A/N: I'm going to try to finish this story this week. The plan is to update again on Wednesday, and then on Friday, with the epi (or 2 epis) posting next week. We'll see if it works out that way. :)

Betad by the lovely Michelle Renker Rhodes.

Most characters belong to S. Meyer

Chapter 39 – The Valley in Between the Hills

BPOV

Edward has me pressed up against the wall just outside the door to our loft. His hands mold around my ass while his tongue hungrily plays with mine.

You'd think we didn't live together, that he has to leave, that we can't continue this in the privacy of our bedroom. But we've been like this all night since I finished my dance at the gala. The episode with Felix may have dampened it for a while, but in the truck, he started caressing my legs again, his hand wandering between my thighs, and now we can barely control ourselves.

"We can continue this much more thoroughly after you take Sue home," I breathe against his mouth, sucking on his sweet, sweet lips.

"You gonna wait up for me?" he asks huskily.

"Oh yeah," I grin.

He chuckles quietly. "Good girl. Don't take these off," he instructs, his finger running up and down the length of my thong. "Or your heels."

"You like those, huh?"

"Mhmm," he hums, his mouth skimming across my collarbone. "And leave the lights on."

"Hmm, lots of instructions. Okay," I grin. "Okay."

When we walk inside, Sue is lying across the couch. Her eyes are closed, and an open book lays face down over her stomach. She opens her eyes and smiles when she hears us.

"Did you two have a good time?"

I choose to ignore the couple of incidents that could've ruined the evening, and reply, "Yes, we did."

"That's good," she grins, getting up and neatly folding the throw. "Mel has been asleep for a couple of hours. We played Monopoly for a while, and then she was showing me a bunch of funny clips on this thing called Vine or something?"

Edward smirks. "She's not supposed to be on that."

"We'll talk to her about it tomorrow before she leaves for her grandparents' house," I say.

"So many things to be mindful of nowadays with these kids," Sue chuckles. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"Nothing to apologize for, Sue," Edward smiles. "Thank you for watching her. You're welcome to spend the night or I can drive you home the way we agreed; it's up to you."

She cups his cheek. "Thanks Edward, but I called Charlie when I heard you guys outside. He should be here in a few minutes."

"You heard us outside?" I can feel my cheeks burning.

Sue simply smiles. "I'm sure you're both tired and would much rather get to bed."

Never mind burning, my cheeks are on fire.

Edward points towards the kitchen, his face as tomato-looking as mine. "Uhm…I'm just gonna go get a…okay, yeah."

OOOOOOOOOO

Once Edward returns from walking Sue downstairs, he takes a seat next to me on the couch and throws his head back tiredly.

"Well, that was embarrassing."

"Yeah, it really was," I giggle.

"How was Mel?"

"She fell asleep with her headphones in her ears."

"You took 'em out, right?"

"Of course."

He nods. He's taken off his suit jacket and loosened his tie, undone the first couple of buttons on his dress shirt so that a few wisps of light hair peek out from his chest, and my heart aches at how beautiful he is. I want him, of course I do, but it's so much more than that. Every day, I marvel at the fact that this man is mine. I marvel at the circumstances that brought us together: at the tragedy that led to love. Would Alice have put Mel in my dance school? Would her uncle have wandered into the studio one day to pick her up or drop her off? Would he have been working with Emmett, and thereby my dad, if Jasper hadn't died?

Edward runs a hand through his hair. "We really do have to speak to her about all this social media crap. I know Jasper and Alice didn't want her on any of it just yet."

"We'll talk to her," I nod, "but she is a bit older now than she was then, Edward. We may have to make some sort of compromise because we don't want her going behind our backs either."

"That should be a fun convo," he says sarcastically.

I snort. "She's still a bit moody since last week. Carlisle says it's normal. With the anniversary of Jasper and Alice's passing fresh in her mind, her sense of loss might be heightened."

Edward nods pensively. "Yeah, that makes sense."

I turn around and straddle his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck and resting my head on his shoulder.

"I wish the show wasn't opening up next weekend. I wanted to spend some more time with her this month, but the rehearsals have gotten so hectic."

Edward rubs my back around and around, pressing his lips lightly to my temple. A short while ago, we were ready to rip each other's clothes off, but this emotional connection feels just as good.

"Mel will be okay, Bella. You're so tender with her, always knowing just what to say and do."

