Ignore the double post, I'm sorry!

Haha, you guys make me LOL. "Here's my review, I guess" and all the LOL's, you guys made me smile. And laugh out loud a few times because, frankly, that was so damn amusing. I love you guys so much and you've totally made me heart this story and every like aspect about it. I seriously think I'm blessed that I don't have shit readers that are biased or distaste the storyline (as in child rape and abuse – not saying anyone should REALLY like it).

But yeah, blessed and loved and loving.

I meant to get this out last night, but my BFF was watching a horror movie and needed a little reassurance, so, being the fuckawesome friend I am, ran over there to watch it with her.

"Your first kiss? Really?" Edward asked, eyes wide in surprise. It made my cheeks warm as I nodded. "Wow, now I feel like an ass."

I laughed shortly. "Its not that you're an ass," I told him slowly. "You just do things without thinking. Yeah, I already know that about you."

Edward smiled slyly. "It's a family trait, so be warned." I smiled slightly, secretly wanting to know what he meant by that but still too afraid to ask. "I'll make it up to you though, Bella, I promise. Now I feel like shit too, knowing that I ruined it for you. That whole special, first thing," he added, embarrassingly rubbing the back of his neck.

Even that made me feel more heat. I swear that one day, I will pass out from this defect. "Make what up to me?" I asked excitedly, repeating his words in my head as I knew exactly what they meant. And even that small hidden message he probably didn't even intend. But I felt it, heard it, knew it, and the new happiness in my stomach almost made me sick.

"The kiss." His eyes wouldn't meet mine. "You know...give you a real first kiss. I feel bad that I ruined your first."

I felt like a child beside a man. Making sure things were perfect because I was so incapable to doing it myself. How do you know I want to? I wanted to be coy with him, like I saw on TV, and I almost wished I looked like Megan Fox, with all those sultry features and impeccable confidence. But no, I'm small, shy, eating away inside from pain, and not sure what to say in any daily conversation. So I kept it as myself, simple, bland. Boring.

"Okay."

The twins were down, one in Alice's room and the other in Edward's, surrounded by pillows. However, I still worried. "Did you hear that?" I asked, nudging Edward's rib.

"No," he said unfazed. I sat back on the couch and sighed, crossing my arms. Edward side-glanced at me and also sighed. "It's a car door, Bella. Guess who's home?"

I'd be lying if I said my heart didn't do a weird thumping thing. Edward's siblings were already home and spread around, doing their own thing, but I already knew well before it happened, that the car was his parents. It felt like my anxious heart did a final thud and then it just stopped. Completely gone.

"Okay, you need to breath." I exhaled loudly, putting my hand over my heart. "Its my dad, okay? Keep breathing, you've already met him and he knows you're here. Relax."

I glowered at him. "You always tell me to relax and its funny how it never even relaxes me." He actually had the nerve to roll his eyes at me. "You know, Edward, its not very nice to be so flippant when I'm nervous. I hate being on edge, I've lived on the edge. But sense I've taken a few steps back from it now, I don't want to go back."

Edward looked up at me and his face softens slightly. "You make me feel like such a dick, Bella," he muttered, shaking his head. "Your so sensitive and I'm the opposite."

"Uh, not really," I disagreed after some thought. "I don't think you'd have been taking care of me and the girls if you were an insensitive dick." Edward's green eyes widened like he just realized something. So wide I thought they would fall in his lap. "Uh, Edward, are you okay? Should I go get someone..."

He blinked rapidly before laughing at his own stupidity, which was my guess. "No, its just...damn, you, like, don't swear and that was..." He drifted off quickly as if the word just wasn't coming to mind.

"Horrible?"

"Profound," he decided, nodding his head appraisingly.

I rolled my eyes at him, because he knew why I didn't swear: the girls. I didn't want a four year old coming up to me and telling me to eff-off. What kind of parent would even want that?

After a few minutes of quiet shuffling, I heard a voice behind us. "Hey Edward." A pause. "Oh, Bella, hello. Nice to see you again. What brings you around here?" I meekly turned around to face Mr. Cullen, gave a small smile and offered my own greetings, consciously nudging Edward with my knee.

