Sorry, it's took so long. I'm not even going to try to excuse myself -all I can offer is two very long chapters. I will post chapter 12 tomorrow. All I can say in my defence is my laptop kept on breaking and my internet... and my microsoft. :L

Disclaimer :- I do not own twilight.

Quick recap:- Edward and Bella are in Phoenix because Renée was 'mugged' and had been seriously hurt. Edward thinks Bella is with some friends in Phoenix when he drives past a graveyard - Bella is there. He finds her beside a gravestone for someone called Emmett Charlie Swan. Bella then tells Edward the truth - Emmett is her brother and died a few years ago. Renée wasn't really mugged; Phil (her husband) did it to her, and she wasn't the first person Phil had physically abused. Phil had beat and hurt Bella when she lived with them, until the day Emmett came in and saw Phil beating her. After Emmett kicked Phil out, he went out for a drive while Bella slept. He died that night in a car accident. Bella still blames herself and Edward wants Bella to press charges against Phil.

Chapter 11

EPOV

I couldn't believe what Bella must have gone through - what she still must be going through. It was just unfair that a beautiful angel had to be the one who had to live with a monster. Who still lived with the scars - both physically and mentally - years after the abuse started and after a year since it had stopped. It was just unbelievable.

I just felt so … helpless. An emotion I hadn't felt since before I was changed, when I was powerless to stop the Spanish Influenza, when I was lying in hospital knowing I was dying, knowing that my mother and father were dying too. I wanted to kill that step-father of hers, that monster. I had never wanted to kill or harm someone as much as him. What he had done to Bella… It was just wrong. I wanted some justice. I needed revenge.

But I had promised Bella. I promised I would not harm him. It was the least I could do, I felt so guilty that I hadn't been there when she needed me, a protector. I could have stopped this long before and her brother wouldn't have died. Bella wouldn't feel responsible for his death and wouldn't feel guilty. All I could do was make sure he never touched or hurt Bella again.

Maybe I could make his death look like an accident. That wouldn't be much fun though, I would have to make sure he looked like he was in an accident. I wouldn't be able to torture him like he had done to Bella, to make him die a very painful death. I wouldn't even drink from him. Who would - he was vile and his blood probably was as agreeable and desirable as his personality.

Unfortunately I knew Bella would figure out. She would have to be pretty dim-witted not to, I mean it would be too much of a coincidence. She finally tells me the truth about it, and has to practically restrain me from running off to kill him. And then the same night, he's killed in some freak accident! I didn't want to disappoint Bella, I don't want to go behind her back.

Even though I was all too aware of how kind and good Bella was, and how I didn't deserve her; I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't as bad as a person as I was. I knew that no one except her would forgive me for all my faults and shortcomings, and I was just so glad that I had the fortune that she had returned my feelings. I knew I couldn't erase my past - nothing I could do could change the fact that I was once a cold-blooded murderer - but I would try hard to make up for it.

Bella was turning me into a better person, I knew. Before Bella, I wouldn't have thought twice about killing him but then again, I had never felt so strongly a hate for a man I had never met. I would have killed him regardless.

How had I not saw it? How had I not figured it out? Now that I thought over everything - all the clues, all the things that never made sense before - it was just so obvious. I was so stupid. Even when it was lying right there in front of me, I still hadn't realised. And I was supposed to be smart, I had graduated over and over again and had even tried out being a detective for a few years before we moved again, back in the '70s. And I still hadn't figured it out. I had thought the exact opposite from what was true. I had thought she preferred it in Phoenix and she hated living in Forks. The only thing that was making it passably ok was me and the rest of the Cullens.

And now to know that her step dad had done this to her was life changing in a way. Mind-blowing. I was in no way naïve; I had seen too much of the world to be classified as naïve. But it was different when it happens to some stranger than if it happens to someone you know. Not even know but if it's the love of your existence. Even that sounds too small, too insignificant when I think of how much I love Bella. She was more than the love of my existence, she was my life. She was the reason I went through everyday and she was who I thought of first.

And to know that someone had harmed her, made her feel guilty. Put her through so much pain and grief and hadn't even been punished was torture.

"Edward, it's not your fault," Carlisle said softly from behind me. I was still sitting in the same position from when Bella had left to go to bed. "Don't blame yourself. How were you supposed to know?"

"Carlisle, I'm supposed to be there for her and I wasn't when she needed it most," I stated, angry at myself.

"But don't you see, you were there for her. You were there for each other. In her dreams. You saved her, Edward, even if you don't know it," Carlisle said earnestly.

"If I had been there, I could have stopped it. Her brother wouldn't have died and she wouldn't have been hurt. How can I not blame myself?"