"Well, I've got teenage girls around me all day. I kinda get them. Now screaming toddlers," I chuckle, "those I know nothing about."

"At least that's something we don't have to worry about since Mel is way past that stage."

I snort. "Yeah, but you know…" - My fingers lazily play with the wisps of hair on his chest – "it'd be good to know something about them for future reference. Hey, maybe Rose'll let us borrow her three little ones one of these weekends. I've got a feeling she'd appreciate some time for herself."

Edward doesn't respond. Instead, he almost seems to stiffen around me. The circles he's been rubbing against my back suddenly stop.

"You okay?" I ask.

"Yeah, yeah," he breathes. "Just…tired."

"Now you're tired," I tease. "Guess we won't be starting on those babies tonight, huh?"

He breathes in and out heavily, his chest rising and falling. I lift my head and look at him, and he meets my gaze warily.

"Edward, I was just kidding," I snort. "I'm not planning on making any babies tonight."

His features don't relax. Instead, he only appears to grow all the more uneasy.

"Edward…" I frown, "you do want kids, don't you?"

He blinks a couple of times, breaking our gaze momentarily to stare beyond me before hesitantly meeting my eyes once more.

"Bella, it's almost two in the morning. You really want to get into this now?"

"Just a yes or a no, Edward," I breathe. "That's all I want right now."

He exhales impatiently. "Well it's not as black or white as that. I don't know."

My stomach rolls.

"I mean, you've got your stuff going on with your career, and I'm just trying to get somewhere. Things are better, yeah, but I'm not exactly rakin' in the bucks right now."

"Like I said, I'm not talking about right now," I clarify. "I'm talking about the future, a few years down the line when we're both in places where we're more comfortable personally and professionally."

His Adam's apple bobs up and down, eyes jumping between mine. "Bella…you do realize that the alcoholism is in my blood."

By this point, I'm barely breathing.

"I've…read…but…what does that mean? What are you trying to say?"

"What I'm trying to say is though I wasn't necessarily born an alcoholic, the fact that my father was also one made it a hell of a lot easier for me to become addicted; it's in my genes."

I know all this. I do. I researched it when Edward first told me. But the way he's saying it now…I feel like he's just punched me in the stomach.

"I'm sure it's something we can speak to professionals about. It doesn't mean…I mean there are things we can do. I've read that it also depends on the environment in which a child is raised as well as the support he or she receives. Look at Mel; she comes from the same genes, and she's fine."

"Jasper wasn't an alcoholic, Bella, so the chances are slimmer for her."

As we stare at each other, I clamp down on my sudden need to scream at the top of my lungs because Mel is sleeping.

"How do you know that Jasper wasn't an alcoholic?"

"What?" he frowns.

"How do you know, Edward?"

"Bella he was my brother," he says coolly. "I know."

"Maybe not exactly an alcoholic because he met Alice when he was still so young, and he never let it get out of control, but it was probably in his blood as much as yours."

"Bella, if my brother would've had a drinking problem," Edward hisses, "I would've known."

I know I'm pushing him here; I know I'm digging into wounds that have already been reopened in the past couple of weeks.

"I think Rose hinted at it once."

"What?" he asks, clearly upset now.

"We were talking once," I blurt quickly, "a couple of months ago, and she said that you and Jasper were a lot more alike than you even realized."

"That doesn't mean…" his nostrils flare, "Bella what's your point anyway? How does Jasper's having or not having a drinking problem factor into any of this?"

"Because he did it!" I whisper-hiss. "He went ahead and made a family despite his damn genes and DNA problems, and you won't even give it a try!"

"I didn't say I definitely wouldn't give it a try," he retorts heatedly. "I said I don't know. Don't put words in my mouth. And I thought I was already building a family. I thought that's what we – you, Mel and me - were doing here: being a family."

I cradle his face in my hands. "We are a family, Edward. We are. But…I want children. I want a baby someday. I want your baby," I say pleadingly.

He sighs, completely dropping his arms away from me. I'm suddenly cold and feeling so off-balance. When I lift myself off of his lap, he doesn't try to stop me. Instead, I situate myself next to him, not touching yet suddenly aching for his touch.

He drops his head into his hands. "Bella…Bella it's not easy to be responsible for someone else."

"Really?" I reply, a wave of anger abruptly flowing through me. "Because it's not like I've shared responsibility for Mel for the past six months and have any sort of clue."

