*Disclaimer I own nothing recognizable, all those rights go to Stephenie Meyer. As all Song Rights go to the listed artist. I only own any original characters.

A/N: I want to thank everyone who reviewed, followed, and added this story to their favorites list. Also a special thank you to my guest reviewer. I apologize for my long absence, but Tis the Season to have no time for yourself. Again , I am posting two chapters instead of one... I don't know if I will miss next week but I am hoping I won't. These two chapters will be the last of the drama Bella will have to face in her very young life, after she faces these trials she will finally get a reprieve as things turn around for her and become more positive. However before we get to that, we need to take a trip to La Push and see how Billy will pay for his lies. So as your reading remember this and the next chapter are the last bit trauma and pain for young Bella before we start to rebuild and life takes a positive turn in Bella's favor.

Hush, Hush

So go on, live your life

So go on, say goodbye

So many questions

But I don't ask why

So this time I won't even try

Hush hush, now

Mmm, hush hush, now

Song-

Hush, Hush

By Avril Lavigne

Rose sighed as she put down the book she had been reading; it was Bella's favorite. 'Black Beauty,' she softly whispered to herself remembering the first time she read it to Bella; as soon as the patched up girl had returned from surgery Rose planted herself next to the bed and began to read. Not knowing if she would be heard or even if hearing a voice would be helpful, Rose got her answer a few short hours later when she heard the increase of breath and heartbeats, causing her to look down into those beautiful eyes that locked onto hers.

'Is it okay? Umm. Would you like me to continue to read?" she asked as a genuine smile graced Bella's small lips as she gave a stiff nod in consent and from that moment on that is what Rose did; she read.

A wry smile crossed her lips as she thought about how happy she was to have gotten Bella hooked onto the classics; Black Beauty and The Black Stallion were a constant read. It came to the point Rose no longer needed the book to be able to recite the words as they had become part of her photographic memory. If she had to admit it, yes she was more than tired of reading the same book over and over. However, she wouldn't have it any other way as long as it brought joy to the young girl she had come to love like a daughter over the past two months, sometimes it was hard to believe it was soon coming to the tail end of August. In that time her family's feelings had come to change as well as they grew an attachment to the sweet girl. Rose's citrine eyes darted to the open window where the small girl was perched on a wooden chair, her attention completely focused on the outside world beyond the walls of her cage.

Rose's family wasn't the only thing to change in these short months; Bella had as well. Like Alice and Edward had said, she started to recover from her injuries; thanks to her shifter gene her healing was coming in at a fast pace, allowing for quicker knitting of bones and tissue repair. Rose remembered the biggest shock, it was when Bella spoke again.

She and Bella would sit for hours coloring countless pictures of horses; sometimes Rose would make a unicorn or Pegasus and color them pink, blue, or all kinds of colors only to receive a snort and an eye roll from Bella. 'Uh! That gesture was so Edward and of all things she had to pick up from my overwrought brother, it had to be that one', Rose groaned to herself.

"Okay, so mine aren't your cup of tea. Mind sharing what's up with only black horses?" Rose asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Bella just shrugged, "Black is pretty; it shines in the sun and the moonlight, it's brave and strong; and you can't cover it up." Rose was shocked, it had been two weeks since Bella began to heal and the most response they could get verbally was a yes or no that was barely audible and even that was rare seeing as most of the time she would just shake her head. Edward said her thought process seemed better and more cognitive then before, but she still refused to really speak, causing them to believe when she did it would be raspy from lack of use or still broken stuttered words like her brother had described. But she proved them all so wrong with her smooth soft voice. "Besides, black goes with everything," Bella said in a sing song voice that caused Rose to break out of her shock and laugh, knowing that was a comment she had picked up from Alice and her ever fashion dos and don'ts.

Rose remembered bursting at the seams when she told the rest, causing Edward to smirk at his theory proving right. Rose just snorted; it wasn't a theory he came up with, it was what he saw in Alice's mind. Her brother was never one to turn down any credit where he thought it was due. Carlisle was amazed at how well the shifter gene could regenerate such broken and decayed cells to rebuild a body, but in the long run he said it shouldn't be such a surprise seeing as a shifter would need a healthy body anything less wouldn't make for a strong wolf pack and they couldn't afford a chink in the armor.

