I know, another missed update… That's twice in two weeks now- fail. I am sorry, but I am just exhausted! I started my job tonight and seriously, I could easily be sleeping right now! Thanks for putting up with me and here is the next chapter which is a long one to make up for my lack of updating.

Chapter 30 – six weeks later

Edward POV

It has been six weeks since Bella has come home and she was doing surprisingly well. Her cast had been removed and she could now walk, or rather limp, around the house. She still had a heavy brace on her thigh and a bandage around her ribs. Her bruises were fading, but much to her anguish, quite a few scars remained. She was still beautiful, but she never saw herself that way… Bella has also been healing emotionally as she was now fine with all of us touching her.

It has also been six weeks since Bella first asked me to lay by her at night, and since, it is my position every night and where I am currently lying. Bella's sleep is more peaceful now, with the occasional nightmare, but never as violent or vivid as before. She murmured my name often which never ceased to fill me with joy. Over the past few weeks, I became extremely close to Bella. I controlled my emotions so that I couldn't get carried away, so we were now best friends, even though I wanted so much more… I have been struggling for a while now over what I should do. Should I risk everything we have built over the past month or so to reveal my love? As the days wore on, my mind seemed to be telling me that the rational thing to do would be to simply accept her feelings of friendship with gratitude and ask for nothing more. I think that was the right decision.

For crying out loud Edward! Why do you torture yourself? Why do you make such simple things complicated? Tell her the truth! You love her and she loves you. I hate seeing you both struggle over such a stupid matter. You can hear my thoughts every time she feels love around you, so what are you scared of? And now, beware because whatever decision you made has cause the future to change and let me say, Alice is not happy. She is coming your way. – Jasper

Sure enough, Alice was before me in a flash.
"Edward Anthony Masen Cullen!" She whisper-yelled. "You did not just decide to keep your feelings a secret! Just be a man and tell her already! I am warning you, if you don't, I will." She glared.
"Alice, shut up!" I pressed quickly, making sure Bella was still sleeping; she was.
"You will not tell her. I- I will… I'm just waiting for the right moment." Her face softened as her vision shifted and she saw that I was once again planning to tell Bella eventually.
"She loves you too you know." She said gently and I stared at her pitifully.
"Does she? Really?" I pleaded desperately.
"Yes." She whispered and placed her hand on my shoulder. Relief coursed through my body- Alice wouldn't lie to me.
"H-how do I tell her?" I stuttered unsure; this was such a contrast to my usual, confident self. Alice looked down at me kindly.
"Well, I want to leave it up to your imagination, but I have seen a pretty romantic scene." She winked before skipping out of the room and I immediately started scheming. I was thinking dinner, but that wasn't enough on its own, maybe-
Ooooh Edward! That is such a good idea! She'll love it! Alice squealed mentally after having another vision.

"Edward?" Bella mumbled.
"Are you actually awake?"
"Mmhmm." She sighed and I chuckled.
"You can sleep longer you know."
"No, no. I'm up." She said and started shifting to pull herself into a sitting position and I automatically put my arm around her shoulders. I think that this was the only reason why I haven't gone insane over the past month and a half; at least, I still get to touch her and embrace her more than my family as she felt safer with me for some reason and we had become best friends- but I needed more.

"I'm hungry. Let's go get some breakfast." She chirped cheerfully.
"It would be good for you to walk there." I offered and she groaned.
"Can't you guys just carry me around for the rest of my life?" She half-joked.
"Sounds good." I whispered and her heart beat accelerated.
"No, no. You're right. I need to walk." She stumbled a bit getting out of bed, but she caught herself before I had to help.
"Will you protect me from the pixie's wrath of eating in my pyjamas?" She wondered and I chuckled once again. Even while Bella was stuck in bed, she had learnt Alice's fashion obsession thanks to a thing called online shopping.
"I promise." Truly, I would protect he from anything.
"Okay, on we go." She said to herself as she started her journey. She was slow, but I waited patiently at her side and she did very well today. She always needs a bit of help at the stairs, but that's normal. When we finally reached the kitchen, she smiled victoriously.
"Ha! In your face stairs!" She stuck her tongue out at the offending stairs in question. I laughed at her childish ways. I was glad that she could catch up on lost moments of innocence.

