There are no words to express how sorry i am that it's taken me two months to update this story!

RL sucks. js.

kellyprovence is my beta. Bbebar is my pre-reader. Thank you both so much!

Warning: For How Long deals with physical & emotional abuse. If these things offend you or are hard for you to handle then please don't read. It won't be anything too graphic but the abuse is still there.

For How Long - Betrayed

-To trust is to jump blindly-

I smell coffee and maple syrup. I turn and glance at the clock on the wall above the side table. 8:24AM. I shoot up and start making the bed. I'm not in my room though and I realize that the minute my foot catches the chair that's sitting just to the side of the bed. There isn't a chair on my side of the bed in my room.

I'm grabbing my toe in my hand and bouncing up and down like a child. I quickly land on the floor with a thud and I can't help the laughter that bubbles out.

My eyes are closed and I'm gasping for air. I take note of the fact that it's not because I've been kicked so hard that the air has left me.

"Bella? Are you okay?"

I open my eyes to see concern on his beautiful face. He sees that I'm laughing and suddenly there's amusement where the concern was.

"What did you do?"

I shake my head because I can't form words right now. I'm sure that it's not nearly as funny as I'm making it out to be, but I love the fact that I'm laughing.

It takes me a couple of minutes to calm down. I sit up and turn toward him. Instead of me getting up, he sits down.

"I stubbed my toe and then fell flat on my ass."

He chuckles.

I suppose the small fear of it being awkward between us this morning is now nothing but an afterthought.

"I forgot I wasn't at the apartment. I don't have a chair that close to the bed there."

Edward looks at said chair and then back at me.

"You can move it. I'd hate for even a toe to be hurt while staying here." He meant it to be a joke, but considering the circumstances as to why I'm here in first place, it falls short.

"I'd never hurt you like that Bella."

I nod and try to lighten the mood. "But you're not opposed to other forms of torture?"

"Absolutely not. I prefer whips but sometimes chains are exactly what I need." The amount of effort it takes him to say all that with a straight face must be extraordinary.

I raise an eyebrow at him and he loses it. I've never heard something so poetic. His laughter could solve the world's problems.

When the laughter dies down, he becomes serious again.

"Bella, about last night, I'm sorry if I over-stepped a line. I don't want you to think that's why I wanted you to stay with me, and I know that you're hardly in the mood for male companionship in a romantic way."

I sit for almost a minute without saying anything. He's right. I don't know that I have the emotional capacity for anything romantic right now. I just know that I don't regret kissing him and I don't know that I would stop him if he wanted to again. Of course, after that speech, I'm sure he won't.

I choose my words carefully. The last thing I want to do is send mix messages. Though, right now, that's all I'm giving myself.

"Don't apologize. I wouldn't have agreed to it if I hadn't been sure I wanted you to. You're right though, as of now, I'm not sure any kind of romantic relationship would turn out well. I like you, Edward. You're so many amazing things and I'm not likely to forget that anytime soon. That being said, I also don't expect you to wait around for me. Being your friend would be an honor all in itself."

I wait to see how he responds to all of that. On one hand, I want him to tell me that he'd love my friendship and that would be all that aspired from this. On the other hand… I want his hand. I want a relationship with this amazing, good hearted man who wouldn't ever intentionally hurt me.

"Waiting for you and knowing that one day you would want to be with me would be an honor all on its own, Bella." His response was low, but he looked me in the eye the whole time he spoke.

"I want to be with you right now, it's not about not wanting you." I need him to know that he's perfect. It's me that requires work. I will never function properly; I will always need a disclaimer.

"I'll never be all better. I won't be who I was before him," I whisper.

"Wounds heal, and I want who you are now. I want you to be rid of what hurts first though."

That process starts today.

-xx-

I wave as Edward closes his apartment door. Glancing at the clock in the living room, I see it's just after nine. Edward mentioned his father was running late, but would be over around ten. I decide to finish up the breakfast dishes and call my mother to set up this dinner.

