A/N: Thanks to everyone for their wonderful reviews/comments/subscriptions. I wish I could reply to each and everyone, but with life in the way, I feel that you'd rather have me write, right? ;) Christmas cookies for all!

Thanks to MarchHare5 and twicrack83! Unfortunately, just because I teach English doesn't mean my own grammar is perfect. These ladies own me.

Thanks to nowforruin!

Warning: adult content and violence. **Mention of physical and sexual assault. ** This is not for readers under 18! Forewarning: violence and sexual material!

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

xoxo

Chapter 28: Calculation

Edward and I sat in the kitchen talking through our fail-safe plans. He had a bank account that held almost five thousand dollars from summer jobs and a left-over inheritance from his grandmother.

I had two thousand dollars, my pitiful college fund, which I imagine would deplete rapidly with the expenses a baby would bring. I'd always planned on getting some kind of job to replenish what would be lost, but the exhaustion of life and pregnancy had gotten in the way.

Our money combined could buy us some time... as long as the birth went well. I shook my head to erase the cloud of doom I felt hovering. If I started thinking about all the things that could go wrong I'd never move forward.

If things went bad here, as long as we got back to Phoenix, Edward knew a guy that could hook us up with some stuff. I asked how a good guy like him, or who he'd been before last spring, would "know a guy." He scoffed and said that he was a nerd; if he had enough time and a laminator he could be "the guy" himself. But we couldn't assume we'd have time, so... he "knew a guy."

I kept repeating to myself that this was just in case. Charlie still had witnesses, the police had my photos, and I was still pregnant.

Around ten, Ali trudged downstairs, resembling a troll. Her hair was literally sticking up everywhere. I didn't know hair that long could do that. I smiled at her, and she returned it with the stink eye.

"Good morning, sunshine. And here I thought that you were the morning person."

"Har har. I am a morning person when I actually sleep." She slumped into the kitchen chair across from me and laid her head on the table.

I looked at Edward who was smirking, and barely succeeded to withhold a giggle. "You looked sound asleep a few hours ago."

"Doesn't feel like it," she groaned.

"You were sleepin', darlin'. We all heard it." Jasper appeared showered and dressed and entirely amused.

Edward scoffed, and I bit my lip. Ali glared at Jazz. "What do you mean?"

He smiled, eyes lit up in teasing. "Nothing, darlin'. How 'bout we get this girl some coffee?"

I moved to stand, but Edward pushed me back down. "I can get it," he said. "Just walk me through it."

While Edward made coffee, I talked Ali and Jasper through the events of yesterday. They were kind enough not to mention my outburst.

"So witnesses, eh?" Jasper rubbed his chin.

"Stupid cowards should have spoken up sooner." Alice grumbled into her coffee. The glint in Edward's eye showed that he agreed.

"Anyway, Jimmy claims they won't help us. So what's plan B?"

"Won't help? Why?" Jasper interjected.

I pursed my lips. "I assume that Renee leaked the information."

"Friggin' bitch!" Ali exclaimed. She stood up, ready for a fight. "Where is she? It's time I took her down a flippin' peg."

"We haven't seen Charlie and Renee since we got up," Edward answered for me. He gave her a look that said they needed to make plans. I rolled my eyes. I was through with my mother; if she was against us—fine. I would have to learn to deal with it eventually.

I waved my hands in the air to get everyone's attention. "Guys! Back to the problem, please. He-who-shall-not-be-named claims that he has my witnesses in his back pocket. What are we going to do?"

I looked at Edward, who looked at Jasper, who looked at Alice. The looks were not encouraging.

"Brainstorms? Anyone? Take down the evil SOB who wants to set up house with me?" I searched.

Edward shot me a look; he didn't think my comment was very amusing. He may have even growled. I smiled, because in the midst of everything, his growl made me tingle. I would need to think up ways to hear it again.

Moving the conversation forward, Edward asked exasperatedly, "Alice, any brilliant plans stewing in that malicious little mind of yours?"

"It's not little!" she retorted.

