A/N: Oooohhhh! You guys were so great about giving me reviews I guess I'll have to keep my promise! I'm glad to, though, but be forewarned you are actually catching up to me! Chapter 7 is still in production, but I have much better direction now thanks to my #1 Beta (my husband) wwstewart! He helps me alot through writer's block! My other beta has also been awesome = Eyeliner-Vampire!

OK, so same warning as last chapter: Disturbing scenes will increase as the story goes on so be prepared, ok? If your squeamish...read carefully!

I own no Twilight related anything; that's Stephenie Meyer's good fortune!


EPOV

Her bath time and breakfast finished, I sat with her. The silence that surrounded us however was not awkward as I had assumed it would be. I spoke sometimes about my family and our ways, telling her about each member of the family. At times she would ask a question, quietly, bashfully, but always I would answer; I did not want her to feel as if any information or topic of conversation were off limits. There were no secrets within this family, for other than obvious reasons. We trusted each other implicitly, I wanted her to know this and eventually trust us as we did among ourselves. If it were in my power at all this wholesome child would never feel another moment of pain for the rest of her life.

After her lunch she began to tire and I left her side and retreated to my own room. I shut her door but left my own open, my ears straining to hear every breath that passed her lips, ever beat of her fragile heart. Finally I found the strength to absorb myself in a book, every now and then looking up to make sure her door was still closed and her vitals were acceptable. I had just gone back to it when the vision passed before my eyes.

I looked around, I was in a garage or warehouse, the wall were dirty as was the floor, I could see only bits and pieces that were not blurry. I could hear voices behind me, musical, beautiful but cruel. I looked at my hands, they were lifting something to my face - a small lump of flesh, so tiny, so light. It squirmed in my grasp. Immediately I felt the immense horror of what I was about to do. But my arms were not my own, the blood was sweet and delicate, I could not stop but something so small would not take too long. I felt tears pouring down my cheeks. Tears I had not felt for nearly one hundred years. They felt so natural yet so out of place. The vision faded into blackness and the screaming began. I was at her side in seconds but it seemed to take hours. I stood not knowing quite what to do, the urge to shake her as I had the last time was strong. Instead I placed my cold hand on her face, "Bella," I said probably louder than necessary, 'wake up, please." Her eyes were open in an instant and the screaming was gone.

I moved toward her, my arms reaching out to hold her and she accepted. I drew her close to me, her head resting on my chest, the tears that fell from her eyes staining my dark shirt. I pressed my face into her hair inhaling her scent. My dead heart crying out for her own. She spoke softly, "I had the most horrible dream, Edward." I spoke gently to her, "I know, Bella. But that was not your fault. It's blood is not on your hands, love. I'm so sorry, I wish I could make it better, take this pain away from you."

My breath was hard but steady, hers broken with sobs. I stroked her hair gently. It was so long, so soft. We stayed like that, me holding her frail body until she could cry no more. After her sobbing had let up I pulled her away from me just enough to look into her beautiful eyes. They were red and puffy from crying, but so beautiful still.

BPOV

He pulled me gently back from his cold body, his searing honey-colored eyes searching my own as he spoke. "What do you say to a little field trip?" His ethereal face twisting beautifully into half grin, his eyes, still holing a measure of caution. I tried to force a smile as I nodded my head. He gently pulled the covers back, his hands delicately freeing me from the tangle of my blankets. He was reaching to pick me up when he seemed to think better of it. He backed up slightly. "I saw you walk last night. Can you? Not that I would mind carrying you; I would carry you anywhere, of course, you need only say the words."

I smiled more broadly, his sudden case of nerves mirrored how I always felt around him. "I think I can walk. My legs feel weak, but I'm sure I can make it." He smiled bashfully. "I'll be right beside you. If you get tired, say so."

I nodded and we slowly made our way to the first floor. He sat me on the bottom stair as he apologetically said, "I'm sorry, I've forgotten something. I'll just be a moment." and with that he shot up the stairs at vampire speed. It was the first time I had seen one of them move so quickly; I had nearly forgotten that they and James were one and the same creature, though their demeanor was entirely different. Edward and the others had just as much power and desire to take my life source as James did, but chose not to.

