Hello, people! Back again. I would like to apologize for the delay. This was supposed to be out around Feb. 1st but things didn't go as planned. So sorry. Anywho, I would like to thank everyone for their wonderful funny reviews and birthday love. I really appreciate it. ^_^. When my beta was editing this chappie she thought Bella had sex with Charlie because I didn't put whose POV it was. It was hilarious! There's more info down south so read that when you finish. How's about a little Renee? Hmm?

My beta, BellaTonks, is awesome! And my best friend, Little Silver Rose, will forever be loved by me! She helps me through my sore spots.

Disclaimer:"Sorry about the delay, but life goes on, sadly. R4L, owns nothing but her hair and and brains and the most outstanding writing talent I've ever had the pleasure of reading! Lmao! J/K! But seriously. Read on, guys, she owns the plot and anything you know I didn't write." S.M.

Chapter 23

RPOV

I woke up to low voices whispering outside the bedroom door. I rubbed my eyes to get the sleepiness out of them and sat up so that my back was leaning against the headboard. I pulled the sheets up to my chest and wrapped it securely around myself. I tried to ignore the chilliness of the room.

The voices outside the room rose a little and I tried to ignore those too because I knew how Charlie hated when I asked him about the things he talked about with his fellow officers. I shivered from the cold and then winced when I felt a slight pain between my thighs.

A few minutes later, I winced again when I shivered once more, but I reveled in it. Charlie and I had had sex last night. I knew he considered it 'making love,' but I just thought it was sex. I only reveled in the aftermath because I was always at peace in the aftermath. Charlie was never rough or demanding or abusive during sex. He always made sure I had my pleasure first before he even thought about himself.

It seems sick and twisted for me to still love him, but I did. Or maybe it was only because he showed his heart to me when we were in bed. He was the man I married all those years ago, right out of high school. He was the man that vowed to always protect me and never hurt me.

His touches and caresses always reminded me of our younger days. They reminded me of what I used to have, what he used to be like, the man I used to love without a doubt. The way he looked at me after he released….I sighed. He looked at me with so much love that it almost made me forget all the times he hit me, beat me till I couldn't stand.

Almost.

Even through all of that I could still see some of the…hatred he had for me buried under the love that was shown. I could still see it. And it broke my heart.

My heart didn't just break because I had to put up with this. It broke because my daughter had to be put through this. She was beaten most of her life. My heart broke again just thinking about it. I knew she hated seeing me on the receiving end of one Charlie's outbursts, but I could do nothing to help it.

I was saddened to have to send her away again, but glad because then she wouldn't have to suffer. She wouldn't have to call me at the hospital and tell me that she was hurt or Charlie was drunk or that she was scared because he was waving his loaded gun around like a mad man and that she didn't want to die.

I missed her so much it hurt. I wanted to talk to her, but I knew Charlie was keeping tabs on me. I also knew he was only keeping tabs on me when I was at the house.

I heard the voices in the hall lower and then footsteps. I scooted further down into the bed and closed my eyes. A moment later I heard the door open and then close. I stayed that way for awhile. Then I heard Charlie's cruiser start and pull out of the driveway.

I sighed again. The house was empty and quiet without him, but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the moments when I was by myself because then I could actually think. I could relax and throw my hair down, per se.

I wrapped the sheets tightly around myself and took a glance out the window just to make sure he was gone. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and slumped against the wall beside the window. I stayed there a moment and then grabbed some under garments and toiletries and made my way the bathroom.

My shower was long and hot and very much needed. I rolled my shoulders under the hot water. I let the water run over my face and through my hair. I relaxed every muscle in my body, glad that I hadn't received a beating from him in a week and a half. The purplish black bruises from the time we 'made love' were healing quite nicely.

I shut the water off after running out of hot water and towel dried my hair quickly. I dressed in my pale green scrubs and went downstairs to the kitchen. I made myself some scrambled eggs and bacon with some toast and poured myself some orange juice.

I ate in comfortable silence and damn it if I didn't enjoy it.

After I cleaned the dishes, I grabbed my coat from the rack next to the door and my keys, purse and I.D. and headed to the hospital.

"Hey, Margie," I said when I walked into the locker room.

"Hey, Renee, how are you this fine morning?"

"As good as I can be." I answered her.

I opened up my locker and placed my coat and purse in it. I ruffled my hair and felt a few flicks of water hit my neck; it was still drying. I closed my locker and clocked in at nine a.m.

