often as I can. Please understand that I have a busy life in the real world. This includes two children, one grown and the other with disabilities. So while I should be able to update wherever I am, if something happens please understand that I will miss updating.
Last but not least. I am not SM. Not even close. I do not own the franchise, work in any capacity with the publishing houses or studios. I merely escaped from reality to play with some characters that I fell in love with while reading four books in a matter of days.
I sat there watching as Jasper's leg bounce for what felt like hours before he and the rest of our friends were able to enter the courtroom while I had to wait outside to be called. We had been in the room while Tanya and Chelsea gave testimony about their knowledge of the events, and as Riley was now currently sitting in the witness chair I had to leave the room while he gave his testimony. I had been prepared to face this whole ordeal for some time though I was still a little afraid to relive the time I had spent in that room, especially now that I had been able to recall every event with so much clarity that you would have thought I had just seen the events take place in a movie or read it in a book somewhere. I didn't even have to go over my statement or my testimony that was given to the grand jury a few months ago.
"Sweetheart, remember that we will all be in there while you sit in that chair. If it gets too uncomfortable just look at one of us." Pa said as he held my hand, while Momma had hold of Junior.
I was just too nervous to hold him and while Jasper was there he said something about being too nervous to be able to hold him without dropping him. I understood that he was nervous about the whole thing especially since I still hadn't given anyone any clue what had been said in that room, or the severity of the whole situation.
"The Judge has issued a 15-minute recess now that Riley has given his side of the story. How he was able to not realize the stuff that was happening during that time is still beyond me. You're up next Miss Swan." The District Attorney said as she walked out towards our little group.
Everyone and I mean everyone was there, all our parents, Demetri and Rebecca, having now hired someone to act as manager after both Jasper and Emmett had declined the position a few days ago; and all our friends who had taken Brea as part of our little family. I nodded my head as very quickly I felt a rush of bodies come closer to me and Jasper. It didn't help Jasper really knowing that it was all about to start, actually, it caused his leg to bounce even more and faster if that was possible.
"Hey, I thought I was meant to be the one that got nervous right now," I whispered into his ear as I placed my hand on his vibrating leg. He slowly turned his face to meet mine with a very small smile that really didn't hide his fear of what was going on.
"It's gonna be okay Jasper, he's pretty much been buried with all the evidence that's been given already. I'm just the icing on the cake. Besides, he can't hurt me or anyone else from what the DA told me; he's pretty much been abandoned by everyone including Riley's family." I watched as everyone's face matched. All jaws on the floor; eyes popping out of their heads.
All heads snapped to face the door as the court attendants came out calling all parties into the room once more.
"We'll all be there for you. Remember that sweetheart." Mother whispered in my ear as she made her way towards the door with Father holding her hand so tight that I'd swear she had no more blood circulating through that appendage.
"Go put the final nail in his coffin Bella." Peter; who had been fighting his anger since the beginning of the week mumbled in my ear causing me to both smile and jump in shock at his words.
"I'll be fine Cowboy. I promise." My voice holding strength that I didn't even realize I had until those words were uttered. He kissed me on the cheek before he moved towards my mouth.
"I love you, sweetheart." His soft voice brought a tingle to my eyes that I knew would start the tears to fall if he stayed beside me for much longer.
I pushed him towards our parents who were still waiting for him before they too entered the room and took their seats in the gallery. I closed my eyes and pictured Brea's smiling face; as I took a few calming breaths as it became suddenly quiet around me.
"Miss Swan, they're ready for you." A young woman gently tapped my shoulder to gain my attention. Smiling at her soft face I stood and followed her towards the now open doors of the courtroom and was directed to the witness box. Once sworn in I turned my attention to the DA.
After running through the events and time I had spent with Brea before her death I was able to understand what was going on. The DA was determined to not just paint me as some psychologist that was there, but as a friend of Brea's if not family.
"Miss Swan; after you received a call from Mrs. Tanner and her husband you and your partner rushed to the hospital to stand by their side correct?" she asked me looking at the jury instead of myself.
"Yes, our family had taken our son for a little while so we could be alone," I replied and as per usual I blushed, a soft pink that would give away anything that had happened to those sitting listening to what was being said. Our family sort of knew what we had gotten up to but I don't think the jury members needed to know the intimate details of that morning.
