An: Everyone moves forward.

Chapter sixty: Steps Forward

Bella, October, 2011…

My shoulder felt sore. With too much movement, it felt like it was on fire, but the pain medication was good at easing the pressure. I wasn't given anything too strong as I had to breastfeed. Emmett and Zafrina confirmed it when I questioned them about what was pumping through my IV.

I guess in all the excitement I had forgotten a bullet grazed me since from the moment I arrived at the hospital up until the birth of Hope, the only things I was concerned with were her and her father. She and Jasper were all that mattered. Everything else took the back burner, including my wellbeing.

Jasper spent most of his time asleep. Today was day two for us. I had gotten to hold Hope again and Jasper got to interact with her until he fell asleep. When I tried to complain about him trying too hard, he said he was a fast healer.

"The sleep is helping, Bella," he had said. "You'll see. I'll be out of here in no time."

After he had dozed off, I kept Hope with me for a while. Having her around was a blessing. I loved having her with me, because I couldn't stop gushing over her and her chubby little cheeks, her pretty eyes, and the cute little coos she made. Though it was not my only reason. My daughter kept my pain and guilt at bay. I blamed myself for what happened to her father. He should be sitting on the edge of my bed, perfectly healthy, not lying in the bed next to mine, filled with pain medication leaving him with the inability to keep his eyes open for more than twenty minutes. It was my fault he was willing his health back. I knew I wasn't supposed to feel like this, but I couldn't help it. It was self pity, I know. But it couldn't be helped. I almost got Jasper killed because of the madman I was too scared to run from a long time ago.

Then again, I wouldn't have met Jasper and fell in love with him. I wouldn't have Hope. They were a blessing and I couldn't imagine a life without them anymore. It wasn't feasible.

No. I will not do this. I shouldn't be doing this. I shouldn't be feeling sorry. We knew it wouldn't have ended any other way. James made sure of it. He came to kidnap me. To do unspeakable things to me, and if I had feared him the way I used to, he probably would have succeeded and I would be dead right now.

No, Jasper and Sam saved my life. They almost lost theirs and I will be eternally grateful for the lengths these two men went for me and to ensure Hope's safety.

Sitting here with my daughter in my arms, I came to the decision to let go of my pain and regret. No more. I wasn't going to hold on to this guilt. It wasn't good for me. It wouldn't be good for Hope. I didn't want to feed her my negative energy.

I may have glanced at a few of the sites Tanya emailed me links to about our positive energy and babies. She spent some of the hours she wasn't shopping for baby stuff to find these sites. She hated how easy I took the blame for everything. She thought it was unhealthy and she didn't want me transferring that energy to Hope.

I agreed with her now. It was a new day. A new chapter of my life. I had a little one to care for. Her father needed me too. I looked over at him lying in the bed across from mine and smiled. He was fast asleep. Yeah, I had him to take care of too. Jasper still had dark thoughts that bothered him, but I was here to help him. I would never let him fall. I would be the shoulder to lean on or the swift kick in the rear if he needed it.

Yes, I, Bella Swan, had a family to care for, so enough with the blame and self pity. The new chapter of my life would be about love and happiness and my fight to keep a strong grip on it.

The nurse eventually came for Hope and took her back to the nursery. And I missed her as always. She was my sustenance. I loved her so much.

I decided to take a nap and fell into a dreamless sleep.

There was a small nudge on my shoulder. I could ignore it, but the person pushed again, harder this time. I opened my eyes and almost jumped out of bed in shock, Jasper was standing at my bedside.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"Shh!" He smiled mischievously. "I wanted to see you. Go over. It's lonely over there without you."

I had to laugh as I carefully scooted over and watched this strong, six foot something guy crawl into bed beside me. On his good side of course. He curled himself into me and sighed, closing his eyes.

"Finally," he mumbled.

"Finally? The nurse is going to order you back to bed when she catches us."

"No, she won't. Nurse Harris is working the night shift and she loves me." He wrapped his arm around my waist. "I miss her in there. I've got no one to talk to." He pouted.

