Usual disclaimer applies.

March, 2012

~68~

I don't need prompting. I don't need him to elaborate on a question. I know what he wants.

We stare at one another, and I think Edward grasps how serious this conversation is, how life-altering the information I'm imparting to him will be. His eyes are dark, gazing into my own. His mouth is set into a firm line, his jaw clenched.

I begin.

"At the beginning of the month I found out Carlisle and Renee dated back in high school. And it was a shock, for sure, but I didn't think much of it. Then…well, I looked through Renee's things and found a key to a safe deposit box. It was just…odd. I mean, why would she need one? So I got the box and—"

"You got the box?" Edward has his eyebrows raised and humor shines in his eyes.

"Well, I may have pretended my mother was dead and forged a copy of her death certificate…" I hurry my words, cringing at how they must sound. But Edward only chortles.

"A Classic Bella, always finding a way." He chuckles lightly to himself, lost in some memory. I quickly bring him back.

"Edward, in it there were pictures of me. Pictures with a target covering my face." Any humor that was on his face a moment ago has quickly dissipated. "And it was Esme. She solicited Emmett McCarty to take them."

Edward tenses and it's like he's vibrating. With anger? Horror? He swallows loudly and gives me a quick nod.

"Why?"

I'm shocked at how readily he believes me, not even questioning how I know.

"It was a threat against Renee, to get her to leave town."

"And this is why she left almost two years ago? These pictures are from back in Sophmore year?"

"Yes. April. Taken from the coffee shop."

Edward's eyes widen momentarily. I wonder if he remembers. If he remembers that day as well as I do.

It was the day he first said he loved me, after all. The day I confessed to being in love with him, too.

But after a few moments, Edward continues on.

"Then what?" He is all business now. I recognize his technique. Numbing the pain, letting what I'm telling him to not sink in. Obtaining the information as though it is separate from him, as though it doesn't affect him.

He will deal with it when he is ready.

"Well, I realized something more must have been going on for Esme to feel so anxious that she had to do that, had to force my mother out of town. I had wrestled with thoughts of a longstanding affair, but it was my dad who figured it out first, just last week."

And I can tell that this mystifies Edward. After all, my dad is chief of police, a man who solves crimes every day. Why had it taken him this long to figure it out? To unearth the crime that had been going on under his nose for years?

I sigh. "He started divorce proceedings, meaning he had to search for her, had to delve into all of this. But I don't think he really wanted to. Anyway, he must have realized what went on because he took a sample of my blood, with a bogus excuse of course." I smile fondly. Oh, Dad. "And after you…um, told me what Esme had you believe…" Edward and I both cringe. "I came home, and Dad had the test results waiting. I really am his daughter, Edward."

"And you think Esme purposefully lied to me about you?"

I nod. "I do. What conclusive evidence did she have to be so sure about my paternity? I think she thought getting Renee out of town would be enough, would make her feel stable enough in Carlisle, in their relationship. But my guess is that it wasn't even close. She couldn't let it go that easily and that's when I think she decided I had to be out of the picture too."

Edward is quiet after my longwinded explanation.

And I'm thoroughly surprised by how easy it is to talk to him. How comfortable I've grown in the last five minutes, sitting with my ex-boyfriend/ex-potential brother here in my truck. If someone had told me a couple of months ago that this would be happening, that I would be sharing with Edward Cullen the secrets and hardships that have most affected me, I would have said they were crazier than Esme. But I can't argue with how I feel. And I feel like Edward and I are finally on the same page. Finally at an understanding.

It's…nice.

And it is in his quiet, contemplative manner that he begins to speak as well.

"Living with Esme…" he shakes his head, eyes closed. I can see how frustrated he is and can only imagine how trapped he must feel. "It's like she is constantly pretending. You know? Like whenever she even fucking smiles it seems fake, like she is putting on an act. And I swear it's been like that for years, or at least since we moved back to Forks. But I guess I know why that is, though."

And our silent communication says everything. We both know of the hurt caused by having a parent betray us, betray our families. It's something that there are no words to describe. Nothing that can be said will make it better, so why even try? What passes between Edward and I in this look, this single look, says more than words ever could.

And in this one moment it is almost like the past year, this year in which Edward and I never spoke, in which I closed myself off from almost all social interaction and Edward tried to force himself into it, had never happened. The closeness that once existed between Edward and I, the ability to know what the other was thinking, or feeling…well, it's back.

And it terrifies me.

A/N: Geez, I couldn't stop writing this one lol. I hope it appeases all of you who want more haha.