I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.

Ch. 2:

(BPOV)

It had been four long years that since I last saw him and he shattered my heart into pieces. He was still as handsome as ever. Being in the Marines had changed the young boy that I fell in love with and turned him into a strong man.

The car screeched to a stop, and I felt Alec's glaring eyes on me. I knew he was angry because I talked to Jasper and Edward in the market. A big slight on my part.

"Hurry up, I have to be somewhere tonight," he snapped at me, fury still burned in his eyes.

I was surprised he hadn't snapped yet; but then he did usually wait until we were alone and being outside there could be a lot of witnesses.

I stumbled out the door and moved toward the back to get the bags. My leg hurt like a bitch from where he slammed the door on it. Alec briefly looked at the house, the curtains moved from someone noticing our arrival home. He grabbed two of the bags from me, so I grabbed the other two. I walked behind him to the house; the door opened when we got there.

"You're back," our neighbor, Mrs. Cope, greeted us. She was a widow that lived across the street. She often came over to watch my son for me when I had to go out. She was one of the few people Alec trusted to leave him with.

"How is he?" I asked, shifting the bags in my arms.

Alec had taken the lighter ones, leaving me with the heavier ones and went straight to the kitchen, ignoring Mrs. Cope.

"He's doing fine, dear. Resting on the couch. I tried to get him to take a nap but he fought it," she reassured me.

He had woken up this morning with a cough and was sneezing. I didn't want to take him to the store so she watched him for me. I knew he was cranky when he wasn't feeling well and Alec would've been short tempered with him.

"Is your leg okay, it looked like you were limping." She glanced down at my feet.

I shifted nervously. "Just twisted it a bit in a clumsy moment. Thank you for watching him." I thanked her, half hoping she would stay, but knowing if she did, Alec would just get more upset.

"He's a dear. Let me know if you need anything." She smiled and waved before walking across the street.

I shut the door and peaked in on my little redhead boy, who was engrossed in watching Go Diego, Go! while lying on the couch with a pillow and a blanket. He held his stuffed frog tight to him.

I entered the kitchen to find Alec waiting with his arms crossed and he looked upset. On the counter was an open bottle of Whiskey an empty used glass next to it.

"Took you long enough. Put everything away then I want to talk to you." He hissed, his eyes narrowed.

'Talk' was code for 'I'm going to beat you then leave for a while and get drunk'. He poured another glass of Whiskey and downed it.

I moved about the kitchen quickly, knowing that if I prolonged it, the worse it would be. After a few minutes the last item was on its shelf and the last bag was folded. I stood up after, placing the bag away and a hand grasped my wrist hard.

"You have some explaining to do. Why were you flirting with those men in the store?" he snarled. He pushed my back against a cabinet until I could feel the metal handle, painfully cut into the skin.

"I wasn't flirting," I stupidly responded.

I felt the sting as he backhanded me and I whimpered.

"Don't lie to me." he growled, nearly spitting in my face.

"I swear, they just wanted to say hi. Tyler asked about an old girlfriend of his. That's it before you approached. I swear it," I lied.

He raised his hand and then he lowered it. "And the other? Austin was it?" He questioned.

I was glad that he bought it and he didn't realize who it really was.

"He only said hi, nothing else," my voice shook.

"You're sure?" he interrogated.

I nodded not trusting my voice. I didn't want him to know that it was Edward. I know what Alec did to Charlie. If he knew that it was Edward, he would try to kill him too. Jasper was an innocent bystander. Alec wouldn't hesitate to kill him as well.

"You better be." He came so close that our noses were practically touching. His breath stunk of whiskey. "Remember if you ever try to leave again, I won't only kill you but your son too. I'll make you watch as I torture him to a slow painful death," he threatened.

"Don't touch him, he's just a baby," I begged.

He pulled back his hand and smacked me across the face again, I tasted blood from my cut lip. Shocked that he hit my face for a second time. Usually, he avoided the face so no one saw his handy work.

"Don't tell me what I can or cannot do, bitch?" he spat in my face. He grabbed my chin roughly and tsked."Now look what you made me do? I guess that you will have to stay inside where no one can see you until it's healed. Tomorrow I have to leave for a week for work and I don't want you getting any silly ideas about running away. You remember what happened the first time you ran from me." He let go of my chin and stepped away. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the kitchen.

