A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed/favorited/followed! All mistakes are mine. I hope ya'll like this chapter! Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

"Who can say if I've been changed for the better but, because I knew you, I have been changed for good." – Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth

Chapter 33

BPOV

April 2010

I don't know exactly what happened after I jumped. Seeing Edward coming closer to me on the cliff terrified me, so I panicked and jumped. I didn't want him to be there. He was supposed to just tell the police where to find my body, not try to stop me.

I remember how cold the water was when I first hit. I thought I would die right then and there from the freezing cold temperature, but I didn't. I remember sinking down to the bottom before I blacked out.

I thought I would be dead by now, but unfortunately for me, I'm not. Death isn't supposed to be this uncomfortable. I'm not in pain, per say, it's more like my body is just waking up from a ten year slumber.

My eyes are heavy. I try to open them, but I can't seem to find the strength to do it.

I hear a door open. Someone comes by my side and grabs my hand. I hear someone sniffling beside me.

Why is someone crying?

Are they crying over me?

Why would someone cry over me? I'm nobody.

I hear the person start to whisper. It's so low that I have to concentrate really hard to hear and understand what they are saying.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry, Bella. I swear, I'm going to do everything I can to make this right. I will make this up to you, Bella. I promise."

If I had control of my body, I would've gasped.

It's Edward.

Why would he be here?

Why is he sorry? Sorry about what?

Make what right? He's done nothing wrong.

I want nothing more than to open my eyes and see him right now. I want to comfort him. Edward doesn't deserve to be crying over me. He's too good for me. I need to talk to him. I need to tell him this. He needs to know.

I'm interrupted out of my thoughts when the door slams open. "What the hell did you do to my daughter?" I internally cringe when I realize that that's Renee's voice. It's at this moment that I also realize that I am in a hospital.

I hear Phil's and Renee's loud and obnoxious voice come closer, and I immediately want to go back to the darkness. I want to die. I don't want to suffer anymore and as long as they are in my life, that's exactly what's going to happen.

I tune out all of the voices and go back into oblivion.

I don't know how much time passes before I feel myself waking up again. It could have been minutes, hours, or days and I wouldn't have known the difference. I try to open my eyes again this time around, and surprisingly, I am able to get them open.

I halfway expect Edward to still be by my side, but I quickly chastise myself for thinking like that.

He doesn't care about you.

He pities you. That's the only reason he was there on the cliff with you.

He doesn't love you.

To my surprise, I find Charlie sitting in the seat beside my bed instead of Edward. He's staring directly in my eyes. He blinks a couple of times before he says anything. "Hey, Bella. How are you feeling?"

I lift up my hand and move it back and forth in a way that says so-so. I don't feel great, but then again I never have. I don't feel any pain, but I just feel weird. I don't feel the pain that I thought I would be in from jumping off of the cliff.

Charlie nods his head and his face becomes serious. "I've got someone who wants to talk to you, okay sweetie?"

I don't know what he's talking about but I nod my head anyway, or at least I think I do. It's hard to tell considering I can't feel much. He must have gotten the point and left and a few minutes later he walks in through the door with Helen, the social worker that left me with Phil for a couple grand. I feel tears prick the back of my eyes and I guess Helen saw them too because in half a second she's comforting me. "Oh, Bella. I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am for leaving you the way I did, but I had no choice."

My expression must have given away my true feelings about her because she immediately changes her approach. "How about I start from the beginning?" I nod, still unsure about why she is even here. "My name is Detective Mackenzie Chandler of Child Protective Services of the State of Washington." I feel my eyes go wide. "That's right. I'm not a social worker, but I was assigned to your case, Bella." Detective Mackenzie goes on to explain how she found about me and why she had to play along with Phil so she could get the evidence she needed to arrest him and Renee. She told me about how much she hated leaving me with my abuser, but the quickest way to get me out of that house and away from them forever was for her to go back to her headquarters.

With every word, I find myself wanting to cry more and more. "I'm so sorry I had to leave you with those terrible people, Bella, but I want you to know that you will never have to be around them again."

My eyes go wide in joy and surprise.

