Hey Guys, welcome to all the new readers. Thank you to the many people who put me on alert. There are a lot of readers, but not many are reviewing. I hope that you will take a minute to let me what you think, even if it's just a smile or frown. I would very grateful. This chapter is a little long, so enjoy.
A warning- that the start of this chapter contains some sexual violence.
As always, I do not own Twilight, but I did create this story so copyright goes to babylou23, so please don't copy.
Bella
"NO, LET HER GO."
"Give me what I want and I will give you your daughter."
"LEAH, LEAH"
His laugh was dark, very dark, like the laugh the villains use in the horror movies when they always believe that they are going to get away with what they have done. I guess it fit's the scene perfectly as I feel like I'm living my own personal horror movie.
"Here, why don't I start us off, I'm sure Leah will sleep through it all so you can scream my name all you want."
He grabbed my face with one hand and focused my mouth open with the other, and then he pulled and grabbed a hold of my tongue. A shot of pain rips through my mouth making me whimper.
"You will obey me in time Bella, you will learn that I control you and you will please me in every fucking way I ask. Today will be lesson one." He warned me before he pushed her smarmy tongue in my mouth. He pushed it so far down my mouth; I started to gag which made him laugh again.
I could feel my heart thumping in my chest. I had to get out of here. I have to find my daughter and get her away from this bastard.
"Mmm, you taste good sweetheart, let's see how my dick likes that fucking mouth." He smirked.
I tried desperately to get my hands free from handcuffs behind my back. If I could just get one hand free, than I can fight this bastard and get my daughter out of here.
"Open wide sweetheart." He grabbed my face again, the same way as before and forced my mouth open again. I felt him push his dick in my mouth and I tried to push it out with my tongue as well as thrusting my head away. However he was a lot stronger than I gave him credit for and he successfully started moving my head backward and forward while thrusting his hips towards me. However I was not given into him that easily.
"Fucking suck it, bitch. I mean it. If you don't give me what I want, I will go and get your daughter and hope your fucking kid learns quicker. Your choice, sweetheart." I knew that he was not joking. There was no way I was letting Leah anywhere near him so I did as he asked, tears were running down my face as I kept trying to stop myself from gagging again.
I was lost in my mind trying to think of a way to get my daughter too safety, that I never noticed that James had moved away from me until I felt him unbutton my jeans.
"James, no, please." I sobbed; my body was shaken from fear, while my breath had turned into fast panting.
" Shh, Bella, I promise I will make it good for you." He whispered in my ear. His breath making my skin crawl.
"No please, please James, not like this. Not with my daughter in the next room. Please let her go and then you can do whatever you want with me, but please let her go." I begged. He successfully unbuttoned my jeans and was now unbuttoning my shirt. I knew he was listening to me plead, but he never answered me or even looked at me.
"James, please." He grabbed my hair and pushed my face away from him, trying to get me to be quiet. The room became a blur with the tears that were now falling heavy and fast. I could however make out an old dirty wardrobe that sat in the side of the room. I looked at the wardrobe closer, maybe if I just stared at this than I wouldn't have to face his greasy blonde hair and maybe I won't feel what James was trying to do to my body.
"Please stop." I tried again.
"Shh or Leah will hear you, in fact stop begging or I will use your daughter instead." He growled.
I could feel my body go numb, I would give him what he wanted and I would stay quiet so that Leah would not know what was happening. I knew that someone would find us soon; I had left the address on the table. I just had to say quiet until Emmett arrived.
I thought of my best friend, how loving and caring he was. I know in my heart that he would take good care of my daughter for me. He would love her and cherish her and protect her, if I had to leave her behind. She would happy with him, she's loves him and she will have an amazing life, even if I'm not there.
James's heavy panting and moaning on my neck pulled me away from my thoughts.
"Fuck Bella, I have wanted you for so long. Now I can finally have you." He moans moving down my body. I blinked a few times trying to clear away the tears.
Then my heart suddenly stopped.
Not from the arsehole that was trying to dry hump my leg, but from the wide brown eyes that was peeking through a small crack in the wardrobe.
Leah.