"Look at my parents," he continues as if I hadn't spoken. "Jasper fucking died; he died," he stresses, "and neither one of them was around. Look at Alice's parents. Shit, look at your mother. You were barely even walking when she left you. None of them could hack it."

He's not trying to hurt me; I know this. Edward speaks his mind bluntly. I force myself to remember this.

"What do they have to do with us?"

"What do they have to do with us?" he echoes, frowning at me as if I've just asked the most inane question. "They are us, Bella! Or rather, they're me."

"They are not you," I respond as calmly as possible. "They were cowards, Edward. Both of your parents were cowardly assholes who didn't deserve you or Rose or Jasper, and Alice's parents didn't deserve her, and my mother sure as hell didn't deserve me. Look, I know it's not easy. I've been helping you with Mel for six months now, and it's been anything but easy. And I know your heartless parents and my shitty mother left, but look at those around us who've stayed, Edward: your brother, your sister, my father and Sue. Not everyone leaves."

My voice cracks, and I lose the battle with the tears that have been threatening at the corners of my eyes. I feel the first one roll down my cheek.

But Edward doesn't see it because his eyes remain stoically trained to the wall straight ahead.

"Bella, Baby, it was a long and crazy night, and we're both really tired right now. Let's go to bed and-"

"I know it's not easy," I repeat through clenched teeth, getting to my feet in front of him and waiting until he's forced to look at me. "Do you think I woke up one morning six months ago and thought to myself, Gee, today would be a GREAT day to make myself responsible for a hurt, confused and moody twelve year old girl who constantly questions everything, who knows so much more than she should, and who challenges absolutely everything that's said to her?"

He exhales through his nose and looks down at his feet, threading his hands together over his spread legs, and I realize my tears are falling freely now.

"Do you think that's what I was looking for that day that you and she stepped into my life?"

And suddenly it hits me. Edward and I…we're not on the same page about this…about this all-encompassing decision.

My head and heart both start pounding, and it's all I can do to remain upright. I run from the room, into our bedroom, straight to the windows. With heavy, deep breaths, I close my eyes and rest my forehead on the cold, glass pane. I'm not sure if it's a minute or an hour later that I hear the bedroom door close and lock behind me. Though the sharp contrast of the cool window against my skin has helped, I'm still burning.

When I whip around, he's standing a couple of feet away looking so damn apologetic that for the first time in my life, I want to hit him.

"But you know what?" I ask, continuing my thought from the living room, "I wouldn't trade any of it for the world - none of it! I wouldn't trade Mel or the way she is for anything in this goddamn universe because despite how hard it has been, it's also been fucking beautiful," I cry, "and I love her with all my heart and soul, and in my heart, she's mine, she's ours, and despite how much harder it might make things," – I step to him quickly and cup his cheek – "I dream of having more of that with you."

Edward takes a step back, leaving my hand hanging in the air. He swipes a hand over his head, fisting the hair on his scalp.

"Bella, this is hereditary! Don't you get that? You want the statistics? Four times, Bella! Our kid would be four times as likely to develop a drinking problem than the average kid!" He pokes his index finger into his chest, scowling. "I don't want to do that to my kid, to our kid."

"But that's what we'd be there for!" I retaliate, taking another step towards him. "To make sure that doesn't happen!"

"My father drank night after night and then fucking left!"

"YOU are not your father!"

"How do you know? How do you know that? You don't know!"

"I know you, Edward," I beg. "I know you, and you don't give up! You don't."

He takes me in, eyes black with frustration, and then he drops his head once more, and I move in close to him again, cradling his face in my hands. He closes his eyes and leans into my touch.

"Edward, I know you're scared. I'm scared too. It would be ridiculous not to be scared. The thought of having these little people dependent on us," I shiver. "It's…terrifying, but Edward, we'd be doing it with our eyes wide open. Yes, we may have one more thing of which to be mindful, but then we just give more of ourselves, Edward, which is what your parents and my mother weren't able or willing to do. And we'll probably mess up at times, and they'll hate us for a while. Look at me and my dad. Look at Mel with us sometimes," I smile softly. "But we'll love them with all our hearts, no matter what. Edward, life is all about taking chances. You and I…we took a chance on each other."

"It's different," he counters.

"No, it's not."

"It is different. I realize it's all a crap shoot, Bella. I'm just not sure that I want to take a chance with something so important to you, to burden you with another imperfect relationship."

My breath hitches. I feel like I'm stuck in a nightmare and have no idea how to get out of it.