Charlie decides to pipe in at this time, "Along with your letter to me, my statement, Dr. Cullen's report, and the check that Phil wrote Detective Mackenzie, we now have enough evidence to lock Phil and Renee up for the next thirty years without the option of parole on good behavior. You're free, Bella."

This time, I let my tears fall. This is amazing. It's finally happening. I am away from Phil and Renee. I'm free.

Days go by and I feel a little bit of my worries fade away in each moment. True to her word, Detective Chandler got Phil and Renee put away in a state prison for at least the next thirty years. That's one problem down.

Another problem is all of my injuries. When the doctor first came to see me when I woke up, he told me I was extremely lucky to be alive. He said that if Edward hadn't come in the water after me when he did, then I would've died within minutes. He said that I have a mild concussion, a fractured jaw, severe third degree burns on forearms that will definitely scar, a fractured rib, a mild case of hypothermia, and I re-fractured my leg. I have bruises and scratches covering over seventy percent of my body. He also said that I've been in a coma for the past five days. He said that he's never seen so many injuries on one person alive. He blamed that on the fact that Fork's population only consists of twelve hundred people. I think he was trying to make me laugh, but it didn't work. I'm in my own little world most of the time.

Since then, Charlie has come to see me and be with me for most of my days in the hospital. He's talked to me, patiently waiting on me to talk back, but I just don't have the will. He's still leaving me to go to Arizona. It's only a matter of time before I am alone in this world again. I don't want to let Charlie in just to have him leave me. I won't be able to take it.

Charlie comes in with Detective Chandler one morning right after the nurse gives me some more pain medicine. "How are you feeling, Bella?" Detective Chandler asks.

I shrug my shoulders.

Cutting right to the chase, Charlie starts talking. "Bella, we have something that we need to talk to you about."

I narrow my eyes at the two of them. What are they talking about?

This time, it's Detective Chandler who speaks up. "Bella, you'll be getting out of the hospital pretty soon and with your foster parents in jail, we've been trying to find you a place to go."

Immediately, my mind fills with apprehension as I try and come up with a place where I could go. I don't have anyone anymore. No one cares about me. No one wants me.

Charlie must have seen the fear on my face because he instantly takes his hand in mine, soothing me. "That's what we were wanting to talk to you about, Bella." I see Charlie take a deep breath before continuing. "The closest foster parents live in Seattle. They have six other children with them, so I was asking Detective Chandler to see if there was any way that you could possibly stay with me?" The way he says it makes it sound like a question. "I mean, I know you and everything you've been through. You know about me. I know you're comfortable with me. I just thought it would be perfect, you know? We could make our own little family…" he trails off.

I feel a smile on my face, the biggest smile I think I've ever made. I frantically nod my head in acceptance to Charlie's request.

I can't believe it. Someone actually wants me. Someone wants to be my family. I've never had a real family before. The sound of it makes me want to hug Charlie to death and never let him go.

Detective Chandler interrupts my inner giddiness. "Of course, there are some legalities that we have to think of first. Mr. Masen here isn't exactly a foster parent and since you're a ward of the state. The law says that you have to be placed in a group home or a foster home until you are eighteen."

My good mood instantly vanishes.

Just when I thought my life was going to be turning around.

Detective Chandler finishes what she has to say. "Although, in your specific situation, Bella, I do believe that I can pull a few strings." My smile creeps back onto my face. "It's the least I can do after what I put you through." Her expression becomes somber. "Bella, I can't tell you enough that I am extremely sorry for leaving you in that house with your foster parents. I wanted nothing more than to just take you with me so no one could ever hurt you again. I was always on your side and I'm so incredibly sorry that I had to make you believe that I wasn't."

Understanding floods through me. Although I hate what she did, I know now that she had to do it. To show her that I forgive her, I move my hand, the one without the IV, and place it on hers which was resting on my hospital bed.

Her frown immediately turns into a smile again.

"I was actually needing to talk to you about something, Bella. It's about you living with me. If you feel up to it, that is." Charlie says quietly.

I grin and nod my head enthusiastically.

Detective Chandler smirks at my reaction. "I'm going to give you two some time alone. Let me know about your decision, Bella. I'll make it happen."