"Well, it's not a reverse process. Thank God. You can talk to Hope all you want to when you're healed and at home. Which I think you're ruining now by getting up and walking just two days after your surgery." I pointed out. "Jasper, Emmett's going to kill you for doing this when the nurses report you to him."

Jasper groaned. "I'll kick his ass when I feel better. It's at the top of my list. Trust me, babe."

I chuckled. "Yeah I'm sure it is."

We were quiet for a while. I spotted the covered dinner on my tray and a large shake for Jasper on his. It was half emptied. I guess he had been up for a while. Sue had been here. Ionly had a few bits. It was really good. I was silent through most of it. My mind…a thousand miles away.

"What's wrong?" I slightly jumped at the sound of his voice.

"I'm just thinking," I said. "I thought you were asleep."

"No. Just lying here, staring at the most beautiful girl I had ever seen."

I laughed as I pushed my tray away. "Charmer."

"Thank you ma'am," Jasper drawled and I pinched his shoulder.

"Oww!" He said with a chuckle. "You know other things are in good working condition too. You're welcomed to check."

"Oh, I'm sure they are, but I'm not going anywhere near them. They are a danger to my lower body strength."

Jasper laughed at my corny joke. "So we're out of commission?"

"At least for a while."

He pouted.

"The both of us come to think of it," I reminded him. "You'll have physical therapy. You'll be too tired for anything extracurricular."

"We'll see," he said with triumph.

"We will."

Emmett wasn't pleased when he walked in on us in bed together the next morning. Jasper was right. He got to stay by my side all night. No nurse forced him to leave. They found it sweet he didn't want to be away from me. Even if he was for his own good. Nurse Harris, who left me baffled, was a lady in her late fifties with a stern expression that seemed to melt away into a pretty smile when Jasper spoke to her. Aside from how cramped it must have been, Jasper refused to leave my bed, and with Nurse Harris under his charm, he got away with it. She was a romantic Jasper explained when my mouth refused to close following her departure. I wanted to believe him, but I settled for believing it was due to the nurses being incapable of resisting his charm.

I knew how they felt.

"Get your ass back in your own bed, Jasper," was Emmett's greeting as he walked over to us. "Today is a busy day. Edward and Peter and some detectives are coming today. Ed wanted you to know."

"I was wondering when they were coming," I said to them. I was sure James' family, as estranged as they all were, would want to hang me for this. "James' family wants justice."

"Or money," Jasper mumbled, getting up carefully. Emmett helped him out of the bed.

"That's what you get for being an ass," Emmett said when he deposited a huffing Jasper in his own bed.

Jasper gave him the middle finger as Emmett walked back over to my bed and took a seat on the edge of it. He looked at my chart. "You're doing well, Bella. We'll have you home in no time. Maybe just another day with us. Some others are going to be here for a while for being stubborn assholes."

Jasper gave him the finger again, making me laugh.

I got the discussion back on track. "Jasper is a fast healer, Emmett. He will be out of here in no time. He won't want to be away from Hope and me for too long," I said confidently. Jasper smiled. Either that or he'd charm someone and get himself released. I kept that to myself. I think Emmett knew his friend and brother-in-law enough to know Jasper would do it. "Now, James and what his family wants. They want me in jail for this."

"That's not going to happen," Jasper said from his bed. His eyes were closed as he relaxed against his pillows. "They can't touch you. They can't punish you for anything."

"I killed James."

"In self-defense."

"Yes, and that's it. The End. James got what was coming to him. He thought he still controlled every aspect of your life and you would just bow down and worship him, obeying his every command when he broke into my house and tried to kidnap you. You defended yourself against a madman. Sam and I were injured by the asshole. I won't let this go any further." I wanted to get a word in, but Jasper wasn't through. He opened his eyes and I almost shrank back behind Emmett. It was the cold bastard that had almost sent me into premature labor that stared at us. Jasper's monster. "No one will be taking you away from me. If things head south, I'll destroy the Carter name."

Emmett and I exchanged a look. Mine was filled with trepidation and Emmett's was filled with pride. "He will," Emmett said. "No one can touch you, Bella. You're a Whitlock."

"We're not married yet," I whispered as Jasper closed his eyes and laid his head back down against his pillows.

