DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS FROM TWILIGHT. THEY ALL BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER.

EPOV

Once we got settled in the ambulance the paramedic started assessing the damage. Then he pulled out a camera and started snapping pictures. This confused me. Did he think she'd make a scrapbook of this event later. Wouldn't want to forget how she got every mark. Oh look here's the scar I got when I got the living shit kicked out of me, what a fun day!

" It's for documentation."

" I'm sorry, what?"

" The camera. If she files charges, she'll want pictured of her injuries. After we get her cleaned up we'll take more. Kind of a before and after. It seems to help get these guys put away."

" Oh, I see. How much does it help? I mean, will he go to jail."

" I don't know kid. After she leaves the bus I don't get involved any further. I hope so, for her sake. You need me to look at that lip?" I'd forgotten about my lip to be honest. I reached my hand up and touched . It stung a little, but nothing I couldn't handle.

" No, I'm good."

" I have to say, you are holding yourself together pretty well. If this were my girl, that guy would have been laid out on his ass."

" How much help could I be her, if I was locked up for the night?"

" Yeah I guess your right. That's why you've found the love of your life and I'm single I guess."

"What?"

" Look I'm not one of your buddies and I won't tell them. But I see the way you've looked at her. I might be single but I know what love looks like, and you two got it."

I was too stunned to answer. This guy was really beginning to annoying me. Of course I was to blame. Who spoke before he thought and said he was her boyfriend. That's right, me! But how could this guy just say that. Love of my life. Yeah right, only if we wanted to spend our lives in hell. I'd never met a girl who got on my nerves more than Bella. Alice was close, but in a sisterly way. Bella just exhausted my last nerve every time I was around her. Like she was put on this planet just to aggravate me.

She was beautiful though. Not like drop dead gorgeous, but a more natural, classic beauty. The way she bit her lip when she was thinking had to have drove the guys wild in high school. That habit paired up with the nice shade of red her cheeks turned when embarrassed was a deadly combo. And her scent was divine, strawberries and honey. I'd never realized how intoxicating it was until the ride over to the frat house. If she didn't piss me off so much I would have been all over her.

We finally arrived at the hospital and I followed the paramedics into the hospital. We'd only gotten a few feet in and I was stopped.

" Look kid, you can't be in there with her right now. Go get something to eat and sit in the waiting room. I'll let them know who you are so they can some get you when she's ready."

I nodded and turned to make my way to the waiting room. I wasn't really all that hungry but coffee did sound good. I found a coffee machine and after several lost dollars and no coffee I gave up and went to find myself a seat and wait.

I found an empty chair next to the wall and went to take a seat. I ran my hands through my hair and rested my head on my hands. For some reason I couldn't shake what the paramedic had said. This shouldn't' bother me this much. I mean I had told the guy I was her boyfriend. I should be happy he bought it. If he hadn't I wouldn't have been able to tag along.

Why did I want to tag along? She wasn't my responsibility. I did what I could and now there's no reason for me to stick around. I could be back in my room right now sleeping. Yeah right, sleep. As if I could sleep after all this. I wouldn't have been able to until I knew she was alright. Why?

" Oh my God. I'm in love with her." My mouth betrayed me again by saying that out loud.

I couldn't be. The time I'd spent with her we'd been at each others throats. The girl got on my nerves. Or was I just hiding my feelings from myself. The girls I normally dated were nothing like Bella. Bella was smart, and has a mind of her own. And I think the fact that I have money is actually a turn off for her. She's everything I've been looking for and I was too afraid to admit it when I found it.

What piss poor timing this revelation came. I couldn't very well tell her this. I could imagine it in my head:

" Yeah so I know you had a really crappy night with the rape and all, but I just found out that I love you. You wanna go out to dinner or something?"

" Fuck you, Cullen!"

I might be exaggerating but really, what kind of douche would spring this on her. I would just wait it out. It wouldn't be that bad.

I leaned my head back on the wall and must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew I was being shaken awake.

" Sir? Sir?" I finally opened my eyes and say a nurse standing in front of me " You can go see your girlfriend now. She's awake, but she's not talking. Maybe if you sat with her for awhile it would help. The police really need to get a statement."With that I followed her down the hallway as we made our way to her room.

Once we got there the nurse pushed the door open for me, but did not follow me in. I have to admit I was scared shitless. I knew how to act around her before, but with this new realization I was lost.

I walked up to her bed slowly, still not sure if she was still in fight mode. Her back was to me and I didn't want to frighten her. As I rounded the bed I could see her eyes were open, but void of any feeling. She'd been emotionally and physically drained. I honestly don't' know if anyone was going to get her to make a statement tonight.