"Bellllllllla!" Alice wailed. Ah, here we go.
"Don't be a lazy butt! I saw you wouldn't get dressed!"
"Then why are you still complaining?" Bella responded and Alice grumbled at Bella's wit. Then Alice's expression turned smug.
"No problem. I see a shopping date approaching and I'll get you then… So what do you want for breakfast?" Gosh. This woman must make Jasper dizzy with her mood swings.
"Ummm, a banana?" Bella still wasn't used to eating much or asking for anything. I sighed, I guess old habits do die hard.
"Blueberry pancakes it is then." Alice said before getting the ingredient's out.
"And my banana." Bella mumbled. I smiled and brought her the banana.
"You really can ask for more." I reminded her.
"I know." She said sadly. Some days were harder than others for her and I suddenly realized why today would be a bad one.
"Social services and the police are coming today." I stated and she nodded glumly. Last night, the police had called saying they had finally discovered something but it couldn't be said on the phone. Naturally, the social services had to tag along. I looked at the clock; they would be here in a few hours.

When Bella finished eating, she called out softly,
"Emmett, Jazz, Rose?" They all came downstairs.
"Wazzup?" Emmett said and she simply rolled her eyes.
"Anybody feel like playing cards?" She asked. Since the hospital, this had become our game and we were still trying to beat Bella.
"You're on!" Jasper said grinning and Bella looked smug.
"Esme, Carlisle, care to join us and watch me kick your behinds again?" She said confidently and my parents appeared with smiles.
"Sure. But I wouldn't be too certain about the second part. We have improved." Carlisle joked.
"Well I'll love to see your new moves." We all sat around the table and played for a good two hours. Bella won- again.
"Cough up the money Em." I said and he groaned. He had said that Jasper would win since he had gone as far as practicing at night.
"One day, one day…" Jasper muttered. Bella's radiating laugh was cut short as she glanced at the clock.
"Alice, help me clean up?" Alice nodded and carried Bella to her room.

As soon as Bella was out of hearing range, my family voiced their thoughts.
"What do you think it will be?" Esme asked worried.
"It can't be good if they refused to say it over the phone." Rosalie pointed out.
"I wonder what they found... I mean, all the danger is over right?" Emmett said.
"Knowing Bella; probably not." Jasper answered honestly.
"And you haven't heard anything at the hospital?" I asked Carlisle.
"No. Nothing." He sighed frustrated.
"Well, Alice hasn't seen anything." Jasper reminded us.
"We'll know soon enough." Rosalie ended the conversation of worry.

Bella wobbled down the stairs, now dressed in a t-shirt and a long skirt. It was not the most fashionable thing for Alice, but she understood that Bella would need to feel comfortable today. Bella came and sat next to me on the couch with Emmett and Jasper. About five minutes later, the doorbell rang. Esme went to answer it and led the two policemen and social worker into the living room. Bella didn't move, but both men came forward to shake her hand. It was trembling and she cringed into my side, but she lifted her arm and greeted them bravely. I squeezed her knee in encouragement.
"First of all Bella, how are things going? Do you enjoy living with the Cullens?" The social worker named Lily enquired.
"Yes, very much so." Bella answered firmly.
"Good, good." Lily smiled warmly. "Well, Fred and Jason here are going to give you some news, but feel free to take a break whenever you want." Oh, this was going to be bad.
"I'll be fine." Bella said dryly. The man named Fred cleared his throat.
"After your claim, we have been investigating your father's background." Bella cringed.
"He is not my father." Fred nodded.
"Sorry." Bella inclined her head for him to continue. "He changed his name from Charlie Swan to Marc Barker approximately fourteen years ago and we were able to find out that he had hired the driver who hit your biological mother." Bella remained composed at my side. "We were then able to trace his marriage to Jane Ainsworth. We searched the house where you lived and it hasn't been inhabited since you lived there." Jason then took on the rest of the story.
"Everything was still in place from the struggle you described to us. We had the whole property searched and- and" Jason paused before looking Bella in the eye. "I'm so very sorry Bella, but we found a shallow grave in the backyard. We found Jane and-" He stopped looked warily at Bella who had temporarily stopped breathing.
"We can stop now if you want." Lily repeated but Bella lifted her hand to silence her and turned her gaze back to Jason without saying a word.
"She died of blunt force trauma to the head." He finished and Bella stood abruptly.
"Excuse me." She said coldly before heading for the front door.
"Don't follow me." She whispered, only intended for vampires to hear.
"Should we?" Lily hesitated.
"No, give her time." Carlisle responded his eyes on the door. There was an awkward silence. Everybody wanted to run off after Bella, but we all remained rooted to the spot due to her wishes.

"Well, we better be on our way." Fred said sadly.
"Please convey our condolences to Bella." He added and I nodded stiffly.
"Please- please tell her we're sorry. For everything. For not noticing or stopping it." Jason chocked and I could hear how ashamed these men were for not doing anything to help Bella earlier. They were good men. They didn't deserve to live with the guilt.
"She hid things well." I said sadly. "Nobody saw a thing." They didn't respond; my words barely soothed their guilt.
"Um," Lily interrupted shyly. "I went with them to her old house," she whispered and a vivid image of a living room covered with dust and bloodstains with shattered glass popped into her mind. I clenched my fists at the sight. "I went into her room and found something- Well, I don't know if she'll want it but, you're free to have it." She handed me a small package before giving a quiet 'goodbye' and leaving with the police.

