Radio contest—Edward is lead singer of famous band. Rose bullies bella into entering and bella wins, taking rose (& jasper?) with her. Bella refuses to attend special party the night before the big concert in Paris, staying back in the hotel room in her pj's and ordering a hot fudge sundae and watching iCarly/Nickelodeon on the hotel tv. Edward noticed her? Earlier and is fascinated by the fact that she runs away from him instead of wanting to suck him dry like everyone else, so he gets Rose to tell him (which isn't hard, b/c Rose wants to find a love life for Bella and is happily ensconced with Emmett at this point anyway herself) their room number and even to give him a key. He surprises her there, and he goes over and sits down on the sofa to watch with her. She's frozen in shock until he gently points out the chocolate on her lip, then she vaults off the sofa feeling impossibly humiliated and runs to hide in the bathroom. She brushes her teeth and waits there for what feels like forever but is really only 15 minutes, and comes out thinking he must have left but he's just matter-of-factly waiting for her on the sofa, although he did text rose (or maybe jasper?) and ask if there was something wrong with bella, and if her running to the bathroom and refusing to come out was normal behavior for her.

Rose is elated, and reassures Edward (by text) that, "not wrong, but not ave-normal. Don't move on her tonite or I kick ur ass."

Edward responds. "clarify pls. is watchng icarly & eatng ice crm "moving on her"?"

"no, if tongue stays in ice cream & out of her mouth."

"ok, thx. Still in bathroom. Have I f'd up?"

"it's a test. She tests all the time. Don't like—leave now."

"I'm fine w/ tests as long as I pass them. Give me answrs."

"b safe."

"she's dangerous?"

"b safe w/ HER. 2 her. But u hav 2 mean it. She knows. G2g—luck."

Edward puts down phone, runs hand through hair. Looks up just as door opens and Bella tiptoes out, sees him still there, staring at her, and freezes, eyes huge.

Edward sees her staring there, like a rabbit, frozen in the hopes the predator will pass her by, and starts to understand what Rose meant. He thinks through what he should do next, remaining still himself. Then he slowly, slowly, slooowwwly raises his hand and beckons to Bella, just with two fingers, not saying a word.

She furrows her brow at him, trying to look away but unable to, and he repeats the gesture. Grinning inside, he sees how she's trapped by him, as long as he doesn't push her too far, she can't deny him, she can't say no. He senses that speaking would be too much right now, so he just draws her to him with his unwavering gaze, and the hand he keeps holding out to her. As she starts, slowly, cautiously, moving towards him, he allows himself one short nod, but it makes her freeze for a moment and almost turn back, so he doesn't do it again. Three commercials go by before she is in front of the sofa again, and another one passes while she stands there, staring at him staring at her. Finally, he reaches out and pats the cushion near him, but not right next to him, just as iCarly comes back on. Distracted by the show's voices, Bella looks up at the tv, and Edward takes advantage to wrap his hand around her wrist and pull her down next to him. She plops down, then looks up surprised at him, but his eyes are on the tv now, though his attention is 100% on her. He moves an arm around her shoulders and slides his own body over, but keeps everything strictly "G" rated. By the time of the next commercial break, she has allowed her body to relax into his and he's moving his fingertips gently up and down the side of her arm.

When the commercials start, he turns to her and scoops her onto his lap, turning her sideways. She freezes again, rigid, but he tucks her head under his chin and starts running his hand up and down her back. The show comes back on, but she doesn't turn to see it. By the end of the episode, she's fast asleep.

When Edward's sure she's totally out, he reaches for the remote and turns the tv off, just holding her. He starts to drift himself, and when Rosalie comes back to the room later that night, she finds him asleep, still holding Bella. He startles awake at her entrance, but not Bella. Rosalie comes in and sits down next to them.

"So?" she asks.

Edward smiles. "So what?" he says back, with a cheeky grin.

She laughs, quietly. "I see you figured out how to be safe."

Edward looks down at the brown head asleep against his chest. Nodding, he says in a husky voice, "I think I've started to figure it out."

All of a sudden, Rosalie gets intense. "Don't come back if you're not serious about her, Cullen."

He looks up, startled at her sudden change in tone. "Pardon?" he asks, taken aback.

She leans in closer, and says again, menacingly, "Break her heart and I'll cut yours out and eat it for breakfast."

Edward doesn't move an inch, stares her down, lifts one eyebrow and says, "Is that right?" noncommittally.

Rosalie barks back, "Hell, yes."

"You run hot and cold, Hale, you know that, right?"

Rosalie just stares. "When it comes to Bella Swan, I run one way: protective. Make her happy like you did tonight, and I'm your friend for life. Use her, dump her and leave her alone again, and I become your worst nightmare."

