Author's Note: Hi Everyone. I want to acknowledge that I have been very sporadic with my updates. Shortly after I started this fic, I had a couple of devastating losses that interrupted my writing flow. I so appreciate the support this fic has gotten, even though it's turned into an unreliable WIP. I really want to honor you and this story by giving it a satisfying ending. I have several chapters written that should be building toward our conclusion.
The next week, they settled into a comfortable rhythm of sorts after Renee left. Bella stayed home during the day, while Edward went to school. Charlie had told the school she had mono, so she could stay home to recover for as long as she needed, and thankfully the school didn't ask for a doctor's note. In the afternoon, Edward came to visit Bella while Charlie was home, who stepped out to give them "privacy," though he always seemed to wander into the living room at chaotic and frequent intervals to grab something he "forgot." Then Edward would make his excuses to go home and would be waiting patiently for Bella in her room as she would go through the motions of having dinner with Charlie and feigning tiredness. Bella and Edward would cuddle and talk until she ultimately nodded off in his cold arms. Bella was down to one nightmare a night, but Edward was always there to wake her as soon as he saw the familiar signs of her night-time distress. He'd hold her and sooth her as she sobbed into his chest.
It was a Thursday morning when Charlie got the call. Bella was finishing the last of her orange juice when he answered. "Hello?" Bella watched his eyebrows furrow and noticed his glance in her direction as he said, "Uh huh…" Bella gave him her full attention. Charlie turned away from her as he listened to whoever was on the phone. Charlie finally asked into the phone, "Are they sure?" More silence as he listened to the response. "What happens next?" Charlie looked at the kitchen clock before he glanced finally in Bella's direction. Then he said, "Let me call you back after we've had a chance to talk about it." Charlie said his goodbyes and hung-up.
Bella waited patiently as he ran a hand over his face with a significant inhale. He sat back down in the kitchen chair with a heavy sigh. Bella realized that Charlie was going to need some prodding, so she asked him, "Who was that?"
Charlie took another bracing inhale and said, "It was the detective from the Port Angeles Police department."
"Oh," Bella said, anxiety hitching in her chest. She waited for Charlie to elaborate. She finally asked, "What did she say?"
"They caught them," Charlie said. He gave Bella a moment to process this information. Her hand went to cover her mouth and tears welled in her eyes. She looked away to silently wipe a stray tear that escaped.
"And are they sure?" Bella asked, voice thick with tears, echoing the question she heard him ask the detective.
Charlie pursed his lips and nodded. "Yes, Bella, they're sure. The evidence from the rape kit confirmed it." Bella found herself nodding back, looking away to try to hide her escaping tears.
"Oh, Bella," Charlie said sadly, and reached across the kitchen table to hold her hand. She squeezed it, still not able to look at him.
Bella took a minute to collect herself before parroting Charlie's last question, "So what happens next?"
"What happens next is we would head into the precinct to formally press charges. Then they will assign us a lawyer and go from there. They said we could come in whenever you feel ready."
Bella nodded, gulping intensely, praying that her breakfast she had just finished didn't make a sudden reappearance.
Bella stood suddenly, "Can I go to my room? I want to call Edward."
Charlie blinked at her for a moment, before saying, "Sure sweetie."
Bella raced up to her room, half hoping Edward would already be there before recalling that he had left to hunt. His eyes had been black for a couple of days before he finally admitted he'd need to go hunt. They had picked this time when they knew Charlie had the morning off work and she wouldn't be home alone. He promised he'd be close by, that he'd keep it as short as possible, and have his phone on him if she needed him.
The phone had barely finished its first ring when she heard his concerned voice answer. "Bella?"
Bella cried into the phone, "I'm sorry," she said immediately. "I don't want to interrupt you when you're hunting and I know you need this time and it's fine, I'll be fine, I'm sorry, I don't know why I called, you should take your time, I'll be fi-."
"Bella, Bella," Edward interjected with urgent anxiety, "It's okay, don't worry about me, what's going on?" Bella could hear the wind rushing through the phone.
"I don't-," she gasped between sobs. "He- They- and- the- caught- them." Bella started sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm on my way," Edward said over the rushing of the wind and branches. "I'll be there in under a minute. Stay on the phone with me."
"O-Okay," Bella managed. Her sobs settled into sniffles while she listened to the rustle of him running through the forest next to her house. She felt a faint breeze before she was in his arms, and he pried the phone out of her hand smoothly. Her sobs renewed as she buried her face in his chest. "He- they- caught," Bella attempted to explain again as she struggled to catch her breath between sobs.
Edward gently gripped her by her shoulders and pulled her away to look into her eyes. "Bella, you're hyperventilating. Breathe. Inhale… exhale." Edward made a show of taking unnecessary slow and audible breaths for Bella to copy. "Yes, like that, inhale… and exhale."
Bella felt her heart slow down to a reasonable rate as her breathing stabilized and slowed. Bella was able to focus on Edward's eyes staring intently into hers. She noted with interest that his eyes were back to their rich topaz color. "Your eyes," she said lamely.
Edward seemed to understand. "Yes, I was able to hunt. I was just getting ready to head back when you called." Bella sagged with relief, grateful she hadn't interrupted his hunting. Edward ducked his head to reengage Bella's eye contact. "What happened?"
"Charlie got a call," Bella started. Edward waited patiently. "From the Port Angeles detective… they caught them, the men who…" Bella trailed off before she started crying again, not as intensely as before.
"Oh, Bella," Edward said, pulling her back into his embrace. He held her and stroked her back soothingly as Bella dampened his shirt with her tears.
When Bella's tears subsided into calm breathing, interrupted by the occasional sniffle, Bella said into his chest, "I have to go in to press charges. Then meet with a lawyer."
Edward pulled Bella out of his embrace so he could look in her eyes once more. "Are you sure you want to do this? I can make this go away. I can make sure these scums never walk the streets again."
Bella shook her head. "I can't bear the thought of you having to stay away from me if you restart your blood rage. That would be more intolerable than going through with a trial. At least this way you will be there by my side." Bella hesitated a moment, suddenly insecure. "You will be there… at my side, won't you?"
"Yes," he promised. "I'll be by your side every step of the way. As long as you want me to."
Edward looked inquisitively into her eyes. "I can come with you to press charges, if you'd like."
Bella considered his offer before surprising herself by shaking her head. "I think this one I want to ask Charlie to come with. I don't know, I think I like the idea of his help with dealing with the cops."
Edward nodded understandingly. "Whatever makes you feel most comfortable. I'll be here after?"
Bella nodded and nuzzled her face into Edward's chest. "After."