A/N Okay, I have some bad news. I couldn't upload yesterday because I've been battling to keep my schedule straight and sort out all the assignments I need done. I have one due on Tuesday so I'll be playing my uploads by ear. Whenever I find time I'll write and hopefully I can upload soon.

Exams will be underway soon, as well, so I'm trying to get as much done with this story as I can. I'd say I'm trying to finish it, but I can't make promises. I hope you guys understand. I was really looking forward to making daily uploads and I tried, but as the stress is getting to me it's becoming difficult. I'm doing my best!

In any case, here is the new chapter. I promised a Bella-Edward confrontation and I've made it happen. Enjoy!

Bella's POV

When I opened my eyes, the light was just about spilling into the room. The curtains were just as widely open as I'd left them last night and I knew, somewhere in the house, a Cullen was listening out for me. Knowing this, I tried to stay as still as possible in the bed so they wouldn't come and check on me; I needed to think.

How was I gonna get outta this mess? If they were human, they'd be long dead. That's the problem; they're not. How the hell was I gonna get away from fucking vampires? Even worse, how was Mistah J gonna come rescue me with seven vampires in his way. I mean, yeah, he didn't know about them. I'd kept my promise. I have never told a soul. Part of me wished I had; at least then he'd be prepared. Yet again, what could prepare you for this?

I realized something just then. Mistah J was coming for me. To take me. From a house full of vamps. They'd send him back to the loony house! Or worse, they'd kill him! I knew they would. If I couldn't think of something, some way to prepare him, this would be a disaster. I couldn't expose what they are to him. No. That's even more of a reason to want him dead.

There must be some way for him to get past them. I wonder if Alice would be able to see him. Ugh, even if she couldn't, once he got close they'd hear him… or sense him or whatever.

There has to be some way to cripple them. There was no way he could get past them without them knowing, so there must be something that could get them to 'play human'. Make them incapable of using their abilities. What was the one thing they feared? There had to be something.

After a moment, I figured it out. Exposure. They couldn't have their secret exposed. Then I remembered, they wouldn't care if Mistah J knew, they'd kill him that much quicker!

Who is the one person they could never be exposed to? That they couldn't just kill off? It had to be someone important. Someone who they wouldn't rick messing with.

Think, Bella, think, think…

I need to crack this code. My eyes absentmindedly settled on the right upper corner of the room. There was a camera there, the one they'd disabled or some shit.

At that, I sat straight up in bed. Of course! Bella, you idiot, how could you not have realized it before? The government was the one group of humans they couldn't risk being exposed to! And that bitch lady responsible for this mess was a part of the government. Right?

I jumped outta the bed and ran to the bathroom. I dug around in the drawer with the towels until I found what I'd stashed. My phone.

I pressed one silent button and it lit up. There was a message.

It won't be long. I will come for you. Stay where you are. – Mistah J.

My heart fluttered, but I couldn't be distracted from what I needed to do. One, it might slip from my mind and two, a Cullen might come in here at any moment.

I quickly typed out my plan in the form of a message, hoping this thing had some coins in it. He needed to get this message.

I think it would be fun to video my escape. Live. To show the stupid lady that sent me here that I don't play nice. All we need is a camera and a stream address. She won't even run here, coz you can say you put a bomb and if they try, we'll blow the doctor and his family to pieces. I know you can get it arranged. Please, Puddin? Let's go out with a BANG!

I sent it. I knew the last line would convince him. He was a sucker for a good show!

I shoved the phone back into my spot. Not a second later, I heard a tap on the door.

"Gah!" I jumped and fell into the bath tub next to me.

"Bella?" It was the little one. Alice. "Are you okay in there?"

Had she seen somethin'?

"Everything's A-okay in here!" I called back, running to turn on the water in the shower.

"I saw something weird…"

I gulp. I need to keep my voice steady on this.

"What did ya see?"

There was a pause. "I'm not really sure. I saw you needed to come into the bathroom. That it was urgent. I was worried that you might be sick…"

I scoffed. So that was all? "I don't get sick."

I heard her sigh. "Alright, well, we'll be waiting for you when you're ready. Emmett said to tell you that he has a surprise waiting."

I waited until I was sure she was gone before letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. A surprise? What kinda surprise? I wondered if he'd said anything to me yesterday. My brain was almost like a sieve for some stuff.

It didn't come to mind right away, so I gave up and undressed before stepping under the hot water. I thought back to my showers with Mistah J…

He'd better be planning something right now.

Alice's POV

"Is she okay?" Carlisle asked when I re-entered the living room.

"She seemed fine… I'm not sure what that vision was about…"

All I saw, was Bella lurching forward to sit straight up in bed for a few minutes, before rushing to the bathroom and locking the door. The most reasonable assumption I could come up with was that she might be sick.

Carlisle would have gone himself, but none of us knew whether she would be decent. It probably wouldn't have mattered to her much, but it might definitely have bothered him. He thought of her as a daughter much more than he considered her to be a patient.

