****Thanks for the reviews. They inspire me to keep going. I don't own Twilight or any of the characters.***

BPOV

His kiss seemed more effective in easing the pain in my head than any narcotic the doctors could have given me. He sighed at the contact as he stood back up and grabbed my hand in his. We were just staring at each other when I heard someone clearing their throat in the doorway.

"Dr. Banner, will you please tell my worrisome boyfriend that I will be fine?" I said winking at Edward.

"Well, I just looked over your scans. You do have a concussion but no broken bones. From what my techs tell me, you already wormed that information out of them. You must be pretty stubborn to con my staff into giving you the results so quickly."

"She can be very persuasive." Edward said as he began rubbing circles on the back of my hand.

"What can I say doc? I'm too curious to wait when the answer is right in front of me." I shrugged my shoulders and tried to give him my most innocent expression.

"Remember what they say about curiosity and cats, Isabella. Officer Clearwater will be coming in a few minutes and I will be back shortly with your discharge papers." He turned around and went to the nurses' station where I could see him filling out the paperwork.

"How is everyone in the waiting room?" I said glancing back at Edward from under my lashes.

"Worried. I told them how strong you were being. I'd say they are doing a little better now." He said leaning down and kissing my forehead.

"What about you, Edward?" I looked at the emerald pools and saw the tension just under the surface.

"I had a feeling something was wrong. When I got there, I just knew where you were. I cannot put into words what I was feeling in that moment. Then you looked up at me with blood streaming down your lip and all I could think was that I had to keep it together for you." His head dropped and he began looking at the floor.

"Edward, I know what you are scared of and let me make something perfectly clear. No matter what happens as long as you love me, I will always come back to you." I felt myself biting my lip hoping I'd gotten through to him. He looked up at me with a smile on his face.

"I will never doubt again. I guess I just felt as helpless as I did the last time." His eyes shifted showing he was still nervous.

"It's different this time. First, you are still here. Second, I'm a stronger woman now than I was then. One thing hasn't changed." I said as I ran my hand through his hair.

"You still have impeccable timing. I'm not sure I would be as well as I am had you not showed up."

"I cannot think about what might have happened Bella. I don't have the strength." He said looking away at the nausea inducing mint green walls of the exam room.

"Then don't think about that Edward. Think about us being together." I continued to run my hand through his hair and he laid his head on my lap.

"Forever." He murmured.

"Forever." I whispered in agreement shocked by the truth that resounded in our words. I looked up from Edward to see officer Clearwater walking towards the room. He nodded to me as he walked in and Edward sat up and released my hand.

"I have just come from the station where I interviewed James. Well, tried to interview him. He is not saying anything. They are going to be holding him until Monday. I would need to take a few photos for evidence and the doctors are getting me copies of the scans." I nodded as he took out a camera. Edward stepped back to give Clearwater room. When he lifted the blanket to take pictures of my bruised leg, I saw Edward tense up. My eyes never left Edward throughout the rest of the process. I felt so vulnerable laying on that gurney with pictures being taken.

"Thanks Isabella. I know that was not easy. I'll be in touch as we have any new information. Try to get some rest."

"Please call me Bella. Thank you for all of your help." I tried to smile, but I just couldn't. Edward was back by my side. Officer Clearwater nodded and exited as Dr. Banner walked back in.

"Ok Miss Swan. Here are your discharge papers. Do you have any questions?"

"No sir. I've had a concussion before. I'll know if I need to come back."

"Very well. You take it easy." He said as he shook our hands before leaving the room. A nurse came in to lead us to the waiting room and toward our friends. I had to sit in the wheel chair as far as the waiting room.

"Don't be embarrassed Bella. It's protocol." Edward said walking beside me.

"I'm not embarrassed." I said rolling my eyes and biting my lip.

"Then why are you blushing?" I looked up at him and saw a twinkle in his eye.

"Ok so maybe I am embarrassed. You would be too." His tensed and looked back up.

As we entered the waiting room, I saw Embry, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett sitting in the corner all of whom looked very tense and stressed. Then Embry's face jerked up and stared straight at me. He got up quickly and rushed over to us.

"Are you ok?" He asked as he bent down and looked at me eye to eye.

"I'll be fine. Let's go to the others so I don't have to repeat this." I stood up from the wheelchair with Edward's help and leant on him as we walked towards the group. I walked slowly as my leg was pretty sore from James stomping on it. The waiting room was pretty busy as it was Saturday night. My friends did not let me get far before they closed the distance between us.

