"Garrett."
"Kate," Garrett turned to his wife. She was again going over the Swan case. She had taken over the small apartment's living room. On the walls were pictures of the Swan's to the left of a large picture of Isabella Swan and then to that picture's right was the Cullen Clan. All the pictures were connected in a web of different colored string.
On the opposite wall there was a map of the county and a close up map of Bella's neighborhood and school. There were pictures of people on the houses around Bella's once hell hole and on businesses that Isabella was known going which was only two or three.
"I'm going insane," Kate said shifting through the case work and notes they had both taken.
"What are you trying to find?" Garrett asked putting down his beer and looked over her shoulder. She was looking at Mr. Swan's file. The file was marked with his information ranging from social security to all his work history. Also in the file were two pictures of Mr. Swan. Both were the same except one night Kate had gotten angry and doodled on the picture drawing horns and a mustache and other little marks that hadn't been there before.
Kate pulled out the profile of Mr. Swan, "He should have done something by now. I mean it's been three weeks and we haven't heard one thing from this possessive monster."
"I know it has been on my mind also, but now he is going to do something because we both said it aloud," He pulled the paper from her hand and read down the list of personal qualities, "How about Mrs. Swan?" Garrett asked placing the sheet down and looking at her resent activity.
"She's in jail now. She couldn't make bail and we're waiting for the hearing to start," Kate explained taking her hair down and then started to braid the thick mass of blonde hair.
"She pleaded…"
"Guilty," Kate finished for Garrett and then took out her new braid and put it back up in a ponytail.
"Why are you so nervous?" Garrett asked putting all the papers in their designated files and turned to his wife.
"I feel…I feel like I'm that scared little girl again. I told myself I would never be a victim again, but here I am…feeling lost and angry all over again."
"We can hand this case over. I don't have to work this and neither do you. I would rather keep you safe and happy before someone else." Garrett pulled her legs over his lap and started to rub her calves.
"You know that sounds really bad coming from a cop," Kate said looking at him with disappointment in her eyes.
"I'm not married to my job, I am married to you. You and your sister will always come first because you are my family. What would I be if anything happened to you or Tanya? Would I still be a man?" Garrett bent and kissed her knee and moved up to kiss a scar on her upper thigh.
"I care about what happens to Bella Swan, Garrett," Kate sounded like she was reprimanding him. He laid his head upon her stomach and wrapped his arms around her waist and sighed.
"I care about her too, darlin'. Don't think me less of a man for wanting to protect you." He lifted his head and rested his chin on her tummy. "Most women like their men overly protective. I just love you baby."
"Don't you dare do the eye thing," She watched as his eyes had the same quality of a puppy wanting some love, food, or forgiveness. She called it his puppy dog eyes and he knew she would do anything for him when he did it. "Just promise no more talk of quitting."
"Promise, now give me a kiss," Garrett smiled up at her like he ruled the world. He did rule hers it seemed because she did give him a kiss which turned into something much more.
Bella sat on her bed in the Cullen's house and watched as little flecks of snow fell from the sky. This winter was becoming long and it was noted as being the worst winter in fifty years. It had been snowing so much Bella thought and hoped her father would stay away. With school on break she had been living in a comfortable world with the Cullen's. They seemed to understand when she was having a hard time and when she was completely comfortable with them.
On this day Bella had been blind sighted when Alice had told her of a fundraiser for Community Cares, a program set up by Esme for low income families with children. Bella found Esme's concern for these families bittersweet because no one had cared about her family, or lack of a better word, but Esme was trying to make a difference and that was what really mattered in the end.
Bella looked up when her door opened. Alice, Rosalie, and Esme stood in her doorway.
"Time to dress up Bella!" Alice cried and swept into the room followed calmly by Esme then Rosalie.
"Now I'm thinking glitter," Alice said holding up a scrap of glitter fabric masquerading as a dress.
"Alice," Rosalie took the glitter dress, "This dress deserves someone with curves." Rosalie turned to Bella and looked her up and down with a look of disdain contorting her beautiful face into something ugly. "No offense of course." Rosalie huffed off into the walk-in-closet.
"Don't mind her. To be honest that was her being nice. Emmett always brings her and she always acts like this because she thinks Em will go off and find someone else right under her perky little nose," Alice gossiped as she painted Bella's nails.
"Alice let's show a little respect for your brother's fiancé," Esme said sending Alice one of her mom glares. Alice rolled her eyes but started to talk about Jasper.
"I like it," Rosalie came out with the skintight glitter dress with black leggings and red sky high heels.