"Because it wasn't your fault. Edward, it's a terrible tragedy that this happened to Bella. Neither her nor anyone else should have to go through that. But it does happen. This world isn't perfect, you should know that more than most people. I do agree that Bella's step-father needs to be punished for what he had done, but he will get what he deserved. Whether if it is when he dies and goes to hell or when he is alive and is thrown into prison. All you can do now is support Bella and show her how much you love her. She needs to know that you are there for her and aren't going to leave her. She's insecure and now we know the reason for that."

"I know," I said, defeat coming into my voice. Today had been very emotionally draining and I wished I could have a retreat, a safe haven and just go to sleep like a normal human. I could never go to sleep so I did the next best thing. I kept busy. "Tomorrow's going to be a busy day tomorrow."

"Yes," he agreed. "We'll need to contact a lawyer, her previous doctor, the police obviously and we should probably warn her mother," he listed.

"Her mother," I growled. "Her mother deserves nothing of the sort. She is nearly as bad as that … man."

"Edward," Carlisle said reprovingly. "We know nothing of Bella's mother except what we have heard from Bella herself and from all the gossipers in Forks. She has been through a lot though. Married young, had two kids and then broke up with the father. She had to bring up Emmett and Bella alone and then she meets Phil. She probably thinks he's her soul mate and marries him. And then her son dies leaving the only child she has left distraught. And then out of the blue, she tells her how her husband has been torturing her daughter. She doesn't want to believe it's true so says some things she regrets. And then when her only child left moves away because of what she said, she's probably feeling horrible. And to make matters worse, it turns out Bella was telling the truth and she gets to experience first hand what Bella had gone through. I'm not siding with her or anything. It was wrong of her but I do understand her way of thinking. I feel sorry for her."

"Dad, she turned her back on her own daughter!" I exclaimed.

"You don't know that," Carlisle stated. "Bella's mother may have just done what she thought best at the time. She may have been misguided but I like to think that her heart was in the right place."

I needed some air. I needed to think matters over. I wanted to be able to go huntingbut generally there isn't wildlife fit for hunting in the middle of Phoenix. I wanted to fight a bear or something, I wanted an outlet to my frustration and my anger. More than anything, I wanted justice.

"I'll be back in a couple of hours," I told my father as I walked over to the hotel door. As I was about to open the door, Carlisle flew in front of me.

"Edward, you promised Bella that you wouldn't hurt Phil."

"I'm not, I swear. I just need to go on a drive."

"Are you sure?" Carlisle hesitated.

He wasn't questioning if I was sure I needed to go on a drive, he was asking if I was sure I wouldn't do something I would regret later. He was asking me if going out on a drive would be wise given the mood I was in.

"I'll be back in a hour," I assured him. "Bella usually gets her nightmares around then anyways. It'll probably be worse than usual given what happened today. If her nightmares start before I come back, phone me."

"Ok," Carlisle said unsurely. Are you sure, Edward? he asked me once more only silently in his thoughts.

I nodded once more before opening the door and getting a lift down to the car park.

Once I had got into my car and started the engine, I asked myself where I should go. It was half 10 at night so a lot of drunk humans and humans going out clubbing would be about. I decided I would just wander about.

I turned two lefts and then stopped at an intersection. I noticed my hands had a death grip on the steering wheel and immediately unclenched them to see that it had become all deformed. I groaned silently to myself. How was I going to explain the misshaped steering wheel to the company I had rented the car from?

I tested it to see if I could drive in it. Surprisingly if I moved my hands in a certain way then it worked. I better phone Rosalie for some help later on.

I had been on the road for about 15 to 20 minutes when I realised that I had turned into a familiar area. It was where Renée and Phil lived. I knew I should leave as soon as possible; there was no need to stray into temptation. And believe me, the temptation was very strong. To know that he was probably sleeping just a few houses away from me and through a few walls. I clenched my hands and breathed slow, claming breaths. It didn't help.

"He started to blame me…"

"He hurt me…"

"Even my step-father hated me… more and more aggressive towards me…"

"He liked to see me in pain."

"I became depressed and even considered suicide… I was terrified he would kill me."

"I hated myself."

I gritted my teeth and my hands automatically clenched once more as I heard Bella's tearful words resound and repeat over and over again in my head.

"My fault… I caused my own brother's death!"

"My step-father hated me that much that he beat me half to death!"

"Why are you not running?"

I put the car back into gear and sped out to in front of his house. I got out of the car and locked the door casually.

I knew I had promised Bella that I wouldn't but that was before my mind, her words and Phil himself worked together to make me think of nothing else. It kept on repeating those words over and over again and I needed an outlet. I needed revenge.

I'm so sorry, Bella. I have failed you, I thought to myself as I walked up the short driveway. I knew I should turn back right now when I was still not guilty but I couldn't. This was no longer a matter of urges and craving to kill him, this was something I had to do. I could not turn away from this.

I looked through a window on the ground floor and saw the living room. I decided to try and find an open door or window, if not open then loose. I needed a way to get into the house without breaking anything and waking anyone up in the house. I needed to be silent.

