Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or Big Love.

Hannah was trembling still. Her revelation that John was the police rocked me to the core.

"What do you mean he is the police?"

"He's one of the head detectives." She sniffled.

How could I have missed that? I didn't do my research.

"I just assumed he was a business man." She gave me a look that made me wince. One because she was so swollen and defeated but also because she thought I was stupid.

"Not everyone can be Edward Cullen." She said with venom in her voice. She's right. Edward was a self-made man from the compound, to the streets, then to a successful business man. He was amazingly patient and caring. I couldn't look her in the eyes as I thought.

"You're right. How long has this been going on?" I asked.

"When we first got married, everything was great. About two years in we started arguing about the fact that I couldn't have children, but then we found out it was him who couldn't have babies. That made him angry and resentful. The arguments got worse. He claimed I didn't respect him as a man because I had a job and was promoted. He said our…sex life was inadequate. He became rough and aggressive. Not the man I knew and loved, he became possessive and mean." She took a deep breath tears rolling down her swollen face.

"One day we were coming from an event, and this guy was telling me how nice I looked. When we got in the car we argued about it. He told me he couldn't take me anywhere because I was a slut, and I told him he was an idiot. I didn't realize he hit me until I felt the sting on face and tasted blood in my mouth."

This made me sick. She told me about the eight years of abuse she dealt with in her ten years of marriage. I asked, "Do you remember the good times you two had?" I know it was silly, but I couldn't fathom why she stayed with him so long.

"Not really." She saw my face and quickly backtracked. "He's not bad really."

"Do you realize how stupid you sound?" I said incredulously. She looked at me shocked at my outburst. But the look quickly turned to shame. "We will fix this. Just let me think of a plan."

"We both will." She took my hand and said, "Thank you."

"No problem. He will be punished for this." I looked at my watch. It was almost 1. "Jeez, I have to go." I jumped up and stopped when I saw the panic in her eyes.

"Do you want to come?"

"I shouldn't. I have to make his dinner…or he will break my wrist again."

I felt sick. "I don't want to leave you here, but I have to get my kids. Why don't we order him something, and you can come to my house, freshen up and be back before he knows?"

She shook her head. "I can't."

"Ok…I'll be back tomorrow morning. We will get you out of this." I promised.

The walk back home was challenging. It wasn't far, but I was still shaky. Seeing her ghastly face and listening to her years of abuse was too heartbreaking. I left her. What kind of human am I? Should I have dragged her by her hair? Should I have pushed her through the door? No those wouldn't have worked. I had to help her on her own terms. She has to want the help. I got up to Kate's house and ran inside. My kids were fine of course. They were with their other mother, who was staring a hole in my head. I gave her a stare right back.

"Come on guys, say bye to mother Kate."

"Bye." They said in unison.

We were headed home, and I needed to start cooking.

"Did you eat?"

"No." Ethan said.

I rolled my eyes. Of course Kate wouldn't feed them. That woman. I made the boys some honey turkey sandwiches and the girls had pb and j. Edward walked in then.

"Why are you home?"

"I have to eat lunch."

"No lunch at work?" I snapped

"Well yeah, but I wanted to talk to you." He said. I rolled my eyes again. My spouses were in a rare mood. The kids were enjoying their lunch, so I took some juice and sat on the couch with Edward on my heels.

I took a sip and gestured for him to start.

"I've noticed something off lately."

Silence.

"Well I wanted to make sure we are ok. I thought we settled the thing with Kate."

"How could you have thought that? You were completely rude and condescending."

He shook his head. "I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry."

"That's not enough." I said quietly. The kids were still eating.

He took my drink and put it on the table. He sat closer to me and put his hand under my chin so I was looking him in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I was disrespectful to you and our house. I promise it won't happen again." He took my hands. "My life wasn't complete before you. This family wasn't either. You complete me."

Tears ran down my eyes. I know Edward wasn't a bad man or a bad husband, and as I looked into his eyes, I knew he was telling me the truth. He kissed my cheek softly.

"I still need my car." He smiled before leaving for work.

The following night I took a bath and while I was doing my nightly ritual, I thought about the ways I could help Hannah. I could tell Edward and have him be angry because he told me not to interfere. I could ask my dad, but I didn't want to put him in harm's way. I could ask Jacob and some other guys from La Push, but they would try to hurt John, and I didn't want them to go to jail. My only options were to get Hannah out of that house, hell even out of Forks. If only she would go. Tomorrow I will ask if she has friends and family out of state to get her away from John. Tonight, I would get good sleep.