No no. There was no way my daughter was watching this.
"No stop. Leah, James, stop. No No STOP NO NO STOP NO
NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO."
My eyes flew open wide.
Leah.
I raced out of my bed and ran straight through my halls and into Leah bedroom. She was lying peaceful asleep in her bed. She is safe, James is gone and we're both safe. I kissed her forehead, making sure she was real. Her face was so peaceful; she had a small smile on her face which made my heart ache. I had no doubt in my mind now that I had made the right decision.
I thought about what had happened yesterday as I made myself a pot of coffee. The clock on the microwave flashed 6.23am, it was early but I knew that I didn't want to go back sleep, back to that nightmare.
Yesterday, had been a good and bad day. I thought about what Leah was like after we meet Seth in the mall, how she had lost herself into her own memories. How her eyes were blank and her small smile gone again. She was gone again. Then when she disappeared, I thought I had died and gone to back to hell. I looked everywhere praying she was exploring our new home.
Then, Edward.
My first reaction was that he had taken my daughter. I still feel guilty for accusing him of kidnapping her, especially when he was the one bringing her back to me. I never noticed how Leah was holding his hand, a huge smile on her face when she walked towards me. I never noticed how comfortable she was with him or how she never screamed, cried or was even scared of this man. The first half of event was a blur to me now.
The second half however, I did notice when Leah ran back to him and hugged his legs as if her life depended on them. I did notice how he looked at her with nothing but innocence and awe that I had never saw on a man's face before. When he whispered something in her ear, her smile grew and so did his. My emotions took over me at that moment and tears fell from my face while I watched them.
I was so confused. It took weeks for Leah to let my father be in the same room as her, never mind touch her without her being trapped inside her head. But this man was not only talking to her, but was holding her, hugging her. What was even more shocking was that Leah was the one to hug him first. She ran away from me to him. I can't get my brain to understand what happened. I thought it was best to push it to the back of my mind until we meet with Dr Stanley.
I will have to go over and apologies to Edward in person today. The guilt was eating at me and I knew that will have to explain my action to him. But I'm not sure if I want him to know everything that has happened. He has a son to protect; he may not want him around me after I tell him how I let a monster take my daughter. I felt a sharp pain settle in my gut, when I think not seeing Anthony again. I will just have to make sure that does not happen. I wiped the tears that fallen on my face and pushed the empty feeling away for now.
I had baked some cookies and took them over to Edwards, as a peace offer last night when Leah was with my dad, but he wasn't home. I decided to leave them hoping that I wouldn't have to go over again, but I knew in my heart that I had to talk to him. I had to find out what had happened between him and my daughter. Emmett had told me what Edward had told him, but I needed to hear it for myself. None of it made any sense to me, Leah has never showed any musical interest before and she has never walked into someone house before. Nothing about Edward and Leah made any sense to me.
I looked at the clock again to find that I had been sitting here for over two hours lost in my own thoughts.
I quickly found the waffle maker in one of the boxes and had enough ingredients that I had bought last night to make waffles for breakfast.
I mixed the ingredients together, poured them into the waffle maker and was making my way to Leah's bedroom when the doorbell rang.
"Morning Bella" Emmett's voice echoed. I looked at the little boy in his arms. He was staring at me with his gorgeous green eyes and the feelings I had earlier disappeared.
"Morning." Anthony gave a sleepy smile at me. I guess Emmett woke him up and dragged him over here.
"Ah, Bells, what's that smell?" Emmett sniffed his nose in the air like a dog.
"Shit." I ran back to the kitchen to find smoke flowing from the waffle maker, it was safe to say that breakfast was destroyed now.
"Hey Anthony, do you want to go out for breakfast?" I asked him. He was hugging Emmett, trying to go back sleep on his shoulder.
"Yes please." He answered his voice was low and groggy, he was so cute when he was sleepy.
"Where's Leah?" His small voice echoed.
"She's still sleeping honey." I replied. He wriggled his little body like a graceful snake out of Emmett huge arms and raced out of the kitchen.
"Well he's fully awake now." I giggled.