As I was looking around the windows trying to find one that was open enough for me to fit in when I found myself looking into a bedroom. I could see - and hear - two shapes resembling people underneath the duvet, sleeping and snoring. This must be Renée and Phil.

Funny, I wouldn't have thought that any woman would sleep with a man who had beaten her and her daughter up many times.

"No! You can't kill him!"

"I'm not allowing you to get into trouble over something that is my fault."

I stopped what I was doing as I heard Bella's desperate pleas that I wouldn't kill him, from earlier.

"Edward, you promised Bella that you wouldn't hurt Phil."

I remembered Carlisle's rational tone of voice. "It would just hurt Bella more. It wouldn't solve anything," his voice echoed in my head.

All thoughts and wishes to kill him were immediately put on silent. They hadn't vanished but they weren't in combat with the more rational side of me and Carlisle's words anymore. They were put on mute.

Bella wouldn't want this. I promised her I wouldn't hurt Phil.

I couldn't believe how close I had come to breaking my promise. I wanted to show Bella that because of her I was a better man, and the first thing (ok, maybe not the first thing) I did was nearly murder her mother's husband. Even if he did deserve it.

Shakily, I made my way slowly back to the hotel. For once I didn't want to drive really fast. I suppose to the vast majority of drivers, they would still think I was going very, very fast but to me, it was the equivalence of the speed of a snail. I looked at the clock to see that it was around the time Bella got her nightmares so I quickened up the last few streets until I got to the hotel car park. I briskly made my way to the hotel room.

As soon as I got in, Carlisle jumped up looking anxious and very relieved to see me. "Thank goodness your back. I thought you were going… it doesn't matter now," he said edgily.

I knew what he meant. I knew that he thought that I had went to see Phil. I was shocked at my self-control as well. I didn't think I was strong enough. Then again, I wasn't out of the woods yet. I still had to go through the inevitable - I would meet Phil formally as her boyfriend one time or another, but hopefully only in the court room at the trial. With any luck we can persuade Renée to press charges as well. If both Bella and Renée do then it is a given that he will be prosecuted. Even if she refuses, we still have a very strong case. The evidence Bella had kept just in case, not to mention Dr. Pattinson's reports was so concrete and sure that Phil would need a miracle to get out of this.

"I'm going to see Bella," I said to Carlisle.

I walked in. Bella was asleep. Good, she had been through a rough day. I stayed with her for the rest of the night, comforting her when needed and chuckling to myself when her dreams became very random.

E.A.M.C.E.A.M.C.E.A.M.C.

At dawn, I got up from my position at Bella's side to go into the main room to talk to Carlisle. Get some breakfast together for Bella.

"Is she still sleeping?" asked Carlisle looking up from his laptop. I looked at the internet browser on his computer. He was looking up cases where children were beaten by their parents or guardians.

"Yes," I said as I leaned down so I was at eye level with the computer. Horrific articles where children had been beaten up by people they should be able to trust were being described. Images as well in some of the articles. It was horrifying.

"…I used to have so much hate in me, especially because that was not the end. When I was nine, my mother left my father and finally stood with one guy. He used to beat all of us so badly. He hated my baby brother. When he was about four, my so-called stepdad hit my brother so bad and my brother was so afraid of him. Then one day when he was going to hit him again, my brother took a toy knife and was trying to make it like he was going to cut him for hitting him. He really got a bad beating, and then he was put in the washer and he would just close the lid and leave him there…"

I maximised another internet browser to see another article someone had posted about the abuse they had went through.

"…I am not writing this for others to lose hope. I simply do not know how to heal, and it has been five years. I cannot see how anything with what has happened has become any easier. My best friend's former stepfather molested me when I was 13 years old. It happened during a Halloween party while we were all drinking. I told him that he shouldn't be doing it. I never said an actual "no" even though I wanted to, and I didn't fight back. With that and being intoxicated, I have always believed it was my fault. If I wasn't drunk, it wouldn't have happened. If I had screamed, someone would have heard. But I was too scared…"

"It's terrible, isn't it?" Carlisle said softly, his face sad and remorseful. "Those poor children…"

"I know, and to think that Bella was one of them," I inhaled sharply.

He put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Both you and her are doing great. You're dealing with this better than anyone could hope for and it doesn't seem like Bella regrets telling you.

"He won't get away with this and in a few months he will be out of both Bella and her mother's life for good. He will be sent to jail where he belongs and Bella will be allowed to rest easy."

"Thanks, I don't know if I could do this without you," I smiled thinly at him.

"No problem, Edward," my father told me, the love he held for me evident in his eyes. "I will order some breakfast for Bella now; I hear her moving about in her room."

"I'll go say good morning to Bella."

