DC: I don't own it

Thank you to my reviewers

Chapter 11,

Edward carried Bella into the apartment and decided to get their luggage in the morning. He was so tired that he just wanted to sleep. She was still drowsy from the drugs and even though she assured him that she could walk he said he didn't want to risk her falling. Really he just wanted another excuse to hold her.

They fell onto the bed and Bella let her arm fall around his waist. He turned into her and kissed her. They didn't say much, just murmured sweet nothings to each other. He kissed her lips and her neck. He kissed along her collar bone and smiled when she whimpered softly. He caressed her breast through her shirt and smiled against her skin.

"I want to make love to you," he murmured.

"Mm I thought you were tired."

"There is always time for sleep," he decided, "not nearly enough time to get my fill of you."

"You're such a charmer," Bella sighed, twirling some of his hair around her finger. He kissed along the sliver of skin that had been exposed in their movements. He moved her shirt up slowly, kissing her stomach as he went. She was tired but she couldn't say no to him. She never could. He looked so beautiful in the moonlight that shone through their window. How could she deny him when her body ached for his touch as much as his did.

He undressed her slowly and sensually. Then undressed himself. He held her in his arms as he stroked her, readying her for him. He kissed her lips and massaged her tongue with his own. She was ready for him. He always knew the right places to set her on fire. She could tell the tone of the sex from his touches. When he pushed into her it was slow and easy. She loved the way he filled her so perfectly. His movements were slower, delaying the end. They were just enjoying the feel of complete connection, body and soul. He was laying next to her instead of on top of her. Her leg curved around his thigh and she smiled.

They didn't say a word. It wasn't needed. Bella always felt like the most beautiful girl when he looked at her the way he did now. She blushed under his piercing emerald gaze. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. He shifted and sped up a little. He loved her so much. She wouldn't let him go. She couldn't let him go. If they were separated...who would she be without him?

When Edward looked into her eyes again they were red and shining with tears. He kissed her softly and innocently. "I'll always be a part of you," he promised.

It was like a dream. This was their world, their place. Nobody could hurt them when they were like this. All the riches in the world could burn and she wouldn't notice.

---

"What should we do?" Edward asked the next morning over breakfast.

Bella didn't answer. She leaned against the counter with her cup of coffee. She looked into the black depths and saw her own dark reflection.

"I don't know," she said finally. "The wedding is set for the day after my birthday."

"What if you don't show?" he asked.

"Clearly my parents aren't above drugging me."

"Point taken. What if we get married before then?" Edward asked. "I mean we are already engaged and we can go to the court house today. I mean it isn't the wedding we had in mind but that doesn't matter if it means I'll never lose you."

"I don't know," she said, nibbling on her thumb nail, "I'm trying to think. They could force and annulment. They would have no proof if we consummated the marriage."

"Do you still want to get married?" Edward asked slowly. Bella looked at him in shock.

"Of course I do! Do you?"

"Obviously. But you're kind of cutting me off here."

"I'm sorry. I love you, Edward, and I want to marry you. Hell I'll go to the courthouse now and promise to love you and cherish you forever but I'm thinking in terms of preventing the wedding to Jacob."

She felt like she was going up against a brick wall. She put her cup down and started walking aimlessly. If they could go somewhere...they didn't have the money but she knew Alice or Rosalie would help them in any way they could. Leave the country maybe? Go to Canada? Bella looked at Edward as he leaned against the small dining room table that doubled as a desk. Some of his books were piled on it. He had three years left. A transfer? But the only way he could go was if he got a scholarship and that would put him on records and she knew that he would be willing to get rid of it all, but she couldn't let him. He had promised his brother that he would graduate.

But he would be more upset if he lost her.

Would her parents find her? Could they find her? How far would they go before they stopped looking? Bella let out a frustrated growl and put her face in her hands. She smoothed her hair back and tried to calm down. The last thing she needed was an anxiety attack.

"What if we had a baby?" Edward asked. Bella turned.

"Seriously?!"

"Yes, seriously," he said, he came over and took her hand, "if we got married they could find a way to dissolve it. That's what you told me."

"It wouldn't be hard," Bella agreed.

"But if we have a baby together..."

"A baby doesn't solve problems Edward," Bella reminded him, "besides I can't just have a baby because we need a solution."

"We aren't exactly a loveless couple," Edward said, sitting, "we're more in love than most parents are when they have children."

"But we're only nineteen," Bella reminded him, "I can't be a mother yet. We can't afford it either. We're barely making it by as it is."

"I'll drop out of school."

"Absolutely not," Bella said sharply, "Edward you love college and you're brilliant."

"I can go back."

"You promised your brother that you would graduate," she reminded him.

