Author Note/

Delighted with the response last chapter! Let's get straight back into it, shall we?

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

I watched in horror as Edward leaped from the raft before I had any chance to stop him. "Edward!" I cried, trying to drag myself to the sides of the raft but my leg made me useless. I knew I'd have to get out into the water one way or another once we reached land but the idea of going through more pain was daunting. And I still really needed to pee! "What are you doing?"

"The currents too strong to get to shore, remember?" Edward yelled from behind the raft. I looked behind me, straining my neck to see further but all I could make out was his hair. I looked to the direction of the island and saw we were getting closer to it. "I have to push us past the waves!"

"What about sharks?" I worried. The rain was still pouring relentlessly so I made sure the water bowl was still collecting.

"Don't start that again!" Edward yelled back. "Just keep your leg in that raft for now!"

I did as he said and waited patiently as he pushed us closer to shore. It felt like forever but I couldn't rush Edward when he was already doing so much for me. I could jump out and help but was my foot up for paddling against the current? I gnawed on my bottom lip, debating silently. He was going to catch pneumonia, I was sure of it.

"My feet are touching sand," Edward announced after a long while. An hour must have passed us by: It was completely dark now. I sat upright again, realising the beach was merely a few metres away. I'd have to get out and walk through the water if I wanted to reach land without damaging the raft. At least then I could relieve my bladder in the sea. Hopefully any sharks nearby swallowed the urine, as gross as it sounded. Damn things had me scarred for life… literally.

"I'll climb out," I said, shifting my weight closer to the edge of the raft, wincing in pain before catching myself.

"Hold on a sec, Bella"- but I was already dropping into the ocean; the water hitting my injury and stinging the life out of the thing.

"Fuck that hurts!" I gasped, ignoring Edward's protests behind me. I could see the whole perimeter of the island now from where I stood in the water and with it reaching my waist, I could easily pee in peace. I just kept it to myself when Edward reached my side.

"Didn't I tell you to keep that foot inside the raft?" He chastised me but I was too busy relieving myself to care how close he was to my urination. "I could have carried you to shore."

"Nuh uh," I sighed happily, finally finished. "I needed to get a bit wet."

"That's what she said," Edward said quickly and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Let's just get to shore. You can carry me now if you'd like," I hoped, hating the idea of limping all the way to the beach in salty water. My wound was stinging like fire right now!

"Come on," Edward scooped me up in his arms bridal style and carried me to shore while I took in the scenery before me. The darkened sky limited my sight but I could easily make out the height of the tall green trees that almost reached the sky. They weren't tropical, considering we were in the Atlantic but the plant I needed didn't have to be sustained in warm weather.

Edward still held onto me as we walked further towards the jungle, away from the water. I worried the raft would float away but he seemed to have secured it to one of the rocks along the shoreline. Always so efficient that boy was. He walked us under a few trees before finding a dry spot to plop my ass down on. With me safe from the rain but still sopping wet, Edward explained he was going to find dry wood for a fire.

"Could you grab my shirt from the raft, please?" I begged, scared he'd get pissed for not asking sooner.

"Are you too cold?" Edward asked, his expression turning soft.

"I just want to be clothed," I smiled nervously.

Edward caught on and smirked back, shaking his head at me. "Take my shirt until I'm back."

"No, I"-

"Shut up, Bella." Edward threw his shirt over his head and I ignored the sight of his perfectly sculptured abs and v-lines. I stared, unashamed until Edward started laughing. "Call me if anything happens. If it's a bug I don't wanna know."

"Ha ha," I droned, letting him leave me in the darkness. The moonlight was shining on the ocean ahead and it illuminated some parts of the jungle. I could still hear Edward a fair distance away picking through soil to find dry wood and the rustle of the trees was almost soothing enough to lull me to sleep. The stinging in my leg had subsided a little since I was drying off but it was only a matter of time before I was using up the last of the bandages in the raft.

I was afraid to admit that I'd have to wait till morning to find the flower I needed to heal. I needed proper light to identify the plant life here.

"Bella?" Edward called, his voice almost drowned out by the whistling of the wind and rain.

"I'm here!" I replied, waving my hand uselessly in the air.

Two minutes later fire wood was being dropped in front of me and Edward sat down beside me against the bark of a tree. "Let's get you warmed up," he flashed his teeth in a smile. He began rubbing two of the sticks together, causing friction to produce smoke.

"You were definitely a boy scout before the assassin life took you," I joked, watching in awe the skill he had with the wood. Bits of dry grass was used to spark a flame and before my eyes, a fire was beginning to form.

"No, this I learned in training," Edward explained to me, blowing on the growing flames.

"You can have your shirt back," I offered, ready to peel the thing off my now dry skin since the fire was heating up.

"Although I'd love to see you almost naked again," Edward teased, "keep it on you until morning. I'll get your clothes and the water bowl from the raft once there's proper light."