"Renee, Max is out today so could you do the reception desk until noon and then your regular rounds? I have Margie taking over them this morning." Dr. Snow asked.

She was a very orderly woman. She kept things in check, especially with her pressed jacket and skirt outfits and black-rimmed glasses. Her dark hair was always down and wavy, much like Bella's, but it stopped just below her shoulders.

I nodded to her and made my way to the reception desk. I took a seat next to Danny who was an intern from UW. He reminded much of Orlando Bloom with his black hair and shining teeth whenever he smiled. He tended to brighten up my day with the few jokes he'd pop out every now and then.

"Morning, Renee." He handed me a cup of coffee like he always did when I came in. Even though I'd usually already eaten before I came he knew I needed my coffee. He'd been here for a year already and he had one more to do before his internship was complete.

"Morning, Danny, and thanks," I nodded to him and took a sip from the cup.

Ah. Two sugars and one cream, just how I like it.

The hours flew by listlessly. I updated the patients' files and records, directed a few people that came in to visit family members, friends and the like to rooms. I organized the messy files and folders that were scattered on the desk, played solitaire on the computer when I got bored and won five out of ten games.

I glanced at the small clock at the corner of the computer screen and sighed.

Fifteen minutes till my lunch break.

I heard the sliding entrance doors open and I glanced up, out of habit, to see who'd come in. Almost immediately a wide smile spread across my face. Phil walked in and after wiping his boot clad feet on the carpet and shaking the rain from his hair and shoulders, his blue eyes caught mine.

He made his way over to me. His smile had to be as bright as mine. I heard Danny snicker on the other side of me and I elbowed him in the ribs without taking my eyes off of Phil. He stepped up to the counter and as he leaned on it, his navy blue uniform jacket scrunched up some.

His dirty blond hair had small droplets of water in it that shimmered in the light. His rough stubble was begging me to run my fingers through it.

"How can I help you, fine officer?" I asked still smiling.

"Well, I need to know if you can help me find a young woman. She's about five six with dark brown hair, pale complexion, and grey eyes. She has a beautiful smile that lights up a room and a wit that doesn't quit." He couldn't hold in the laughter he had.

I couldn't either because we both knew that that line was as cheesy as they come. I even heard Danny chuckling next to me. He was used to our banter whenever Phil came in before I had break or whenever he felt like it which was usually every time I had to work.

"Well, Officer Dwyer, if you'd give me a name I might be able to look her up for you."

"Hmm," he paused and his face was thoughtful, then he said; "Well I don't think that's necessary."

"Why is that?"

He smiled a bright smile and looked into my eyes. I felt my bones go to mush.

"Because I believe I just found her."

We grinned at each other and I saw Danny shake his head in amusement out of the corner of my eye.

"Afternoon, Phil," I said once I sobered.

"How are you, Renee?"

"As good as can be," I sighed.

He knew about my…problem and hated it; with a passion. I mean who wouldn't?

"Lunch," Danny stated. I nodded and stood up.

"Shall we?" Phil held his arm out for me to slip my hand through. I nodded and slipped my hand through his arm after coming from around the counter.

"Where is he?" Phil knew who I was talking about.

"He's on the Rez, something about a killing of some sort. He said he wouldn't be back till late tonight."

Charlie'd told me the night before he was going to be gone.

"Oh," was all I could say.

We walked to the locker room and I grabbed my jacket and purse.

"How's about we go into town. The regular place?"

Phil tilted my chin up with a finger and gazed into my eyes. I nodded after a minute and he leaned in slowly to kiss my lips.

"When do you have to be back?"

"Three. I have to work my regular shift and overnight. Some people are out today."

He nodded and we hurried through the light rain to his jeep. We pulled up to our regular spot, a quaint little diner on the tip of Port Angeles. It wasn't raining; it was actually quite musty and hot. It'd be a nice day to go for a walk on the beach.

Phil and I come to this place almost every time he comes to my job. We met at an honoring ball that was held for Charlie a few years ago. Phil was a new officer, then, moved here from Florida to take care of his sick aunt.

He checked her in at the hospital and since he was there with her everyday and she was on my rounds we sort of got to talking.

Phil knows I'm married. It was why we started out friendly at first. We were good friends and Charlie never knew that we were talking. It was comforting to have a friend I could talk to. After such a long time without really talking much, even to the people I worked with, it was…refreshing.

But then, after six months, his aunt died after a two year fight with breast cancer. I was there to comfort him. He cried for hours, told me that his aunt raised him since he was four when his mother died in a car accident and his father walked out on him and his mother.