He places his hands over mine and then removes them from his face. "You'd be a great mother, Bella. You definitely would. You've had your father, who's always loved you and done his best to protect you despite everything, and Sue…who's just…perfect. But Bella, that's not what I come from. Being a father…a real father, I…I can't tell you that that's something I'll ever be able to do."

I simply stare at him, completely lost as to what I can say.

"I'd understand if this is a deal breaker for you, Bella," he whispers. "I guess all this time I've been selfish, so thrilled with everything about us that I didn't stop to think…or maybe I did." He drops his head and shakes it. "I just…ignored it, like a coward."

"I can't even believe you're saying these things. Imperfect relationships…deal breakers…?" I breathe.

"Bella, I-"

I'm afraid I'm either going to end up hitting him or collapsing to the floor, so instead I turn my back to him, lift my dress up and off of me, throw it off somewhere and climb into our bed, lifting our sheets over me and facing the windows. I hear him moving around: the thud of his belt on the floor, the swoosh of his tie coming off completely, and then the rustling of his clothes over the chair before I feel the bed dip. We lie there for an eternity without touching, and I hope he doesn't hear my uneven breaths or see the rise and fall of my shoulders as the tears fall.

OOOOOOOOOO

As if some sort of cosmic joke, Mel is in the worst mood ever the next morning.

Meanwhile, I've got one hell of a headache, a fucking hangover without the fucking liquor. I feel as if I really downed flutes and flutes of champagne last night.

And Edward seems to be doing just as shitty as us. We bring up the subject of being careful on social media with Mel, and she fights us on every point. Edward is having a hard time keeping his voice down, but I don't want to call him out on it in front of Mel, so instead, I suggest we leave the subject for Sunday, when she returns from her grandparents'.

Then she starts complaining about having to go to her grandparents'.

"Well, you know you have to go so there's no point in moaning about it once a month," Edward mutters.

"Yeah, I'm sure it works out wonderfully for you," she scowls, stabbing at her eggs. "Gets me out of you and Bella's hair for a whole weekend a month. Hurrah."

When did I become Bella again instead of Aunt Bella?

I reach over the table to take her hand. She keeps it stiff within mine. "Mel, we've spoken about this. You know that's not true."

"Yeah, whatever," she grumbles, refusing to look at me.

Edward sets his fork down. "Cut the damn attitude and tell Bella you're sorry for being rude."

"No!" Mel yells. "I don't have to apologize to her! She's not even my real aunt!"

I feel as if I've just been punched in the gut – again, and I exhale a long breath through narrowed lips.

"Mel," Edward begins, his voice laced with fury, "you apologize right now, or-"

"Edward, Mel," I say as calmly as possible, keeping my eyes on Mel though she won't meet my gaze. "I think we're all having a difficult morning. Mel has to go to school, and Edward, you and I have to get to work. Let's calm down, and we'll talk later tonight."

"I'm going to my grandparents tonight," Mel reminds me, eyes still downcast, "and you've got practice."

I suck through my teeth in frustration. "You're right. Alright then, I know we're all under stress this month, so let's just agree that we haven't been very pleasant to each other this morning, and once we're all back together on Sunday, we'll talk it out and see what's going on. Sounds like a plan?"

She shrugs, her eyes on her eggs and pancakes. I can tell Edward is still pissed off at her reaction, but I shake my head indiscernibly at him, indicating that he should leave it alone for now. For one, he doesn't know what I know: that Mel is a few days away from her period, and I've got a feeling she's just feeding off the tension between him and me this morning.

A moment later, she pushes her plate away and gets up, grabbing her backpack off the floor.

"I'll be in the hallway waiting for whoever's stuck with taking me to school," she says as she storms out of the kitchen.

"This is bullshit," Edward seethes, starting to get up. "I'm gonna-"

"Edward…"I breathe tiredly, "not now. She's got her own things going on, and there's no point in aggravating the situation. We'll sit down and have a talk with her when she gets home Sunday."

He doesn't look completely convinced, but he nods, and I swear in his eyes I see a big, fat "told you so."

I pick up the breakfast dishes and turn away from him.

"Go to work. I'll get Mel to school and in the Limo tonight, and then I've got to head to practice."

"Alright, Bella. Text me when you're ready, and I'll come get you."

I simply nod. "Have a good day."

"You too," he says quietly, but for the first time ever, he leaves without holding me or kissing me, and once I hear the door close behind him, I slam all the dishes into the sink.