"Too New York club scene," Alice said coming over to her soon-to-be sister in-law, "Love the heels though."
"You like anything red and almost too hard to walk in," Rosalie remarked smiling down at the shoes.
"Just remember we need class-"
"Not trash." Rosalie finished for Alice and the disappeared back into the closet.
"Now onto you my deary," Alice said, "Stand." The command was sharp and Bella listened, looking for Esme for help only to find her walking around her like a bird of prey just like Alice.
"Cocktail?" Esme asked hanging up some of the dresses they had brought.
"Yeah, a full out gown would swallow her whole and you are the one who needs to go all out mom," Alice said shifting through the dresses with her mother.
"Black?" Esme said holding up a dress with a high neck with jewels on the shoulders.
"Very Audrey," Alice remarked taking the dress and holding it up to Bella's frame. She met Bella's confused eyes and smiled warmly at her. "Breath and go try this baby on. It has a high back and front so you can be comfortable and I'll find you a cape or little jacket for you to wear if it shows too much skin for your taste." Alice pointed to the bathroom and waited for Bella change.
Rosalie came out in a dramatic red dress with an asymmetrical bust and low back that was flirting with danger. The gown was floor length with even a small train.
"I love it," Rosalie said posing in the dress that hugged her perfectly.
"I don't think I can find anything else on short notice. I could see you in something more…conservative," Alice said standing behind Rose as she stood in front of the mirror.
"But I will never be conservative," Rosalie smirked and gave Alice a wink, "Its more fun to be bad." This made both girls laugh.
Everyone turned when Bella opened the door to show off the little black dress. It was fitted around her waist and flowed off of her hips giving her room and comfort. It skimmed her knees and there were tiny jewels sown into the hem of the dress.
"I'm guessing you're not used to heels?" Alice asked as she shifted through some shoes in the closet.
"No…I'm more a tennis shoe kinda girl," Bella answered crossing her arms across her chest. "I really like your dress, Rosalie." Rosalie's gaze traveled to Bella without moving her head and Bella swallowed loudly and moved away from the lady in red.
"Thank you. I like yours as well," Rosalie turned back to her reflection fixing herself and skimming her hips with her hands. "Emmett is going to love this."
"Honey he would love you in anything," Esme said patting Rosalie's shoulder.
"Found them!" Alice said coming out with some strappy kitten heels for Bella before she turned to find her own dress.
"So Bella, you excited to be going? If you feel uncomfortable I can make plans for you to stay here and watch some movies or have some quiet book time," Esme asked sitting next to Bella. Bella shook her head and ran her fingers over her dress.
"I'd like to get back to normal…well your kind of normal I guess," Bella said smiling up at Esme.
"Good because I think you will love the little gathering we have put together and Edward, Carlisle, and Emmett have a surprise for the kids. I love this time of year. Christmas and all the other holiday just make me smile," Esme said patting Bella's hand.
"Now I'm going to go change and get ready, but I'll be back with these two crazy girls and do your hair." Esme left with the other two to leave Bella feeling like she had just experienced a wind storm.
She came out in a little dress that made her look like the little whore she was. I've been waiting for this moment. They all thought I had given up on the prize, but no one was going to take away my little bitch. She had taken my life so I would take hers. I wasn't done with my plan and I knew nothing would stop my plan because my plans are perfect. No one found me because I don't want to be found. I'm too smart for the little blonde slut and her puppy partner who follows her around like his master. He should take that bitch and use her and fuck her like he wants to. I've seen the way he looks at her legs…I know what he wants to do. He needs and desires just what I want. I know what I want is right. I want my toy with her deep brown eyes. Her eyes are just like my old horse. When that horse went down I saw her eyes and I saw the same vacant look in her eyes like I find in my toy's eyes. I miss that look. It angers me. It makes me want to get her back even more.
They leave making me even angrier.
No one can run forever. I don't plan on waiting tonight. I have my plan. I don't lose.
Ever.
The party was at the library and the Cullen's were running late because of Alice wanting to make sure everyone matched, but didn't match too much. Edward explained later that Alice had fashion OCD and that Bella would come to love and except Alice for her crazy ways.
"It's why I always look so put together. If I had my way I'd be in jeans and a white tee," Edward explained as the couple watched other people dancing.
"I always thought you just naturally knew how to be perfect," Bella said smiling up at Edward. He shook his head and took a sip of water.
