Edward's POV:

Fuck.

I was screwed. Everything that I had been working to forget. All that I had been running from was now fucking going to blow up in my face.

I will never stop regretting my past actions and how I hurt my family in the process.

My mom's death fucking hurt. She was the only one who ever believed in me. She was always on my side.

After I lost her, I lost faith in a lot of things. And allowed myself to get manipulated into thinking drugs could take that pain.

I lost my will to live. My will, drive, and ability to do anything.

Which ended with me getting involved with the wrong crowd after high school nearly got me killed. If I hadn't met Jacob one day as I was walking, I don't think I would be here today.

None of that mattered though. Bella did.

I fucking needed to get rid of James and out of our lives for good.

I had to fucking do something before she and our baby got hurt.

The night Bella's mom's house was burglarized it wasn't a vandal. It was James.

After I got up the next morning, I made sure she was comfortable, pulling the throw on her before heading out.

I made my way off base, and got into the bus to head to our old hang out. Pulling a navy cap over my head before skipping on a pair of aviators.

I was pissed that he had been following us around, and gotten close to Bella's mom. Truth was I had gotten the money he demanded I pay him a few days ago.

I waited in one of the corners, quietly watching for him.

He finally did twenty minutes later. I watched as he made his way across the parking lot.

I quickly moved towards him, using my forearm crutch to hitting him in the lower back and kicking him in the ass as he went down.

He groaned as I pressed the crutch to his chest.

"If you mess with that woman again, and you so much as look at my wife, I will kill you." I growled.

He nodded frantically.

"Do you understand me?" I asked, pressing harder.

He lifts his hand in the air, breathing hard, "Uh-huh. Uh-huh." He rasped out, before reaching into the belt of his pants and pulling out a gun.

I move onto my knee and disarm him as he cries out in pain. Kicking my bad knee.

I cry out as he crawls away trying to get the gun.

It takes every ounce of control that I have to not slam his face into the concrete floor. Before throwing myself into him and grabbing him the hairs on the back of his head, reaching for the gun before he did.

I quickly stood up and pointed it at him. As he pants and whimpers on the floor.

"This is everything I owe you. We are done." I told him, as I reached back and pulled out the thick envelope, throwing it on his chest.

I take the gun, pull off the magazine and take the bullet out of the chamber, before throwing it in the dumpster as I pass it.

I slipped the magazine into my pocket as I passed it and walked across the street to throw it in a different dumpster before heading home.

Something told me that I wasn't free of him as I went back to the bus stop.

I needed to clear my mind so I made my way to Jake's house hoping he could help me.

He was sitting in the backyard with Tanya, as I made my way there.

"Edward." He says surprised, "Long time no see. How's Bella?" He asked me, smirking at me.

"Pregnant." I told him.

He guffawed, as Tanya elbowed him. "What? I bet she's keeps him in line." He told her.

She sighed and got up, "I'm going to get something to drink. Nice to see you, Edward." She mumbled as she went inside the house.

Jake nodded before turning to me with a solemn expression. "What's got you like this?" He asked.

I shook my head at him, "Nothing…" I whispered.

He rolled his eyes, "Edward, it's me, you're talking to. Don't lie. I can fucking see the smoke coming out if your ears." He points out. "What's going on, man?" He asked me.

I sighed, rubbing my hand over my face. "I just — I don't know how to word it." I told him as I stared at my hands.

"Try using your words." He commented dryly.

I crack a smile as I look up at him, it was over and that's all that mattered now. I decided to change the subject. "Hey, Jake, you wanna hear something crazy…" I tell him with a chuckle.

"What…?" He asks.

"I think Bella Swan is my best friend." I told him, laughing at the offended look on his face. "I do." I add chuckling.

"Ugh. Ugh. She's my best friend. Get your own, bitch." He says immediately.

"She's mine. You've got Tanya. Leave me alone, asshole." I told him, as he reaches over and socks my arm.

"All joking aside. You're really are my best friend… and you better not hurt her or I'll kick your ass." He tells me with a grin.

"Aw. I love you too." I teased as he socks my arm again.

"Punk." He mumbled.

"Bitch." I snip back.

