"Put your hands up!" They demanded. Edward and I slowly put our hands up. We both exchanged nervous glances, we both knew we were in trouble. We both had blood on our hands. We were both part of an accident, (partially,) and the only surviving people in it. To the police surrounding us, we were completely guilty, weren't we?

"Who was the driver of the motorcycle?" A policeman with beady eyes asked in an eerily calm voice.

"Me." Edward stated simply. My mouth fell agape and my eyes widened. No, Edward, no! This accident was my fault! Dont blame yourself! And even worse, don't cover for me! I closed my eyes so I wouldn't have to see Edward being handcuffed to the police car. I heard his sigh defeatedly. "You." I snapped my eyes open and the man with the beady eyes was now staring at me. I caught the name "Swan" on his jackesleeve. Despite how badly this situation was going I couldn't help but hope that was a good omen. His beady eyes trained on me. "You were on the motorcycle with him?" I didn't admit to anything, but I gave them a curt nod anyways.

After one police office was behind each of our backs, adjusting out handcuffs, (to them it was precautionary restraint,) the officers questioned us once more. We both slumped lethargically as two officers asked us of we were armed. "No." I sighed bitterly. After Cheif Swan had given each of them a nod, they finally lowered their guns.

"Stay here," He warned severely and I feverishly bobbed my head in a nod.

Edward's eyes snapped up as he saw the paramedic team take Claire away from the car in a gurney. Her eyes were closed, she was so still, barely breathing.

"No! Claire!" Edward shouted desperately, trying to twist his way out of the handcuffs, but failing, only straining his wrists. As he struggled, I saw dark red drip down his fingers. "Claire!" He shouted again in agony. He growled an utter cry of sadness and frustration in the back of his throat until he hung his head again. I wanted to wrap his arms around him, but only managed to brush my shoulder against his. He leaned his forehead against my shoulder-he seemed to need the support. Now the paramedics had laid white sheets over Alice, Esme and Carlisle. I looked towards Edward, but his eyes appeared glassy, unseeing.

Chief Swan questioned Edward's motive customarily, and after hearing the truth, coming from Edward's remorseful tone, with his sad eyes to confirm the story, the officers exchanged glances, embarrassed they even held guns to us. "I'm very sorry for your loss." They each muttered towards Edward.

The questioning for me ended quickly, to my relief. They didn't even bother writing my name down in their records (not that they'd find my name in the records, anyways.)

We were soon free from the handcuffs and given a ride home in the back of the police car. Once we were in the quiet coolness of the car, I turned to examine Edward for the first time. He didn't notice my glance as I inspected his face. He was pale, and his jacket sleeve had been torn (rubbed down by asphalt,) exposing a horribly severe road rash. His lower lip was bleeding where he'd bit into it. A sigh escaped his bleeding lip and his brown eyes were clouded with grief. He rubbed his wrists, that became raw from the handcuffs.

I wanted to hold him, comfort him in any way that could possibly make him feel better, and stretched out a hand to touch him.

Then I withdrew my hand. I had caused him this sadness. If I had figured out that the target was Edward earlier, maybe...

The rest of my thoughts were morbid, and I looked down to the floor, wanting to block out the thoughts. The car gently pulled to a stop, snapping me out of my own thoughts and I looked up to see that we were already at Edward home. The doors to the backseat opened, letting us free. Edward stepped out of the car, without a word. I was going to do the same, but the officer named Swan had turned to me sternly and cleared his throat.

"You keep a good eye on him." I nodded and cleared my thick throat enough to speak.

"I will." Edward was already at the door of the house. He took in a deep breath before he shuffled in.

The same home that looked bright and cheery just hours ago was now dull and nothing but a silent torture to us. Every family photo, every piece of furniture held the memory of the Cullens in them, somehow, in one way or another. It was nothing but silent torture.

Edward walked slowly up the stairs as if he were in a trance, his eyes were lowered so he wouldn't have to face any of the memories that surrounded the house. I followed him from a distance, not wanting to disturb him. He finally turned into his room, and sat on the side of his bed, with his head in his hands.

I didn't dare to meet his eye as I walked past his room on my toes, to enter the silence of Alice's room. I closed the door slowly behind me as my knees buckled out from under me, and I lowered myself onto the carpet on the other side of the door, in a crying mess. I bit my lips, hoping Edward wouldn't hear me. Every piece of the room was a silent memory of Alice. I looked at her bed that was now empty, her closet with the clothes that she was never going to wear again, and to her schoolbag, with all of the books and her diary hidden inside that she was never going to finish. Even her penny collection in the glass jar would forever remain half empty.

This is all your fault, it's all your fault… Every individual piece of the room seemed to scream at me at once. I lowered my face into my hands, wanting to block out everything in the room. I remembered Edward's last words to me before the crash had happened. "I swear, Bella, if you let them die instead of me-" I stifled a sob with my hand, but to my dismay, I cried until there were no tears left in me.

I don't know how much time had passed, but when I finally looked up from my hands, the windows had no light to let in; it was already nightfall.

Edward. My first thought was Edward. The least I could do was check if he was okay. I stood on my legs that felt like sticks of lead, ready to snap at any moment and trudged to his room. The door was open but I knocked on the door frame anyways.

"Come in," He rasped. His voice was rough with crying. I walked into the room to find Edward in the same position he was in, hours ago, with his head in his hands and his torn jacket still on him. I didn't bother asking if he was okay. How could he possibly be okay? That was a foolish question.