"Bella is okay. She just went to think." Alice said calmly as soon as the door closed and before anybody asked.
"Give her some time Edward." Alice told me, obviously seeing my intention to go find her.
"What did the social worker give you?" Rosalie asked and I shrugged, too anxious to care. She sighed and took the object from my hands. She opened it and let out a small sob.
"What is it?" Emmett asked concerned and Rose passed him a photo frame wordlessly. His face saddened.
"Do you think we should give it to her?" He asked slowly. Curious, I rose to go look at the picture. It was one of Bella and her adoptive mother. It was a sunny day and a four year old Bella was laying outside on the grass while her mother hovered over her, tickling her sides. Bella was roaring with laughter as Jane had a huge motherly smile. The scene was blissful, and utterly heartbreaking.
"Yes. She deserves to have it." I concluded.

"Edward, go and find her now." Alice said, suddenly panicked. I didn't even ask why she was abruptly worried as I ran out the door and followed Bella's scent. It took me a few seconds to find her and I didn't like what I saw.
"Bella, what are you doing?!" I asked incredulously.
"Walking." She said determined. She was covered in mud and had scratches everywhere. She was also limping badly.
"Stop this. You're going to ruin your recovery; you're only allowed to walk little by little." She ignored me and continued limping at a forced pace.
"Bella," I warned just as she tripped. I caught her and she started sobbing against my chest.
"Let me go! I need to walk. I need to prove, to prove… For Jane, I need to…" She cried inaudibly. I lifted her in my arms and she continued to protest weakly, but she was exhausted. I managed to catch a few words; "Make her proud… Show Charlie… I-I need… Be strong…" She continued to sob brokenly.
"Shhh Bella. Everything will work out. Your mother is proud, she always has been." I murmured until I lulled her to sleep. I walked home slowly. I hated seeing Bella so vulnerable, it angered me as much as it saddened me. I couldn't do anything about what had happened to her, I could only support her and that left me feeling completely helpless. No matter what I say, I know that her life will be permanently different.

When I arrived home, Rose automatically wrapped Bella in a blanket and cradled her like only a mother could. My arms felt empty the second her skin left mine.
"Alice told us." She said simply and I nodded.
"Did she hurt herself?" Carlisle enquired.
"Just a few scrapes- I think she fell a lot. She was also limping pretty badly."

"She over-worked herself."
"Yes."
"Let's go clean her up and put her in bed." Esme urged gently. I waited in Bella's room. Apparently, she had woken up, but hadn't said a word. Esme carried her into the room and lay her on the bed.
Take care of her tonight – Esme I nodded and she left the room.

I sat down on the bed next to Bella and she didn't move.
"I have something for you." Bella just turned her face in my direction- still without a word.
"Lily, the social worker, she picked it up at your old house." Bella didn't reach for the frame so I held it in front of her so she would see. Tears sprang from her eyes as she raised her arm to hold the photo. She strocked her mother's face with a shaky finger.
"You k-know, I n-never thought she was a-alive. I-I knew al along, b-but-"
"But you still hoped" I finished and she nodded. I gently pried the picture from her hands to rest I on her night stand.
"She wouldn't want to see me this weak. I can't even walk." Bella said angrily.
"You are not weak." I argued. How could she not she that she was the strongest, bravest person I've ever met? "And she already is proud of you. So proud." All I wanted was to wash her pain away, but I did firmly believe in my words.
"Now got to bed- you need to sleep." She closed her eyes obediently and when her breathing evened out and I was sure she was sleeping, I gently caressed her cheek.

The family slowly crept into the room after a few minutes of silence.
"We need to talk to you about something." Jasper said calmly.
"We need to tell her now. About us having her as a baby. She feels more alone than ever and we are family." Alice said in a hushed tone.
"She's already been through so much!" Rose protested.
"This will help her through it." Jasper backed up his wife.
"Edward." Bella mumbled in her sleep and Esme smiled down at her.
"She is SO in love." Emmett joked.
"Be quiet!" I hissed.
"Zip it Em!" Bella giggled and everybody had to contain their laughter to not wake her up.
"Eugh, brussels sprouts…" Our previous conversation was lost now as we watched her in amusement.
"That's not ice-cream!" Her face turned into an adorable pout.
"No more lies." She said stubbornly but I gulped.
"No more lies." Carlisle repeated. "I guess that's our answer."

"We tell her tomorrow."

Longest chapter so far =) Thanks for reading!