"Oh, Dad, Bella and I kinda have to talk to you." The moment the hesitation crept into Edward's voice, Carlisle's face turned into exhaustion. Like he had been anticipating something and now that it is finally here, its killing him.

"Oh, Edward, what did you do?" Carlisle sighed, exasperated. His eyes only barely flickered to mine, where I was frozen with a non-descript emotion, before settling on his son.

Edward's face was that of sicken horror. "I didn't do anything!" he objected, looking on the verge of a heart attack. I nudged him again for his outburst. "There's just something's that really need to be talked about," Edward added, his red face fading with the calmness.

Carlisle scratched the back of his head, and my eyes widened from the similarities between father and son. "I'm so sorry, Bella, for my assumptions." Carlisle's smile totally dazzled me to no end. I nodded numbly. "So, what is it we need to talk about?"

"Um, can we talk in private?" I suggested quietly, looking between Carlisle and Edward. Edward had sympathy for me, Carlisle had confusion.

"In the basement," Carlisle said slowly, gesturing forward. "Just let me change and I'll meet you two down there, okay? And we can discuss this, whatever this is." I almost felt bad for this burden but I really didn't want to go back that big, bad house. What if they showed up there, then what would I do? Oh God, I couldn't even image what would happen if I fell into that situation.

Edward pulled me up from the couch by the hand and softly hugged me into his side. My shoulder felt stiff against side as he walked me toward the stairs, and I wondered if he could feel how shy and not used to this I was, though he was probably so comfortable that it made me even more uncomfortable.

We sat side by side on the couch, probably closer than friends would, me leaned in his side and pressed so close to him. I didn't feel worried about where the twins were, if they were awake, if they were okay, if Melly was okay, because Edward had this calming urge about him. Maybe it only worked on me. Maybe I was just imagining and I just liked being around him.

Well, of course I did.

I felt a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach when Edward kissed me again, except it was much longer now. It was a good feeling. It made me smile against his amazing, soft, luscious, red lips, which in turn, made him grin. We pulled apart, laughing quietly, noses just grazing each other.

I pulled completely away when I heard footsteps. Edward frowned, nodded slightly and sat back. Extracting his body from mine. I exhaled in disappointment.

The closeness was amazing.

"Are we ready to talk?" Carlisle asked, settling down in the chair across from us. He had changed into jeans and a T-shirt. He looked so handsome.

"Yes," I replied quietly, nudging Edward again. This was all up to him because I didn't know what to say, not to mention the fact that this was his whole idea. There were a few moments of silence where I glanced between both of them, while they exchanged glances as well. Awkward. "Edward, go," I finally urged, hitting him in the ribs.

He rolled his eyes. Again. "Okay, Dad," he began, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "There's a situation at Bella's house and she needs a place to stay for awhile." He paused, glancing at me and I gave him a look I hope said, That's it? Edward turned back to Carlisle, who's eyes continued to flicker between the two of us. "Bella and the girls have nowhere else to go, Dad, and they need a place to live for awhile."

"Wait, hold up." Carlisle held his hand out. "What's going on that you need a place, Bella?"

My eyes widened at the fear of justifying this whole situation. Edward jumped in when he realized I didn't know what I was saying. "Well, you see—"

"Ah, no, I asked Bella," his father interrupted sharply. "Please continue, Bella."

"Oh, um, my, uh, parents...they left, for good," I finally blurted, looking at the carpet like it was a wonder in itself. Who cared anymore? I felt sick of hiding some of this stuff, the abuse aside. I would never admit to abuse but the fact that my parents left, it couldn't hide.

I think this is when the epiphany hit me.

Charlie and Renee left. They said they wouldn't be coming back. I had a short supply of money that would not keep well enough for us to live, food aside. One day, in a few months, we would be sitting in the cold, wrapped in blankets, starving. I needed help, and why hadn't I seen this before? I needed help so bad. I could potentially be killing the girls and myself.

"I really need help," I told him, pleaded. "A place to stay...but I really do need help. Please."

