Disclaimer- The characters belong to Stephenie Meyer, not me.

BPOV

Rosalie had warmed up to me, some. I understood her protective feelings over Edward- it was odd- almost brotherly, like how Jacob and I felt towards each other, but had never had sex. Nobody was good enough for me in Jacob's eyes. He still didn't like Edward, really. I suppose the same was true for Rosalie and me, but she was a little more defensive towards Edward with me, whereas, Jacob sized Edward up, and then basically told him he'd break his surgeon hands if he ever cheated on me.

We went to see Rosalie and Emmett and their new baby, Sarah, at the hospital. Rosalie had come through like a trooper, no epidural, no cesarean, she gave natural birth to an eight pound, six ounce baby without drugs, just Lamaze. Rosalie was some tough shit, I decided.

I put a pillow under a long, high-waisted tunic top and walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, how do I look pregnant?" I asked.

Edward looked up from the groceries he was putting away. "Beautiful. I'd love to see you pregnant with a fat stomach. Do you want to practice?"

I shrugged. I opened the refrigerator and picked up a banana. I ate it in the living room, taking the pillow out, but I was still hungry for some reason. I went back to the kitchen and got a sliced pickle and joined Edward in the living room.

"You just ate a banana," he said.

"I know."

"That's just weird. Doesn't it taste wrong?"

I almost shrugged. "No, not quite." I stood up, wanting another one when I caught my reflection in the mirror over the bar. I stood in stillness, gazing at myself.

My stomach wasn't nearly as concave as it usually was. I hadn't noticed it because I had bought bigger jeans to grow into. My pants hadn't been tight as of late. "My stomach is fat." I noted.

"You really think your stomach is getting fat?" he asked. "I'm not seeing it."

"Yeah, nothing else is," I said. "Am I gaining weight?"

"Probably. I'll check," he said. "Get on the scale." I got on the bathroom scale backwards so I couldn't see the number. Edward looked for me "You've gained two pounds. Isabella, let me see your birth control compact." I went to the drawer and found the compact. "You haven't missed any days, have you?"

"No, none."

"You're supposed to be getting your period this week," he said. "You're not, are you?"

"No," I said, feeling sick. We both knew what this meant.

"Just sit tight," he said. "I'll be back in five minutes."

It wasn't five minutes, but he came back with two different brands of pregnancy tests. I took both of them and we left them in the bathroom. Those three minutes were the longest in my whole life.

"What if I am pregnant?" I asked. "Talk to me, it'll calm me down."

"This is happening to me, too."

"I know."

"Bella," he said. "I've been chickening out for a while, but… we've talked about getting married… I bought the ring last month. I know this isn't the most romantic proposal, but I'm not going to let you go through this alone."

"We've got two minutes before we know for certain Edward, don't propose to me because you think I'm pregnant-"

"I'll marry you regardless of what the test says," he said. "Look, I asked Charlie for his permission to propose to you."

"Yeah?"

"Really," he said. "You don't see surprised."

"Well... Charlie told me about it already."

"Okay. Let me go get the ring."

Despite the seriousness of the situation, he got up and got the ring from the extra bedroom. "Okay," he said, opening up the ringbox, showing me the ring. It was so beautiful- a princess cut ring with sapphire sidestones. I grinned.

"It's beautiful."

"I'd have proposed, regardless of what he said. Do you want to do this traditionally?"

"Yes," I said. I had once told him I only took my proposals on one knee. He kneeled in front of me. I knew that the pregnancy tests were ready, but I was going to ignore them for now. They could wait for Edward to propose to me.

"Isabella Marie Swan, you make me happier than any man alive," he said. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes," I said. Although it wasn't a hugely romantic proposal, I had tears gathering in my eyes.

He took the ring and slipped it onto my left ring finger. I admired it's beauty. "You picked a good one," I said.

"See? I knew it. We didn't even have to ring shop together." He helped me stand, and we kissed. "Let's check those tests."

