A/N: Many thanks for the lovely reviews! The monkey was dancing. Literally. I am seriously considering keeping a list of your creative ways for Renee to die. You guys are amazing. She has no idea the animosity you hold for her. And I love it. muahahah.

Thanks to Sl33pyBrows3r for reviewing every flippin' chapter.

MarchHare5 and twicrack83 deserve more topless Edwards covered in drywall dust. I send Edward love. What would be even better if you go and read their awesome stories! woot!

Thanks to nowforruin! MsWDarcy! Hazel! *nuzzles from a certain Cullen*

Warning: adult content and violence. **Mention of physical and sexual assault. **

Disclaimer: all recognizable characters and Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer, the rest is copyrighted 2010 ElspethGordie

xoxo

Chapter Twenty-one: Confidence

Opening the door, I stepped back, shocked.

"Isabella!" my mother cried.

My body was frozen as she threw her arms around me and hugged me tight to her chest.

"Oh, my, you are getting so big! I've decided to come and help with the baby. You can't have a baby without your mother!" She beamed as she placed her hands on my growing tummy.

"Baby?" I heard Emmett gasp a few yards behind me.

I turned to find Emmett standing stock still, his eyes wide and mouth fixed. His eyes flickered between me, my mother, and my belly.

Alice stood a few feet behind him with intense concern etched on her face. She seemed lost as to what to do or what to say.

But worst of all was Edward standing in the doorframe of the kitchen with a murderous look directed at Renee.

Firetruck.

That's right. Double Firetruck.

I took another step back, almost tripping over my crutches. Fortunately, Emmett was still frozen in shock and didn't try to catch me.

I waved my arms in the air like wings, catching my balance.

My mother laughed. "Well, you haven't gotten any more graceful." She set down her purse on the atrium table and casually brushed at her clothing, smoothing out the wrinkles.

Finally, my brain caught up and I said, "Mom, what are you doing here?"

She smiled condescendingly at me. But before she got a chance to respond, Edward was standing in front of me glaring menacingly at my mother.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" he growled.

Renee blanched for a moment, but nothing fazed her. She placed her hand on her hip, asking, "Excuse me?"

"How dare you come here? After what you've put Bella through?"

Renee laughed insincerely. "I'm Isabella's mother and I'm here because she needs me." She gestured to me with her hand. "Just look at her."

Edward stared at her, obviously frustrated with his lack of intimidation. She took the time to close the door behind her and looked around like she owned the place.

"Not bad. I'm surprised that Charlie has done so well with himself." She leaned conspiratorially towards us. "He never really did have a knack for anything but police work."

I heard a growl rumble out of Edward's throat. His back was rigid, and I could barely see over his shoulder to Renee. He kept positioning himself between us every time she moved.

"You ditched her!" His voice was sharp. "She trusted you, and you didn't stand by her!"

Renee's head snapped to Edward's face. I could see her inner bitch emerge. "Who do you think you are questioning me about my own daughter? I was doing what was right for her!" She looked at me pointedly over his shoulder. "And if she is not going to follow my good advice then I'll have to go along with whatever disaster she brings on herself."

Her eyes returned to his face, and they had what I could only imagine to be an intense staring competition. Neither was moving, barely breathing.

The room was eerily silent like the stillness before a storm. Like the quiet after a screeching crow falls. Like the emptiness of a deserted house.

"A baby?" Emmett broke the silence.

I turned to find figurative steam blowing from Emmett's ears. Alice was ineffectively trying to pull him out of the room and into the kitchen. She also looked to be mumbling something into her cell phone or maybe she was just trying to calm Emmett down.

"Whoa, whoa, hold your horses. Bella? A baby?" he said, as he waved his arms at us to keep our attention. Alice gave up trying to move him, moving alone into the kitchen and talking frantically.

I nodded at Emmett but quickly remembered my mother and turned to find her watching us in unabashed amusement.

"Ho-ly shit. What the hell?" Emmett exclaimed to himself more than anyone else. His head snapped up, asking Edward, "Did you know about this, man?"

I looked to find Edward closer than he was before, protectively inches away. His jaw was tight. His dentist was not going to be pleased with all the recent teeth grinding.