Even though the news was good, Carlisle still worried their presence in such a high dosage would cause the gene to fully shift; but Alice would always give a smile and say, 'Never bet against a seer.' Carlisle wouldn't say it completely put his worries to rest, but he knew his daughter and she had never steered them wrong. So even with part of him still playing the what ifs, he put it to the back of his mind and put all his chips on his daughter's vision. Rose never doubted whatever her sister saw, she didn't need to see in her sister's mind to know she was right. It wasn't cut or dry when it came to whatever flowed through Bella's blood. Unlike other shifters whose gene was active, Bella didn't reek of wet dog; she smelled nothing less than human proving to her all she needed to know Bella was not your everyday shifter. She was something so much more.

Even with one major leap and help from her gene, Bella needed extreme physical therapy, proper nutrition, therapy for mental health and speech. Rose was determined to stay by her side through it all and to make sure Bella received the best medical care possible. Carlisle made a very large anonymous donation to the hospital in the name of Bella's care, removing the mediocre care she would have gotten from the state system and ensuring she received the best. It also gave her access to care of doctors Carlisle had influence over for when they started to wonder at her quicker than normal advancements, knowing they would say nothing. Rose believed Carlisle did it to see her happy, but she couldn't be more wrong because he too found himself becoming attached to the girl, just like the rest of his family.

As the days turned into weeks and then into months, Bella made great strides as she gained weight and started to look like a normal child. Rose was even there as Bella took her first wobbly steps again and in that moment Rose couldn't have beamed with more pride at her would be daughter. As time went on her need for a walker soon shifted to just needing braces and a cane, then to just a cane to help her with her balance. Then as if almost a wish coming true on a cloudy day at the park, Rose looked up from her book to see Bella's cane laying on the ground as she walked with a strong gait but a with few stumbles over her own feet. A smile burst onto Rose's lips as not only did her little Bella soar so did her hope; Bella had gone from total loss of the ability to walk due to her abuse to now a clumsy little girl.

Rose could feel eyes on her, pulling her from her thoughts to see a pair of green eyes locked on her intently with a furrowed brow. "You want me to continue, huh?" Rose smiled softly as Bella's head nodded in agreement. She didn't need to be asked twice; taking the book back into her hands she began again.

Carlisle hadn't felt this much hesitation and tension since he had become a vampire. As he sat at his desk staring blankly down at the form that hovered just below his pen, a very impatient social worker sat across from him, reminding him with ever tap of her foot how much more impatient she was becoming.

This was it; with a few swoops of his pen he would send Bella out into the world and onto whatever was to happen away from him and his family's watchful eye. It felt like just a blink of an eye at how quick all this played out. In the beginning he never saw himself becoming so attached to a human girl, but with each day she changed that. Carlisle reveled in her ability to still care about others, even when Edward said her mind swirled with the idea believing that no one cared about her. Even with that belief, Bella still showed kindness to the other children. From giving a crying child in her group sessions one of the stuffed horses Rose had gotten her, to giving away her ice cream treat at the playground to a child who had dropped their treat, or even if another child broke their crayon, Bella would go and offer hers even if it was the color she was using; she would give it away without hesitation. As he watched, he found himself fascinated at how so much love could be in such a broken soul. He couldn't help but come to love her and to come to even thinking of ways to take in the girl; especially after Edward said Bella's mind had become blank and Alice's visions went dark; ending right here at this day not allowing either to see anything that pertained to Bella's future. Even this woman's thoughts of Bella were blank when Carlisle asked his son to look at what this woman had planned for the young girl.

As for whatever Alice knew and didn't know from her visions, she remained silent never telling him if he signed the form that would rip away a girl his daughter and her mate had come to love as if she was their child, and the child he had come to love and would be proud to call granddaughter. He saw how well Rose was with her, how Rose would sit and read stories, brush Bella's hair, and how on occasion Bella would return the favor. At first it was a form of therapy to get her to use her hand; but long after the use returned to her hand, the gesture continued into a nightly tradition. While Bella still never talked much, Emmett could get her to giggle and squeal in delight from horsey rides, and the famous tickle monster. He also tucked her into his side every morning while she ate breakfast before watching a cartoon marathon. Carlisle let out an inner chuckle; out of all his children only Emmett could sit for hours on end and watch a child's show.