"Edward, you are so whipped," Carlisle laughed in his thoughts though I could tell he was pleased I had became so taken with a woman. One word of advice though - don't ever let your 300-and-something years old dad watch teenage movies when he was very bored one night when the girls were out hunting. Seriously. The consequences are not pretty. Your ancient vampire dad quoting American Pie and other teenage comedies, even though he didn't like it because the men in it were so disrespectful towards women?

I ignored his thoughts and opened the door to Bella's room. Carlisle was right - she was awake and up and about. And in the middle of getting dressed.

I gasped as I saw the perfection that was Bella's body. All she was clothed in was a bra and boy-short… um… underwear. Her beautiful back was marred however by small scars. Not big ones, but scars nonetheless. They were quite noticeable as she was so pale and the scars red in comparison. There seemed to be about 5 in total.

Bella - seeing me - gasped loudly as well and quickly snatched up her dressing gown and put it on. Her face went a beat-root red colour and she looked absolutely mortified.

My world turned red. I stormed out of the room to find a startled Carlisle. "What's wrong, Edward? Is Bella ok?"

"I'm going to kill him!" I exclaimed furiously.

"Now, calm down, Edward. Don't let your temper get the better of you. Tell me exactly what happened," he commanded.

"He-" my voice stopped at the sound of Bella sobbing.

BPOV

Oh my God. He saw me in just my underwear. Not only that, he saw my scars. He won't want me now that he's seen them. The hopelessness of my situation brought tears to my eyes and though I tried to stop them, I started to sob loudly.

I dropped down onto the bed, and brought my knees up to my chest.

He didn't want me anymore. As soon as he saw the real me underneath all my clothes, he couldn't get away quick enough.

I sniffled pathetically and continued to cry.

"Bella?" a velvety voice called anxiously at my side. He pulled me towards him and I leaned onto his strong, hard, cold chest. How could Edward stand the sight of me after what he had seen? Why was he comforting me? "Bella, it's alright. I'm sorry," he said frantically. "Are you hurt? Why are you crying?"

I hugged him tightly and endeavoured to stop my crying. He started to rub my arms together and returned the hug.

"I thou-thought y-you didn't w-want me," I sniffled, stuttering a little. Ok, stuttering a lot.

"Silly Bella," Edward said intensely. "Do you have any idea how much I love you, how much I need you in my life? Why did you think I didn't want you? Do you really doubt my love for you that much?" he asked woundingly.

"I th-thought you were a-angry at me," I shared my fears. "I thought that you ran from me because you were d-dis-disgusted by me."

His voice quickly turned to anger. "Bella, I could never be angry at you! I was angry that you had been put in this position, that you had been hurt so badly. I was angry at Phil! Angry at myself! Never did I feel that it was your fault or you deserved it!"

"But why do you feel angry at yourself?" I asked, puzzled. "You were not to blame. I didn't even know you when this all happened?"

"Exactly, my love. I should have been there for you. I should have protected you!"

"Edward, you're not being fair on yourself," I exclaimed. "It wasn't your fault that I hadn't met you yet, neither was it mine. I do not doubt that you would have protected me if we had met then, and that's what matters."

He nodded slowly, considering my words but reluctant to agree.

By now I wasn't crying anymore and all that was left of my crying episode was my red, puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks.

"Oh… um… do you want me to give you some privacy to get dressed?" Edward stumbled over his words and edged his way to the door. I looked down to see my dressing gown had fallen open and everything was exposed. I squeaked and blushed and quickly closed my dressing gown.

When Edward left the room, closing the door behind him, I quickly got dressed.

As I put on my top, my mobile rang. I hurriedly ran over to it across the room, tripping once or twice on the way.

"Hello?" I answered breathlessly.

"Bella! Oh my God, I am so sorry about Phil! I can't believe it!" Alice's voice cried over the phone. She sounded upset.

"Did Edward or Carlisle phone you?" I asked her.

"No, Bella, I had a vision," she said, an unspoken 'duh' hanging in the air. "Well, I had it yesterday but Jazz said I should wait until today because you obviously have a lot to talk to Edward about." I pictured her pouting when she said this. "Bella, if you want I can come out there to be with you. It wouldn't be any trouble."

"No! I've already caused enough trouble in your family. I don't want to be the cause of you missing that mall opening," I told her.

"Oh, don't worry about the mall opening. You're more important. Yes, I have decided. I'm getting the next plane over to Phoenix. Don't try to stop me. I know you need some cheering up and I know exactly how to achieve that!"

"How?" I asked warily.

"Shopping trip!" she squealed into the phone. "Everyone knows that if a girl is feeling down, then you go on a shopping spree. Also I've heard that girls like chocolate when they're sad and girly nights," she said thoughtfully.

"Alice, I don't really see the point in your coming. I mean, we're supposed to be leaving tomorrow afternoon anyways. I don't really think we would have time to do all that," I told her trying to sound sad but secretly relieved that I wouldn't have to go shopping.