We all looked at Alice with anticipation, and she stared blankly back. "Why are you all looking at me? Shouldn't we be telling Charlie and hearing what his plan is? Isn't he the mastermind behind this whole expedition? He has to have some kind of back-up plan."

Edward and I exchanged a glance at her last words. Jasper broke in before I could respond. "It's all right, darlin'. You just normally have all the great ideas."

Alice looked a little bit better at his compliment. "Well, before I start scheming we should talk to Charlie." She looked to me.

I shrugged my shoulders, trying not to look as concerned as I felt. "They weren't here when we woke up, and we haven't heard from them."

"Maybe you should call him?" She looked at me like it was the obvious answer.

I patted my sweats for my phone, but realized it was up-stairs. I stood to go get it.

"I'll get it, Bella. Upstairs?" Edward pointed.

I shook my head and waved him away. "I need to get dressed anyway. Give me a few minutes, 'kay?" I headed to the bottom of the stairs, and called behind me, "There's cereal in the cupboard next to the fridge, and the bowls are above the microwave. Help yourself." I heard feet shuffle to where I specified.

Once I got up-stairs I decided to take a quick shower. I felt grimy and tired from last night, and figured everyone could wait a few more minutes. It wasn't as if I primped like Ali.

I found my phone on my nightstand; someone must have put it there last night. I sent off a quick text asking Charlie where he was, before I hopped in the shower. By the time I got out I had received a reply. He and Renee went out for breakfast, but they'd be back soon. My face scrunched when I read it. Charlie and Renee eating... together. Weird.

I got dressed in jeans, belly band, and a long sleeved maternity blouse. I threw a sweater over top. My temperature was all over the place these days; one second I was cold, the next I was sweating.

I reemerged down-stairs to find Edward, Alice, and Jasper, but they weren't alone. On the other side of the table from my three friends, sitting like she was living through the Spanish Inquisition sat my oldest friend.

Her long, light brown hair hung wavy at her sides. She gripped the glass of water in front of her tightly, but it was still full like she hadn't taken a sip. Her hazel eyes flashed from Edward, to Alice, to Jasper and then back again.

She was smaller than the last time I saw her, like she'd lost weight. A pang of concern rang in my chest. She had always been smaller than me, and this kind of weight loss couldn't be healthy.

I cleared my throat as I entered the room, and all four pairs of eyes turned to look at me.

She jumped up out of her chair. "Izzy!"

"Bree," I replied.

She rushed across the room, crashing into me with a hug. She squeezed me tightly as I awkwardly patted her back. Each of my friends shared the same look on their face, asking me if I wanted them to pry her off. Alice actually looked like she wanted to bodily fling her across the room.

"I'm soo soo soooo sorry, Iz." I peeled her off me to find her face twisted and contrite.

"Bree, what are you doing here?"

"I've been getting texts since last night! And I had to know! I had to see you, to find out if what everyone is saying is true."

I looked at her carefully. Her face was tight in anxiety. I recognized that look; something was definitely not right. I gently placed my hands on her shoulders, like Alice had once done to me. "What's going on, Bree?"

She looked back over her shoulder, at my three imposing body-guards, and shook her head minutely.

"Come on, Bree, you can tell me. You know me." I sought her face for some kind of clue or indicator to what made her rush over here after months of silence.

Bree bit her lip, chewing on the bottom with dedication, a nasty habit she got from me. She quickly glanced over her shoulder, peeking through her hair at a pissed off Alice. Ali's arms were crossed, and I was surprised she wasn't cracking her knuckles. I needed to give that girl a Valium.

Edward looked rather imposing, too. He wasn't glaring, but he didn't look friendly either. Plus his obvious hotness wasn't helping Bree at all. She never did have good composure around attractive guys.

I raised an eyebrow. "Can you guys give us a minute?"

"Bella..." Edward warned.

I squinted my eyes at him. "Edward..." I warned right back. I was a big girl.

Alice rolled her eyes at our pissing contest and grabbed Jasper's hand, pulling him out of the kitchen, with a final glare at Bree.

"I'll be fine, Edward."

