DISCLAIMER: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight not me. I just love playing around with the characters we all know and love. :-)

WOW. I can't believe the overwhelming response I've gotten for this story. In less than 24 hours I've had tons of reviews, messaging, follows, favorites,... Everyone's support means so much, so THANK-YOU.

I Really hope this next chapter gets just as much, if not more, activity. :-)

AUTHOR NOTES:

**Word represented like this are said mentally so only Edward can hear them**

CHAPTER #2: Miracle

EPOV

Her tiny frame was practically lifeless in my arms as I cradled her bridal style. God she was so small. Her arms were thin enough that my hand could most likely wrap around them completely. It was glaringly obvious that she had most likely never been fed properly or cared for how she deserved. My heart ached thinking of all the years she suffered without me there. I could smell the fresh blood all over her and wanted to get her somewhere, ANYWHERE that wasn't here. I NEEDED her safe and if it was the last thing I did, I would get her refuge. As soon as I'd caught her I had turned back around to the room of monsters, unwilling to keep my back to them. Confusion and hunger were the prominent thoughts around me and that fact made the need to run that much harder to resist.

It hit me then that when I'd run over here and caught her I revealed far more than I should have ever allowed. I hadn't exactly had a choice in the matter but it was still a very bad thing if my imprinting were revealed, particularly in a moment like this, with my mate clearly in need of medical attention. As that thought hit me a small whimper caught in my throat. What if I lost her? What if I never even learned her name?

"Brother?" I looked up to Jasper as he came close to me. Where had he come from? He glanced at my beloved imprint briefly before looking at me with extreme focus. I instinctively held her closer to my body, fearful of the idea of anyone getting any closer to her right now. I trusted Jasper with my life, my secrets, my everything up to this point in my existence, but did I trust him with her? Could I trust anyone? Our eyes met and he quickly looked again at her before looking back to me in understanding. He knew, he felt it.

**She will be safe. Trust me.** He held his arms out for her as he watched me hesitantly. I knew what he was doing. Imprinting was very rare with most never having even met a mated vampire, and certainly not their imprint. Regardless of this everyone knew OF imprinting. Despite the wars fought, blood shed, and death tolls every vampire and ware wanted it, and knew everything about the sacred bond and how to recognize it. Among those things that everyone knew, were the trademark signs that made imprinting impossible to hide. One was that a mated vampire will be so very possessive and protective of their imprint that he would absolutely NEVER allow another vampire to touch her, particularly a male. My father was the most trusting and compassionate man I knew but even he kept Esme far from other vampires, even his most loyal friends were kept at a distance. The only vampires fully trusted around her were myself and Jasper, Esme's own children. He loved Emmett but he had come to us as an adult and therefore Carlisle was still hesitant around him at times, though he hid it well.

I fought the urges in me to growl, attack, run, whimper, beg, pull away, essentially every one of my deepest instincts. I looked at him in more pain then I'd ever felt in my life as I gently handed her to him. He gave me a small nod as he took her with the utmost care. I looked to my everything before I looked back to my most trusted friend who held her life in his hands. He gave me a pained but understanding smile as he held her to his chest before moving to my side calmly.

His mind was a jumble of shock, surprise, but above all love, pride, and gratitude. He knew the sacrifice I was making when I handed her to him and he believed no other vampire would have been able to do it. He felt pride in me for doing the right thing regardless of what I wanted. He also felt empowered by what I had given him with my actions and I knew there was no greater display of love or trust I could ever give him than to trust her with him as I just had.

*Now, be the prince* I nodded though I kept my eyes forward as I gazed upon the now really confused vampires in the room.

"What is the meaning of this, Queen Tanya?" I laced my words with the venom I felt towards her at the moment. It was the only relief I had as I couldn't hold my imprint to calm the tidal wave of things I felt. The anger and hatred would work well for me though only Jasper and I would truly know the reasoning behind it.

"The meaning of what?" She was actually confused by my question. Was she really that stupid or just that cruel?

