A/N: Thanks to KayMarieXW for your medical advice. :D Having never broken a bone, I had no idea what process it takes to diagnose/treat one. Hugs lady!

Thanks to my beta ladies- Prettyflour and Ninmesarra. You guys rock the red pen!

And now to beg and grovel for forgiveness of the fact that it's been SOO long since I updated this. I really am sorry! I had every intention of updating this sooner, however, a drunk driver decided to parallel park his car in my living room at the beginning of February. I only recently found my flash drives that this was saved on. Thank you for not giving up on me and for the words of encouragement I received from my faithful followers! It meant so much! I wasn't able to update, but I did get all of my emails! And I appreciate you guys so much!

*~C2C~*

The drive to the hospital with Rose was short. I planned ahead when I rented my townhouse and found a place near to it since I am so accident prone. I knew since Angela was a nurse, it was a major faux pas to say that the ER was slow, but that's just what it was. There were only a few people waiting and Rose was able to be taken back within thirty minutes. Her hand was x-rayed and she was informed that she had what is commonly referred to as a boxer's fracture- a break in the fourth and fifth metacarpals in her hand. They gave her a shot to numb her hand so that they could put it in the splinted brace without causing her unnecessary pain. A note telling her to take ibuprofen for the pain and to follow up with the orthopedic doctor in three weeks and we were released. It really was a quick trip for the ER.

After I helped Rose buckle up, I drove to the Walgreen's a few blocks over to pick up ibuprofen. I had some, but I wasn't sure how much remained in the bottle. I made it a quick trip in and out and then we were headed back to my house.

"So, what exactly happened, Rose?"

Her deep sigh sounded weighted- like she was trying to release some of the pain she was feeling on Angela's behalf. "He's an asshole, Bella. He really is…"

I pulled into a parking lot so that we could talk without interruption. Turning in my seat to face her, I said, "All guys are once in a while, right? What did he do? What happened?"

"Yeah, but I would be justified in calling him worse things. This is what happened…" as she told the story I pictured it in my mind.

Rose had gotten out of the car and walked around to drag a reluctant Angela out of her seat. Up the sidewalk they trailed slowly, Angela literally dragging her feet. "Are you gonna knock, or am I?" Rose asked.

At Angela's blank stare, Rose's fist rapped on the door repeatedly. Finally, a bleary-eyed Ben opened up. "Do you guys have any idea what time it is?"

"Yes, Ben, we are well aware that it's the middle of the night. But Angela needs to tell you some things and you need to listen."

Sighing in resignation, Ben turned to look at Angela. "Ang? What's going on?"

"I told you what your mom said, Benny. I need you to stand up for me. I need you to tell her that I'm not fat and that I'm not pregnant. I need you to tell her that you love me. I need you to be the man that I love. I can't keep…" her voice had broken with a sob as tears poured down her cheeks leaving salty stains in their wake.

"Ang, you know I love you, but you know my mother. She is going to say what she wants when she wants. I can't control her and it's easier to pick my battles."

"So I'm not worth fighting for?"

"That's not what I said. But she doesn't think we are going to last."

"What about you Ben? Do you think we will? Or are you falling for her lies?"

"Angela, stop. Please. You know that we did have the pregnancy scare. It wasn't that far off the mark for her to say that."

"Excuse me?" Rose's voice couldn't conceal her bewilderment. "What did you just say?"

"Well, things would have gone slower if not for that. And, remember the few months we were seeing other people? Mom brought up a valid point… How do I know you weren't with someone else?"

Angela crumpled to the ground under the weight of the heavy pain his accusations brought. He knew. He knew she'd never been with anyone but him. They'd been together since college. She'd given herself to only him. Never anyone else. She loved him so completely, she never even looked at anyone else. Not even during their short break-up. She chose to spend her nights in the depths of the stacks at the library, where she wouldn't disturb anyone with her silent tears and studied. He'd come across her there more than once.

Rose's body was shaking with anger. Her hands trembling as she stabbed one finger into Ben's chest, "Did you really just insinuate that Angela is a slut?"

"Well, I don't know that she wasn't-" his last word was turned into a garbled sound as Rose's hand connected with his jaw. The sound was loud as bones cracked. His head snapped back and his hands came up to clasp his jaw. Ben moaned with the agony of the pain that bloomed in his jaw and rapidly spread to his entire face.

Shaking her hand in an effort to ward off the sharp pains shooting through it, Rose stood straight and tall. "You need to think about what you just said and exactly how many things are wrong with it." Bending down, she slipped her uninjured arm around Angela's waist. Helping her stand, she led her back to the car and helped the distraught girl slide in. Rose closed the door and got in the driver side. Thankfully she'd punched him with her left hand so she could still function as her right hand was dominant. She hurriedly started the car and drove off.

"Wow. He really did deserve to be punched in the face for that. Too bad you broke your hand doing it though. Poor Ang…"

"I just hope his jaw is broken and he can't talk for months," Rose mumbled.

We pulled into the lot for my house and made our way inside.

Angela and Alice were curled up in nest of blankets, both of them snoring softly. I brushed the hair back from Angela's face and silently wished things were different. After covering them both with blankets, Rose and I went upstairs. I fixed the bed for the blonde-amazon and went to my room.

Why can't love last forever? Angela and Ben… I really thought that they would last forever. They seemed so happy together. And I guess things could work out in the end, but it didn't look promising.

A desperate sigh heaved from my lungs. I needed forever. Was it really such a crazy thing to wish for?

Without thinking, I scooped up phone and called Eddie. The phone rang a few times before he answered. "Hey pretty girl! It's late. Are you okay?"

"I think so. I just… I guess I just needed to hear your voice."

"What's going on?"

"My friend Ang… she's just going through some stuff and it made me sad. And I just… I needed to talk to you. Can you just tell me something? Anything? A story of you and Carlisle or whatever? Just talk to me, please?"

"Yeah. Of course. Anything for you, Bella."

I sighed, "Thanks." I knew it was probably all irrational but, there was so much to factor in. Sam, and even though I wanted to say I was completely over him, until I completely gave my heart to someone else, I was probably always going to feel as though he'd stolen half the air from my lungs- and desperate for relief. His name seemed as though it were seared into my heart and until I could trust my heart to someone else, it was destined to bleed for him.

I was learning. But it was going to be a slow process. Trust didn't come easy a second time. It wasn't fair to Eddie, but he already knew what he was up against. Even if Sam was a real jerk- a controlling scumbag- he'd been my love for a long time. It wasn't going to be easy to forget him.

"Are you still there, Beautiful?"

"Yeah, I am. Thanks, Eddie. I needed that. Can we get together soon?"

"How's tomorrow? We could get some movies, and order in? You can come here this time?"

"That sounds perfect. What time?"

"How's nine?"

"That will work."

"K, see you then, Beautiful."

"I'll be there. And Eddie?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

We hung up and I fell asleep quickly. Finally able to forget about fears for a few minutes.

A/N: So, what did you think? It's a little shorter than normal, but I figured you guys wouldn't mind. AND I'll try to make it up to you next time! :D

If you want a good story rec, I recommend checking out anything written by melolabel or LJ Summers. Those two are the first authors that I read when I found fanfic. They really are very talented!

See you soon!