"Go talk to her man. Act like adults. I don't know what's going on but you need to talk to her." He told me.

I nodded before clapping his shoulders with my hand and squeezing it as I stood and passed him.

Bella's POV:

I tried to stay calm as I packed my bags.

I couldn't believe it. My mind was still reeling after I listened tonthe phone call.

How could he do this? How could he put my mother's life in such a dangerous situation?

As I finished packing the bags, I heard the door open.

I turned to see Edward walk in with a wide smile.

Ignoring the pain I felt in my chest, I turned back to grab another bag and shove the rest of my things into it.

"Hi." He says, as he moves into the house.

The smile drops immediately as he sees the large suitcase by the door.

"What's going on?" He asked me.

"I just spoke to my mom." I told him, emotionlessly, moving to grab the toiletry bag and place it on top of the bag.

"Oh, how is she doing?" He asked as he looked down, shuffling from one foot to the other.

I looked at him in disbelief, "She called because she was freaking out. She was trying to get into her car just now," I said, as I grabbed the bags and moved towards him. "and some guy with blood on his shirt rolled up, wanting to talk about you." I informed him.

He sighed, "Oh," He mumbled.

I nodded, "About you and me, and how we're in a fake marriage. Threatening to turn us in." I added, hoping he would explain to me.

My last hope died as soon as he spoke. I knew then that this was it. I couldn't do this anymore.

He splutters, "She'll understand why though, right?" He asked me.

"Why aren't you asking me who it was?" I asked him, angrily.

When he looked down ashamed, I got my answer.

"Fuck you, Edward. Fuck you!" I growled out shoving past him and heading to the living room with my bags.

"I'm sorry." He finally says.

"You owe him money?" I asked, pointing out the window. "This guy said. And that he sent you a message last night?"

I watched him shake his head as he moved closer into the room, and I moved away from him.

"I'm sorry. Okay? I'm so sorry." He told me, pleadingly.

"They broke into my mother's house, Edward!" I screamed at him.

They broke a lot of things. Furniture, windows. The door. That place was basically unlivable, my mother was staying with a friend from work.

"I.. I'm so sorry." He repeated, as he tried to touch my arm but I shoved him away.

I shook my head, willing the tears to not fall. "Did you know?" I finally whispered.

My eyes narrowed at him, "You must have, right? That's why you said you'd pay for the damages." I said in realization.

"Can you let me explain?" He asked.

"Yes!" I yelled, turning away, and pacing across the room.

He sighed, "I'm an addict. Was. I'm clean now. Two years sober, okay?" He told me.

I sighed and slipped on my coat, before turning to look at him. "And what? This guy was your dealer?" I asked, blinking back tears.

He nodded, in defeat.

Realization finally sunk in. All the questions I had. All the unanswered questions finally made sense.

"That's why your dad stopped talking to you. Because you were using." I breathed.

He nodded, blinking away tears, "When my mom died, I, uh…I got into her medication just to cope. But when I ran out, James was right there to help me." He finally said.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, "What does that have anything to do--" I began to say.

"Okay. Yeah." He grunts. "I stole a $50,000 car from my dad. A classic Corvette. He was rebuilding it for one of his biggest customers. And I broke in. I was out of my mind, and… I was desperate." He told me, in defeat. "I was gonna sell it, and instead, I just… " He looked down at his feet, and blinked again. "Took it on the freeway, and I totaled it. And he said if I didn't pay that customer back, he'd turn me in himself." He told me.

"You weren't kidding about him." I breathed, blinking furiously.

He nodded, licking his lips, "Whatever I didn't have, I borrowed from James." He told me.

It pained me to finally know the truth, but at least I knew now why he did it.

"This is why you needed to marry me." I stated, in shocked realization.

"Yeah." He said, nodding as he looked at me, swallowing thickly. "Yeah, but look. I dealt with him." He tells me, moving closer, "Okay? I paid him. It's done." He promised.

I sigh, unwilling to look at him as a sob escaped my lips as the tears I'd been holding back fell down my face, "They could have hurt her, and she's one of the last people I've got." I sobbed.

He moved closer to me, until he stood before me, "I know, Bella. I know, I know." He said as he moved my hair out of my face as he pulled me into his arms.