A moment later, I heard the front door slam. He left like he always did after beating me. He would show back up later tonight drunk off his ass and pass out.

I slid down to the floor and took a few breaths to collect myself. I couldn't keep living like this but I couldn't see a way out. I was terrified one day Alec would go too far and kill me and then my son would be left in his hands.

LB

I dragged myself to my feet and to the sink. I wet a piece of paper towel from the kitchen sink and washed my face.

"Mommy, who's that?" I whirled around to see that Masen had joined me in the kitchen. He was staring at the patio door intently with curious expression. I turned to see what he was talking about and saw a figure pressed up the glass. He was shading his eyes to see in and I could see him staring at my son, with the same expression on his face as his tiny replica. My heart clenched in my chest when everything registered.

Shit, what was he doing here? He had to leave before Alec saw him.

"Masen, go back to the living room," I told him.

"But I'm thirsty," He pouted and whined slightly.

"I'll bring you some juice in a minute. Please do as I say." He finally nodded and turned and walk out of the room.

I turned back to the door when there was a knock.

"Bella, open the door." Edward called through the glass, his voice was slightly muffled.

"No, I don't what you are doing here, but you need to leave. I don't want to talk to you." I stayed in the shadows of the kitchen, but I knew he could hear me.

He looked frustrated and ran his hand through his hair.

"I'm not leaving until you open the door and talk to us." He looked to the area where I was standing. He squinted his eyes like he was trying to find me.

"There is nothing to talk about." I retorted crossing my arms in front of me.

"I think there is. Starting with how that little boy looks exactly like I did at his age. Is he my son?" Edward looked upset now.

But not as much as I was.

I stormed up to the door and yanked it open to face him. I had to look up to glare at him. "To be your son you would have to be involved with his life." I snapped at him.

"How can I be involved if you never told me?" He snapped back.

"I tried to tell you. Maybe if you opened any of the letters I sent you, rather than wrote 'return to sender' on it you would know. So don't tell me that I didn't. I sent a letter when I first found out. Then a second a month later when the first returned. Then another about halfway through, when I found out he was a boy. Then the last one when he was born." I fought my tears. How much rejection was I supposed to take from him?

"I never got any letters." Edward's anger changed to confusion and sadness.

"Well someone wrote 'return to sender' on them." I scowled.

"If you wrote me a letter I would've opened and read it." He insisted his eyes looked sad. I wanted to believe him but the writing looked too much like his.

He looked at my face and frowned before looking even more upset. "Did he do this?"

He raised his hand and brushed my cheek, I flinched away. He sucked in his breath sharply and dropped his hand.

"It's nothing. I'm still very clumsy." I mumbled the excuse out of habit and he narrowed his eyes.

"Don't call it nothing. Apparently you haven't looked in a mirror or you would be able to see the handprint." He retorted.

I chewed on my lip nervously and looked away from him. I felt him grab my hand, the sparks that ignited threw me off for a moment so I didn't pull away before he pushed up my sleeve to reveal more bruises.

"Fucking asshole!" someone else cursed.

I pulled away from Edward, clutching my arm to my chest and looked up. I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see that Emmett was with them. His eyes was homed in on the bruises on my arm. I pushed the sleeve back down.

"You guys really need to leave, before he gets back," I pleaded.

The three of them shook their heads.

"Not going to happen," Jasper answered me, his eyes were stern, they softened slightly when I made eye contact.

"You'll just make things worst, not better," I begged.

"We aren't leaving. At least not without you or my…our son," Edward's voice was softer, almost begging.

"I can't…" I started as tears threatened my eyes.

"Just let us in for a minute and hear us out." Jasper suggested.

I sighed and stepped out of the way. They stepped in, I automatically stepped further away from Edward.

"Bella, you have to understand there's no way we can just walk away from this. You're smarter than this. You know this won't end well," Jasper stated softly.

I knew that he was right, but still I couldn't risk Masen's safety.

"Does he hurt…" Edward paused looking frustrated, "I don't even know my own son's name." he mumbled.

