AN: I am so sorry this chapter took so long to get out!

Thankyou to Neatsue for the help!

And to Dri, thank you for managing not to distract me while I wrote this ;P

Last chapter

"Until then, take care Bella." I thanked her and headed back out into the waiting room. Carlisle was still there reading a gossip magazine. He was so intrigued that he didn't even glance up when I came to stand in front of him. I coughed. He looked up guiltily,

"Oh Bella, your done are you?" I smiled at him.

"The lives of Tom and Katie that exciting?" I teased.

"Yes, well there wasn't much else to do." He blushed, causing me to start laughing. He rolled his eyes.

"Come on you." He said starting toward the exit. I hurried after him, still laughing.

Bella's POV

"Watch me Daddy, watch me!" I sat on a park bench watching the little girl on the slide calling to her father. Her mother was standing at the bottom waiting for her daughter to slide down.

"I'm watching my little Anna Bug." Called a man who was sitting on a picnic blanket with a baby. Certain that her father was now watching, Anna pushed herself down the slide and into her mothers waiting arms. Anna squealed with laughter as her mother caught her and swung her around in her arms, before smothering her face with kisses.

I smiled at the family as an ache thudded in my chest. I found myself wishing that I could be that little girl, with the innocence of childhood allowing me to be happy and carefree. I sighed, it was no use, I could wish all I wanted. Tomorrow I would be facing Victoria and my future whether I wanted to or not…

-xXx-

"How are you feeling?" Edward asked from beside me. We were sitting outside the courthouse, leaning against a wall.

"Like throwing up." I told him truthfully. He smiled at me in what I am sure was suppose to be a reassuring way.

"It'll be ok Bella." He told me.

"How do you know that?" I demanded, I'll admit a little forcefully. "How can you say that when you don't even know if that is true?"

"Honestly, I don't know that. I'm just trying to think positively. After all that's better than just sitting here and making myself sick with worry." He told me. I smiled at him.

"I'm sorry, it just…" I hesitated. "I'm scared." I admitted.

"I know." He said squeezing my hand. "I'm going to be here for you Bella, no matter what."

"Thank you." I whispered.

"Ok Bella, Edward, it's time." Jon said coming over to us. "Are you ready?" he asked. I took a deep breath.

"As I'll ever be." I breathed out. He nodded and gestured for us to follow him.

-xXx-

Entering the room, I glanced around and my eyes suddenly locked with those of a person I had been terrified of for a long time. Victoria smiled evilly at me and mouthed the words 'You'll pay.' Tearing my eyes away, I sucked in a deep breath and tightened my grip on Edward's hand. We walked toward the other Cullens, who were already seated on the bench behind where Jon would be sitting. Edward and I sat down on the bench as Esme reached over and grasped my hand. I smiled at her reassuringly, and then concentrated on my breathing to try and numb the butterflies that were at war in my stomach and the overwhelming need to throw up.

"The state of Washington versus Victoria Swan, on the grounds of neglect and abuse towards a child." The Bailiff read out, before adding; "All rise for the honourable Judge Gatling." I rose next to Edward, as an old, grouchy looking man entered the room.

"You may now be seated." We were instructed once Judge Gatling had sat down.

.

"This court is now in session." Judge Gatling said, banging his gavel.

"Prosecution, you may present your case to the jury." The judge ordered. Jon quickly rose from his seat.

"Ladies and gentleman of the jury, I bring you a case today that is horrifying. This woman." Here he gestured toward Victoria. "Psychically and emotionally abused her step daughter for over eight years, a girl whom she professes to love. Not only was a beating a daily thing in the Swan house, Isabella was also without food for days until her stepmother decided to feed her. I will now call my first witness to the stand, Isabella Marie Swan." I rose slowly and walked the, although rather short distance, long, made longer by my fear, and terrifying walk to the witness stand.

Once I had been sworn in, I turned to face Jon.

"Now Isabella, will you please describe to the jury a typical day in the Swan household." Jon asked.

"I would get up at 5 am to begin my chores."

"And what was the punishment for failure to complete your chores?" Jon interjected.

"I would be whipped, with an old tree branch she had pulled from the backyard." I told him.

"She?" he asked. "Can you please tell the court who 'she' is, please Isabella?"

"Vic-Victoria." I whispered.