"No, you won't be able to leave that early," she said sounding very sure of herself. "I had a vision and you won't be able to leave until everything is sorted with the police, Phil and your mother has been sorted out. Also I'll get Charlie to come up with me. He'll need to be there also."

"No! Not Charlie!" I said dismally into the phone. "Do you know how angry he was just hearing the tip of the iceberg what Phil done to me?! Can you imagine what he would be like when he hears the whole story?!"

"He'll be fine… eventually," her voice turned soft. "He's going to find out eventually with the trial and everything. I think he would prefer to hear it from you, rather than the police or even worse a newspaper or on TV! I'll make sure that he leaves his gun behind though. I do not doubt that he will be furious but he loves you, Bella, and he wouldn't want to stoop to Phil's level."

"Fine, get him to come then," I gave in. "But, what about school?"

"Oh, school is no problem, Bells. The teachers will not be angry when they find out about the reason of our absence. In fact they won't even make you do work at home, and will tell you to take your time in coming back to school! Plus if worse comes to worse and when you come back to school, we can tutor you, get you up to date. We have went through high school countless times so it is no trouble. You will only miss most of this week anyways."

"I suppose," I said doubtfully.

"I suppose nothing," Alice said lightly. "I'm a psychic after all, I know that everything will be fine with school and with Charlie."

"Bella! We've got some breakfast for you," called Carlisle from the closed door. "Tell Alice that we will see her soon and to please get off the phone."

"I heard that," laughed Alice. "Well, I'll see you later on. Remember, you are worth it. Edward loves you unconditionally and he doesn't think any less of you about Phil hurting you," she hissed the last few words.

"Bye Alice," I said, surprisingly feeling close to tears.

"Oh, and Bella?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry about Emmett."

She hung up.

She rang a second later. "Oh I forgot to say, you have got to change that t-shirt you're wearing. Does not go with the jeans. Put on the blue shirt I got you last week." She hung up again without waiting for an answer.

I took a few calming breathes as I stood in the middle of my room. I looked down at what I was wearing. I had thought it was ok, but obviously Alice didn't.

I briefly considered just wearing the top I had on anyways; it wasn't like she would know. Oh wait, she would - 1. She would be here sometime today and 2. All she had to do was check up on me with her psychic abilities.

Damn. Now I'll have to get changed. I quickly put on the Alice-approved shirt making sure I didn't look at myself in the mirror. I didn't want to see the scars that had freaked out Edward. After yesterday, the memory of everything was too fresh.

As I made the bed, I found a book. It must have been left by the previous residents of this hotel room. It didn't have a name on it, just a plain binding. I opened the first page to see if it had the name of the book there. I realised then that this was not a proper reading book, like a novel, that it was just a personal note book. I found it curious however that it didn't even have a name on it.

It had a pencil in the middle of the book and I opened to that page. On the page was a poem, a handwritten poem. The person who owned this book, was obviously a poet. The title was Eternal Sleep. It sounded interesting so I read it through.

Eternal Sleep

A burning passion

An internal rage

A wounded animal

Chained in a cage

Purplish bruises

Outlined her smooth skin

She cowered afraid

As the pain burned within

A fist to her ribs

Cold words in her ear

Eyes dark and distant

Held unyielding fear

Shoved and hit hard

Bruised bones oh so frail

The dark abyss

Of emotional hell

Weakened knees gave way

As she fell to weep

And closed her eyes

Praying for eternal sleep

It was quite short but it was enough to convey the hopelessness, the pain of abuse. It reminded me of then. The then that I had tried feverishly to forget. I just wanted to be an ordinary girl again, untouched by such matters. I turned to the next page to see more poetry.

Haunting Me

You are haunting me,

I feel you words,

Everywhere I go,

Your bitter punches,

Are always there,

You are in my mind,

All the time,

I'm going mad I can feel it,

My rage is bubbling over,

I see you everywhere,

Your words feed themselves,

Into all fiction I read,

Your mind still slices me,

Though you are a million miles away,

The food I eat tastes of you,

Repulsive and dire,

And when I drink to wash it off,

All I find is you in my mind,

You are permanent,

You and your bitterness will never leave me,

I see it everywhere,

I see an advert on the wall,

And instead of the advert,

I see a picture of you,

You are following me – get away!

I here myself say,

I am going mad,

This is bad,

Look what you have done,

You filthy scum,

Years of torture,

Have led to this,

A life time of madness,

You are haunting me.

I jumped when Edward's voice sounded behind me. "What is that?" he asked, gesturing towards the book.

"It's a book of poems. It must have been left behind by the last person who stayed in this room," I said, still looking at the book. I passed it to him and pointed to the poem.

Two seconds later, he looked up from the poem. He was a very fast reader. He put an arm around me and said, "You ready for breakfast?" He knew I wasn't ready to talk about the poem and how it had reminded me of things I just wanted to forget. But I couldn't. He wouldn't let me.

Edward knew me very well. He knew that I wasn't ready to talk about it.