His jaw jutted out. "I'll be in the next room." He crossed the room, but at the last second stopped and gently kissed me on my cheek. I grabbed his retreating hand, giving it a squeeze.

"I'll call if I need you."

He nodded once before he departed.

Bree's eyes were wide as saucers. "Oh. My. Gosh. Iz."

I smiled, unable to restrain my enthusiasm. "I know, right?"

We giggled together, like we always had.

"You have to give tme he dirt! He is like H-O-T-T! When did you snag a catch like that? And why haven't you told me?" she ended in a whine.

I immediately sobered. "Bree."

Her face dropped, and she took a step away. "Sorry, I get it."

I sighed. "Can you tell me what's going on?"

We moved to the table, sitting down next to each other. Despite everything I was happy to see her. She was familiar, a comfort, kind of like home.

She gave a little sigh of her own and began fiddling with her turtle-neck sweater. "Jeremy Smith's sister saw you and your dad going into the police station yesterday afternoon and sent a mass text to the entire school." She looked up at me apologetically; she knew how much I hated to be the center of attention. Just the thought of everyone knowing my business made me cringe.

Bree continued, "Then Kristen Coles staked out the diner across the street with her phone until you guys left. She tweeted a picture and confirmed that you were here!" Her eyes were bright and agitated.

"I couldn't believe it. I hadn't heard from you since July... since the 4th. I know that we've fallen apart, but I thought that I would know if you were here..."

She went back to twiddling with her shirt. "There's been a rumor going around that you are pregnant. I know what you told me... and I know that I didn't believe you. But I thought you'd take care of it." She looked up, pleading with me. "You were only seventeen! I never thought... and then Janie called her cousin who works at the police station as a dispatch caller, and she over-heard that you actually were pregnant!"

She shook her head, as if she were trying to convince herself of something. "I didn't know what to believe. I had to come see you. And then these people were here, and they were asking me questions! I kept telling them that I'm your best friend."

She paused for a long second. "You're pregnant, aren't you?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Iz, how could you do this?"

"Bree, I couldn't. You should see her." I smiled. "She's beautiful. And she's really active right now... Do you want feel?"

She looked at me nervously. I smiled wider. "It's okay, really."

I gently took her hand from her lap and pressed it into my belly where my girl had been thumping me all morning. I was getting so used to her movement, I never jumped anymore. I wondered if it would feel weird once she was born. I probably wouldn't have time to notice.

After a few moments, I felt a firm thump directly under Bree's hand. Her face lit up, surprised. "Isabella, that's amazing."

"I know."

Bree's face changed, anguished. "He raped you, too, didn't he?"

"Yeah."

"I should have listened; I'm sorry." She groaned, wringing her hands. "I should have known better. There's been a lot of rumors. About you, about Jimmy. You got mugged after that party, but people were saying that it wasn't a mugging. I heard you went to the police, but a lot of it was hushed up. And then you were gone."

She went back to biting her lip again. "You didn't show up to school in the fall, and everyone was whispering why." She looked me up and down, finally ending on my face. "Jimmy went to U-Dub in August, but didn't even last two weeks before he dropped out and enrolled at Peninsula College in Port Angeles."

She fell silent. I didn't know what to say. What was she trying to tell me? And why did it make me feel so anxious?

"What happened, Bree? I need to know."

At almost a whisper, she continued, "Jimmy started dating this girl in Port Angeles, Vanessa something. She's younger than you, sixteen maybe, but she looks just like you did when you started dating Jimmy." She shook her head in disgust. "It was so weird. She was quiet like you, with those big brown eyes. We saw her around at parties when he came by; it didn't look like she was having any fun, but she came anyway."

Bree paused, inspecting her shoes, her voice barely audible. "She was mugged about a month ago."

I gasped. My hand lifted involuntarily to my mouth, the other to my stomach. He was so obsessed with me, I never thought... It never occurred to me that he moved on. Even his ranting last night never indicated that he'd moved past me.

Bree kept going, "The mugger hurt her pretty badly too. Some people are saying that it wasn't a mugging. There was too much damage. Plus, they didn't find anyone, and she's saying that she doesn't remember anything."

