Edward's POV
After Bella begged me to return to bed, I did. I made love to her once more. Only this time I was gentler and even more tender. I placed the terrible dream that woke me, somewhere far away and concentrated on the moment at hand. I remembered Margaret's words to me over the telephone, "Master Edward, please be gentle on the girl. You sound cross."
"Margaret, cross does not even begin to define how I feel." I responded.
So this time, I made the best effort to be sympathetic to her needs. I listened for each coo, moan, and pant that escaped her mouth. I felt her hands twirl and tug at my unruly hair. Her soft thighs pressed against the top of my thighs as I rocked back and forth inside of her. I tasted the pouty lips of her mouth and salty sweet skin on her neck. I watched her beautiful eyes flutter with happiness. I saw her skin glisten slightly and her nipples perk with arousal. I concentrated only on her.
When I climaxed, I brought her along with me. I kissed her face and moved curly strands of hair out of her face. Her tired eyes made their best attempt to stay open. Bella was my marvelous fairy that brought only love, excitement, pleasure, and life into my existence. Tonight, she had been a dazzling siren that enchanted myself and the other men in the audience. At this moment, she was a drowsy nymph trying to lure me to sleep.
"Sleep my love." I whispered. "Sleep and dream in the few hours that we have left together."
"Sleep with me, Edward. I want to be with you in my dreams too. I don't want to miss even a second if you're by my side." She said softly, almost desperately. I could sleep anytime, but it seemed so wasteful to sleep will she was finally in my arms.
"Soon enough." I whispered. I nuzzled my nose against her forehead. "I'll meet you there."
"Ok." She yawned and went back to sleep. I got up from the bed and placed my underpants back on. I adjusted the thin sheet over her body. I walked through the empty home until I found myself in the kitchen. This "safe haven" had the bare minimum when it came to luxury. Everything in this home was that of necessity. It was not as garish as Jasper's home was, or even as museum-like as my home was. It was warm and endearing.
The home caused me to fantasize if I lived a simple life with Bella. If I didn't have the fortune or any of things associated with being a "Cullen". If I were just Edward and she were just Bella. We would fill this empty space with memories, with children, and most importantly love. I could almost smell the food that Bella would cook… I closed my eyes.
I opened my eyes. "You're in a safe house, Edward, not a love nest. You're here because your life is in danger." I scolded myself.
I wanted to make a cup of tea, but instead settled on drinking glass of water. My body felt heavy with the weight of last night. Yes, I was relieved to have gotten out of "Rose's" with my life and Bella's life safely; however the image of Emmett's blood drenched shirt stayed in the back of my mind.
In my sleep, I couldn't escape the nightmare even though I desperately wanted to. It was so, so life-like. In the dream I stood over Emmett's hospital bed. His body was bandaged and his skin was a pale grey. His eyes were closed and the faintest breathes escaped from his nose. He whispered something to me.
Very cautious I leaned in closer to hear what he said. His voice was dry and hoarse. "What did you say?" I asked him.
"This…should've…" he croaked.
"What? 'This should've' what? What do you mean?" I asked.
"This should've been…you!" Emmett howled and grabbed my throat forcibly squeezing with the remainder of strength that he had left. I clawed away at his icy hands until I was free. I fell back onto the floor. He didn't stay in his bed, no, Emmett leapt after me!
I didn't wish to return to that nightmare. Even though I was physically exhausted, my mind refused to rest. I knew after I delivered Bella safely home. I'd have to visit Emmett in the hospital.
When I returned to the room, I could hear Bella's purr-like snoring. I climbed back into the bed, but I didn't sleep. I sat up as Bella clung to me. It would only be a few more hours until sun would rise. I would watch her sleep and protect her…
The hours passed by almost too fast and Bella carefully woke. I greeted her with a kiss. She shyly smiled at me.
"Were you watching me sleep?" she asked softly.
"Yes. But not that long." I smirked. "Did you rest well?"
"It's always easier to sleep when I'm with you…I just want to stay in your arms." She sighed.
"Well, when we're married, you might tire of me. I'll never want you out of my sight or away from me. I will constantly need you by my side." I said.