It even amazed him at how Alice would sit with Bella but in true Alice fashion, instead of reading a children's book or like Rose a classic novel, Alice would read Cosmo magazine to the poor girl before giving her the ins and outs of fashion. Another internal chuckle sounded in his mind at remembering how angry Rose was when she caught Alice reading the sex questions page to Bella; he swore Rose's pale skin was about to turn red in anger. Alas that was the last time Bella got a crash course in sex ed, as Rose restricted Alice's access to the young girl by only allowing Alice to shop for Bella, not like that was a horrible punishment for his pixie like daughter, seeing as she lives for fashion. Carlisle was unsure how Jasper would have reacted to the girl, with all the emotions that ran wild plus the scent of blood in a hospital, it wasn't a place he could handle; so he stayed clear.

The biggest surprise was Edward and his take of the girl. He hated being in her thoughts and at seeing such pain; but yet he respected the girl at how brave she was and she never complained. When Edward would challenge her with a task Bella would look at him defiantly and meet the challenge head on with a look that could match Edward's on the best day.

Then there was Esme. She, like Carlisle, began to see the small girl as a would be grandchild. She now found her time baking treats not just for Bella but all the children at the hospital, to also making plenty of teddy bears for Bella and the other children only after Bella refused to take the first bear saying 'share' as she looked around the room to convey all the children who didn't have a bear of their own. That act of kindness right there won over Esme's affection.

And now all that would be ripped away in a matter of seconds. He had never felt so torn as he did right now. Does he find a way to keep her here longer or does he send her on to what is next? Right now he never wished more for Alice's visions to guide him at what laid ahead. But what Alice did know she said nothing of, not even Edward could see what was in her mind; the only thing that was clear was that when Alice did try to look at Rose's request, her mind came up blank, just like Bella's thoughts had now become to Edward. Rose worried it meant Bella would die; Alice just tisked stating, 'No, she is stronger now, and what blocks her and Edward was just another part of who Bella was.'

That was another thought that made him hesitate in signing. Exactly who or more like what was Bella, because Alice was right, she wasn't pure shifter. Due to all the vampire exposure plus her initial anger she would have shifted by now if that was the case; and now with her mind and future coming up blank what did that mean? Was it safe for her in the general public?

"Dr. Cullen?"

His name broke him from his thoughts, causing his citrine eyes to raise and meet a pair of frustrated blue ones. "Yes, Ms. Craig?"

"I was wondering how long you were going to sit and stare at the form before you sign it?

It's already after four and her foster home has been waiting. I don't believe we should make them wait all night," her voice displaying her annoyance.

"Well, I just wanted to be thorough on review of my files before I sign anything; I'm sure you can understand that?"

"I'm sure I would if you were doing something more than sitting there and staring at it like you have lost the ability to read."

Carlisle sighed, this woman was nothing but difficult. She was nothing like Bella's previous case worker, who was by the book but truly seemed to care, unlike the woman who sat before him. He could tell she just wanted to be done with this so she could drop Bella off to where ever she might go and get back to her personal life. He hated to think someone this uncaring was put in charge of a child's care, but there was nothing he could do about her position.

"I'm sorry it might seem that way, but I was just reviewing the past few months in my head trying to see if there was any reason not to sign the form."

"And well?"

"If I recall, there is the fact that Ms. Uley's mental health records aren't quite complete; she still has a long way to go in recovery in that area. It mentioned her inability to make conversation when spoken to by either child or adult," Carlisle said stoically.

"I am aware of her mental health, Dr. Cullen. And as much as it might concern you the therapist signed off on it after being unable to argue with a judge that a home and family setting might be more what the girls needs to break out of her shell."

"Judge?"

"Yes, a judge. You're an educated man so I am sure you know what that is," she snarled. "A judge has decided that Ms. Uley needs to be placed."