"Oh Bella are you okay? We were so worried. What did the doctor say?" Alice spoke so quickly that I hardly was able to make out what she said.

"Alice, let her breathe and slow down. You are making me anxious talking so quickly." Rosalie said as she grabbed Emmett's hand. I looked to Emmett who was looking at the ground and refused to look at me. I slowly removed myself from Edward's grip and walked to Emmett putting my hand under his strong chin and trying to lift his head so he would look at me.

"I'm going to be fine. I have a concussion, but everything else is just bruises and will hopefully fade quickly." I said as I felt all of their eyes on me including Emmett's.

"I should have taken him out when I had the chance." He murmured under his breath.

"I should have listened to Embry. We could stand here and could have, would have, should have all night, but it isn't going to do anything now. I'm going to be fine, now stop being grumpy and give me a piggy back ride to the car." A grin slowly spread on his face and he twirled around and jumped on his back causing everyone to laugh. He took me to the parking garage where I saw Edwards's car next to Emmett's Jeep.

"I drove it here for him. I didn't want to leave it at the tavern." Jasper said answering the question on my face, as Emmett put me down gently.

"Come on love. Let's get you home." Edward said opening the passenger side door for me. He closed the door and said something to Jasper and Alice before getting into the car. "Alice and Jasper are sleeping in your room. I'd feel more comfortable if you stayed with me. Is that okay?" He said as he started the car.

"Of course. I would love to be with you alone right now anyway. I love them, but I just want to be with you right now." A dazzling smile came on his face as he backed out of the parking space and sped back to Preston. Before I knew it, I was being nudged awake by Edward. He had opened my door and was lifting me out of the car.

"Emmett can you close the door. Sleep Bella. You need to rest." I heard a car door close and could tell Edward was walking towards the building.

"I love you Edward." I rested my head on his shoulder and he looked down at me with the perfect crooked smile on his face.

"As I love you." He looked up as Jasper opened the front door for him and Emmett ran ahead to open the other doors for him. Finally, I was being carried into Edward's room and laid on the bed.

"I'll be in my room tonight if you need any help Edward. Jasper and Alice are already downstairs. Rosalie is staying with me tonight."

"Thanks Emmet. I'll let you know if I need any help, but I think I have it for now." I scooted over in the bed and Edward sat beside me.

"Cool Deal. Get some rest, Bella. I'll see you guys tomorrow." He said waling out of the room.

"Night Em." I said loudly as I heard the door softly close.

"Are you comfortable enough in your outfit, or do you want to change?" Edward leaned down and asked as he moved a strand of hair out of my face.

"I would love to change into something." I said peering up at him and trying to stifle my yawn.

"I've got just the thing." He said as he stood up and walked to his dresser. "Here is a pair of pants and a shirt. Do you need help?" I nodded and stood up as he helped me change from my outfit and into a pair of his sweat pants and his high school baseball jersey with his name on the back.

"Let's lay you down. You've had a hard night." He said lifting me up again and laying me on his bed. He crawled in behind me and held me as I cuddled up to him and rested my head on his chest. I was asleep in no time.

EPOV

It seemed like she fell asleep the moment she rested her head on my chest. I reflected how strong she was being. A part of me worried that it was a role she had learned to play so well over the years of both physical and verbal abuse that she endured. I just hoped that she was being honest with me. I was almost asleep when I heard Bella beginning to whimper.

"Edward, I'm sorry Edward. Don't leave me again." My heart shattered at those words. Does she still feel subconsciously that I could walk away from her? I shook my head in frustration. I guess there would be nothing I could do but show her in time.

"Bella, love, I am not going anywhere. I could never leave you." I said running my hand through her silky locks of mahogany hair. I was up for a little longer hearing her whimper before she began to tremble in her sleep.

"James please don't. STOP!" I sat bolt upright and tried to gently shake Bella awake.

"Bella, love, you are just having a nightmare. Wake up for me sweets." I said as her eyes began to open. "That's my girl wake up." She woke up further and looked at me in confusion before the tears began to build in her eyes. She sat up and clung to me. "I'm here love. I'm not going anywhere."

She pulled away and looked into my eyes. "I know you aren't going anywhere Edward. What did I say?" She had tears falling still but appeared much calmer.

"You asked for me not to leave you again and then you were whimpering before you begged James to stop." She winced as I recalled the panic evident on her sleeping face.