I'd thought he was going to stop coming to the hospital because I figured he was just there to see his aunt, but when he continued to come even after she died I was overjoyed. I felt selfish but he made me feel young again. He made me feel like I was supposed to be loved and treated like a woman should. I felt beautiful and safe.

Regardless of the fact that I was married to a monster (Phil didn't know that at the time) he still stayed with me. After about a year, Phil could tell something was going on. I'd stopped talking to him. I'd avoided him when he came to the hospital, when he tried to talk to me. Charlie accused me of cheating. He beat me sometimes for no reason and sometimes until I couldn't walk. That was when Bella was sent off to boarding school the first time.

She never knew of Phil. To this day she still doesn't know. And I'd planned to keep it that way.

One day Phil caught me in the locker room crying my eyes out. I cried because it'd suddenly dawned on me that Charlie just might kill me and Bella. I don't remember how that thought came to me, but it broke through my façade and I couldn't stop the tears.

Phil told Dr. Snow that I wasn't feeling well and tried to take me home, but I begged him not to take me there. I didn't want to go there. So he took me to his house. It was small enough to fit one person's comfort, but big enough for company.

I couldn't stop the tears even while he sat me on the couch in his living room and held me until I was hiccupping like a baby. He asked me what was wrong and I told him. I told him every single detail from the moment Charlie and I married to when he accused me of cheating on him.

By the time I'd finished, I was glad that Phil had taken his gun off his hip as he walked through the front door. He was ready to kill and get away with it. I couldn't blame him. He stayed with me, though. I knew how ruthless Charlie could be and I didn't want Phil hurt because of me.

He told me that he'd figure something out. He said he'd save me. And that was the first time he'd kissed me.

We never did anything other than a few pecks on the lips, sometimes he'd go as far as my collarbone, other times he wouldn't do anything but hold my hand. We just went to his house and made out on his couch, and as teenage as that sounds, it was…enjoyable. I reveled in the time I spent with Phil because I knew he was there for me.

I knew he wouldn't turn out the way Charlie did after a few years. And I knew he loved me. And I loved him too. I could feel his hurt when I went back to that house, only to be met with pain and anguish and more pain. I understood his anger when he'd see bruises on my pale skin and my feeble attempts to hide it from him.

I knew he'd never leave me and that he'd wait as long as he had to for me to get out of the nightmare I was currently trapped in.

"Hey," his deep voice broke through my lapse into the past and I focused my eyes on him.

"Yeah?"

"You okay?" I shook my head. The waiter came up then and we ordered our food and then Phil waited for me to speak.

"You know, he sent her away again … to Phoenix, to another boarding school. I tried to get him to let her stay, but….he wouldn't listen." I told him quietly.

"She'll be okay. She's a tough girl. Bella can handle herself. She's strong. Where do you think she gets her strength from?" He grinned at me and I cracked a small smile.

His warm hand slipped in mine and squeezed it tight.

"There's something else." He said it more as statement than a question. He knew me too well.

"Do you remember what my mother sent me?"

"The letter about her will and the weapons, right?" I nodded.

"I told Bella about it before she left. I assume she has the daggers and whatnot. I had to give her something in case-" I stopped suddenly as a lump rose in my throat.

"Renee? Go on." He encouraged in a soft voice.

I swallowed the lump and took a deep breath.

"In case … I never see her again."

Phil shook his head almost violently.

"Don't say that, don't think like that. I told you, I'd get you out and that's what I intend to do."

"When, Phil? I can't last much longer before he does something that's permanent. I had to burn the letters from my mother because he got too suspicious. The only thing I kept was her will to prove that Bella's supposed to get her inheritance, but even that isn't safe. I can sometimes hear him rummaging around the house at night. I know he's looking for it."

"Give it to me. I can keep it."

I sighed and ran my hands through my hair. I nodded again and Phil took my hand and kissed my palm. I smiled and then the food came.

Phil had arm draped across my shoulders and one of mine was wrapped around his waist as we walked along the boardwalk. It was the offseason so there weren't many people around, but it wasn't empty either.

We basked in the humid air and the light breeze blowing around us. We enjoyed each other's company. We walked by a bench that faced the open sea and Phil pulled me towards it. He sat down and pulled me into his lap, wrapping his arms protectively around my waist.

His lips were at my ear and he began whispering words that someday would be true in reality.

"I'm going to run away with you. We'll live a big house with plenty of room for kids."