I'm going to ask Carlisle if he and Esme would come as well. I need as much support as I can gather. I'm nervous as hell as to how my parents will take the news.

I sit on the sofa and dig my cell phone out of my handbag and gape openly at the number of voicemails and text messages I have. Fifty-five missed calls/voicemails. Thirty-six text messages. All but three are from Demetri.

Those are from Mom, Dad, and Jasper.

I'm not going to tell my brothers right away. I want to see how Mom and Dad handle it first. I'll tell Jazz and Emmett soon.

"Isabella Marie, where the hell have you been? Demetri has been calling almost every hour on the hour. He's worried sick about you!" I have to hold the phone away from my ear as my mother's lecture goes on. She's unbelievably screechy.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" She's asking as I put the phone back up to my ear.

"Mother, I need to see you and Dad tonight. Please don't tell D you've spoken to me."

"Oh my God. You're leaving aren't you? It's someone else?"

I shake my head.

"No. Well, I- I just need to talk to you and Dad, okay? Can you just come to dinner tonight? Seven-thirty?"

There's a long silence. I check to make sure the call is still connected. It is.

After almost minute, Mom sighs, "Yes, we'll be there. Where are we meeting you?"

I decide against telling her 'Edward's apartment', and just give her the address instead.

"We'll be there. Bella, are you alright?"

I try and disregard that it's taken her nearly fifteen minutes to ask me.

"Just don't tell Demetri you've talked to me. I can't see him, Mother." I say this with as much confidence as I can muster. I need her to understand the seriousness of this.

She sighs again. Disappointment is exhaled and I inhale it.

"Fine, but you better be ready to explain what all this is about."

I reply to dial tone.

"I'm ready."

-xx-

I'm reading Water for Elephants when there's knock on the door. I freeze. I know realistically it can't be Demetri. He would have no idea where Edward lived, but since talking to my mother, I've become paranoid.

"Bella, it's Carlisle."

His voice carries through the door and I let out a breath I was unaware I was holding.

I unlock the door and step aside to let him in.

"I meant to call and let you know I was on my way, but traffic was terrible and I don't talk and drive."

I nod in understanding.

"How are you this morning? First night go okay?" He asks, taking a seat on the sofa.

"Yes, Edward was great and it did me well to be away from the apartment."

"Good, I'm glad to hear that. Have you talked to your parents yet?"

"Yes, they've agreed to come to dinner tonight. I was hoping that perhaps you and Esme could also come." My words are small.

"I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem. Esme has been asking about you. She wanted to stop in later if that's alright with you?"

I could really use a female friend. A step up from that though would be a female friend who had first-hand knowledge of what I was going through. Esme was strong enough to get away from her abusive husband. I wanted to be as well.

"Yes, that would be wonderful."

He nods. "I'll give her a call when I leave, and I'm sure she'll be in touch shortly after that."

"So, Bella, how are you feeling in regards to your parents?"

Good question. I'm scared, nervous, anxious, but at the same time, I'm also a bit excited and I'm definitely ready.

I tell Carlisle all these things.

"I think the first three emotions are extremely appropriate but you are a very strong woman, Bella, and I'm sure they'll see that."

"I just don't want to see the disappointment on their faces. My mother will probably have a heart attack at the first mention of divorce."

Carlisle gives a small chuckle.

"Well, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Besides, surely the severity of what Demetri has done to you will outweigh the divorce issue."

"Yes, surely." Though I'm not nearly as confident in that as he seems to be.

My parents aren't vain, but they were raised a certain way. The same way I was raised. You grow up with manners and self-respect, you get a good education, you find someone of equal social status, fall in love/lust/like and get married, start a family, and you stay with that person until you both give Saint Peter a wave. The end.

Nowhere in that fairy tale is divorce mentioned.

Carlisle checks out my face and ribs and says I should be just fine in a couple more days, though the bruises will get quite ugly by then as well.

"I'm off to the hospital, but don't hesitate to call if you need something."