Charlie takes a deep breath and begins. "About those legal issues that Detective Chandler mentioned earlier…" He takes another deep breath and looks me in the eyes. "I know you're only about a year away from being 18, but I was wondering if you would let me adopt you?"

My eyes go wide and my mouth drops.

What?

Someone wants to adopt me?

Someone cares enough about me to want to adopt me?

I feel a round of tears come to my eyes. Charlie, surprised by my reaction, carefully pulls me into his arms the best he can and continues. "Can I take that as a yes?"

I nod my head the best as I can while I'm still trapped in his warm embrace. I squeeze Charlie a little tighter, ignoring the pain in my arms.

I've never felt so wanted before in my life and I never want this feeling to pass.

Charlie begins to stroke my hair and my back. "If my daughter was still alive, I would hope to think she would be exactly like you." I pull back and look at him in confusion.

Why would anyone want to be like me? I'm pathetic and awful and worthless.

Charlie must have read my mind because the next words out of his mind contradict the ones I have in my head. "You're strong and beautiful. You're smart and wonderful. You're such an amazing person, Bella, and you have such an amazing heart. You're everything that I could ever ask for in a daughter." I can feel more and more tears falling out of my eyes as I let his words sink in.

He really does care.

I quickly pull Charlie back into an embrace and don't let him go.

"I love you, Bella. I want you be my family."

I nod once more and whisper, "I want to be a part of your family too. I love you too, Charlie."

I never thought that the first time I said I love you, that I would be saying it to my dad. Because that's what Charlie is to me, he's my dad. He's the best person I could have ever asked to come into my life and fill this role.

A couple of weeks after my initial suicide attempt, the doctors tell me that I am free to go home. My heart fills with glee when I realize that home is now with Charlie.

**TCWT**

The day before Charlie and I are supposed to leave for Arizona, which is about three weeks after I got out of the hospital, I get a call from the person that I least expected to hear from.

Edward.

He asked if I would meet him at the small park in the middle of town. At first, I didn't want to go. I had already made my peace with him when I wrote him that letter. I don't want any more heartache in my life. It's just now starting to look up.

In the end, it was Charlie who insisted that I meet with him. He said something about giving him a chance to let him say what he as to say.

I smile at his advice and we make our way to the park. Because I am back on my crutches, Charlie insists that he has to accompany me everywhere I go. Whether it's to my bedroom, the store, or even to the park, Charlie is right by my side for every moment. I love it.

Charlie stays in the car when we arrive at the park. I slowly get out of his truck and on my new crutches and cast, I wobble to the lone bench on the other side of the park.

I'm by myself for about five minutes, then I turn to see Edward walking towards me, a small backpack in his hand. As he makes his way over to me, I take in his appearance. It looks like he hasn't slept for days. His eyes have bags underneath them. His expression is so defeated and exhausted, like he just lost the biggest battle of a war. He has a small scruff coming along his chin. He looks so… down. It's so awful seeing him like this. My first thought is to reach out and comfort him, but I restrain myself. He doesn't feel that way about me.

"Hey, Bella," he says quietly and takes a seat next to me.

I wave in response, trying to keep my expression impassive.

"I thought you weren't supposed to leave until the end summer?" I narrow my eyes at him and grab the sheet of paper that I brought from Charlie's.

Charlie thought that we should head on out as soon as I was well enough to fly. He said that there was just something about this town that he didn't like.

"Oh." was his only response. "I just thought that I'd have more time to see you before you left for good."

I didn't know what to say back, so I remain silent.

"Look Bella, I can't tell you how sorry I am for everything. The party, the shit that happened to you at school, everything with Tanya… it was completely uncalled for. I hate myself for what I did to you, Bella. You never deserved any of it. I was just so… so frustrated that you kept lying to me and I just exploded. I was so angry with you. I turned all the pain and suffering I was feeling into anger. I didn't want to feel anything, especially not that. Looking back now, it was totally ridiculous and pointless." I can hear the sincerity in his voice.

It takes everything in me not to tell him that everything is okay between us, but it's not. He hurt me, even if I deserved it. He broke my heart and I can't just let that go.

