FYI: I did use a playlist for this story and I put it on my profile. Most of the songs were just kinda in my mind while I was writing it and some were so fitting for a chapter I named a chapter after it.

I stayed in the corner all night, crumpled into fetal position, terrified to move. When morning came, I forced myself to get up. I walked straight into the bathroom and stared in the mirror. The face staring back at me was someone I didn't recognize. She had a black eye, a cut across her cheek, and tons of scratches all around her face. I'm not this person; I'm not someone who lets her boyfriend beat her up. I grabbed a washcloth from the cabinet and doused it with warm water before I started cleaning my face up. There was no way I could see Edward tonight like this. I had to call and cancel, but I had no idea where my phone was. I shuffled back into my room, feeling like every joint in my body was in pain. I spotted it on the floor, among the mess of broken glass. As I reached down for it, I cringed at the sharp pain shooting up my back. I straightened back up and turned to the mirror, lifting up the back of my shirt. There was a gigantic bruise forming down the right side of my back. Yikes, I thought, that's going to take a while to heal.

I sat back down on my bed and shook my head. How did I let it get this bad? Should I call the police? No, no that will only make him more mad. And he has cops that are friends, it probably wouldn't do me any good.

My phone started vibrating in my hand. I looked at the caller I.D. Edward. Just the person I needed to talk to. God, I hope he doesn't think anything is wrong. If he cared about me in any way, shape or form and saw what Danny did to me, I can't even imagine what he would do.

"Hey Edward," I said answering the phone.

"Hello, I wasn't sure if this was still your number," he said.

"Oh you didn't go searching for my phone records or anything," I said with a laugh trying to make a joke. Not a good idea. My ribs must be bruised.

"Listen Edward," I continued. "About tonight, I don't think I can make it. I…I got called into work," I lied.

"Oh well I'll talk to your boss and see if he'll let you off," he suggested.

"Oh," I said trying to fake excitement. I did not want him talking to my boss, just another person to ask questions. "Well I guess I can talk to him, I'm sure he can find someone else," I said defeated.

"Okay then well I'll see you later then," he said as he hung up.

Great. I had to cover up these bruises. I hated makeup but I couldn't see Edward like this. Not a chance.

I got dressed, very slowly, and put on my biggest pair of sunglasses before heading out to the drugstore to get some makeup. I didn't really wear foundation or cover up so I didn't have any lying around. I felt like people were staring at me the entire time. Yeah I'm the girlfriend out shopping for makeup to cover up the bruises her boyfriend gave her. My sunglasses felt like they were getting smaller and my black eye bigger. I got out of there as soon as I could and spent the rest of the day trying to get the makeup just right. I could really use Alice right now.

I was dressed and presentable by the time Edward got there, perfectly punctual. I opened the door, and noticed right away I was really underdressed. He stood there in a really nice shirt and jacket, along with dark jeans that fit his form perfectly. I looked back at my drab clothes and started to speak.

"Ummm, I can go change into something else if we're going somewhere nice," I said looking back at him.

"No, no. You're perfect the way you are. And besides we're staying in tonight. Kinda," he said with his crooked smile. He walked in the apartment and went right into my bedroom. What the hell is going on?

"I don't understand," I started, "What…are we doing then, that would involve my bedroom?" That didn't sound right.

"Come in here…please," he called.

I walked in to my bedroom and noticed he was standing next to my open window.

"Close your eyes," he said laughing.

"Why?" I asked, very curious as to what he was doing.

"It's a surprise," he answered.

I eyed him suspiciously.

"Please," he said again, perfectly polite.

I walked over to him, crossed my arms across my chest, closed my eyes and started tapping my foot.

I felt him scoop me up into his arms again. So unnecessary, I thought. But there was no use arguing with him now. I couldn't tell if we were moving or not, but after a few seconds I could feel the breeze from outside. It was unseasonably warm for Seattle, even in the dark. We must have reached our destination because he set me back down on my feet.

"Can I open my eyes now?" I said slightly annoyed.

"Yes," he answered softly.

I began to open them very slowly and I couldn't believe what was in front of me. We were on the roof, my roof. But it didn't look like my roof at all. There were thousands of white Christmas lights strung across it and white paper light globes hanging from an invisible string. A small table was set for two, with a silver plate cover on one side, presumably for me.

"Oh. My. Goodness. Edward did you do all this?" I said while turning towards him, I couldn't hold my smile. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

"Yeah well, I have a small confession. I kinda followed you up here the other day. I was curious to where you were going when I saw you climb out the window," he said.

I should have been mad that he was following me, but I couldn't be. Not with how amazing this looked.

"Are you hungry, or do you want to wait a little?" He asked.

"I can wait," I said my eyes giving the roof another glance.

He gestured towards the greenhouse. I stared back at him, wondering what he had done in there. I walked slowly towards the door and cracked it open. All I could see were candles. Candles on the floor, on the shelves, covering almost every inch of the greenhouse. I saw something was weighing down the hammock, so I strolled over to see a brand new set of drawing pencils in a beautiful wooden case.