"I actually hate that word. Perfect," He gave a short laugh that held no humor, "Perfect isn't real. As much as people think I'm perfect I'm not." He turned to Bella, "I have wants and desires Bella. I'm human, I'm not some perfect…God that has no flaws." Edward turned away from her and took another drink. Bella rubbed her arms as if she was cold and she was. Edward was acting cold and distant.
"I think I'm going to go circle the room," Edward said abruptly before taking off to disappear in the sea of people.
Bella found herself alone all over again and wondered what had happened. Ever since she had gotten home and Edward had exhausted himself playing piano everything was different. He would come into her room and just sit there watching her. He used to fill the room with stories of his childhood and songs he was writing. He had told her that he was a little self-conscious about his music. She knew his favorite color and his favorite movie, but all that had stopped after she had fainted. All that they had worked for had stopped. Even before break had started he was distant. And Bella was having enough of it.
She started to walk to the children's section which was enclosed in glass to give the kids privacy but the parents could see what was happening in their child's world. The room now held all the kids and she found Rosalie and Emmett on the ground playing with the younger kids. This surprised Bella because she never would have thought Rosalie would get on the ground in a designer dress.
Bella moved on to find she was truly out of her element here. She found that she was more comfortable with silence and Classical music instead of the mix of pop being played. Because the crowd was mixed with young and old the music would change from classic rock to a pop remix of Lady Gaga.
She started to head for the bathrooms, but once inside she found that it's was filled with women gossiping about what Esme had planned and how sexy the Cullen men were. She then headed for her mystery section not find some business men hashing out some deal and other business lingo Bella didn't understand and she doubted anyone in that group really knew either.
So, that was how Bella found herself up on the east balcony sipping a Dr. Pepper and reading some book by Christine Feehan. She had never read one of hers but it had been lying on this table so she had decided to give it a go. It was dark in the book but she liked that author didn't use too much description and frou-frou language to fill space.
"Dark Prince? Didn't know you were into romance?" Bella looked up to find Edward smirking at the book choice.
"I'm not. I found it on the table," She said returning to her find.
"…I've been looking everywhere for you." Edward sat across from her and waited for her answer. She only shrugged and continued to read ignoring him.
"Okay, what's up?" Edward said glaring at the book like it was the one taking all of Bella's attention from him.
"You left me Edward. I came up here to get away from the crowd," She looked over the paperback, "I'm not Rosalie or Alice. I hate being in a crowd all alone." She returned to her book embarrassed for speaking her mind. She was expecting him to yell and drag her by her hair into a corner and beat her but all she got was an apology.
"What?" Bella put the book down and looked up at him shocked.
"I said I'm sorry for being such an ass lately. I've been feeling inadequate. And I've been really nervous because Mr. Swan hasn't made a move and I expected something big by now. When I left it was to call and Detective Kate Walker. They haven't found anything on him. They do know he was in the Marines so he did have survival training, but that was all they knew," He looked up to Bella and blushed some, "I'm rambling again. I seem to do that around you." This made Bella smile.
"I just wish you would tell me these things," She sighed and leaned her elbow on the table and placed her chin in her hand. "You going off to sulk makes both of us feel uncomfortable. I count on you not to hide things from me. I might be damaged," Bella reached for his hand, "But I have to stop using that as an excuse."
"Bella I don't expect you to do this. I'm fine with going slow," Edward said squeezing her hand.
"I want to change Edward. At some point hiding from my fears causes more pain than just facing my demons head on. When I spoke to Kate she told me her own story. I want that for myself. I want a family. I want a life not consumed with thoughts of what he's going to do next. I've already lived that life and I'm telling you that I'm done with that small little life.
"Can you handle that, me being a person who can be strong?" Bella asked pulling her hand away from his.
They sat while a local girl picked up an acoustic guitar and started a soft melody. It was haunting and expressed what Bella wanted.
"I'm not scared."
"You should be," Edward said furiously. "Bella he hurt you! How can you not fear what he has planned? I'm scared! Are you happy knowing that? I'm scared that he's going to come and take you away before we can really get to know each other!" He started to pace with his fingers combing his hair.
"No I'm not happy knowing your scared. I'm not too scared to actually give us a chance Edward. I'm actually speaking to you as a person. I'm not scared of talking to you."
"Yes you are," He turned and looked her up and down, "You're shaking and, damn it, I did that to you! I scare you because he hurt you!" Edward resumed his pacing.
"Is that all I am to you, a project you can fix? I'm shaking because, yes, I'm scared because you're pacing. It makes me nervous. Stop trying to make this more than it is."
"Bella, all I want is for you to be happy."