Stiffly, Edward answered, "I just found out, Em. Yesterday."

My mother began to cackle, sounding more and more like the wicked witch of the west. She tried to cover her mouth, but eventually gave up, leaning backwards and laughing towards the ceiling.

"Oh, this is rich. You boys didn't know that Isabella got herself knocked up?"

What a fraking bitch.

I stepped out from behind Edward and crossed my arms. "What are you doing here, Renee?"

Her eyes narrowed at the use of her name. "Just as I said, to help."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm only twenty weeks. If I wanted your help it wouldn't be needed for a long while. And you had your chance. You made yourself very clear before I left."

She sighed dramatically, "I was upset. You know I didn't mean it."

I snorted. Yeah, sure.

"And actually, I was hoping to bring you home. Your baby is going to need his father."

"What!" Edward exploded.

I held a hand out, placing it on his chest. Immediately, he placed his own hand on top of it. I looked deep into his eyes, watching the anger, frustration, and rage swirl like a mist.

"Let me, please," I asked quietly.

He nodded, but kept my hand in his own, holding it down at our sides, a united front. He was with me.

"First of all, Mother, Jimmy is not a father. He is a rapist," I spat. "And over my dead body will he ever come near us again."

Renee raised her hands in mock frustration. "You still insist on keeping up with that dramatic charade? I know you had a traumatic event, but there is no reason to blame poor Jimmy. You don't know how worried he's been for you."

She took a seat in the nearest chair, not concerned with the confrontational nature of our discussion. "He wanted to come and get you himself, but I talked him out of it."

He knew where I was?

I gasped. Couldn't he get the picture? Was he so dense to think that I might actually take him back? What did he want? Hadn't he taken enough?

Edward reached his arms around my sides, gently resting on my middle. He spoke quietly into my ear as we both watched Renee warily. I felt as if Jimmy was going to jump out from behind her chair or suitcase any minute.

"Bella, if you don't want him to he'll never come near you again. I will make sure you're safe, and your baby is safe."

I leaned back into him, accepting his comfort and protection.

I slowly inhaled, taking in Edward's sweet scent, resting in his presence, his support. I levelly looked at Renee.

"I am not coming back to Washington."

She looked up at me, almost shocked at my unwavering confidence. I'd never been one to stand up for myself. I was a follower. I was flexible. I did what was needed of me. I always placed her first. Her needs, her wants, her desires.

My loyalties had changed.

"Isabella—" she began again.

Before she could continue, the door flew open a second time in a half hour, and we all looked to see who was there.

Part of me felt like she had lied, and Jimmy was waiting. Waiting to pounce and take me away.

To my relief Charlie stood in the doorway, with Emmett's father behind him. I winced as I looked at his face, because it gave Edward's murderous look a run for its money.

"Renee," Charlie growled.

She stood, brushing imaginary lint off her skirt. For the first time I took in what she was wearing. She had on her typical eighties throwback skirt, a neon pink torn t-shirt, and a leather tassel vest, topped off with cowboy boots. It was as if she had tried to fit in with her idea of southwestern attire.

It was atrocious.

"Charlie, it's nice to see you." She nodded politely.

Charlie didn't even blink over her ensemble, but neither had I when it mattered, nor did he acknowledge her pleasantries.

"Renee, can I speak with you outside?"

She crossed, "Or what? You gonna arrest me?"

He smirked, "I could always charge you with child abuse or negligence."

Renee glared at him, but flounced through the doorway to the front lawn, past Charlie and Detective McCarty.

Charlie glanced at me, seemingly apologetic, and shut the door behind him.

I turned to survey the room, and my friends. I found I was still in Edward's arms and had to extricate myself to look for Emmett and Alice.

I leaned into Edward, smiling, and he quietly kissed the top of my head before I pulled away to find Emmett sitting on the floor against the lazy boy chair. Alice was propped behind him, gently patting his shoulder.

"Well, that was exciting. Anyone want a glass of water?" I offered flippantly.

Both Alice and Emmett looked at me with chagrin. I meekly smiled, shrugging my shoulders. I asked Edward to pick up my crutches that I somehow dropped.

He handed them to me, following me into the kitchen. As he watched me get a glass of water, he asked, "What was that?"

