A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews! I am glad that people seem to enjoy my story. I hope you like this chapter as well.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Twilight series
"I'm glad it was sunny today." Bella smiled. She and Edward were lying in the grass in "their" meadow. Edward's skin was sparkling in the light, and Bella thought this was when he looked most beautiful. "This my favorite place to come with you."
"It is pretty nice isn't it?" Edward chuckled. "Anything else you wanted to do today?" he asked as he ran his fingers through Bella's long silky hair.
"Anything?" Bella lifted her head from his chest, and her brown eyes met his topaz ones. At first Edward was going to laugh at the silly question and say 'yes', but then he realized what she was suggesting.
"Anything but that Bella." He growled. Bella glared but realized she couldn't stay angry with him for very long. In a weird twisted way, he was trying to protect her from becoming a "monster".
"Fine." She mumbled.
"Bella don't be angry with me. You don't realize what you are asking for. I refuse to"
"-damn my soul." Bella finished with an eye roll. "Don't you get it Edward? I love you, and I want to be with you forever. You wouldn't be 'damning my soul' as you put it. You would be…" Bella trailed off when she noticed Edward's body had gone rigid. "What's wrong?" she asked quietly, but Edward pressed a finger to her lips to quiet her.
"There's another human out here." Edward spoke quietly.
"Where?" Bella sat up and whipped her head around to see if she could see anyone.
"Not far." He replied.
"Can't you hear their thoughts?" Bella asked.
Edward paused for a moment, and then he stood up.
"It's a child. I can hear her cries."
"There's a little kid out here? Why is there a child in the woods?" Bella asked curiously.
"She's running from something. Her mind just keeps repeating 'Run away! Don't stop!'"
"Well where is she Edward? Is she hurt? We have to help her Edward. She's just a child" Bella said slowly starting to panic.
Edward looked down into Bella's worry filled eyes and found himself nodding. He grabbed her hand guiding her back into the woods away from the sunny meadow.
"She's very scared Bella. We must not frighten her anymore."
After walking for just a minute, Edward suddenly stopped causing Bella to run into his back. Bella looked in front of Edward and saw a little girl no older than five huddled up against a tree. The young child must have heard a twig break, and her head snapped up. Panic filled her eyes, and she was frozen with fear.
"We won't hurt you." Edward spoke softly, but the young child still looked skeptical.
"Are you hurt?" Bella asked tentatively.
The small child didn't answer, but the fear in her eyes seemed to diminish a little.
"Can you…smell her Edward?" Bella whispered so the child couldn't hear.
"Yes, but her scent is no where as near powerful as yours." He smiled.
"What is she thinking Edward?"
"She is wondering whether or not she can trust us or not."
"Wh-Who are you?" the child asked very quietly as she peered at Bella.
"I'm Bella." She smiled reassuringly. "What's your name?"
"Chloe." She replied almost inaudibly.
"That's a very pretty name." Bella complimented.
"She doesn't trust me." Edward whispered sadly. "She trusts you though."
"Should I….should I go over there with her?" Bella asked.
Edward nodded. Bella slowly and hesitantly walked towards the young child. Bella sat down on the ground beside her.
"Why are you out here by yourself Chloe?"
"I-I…" Chloe couldn't talk because her eyes were welling up with tears and a sob escaped her mouth.
The sound of Edward's low growl made Bella's head pop up, but thankfully Chloe didn't hear it. Bella looked at Edward confused. He walked over and sat down beside Bella.
"Her mother was killed." He whispered in Bella's ear, and she let out a shocked gasp.
Bella glanced back down at Chloe and hesitantly wrapped her arms around the young girl. Bella was surprised when Chloe leaned into her touch and clung to Bella for dear life. After a moment, Chloe's sob's subsided, but she didn't let go of Bella.
"Are you hurt Chloe?" Bella asked once again.
"My arm kind of hurts." She whimpered. "When I was running, I fell over a branch."
Edward chuckled, and Chloe looked at him strangely.
"Bella falls over branches a lot." He explained.
This made Chloe smile a little bit, but then concern flooded her features. She turned to Bella.
"Do you get hurt a lot?" she asked.
"Well I'm a bit of a klutz, but Edward makes sure I don't get hurt." Bella told Chloe. Her voice was filled with love and adoration.
"I'm Edward by the way. We were never introduced I noticed." He smiled at the child trying to ease some of her distrust towards him. "May I look at your arm? To make sure it isn't broken."
Chloe nodded and went to sit by Edward so he would have easy access to her arm. He prodded around for a second.
"It appears to just be sprained. We should probably have a doctor look at it though." He concluded.
'You have a medical degree.' Bella thought even though Edward wouldn't hear her.
"Can we take her back to your house so Carlisle can look at her? They ask all kinds of questions at hospitals Edward; questions that we can't answer."
Edward thought about it for a moment before he agreed seeing that this would be the easiest solution.
"Would you mind going to my house for a little while Chloe? You can even get cleaned up and get some food."