"It doesn't matter."

The morning came and went with me and Sue going through my morning routine. Hope was brought to the room and Jasper and I spent time with her after I fed her. When she was taken back to the nursery, I took a nap.

Sue came back around lunch. I heard talking and opened my eyes to see Maria and Sue talking while Jasper sat in a wheelchair by my bed. He was so stubborn.

"Good! Bella, you're awake!" Sue cheered. "It's time to eat. I brought Roast Chicken."

"Smells amazing," I said with a smile.

Maria got up from Jasper's bed, ruffling his hair as she passed and came to kiss my forehead. "Hi, darlin'."

"Hi, Maria."

"How are you feeling?" she asked, running a hand through my hair like how a loving mom would. It made me happy as well as long for a mother as loving as Maria. Then again, Emmett said I was a Whitlock now so Maria was here for me too.

"I'm doing okay. I wish Jasper and I could go home together," I said. "Emmett thinks I could be out of here by tomorrow. Jasper will be here longer."

"Shouldn't be too long. He'll just charm his way out the ER doors," Maria said with a smile and shook her head.

"Detectives are coming to see us."

"The Carters can't touch you. You're a Whitlock now, honey," Maria said with conviction and it was the end of that discussion. There was a sense of peace in having a family to protect me. But speaking of family… "Maria, how's Charlie? Phil and Micah? And…Renee?"

Maria smiled and launched into every little detail of how Phil was contacted along with Micah and Celeste, who will be flying in to see me soon. Charlie was asleep at the ranch. He will be by later to see me, Jasper and our baby. He was happy James was gone, but he has going out of his mind with worry about our wellbeing.

"How's Sam?"

Maria grew a little sad and then smiled. "He's still asleep. Emily has hardly left his side. But we had a breakthrough last night. He squeezed her hand. I'm so happy. As for Renee, she's still the same."

I sighed in relief. Sam was showing signs of recovery. I was certain of it. I vowed to go and see him as soon as I was through with lunch. Renee was still the same, but she was still here. I would visit her as soon as I could.

I ate with vigor and happiness. Sam squeezed Emily's hand. He was in there. He was fighting to come back to us. My family was okay.

When I was through with lunch, Maria and Sue wheeled Jasper and me to Sam's room. At first, I was a little scared of facing Emily, but her happy tears and strong hug when she launched herself at me as we entered the room, put my mind at ease. We stayed with Sam for a while. And when he squeezed my hand, I burst into tears. I thanked him for saving me and he whispered my name. Emily and I hugged again and I left Sam's room feeling a thousand times better.

I was so happy I cried myself to sleep. "I love you, darlin'," Was the last thing I heard Jasper say from his bed before sleep took me.

Someone was shoving my shoulder and Jasper was berating them for it.

"Leave her alone!" Jasper yelled at the person. "She's sleeping, asshole!"

"I've got eyes, and they're working. 20/20 vision, bitch."

I opened my eyes and saw Peter standing over me. He moved to nudge me again and I grabbed his hand. "Oh! Hey there, Sleeping Beauty," he said with a lazy grin on his face. "How's the vacation?"

I loved this about Peter. His humor was abnormal but I loved it. He made any situation bearable. One look at his smiling face made you feel like you could take on the world with ease.

"I'm looking forward to the real one."

"That bad?"

"I miss my bed."

"Jasper's not harassing you for sex, is he?"

"I'm never having sex with him again," I announced with a straight face.

Peter laughed while Edward, who came to stand at the foot of my bed, chuckled.

"So you say now," Peter countered.

"Leave Bella alone, you dumbasses," Jasper ordered them. He was sitting up in bed. "And stay out of our business. Our bedroom is none of your business, Peter. And Cullen, I'm still gonna kill you for knocking my cousin up."

Peter grew even more gleeful. "Oh! I see you've heard the wonderful news about Edward and Tanya making a little Edward Jr. I wonder if he'll be a pansy ass bitch like his daddy."

"I'll fuck you up!" Edward threatened.

"I'd love to see you try, bitch!" Peter laughed.

