I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
CH: 7(EPOV)
My dad's friend, Carmen, had come to check Masen out last night. She had said his lungs sounded clear and basically to keep doing what we were doing. She also worked with a women's shelter so she understood our reason to stay discrete. I appealed to Alice for help and she convinced Bella to let Carmen check her as well, since I didn't think Bella would listen to me. I was glad to see she was barely limping anymore.
Bella and I took turns through-out the night checking on Masen. Both of us were a little paranoid he might have another asthma attack. However, he seemed to be fine and by morning his temperature was back to normal. Bella still wanted to give him a quiet morning, so we didn't rush his recovery.
I had been watching Masen play with his lunch for the last few minutes and he hadn't taken a bite. His eyes were drooping, so I figured he wasn't going to eat any more.
"Masen, are you done?" I asked.
He nodded and I picked up the tray and brought it to my desk. When I turned around Masen was right behind me.
"Where are you going?" I asked looking down at him.
"I ready," he stated confidently.
"Ready for what?" I asked.
"To go see the treehouse." He coughed slightly.
"I think you're supposed to be resting, little buddy." I frowned. I hated to disappoint him. The lip came out and it wobbled.
"But you said you take me when I feel better. I feel better now." He coughed again.
"I did promise, but you're still coughing. I don't think it's a good idea to take you outside." I held my ground.
"But I tired of resting. I wanna do something fun. Pease." He unleased the puppy dog eyes. I had to look away and I spotted some of the toys Alice got.
"I'll tell you what, you hang out with Auntie Alice and try to take a nap while I talk with your mom. When you wake up we can check out the toys Auntie Alice got for you." He paused thinking about it.
"I got this game called Candyland. I loved that game when I was your age." Alice saved me as she came into the room and picked up the tray.
"Is there real candy in it?" Masen's eyes grew as big as his head.
"No, but what I do have, if you eat all your supper, is stuff to make ice cream sundaes." Alice smiled.
"Can I have ice cream now," Masen's eyes danced with excitement. He started to hop up and down until he started to cough.
"After dinner. The deal is nap then game, dinner then ice cream." I was proud of myself for holding my ground against his pout. I just hoped Bella was okay with my decision.
"Okay," Masen shrugged. He climbed into bed and settled in.
I turned off the TV.
"I'll be right back." Alice left with the tray.
I heard the bathroom door open and Bella stepped out dressed but hair still wet. She looked over at the bed and smiled. "Oh good, he's taking a nap. Did he eat okay?"
I glanced and was surprised Masen was out like a light. That was fast, and he said he wasn't tired.
"He ate about half. Look, Bella, I was hoping that we could talk while Masen was asleep. Alice said she would sit with Masen in case he wakes up."
She chewed on her bottom lip looking nervous. Alice reentered the room and tossed Bella a light sweater.
"Go. I don't mind staying in here in case he wakes up." Alice grabbed a magazine before she sat at my old desk.
"Okay, I guess we need to get this over with." She slipped on the light sweater. Since she was used to Arizona's heat she was chillier than normal.
"Did Bella show you how to use the nebulizer in case he has trouble again?" I asked rubbing my sweaty palms on my jeans. I was nervous about the upcoming conversation as well as Masen having another problem.
Both girls looked to me in surprise.
"She showed me. Stop worrying, he is fine. And it's not like you two are going very far anyways." Alice gave me an encouraging look.
"Ok, ready?" I asked looking at Bella. She took a deep breath and let it out.
"I guess as much as I will be." She admitted walking towards the door of the room. I followed behind her like a lost puppy.
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We were halfway down the steps when she tripped, and I reflexively caught her. She jumped at first when my arm wrapped around her waist and she breathed in sharply. I waited until she had a firm grip on the railing before I let go of her.
"Sorry," I apologized, since I knew she seemed to react to being grabbed.
"Don't be, I'm sorry. I'm so jumpy." She gave me a meek smile as she continued down the stairs without incident.
Jasper was sitting in the living room watching the news. He looked up at us when we reached the main floor.
"Emmett's still not back?" I asked in concern. He went to Tacoma first thing this morning to exchange our rental car for a new one.
"Nope. He's not answering his phone either." Jasper frowned as he replied. I scratched my head in concern. It wasn't like him to pull a vanishing act like this.
"If he's not back before dark, I will see if Peter can put a trace on his cell. Some good news though. Alec has checked into his hotel two days ago and doesn't seem to be any the wiser. As far we can tell he hasn't accessed the cameras at the house in Phoenix." He informed us looking at us both in turn.