"So these forms-"

"Are just a formality. If you don't sign it, we will get another doctor to do so. Seeing as besides her mental health, which has been deemed well enough to be placed and that the placement is beneficial in her recovery, she is cleared enough to be released; so says a county judge."

Carlisle was frozen in disbelief at what this woman had done. She had grown tired of the constant hospital forms and trips that pertained to Bella's file; she had gone around the medical community and went straight to a judge to get Bella placed and out of her hair in a manner of speaking by putting Bella in a foster home. She would join all the other children Ms. Craig was responsible for; removing her work load to only needing tended to every month when it came time for inspection.

There was no way to protect the girl now; his lack of agreement would mean nothing. They would just have her care transferred to another doctor who would comply easily with the state and sign her away. With a heavy sigh, he put ink to paper because no matter what he said, Isabella Uely would be leaving the hospital tonight and into her new life.

Bella took in deep breaths of the fresh air as she listened to the soft bell voice reading behind her. She wasn't sure why the voice soothed her, but it had ever since she woke up to it. 'Was this what mommy's sounded like?' she wondered as it was the only explanation she could come up with when it came to the comfort of the voice. A large part of her wanted to go and find comfort in the arms of the woman she learned was named Rose. But as much as she wanted to, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She couldn't risk getting any closer to this family; they would leave her too. Everyone always did; besides their smell was progressing and she could no longer take the sugary sweet smell that burned her nose for such long periods of time without fresh air to help dilute the stench.

So now she found herself spending more time sitting next to an open window when in their presence. 'How could such a pretty family smell so bad?' Bella wondered. They always looked so clean, yet smelled so poorly. She knew when she lived at home she didn't always smell so nice, but she never got this bad. She thought more than once to say something, but she couldn't. They had been kind to her, gave her nice things, spent time with her, and filled a bit of her loneliness; so she couldn't say anything.

Sam once told her, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.' The thought of Sam made her chest ache and stomach drop; she wasn't sure why she listened to anything he said anymore, seeing as anything he ever said had been a lie. He promised never to leave her, promised to love her, promised he would protect her, promised he would write her; and just like the other things he proved that last promise he made was a lie. Yet, deep down Bella hoped she had been wrong and for once he wouldn't lie. But again he proved to do what he had always done, lie to her.

She could feel the soothing words of the voice and a soft breeze wash over her, somehow calming her. Bella wished in a way to be part of this smelly family. They all seemed happy together and they were kind to her when nobody else had ever been. All they asked for in return was her trust, but unfortunately Bella couldn't fully give it to them. She knew there was no point in it; she remembered Sam's words that she had to stay here and live with her father. Sometimes she wondered if that was a lie too since that is what her brother seemed best at doing; but she heard talk from the grown-ups about her going home. So she knew it was coming, so why get attached and hope for things that weren't meant to be?

As she stared out the widow, she couldn't help but wonder what Sam's life was like now. She knew he was happy, his lack of response proved that to her. The funny thing was as hurt as she was at his lies and abandonment, she missed him and found herself glad he finally got to be free; but she kept that buried because she could miss him all she wanted, but she was here and he was where he was happy and with a loving family while she waited out her sentence for her crimes.

A tapping from the door and the lack of that bell like voice caught her attention, causing her to turn away from her thoughts and window and back to the room. Her heart jumped a bit in fear as she saw Rose's distraught expression at the pudgy, short haired woman in the doorway. Bella slowly watched as Rose made her way to the closet and pulled out the small pink backpack that was stuffed full and hand it to the strange woman.

"Come along, Isabella," the woman sternly stated.

Quickly Bella's brow furrowed in question. She didn't understand why she was leaving with this woman. She thought that she was waiting here for her daddy to come; so it made no sense as to why she was leaving with anyone but him.

"Isabella," the woman barked, causing Bella to jump at the tone and her heart rate to spike in fear as she started to slide down the chair to comply.

"Just who in the-"

"Rose," Carlisle cut his daughter off before her temper got the best of her. He didn't like the treatment any better than she did, but there was nothing they could do now. It was all about acceptance and trying to remain calm enough to get Bella to leave without a fight or scaring her even worse.