I sat down abruptly. "Bree, is this true?"

She looked crushed, full of regret. "I thought he was harmless, a little self-absorbed, but to rape someone and get away with it?" She looked away, and spoke as if only to herself, "I would never want anything to happen to you. I didn't know that something this bad would happen...I told you not to go to that party."

My mind was going a hundred miles a second. He raped me over seven months ago, and I let it happen again. To some poor, unsuspecting girl like I had once been. But even then, I'd known better. I knew he was a douchebag bastard. I'd eradicated myself from his life, then placed my stupid, naive self in front of him the second I felt free.

But this girl, she couldn't have known. She didn't date him for years. It was my fault. I let this happen to her. I hurt her like he hurt me.

"Isabella?" Bree asked; she sounded so far away.

"Uh, guys?" Her voice screeched higher than normal.

I felt like I was in an endless loop. I could see what he did to me, but then my mind began to create what he did to her. It was like I was watching and I tried to stop it; I yelled, but no sound came out. I tried to stop him, but I couldn't move. Jimmy looked over his shoulder at me and smirked. "See, baby, we're meant to be together. I know I can count on you."

A sheet of glass separated us now. I was stuck in that room. The stucco walls, ridiculously sharp, and the ceiling fan spinning just fast enough that it couldn't be counted. Jimmy took his fist and slammed it into her face, then her gut over and over again. Once she was barely conscious, he began removing clothes.

"Bella! Snap out of it!"

My lashes fluttered; I didn't even know they'd closed. My head was in Bree's lap, and I was on the floor. I looked up to see my friends crowded around me. The football huddle had become far too familiar. I didn't enjoy seeing up my friends' noses.

"What happened?" My voice sounded weak, even to my ears. "Edward?"

"Bella, sweetheart, are you okay?" Edward was crouched over me. His forehead was creased and his eyes wide.

"Edward, it's all my fault!" My voice dropped to a whisper.

He gently gripped my face, holding my hair out of my eyes. "No, it's not your fault." He looked lost, searching Alice's worried face and Bree's guilty one.

Jasper interjected, "What are ya talkin' 'bout, Bells?"

"Jimmy, he... he... hurt someone else. I didn't stop him. I didn't stop him in time! I'm too late!" I shook my head free and tried to pull myself up from the floor.

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. You just blacked out. I don't think you should move, Bella." Alice stopped me by placing a hand on my shoulder.

I groaned, leaning back into Bree's lap.

"Is the baby okay? I tried to catch you... but you're kinda heavy," Bree said meekly behind me.

I froze, waiting. Thump. Thump. At the tell tale movement, I relaxed. "She's fine." I groaned again. "I'm fine, too. Please help me up."

"Bella—" Edward warned.

"I had a freak out! It's normal. I'm pregnant remember?" I argued erratically.

"Guys, why don't we just get her off the floor?" Jasper interjected evenly. He was standing back watching our little huddle pow-wow at a distance. Currently, he was the only one who couldn't touch me, and I think he was secretly amused. If I wasn't so keyed up emotionally, I would be amused too. Heck, I was amused.

Then, I remembered what I had freaked out about.

"Oh my gosh..." My eyes probably looked like they were going to pop out.

Alice and Edward exchanged a look and a fraction of a second later, they were both holding one of my arms and hauling me into a kitchen chair.

"He did it again, Ali. He hurt her just like he hurt me!" I leaned forward as far as I could to put my head between my knees. My stomach was an immovable obstacle; it made it virtually impossible.

"Breathe, just breathe," someone said.

"Wait!" Alice squeaked. "That's it! That's how we can fix this whole mess."

I lifted my head slowly. Ali was bouncing from foot to foot with a look of glee on her face. Edward pursed his lips. He had knelt down beside me, slowly rubbing my back. "Ali, what are you talking about?"

Jasper's face lit up, like a light bulb had come on over his head. "Darlin', you're a genius." He gave her his signature smile, and she almost became a pile of mush at his feet.

"Okay," she returned to business. "Jimmy told you that the witnesses won't testify anymore. Now, this is just hearsay until we talk to Charlie. But things disappeared, right?"

