Blackbird

A/N: Hey wow, it's been about a week since I last updated, hasn't it? I know you all are probably going 'you promised frequent updates and you left us high and dry for a week!' And I did. But for a valid reason! With all the stress from the last weekend, my sleep went down a good 75% and my stress rose a good 400%. I got a GI tract infection, and as my body was fighting it it was causing very mild intestinal bleeding, accompanied by severe severe severe (did i say severe?) cramping of everything in my abdominal area. I actually cried when a couple of them hit me they were so strong, but it made it impossible to focus on anything, let alone go to any of my classes or even get a decent nights sleep. Now I'm pretty much in okay shape, which is why this chapter is so short, but I'll get you a nice one tomorrow if I can after all the homework that will need to be caught up on. Being sick when you have to pay for your classes sucks, because you feel guilty when you don't go.

Anyway, after all that blabbering, this chapter is short, and it may seem like filler, but some pretty important stuff happens. Unfortunately, no sex. They just aren't ready for it yet. I can feel it soon though, you know? Before they bust of out La Rough together I think. What do you think? There is a new poll on my profile about Edwar'd character in this story, go vote! I'd love to hear how you think, but Edward isn't going to change. :3

ALSO FOR SOME GOD AWFUL REASON, I CANNOT INSERT HORIZONTAL RULE LINES INTO THIS CHAPTER, SO THOSE HRHRHRHRRHR ATTACKS I'VE SUBSTITUTED WILL HAVE TO DO UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. I'M DEEPLY SORRY ABOUT THAT. NOT REALLY BECAUSE IT'S JUST A DIVIDER BUT IT LOOKS LESS COOL.

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Edward had almost finished, Bella's had felt him move from her pelvis to her thighs, and Bella felt a surge of something, maybe relief, that Edward's mouth hadn't strayed from his objective, that his hands hadn't moved from where they were pressing her hips down against the bed. No, Edward didn't push Bella's boundaries, and she was grateful for that. If Edward were to stray too far too fast, he ran the risk of pushing her away, and Bella wasn't sure how she would be able to live without Edward now.

There was another sting, and Bella hoped it was the last. Her skin was more sensitive below her waistline, and Edward's tongue wasn't helping the situation at all. Soon she felt his icy breath sooth the skin, and Edward was pressing soft kisses up her body, through the cloth of her shirt, until he reached her neck.

"That wasn't so bad, now was it?" Edward purred, slinging his leg over Bella's waist so he was straddling her again. He was still fully clothes, while Bella felt over exposed without her panties or sweatpants. Edward had taken both from her and she hadn't said no.

"Edward…" Bella whimpered, finding herself unable to say anything else. She followed his eyes as they glanced between her and the door, and she presumed he was hearing something she could not, as he abruptly stopped his ministrations on her neck with his sinful mouth.

"It would be improper of us to be found like this, don't you agree?" Edward answered, the disappointment thick in his voice. He had obviously wanted to go further, and Bella was positive she wouldn't have stopped him, but time was on her side. She would have longer to prepare herself to dive headfirst into this complicated and dangerous love with Edward.

Bella was sure now, that she did love Edward, but the fear of her past kept reminding her that there would always be those lingering memories. Edward was enough to erase those memories when he was near, but what if he couldn't be with her always?

Edward was digging though Bella's clothing, picking out new things for her to wear, when Bella let her eyes drop back to the long forgotten movie. It was a lighthearted comedy they were watching together, but Bella couldn't bring herself to laugh now. There were too many things going on in her head. Too many secrets that were pushing against her self control, she was starting to lose her grip.

The sound of running water distracted Bella from her trance, and she rolled her head over to face the bathroom. Edward had laid out comfortable clothing for her and was drawing her a bath. The thing that worried Bella the most was that he had clothing for himself as well.

She didn't have time to ask about her concerns though, Edward was quickly at her side, picking up her limp body and carrying her to the bathroom. He set her down on the cool lid of the toilet seat, and Bella instantly wished Edward hadn't ripped her underwear from her body. Goose bumps raced up her arms and legs, and Edward laughed softly at her cries of surprise.

"Bella, Carlisle put a stop on all your visitors, but there are some that came anyway. They will be speaking with Carlisle after dinner." Edward spoke low and soft, brushing the back of his cool hand against Bella's face. She enjoyed his touch, and instantly leaned into it, earning another laugh from Edward.

"I don't want to see anyone yet. Not now." Bella moaned, her eyes desperately avoiding Edward's strong gaze. She glanced all over the bathroom, even at Edward's nondescript black shirt, just to avoid looking him in the eyes.

"I don't want you too either. I want you to tell me exactly what happened to you Bella. You have to tell me, or I can't protect you." Edward was being devious to Bella now, and she knew it. He would never stop pushing her until he knew exactly what had been happening to her all those months. He needed to know everything, and there were some things even Bella didn't want to tell.