"Ms. Craig, my daughter as you know has been taking great care of Bella for months and I believe she would like a moment to say goodbye."

"Make it quick," the woman huffed before stepping out of the room.

Bella found herself frozen between the window and doorway; still not understanding what was going on other than she was right, her time with these people was over and she was leaving now. But where was she going and where was her daddy?

"Bella?" the soft bell voice cooed bringing Bella's focus to it and the citrine eyes before her as Rose's cool hand cupped Bella's little cheek, almost causing Bella to flinch at the temperature and the closeness of the smell. "Bella, Honey... I know you don't understand any of this; but you have to go with her because she is going to take you to your new home. To a home with other children to play with and a mother and father. Won't that be nice?" Rose asked trying to stay strong for not only herself but for Bella.

All Bella could do was shrug at the statement, unsure what to think at this. Yes it would be good to have a mommy and daddy but if they weren't going to give her back to her daddy, why couldn't she stay with these smelly people. She would rather be with these smelly people, who cared for her, then people she didn't know. "Why can't you be my mommy? And why can't Em be my new daddy?" Bella asked softly.

In that moment if Rose could cry, she knew she would be a sobbing mess. Oh God, she wanted to be this little girl's mother and she knew Emmett would want to be her father just as badly as this little girl wanted him to be. "Rose, you need to be strong. She needs to know that it isn't possible," was spoken at a level just enough for a vampire to hear.

Rose knew her father figure was right; but Oh God did it hurt badly to break not only your own heart but the heart of a little girl, who you cared so deeply for and obviously cared for you too. With all her strength Rose looked away before pulling her hand away from the soft warm flesh of what she considered to be her baby girl and stood up. "Because, Bella, we can't take you," Rose stated in an annoyed tone.

"Why? If my daddy doesn't-"

"Because we don't want you either, Bella," she snapped.

Bella gasped alittle as a mist built in her eyes as she nodded understanding. They probably thought she'd hurt them too, but she really believed they cared. But obviously it was some sort of sick joke. In this moment Bella was glad she never fully gave them her trust or love; because she was right all along, they would leave her. They proved they wanted to hurt her like everyone else. Everyone that got close always pulled the rug out from under her eventually. Bella wanted to yell, kick and scream at the lies, hurt and betrayal; but she couldn't. All she could do was nod her head in understanding as she made her way out into the hall to the lady who stood with an annoyed expression. Bella reached out and took her bag from the woman, causing the woman to drop her files. "I'm sorry," Bella mumbled sincerely as she bent down and picked up each envelope before handing it back to the woman.

"Let's go," the woman stated with a harsh sigh of annoyance.

Bella just nodded as she quickly threw her bag onto her back and followed the lady down the hall, pausing for a moment at the entryway to give a backwards glance at the family she hoped would be hers. Yet like all families, they didn't want her.

"ISABELLA!" the woman shrieked.

With that Bella sprung forward with a slight stumble over her own feet and darted out of sight.

"She will be alright, Rose," Carlisle whispered to his broken daughter.

"I'm no better than the mutts," she dryly sobbed before turning to run.

Carlisle stood a moment longer before darting down the hall and out to a balcony; like his daughter he felt broken at the loss, and he knew for sure tonight they all would mourn the loss of the girl that they all cared for and grown to love.

Sam could smell the smoke from the fire even though he was a good mile down the coast line. Today the tribe was celebrating the return of Leah Clearwater after her summer spent with her family at the Makah Reservation. After being here for the summer Sam quickly learned that the tribe found any excuse to have a bonfire. He remembered his first one, the one to celebrate his return to the tribe. He was in awe at the sight of the fiery blaze that popped and crackled with all kinds of colors - that he learned came from the driftwood - and at the sight of the food and the stories Billy told of their people, the story of the protectors. However, Sam didn't remember how it ended because at some point he tuned it all out; because as he looked around, he saw so many siblings side by side and all of a sudden all this felt so wrong.