I nodded.

"Okay, so we just need to get this girl on our side." She turned to Bree, giving her a timid smile. "Can you tell us everything that you just told Bella?"

Bree bit her lip again, obviously unconvinced by Alice's sudden friendliness. I reached across the table to where she sat down and patted her hand.

"It's okay, Bree. You can trust them. I do." I gave her the look.

She sighed exasperatedly, just like she used to when we were little and she knew she'd have to give into my way. I used the look rarely, but when I did, I always won with her. "Her name is Vanessa Masen. She lives in Port Angeles and goes to the high school there. She started dating Jimmy in the beginning of September, as soon as he dropped out of U-Dub. Last month she was 'mugged,' but like I told Bella, there have been rumors that it was a cover-up. She claims that she doesn't remember anything."

"If you can talk to her, Bella, maybe she'll help you, or help herself," Alice said quietly.

"I don't know. What if she can't remember anything?" I replied.

"Anything she knows would help. Maybe she just needs you to show her how to be strong." Edward squeezed my hand. "You're the strongest person I know."

I snorted. "As long as I'm not having a random, weird, emotional breakdown."

"It may be the only way..." Alice trailed off.

I thought carefully. Maybe the witnesses would come forward for me if they knew that Jimmy had another case against him. Maybe they wouldn't be frightened away if they knew that there wouldn't be repercussions for their honesty. Maybe they would see what they would be letting loose if they knew it wasn't a one-time event "getting out of hand" with an old girlfriend. But he preyed on innocent young girls who couldn't see him for the bastard he really was.

I squeezed Edward's hand, and turned to Alice. "I may have a way to convince her." I stood slowly. "We need to stop at a one-hour photo developer before we see her."

Edward's eyebrows narrowed. I pivoted and placed a hand on his chest, he was standing so close to me. "We'll wait to talk to Charlie first, 'kay?"

"Bella, you're not the police, or a detective." His eyes pleaded with me.

"I know, but I can't let them botch this up. Plus, you'll be with me, right?" I raised an eyebrow.

He smirked. "Of course."

OoOoOoOoOo

Bree left soon afterward, promising to let us know if she heard anything important. I'd almost forgotten how amazing the gossip was in this town. It only grew exponentially with technology, like Facebook and Twitter. It was like we had our own version of Gossip Girl right here in Forks.

"Let's go sit down while we wait for Charlie. They should be back soon." Ali grabbed my hand and fussed over me while we moved to the living room. The old, faded couch was in the same position it'd always been in. A few pictures sat around the room, me and Renee and her hair-brained schemes. Some of Renee's latest projects were in the corners, a halfway knit scarf, a hand thrown vase, an almost finished scrapbook. Some old Christmas decorations from last year were still up, Renee forgot to put them away, and I had been too distracted to do it for her.

The room was a testament to Renee's personality, not intentionally cruel, just thoughtless and self-absorbed.

"Ali? Edward?" I started. "Renee didn't do it..."

Alice shook her head in confusion. Edward moved to face me from his casual inspection of our family pictures. "What?"

"The whole town knew before she even had a chance to tell Jimmy. People saw me; that's how he must have found out!"

Edward looked concerned. "You can't assume that. Your dad told her before you left for the station, right?"

I nodded, biting my lip.

Edward looked to Alice for help. "We don't want to get your hopes up. She could have been the one to tell him, or he could have found out the way Bree did."

"What about the witnesses?" Jasper spoke up. "Did Bree know about the witnesses?"

"I don't know." I shook my head. I really hoped that Renee hadn't stooped as low as I thought she did. I was probably wrong.

Alice patted my hand. "We'll just have to ask her, okay?" I nodded. "And if she did it... then I'll take her down." She smiled mischievously.

I couldn't help but giggle. "Okay, go for it."

We didn't have to wait too much longer before Charlie and Renee came through the door. Laughing. They were laughing like they enjoyed each other's company. I wanted to barf. I hauled myself off the couch and met them in the kitchen with a glare.

"Where have you been?" I accused.