"I saw you sketching the other day, I didn't realize you were into that," Edward started, suddenly behind me. "The guy at the store said they were the best."

"Thank you," I smiled at him. "You really didn't have to do that." I was really hoping he hadn't seen what I'd been sketching. That would be embarrassing.

"You didn't happen to catch any of my artwork did you?" I grimaced.

"No I didn't, I figured that was personal and you'd show it to me if you wanted to," he noted.

"Phew," I said with relief.

He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Oh no…it's not that, it's just that…I'm still learning so they're not very good yet," I said lying through my teeth.

He sat down on the pillows and looked back up at me.

"So how long have you been sketching?" He asked, seemingly curious.

"A little over a year, I had to take an art class before I graduated from college."

"And you majored in literature," he continued his inquisition into my life.

"Yeah, I really loved it, but as you can see all it's gotten me is a job in a bookstore…I mean I love it there, but I just always thought I'd do more," I said becoming more comfortable talking to him. I slinked down into the hammock.

We talked for over an hour about what college was like, why I moved to Seattle, little aspects of my everyday life.

"So…," he started, "How long have you been with your boyfriend?"

My face suddenly felt hot and I knew it definitely looked it.

"Well we met a little while after I moved here, in the bookstore." I realized I was trying to make Danny look better than the piece of scum he really was.

"Do you love him?" He asked, looking down at the floor.

"Umm…" I started.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked you that. That's none of my business," he said with an apologetic smile. Then his eyes met mine, and I couldn't break away from him. He looked a little sad.

"Bella I-" he started, but was interrupted by a large growl coming from my empty stomach.

"Sorry," I said.

"Let's get you some food," he said unphased.

He sprung up from the pillows and walked over to offer me a hand getting out of the hammock.

He had made me pasta, which was kept warm under the silver cover. He watched me while I ate, offering me some wine.

"I'm taking a break from alcohol for a while," I said remembering my escapades the other night and how I dearly paid for them the next day with the hangover of the century.

"Probably a good plan," he said laughing.

"So…when's the wedding?" I asked.

"Uh, a month or so away. She's really gone big with this one. We've invited most of the hospital staff, since Carlisle is working there again. They were quite surprised when we told them Alice and Jazz were getting hitched. They couldn't believe it because they were so young." He chuckled. "If they only knew," he said gazing up at the stars.

"I brought something else for you, I hope it's okay…" He looked at me tentatively before taking a small remote from his pocket and aiming it towards the back of the greenhouse. The sounds of his lullaby filled the night from little speakers that he had somehow attached around the entire space.

I blinked back the tears. I hadn't heard this in years. He saw the emotion on my face and reached for the remote again.

"I can turn it off if it's upsetting you, I know that…I know that I took it from you before, but I just-," he began.

"Shh, Edward. Don't be ridiculous. I love it," I said looking at him. I knew that this song would bring back terrible memories of when he left me, and I should hate him all over again for playing this, but I couldn't. It was the most beautiful song in the world to me and I couldn't deny that I missed it.

"Dance with me?" He asked, suddenly seeming really vulnerable. He held out his hand.

"I don't know Edward that might not-," I started.

"It's just a friendly offer to dance Bella, I'll be good, Scout's honor," he said holding up three fingers.

I slowly placed my hand in his as he pulled me out of my chair and into his arms. He continued to hold my hand in one of his and placed the other one gently at my waist. Edward was the only one I could ever dance with. This time he didn't put my feet on his, just swayed gently from side to side making the dance simple enough that I could manage.

He slowly slid his hand up my side resting it right on my lower shoulder blade and pulled me in closer.

"Ouch," I winced, unable to hold it in. He had hit my bruise spot on.

He held his hands up instantly and backed away.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked completely mortified. I looked up at him, tears reforming in my eyes.

"No, no you didn't hurt me Edward."

"Then what is it?"

"It's nothing," I lied.

"Bella it isn't nothing, you're hurt. Tell me what happened."

I knew he wasn't going to give up so there was no use fighting him. But I was terrified for him to know. I turned my back to him and gently pulled my shirt up slightly. At first he had no idea what I was doing, but then he saw it. The edge of the long bruise on my back. He gawked in disgusted amazement.

"What happened to you?" He said slowly as he gently poked and prodded the bruise, pulling my shirt up a little more revealing most of the bruise.

I turned back around to face him, on the brink of a breakdown and slowly lifted the sleeves on my shirt. His face turned cold when he saw the marks on my arms, perfectly matching the shape of a handprint.

"Did he do this to you?" He said sharply.

I looked at the floor.

"Did he?" He practically shouted.

I lost it then, crushing into him and crying into his shirt. I heard a deep snarl radiating from his chest. He gently took me in his arms, carrying me back down to my room and set me on the bed. I sat against the headboard with my knees pulled up to my chest. My crying eventually stopped and we just stared at each other, me on my bed and him in the corner chair, where we stayed for the rest of the night.