"I don't know if Mr. Masen told you or not, but I came to visit you every day that you were in the hospital. Well, at least when you were in a coma. Dad wouldn't let me come see you after you woke up. He said that you were too hurt and that you needed the rest. I fought him every day on it, Bella. I hope you know that. If I could, I would've given anything to be by your side the entire time while you were in that place."

I didn't know about that. I mean, I knew that he was there the day that I jumped because I heard him talking to me, but I didn't know about the rest.

"I'm happy for you, Bella. You're finally away from those terrible people." He pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath. "Bella, why didn't you tell me that Phil and Renee were abusing you?" He asks carefully.

I sigh and start writing. I knew that this would come up eventually.

I tried so many times, Edward, but I could just never go through with it. I didn't know how you would react and honestly, I was scared for you. If Phil found out that you knew, he would have come after you and I couldn't have that. I didn't want you anywhere near you. I was trying to protect you.

I push the sheet of paper in Edward's direction. I watch as he reads it and pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Okay, I guess I can understand where you are coming from with Phil, but what about Jacob and James? Why didn't you tell me about them?"

I quickly grab the piece of paper back from him. Now I'm the one confused.

What are you talking about? Jacob and James did something to me?

Edward's mouth opens and closes a couple of times before words actually come out. "You didn't know, did you?"

I shake my head no.

"Jacob and James were the ones stalking you, Bella. They were acting on Tanya's wishes, but still," he sighs. "I wish you would've told me what was happening, Bella. I could've helped you." I look down to the ground in shame. "I tried to help you, you know. I put those sandwiches and the pain medicine in your locker. I was trying to help you without you knowing it was from me. I was afraid you wouldn't have taken it if you knew it was from me."

That was you?

He nods his head. "I only wish I could've done more."

I realize that now. I'm sorry. I write back.

"Stop apologizing, Bella! You have absolutely nothing to apologize for. You've done nothing wrong," he nearly yells, clearly angered by my words. He takes a deep breath, calming himself before talking again. "At least you'll never have to see those people in your life ever again."

I smile softly at the thought. He's right.

"You know what happened when they got arrested?" Edward asks, trying to lighten up the mood. "When we walked outside your hospital room, there were cameras and reporters everywhere. I guess everyone wanted to know why the hometown police chief and his wife were getting arrested." He chuckles lightly.

Hmm. I guess Renee finally got her dream of being on TV.

Edward chuckles lightly at my response.

The backpack that Edward starts to move around on its own so I look to Edward for an explanation. He smiles and picks the bag up. "I, uh, got you a present." He opens the bag and pulls out a little German Shepard puppy.

My eyes go wide as I realize that he got the puppy for me.

What? Why? I write.

He looks at me sheepishly. "You said once that if you could wish for anything, you would wish for a dog so…" he trails off.

You got me a puppy? I write, still not believing him.

He smiles sadly, "Yes, I did."

Before I realize it, I throw myself at him the best I can with my leg and rib restraining me. I crush his body against mine as I let my tears flow freely down my face.

I can't believe he would do this for me. After everything we've been through… he still acts like he cares.

I slowly pull pack when I feel a wet nose brushing itself on my stomach, begging for some attention.

The smile on Edward's face is so big, bigger than I've seen in a long time. "I kind of already named him for you," he says sheepishly. "I named him Scamp."

'Scamp,' I mouth.

He smiles and nods his head. "I guess that's everything then. I hope you live the rest of your life beautifully, Bella, just like it was always supposed to be. I love you," he whispers. He stands up and then bends down to kiss my forehead. "Goodbye, Bella."

As I watch Edward walk away, I realize somethings I should've realized a long time ago. Edward truly does loves me. I wasn't some game to him, it was real. Everything he felt for me was real. It's an amazing feeling to be seen by someone you respect so deeply and to be loved and cherished. I had never really been cherished in any kind of relationship before him, and it feels… it's the best feeling in the world and I love it so much. I am a fool to let him go. He gave me Scamp and just left. I should've stopped him. I should've told him how I really feel, but it's too late now. He's gone and out of my life forever.

A/N: Edward is so freaking sweet. I want an Edward and a German Shepard puppy. Let me know what you think about this chapter! Only a few more to go! Next up, EPOV! See you next week.