We went through together into the main room and I sat down in the seat Edward offered. We were sitting in front of a six chaired table. Carlisle set a plate of cooked breakfast on the table in front of me and I realised just then how ravenous I was. I quickly devoured my breakfast until the plate was empty.

"Do you want me to order some more of that?" asked Edward from the chair beside me. I laughed inwardly at the way he described my food - 'that' - as if it was absolutely disgusting. Well, I suppose it was, for him. But to me it was absolutely delicious. He had been sitting there the whole time I was eating, staring at me. Carlisle was sitting in front of us at the table.

"No, thanks," I told him and Carlisle cleared his throat. We turned to look at him.

"Now, Bella, during the night Edward and I have talked over things," he stressed things. "I managed to track down your old doctor, Dr. Pattinson, and I have been looking up cases similar to yours. From what I've read and from my own experience of these things, we should put together some evidence first before going to the police so that Phil will be locked up sooner and questioned. The police are very slow, comparing them to us. So, I thought that today we should stop by Dr. Pattinson's office and ask him if he still has the evidence he collected for you in case you did decide to press charges against Phil. Is that ok?" I nodded. He had obviously put a lot of thought and research into this.

"Then we will go to your mother's house and try to persuade her to also go to the police regarding herself being beaten. If we succeed then we will go to the police together, and if she still won't admit it then we will go without her. We will tell the police anyways that we believe she is being beaten as well. She can do what she may with it though I hope for her sake that she will try and get some help from this monster."

"Sounds good," I said. I was slightly scared about everything today. What if the police didn't believe me like my own mother didn't? That was my worst fear. What if Phil was so mad that I had went to the police that he hurt my mother before the police could get to him. She didn't deserve a man like him. She deserved a lot better.

I didn't blame her for not believing me at first. He was her beloved husband and he always acted very nice around her. It was like there was two different Phils - Renée's Phil and Psycho Phil. Renée was so naïve and innocent to the workings of the world that I couldn't criticize her on her lack of judgement. She was in love and she just wanted to believe that her husband was perfect. She didn't want her life to be shattered again like it had when Emmett died.

Some people may think that I shouldn't have forgiven her so easy but she had been through a lot. I knew that Edward thought it was partially Renée's fault for letting such a man into her home and her heart. That she should have paid more attention to us. But she did. It was just Phil and I had hid it too well. She had thought that we had gotten really close which in a way we had. I had witnessed a part of him that he rarely showed anyone else. In a way we were closer from what he did to me. It was like I was a puppet and he was the puppet master. He controlled me in ways no one else did. He controlled me because I was so afraid of what he would do to me and those I love if I didn't obey him.

So the only person to blame was me for being such a pushover. If I had stood up to Phil - even though he might have killed me - then Emmett would still be alive and Renée wouldn't have been hurt either. If I hadn't been so stupid and went to Renée and told her the truth, then I would still be Phil's occasional punch bag, not mom. I would have been able to live with that, knowing that I was protecting the people I loved.

But then if I hadn't stood up to him and told Renée, would I have met Edward? I knew that we were soul mates, and that we were meant to be together. I knew that we had over gone obstacles that most, if not all, would deem impossible but would our love be able to find each other? We had conquered different cities, different times we lived in(he had lived in the 1900-10s whereas I was living in the 1990-2000s), different species, and different worlds in a way. Edward lived in the supernatural world where everything was possible whereas I lived in the naïve, unknowing human world where the closest (they thought) that you could get to a vampire or a werewolf was on Halloween's Night when kids dressed up to go trick-or-treating.

I knew now that I couldn't regret anything that had ever happened to me. All the pain Phil had inflicted upon me, all the anger, all the distress and depression I had gone through after Emmett died, everything. I couldn't regret it because it brought me to Edward. I realised that everything that had happened in my humble life comparing to Edward's and the rest of the Cullens' was leading me to meeting Edward. He was my life. My heart. My soul.

"Are you ready to go, Bella?" asked Edward putting his arm around my waist. I looked up to him and tenderly kissed his cheek. I knew that he would always be there for me.

"What was that for?" he asked, a crooked smile lighting up his face. His eyes were shining with love for me.

"Nothing," I told him. "I just wanted you to know how much I love you and how grateful I am."

He chuckled quietly and kissed my forehead.

"Let's go," called Carlisle, opening the door for us and walking on ahead to the car. He sounded happier than before.

We got into the car, Edward sitting beside me in the back seat letting Carlisle drive. I figured from the shocked look on Carlisle's face that Edward would usually either drive or drive shotgun.

The drive was quiet so Carlisle put on some of the music Edward had brought with him. I leant my head on Edward's shoulder.

When we arrived at the hospital, I could feel nostalgia kicking in. Bringing me back years when Emmett was alive and well, though I wasn't. Remembering, I knew, was pointless - nothing could come of it except pain and grief. I was sick of negative emotions. I just wanted to be truly happy. Truly content without having to worry about anything. I missed Emmett so much. Tears pricked my eyes but I hurriedly wiped them away. It would not do to have Edward witness me breaking down.