There's a silence as Edward weighs her words, then looks down at Bella again, fitting so perfectly in his arms. Mentally shrugging he replies, "Not an issue," as he keeps staring at the top of the enigmatic girl's sleeping head. He's not sure how it could possibly be "not an issue," as he has so confidently stated, but somehow, he's sure that is true, and this thought pleases him.

Rosalie snorts, but she nods, and reaches for the remote to turn on the Late Show. They watch it together companionably, and when it finishes, Rosalie turns off the tv and stands. "I'll help her into bed if you want to carry her in," she offers to Edward.

Edward reluctantly nods, not really wanting to end the night but knowing he needs rest, and not ready for the necessary conversation if Isabella wakes up in his arms. Ever so gently, he lifts her in his arms and carries her into her bedroom, Rosalie going ahead to turn on the bedside lamp and turn down the covers. Edward positions her on the bed, and tucks her stockinged feet under the blankets while Rosalie pulls them up and over her. Edward moves back to give Rosalie room, staring at Bella as she turns over and curls up into the fetal position, tucking her hands under the pillow, smiling in her sleep as she whispers, "Edward."

Rosalie hears it, and turns to smirk at Edward. "All right, lover boy, out!" she pronounces, as she shoos him out the bedroom door, then turns off the light and follows.

"She's planning on missing the soundcheck tomorrow."

"Why?"

"She's shy, genius. Not much is worth a trip with strangers on a tourbus to her."

"Not a problem. I'll send a car."

"Still stuck with the group there."

"No, you won't be. Unless you've managed to piss off Emmett, you two will be in the green room."

"Is that where you stash your groupies?"

Edward gives her the finger, and walks out the door, saying "Car will come for you around 10. Don't be late."

Rosalie shoots back, "We'll be late if we feel like it, rock star."

They both grin as the door closes behind him.

The next morning, Bella wakes up and acts like nothing has happened, convinced she had imagined the whole thing. They go down for breakfast, and Bella asks Rosalie all about her night with Emmett, and about her plans for the day. When Rosalie says that a car is coming to pick them up to take them to spend the day at the stadium with Emmett and Edward, Bella almost spits her juice out of her mouth.

"Rose, I told you I didn't want to do that tour. Remember? I told the trip manager and everything."

"This isn't the tour, Bella. It's our own special tour, just with the guys. The very handsome guys. You can't say 'no' to this."

"I can, and I will. I'm not going Rosalie."

Bella starts to get upset, and Rose backs off. They go back to the room, and Bella retreats onto her bed as Rose gets ready. Fifteen minutes before 10, a knock sounds on their door. Bella throws the covers over her head and pretends not to be there. Rose goes to answer it and stands there for a little while, talking to someone, Bella can't quite make out who.

Finally, Edward knocks perfunctorily on Bella's door before sauntering in. "Good morning, sleepyhead," he says in an amused voice. "Time to rise and shine."

Bella flings the covers down and stares up at him, speechless. He reaches down for her hand to pull her out of bed, saying "Come on, sweetheart; I've been looking forward to having the day with you. I have to put a little time in for the radio gig and the soundcheck, but after that I'm all yours."

At those last words, Bella, who had been frozen standing at the side of the bed in his arms, starts frantically pulling away from him. He realizes he's overstepped, and lets go of her, watching to see what she'll do but moving in between her and the door as a precautionary measure.

She backs up against the far wall, facing him and starting to pant a little bit in equal measure excited and afraid, just as Rosalie comes in the door with Emmett at her heels. "Come on, Eddie boy, we'll be late," Emmett bellows, and Bella jumps and squeals.

Emmett gets his first good eye-ful of her, then turns and laughs at Edward. "This is the woman you're head over heels for, Edward? She looks like she's 12!" Rosalie hits him in the stomach (hard) at the same time Edward spits, "Shut up," at him, and Emmett looks wounded by the double censure, not having meant to offend quite so egregiously.

Hands up he backs up towards the doorway, saying, "Okay, okay, calm down both of you. Nice to meet you, Bella," he directs towards the frightened girl, noticing for the first time how she's cowering like a trapped animal. "Hey, E, she doesn't look so happy to see you," he says to Edward, not laughing but serious.

"Shut UP, Emmett," Edward repeats, even more vehemently, and Rosalie starts tugging Emmett out of the room.

"Come out here, and I'll explain," she hisses, and Emmett semi-reluctantly follows.

Left alone in the room, Edward starts moving towards Bella, rather quickly this time as she's pinned in a corner and he's between her and the only exit. She backs up as he moves towards her but has nowhere to go, ending up pressed against the wall. He leans in and puts his hands on the wall on either side of her, getting eye to eye by lowering himself down.

When he's got her eyes, he says, humor in his tone, "Good morning."

She just squeaks, and closes her eyes.

Edward grunts and leans in, tossing her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry.