AN: Hey guys I'm sorry it took me so long to update between the holidays, work, and being sick I've been super busy. Also It just took me a really long time to be confident enough with this chapter to post it. Also I just want to address something that a lot of ya'll have been questioning and that's about it Renee is/was beating Bella. With Bella's bruised cheek in the 1st chapter it was due to Renee slapping her when they got into a fight. Renee is a shit mother and did hit her but it was a one time thing not Bella being beaten by her mother. Sorry for that confusion.

2012

To say the last year and a half was hard was the understatement of the century. After the "Incident" I was put in a mental health rehabilitation facility. I was angry and at first I didn't want help. I was mad that they saved me. That now everyone wanted me to get better when I felt as though that was impossible, but I worked with my therapist, got medication, and began to work on my schooling. They even got me into music therapy which seemed to help as well.

When I got out I decided to continue with online schooling. I honestly didn't want to go back to public school. I realized the people I once thought were my friends weren't. They never even contacted me after that party. I mostly worked on getting my life back together. Emmett moved back to Arizona after that night finishing his education at Phoenix University.

My brother and sister were literally my life savers, but not just from that night. They supported me through everything after as well. Nan also became a huge part of my life since "the incident." She became one of the only adults besides my therapist that I felt comfortable talking with. She apologized to me when she came to visit me one day saying that she only wished she had noticed my distress sooner. She told me that before her grand-daughter had left that she promised Nan to keep an eye on me. We both admitted we had broken some promises over the years.

My alarm went off causing me to roll out of bed and thump on the floor. I groaned as I untangled myself from my sheets and turned off my alarm. It was the first day of summer vacation. The house was silent as I made my way to the kitchen. My dad was at work, my mom out on a girls day with some friends, Emmett had his own place with his girlfriend, Rose, and Alice already left earlier in the morning to the water park with her boyfriend, Jasper. I grabbed a muffin from the counter and made my way outside.

I walked out on my front porch with a muffin in my hand. I glanced at Nan's house. She had been out of town for three weeks and I had to admit I missed her a ton. I also couldn't help but worry about what was going on that had her away for so long. She had texted me yesterday saying she was on her way home but I noticed that her old truck was not in the driveway at the moment.

Just then something else caught my eye. A figure was slumped by the lemon tree. The person was facing the tree with their forehead leaning against the bark. Their one hand reaching up the trunk. Setting the muffin on the railing I slowly made my way over. The feminine figure wore baggy sweat pants and a frayed hoodie. On top of her head was a blue beanie hat. As I approached I noted that her body shook with sobs. I crouched down next to her. "Miss are you okay?" She didn't seem to acknowledge my voice. I very slowly tapped a single finger to her shoulder. She gasped and tried to scoot away from me. I raised my hands in a surrendering gesture. "It's okay," I tell her. "I'm not going to hurt you." She cocked her head to the side before bursting out in tears again. I slowly reached over and put my arm around her, this time she didn't flinch away from my touch. After a few moments she actually leaned into it. I took this as a good sign. I wasn't really sure what to do with her but I couldn't just leave her outside. I placed her arms around my neck and slowly lifted her up.

I was shocked by how light she was. How her bones seemed to jut out from under her skin. Her eyes were closed and her face was now buried in the crook of my neck. I could feel tears wetting my shirt. I walked her into the house and took her to my room. Placing her on my bed I tried to pull away so I could have her lay down but she refused to detach from me. So I sat there on my bed with a sobbing stranger in my arms. I spoke sweet words to her though she still didn't seem to hear them. Finally her sobs lessened and her breathing leveled out. Realizing she was asleep I slowly loosened her grasp on me and laid her down. After tucking her in I took a seat at my desk.

I didn't want to leave her, I worried if I did and she were to wake it may scare her to be in an unknown place. I picked up the Robert Frost poetry book that I quite often found solace in. But at the moment I couldn't focus on the words. I stuck the photo strip bookmark in place before turning my attention back to the girl in my bed.