I suddenly felt slightly sorry for him. But if he had opened the damn letters I sent he would know.

"It's Masen." I answered, realizing he would know that I gave our son his second middle name. "And no Alec hasn't laid a hand on him. In fact, he barely looks at him let alone touches him. He hasn't even held Masen since he was about two months old. But if I leave he has promised to kill him." I felt myself start to tremble so I wrapped my arms around myself.

"Which is why we need to get you both out of here before he does," Jasper said firmly but still gently.

"Didn't you just hear me, it's not that simple? If I leave, he will kill him. It isn't like I haven't tried to leave before. I did try to leave after the very first time he hit me. Alec tracked me down and…." I choked back a sob.

Edward reached out for me and I recoiled back from him.

"We know what happened to Charlie. I'm so very sorry that you lost him, but please don't let that stop you from trying to get away again. We are three trained Marines and we have resources that Charlie didn't. Please let us help you." Edward pushed.

I closed my eyes trying to think. I reopened about to say one of the hardest things I ever had to do.

"Then take Masen and get out of here. He doesn't care for him and won't care if he is gone. You're his father, take him somewhere. Keep him safe and give him a happy life," I pleaded with tears in my eyes. Saying good-bye to Masen would be hard, but knowing he would be in a better place would make it worth it.

"No, Mommy. I don't want to go without you. Don't make me."

My heart thudded unevenly when I heard my baby's desperate cry. I turned to see him in the doorway. His lower lip was trembling and he was about to cry.

"Masen, please go back into the other room. I will be there in a moment," I told him.

He glared defiantly looking so much like his father for a moment, before he stomped off.

Tears flowed freely now down my face as I furiously tried to brush them away.

"Bella," Edward spoke softly, I felt his hands touch my shoulders and I jumped and my heart thudded unevenly.

"Don't." I pulled away, breathing in sharply.

He dropped his hand, the look on his face was devastating and his eyes brimmed with emotion. He turned and pinched the bridge of his nose. Since when does he care about me?

"Bells," Emmett spoke up for the first time, which was surprising since he was never the quiet type.

I looked at him and the smiling happy go lucky boy I knew from high school was no longer there.

He gave me a stern look that reminded me almost of Charlie. "I hate how this is going to sound, because the last the thing you need is to feel bullied by anyone else. I understand that you're scared, but you can't stay here. Even if we take Masen this guy Alec is going to kill you one day."

"Emmett," Jasper hissed at him.

"I know that. That's why I want Masen safe," I snapped angrily.

"You're coming with us, Bella, whether you like it or not. I don't want to do this the hard way, but I will throw you over my shoulder myself to get you out of here. I'd rather you come willingly. But you aren't staying here," Emmett stated firmly.

"He will just come after us and kill the three of you." I shook my head.

"Let the mother fucker try. In fact, I welcome it. If he comes anywhere near you or that little boy, I will kill him first. But I'm not going down without a fight and neither should you." Emmett smirked with confidence, something that had been beating out of me a while ago.

"We can't leave…"

The three of them opened their mouths to argue. I held up my hand for them to wait. "We can't leave tonight. He will be back in a few hours. If he realizes we are gone, he will be after us right away. He leaves tomorrow morning on a business trip and will be gone for a week. It will give us a head start." I gave in.

Emmett was right. I had to try for Masen. Two of the three of them looked relieved. However, Edward still looked apprehensive.

"What about when he come back tonight?" he asked looking concerned.

"Nothing. He will return drunk off his ass and pass out." I shrugged. "Besides if we are leaving we are going to need things, I doubt you have for Masen."

"Just get us a list and we will make sure we have it by tomorrow." Jasper pulled out a small cellphone.

"This is a small pay as you go phone. It will be untraceable so give us a call at this number when he leaves." Jasper handed it and a slip of paper to me. I nodded and slipped them into my bra for now. "I noticed security cameras. Does Alec go through a company or does he keep track himself?"

"Himself," I answered. Jasper pulled out his phone and started typing.

"I'm going to get Peter on it. He's a good friend of mine, I trust him completely. We will hack in and loop old tapes or something so he doesn't know that we were here or that you're both gone," He explained as he looked at the screen.

"You can do that?" I raised an eyebrow impressed.

