True to his word, he never left. Every day he came, just like he promised.

Sometimes he bathed her, like that first day. Some days he read to her from her favorite books. Other times he invited Alice and Esme to come and pamper her with fragrant oil massages and manicures and pedicures.

Later, she learned that she wasn't actually in a hospital at all. Instead, she was in a section of the Cullen's mansion in Alaska. Sometimes, Edward would open the curtains and let her see the breathtaking scenery and she longed to run and stumble along the terrain.

She'd managed to start taking small, unsteady steps, with the help of Edward and Carlisle. Her catatonia had atrophied her muscles so much, she felt like the rubbery shakiness would never subside. Yet, day by day, her steps became a little more stable, her legs a bit more toned and flexible.

Her voice took longer to recover, and longer still her panic each time she was left alone for any length of time. She felt stupid and pathetic for being so weak, allowing her psyche to depend on the presence of her vampire boyfriend...or, lover...or, whatever the hell he was in her life now. Carlisle claimed to have his theories about that, but kept it to himself. Normally, Bella would have pouted and ignored him until he relented, but she craved the communication so much now, like one craving water from an oasis in the desert.

If not for their vampire hearing, she would have been embarrassed by her barely audible whispers, which was all she could currently manage, but at least she could respond, communicate, converse.

Her waking hours started to slowly outnumber her sleeping hours, the fatigue leaving her with every interaction from the Cullen clan. She finally felt like her family was back together. She finally felt...home. Which begged the question, where were Charlie and Renee? Surely, one of them would have heard the news of her recovery and would have jumped on the next plane to see her.

One day, she finally felt brave enough to ask.

"Why haven't Charlie or Renee come to visit me, Edward?"

Edward's lips pursed like they did when he was keeping something from her.

"Bella, I'm sure we can talk about this later. Why don't we watch a movie?"

No, she'd become wise to his distractions.

"No, I want to know why my parents haven't come to visit. Don't change the subject, Edward."

Edward grimaced, "Let me go talk to Alice, I'll see what we can do."

Why did he need to consult with Alice? Wasn't it as simple as getting on a plane? Did they know she was here?

So many questions.

With a whoosh of air, Alice and Edward returned together, a grim look tainting Alice's usual cheerful face.

"Bella, I think we should wait just a while longer..."

"For what, Alice?" Bella replied, exasperated, "What are you hiding from me?"

Alice stared into the distance, checking the future, no doubt.

"I think it's okay, Edward. But it has to be you," Alice half-whispered in his direction.

Again, a pensive grimace marred his features. "Now, Alice?"

"The news won't be any better in a month. Just tell her. She'll be okay. She's stronger than you know."

"Yeah, except for when she went catatonic for almost a year."

A year? But...

"Guys, I'm sitting right here!" Bella exclaimed, her voice rising above a whisper as panic fueled her vocal chords, "What do you need to tell me? Just tell me! I need to know! It's driving me insane with worry!"

Edward heaved a deep sigh.

"Can you leave us alone for a minute?"

Alice nodded. "Of course, take your time."

Worry creased her forehead and her breathing sped, knowing, yet not knowing what Edward might have to say.

"Edward?" Bella questioned, her lip quivering and tears springing to her eyes.

Cold, marble hands covered her own as her fingernails bit into his hardened flesh.

"There's no easy way to tell you this, so I may as well just say it."

Bella braced herself.

"Victoria came after me when I left. We eluded her for several weeks until she finally gave up. Alice could anticipate her every move, so she never found her opening. That was, until she changed her mind and at the last minute decided to attack you."

"But I don't remember..."

"She never made it to you. She made sure of that. Victoria was much smarter than we gave her credit for. While she bided her time to attack you, or so we thought, she was raising an army of vampires to attack everyone you knew and loved."

Bella hadn't even noticed that she'd started openly sobbing, tears spilling down her face at the realization of what Edward's next words would reveal.

"They started in Florida, first with your stepfather and then with your mother. They made it look like an accident, in order to throw off Volturi suspicion. Bella, I'm so sorry!"

His golden eyes fixed on her, as if holding back tears that would never come.

"A-and Charlie?"

"Bella, I think that's enough for now..."

"No! Just say it! Just...just say it, Edward."

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, as he carefully chose the next words.

"The wolves sensed that something was coming to Forks and they did their best to protect Charlie."

"Wait, wolves? What wolves?"

Heaving a deep breath, Edward continued "I've already said too much. But, I suppose it's a moot point now."

"What are you talking about? Edward, tell me!"

"The Quiluetes are wolves, more specifically shapeshifters which take the form of wolves."

"Like Jacob? Is Jacob a wolf?" she asked, knowing the answer, but needing the confirmation.

"Yes, he is...was..."

"Was? Was?"

"Bella please, calm down," he urged, shouting for Jasper in the next breath.

Waves of calm swept over her, sinking her into the pillow and making her a bit lethargic.

"Edward. Please..."she squeaked.

"Victoria's army attacked Charlie and the wolves matched their numbers. But the newborns were strong and the wolves untrained. Many fell that day and soon they overpowered them. They kidnapped Charlie and brought him to Victoria for the final stage of her plan."

Bella's eyes widened in horror.

"Alice saw it as soon as it happened. Victoria changed Charlie."

A shaky hand rose to Bella's mouth and she realized it was her own, her body feeling disconnected from itself.

"Under Victoria's training, Charlie became her number one weapon. She sent him out to kill you, knowing his newborn thirst would be too much to resist. She knew that the guilt he felt over killing you and the knowledge that our family's involvement spurred this on would result in a vendetta against our family. She was only partially right about her plan." Edward grimaced again.

"She didn't count on Alice," Edward mused, a grim smile creeping across his face. "Alice found you in the hospital and immediately had you transferred into our care. You've been hiding here ever since."

"B-but what about Ch-Charlie?"

"He'll come, of that Alice is absolutely sure. But, when he tries to kill you, IF he tries to kill you, we'll be there to protect you...and him, I suppose. Perhaps, even show him there's a better way."

Bella sat dumbfounded, trying to wrap her recovering brain around all of this new information. Mom was dead, dad was undead and trying to kill her, and Victoria was still on the warpath.

After what felt like an eternity, she knew what she had to do.

"Edward, I need you."

His steely arms embraced her tightly, not gentle at all.

"Oh Bella, I hoped so much to see this day when I could hold you in my arms again."

His nose buried into her hair, then the juncture of her neck.

"Edward?"

"Hmmm?" he hummed into her throat.

"I need you. To change me."

A/N:

Only a year and a half and I finally updated! I've been mulling over a few storylines and this one just called to me so strongly. I hate it when a story idea seems good at the time and then you get to writing and halfway through seems like the worst idea ever. That's what happened here, basically.

Thank your lucky stars and my moodiness that the muse struck and struck hard!

Also, thanks to the review from Sheeijan which finally inspired me to write this chapter. You never know when a review can spark progress on an unfinished fic! Thanks for giving me that spark!

Until next time...

~CoC