"Stay with me Edward." Bella whispered, reaching her small, shaking hands down to the hem of Edward's shirt. Edward's large hand covered her own in a soft grip, pulling her away from him.

"What is it you want from me, Bella?" Edward cradled the hand he had captured in both of his own hands, slowly bringing her hand up to rest against his cheek. His golden eyes burned into Bella's soul as he awaited her answer.

"I only want you." Bella replied, bringing her other hand to caress the other side of Edward's cold face.

"What about your friends?" Edward's voice was seductive and dark as he questioned Bella now. The bathroom suddenly felt so small to Bella, like the walls were going to close her and Edward in there together forever.

"I don't have any, none that would miss me." Bella closed her eyes and leaned her face forward. She rested her forehead against Edward's and just allowed herself to take in his scent. His soft breaths were ticking her neck, but the sensation made Bella's inside tingle.

"Your mother? Your father?" Edward's hands traveled up from Bella's kneecaps to her shoulders, rubbing her skin through the fabric as he did. He wound his arms around her tightly, kneeling in front her slouched self.

"My father survived 17 years without me." Bella said sadly, pressing her eyes against the fabric of Edward's shirt, lest any tears came.

"Your mother?" Edward repeated, rubbing small soft circles on her back. He pressed gentle kisses against her neck, causing more strange feelings to stir in Bella's stomach. Whether they were butterflies or something more, she did not know, but they were pleasant, and they were coming from Edward, so she could endure.

"My mother married a man who travels a lot. I came to Forks so she could be happy with him." Bella's voice betrayed her. Her strength about the situation was beginning to waver, and Edward was undoubtedly hear the sobs she tried to contain in her chest.

Everything had gone wrong when she had come to Forks. Her father tried to welcome her as much as possible, but Billy's unnatural attachment to what was probably once a light hearted joke between two expectant fathers had ruined that. Bella shut herself away from others, and never made so much as a single close friend.

Sure, there was Angela, who constantly worried about Bella, who always called and offered to take her everywhere, even when she was with Ben. She could consider Angela a friend, but Angela had her own life, one that involved someday going to college, spending more time with Ben, and maybe moving on to having a normal existence.

Then there was Bella. Her future plans were simply to endure, to get up each day and carry on where the previous day ended, but now Edward had driven a hypothetical stake into the heart of those plans. He would want to keep seeing her, he would continue to want her after they left La Rouge, and as far as Bella was concerned, he could go ahead and have her. He just had to have her and her baggage as well.

"You aren't happy here." Edward stated, confirming to Bella that Edward had heard her attempts to stay calm.

"I hate it! I haven't been happy since I moved here! You are all I have now." And Bella's walls broke down, and the tears flowed. She clung to Edward and cried for her lost happiness, for her uncertain future, and her mundane past.

Edward encouraged her to calm down, but Bella could hardly make out what he was saying. She was lost in her own world of misery, where only Edward's beautiful face kept her from delving into a nightmare. She grabbed onto both of her forearms, rubbing the now-soft silver scars with the pads of her thumbs, but Edward's hands stopped her.

"We should get cleaned up for dinner. I'd like to introduce you to someone." Edward gently raised Bella's arms above her head, and then came her shirt and sweatshirt.

Instead of removing Bella's bra, like she had been expecting him to, he raised himself to his feet, suddenly towering over the hunched Bella. His own shirt and pants came off, leaving him in only his boxers.

"Edward… You aren't…" Bella cringed at her poor choice of words, but she was instantly relaxed by Edward's coy smile.

"I'm going to take a bath with you, but you are in no condition for me to go any further right now." Edward laughed softly, leaving his boxers on as unhooked Bella's bra and scooped her up into his arms, before graciously settling them both down in the soothing hot water. Bella was thankful Edward's skin was still slightly cool in the water, or she was afraid she might have overheated.

"Thank you Edward." Bella murmured against his chest, settling herself against him as the tiny rhythmic waves of the bathwater brushed against her skin. The heat felt amazing on Bella's scars, which glimmered under the water. She left them there to revel in the feeling, as it felt so much better then it ever had before.

Edward leaned back so Bella could comfortably lay on his chest, but not once did Bella think of how sensual it must have been, the two of them in the bathtub together, almost completely naked except for Edward's boxers. Her uncovered breasts were pressing into his chest, but she didn't care. He promised her he wasn't going to try anything, and Bella believed him.

She knew Edward well enough to know that he respected her as much as he loved her.

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Edward's mind was drifting to places other then Bella's warm, wet body pressed against his own. As much as he had wanted to take her, right then and there on the bed, he knew he couldn't. Bella wasn't ready, she hadn't even told him who her attacker was yet. There were many things Edward still needed from Bella before he could finally have what he wanted most.