"Kids?" I asked incredulously. I felt more baffled when I saw him grin. He kissed my ear.

"Yes, kids. And let's not forget Bella. She'll have her own room and bathroom. She'll be loved and cared for like she should be. You'll be loved and cared for like you should be. You'll have a job that you love and I'll have the woman that I love. I'll never let her go. I'll always protect her, from anything and everything … even if it kills me."

I smiled. "Hmm, maybe a few more kids." He laughed and the sound jostled me. I turned in his arms and his lips met mine, filled with all the love that he felt for me and then some. He pulled back when we were breathless.

"I will take you away from here. I will save you." He vowed.

BPOV

"Are you sure you aren't mad at me?"

I laughed.

"No! How could I be? That was so wonderful, I was close to tears."

I kissed his lips chastely. I lay on Edward's chest on the couch in front the T.V. that we weren't really watching. It was a week after Edward's little surprise for me on the field hockey field. He'd been asking me for the past week whether or not I was angry at him for reading my poem book.

I continually told him no, but he didn't believe me. So in light of that it took some major kissing, groping, and a few 'I love you's' to get him to see that I was happy behind my wildest dreams.

I kissed his bare chest and he groaned above me. I grinned and his arms gripped my waist, pushing me onto his hard body. I could feel his excitement against my stomach and I laughed out right.

No matter how many times we tried to actually have sex, someone in the 'group' seemed to know when it was about to happen and they would suddenly appear at the door or call us or text us. It was maddening because we just wanted to do it and not be interrupted. But it seemed like they had other plans for us.

I personally thought that maybe they were listening in somehow or had Williams put cameras or microphones around the room, but Edward thought it was ridiculous and waved it off.

But sometimes I'd catch him snooping around the room like he was looking for something. It made me laugh, especially when I'd see the sheepish look on his face when he'd get caught red-handed.

Time seemed to pass quickly after that. In came November and of course we all ate at the Cullen house. I got the chance to meet Rose and Jasper's mother, Claire. It was true; she looked just like Rose, almost a mirror image. She held herself just as high as Rose did, but had the guarded attitude of Jasper. Quite a combination if you ask me but it worked for her.

Claire seemed to fawn over Emmett and Alice almost as much as Jasper and Rose fawned over them. She got along well with Esme and was excited to talk to Carlisle as he was one of the best doctors in the country.

And speaking of Esme, she announced that she was three months pregnant. She'd been to the doctor a number of times and kept it from Carlisle so he wouldn't worry. He was busy the last few weeks because of a bus accident that happened on the interstate and the hospital needed every doctor they could get and then he had conventions and seminars to go to.

But the look on his face when Esme announced it, you'd think he was having a brain aneurism, he was so still. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Then, with a burst of laughter, Carlisle jumped up and grabbed Esme in a bone crushing, baby-smushing hug. He kissed her with abandonment and Emmett pretended to gag. Rose, of course, popped him.

Carlisle practically kicked us out and if I remember correctly the words he used were; 'Get out so I can shower the love of my life with love beyond her wildest dreams!' Emmett gagged even more dramatically. Edward and Alice rolled their eyes. Rose smacked Emmett again and Claire and I looked at each other and shook our heads.

Williams contacted us again about mid December with some new information he'd dug up. He found out that Charlie filed divorce papers a year ago, but didn't tell Renee. They were about infidelity. I didn't believe it because my mother would never cheat on Charlie for a number of reasons.

One; it would cause more problems for her if he ever found out. Two; she was too guarded and closed up to do anything like that without feeling some type of guilt, even if it is towards a monster. And three; Charlie tended to watch her like a hawk, he'd know.

Williams also found out that under his other identity he bought some items that were used for making bombs. Williams doesn't know where the items are, but he plans to find out. He said he'd stay in touch with us upon which I have no doubt.

Edward got Carlisle to get cable put in his room so we could watch the International Field Hockey Championship game. I didn't even know that field hockey went internationally, but it was. Though, it was hard trying to find the right channels to watch it on. The game was France against Italy.

And what a game it was! We sat there, glued to the T.V. for four hours. We ordered pizza, wings, breadsticks, and even made popcorn. The gang thought we were crazy, but we ignored them for the better part of the day because we were enjoying ourselves. France won that game, four to two.

School was…boring, for lack of better word. I knew most of the work so I didn't really pay that much attention. I mainly spent the time texting Edward or Alice or Rose or even Jasper sometimes. The weeks went by and the teachers were trying to cram in extra work because January was coming up and that meant end-of-semester tests. Ugh!