"I asked Edward if I could take him for the day since he's at work. I thought it would be good for him to spend the day with Leah." He commented while helping me clean the mess that was meant to be breakfast. "Anthony's been bugging him for a play date with Leah since the other day. Edward didn't know if you would allow Leah over at his, so I suggested that I take him instead."
I sighed, I felt bad that Edward didn't think I would let his son play with my daughter. I had nothing against his son; in fact I couldn't his get his huge bottle green eyes and award winning smile out of my head. I was in complete awe with his son and I had no idea why. But I didn't know Edward; I believe that he is the good guy from what my father and Emmett have said. But also believed that James was a good guy, that he was my friend who cared about me and my daughter. I was wrong about him and I promised myself that I would never make that mistake again. Maybe when I get to know Edward better, he can have Leah over at his. But I know that right now, especially after what happened yesterday, that I would not be comfortable. I'm sure once I explain all this to him, he would understand.
"Em, I love that Leah found a friend but …" I never got to finish explaining myself as two five year olds came running into the kitchen all flushed with smiles. Their smiles grew more when Emmett and I laughed at their choice in clothing. Leah tried to copy what Anthony was wearing, they both had on dark blue jeans - Leah had a pink love hearts at the bottom of her jeans - they were both wearing baseball t-shirts and a pair of black chucks.
"Oh look honey, we have twins." Emmett gushed.
"Alright kids, we ready to go?" I got three bobble head answers followed my two childish giggles. Two giggles. I stood still, my eyes wide, my mouth open. My daughter was giggling, not silent giggles that I had grown use too but housed filled belly giggles that was music to my ears. I looked from Leah to Emmett to make sure I wasn't dreaming. His face matched my own; I had just heard my daughter giggle for the first time in over half a year.
"Let's go I'm starving." Emmett chuckled grabbing our coats and heading out the door without me.
XXX
I helped the kids out of the car and we made our way into the local diner. It looked like an old 50s dinner with large red booths and juke boxes on the table. The walls were yellow and were in need of a good coat of paint, but beside looking a little run down I really liked the place.
"Hey Emmett." A woman with curly dirty brown hair greeted.
"Hey Jessica, table for four please."
"Jessica?" I whispered in his ear.
"Yep."
"Wow, she looks…"
"Old" was all Emmett answered. I took a closer look at her when we had finally sat down. I agreed she looked older than I knew she was, but she looked tired like the years have been very unkind to her.
"What can I get you?" She asked her voice quivering.
"I'll have an English breakfast, what do you want Bella?"
"Bella? Bella Swan?" Jessica asked finally looking in my direction, something that she has not done since we arrived.
Hi Jess." I gave her a small smile. "Can I have the same as Em and pancakes for Leah please?"
"Can I have pancakes too, please Bella?" Anthony angelic voice asked.
"Of course, pancakes for Anthony too, thanks Jess."
"Can you make that three pancakes please Jessica?" A velvet voice added. I turned to look at who the voice belonged too and was met with a more intense set of emerald green eyes. They were the same shapes as Anthony, but were deeper, darker and more dangerous than his.
"Daddy." Anthony squeaked bouncing on his chair. Edward pulled his eyes away from mine to look at his son and I felt a little empty for a second.
"Hey buddy, you look more awake now." Edward chuckled slightly glaring at Emmett for dragging his son out his bed this morning.
"Good morning princess." He turned his charm onto my daughter.
Leah smiled at him, her eyes glowing in amazing. I had never seen her look at anyone the way she was staring at Edward. Her face so innocence and delicate, she was watching him, like he was her hero.
"Daddy, are you sitting with us?" Anthony asked almost in a begging voice.
"If that's okay with you guys?" He gave a small loped sided grin that I wanted to lick. I suddenly had visions of myself not only licking his mouth, but his strong masculine jaw and the days' worth of stubble that had grown there. I wanted to nibble on his ear and suck it between my lips.
"Bella?" He called.
"What? oh yeah of course." I mumbled hiding my blush from him. What the hell was wrong with me? Yesterday I was accusing him of kidnapping my daughter and today I was day dreaming about licking his face.
