ages

Bella, Edward, and Emmet: 17

Alice : 15

Carlisle and Esme: 32

Jasper and Rosalie: 16

Rose, Alice, Jasper, and Emmet will come in later.

disclaimer in description

BPOV

As we walked down the road, away from the elementary school, I held tightly to Edward's waist. Looking around, it became clear that we were heading into an area of town that was, as of yet, unfamiliar. Trying to contain my curiosity, I looked up at Edward to distract myself. Looking at the soft smile on his face, I would never guess that he was the broken boy I had seen just minutes before. He seemed so much more sure of himself, a trait that, although most likely facetious, I envied. I never understood what he saw in me, even after seeing him fall apart at the thought of me leaving him. It just didn't make any sense. When I looked at him I saw a boy equivalent to a Roman God. I looked at myself and saw someone of average appearance; nothing that should associate with a god, yet, he chose me.

I let out a sigh as I felt myself vibrating with excited impatience due to his silence. I had picked up the annoying trait from my little sister, Alice. Whenever she became excited, Alice would bounce violently. Lucky my, I got that oh so endearing trait from her. Thank god, mine was a milder version. I could feel Edward laughing silently at my obvious lack of patience.

"Shut up, butthead! Can you please just tell me where we're going," I nearly whined. Edward stopped walking and appeared to be stunned for a moment before he doubled over in hysterical laughter. My eyebrow quirked upward as I watched his attempt at controlling himself. His mood swings were seriously starting to confuse me. Ah, but I digress. Eventually, he was able to gasp out an explanation. "Sorry…I just, well… nobody's called me a butthead in over eight years," he smiled crookedly at me. I just stuck my tongue out.

"Pshh. Maybe not to your faaace," I said in a sing-song voice. He shook his head and pulled me into a tight embrace. The scent of vanilla and soap filled my lungs as I breathed him in. his laughter shook me again so I raised my head, waiting to hear his reasoning. "Did you just smell me," he smirked. I looked over his shoulder, avoiding eye contact, as my cheeks began to burn. He ran his fingers over my blush until he cupped my face in his hands. Slowly, he pulled my back into his eyes. "Another reason why I love you," he whispered, before his lips kissed mine in a soft caress.

I reluctantly pulled away because I really wanted to know where we were going. "Sooo…you planning on telling me where we're going? I really don't like surprises. You know that," I trailed off as I saw a weird emotion cross his eyes. For a moment, it looked like he was scared or nervous, but then it was gone. He nodded and pulled me along at a pace slightly faster that our original one. "Well, I-I figured that if I'm going to..tell you everything, I should l-let you see where I l-live," he nervously stuttered out. I had no idea of how to respond so I just gripped his hand tighter in support, just hoping to calm his nerves just a bit.

I could sense Edward's anxiety growing as we moved further away from the part of Forks that I'd always know. Looking around I noticed only three prominent buildings: an old world bakery, a small diner, and an orphanage. As I looked around the quaint street, I failed to notice that we had stopped walking. Right in front of the orphanage. I turned to Edward, completely puzzled. Why were we stopping here? He said he needed…to show me…where he…lived. Oh my god. I whipped my head back to the building in front of me and saw it in a new light. This place was Edward's home. Edward was an orphan. No wonder he acted the way that he did. There was obviously something big going on with him but I never imagined it to be so horrible.

Edward swiped his thumbs under my eyes and it was then that I realized I was crying. It was not out of pity, though. My beautiful boy was so much more broken than I could have guessed. It hurt me that he had to deal with something like that. Before I could think about what I was doing, I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms and legs tightly around him, sobbing into his shoulder. I felt him tightly his hold on me as his tears started to fall onto my face. He seemed to understand that I would not pity him. He could tell I cried because I felt pain for his pain. That, in itself, meant the world to me. He trusted me enough to know I could never look down upon him, no matter what situation he got himself into.

As our tears slowed, he lowered me back onto the ground. We stood, for a while, looking into each others' eyes trying to show how much we cared. With a sigh, Edward grabbed my hand tightly in his. "Well, I guess we should go inside now. I'll show you my room, if you'd like," he seemed to hesitate nervously about his offer. I looked at him and smiled my best smile.

"Edward, I would like for you to let me see everything about you. Nothing you show or tell me would change how I feel about you." He looked stunned, for the second time that day, at my sincerity, before practically dragging me up the steps. Inside the front hall, an older woman sat at a desk. She smiled brilliantly when she noticed my and Edward's clasped hands.

"Well, hello Edward. This is a pleasant surprise. I don't think I've ever seen you bring someone here. Let alone, I don't I've seen you about during daylight hours," she smiled at me, obvious trying to tell me something. I just chose to ignore her because I knew it had to do with Edward's past behavior, which really wasn't her concern. Edward simply nodded to let her know he had heard her. She simply shook her head as if his actions were to be expected; I could understand that completely. He was closing off people he thought shouldn't care about him.

Edward tugged me again, towards a staircase. I followed, silently, to his bedroom. When he opened the door I felt a grin appear on my face. "So, I'm guessing by all these pictures of you and me that you sorta, kinda, maybe have a thing for me, huh," I teased. My smile only widened as I saw him blush and look away from my eyes. Embarrassed Edward was completely adorable.