"Very well," I didn't want to argue. We had finally found proper shelter and steady ground to sleep on. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the fact. "I can't believe we're here right now."

"I know… after all that time at sea," Edward said slowly. "I almost forget how to walk on solid ground."

"I know right?"

"And with so much wood on hand I can carve spears to catch fish which we can finally cook," Edward added to my glee. "There was a lot of rocks by the shore so clams and mussels are a definite catch too."

"Real food!" I cried with joy and Edward laughed. Our mood was a definite high and with the warmth radiating onto my skin, I couldn't feel more at ease. I leaned into Edward's side, resting my head on his shoulder as the flames danced before us.

"Edward?" I said softly, feeling my voice drift into the night time air. The rain had slowed down and I hoped the water bowl was tipping over with the amount of fresh water we got. I smiled at the thought.

"Yeah?" Edward replied just as softly. I could hear the contentment in his voice, just like I'm sure he could hear in mine.

"For what it's all worth," I began, "I'm glad I'm stuck here with you."

Edward shifted under me and I lifted my head from his shoulder, ready to meet his gaze. The fire danced in his wide eyes and the beauty of them had me lost for words. He was shining and incredibly handsome in this light, a sight I had never got the privilege of seeing before. We looked at each other for a moment more before he spoke.

"I'm glad I'm here with you too, Bella," he whispered to the night but his words had my stomach tightening and the butterflies went crazy in flight. Edward cocked his head to the side to lean closer and I copied his movements, closing my eyes just as his lips met mine. With the fire burning into my already heated skin, I reacted on instinct, opening my mouth to receive his tongue and my hands went up to his hair, creeping slowly along his neck before tugging on the long strands of bronze locks.

Edward's tongue glided against mine before he dipped his head to latch my bottom lip between his teeth. I gasped at the sensation as it sent tingles through my body until they dipped low to my promise land. I wanted so much for him to touch me there, for him to touch me anywhere with how he was kissing me, but now wasn't the right time. We were on a high and moving ahead of ourselves while I was still sporting an injury was just reckless. We had to think logically and rationally.

So it was with great difficulty that I pulled my lips from him, a panting mess while I kept my arms around his neck. "We should slow down," I panted harshly, fanning my breath across his delectable face.

Edward nodded, fighting the haze that was clear in his lucid eyes and smiled, despite it all. "I couldn't help myself."

"You and me both," I breathed and Edward laughed.

"We'll sleep and get settled in by morning, how's that?"

I nodded sharply. "Effective. Goodnight Edward."

He chuckled loudly, dropping a swift kiss on my forehead that had me swooning but I contained the butterflies this time as I snuggled into Edward's arms. We were nestled against the tree trunk, warm from the fire and that fact had me dropping straight to sleep.

~Instinct~

I woke to the smell of smoked out flames, drifting along my face. The smell was rank and I sat up proper, realising I had fallen from my position against the tree. It was bright out and the sun was beaming down on my bare legs. I curled them under my ass and looked around for Edward, coming up short.

"Edward?" I called loudly, looking left and right. I finally found him coming back from the shore, carrying multiple items in his arms. He greeted me with a smile and dropped the junk onto the mossy ground.

"Good morning," he beamed. "Did you have a nice sleep?"

Before I could reply he was kissing me softly, stopping my words indefinitely. I smiled into the kiss, never have been woken in such a way before and even pouted when he pulled away. "It's certainly better being awake, that's for sure," I decided and Edward's familiar laugh bounded through the trees, making me feel all fuzzy inside.

The items on the ground became useful as the fumes from the dulled fire got in my face again. Edward picked up the water bowl and dropped a few doses onto the smoke, slowing it down.

"Drink," he ordered, handing me the bowl. I took it gratefully. "I grabbed the peanuts from the raft also. They'll do until I catch and cook some fish."

"Thank you," I said between gulps of water. I sighed in relief at the contact.

"Your clothes are there too," he pointed to the bundle on the floor. "Although I suggest you stay clear of the jeans."

I arched a brow. "Still want me parading around naked?"

"Surprisingly, I was thinking about your injury," Edward shot back with a smirk and my cheeks went bright red. Unsurprisingly, he laughed. Again. "Do you remember what that flower you talked about looks like?"

I nodded after making a grab for the peanut bag. They were almost gone. Our rations were officially dying out. "Yeah, I'll go rooting through the jungle to find them."

Edward shook his head. "No way, you're not adding more strain to your leg. Describe the plant to me and I'll go find it."

"Can we find food first?" I pleaded. "I'm starving."

"A side effect of being stranded on an island, Bella," he frowned with a roll of his eyes. "Your injury comes first. Now," he took a breath, "what flower am I looking for?"

AN/

So life on land is deeming helpful. I threw in another kiss just because I'm feeling a lacking of romance. Don't worry, once our Bella is safe, these kids will pick up their pace. Until then, sit tight.

Reviews are love so give me some love.