"Where is he Bella?" He asks, his hands balled into tight fists at his sides. "Where is my son?"

I could feel myself shaking with nerves as I was confronted with what was ultimately my worst nightmare. My throat constricted, drying out as I squeezed the arm of the chair for support. Be strong Bella. I told myself, Antony's safe, he can't hurt him, not today.

"Esme saw him Bella. Where is he?" His patience is wearing thin, clearly my lack of response was infuriating him.

My internal reminder that my son was safe for now strengthened my resolve.

"He's safe." I said, hoping I sounded a heck of a lot more confident than I was currently feeling.

"Where is he? I demand to see him." Edward all but shouted, his brow twitching slightly with anger as he spoke. He looked strangely vulnerable this way, when I looked back to the Edward I had known, the anger had been there, but it was exponentially cold and void of all other feeling.

"He's safe, Edward. Happy and loved and safe where you can't get him." I said as I stood up, hoping to inch closer to the door.

Edward looked at me, unable or unwilling to speak for a good moment without speaking. His balled fists relaxed slightly, but his expression was still one of utter contempt for me. I stiffened my shoulders, I couldn't let him see my shaking.

"Why did you do it Bella?" He asked through pursed lips. "Why did you take him?"

The twist in the conversation shocks me for a moment, the anger I had expected, but the hurt in his voice was unexpected. I couldn't let it get to me, this was just how he was, using fear and guilt to subdue me into going along with whatever he wanted. I wouldn't let him manipulate me again. I'd spent the last six years freeing myself from his grasp, I couldn't let myself shrink back into it. I had to be strong now, for Antony if not for myself.

"How could I have stayed Edward?" I snarl back at him, letting myself truly get angry for once. "I couldn't have knowingly brought an innocent child into that environment. Do you honestly think it's right to bring a child into an abusive home? Because thats what it was, it was abuse." I'm proud of my response, even if it was a little heavy handed.

"Abuse?! How the fuck was I abusive Bella?" Edward's rage, which was once so familiar to me now begins to boil over. He was always so stubborn, so sure he was never in the wrong. It would seem that six years had done nothing to knock him off the pedestal upon which he placed himself.

"You really don't see it, you never did. You were always so consumed in your liquor and your pills. Hitting your pregnant girlfriend; locking her inside the apartment while you were out; refusing to let her see her friends– you really don't see how that's abuse Edward?"

"It wasn't me Bella. It wasn't."

I head for the door, his anger is one thing. I can take it, I can handle it. But him standing here and insisting his innocence during what were the most traumatic and truly frightening months of my life is something I wasn't prepared for.

As I open the door I turn over my shoulder and say. "We don't need you Edward, I'll never let you hurt my son like you hurt me." I walk out of the room before he can respond. No matter what he says, I don't want to hear it.

Our 'meeting' barely lasted fifteen minutes but it leaves me shaken and distracted for the rest of the day. Before I know it the day is over and I begin the trek back home. I can't get over his callousness, his adamance that nothing he did to me was abusive. I consider the fact that he was probably so out of it for most of those months that it probably didn't seem like he was doing those things. But these thoughts don't change anything. He was abusive, whether he believes so or not.

Arriving back to my empty apartment seemed especially cruel today. I still wasn't used to Antony being away, ever since he was born he'd always been with me. The sole comfort in my otherwise turbulent existence. I wanted to call him, but with the time difference I realised that he wouldn't quite be out of school yet, so I sat and busied myself with some financial paperwork until I was sure that he'd be free to talk.

I was glad that– of all the times I could have finally bumped into Edward– it was now when Antony wasn't here. Edward had a tendency to make rash decisions when I knew him last, and it seemed he wasn't as changed as he believed himself to be.

I didn't bother with dinner tonight, after spending a good thirty minutes talking to Antony about how school had gone today, I felt the exhaustion of the day creeping up on me. I hadn't eaten all day but, I decided it would be better for me to get some rest. My appetite was non-existent anyway.