"Your disgusting display of these humans!" I made sure to point at every human except my imprint. I would make sure no attention was on her if I could help it.

"It's a banquet. People need to eat." She actually shrugged and my rage actually managed to increase in that moment.

"Have you forgotten that I DON'T FEED FROM HUMANS!" I hadn't intended to turn my words in such a menacing direction but I didn't exactly care in the moment. I took a step forward, not in an attempt to seem threatening but in a casual gesture to hide Jasper and my mate from prying eyes as I'd noticed a few still looking at her curiously. "Have you also forgotten that my kingdom sentences death upon a vampire that has done a lot less then this." My eyes went up to each vampire as they looked to their Queen uncomfortably. I saw the few members of my own kingdom nod in agreement. I hadn't had much chance to notice them in the heat of everything, but now that I had I saw that all of them had taken steps back, away from the scene in front of them.

"Are you threatening me?" She almost sounded amused.

I couldn't help it. I actually laughed at that. It was a fully amused yet not remotely entertained at the same time sound that I couldn't help. "Yes I am." Panic crossed her face when I squared my shoulders and let my words set in.

"What do you mean?"

"I have never been more insulted or disgusted in my entire life then by the treatment you have given these humans right in front of both me and my people, knowing our beliefs are in stark contrast to your behavior." I gestured to my people and a few of her vampires looked to them as well. There was about 20 of them, some did have red eyes but that certainly didn't mean they were cruel to humans, if they were they wouldn't be in my kingdom.

Reality finally seemed to fall on her as she and her sisters exchanged looks of mild panic. They knew how vital an allegiance with my kingdom was and they were worried I would withdraw. They were right to worry as imprint or not I wanted nothing more than to abandon them. "If there is anything..." She was going to beg for forgiveness but I didn't want to hear it.

"Where is your closest medical attention?" I looked behind me and saw that she looked exactly the same as Jasper held her gently. My mind eased from the irrational panic I'd had over the idea that she would deteriorate right before my eyes. I stepped forward towards them. I couldn't not touch her anymore, and I certainly couldn't handle another being able to.

*Edward...* I ignored where Jasper's thoughts were headed. I didn't care if it was less conspicuous for him to hold her, I needed her. She was mine and I needed to keep her safe. I grabbed her without looking at him, giving her one longing look before cementing my gaze and turning around, back to the people. The Queen was looking directly at my imprint with a look of disgust. I let loose a growl and she looked at me in fright.

"Medical attention." I spoke the words slowly as I mentally questioned her intelligence.

"For the human?" She pointed to my mate and the urge to rip her arm off was very prominent. Maybe it was a good thing I was holding my mate, it kept my physical impulses at bay.

"I don't have time for this." I turned and headed to the entrance, with Jasper on my heels. "Release the humans." I spoke to the guards and all of them looked to the Queen just as I made it to the doorway and looked to her as well. She didn't say a word but her gaze was fixed on my mate. I didn't like her attention on my imprint and when her eyes flashed up to mine I saw nothing good in her depths. I needed to get out of here. "I will find them myself." I gave Jasper a pointed look and his eyes flashed between me and my mate before going to the people. He nodded and I knew he understood that I needed him to ensure the humans safety. None were as injured as my mate but they were still in a room of monsters and needed help. He didn't look happy but he obeyed as he went back into the room as I left into the hall with my imprint tightly safe in my arms.

…...

Apparently the guards were instructed to escort me, as the moment I was out the doors two followed me. I allowed them to take lead but when one went to take my mate I made no secret of the fact that I wasn't going to allow that. He tried to explain his offer as a courtesy but I wasn't blind to how he looked at her or the fact that his eyes were pitch black. No way in Hell would he get near her. I growled out my simple two letter response of 'No' and left it at that. He got the message and didn't try again.

