They left early the next morning. They'd been able to get an appointment in three days. The drive was 48 hours if they didn't stop, so they'd have to switch off driving while the other slept. Edward's Volvo drove so much better than her truck. The trip in her truck would've taken at least a week. They spent one night in a hotel. Both too exhausted to drive.

"I think this is it." Bella didn't recognize any of the cars in the driveway, but this was the address to her mom's place. She'd only visited once since Phil and her mom had moved to Tampa.

She sighed as they pulled into the driveway. Her feelings about her mother were still mixed. Her mom wouldn't be her mom without the flightiness and parade of boyfriends. She'd chosen to take her instead of leaving her with her dad. That had to count for something, but would she have done better with Charlie?

Her mom stepped out to greet them. When she mentioned guests, Bella froze. They'd just driven cross-country and her mother was expecting her to be social. The doctor's appointment was in a few hours, and all she wanted to do was shower and eat.

"I know you didn't want to see them before, but they need closure." Her stomach dropped as she realized who was through the door. Edward and Bella had chosen not to see Jim's parents for a reason. It was the last straw. Before Edward could unpack, she stormed back to the car and got in.

"We're leaving." She couldn't even look up as they pulled out.

"What's wrong?" His concerned tone set off her tears. Why couldn't her mom ever show that kind of concern? Why couldn't she respect her choices? "Bella, what did your mom say?"

"Jim's parents were inside." Her fists clenched just thinking about it. "She invited them despite both of us telling her no." He pulled into the first parking lot he found and got out of the car. She looked on confused, sniffling as her tears fell. He opened the door and ducked down to give her a smothering hug. She moved to her feet, and the two rocked back and forth. How did he always know what she needed when her own mother was so clueless?

"How does a long shower sound?"

"Perfect, but I'm not going back there." She stated firmly, fixing him with a hard stare. Over her dead body, was she seeing her mom now. She needed to calm down first.

"We saved a bit driving almost straight through. Let's get a hotel for a few days. After that, you can decide about your mom." They were both being extra conscientious about money now that the baby was on the way, but she couldn't turn down a warm shower and a calm environment. "Does that sound good?" She nodded, biting her lip. That sounded great.

Edward went back to driver's seat and used his phone to look up a hotel near the doctor's office. Twenty minutes later, Bella was under a seemingly never ending flow of hot water. She did some of her best thinking in the shower. This time, however, she was trying to block the images and feelings flooding her. She'd never really spent the time to cope with her assault. It was coming back in flashes. His grimy hands gripping her breasts hard enough to bruise. Him pushing her shorts down. She pushed her fists against her eyes until all she saw was black.

Edward knocking on the door shocked her out of her descent into darkness. "Yeah?"

"If you want a nap, you need to get out now." He called through the door. She thanked him and finished up. There was no way she'd be able to nap now. Her body and mind were too busy fighting a man that couldn't hurt her anymore. "Can I come in?" She opened the door, letting the steam escape. "I really need to piss." With little fanfare, he pulled down his zipper to pee, but the sound sent her reeling. She ran from the room, looking frantically for something more than a towel to cover herself.

She was pulling her top on when he exited the bathroom. He furrowed his brow as he looked her over. She'd put her arm through the neck hole, seconds away from crying again.

"Here, let me help you." He cautiously approached her. She stood there like a toddler, arms up, for him to fix her top. Once it was on, he took it as an opportunity to hug her. "What happened in there?"

"I told him no." She repeated it firmer the second time.

"He should've listened to you."

"How can I face his parents and play nice when all I see are his beady eyes and all I feel is his hands hurting me? We agreed not to say anything, but if I see them, I'm not sure how I'll keep myself together."

"We don't have to see them. However, I do think you need to talk to someone else about this. I'll always listen, but I just can't understand."

"Who?" She didn't really want to do it, but she needed to be better before the baby came. She didn't want to bring this into her new life.

"My mom, a therapist, a support group…someone."

"Your mom?" His mom had really helped her sort through her feelings of loss when they thought she'd lose the baby. She was an amazing listener too, but would she understand what she was going through? "I'll talk to someone. I promise."