Renee laughed airily, tossing her hair over one shoulder. "You know, sweets. We got breakfast, then Charlie helped me at the hardware store; you know how I've been trying to fix that bathroom sink. And he needed to stop at the station for a bit."

I gave Charlie a look that I hope read what-the-hell-is-going-on?

He cleared his throat awkwardly. "I just wanted to bring your mother up to speed..."

"Why would you do that?" I said a little louder than I meant to.

"Isabella!" Renee said.

"You remember last night?" I asked; Charlie winced. "When my rapist came in and threatened me yet again? He said that our witnesses weren't going to help us anymore! Renee is the only one who knew other than the police."

Charlie looked stunned for a second. But what was insulting was Renee's hurt look on her face.

"Isabella, you think I told him?" she said, almost quiet.

"What else am I to think, Mother? When have you ever believed me? When you've pushed me at him since I was fourteen years old. When you almost forced me to get an abortion. When you told me that you wished you had aborted me!"

"Isabella, I never wanted to hurt you. I only wanted to do right by you, whether you agree or not."

"Well, too late, you screwed up this time, Renee." I gritted my teeth. I could feel the tears building behind my eyes. I took shallow breaths to hold them at bay. It would ruin my avenging-daughter kick if I started bawling that my mom didn't believe me, and if she didn't believe me how could I ever trust her. Trust that she even loves me?

"I didn't tell him."

"Yeah, right."

"Bella, she's telling the truth," Charlie interjected.

"How do you know? How can you trust anything she says? She cheated on you! And she betrayed me!" My voice cracked halfway through.

I felt a hand on my back. Our connection buzzed through my sweater like electricity. I knew without thinking who had my back no matter what.

"She read the file. She sees the proof. She's willing to testify on your behalf."

"It doesn't prove she didn't tell him," I said quietly.

"You don't have any proof that I did," Renee finally defended herself.

"The past is proof enough." I refused to look at her. "Charlie, I don't want her involved anymore."

Charlie sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. He looked over to his right and gave Renee a nod. I listened as she quietly left the room. I didn't move until I heard her bedroom door click shut.

"Witnesses?" Edward stated calmly, pulling the conversation away from the absence in the room to our immediate problem.

Charlie looked confused. "I don't know how Jimmy would know. But I haven't spoken to them since we arrived." He pulled out his cell phone. "Let me give them a call, and clear this up. For all we know that punk kid could have been throwing around empty threats."

He left the room. Alice and Jasper sat down at the table; Ali gave me a sympathetic look. I knew she could tell how much my mother hurt me, no matter how much I brushed it off.

We sat quietly, trying to listen in to Charlie's end of the conversation, but nothing of note was revealed. Less than ten minutes later, Charlie reentered the kitchen looking like he was going to lose his breakfast. I hadn't seen him that ashen since the night I told him what happened.

"They've all backed out. Each said they wished they could help, but..." he trailed off.

I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. I knew that Jimmy never gave empty threats. "Okay, so we have a plan." I nodded to each of my co-conspirators.

Charlie slumped into his seat. "What's your plan?"

I nodded to Alice. "Bree Tanner came by this morning, and we learned something that may help."

OoOoOoOoOo

What felt like twenty phone calls and an hour and a half later the four of us were on the road to Port Angeles. I'd wanted to drive my truck, but one glance from Edward told me that it wasn't going to happen.

Charlie decided to stay behind and work with the Forks police. We were still getting a few cooperation issues from the she-witch officer who thought I was trying to ploy for attention. The thought made me roll my eyes. Who would want this much attention?

With a gleam in his eye, Charlie said that he was going to ask Sam Uley, the Seattle D.A., to light a fire under the Forks police. I was almost sorry not to see Officer Verner's reaction, archaic bitch.

We stopped at the Walmart in Port Angeles to get my pictures developed. While we waited, the boys humored us as Alice and I oohed and aahed over all the baby girl clothes. But the cutest moment was when I caught Edward looking at the baby blankets very seriously. I watched with a little smile on my face as he picked out an unbelievably soft pink blanket. I asked him what it was for, and he looked at me like I was crazy, replying that it was for the baby, of course.