I loved the impersonal pronoun.

"That was Renee. As for everything else, your guess is as good as mine. I told you everything." I shook my head. "She had a revelation or vision or whatever, and now wants to help."

He gripped the counter top, still dusty from the unfinished construction in the room. "How can you say that? After what you told me?"

I sighed and took a sip of my water. "You have to understand Renee. She's a very passionate person and will act the way she feels is right… whether it is or not."

Edward looked like he was going to burst or at least ruin his recent dry wall work when Emmett and Alice trailed into the kitchen. Emmett flopped into a kitchen chair, staring blankly at the ground. I felt bad. Poor guy looked like I'd just trampled his new toy, then again I guess I had.

Trying to lighten the mood, I said, "Anyone wanna listen to Katy Perry?"

Edward looked disapprovingly at me, while Alice tried not to laugh. Emmett just asked, "Really, Bella?"

I winced. "Sorry."

His teddy bear face was still blank in shock. I set a glass of water in front on him, hoping it would help. "Can I ask a question?" he almost whispered.

I agreed.

"Baby?"

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Rape?"

I winced, but nodded. I hated that word. It was so raw, embarrassing, and fresh, like the wound was open and still bleeding. I could use it myself, but hearing it in reference to me, accepting that word for an identification of who I was, broke my heart a little.

"You see things, don't you? If I touch you? If anyone but Edward?"

He was much more perceptive than I thought. He figured it all out without anyone's help. He didn't need me to walk through the dirty story, pass by pass, but somehow knew.

"Yeah. How did you know?"

He cocked one eyebrow. "Bellarina, I see things. More than anyone realizes. I guess that the whole baby thing isn't that much of a surprise, but I'd talked myself out of it as an option. I've been thinking about this for a while."

My face stretched in surprise. "Oh."

He smiled, his goofy Emmett smile. "I've got an eye on you, Bells." He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "So, what's the plan? How are we gonna make this bastard pay?"

Edward took this moment to chime in. "I call dibs on castration."

"I have a list of gruesome ideas that I've been coming up with." Alice smiled evilly, bouncing from foot to foot. "You can take your pick."

I rolled my eyes. "Guys, I want nothing to do with him for the rest of my life."

Emmett gave Edward and Alice a scheming look and used some weird hand signal, that looked military, but could have just been stolen from a movie. I interpreted it as later.

I shivered at the thought of them going up against him. They had no idea of what he was capable. I wasn't even sure what he – would do if given the chance. His treatment of me was more than that of an abusive boyfriend. It was more than possessiveness and attempted ownership. His continual stalking as well as his desire to still have me, after everything, was delusional.

He tried to see me only once after the incident.

It didn't go well.

I stared at the computer, tired and worn out over the possibilities ahead of me. I'd spent all day searching the internet for options for me, for my baby. Mom was pushing me to have an abortion, but it had only been a week since I found out. I wasn't ready to make that kind of decision yet.

Any kind of information I ran across told me what was growing inside me wasn't a baby yet, that it was my choice. But I couldn't help but think they were wrong. Despite the conception, despite my circumstances, should my whims and desires dictate the eradication of a possible life? If I did agree with the research, this growth would become a baby; it wouldn't become anything else. So, if I let it go its natural course a baby would come to be.

Part of me felt that if this baby wasn't meant to be, something would happen that would stop everything. I was glad to be alive; who was to say seventeen years from now a boy or girl wouldn't say the same thing.

I shook my head confused. I didn't know what to think or what to do. I felt pushed and pulled in so many directions, but I couldn't shake this feeling that I was having a baby and I should give him or her a chance.

I leaned my head back against my desk chair and stared at my bedroom ceiling. I'd stared at this ceiling more than I cared to admit. There were exactly forty-seven cracks and twenty-one stains.

Pushing the chair away from my worn wooden desk, I stood up, wincing at the lingering aches. My ribs were finally healing. They didn't hurt when I breathed or laughed, but once in a while when I moved too sharply the telltale pain was triggered. I wondered if my body would one day tell me when it was about to rain.

Just what I needed, prophetic bones.

I walked over to my bookshelf and pulled off Wuthering Heights. It was depressing, confusing, and held no answers. Right up my alley.