"Call me a 'bitch' one more time!" Edward growled.

I chuckled at them and Jasper told them to shut up and act like adults.

Once they settled down, Edward spoke first. "Aside from that, we're not here on a social call. The sheriff department and detectives from California want statements from the both of you. You will be separated and questioned."

Peter chimed in. "I'm going with Bella. And Jasper," Peter said in a serious tone. "Edward will be staying with you. I don't want these cops thinking they can get something out of the two of you."

"What could go wrong?" I asked. "I defended myself. Jasper and Sam defended me and got shot for it. What are they going to say? That is the truth!" I was getting angry. What more could be said? It was what happened!

"Calm down, Bella," Peter said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "For the sheriff department here, it's just procedure. For the cops from California, it's the family trying something. It has to do with James' will."

"What about it?" I wasn't aware there was one. I mean, I assumed. But I never dared ask him anything about his money. I wouldn't risk the beating. "I assumed there was one, but I never asked. I wouldn't risk the beating for sticking my nose where it didn't belong." The guys looked like they wanted to kill James again when I expressed the statement.

"No one is touching you," Jasper said, menacingly. "I dare them to. I'll give them what they're looking for."

"Alright," Peter interjected. "I agree with Jasper. No one is touching either of you." Edward nodded in agreement. "This is bullshit. It's about the money and property he left behind."

"I still don't see what it has to do with me."

Edward stepped in. "Bella, you're James' beneficiary. You now own his properties and the money is yours. It was originally his father, but in the event of Caius' death, what James once owned is yours."

I sat back in shock. What? "I don't want it. I don't want any part of it."

Edward smiled. "We'll give you time to think about it. You could donate to charity."

He had a point there and he knew it.

An hour and a half later, I sat in an opposite room with Peter by my side while we face the two detectives from California. The Henderson Sheriff Department was easy. They asked all the appropriate questions and we were done in about twenty minutes. It was the detectives Peter and I found to be the hardest. They were convinced or trying to convince me that I killed James for the benefits of his last will and testament. The younger one was okay, but the older guy, I wanted to smack him for his assumptions. I knew it was coming. I knew someone would try to insinuate my reasons for leaving James was solely to be Jasper's pampered slut. It was how I saw James' family explaining it to these guys. It had to be.

But this asshole knew nothing. He was here because of lies. James was painted as the picture of innocence driven to frustration, causing him to act irrationally. Apparently, he was so stressed, he killed Vicky and his dad. The family was looking to blame me. How convenient.

I told the truth. Peter blocked most of the older detective's dumb or insinuating questions. The younger detective would sigh in frustration or roll his eyes. He looked like he wanted to be done with this about as much as me.

Sam's accident was a point of frustration for me. I was adamant they were trying to pin it on Jasper. The Henderson sheriffs saw things differently as did I.

I couldn't stand it anymore and with Peter's permission, I spoke up and watched the detectives cringe.

"I would never take another person's life premeditatedly. I didn't shoot James out of whatever misplaced revenge you are insisting I had for him, I shot him because he was going to kill me." I didn't give them a chance to speak. "Yes, I know you're going to say I stayed with him for six years, so why run and complain now?" The younger detective looked captivated my words while the older one looked like he was about to get some sort of confession. God, I wanted to smack him.

"It's simple. I left because I didn't want to die. It was enough. I couldn't go another day. I would have died in that place. James had used me. Destroyed my body and mind. He made me feel like I was nothing. I would've died if I hadn't run." They looked uncomfortable. I didn't care about their comfort. I wanted the truth on record. "I was beaten, tortured and raped for amusement and pleasure. I was forced to abort my first child because he didn't want kids and he wasn't sure it was his baby since he had allowed his friend to rape me one afternoon. I pictured my death many times around James. I know he would've made something up. I know his dad would've defended him and made you two feel like garbage before he sent you on your way." They looked at each other and then me. "That won't happen with me, detectives. I ran away to save my life. He came to the Whitlock ranch, spewing lies and delusional crap. He told me what he wanted and what he would do, as I have already explained to you both. James and I fought and then Jasper burst through the door and stepped in. I got up the stairs, at least halfway, after Sam instructed me to, when I heard the shots. I prayed it wasn't Sam or Jasper and when I heard James, I cried. He promised to hurt me, and my baby, he would rip out of me. My water broke, but I got to the gun through the pain. I slid down the side of my bed determine to defend mine and Jasper's child. When I shot James, he raised his gun to shoot me. He told me he would see me in hell. I believed him. I was so afraid of him, I honestly believed him."