OOOOOOOOOO

With the show one week away, rehearsals run extremely late that night. By the time I'm done and Edward picks me up, we're both exhausted. We exchange a brief kiss and hug, few words, and then mentally and physically drained, I crash into our bed. By the time I wake the next morning, Edward has already left for work. By the time he's done, I'm at another long practice. When he picks me up, it's a repeat of the night before.

And all weekend, my disagreement with Edward and Mel's harsh words replay themselves in my head. Renata is a bigger bitch than ever at rehearsals, and I can't even be bothered to care.

By the time I meet up with Sue for lunch after Sunday afternoon rehearsals, my brain feels about ready to implode.

We have a couple of sandwiches and coffee at the Prospect Park Café a few blocks away from the academy. Afterwards, since it's a warm day in late March, Sue suggests a stroll around the Botanical Gardens, so we can admire the spring blooms that are just beginning to flourish.

"This is going to look beautiful come August for you and Edward's wedding pictures."

I nod emptily.

She leans over a daffodil and looks at me. "Izzy?"

I burst into tears, and she pulls me into her arms. "Oh, Izzy."

Once she's let me cry it out for a few minutes, she leads me to a bench overlooking the magnolias. We sit down, and she patiently waits.

"Mel got a bit mouthy with me Friday morning. I mean, I know she's still feeling upset over the anniversary of Alice and Jasper's passing."

"She's pms-ing?" she asks.

I nod.

"Yes," Sue nods sympathetically. "I remember what dealing with those teenage hormones was like." Then she smiles at my expression. "What, did you think you were a complete angel? You had your moments."

She makes me chuckle despite myself. "I suppose I did."

"That doesn't mean she should get away with being fresh though. Did you talk to her about it?"

I shake my head. "She was leaving for school, and then she went to her grandparents. I told her we'd talk about it when she got home tonight."

"Make sure you follow through with that," Sue agrees. "Yes, she's having a difficult month, but kids that age need to know where the boundaries lay. They'll keep pushing if they don't find one."

I smile, remembering months back when I told Edward something similar.

"I…" my bottom lip quivers. Sue squeezes my hand, "Edward doesn't know if he wants kids. I mean, other than Mel. And yes, I realize this is probably a conversation we should've had months ago."

Sue draws in a deep breath, exhaling it slowly.

"He's…an alcoholic."

"I know that," she says softly.

"You do?"

She nods. "He and your father…they talked a while ago. Izzy, we have no doubt that Edward loves you completely or that he'll be the best he can be for you. But dealing with alcoholism is a life-long process, one which affects many facets of a person's life."

"He's afraid he'll pass it on to our children," I cry quietly, "and afraid that he'd be a horrible father like his father."

"Oh, Honey," she says again, "I'm not going to disregard Edward's fears, but these are fears we all have as parents: fears that we'll pass on our negative traits or that we'll ruin our kids somehow."

"I know," I sob. "But how do I convince him of that?"

"It's not your job to convince him of anything, Izzy. Whether Edward decides he can be a father or not is something he has to decide on his own."

It's not what I wanted to hear. I want her to give me more of her magic words, the ones I need to say to him. I want her to tell me that he will change his mind once we're married; that he'll realize what the next logical step is, and that he'll beg me to bear him a child.

Sue studies me quietly and sighs.

"Izzy, you know that your dad and I were never able to conceive together."

"I know," I whisper, my heart hurting for her in a way it's never done before because I understand her pain now.

"We saw specialists, tried fertility treatments, but in the end…" she trails off. "I'm not going to lie to you and say it didn't hurt. I wanted a baby, not because I didn't love you with all my heart and soul," she smiles, stroking my face, "but because I loved you so much, and I enjoyed being your mom so much that I wanted to know all those other moments I'd missed out on before you came into my life."

And I nod vehemently, squeezing her hand so hard because I understand. I understand completely.

"But, Izzy…" she says slowly, "when I married your Dad, in a way, I married the both of you. I didn't marry a promise of more babies. I made a promise to both of you and to God that what I had in front of me was enough. That if the world ended and all I ever had was the both of you, I would be the happiest being in the world."

I sigh unevenly, holding her gaze.

"What you have to ask yourself, Izzy, is whether a family consisting of just Edward, Mel and you is enough for you."