He nodded giving me a smile before turning back to his screen.

"I'll be back. I promised Masen some juice and I should talk to him." I turned and limped to the fridge.

"Bella, can I please take a look at that. Jasper said he saw him slam your leg in the door," Edward spoke up.

I cringed inwardly. Alec had become sloppier than I thought.
"Can it be after I get him some juice?" I pulled out the apple juice and put it on the counter.

"I'll bring it to him, if that's okay." Emmett offered.

I hesitated since Masen could be shy especially around males. Emmett's size would also work against him. Plus, he was already upset and I should explain things better to him.

"I don't know. He's already upset." I reached for Alec's Mickey cup and filled it with juice then screwed on the lid.

"Trust me. I get along great with kids. Me and Elmo are like this." He held up crossed fingers.

I smirked and handed him the glass. "He's not a big fan of Elmo. He prefers Grover," I told him.

"I can hang with Grover." Emmett smiled confidently. Apparently, he hadn't changed too much from high school. He headed for the door that Masen stomped out of.

"Emmett, remember he's only three." I called after him.

"I told you I got this," he called over his shoulder.

I sighed before I hobbled over to the barstool next to the kitchen counter. I hopped up and waited. Edward knelt in front of me and gently pulled my right leg towards him. He pushed up the skirt about mid-calf.

Just above the ankle a bruise was forming and it was swollen. I hissed when Edward started to prod at it. He mumbled and apology and started to rotate my foot. I winced in pain. I knew from enough experience that it wasn't broken, but it was going to hurt like hell for a while.

"Damn," Jasper muttered looking over from his phone. He came over and took a few photos. Then of my wrist and face, that he was explained was for evidence.

"I don't think it is broken, but maybe we should take you to the hospital to be sure." Edward pulled my skirt back down and gently released my leg.

"No, hospitals. He has connections there." I shook my head.

Edward ran his hand through his hair and sat back on his heels. "Well, at least, ice it and try to keep off it."

I nodded. "Can you check my back too?" I whispered.

I closed my eyes trying not to tense as he moved behind and lifted my shirt in the back. I suddenly had a flashback.

We rested side by side in the grass of our meadow it almost twilight. I became hyper aware when Edward rolled towards me, he slipped his hands under my shirt and started to caress my skin.

"Edward, we have to get back." I reminded him.

"Your dad working the night shift, he's not going to notice. Besides I leave in a few days and I'm really going to miss you, baby. Please?" I felt he lips caress the skin right below my ear. I rolled over on to my back and pulled his lips to mine. He hovered over me and we got swept away. Needless to say Masen was born nine months later.

"Ow," I cried out.

I heard Edward curse behind me. "Sorry, Baby," he apologized.

I could still feel the warmth of his body from behind me. I missed that feeling and hated it at the same time.

"Don't call me your baby because I'm not." I corrected him.

He was silent for a minute.

"You're right. Again, I'm sorry. The cut isn't deep, so I don't think you need stiches. However, I'm not a doctor, I just have some basic first aid training. If either injury looks worse or isn't any better in a couple of days you're going to need to see a doctor. Alec can't possibly have connections in every hospital in the U.S.. Hell, if I need to I'll get my father to come out." He came around to look in me in the eyes.

"Don't call your parents. I don't want them in harm's way." They had left right after Edward had to go to Chicago. Plus, my last conversation with Esme didn't go very well.

"Where can I find something to cover it, it's bleeding?" Edward sighed in resignation.

"There's a bathroom right there. Anything you might need would be under the sink." I directed to him to a door of the kitchen.

He disappeared in to it a moment later.

"Hey, Bella, if you give me a list of anything you or Masen might need, we will leave and go get it, so we don't have to make any stops tomorrow. The less you bring from here the better, so don't worry about packing unless it's essential. Although, if you could get your hands on any important documents like birth certificates it would make it easier." Jasper sat down next to me.

I started listing off things for them to get. Things we needed as well as few things for the car to keep Masen distracted. Edward had returned and bandaged me up while listening with vapid interest about Masen. He also gave some pain killers and a glass of water.

"Alright, I think we got what we can for now. Call us tomorrow as soon as it is clear." Jasper slipped his phone in his pocket and he looked at Edward for confirmation.