"Nuts! I could never get tired of being around you. Never." She shook her head no and placed it back on my chest. "You might get tired of me. I'm sure in a city of rich, educated gals…you'd wish you could talk to them about all the stuff you learned at college. Instead of me."
Is that something that she worried about? Not being intelligent enough for me? It was absurd if it were even remotely true. I hugged her tighter.
"Now, that's 'nuts'. I'd never tire of talking to you. If I could speak to you everyday that we are a part, I would telephone just to hear your voice. I can't wait until I can see you whenever I desire…when we won't have to hide of love for each other. I am not so certain if I would want to be as ostentatious as Alice is with Jasper. But I would definitely want everyone to know how much I'm appreciative of your love." I placed my hand on the new curve of her belly. "How appreciative I am of the life that is growing inside of you everyday."
"Edward." She said softly. "Do you think it's a little girl?"
"In my mind…I always envision a little boy." I admitted. "But a little girl would be just as lovely."
"Where would we live? The mansion?" her voice was so sweet with a hint of happiness.
"No. Well, not unless you want to live there. We could stay here in the city or we could move upstate to Bedford…or even abroad if you like." I answered.
"What does Bedford look like?" she asked.
"It very different from the city. There's more privacy and space there. More nature. There's hundreds of trees, grass, flowers, a pond. "
"It sounds a bit like Central Park." She said.
"It's a lot like that…minus the shanty towns. There's a colonial style mansion my family owns with about 14 acres. The houses there are all rather large."
"Oh. Well, what about abroad? What's abroad?" she asked curiously.
"Anywhere in the world you want to live." I looked down at her face. "Rio de Janeiro, Brazil or Paris, France. Anywhere."
"Paris? Like Josephine Baker?"
"Yes. Anywhere…whatever will make you happy Bella. I would even live on the moon if you wanted." She sat there with a soft look of contemplation about our future.
Soon after, we bathed together and dressed. In the dressers were simple clothes for whoever was to stay the night there. There were simple collar shirts and slacks. There wasn't a belt for the pants that were long enough for me so I used a pair of suspenders. I placed the revolver in the back pocket of the pants.
There were simple dresses as well. Bella picked one that was light purple. It was slightly large on her and would slip off of her shoulder. Nonetheless, she looked beautiful. Radiant almost but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. She knew our time together was quickly coming to a close.
So we sat quietly in the living room. Bella placed her head on my lap. My hand played absentmindedly through all of her hair. She hummed softly. When I recognized the song that she hummed. I sang along with her.
"Scheme a while. Dream a while. We're sure to find happiness…"
The doorbell echoed through the home. It signaled the time for our departure. Reluctantly, we gathered the clothes we wore from yesterday.
I peered through the peephole cautiously; it was the driver along with the police escort to take us. I opened the door and the driver greeted me with a smile. The officer said very politely "Good morning Mr. Cullen. You and the girl ready to move?"
"Yes, good morning. We are ready." I answered. Bella came closer to me and I let her walk ahead of me. I locked the door to the safe house and handed the key over to the officer.
Bella and I sat in the back of the car. Underneath our clothes from last night, we secretly held hands tightly. I rubbed my thumb back and forth against the top of her hand.
"That was a close call last night huh, Mr. Cullen?" the officer said loudly. "Your brother wasn't quite as lucky. The papers already say he's in his last days. Even hours. Whatdya think about that?"
"It's…it's unfortunate." I said.
"Unfortunate? That shot was inches from his ticker. His left lung is useless. Your mother is gonna have another funeral to plan before your sister's wedding I fear…"
I felt Bella's wide eyes watch me. I realized I held her hand too tightly. My anxiety passed from me to her. I loosened my grip.
"I'd rather not discuss that right now…I've so much on my mind already officer. Not in the presence of the lady either."
"Oh! Oh, right to that. I apologize. I just wonder if it's true what they say in the papers. That's all. You'd be the one to know all of that right?" He continued to ask.
"At this point, I know just as much as anyone else does." I said sharply. From my tone and the expression on my face, he knew not to further his inquires. The rest of the ride, he was quiet.