He found himself quickly disgusted with himself that he allowed himself to get that wrapped up in everything that he had forgotten his sister. He had been home almost a whole week and in that time he became so overwhelmed with new friends, his new home, and attention he had forgotten her. He didn't write like he promised but worst of all it took him a week to really think of her, of his small frail and broken sister who was sitting in a hospital.

He hated himself for being so selfish and the moment he got home, he wrote a long detailed letter. He knew she wouldn't have been able to read it herself but he was sure a nurse would read it to her.

That was over two months ago when he sent his first letter, and he hadn't heard a word from her but it didn't stop him from writing his weekly letter. He knew she couldn't write a whole lot, but he was sure she would have sent him a drawing or something. But nothing ever came. All he knew was she was alive and improving; nothing more, nothing less. As often as he begged and his grandmother called the social worker, she was given general basic information. It was deemed that since she was not Bella's legal guardian, she had no legal right to know; so she should be glad with what she got and that mail now had to come through the agency.

Sam wasn't the only one that was broken by all this; his grandmother regretted everyday that she didn't go see Bella and that she took the coward's way out. Sam knew now that his grandmother had leukemia, which meant she was extremely ill. That was why the state didn't want Bella to go home with them, because they didn't think she'd be able to handle her health and Bella's. Sam believed he could have stepped up and taken the burden like he had always done; but they told him that the state believed it wasn't his to take on, and after that first week where he had forgotten about his doe eyed baby sister, Sam for the first time in his life doubted his ability to care for her as well.

With a surge of anger at himself, he kicked at a large log before flopping down in the sand as thoughts of the painful things he had said and done repeated in his mind. Slowly he reached down and grabbed a rock and threw it into the vast sea.

"Pretty good throw," a familiar voice chuckled.

"Jared," Sam grunted; he shouldn't be surprised that it was him that had found him. Since coming here, Jared had quickly become Sam's closest friend. They were the same age and clicked in so many ways. Sam liked the other kids. Quil was never less than anything but entertaining, Jacob was all smiles and a nice kid, Embry was shy but it balanced out the trio, and then there was Seth, he was a sweet toddler. The only one he hadn't met yet was Leah. He couldn't help but wonder if Leah and Bella would have hit it off, seeing as they were the same age. But with the road he had helped put them on, he doubted he'd ever find the answer to that question.

"There is always tomorrow," Jared said softly.

"Yeah," he sighed sadly. That was one of the things that Sam liked about Jared; he didn't need to ask what was wrong or talk a whole lot of emotional stuff to get his point across. Anyway, there was nothing but tomorrow left as an option. Silence enveloped around them because there wasn't anything more to be said.

"You ready to head back?" Jared asked as he sat down next to Sam.

"No."

"Didn't think so," Jared smiled as he took a rock and threw it like Sam had, before handing another flat rock to Sam.

With a smile Sam took the rock and juggled it in his hand; he knew he was going to catch hell from his grandmother for taking off and from Billy at how he never attended the telling of the tribal legends; but Sam could care less. He was broken inside and as much as they said they understood, they never could. He needed time, time to mourn, and time away from all the tribal stuff they were trying to shove down his throat. They seemed to forget he was a nine year old boy who was mourning the loss of something that was a part of him. With a deep sigh, Sam threw the rock in the sea.

With a jerk the car came to a sudden stop, sending Bella jerking forward from the force. Quickly the woman unbuckled and then released herself from the car, leaving the slam of a door in the wake as she made her way to the trunk. Bella looked up at the blue house with white shutters and bars on the windows. Bella could feel herself tremble a bit at the sight. The bars made her feel uncomfortable; especially when she noticed no other house nearby had the same feature. Bella's thoughts were interrupted as she felt the cool evening air on herself; in her daze she hadn't noticed her door being opened.

"MOVE IT! I have a life, you know," the woman snapped.

Bella knew that tone, it was obey or else. She quickly grabbed her bag and exited the car, jumping as the door slammed shut. She didn't dare move until the woman moved first; only then did Bella walk closely behind her up to the white door.

It only took a few moments before the door opened, revealing an older blonde woman and a brown haired man. Bella heard nothing; she followed the woman when she stepped inside. Bella was led into the kitchen and quickly did as she was told and made her way to the far corner. As the adults sat at the table talking, Bella cautiously looked around the room. The room was covered in flower wallpaper; there was a white refrigerator next to a white stove, the cupboards were also white along with the counter tops. 'These people must really like white,' floated through her thoughts as her eyes came to a large white door that was barely cracked open. Bella almost jumped because for a moment she could have sworn she saw two sets of eyes peering out at her.

"Isabella!" again hearing her name being yelled out by the woman who brought her here, causing her to leave the thoughts of eyes go and turn her attention to the woman. The woman huffed in annoyance, "She apparently was dropped on her head a lot; so as you can see, she isn't all there." The comment hurt, but Bella learned her lesson already about talking back, so she said nothing.

"Isabella, this is Mr. and Mrs. Walker, they are you foster parents. Try not to be trouble to them as they were kind enough to take you in, even with all your problems," the woman spat as she tapped Bella a bit roughly on the head to get the point across

"Why hello, Isabella," the woman said as the man just nodded his head.

Bella copied his gesture and just nodded her acknowledgment.

"Well now that everything is signed and you've been introduced, I will be leaving you."

"Let me walk you to the door," Bella's foster father said gruffly as the two of them left the room.

Bella stood silently unsure of what to do as she heard the front door shut. Slowly she looked up, her eyes meeting the back of the woman in the doorway. Nervousness filled every fiber of her being, the woman that left said these were her parents, so that meant this woman was her mommy now? Bella had never got to call someone that for real. Slowly taking all her courage it came out, "Mommy?"

As soon as the words came out, Bella regretted it as she saw the woman's back go ram rod straight. She knew that gesture.

"What did you call me?" the woman sneered as she turned around with her glare locking onto the small child.

But Bella said nothing, she just started to shake in fear. Oh God, she knew that look. All too soon the woman was to close and reached out and took a fist full of Bella's short hair, causing Bella's heart to start to race at how this was happening again.

"Understand this, and understand it good! Two things! I am not your mommy! You will refer to me as mam, and do not speak unless you are spoken to!" she grit out through clenched teeth as she shook Bella's head for emphasis. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, mam," Bella stuttered out as she suppressed her tears and yelps of pain and fear.

"GOOD," the woman drew out in a low dangerous tone before releasing her grip causing Bella to stumble. "Now get your shit so you can learn your place," the woman bit out as she ripped open the white door Bella had seen eyes peering out of. Slowly Bella walked down the creaky wooden steps behind the woman. As they reached the base of the dark room, a light was flicked on. Bella was barely able to hold in her gasp; sitting there on camping cots were two children, a boy that looked a bit older and a girl that looked about the same age as herself. They sat in tattered clothing and their faces were dirty but bruise free. But Bella could see by the way they were sitting that the bruises were just where nobody else could see. Something she knew all too well

"Isabella, meet the family," the woman snapped. "Kristy, get her in shape quickly. Understood? Timothy, get upstairs and start supper," the woman ordered before turning on her heel and leaving the room.

"Yes, mam," was echoed quickly behind her.

Bella stood stock still as she watched Timothy rise shakily to his feet, before making his way to the steps. He paused briefly to look at Bella before leaving to do as he was told.

Bella jumped as she felt a hand on her forearm, causing Kristy to jump too. The girl gave a

half smile before waving Bella over to the torn up camping cot that would be her bed. No words needed to be exchanged as Bella could feel Kristy's hand on her shoulder giving her a quick squeeze before letting go and crawling up on her cot and taking a stained bunny into her arms and turning to face the wall. Bella sat her bag down on the floor as the shock was leaving her. Slowly she sat onto the creaking cot, 'Not again,' shrieked through her mind as tears started to pour from her eyes. Through her sniffles and tears she laid back onto the cot and like Kristy turned to face the stone wall. She looked up at the barred window above her bed and it hit her; this was her new home, her new cage, and surely this time her tomb.

I know not where anybody wanted Bella to end up... but I won't leave it a cliff hanger as you just have to click that button to see what exactly happens.

As always please review, but no flames please.