In the bathroom, we looked at the pregnancy tests. I picked up the first one. "Positive." I held onto his hand and set it down. I picked out the second one. "Pregnant."

"Let's keep this a secret," Edward said. "Just until we've told everybody we're engaged."

"Okay," I said. "I'm fine with that."

He took my face in his hands. "Don't be afraid. This is a good thing. You were told you'd never get pregnant." There were tears in his eyes. He kissed me.

"You're right," I said. "You're right."

"Let's go see my parents for Easter to tell them about the engagement," he said.

"I'm fine with having the baby before we get married," I said. "If you are. I think. Charlie is going to have a fit."

"Don't remind me."

"What do you want to name the baby?" I asked, suddenly excited, the fears floating away.

"Isabella."

"Be serious."

"I am serious."

I called Charlie the next morning to tell him the news. He laughed, telling me that it was about time Edward got on it and proposed. "Is something going on?" Charlie asked. "You sound a little nervous."

"No, no, I'm just excited," I said. "I never thought I'd ever get married."

"I'm happy for you, Bells," he said. "You know, the morning you called me about having a date, and you told me you were moving in with Edward, I said to him, 'You asked for permission to propose to my daughter, but you haven't done it, yet. You're moving in with her, now, and there's no ring on her finger. Get on it, son.'"

"Dad, did you really say that?"

"Yes, I did."

I laughed. "We're going to Chicago to tell his parents," I said. "This weekend. Sorry I'm not going to be there."

"Easter's always a bust, anyways. So, it's the best time for fishing."

"Are you going to see anybody?"

"You mean like Courtney? No," he said, chuckling. "We've decided to be friends, that's all."

"Oh," I said, trying to mask my enthusiasm.

"I'll make plans for Easter, Bella, don't worry," he said. "I love you. Have a good time in Chicago."

"I will."

I spread the news to Esme and Carlisle, and then to Alice and Jasper. They were- as expected- happy for us.

Over the three days Edward worked and I finished classes. I made doctors appointments to be referred to a specialist high-risk pregnancy OBGYN specialist after I got back from Chicago. I packed our clothes for the trip that night, and Edward and I were a bit sleepless.

In the shower in the morning, Edward helped me in and washed my hair for me. "Are you going to do this for me the whole time I'm pregnant?"

"Yes," he said. "Every time I'm home."

"You're going to shower with me even when I'm huge and fat and nine months along?"

"You'll be one of those basketball girls," he said. "You'll look like a teenager with a basketball up your dress. You won't be fat." He squeezed out some conditioner for me. "How's this? Am I pulling your hair?"

"No, it's fine," I said. He squeezed out some body wash into his hands and began to wash me. He started with my stomach. His palms continued to stroke my stomach for a lot longer than normal. I smiled, and held his hands there. It was him, me, and our baby. I wasn't scared, suddenly. Nothing could hurt us here. I just wanted to stay here with Edward. But, we had to interact with people and go to school and work.

"Your stomach is all hot," he said. "I guess it's normal, though."

"This is nice," I said, holding his wrists, lightly, right where they were.

Chicago was slightly colder, but much windier. Liz and Ted picked us up.

"So, you finally proposed?" Liz asked, right off the bat. Mothers notice everything.

"Yeah," Edward admitted.

"I saw that ring from a mile away," Liz said. "Oh, Bella, I'm so happy!" She hugged me. "Have you made any plans, yet?"

"Let's go to lunch," Ted said. "We can talk on the way."

"I could eat," Edward said.

"Me too," I said. Well, I needed to eat for the baby. I was determined to have a healthy pregnancy- lots of exercise, to eat right and to get lots of freshair. This baby would be raised on organic food, I'd breastfeed, show it healthy eating and exercise habits and would be taught to love her body if she was a girl and if he was boy, he'd learn by example from his father to never mistreat girls and always be a gentleman. I had already bought a Yoga Pregnancy video to work out with and What to Expect When You're Expecting was my new bible. I already loved my baby and was ready to make a complete recovery. My baby was more important than being thin. I was going to win over the eating disorder simply so I could be the best mother in the world. Nothing was more important than my baby.