That night I dreamt of Edward. Not the bitter, cruel drug addict who had made my life a living hell before I found the strength to leave, but the Edward from our first summer together. The Edward who had come into the ice-cream store I was working at during the summer before junior year every day on his break at the record store and has spent hours flirting with me as his cone of mint-choc-chip slowly melted. He'd been so easy to fall for back then, so charming. Everything I'd wanted in a summer fling, if we had left it there it would have been perfect. An untarnished romance that I could've moved past but remembered fondly. Unfortunately that wasn't what Edward had wanted.

I stood at the counter at SoCo's, the afternoon was grey and miserable–not ice-cream weather at all– and business was slow.

"Hey Bella." A voice called from the doorway, I blushed red at the sound.

""Edward, hi!" I knew I sounded overly eager to talk to him but I couldn't help myself. "The usual right?" I asked, trying to sound a little calmer.

"Sure that'd be great."

There was an awkward pause in our conversation as I prepared his ice-cream for him, forcing myself to slow down so I wouldn't drop it like I had the first time he came in.

"You got any plans for later Bella?" he asks as I hand him the cone and he hands me the cash.

"Oh um…No, not really." I splutter. Clearly my attempt at remaining calm wasn't going to work today, but I couldn't help myself, he was so gorgeous and kind that I had no idea how to respond to anything he asked me with anything resembling normalcy.

"Great." He seems totally oblivious to my internal meltdown. "I was wondering if you wanted to go hang out at the pond with me for a little bit after you get off. Feel free to say no."

I find myself agreeing before I've even registered what he's asking, I tell him I finish at 4 and he flashes me a warm smile and tells me he'll see me then. By 3:55pm, Edward is waiting patiently on one of the tables out the front of the store and I'm still trying to process what exactly this gorgeous man sees in me. When Jenna lets me go a couple of minutes early I don't know whether to thank her or to curse her for taking away an extra minute of freaking out time.

The pond isn't really that, it's a lake that the old district of the city backs on to, a park with a lake thats open in the summer months for swimming. For my first date with Edward Cullen, there really could not have been a more magical setting. The morning's rain had cleared away, leaving a beautiful sunny day and very few people outside enjoying it. We lay down on the soft grass that grew along the more secluded banks of the lake and talked until the sun was beginning to set and my nerves had evaporated.

"Bella," Edward breathes my name, and I turn to face him. "I'm having the most wonderful day."

It's then that our lips touch for the first time, and I feel the butterflies and the fireworks that I'd always wanted to believe were real once you found the right person. Our kiss was electric, it was brilliant, it was addictive.

I woke up with a groan at my alarm the next morning. Falling for Edward Cullen had been the easiest thing I had ever done, as natural to me as breathing. But loving him had been the hardest thing. Loving Edward Cullen had broken me, torn me apart from the inside out, and left me broken. It was easy after dreams like these to forget that aspect of our love, but I forced myself to remember every time I had these dreams. Edward might have been the love of my life; but he was dangerous. I couldn't let myself trust him, not after what had happened last time, I couldn't let him in.

The clock on my dresser informed me that I still had 2 hours before I had to be at woke, and I decided to eat something before heading off to work. I hadn't eaten at all yesterday and in all honesty, I couldn't remember the last time I had eaten. I'd always been thin but in the last six years I had become skeletal, always cold, unnaturally pale. My stomach had adapted to existing on meagre rations and infrequent meals, still I had to admit that I was hungry this morning.

I dressed for work and had a small bowl of dry cereal and a carton of apple juice before heading out for the day. It was a frosty morning, the wind had a definite chill to it, I considered heading back inside for a scarf but realised that would be more hassle than it was worth so I walked slowly down the steps and headed towards the subway station.

It was then that I noticed a strange car on the other side of the street. It was strange not only because it was new– so few of the people on my street owned cars that I could always spot a new one– but also because it was a shinny black BMW town car that I knew absolutely no one in my street would ever be able to afford. I watched as Edward got out of the car and striding towards me with the same angry, furrowed brow I had witnessed in the meeting room yesterday.

"Where is he?" He barked at me before he had even reached my side of street.

"I already told you Edward, he's safe. He's not here." I retort, matching his angered tone one for one.

Edward seems shocked for a moment when I confess that Antony isn't here. He wasn't expecting that, he doesn't know how to respond and I use his confusion to attempt to make my escape.