"As long as it seemed alright," Esme chimed in. "Do you think she'd like some breakfast? Maybe I should whip something up quickly…"

"Don't bother," we all heard.

Bella walked into the room, fully dressed (using that term loosely, of course) and ready for the day.

She didn't pause as she walked straight into the kitchen. She opened and slammed shut a few cabinets before finding the one with cereal bowls. She pulled one out and placed in on the counter in a less-than-gentle manner.

We watched her, in awe of the new found confidence, as she pranced around the kitchen with ease. Once she had poured herself a bowl of Cheerios, she topped it off with some milk and grabbed a spoon from the first drawer.

It was only then that she looked up and saw our eyes on her.

"What?" she asked with a mouth full of Cheerios.

We all averted our eyes and let her eat. She ate in silence. Carlisle, Esme and Jasper were sitting on the sofa. I was sitting on the chair in the corner and Bella opted to lean on the island for the remainder of her meal.

Once she was done, she practically dropped the empty bowl into the sink and began walking back to her room.

"Bella?" Carlisle called.

She turned. "Yes, doc?"

"I think today would a good day to begin your treatment. I have something in mind for you that I think may help."

"I don't think so, doc, but thanks for the offer."

"It wasn't a question, Bella," he said before she could leave. "We could always put you back in the restraints and force the treatment, but we all decided we would work with trust."

She rolled her eyes. "Fiiiiiine!" she drawled out.

"Come."

He got up and walked down the hall, probably to his study. I watched as she grudgingly followed and disappeared into the hallway.

Carlisle's POV

She sat down and put her feet up on my desk.

I sighed and stood in front of her, leaning on the desk.

"This is what we're going to do, Bella," I started. "You opened up a lot to us yesterday, so I won't push you to do it again. We can commence therapy tomorrow afternoon."

"So, what are we doin' here?" she asked, looking bored.

"I've found a medication I think would suit you well. After reviewing you transcripts and documents from… from your last… hospital…" I had no idea it would be this hard to say. "I've found something that I think could help you a great deal."

I walked around my desk and opened the top drawer. I pulled out a baggie of pills I'd ordered.

"What's that gonna do?" she asked, looking warily at the pills.

"They're antipsychotics," I explain. "This is aripiprazole."

"But what will it do?"

I sigh again. I found myself doing that more often now that she had arrived back into our lives. "It will help you. De-clutter your thoughts, for one thing. Make them more… orderly."

"So, they un-crazy me?" She laughed.

"You'll only need one per day and it's relatively low dosage with minimal side effects. I really hope you take this willingly, Bella."

She narrows her eyes before giving up whatever plan she had to refuse it, probably knowing it wouldn't end well. She held out her hand and I gingerly placed one tiny pill on the palm.

She swallowed it down without hesitation, and I smiled warmly.

"Thank you," I said.

She only nodded.

"Come," I say again, walking out the door.

"Where are we goin now?" she whined.

"Emmett and I have something special for you," I say.

This sparks her interest and she decides to tag along behind me.

We got back to the living room and I instantly knew that something was about to happen. Edward sat on the sofa, staring at nothing in particular. When Bella was fully in the room, he looked up. His eyes were decided. He was going to say something.

Bella's POV

I took the damn pill without complaining. I would be gone far too soon for it to actually do anything.

Carlisle brought up this surprise Alice mentioned. I was actually interested in knowing what it was. I wasn't sure whether they could tell I had forgotten, but I didn't want to let it slip. As far as they were concerned, I wanted to seem as sane as possible.

I chuckled when I realized how long ago that ship had sailed. Oh well.

I followed Carlisle into the living room. By the way he was walking; I figured we would just be passing through. Then he stopped. I could tell he had tensed up. What gives? For a split second, I hoped Mistah J was early. But I knew that would be too much to wish for.

I stepped forward so that I was next to him. Oh. It was Edward. And he was staring right at me.

"Bella," he said, "I need to talk to you."

"No thanks," I said curtly. "Come on, Carlisle. The surprise, remember?"

Edward sent a pitiful look at his 'father' and Carlisle sighed.

Edward turned back to me. "Bella, please?"

Another look to Carlisle.

Carlisle finally gave in. "Bella, I'm going to fetch Emmett to help set up." That was probably a lie. "I'll be right outside if you need me. Feel free to leave the room at any moment. Edward will let you, no questions asked."

He shot a pointed look at Edward. Then, he was gone. And I was left with the devil's gift to mankind.

I turned to face him. One thing I wasn't; cowardly. Not anymore, at least.

"Bella," he said, standing up.

"Don't touch me," I say immediately. "Don't try to grab me, or place a finger on me or even get too close to me. If you were human, I'd have killed you right now. But just say what you need to say so I can be done with it."

He looked extremely hurt. I laughed in his face.

"Can't handle a challenge, Eddie?" I taunted. "Or just too used to manipulating your way around me?"

A long pause followed. Perhaps he changed his mind.

"Okay, then, I'm gonna-"

"Wait!" he pleaded, reaching for my hand. He stopped himself short, the lucky bastard, but I didn't let the fact that he tried slip by me.