I moved from beside Anthony to sit beside Emmett and Leah so that Edward can sit next to his son. Guilt pierced my heart when I saw the hurt in Edward eyes. Shit, he thinks I don't want him sitting next to Leah. Why didn't I think of that before? I tried to smile at him hoping he understood why I moved but he wouldn't look at me.
"So what you all doing today?" Edward asked.
"I was gonna take the kids through to Port Angeles for a bit. You have to go into work don't you Bells?" Emment echoed.
"Yeah." I answered watching Anthony and Leah play thumbs wars over the table.
"What do you do?" Edward asked, finally looking at me. His eyes were back to the intense warm green, pulling into a deep stare.
"I'm a photographer; I'm helping out at Forks high school right now"
Edward laughed which made me laugh with him. "Back to school, that should be fun."
"For some maybe." Emmett chipped in; I had almost forgotten that he was there.
"I thought you liked high school?" Edward questioned Emmett.
"No more than you did bro, but Bells loved school, she was all cheery and peppy." Emmett mocked in a high tone he uses when he is trying to interpret a girl's voice.
Edward raised an eyebrow at me in question; I just smirked back at him.
"Here you go" Jessica announced arriving with our food.
We fell into a comfortable silent while eating, except for Anthony who made loud mmm noises every time he took at bit of his pancakes.
"Do you make pancakes Bella?" Anthony asked me.
"I do, I love making pancakes." I answered sweetly.
"My daddy makes great pancakes too." Anthony mumbled through his food, smiling up at Edward.
"So does my dad." Edward mumbled through is food, smiling down at his son.
"Will you make Bella your pancakes, Dad?" Anthony asked, chewing his food.
"Absolutely, I own her for her amazing cookies." Edward answered, chewing his food.
"Yeah there were amazing eh?" Anthony answered, chewing his last piece of pancake.
"Yep, wish I could make them as good as Bella's." Edward answered, wiping his hands on a napkin.
"Leah's lucky to have Bella; Leah's my new best friend." Anthony commented, wiping his hands on his napkin.
"She is huh? Well your lucky to have her as your friend, you treat her like the princess she is, okay?" Edward warned him taking drink of his water.
"I will, you treat Bella like the angel she is okay, daddy." Anthony took a drink of his water copying every move Edward made. I covered my mouth with my napkin, trying to hold my amusement in.
Edward caught my eye, smiled and replied. "Of course buddy." I smiled back at him, red blush covering my cheeks. Was he flirting with me? I shook my head and looked at Leah, who looked up at me with the same amusement in her eyes that I'm sure was in mine. We both had finished over breakfasts before the boys and had watched Edward and mini Edward eat theirs.
You could never mistake that the Cullen boys shared the same genes, I was not sure if they had the same mannerisms or if Anthony just liked to copy his dad, but either way it was sweet to watch them together. It was clear that they shared a bond that was solid and secure. I found myself envy of their relationship, I loved my daughter with every fibre of my being but I knew that we did not share the same connection that Edward and Anthony shared. Ever since I failed her, it has been difficult getting her to stay in the same room as me sometimes. I understood her feelings towards me; I failed to protect her when she needed me the most and now I had to work for her trust again. But I had hope that I would get it back someday, that we can have that connection, hopefully it would be someday soon.
Leah tugged on my top and mouthed " bathroom" to me.
"Excuse us." I announced, Emmett just nodded his head while stealing the food that I had left off my plate, while Edward just gave a small smile and continued his conversion with Anthony and Emmett.
I stood up to let Leah past me, her dandy body moved passed the table and headed towards the bathroom, she was just about there when she tripped over her feet and fall on the floor.
When you're pregnant everyone tells you how great you feel when your child tells you they love you, or when they give you their first drawing or when you soothe their nightmares away. What they fail to tell you is the pain you feel when they cry in pain or when you can't make the nightmares go away, when they don't feel safe with you around. That was left out of the manual.
I moved to her quickly, her sobbed echoing in the diner.
"Where does it hurt honey?" I asked, she held up her right elbow but thankful there was no blood or cut. I was guessing she would have a bruise later.