12 feet 8 inches. That's how close the one had gotten to her when he offered to take her from me. I had never been a very aggressive man but even now as we walked towards the human infirmary located, unsurprisingly, in the basement, I wanted to kill him. My mind could only process him as a threat to her and anything that was a threat against my imprint was a threat I couldn't allow. I couldn't stop internally measuring his exact distance with even the slightest shift in movements and sway of his body. My patience was at it's fucking end and by the time we turned a corner and he brushed past me, almost touching her, I knew that one more infraction WOULD be his last. I sighed with relief as the two stopped in front of a door in the basement. I had made sure to stop about 20 feet back from them and made no movement to get closer until they entered ahead. They seemed to understand I wanted them to lead the way and so they did. I was worried about what accommodations their facility would have as I doubted they cared enough for humans to give them much of anything.

Sure enough the infirmary was dark, small and appeared barren of supplies. I looked around as the anger, that had finally lessened as I held her close, began to rise again. This was where they treated their injured humans? I shouldn't have been surprised but I was. The guards motioned for me to set her down at the first soiled bed in the room. I made no motion that I even acknowledged them. There was no way she would be treated here in a room no better then a dungeon. It was cold, dank, and filthy. I wouldn't allow it. There was movement from the back of the long narrow room and I saw a vampire with red eyes come out wearing a long brown jacket. The human's doctor was a vampire, and a CARNIVOROUS one at that. If a male touching her would happen over my dead body, this man treating her as she was BLEEDING would happen the day I was burned to ash and disintegrated into oblivion.

"I don't need your services. Is there a human doctor?" My words were beyond rude and my tone was cold and cruel but I could care less in this moment. Honestly my words were far better than my thoughts. He actually had the nerve to roll his eyes at me.

"There are no HUMANS with the knowledge or training necessary to treat injuries." He accented the word human with clear disdain. Another vampire that didn't see humans as anything but a blood bag. He acted as though the humans here were responsible for their own ignorance. Nothing was further from the truth but I wouldn't waste valuable time explaining basic human rights to someone who meant nothing to me. "Just put her down anywhere. I'll get this done quick." He barely even looked at her, not that I wanted him to. This man was a doctor? It was clear he didn't care at all for humans yet he treated them for some reason.

"I will treat her myself." I turned to leave and the doctor sped in front of me blocking my path. 8 feet 3 inches. That was his distance to her as I cradled her to my chest where my UN-beating heart actually clinched at his proximity. He had no idea how close he was coming to awakening a force he was not prepared for. A vampire protecting their mate. A PURE vampire protecting his IMPRINT.

"Stand aside." He made no movement or even acknowledged my words, which were spoken through clenched teeth, and instead gestured back towards the beds.

"Just set her down so I can get this over with." I just starred back at him. Did he really just give me an order? An order for HER? His eyes shifted to her and he made a movement to take her from me. He REALLY should not have done that...

I had never been faster in my life than in that moment. There had never really been a reason to test my speed in any way other than running, in which I'd gone more then twice the speed of my fastest competitors. There was great reason to test everything now. Before any in the room could blink I had placed my mate on the doctors desk near the door, the cleanest surface in the room that was close to me. Then I grabbed the doctor by the throat and slammed him into the door, causing it to close with a symbolic BANG and splinter against the force.

The guards made a movement towards me but I flashed one look and they froze. "Do you know who I am?" I was watching the guards while I spoke to the doctor who was struggling in my hold. He went to respond but I interrupted as my eyes met his with zero expression on my face. "I am the Crown prince of Olympia and I do NOT take orders from the likes of you." Him ordering me around hadn't really bothered me but I needed an excuse for my rage. I left it at that as I threw him down to the ground, with zero kindness, far from the door. I went back to her and lifted her softly from the desk before cradling her gently in my arms as I walked out the door, leaving them all behind me.