We stopped at Uno's Pizza- I hadn't had pizza in months. "My mouth is watering," Edward said. "Real Chicago Pizza."

"We have Chicago Pizza in Seattle."

"That's not real Chicago pizza," he scoffed. "Just a bland imitation."

"What kind do you like?" Liz asked. "These boys love the supreme."

"You haven't had a real Chicago Gyro, yet!" Edward cried.

"Tomorrow," I stated.

"Edward, don't push her to eat," Liz chastized.

I hardly got half a slice down it was so huge. I told Liz that Edward and I hadn't even set a wedding date, yet, which was true. All Edward and I had decided was that it was going to be quick and extremely small. We didn't tell his parents this.

After lunch, we went home to Lake Forrest. I was surprised to be able to see the lake from the street. "I didn't know you could see the lake from here!"

"Yeah, I told you we were close to the beach," Edward said.

In the house, I had to go to the bathroom and when I got out, Edward and Ted had gotten our bags into Edward's room. Edward took me down to the beach for a walk. When we got back, Liz and Ted were sitting in the kitchen, making a salad. "So, you two have been stringing us along for a few hours, now," Liz said. "You're pregnant, aren't you, Bella?"

I was stunned. My cheeks flamed. I looked at Edward. Edward was stunned, too. "I swear, I didn't tell anyone."

"He doesn't have to tell me anything," she said. "I know my son. And Nicky told me I was going to be a grandmother, soon- very soon were her words exactly."

"These kinds of things happen," Ted said. "Good thing you're engaged. Have you told Charlie, yet?"

"No," I said. "But, he knows we're engaged."

"So, what's the plan?" Ted asked.

"We're going to get married after Alice and Jasper's wedding," Edward said, taking my hand. "We don't want to steal their thunder."

"Understandable," Ted said.

"How far along are you?" Liz asked.

"I don't know, less than a month," I said. "I'm going to a high-risk pregnancy gynecologist."

"Alright," Liz said softly.

"Very good," Ted agreed.

"I'm doing Pregnancy Yoga and I'm trying to do only low-impact cardio and only light weightlifting."

"She's gaining weight," Edward said. "She's gained three pounds since we found out. I have a good feeling about this pregnancy- and I think we're doing everything right."

"I'm going to breastfeed," I said. "And we're going to feed the baby organic baby food- I'm even looking into how to make it, but so much has happened in the last two weeks."

"Sounds like you two have grand plans," Ted said, sounding almost sour.

"It's not that we're not happy for you," Liz said. "I just... this isn't the order I wanted you to do this in! I wanted you to get married and better since you started trying to get pregnant-"

"This was an accident- the best accident ever!" Edward interrupted. "They convinced Bella she couldn't have children-"

"So you didn't use birth control?" Ted shouted.

"Goddamnit, Dad!" Edward shouted back. Ted seemed to have hit his button and set him off. "I'm a doctor for Christ's sake- do you think I'd be that irresponsible-"

His tone scared me. "Edward, stop!" I cried. I couldn't breathe suddenly. "Please, everyone, stop yelling."

"I'm sorry, Bella," Ted said. He wasn't apologizing to Edward, I noticed. Liz got up and sat down beside me, stroking my head with her cool hand.

"It's alright, Bella," she said softly.

"We did use birth control," I said. "I was on Yaz and when I had to go on antibiotics, we were really careful. I swear. I'm just happy I'm pregnant, really. We've talked about private adoption because I thought I couldn't have a baby. But, I am scared. Like any new mother, this is so scary for me."

"I'm scared to death, too," Edward said.

Ted sighed. His expression hadn't changed. "Bella, do you really think you're emotionally ready for a baby?"

