Giant thanks to my beta, Paige, for helping me get these chapters out so quickly! You're amazing, girl!

"Another head hangs lowly

Child is slowly taken

And the violence, caused such silence

Who are we mistake?

But you see, it's not me

It's not my family

In your head, in your head, they are fighting

With their tanks, and their bombs

And their bombs, and their guns

In your head, in your head they are crying."

-The Cranberries-

BPOV:

"Bella, I got you some breakfast."

Edward's voice stirs me awake. I keep my eyes tightly shut and groan. I like being in bed. I like feeling safe while I'm bundled up in the warmth of the covers. I never want to leave this place. I feel so at ease here. I feel like nothing can touch me. At least, nothing can touch me for the time being.

I feel Edward's soft lips against my cheek, teasing me until I stir awake. It doesn't take long for my eyelids to flutter open. Edward rewards me with a bright smile, but even in my sleepy haze, I can tell that smile is forced. It doesn't reach his eyes, and I can tell he's just as scared as I am. Of course he is, Bella. His house just got broken into last night. What do you expect? My somber mood returns and I shift back and forth under the covers until I'm lying on my back.

"I don't know how good it is," he finally continues. "It's just some muffins and boxes of cereal I got from the small set up in the office. It's better than nothing, though."

"I'm sure it's fine," I reply with a yawn.

I sit up as Edward insists on serving me breakfast in bed. I know he's trying to make believe that everything in our life is normal, even though it's far from it. We turn on the TV and watch morning cartoons and eat our modest feast in bed. Nostalgia washes over me and I feel like a kid again. I used to sit like this with my mom on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Tears fill my eyes when I think of those days. What if I never see her again? I can't even remember the last thing we did together. If this man does continue to come after me, he's going to get to me eventually, and then what? I don't know if I'll be as lucky as I've been in the past. I don't know if I'll be able to fight him off. What if I never see my parents again? What if my luck finally runs out?

"What is it?" Edward asks, brushing my hair away from my face so he can get a better look at me.

"It's nothing," I quickly reply, not wanting to talk about it in fear I might break down in front of him.

"Bella… you can tell me anything."

"Please. Just don't."

Edward nods, understanding, and goes back to watching TV. We sit in silence for a long time, until Edward murmurs, "This isn't the end, you know. We'll make it out of this alive. Both of us. Stop acting like our lives will end tomorrow."

My eyes widen and I wonder how he knew.

"You're easy to read, Bella. I can see those wheels turning in your head. I might not know exactly what you're thinking, but I know enough to know it wasn't good. Let's just live in the now, and not think about tomorrow."

"Just in case there isn't one."

"There will be," Edward answers with conviction.

I can't help but calm down instantly at his words. When Edward gets that no nonsense tone, I find it incredibly he talks like that, I believe him. I believe that everything in the world will be all right. I finish up my breakfast and rest my head on his shoulder.

"Do you think they found any evidence at your house? He couldn't have been that careful. He's going to leave a trace somewhere."

Edward considers this, and then nods at my words. "If they don't find something from last night, they'll find something eventually. He's going to mess up sometime."

"Can we stay here until things blow over? Until he gets caught? I don't want to go back. Not now."

"That's fine," he says as he shifts on the bed that's starting to feel less and less comfortable now that I'm not unbelievably exhausted. "You sure you don't want to go someplace a little nicer in another town?"

"No. I feel safe here. Besides, if he does come looking, I doubt he'd come looking here. This doesn't look like the type of place someone like you would stay in."

Edward snorts at my comment and looks around our cramped hotel room. "You're right. This isn't exactly my style. But it's cozy with you here."

I smile at this and cuddle in his arms. He's so warm, so perfect. I don't know if there are words to sufficiently describe the way he makes me feel. He makes me feel like I'm his whole world. His sun. His moon. His stars.

"Did you mean what you said last night?" He gives me a confused look. "When you said you love me? Did you mean it?"

"Of course, I meant it," he says without hesitation. "I think I've proven my feelings to you more than enough times, Bella."

"I know." I blush. "I couldn't help but ask. I love you, too." I crane my neck up to kiss him. When I pull away, I add, "I just wish we could be having this conversation under different circumstances."