"Now will that be all because I really have to leave or I'll miss my train." I try to brush passed him as I say this but he grabs a hold of my wrist as I do. I tense up instantly, my muscles remembering this grab, the bruises that it once caused. I feel my composure cracking slightly.

"I won't let you do this Isabella. I won't let you keep my son from me, in this hovel. If you don't let me see him I'll take him away from you." He snarls at me, and I know the threat is real. Its the thing I've most feared since I snuck away with the middle of the night all those years ago.

"You wouldn't dare." I snapped back at him, yanking my wrist from his grasp before hurrying down the street. I felt like I was about to vomit, or cry. I kept my focus on getting to the subway station and prayed to God that he wouldn't follow me. Thankfully, he didn't.

I didn't feel composed again until I was stepping into the elevator at work and I bumped into Rosalie.

"Hey Bella, how're…" Her voice trailed off as she gazed at my panicked expression, she pulls me off to the side of the elevator before asking. "What happened Bella? Are you ok?"

I want to respond and tell her whats wrong and whats happening, but in truth I cannot feel calm in this building. I've seen Edward here twice now, I can't escape the feeling that he's probably working here too.

"Nothing's wrong Rosalie, I'm fine." I mutter.

"Bullshit Bella, what is it? You know you can talk to me right?" Rose's attitude is so caring, I'm almost tempted to tell her everything immediately, but I can't.

"I want to tell you Rose, I really do. But I can't– not here anyway."

"Ok well, I'm free after work, would you like you come over for dinner and maybe we can talk then? Emmett will be there but we can just send him to another room if that'd make you more comfortable…"

Rosalie's continued kindness continues to flabbergast me and I quickly find myself agreeing to her offer.

"Perfect, we'll I'm assuming you finish at 5 right?" I nod. "Ok well I don't normally get off until at least 5:30 so, if you head up to my office, it's on the floor above the Reception, you can wait in the lobby there for me."

I nod eagerly, my floor is approaching so I thank Rosalie once more before shuffling towards the doors.

This job is possibly the most stable gig I've had in a long while, but its isolating and definitely the most boring one I've had in a long while. My job basically consists of doing all the things the actual marketing employees can't be bothered to do, like filling in handwritten notes onto client's charts and making a billion photocopies of everything. By the time 5pm rolls round in not only starving but seriously losing the will to live. I grab by coat and my bag and head up to the executive offices.

The 2nd floor of the office is notably more upscale. Clearly this is where the big business deals are done, my floor is merely the production line. I approach the desk by the elevator and explain that I'm supposed to be meeting Rosalie at 5:30, they direct me to a seeing area beneath an elaborate metallic lamp and ask me to wait there. Compared with the lower level, its quiet up here, the seating area seems to have the offices leading off it, so I scan around to see if I can see Rose's of the doors reads 'Edward Cullen.'

"Perfect." I mutter to myself. "Of course he works here."

"Of course who works here Bella?"

"Oh shit Rosalie you scared me." I admit and she chuckles.

"You ready to get out of here? Because I am officially over work right now."

"Definitely." I agree. "I don't think I can spend another second in this office."

"Ok then, home time." She smiles and I follow her towards the elevator.

We make light conversation all the way from the office to her apartment. In fact, it's not until we're sitting at the breakfast bar in her kitchen sipping wine and waiting for our risotto to cook that she dares to bring up earlier.

"So Bella, what was the matter this morning? Is everything ok?"

I'm not really sure how to answer her question, I haven't really had any close friends since before Antony was born, I never really bothered to make friends at work usually, preferring to keep to myself. Yet something about Rosalie just makes me want to befriend her, she's fierce and successful– everything I had wanted for myself when I was in college.

"Rose, I'm really not sure where to start here. It's a long story and, it's pretty complicated."

Rosalie reaches out and gives my hand a tiny squeeze.

"Take as long as you need Bella, I'm here."

"Well…" I take a deep breath before I truly begin, "It all started at the end of my sophomore year of college."

I tell her everything, not just the edited version I gave Mike Newton on the ride over to Forks but the truth. How Edward and I met, how he spent that magical summer wooing me in every way possible, how I didn't notice things were wrong until we were pregnant and I was trapped. She sits quietly through it all, squeezing me hand when I mention the abuse and how I finally left. When I'm finished she looks at my softly for a moment before saying anything.