I felt tears spring to my eyes. "Ted, shut up," Liz said. "Nothing in the world can ever prepare anybody for a baby except actually having one. We're just worried about your mental state, dear-" It was like being slapped in the face with cold water.

"Mom, don't talk to her like that," Edward snapped.

"I love Bella I never got to have," Liz said. "I want what's best for the both of you and yes, I do want you to get married. But, I look at Bella's illness and my own personal experiences with post-pardum depression and my own problems with carrying a child, all sorts horrible scenarios go through my mind-"

"What could she possibly do to our baby that's so awful?"

"Edward, when you were six weeks old and got jaundiced and wouldn't stop crying, the thought of ramming you into the corner of the coffee table crossed my mind," she said. "I took your nap times to cry. And while I was pregnant with you, I thought I was a tough enough to be able to handle post-pardum, but apparently not."

"You're the one that's always telling your friends no two pregnancies are alike," Edward said.

"Don't you think worst-case scenarios are running through my head?" Liz asked.

"Do we have to fight about this?" I asked, feeling the nerve.

"Yes, we do!" Ted cried. "We need to fight this out!"

"What do you want us to do?" Edward snapped. "Abort this miracle baby? This could be Bella's only chance! You're getting her upset, too, this isn't good for her! Just yell at me with her out of the room, alright? She doesn't need this!"

"No, Edward," I said. "We're in this together. It takes two to make a baby. Anything your parents have to say to you about our child needs to be said in front of me, too."

I never thought I'd hear so much arguing and screaming, but in the end, Liz and I were both crying and she said to me that she loved both of us- a lot- and would come out to Seattle if I needed help with the baby at all. For the first time, I thought she was being overbearing and obnoxious.

Edward took me out to dinner away from his parents since they were still mad at him- us. When we got home, I took a hot shower and got into bed with Edward.

"You know I love you," he said. "This is my parent's pattern. They scream at me until they feel better when I've screwed up."

"We didn't screw up," I muttered. "If we got pregnant, we did something right."

"They were screaming at me more than you."

"I know. It's going to be Ragnarok when Charlie finds out."

Edward tried not to laugh, but he chuckled. "Yeah, it will be."

There was a knock on the door. "Hi, kids," Liz said, sticking her head in.

"Hi," we replied.

"Edward, can I talk to Bella alone?" she asked.

Edward hesitated, but got up. "Alright, Mom," he said.

He left me alone with the woman who was convinced I couldn't have a baby and be a mom.

"Bella, I know things got pretty heated in there," she said. "I'm sorry. When you went out for dinner, I realized that I probably made you feel like I had no faith in you to be a good mother. I do, though. I just keep on thinking about the worst case scenarios. And how desparate I felt when I went through post-pardum and how you might feel all the time."

"I'm doing really well, Liz, I swear."

She tucked some of my stray hairs back behind my ear. "I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Or Edward or the baby. I do love you, Bella. I know it didn't seem like it tonight. But we knew he had the ring since February," Liz said. "And I was so excited when he told me that Charlie gave him permission to marry you."

"I'm doing really well, I promise," I said. "I just have to keep up with my therapist, get a job after graduation, and keep up communication with everyone."

"And you'll tell me if you're having a hard time, won't you?"

"I will."

"This is my grandbaby. You know we're scared, too. But once I got past the fear that something would go wrong, I realized how much we loved the two of you, and how much we love this baby, too." If she said anything to make me cry it was that. "And I don't want to be one of those mother-in-laws. Like Alice's."

I wiped my eyes. "I'm sorry. I felt so betrayed when you said you were afraid I'd hurt my baby."

"I know," she said, crying. "I'm so sorry I said that."

"It was on your mind."

"Yes," she agreed. "Don't ever feel like you're a bad mother because you have those kinds of thoughts, though. There's a reason for it and you're not a bad person. And know that I'll understand it and I'll be on the first plane to Sea-Tac if you need me."