"Does he know I'm coming?" I asked as I stared up at the building. We were now standing outside it. It was quite quiet considering it was quite early but still busy. It was a hospital after all.

"They know that a Dr. Cullen is here to see him," Carlisle told me. "Do you know his room number?"

"Em… no, sorry. But I do know my way around the hospital well so if I have a room number then I will be able to find it," I said as we walked in and went up to a reception desk.

"Excuse me, I'm Doctor Carlisle Cullen, I'm a visiting doctor and I've arranged an appointment with Dr. Pattinson. Could you tell me what room he is in?"

The secretary - an elderly woman who looked to be at least in her 60s - blushed and stumbled over her words. She was officially dazzled by the Cullen boys as well. "I… Um… Room 64 on the third fl-floor. If you want, I can show you the way?" she batted her eyelashes. From the corner of my eye I saw Edward wince. I guessed whatever the secretary was thinking, it wasn't PG-13 thoughts.

"No, my daughter here knows the way, thanks for asking," Carlisle said smoothly and tactfully. I blushed with pride when he called me his daughter. I had never thought that Carlisle thought so well of me.

We walked away from the reception and got into a crowded lift. I made sure to stand next to Edward, a subtle message to the all the women that he was taken and all the women in the lift turned and glared at me.

"Bella?" a disbelieving voice called when we got out on the third floor. I turned around to find Nikki, a nurse I had befriended on my many visits to the hospital. She was Dr. Pattinson's wife and also knew about Phil.

"Nikki!" I exclaimed happily and hugged her tightly. "I haven't saw you in ages! How are you?"

"I'm great, little Bella said her first word yesterday," she said proudly. I beamed happily thinking about their cute baby that they had named after me as well as asking me to be the godmother.

"Oh, I have to see her while I'm here," I told her.

"Oh yes, how's life in Forks?" she asked me sympathetically. "How's the Phil situation?" she asked quieter looking around her to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "And what happened to your arm?" she indicated to the cast on my arm.

"Forks is better than expected," I said, throwing a meaningful look at Edward and Carlisle. "I broke it in PE back in Forks. My klutziness made an appearance! And that is why I'm here actually. I'm here to talk to Robert about going to the police about Phil."

"You are?" she asked delightedly. "Thank God. Now I can rest easy in my bed knowing that you will be truly safe when he is locked up. I hope they throw away the key! But how did this come about? The last time I saw you, you were quite adamant about just forgetting about it and just avoiding the problem?"

"That reminds me, I want you to meet someone," I pulled her sleeve and dragged her to where Carlisle and Edward were waiting patiently for me. When Edward saw me dragging Nikki over to him, he straightened up. "Nikki, this is my amazing boyfriend, Edward Cullen, and his father, Dr. Carlisle Cullen," I introduced them. "Carlisle, Edward, this is my dear friend, Nicole Pattinson. She's Dr. Pattinson's wife." She looked at me, surprised that I had opened my heart to someone. I had always swore that I would never go out with any man ever. I had told her many times before how I wouldn't be able to sacrifice my independence over to a man who could abuse it. I don't think I could take someone abusing my trust again and I didn't want to be hurt either emotionally or physically by a man ever again. To be honest I had been terrified.

But it all changed when Edward came into my life. He was the one man I knew I could trust. He was an angel after all.

"Hello Mrs. Pattinson," said Edward courteously. "How do you do?"

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you," greeted Carlisle, offering a hand to her so she could shake it.

Nikki grasped Carlisle's hand warmly. "Dr. Cullen, the pleasure is all mine." She turned to Edward. "And Edward, you should be given a standing ovation! How on earth did you get Bella to open up enough to go out with you? She has always insisted that she would never go out with anyone! And not only that but how did you get her to pursue charges against her stepfather?! We have been trying to persuade her for over a year and she has only been living in Forks about a month and now you can't wait to have him behind bars?!"

Edward chuckled. "I have my ways," he smiled crookedly and turned towards me and took my hand. Our eyes met and in an instant Nikki and Carlisle, and everything else was forgotten. Everything except Edward's enchanting eyes. We continued to stare into each others' eyes until we heard two throats clearing.

I flushed and turned towards our audience. They were smiling at each other and laughing.

"The joys of young love," Nikki teased. "You were completely lost in each other!"

I laughed. "Hey, don't give me that. You were as bad when you and Robert first got together!"

She giggled. "I suppose you're right but I don't believe we were as bad as you!"

"Is that you, Bella?" asked Dr. Pattinson who had just walked out of his office. We turned to look at him. "It is!" He swept me up in a friendly hug. "We have all missed you here at the hospital. There is no one as klutz-y as you coming in, nor anyone as entertaining!"

