Author's Note: This chapter is dedicated once again to our BerryBlue96 who was the first review for the last chapter! It's funny – I took a peek at my original outline for this story and it is completely different than what I'd intended for it to be – but I'm having a blast writing it. =) Thanks to all of you who reviewed and favorite the story. It always makes me smile when people read my work.

The Truth and the Consequences

Chapter 19

I stay in bed as long as possible. I don't want to face another day without Jacob. I lay still and breathe deep, wondering how many breaths I will take in my life.

"I know you're awake," Edward says softly.

I open my eyes and find him sitting in a chair facing me. It's disturbing. I never before thought about it but him watching me sleep is really creepy. Why didn't I ever think about that before?

"I thought you said you'd give me some privacy," I grumble, sitting up and shaking out my hair.

"I did. I left you alone while you cried yourself to sleep. You have no concept of how hard that was for me to hear," he responds in a chastising tone.

"Well you're the reason I'm crying in the first place."

He frowns. "You think that? Bella – you are responsible for your own fate. You have made decisions that have brought us to this place and time. You were the one who promised that you loved me – proved it by saving me in Italy and then couldn't forgive me for what I did in your best interest in the first place. I have jumped through flaming hoops for you. I have been willing to give you anything – everything that you could ever want or need or desire or wish for. I would kill for you – I would die for you. My love for you will not stop simply because you've gotten things confused. You've lost yourself, Bella Swan."

I throw back the covers and stand in front of him, shaking with anger. "I have FOUND myself. I have learned to use my brain and to stand up for what I believe in. You simply can't accept that I chose HIM!"

Edward flashes from the chair to my side in an instant. His hands grip my wrists. "Foolish girl. Do you even hear yourself? He has nothing to give you – nothing to offer. He is a high school drop out without a dime to his name. He's a freak of nature – an abnormality that should never have existed in the first place. He is a real monster, Bella. He has no control over himself or his inner nature. Do you know why he wants you? Do you have any clue? I've seen inside his head – I know the truth."

"Don't talk about him like that! Don't you dare! As for freaks I could say look who's talking!" I scream, losing all control. I want to kill him.

"You're so lovely when you're angry," he murmurs as he wraps his arms around me and forces our bodies together.

"Let go of me! I mean it!" I struggle uselessly against him, trying to wriggle my way out but I'm only managing to hurt myself.

"Stop fighting or I'll tranquilize you," he warns.

I glare at him. "I hate you. I wish you were dead."

He narrows his eyes. "Don't say that to me. It isn't in your best interest."

"I am telling you the truth. And I don't give a damn about the consequences. You sicken me. I wish I never knew you existed. You're a monster."

"If that's what you believe then you won't mind me acting the part!" he yells as he literally tosses me into the air like a ragdoll.

I hit the floor completely disoriented and gasp in surprise holding my injured wrist as it stings painfully. He reaches down and grabs me by the waist and forces me onto my stomach on the bed.

I try to crawl away from him but he pins me down. His hands slide beneath my hips and he wrenches my jeans down, pulling them off of me.

"Stop it! I won't let you do this! No! Edward stop!"

"Why should I stop? If I'm a monster?"

"Because you're hurting me! If you loved me you'd never do this!" I scream out in terror. I can't let this happen again. Not again. Never again.

In seconds he's off the bed and standing across the room.

I thank God and turn over gingerly pulling the sheet over the lower half of my body, and see him squatting down, his head in his hands. He looks up at me, tortured.

"Why do you do this to me, Bella?" He stares at me, beseechingly. "Why do you say such horrible things to me? What did I do to deserve this?"

I counter. "What did I ever do to deserve being raped? Edward there is something wrong with you. You're sick. You need help."

He stands up suddenly and I cower instinctively.

"That's it," he exclaims. "I understand it now. Bella – I'm not sick. You are."

My mouth drops open. "Excuse me?"