"Wait," he continued. He walked up to me until we were only a foot apart and peered at my face. "Bella, I'm… so sorry. You have no idea. I'm so very sorry that I've allowed this to happen…" he trailed off.

If he was human, he might be crying. I didn't care. I decided to play with him a bit. It's not like he deserved anything less.

"Whatcha sorry for, Eddie?" I asked, widening my eyes.

"I'm sorry… for what's happened. Bella, I promise you, all I've ever wanted to keep you safe. That's all I was hoping for when I left."

"I don't care what you promise me," I spat out, stepping back. "You've proven you don't keep 'em, anyway."

Not like Mistah J. He kept every promise he'd ever made.

"Please, Bella, you have to believe me." He looked pained.

"I don't have to do anything but pay taxes and die. And I only plan on doing one of those."

Then, he did the last thing I expected. He fell to the floor. His knees seemed to buckle beneath him, and then, he was on the floor in front of me, his head in his hands. Pathetic.

"I can't do this, Bella," he admits. "Not with you. You don't understand. Oh, Bella!"

He looked up at me. I tried to look away, but his eyes held onto my own for dear life.

"I love you, Bella," he said. "So deeply… so truly… If I could do it all over again… I would never have left you!"

"But… you did." I wasn't having his shit. "And, hey, I'm glad you did. I have someone who really does love me, now. I've found someone perfect for me."

It was true. I was grateful for that, at least.

He shook his head. "He doesn't love you like I do, Bella. He never could. I know it doesn't make sense to you right now. I understand that I need to give you time, but I know my old Bella is in there somewhere." He grabbed my hand. I actually didn't pull it back. "I know she's in there."

For a quick moment, I doubted myself. Was he right? No, he couldn't be. But… I did love him once upon a time. Why did I? What was it about him?

I stared down into his topaz eyes. No. I hate him. He deserved to know that.

I sharply pulled my hand away.

"Don't you dare talk about my Puddin' that way!"

He stood up and fire re-entered his expression.

"He doesn't give a damn about you, Bella!"

I growled. "You know nothing about us! He loves me more than you ever did!" I sneer. "And I love him more than I ever did you."

That didn't break him. This guy just doesn't give up.

"You don't mean that, Bella. You're sick. But, I promise, I'll never leave you again. I'm going to get you better, Bella."

I shook my head. "I mean it. I don't want you by my side. If it means putting up with you then I don't want to get better! I want you to leave me the hell alone! I HATE YOU! And the white horse you rode in on!"

With that, I stormed out the kitchen door, leaving him open-mouthed behind me.

I faintly heard Alice from somewhere in the house as I walked.

"She didn't mean it, Edward."

I heard a sigh. "I know. I know she's in there somewhere, Alice, I just…"

The voice trailed off as I got further from the house. I stopped when I saw Emmett and Carlisle talking to one another in front of what looked to be a whole other house. I was smaller than the main house, but larger than your average garage.

"Is this the surprise?" I ask bitterly. "I'm gonna be living in this place now? Had to say, I didn't expect to get locked away so soon." I laughed.

Emmett smiled. "Come on. I can't wait to see your face!"

Without asking, he grabbed my hand and pulled me to the door. Carlisle stayed behind, but watched.

"Close your eyes, Bells," Emmett chirped.

"I could gut you like a fish."

He chuckled, then the door flew open.

I gasped.

"Well?" he pushed. "Do you like? I put everything together overnight. Rose was pissed that I didn't spend any time with her but this was the most fun project I've had in ages!"

I shook my head. "Emmett… it's… amazing!"

In front of me, behind the door, was a gym. Not just any gym. The hugest gym I've ever seen. It had everything. Some of the machines I couldn't even name.

"Ya didn't have to get it so spruced up, ya know," I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

"That wouldn't have been half as fun!" he said.

I walked in and made a beeline for the punching bag in the middle of the room.

"I see you already picked a favourite," he noted as he followed me in.

He sighed. "I know Edward was a dick, Bella. We all were to just up and leave. If it wasn't for us, you wouldn't be like this. I'm sure of it."

I nod, not wanting to say anything mean. Sure, Emmett had left too. But he had made no promises to me. Not like Edward. Not like Alice.

Therefore, he didn't break any.

"If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here, Bells," he continued. "We haven't given up on you, Bella. So don't you give up on us."

I said nothing. All I did, was begin punching, all the while imagining it was Edward's stupid face. His stupid, dazzling face.

Damn it.

A/N Okay, I didn't want her to forgive them very easily. What fun is that? Anyway, the next chapter will include some therapy… and possibly some forgiveness. However, I have a plan. She'll still be in love with the Joker until the verrrrry last possible minute, after something incredibly dramatic occurs.

That's the plan I have so far. If anyone thinks that plan should change or that she should forgive Edward any sooner, let me know. I'm always open to other opinions.

Please do review! Even if you absolutely hated it! I want to know what you guys think!