Bella's POV

I hadn't stopped shaking since Edward had called… my entire body going into convulsions at the thought of that woman being anywhere even remotely close. Even though it had been several hours now, I still couldn't stop.

As Esme pulled the car into the station, I began to wonder if I could do this… could I really face her again? Could I be the person to finally put her in prison? Edward hadn't told me much when he called to update us, and he hadn't really wanted me to come in (neither had my Dad). But I needed to do this… and he realised it, as much as it killed him to know that I had to. I still wasn't sure that I was ready… and neither was Esme.

"Bells." My dad was waiting for us and I went directly to him as we entered the familiar station. Reaching out he pulled me into his arms, holding me. At first it surprised me… I didn't let anyone except Edward and Nessie hug me… but I also knew that if he was the one approaching me with this, then he probably needed it and I let him hug me for a moment, breathing slowly through it.

"Where is she?" I blurted out as soon as he pulled back.

"You don't have to do this… at least not right now… we've got her confession and your statement from before." My dad reiterated and I sighed. As I looked over, I saw Esme frown just slightly from beside me as well.

"I know. Where is she?" I asked again.

"Come on." He sighed, leading me down the hallway. I was surprised when he sat me at a desk as a detective I recognised from the hospital came in holding a tablet device. Sitting down at the desk with Detective Spears across from me, they showed me what to do and I swiped through a series of images until I saw her face. She was older and harder looking than I remembered. Her face withered and rough, almost pale grey in colour. But her eyes and her hair… I would recognise both of those anywhere.

"That's her. That's Ms. Vicky." I was surprisingly firm when I spoke, my voice flat but strong as I identified the woman that had taken me twelve years prior. The relief on both Detective Spears and my Dad's faces was evident when I confirmed her identity.

"Bella." Edward's voice rose above the chatter around me and I turned around, my entire body relaxing at the sight of him there. Standing up, I melted back down into his arms as he approached me, needing the safety of having him there with me.

"Where's Nessie?" he asked a minute later and I pulled back, assuring him that she was fine… she was with Alice and Jasper who had taken her to their place while Esme had brought me here.

"Bells ID'd her." My dad told Edward and I nodded, the two of them speaking quietly for a moment, the details of the case lost on me as I tried to remain calm.

"Can… Can I see her?" I asked carefully, once Detective Spears had asked me a few more questions. I knew the immediate answer would be no… but I also felt that a picture wasn't enough. I needed to see her in front of me. I needed to know that she was going away and that she couldn't do this to anyone else ever again.

"Come on Bells." Edward spoke quietly, looking at my dad who nodded at him. I let him lead me further into the station and towards the interrogation rooms. Eventually we were outside looking in, seeing the woman through a pane of glass, that I was assured was one way. Even though I could see her… she couldn't see me.

"You can't actually speak to her right now… but Detective Spears and your dad agreed on this once you identified her." Edward told me with a sigh, and I gripped his hand tightly. For a few minutes I couldn't speak as I stared through the window at the woman sitting there. She was obviously coming off of something… her body twitching, and her hands scratching up and down her arms. She still looked older than she should, the drug use obviously aging her faster.

"And she… she… confessed?" I asked him and he nodded. "She told… you… why?" I stuttered out, and again he nodded, but he didn't elaborate… his face scrunched up in a scowl.

I looked back through the window, my eyes focusing on her hair… the way it fell around her face… wild. Closing my eyes briefly I was back at the fairgrounds, my headphones in my ears and the September sun shining down on my face. My irritation towards Edward had faded by the time that she appeared… her hair glinting in the sun. The red more vibrant, like flames dancing around her head. It was a day… a moment… that I had never forgotten.

"I want to go home…" I whispered after another minute. I had stared through that window for long enough. I knew that Edward couldn't tell me too much until she had been processed. Nobody wanted to compromise the integrity of the case against her, or put her in a position where she recanted. All I knew was that right now, she was here… she was ready to plead guilty to kidnapping. She was willing to go to jail for what she had done to me.

It would never be enough… but it was something for now.

I still wanted to know why she had done it… but somehow, seeing her there in that room, I had turned back into the little girl from twelve years prior. The one who begged and pleaded with the woman to take me home, drop me on the highway, or to simply let me out. I was the girl who cried when she stopped showing up… who missed her because as long as she was involved, James hadn't touched me. I was the little girl that was lost… terrified of what each day forward from here would bring. I was the little girl that couldn't do anything but hold Edward's hand and pray that I would make it through these memories and feelings that were assaulting me.

"Come on, let's go." He pulled me against his side, his arm wrapping around my shoulder as he walked me out.

That night Edward took me home while my dad stayed at the station and worked through all of the proper paperwork with Detective Spears, getting everything ready for the prosecutor's arrival the next day.

"I'm… I'm going to see if Alice minds keeping Ness overnight." I said as Edward turned out of the station, heading towards his sister's home. He didn't say anything as I picked up my phone and dialed her number, simply reaching over and taking my hand again instead. Although concerned for the current situation, Alice was beyond happy that I asked. I had to admit that I was bothered by my own ease at leaving my daughter with her… but deep down I also knew that they would never let anything happen to her. I had just never been away from her overnight before.

I also knew that right now I couldn't focus on Nessie. Right now… after today… I needed to be able to fall apart.

And that was what I did.

As soon as we walked in the door, it was like a wave of exhaustion, stress, anger, and sadness hit me all at once and I collapsed. I fell to my knees in the entrance, Edward meeting me on the floor and pulling me into his arms, holding me securely while I gripped onto his shirt, not willing to let go of him.

He didn't say anything as he sat with me and let me cry and process it all. I needed that. I needed him. It wasn't awkward and I wasn't afraid… I didn't want to push Edward away.

I don't know how long I cried for that night. It came in waves of crashing pain, sorrow, and anger. When we had finally stood up and moved further into the house, Edward led me to the kitchen, turning the kettle on and pulling out the supplies for tea. As he worked with one hand and I remained securely attached to his other hand… the tears picked up again. As we ate dinner later that evening… after a phone call to Nessie… as we sat and talked in the living room… It was like the grief came in wave after wave… it was crushing me. Years of loss, and pain, and resentment… all of it built up and flowing out of me in those hours after we got home.

Eventually I fell asleep. Edward was sitting on the couch with me, his feet up on the coffee table, while my head was laid in his lap… his hands absently rubbing my head. As I closed my eyes and drifted off, I knew that tonight I was twelve years old again. But this time I wasn't alone.

In the days that followed, I knew more than ever that my family and friends were there for me.

The first few days became a time where I didn't function. I couldn't process anything. Edward had stayed that first evening and into the night, with Esme relieving him the following day.

For the first time in nine years… I knew that I couldn't be the mother for Nessie right now… and I let my family help me with her, while I tried desperately to climb out of the hole that I found myself buried in.

For the most part I started to shut down. A need to protect myself overpowering everything else. Esme talked me through it, and she remained constant throughout it all. She pushed me when I needed it. She listened when I did speak. She held me when I cried. And she assured me that this… all of what I was experiencing… was normal, given the circumstances.

I didn't think I knew what normal was.

All that I knew, was that this feeling was pressing down on me… suffocating me. I was home, I was free. Victoria Sutherland was in prison… and likely going to be staying there a long time. I had my family surrounding me… doing whatever they could do walk alongside me through this.

And yet… I felt like I was back in that bunker… fighting to find my way out again, not sure where to even begin.