Carlisle had this soft look in his eyes, one I was counting on now. I counted on Edward's family, which scared me just about as much as the prospect of my parents coming back. "I heard that Chief Swan left," he mused thoughtfully, "but didn't hear why. Your parents left, Bella?" I nodded. "Where? When?"

"Um, a week ago, two weeks ago...I, uh, can't really remember. They went to Florida, I guess, and took my little sister, Caitlyn." A tear fell down my cheek, I didn't even know I was crying. "She's the oldest of the four."

"Oh my God," Carlisle moaned, cradling his head in his hands, groaning out quiet words. I looked at Edward for a little reassurance. Apprehension filled me. What if he called the police and Child Protective Services came to separate the girls and I? Oh God... Carlisle jumped from the chair, saying, "We have to call the police."

"No!" Edward practically yelled. I gave him a sour look. "You can't, Dad, damn it, don't do something stupid. The police will take the girls away..."

"Where are they now?"

"Emma and Sophie are sleeping, and Alice has Melinda," I replied uneasily.

"Well, what else are we going to do?" Carlisle asked impatiently. "We can't just...let Bella go back to an empty house, Edward. What are you even thinking, you both should have brought this up the moment it happened! Sweet God, go get me the phone, Edward, I am dealing with this right now." Edward didn't move. "Edward Cullen, right now!"

I don't think I was part of this conversation.

He flinched slightly. "No Dad, you don't get it. You can't call in or they'll put them all in foster homes, separate them or something like that." I sat back in the sofa to watch this exchange a little more comfortably, not being able to tell which direction this was going. "It will be a huge mess or whatever."

Carlisle scowled at his son, turning around and heading for the bar, saying something about needing a stiff drink. I watched as he poured himself one before offering both Edward and I a little something. Edward agreed as he flopped his head back on the couch, spread his arms and legs out in exhaustion. When Carlisle's back was turned, I leaned over and kissed Edward's cheek.

"Bella? Anything?" Carlisle asked attentively.

"Ah, no, I don't drink." I think I still flushed red for the prospect of being caught.

He nodded slowly as he walked back over to the chair, plopping down with his drink, which had to be gone in a few seconds, after handing Edward a glass. I didn't like that Edward drank but at least it was monitored.

Carlisle cleared his throat. "So let's try this one more time: Edward, what are you thinking then? Not calling the police is going to cause a lot of issues in the future. In Bella's future and her sisters'. Especially with college about eleven months away, Bella can't afford any mess ups here."

"I know that, Dad, but can she stay here with the girls for a while?" Edward asked again. "Like, they can't just stay there..."

"Why did your parents even leave, Bella?" Carlisle asked dubiously. I don't think he didn't believe me, maybe he was just confused. I hoped this wasn't his way of letting me down easy.

I shrugged. "I don't really know, actually, they just up and left; told me they wouldn't even see me again. Took Caitlyn too," I added quietly.

He let out a long, drawling breath, toying with the sound of his rings against the glass. "We will have to wait until your mother gets home to talk about this, Edward."

"About what?" I asked curiously.

"About Bella's residence here."

I have to leave it there. *insert smiley face*

So you all reviewed on my "chapter" and got me over the desired number, which, in turn, has made "Responsibilities" my most reviewed story! I am so happy, I can't even express it...

And this story has over 31, 000 hits! Damn it, I'm so happy, I can't even... And I just want to say, Lilly, who wasn't signed in [ :( ] gave me the best review EVER. It was just so sweet, made my day; I'm feeling a little sick with a head cold but she totally brightened my spirits. I'm so happy right now. The number of reviews, the number of hits, and Lilly.

The reviews are completely phenomenal. I love them so much! So why don't people review? Aha, a lot of people have me on alert and this story on alert but I get roughly 20 reviews a chapter, though there are many, many alerts!

EVERYONE REVIEW! Review Review Review Review! I really need to know where you guys are standing on this story because I am VERY self-conscious about it.

Love Glitter :D

Get me over 360 reviews for Caitlyn's safety and Edward and Bell kisses!