Alright so as I said in the last chapter, I started university and I don't always have time to write these days so you're going to have to be patient. So for now, just READ AND REVIEW PLEASE! I'm trying here.

Disclaimer = I don't own Twilight!

Chapter 12

A moonlight stroll

Bella's Point of View

It was strange, being beside Edward like this. We were walking through the garden, the moon shining down upon us, and it felt at peace. Edward strolled through the garden slowly with his hands behind his back, his masculine form shining in the moonlight, as if he was made of small diamonds. His green eyes seemed even more remarkable when looking at him in this light, better than in the sun.

"I'm terribly sorry about my brother's behaviour at the table. He is not normally like this," Edward explained, keeping his slow pace. Following beside him, from time to time, I would look up at his face and now he was smiling. It was ever so slight but nevertheless, the smile was still there.

"It's alright. He had every right to. I suppose I'm not the type of guest you normally receive…" I answered back, looking at my feet while walking.

"That last part of your sentence my be true but the rest is faulty. My brother is very mature when it comes to having guests but he has never reacted this way," Edward explained, looking at me now as we walked. His calm, collect features made my heart beat slightly frantically. But that also resulted with Edward's looks and his gentleness. To know that I was a thief and still want to be close to me… that was amazing. And who would have thought that it would be a prince that would be standing beside me, having a calm and lovely conversation with me while strolling under the moon? "I shall have a conversation with him soon enough Bella."

"It's alright your maj—" Getting a slightly frightening look from Edward, my mouth became shut and I cleared my throat. "It's alright Edward. I deserve it after being what I am. And your brother seems to be only thinking about the fact that I am a thief, which is what he should be doing. What everyone should be doing."

"Once again, that is faulty. Alice adores you. Mother and Father both like you and Rosalie… well Rosalie and my brother seem to be different cases," Edward said, looking forward once again.

"Does she hate me as well?"

"She's neutral. Not desiring to get involved in everything that is happening, nor does she intend to get in Jasper's way, especially considering how angry he was. But… I don't believe that she 'hates' you," Edward said, turning to look at me for a few seconds.

Meeting his eyes, I tripped over my own feet and began falling forward but Edward reached out and caught my good arm, steadying me on my feet. Clumsy me… But, Edward seemed to chuckle at my small fall. "Unbelievable…"

"What?" I looked at him and saw him chuckle even more, meeting my brown eyes with his beautiful emerald ones. A slight smile played on my lips as he chuckled and looked at me with a beautiful smile. "What's so funny?"

"I have seen you stealthily move from balcony to balcony and yet you trip over your own feet if you do not look at your feet when you walk. It's unbelievable…" Edward said with a slight chuckle. Rolling my eyes at him, we sat down on a bench in front of a fountain, looking up at the moon. Looking at Edward's features, he was smiling, as if this were something that he had not done in a long time. As if simply sitting here and looking at the moon was the best thing that had happened to him all day. Maybe in a few days or weeks. "It's so wonderful out here… The moon reflecting on us… It's peaceful."

"Yeah, it is," I said, still looking at his features. When he turned to look at me, I reverted my gaze immediately to the moon, making him chuckle again. Oh no… He'd seen that. Damn it. Clearing my throat, we both looked up at the sky and gazed up at the moon.

"There has been one thing that has baffled me about you, Bella," Edward said after a few minutes of silence. Looking at him, our eyes met for a few seconds and it seemed as though my heart skipped a beat.

No, I can't think like that. He's a prince and soon, I'll go back to the dungeons and rot there for days on end, I thought, looking away slowly, not too quickly as to make him believe that something is wrong but to make him believe that the garden is interesting me at the moment. At least… that's what I wanted to make him believe.

"And what might that be…?"

"What has made you turn towards thieving?"

"Oh… that thing…"

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him looking at me now. What… did he find so interesting in me? Well, that is the question to ask if he was interested in me, which I doubt. I mean, who could be interested in a thief and a street rat such as myself? The answer: no one. Not even a prince such as the beautiful man in front of me… This was a simple crush that would go away with time… I think. His interest in me must be the same: a sort of crush that would just go away in a VERY short time.

Sighing, I began explaining him the same story I had once given Alice simply a few hours ago. He seemed, surprisingly, very interested in it and didn't interrupt once during the explanation. When finishing, he began asking a few questions, such as 'was it hard to teach your brother to read?' or 'how did you feel during all of those years, having to steal for a living?'. It was hard sometimes to answer him but otherwise, it was… comforting. Talking to Alice was great and now, letting my feelings out towards Edward feels like a giant weight had just been taken off my shoulders. For years, my brother and I kept these little secrets to ourselves but now, opening up to these royals—yeah, I know. Doesn't really make much sense—helped me in this dire time.

"I'm sorry you've had such a burden to bear for so many years," Edward answered after the questioning. He actually sounded… sympathetic. Did he care? I doubt it. I'm nothing more than a street rat to everyone, including him.

