12

Charlie and Rosalie shared a look, and before Edward or anyone could say a word, they took off down the hallway after Bella. He had known the moment she pushed about the picture that everything would change, that she would never look at him again and not see him as just another man who had hurt her.

"No, no, no!" they heard Bella scream, and they all turned their attention toward the hallway. "I want Edward. Get me Edward!

His father and Alice turned their attention to him, just moments before Rosalie hurried down the hallway and said, "She . . . she wants you."

Swallowing thickly, Edward shifted his eyes to the floor and nodded before following Rosalie down the hallway and into Bella's bedroom, which surprised him. Unlike the rest of the house that was overrun with red furniture, her bedroom was softer. There was a queen size bed, a white sleigh bed frame, a white dresser, and a large oversized purple chair in the corner next to a cheval mirror. The walls were covered in framed pictures of the most beautiful meadows he had ever seen.

"She's in the bathroom," Rosalie said, motioning toward the door leading off the right hand of the bedroom.

Edward nodded and walked in, finding Charlie kneeling next to Bella, who was sitting against the bathtub with her knees pulled up against her chest.

Her eyes lifted to his, and she said, "Everyone else out."

"Bee," Charlie said, reaching for her hand, but she pulled away and said, "Out! Get out!"

Though Edward could tell the man didn't want to leave them alone, he groaned and stood up, giving him a look before he walked past him and into her bedroom.

"Shut the door," she said, shifting her eyes to Edward.

Sighing, he reached behind him and pushed the door close.

"Let me see it."

"See what?" he asked, though he knew.

"Don't play dumb with me, Edward," she said, standing up. She reached for the front of her jeans, popping the button apart and lowering the zipper before she shimmered the front of her pants down just enough for him to see the infinity sign tattoo on her hip. "Show me."

Edward pressed his lips together before he grabbed the front of his pants and, like her, undid the button and lowered the zipper, pushing his pants down low enough to show the tattoo that rested on his hip. It was faded and more than a few times he had considered getting it covered, but that would mean having someone touch him, and that wasn't something he could handle.

Bella's eyes lifted to his as she walked over to him, her fingers coming up and touching the small area on his hip. Edward inhaled a sharp breath, prepared to feel the usual panic that overwhelmed him when someone touched her, but it didn't come. Instead, he felt a calmness that he had longed for twenty-five years.

"I always wondered where I had gotten it," she said, her voice soft and fragile. "I thought who in the hell would have tattooed a kid. I mean it's illegal, right? But now I'm realizing it doesn't matter what's right or wrong with them. We were babies and they . . . they touched us, raped us," she whispered, her eyes lifting to his, her fingers still pressed against his tattoo. "Did you like it when they forced you to touch me?"

"No," he immediately replied. "I hated it."

"Did I touch you?"

Edward nodded.

"I'm sorry," she said, pulling her hand backward and taking a step back from him. She redid her pants. "What else do I not know?"

"Nothing," he said, fixing his own pants. "It was always the same bullshit, Bella. Sometimes they would pick one of the other kids. Sometimes, they picked us. Sometimes they . . . they were almost nice, gentle, but sometimes they weren't. He . . . when he picked, he always picked you and me together. Said we were his angels, his pride. It was always bad when he picked us. By the end, he always picked us."

Bella nodded. "You remember everything?"

"I remember enough," he said, leaning against the door.

"Do you wish you didn't?"

"Every damn day."

Bella sighed and sat on the edge of the bathtub. "I used to think my parents — my birth parents — were still out there, that they'd given me up because I was a burden. That they had been the ones who left me on the side of the road. But now, I learn . . . I learn they died trying protect me? That I was kidnapped as a newborn and held in a cult, sexually abused, physically abused, and who knows what else."

"I was ten when I found out about my parents," he said, and when she looked over at him, she watched as he slid to the floor, bending his knees in front of him. "We were doing a project at school about family trees and, well, it was hard for me because I had always known that my family wasn't my biological family. My mom and dad never hid my past from me, Bella, but I was little kid, who . . . It took me a long time, a long, long time, to trust that they weren't like them. And when we were given that assignment, my mom was the one who said it was time I found out who I was. So, she and my dad sat me down and told me what had happened to them, shared what they had learned about their lives before they joined the Gathering of Twilight."

"Did it help?"

"No," he admitted.

"What did you learn about them?"

Edward frowned.

"I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me," she mumbled, leaning forward and placing her hands on her knees.

"They were from a little town just outside of Chicago called Clarendon Hills. They met when they were in middle school. Their parents said their relationship was toxic from the start, said they were obsessive with each other. Even a little abusive. When they were sixteen, her mother — my biological grandmother — told her she had to end her relationship with him after they were arrested for public disturbance when they got into a fight in a movie theater. He hit her, she fought back from what people said, and they were both arrested. They tested positive for numerous drugs. She refused to end her relationship with him, saying he was the love of her life. Her mom was going to send her away, and she found out. They ran away that night."