I continued to use my fastest speed until we got to my room, where I could finally breathe. I laid her down softly, tucking her arms and legs in the most comfortable positioning I could. I sat next to her as I realized for the first time since laying eyes on her, less than a couple hours ago, that I was free to look at her. Despite being malnourished, beaten, abused and mistreated, her beauty shone through. Her features were soft giving her a gentle and kind appearance to go along with those large soulful eyes I'd spotted earlier. Her nose and ears were small... cute in contrast to her large doe eyes that even closed showed size and pure beauty. If I had to pick one word to describe her it would be timeless. She was elegant, soft, enchanting, and absolutely perfect. I ran my fingers through her hair and I was amazed at the softness there beneath the dirt and blood.

The reminder of blood pulled me out of my ogling. "Your Majesty?" I looked over at Ben who had been in the adjoining room, my servant's quarters.

"What are you doing here?" I was sitting on the bed next to her as my fingers stroked her gently and I knew he had merely been shocked by the sight. He meant no offense in interrupting but regardless of logic, now that I had her alone, however briefly, I didn't want any company.

"My apologies your majesty, Prince Whitlock ordered me here. He told me to stay here and wait for you." I immediately felt bad for my tone as I realized Jasper had put him here for his safety. Things were a bit tense now with the Denali and I needed to keep my only human citizen, Ben, safe from them.

"No apologies required Ben. I'm sorry for my tone. It has been an eventful evening." He nodded in understanding before looking at her.

"Do you need supplies for her?" One of the things I liked about Ben was how to the point he was. He didn't ask a lot of questions, he just did what was necessary. I knew his mind well and as a result I knew he wasn't as cold as he came off. He simply had a good eye for when to stand aside and not make things worse.

"Yes, please. Don't bother searching the infirmary, nothing there is satisfactory." He nodded before heading to the door.

"Ben?" He looked back to me. "Be careful, there were some... disagreements earlier between myself and the Queen involving the treatment of humans here." He glanced at her, probably taking in her injuries before he nodded in understanding. His thoughts revealed the anger he did a good job of hiding, and I couldn't have agreed more with some of the language in his head. He wasn't surprised by the treatment but that didn't make it better, in fact it probably made it worse.

"Also remember who you are." He was confused by my words. "You are a citizen of Olympia, and we are here by request of the Denali people. You are not their servant, you don't need to obey any command they give." I still didn't like that someone in this castle had ordered him around this morning. In my Kingdom servant was not a fancy term for slave, it was a highly respected position. He worked for me and my family, no one else. My father had always put great value on loyalty and trust, thanks in large part to the treachery of the former King. Because of this even humans held high positions back home, so long as they were loyal enough to earn them. Ben was just such a human, giving him power and influence that even most vampires of Olympia didn't possess. He nodded before he exited quietly.

I immediately went to Ben's room and found his water pitcher that was thankfully still full and the soap nearby. Next I grabbed some of my cotton shirts and proceeded to rip them up for dressings. I laid everything out next to the bed and began cleaning her wounds, at least the ones I could see.

I wished I could turn off my heart as well as my head as I did this but I couldn't. There were about five slices on each of her arms near her wrists and elbows. I could feel the venom in me boil as I thought of whoever did this to her. Again I looked at her small frame and her sweet face. How could anyone harm something so beautiful? I shook my head and proceeded to do my best to focus on the fact that thankfully the cuts were superficial and very shallow. I wrapped her arms with the gentlest of pressure, not wanting to hurt her. When I was done with each arm I couldn't resist kissing each of the ten wrapped up wounds. I needed to care for her... comfort her, even if it didn't physically help her in any way. Rationally I knew my kisses couldn't do much for her since she was asleep but I couldn't help but feel like maybe they could. I moved to her neck next where there was only one gash but a deep one. I was horrified when I realized it was still bleeding slightly.

As my imprint, she would possess accelerated healing so the fact that it was still bleeding was beyond troubling. This wound alone was most likely the reason for her fainting. Her dress was stained with a lot of blood down the front leading from the wound.