"Um… thanks…" I said, looking around the garden. "You have a lovely garden…"

Trying to change the subject, he looked around as well and nodded. "Mother loves to garden. She tries as much as possible to tend to the flowers but is, most of the time, caught up with meetings with Father and so the servants take care of them for her until she can herself," Edward explained, standing up and walking over to a freesia. Standing as well, my feet instantly led to way to him and my senses detected an extremely sweet smell. Of course, the fragrances of the numerous types of flowers around us made it harder to detect the freesia's scent but, leaning in close, its fragrance nearly smelled like strawberries. "These are Mother's favourite flowers. She loves the smell; it reminds her of—"

"Strawberries?" I answered, looking up at him.

"Why yes. Exactly right," Edward said, smiling. Suddenly, a cold breeze swooped through the garden and sent chills up my spine. Shivering ever so slightly, his smile faded and he seemed to have noticed my slight shiver. "Maybe we should return to our quarters."

"I'm alright. It was only a breeze," I said, feeling another one pass by. Damn this temperature… It's a beautiful night and the cold Persian weather has to go and ruin it. "Oh god…"

"We can always return to the garden tomorrow. I will be gone with Father and Jasper for most of the day for a hunting trip but we shall be back before dinner," Edward explained, placing a small hand on my back and turning us towards the entrance, removing his hand from my back and walked towards the doors.

Following him, we looked in front of us, not daring to look at one another now. For some odd reason… I wanted to look at him. So badly… But why though? What was with all these emotions that ran through me at the sight of him? It has only been a few days that we've met each other and now, all I wanted to do was to be around him. It wasn't normal… Something must be wrong with me. But, as we walked, I refrained myself from looking at his gorgeous emerald eyes and muscular body…

We arrived at the doors to our rooms slowly and we finally looked each other in the eye. His eyes were so emerald, I could simply drown in them and be content in death. "Shall I see you for breakfast?" Edward asked, looking down at me.

"Um… if I'm allowed…" I said, looking slightly down nervously. Would I be allowed to eat with him again? Would I get a meal ever again, especially with what happened at supper today? Maybe… the odds weren't very good, in my opinion.

"Of course you're allowed. It's an absurd thing to think that you won't be." Edward looked outside and seemed to sense the time. Maybe, being in the palace and all, he was able to distinguish the time by the way the moon and the sun are in the sky. It's not surprising. I tried doing that but it was a fail. All I knew was when was dawn, morning, afternoon, twilight and evening. "It's late. Best get to sleep to have a fresh start tomorrow," Edward said, turning his eyes back to me. He smiled a wonderful smile that made my heart skip a beat and continued speaking. "I bid you a good night Bella," were his last words before walking to his room right next to mine and entering it soundlessly.

Watching him go, it took me a few minutes before opening the door and entering the room. I still couldn't get over how beautiful this room was… It wasn't something that should be lent to someone like me. Edward did say that he would be gone most of the day. Maybe I could try exploring a little. Walking over to the window seat, I sat down and looked out over the scenery. And the scenery reminded me of Emmett again. How was he dealing at the moment? Was he alright? Was he even alive…? No. Emmett was strong enough to deal through anything. Even without me…

One question ran through my mind while looking at the surroundings. Why didn't I just escape right now? Why didn't I just use the sheets and try to escape against the walls? Go back to Emmett? It would be so much simpler that way; things would go back to normal.

But there was one answer to it: I didn't want to. I didn't want to leave Edward…

Emmett's Point of View

Laurent had been faithful. He had been able to get the equipment and man work that I needed for this plan to be executed perfectly. Now, we were only days away—which seemed like agonizing days, not knowing if Bella would be able to make it before I got to her or if she was still alive—before breaking and entering the castle and getting my sister back.

Sitting in the small room Bella and I had once shared, I stared at the golden necklace Bella had stolen that unfaithful day she was nearly caught by the guards. It held so many wonderful memories of the past… those days Bella and I went to the waterfalls just looking at the scenery, her teaching me to read and write, trips to town… everything. I missed Bella so much. She was the only family left and now she's gone. In a dungeon.

Gripping the golden necklace, my eyes closed and Bella's smiling face came into view. Should it be better if I returned this necklace? Bella had gotten caught because she had stolen something… with my help. It was always the two of us going out to steal. She usually didn't act alone. But now, Bella did. And I let her get captured.

Why didn't I fight for her? There should have been something that I could have done. But that last look that she gave me… it was telling me that she didn't want anyone finding her. Or anyone to get caught because of her. I wasn't a good brother to her…

But I would make it up to her.

Standing up, my feet walked robotically towards the window and my body propelled itself out of it, landing safely on my feet, like I'd practiced so many times with Bella. Running towards the meeting place, Laurent and I would make our plan official and go over the plan many times before we broke Bella out of jail.

I'm coming Bella. Don't you worry. You'll be safe again.

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Bellacullenswan17

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