Once we reached the mansion my mother instantly threw her arms around me. She held me tightly. "Mon Coeur! Mon Coeur! " She sobbed as spoke to me only in her native language, French. She told me how she couldn't sleep and she lit her candles for us. She said she prayed on her rosary all night. She kissed my face and searched my eyes.
"Maman, je vais bien. Je vais bien…" I assured her. I glanced over to Bella. She looked down sadly. My mother then went to her, and touched the side of her face.
"Cherie, you mother is worried as well. You should go see her this very moment." She said softly but sternly. Bella nodded once and glanced back at me before she hurried off. I opened my mouth to say something to her, but I stopped myself. My mother looked at me knowingly. I felt my face flush slightly.
"You look hungry and tired! What happened last night? Why were you both there? Tell me, Mon Coeur. Are you mixing with the wrong people? These mob men? Tell me!" She said as she pulled me away from the eyes of the butler and maid. Only Margaret followed behind us. She looked as if she stayed up the whole night with my mother. There's no doubt in my mind that she had.
We went into my mother's room and closed the door. She sat at her table by the window. I sat across from her and Margaret stood quietly nearby.
"I, I, I am hungry. I really did not eat anything last night or this morning. Bella must be hungry as well." I started. "Last night…last night, firstly I was there because Emmett had invited me to come. He said he wanted to extend an olive branch of some sorts to me. At first I was hesitant, but Alice…Alice said she had one of her…one of her daydreams that Bella would be there too and…" I thought how much I should reveal at the moment. "I just… Emmett has said some vile things about her to me. I, I couldn't let anything happen to her…not at my expense…I, I wanted to protect her Isabella…"
"It was for Isabella?" my mother questioned. "You risked your life for her?" she raised one of her eyebrows as she waited for my response.
"Yes." I answered. I looked to Margaret. She quickly came forward to us.
"Shall I get you some food? A bit of breakfast? Some tea or coffee?" She said quickly.
"Yes, please Margaret. Thank you." I said earnestly. I looked back at my mother who was watching me intently. "You should have some tea as well mother."
"Yes, I'll have some tea please, Margaret." She said. Margaret nodded and left to take care of our needs. I was alone with my mother. I wanted to tell her why I wanted to protect Bella. I wanted to tell her how my world did not spin if she were not apart of it. "So you two were there…and what happened?"
"Last night Emmett… he was shot…shot by Jane." I said.
"Jane? Who is Jane?" My mother asked. Her face confused and worried.
"Jane was one of his lovers. To my understanding she used to be employed by us. She was relieved of her job here because she…she was caught in a compromising position with him. She was a scorned lover of his. The poor girl was under the impression that he loved her. Which he didn't, or not the way she thought. She attempted to take his life…" as I continued to tell my mother everything, she listened attentively.
Every so often she would gasp or shake her head "yes" or "no". Margaret returned with our food and drinks. She quietly placed them on the table and stood back in her place. She listened quietly. I felt more relaxed with her there. I could breathe slightly easier.
"And last night? You couldn't come home? You couldn't stay here with me? Why?" My mother asked sadly.
"No. It was a safety precaution…they drove Bella and I to a safe house in Greenwich Village. Somewhere that was safe in a unassuming neighborhood."
"And you were safe there? You were protected?"
"Yes." I said as I drank my coffee. At this moment, I wish I had liquor I could add to it the way my father would.
"And Bella? She wasn't afraid?"
"She was…but she felt safe with me. She felt protected with me." I thought about last night and this morning.
"Did Emmett hurt her like you feared?" she asked.
"No. But if I weren't there…I refuse to think of what would happen to her. They had her dressed…dressed…Mother, you have to believe me when I say this."
"And last night? Mon Coeur, did you and Bella share a room?" her words caused my heart to beat fast. I felt my face turn scarlet.
"I treated Bella was the utmost respect that she deserved. I, I respect her."
"Yes, I understand." She said her eyes fluttered softly. She began to eat her food silently. I tried to read her mind. I knew she knew we made love. There was just something in the way she looked at us both when we arrived. She had to have known.
"Which is why I implore that you don't punish her. Yes, she made a mistake, but, but her rationale for it was pure. Sincerely pure" I said in her defense.