"Did you ever meet your grandmother?"

"No, she died two years after they ran away. Heart attack. His parents had died when he was little and he lived with an uncle, who went to prison about a year after they left for aggravated robbery and assault. He died not long after we were born."

"Why do you think they joined the Gathering of Twilight?"

"That I don't know," he admitted, placing his arms on his knees.

"Do you think they knew? What was going to happen to us?"

"Yes."

Bella shook her head. "You said you told your family about me. When you were little, you told them about me."

"I did."

"Why?"

Edward opened his mouth only to close it and shake his head before saying, "I told you: you're important to me."

"Why am I important to you?" she asked, sliding off the side of the bathtub and crawling over to him, sitting with her knees folded in front of her. "You thought I was dead, so why did you talk about me?"

"Because while I remember some of what they did to me, to us, there's a lot I don't remember. Don't want to remember, but you, Bella, you I remember everything about."

"Why me? What made me special?"

"You're asking hard questions, Bella," he whispered.

"You're the only one who has the answers I need," she whimpered, bringing her hand up to her head. "If they're right about him being alive, about him being my stalker, I need to know everything, Edward, and I need you to tell me why I was important enough that you talked to your family about me."

"You were . . . you are the only constant I remember. It wasn't like I just had all the memories, Bella. They crept over me when I was least expecting them. When my dad first took me into his house, I thought . . . I thought it was abnormal that they didn't touch me. I thought it was normal to be abused, because that was our normal. But over time, the realization of what we had been through, the things they made us do, hit me hard and you were the only part that didn't scare me."

Bella nodded. "Why did you come to my show?"

Edward smiled. "I wanted to see you in your element for myself."

"And what did you think?"

"You were amazing. The way you sang, it was like you were putting on a show for each and every person. It was personal and intimate."

Bella tilted her head to the side. "Was that the first show you've ever been to?"

Edward nodded.

"Why?"

"I don't like crowds," he admitted. "Too many unknowns."

"I can understand that," she said, quietly before asking, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

He felt his eyes widen. "What?"

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Um, no," he said, shaking his head.

"Have you ever had a girlfriend?"

"Once, a long time ago. I was fifteen. We only dated for a few months, though."

"Why?"

"Because she thought I didn't find her attractive because I never kissed her."

"Why didn't you kiss her?"

"Jesus, Bella, ask something a little easier to explain," he muttered. "The thought of being close enough to kiss her, to kiss anyone," he added, his eyes locking on hers, "scared me."

"Then why date her at all?"

"Because I thought that's what I was supposed to do. I wanted to be normal, Bella. I wanted . . ." He grinned and shook his head. "I wanted to be like my brothers, I guess."

"Like them how?"

"Unafraid to get close to someone."

"Unafraid to get close to someone," she whispered. "I'd like to be unafraid, too."

"So, have you ever had a boyfriend?"

Bella scoffed. "What do you think?"

"Sorry, I had to ask," he quipped.

"Can I ask you another question?"

"Have I been able to stop you so far?"

She smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm sorry if I've pushed too hard, Edward. You're just the only person who . . . who can tell me what we went through?"

"I'm sorry. What do you want to know?"

"Why doesn't Alice like me?"

Edward laughed. "That's what you want to know?"

"Why is that funny? She was very rude to me earlier."

He stopped laughing. "Sorry, it's not funny. Al . . . Al is very protective of me. She . . . Well, she's kind of my Rosalie, I guess."

"Still doesn't explain why she hates me. Does she know about me?"

Edward nodded. "Met Al when I was eight years old, and starting second grade. It was the first year my mom and dad put me in regular school, rather than homeschooling me. They thought being around other kids would be good for me, but I was terrified of being away from my mom. I begged and cried for them to let me stay home, somedays they did and sometimes they didn't. One morning, about a month after school started, my dad was the one who took me, and I damn near pissed myself I was crying so hard. And there was this boy named Austin, who laughed. Just stood there and laughed as I cried and begged my dad to take me home, and then Al walked up to him, punched him in the nose and told him, and this is a direct quote, 'to shut the fuck up, you whiny, motherfucking little bitch'."

Bella laughed. "Did she get in trouble?"

Edward shook his head. "I think our teacher was a little scared of her, to be honest. Anyway, after she punched Austin, she turned and walked over to me and said she was my best friend now and she would fight for me. Maybe I was just scared that she might punch me, too, but I let her hold my hand and lead me into our classroom. She kept her word every day since then, even when I learned how to fight for myself. She's my best friend."

"That doesn't explain why she hates me."

"She doesn't hate you," he said. "She's scared of you."

"Scared of me? Why?"

"Because she knows you're important to me, Bella."

"She's afraid I will hurt you, isn't she?"

Edward nodded.

"Suppose I get that," she said with a sigh. "You said she's dating your brother. Jasper, wasn't it?"