I was exhausted when my alarm sounded. I tossed and turned the whole night expecting something bad this morning. I stretched contemplating getting a couple of minutes of sleep before I heard a loud scream. I jumped from bed the tiredness evaporating. I zoomed down the steps almost colliding into Ethan who was still in his pajamas.

"Get back in your room and put your clothes on. You have school." I said running down the step. My door was open and Kate was on her knees with her back to me.

"What happened?" I asked.

She turned her head to me her eyes wide. She sat up and her shirt and long jean skirt was covered with blood. I gasped and looked down.

"Hannah." I whispered.

"What. Did. You. Do.?" Tanya said pronouncing each word slowly. Edward was in the process of picking Hannah's limp body up.

"Is she dead?" I felt nausea rise in my throat.

They ignored me and wisped her in the house.

"The kids." I said.

Tanya ran upstairs to tend to them as Kate fetched a winter blanket from my laundry room. She put it over the couch as Edward gently laid Hannah on top. He checked for a pulse and nodded letting out a deep breath. I got closer to her. Her face was bloody. So bloody that I almost didn't recognize her. She was shirtless and pants less. That asshole! I got some towels and wash cloths to start cleaning the blood. Edward was on the phone. I ran to him and shook my head

"John is the head detective." I hissed. "No police!"

He put his hand over the phone before saying, "I know. I told you to stay away from him. This is what happens when you don't listen to me." He said angrily and he resumed his conversation. Tanya was holding Liza and ushering the boys to the bus stop for school. When she came back she made bottles for the girls.

"Is he coming?" Tanya asked Edward.

"He's on his way."

"Who?"

Tanya gave me a death look.

"I didn't do anything." I said with the same venom in my voice she had earlier. "I was trying to help her because this is who she is married to. He did this to her." She winced.

"When we tell you something, we do it for your safety. We don't just say things for no reason. The problem is you think you can fix everything. The problem is you feel as though you're opinions and worries are more impetrative than anyone else's. You will learn to listen to people who have been doing this way longer than you. You want to stop being treated like a child, then act like an adult!" Tanya exclaimed.

My mouth dropped. Is she kidding? Was she right? Was she wrong? I looked at my other spouses for support. Nothing. Tears welled in my eyes. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was helping someone in need. How did I become the bad guy?

I turned back to Hannah to help her because she started moaning and groaning. As we helped clean her up, we say new and old bruises all over her body. I was so angry. Carlisle walked in the front door then with a medical bag. He walked over to the couch and we all backed up as he stitched and cleaned her off. Edward, Tanya and Kate all went to clean up and change clothes, but I stayed with Carlisle and Hannah.

"This is all my fault."

"Well of course it's not. You couldn't have predicted this." He said.

"Edward told me to leave it alone. I should have listened."

"You're not a kid Isabella. You did what you thought was right. Sometimes it's worth going against what others are telling you. You examined the situation. The only thing that concerns me is how did she get this way? I thought you were helping her?"

"I was supposed to go over there today and get her out. She refused to leave yesterday, but she stayed. I should have insisted."

"She's an adult too. You gave her a safe haven, and she refused. From what you're telling me. You did all you could do to help her. Even going against what your spouse's told you. That was big of you." He said as he added ointment to her last wound.

"Are you done? Can I put clothes on her?"

"Yeah. You get cleaned up and if you have another nightgown that would be great."

I nodded before remembering I was still in my nightgown. I blushed a little embarrassed after having a heart to heart with my father in law in my underthings. Hannah was all cleaned and dressed in the next half an hour. She was asleep, but she was in my bed rather than the couch.

Edward and his dad were talking about what was the next step for John, while Tanya, Kate and I were sitting in silence at the kitchen table.

"What if he comes back for us? Or the children? Did you think about that?" Tanya asked.

"Listen, I did what I thought was best, How could I sit around all day knowing a woman was being abused and not do anything to help her?" My voice got louder as I ended my statement. "I can't fathom what kind of bubble you live in that leaving a human being in distress is normal because you don't have the approval of your spouses. I. Not. You!" I exclaimed the same way she did to me.

"You're right. I'm such a horrible person."

I laughed. "You said it…and you," I pointed to Kate. "You were willing to help me before, but when things got rough, you just quit on me. Then you didn't even defend me." I shook my head. "I'm a great person. You two suck."

We sat back in silence and for once I wasn't regretful. I didn't storm off because I didn't want to hear their response. I sat there not afraid of the backlash. I tried to help this woman and bring justice to her. I wouldn't be ridiculed because of it.

Like I said I was a good person.

This has been written for a while. I just didn't know how to finish. Sorry it took so long. The next update won't be a month.