"But-"

"No, Baby," she cuts me off. "There are no buts here. You can't go into this hoping Edward will change his mind, hoping that some time and the right words will convince him. And you can't go into it convincing yourself that you definitely don't want more children. Five, ten years down the line, Edward may change his mind. And five, ten years down the line you may realize that your biggest dream of all was giving birth to your own child. What you have to know now Bella, for your sake as well as for their sakes is whether Edward and Mel are enough. Whether your dream comes true or not, or whether Edward changes his mind or not, you have to know if what you have now is all you need to be happy. Because if it's not…"

I hold her gaze, and she's right. I know she's right. This isn't about Edward. This is about me. She pulls me into her warm embrace again.

"Oh, Momma Sue, what would I do without you?"

She chuckles. "Now that's something you don't have to figure out right now."

OOOOOOOOOO

When I get back to the loft, Edward isn't home yet, so I pull out three steaks from the fridge and boil some water for the rice, and then I open up a can of beans for Mel. I'm going to make her favorite dinner.

I'm still feeling confused and out of sorts, but my talk with Sue has calmed me a bit. I do know what's most important in my life. I do know what I absolutely can't live without.

Edward arrives home while I'm sautéing the steaks. I hear him kicking off his boots by the door. He walks into the kitchen lifting his hoodie over his head and smiles at me. "Smells good."

"Rice and beans and steak," I reply cheerily.

He stands there watching me. I walk over to the sink and wash my hands, and he follows me. And then I feel his arms slide around my waist.

"Bella…"

I turn around and slip my hands around his neck, melting into him, and he holds me against him so tightly.

"Shh," I say. "Mel'll be home in twenty minutes. Go take a quick shower, and then we'll go downstairs and wait for her. The rest…we'll figure out."

He studies me and then nods slowly.

OOOOOOOOOO

It's 7:25 pm when we get downstairs. Mel's limo always rounds the corner at 7:30 p.m. on the dot. I've asked Edward if they ever get stuck in traffic. He says they must leave extra early, but it's eerie. I mean 7:30 on. the. dot.

Edward leans against his truck and pulls me into him so that my back rests against his strong chest. He threads our hands together over my stomach and buries his face in my neck, inhaling me deeply. I close my eyes and sigh unevenly. This is the closest we've been since Thursday night.

"I've missed you," I tell him honestly.

"Me too, Baby, me too. I love you, Bella."

"I love you, too." I turn my head sideways, and he captures my mouth in a slow, hungry kiss, sighing into my mouth. His breath tastes of cigarettes and mint. He's been trying to quit now that he's past the one year mark on his sobriety, but it's been a difficult weekend.

And I know our problems aren't over, but Sue reminded me of what's most important.

When we pull away, Edward checks his watch and frowns. "It's 7:32."

"They're two minutes late," I chuckle in surprise.

He snorts.

Five minutes pass.

Ten minutes.

At the fifteen-minute mark, Edward calls Aro Volt, the Brandons attorney, through whom all communications regarding Mel are conducted, but it's Sunday night, and there's no response.

He rakes a hand through his hair.

"Maybe they just hit a lot of traffic, Babe," I say.

He nods, staring off in the direction from which the limo usually rounds, but the truth is we're both nervous.

At the twenty minute mark, I ask him if he's got the number for the Brandon's.

"I'm not sure," he says, scrolling through his contacts. "Mel may have programmed it at one point…"

I open up my own phone, pissed off at myself because I asked Mel to give me her grandparents' number, but I never stayed on top of her for it. I open my navigator to see if I can somehow google them, when I see Edward put the phone to his ear.

"Yeah?"

There's a pause while he listens, and then his face drains of all color. "No!"

My heart drops to my feet. I beg God not to punish me this way, not to punish Edward for how self-centered I've been, for my doubting for one second that what I had in them was all I'd ever need. My throat constricts so painfully I can barely breathe. All I can picture is my beautiful little girl lying broken somewhere.

Edward closes his eyes, fisting the top of his hair. "Why are you just telling me now?" he howls into the phone, and a loud sob escapes from my throat.

All of a sudden, one of his arms is around my waist, holding me up because I'm about to sink to the cold, hard concrete. He cradles the phone next to his ear with the other.

"She's run away."

A/N: Thoughts?

As I said, I'm going to try to update again on Wednesday, and then on Friday. If I keep to that schedule, we should have the epi (or epis) next week.

Twitter: PattyRosa817

Link to 'Stories by PattyRose' is on my profile page.