A/N: I love you guys, you review so much, and it just makes me so happy. Haha. And it's a really great motivator to update chapters. So I really appreciate it. Nine reviews per chapter is wonderful!

Twelve

If it Makes You Happy

EDWARD

"Wake up, Bella," I cooed, playing with a curl that framed her pale, sleeping face. Her steady breathing accelerated as she sat up abruptly.

"Mike," she whispered dramatically, hugging her arms around herself. "He… he… he…" she hiccupped, sobbing.

"Shhh," I instructed, pulling her into my arms hesitantly. I didn't want her to think I was him, by any means. "Shh, Bella, it's alright. You were just having a nightmare."

"Edward?" she asked childishly, rolling into a ball, her head resting against my chest.

"Guilty," I pled, caressing her brilliantly flushed cheeks. "You're fine. Can you tell me what could be so bad that had you tossing and turning all night?"

"Nightmare," she answered sheepishly, pulling her legs closer to her stomach. "Horrible nightmare."

"Would you care to elaborate?" I offered, kissing her hair. She nodded.

"Just give me a second." I watched, amused, as she rearranged her hair, straightened out her white tank top, and drew in a sharp, piercing breath. "We were… in the woods… Mike and I," she began shakily. "The moon… it was… red… and he grabbed my wrists… and pulled me back into the trees. He… he had my shoulders pinned against this random tree… and I tried to scream. That was when I realized that I had no voice. I couldn't do anything. It was… it was… the worst… kind of torture… and he never stopped. It just went on that way… until you woke me up… I couldn't do anything… and finally I gave up. I just let him hurt me… I thought I was going to die, Edward!"

A single tear escaped her eyes as she blinked, trying to avoid the breakdown. I leaned forward, catching it with my lips. "Bella," I said, tracing random patterns over the back of her arm. "You never have to worry about anything like that happening, because I'll never let him near you again."

"But the other night…" she trailed off. I didn't have to read her mind to know what she meant.

My hand dropped to my side. I didn't blame her for losing trust in me. She had every right to, after all, because I hadn't been a very good protector. "Was my fault. And I'm so sorry, Bella. I just don't want you to be afraid…"

"I know," she choked. "But you have to understand that Mike and I had been dating for years before you came along. Charlie, of course, loved Mike like the son he'd always wished for. His number one ambition in life was to make sure that I ended up with Mike, in an abusive marriage just like him and Mom."

"So… you mean to say that Charlie… knew what Mike was doing to you… and he allowed it?" I spat, unable to believe that any father could wish such a thing on his only daughter.

"Not only did he allow it, he enforced it. I wasn't allowed out of the house unless it was to go on a date with Mike. Pretty soon, Charlie started acting just like him. He wasn't quite as bad most of the time, but he'd… get pretty mad if I wasn't home on time, or if he found out I was anywhere other than with Mike."

"Why… why would he just let him do that? Let you continue to see him, Bella? It doesn't make sense to me!" I rambled.

"I don't know for sure what I did to deserve all of that misery, but once, when Mike and Charlie were playing poker, I overheard Charlie tell Mike that it was all about 'knowing how to control your woman. If she does something you don't like, you make sure and show her who's boss, My Boy!'"

Anger coursed rapidly through my body as she wrapped her fingers into quotation marks around her father's brutal words. "Bella, can you promise me something?"

"Anything," she agreed hastily, pulling out from under the bedspread. "What is it?"

"I want you to promise me that if I ever do anything remotely close to him, that you'll leave me and never look back," I explained, completely serious.

"Edward, I don't know if I can…"

"Promise me, Bella," I ordered delicately.

"I… I can't do that, Edward," she replied, gazing helplessly into my eyes. "I can't promise you that. I don't think I'm that strong. I'll always need you."

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BELLA

I knew that it wasn't the answer he'd been hoping for, but I couldn't lie to Edward, even if he wouldn't read my mind. I had always been a horrible liar, and the signs flashed all over my expression. I would never leave him. I was permanently attached now. I felt certain that I couldn't breathe without him for a second, much less live the rest of my life without him.

"Promise me, Bella," he persisted, passing by me, a black tray full of pizza balanced effortlessly in his arms.

"I can't," I remained stubborn. "I can't lie to you."

"Excuse me, Waitress?" a tall, muscular teenager called from a booth in the back of the restaurant. I held up a forefinger to Edward, letting him know that I was going to take the table.

"Can I help you?" I asked, trying incredibly hard to keep up the polite façade.

"Well…" the boy pondered, a mischievous look in his dark, gray eyes. "I was going to ask what you'd recommend, but I think I'll just take your number."

"Okay," I played along, tapping my chin with my index finger, a thoughtful look on my face. "How about… 555-I-am-way-too-old-for-you?" I quipped angrily. "Does that work for you?"

"Aww, don't be so selfish, baby," he teased, winking at me. "I'm eighteen. That's legal."

"Yeah, well, I'm twenty-one," I rebutted, "and if you've got a problem with it, then maybe you should take it up with my boyfriend." As if on cue, Edward appeared by my side.

"What's up, Bells?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Oh, nothing, Edward," I said, suppressing a grin. "I think this boy wants to know why he can't have my number."

"Umm… no… actually, I think I got it…" he stammered, glancing anxiously at Edward. "555-I-am-way-too-old-for-you. Got it. Thanks, Ma'am. See ya around… erm… Edward."

Edward chuckled darkly as the kid sprinted out of the shop without looking back once. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, Edward," I mocked. "You shouldn't scare away our customers like that. It's not good for business."

"Obviously," he grumbled, not bothering to fight back.

"I promise," I muttered reluctantly. "I promise, Edward, but I don't think there's anyway you could do that."

"Thank you, Bella," he whispered, embracing me tightly. "You have no idea how much that means to me."

"But… why? Why would you want me to leave you? I don't get it," I continued.

"I only care that you're happy, Bells," he explained. "I'd be selfish, of course, and try and convince you that I was sorry, but in the end I wouldn't want you to be with someone like that, anyway. I couldn't bear it if I were the one causing you so much pain. I've seen the effect that he has on you."

"Well… if it makes you happy…" I agreed. "Then I guess it's alright with me."

He grinned, kissing my cheek. "You're wonderful, Bella, you know that?"

"PDA! PDA!" Emmett shouted, bounding through the open door. "You two do know that there are people trying to eat in here, right? Not everyone appreciated your kind of affection. I'm not so sure your parents would approve."

I winced. Edward elbowed Emmett in the gut. "Shut up, Emmett," he hissed.

"What did I say?"

"Nothing," I assured him, patting Edward's chest lightly. "I have to… erm… get back to work now… I'll talk to you two later."

"You haven't told Charlie and Renee yet, have you?" Emmett asked knowingly.

"Well… I just… I…" I stuttered, cursing him silently. This wasn't the time or place for that. "No," I admitted finally. "I haven't. But I have a perfectly good reason."

"Care to explain?" he pressed.

Edward threw his arm around my shoulder comfortingly. "You don't owe him any kind of explanation, Bells," he reminded me. I shook my head.

"No, it's fine. You see…"

A/N: Cliffy!!!! You know what that means. If you want the next chapter, you must review. Immediately. Like your life depends on it, people!!! Not joking here. Haha. And I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!! I know I did.

P.S. The first reviewer to name the artist for the title song gets extra sugar cookies and recognition in the next author's note. Much love,

C.J.