The thought humbled me, but I didn't have time to think beyond that; Edward was at my side almost immediately, his arm now cradled a folded two folded chenille blankets and in his hand he carried a small portable radio of some sort. He took my arm gently and lead me to the vast backyard, some of which I could see from my bedroom window. The full view of it stunned me as my eyes took in the expansive green lawn that faded into a field and finally into the forest. In the distance I could hear a river flowing. The birds chirping in the trees made the whole scene even more magical. It was late afternoon, thought the sun was still hours from setting. "Stay here" his voice gently commanded. I gratefully obeyed. He walked before me into the near middle of the yard and spread one of the blankets on the ground setting the musical diversion on it gently and pressing a button. Heavenly music floated to my ears and I was swept away with the beauty and the enchantment of the afternoon. He walked at a human pace over to me, the other blanket still draped over his arm. As he reached me he unfolded the blanket and draped it gently over my shoulders.

He smiled as he spoke, "Since you aren't wearing any shoes, I would beseech that you let me carry you to your oasis, my lady." he said formally. I couldn't contain my smile as I nodded my head, in one swift move he swept me up and cradled me in his strong, cool arms. Ever so gently he placed me on the blanket and sat beside me.

We sat like that for a long time, every now and then the sun would peak from behind one of the wispy clouds and his face and arms would sparkle like thousands of diamonds illuminated by the stars. His smile, his voice, they begged me to trust him, to accept him. And I did. I could not have refused him if I had wanted to. I could not have if every fiber of my being had screamed against it. I had known him only a day, but I loved him. It didn't make any sense to me at all. But I loved him more than I had ever loved anyone before in my life.

"What is this music?" I asked. He smiled. "Enya, this one is called 'Caribbean Blue', the sounds relax me, they are very therapeutic. She's a musical genius in my opinion."

I smiled. It was therapeutic. The song seemed to carry me on clouds to heaven and my own personal angel sat beside me, his unearthly beauty glistening in the rays of the setting sun.

I heard the door open, Alice had come home and was trading across the yard, she seemed to step in time to the ethereal music that surrounded us, like the movements of her feet and arms were producing it. " Well hello, sleepy head." she said pleasantly, her smile spanning her entire face as she spoke. I couldn't help but smile back. She let loose and began telling me about everything we would do and how she had seen things that were coming. I just smiled and nodded every now and then, it was really too much to take in all at once, and my mind kept drifting back to Edward, who, I had noticed, never took his eyes off me.

-Weeks passed. Edward became my tutor, attending psychiatrist and closest friend. I was glad he could not read my mind as he could every one else's; the thoughts I had ranging from my imagining his cold firm lips on mine to he and I romping in my bed in the early morning sunlight were mortifying enough without someone automatically hearing them. I tried to stop those thoughts as soon as they formed, but the blush would spread across my cheeks anyhow - thankfully he never questioned why. I realized that I was in love with him. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid.' That was my near constant mantra; how could such a heavenly creature ever return my affections?

I grew stronger and could go places on my own, though some of my former clumsiness seemed to shine through. Out of habit I would instantly flinch if I felt myself begin to trip, slip or stumble, but Edward was always very patient with me. Always there to catch me. Well, all but once.

I was showering in 'our' bathroom; I had had enough of the tub. It was very relaxing, but the shower reminded me of a waterfall and for a little while I could stand beneath it and lose myself in the rhythmic pounding of the water against the cold stone tiles. The only part of it that took any getting used to was the clear glass wall and door that allowed access to the enormous walk in shower. I felt so open and exposed the first week or so that I tried it, I would shower nearly at vampire speed just to make sure I was wrapped in my towel before anyone could mistakenly come in; door locks were not much use in a house full of vampires; one twist of the knob and the handles would come off completely with little notice. I first realized this point when Emmett and Rosalie were visiting and having a fight. Rose walked into Alice and Jaspers' room audibly slamming and locking the door, but Emmett just turned the knob and walked right on in. Alice later explained the slamming and locking the door on Rosalie's part was more for emphasis than functionality.