"I,uh… put them up to give me something to make me happy while I'm here," he said, still blushing furiously.

"Aww, Edward! That's completely adorable! And this is just another reason why I love you," I threw his words back at him, while planting a big, sloppy kiss on his cheek. I almost laughed at the goofy smile that lit his face due to my words.

As I walked into his room and sat down on the slightly uncomfortable bed, he shut the door and turned to me, looking scared again. I guessed this was when I would hear his story. He sat next to me with a sigh, all joking aside, and avoided my gaze. I didn't mind, though, because I could tell he'd fall apart if he had to look me in the eyes. I figured that I could let him keep some small shred of his dignity.

"My parents, Elizabeth and Edward Masen, were very kind people. They were both doctors and I respected them for that very much so. I respected them even more for the fact that they still made time for me, in spite of their jobs. I knew they loved me and I still do, even after what happened. The summer I turned ten, was the second worst of my life. Two days aft my tenth birthday, my parents partially broke my world. They told me that they would be going to Dubai for a year to help improve medical conditions there. Of course, I naturally expected to be going too. So, I said I would say goodbye to my friends." I watched as he closed his eyes, so close to falling apart.

With a huff, he leaned forward, with his head in his hands and paused before continuing his story. I had no idea of how to comfort him so I just ran my fingers through his hair, softly scratching his scalp. He let out a helpless whimper and I knew his story was about to change for the worse.

"When they told me that I would be living with my grandmother, I threw a fit, just hoping to change their minds. Obviously, it didn't work since the dropped me off a week later and left for the other side of the world. I didn't bother with anything; I just wanted my mom and dad back. We sent letters back and forth: them saying they loved and missed me, me saying how angry I was that the left me. A little less that a year after they left I sent a letter telling them that I hated them for abandoning me. I was so horrible and spiteful. I got one letter back after that: and apology and more love. That was the last I ever heard from them."

He shuddered to a stop, wiping his eyes furiously. I didn't even bother stemming my own tears as I waited for him to go on.

"Two weeks after their last letter, my grandmother got an official looking letter from a hospital in Dubai. Both of my parents had been killed by some racist group. I felt so numb from shock and sadness. I hadn't seen my parents for a year and the last words I said to them before they died were of hatred and anger."

"I was disgusted with myself. Still am. That only got worse when my grandmother fell ill a month later, in June, right before my birthday. I felt it was my fault that she was sick. It was the same way when she died another month later….After she died I closed myself off from the world. I felt, and pretty much still do, that I wasn't worth anything." He paused again before continuing his sordid tale.

"So after that I ended up in this hell hole, full of overly cheery women. God, Bella, you have no idea what a monster I was. A newly orphaned eleven year old with no one to turn to. I was horrible. Anyone that came near me got screamed at, even families that were thinking of adopting me. I didn't want them, I wanted my family back. Around fourteen, I became resigned to my situation and that's where the whole 'robot' thing kicked in. I wanted so badly for someone to really care about me. It wasn't just about my family. None of the families that came to adopt kids ever looked, well look, twice at me. They saw a kid who was broken beyond repair, so they didn't care."

I watched as his slowly falling tears increased in volume to the point where he was almost sobbing. I knew I was crying too. How could people be so cruel that they couldn't even try to break through and fix him? He deserved so much more than this. So, so much more.

"Then, a year later I met you. I swear you were like my angel. You fixed me more than you can ever know. You gave me some of the love that I had missed. You have no idea how much that means to me," he whispered before pulling me into his arms.

I simply held him because I knew that was all he wanted from me at the moment. He wanted to know that someone truly cared about him and about what happened to him. Resting my head on his shoulder, I began to think about how I could fix him. He obviously needed love. Sure, I had given him mine, but he needed love that came from a family.

Family. Family. Family. Who could be a family for my boy? Oh my god! Carlisle and Esme! I felt myself smile into his shoulder as my plan started to form. Carlisle and Esme were only around thirty two years old. They had wanted to have children for some time but couldn't so they planned to adopt. They would be perfect for Edward! They were the most loving, generous, and patient couple I had ever met in my entire life. Plus, since they weren't super old, Edward would be able to get along with them easily.

All I had to do was talk to the Cullens about him. I was positive they would adore him. Now, he was a different story. From what he said about his relationship with past adoptive prospects, he shut them out. Perhaps, I could get him to know them without him realizing they could be his future parents.

I pulled back from Edward slowly and looked him in the eyes. He looked startled by the happiness that was in mine. I leaned forward and kissed him, softly. "Thank you so much for telling me everything, baby. I have to get going back home, though, to make Charlie's dinner. I promise I'll call you later tonight. Love you," I kissed him once more before standing to leave. He looked puzzled for a moment at my changing mood before he stood up to give his official good bye.

We walked down the stairs to the door in silence. When we reached it, he hugged me fiercely. "Thank you so much, my angel. For everything. I love you and would like nothing better than for you to call later," he kissed me once more before releasing me.

I smiled brightly at him and whispered in his ear "trust me. Your whole world is about to change for the better." I kissed his neck softly then hurried down the steps, leaving an adorably confused Edward behind.