"Bella, you're the strongest woman I know. You've had a tougher time than most people our age."

I shrug.

"I did what I had to do."

"Bella, you know, if theres anything you need, anything at all, I'm here for you."

I smile at her, in the short time I've known her, Rosalie has already done far more for me than anyone– apart from my Dad– has in a long, long time.

"Thanks Rose, but you've already done so much for me, I can't thank you enough. Would you like to see a picture of Antony?" I ask, in some ways I'm a typical mother and I love nothing more than showing my baby off.

"Of course! I bet he's the spitting image of you, right Bella?"

I reach into my purse and pull out my wallet. The picture of Antony I keep in there is a couple of years old, but his smile is just the same. I smile at the memory of the day I took it, it was early June and I had just taken my three year old to feed the ducks in the park for the first time. He was ecstatic, and I couldn't help but snap a picture of the day. I had the picture to Rose.

"Oh, he's gorgeous Bella." Rose gushes, squinting hard at the picture. "He looks so familiar though…"

"That's because you know his father."

"Oh my god Bella are you serious?! Edward Cullen is his father?" Her eyes are wide as she looks between the picture and me in disbelief.

I just nod at her.

"So thats who you meant earlier. Oh my god Bella, does he know?"

"Yeah, he saw me on Friday and then he arranged a goddamn meeting yesterday. Oh and he showed up outside my house this morning like some kind of maniac demanding to see his son."

"God, no wonder you looked so frazzled. I can't believe it's the same Edward though, I mean he's ruthless in the boardroom, but I'd never have pictured him as being so violent. I mean, he and Emmett hang out all the time and, even before I started working at E.M, he always seemed so nice. I guess you never can tell about a person, huh?"

Unfortunately our conversation gets cut short by the sound of the front door slamming shut.

"Smells great in here babe!" A voice shouts from the entrance.

"That's Emmett." She smiles at me. "He's quite high volume."

The guy who walks into the room is wearing a suit, but he looks ad though he would be more comfortable in a football jersey. His shoulders are broad and he is easily 6ft4.

"Em, this is Bella. She's the new office assistant." Rosalie stands to greet him with a kiss.

Emmett turns to me and hold out a hand. "Its nice to meet you Bella, I'm Emmett. If anyone in the pit ever gives you any trouble, I'm their boss's boss, so you come straight to me ok?"

I can't tell if Emmett is joking or being serious, so I just say, "That's good to know, nice to meet you Emmett." before taking another sip of my wine.

Rose and I don't continue or serious conversation now that Emmett is here. Instead, we settle into an easy small talk. Over dinner, they tell me how they met at a marketing conference when Rose was working for a rival company, and how when things became serious, Emmett persuaded her to come and work with him.

"I just couldn't resist the idea of working with him, it's definitely the best decision we ever made. Even when we're busy working, we still get to spend the day together."

They gaze into each others eyes for a second and I have to look away. Emmett and Rosalie remind me so much of Edward and I, well, before everything turned sour.

After dinner, Rose tries to insist that I say the night and I have to admit that I'm tempted, her guest bedroom was infinitely more comfortable than my own room. But I argue that it's not late and, after promising to let her know when I"m home safe she lets me go home.

It's been an interesting day to say the least and I'm exhausted by the time I finally unlock the door to the apartment. There's no sign of any strange cars in the street tonight so I feel relatively secure in the knowledge that, at least tonight, Edward isn't following me.

Confiding in Rosalie was emotionally turbulent to say the least, but it was like a weight had been lifted. I didn't feel so alone in my troubles anymore, and I would be forever thankful for that. I let my mind clear of worries as I drifted off to a restful and dreamless sleep.

A/N

Thanks so much to everyone who has read the story so far. I've taken a five year hiatus and I can only apologise for the lack of quality in the earlier chapters of this story. Hopefully at some point I can go back and tidy them up a bit but, for now, onwards with the plot.

I don't know when my next update will be, but I'm going into my final year of university and this might just be the relaxing hobby I've been looking for.

Thanks again for reading. If you liked it, a little review goes a long way and I'm definitely going to be more inclined to keep writing if I think people are reading the story and enjoying.

Until next time,

Liv