I glared at him jokingly. "Hey!" I laughed. "I hope you meant that as a compliment because if I say so myself I am quite amusing when I'm on drugs!" Nikki, Robert and I all laughed at the memory of the time I had been given strong painkillers after one of my bouts in hospital and how I had been very embarrassing when I was high. I introduced Rob to Carlisle and Edward when our laughter died down.

"Rob, Bella's here because her young man, Edward, has convinced her to go to the police about Phil. Isn't that amazing?" Nikki asked him.

"Seriously?! What is your secret, Edward?"

"I admit she was very reluctant at first but Carlisle and I managed to persuade her in the end."

"Come into my office so we can talk in private," he gestured towards his office and we followed him. He went to a filing cabinet and took a key out of his pocket. Once he opened it he rifled through a bunch of files until he found the right one.

"Aha, here it is!" he said and took out a file and put it on his desk. "This," he said mainly to Carlisle and Edward. "Is where I stored all the evidence and medical reports in the case that Bella decided to go to the police. I'll admit that I've been hoping and praying that she would reconsider her decision and get Phil thrown in jail." He opened the file. "I have medical reports filled out by myself and another doctor, images of parts of Bella after she was beaten… Her former doctor wasn't very smart. When they gave me the position I found pictures he had taken before he had been caught so I have quite a lot of imagery evidence here. Also I have CCTV footage of Phil and Bella entering and exiting the hospital, Phil looking distinctively angry and rough-handing Bella. It looks to me like he was half dragging her by the hair. I have a video confession from Bella about the beatings and also the former doctor and Phil were friends, I imagine, as I have also a video conversation when they were drunk and talking - boasting, really - about being able to get away with hurting Bella. In conclusion, I don't think there is anyway Phil could make this look any less than it is.

"In my opinion I think it's going to be a rather easy case and trial as all the evidence is stacked up against him," he told us seriously. "I don't even think the best lawyer in Phoenix could help him now!"

Carlisle nodded straight-faced. "Yes, you are right. He would need a miracle to get out of this mess. And if we can persuade Renée to prosecute as well, he'll be looking at more time as well."

"Renée? Bella's mother? Did he get to her too?" asked Nikki concernedly.

"Yeah, with me gone he didn't have his favourite punch bag. So he turned to Renée," I told her solemnly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Bella. Is she alright?" she cried.

"Yeah, she will be. She has to take it easy but she's fine, at least physically."

"What do you mean? She's not still living with him, is she?" she gasped.

"Well, she's refusing to admit that Phil was the one who done this to her. She's telling everyone that she was mugged. But I know it was Phil. She sent me an email telling me she was sorry for not believing me. I think Phil has bullied her into not admitting it to me. She's scared, Nikki, and that's one of the reasons I'm prosecuting. I want my mom to be safe and this is the only way."

"Is she badly hurt?" asked Dr. Pattinson.

"Well, I think she's hurt more emotionally than anything else. He broke a few of her ribs and one of her legs, and she has severe bruising but her bruises aren't so bad now."

"Well at least now she knows the truth. I'm very sorry that she's hurt but I can't help but be slightly relieved that she now knows her husband's true nature," Nikki told me.

"Me too," I agreed.

"So, what are you doing after this? Are you going straight to the police or what?" questioned Dr. Pattinson.

"We're going to go by Bella's mother's house first to see if she would be willing to testify and after on to the police. I trust that you will be willing to make a statement…?" Carlisle informed them.

"Oh, most definitely," Nikki nodded fervently for the both of them. "Rob will do anything he can to make sure that monster is put where he belongs, behind bars, right sweetie?"

Dr. Pattinson nodded.

"Well, we better get going, we have a lot to do and one of my daughters and Bella's father is arriving in Phoenix this afternoon so we plan to be there to meet them at the airport," Carlisle stood up.

"Bella, phone me when you have a spare moment so we can catch up," Nikki called. "Or, if you're not too busy while you're here pop in at our place and you can see Bella junior again!"

"I promise I will," I hugged her again and then moved on to Robert.

"Thanks, Rob, for everything," I said sincerely.

"No problem, Bells."

"Bye," I called as we walked out of the office and then out of the hospital.

"Next stop - Renée's house," said Edward.

"Great," I groaned. I knew this wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation.

Hope I am forgiven. Hopefully I will be back on to a schedule soon where I hope to update every other week at the very least.

So what do you think of this chapter? Boring? Interesting? Does this long chapter (and tomorrow's chapter - also very long btw) help me be forgiven? Did you like the Rob Pattinson shut out there? What do you think will happen now?

Also the poems and the stories on the internet are all real. I found them when I was researching some physicial abuse. I thought they were really good and effective that I had to put them up. It's so sad that real people go through this everyday - and worse off than Bella is in this story.

Love,
Smile! Edward Luvs Yhoo XD ('cause he does! ;))
xXx