"I'd be happy to know what I am to you," Bella asked staring him down. He met her eyes and stood and waited.
"I'm confused, because this side of you is completely different from the Bella I've known for years. It is a shock to me because you have never been like this. I'm not saying my way of handling this is right it's most likely wrong, but it is how I'm handling it."
"I'm still Bella Swan," Bella said quietly, "Maybe I'm just meant to be alone."
"See that's what I'm used to," Edward murmured before he walked over to her and wrapped her in his arms. "Just give me time to get to know this new Bella."
"I'm still me."
"I'm coming to see that I'm the one that has to change here," He sighed but smiled down at her. "I want to show you something." He pulled Bella over to the back of the balcony to a door that had once been hidden by fake paneling.
"This is what we've been working on," He opened the door and turned on a light switch revealing a spiral staircase. "This used to be an apartment, but mom thought it would serve well as a hangout of sorts."
When they came to the landing Bella saw a giant common room with a lounge with cozy looking couches and a TV. To her immediate right was an enclosed room with half the walls glass the other wood frame. It was filled with art supplies and great views of the town. When she moved farther into the room she found floor to ceiling mirrors for dancers to practice. In the corner next to a giant stereo system was a door that seemed a little out of place.
"That's my music room," Edward said opening the door and turned on the light. The room was small with dark red walls and only one window. The floors were dark with one giant rug covering most of the beautiful wood.
In the center of the room was a grand piano. Lining the walls were other instruments like bass guitar and a fill drum set took up a corner. There were also brass trombones and trumpets with woodwind clarinets and flutes.
"It's a real collection you have here," Bella said skimming her hand across the black piano.
"I thought the kids should have a way to make their own music." Edward leaned on the door frame smiling at her curiosity for the instruments.
"This is really cool," Bella said coming back over to Edward. He just smiled and brought her closer to his body.
"I promise to relish the fact that you're a person not a project for me to fix," Edward said kissing her temple. She smiled at moved her head to kiss him. The kiss was sweet and soft, but soon turned hotter as Bella ran her hands up his chest to wrap around his neck. He groaned and brushed his tongue against her lips before taking her mouth as his.
Bella thought she would ever like kissing so feverishly. She wanted Edward to be sweet and caring but she knew if she wanted him to change for she would change for him. The change for him wouldn't be hard because she was coming to understand that teenage Edward wasn't that bad, he was better than perfect.
Bella felt her hair fall from the up do Esme had done and shivered as Edward drove his fingers through her hair. The way he touched her was if she was cherished. Her father never once made her feel loved and cared for. Edward made sure that he didn't pull too hard or touch any old scars. It made her want so much more.
"Well look what I found," Came a pixie voice from the main doorway. Both teenagers jumped away like they had been burned.
"Ali give us a minute," Edward's voice was harsh and deep making Bella blush.
"Cant, mom wanted me to warn you that she is bringing small groups up here so you should be ready for company."
"Mom always knows," Emmett said bounding up the stairs with a giant smile on his face. "Hi Bella, I see Edward has made his move on ya."
"Could you be anymore vulgar?" Rosalie asked rolling her eyes.
"Don't use big words you'll confuse him," Edward said pushing his shirt back into his trousers. He then turned to Bella and helped make sure she looked like she hadn't been making out in a public place. This stopped Bella. She was acting like a normal teen. She was doing something that most teenagers her age would do and that thrilled her. Maybe she could forget about her past and live in the now!
The night was damp while I waited for them to come home and find my promise. It was all part of the plan. I had almost lost it when the boy had touch MY TOY but they were broken up by the little fairy queen. But all worked out because I got what I wanted I got what I needed from tonight because I know when she sees what she is going to lose she'll come back. She is a weak little toy because I made her that way. I hate strong toys like her mother. She never did fit my qualities for a toy. She just trapped me with my toy and with that toy came fun and now I'm getting excited.
They pull in making me want to spring out and get her. I'm this close. I know she can sense me, smell me. I watch as they walk up to the house the fairy queen is holding cowboy's hand. When I'm done with my toy I might want another one. She looks like a fun toy to try.
Fair queen picked it up and gave it to HIM! It's not for HIM it is for my toy. But I see his anger and I smile knowing that anger is of him knowing he will lose. When she sees my promise she gets that scared little look I know so well. I yearn for that expression.
I'm going to win this ultimate game!
No one beats me. I always win.
A/n well there ya go. I wanted to get this story on a roll. Bella finally has a backbone but will this "Promise" change that?
Love ya good night!