"He wasn't hurting me Edward, well not physically. In my nightmare, he was hurting something more precious to me than me. He was hurting you. He tried to kidnap you and then he was hurting you." She looked in my eyes and a tear began to run down her bruised cheek. I gently rubbed the tears away and pulled her close to me.

"I'm not going anywhere. He's in jail and cannot hurt me. I'm not going anywhere. I have too much here to ever feel the desire to leave." I pulled her closer to me and just couldn't seem to be close enough. Before I knew what was happening, Bella threw her arms around me and her lips crashed against mine. I leaned into the embrace and we kissed until almost all the breath was out of my body before I gently pulled back.

"Bella, you need to take it easy babe. You've had a rough night." She pulled back a little further and I got an even better look into her eyes. I couldn't make out the emotion in them.

"I've had much worse nights than this one Edward. What I really need to for you to make love to me. I need to feel the love the two of us share that no one can destroy. I need you, please don't deny me that!" Her eyes were pleading more than her voice.

"You of all people know that I cannot deny you anything." I closed the distance between us and captured her lips with mine. I moaned at the contact as I rolled her onto her back and pressed myself as close to her as I could. Nothing in my life has ever felt as right as Bell and I together. My entire body seemed to hum with the energy between us. I released her lips as I began kissing her neck and nibble on her earlobes to give us a chance to catch our breath.

"Oh Edward. I need you." She said as she looked at me under hooded eyes. That was all I needed. We made love the rest of the night. Finally, we both fell asleep in each others arms with no nightmares to disrupt us. I was just glad to be able to hold my Bella as I had once feared that I would never be able to do.

I woke up the next morning and was met by a beautiful pair of brown eyes looking right at me.

"Good morning Mr. Cullen. I trust you slept well." She said as I flinched when noticing the bruising on her face had gotten worse.

"What's wrong?" She asked as I saw her insecurity behind her eyes.

"This is wrong, Bella," I answered as I ran my hand gently down her cheek. "He should have never gotten to you again. Some protector I turn out to be."

"I thought I made it clear to everyone last night that I'm not going to stand for you blaming yourselves. It won't change anything. I also know for a fact that you are a great protector Edward, but no one can be there twenty-four seven. It's just not reasonable." She said sitting up and huffing at me while crossing her arms against her bare chest. She stood up and dressed in my clothes as I slide on a pair of pj pants, not knowing when Jasper would come back.

"Point understood, Bella. I am trying love, but I'm so mad that he hurt you again." I said approaching her again and pulling her into my arms.

"Then be mad at him and not at yourself." She said quietly as I placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"You're right again Miss Swan. I'll try my best." We stood there for a few minutes until there was a soft knock on the door followed by Jasper and Alice entering into the room.

"Good Morning! How are you two this morning?" Alice was less chipper than usual in the morning.

"We're great, but still tired," answered the angel in my arms. I kissed her forehead before hearing her phone begin to ring. She walked over, smiled at the screen, and answered the phone. "I was wondering how long it would take you to call." She looked over to me and shook her head and mouthed that she would explain in a few minutes. As she continued her conversation, I busied myself with menial tasks in an attempt to avoid eavesdropping. At length, she hung up the phone and walked back over to me placing her head on my shoulder.

"I have to call my parents. I don't want them to find out from someone else. Do you mind if I run down to my room and talk to them? I just need to be alone when I do this."

"Of course dear. I'll be right here when you are done." I tried to smile but couldn't help but wonder about the phone call. She was halfway out of the door when she turned around and looked back at me.

"It was Laurent, James's roommate. James called him to get him to help him to bail out. Laurent said he would help alright. What he didn't tell James is that his way of helping was to call James's dad. Let's just say that James's dad is not close to James. From what Laurent knows at this time, James's dad has threatened to exclude James from the will if he does not accept responsibility for his actions. He has refused to help James with bail." She said as a smile played on her lips. She walked over to me and pulled me into a kiss. "Serves the bastard right huh?" She said before giving me another peck before walking out of the room.

"Well, she has definitely come into her own these last few months. She is still our Bella, but it's nice to see the change in her." Alice said sitting on Jaspers bed with her feet dangling over the edge.

"The funny thing is that she was like that all along, but the bastards brought her down. It's good to see her like this." I said knowing that even the worst events that had occurred within the last few months had played a part in Bella's transformation.