"Good, I hope it stays that way." Bella twisted her hand nervously.
"Would you like to talk out on the back deck? No one will disturb us there." I suggested.
"Sure," She walked through the back to the kitchen.
She went over to the fridge and opened the door. My eyes glued to her small but plump ass as she bent over. She looked behind her and caught my eyes. I felt my ears burn in slight embarrassment as I diverted my eyes.
"Would you like anything? Alice has got beer, juice, water and soda in here?" she offered.
"Water, please." I grabbed an apple off the counter. I wanted to keep my mind as clear as possible during this conversation.
She handed me a water bottle and our fingers grazed. I felt the tiny sparks tingle up my arm. She didn't flinch this time, but blushed slightly. She let go of the bottle. She headed to the door and slid open the door before she stepped out onto the deck. The day was warm for Forks and the sun was actually out, which if you lived here you would know that wasn't normal. She took a seat on the bench and I dragged the other bench over so I could be facing her.
We sat in silence waiting for the other to speak. I opened my bottle of water and gulped down about a third of the bottle. I took a deep breath and finally broke the ice.
"Where should we start?" I was thinking either when she found out she was pregnant, or met Alec or when he first hit her.
"How about from the beginning. Alice mentioned you received bad advice and you broke up with me. What advice was that or who from?" she asked, her eyes were filled with questions and hurt while her soda sat next to her unopened.
I was caught off guard not thinking I would have to explain myself first, but in the end it did seem right. To gain her forgiveness, I had to have everything out in the open.
"Well, the advice came from Emmett," I explained sheepishly.
Her eyebrows raised to her hairline and she looked like she couldn't quite believe it at first. Her shock melted away to anger and hurt.
"I see. So you really did break up with me so you could be free to hook-up with whoever you wanted whenever you wanted." She practically spat at me. Tears filled her eyes that I recognized to be her angry tears.
"No, course not," I answered quickly. I couldn't help but feel offended by the insinuation.
"Well, all I know is that when Rose told Alice and me about when she broke up with Emmett, that he got all angry and informed her that she had been holding him back anyways, and she did him a favor because there were a ton of girls that would enjoy a man in uniform, and the best thing about it was that it would be with no strings attached." Bella huffed crossing her arms in front of her. I frowned when I realized why she jumped to that conclusion.
"That's wasn't the reason why. I haven't been with anyone but you. I haven't even kissed another girl since you, let alone had sex. I thought you knew me better than that." I tried to stay cool and not defensive.
"I thought I did too, but everything changed that day." The anger melted but she still looked very upset.
"Did you say that Rose broke up with Emmett?" Something clicked in my brain. I suddenly recalled she mentioned it before in one of her letters but I had overlooked it. Was that what Jasper caught and wondered about?
"As far as I know. It was about a week after you guys left that she told Alice and me she broke up with him. She said she didn't want to be tied to a long distance relationship," Bella answered dismissively.
"Emmett told me and Jasper that he broke up with her." I was confused and something about this really bothered me.
"I don't know what to tell you. Apparently, it's a case of he said, she said." Bella shrugged. "So if it wasn't to be with other girls then what was it?"
I ran both hands through my hair then rested my forearms on my knees.
I arrived back home after dropping Bella off. I would leave in a few days for basic training. Making love to her in our meadow was bitter sweet since I didn't know when we would get the chance again.
I was surprised to see Emmett pacing on my porch when I pulled up. He stopped pacing when he saw me and approached the car.
"Hey what are you doing here?" I asked stepping out of my car.
"I just broke up with Rose!" he blurted out.
"What?" I stopped in shock.
Emmett had been head over heels for Rose since about fifth grade.
"Yup, and it was the best thing I ever did. Now I'm free to date anyone I want whenever I want." He smiled but something seemed off. "In fact, I think you and Jazz should do the same."
"You want me to break up with Bella? Are you crazy? I love her. I'm not going to break up with her. She's my everything. In fact, I plan on proposing at the bus stop before we leave." I looked at him as if he was crazy.
"You're making a huge mistake, bro." Emmett shook his head.
"I disagree. If you want to end things with Rose that is fine for you, but don't look for me to follow suit." I started to walk around him.
"I'm just looking out for the both of you. Long distance relationships are hard as fuck. You'll be gone all the time and she will be at college with guys just chomping at the bit to ask her out. Next thing you know, you'll be getting a 'Dear, John letter'." I whirled around on him.
"Bella would never do that to me," I hissed.
"Not on purpose. But she's sweet and very pretty, so you have to know the guys will be asking her out," He shrugged.