I started bawling. Just that she was willing to be so motherly towards me. "I love you, Liz," I said.

She wiped her eyes. "I love you, too, Bella."

She hugged me, holding me for a few minutes while we both cried. For a moment, I was reminded of what it felt like when my own mother held me. And I knew Renee would be alright with my choice.

My bridesmaid dress for Alice's wedding was getting slightly tighter in the middle, but I didn't tell Alice, although she seemed to know something was different. Charlie was a bit distracted- he was, apparently, the ladies' man. He had dates three nights a week, but was able to make time to come up for my graduation.

"You've got a wedding to plan, Bells," he reminded me as he took a picture of me in my graduate hat and gown at the stadium.

"I know, I know."

Alice and Jasper's wedding went beautifully. "So, when were you going to tell me?" she asked as I helped her into her exit dress- the one she'd go to her honeymoon in.

"You knew it?"

"Yeah," she said. "How could I not?" We both cried a little and hugged. "I'm happy for you."

"Thanks," I said. "We didn't want to steal your moment."

"Oh please," Alice said. "You're pregnant if you're pregnant. It wouldn't take away from me at all." I felt my eyes tearing up again. "I better be godmother."

"Shut up, you know I owe my firstborn to Angela."

"I know. But Bella, tell me you're being careful with the baby. And you're going to get better."

"I am. I'm seeing a high-risk pregnancy gynecologist specialist, I'm doing pregnancy yoga, and- and I'm eating. A lot. If I have to gain weight for this baby, I will."

Alice suddenly sniffled. "Bella, I'm so proud of you. Who knew it would take getting knocked up to make you get better?"

We both laughed. She got me crying, too. "I love this baby more than anything I've ever loved. And I know I'm going to be okay, now."

"I love you," she said. "And I'm going to love this baby. So much."

She hugged me and we cried together. "Does Charlie know?"

"No, not yet. Please don't say anything. Edward and I were joking that it would be Ragnarok when he found out."

"Ragnarok?" she laughed. "I won't."

We went out to the reception hall and Alice danced a few more songs with Jasper. Edward was sneaking a glass of champagne when I found him. He tried to pretend the flute was someone else's at the table.

"Okay to drink in front of me," I said.

"I just wanted one drink," he sighed.

"You're not having a baby." He held out his arms and I slipped into his lap. He kissed me on the cheek. "Alice asked me if I'm pregnant."

"What'd you tell her?"

"The truth. We cried and she's excited for us."

"Good," he said. "Because Jasper's pervy uncle who has a thing for pregnant women is watching you."

"He is not-"

I was interrupted by the screech of a microphone too close to a speaker. Alice was standing on the stage with Jasper, holding his hand, and holding the microphone right as the music was pulled by the DJ. "Hey everybody, I'm sorry to interrupt the music, but I just realized that we haven't thanked our maid of honor and her fiance, who have been so wonderful through all this and been such a great help. They're getting married, soon, and..." Alice burst into tears again and Jasper pulled her closer by her shoulders. "I can't think of any two people who deserve to be happy more than them."

I started crying, too.

We wished Alice and Jasper off with bubbles and birdseed. Alice hugged me before getting into her car. "I'll call you, okay?" she whispered into my ear. "I love you."

"I love you, too," I said back. "Get pregnant on your honeymoon- we can raise our babies together."

"Sure, sure," she said, laughing. She hugged Angela and they cried together for a moment and then we all three hugged and cried. She climbed into the limo and waved good-bye to us. "Bye!"

I began to sob seeing Alice riding off to her life with Jasper. This was it- I was the last pregnant one.

"You're not pregnant, are you?" Angela asked.

"What?!" I cried. "How'd you know?"

"I heard you and Alice crying. It's alright. Have a boy, Will needs a little brother to boss around," Angela said.

"Don't tell Jake."

"Why not?"

"Because I want my baby to have a Daddy growing up."