"Your jacket is torn," I said lamely, barely recognizing my rough voice. He nodded, not looking up. "Let me see," I whispered. I put my hands onto his shoulders hesitantly, giving him the opportunity to shrug me off if he wanted to. He didn't. I slowly zipped his jacket down and removed it from his shoulders, being careful to avoid the hurt side.

When the jacket was off, I bit my lip hard so I wouldn't cry. His arm was black and blue, blood oozed from the area that was raw. His bruises went past the t-shirt he was wearing and I quietly asked him if I could remove it. He had nodded and lifted his arms obediently. I took off his shirt and a cry left my throat. His body's entire left side was bruised, and it was especially bad near his ribs. Could it be...? There was blue bruise in the familiar shape of a hand. My hand. I noiced that he ironically still had on the cross I had given to him, hours ago. "I want you to be safe," I had murmured. Damn the Gods, I now thought bitterly. You hurt Edward, the only person I ever cared about. Then I faltered. I had hurt Edward. Not whatever God that may or may not be there. Guilt overwhelmed me until I could barely breathe.

I gently placed a hand against his rib cage, and he winced.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, and gave him my diagnosis. "You have two broken ribs." He didn't react. "Can I...May I... Clean this?" He nodded. I went into the bathroom and returned with the nessesary supplies. I set them down beside him, on the bed. "Edward?" He didn't look at me. "I know this is going to hurt, but stay as still as you can, okay?" He nodded.

I wiped his face clean with a warm towel, and his eyes closed. I moved down, moving to his shoulder, where the road rash was. When he was clean, I applied the antiseptic. He winced and gritted his teeth. All I could do was apologize for the pain I was causing him. It was the only thing I could do.

After his ribs were wrapped, I removed his shoes and helped him lay back in bed. He did so with a wince, and once again I mumbled my apologies. I pulled the covers up to his chin, and tucked him in. His face was almost confused, as if he were about to ask me why I wasn't sleeping beside him tonight.

"Goodnight, Edward." I rushed, before awkward conversation could take place. I turned off his lamp and left his room. I wandered downstairs and into the library. I lay down on the couch numbly.

I would stay here tonight. I decided firmly to myself, despite my selfish ache to be with Edward. He needed to be left alone. No other choice you could give him, the rational side of my mind reasoned.

You're the reason he is alone.

I lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling as my eyes leaked tears I hardly noticed anymore. After all, with every tear, it screamed the same thing. This is all your fault.

"Bella?" A soft voice echoed, hours later. I shrugged it off, knowing it was just a dream as the voice whispered again, "Are you awake?" I thought it was Dawn calling me, then I realized this was a male's voice. Edward stood in the door of the library, with his shirt off, and his bandages still wrapped around his black and blue ribs. I sat up immediately, rubbing any remnants of tears off my face.

"Oh, Edward." I said, but I didn't recognize my husky voice.

"Bella, why aren't you sleeping in my room tonight?" His eyes were puffy and swollen, as I'm sure mine were, but neither of us mentioned the elephant in the room, especially not in the thick silence that surrounded us.

"I thought you might want some time... By yourself." I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes.

"Bella." He breathed thickly, and cleared his throat. "Can I sleep here tonight, please?" my eyes widened. He wasn't mad at me?

"If you want to." I scooted over to the other side of the couch as Edward climbed onto the couch. He was looking down, biting down on his mouth. I reached over for a blanket. "Do you want a quilt? Or a blanket?"

Then I felt his arms abruptly grab me from behind. His bare body was shaking against mine, and I knew he was crying. I bit my lips, trying my hardest not to cry, and to keep a stoic front. I used to be so good at it.

"A-are you okay?" I managed to choke out. I moved in his arms so I could hold him against me.

He took in a slow, shuddering breath, like he was going to protest. Then he sobbed into my chest, his shudders shook my body. They rattled through my heart. "Edward?" He didn't even look up. His tears had rolled down my neck, and chest, and had soaked into my nightgown. Edward's usually comfortably warm body felt ice-cold. I clutched him tighter, hoping I could warm him up a little.

Edward, who always smiled kindly, so optimistically, who always saw the brighter side of things was now crying. I wasn't sure how to comfort him, so I just held him, smoothed his hair with my fingers, and wiped away his tears. He cried until he fell into a restless sleep, with the tears still on his face.

I smiled sadly as I gazed at his slumbering face. It was always when he slept that he seemed peaceful. Was he dreaming about Alice? Claire? I ran my fingers through his soft hair, and leaned down to whisper in his ear,

"I'm so sorry, Edward," my own tears slipped down my face now. "I didn't mean for this to happen, any of this. From my intrusion into your life, to the death of your family... I swear, if I could disappear and take your sorrow with me, I would." If only I had the courage to say this to him while he was awake. "I care about you so much, Edward." Although there were still tears on his face, he seemed to be in a little less pain. I felt the strange feeling I had felt before the accident had happened-the sudden urge to want to touch him, and kiss him. To express this unspoken connection with him through touch, and possibly even comfort him.

I placed my hand on his face, like I had this morning. It didn't feel familiar, because this morning was so long ago, but I leaned in to kiss him anyways. I closed my eyes and kissed the corner of his mouth, just missing his lips, like he had done earlier.

"I'm so sorry, Edward."