"Are you okay princess?" Edward crunched in front of us, I could see the pain and concern on his face.
"I think she's just bruised her elbow."
"Can I see?" His eyes pleading. My first thoughts were that he was trying to belittle me. I wanted to tell him that I could look after my daughter and the old Bella would have said just that, but the guilt from yesterday and the pain in his eyes earlier allowed me to swallow my pride and nod my head at him. I held my breath terrified of how she would react to him. Would she scream and cry?
He slowly took hold of her arm; he was very gently with her. I let out my breath when she didn't make any noise, she just watched him move, her sobs slowing down.
I looked at him; his small tight butt was right in front of my eyes as he bend to check over my daughter. I will admit that he looked hot in his police uniform. I never thought I would say that being the chef's daughter and all, but I had a feeling Edward would look hot in anything he wears.
"Yeah, it will be just a bruise." His voice called pulling out of my ogling. "Your mom is very smart." He whispered to her but catching my eyes again and again I felt my face burn. What is with the guy, one look and I'm red as a tomato.
"Let's get to the bathroom before you had an accident." I whispered back. I stood up, took Leah hand and made my way to the restroom without looking back.
"Come here a sec?" I asked her when she left the toilet cube. I lifted her up on top the unit beside the sink. "Just lean over to wash your hands honey, I want to talk to you, just us girls." She smiled up at me, a real smile which me smile back at her.
"Did you go to Anthony's house yesterday?" She had fallen asleep in my dad's cruiser last night so I never got to talk to her about what happened at Edward's and I felt that I needed to know from her what had happened, before I allow myself to be too friendly with Edward.
Leah nodded her head while drying her hands on the towel I gave her.
"Was Edward nice to you?" If I didn't witness it myself I would never have believed that her smile grew so wide I could see all her teeth shining back at me. "What did you do with Edward?" I needed her to tell me what happened in her own way. I was worried that she would just agree with whatever I said so I had to ask her to explain instead, and she did.
I watched in amazement as Leah stretched both her arms out in front of her and started moving her hands just like she would if she was playing the piano.
"The piano?"
She clapped her hands and bounced up and down on the unit. I felt like we playing that game where you had to act out words of books or films for your group to guess.
"Do you want to play again?" I asked her. She looked at with excitement and hope reflecting from her eyes.
"Okay I will talk to Edward about some lesson for you okay." I giggled as I watched her bounce with excitement. This was not the same little girl that I couldn't get to even just paint a picture a month ago. After what happened in the mall I thought she would have gone to the quiet, empty girl for a while and we fall in the old pattern we had in Phoenix, but here she was, smiling and happy. Happy, that was all I wanted for her and if Edward and his piano was going to make her happy than that was what I would do. Things were going to be different in here in Forks. I just had to start believing that and believing in myself. I could be the mother she needs, the mother she deserve, the mother I know I could be.
I helped her down from the counter and we made our way back to our table. Emmett and Anthony were having an arm wrestling match on the table, but Edward was not there. I signed in disappointments, why didn't he wait to say goodbye. Maybe because I've been a cold heartless bitch to him.
"I'm gonna go pay." I announced quietly. I really wished Edward hadn't left like that. I guess I'll have to make muffins to take over with my apologies tonight.
"There's a party on Saturday night, you should come with me." I knew that voice; I looked up and spotted Jessica move her hand over Edwards arm.
"Thanks, but I'm taking my son to the beach on Sunday so I think I'll pass." Edward smoothly answers. I could see where Anthony got his manners from; I did also noticed how my heart leapt at him turning Jessica down.
"You can still go out on Saturday; I can think of others things to do without drink." She purred making me want to puke in her hair.
"No thanks." He answered moving her hand from his arm. The next thing I knew I was staring into his amazing eyes. I could get lost in these eyes, the way they flicker a deep green one minute than light green the next. I felt a shiver run down my spine. I felt like he was looking right into my soul carving his name there.
I was not sure how long we stared at each other but it Edward who broke the spell.