But after several weeks my level of comfort in 'our' bathroom shower had dramatically increased and I began spending more time relaxing under the rectangular waterfall showerhead. Under the stream of torrid water I could almost forget everything that had happened in the past eleven years. My mind and body merged and became immersed in color and feeling not unlike Jasper's 'serenity' mood. The warm sand colored marble that surrounded me gave a feeling of a tropical island or desert setting. And up until today I had managed the slick marble shower floor with no major incidents…but as I've learned, my luck doesn't hold up for very long.

I was just coming back to earth from my heavenly shower hour when it happened. Of course I should have thought better of it; Esme was out doing some shopping in Seattle for a client and Alice was in school. Usually I only showered, bathed or did anything that remotely entailed nudity while they were around the house, but stupid me had grown overly confident with my mad shower skills and I decided that I could chance it.

I reached to turn off the water and knocked the soap off the little dish - if you ask me, soap dishes should not be flat in the first place because soap is slippery! So I proceeded to chase the stuff around the shower floor on my hands and knees finally triumphing over the stupid, slippery little demon and successfully standing and replacing it in it's little dish.

One step was all it took over the soap covered surface and I was on the floor. I registered pain in my left knee, hip, elbow shoulder and the left side of my head. I'm sure had anyone been there to witness it, it would have been a spectacular spill, the kind you see only on funny home video programs and the internet.

The pain didn't seem too intense at first so I thought I would try to get to my towel ten feet away on the vanity, but as soon as I put pressure on any left hand appendages pain shot through my entire body like lightning. I heard a knock on the door. Edward. Oh no!

"Bella, you alright? I thought I heard a crash."

I struggled to regain my ability to stand, once, twice, three times, the last time the pain shot through even harder and I let out a moan. "Bella, I'm coming in." Edward said from behind the door. "NO!" I managed. "You can't. I'm…not decent." My mind raced, how the heck had I gotten into this one?

"Bella, wrap a towel around you and then I'll come in…are you alright?" "I'm….ok….I think. But I can't get to the towel, so you just have to wait."

I could swear I heard him chuckle from his place in the hall. "Why can't you get to your towel?"

I growled slightly at my own stupidity. "I'm hurt a bit…when I try to stand or even put pressure on my left leg it hurts too much. Maybe it will go away in a minute."

My left side throbbed with pain, but my mind was too panicked at my current situation to register it completely.

"I doubt it, Bella. Look, I'll look away, I swear I'll be a total gentleman about this. I'll hand you your towel and then check on your injury, ok?"

I cringed at the thought of Edward seeing me sprawled on the shower floor for any reason, but what choice did I have? I sighed, defeated. "Alright." I whined and I tried to cover myself as sufficiently as possible with my hands. The door creaked open slowly, Edward, true to his word kept his head turned, his eyes averted looking at the floor as he made his way over to my towel. Walking from the vanity to the shower door was a little more difficult; I was on the floor. Realizing this fact his eyes closed and he used his other senses to get to the shower door. He opened the door and tossed the towel in my direction. "Tell me when you're covered and I'll come in and assess your injuries." he said softly.

I did my best to wrap my towel around me as usual, but sprawled as I was, the job was shoddy to say the least, but my most private areas were no longer exposed to the air so I figured that this was the best I was going to accomplish in my current position. "Ok." I said, I could feel the blood rush to my face before he ever opened his eyes.

His eyes moved slowly, not sure, I suppose, that I could do a decent job of covering myself in the state I was in, and a look of concern mixed with amusement spread over his magnificent face. "How did you mange this one?" he asked, his voice kind and low.

I just sighed, I knew if I tried to explain right now the tears would not be detained. I must have looked truly pitiful because he questioned me no further but quietly stepped into the shower and knelt beside me. "Alright, you said your left leg?" I nodded as his hands moved smoothly from my ankle to my knee leaving cool trails over my warm wet skin. He stopped every few inches to gauge the stability of the bone with gentle pressure, checking for any obvious breaks. I winced as he reached the knee. He noted my reaction carefully turning my leg in his hand, some bruising was already beginning to appear. His hands moved on from my knee up my thigh gently pushing my towel further up onto my side to reach my hip. I blushed furiously, my heart pounded in my chest. "Bella, I am a doctor, technically. I realize this is a slightly embarrassing situation, but, please try to calm down. Your heartbeat, your rising blood pressure….it's making it very hard to concentrate." He said with a slight smirk. If only he knew my hammering pulse and subsequent flush were not from embarrassment…