Fortunately, the picture development took less than an hour. Paying for the pictures, I stuck them quickly in my purse. Alice cocked her head curiously, but otherwise stayed quiet about them.

I didn't tell them what the pictures were, but they were all pretty smart. I figured that they worked it out for themselves. I didn't want to look at them, let alone show Edward, Alice, and Jasper.

Using Edward's GPS we found Vanessa Masen's house without any trouble. The house was unassuming and small. It was a brown Cape Cod, cookie-cutter like house, almost the same as every house on the block, except this house had bright blue shutters and a blue door. The yard was groomed, but not obsessed over. There was a basketball hoop in the driveway and various kids' toys lying around.

She must have younger siblings.

I trudged up the paved walkway to the front door of the house, Edward, Alice, and Jasper trailing behind me by a few feet. We didn't want to bombard Vanessa or her family. Edward and Jazz decided they could wait in the car if she felt uncomfortable.

I timidly knocked on the door. I could hear Ali groan. She pushed her way past Edward, and knocked loudly.

We waited while we heard the bustle and busyness of the family inside. We arrived after school should have let out, so we hoped that Vanessa was here.

A plump woman around forty opened the door. She was wearing a sweater with a giant turkey on it, probably in preparation for Thanksgiving just a week away, and she was drying her hands on a dish towel.

"Yes?" she asked with a smile on her face.

I cleared my throat. "Hi, Mrs. Masen. I'm Isabella Swan, this is Alice and Edward Cullen, and Jasper Hale." I introduced everyone. "I was wondering if we could speak to you and your daughter, Vanessa."

She looked wary. "About what?"

"Jimmy Crawford."

Her smile dropped immediately, and her eyes tightened. "We have nothing to say to you or your friends." She began to shut the door.

"Wait! Please hear me out." She paused momentarily, her glare unrelenting. "Vanessa and I have something in common. What happened to her..." I swallowed convulsively, "happened to me, too."

Mrs. Masen looked like she was going to crumble. She'd stopped trying to close the door entirely.

"Please, I promise not to take too much of your time, but I think we can help each other. Just give me a few minutes?"

She pressed her lips together and succinctly nodded. I sighed in relief, a sigh I heard echoed behind me.

We were led into the living room. It was a nice room, just like the house, unassuming. This was a typical middle class family. No frills, down-to-earth living. Alice and I sat on a worn leather sofa, soft and inviting.

Our hostess cleared her throat. "Would you like something to drink? I have water, milk, juice, soda?"

I shook my head. "I'm fine, thank you."

Ali rolled her eyes at me. "She'll have a water."

Mrs. Masen's eyebrows scrunched, and she cocked her head at me. I smiled and nodded exasperatedly.

The boys indicated that they were fine as well.

"I'll get Nessie and be right back." She tried to smile pleasantly, but she definitely failed.

Silently we sat; Alice twitched in her seat. Edward stood with his back against the wall, arms crossed, thinking too hard. Jazz sat in a chair nearby, watching us all in concern, while I absently rubbed my protruding belly. Oh, the epitome of awkward.

Mrs. Masen hurried back in with my water, this time with a more believable smile, though slightly threatening. "Vanessa will be down in one moment. Before she's here, I need to know how much you have in common with my daughter?"

I bit my lip and looked up at Edward. He nodded. "On May 9th, I was beaten and raped by my ex-boyfriend, Jimmy Crawford." I watched as she heard my words, each one a dawning truth. "I was drugged, but not enough. Evidence was lost, people were paid off, and a perpetrator was caught for my mugging."

Mrs. Masen's round face elongated into an oval, her jaw literally dropping "Mugging?"

"Mom?" A young quiet voice almost whispered behind me. "What's going on? What are these people doing here?"

I turned to find a petite figure with shoulder length brown hair. She looked younger than I knew her to be; she looked not a day older than fourteen. Her dark brown eyes were wide, frantically keeping everyone in her vision. But worst of all was the yellow tint I could see around her face, deep bruises that had mostly healed.