"I just paid the bill, I hope you don't mind." He said his voice smooth and creamy. He ran a hand through his hair. His hair! Why had I never noticed her hair before? It was a bronze, copper colour, a bit darker than Anthony and it was longer and messier. It looked like someone had been running their hands through it and pulling it while having wild mad sex. I would do anything right now to be the person to do that to him.
"Sure," I mumbled still imaging my hands in his hair. It looked so soft and silky. I quickly looked away from him, trying not to blush for the hundredth time this morning.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Ah, yeah." He gave a small smirk and went to walk away.
"Edward." I yelled a little too loud.
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry; you know the thing with Leah yesterday." I tried to explain myself but I mumbled like a teenager.
"It's alright." He looked he was in pain which told me that I had really hurt him.
"No it's not; I should never have accused you of…" My voice laced with shame.
"Bella, I'm sorry, I have to get back to work but I would like to apologize to you myself properly, I should have brought her to straight home and …" He looked so cute rambling on.
"What time to do get off? I can cook dinner for us and we can talk tonight?" The words were out of my mouth before I realised what I was saying.
"I would really like that." He smiled which made me, than added "Can Anthony come?"
I laughed. "Of course, actually if it's okay with you, I can take him when he gets back from Port Angeles until you finish." I was really hoping he would agree. I knew that I was asking a lot from him considering what has happened between us already.
"Sure, if he wants too." He smirked.
"I do daddy, I wanna stay with at Bella's." Antony yelled. I looked at the table to find three sets of eyes watching us.
"Alright, I finish at five so I guess I'll see then." I could only smile at him. "You be good for Emmett and Bella." He ruffled Anthony's hair.
"I'll see you after princess." He leant over Anthony to kiss Leah's head.
"Bye." Everyone waved at him as he walked out the door. Did that really just happen? I invited an almost stranger to my house? Suddenly I didn't feel so giddy anymore; anxiety had taken its place. Give him a chance Bella, not ever guy is like James.
I promised myself that things would change here in Forks and I had to move forward and learn to trust men again.
"Alright kids, let's go." Emmett shouted followed by a little scream of joy and two sets of arms in the air. "Smooth Bella." He whispered in my ear before laughing at the scrawl on my face.
xxx
Mrs Bradley was the name of new boss. I had no idea who she was, the name was not familiar so I was guessing that she wasn't born here and I was interview by my old Biology teacher Mr Banner. He still looked like he did eight years ago, apart from some extra wrinkle and a few more grey hairs. He talked more about how grown up I looked - well he talked to my legs that were shown under my skirt - than the position I was applying for.
All Emmett could tell me was she was bossy and arrogant but in a very hot way. I could tell by the twinkle in his eye that I did not want to know how he knew that. Emmett's love life was something I did not want to hear about, ever.
A tall, very skinny, tanned women appeared before. "Isabella?" she asked, a fake smile gracing her face.
"Yeah, that's me." I followed her into a large dark office. A strong smell of cheap perfume made my head dizzy, but I took a deep breath and tried to hold it as long as I could, trying not to use my nose.
"It's good to finally meet you Isabella, I'm sorry I missed you for your interview." She pushed her wild curly red out of her eyes so she could see me better. Her eyes moved over my body slowly, I suddenly felt uneasy in her presence. She was looking at me like I was something she scraped off her shoes.
"That's okay and I go by Bella." I answered feeling very small.
"Alright Bella, here is your course program for the year, academic calendar, it has important meetings added on but there will be ones that are not on there. It also has all the dates of exams, assignments. The first meeting for staff is on Monday, school begins on Tuesday and my assistant will show you your studio, if you have any problems with your studio talk to Miss Weber as she is head of your department." She continued to ramble for another half hour about the school, what to do, what not do. I sat wondering how someone so young and so annoying can b be the head of this school.
With another fake smile and a massive headache I finally left her office, breathing in the clean fresh air deeply and started to make my way to my studio when a familiar voice called out my name.
I turned to the voice and froze in complete shock. What is he doing here?
He gave me a toothy smile, the light shining on his blonde hair making him sparkle.
"Good to see you again Bella"
What do you think? Any ideas who the male at the end is? Please review, there better than pancakes. Happy pancakes day for tomorrow ;-)