It was tiring, having to do extra work. The only class that was fairly easy was gym. We only had free days mostly. We didn't do much except lounge around the gym, play field hockey, baseball, and volley ball, whatever made us happy, really. Coach Clapp didn't care what we did as long we weren't really sitting down. We had to be active in case the principal walked in or something.

The last day before winter break I received a packet of work from all my classes save for gym. I had the urge to chuck them all into the trashcan and not worry about the grade I'd get for not turning them in later, but I fought the urge back. Edward laughed and shook his head when I told him. He called me silly and kissed my forehead.

We (Emmett, Rose, Jasper, Alice, Edward, and I) packed up a few things and drove to the Cullen house. Of course we all planned to be together for Christmas. Esme even talked Claire into spending the holiday with us, saying that they had an extra room so she wouldn't be taking up any space at all.

Claire agreed and that made Rose and Jasper happy. We had to figure out a way to get all the chairs around the dining room table spread out evenly so everyone would be comfortable and not feel claustrophobic or anything. Esme figured it out after two hours of arranging and rearranging. It was tiring work but worth it in the end.

Carlisle fussed over Esme cooking because he didn't want her on her feet too much, but Esme wasn't having it.

I highly suggest that you not upset a pregnant woman even if she is in a happy mood. Carlisle might be scarred for life from the words Esme used and the threats, oh the threats! They had me cringing away from her. I wanted to stay on her good side, so whatever she told me to do, I did it. The same went for the rest of the family.

I guess Carlisle forgot what it was like to have a pregnant wife after eighteen years.

Being wrapped up in Edward's arms always made me feel complete, made me feel whole. His even breaths on my forehead were like a song that lulled me to sleep almost as much as his voice did when he hummed my lullaby.

It was Christmas Eve. We all went to bed early and I was surprised by how relaxed I felt. I gazed around Edward's room thinking about how dark it was. It then dawned on me that I had grown accustomed to the bright lights of the colossal Christmas tree in the Cullens' living room and the elegant decorations that were scattered about the house that I was waiting for some type of Christmassy light to flash in my face.

I've never been around so much happiness and love and laughter and family. I had the same feeling I had before when I first spent a night with the Cullens'; overwhelmed. I felt like I was going to explode with joy. It was hard for me to contain it sometimes.

I sighed and snuggled into Edward's chest. His arms tightened around me. I felt more relaxed and then heard his breathing pause and then he spoke.

"Bella?"

"Hmm."

"I thought you were sleeping."

"Nope. Still awake."

"You should get some sleep. It's Christmas tomorrow. You don't want to fall asleep while opening presents or while eating, do you?" He chuckled.

I rolled my eyes and pinched his side.

"No, Edward. I won't fall asleep."

"What are you thinking?" He whispered after a moment. His lips were at my ear. He kissed it and I shivered. It was a moment before I could speak again.

"Just that this will be the first Christmas, since I was four that I can't wait to wake up in the morning. I won't have to think about whether or not I'm getting another beating or if I'm getting anything under the tree or even if I get to wake up the next morning. It's…wonderful."

"And it should be. This'll be our first Christmas together. It's even more special now that you're with me."

Edward pressed his lips firmly to mine. My hands automatically moved to his hair, tugging his head toward mine. The kiss grew deeper and Edward's hands gripped my waist.

We broke apart when our lungs were screaming for air.

"Special, indeed," I said.

Edward kissed me again and his hands travelled the length of my body. They went from my shoulders to the curve of my breast to my hips, across my legs, all the way down to my feet. He hooked his fingers around my calves and pulled my legs up to wrap around his waist. He rolled so he could lay between them, hovering over me.

My hands stayed in his hair as he kissed my neck and then further down near my collarbone. I sighed with contentment. Edward moved his face back up to mine and kissed my forehead. He traced his lips all around my face. He let his lips hover over mine for a minute. He held my gaze and I could see, even in the dark that his green eyes were blazing with love and desire.

"I love you." He said and it was all I needed to hear.

"And I love you."

Okay, guys. How was that? Review and let me know. And I highly suggest you don't upset a pregnant women, they will rebel! Lol. I would know. In other news, I'm currently working on a collabo with my best friend, Little Silver Rose. The name is pending and we already have a few chapters typed and done. I'm not sure when I'll post it but I'll be sure to let you know. Any questions, comments, concerns about anything, PM me and I'll answer as best I can. XD!

R4L, peace!