"We can't help our circumstances," he says with a shrug. "We just have to learn to deal with them. Learn to play the cards we've been dealt."

"That's one of the reasons I love you. You're so strong." He smiles at this, but doesn't seem convinced. "I'm so afraid, Edward," I whisper.

"It's okay. I am, too."

"Really?" I ask in disbelief.

"Of course I am. There's someone out there who's after you. Why wouldn't I be scared?"

"Are you just scared for me? Or are you scared yourself?"

"Both. Although, you've been handling yourself fine so far, so I think you'd give that bastard a run for his money if you ran into him again."

I shiver at the thought. "Don't say that. I don't want to think about that."

"I'm sorry, baby. You're just so much stronger than you think you are. That's all I meant."

"No I'm not," I whisper, feeling very small all of a sudden.

"Are you joking?" Edward gently grabs my chins and tilts my head up to look at him. "You're so strong, Bella. So much stronger than you know. You could've died several times, and yet, here you are, still fighting. You're stronger than this man, Bella. I know you are."

I smile at his words. Maybe I am strong. At least, I like the idea of being strong enough to take my stalker on. If I do see that monster again, I know I'll fight with everything I have. I'll give him absolute hell. I'll die fighting if I have to. If he's going to kill me, I'll make sure things aren't easy for him. I'll leave as much evidence as possible. I'll scream until someone notifies the police. I'll do anything so I won't have to die in vain. Hell, I hope that I don't die at all, but I can't predict the future. I'm not omniscient, although I'd like to be at a time like this. I wish I could know how this will end just so I can prepare myself. Win or lose, I just want to know.

Before I can respond to Edward, the phone rings. It's a number I don't recognize. Edward looks at the screen for a moment, before finally pressing talk and putting the phone to his ear. I feel so hopeful as I watch him. Maybe they found some evidence! Maybe they found that bastard! However, my hopes are fleeting. I watch Edward's face morph from confusion, to anger, to absolute horror. What could they possibly be telling him? They've been on the phone for a few minutes, and Edward has barely uttered a word.

"Okay, I understand. What happens now?" Edward nods, and then nods again, before saying, "Please keep us informed. Thank you."

As soon as Edward hangs up the phone, I ask him, "What is it? What's wrong?"

Edward shakes his head in, what looks to be, utter disbelief. "King is dead."

"What?" I explode, feeling just as confused and horrified. "What do you mean, he's dead? Was he murdered?"

Edward nods grimly. "They found him in a pool of his own blood."

Tears fill my eyes. He died because of me. "Did they find any evidence?"

Edward nods. "They found some. But it's gone-stolen from the lab."

"So… where do they go from here?"

"I don't know, Bella. I don't know."

I nod, before resting my head on his chest and closing my eyes. King is dead. A man is dead because of me. The guilt is crippling and it overwhelms me. I wonder if he had a wife, a family. I didn't know him well, but I know he must've had a life outside of his work. I'm sure he had people who loved him, depended on him and now he's gone. He died because he was doing his job.

"It's not your fault, Bella."

"Isn't it?"

"No. You didn't kill the man. How are you to blame?"

"He died working my case!"

"You don't know that!"

I give him an incredulous look. "He killed him, Edward. Killed him. I know it was him. And King wasn't even the one he's after. He's after me. What would he do to me if he managed to get his hands on-"

"Not a damn thing. I won't let him touch you. I won't let him anywhere near you."

"You can't protect me forever."

"Well, I can damn sure try."

"Thanks, Edward. But when the time comes, I hope I'll be able to protect myself."

"The time will never come."

I want to believe his words, but I can't kid myself. The time will come someday, and I hope when it does, I'll be ready to face him.

A/N: Thanks for all the love last chapter, everyone! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I'll be posting the next teaser in my group tonight! So, keep a look out for that!

Song- "Zombie" by The Cranberries. I can't believe Dolores O'Riordan died at 46! That's so tragic!

**Horror Movie Fact- The corpses in the rainy Poltergeist pool scene were real skeletons. It was supposedly cheaper than fabricating fake ones, and the actress who starred in the scene, JoBeth Williams, wasn't told about this fact until after shooting.**