Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or its characters

All mistakes are mine

Dec 18, 1941…

Bella

I spent the days following the fight with my father on baited breath. If he truly kept to his word, then it was only a matter of time before I could be let go from the hospital. Then what was I to do? If Edward was angry when I told him my father had cut ties with me, he was livid when he learned that he'd also threatened my employment at the hospital. I'd purposefully kept it from him that afternoon on the porch swing, but Alice made sure to let him know when she saw him visiting Jasper at the hospital.

I was charting by the nurse's desk when he stormed down the hall.

"Why didn't you tell me your father threatened to get you fired from the hospital?"

I looked up, startled by his sudden presence. But surprise quickly melted away and I shot my sister, who was standing right behind him, a dirty look.

"Because that is none of your concern. Respectfully," I said. "I still don't know whether or not he will actually do it. For all we know, he was just bluffing."

"Alice doesn't seem to think so," Edward said.

"Our father has never been one to bluff, Izzy," she added. "You hoping he'll do the right thing will only harm you in the long run."

I dropped my chart on the desk and stood up. "If my father decides to get me fired, then I will find a way to support myself. I can get a job at any hospital."

"But you will not be able to sustain yourself," Alice argued.

"I will find a way!"

"Bella, listen to me." Edward cut in, stepping in my line of vision. "Let me talk to Carlisle, okay? Perhaps he can do something if your father does get in contact with the hospital."

I started shaking my head and Alice groaned, throwing her head back in annoyance.

"I can't have you do that," I said. "It wouldn't be right."

"Well, since your father likes to boast about how his connections got you here and how he can get you out of here as well, I don't see a problem in putting my connections here to work and making sure you are protected," he said, firmly.

"Izzy, it would be stupid of you to refuse his help," Alice said. "Be sensible."

I knew it'd be stupid to refuse his help, but I didn't want to feel like a burden. But regardless of how I felt, I agreed to Edward talking to his uncle and see what he can do in the case that my father did reach out to the chief of staff. It was two days after I agreed that Dr. Cullen approached me as I was exiting a patient's room.

"Isabella, I was wondering if I could have a moment to speak with you?"

"Oh, y-yes, definitely." I followed Dr. Cullen to his office. I took a seat across from him and he settled in his chair, leaning on his elbows on his desk. "Edward told me of your situation with your father and what he threatened to do. I feel it's important for me to tell you that your father has gotten in contact with Dr. Harmon and he requested you be transferred back to the mainland."

"So he didn't ask him to end my employment?"

"No, your father knows that even if he did try, they wouldn't terminate you given the circumstances. If what Edward told me is correct and all your father wants is to take you back home, a request for a transfer would be a better alternative."

"But they wouldn't do that, would they? I'm not the one asking for the transfer."

"Yes, in normal circumstances that would be the case. But your father was a well respected soldier in his time in the army and he has made many good ties with officials in higher ranks. Many of which wouldn't mind lending him a helping hand when it comes to his daughter."

The hair in the back of my neck stood. What did that mean?

"And Dr. Harmon…"

"I spoke with Dr. Harmon and he thinks you're a damn good nurse, so he denied your father's request. You are far too valuable to be sent back to the mainland."

I let out a sigh of relief.

"However, we've been made aware that several of your fellow nurses, your sister included, will be moving out of the home the government has provided for your stay due to a change in their circumstances."

"Y-yes. They're getting married."

"And Alice will be transferring to Texas with Jasper. Rosalie will also be transferred to work on the mainland and I understand Jessica will be moving into a home with her husband here on the island."

"What's that got to do with me?"

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"Well, since the majority of your housemates will be moving out-"

It dawned on me then.

"They'll ask me to move out of the house as well," I said.

Dr. Cullen nodded slightly. "I'm afraid so. I thought it was best to give you a heads up so that you're not blindsided when the time comes."

I left his office with more uncertainty than relief. On the one hand, I still had a job, but what was the point if there was a possibility I had to leave the only home I had? Where would I live? There aren't many renters that would rent an apartment to a single woman, and even if I did find one, I would probably need my father's permission in order to get approved and I already knew that was out of the question.

Perhaps I could move to Texas with Alice, but I couldn't do that to them, no matter how much Alice thought it was a good idea. Jasper is still in recovery and even with his prosthetic leg, there was still a long road ahead of him before he could fend for himself. I would only be a burden in their new home.

"Iz!" Alice came out of nowhere, startling me out of my train of thought. "What happened? I saw you go into Dr. Cullen's office."

"Y-yes." I wrapped my arms around myself and leaned on the nurses desk. "My job is secured. Dr. Harmon likes how I work so he denied our father's request to transfer me back to the mainland."

"Wait, so he asked for you to transfer instead of getting fired? He knew he couldn't get them to fire you, didn't he?"

"Yes, but it didn't work the way he wanted it."

"That's great! Oh, that's fantastic, Iz. Your job is secured!" Alice threw herself at me and pulled me into a hug. "We have to celebrate. Tonight. We need a night to distract ourselves after everything that happened. What do you think?"