I pulled away, "No. No." I said moving towards the door.

"Don't… Don't just walk away. Okay, I'm sorry. Not every man you let into your life is a bad guy that you can't trust." He told me.

I grabbed my bags, and turned to him, "Really, Edward? Then what are you?" I asked, mockingly.

"I am someone who shows up when you need me." He tells me, angrily.

"I don't need you." I snapped.

He inhales sharply, as he looks at me, hurt. "I don't need you." I repeat.

"Just listen, okay?" He sniffled, "I am sorry. I messed up." He says.

I sigh, shaking my head at him, as the side of my stomach begins to hurt.

"I'm leaving. I'll go stay at a friend's house or a bandmate's house." I told him, as I moved. "Tell your family we're getting a divorce. I'm going to go to my show tonight, but when I come back for the rest of my things, I don't want to see you. And you won't ever get to see me again." I finally say as I grab my things, pushing past him, and walk out.

He stands there by the door as I put my stuff in my car and drive away.

I drive across town back to my old apartment, leaving my things on the couch before heading to the shower to get the sweat off of me.

I changed into a pair of maternity shorts, and a black fringe t-shirt. Leaving my hair down, and adding waves to it before I did my make up, before stepping into my shin length black boots.

Kate was waiting for me as I walked into the theater.

"Hey, babe, how are you feeling?" She asked me, eyeing my stomach.

I smiled, thinking back to the day I told her, and her happy reaction, her and Garrett claiming the godparents slots immediately.

"Good." I told her, smiling even though I felt as if I had just had my heart ripped out.

"I'm glad. Are you ready? We go on in twenty minutes." She told me.

I exhaled and rolled my head on my shoulders, "Yes, I am."

She nodded, clapping her hands as we made our way backstage.

We went through the songs we were going to play before heading to the stage.

I took a deep breath as I stood behind the large black drape, clutching the microphone in my hand, before moving it and going down the steps.

The crowd loudly cheered as we walked on to the stage.

The rush of performing quickly ran through my veins as I placed the microphone in the stand as the crowd continued to cheer around us.

I took a deep breath, as the beat to I Hate The Way began to play.

I began to sing feeling the rage from earlier return as I began to sing.

As the song progressed I took the microphone of the stand and began to move with the rhythm of the music.

"And I hate the way I say words that I laughed at before

And I hate the way my heart isn't mine, now it's yours

Look at what you've created, something borderline sacred

I call it overrated, go on and call me jaded

'Cause I hate the way my heart isn't mine, now it's yours

And I hate the way I say words that I laughed at before

And I hate the way my thoughts aren't mine, now they're yours

Look at what you've created, something borderline sacred

I call it overrated, go on and call me jaded

'Cause I hate the way my heart isn't mine, now it's yours"

As I sang the last line of the song, I fell to my knees, and blinked back tears before looking up and smiling at the crowd.

The next two songs were sung with the same emotion. And then we added a cover by Flyleaf.

When the concert finished Kate and I made our way backstage and she hugged me to her side.

"We played so hard. What did you do?" She asked as we laughed.

"I've never seen you okay like that in your life!" Jane said.

"I know a bunch of those people out there. They're freaking out." Ben told us as we sat down. "Marina, promoter from the Hollywood Bowl, wants you to open for Florence and the Machine in a couple of six weeks." He told us.

"What?" I asked.

"The Loyal and Florence and the Machine." He told us.

"What?!" I repeated, turning to look at Kate who stared back at me with her jaw hanging in the air.

"This is massive!" Ben told us, clapping.

I shot out of my seat and squealed as Kate hugged Garrett and kissed him.

"Hollywood Bowl!" Kate squealed, jumping in and down in the air.

I couldn't believe it, this was unreal.

Garrett hugged me, and pulled me into the group hug as we all jumped around and cheered.

Once we calmed down, Alec and Garrett put the instruments back in the van before we all headed home.

I was almost home when I heard a screech, and glass breaking. The last thing I remember is a flash of blue and red lights flashing as I lost consciousness.

Author's Note:

Okay, don't kill me. I promise angst it's going to be for too long.