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Eventually everyone had calmed themselves and got organised to go home. Bella remained quiet and forlorn looking whilst everyone bustled around her, making arrangements to get everyone back to the Cullen house.
"Bella? I'm sorry you're in pain," Rose said quietly, her own face showing her concern and pity.
"Its no ones fault Rosie. Shit happens," Bella replied, her voice sounding hollow even to her own ears. Rose was driving Bellas car, following the Jeep driven by Emmett. Edward and Carlisle were also in the Jeep, giving the girls the space they needed.
"I know sweetie, but I don't like to see my family hurt. Remember, that includes you too," Rose lifted her lips in some semblance of a smile.
"Thanks Rose. You know, I'm glad he knocked me out. If I had been awake for that….,"she trailed off uncertainly, and yet feeling strangely better about her realisation.
"Bells, you remember Royce right?" Rose spoke after a moment.
"That douche boyfriend you had in high school?" Bella frowned, remembering one of the people she hated almost as much as her flaky parental figures.
"After what he and his disgusting friends did to me on prom night, did you ever think I'd end up with another man?" Roses' eyes hardened, memories taking residence for a moment. Bella thought long and hard for a few minutes, then glanced at her adoptive sister.
"Yes I did. Because I knew you were and still are a strong woman who would never let someone else take her decisions and will to live away."
"Exactly. And although you think no man will ever want you, despite this incident, despite your job…..he is out there. Just like my Emmy. You will find each other and it will be like the past never mattered. The future is all you will care about." Rose smiled and her face cleared of all her past demons.
"Thanks Rose. Your right. I still have my doubts, but I think once we find each other, I will understand what you meant," Bella glanced out the windshield to notice they had pulled up out front of the Cullen house.
"Just one thing Bells. Give Jasper a chance. I wouldn't say that if I didn't mean it or thought he wasn't right for you," Rose grinned and raised an eyebrow cheekily. Bella gave a snort of derision but nodded anyway.
"You haven't steered me wrong yet Rose," she replied thoughtfully.
"Truer words never spoken," Rose quipped as they exited the car. Bella giggled and turned in time to be hit with a sobbing ,shaking bullet named Esme.
"Oh my god, my baby! My precious girl!" she cried out and hugged Bella fiercely.
"Es….Mom, its okay. Really. I'm fine," Bella soothed her mother figure, hugging tightly, but a stray tear betrayed her, painting a trail down her cheek. Esme pulled back to view Bellas face and blanched.
"Your face! How dare that bastard! That man better be bloody dead!" she turned her head and yelled the last sentence at the male family members nearby.
"Pretty much Mom. You should of seen Dad! He was all…" Emmett trailed off at Carlisles glare.
"Lets get some ice on your face," Esme controlled herself and smiled kindly at Bella, who nodded and followed her family inside. Sitting at the dining table, she waited for Esme whilst the other family members went and changed clothing, someone muttering about getting bloodstains out of his favourite shirt. This was followed by a sharp smack and an "Ouch, Rosie!"
Bellas attention was soon focused on not swearing when the cold compress touched the nicely swelling bruise that had formed along her cheek bone and up to her temple. Esme sighed sadly at the sight of her adoptive daughter.
"Mom, it is ok. It will hurt for a while but eventually it will go away. It has before," Bella spoke bitterly.
"Isabella Cullen, what happened with Jacob was not you fault. And the same applies now. No man should ever hit a woman, he is a sorry excuse for a human being if he does," Esme said firmly. Bella looked up at her and grinned a little.
"You haven't called me that since the time you found out Emmett and I had covered Edwards' door with wallpaper so he couldn't find his room," she snorted with laughter. Esme grinned in return and leant against the kitchen bench.
"I especially liked that you had repapered the entire hallway so it was all orange. Poor boy had a conniption!"
"Are you guys laughing at that again?" Edward pouted as he entered, resting a comforting hand on Bellas shoulder to show quiet support about the nights events without making it obvious.
"What? I cant help it if my children have great imaginations," Esme gave a wry grin and winked at Bella.
"You know, this is the first time you've called our mother Mom since you were 18," Emmett spoke out as he walked in, his clothes now changed and free of blood.
"And I love it," Esme sent a fond smile in Bellas' direction.
"You know Bella calls you that when she's not here right?" Alices' voice trilled from upstairs. Alice had to stay behind with Esme to protect her baby, whereas Rosalie could go because she wasn't as far along and was much better at defending herself. Plus the men knew Bella probably might have needed a female presence. Of course, that did not mean Emmett had been happy with Rose going.
"You think we are stupid? Of course she would. We are, for all intents and purposes, her true family," Carlisle ruffled Bellas' hair as he walked in, his eyes automatically seeking his wife.
"Thanks Dad," Bella grinned, then winced as the bruise moved. She bit her lip and sighed.
"As much as I need to go home….can I stay here?" she asked hesitantly, "I don't want to be alone tonight."
"Of course dear! Your old room is set up as always," Esme chided, "you never need to ask!"
Bella blushed and shrugged, "never hurts to be polite and ask first Mom."
"Truer words never spoken!" chimed in Rose, appearing behind Emmett with a smirk. Bella giggled.
"Alright, time for bed everyone. Bella, no work tomorrow, so sleep in," Carlisle said sternly. Bella opened her mouth to argue but saw everyone's facial expression and sighed.
"Yes Dad," she gave him a soft smile and stood, taking the painkillers he offered her from the medicine drawer. Eventually everyone traipsed up to their rooms, Bella finding her old one immediately. She closed the door and sighed, gazing around with an easy grin, being mindful of her face. She gazed at the random posters of her favourite bands and actors. Laughing softly when she spotted the large picture collage that took up an entire wall., she walked closer to refresh her memory. There were heaps of photos, from the time she was fourteen all the way to eighteen. There was a family photo of the entire Cullen family from when she was fifteen, including Rose and Alice, that she adored. Someone had started a water pistol fight and it had escalated into a war. But they were all laughing and having a great time. One picture took her interest and she gazed at it intently, her chocolate eyes warming further. It was one they had taken the day she had officially moved in.
Her sixteenth birthday.
She traced the copy of her sixteen year old self, her breath coming out in a sigh. Although he parents had left when she was fourteen, she had too much pride and anger to give in to the help the Cullens had first offered. She slugged it out for two years, hoping and praying that the abandonment had been a joke; that they would appear out of the blue apologising and crying. And once she couldn't afford to live by herself anymore, despite her two or three jobs, she'd had no choice but to give in to Edwards nagging (much to her chagrin). And thus became an honorary Cullen.
Shaking her head, she walked to the closet and changed into a pair of sweats and a sports bra, wanting comfort over fashion. Much to Alices' annoyance every time they saw one another. She slid between the covers and closed her eyes, the familiar smell and feel of her old bed helping her drift off to sleep immediately; her thoughts of blue eyes, blond hair and a Texan drawl.