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A/N: This chapter is relatively short...I will do my utmost to make chapters longer

: )

A/N 2: Sadly I have no idea how to pronounce 'Acacia' but my wonderful beta tells me it's Ah-say-c-ah! If anyone disagrees or actually knows how to pronounce it please let me know!!

Enjoy!

Heartbroken…again! This was becoming a pattern. I had been stupid. I should have given him the chance to explain; I should have listened to Carlisle when he had begged me not to go; I should have at least said goodbye. But I didn't I discharged myself and Ali and went straight to the airport.

Surely Alice must have seen me leaving. Edward must have known but he didn't come after me; apparently Acacia was more important. I tried to force myself not to think that. But know that I was sitting here in my tiny odious flat that was the only thing I could think about.

Ali had been so happy to be back. She had flitted around the flat for ages with an air of euphoria. At least she was safe, I reminded myself. That was the main thing.

Now she was in bed, asleep. I was on my own. Before I had gone back to Forks this didn't bother me at all. If anything I had looked forward to this time of the day, when I could finally be alone to think. But now I was just lonely and my thoughts all told me I was a stubborn idiot.

I went to bed early, but didn't sleep. I just lay in bed crying my eyes out. I'd been strong all day for Ali but now I allowed myself to cry. But as soon as I had opened the floodgates they refused to close.

At about five o' clock there was a knock on the door. It was more of a thunderous bang than a knock. I dragged myself out of bed a dried my red swollen eyes. When I'd gone to bed I didn't have the energy to change into my pyjamas, so I was already dressed to greet my visitors.

I had suspicion of who was at the door. Who else would find five in the morning an appropriate visiting hour? I opened the door and my suspicion was confirmed; Alice, Jasper and Edward stood outside. They appraised my dishevelled appearance; my red puffy eyes, my crinkled clothes, my messy hair.

"Poor, poor Bella" Alice gasped as she pulled me into a crushing hug. I sobbed into her shoulder. While still holding me close, she led me over to the couch and sat me down. She soothed me and I slowly felt my anguish slip away (but I had a feeling that that was down to Jasper!)

I finally took a deep steadying breath and was able to look up at them. Jasper was looking around the dingy flat, obviously not impressed. Edward was gazing at me, his eyes betraying no emotion. Alice was still holding my hand, looking at me pityingly.

"Hey" I greeted weakly. Tiredness was suddenly overpowering me (Damn Jasper!) Alice suggested that I go get some rest and that we would talk in the morning. I reluctantly agreed.

I heard Ali chattering happily in the other room. I glanced at the clock on my bedside table; 11:00! I dragged myself out of bed even though I wanted nothing more than to turn over and go back to sleep.

"Mommy, look who came to visit." Ali squealed as soon as I entered the kitchen. She was sitting at the table being fed cereal by Alice. Jasper and Edward were standing slightly away from them; both looking equally uncomfortable.

I greeted them all, careful to keep a smile in place at all times. I went about making coffee as I talked to them all, keeping it blasé.

"Ali why don't you go to your room and draw Alice a picture to take home with her." I suggested eventually. I knew that they wanted to talk to me properly and the sooner they got it over with the better.

Ali didn't look like she liked the idea too much. "Why don't we just go home with them and I'll draw her lots of pictures there."

"I don't think so Ali" I said firmly.

She glanced at me angrily and flounced off in the direction of her room. She was not a fan of firmness or not getting her own way! I sighed; I was so going to pay for that later. I turned back to the coffee pot and made idle conversation.

"You know its seventy something degrees outside. The sun is searing. You'll have to stay inside until it gets dark." This was so obvious and I was probably highlighting my idiocy by saying it but of we could stay talking about the weather I wouldn't complain. Sadly, they ignored my comment.

"Bella, is this where you've been living?" Jasper asked his distaste evident. "You know that if you lived with us your bedroom would be bigger than this entire flat."

"Its not where I live that's important, it's how safe I am" I reasoned. "Can I get you guys anything? Edward, there's a three year old in the next room if you're thirsty." I made my voice as bitter and hurtful as I possibly could. I didn't dare look at Edward but I knew the look that would be in his eyes. He didn't retort.

"Bella" Alice warned "that's not fair." I knew she was right so I changed the subject before I was challenged.

"So what can I do for you? This is hardly a social call." I didn't sit down at the table with Alice or join the boys. Instead I started tidying the kitchen. If I was able to keep my mind busy I wouldn't be able to feel.

"I shouldn't have left you alone in the hospital. I should have known you would do something like this. I should have kept an eye on you but I was so concerned with the Edward situation that your decision must have slipped through. Of course Carlisle should have known better than to tell you the absolute truth. So I thought that maybe if we came to see you we could talk you into coming back with us and failing that we will force you into coming back." Alice smiled weakly.

I continued with the washing up. I kept my eyes firmly fixed on the task at hand and my lips pursed to prevent me saying anything I might later regret.

Jasper pitched in "I know how you are feeling Bella. You are confused, worried, guilty, annoyed and even slightly terrified. But I know that you never worry about your own wellbeing when you are around us. I would also put a fairly hefty bet on the fact that when you first heard about Edward and Acacia you weren't worried in fact you probably blamed yourself for the whole fiasco. In the split second before you thought about Ali and her wellbeing you were relatively okay with it. Then you got concerned about Ali, and I don't blame you for that for one minute. But I have to tell you how she feels when she's around Edward. She feels safe, nowhere near as safe as she feels with you obviously. None the less she feels happy, relaxed, comforted. You have to know that when Edward is looking after her, she feels no fear."

Tears welled up in my eyes but I kept them on the washing-up.

"Bella" Edward whispered. It was the first time I had heard him speak since he had come into my flat. I let the sound of his withdrawn voice wash over me; it gave me the strength to look up and meet his gaze. "I've been stupid; actually I've been a lot more than stupid. But you had left me and I was a mess. If Alice had told me that she loved me I would, as sure as hell, run off with her. What Acacia and I had was nothing…we never had anything to begin with. She found my weakness and enticed me. I should have been stronger but as far as I could see there was no point. You had gone, you had left me. I fully intended on telling you about Acacia and my…lapse in control but I didn't think I'd have to do it so soon. I was hoping that maybe you might go back to loving and trusting me first. But now that you do know I'm not going to lose you again. Now that I've got you back and I will never lose you again."

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