"I think Carlisle would have wanted me to follow my heart. Besides, Dartmouth will be there forever. Heck I can go to a community college. I don't have to be ivy league."

Bella sat down. Could she even get pregnant? It was the end of December. She tried to count out how many months until September. She would have to get pregnant right away to have the baby in September. She would have to become the mother she didn't know if she could be in just under ten months. What if her father didn't care? Would he kill the baby? She didn't know if he would sink that low. But still, would it be a risk she'd take?

"You're scared," Edward observed. "What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid...of so much."

She sank into the couch and he put his arm around her and held her hand. "Talk to me."

"What if I can't get pregnant before February?"

"You don't need to get pregnant right away," Edward said, "just as long as it is before May, just to be safe."

"No, Edward, you don't understand! My father forced my mother to get the abortion. He physically dragged her to the clinic. Do you think that matters to him? I'm scared that he'll find me and he'll kill the baby. That's just my worries about them! There are plenty of others. I'm too young, we both are. What if this doesn't last? What if you realize that I'm not worth it?"

"Stop right there," Edward said firmly, "Isabella I will never find a woman I love more than you."

"You don't deserve so much pain," Bella said, starting to cry, "I am such a pain to you Edward. Look at what I'm doing! I'm making you change everything."

"You aren't making me do anything! I want to be with you. I want to do whatever it takes. I want to love you and cherish you for the rest of my life. If we have a baby together it will only complete everything we have. I want to share everything with you for the rest of my life no matter how hard it is. I don't care if I have to fight tooth and nail for you. You are worth it."

Bella buried her head in his chest. "I don't deserve someone as wonderful as you."

"I think the same thing every time you smile at me and say you love me."

Bella sighed into his chest, trying to clear her head. She closed her eyes and thought of nothing. She brought her lips to his. He kissed her back. His hand was soft yet firm on her face as he held her body tighter.

She saw them. The little bronze haired children running through a grassy lawn, rolling around and playing with him. She was on the porch, laughing and smiling. They were so complete in their love. Their house was small and cozy and theirs. The little chimes of laughter lit up her heart. At the end of the night they tucked the little ones into bed and then snuggled under the blankets for another night before they could walk up to each other again.

She pulled away and looked into his eyes. They would find a way. They would carry their baby through it's first steps, words and laughs. She loved him and he loved her. They would never have the luxurious childhood that she had but they would fill it with all the love she never knew.

"Bella?"

"I want to have your baby," she whispered. He smiled and kissed her again.

---

April came with rain and more rain. Bella let out a groan of frustration as once again the stick read not pregnant. She threw it into the trash and came out of the bathroom. Edward looked up at her.

"Not yet," she said.

"Don't worry," he said gently, "I love trying."

Bella smiled and he kissed her forehead. "You're tense."

"Nevermind," she murmured, "you'll be late."

"Oh crap!" Edward grabbed his bag and ran out the door. He popped back to kiss her goodbye and then ran out again. She giggled and sank into the sofa. She had another hour before work. She didn't tell him but she was so worried when the stick came out negative. One more month before the deadline. After that her father could easily force an abortion. Money spoke loudly to everyone, a fact Bella hated.

---

Rain gave into sunshine as May was around the corner. Bella actually found herself crying when she got her period. But this time Edward wasn't there to comfort her. She dried her eyes and went out into the living room where he was once again pouring over books and notes. Finals were approaching.

"Sweetie, come to dinner," she said.

"In a minute," he replied, not looking up. Bella rolled her eyes and put his plate on the table. She poked at her pasta and sighed. Irritated, she stood up and walked over to him. She snapped his book closed and, ignoring the comments he made in protest, she pulled him to the table. "Bella I have to study..."

"You know that book front and back."

"Yet it isn't good enough," he growled, "I bombed my midterm and I need to get at least a B to pass the class."

"What do you mean you bombed the midterm?" Bella asked. "You studied for months! You didn't need to study nearly as much last semester!"

"Well that was because I was taking my gen eds. This semester I'm taking upper levels and they are harder."

"You're a genius," she reminded him, "and you're so tense it's like hugging a rock!"

"I'm more than a little stressed out," he grumbled.

"Will you at least let me help you?" Bella asked.

"I just need to study the material and remember it, that's all," he sighed, he sat up and went to go back and study.

"Get back here you aren't done!"

"I'm not hungry."

"Edward Cullen stop being so stubborn!"

He didn't answer. He grabbed his book and went onto the balcony.

Bella scowled in his direction and stormed out of the room. She turned on the shower and grumbled through the entire thing. "Oh just brilliant darling, really, stress yourself out and give yourself an ulcer."