"And could you please tell everyone here what had happened once you made it to the hospital?" By now I had watched as Chelsea and Marcus had left the courtroom. I was glad that they had left; they didn't need to know all the details that were about to come into focus.
"We were met by both her parents who had told us that she was attacked. That she wouldn't talk to anyone until I was there. Chelsea had taken me to the intensive care unit where Brea was being treated." My tone was emotionless as I replayed everything that happened before I entered the room.
"Once you were in the room, and both Detective Nahaul and Tia informed you about the role you needed to take, can you tell us what had been discussed?" The DA asked as I looked towards my family and friends once more. I hadn't noticed that Chelsea and Marcus had re-entered the room with the little girl who looked so much like Brea that I think her little presence was what I needed to see to get through the next part.
"She was covered in blood, bruises and heavens knew what else. I don't think there was a part of her that wasn't covered in something. I had asked her who did this to her, and she told me that it was Riley and another man whose name started with A." I had to stop, as I heard the murmurs from both those sitting in the galley and the jury boxes.
"Please continue Miss Swan." She urged. I nodded my head and took another breath to steady myself.
"She told me how Riley and the other man had planned to sell the child on what I can only assume was the black market, but she wouldn't agree to what they said. Brea had done everything that she could to protect herself and the child that was carrying. The other man had told Riley to hit her, bring the labor on so they could take the child and leave her there, but he didn't do as the other man had meant."
"Riley had been pulled away from her as the second man started to hit her closer to her stomach, and Brea ran upstairs to get away. She told me that she couldn't remember how she got up there or what had happened; only that the next thing she knew the someone had pushed her down the stairs and Riley was crying out that they were both dead."
Again I had to stop, not because I couldn't go on; rather that I knew I couldn't give more information than what was asked at the time. I didn't want to give his lawyers any ammunition against what I had said. It took everything I had not to start to cry once more, just living the memories as they ran through my head with the word that I had said was painful at least; deadly at best to my heart.
"Miss Swan, from what you had been privy to, had there been any time where Miss Tanner's heart had stopped for more than 2 seconds?" she asked her tone somewhat withheld as well, but I wasn't sure if this was because of what we were discussing or the case itself. Either way, I knew she was having as much trouble as I was and was trying to move forward so she would be able to put this man to justice.
"From the medical records I was given due to the situation no, her heart never gave out until she died moments after giving birth to that child." I looked straight over to Alec Volturi wanting to know that he had taken this life and that he had left her in pain fighting for the life not only of herself but for the little angel that had survived.
"Thank you, Miss Swan." She said as she took her seat. I knew what was next and I had to steel myself before the defense started to pick at everything that I had said.
"Miss Swan, you spoke to the defendant the day before he was charged with the death of Miss Tanner, why is it that you were called before any charges were laid?" his lawyer asked, I felt like being sick as his tone was somewhat mocking and beyond irritating. His slicked-back hair and perspiring forehead was a joke as he stood wiping everywhere other than where he was sweating.
"I was called in due to another matter involving myself and my partner. Mr. Voltori had vandalized some property that we had recently purchased." I looked over at Jasper knowing that this was not how we had planned to tell everyone that we were planning to move out into our own home. I watched as he shrugged his shoulders at me, understanding that I didn't want to out our little plan and that I was sorry for having to do it this way.
"So Miss Swan, how is it that you were able to talk to the defendant? Surely this is not normal police behavior." Again I wanted to be sick, but I also wanted to hurt the man.
"I was told about the connection to the case, sir. As I was and still am until this court case is completed Miss Tanner's psychologist that I was able to talk to the defendant as long as I was able to keep things to the situation without causing any damage to the case at hand." I felt like slapping the man, both the lawyer and the man who he was defending.
"But you are an advice columnist, how are you qualified to handle this. Even with a degree within psychology." I heard my family become quite vocal and saw that both Peter and Emmett had to physically restrain Jasper from getting up and possibly hurting the lawyer.
"Please do not insult my intelligence and my work. I graduated from university nearly 2 years ago with a Masters in both Journalism and Clinical Psychology. I was within the top 5 percentile of my graduating class. I chose to work within this field as it was where I saw myself helping more people than if I worked in an office taking appointments continuously. " With every word I said I watched as both the lawyer and Alec pale with the information. Surely they were able to find this out and were able to prepare for this sort of thing. I also heard the snort from Jasper and Peter at my words that I couldn't help but smile a little at their reaction.