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. But I forced a smile on my face and said, "Yes, that sounds like a good idea."

I decided to not think about my situation any longer for the day and instead focused on my job. I'd have time later to overthink, analyze and be terrified about my situation.

Later that day, I walked into the bar with my sister and Rose by my side. They wanted to celebrate me keeping my job, but they also had their own reasons to celebrate. They were going to get married and I wanted to enjoy the little time I had left with them.

"Emmett has a home he inherited from his father," Rosalie said before taking a sip of her drink. "After he's deployed I will go there and get everything set up for us. That is with the hope he will come back."

"Don't let negative thoughts cloud your mind," Alice said. "Emmett will come home. So will Edward and all of our friends. We have to keep the hopes up for them, now more than ever."

"How's Jasper doing?" I asked. While I had gone to visit him in his room, it was only for a limited amount of time. Times at the hospital were still hectic with the injured that we were still tended to, so our staff is constantly running around and it doesn't leave much room for conversation.

"He's trying to keep his spirits up," Alice said and shrugged. "But as calm as he tries to act when I'm around, I know him better than he thinks and I know on the inside he's still hurting. I'm just trying to let him work through his emotions, but I think what helps is knowing that he isn't going to get discharged from the army for his amputation. I think if he had been and he was forced to stay back while his friends went out to fight the war, it would've driven him crazy."

"It's not an easy time." Rosalie shook her head. "But it's up to us ladies to be there for our men and support them through this." Rosalie raised her glass, and Alice and I toasted to that.

We were so deep in conversation that we didn't notice when Emmett and Edward came into the bar. Emmett sneaked up behind Rosalie, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her over and over again. Rosalie laughed, throwing her head back against his shoulder.

Edward approached me from the other side, leaning in with one hand on the table and the other on the back of my chair.

"Hey."

I felt my cheeks flush at his proximity, but a part of me couldn't help but feel giddy that he came to me. All the worries from before were gone for now.

"Hi."

"What are you ladies doing here tonight?" Emmett asked, still wrapped around Rosalie.

"We're celebrating," Rosalie said and pointed to me. "That Izzy's father was told where to stick it and she has kept her job!"

"Hell yeah!" Alice raised her glass again. "Now Charlie Swan knows he can't always get his way."

"Wait, did Carlisle talk to you already?" Edward asked.

I nodded. "Yes. He talked to me today. My job is secure so everything will be alright."

Edward chewed on the inside of his cheek and tilted his head. "Really? Is that all he said?"

I felt my heart skip a beat. Had Carlisle spoken to him as well? Did he tell him about the housing situation? I really hoped not.

"Yes," I lied, pointedly. If he did speak to Carlisle, then I needed him to keep that to himself. "That was all he said."

The corner of his mouth twitched, but he didn't push it and for that I was grateful. Instead, he pushed himself away from the table and offered me his hand. The whole table went quiet.

"What?" I asked.

Edward nodded toward the dance floor and said, "Can I have the next dance?"

"Dance? Really?" I laughed nervously and glanced at the dance floor. There were several people there dancing.

"Why not? I want to redeem myself for our very first dance?" Edward shrugged. "So, can I have this dance?"

Alice kicked me under the table and when I looked at her, she gave me a pointed look and nodded. I wasn't going to lie, the idea of a redemption dance was really appealing. So, I slid my hand in his and let him guide me to the dance floor.

I let out a yelp, followed by a laugh when Edward twirled me into his arms, wrapping our arms around my waist until my back hit his chest. He twirled me back out and then pulled me close to him, one hand on my waist, while the other held mine. We danced to the upbeat music, swinging from side to side and through the dance floor like we were the only people in the world. He would pick me up and spin us around, dip me between twirls and all with a carefree manor I hadn't seen before.

But the air between us changed when he brought me upright and our faces were mere inches of each other. My heart skipped a beat. I looked into his eyes and it was as if the whole world stopped spinning. We were back to being just the two of us. His eyes slowly trailed down to my lips and at that moment I wanted him to lean in.

"Bella…" he trailed off, as if he couldn't find the words. He shook his head and opened his mouth again, but nothing came out. He let out a frustrated sigh and finally said, "It's getting late."

I tried my best not to show my disappointment.

"It is."

"Emmett and I will walk you girls home."

Edward stepped back and walked away before I had the chance to say anything else.

"What happened with Edward earlier?" Alice asked as she got in bed. "You guys looked like you were having a good time and then he was extremely quiet on our walk home."

"I don't know," I said with an exasperated sigh. I tied off my braid and let my hands fall on my lap. "We had a moment… and it looked like he was going to say something, but he didn't. He just said it was getting late and he walked away."

"Iz, can you blame him? The last time he told you how he felt, you rejected him and told him he was the last man on this earth you could ever fall in love with."

I felt my chest clench with regret. I wanted to go back in time and slap myself for saying those awful things to him. But Alice was right. I couldn't blame him. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't feel like that anymore.