"Why didn't I see this before? I always knew you were fragile and needed to be protected but this makes perfect sense. That's why I can't read your thoughts – why you behave so irrationally. You constantly change your mind - often without good reasons. You exhibit risky behavior and you have suicidal tendencies. You have gone willingly to your death more than once. You've put yourself in the worst situations. You've never been able to see yourself clearly. It all makes sense now! You're highly functioning but you're not truly cognizant of everything around you. Now I know why you've done these things to me! Why you've said such awful lies and chosen so badly."

I have no response. I can only shake my head in wonder as he talks to himself, pacing in front of me.

"You've always been depressed. You were a loner when you first came to school – and you never truly fit in with the others because you aren't like them at all. I was so fascinated with you because you never said or did anything I remotely thought you would. I thought that unpredictability was charming. I had no idea what I was dealing with!"

"No. Edward – listen to yourself. You're grasping at straws. I'm just a normal teenager. I'm not sick. You're trying to kid yourself because you don't want to face the truth," I say quietly.

He stops pacing and smiles softly. "You're delusional, my love. But it's not your fault. I'm going to find the best health care professionals in the world to help straighten your mind out and in the meantime I can treat you myself. I am a doctor after all."

"Edward – really. Stop and think about this for a second. You can't just jump to a conclusion because it's convenient for you. I doubt your medical training would have you completely disregard the scientific method. You aren't thinking clearly. You're upset. I'm upset. We just need to take some time away from one another to calm down right now. Okay?"

"Ah. The tricks of a temptress. I won't be leaving you to do anything foolish, Isabella. I'm going to make sure that you have constant supervision. I'm going to help you and you're going to get better. And eventually all of this will have been a bad dream."

Before I can respond I hear his cell phone ring. He frowns and takes it out of his pocket.

"Alice?"

I sit still, trying to hear what her response is but I can't.

"Who cares if they burned the house? Your clothes are replaceable."

Clothes? Of all the things to be worried about!

"She's fine."

He glances at me and smiles. I glower back.

"So what? There's nothing holding us to Forks anymore."

I strain to hear what she's saying.

Suddenly Edward grins. "This is perfect. Lead them on a wild goose chase and when the time is right, lay an ambush. Just like we discussed. But remember my one request – if at all possible. When the time comes, I will be the one to do it. It's personal now."

My heart races. I know he's talking about the pack – what else could it be? Who else would they need to lay an ambush for?

I'm about to do something foolish when his next words stop me.

"We don't need Rose or Emmett anyway. You knew they would eventually leave. Besides – you'll have a new sister in Bella, just like you always wanted. Yes – I'll keep an eye on her. A phone you say?" Edward shoots me an accusatory look.

I wrap my arms around myself. I will never trust Alice again.

"Don't worry. The mutts don't have the resources to get here. If they turn back call me and let me know. We can relocate at a moment's notice."

I'm doomed. With Alice keeping tabs on the Pack and the Cullen's endless assets I'm totally screwed. There's only one way this will end now.

I'm so sorry, Jacob.

"Talk to you soon, Alice. Take care."

Edward slides the tiny phone back into his pocket.

"What's this about a cell phone?" Edward asks softly. "Where is it?"

I shrug, unwilling to answer.

Edward pinches the bridge of his nose. "Must you be so stubborn? I'll find it anyway."

"Go for it," I say, my chin out. I'll be damned if I help his ass.

"Take off the rest of your clothes," Edward says unexpectedly, gesturing toward my body.

"Go to hell," I hiss.

Edward doesn't give me another moment before his hands fly over me, faster than my eyes can even keep up. He's pulled me off the bed and undressed me in just a few seconds.

I cover my breasts and lower body as best I can.

Edward stares at me for a moment before scooping my clothes off the floor and leaving the room with them.

"Hey! I need those!" I call after him. I tug the sheet off the bed and wrap it around me.

A few moments later he returns, holding my cell phone. He crushes it to dust in his hand.

"If you want to wear clothes you'll need to earn them," he says. "Cooperate with me and everything will go much smoother. No more stealing other people's cell phones or trying to contact the outside world. You'll never see anyone from your old life again. Your new life with me starts now."