Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks for all the follows/favorites/reviews! They really boosted my confidence!
I am really proud of Chapter Six, and I really liked writing a flashback.
So please let me know in reviews which chapter(s) was your favorite, it'll help me write better!
Also, tell me if you want more flashbacks!
Thanks again, guys!
Edward's POV
Bella is so amazingly beautiful when she is asleep. Of course she is always breathtaking, but the peaceful expression on her face, the morning sunlight filtering onto her face, she is heart stopping.
I stay in bed for a few minutes after I wake up, watching the rise and fall of Bella's even breathing. I hug her closer to me, my face buried in her hair. Then I pull away and press my lips to her forehead for a long moment.
Last night I admit I didn't get much sleep, with Bella's screaming and restlessness in addition to her normal sleep talking. But it was worth it to make her feel better, to comfort her. I am ashamed to remember how pissed I used to get at her for disturbing me with her sleep talking for the first month or so of our marriage.
Flashback: "Damn you Bella,"(Authors Note: btw forget that Bella said Edward barely swears at her, this is not true) I snap when her sleep talking wakes me up for the third time that night. I attempt to carry her into the guest room, but she refuses to get off the bed.
"Trying to sleep, Edward," she mumbles only half consciously, kicking me in protest. "Leave me alone."
"Yeah," I mutter irritably, "So am I." I decide to just go sleep in the guest room myself. But apparently Bella doesn't want that, either.
"Wait, Edward," she mumbles. "Don't go, please stay here."
I ignore her, too pissed and sleepy to really care what she wants.
The next morning, Bella is already up and making breakfast by the time I get up. "Good morning," she says. "Do you want some of my-"
"Either you find a way to get rid of your ridiculously annoying sleep talking, Bella, or we're not sleeping together."
She looks surprised. "Edward, it's not my fault-"
"I can't believe I didn't think about this before I proposed to you," I say bitterly without thinking.
She intakes a sharp breath, looking at me in shock. "I can't believe you said that," she says softly. "Is my sleep talking really something that would affect your decision?"
"No! Of course not!" I protest quickly.
"Do you regret proposing to me?" Bella whispers.
"No." I near her, taking her hand in mine. "Never, I will never ever regret that in a thousand years." I let my arms wrap around her hips, and lean in to kiss her gently. But she turns away.
"Bella, I'm very sorry for saying that. I wasn't thinking, I'm sorry." I take her face in my hands. "You are the most beautiful person on the planet."
"No," she smirks. "I'm not, that would be Miss Universe."
"I suppose you're right," I say playfully, going to get the cereal from the pantry. "But you are the most beautiful person in the world to me." I wrap my arms around her from behind. Pushing her hair out of the way, I tilt my head and press my lips to the base of her neck, slowly trailing them up her throat. "I love you."
"OK," she laughs. "If you really do, then yell it out to the world."
I put my lips by her ear. "I love you." It is softer than a whisper.
She gives me a questioning look.
"You are my world," I say simply.
-End of Flashback
Bella's POV
"Good morning," Edward says when I open my eyes.
"Don't you have work?" I say confusedly. "You didn't have to stay just for me, I'm fine. Just give me some pepper spray or something so I can defend myself." I laugh lightly.
"I'm not going to leave you alone until you're totally comfortable again," he says firmly. "How about I take you out for dinner today? We haven't gone out for a while."
"That would be nice."
"I have one condition," he says, a crooked smile on his face.. "Hide your wings, I don't want people stare once they know I'm bringing an angel with me tonight."
He smiles and kisses my forehead before climbing out of bed. "I'll make reservations at your favorite restaurant." Then, suddenly his expression turns serious and he looks away.
"What?" I ask.
"The police called me yesterday. I've been holding off telling you about it. . ."
"Why?" I demand.
"Bella, they need you to come in and tell them exactly what he did to you. I told them about the whole Victoria and James thing-they said that seems very unreasonable and they need more evidence." He presses his hand to my cheek. "I'm very sorry, I know this is hard for you. I wish so much that I could take the pain for you."
"No," I whimper. "Please, just show them the video-why can't you just do that?" I can't do this, no way. It's too painful.
Edward looks pained. "I don't have it. I saw it, and then I rushed to get you to the hospital. When I got back it was gone. James must have stolen it." I feel his hand squeeze mine, but it is vauge and distant-like everything except for that one thought in my head. I can't do this.
"Bella, you don't have to do this alone. I'll be there right next to you." He kisses my fingers lightly. "Always."
"When?" I whisper. "When do I have to do it?"
"We have to do it either today afternoon or tomorrow morning. Your choice. Do you want it before or after our dinner?"
What I want, is to not do it at all. But I don't want to sound like a brat. "After," I decide. I know I should do it before, and get it over with, but I can't force myself to do it any earlier than I have to.
"I'll tell them," says Edward. "Meanwhile, why don't you take a hot bath. It'll help you relax."
Edward's POV
"I'm almost done," calls Bella from the bathroom.
When she comes out, I am afraid I will die. "You look. . .breathtaking," I say softly. She is wearing a knee-length blue dress, her her dark hair let out in loose curls. Normally she almost never wears makeup-but now her cheeks are dusted with that pink-whatever-it-is-that-girls-put-on-their-cheeks. And I think she wears a thin liner around her eyes.
"Thanks," she breathes. "Let's go."
We reach the restaurant about fifteen minutes later. "Can we have a seat outside? A booth, please," I ask the waiter-Bella enjoys sitting outside. I take her hand and follow the waiter to our seats.
"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" I say softly.
"Yeah," she agrees absently, flipping through the menu. "It's really nice outside."
"Not because of the weather." I take her free hand gently. She looks up from the menu. "Because of you."
She is frozen for a moment, then she laughs lightly. "Edward. . .you are so cheesy." She laughs again, and so do I. Not at her comment though. Just because the sound of her laughter is so amazingly beautiful-it is impossible not to join in. To want to be a part of that beauty.
"Bella, this is a sincere question. Do you have any idea how much I love you?"
"Well, I know how much I love you."
"You compare on tree to an entire forest." She doesn't answer, smiling shyly. "I would die for you, Bella. You are my shooting star. I smile to myself everytime I hear your name, everytime I hear your voice, see your face." I touch my hand to her cheek, making her look me in the eye. "You deserve the world, Bella. But I know I can't give it to you, so I'll give you what I think is the next best thing. My world."
She stares at me for a long time, frozen again. Then she starts to lean in, so very slowly. Her parted lips come to rest on mine, her hands gripping my jacket and shoulder for support.
"Are you sure you're comfortable. You know with. . ."
"I'm sure," she says, averting her gaze. Instantly I feel bad for reminding her about that horrific incident. We kiss for a few more seconds.
Once we are ready, I call the waiter and we place our orders. The food arrives very quickly. That's when it happens-as we are eating. Bella's fork clatters onto the floor, pure fear that she doesn't even attempt to hide-which is very unusual for her-on her face.
"Bella!" I say in alarm. She doesn't respond, just trembles more. This is really starting to scare me. I shake her slightly, demanding, "Bella! What's going on?"
"Edward," she whimpers. "It's him."