She laughed. "Oh, Bella, he knocked me up in college. If he came after Edward, I'd pour sugar in the tank of the car he's trying to restore and lock him out of the house."

We went back to the reception hall to pick up our purses and a few centerpieces and I saw Charlie waiting at my table, his hands in his pocket, nervously jiggling the change. "Hi, Dad," I said.

"Can I ask my little girl for a dance?" he asked.

The pregnancy hormones made me cry- again. "Of course."

Among the departing wedding patrons, I took my Daddy's hand and stepped on his feet as we tried to dance along to the last song of the night.

"This is the last time I'm going to get to dance with you before your own wedding," he said. "Please don't go to Vegas, Bells. I really want to give you away."

"Alright," I said. "I won't. We'll have something small and intimate."

"Can we have the reception in my backyard?"

"A backyard barbeque with white crepe paper decorations would be fine with me."

"I'm glad you're so easy to please. Thank God you're mine. For now."

"I'll always be yours, Dad."

As we got home that night, I took the orchid and lily centerpiece from Edward and set it down on the kitchen table. It was over three feet tall. Alice had really expensive tastes and Carlisle and Esme were too happy to accommodate her at her wedding. The idea of a backyard wedding ceremony at Charlie's house was growing on me.

"I don't know what we're going to need that centerpiece for," Edward said.

"This is a memory!" I cried. "Let me enjoy it for a while! I wasn't even able to drink at the wedding!" I made slow dive for him. "Let's make another one?"

"And you used to complain about me being the corny one."

I kissed his chin- and then, undid his tie and the top button of his tux. "Bella," he groaned. My hand slipped down his pants. I pressed the flat of my palm against his groin. I caused another growl out of him. "How fast can we get out of these clothes?"

"Pretty fast."

His pager went off. "Damnit," he said, limping over to get it.

I put my hand down on the table under me- I felt the mail under my hand. I started to sort through it while Edward called work to check up on a patient to see if he'd have to go in.

There was a letter for me from Arizona State Penitentiary in Flagstaff. I ripped it open with shaking fingers, my heart racing.

Victoria was up for a parole hearing.

"Edward!" I cried. "Edward!" I interrupted him. He wrapped an arm around me, and looked at the letter, reading it.

"Just a second," he said to the nurse. He read over the letter. "… Just keep her on the heart monitor until I get in the morning, let me know if anything funny shows up. Thanks." He stroked my hair. "Okay, good night." He hung up his cell phone and took my face into his hands. "If she gets out, we'll get a restraining order."

"No, I have to go and speak out against her," I said. "It'll make it tougher for them to keep her there. To make her serve the rest of her sentence."

"Bella," he said. "Is that really what's best right now?"

"Yes!" I cried. "What if they got to our child?"

Edward didn't speak for a moment. "We'll go."

They only gave me a week before the hearing. It was going to be the day that Edward and I planned to go down to the courthouse and get our marriage certificate. We had to get married by the state before we could get married by a church or it wasn't official. Edward and I cancelled our marriage and called Charlie and told him about the hearing in Phoenix. He came up to Seattle to meet us to go to the airport.

While waiting for Edward to return with coffee for Charlie and himself, and a bottle of water for me in the terminal.

"What's up with water instead of coffee?" Charlie asked.

"I'm just not drinking caffiene," I said, shrugging.

"Bella, you're not pregnant, are you?"

He wouldn't cause a scene in an airport. I knew Charlie. He'd have time to get mad at us but the plane trip could give him time to calm down. I hated to lie about something so big to him, too. "Yes, Dad, I am."

"Bella-"

"It was an accident. The best accident I've ever had. We were careful, but it happened and I can't just reverse it. I'm being really careful. I'm not going to gain too much weight-"

"Are you really sure you should be having this child? With your health?"

"Are you suggesting I have an abortion?"

"Bella, the truth is, I don't think you can carry a child. I'm afraid it'll kill you and the baby."

