Thank you everyone who's jumped back on the F+A bandwagon and left the kindest reviews! I'm so glad I didn't lose you all, and sorry for this update taking forever... life's been chaotic (but what else is new?) Anyways, enjoy! And I will also do my best to send out teasers to those who leave me reviews as well, please let me know your thoughts and hopefully you don't mind with the chapter breaks! I've gone through and edited as I've gone so not all is the same ;)

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns everything Twilight.

I delicately iced my ribs, wincing at the pain no matter how gentle I was being. I was starting my first year in junior high the day after, and the last thing I wanted was to be careful to cover myself again so no one would see my bruises. My mother's mood with me had only worsened since we'd moved to Forks, but she wouldn't let that get away from making things right with my dad. I still didn't know why she pushed so hard to get into his good graces, but she kept pushing and pushing, but there was clearly no affection or love left between them. I didn't blame him. Hell, she was a crazy bitch. But all the same, I never told anyone about what she would do to me.

I didn't even know what I did this time, but when she'd came home from work and seen that Charlie wasn't home yet for dinner, she lost it on me. Her waitressing gig wasn't as good as the pay she got from doing whatever, or whoever, in Phoenix. And apparently, not so surprisingly, I was to blame. I didn't look this time, I could easily cover it up, other than my cut lip when she punched me. My ribs hurt like hell from those same punches, but the ice would help a little bit. I raised my white tanktop a bit higher, putting the ice directly on my right side and sighing at the sensation. There were going to be some pretty nasty bruises on there, I knew that for sure. Charlie had gotten home a bit after Renee had finished with me, and I told him I wasn't feeling well so I rushed up to my bedroom, locking the door as I did. I wasn't sure how long I was in my bathroom for, leaning against the counter with one hand as the other kept the ice on me when I heard footsteps come into the bathroom and a familiar voice catch me off guard.

"B, you have no idea what Jessica Stanley just said to me. I swear to God, she… what the hell happened to you?"

I dropped the ice into the sink, swearing under my breath at being caught. Edward had made it a recent habit to climb up the tree outside my window and into my room whenever he pleased. And that's why I made sure to always change in my bedroom in case he dropped by. He still made me nervous and giddy when he was around, but it was never uncomfortable. Yes, I definitely had feelings for him, but I would never tell him that. I couldn't even imagine the awkwardness that would ensue right fter.

But now, it couldn't get more awkward. His face was flaming as his eyes zoned in on my ribs as I hastily pulled my shirt back down to cover my skin, but he had already seen it all. Not only that, but the healing bruises on my arms. My eyes darted between him and the ground, my mind completely blank. I didn't know what to say to him. I couldn't lie to him, but I was too scared to talk about what my mother did to me, and had been doing for years. He probably would've thought I was pathetic. Snarky, confident Bella to everyone else but pathetic, stupid girl behind closed doors.

Hell no, not happening. I didn't want anyone's pity.

"It's nothing, I fell," I said, letting my lips turn up to a small smile before turning back to the mirror and looking back at my reflection. I had never felt so ill in my entire life. His footsteps came closer until I saw his face in the mirror, looking back at me. As Edward grew, he only got even more handsome. He was much taller now, his chiseled face more defined as well. And it didn't help that he was an avid sports player, what with having a big brother who was the same. Emmett made it a priority to have Edward playing whatever sport he could, coaching him in everything.

I felt his fingers lift up the hem of my shirt and softly touch my skin, and I gasped at the feeling. It felt like a surge of electricity went through me, with no pain from having touched my ribs but rather another sort of pain. But it was… good. Nothing I'd ever felt before in my entire life. I looked up at his reflection and saw him gulp, wondering if he felt it too. His eyes were locked to my side, his jaw tensed as he took deep breaths.

"Bells, what happened?" His pained voice and usage of his personal nickname for me brought tears to my eyes, and I bit my lip trying to control myself and not cry in front of him. I never cried anymore when Renee laid her hands on me. Hell, I barely ever cried at all. But right then, with Edward touching me so gently, it made my heart ache. My world shattered, and as I took a breath to try to calm myself, a sob erupted instead. I turned my head away from him, embarrassed, my tears falling down my cheeks. My shoulders shook slightly while I attempted to hold my sobs in. I felt Edward's hand hold my own, still cold from the ice, and another placed under my chin. He gently brought my face back to his, and when I looked back to his eyes, I couldn't hold my sobs in anymore.

"Edward, I'm… I can't…" I cried, letting myself hold onto him as he pulled me into his arms and rubbed his hands soothingly along my back, shushing me lovingly.

"It's okay, Bells. I'm here." He held me while I kept crying, my tears staining his shirt but he didn't care. He just held me and whispered into my ear that everything would be alright. And I believed him. Anything Edward told me, I would believe him. It was always how it was. I trusted him more than I trusted myself.

I wasn't sure how long he had held me, but I was so comfortable in his arms… it felt so perfect. I sniffed and tried to pull away from him, telling him I was fine but he wouldn't let me go. He was holding me as tight as he could without hurting me. I knew I looked fragile to him now after seeing my marked body, and that was the last thing I wanted him to see me as, but I couldn't bring myself to let him go. After a few moments, he finally broke the silence.

"Was it Renee?"

I tensed immediately, frozen completely, and he already had his answer without me saying a single word. There was no need for me to deny it. Edward knew more about me than I knew myself, seeing through me and helping me find my way when I was lost. And that's exactly what he did that night.

I sighed softly and snuggled into his chest more, nodding to answer him.

With every day that followed, he became a larger part of me – he was my everything.