A/N: I don't own anyone from Twilight. Thanks for the reviews and keep it up, please.

Edward POV

I got up the next morning and went to the stables. I found my horse and was glad to get out of the palace.

"Laurent!" I called from him. He appeared next to the horse.

"Go and tell Alice that Bella can accompany her today." I told him. He nodded and came back.

I left to go to the fields. I was supposed to inspect them for father, but I just wanted away from everything. I wanted time to think and I had realized that I was nothing but a stranger to Bella. I didn't like it, but I wasn't sure how to change it.

Bella POV

I awoke the next morning and felt hollow. I was told to go to Alice's room. I was going to be with her today since Edward was out in the fields, Jasper was leading the senate, and Emmett was wherever he was.

I went into Alice's room to see her sitting by the fire pit. She was upset and looked horrible. I sat down next to her with water and clothes.

"Are you alright?" I asked her. She had been crying and had small fresh bruises on her arms.

"I will be." She said. I gave her a hug.

"What happened?" I asked her.

"Jasper got mad at me forgetting my place and questioning him." She said. I just hugged her again and helped her clean off a small cut she had beside her lip.

"Bella, I want to go to the baths today and I want you to accompany me." She said. I nodded.

Alice POV

Bella had helped me this morning and I was grateful to her. She was going with me to the baths. I wanted her to go because she was my best friend. Rose and I never fully got along because she was always with Emmett or another guy when Emmett was away. I didn't like her because she demanded to much as a princess.

We went through the city and arrived at the royal baths. They were built on a hill that overlooked part of Rome. I loved the view and wanted to take an outside bath. I wasn't worried, because no one could see us. We were also covered from the sun and the weather was just right. I loved being royalty when it came to baths because I had the whole place to myself and Bella was the only person in there with me.

Bella helped me undress and get into the baths. The water was the perfect temperature.

"Come on." I told Bella. She just looked at me and stood there.

"I can't." she said.

"Bella, you are a slave so you have to do what I tell you; now get in." I told her laughing. She smiled and undressed to get in.

We were enjoying the bath and outside, fresh, and clean air. The palace could be stuffy and dry. I liked to get out in the city as much as possible.

"Are you alright? I was told be Jasper that you seemed upset when you went back to your room last night?" I asked her.

"I had a problem with Emmett." She said. I nodded.

"I know that Emmett can be overbearing." I told her.

"He is worse now that he is older." She said and I just laughed. I forgot that she knew them when we were younger.

"What was Jasper like?" I asked her. She smiled at me.

"He was quiet and thoughtful. He was always nice to me and very much a gentleman. He was the one who behaved how royalty should have and never was disrespectful. He also didn't run the servants ragged." She told me. I smiled.

"He is still the same." I told her. She was laughing at me.

"Alice, I envy how much love you and Jasper have." She said. I felt sad for her.

"There is hope you for and Edward." I told her and she just blushed and looked down.

Edward POV

I got back into the city and saw that Alice had taken over the royal baths because there was guards outside the entrance. I wanted a bath so I went into the bath. I walked to where they were and watched them for a minute. I noticed that Bella had fresh bruises on her arms.

I walked back to the courtyard and sat on a bench. I was thinking and realized that I had not given her those bruises.

"Laurent!" I called. He came to me immediately.

"Where was Bella last night after she left my room?" I asked him.

"Emmett called her his room." He said. I was furious. I didn't want Emmett near her and now he had bruised her.

I grabbed my whip and hit Laurent across the stomach. He fell over and I motioned for two guards to pick him up.

"Did you forget that I do not want her near him? I guess you did well, now you can be someone else's slave." I told him and motioned for the guards to take him away. I sent him to the rock mines in northern Italy. I didn't need him anymore because he couldn't listen.

"Guard!" I called and one came over to me.

"I need a new foreman. I wanted James brought here now." I told him and he nodded.

I wanted to take a bath now to relax. I walked into where Alice and Bella were having fun. The water was covering the parts of Bella I had always dreamed of running my hands over.

Bella POV

I was having fun with Alice when Edward was heard screaming in the courtyard. I looked at Alice and started to get out.

"Bella, stay." Alice said. I nodded and sat on the bench next to her. I was sitting with her, braiding her hair, when Edward walked in. Alice smiled at him and I just looked away.

"Alice, Laurent is no longer with us." He told her. She nodded as I got done braiding her hair.

"Are you going to bathe?" Alice asked him.

"I am, but I will leave you all in here." He said.

"Edward, you can join us." She said.

I was a little surprised. I knew that royalty bathed together, but at home we did not bathe with men because it was improper.

He stripped and joined us. I was trying not to stare as he got into the baths. He was sitting near the wall.

"Bella, come massage my back." He told me. I swam to him and started to massage his back. I knew that Alice wanted us together so bad that she was happy about it.

We stayed into the bath when Jasper joined us from the senate. He was happy that we were all together. He had always been nice to me.

"Alice, come here for a minute." He told her. She nodded and walked with him into the other room.

I felt uncomfortable because I was with him. We hadn't talked since that night and I wasn't sure how he viewed me anymore.

"Bella, did Emmett hurt you last night?" he asked me. I was shocked because he knew.

"No." I whispered.

Edward POV

I was sitting in the bath relaxing while Bella was massaging my shoulders and back. I loved her touch and was also worried how she saw me. I knew I had been cruel but I wanted to change that. I asked her if Emmett had hurt her and she said that he hadn't, but I didn't believe her.

"Bella, I am sorry for my actions lately. I have not been myself and I wanted to thank you for stopping me from killing Emmett." I told her. She nodded.

I wasn't sure how to act anymore and I hated it. I loved her and I didn't want her to hate me. I wanted nothing more than to kiss her and hold her right now.

A/N: Should he or should she not let it happen? Let me know what you think, please!