"Mon Coeur, I don't know what to do. I am at my wits end…" she rubbed her forehead. "Don't disappoint me the way Emmett has please. I believe you, and I trust you. I trust your heart."
"I won't disappoint you mother." I took her hand from her forehead. "Forgive me for whatever distress I caused you last night. I wholeheartedly apologize."
"Don't scare me like that again."
"Forgive Bella…please mother." I added.
"Bella…when I saw the fear in her mother's eyes last night. I was so angry. I couldn't understand how she could be so selfish. I couldn't understand how you could be so selfish. I was afraid and angry. And now…I see you two…two children playing with fire so to speak. This was a very dangerous situation…Tell me…do you love her?"
"She's one of closest people in my life…I don't have many friends or confidants. She's, she's always been there supporting me and encouraging me in my weakest points…" I looked down at my coffee as I watched the milk swirl around. "It's hard to describe how I feel about Bella. Love? I'd say love is would be an understatement…"
"Edward, please just tell me! Give me a glimmer of silver happiness in this storm! Tell me that your life has some sort of happiness. Is it only despair and sadness?" She begged. The tears brimmed her eyes. "Have my past sins only caused you a life full of heartache and sadness?"
I looked over Margaret. She only smoothed her apron. She was an important part of my relationship with Bella. She had helped us countless times. However, at this moment, she left me to answer for myself. I had to be accountable for not only my actions, but I had to give my mother some solace.
"Maman…" I started in French but I couldn't finish. Victoria interrupted us.
"Pardon me, Mistress Esme. The hospital just telephoned. Mr. Emmett is in a dire condition. They said that he's asking for Master Edward to come."
My mother eyes looked heavy with tears that hadn't yet fallen. I held her shaking hand. "I'll return and we will finish our discussion. I promise…it will give you much more than glimmer of silver. Excuse me, please."
She squeezed my hand tighter and nodded. She walked over sadly to her bed and lay down. "Margaret, I'm tired. Close the curtains please." She sighed. I saw the room darken as I left out with Victoria.
"So I heard you had quite the night last night, sir." Victoria said as we hurried down the stairs together.
"Yes." Was all I answered.
"Some people are shocked it was Emmett who got shot and not you. They were taking bets on which Cullen got it. There's some sorry gamblers out there now." She continued in her rumors and attempt to get information from me. I stopped short and stared down at her.
"Does everyone in this city wish for my death?" I snapped.
"Oh! No! I don't think so! Surely not any of us here. Sir, I'm sorry. What I meant to say was…" she began with wide eyes.
"Victoria, please make sure my mother has all she needs. And Bella was there as well. I don't want her to work today. If you have to take on her workload, please do so, but she's only to rest today. She's been through enough. We've all been through enough." I said as I exited.
"Sir, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…I didn't mean." That was the last that I heard from Victoria over all of the shouting from the news reporters that now swarmed the front of the mansion. They yelled at me and called to me. They wanted answers, they wanted a story whether it were true or purely fictional. They wanted a photograph of me and anyone else that was involved.
"Everyone, please. Show some respect for my mother at this time." I said as I avoided all of their eyes and entered the car.
"Those damn newsies are vultures…" Mike muttered as he drove away. I tried to get my bearings straight. I had barely slept and barely ate. I rubbed my eyes and slouched back into the seat.
"Mike," I asked. "Are you a gambler?" He chuckled and glanced back at me.
"Not often. When I do, I always bet on the underdog." He said smugly.
Edward is under immense pressure! What will happen in his meeting with Emmett? Will he finally tell his mother about Bella? Tell me what you think in a review or a private message!
Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing! Thank you to those that have subscribed and have "favorited" me. Thank you to those who have liked my fanpage! Don't be afraid to "like" NY Dollface Fanficiton. I post on there from time to time with things that I like or find very interesting.
Thank you for those who have been so patient with me! This time of the year is very hectic for me. I've been trying my best to get all my ideas out during my free time. The weather is warmer and I'm longing for a vacation… Hoping my Edward will plan a nice vacay on "Isle Esme" sometime this summer.
Everyone enjoy the reading. I'm already working on the next update! Hope to hear from everyone soon.