"Thank you Edward." Chloe spoke softly and kissed him on the cheek.
Edward smiled a smile that Bella had never seen before. His eyes were filled with longing for something that he could never have.
"Do you mind if I carry you there?"
Chloe shook her head. Edward lifted her into his arms, and she laid her head on his shoulder. Bella looked at the sight, and it nearly broke her heart.
------------------------------------
Edward carried Chloe in his arms all the way back to his home. He walked at human speed in order not to frighten Chloe, and Bella wouldn't have been able to keep up anyways. They reached the Cullen home shortly, and before they could open the front door, Alice tore it open and practically flew towards them.
"Oh my goodness Edward. She's adorable. I just had to see her. In my vision, she was absolutely precious." Alice gushed.
After hearing Alice's musical voice, Chloe turned her head to observe the pixie-like girl in front of her.
"Chloe, this is my sister Alice." Edward introduced.
"Hello Alice." Chloe waved shyly.
"Hello Chloe. You are just so cute!" Alice exclaimed causing Chloe to giggle. "Chloe would you like to come inside and meet the rest of my family, and maybe get something to eat?"
Chloe glanced at Bella and Edward to see if she should agree.
Don't worry Edward. It's safe. I informed everyone after my vision. Jasper is just going to keep his distance, just like he does with Bella. Plus, her scent isn't overwhelming.
Edward nodded his head to Alice, and then looked back to Chloe to find her staring straight at him. He read in her thoughts that she was wondering if they were going to go inside any time soon. He chuckled at her thoughts.
Can I hold her Edward?
"Ask her." Edward replied.
"Chloe, would you mind if I held you?" Alice asked a little unsure.
Chloe looked at Alice and smiled then reached out her hands towards Alice. Alice eagerly took Chloe in her arms and headed inside with Edward and Bella following.
"Are you hungry Chloe?"
Chloe nodded.
"What would you like?" Alice asked as she looked through the cabinets. The only reason they even had food was because Bella was over there so frequently.
"Umm do you have grilled cheese?" Chloe asked quietly.
Alice thought a moment. To be honest, she had no clue.
"I'm sure Esme could make it for you."
"Who is Esme?" Chloe asked curiously.
"She's our mother." A voice from behind Alice said.
Alice twirled around with Chloe in her arms to see Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie standing in front of her. Jasper was a little farther away from Chloe and Alice than Emmett and Rosalie were.
"Chloe, this is Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie." Alice introduced pointing out each person to Chloe.
Chloe wiggled around in Alice's arms signaling that she wanted to be let down so Alice gently set her down. Chloe observed the trio in front of her and formed her own opinions about them. A chuckle could be heard from the other room.
"What's so funny Edward?" Bella asked loud enough for the others to hear her.
"Jasper's name reminded Chloe of Casper the Friendly Ghost." He whispered in her ear, but everyone except Chloe could hear him anyways. They all snickered as well which caused Chloe to stare at them confusedly. Emmett stepped towards Chloe and kneeled down so they were eye level.
"Hey Chloe. I'm Emmett. How old are you?" he asked with a big grin on his face.
"I'm five, well five and a quarter." She chirped. Emmett laughed.
"You're really big." Chloe said in awe.
Yes he is. Rosalie smirked.
A groan could be heard from the other room, and Rosalie giggled. The sound made Chloe switch her attention from Emmett to Rosalie.
"You're very pretty; much prettier than my Barbie dolls." Chloe informed Rosalie.
"Thank you." Rosalie replied. She gazed down at the young child standing in front of her and noticed that Chloe was one of the cutest children she had ever seen. Rosalie felt an unfamiliar emotion wash over her. In an uncharacteristic way, she hesitantly reached for Chloe's hand. Chloe eagerly grabbed onto hers.
"Would you like to go get cleaned up?" Rosalie asked in a soft voice.
Everyone was in shock. Since when has Rosalie ever cared about anything other than herself? To see if they heard her right, Edward and Bella rushed into the kitchen where everyone else was.
"Sure." Chloe replied.
"I'll just give her a bath and give her a t-shirt or something to wear. I'll bring her back down after that." Rosalie told her family who were still looking at her with a mixture of confusion and shock swimming in their eyes. "Bella do you think you could make her a grilled cheese? I'm pretty sure none of us know how."
Bella was so shocked that Rosalie had actually spoken to her without a snide remark or a glare that she was barely able to stutter out her reply.
"S-sure. I'll get right on that."
Don't worry Edward. I won't hurt her. Rosalie notified Edward not missing his reluctance to Chloe going with her.
"Will you carry me please?" Chloe asked politely slightly tugging on Rosalie's hand.
"Of course." Rosalie smiled as she picked her up. At that moment her eyes were filled with nothing but love for the little girl in her arms. Rosalie headed up the stairs hugging Chloe close to her cold hard body.
"Be careful of her arm." Rosalie faintly heard Edward's voice call after her.
A/N: That's it for that chapter. This chapter hints at what's to come later in the story. Please review and don't hesitate to ask any questions. No flames please.