She seemed to be around my age but was so small it made it a little hard to tell. She looked peaceful in her slumber. Her long eyelashes grazed her pale skin and light freckles dusted the bridge of her button nose. Her skin was free of acne blemishes but had other marks marring her flesh. Her left eye and cheek had a greenish yellow bruise. Her pouty lips had a healing cut. And with how her chin was tilted up I could see a pink puckered scar going across her throat along with some bruises. Bruises which suspiciously looked finger like. I was sure that more evidence of injury was on other parts of her body as well. She must have had short hair due to the fact none seemed to peak out from her hat. It pained me to see someone so hurt. She was like a fallen angel. Broken yet beautiful.

I was woken from my musing over her to banging on my front door. I raced out of my room to get the door before whoever it was woke the girl up. When I flung the front door open to find Nan looking frantic. "Edward have you by any chance seen...have you…"

"A girl?" I guessed. I was seriously confused now. What the hell was going on?

"Yes," she seemed to physically relax at my words.

"Please Nan come in. I'll make you some tea and we can talk." I was a little worried that she might collapse due to the stress. Nan was a tough woman but she was 75 years old. I had her sit at the table as I started the tea.

"She's okay," Nan asked.

"She's in my room asleep I found her by the lemon tree crying."

"I told her to stay in the house until I got home. I had to pick up some medication for her." Nan started explain. "She's so lost Edward. She's...she's trying to adjust to it all. I wasn't sure how I was going to tell you."

"Tell me what Nan?" I literally have no clue what she is talking about. Just then I hear soft footsteps enter the room. I turn to find the girl entering the kitchen.

"Love I told you to stay inside. Are you okay? How are you feeling?" Nan asked her softly. Now that she was standing I took notice to how small she was height wise. She stood only a little taller than Alice at maybe 5'4. She seemed to be very focused on Nan's lips. Then bringing her right hand to her chin and lowering it to her left hand which was palm up in front of her chest. Although I can't say I knew much about sign language nor did I know what the hand movements meant it was unmistakably that, sign language. It seemed as though it was a good response though because Nan smiled.

Then her attention turned to me. She circled around me a few times giving me a once over. It was strange how this small girl made me feel like I was prey to a feral animal. I couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable by her eyes on me. My hand found its place in my hair and at this action her eyes went wide. She looked to Nan then back to me. Her eyes warm and getting a little watery. God I don't think I could bare to see her cry again. I was about to reach out to her but she flung herself into my arms. I let the warmth of her body along with the light smell of honeysuckle and freesia wash over me.

When she pulled away slightly I almost found myself about to whine. How was it possible to feel so close to a stranger. I looked down at her to find her cheeks tinted a light pink and her brown eyes filled with tears yet it wasn't the heartbreaking ones that I witnessed outside. They seemed to be joyful.

"Who are you," I spoke though it was clear she was deaf it seemed she could read lips. Her brow furrowed and she chewed on her lip as if she was thinking. Then she pulled away from me completely. I worried I offended her but she didn't seem mad, more sad.

She stood there for a moment before glancing at Nan who nodded encouragingly. She took a few deep breaths before clearing her throat. "I guess I do look pretty different," she started, her voice a little uncertain and she articulated the syllables. I realized this was because she couldn't hear her own voice. A sad smile formed on her lip before she continued. "Edward it's me...Bella."

My eyes went wide. My heart started to pound. The whooshing in my ears started. The room even spun a little. This had to be a dream. I've had dreams like this before. I shut my eyes trying to fight the panic attack that was bubbling up. I wanted so badly to cover my ears to try to shut off the whooshing but my hands seemed to be glued to my side, balled up in fists. I could hear very faintly Nan's voice calling my name but it was so hard to hear over the damn whooshing. I slowly felt myself sink to my knees.

I then felt a soft hand on my cheek. My eyes fluttered a little and between my lashes I saw her. She must have been kneeling as well since her face seemed to be at the same height as mine. "Edward don't leave me." She whispered. "Come back to me." Her words seemed to pull me back to reality. My head dropped a little causing my forehead to rest against hers. We sat like that for a while my green eyes stared into her warm brown ones.

The whistle to the teapot brought me back to reality. I slowly stood up taking Bella's hand into my own and helping her up as well. I pulled out a chair for her and had her sit. I realized how much my hands were shaking as I set a mug in front of Bella. She seemed to notice too. I let out a sigh, this wasn't going to be as easy as I thought. I fidgeted with the sleeves of my hoodie.

"Edward," Nan spoke giving me a worried look. "There is nothing wrong with taking them. I know you've been doing pretty good taking them less but if you need to then you need to." Again I sighed hoping Bella wasn't reading Nan's lips. I squeezed my eyes shut silently debating. I felt Bella's hand on mine and my eyes opened to find hers. She seemed to silently be asking if I was okay. I nodded slowly before walking to the medicine cabinet. I grabbed a pill and swallowed it with some water straight from the tap. I smiled at Bella before joining her and Nan at the table.

I laid in bed that night jittery as anything. I just couldn't settle down. As it turned out my parents were going to sit Alice, Emmett, and I down to inform us of the situation. But it seemed that fate wanted it all to happen much earlier in the day. We had a family dinner which included Bella and Nan. Although Bella was quiet she seemed to be at some level of ease being with us. We kept conversation light. Alice told us about her day at the water park with Jasper. Emmett told us about how him and Rose were thinking of getting a dog. It was nice but anyone could see we were clearly ignoring the elephant in the room which was what happened to Bella. I didn't want to push but her injuries clearly had me distressed. My best friend left years ago, a healthy soon to be 14 year old and came back an 18 year old deaf girl.

After dinner I walked Bella to the door with her Nan. I didn't want her to leave but I knew she was probably exhausted. She gave me a small smile before making a gesture with her hand. It took me a moment to realize she was mimicking holding a Walkie Talkie. She was silently asking if I still had mine. I nodded praying I had some batteries to put into it.

As I stared at the stars on my ceiling I thought about what my parents and I talked about after Bella and Nan left. They thought it would be good for me to see my therapist, Dr. Cope as soon as possible. My dad who personally knew Dr. Cope told me he would ask tomorrow when her next available appointment was. I knew Nan told them about my panic attack today. So I could understand why they were worried but I was also annoyed that they seemed to be worried that I would get worse due to Bella's appearance back in my life.

I sighed and looked at my clock. The neon numbers read 2:15am. Just then I heard static come over the walkie talkie that I thankfully found batteries for. "Cullen come in Cullen do you copy? Over." My heart skipped a beat when her voice came over the Walkie. How many times had a dreamed about this, hearing her voice over a damn kids toy. I was about to respond but then it dawned on me; she could talk to me over it but how was I supposed to communicate to her? I began to panic on how I could signal back to her. I get up out of bed and begin to pace. The static crackles again. "I can see you pacing, over." Just then I turn to my window to find her face looking through her own. I walk over to mine trying to get as close to her as possible, the walkie still in my hand. "Can I come over?" Her voice is such a quiet whisper I almost don't hear it. I just nod.

As I watch her open up her window and step out into the yard I just so happen to look down at my bare arms. I was wearing a tshirt and my scars showed. I didn't want her to see them. Honestly other then my family, my therapist, Nan, and my siblings significant others I rarely let people see them. I hastily threw a hoodie on.

Turning back to the window I see she has made it to the halfway point, the lemon tree. Her hand over the carved bark which was now slightly higher and less deep than all those years ago. It now dawns on me why I found her there this morning. I look her over in the moonlight just as I had done last time she snuck into my room. Her skin still looked pale but she still had the hat on so there wasn't that contrast of dark hair like I remembered. She wore yoga pants that hung loose on her frame and a t-shirt. Her bare arms looked so thin. Even from the distance of my window i could see bruises coloring her arms. I noticed earlier today that she walked with a ever so slight limp and I took note of it again now. Still she looked beautiful.

I opened my window letting her in with some help. Once she was in we just stood there staring at eachother. I didn't know what to do. Last time she was here it was the start to the end. Was this a second chance? A do over? I was so fucking happy she was here but I was also scared. Scared about her past, about my past, about our future, if we even had a future.

"Come back to me," she whispered. It's as though she knew, even before I did, that a panic attack was soon approaching.

"God I missed you," I speak slowly. When I had tea with her and Nan today I learned that she was pretty good at lip reading as long as you didn't talk too fast. She also knew a good deal of sign language which I was now determined to learn.

"I missed you too," she murmured her cheeks filled with blush.

"Is it...can I hug you?" I ask. I didn't want to just assume that I could touch her, clearly she had been hurt since the last time we saw each other and I worried about pushing her too far.

"Of course," she smiled. I closed the distance between her and I, wrapping my arms around her tiny frame. The top of her head only reached my chest. A sob escaped my mouth. My body shook. There was so much I still didn't know, so much she didn't know but right now I was so content to just have her in my arms.

When we finally looked up at one another we both had smiles on our faces and tears rolling down our cheeks. Laughs seemed to bubble up from our chests. For a moment I could push every fear and anxiety I had to the side because having her in my arms was like a breath of fresh air.

She tilted her head up and smiled at our stars. "You left them up." I put her hand on my cheek so she could feel me nod. "That's how I knew where I was when I woke up today. I was scared at first but I saw the stars." Her fingers traced my cheek affectionately. She looked back at me. "Is there anything else you kept?" A better question might have actually been what didn't I keep?

I pulled away and got down on my hands and knees pulling the box out from under the bed. She peered inside and smiled at the memories that lay before her. "Why are there gifts in here?" I pulled out a card that had never been opened. The envelope read, "Happy 14th Birthday Edward!" She turned to me wide eyed. "You're telling me you never opened your birthday gifts that year?"

My hand finds its way to my hair. "Only one, a phone. And my mom forced me to open that. Now close your eyes." She raised a brow at me but did as I told. I went to my desk and grabbed the book and grabbed the still wrapped dvd out of the box. I also grabbed the ziplock with the lone earring in it. I placed them in her hands and then put a hand on her cheek to let her know she could now look. Her eyes opened and felt the the gifts in her hand. She points to herself questioningly and I nod. I had placed the earring on top of dvd which then was placed on top of the opened up the baggie and let the earring fall into her lifted her hat so her left ear poked out and showed me the matching book. She then lifted the right side of her hat took out a simple metal stud and replaced it. She put the other earring in the now empty ziplock.

Then she moved on to the wrapped dvd. She frantically opened it and a huge smile spread to her face. "I still have never seen this." She tells me flipping the dvd over to look at the back before looking back up at me.

"Same," I admit. I never had the heart to watch it after she was gone.

"Movie night?" she smiled shyly and I nod with a smile of my own. I couldn't help but be glad she seemed to want to hang out again.

She then moved that aside and glanced curiously at the unwrapped book before looking back up at me. "I kinda opened that one awhile back sorry." She opened the front cover and I knew she was reading the little note my 14 year old self had written for her. I knew the note by heart. "Happy 14th Birthday! Can't wait to share another b-day with you. Stay Gold, Bella. -Edward"

Her fingers ran across the written imprint on the inside cover. She let her fingers leaf through the pages. Only coming to a fumble when she got to my bookmark. She pulled out the photo strip and her fingers grazed our faces of the last photo. "That night...that was such a great night," she looked wistful. "I was hoping that whole evening you would kiss me." My eyebrows shot up in shock. She giggles at my gaped mouth. "Don't look so shocked, Cullen. I mean you are a pretty likable guy." She hands me the photo strip. I stare down at us. We looked so young and carefree. Hell we looked like we didn't have a care in the goddamn world.

"Am I still a likeable guy?" I questioned more to myself then her.

"Repeat that?" She asks signing what I assume was what she just spoke. I noticed she did this a lot. As she talked she would sign on top of it. Clearly my head being down kept her from getting a good view of my lips.

I debated on repeating what I had said. I was kind of embarrassed by what I said let alone repeating it to her. Also I worried it would raise too many questions about my past, a past I'm not ready to talk about. "Nothing," I make sure to give her a smile. "Just talking to myself." She gives me a weary look but accepts my answer.