Edward nodded stiffly, I could tell he didn't want to leave.

"Would you like to meet Masen, before you go? That way it's not too awkward tomorrow?" I suggested shyly.

Edward's eyes widened immediately and he nodded. His expression changed and he suddenly looked nervous.

"If you think that it would be okay. I don't want to upset him anymore. He already thinks we are taking him from his mom." He looked upset.

"Then it's best he get an abridged version of what's going to happen." I slid off the stool and stumbled.

Edward grasped my elbow to steady me, I pulled away again out of instinct.

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I walked slowly to the living room where Masen was stretched out on the couch. His knees were pulled to his chest and he was eyeing Emmett warily while sipping on his juice. Emmett was enthralled with watching Between the Lions.

"Hey, little man, how are you feeling?" I sat next to him and brushed the hair off his forehead. He felt warm, but it didn't feel like a fever. He shrugged before trying to cuddle into my side.

"Mommy, I don't want to leave you," he whimpered.

I kissed the top of his head lovingly. "You're not going to, sweetheart. Tomorrow, you and I are going to go on a trip. But we need to keep it a big secret okay. You can't say anything to anyone."

He glanced at the other three in the room.

"It's okay, they know. They're going to go with us. These are my friends. You already met Emmett. These two here are Jasper and Edward." I introduced them. He looked over at them shyly, his eyes lingered on Edward. I waited for what I knew was pretty sure was going to happen.

"You look like the man from mommy's picture. You are my daddy." He looked at me for confirmation.

I nodded encouragingly with a gentle smile. Edward's eyes were wide with shock. I had told Masen about his daddy and never kept him a secret, I did however, keep the details fairly vague, since he was too young to understand. I know what it felt like to be reject by a parent, and I didn't want that for Masen even if I had to tell a white lie. I certainly didn't want him thinking Alec was his father.

"Yes, I am." Edward knelt down so Masen didn't have to crank his head back to see him.

"Mommy said you a Maryanne and you're a hero for our countfry." He stated with a smile.

Edward looked thoroughly confused and I had to giggle. He wasn't used to how a three old tended to confuse words.

"Sweetie, he is a Marine and it's country not countfry." I gently corrected him.

"Oh, sorry," Masen blushed slightly.

"I think I like Maryanne better." Jasper snickered looking amused.

"You realize that you're Maryanne too." I commented dryly and Jasper stopped laughing.

"Mommy said that's why you never sawed me cause you were busy helping other people who needed you more. Mommy also said you lovid me, if you knew you were me…my daddy." He chewed on his lip looking at Edward for confirmation.

"Your mommy is right. I do love you. I'm sorry I couldn't be here sooner." Edward apologized with a sad smile, there were a couple of tears in his eyes.

"Daddy," Masen crawled closer so he could whisper in Edward's ear, but we could still all hear him. "My mommy needs a hero. Mr. Alec is meaner than Oscar. He gets mad at her a lot."

I closed my eyes, I hated that Masen knew, even though Alec had never hit me in front of him, he could still be very loud.

"Who is Oscar?" Edward asked sounding confused and slightly upset, I couldn't help but scoff.

"The grouch, dude. How could you not know that?" Emmett snickered.

"Yeah, Edward, how could you not know," Jasper snickered too, though I doubt he knew. I opened my eyes to see Edward rolling his eyes.

"Of course, it has been awhile since I have watched Sesame Street. My favorite when I was a little boy was Super Grover."

Masen's eyes widened and he smiled widely. I shook my head wondering if he only said that because I mentioned it earlier.
"Mine too. I like when Grover is a funny waiter." Masen nodded furiously.

"Does he still serve the same blue guy with the mustache and the bald head?" Edward asked. I had to say I was impressed after all.

"Uh huh, Grover always make him mad." Masen grinned faded at the word mad. "So are you?" he asked impatiently. "Going to be my mommy's hero." He whispered.

"Yeah, little buddy, I'm going to make sure you and your mommy are safe from now on." Edward promised and I frowned. He had made promises before and never kept them.

Masen threw his little arms around Edward's neck and hugged him. Edward paused for a moment before returning the hug.