They asked nothing else.

As Peter wheeled me back to mine and Jasper's room, I saw two other detectives exiting. They met up in the hall with the two that were questioning me and started whispering. Peter took me to my room.

Jasper and I didn't talk until later in the night after I fed Hope. He was a little upset about the questions they asked. The Carters were grasping at straws to keep their social standing intact after the disaster that was Caius and James.

The next morning the detectives who questioned me returned. Edward was present and stood as Jasper and mine's lawyer.

The younger detective who had questioned me stepped forward. "I'm Detective Harper." I took his offered hand and shook it. "Miss Swan, I wanted to apologize to you. I understand how upsetting this investigation is, but me and my partner met nothing by it. We were looking for the truth and we found it. The family is dropping their investigation." I nodded and Detective Harper turned to walk away, but stopped and turned back to me. "My dad was not a nice man. My mother…she had to take a stand too. And if she hadn't run that night with my six year old self, I doubt I would be standing here in front of you."

I nodded. "Is she still alive? Is she happy?"

Detective Harper smiled broadly. "Yes, ma'am. She's alive and well and very happy."

The detectives left afterward. Edward and Jasper actually laughed. They couldn't believe it was over.

Later in the day, we learned from the sheriff, the investigation was closed. It was self defense.

Day three turned into four with surprising news. I was ready to go home. My blood pressure was doing better. My shoulder was okay enough for me to be at home, but I didn't want to leave Jasper. I promised to visit every day until he came home, but he wanted me to stay home with Hope.

"I'll be there soon," he reassured me.

"I wish it were today."

"Me too."

"The family has flown in," Jasper told me. "They're waiting to meet Hope."

It was evident his family was in town from the mountain of gifts and flowers in the room. We have had to share our gifts with others. It was too much. Uncle Liam, Carmen, and just about everyone in the family had come to see Jasper and I this morning before headed to the nursery to gush over Hope.

"I know. It won't be the same as walking through the door with you though."

Jasper sighed and nodded. "Are you going to…"

"I don't know." I wasn't sure if I wanted to be in our home yet. Not without Jasper. I didn't want to see the scenes where everything changed.

"It's been cleaned," Jasper offered.

"What?"

"Momma didn't want a trace of James Carter in our home. Uncle Liam had been called in. I think even the hallway was redone." Jasper chuckled.

I looked at him incredulously. "You're kidding me! In three days?!"

"I kid you not," he said with a grin.

I laughed. "I love our family."

Hope and I leaned over her daddy, letting him hug us. She fussed and we parted. I kissed Jasper once more and then I sat in the wheelchair and let myself be wheeled from the room with Hope in my arms.

Going home was bittersweet. I was happy to see everyone, but missed Jasper terribly. Half the time, I wanted to turn around and head back to the hospital to be with him. It was where Hope and I should be. But this was home and our family was crying happy tears. Happy that I survived a terrible ordeal. Happy Jasper was alive and getting better as the days passed. Happy Sam was alive. To them, there was no tragedy. Justice had been served. They were planning, according to Aunt Carmen, to crush the Carter family if they had tried anything else.

Hope was admired. There were comparisons between Jasper's and mine's features and what she got from whom. Charlie stayed close to me as if he let me out of his sight I would disappear. He loved Hope.

She was lovely through it all. She didn't fuss too often. She was the most peaceful in my arms, Charlie's, as well as her grandma's.

Again, there were gifts and laughter and tears. I was in heaven, but missing my angel.

I didn't miss him for long.

I woke up on Saturday morning to Hope cooing in Jasper's arms as he sat on the bed, smiling down at her. "Morning, darlin'," he said to me and I smiled.

I would spend the rest of my life loving this man.