" Hey there Bells, how you doing?" Stupid question, stupid question.

" Edward??"

" Yeah, it's me. I come in peace" I put my hands in the air, hoping to get a smile. I didn't. " Listen, they sent me in here to see if you would be up to talking to the police. I know you don't want to, but the sooner these things get done the better. What do you say"

" No"

" Come on, just get it out of the way. I'm sure you know with your dad being a cop and all that you have to give a statement to press charges."

" I'm not pressing charges."

" Bella, be serious. This guy needs to be punished. What if he does this to someone else?"

This made her think. A single tear fell down the side of her face and it took all of my will not to wipe it away.

" I just can't" It came out just barely as a whisper.

" We'll talk about this later. Get some sleep."She closed her eyes and was asleep with in moments.

It wasn't too long before I heard a tap at the door. In walked Alice.

" Oh Edward, is she ok?" she was already in tears.

" I don't know Alice. I only talked to here for a few minutes before she went to sleep."

" Well, what has the doctor said?"

"I'm not family so they won't tell me. When she wakes up, you need to talk to her. She won't make a statement to the police."

" Was she..." She got hung up on the last word.

" Yes I think so. Actually I'm pretty sure" I looked up at Alice and saw her eyes filling up with tears again.

" Emmett said you rode with her over her. How'd that happen."

"I might have lied" I looked at her sheepishly. " I told them I was her boyfriend. They probably weighed their options and figured they shouldn't leave me at the house with that dick upstairs. So they let me come."

" Edward, look at me" Shit!!! I was screwed, but I knew better than to fight with Alice. I turned and looked at her. " I knew it! I just knew it. All that nonsense about hating each other. You love her don't you?"

" Alice, don't you think this is kinda the wrong time to talk about this?"

" Fine, but we will talk about it. You can't deny it forever." At this a huge smile spread across her face. I have to admit it felt nice to see it there.

We sat there and talked while Bella slept. Every so often she would mumble something and we thought she was waking up. It always turned out she was just talking in her sleep. After awhile the nurse came in and told Alice she had to leave. I was allowed to stay being I was her boyfriend and all. Alice started to fight the nurse but she wasn't having it. And so I sat there alone again, with Bella, my love.

BPOV

I couldn't' believe Edward had stayed this whole time. I would have thought that once the ambulance came he'd put his cape away and save it for the next damsel in distress. I have to say I was impressed. I was especially surprised when he didn't leave after I feigned falling asleep. Truth is I was just sick of talking. Or listening really, I didn't do much talking.

After a few moments I heard Alice enter the room. I almost opened my eyes but decided that I just wasn't up for it yet. She'd want to ask question and I didn't have it in me.

Her and Edward talked, mostly about me. I was quite surprised and relieved that Edward didn't share all the gory details with her. Most people would have been biting at the bit to share that kind of juicy gossip. Or at least where I'm from.

The conversation then turned to how Edward had gotten to ride with me in the ambulance. My ears perked up with this question. I didn't know he had.

"I might have lied. I told them I was her boyfriend. They probably weighed their options and figured they shouldn't leave me at the house with that dick upstairs. So they let me come." I heard Edward say.

What! This coming from the guy that can't have one decent conversation with me. I have to say I was relieved. I don't know why, but I was. Maybe I just knew he wouldn't make a big deal out of things.

" Edward, look at me I knew it! I just knew it. All that nonsense about hating each other. You love her don't you?" My head was spinning. Did I just hear Alice right. She must be out of her mind.

" Alice, don't you think this is kinda the wrong time to talk about this?"

He didn't deny it! I couldn't believe this. Was he just faking it the whole time. I should be upset, but I wasn't.

" Fine, but we will talk about it. You can't deny it forever." Alice stated. I swear I could hear the smile spread across her face.

Suddenly I felt bad. I'd eavesdropped on their conversation. Not only that but now I didn't know how to act around him. Maybe I was reading too much into this. I didn't see his face when she asked him. For all I know he looked disgusted at even the thought of loving me. My heart dropped at that thought. Did I care for him too?

This was too much to handle for one night. I finally let my mind start to slip off to sleep. Hoping that when I woke up it would all just be a dream.

A/N Well , hope I still have your interest. This chapter was a little hard to write. I didn't know how I was going to have Edward realize his feelings. I debated on waiting for him to realize many many chapters later, but decided the tension would make for a better story. Again reviews are always welcome, good, bad, indifferent, keep them coming!