"Dad!"

"No, really, Bells," he said. "Think about it. I'd rather you have an abortion than lose you."

"I can't do that," I said. "This might be the only chance I ever have at having a baby. Besides, Edward's a doctor."

"He's a surgical intern that leaves you alone three days in a row," Dad said. "What's going to happen when you have the stress of a job?"

"Edward wants me stay home and to work on a book of my photography," I said. "And do my own photography show. Alice knows people that are willing to show my prints. I've always wanted to do that."

"Bella, there's still going to be stress in life, no matter what you do," he said. "Don't think that being a stay-at-home-mom is going to be easy."

"I'm not saying it will be, Dad," I said. "Edward goes to work and does something that makes him happy every day. He brings children with no chance of living back to life. That makes him immensely happy. He wants the same for me."

"Life isn't always fair," Charlie said. "Do you think I wanted to be a small-town cop and a dead-beat dad?"

"You weren't a dead-beat dad!" I cried.

"I sat on my ass when I should have demanded you," he said, frustrated. "And I'm still paying the consequences! Especially today."

"Dad," I said. "You don't want me making mistakes, but, this isn't a mistake. I feel it deep down."

In Flagstaff, we got to the prison. It took two hours of waiting before they even put us through the metal detectors. After the metal detectors, they called us into the hearing room. There was the parole board in a very empty room. They weren't allowed to talk to me, the same as when I was 18 at Jim's first hearing at his prison, or when I was 16 and Victoria's first hearing.

I found myself rubbing my forearm, the lump. Panic was seizing me. The very idea of seeing Victoria again scared the ever-living hell out of me.

Victoria was escorted out by female guards. They had her shackled. She was in orange. I finally got a good look at her.

Nightmares make monsters scarier than they were in reality.

Victoria was closer to my height. Her hair was longer, frizzier, it hadn't been cut in a while. It was in a ponytail and it was streaked with silver. She had aged– a lot- in jail. Something about her was harder. Her eyes were hard. They always were.

They called the hearing, and I saw Victoria's eyes on me. Solitary confinement had made her a bit twitchy. Her eyes looked crazy.

They asked for Victoria's testimony. "These past fourteen years have seemed like a lifetime. I am sorry for what I did, but it wasn't my fault. I want to be a contributing member of society."

It was never her fault. I had been a pain in her ass. She never once apologized to me. In my mind, it was still my fault.

They lead her out and called for witness testimony. They called Charlie first. "I'm Charlie Swan, the father of the victim. I put so much trust in Victoria and Jim because I wanted Bella to be happy, and I thought she would be if she stayed in Phoenix. She doesn't apologize to Bella, as if she's not guilty of anything. I still worry about my little girl, even though she's twenty-five, now. She's still suffering from the things Jim and Victoria did to her. She couldn't sleep at night without screaming for years. She still does, sometimes. She lives with depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, an Eating Disorder. What Victoria Davis did to her happened fourteen years ago, but it it's still happening, now. When your child is sick, and it can't be fixed with a pill, you feel it's happening to you. Only worse, because I'm always afraid that she'll die because of this. No parent wants to bury their own child. And that's a reality I'm facing because Jim and Victoria fooled us so well. And she's still not apologizing to Bella and taking responsibility for her actions. I don't think she's paid her debt society. I don't want to see her in society ever again, personally, because I think she'll never admit she did anything wrong to my Bella."

I was in tears at my father's words.

They let us rest for fifteen minutes. Charlie hugged me and let me cry for a few minutes. I hardly got myself together when the hearing reconvened. They asked me for my testimony.

I found myself babbling in front of them, in tears.

They brought Victoria back in. "Victoria Woodward Davies, in light of the testimony presented today, we've decided to deny your parole," the head of the parole office said. "You'll come up for parole again in another seven years. Until then, you will return to serve your term."

I watched as Victoria was sent back. Charlie and Edward were relieved. I wasn't.