Bella didn't know what she was more irritated about. The stress, the fact that she wasn't pregnant yet or the fact that their sex life was practically non-exsistant. It wasn't nearly as amazing as it was. Every once in a while he would make her see stars but most of the time it was quick and with the sole purpose to get pregnant.

Maybe that was why the baby wouldn't come. She was so tense these days. Edward was almost to his breaking point. He was so preoccupied with school anymore. With a frustrated sigh she got out of the shower and dried off. She walked into the living room and sighed when she saw that he was asleep on the floor. She knelt down and touched his cheek softly. She couldn't stay mad at him. He was the sweetest man she ever met and as much as he irritated her sometimes, she loved him so dearly.

"Hey sleepy head," she murmured, poking his cheek.

"Huh? What? Oh...what's up?"

"You fell asleep," she said.

"You're in a towel."

"I took a shower."

He reached over and tugged on the bottom of her towel. "I like it when you take showers."

Bella realized he had a strait view right between her legs and playfully pushed him. "You perv."

He rolled and took her with him. She yelped and was on top of him.

"I heard you grumbling in the shower," he teased, "you're so cute when you're irritated."

"Which would explain why you love to torment me!"

He grinned and kissed her neck. "I'm sorry I've been so preoccupied. I just can't seem to do anything right anymore. I'm in trouble Bells, and I don't know what to do. If I get less than a B I'm in trouble with the scholarship."

"What do you have now?"

"I don't know," he sighed, "but I barely passed my midterms. All of them. I knew the material and I could have sworn it was right."

"There is such a thing as over studying honey," Bella said, rolling off of him and standing up. "How about this. I'll make a special dinner tomorrow and we'll have a quiet night."

Edward leaned over and kissed her ankle. "You always bring out the naughty teenager in me when you dress like that."

"Oh my god I'm going to get my pajamas," Bella cried.

"No! Bells don't!" he whined, grabbing onto her ankle, "Bellaaaaaaaaaaa don't leave meeeeee!"

"Oh my god you're like a child," Bella laughed. But she dropped her towel anyway and returned his mischievous grin.

---

Edward was late coming home. Bella was irritated about it but more than that she was worried. He rarely came home late. When he did he dropped his bag on the floor and fell into the sofa. He put his head in his hands and broke into silent sobs.

"Edward? What's going on?" she asked, rushing to him. She knelt down and tried to look into his face.

"Everything I touch is always ruined," Edward cried, "I'm a horrible person!"

"Nonsense," Bella said gently. She took his hands and was more than ready when he fell into her arms and hugged her tight. "What happened?"

"Mom's in the hospital. I didn't go and check on her. I should have made sure that everything was okay the last time I went home but I didn't."

"What happened?"

"Car accident. God why do the people in my life keep getting into car accidents? You aren't allowed to drive anymore! You can't be in the car with me anymore."

"Oh Edward you're being silly," Bella sighed. "Do you want to go see her?"

"No," he sniffed, "I'm a horrible son."

"Oh no you aren't."

"Everything is falling apart Bells," he sobbed, "I'm going to fail everything in school, my mother is going to need so much help, my sister is going to prison for drugs and I can't get you pregnant which means come September...why does this stuff keep happening?"

Bella didn't say anything. She rubbed soothing circles on his back. She had a pretty good idea why all this was happening. He held her tight and finally calmed down. He wasn't as broken up about his mother's accident as he seemed. She knew it was just weeks of stress breaking out. But still...it was too strange. She put on a smile for him and made dinner. They went to bed early and slept in each other's arms.

---

Bella walked into the giant mansion she had once called her home. The walls were still elaborate and beautiful but cold and empty. She found Charlie in his study, where she knew he would be.

"One moment, Bella, I'm on the phone with Dartmouth."

"Call them back."

"Do you have something important to tell me?" Charlie asked smoothly.

"You're doing this aren't you? Edward failing his classes, his mother's accident, his sister's arrest...you're behind it."

"I'll give you my answer in a moment, it seems a new deal is coming to the table."

Bella came up to the mahogany desk and looked her father in the eye.

"Tell me Bella, what grade should young, Edward was it? Get in his classes? Exceptional work. He truly is a brilliant mind."

"So what? Did you pay the dean? Threaten his teachers? Sleep with them?"

"One of the benefits of being wealthy is having control."

Bella looked at the mahogany. Her fists tightened. "His mother?"

"Sweetheart you underestimate my abilities."

"Everything that is going wrong in his life is because of you."

"No, darling, because of you," Charlie corrected, "you think that your stubbornness is noble? Fighting for love? You're a fool, Bella and it is time to grow up. Your stubbornness is doing this. What was your plan? Get married? Run away together? I could find you anywhere. I wouldn't even need to dissolve the marriage. You would do that much."