"I'm sorry dear, can you please repeat that?" Jon asked. I glanced nervously over at Victoria, she smirked and I suddenly found myself no longer afraid, but filled with absolute rage.

"Victoria." I said louder.

"Thank you. Now what would happen after you had completed your chores?" Jon asked.

"I wasn't allowed breakfast, but sometimes." I could feel my face begin to burn with shame. "She would let me eat the scraps of her breakfast." I looked down and blinked back the tears threatening to spill over.

"After breakfast, I would leave for school, then after school, on days I could make it. I would cook dinner. When Victoria got home she would find some reason to hit me, sometimes she didn't make up an excuse, she just started to beat me." I said staring directly at Jon and not allowing myself to glance over in the Cullens direction. I couldn't stand looking at, what I was sure, would be expressions of disgust.

"Tell me Bella, did your stepmother ever force you to have sexual intercourse with anyone?" I froze. No, he did not just say that while Edward in the room!

"Ms Swan, please answer the question." Judge Gatling ordered.

"No." I said shaking my head vigorously.

"Ms Swan, may I remind you, that you are under oath." Judge Gatling warned me.

"Let me rephrase that question perhaps… were you ever forced to engage in any kind of sexual contact by your stepmother?" Jon asked gently.

"Yes." I whispered nodding my head. A sudden way of frantic whispering went up throughout the room as people discussed what had just happened.

"Order, order in the court!" Judge Gatling said banging his gavel firmly. I didn't dare look over at Edward. Everybody quickly settled down. "The next person to disturb my court will be charged with contempt." Judge Gatling roared.

"Bella, can you please describe to the court what happened?" Jon asked.

"About two months ago Victoria brought over one of her friends as usual. Victoria came into my room and demanded I take my clothes off. Scared of what would happen if I disobeyed her, I did as I was told. When I was done, a man walked in and stood beside her. I quickly made for my clothes to cover up, but Victoria got there first, picking up my clothes, I remember she smirked at me and said 'Now you two have fun now.' Before leaving the room." I paused to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat. "He started to come towards me and I ran towards the ensuite bathroom and made to shut the door, but her was too strong and forced it open. I backed up toward the sink as him came toward me. He grabbed a hold of me and we fought as he tried to force me to the ground. When he had succeeded he held my hands in one of his as he started to touch me and kiss me all over. I tried to fight but he was too strong for me. Then he started to undress, using his free hand. When he was naked, he brought one of my hands down to his-"a sob caught in my throat.

"His what, Bella?" Jon asked.

"His…penis." I said shamefully.

"Did anything else happen after that?" Jon asked.

"No, Victoria came in and told him that he had to be willing to give her 5,000 to be the one to take my virginity. He got mad and told her she hadn't mentioned that before. She told him that she had changed her mind and that if he wasn't willing to pay it, he could get out."

"Thank you Bella. I'm done with this witness your honour." Jon said and moved to sit down. The judge turned to the lawyer representing Victoria.

"Mr. Douglas?" he asked. Douglas, a middle-aged man with a foul expression on his face, stood.

"Now, Ms Swan, isn't it true that you once went to the police regarding you stepmother?" he asked.

"Yes." I answered.

"And isn't it also true that you told the officer that you were making the whole thing up?"

"I was scared-" I tried answering.

"Answer the question, Ms Swan." Judge Gatling ordered.

"Yes." I admitted.

"And did you or did you not tell the officer you made the whole thing up, and I quote "Because you liked the attention"?" Douglas demanded smugly. I swallowed; I had dug my own grave after all.

"Yes." I unwillingly admitted. The was a collective gasp throughout the room, followed by the banging of Judge Gatling's gavel as he reminded them of his threat.

"I've finished with this witness you honour." Douglas said and turned to go back to his seat.

"You may step down." I quickly rose from the seat and hurried back towards the Cullens. Without looking, I sat in my place beside Edward.

"Mr. Carter, do you have any other witnesses?" Judge Gatling asked Jon.

"Yes your honour. I called to the stand Edward Anthony Masen Cullen." I felt Edward rise next to me, as he passed by he reached over and squeezed my shoulder gently. I stared at his back as he made his way to the witness stand. Could it be that Edward did still love me?

AN: Again, I am so sorry with the wait for this chapter. I hope this seems somewhat realistic; my knowledge of law is limited to that of a Law & Order episodes. Next chapter won't be up till hopefully Thursday, as I am going on a school camp. Please review!