After a moment of silence she looks back into the box. Her hand grabs out my gifts and plops them on my lap. She then gets up and starts to make her way to the window and my heart drops. She opens the window and with a smile holds up a finger telling me to wait a minute. I sit, gifts in my lap as she climbs out.

After about ten minutes of waiting I start to worry. Just as I'm about to get up and look for her, her head popped up through my window. She puts her hand over her eyes telling me to close mine, which I do. I hear her climb back into my room and make her way over to me. She sets something in my lap. I open my eyes to find a birthday bag in my lap. So I guess I wasn't the only one holding out on gifts all these years. I open the card first the front of which shows a photo of a monkey in a party hat. I open it, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU PARTY ANIMAL! GO BANANAS!" I laugh at the silliness of the card before I notice the message Bella herself had written me. "Edward, Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoy this gift and create something beautiful with it. Thanks for being my best friend! Love, Bella." I feel my heart skip a beat when I read the word love. I slowly reach into the bag removing the tissue paper and pull out a leather bound book.

The leather is a deep brown and although it is clearly sturdy it's soft to the touch. I then take notice to the embossed letters on its front. "Music and Lyrics of Edward A. Cullen" My eyes widen, I open the book to find pages upon pages of blank sheet music.

"I love it," I tell her. "Thank you so much."

"You always just had loose sheet music shoved in old notebooks so I thought this would be handy."

"Now more than ever." It's true it would have come handy when I was 14 but I'm almost glad I got it now. I've looked back at some of the stuff I wrote back as a kid and sure it was good but not worthy of this book. She looked at me questioningly. I could tell she was confused by what I had said. Getting up I made my way over to my bulletin board that hung above my desk and plucked a sheet of paper off of it.

Handing her the paper it only takes her a few seconds to realize what it is. "You got accepted into Juilliard?" Her voice raises in excitement and I have to put my finger to my lips letting her know to keep it down. She covers her mouth and blushes. Even behind her hand though I can still see the smile playing on her lips. I nod in response. "That's amazing!" I shrug. I guess it was amazing that after everything I managed to get my grades up and and create a good enough audition piece to get them to even notice me, let alone accept me, but I didn't really see the big deal. "It's a big deal." She stated as if she could read my mind or maybe I just give too much away in my expression. "I told you when we were kids that one day you were going to be a success."

I get a little antsy with all her attention on me. I fidget a little and my hand finds it's way into my hair. "I wouldn't say success." She gives me a look. "I mean I got into the school but my music and I haven't gotten any further than that." I tried to backtrack a little. Trying to explain it the best i could without giving away too much.

"Well maybe not yet but his is a huge step towards success. And an amazing one at that."

Again I can't help but shrug. I didn't like the lime light on me as a kid and I definitely didn't like it now. I was getting anxious and although I didn't want her to leave I also didn't want her to see me like this. Feeling so low. I can't even say why I felt like this especially because I was so happy to have Bella back. Maybe the emotional day was finally catching up to me. I stretched up about to fake a yawn which in turn became a real one.

Blush flooded her cheeks. "Gosh I'm sorry I didn't even realize how late it is." Bella whispers. I glance at my clock to find it was now 3:02. "I should really get back to Nan's." There's a sadness in the voice and I hate myself because I know I've caused it.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I tell her. Because as I know I will. I don't think I could go without seeing her now.

"Really?"

"Of course, you can't get rid of me that easy, Swan." I stand up holding my hand out for her to grab. Once again I am shocked by how light she is s I help her to her feet. We stand there for a moment, still hand in hand. It feels like an electrical current pulsing between us. I wonder if she can feel it too. When it gets too much I let go of our hands breaking the connection. Bending down I pick up her gifts and place them in her hands.

"Thanks again for my gifts." She smiles.

"No problem, thanks for mine. I really love it."

"I'm glad." There's pause. "Well...goodnight Edward."

I lean down and softly kiss the top of her head. " Goodnight Bella." And with that she exists my window.

That's Chapter 4! Hope ya'll enjoyed it! Thanks again to my friend and editor Arcade Android for all the help. Thanks for reading/following/reviewing/etc.

Write on,

Spunkransom12