Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer and Beauty and the Beast belongs to Disney.

Author's note: I apologize for the delay in posting. I just finished with finals week and before that I had dead week, lots of finals and last classes with studying included. I hope that this chapter makes up for it, even if it is a little short. Sorry for mistakes! Enjoy and review!

Chapter 7 – Searching

Charlie POV

The faint sound of beeping woke me up and I couldn't remember where I was or how I got there. The last thing I remembered was Bella screaming as… as the terrible Beast kept her hostage! I was completely awake now and desperate to get my daughter back. Moving my arms, I felt pain in my elbow and realized that I was wearing a cast. I remembered the pain from my accident and vaguely recalled breaking the extremity. My little girl was in danger. I sat up and frantically tried to remove the IV from my hand.

"Chief, what are you doing?" a nurse asked, barging into the room.

"Bella, where is she?" I demanded.

"Calm down." She yelled something into the hallway and turned back to me. "Mr. Swan, please relax."

"He took her; he's keeping her in his castle!"

The nurse placed a hand on my hand, steadying the IV. "Calm down. We don't know where your daughter is, but we are looking for her. Chief, you've been unconscious for three days and you were suffering from pneumonia. You can't go anywhere."

"He's got Bella locked in the dungeons," I pleaded, desperate for her to understand that my daughter could be dead.

"Who does?"

"A beast, a terrible monstrous beast!"

The nurse laughed, snorting in my direction. It was clear that she didn't believe a word I was saying about what happened to me. I noticed her nametag said Jessica and made a mental note to report her rude behavior to her supervisor. This wasn't a prank; my only child was in trouble and all this nurse could do was laugh at me. I had no choice to take other than the obvious one. I would have to get Bella back by myself. I yanked the IV from my skin, scaring the stupid nurse. Flinging my legs over the side of the bed, I reached out with my good arm and shoved Jessica across the room, knocking her into the bathroom. My previous clothing was nowhere to be found. I wrapped the hospital blanket around me and ran from the room. The nurse called out behind me, but I was already in the elevator.

I was glad that I didn't live too far from the hospital. The wind nipping at my exposed skin was awful. The house was unlocked, which in Forks didn't alarm me. Bella must have forgotten to lock the door in her hurry. It still smelled of her strawberry shampoo and there was a neglected book lying on the floor that she must have dropped in her haste. The telephone was next to the book and was off the hook. I hung it up and went to my room to change. I would have to borrow a vehicle since mine was still out in the forest, along with Bella's truck. Yanking on the warm clothing, I grabbed my winter coat and a pair of thick boots. My wallet was nowhere to be found, so I assumed it was still in my car.

"I'll find you Bella, I promise," I reassured myself as I stepped into her bedroom.

There was a pile of clothing strewn across her bed that looked as if she had tried them on and tossed them aside. I wanted to find something of hers to keep with me as I looked for her. I picked up a teddy bear that I had given to her when she was little. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Glancing around once more, I saw what I was looking for. Tucked underneath her pillow was an aged copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. We used to read that book when she was little. It was her favorite story.

I grabbed it and stuffed it into the backpack that I had filled with blankets and other necessities like the medical kit. I didn't know what shape Bella would be in when I finally found her. There was precious time and I couldn't waste anymore. I stepped into the kitchen, digging through the cupboards, scrounging for food I could eat that wasn't spoiled and would keep in the vehicle. I ended up with cans of food and crackers. It would have to do.

"I'm coming Bella."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Bella POV

"You can't tell me that you don't like music?" Edward accused, sitting at the piano in the fireside room.

"I do like music, but I don't know how much I like piano music. I don't really listen to the classical radio station very much," I teased, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders.

I sipped from the coffee cup, laughing when Jasper kept making faces at me. He was trying to make me spill my tea on my book or on my blanket. Edward was sitting at the piano, scribbling something down on staff paper while I reread To Kill a Mockingbird to myself. It reminded me of Charlie, though that caused my heart to ache. I'd been living in the castle for three weeks now and I had no idea what had happened to him. I tried to accept that I couldn't see him again, but it broke my heart over and over.

"Have you seen Rose?" Emmett inquired, poking his head into the room.

"Nope, last I saw she was getting tickled by a curtain," Carlisle teased from where he was sitting next to Esme and the fireplace.

If candelabra's could blush, Emmett would be bright red. He nodded and hopped from the room. That had distracted me enough to allow me to concentrate on my book again. Edward was playing some of the piano keys softly in the background.

"What are you writing?" I asked.

"Nothing, just… I like to write music."

Standing up, I let my dress hang down on the floor and walked over to his side, keeping the blanket around my shoulders. I wasn't good at reading music, but it looked very complex. Edward hung his head, letting me see what he was doing and keeping his eyes away from me. It wasn't normal for him. Since the library gift, Edward was changing and becoming more human. He was almost always looking into my eyes. It was endearing.

"Play something for me," I urged. "Please?"

"It's not finished yet. I…" He trailed off, glancing in Esme's direction.

I was confused by their glances and returned to my place on the couch. I held the book to my chest, staring out the window into the darkness. I couldn't see the snow that was falling, but I knew that it was out there. It was heavy around the castle. I wouldn't be able to move my truck, even if I wanted to leave. Esme and Carlisle left the room, wishing us good-night. The clock chimed, signaling that it was ten o'clock. It was time for me to be getting to bed too. Jasper took the tea cart from the room as I stood up and lay the blanket across the back of the couch. Turning around, I jumped when I saw that Edward was standing beside me.

"Bella, would you do me the honor of joining me for a dance tomorrow night?" Edward asked, giving me his crooked smile. "I'm a good dancer."

My heart melted and my knees began to shake as I smiled at him.

"Yes, I'd like that very much."

Edward put out his arm and guided me back to my room. I didn't know what was going on, but there was something in my heart that was changing towards Edward. I was falling in love with him.

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Emma