My father had run lots of tests on himself and my mother involving compatibility after she became pregnant with me. He was worried about what a vampiric offspring would do to a human but instead discovered she wasn't fully human anymore. The pregnancy itself proved that when my venom wasn't toxic inside her. He theorized that the venom of a vampire could actually heal their imprint but had never wanted to test the theory as to how much venom could turn the imprint, removing her ability to have children. She was such a natural mother and would love nothing more than another baby so my father had never even considered the possibility of turning her. I couldn't deny that things would be easier if she were stronger, faster, and invulnerable but that didn't matter. If it took another 500 years for her to become pregnant again, it would all be worth it for both of them.

Fatherhood. I had never really given it much thought before now. Now as I gazed at her I knew how much I wanted it. I knew any baby we had would possess vampiric eyes but I couldn't help but wonder what features of hers our baby would inherit. Her hair maybe? I stroked it away from her neck as I thought of it. It was a beautiful rich mahogany color that even dull from her poor treatment I could see so much beauty in. I would love to see it on our child.

I pulled my eyes from her neck to her face. She was so pale, though whether that was from her natural complexion, poor health, or blood loss I couldn't really say. This pulled me back again from appreciating her beauty to worrying about her health. Should I try to heal her? Should I try to use my venom? I didn't want her to suffer needlessly if I could help it, but the idea of taking away our ability to have children was sickening. I wanted to conceive a child with her. I wanted to watch it grow inside her every day until finally she gave birth and I could see her turn from my beautiful mate into the amazing mother of my child.

I took a deep breath as I made my decision not to use the venom. It didn't take long to decide in the end. The risk simply wasn't worth it. She would heal, perhaps slower than I would like, but she WOULD get better. Of that I had no doubt and I absolutely would NOT risk her chance at motherhood.

With my decision made I next looked to her legs. Her dress was quite long and even with all the holes in it I couldn't see her injuries clearly. I took a deep breath as I watched her for a moment before quickly getting up and moving to the bedroom door. I locked it then slowly moved back to the bed, taking a hesitant seat next to her again.

I hated what I had to do next. Should I get someone? A female perhaps to help me with this? The problem was there was no one I trusted enough to do this for her. I would never allow her to be objectified or violated so it would have to be me to examine her. I wanted her cared for in every way and appreciated for her perfection. This plus the fact that even the idea of anyone seeing her in any state of undress, that wasn't me, made me want to kill something. I took a deep breath as I willed away my own violent possessive thoughts. I needed to focus on seeing her wounds but they were high up on her thighs. I would nearly have to strip her lower half to see them let alone treat them. I gently moved her dress up ever so slowly, rolling it up until I could see the wounds. My body was tense as my movements went in slow-motion. I wasn't sure why I was being so slow as the end result would be the same, but I couldn't help it.

Thankfully there was only one slash on each thigh and despite the blood that had flowed from them they weren't terribly deep. Her neck wound was by far her worst one but it was healing well. I wrapped up her legs but refrained from kissing them on account of the intimate location. I settled for kissing her cheek before wrapping her up in blankets on the bed. I realized I was smiling as I watched her wrapped up securely.

The weight of the day plus my lack of sleep the prior night left me quite tired. I gazed at the spot in the bed next to her longingly. With a heavy sigh I moved to the chaise near the window, across from the bed. I sat down and prepared to keep a vigil over my imprint, my personal miracle.

END NOTES:

*I'm still so overwhelmed by the feedback I received for this story in just the couple days I had the first chapter up. :-) You all have no idea what all your responses meant to me. :-) :-)

*This was a fast update and unfortunately they wont all be this fast but I'll never keep you waiting longer than necessary.

*Any theories about what is going to happen? lol

*I have a couple ideas for the next chapter. Either an outtake of Bella's POV leading up to her being brought into the hall, Bella's POV for the next chapter as she wakes up, or just stick with Edwards POV. I like when some stories switch off POV but it also seems to detract from some stories as focusing on one character's personality can make the story more real and engrossing then constantly switching around.

Let me know what you all think...

*Please REVIEW, FOLLOW, FAVORITE, and check out my other story "I second that EMOTION" if you're interested.

:-)