"For the better part of the last decade."

"Was that weird? Your best friend and your brother hooking up?"

"A little, but Al's been a part of the family since that day in second grade." Edward paused before saying, "Can I ask you something now?"

"Can I stop you?"

He grinned. "Why do you feel like you're a burden to Charlie?"

Her shoulders tensed and her knees came up to her chest. "Because I have been since he brought me into his home. He would deny it, of course, but . . . I relied on him for everything, Edward. You talk about how your mom would sleep next to your bed at night? Well, I don't sleep for days at a time, Edward, because I'd wake up locked in a Hell that I didn't understand, so he would stay up with me, and he'd tell me every detail about his day, down to the cereal he ate for breakfast. When Ro came along, she took a bit of that off his shoulders, Edward, but he's been there every day, every time I had a panic attack at school. When I made the decision to leave Wyoming, I promised myself that I wouldn't let him give up his life anymore, not for me, and I've tried really hard to keep that promise."

"But three years is a long time to not see him?"

"Not like I didn't talk to him during that time, Edward. I talk to him before every show, and after every show," she added with laugh. "We text all the time, and when it's really hard, he stays on the phone with me all night."

"Are you mad at him for not telling you everything sooner?"

"Yes," she admitted, bringing her hand up to the locket around her neck. "I thought I was crazy. I didn't understand why I'm afraid of people touching me, why I would feel people touching me who weren't even there, and he knew. He's always known, and instead of telling me, he kept it from me. Logically, I understand why he didn't tell me. He thought he was giving me a chance to not be that little girl anymore, but I was never not that little girl, Edward. I just didn't know it."

"Do you forgive him?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because even though he should have told me, he gave up everything to keep me safe, Edward. He's my father."

Before either could say anything else, the sound of the doorbell ringing could be heard through the thick, bathroom door. Bella scooted backwards as she stood up, giving Edward plenty of space to stand as well. He kept his eyes locked on hers as he reached his hand toward her.

"Can I trust you, Edward?"

"Yes."

"I hope so."

Though he could see the fear and doubt in her eyes as she raised her arm and slowly, ever so slowly, placed her hand in with his. He expected to feel the fear, the anxiety, the panic that normally would have filled him when touched him, but he didn't. Instead, for the first time in his life, he almost felt normal.

Neither said anything as they turned and opened the bathroom door, walking through her bedroom, down the hallway, and into the living room where they found Carlisle, Alice, Rosalie, and Charlie standing with Emmett and Jasper. Sitting on the coffee table was small crystal vase with two Black and White Desert Roses.

"Who are the flowers from?" Bella asked, taking a step forward, but stopped when Edward pulled on her hand, causing her to look back at him. Her eyes widening and the fear that filled them almost had him on his knees. "Who are the flowers from, Edward?"

"They're from him," he said, quietly. "They're from him, Bella. They were . . . they were his favorite."

Bella ripped her hand out of his as she walked over and pulled the card out of the small white envelope. "I'll see you soon, Angels."

"Where were they found?" Edward asked, shifting his eyes from Emmett to Jasper.

"Front porch," Jasper said, stoically. "He didn't trigger the alarm system. We checked."

"How'd he get passed it?" Carlisle asked.

"Does it matter?" Alice scoffed, and when they looked at her, she folded her arms in front of her. "He's too close. The house has been compromised."

"She's right," Charlie said, frowning.

Carlisle pressed his hands together before he nodded. "Okay, here is what we are going to do. Emmett, take Rosalie home and stay with her while she packs a bag and then go pack your own, Jasper, you and Al need to do that same, and then stop at the office and get Sam settled. Call Malcolm to come in and help him keep the day to day operations going. The rest of us will get things taken care of here and we'll meet up in three hours."

"Meet where?" Bella asked. "Are we running?"

"Not running, just being cautious," Carlisle said, smiling and turning back to Emmett and Jasper. "We will meet at the cabin. Make sure you have everything."

Emmett, Jasper, and Alice nodded, all three of their eyes flickering Bella and then to Edward before Alice and Jasper hurried out and Emmett reached for Rosalie.

"It'll be okay, Bee," she said.

Though Edward could tell that Bella wasn't convinced, she simply nodded.

Rosalie gave Charlie a look before she turned, ignoring Emmett's hand, and hurried out of the house. Emmett followed and the minute the front door was closed, Bella was hurrying down the hallway and into her bedroom. Charlie sighed and followed, leaving just Edward and Carlisle standing in the living room.

"It's not just about her anymore, is it?" Edward asked.

"No," Carlisle replied, frowning. "It would appear that you're in his sight now, too."

Swallowing against the bile creeping up his throat, he heard himself asking, "Is there any stopping him, Dad?"

But he didn't bother waiting for any kind of response as he turned and walked down the hallway and into the guest room. Edward knew first hand that when Marcus Volturi wanted someone, he claimed them as his.

Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews! A nice, easy chapter . . .