I stood up carefully, one hand on my back for support. "I'm Bella. And you're Vanessa, right?"

She nodded and walked quickly past us on the couch to her mother, who sat in a flowery chair in front of the bay window.

Mrs. Masen wasn't watching her daughter; she was looking at me. Well, not at me, but at my baby. Her face held a look of absolute horror. I protectively placed my hands on my middle, almost trying to hide what I knew she could see.

"What do you want?" Vanessa asked, not realizing her mom's fixation.

I nervously tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "I was wondering if you could help me?"

"No!" her mom interjected. This lady was giving me whiplash. "No, she's going to stay away from you. She's had enough problems. She's finally moving on." She wrapped an arm around her daughter, who confusingly looked between me and her mom.

"Do you think she can move on from something like this?" I shook my head lightly, sorry for her. "I know I can't."

Ali reached up and grabbed my hand, squeezing tightly. I closed my eyes for a second. Opening them, I found a transfixed Vanessa staring at me like she'd never seen me before. Not that it was a stretch; she hadn't seen me before two minutes ago.

"Did he hurt you, too?" she asked quietly.

"He hurt me a lot. He still hurts me."

"Me, too." Her eyes were wide, pooling with unshed tears.

My heart crumbled in my chest, thousands of tiny pieces each crying a tear for her. I should have done something sooner. I should have been able to stop him.

I looked over my shoulder at Edward and nodded. He gave me a look that infused me with confidence before he tapped Jazz on the shoulder and quietly left the room, giving us the privacy I knew Vanessa needed.

I sat back down next to Ali, her hand still tight in mine. "Vanessa, I need to know how he hurt you."

One of those tears slid down her face, and she brokenly shook her head. Mrs. Masen watched us in abject horror.

"I need to put him behind bars for what he did to me. For what he did to you. For what he'll do to another girl just like us." I spoke as forcefully as I could. She had to understand. I couldn't let her have the guilt that I did. "Please..."

Ali's arm wrapped around me. I was hunched over, instinctively protecting my baby. Just the thought of him made me cower. I straightened up, looking into Vanessa's young face. Sixteen, only a year younger than I was. But so much could happen in a year.

"Please..."

In a whisper, slowly, so slowly, Vanessa replied, "We were at a party. Jimmy's hands were all over me. He was drunk. I escaped to the bathroom. He caught me on my way out and pulled me into a bedroom. He tried to force me... but I fought back. He was so drunk. He pushed me down on the bed. He ripped my bra, and tried to... touch me. It hurt so much, but he passed out. I called one of my friends to come get me."

"He didn't—"

"No," she interrupted.

"Nessie... Nessie... Why didn't you tell me?" My attention was brought back to Mrs. Masen. She looked ten years older, aging rapidly for the sake of a daughter. Vanessa didn't know the gift she had in her mom.

"I was scared." She looked down, unable to meet her mom's eyes.

Mrs. Masen gently tilted her daughter's face to meet hers. "You never need to be scared to tell the truth. I will always protect you."

I smiled at them through a blur of tears.

"Vanessa, will you help me?" I finally asked.

I love your thoughts and comments!

Recs:

The Port Angeles Players by WriteOnTime One of my all time favs, plus this author actually knew where my penname came from ;)
Summary: New in the town of Forks and eager to please her boss at the university, Bella auditions for a local production of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing". Her co-star is a handsome but confusing local doctor. Is it curtains-up on love? AU/AH Canon pairing

Tropic of Virgo by Inabluebathrobe Beautiful poetry and prose. Makes me wish I was more knowledgeable about music
Summary:He's a young but jaded musician writing lyrics for his band, and she's a naive, frustrated poet looking to break out of her shell; their words collide online. What happens when they meet in high school, unaware of their literary connection?

Hiding in Plain Sight by limona Love and hate this Edward. Love and hate this Bella. Perfect together.
Summary: Bella is a witness in peril. Emmett Cullen is the deputy assigned to protect her. When the witness protection program isn't safe, Emmett asks Bella to pose as his brother Edward's fiancée until the trial. AU, AH, ExB.