"Thank you…for everything," I reply. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to make those words mean what they should.

His answering smile is the last thing I see before the door closes.

-xx-

It's seven in the evening. Esme is helping me finish up dinner. Edward insisted on just ordering something so as not to add to the stress of the night, but I need to cook. It helps calm me down.

Esme arrived around four-thirty this afternoon. I thought having her to talk to would be a welcoming change, but I just couldn't seem to get myself to talk about it. She said it would be a while before it was something that just came out since I spent so long trying to hide it.

So, we came up with the dinner menu instead. She was all for helping me. I really like Esme.

"Well, everything is done. It's all just staying warm," Esme announces entering the living room.

"Thank you s-"

"Bella, what did I ask you?" Esme interrupts with a smile.

Earlier she asked me not to thank her again. She knew how much I appreciated everything and she didn't need me using my energy in telling her a hundred times a day.

"Of course," I answer with my own smile.

Edward and Carlisle look between Esme and me with a look of question of their faces. I make no move to tell them and neither does Esme.

We make small talk, but when I notice the clock reads seven-forty five, I get up and try to call my mother. I get no answer.

"Is something wrong?" Edward asks from the doorway of what has been deemed "my room".

"I can't get a hold of my parents, and it's not like them to be late for anything."

"Well perhaps they've taken a wrong turn or something," He offers as he walks further into my room.

"My mom knows Chicago like the back of her hand, Edward. Besides, she isn't above asking for directions."

I sit on the bed and try my father's cell phone. His rings until it goes to voicemail. I decide to leave one.

"Hey dad, I'm just calling to make sure you're not lost or anything. Please call me when you get this. Bye."

"I don't know what would keep both of them from their phones and make them so late." I feel the need to apologize for their tardiness. It's just so unlike my parents.

"It's fine, Bella, really. We'll wait a bit longer for dinner. I'm sure they're on their way."

The doorbell rings then.

"See, I told you. Now, c'mon." Edward extends his hand to me.

"Actually, would you mind if I just collected myself for a minute? I know it's terribly rude of me to not greet them and ask you to, but I just need to regroup." I'm rambling. I'm nervous.

"It's fine, and it's not rude. I'll come get you once they've settled in."

I nod and watch him exit the room.

I go over what I'm going to say to them but stop after the first couple of trial runs. I don't want it to sound rehearsed. I need them to understand how real this is.

I stand from the bed and my door opens.

Edward comes in and quickly shuts the door.

"Hi, I was just coming out," I greet him.

I tilt my head because Edward's face is pale. He looks nervous.

"I don't think that's a very good idea, Bella. You should stay here."

"Why? Is something wrong? Are my parents okay?" I ask, starting to panic. He's scaring me.

He nods. "They're fine."

I wait for him to continue because you can tell there's something else.

"Bella, they didn't come alone."

I don't understand. Who did they br-

"Oh my God." The words ride the gust of air that's just left my lungs.

I sit back down. I can't breathe.

"Calm down, Bella. Take deep breaths."

I hear the words he's saying but I can't make myself comply. How could they do this to me?

"Wh-wh-why w-w-w-ould..."

"I don't know Bella, but you need to focus on this right now. Deep breaths," Edward is still trying to calm me down. I see his face and his hands are on mine.

I'm finally able to breathe somewhat normally after a few minutes of deep breathing.

I open my eyes and I see concern in Edward's.

"Why did they bring Demetri? Do they have any idea what they've done? He's going to kill me, Edward." I state it, it's a fact.

"No, he won't. No one is going to let him do anything to you again, especially me. He will never hurt you again, Bella."

I know he wants to mean it. I want him to mean it.

"You're wrong, Edward. He will hurt me again, only the next time there won't be any day after. The next time Demetri beats me, I'll die," I whisper.

Perhaps I should see it as a favor. One last beating and then I'm done.

So there ya have it. Don't kill me. But let me know if want to. lol.

I've already started the next chapter & God willing, it'll be up soon.

=)

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-rach.