I looked up at the clock and realized the time. "Masen, I'm going to make you a quick dinner and then it will be time for you to take a bath and go to bed." I braced myself for an argument as soon as I said the dreaded bath word. I was surprised when he didn't pitch a fit.

"Will you give me a bath, Daddy?" he asked excitedly.

I jumped in before Edward could answer.

"He and the others need to leave." I started, only to be interrupted by a wail.

"Nooooo!" he clung to Edward tightly.

"Masen Charlie, listen, please. They need to leave so Alec doesn't see them, remember our leaving has to be a secret. If he see them then that secret will be ruined. We will see them tomorrow, I promise," I said gently.

Masen pulled away and looked up Edward. "Promise?" he pouted and gave him huge puppy dog eyes that would've put Alice to shame.

"Promise, little buddy." Edward ruffled his hair before setting Masen on the couch.

He stood and so did Emmett. He stretched and I watched as Masen's eyes grow huge looking up at him.

"Got to go, but we will hang more tomorrow," he held out his fist towards Masen.

Masen looked confused and shrank back slightly.

"You make one too and we bump them together, like this." He held his fist out towards Jasper who bumped it with his.

Masen raised his tiny fist timidly and bumped Emmett's.

"There you go." Emmett smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Masen." Jasper held out his fist. Masen shyly bumped it then turned towards Edward.

"Bye, Daddy," he held out his fist. Edward grinned and bumped it.

"Bye, little buddy." He said back.

"I'll be back in a minute. I'm going to the kitchen to make you dinner." I stood up too.

"Sagetti O's," he asked.

"Spaghetti O's," I pronounced slowly.

"Spa…ghetti O's, please," he asked biting his lip and I got the puppy dog eyes.

"Yes, but you still need a vegetable too, so no complaints."

He nodded and settled back on the couch.

The guys followed me into the kitchen.

"Call us tomorrow," Jasper raised an eyebrow at me, as if he doubted me.

I nodded in agreement as I held the door.

"We will park around the block so we aren't noticed and take you out the back, like we came today."

"See ya, Bells. He's a cute kid." Emmett smiled before walking out.

Edward paused at the door. "I promise you that I will get you both somewhere safe from this asshole and then I will never leave your side again."

"Don't go making promises, Edward. You suck at keeping them. I may need help getting out of this situation, and I am grateful that you three are willing to help, but I don't need you to be my hero. So don't make promises that you aren't going to keep. You have no obligation to me. If you want to be part of Masen's life then that's fine. But I'm not part of the deal," I retorted angrily.

"Bella, it wouldn't be an obligation. I still love you." He looked remorseful.

"Bullshit. If you loved me you never would've left me. You would've opened the letters. I wouldn't be…" I stopped because it wasn't his fault Alec was an abusive ass. "Just leave and we will see you tomorrow. Do me one favor and don't promise Masen any fairytale ending where his mom and dad get married and they live happily ever after, because they don't exist."

Edward watched me for a moment before giving me a curt nod and left. I closed the door behind him and started to cry. One, because there was a glimmer of a chance I was going to be free of Alec. Two, because a part of me still loved Edward and getting close to him again scared the shit out of me. No matter how many times Alec had smacked me around it felt nothing compared to the hurt I felt when Edward broke up with me.

A/N: As many of you figured out Edward is the father. Last chapter they were more focused getting her and her son out of an abusive situation then the age of the son. For the record Bella did try a few times to reach him only for it to fail. Why did she tell Masen about Edward? Because upset as she was at him, he is the father and she rather have Masen know about him then have him think Alec was the father.

I know some want them together again and all I'm going to say is Bella needs to go through a healing process for herself and Masen before she can be with him or anyone for that matter.

Thank You For All the Reviews

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Preview Alert

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Preview:

"Grover," he squealed and pulled it out. "Look, Mommy." He held it up for her.

"I see," she smiled at him.

"There's a book too." I prompted. I pulled it out of the bag and held it out to him. He pointed at the cover.

"Grover is on the book." He took it from me and held it out to Bella. "Read, please?"

"How about your Daddy reads it to you?" she suggested. He turned in his seat excitedly.

"Read, please?" he asked with big green eyes.