Reclining on my bed, flipping to the best parts I had dog-eared, I settled into soaking up someone else's pain for once. It was nice to escape my own.

I was barely a few pages in when Mom knocked on the door.

"Come in," I called.

"Isabella, I have a visitor for you." She cracked the door and peeked her head in. "Are you decent?"

I sat up on my bed, scooting to the edge and swinging my legs over. "Yeah, who is it?"

She bit her lip and looked at me apologetically. "It's someone who I think you need to make up with." She held up hands to ward off a future attack. "I know you were hurt, but in light of recent events I think this drama has gone on far too long."

"What did you do?" My voice was low, almost gravelly.

"He's downstairs, sitting at the kitchen table. He wants to apologize for letting you get mugged that night. I keep telling him that he couldn't have known that you'd get attacked, but he's adamant."

My breathing increased. He was here. He was in this house. He was only downstairs. He could reach me. He could hurt me again.

Tears began pooling in my eyes, the terror too close to push away.

Renee, I couldn't call her Mom anymore, breeched the threshold of my room. "Isabella, I didn't tell him about your problem, but I think you should. It's his responsibility too. He should at least pay to get it fixed."

The water spilled over onto my face; I could taste the salt.

"You let him come here? You invited him?"

"Izz, please be grown up about this," she whined.

"Grown up? How could you believe them? Him? Over your own daughter?"

I scrambled back across my bed using it as a barrier between us. My hands were shaking. In fact, my entire body was shaking. I couldn't make it stop. I tried to breathe in slowly through my nose and out through my mouth like that effing stupid shrink told me to.

That was the only helpful advice he told me. He was all about "giving up my fantastical delusions and dealing with my life."

Firetruck him.

"Isabella!" Renee moved further into the room, reaching her arms out for me in comfort or entrapment I couldn't tell. "There were witnesses! The mugger was arrested. The poor bum confessed. He's in prison for goodness sake, not that you helped! You can't keep blaming Jimmy. Everyone's first time is awful, but it is not rape!"

She looked at me in rage, over her hurt pride or sensibilities. She turned on her heel and left the room, only turning back to say, "I'm not telling him to leave. You are going to have to face him sooner or later. And I've decided it's now."

Renee slammed the door behind her.

I leaped over the bed, using dexterity I didn't even know I had to lock the door as soon as it was shut. I also grabbed my desk chair and stuck it under the doorknob. I'd seen it done on movies or TV shows. I hoped it worked.

I propped my back against the furthest wall from the door, hugging my legs. I stared at the door. Waiting, it was the only thing I could do.

I didn't have to wait long. It only took ten minutes for Jimmy to make it up the stairs and knock on my door.

I didn't respond.

"Izz? Come on, baby. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of it to happen."

I could hear him sigh.

I remained silent. Fraking douchebag. Who did he think he was? I had seen him at frustrating, bad, and worst. There was no way I was ever letting him near me again. If I could have gotten a restraining order, I would have.

"Isabella, baby, you know I didn't mean any of it. I just want to talk to you, face to face. I deserve at least that much with all the crap you spread about me." His voice got hard. I could tell he was angry. "Do you know what my dad had to do to make it go away? You could've ruined us! I love you too much, baby, to let you do that. We are forever."

His fist pounded on the door. "You cannot leave me. Not after all we've been through."

I heard his angry footsteps go down the stairs and out the door.

I'd been biting my lip. I licked my lips, finding blood. I gagged at the taste and ran for the bathroom attached to my room, heaving into the toilet.

When I was finished, I wiped my mouth and face, cleaning the tear streaks from it.

I promised myself in that moment that no matter what I wanted nothing to do with Jimmy Crawford for the rest of my life.

Alice snapped her fingers in front of my face. I'd dazed off. I smiled, embarrassed.

Before she could repeat what I missed, we heard the front door open and slam behind someone. I flinched into my chair, remembering Jimmy's fist on my bedroom door. Edward moved to me, putting his hands on my shoulders. I instantly felt grounded.

Jimmy wasn't here. Edward wouldn't let anything happen to me.

Alice, Charlie, and Emmett wouldn't let anything happen either. I had to trust them. There was nothing else I could do.