Bella's breathing was beginning to even out, but Edward knew they were pressed for time. Bella had just showered that morning, so Edward just wanted to make sure any excess venom had been washed from her skin. If either werewolf had come to La Rouge with her father, who was here to visit, they would definitely be able to smell is venom on her skin, although it was a much more foul scent to them then it was to his dear Bella.

"Bella, my love, you have to get ready for dinner, we don't have much more time." Edward gently grabbed both of her wrists and scrubbed them with softly with his hands, just enough to agitate the scar tissue to make it shine ever more. The effect would fade overnight, but Edward wanted to have the most visible mark on Bella he possibly could when her visitors came.

Edward would be with her of course, adding to the possessive stance he had already taken. It would only serve to help him root out which one of her visitors, if any, he was going to kill. He would get his revenge in due time, today was just another round of the waiting game, and Edward was quickly becoming a master.

"I want to stay here with you." Bella answered, her voice starting to get slurred with sleep. The heat from the water was causing her to become drowsy, and their lack of activity through the day was also slowing down her mind. Edward sighed, shifting his body in the water so he could slip his arms securely around Bella's body.

"I want to stay here too, but someone will come looking for us if we keep your visitors waiting." Edward laughed softly when Bella pouted, but didn't stop his ascent. Bella wrapped her arms around Edward's neck as he lifted the two of them out of the water. They had been soaking for over a half hour in comfortable silence, but now dinner was upon them, and Carlisle said they were to be present at dinner, together, instead of Edward retrieving food for Bella.

"I'm nervous Edward." Bella said softly as Edward wrapped her in a large soft towel. He grabbed one for himself, quickly stripping off his boxers once it was wrapped securely around his waist.

"About what?" Edward asked, slipping on a clean pair of boxers and his jeans under the protection of his towel. He wasn't modest in the slightest, but he was worried that perhaps Bella would feel he was too open with her too fast, so he resigned himself to hiding beneath a towel when he changed.

"I don't want to speak to anyone right now. I want to be by your side, in this room, because I feel safe here with you." Bella had managed to dress herself while Edward was turned away, and was now sitting on the lid of the toilet again, watching Edward with her wide, expressive eyes.

"And I want to take you away to where no one can ever harm you, for the rest of eternity, but things are never that easy." Edward sighed, pulling on a fresh dress shirt and buttoning it up quickly, not bothering to hide his vampire speed from Bella.

"I would like that." Bella whispered quietly, so quietly that Edward believed it wasn't meant for him to hear, but he had heard it anyway. Bella wasn't very used to the concept of vampire senses, and was constantly slipping around him, even after he had told her his secret.

Carlisle had heard him tell her, and he was also vaguely aware of what he was doing when their door was closed, but he never intruded, Sometimes he would have a conversation with Edward at nighttime when Bella was sleeping, but he didn't break past the barrier of the door.

It was an animalistic thing, an instinct almost, Edward noted to himself. Their bedroom was like his den, and Bella was his injured mate. He could protect her in his home, he could provide for her, but he wouldn't let any others near her. She wasn't well, he could feel it in every nerve, but the urge to continue to protect was strong and burning. It was something Edward would never escape from, but he didn't mind. Even his instincts were hell-bent on keeping Bella, and keeping her safe.

"What was that?" Edward teased, but there was little humor in his voice.

"I would like you to take me away Edward." Bella responded, with strong, but subtle determination in her voice. Her eyes were burning, but with what was a mystery to Edward.

"I will Bella." Edward said, with a strange dark smile.

"I will take you away from all of this, as soon as I can." And with that, Edward stalked towards Bella, his own eyes darkening with lust, but also love, for the one he now considered his mate for eternity.

He captured her waiting lips in a hungry kiss, ignoring his bodies desire to go further, and directed all the love and lust he could into claiming her lips. They would bruise and swell, but they would heal. Edward's vampire strength would leave it's marks on her body, but they would heal too, and she would be ready and waiting for him again.

Bella pulled her lips away, just a fraction so she could catch her breath, and Edward placed a soft kiss against the corner of her mouth.

"Take me with you, where ever you go Edward, I will follow you. I can't live without you now." Bella placed a gentle peck against Edward's forehead, and then stood up, grabbing Edward's hands as she did so.

"Anything you wish Bella." Edward tugged at her arm lightly, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"You are mine, after all." Edward's possessiveness was rearing, but he was able to quell the feelings and let go of Bella, instead settling on holding her hand as they walked the halls to the dining room. It had been awhile since Bella had eaten there, Edward remembered smugly.

As they prepared to round the corner, Bella squeezed Edward's hand, hard enough to get his attention.

"I am yours, after all." Bella whispered, pressing herself into Edward's side. He dropped her hand and wrapped it around her shoulder, keeping her even closer as they approached the dinner line.

Mine now.