"Go home, Emmett, before I kick your ass," I snarled. I turned again, my hand was on the railing when he called out.
"If not for you, do it for her." I turned and narrowed my eyes.
"Are you high?" I asked. I couldn't understand his peculiar behavior or why he cared so much.
"Of course not. But think about the danger we are about to head towards. Hell, we might not make it back. What would that do to her if she loses you like that? At least, if you break up with her she will have a chance to move on before she loses you permanently." I clenched the railing with in my hand. It was like he was witness to my nightmares that had plagued me for the last month. "At least think about what is best for her." Emmett turned and got on his car and left.
In the middle of the night I woke up in a cold sweat from yet another nightmare. It was then that I made the worst decision of my life.
"If you want me to be honest with you, you need to be honest with me," she sounded impatient.
"I'm getting there. I realize how saying I followed the advice from Emmett sounds, but it was only the tip of the iceberg. There was more to it than that." I took a deep breath then another swig of water. "See, Emmett told us the main reason he broke up with Rose was because a long distance relationship would just hurt them both. He was afraid that being gone from her for so long, that she would find someone new or how hurt she would be if he never made it back," I explained.
"First off, I wouldn't dump you and find someone new because you were overseas. I loved you too much to do that to you," she argued.
"Not on purpose, you wouldn't have, but it could've happened."
She shook her head stubbornly.
"Then, there was the matter that if you had moved on, then you would never be hurt by anything that might have happened to me." I looked at my feet. "All those movies Alice made us watch, like Saving Private Ryan and Pearl Harbor, to commemorate the fact we joined the service started to weigh on my mind. I started having these horrible dreams and woke up in the middle of the night in cold sweats. I kept dreaming that I had died but it was like watching from outside and I would see what it would do to you and to my parents. I couldn't do anything about my parents, but I thought I could push you away to save you from the pain."
The pain in her eyes was evident that I had been wrong, and I had hurt her anyways. She gave me a sad smile.
"You're wrong you know. I loved you. It still would've hurt to know something happened to you. I worried about you every day that you were gone. When those letters got sent back to me, I thought something happened to you and that is why you never opened them." She sniffled a little before turning her hurt gaze to the woods. I saw a couple of tears run down her cheeks. My heart twisted, it would've been one thing if she was mad, but it was obvious that I had just hurt her more.
"I wish I had received them too. When I think about how much I missed out on in Masen's life, or how you might not have gotten together with Alec, it kills me. I still and will always love you, Bella. I know that if you give us a chance we can make it work, and you would never regret it," I pleaded.
A few tears fell faster and she wiped them away.
"I can't make promises like that. I'm in no condition to get into any relationship right now. I'm broken and I need to get myself together for me and for Masen before I add anyone else. And the truth is… I'm still very hurt by what you did, even if it was for good intentions. I'm sorry," she said in a choked whisper.
My heart clenched seeing her so sad. I nodded and got slightly choked up myself.
"No need to apologize, lo…Bella. You're right. You have been through a lot of shit and I was being selfish. I will wait until you're ready. In the meantime, I will be whatever you need me to be." She wiped her face again, before giving me a watery smile.
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"Tell me about Alec and how he entered the picture." The smile dropped as she visibly paled and tensed. I stretched across and opened her soda and handed it to her. She took it with a shaky hand and took a slow sip. She put it down next to her and I caught it before it tipped over.
"I was so stupid," She mumbled berating herself.
"Don't say that, you're not stupid." I reached out, and touched her knee and she flinched slightly. I pulled back, giving her space and clasped my hands together to keep from touching her. "Have you ever talked to anyone about it?"
She shook her head.
"Then maybe you should, even if it's just to vent. I'm not going to judge, I promise." She took a deep breath and pulled her knees up to her chest.
"I met Alec when I was about four, maybe four and half, months pregnant. At the time I felt so alone. Alice was in New York for school. Charlie tried after he got past that his teenage daughter was pregnant and her boyfriend was out of the picture, he even seemed excited to be a grandpa. He bought a small fishing rod and everything, insisting that he was going to teach his grandchild to fish. But he never got that chance," she sighed wistfully. "But being in Forks was unbearable once news got out that I was pregnant. There were so many untrue rumors. I hardly came home and stayed in Seattle.
I met Alec at a café that I frequent for lunch. He was nice and a perfect gentleman. He treated me a lot like you did. He was older and out of school so he traveled a bit for his job. The first few months, were fine, he never laid a hand on me. In fact, it was mostly chaste kisses and he held my hand. That's it." She looked away with a far off look in her eyes. "He proposed right before Masen was due. I thought if he could love me while I was pregnant with someone else's baby then I was lucky," she scoffed. "I didn't love him though. I cared for him at that point, but my heart still belong to…" She shook her head stopping herself.