"No brakes, you're lucky. I think you've torn some muscle tissue. It will be ok, you'll just have to take it easy. You have some swelling so it will have to be elevated. Let's get you to your bed and I'll look at your other injuries." He said, his eyes on mine as he slid his arm under my bare legs and pulled me to his chest in a cradle hold. He walked me to my room setting me carefully on the bed. "I suppose you should dress before we proceed. Can you…manage?" he asked nervously. I bit my bottom lip. "I can put on a sundress, but you'll have to hand it to me." "Of course." he said looking relieved.

EPOV

I handed her the first dress my hand came to rest on in her closet and walked outside her room shutting the door behind me. I would wait here until I heard her call. I also needed time to regain my composure. I shouldn't have allowed the thoughts that ran through my mind the moment I saw her sitting there on the shower floor, her hair dripping, her skin wet and glistening in the light, her flesh still hot with the heat of the water she'd been standing under, so soft and slick under my hands. The sound of her pounding heart and the smell of her fragrant blush certainly did not help to ease my arousal. There she was, naked, her towel barely covering her, and what was worse, I had to carry her. Gentleman or no, I had a very hard time reigning in my thoughts and physical reactions to her sensuous presence.

I breathed deeply, trying desperately to calm my nerves. Where was Jasper when you needed him?

After she finished dressing I went in and finished examining her elbow, shoulder and head. Her leg had sustained the worst of it and even that was not too serious. It would heal in two to three weeks time entirely and she would be back to regular activities.

The rest of the day I toted her around the house, whether to the kitchen for meals or the living room for a movie. I enjoyed feeling her in my arms much more than I should have. I was her protector, her mentor, her friend - not her lover. I had to continuously remind myself of this.

But the more time I spent around her, the more I longed to feel her face, her waist, her arms in my hands. I ached to press my lips to hers, my tongue longed to taste her mouth, her neck. The more I was around her the more torment I subjected myself to. I loved being in her presence, I craved it, it was necessary, like breathing to me. I took to spending my nights watching her sleep. Part of me felt bad because I didn't ask her permission, nor did she know I was there. I couldn't help myself; I was intoxicated with her. She was like a drug to me. I would have told her this very thing if it had not been for her past. The poor child had already had one obsessed vampire to essentially ruin her life, she did not need another.

We spent the rest of the day watching what had come to be her favorite film. I had to admit, it was pretty high on my list too, though I'd likely never admit it to Emmett or Jasper. She sat close beside me curled up mouthing the words of all the characters along with them. Every now and then I would join her in this silly endeavor. I watched her watch the movie. Her eyes shined, welling up with tears each and every time the love scenes would appear. Her heart would beat harder. She felt their love each time they proclaimed it, I was certain. As did I, wishing I could be as forthcoming about it as the characters on the screen did. One single tear escaped her eye as the final scene played out and the ending song began. I pressed the stop button on the remote, even though there was a little of the movie left; I knew she liked to stop it when the hero and heroine kissed as they rode off into the sunset. For her, that was the end of the story.

She looked at me, wiping the tear from her eye. "I think I'll read in bed for a while. Thanks for sitting with me; you don't have to, I know I watch this silly thing a lot." I smiled. "No, I think it's starting to grow on me." I said as I proceeded to pick her up and carry her to the room on the third floor directly across from mine. I set her in her bed and turned to go.

"Edward." she said softly behind me. "Yes?"

"Would you sit with me? I'm not really in the mood to read, now I think about it… I thought we could just talk a while. If you didn't have plans."

I smiled at my opportunity. "As you wish." A slow smile formed on her lips, her brow furrowed slightly. I decided then and there that this would be my answer to every request she made to me until she figured it out. It wouldn't take too long. After all, she heard it nearly every day on the television screen.


A/N: OK, review and I will get chapter 7 up asap! Hope you guys are enjoying this!

P.S. You get 10 points if you can guess the movie Edward and Bella watch often!