Charlie entered the kitchen, looking frustrated and defeated. That didn't sit well with me.

Renee was right behind him.

I was shocked. I'd thought that Charlie was on my side, that he would take care of her. I felt betrayed.

I glared at him first then her.

I promised myself that I would never let anything like this happen to my baby. My child was more important than my pride, position, friends, or even my life. I would lay it all down.

"Isabella, your attitude needs to shape up." Renee tried to sound motherly and failed entirely. She sounded petty and self-absorbed, just like she was.

Edward was already standing behind me. Alice and Emmett took this moment to flank me on both sides, just like they had the first day I'd arrived and I'd tried to explain myself to the Cullen's. They were just as unwavering in their loyalty today as they had been that day when they didn't know anything at all.

Confident in their support, I continued to glare, protectively placing a hand on my stomach, enclosing my most precious possession.

Renee rolled her eyes. "Relax, tell your posse to stand down. I'm leaving in the morning." She snidely indicated my father. "Charlie has kindly allowed me to sleep on the couch."

I narrowed my eyes at Charlie.

He didn't back down. He looked directly back into my stare answering my challenge.

"Bella, why don't you stay with Alice tonight?"

Alice placed her hand on my arm. "Yeah, Bells, why don't you stay with me tonight? We can have a fun girls' night!" Her enthusiasm sounded forced.

Renee didn't like this idea. I was pretty sure she thought she'd won when Charlie agreed to let her stay till the following day. He was one step ahead of her.

I shouldn't have doubted him.

"Whoa, wait. I thought Isabella," she looked pointedly at Charlie, "and I would have time to catch up! We haven't talked in ages."

Edward snorted. "I wonder why that is?"

Renee placed a hand on her hip, cocking it. "Excuse me?"

Charlie held up two hands, holding them off. I was glad. Renee always enjoyed a dirty fight. He nodded at Alice, who then proceeded to pull me out of the room.

Renee stepped out of the doorway, and I tried not to look at her as I passed, failing. I knew that she wasn't actually trying to be mean-spirited. She really believed the police and the doctors and everyone else.

She believed them over me.

Renee looked truly hurt over my rejection of her "bonding" time. I knew her too well. There would be less bonding and catching up, and more trying to convince me to do things her way.

I was not taking the bite.

Alice pulled me mostly into the living room when I had to stop and catch myself from falling. Damn scorpion.

I turned to see Edward standing perilously close to Renee. Fortunately his voice was loud enough to hear, probably louder than he intended.

"You call yourself a mother? How do you live with yourself? Stay away from Bella. Don't call, don't visit unless she initiates contact." He leaned closer. "Do you understand?"

She had an unusual expression on her face. She looked scared.

"Understand?" his voice rose.

Charlie warned, "Edward."

Edward didn't give Charlie a glance, instead staring at my mother with disgust before stomping away. His face stayed stony, but gently took my hand in his.

Alice emerged from the hallway with an overnight bag already ready. I was taken aback with her speed. It was like I'd only turned away for a moment.

She skipped to us. "You ready?"

I nodded.

Emmett was at the front door and held it open for us. He smiled encouragingly.

I squeezed Edward's hand before letting go to take my crutches. I followed Emmett and Alice out of the house, never once looking back at my mother.

You know how it goes... ;)

Recs:

FoxFire by WoodLily - Who needs Midnight Sun when we have this beautiful rendition of Twilight from Epov. Honestly, it's that good.
Summary: "Bella Swan was beautiful to me. The realization of that moment stung me worse than venom ever could." Edward's Twilight, but it's not Midnight Sun. Will journey into AU. Rated M for language & sexual content. The action begins with the flight to Alaska.

Angel in the Attic by closettwilighter - I really like her take on vampire mating, how it is just as immediate and permanent as wolves imprinting.
Summary: What if Alice saw Bella coming? What if Edward was waiting for her knowing she belonged to him? What he is, isn't the only thing Edward is hiding. "The repeat button in my head was stuck. As my siblings and I walked to the cafeteria my mind would not be distracted from this one overriding thought: Would she know it was me?"

BTW - Be sure to check out my blog! elspethgordie(.)xanga(.)com