A/N: Sorry about the wait. I guess I just kinda ignored my stories for a while. But I got a bunch of people adding this to their update list, so I figured they probably wanted another chapter. Short and sweet, but I promise the next one will be longer...should I ever get to it...Normal disclaimers, blah, blah, blah.

I didn't dare to wake up. Or at least show a signal of my consciousness. Every time I had opened my eyes, Riley had been waiting to give me more of what I asked for. I had lost count of how many nights this has happened. I guess Victoria would rather lose hundreds of dollars a night than have her business taken away from her. It made sense the more I thought about it - not that I could really think clearly with my head pounding. I had been naive to believe that I would be able to walk by the end of my endeavors with Victoria.

This time, pretending to be asleep was so much easier: I was in far too much pain to move, and my eyes were swollen shut.

I held on to this fantasy that I created the other night after Riley had given me his best.

In his haste to fulfill his purpose, to receive his next commission from Victoria, Riley forgets to pull the shutters. I fight him back as he tries to have his way with me. It's been like this every night. A rape before beating, for what good is a whore when she's too sore to move? But he discovers that he's done too much damage now for that, and blames me for his lack of sexual pleasure. I prepare myself for the worst of beatings yet. It doesn't take a rocket science or a doctor to know that Riley's sex drive will make him that much more aggressive.

Doctor. Oh, if only Edward hadn't given up. If only tonight he would come to Pair-a-Dice, planning on paying the fees just to come up and talk to me. And when Victoria told him I was on sick leave he would just know. The way he always does. The way he knows what to say to make me want to leave with him. He would run up the stairs to my bed chamber, my screams of pain making him climb the stairwell faster. He catches Riley in the act and pulls him off of me. He takes me in his arms and runs me out of my personal hell, promising me that he'll make everything alright.

Now that a civilian knows Victoria's dirty little secret, she doesn't try to stop him. People are more likely to notice when a doctor shows up at a hospital bleeding from holes that don't naturally exist in a healthy young man. And an investigation will last longer for a missing or dead man of the community than it would for a missing hooker. She lets him leave for hopes that in trade for allowing him to carry me out the door, he won't alert authorities.

I feel a wet cloth lightly brush my forehead where a huge bump has taken residence. I slightly shudder at the pain of my injury and the chill of the cloth.

"Forgive me," says an all too familiar voice and my heart skips a beat.

"Edward..." I whisper, barely audible. But Edward hears, and I can hear his smile when he whispers these encouraging words to me:

"It's me. I'm here. You're free. It's over." The words lull me back to a deep sleep.

In his haste to fulfill his purpose, to receive his next commission from Victoria, Riley forgets to pull the shutters. Outside, Edward is gaping into Angel's window, hoping that seeing her love other men would help convince him that she's just a whore, and he'll be better without her. She doesn't want him, anyway.

He watches a struggle. It's just an act, he tells himself, role-playing. He wants the assault fantasy. A wife who won't succumb begging him for mercy as he forces himself on her.

Edward's eyes burn as the man pulls Angel's robe open. He doesn't want to watch, but he hopes it'll spring a hatred for Angel. He prays he will hate her for willingly let other men touch her with their selfish desires when she knows that there's better. Even if she doesn't find what she wants in him, there must be others like him, who would love her for her, and she would learn to love for him.

The violent man pushes Angel on to the bed. After unzipping his pants, he takes both of her wrists in one monstrous hand, and holds them above her head. His other hand gropes as he begins to thrust. Edward shifts his focus to Angels face. He can't bring himself to watch the man execute his selfish longing.

It's Angel's eyes that give her away. The tears. The real tears. This is no role. Angel's scream is the last straw. He ran up the stairs to Angel's bed chamber, her screams of pain making him climb the stairwell faster. He catches Riley in the act and pulls him off of Angel, taking her in his arms and running her out of her personal hell, promising her that he'll make everything alright.

I felt a gentle hand stroking my face. My eyelids fluttered, but were still unable to open.

"Edward..." I sighed. I felt his breath as he drew his face closer. The hand that was once stroking my face now cupped it in a gentle hold.

"I'm here," he repeats, as if afraid that in my sleep I've forgotten.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" I asked in an exhausted whisper.

"I got away with a broken rip and a black eye, but I'm fine. The rib made it a bit difficult to carry you out, but don't think I let that slow me down. When I got here I didn't even let anyone look at it until they got you settled and started helping you," he assured me.

"Here? They?" I wondered, wishing I could open my eyes to see my surroundings.

"You're in the ICU. I brought you here right away. And I haven't left."

"I wish I could see you. Or really anything but darkness," I complained. Even as I said it I was ashamed. Here I was, alive. Breathing. Healing. Safe. Free. And I wanted more.

Rather than pointing out my selfishness, Edward took my hands in his and brought them up to his face.

"You can see me. Think of my face. Remember it. It's no different now, only a bit of an interesting color on one side. I don't want you to see that part, anyway."

I tried to pull his face towards me. I was too weak to actually accomplish anything, but Edward felt my effort and came closer. He stopped a few inches a way from my face, or so it felt with where my hands were. I tried to pull him closer, so Edward followed.

"Kiss me," I requested.

Edward's lips brushed mine lightly at first. Though I had wanted it, I wasn't quite expecting his following kiss to be as deep. Edward managed to be gentle and passionate at the same time, holding back just enough to keep me comfortable. Well, as comfortable as one can be with their heart pounding as mine was. His hands released mine. He carefully held my face to his, making my job easier. Our tongues found each other and moved together for a few precious moments until Edward found the will to back away.

"Marry me," he begged. "Not because I saved you. Not because I have money. Not because I can give you a better life. Because you love me. Marry me because you love me. Please?"

"Yes," I answered. Edward took my face again and gently kissed me again. And again. And again.

Because he saved me. Because he could give me a better life. Because he was the first man who gave a damn. And for these reasons I loved him.