A/N: Sooooo….you all left some amazing and supportive reviews last time. I have decided…after thinking long and hard (and half a bottle of wine)…that I will continue this story as I had originally envisioned. I will be sure to give you plenty of warning so you know when to skip certain sections if you so desire, but this tale will NOT be graphic. Most things will be implied only…not spelled out.

Melanie helped to keep my ass in line and make sure that Esme took care of the things she needed to.

Dalloway5906 got me drunk on wine this weekend and made me realize this story needed to go where it was headed, plus she fixed some mistakes and made sure I made Rose nice. She has a thing for Rose.

I got a PM last night letting me know that 'The Bakery' was nominated for The Best recipe/Best –Ward Category in the Tomato Soup Awards. How freaking cool is that! Voting starts in late September, so I will keep you posted as to when you can go and cast your vote!

Ready? Hold onto someone you love…

Bella, Edward and Jasper made their way back into the kitchen. Esme, Carlisle, Rose and Emmett were sitting at the table, the pretzels and ice cream long forgotten. Bella flushed slightly as her eyes met Rose's, feeling like the woman could see into her soul. Jasper was pacing the floor, talking quietly into the phone as Edward sat heavily in one of the chairs, pulling Bella down into his lap. Bella wanted to cry at the thought of what she was putting him through, but she knew there was no way she could go on with her life knowing that she was leaving those girls there. They might not be able to save all of the girls, but she knew with Jasper's help, at least Alice could get out. Jasper sighed as he sat down in the chair, closing his phone and dropping it on the table.

"Aro wants us to go in tonight. He thinks I should be the one to take you back, say I found you wandering the streets and recognized you." Jasper said his hands clenched together on the table as he looked at Bella. Although her body shook thinking about going back, she nodded.

"I'll need my clothes back." She whispered and Edward's arms tightened around her.

"I threw them out." He breathed, trying to keep himself together. Rose cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention to her.

"I can help. What do you need?" She asked, having been given the basic information about what was going on while the three were outside.

"Umm…" Bella started to speak, embarrassed to tell this gorgeous and obviously well put together woman that she arrived at Edward's bakery in nothing but panties and a shredded tank top. Emmett stood quickly and whispered in Rose's ear before she nodded and grabbed her purse from the counter. With a meaningful look towards Bella and Edward, she walked down the hall and out the door.

"She is just going to run home." Emmett said before turning from the room himself and disappearing. Jasper stood and with a promise to return in a few hours to get Bella, left to make sure the SWAT team would be ready.

"Bella…I hope you know that when this is over there is nothing more we would like than to have you stay with us, especially since they are still investigating what happened to your father." Carlisle said softly, and Esme nodded her head in agreement.

"Thank you…so much for your hospitality." Bella said, but was hesitant to accept their offer since she was not sure what condition she might leave that house in. There was no way Edward would still want her if she left as broken as she feared she might. And she could not ask his family to care for her, even though she knew they would in a second.

Bella tangled her fingers in Edward's hair, urging him to look at her. His eyes were glassy as he looked up at her. With one look he understood and stood with her held tightly in his arms. He did not take his eyes from her face as he walked up the stairs and into his old bedroom. He laid her on the bed and stood back, looking down at her. Her eyes met his, shinning with tears and trust and he fell to his knees beside the bed, burying his face in her belly.

"Don't do this." He whispered, his hands moving under her body to hold her to him. She gripped his hair and sat up, curling her body around him.

"I have to." She answered and he sat up abruptly, laying down next to her and pulling her into his arms. Their limbs tangled together as he pushed his face into her neck. He could feel the moisture of her tears falling into his hair and wished he could be strong enough for her, but he felt like he was breaking along with her. They lay together, the only sounds in the room their unsteady breaths. When Bella heard the front door slamming shut below, her body stiffened. Her mind had been running in overdrive the entire time they were laying together. Now, the sound of the door brought reality crashing down on her. She shifted so she was face to face with Edward, his hands still wrapped around her, holding her to him. She looked in his bright green eyes, trying to memorize exactly how he looked in case she did not make it back to him. A sudden thought passed through her mind and she was unable to stop it from coming out of her mouth.

"Make love to me." She breathed and watched his eyes widen. She could tell that he would deny her by the look on his face, but she persisted. "Please, you know what they'll do to me, even if Jasper is quick enough to get me out. Please…I don't want that." She begged, tears running freely down her cheeks. Edward thought he would never be able to deny her anything, but this was something he just could not do.

"No Bella." He whispered, reaching his hand up to push her hair behind her ear, leaving his fingers tucked against her cheek.

"You won't want me after they're done with me." She cried, pushing her fingers under his shirt and onto his bare flesh. He jumped at the contact and cursed himself when his body started to react. "Please."

"Bella…I want more for us. I don't want it to be rushed with my family downstairs. I want you to be happy and relaxed and soft in my arms. I won't let this be the end for us. And no matter what happens you need to know I'll always want you…until you send me away." He pulled her into his chest, rocking her as she sobbed.

**()*()**

Rose left the white tank and red panties in the bathroom for her. They both had designer labels, but after some creative work by Esme, they looked much like the ones she arrived in. Esme also helped to make her appear more disheveled, so it would look like she had been on the streets the whole time, and not in the lap of luxury. Edward sat on the counter as Bella changed out of Esme's borrowed clothes and into Rose's borrowed clothes. Edward promised that she would have her own clothes as soon as they got back, even if they had to stop at a Walmart to do it. She tried to smile, but it came out wrong. Edward gave her his fleece jacket to wear again and they walked downstairs to where everyone was waiting. Rose gave Bella a look of pride as Jasper fitted her with a small microphone and GPS beacon that was cleverly hidden in a hair barrette. Carefully placed under her hair, it was nearly invisible and would give Jasper and his team a way to hear everything that was going on inside the house. Jasper went over the plan with Bella once again, making sure she knew that once the three men were there, all she had to do was say the code word and the SWAT team would be there. Bella sat on Edward's lap on the couch and nodded when she needed to, but she was not really there. She was already back in that house.

An hour later Edward insisted on carrying Bella to the car, since she had no shoes. He buckled her into the front seat and cradled her face in his hands. Her eyes were wild and wet while his looked much the same.

"You aren't leaving my side again once you get out of there. Wherever you go…I go, you got me?" He said, and she smiled and nodded. He leaned into the car and pressed his lips to hers, his frustration and fear making the kiss harder than it should have been, but neither one cared. When they pulled away Bella reached for his hand.

"Take care of my heart, I've left it with you." She whispered before releasing him and closing the door. Edward watched until the brake lights were out of sight before falling to his knees and offering everything he owned to whoever might be listening that she come back to him.

A/N: Sooo. The next update will be on Saturday and then every other day until we get past the rough stuff.

There is only one more regular chapter of 'The Cottage' left and an epi/outtake. Go check that out if this is getting too real for ya.

'Pills' will update on Friday! Will Bella die? Will Charlie let her be changed? Find out then!