"I see, so why is it that you don't go by the title that you seemed to have worked so hard for, surely it would be better for all those involved." He said as he slowly back-peddled from his previous statement.
"I could but, even the formal title of Miss Swan is something I'm not used to." I watched as he nodded his head.
"Miss Swan, is it true that your partner has had a previous incident with the defendant, a physical altercation at his place of work." He had to be kidding me, what did this have anything to do with it.
"Yes, a fight broke out after comments were made concerning me and my son. " I started to get a little guarded; he was bringing my family into the situation, something that I wasn't quite comfortable with.
"Your honor, I don't see what Miss Swan's family life and incidents that do not pertain to this case or the witness herself is prevalent to the case at hand. Could you please ask the defense to stay within the case at hand and not something that does not involve the witness herself?" The DA asked and I was positive I was going to be buying her some flowers and possibly something hard to drink as a thank you.
"I agree please keep to only the facts that involve the case, Mr. Aro." The judge spoke for the first time I had heard really. I actually jumped a little at his soft volume even if he spoke with a lot of conviction.
"I was only trying to show the jury that this witness has reason to alter her recollection of the situation due to personal matters." The man I now know as Mr. Aro spoke and I felt as if he had just slapped me in the face.
"Your honor, could I respond to that?" I asked as I faced the judge. He nodded his head and waved his hand as if he was giving me the floor.
"Sir, I have never and will never lie or withhold information no matter how and who it would affect. I and my partner may have prior incidents that happened before and after the death of Miss Tanner but I can assure you that I have not changed anything or added anything to the information I gave not only to the police directly after her death or the day after; nor have I altered the information that I gave to the grand jury. Both his role in Brea's death and the incident involving my partner; I had no clue as to who it was, I did not know it was Mr. Voltori here that broke into my home and vandalized it."
I was beyond pissed and I really wanted to physically harm the men in question, Alec and Mr. Aro needed to have some serious work done to get them to understand that not everyone is like them. As I stepped down from the stand I was met with the arms of my family and those who I held dear. I felt Marcus's eyes trained on me as he sat in the back of the room. I was beyond afraid of what I would see once I met his gaze, would he hate me for not telling him everything that had happened to his daughter or would he understand that I had to save him from the nightmares that still haunted me to this day.
I heard as both the defense and the DA both gave their notice to the judge that they were resting their cases, and I was never happier than it would soon all be over.
"Bella you did great, thank you." Chelsea's voice carried over everyone's as she held her grandchild.
I understood that this was not just for what I had said and what I had kept from her and her husband but for everything. I smiled as I made my way toward the three that had been hurt the most throughout the entire stress of the trial and the loss of their daughter and embraced them as if they were family; because that is what they were. Regardless of the pain, we all felt from the death of Brea, Marcus and Chelsea were as close as family as the rest of us. We had long figured out that blood does not always make a family. Family is something that is far more than shared DNA or a name. It is something that is beyond words in the English language.
"I want you to realize something. I saw Brea as my sister, which meant that you two were just as much my family as she was; and always will be. Just because this is finally being laid to rest doesn't mean you have to forget about us, because we definitely won't forget about you. And if you try to hide from us, remember we have a few people who work in the papers, my father is a police chief and there are two ex-military men over there that will help me hunt you down and kick your butt for trying." While some of the words were in jest the sentiment behind them was honest and something I definitely would do.
I kissed little Bella as we all made our way towards the exit of the court building. I felt relieved that I was able to bring closure to this pain that we had all felt. I smiled as I felt Jasper's arms embrace me as I stepped out of the car once I had placed Junior into his seat.
"I love you, now let's go home." He whispered as he gently kissed my head and held the door of the car for me.
"You know, now we have to deal with the whole you bought a house and didn't tell me thing from everyone." I teased, gaining a groan from Jasper.
"How about we go out for a little while. Show Junior that park that we're so fond of?" he smirked.
"I think that's a great idea. Let's go." and with that, he drove off to the park where we were able to have some time together as a family.