"Things started to feel off about two months after Masen was born. He stopped picking Masen up and would barely look at him. It was about that time you could really see the red in Masen's hair and that his eyes were starting to turn green. He came home one day drunk, Masen was taking a nap and I decided to work on his baby book.
I was pasting in a copy of his birth certificate when Alec found me at the table. He blew up that Masen's last name was Cullen. He demanded that I needed to change it to his last name and name him as the father. When I refused, he struck me, knocking me out of my chair and onto the floor. I remember Masen waking up and screaming.
He demanded that I changed it again or I was going to ruin everything. I answered that Masen was your son and I had no intention of letting him think otherwise. That's when I told him that I had written to you to let you know about Masen, that's how I knew he didn't know about the letters beforehand. I told Alec he could still be a father figure, but if you came back that it was your right to be Masen's father. He didn't like that and he kicked me in the ribs cracking two. He screamed how I ruined everything he had planned…then he left." There was a brief pause as she caught her breath, I still wasn't sure how that proved he didn't know about the letters, but she seemed sure by his reaction. She also seemed to leave something out.
"As soon as he was gone. I packed a bag of the essentials and fled to Charlie's. I told him everything that had happened and I'd never seen Charlie so angry. He was going to bring me to the station the next day to file charges and get a restraining order. But Alec showed up that night with another guy. Alec shot Charlie in front of me." She started shaking and to sob. I moved to the seat next to her and wrapped my arm around her shoulders. She froze at first, but then melted into me. She cried for a few minutes before she was able to calm down.
"Alec threatened me and told me not to say a word. He said if I tried to turn him in that he would kill Masen in front of me too, only he would torture him first. He also swore to kill anyone that I turned to, just like Charlie," she choked out before losing it again.
Fury burned deep within me. I was going to mess this guy up and kill him for even thinking of harming Masen, not to mention everything he has done to Bella. He was a dead man walking. For now though, Bella needed me to comfort her, not for me to show my anger. I gently rubbed her back and stroked her hair.
"I know I should have left, but I was too scared. I was more afraid what he would do to Masen if I left then to me if I stayed. I'm sorry that you're in danger now," her voice shook as her body started to tremble until she was visibly shaking.
"Shhh, sweetheart, this wasn't your fault. The only one in danger is Alec if I ever get my hands on him. He will never lay a hand on either of you again. He will have to kill me first," I promised.
"Don't say that." She pulled away, her eyes wide and scared. "Nothing can happen to you. I…Masen can't lose you like that," she pleaded so desperately, her eyes looked wild with panic.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to upset you. I'm not going anywhere." I brushed some tears away. My other hand rubbed her back, she took a few breaths and calmed down.
"I don't want to upset you again, but did he succeed in changing the birth certificate?" I asked cautiously.
"No," she shook her head and still seemed calmer now. "He tried, but in order to change the father on a birth certificate a DNA test has to be done to prove it. I should tell you now that you're not on it. Not because I didn't want to acknowledge you as the father, but because it was against the law to do so without your consent. And since I couldn't reach you, it had to stay blank." She looked a little nervous at my reaction.
"Okay, then I would like to fix that as soon as possible." I was more relieved that asshole wasn't on it. I could deal with the fact that I wasn't later.
"Alec did have a false one made up, but it's not legal." Bella grimaced. She reached for her soda and took a small sip.
"Did he say why he thought you ruined everything? Not that I think that you did." I asked. Bella's eyes grew dark and she looked pissed.
"From what I've been able to put together I was targeted because I was pregnant. Apparently, his father was pressing on him to settle down and have a family so he could take over the family business. He wanted to pass Masen off as his own, but since Masen looks so much like you and has your last name, it threw a wrench in his plans. With the false birth certificate he could still pretend. He made up false excuses why we couldn't visit and his father is too sick to travel from what I understand," she explained, her mouth was in a thin line.
"Hmmm," I thought it over, if Alec was linked to the mafia like Jasper suspected then it might make sense. "I know that he physically abused you but has he ever forced himself on you." I braced myself for the answer, not really wanting to know the answer.
I was surprised when Bella started to chuckle darkly. I started to get concerned about whether she was alright since I didn't think the question called for this reaction. She was smirking when she finally answered.
"No, thank god, that was one thing he never did since the idea of being with me repulsed him." She smiled dryly. She glanced at me and her smirk only grew.
"You don't get it do you. Alec needed me and Masen to be his beard. Alec is gay," she snickered darkly.
"Huh," I muttered as it all sunk in. Everything seemed to click together, like puzzle pieces. "Are you sure?"
"Considering I found him with his pants down bent over with his 'business associate' plowing into him while another 'business associate' was pleasing his dick with his mouth, I'm quite sure. In fact, I don't think I will ever get that image out of my mind," she air quoted every time she said 'business associate'.
"I don't think I needed the mental image." I cringed. Bella actually laughed but there was no humor in it.
"Trust is, I wish I could forgot it too." Bella wrinkled her nose and shuddered.
I reached over and squeezed her hand lightly. She didn't flinch or pull away from me.
"You're stronger than you think, you know. Charlie would be proud of you." The amusement fell from her eyes, she opened her mouth to argue, but I beat her to it. "You may not see it that way right now, but you are. You have done a great job with Masen despite the circumstances. I promise things are only going to get better from now on." I smiled at her, she blushed slightly. "Can I at least hug you?" I asked, gently.
She hesitated before she nodded. I pulled her to me in a light hug, she tensed at first. Then I felt her relax and her arms came up and she hugged me back. Her head came down and rested against my shoulder like old times. I could feel her heart beating against my chest. We stayed like that for a while, I was waiting for her to pull away. Her breath evened out and I thought she fell asleep. I felt that maybe some progress had been made, even if it wasn't the full results I wanted.
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The porch door slid open and Jasper stuck his head out. Bella pulled away from me and wiped her eyes, they were slightly red from her crying.
"Sorry to interrupt, but Masen is asking for Edward. Alice has tried to distract him, but he said Edward promised to play a game with him when he woke up."
"I'll be right there," I called.
Jasper nodded and closed the door.
"Sorry, he was giving me a hard time about taking a nap after he ate. I promised him that I would play a game with him when he got up, since he's bored with resting. I figured it was a fair compromised since I didn't think it was a good idea for him to go outside." I hoped I didn't cross a line making him a promise.
Bella rolled her eyes and smiled. "He's your son, you can make decision like that without consulting me. However, tattoos and piercings are completely out of the question." She joked, then she smiled genuinely. "You're going to be a great father, just relax. Masen is going to love you, even if you have to put your foot down." She touched my hand encouragingly.
"Want to join us in a mean game of Candyland?" I wiggled my eyebrows.
Her lips twitched into a small smile. "Sounds good."
I stood and offered my hand to her. I'm not sure if she saw it since she didn't look up before grabbing her soda and standing.
She started for the house, when something occurred to me.
"Bella, hold a sec." She turned to look at me. "You said that he wanted Masen as an heir, but the other day you tried to get us just to take Masen and said he wouldn't care that he was missing. That isn't true is it?"
Her smile dropped from her face and a determined look appeared. "I would've done anything to ensure my baby's life, even though what it would've meant for me," she answered not batting an eye. She didn't have to elaborate, I knew she meant Alec would've killed her. She was willing to give up her life for our son. Without another word she disappeared into the house.
A/N:
They had their talk. Now you know that Emmett only planted a seed in Edward's mind. He was already having nightmares of dying of there and it hurting Bella. Remember he would have been only 18 and made a foolish mistake thinking he wasn't preventing her from future pain.
I will reiterate Edward hasn't been with anyone since Bella. I hinted to this before it preface where he comments he didn't like the idea of one nightstands and then in first chapter when Emmett commented that he and Jasper needed to get laid and over the girls. Slight hint: Jasper hasn't been with anyone either.
So from my research you can give you baby any last name you want. However, by Bella couldn't place Edward's name on birth certificate without both of them signing an affidavit, by Washington state law.
So Alec is gay. How many saw that coming? And yes he targeted Bella because she was pregnant.
Thank You For All Reviews!
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Preview Alert!
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Preview:
"Bella, wait I need to talk to you," Emmett slurred and stumbled forward. I let out a small squeak and backed away tripping over puzzle pieces. Instantly, Jasper placed a hand on his chest. Edward immediately came closer and stood in front of me.
"I think you need to go sleep this off," Jasper strongly suggested.
"I need to talk to her." Emmett insisted as he tried to pull away. "I'm not going to hurt her. I would never lay hand on her or Masen. I'm not like my bastard of a father. I just want to apologize."
"Not now. Not like this," Edward stated firmly.
"I'll talk to him," I said quietly. Edward shot me a look saying he disagreed.