"Iz?" Our bedroom door opened and Rosalie peaked her head in. "Sorry, but there's someone here to see you."

I frowned. It was past ten, who would be here so late?

"Is it Edward?" Alice asked.

"No. It's his mother."

"Mrs. Cullen?" I asked, baffled. What was she doing here?

Rosalie nodded. "The one and only. She's waiting for you on the front porch. She didn't want to wait for you in the living room."

"What the hell does Mrs. Cullen want with you?" Alice asked.

"I'm not sure, but I guess I'll figure it out. I'll be right there, Rose." I rose from my bed and grabbed my robe from the rocking chair.

Alice came down with me and stayed back in the living room with Rose as I went to meet Mrs. Cullen on the porch.

Mrs. Cullen was standing by the railing with both hands braced against it. She turned when the door opened and her eyes narrowed when she saw me. I cursed myself for not changing into more appropriate clothes when I saw her impeccable burgundy dress and perfectly curled bronze hair. I shut the door behind me and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Mrs. Cullen, what can I help you with?"

"Oh, don't pretend you don't know why I'm here," she said with a condescending sneer. "You know exactly why."

Her words take me aback.

"I'm sorry but you're mistaken. I cannot account for this honor at all," I said, trying my best to hold back on my sarcasm.

"I'm warning you, Isabella. I'm not someone you want as your enemy." She stepped close, her familiar emerald eyes cold as she looked down on me. "I received a report of the most alarming nature by some people from town that you plan to marry my son. Obviously this is nothing more than a nasty rumor and since my son has already been through enough, I decided to come here and make my sentiments known."

I frowned, confused. I had no idea that such a rumor existed or who cared enough to come up with such a lie and tell Mrs. Cullen about it. Whoever it was surely knew that such a rumor would anger her, but to what end? And for her to come here, my home, thinking she had any say in the matter angered me.

"If you believe it to be nothing more than a nasty rumor, then I wonder why you took the trouble of coming here?"

"To hear you try and deny it."

"You coming here will only give the people talking confirmation if such a rumor exists."

"If?" She hissed."Do you pretend to be ignorant of it? Was it not a rumor orchestrated by yourself?"

"I have never heard of it!" I protested, my heart hammering my chest.

"And do you pretend you didn't lay the foundation for it?" She sneered again.

And it was getting on my last nerve.

"I will not pretend to have equal frankness as you, Mrs. Cullen. You may choose to ask a question and I may choose not to answer it."

"Stop playing games, girl. Are you involved with my son? Has he proposed to you?"

"You've already declared it a rumor!"

"Let me make one thing clear: Edward is engaged to Tanya. Now what do you have to say about that?" The sneer was replaced by a smug smile.

And her words struck me like a punch in the gut. Is that what Edward was trying to tell me earlier? Were those the words he couldn't get out?

I swallowed back my shock and raised my chin. She wasn't going to see me break. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

"Only this, if that truly is the case, then you have no reason to believe he would be involved with me."

She did not like my answer.

"Oh, you stupid girl! Do you have any idea how hard I worked to make this match happen? Do you have any idea of what this marriage will mean for our family? For Edward? His marriage to Tanya Denali will help push him forward, creating connections you wouldn't even imagine. Do you honestly think that it can be prevented by a young woman of inferior status, whose parents' indiscretionresulted in a poorly patched up marriage that was only ever achieved at the expense of your uncle? That scandal alone cost your family their reputation. The only reason they are even relevant is because of your uncle, but besides that everyone will always remember the Swans as a ruined family. As nothing more than filth.

"My God, is our name to be dragged through the mud with yours? Are we to suffer the same humiliation? No. I will not allow it. Now tell me once and for all, are you engaged to Edward?"

I took in a shaky breath, trying to control my breathing. I had no idea what she meant by my parents' indiscretion or what uncle she was talking about, but her words struck deep. They resonated with my own father's words.

You are nobody.

You are nobody.

"I'm not engaged to Edward," I said, my voice quiet.

And the relief I saw in her face was just as insulting.

"Good. Then I want you to promise me right here, right now, that you will never enter into such an engagement."

"No, I don't think I'll do that."

Mrs. Cullen gasped, clenching her hands into fists at her sides.

"You've come to my home and you've insulted me in every possible way, so I'm sorry but you have nothing further to say." I stood taller, squaring my shoulders. "You should leave. Right now."

Mrs. Cullen huffed out a breath and pointed a finger at me. "There will come a day, Isabella Swan, where you will regret this. Mark my words."

I said nothing. I stood tall, chin up as she quickly descended the stairs and stalked off into the night. It was once she was out of sight that I leaned back against the front door and my tears spilled. The words kept repeating in my mind over and over again like a cruel mantra.

You are nobody.

You are nobody.

You are nobody.

Author's Note:

Seems like the parents are determined to keep Edward and Bella apart, yikes.

Chapter Seventeen Preview -

"I've told you before, Bella, I do not want your apologies."