"What do you want, Charlie."

"You will marry Jacob within the month. I'm surprised you held out this long actually."

"You said Sept..."

"That was before you pissed me off. Now do you accept my terms or am I going to have to tell my agents to continue with the plan?"

It would kill me to lose you. There is no happiness when you aren't in my life.

But I have no choice, Bella argued against Edward's voice. For you...I want you to be happy and safe...

"You know the power I have, Bella, you've known all along. That is why you never went to the press or exposed us. You knew what I would do to you."

"Yes," she whispered.

"I'm a very busy man, Bella, what is your choice?"

There were no happy endings. Only happy dreams. Bella looked at her father, trembling and trying to fight the tears that threatened to fall. The phone rang. Charlie put it on speaker.

"Go ahead."

"I've reached the apartment. Go ahead with the plan?"

"Well Bella?"

"You win, Charlie," Bella said. "I'll marry Jacob."

"Yes, go ahead with the plan."

"NO!" Bella screamed.

"It's too late for that Isabella, if you truly loved that poor boy you would have done the right thing, now sit down, shut up and behave yourself."

"NO! PLEASE DON'T! I'LL DO ANYTHING YOU ASK! NOT EDWARD!"

"What the hell..." Edward's confused voice sounded through the phone. Then there was a shot. Followed by the sound of him falling. Bella felt her heart stop. She fell to the ground. The shot rang through her ears. The line went dead. Charlie swept by her without a word.

---

"Welcome back," Jasper said. Edward looked around weakly.

"Where am I?" he asked in a thick voice.

"The hospital. You've been here for a week."

"Bella..."

Jasper looked away. "She isn't coming."

"What are you talking about?" Edward asked, sitting up and wincing when it hurt. Jasper dropped the paper on Edward's lap. He looked down at it and the first thing he saw was the bolded headline.

SWAN AND BLACK TO WED

"She went to her father last week and agreed to marry Jacob."

"Why?" Edward rasped.

"It was only a matter of time before everything fell apart. Charlie Swan is a vicious man with a psychotic streak. He sent someone to kill you. Bella tried to stop it but she was too late."

"She..."

"Doesn't know you're alive," Jasper finished grimly. "She won't know. She'll move on in time if she doesn't cling to the belief that you're alive waiting for her."

"This can't be real," Edward breathed, falling back against the pillows, "the police...is there anyone...?"

"Charlie owns the police. You were shot in the chest to make it look like suicide."

"Will he come back to finish me off?"

"He doesn't care enough," Jasper said with a shrug, "he has what he wants."

Edward looked at the picture. Everybody was happy but Bella. Her face was frozen in a mask of unhappiness.

"It isn't smooth," Jasper promised, "people know that it is an arranged marriage and she doesn't love Jacob. The blushing bride hasn't smiled for one shot. But it is the best they could hope for."

Edward closed his eyes. For the first time he regretted promising Bella that he would never try to take his own life again.

---

Alice walked into Bella's room. She was sitting by the window, staring out at the summer afternoon. "How is the bride-to-be?"

"I can't bring myself to do it," she said. Alice looked down and saw the knife on the floor. "Every time I do I see his face and I hear his voice telling me to stop."

"Jasper will kill me for this," Alice said, "but I can't watch you suffer."

"What is it?" Bella asked, looking at her. Alice knelt down by the chair Bella sat in. She put her hand on Bella's and looked into her eyes.

"He survived," Alice said, "he's in the hospital now but he'll be out in a day or so. He isn't going to know that I told you. To keep him from doing anything stupid he isn't going to know. Jasper said I should keep it from you because it would help you move on but I see what this is doing to you. You were blaming yourself for his death and I can't stand by and lie to you."

"I'm glad," Bella said softly, "maybe he'll find someone else. Someone he'll love and cherish forever."

"You're giving up then?" Alice asked.

Bella nodded. "Do you remember when we watched Moulin Rouge and we couldn't understand why they didn't run away together? We were so sad when she stood there and sang that beautiful verse."

"Today's the day when the dreaming ends..." Alice sang softly. Bella closed her eyes.

"I want him to be happy. I don't care what happens to me."

"You've changed," Alice murmured, "it's like you've become an older person."

"I don't see the point in playing his game anymore. I can't win and I can't keep hurting Edward. If I go after him...Charlie doesn't care because right now Edward isn't a threat. If I start going to him again he'll be killed for real. There won't be a third times a charm."

"What about you?" Alice asked. "What will you do?" Bella looked down and brushed her hand over her stomach.

"What I have to," she said softly.

TBC

I made myself cry. :(

There will be more! But only if you guys promise not to kill me!!!! lol