AN: Sorry I've pretty much been MIA for like months. Life gets in the way as well as my child, and full time job. However I am not going to make excuses. I've been wrapped up in reading other peoples fanfiction. But I got a review today that encouraged me to continue, so here we are! Thanks everyone for the support in this story!

V

We did everything together, the 3 of us. He taught me how to shoot, how to lie so well that anyone would believe you and how to run to survive. This life is absolutely crazy, and if you aren't in it I don't think you would ever understand. God I miss my daddy. But I can only move forward and trust the people Charlie put me in the care of. These are the only people I can trust now, because I know my dad would have only put the best people in my life. "Bella, were here. Sorry to bother you but I didn't think you wanted to sit in the car all day."

Alice was sweetly smiling at me with a sad gaze like she knew what I had been day dreaming about. And to be honest I am sure she did. After all she is apart of this life and next week it could be her dad. God forbid. "Sorry, I just have a lot on my mind." She gave me a look of understanding and grabbed my arm and we walked inside the mall together. "Okay I say Rose you and Ma go to half the stores on our list and Bella and I will go to the other. That way we can maximize the amount of stores we can go to and then we can go to the food court to have lunch." Alice was like a drill sergeant, it was almost comical to watch her make a plan like this for shopping.

Walking around the mall and inside stores with Alice was fun, but I don't know how in the world she keeps up this energy level all the time. It is crazy! She threw me outfit after outfit all which were the perfect size and made my body look amazing. I don't know how she did it. But nothing she chose looked bad on me. When I asked her how she did it she just said it was a gift. She could just see what would look right. I couldn't doubt her, because it did all look perfect. Next stop was Victoria Secret. I had enough of things like that so I tried to tell Alice I didn't need anything from there. Of course she wasn't taking that answer.

"Bella come on every girl needs to feel sexy! Lets at least check out what they have." So we did. After trying on pretty much the whole Very Sexy collection with all of the night ware to go with it I settled on a few babydolls in blue, black, and green. I don't know why I couldn't stop looking at things that were green… I usually only wore black and blue in underwear, bras and my sexy night clothes. But today green was just standing out to me and I couldn't place it. I looked over to Alice and she was smiling at me with a grin that I just couldn't figure out what she was trying to say to me. After our massive haul in this store I was starving so Alice texted everyone to meet us at the food court.

"Alice I am going to get Chinese, so if you want to go ahead and get in the line to get your salad I will meet you at the table that way we don't have to wait twice." I just thought I would save at least some time. "Okay Bella sounds good!" she bounced about 5 lines over to where I could barely see her in the crowed mall. As I weighted in my long line my mind went back to this morning with Edward. As soon as I thought his name my heart started beating wildly. hm odd. I remember the way my body felt basically attached to his and the way his beautiful green eyes pierced my chocolate ones. "Holy hell Green." I thought to myself. The color I never buy that I was somehow attached to all day is the exact same color of that mans beautiful eyes.

The blush spread all over my body I swear as I realized that I felt something I've never felt before. All of a man I have just met. I know Charlie said that's what happened with him and Renee, but she just walked out. So I don't know how true her end was or if she just wanted a way out of her house. But I didn't need what she did. I am older and far wiser than she was. So what does this mean? Was this why I felt empty leaving the house? It couldn't be, could it?

Lost in my own thoughts I realized my line was moving so slow I had only gone up a few spots when I felt like I was being watched. My senses were on high alert after what had happened to me. I couldn't shake this humming feeling would be the best way to describe it I think. I tried to look around to see if I could see anything familiar. Hell I was so far from home I don't know how the people that got Charlie could find me here, but what if they had? That fear made me step out of line and walk to the mall tunnels. Which I knew they had, because everything has to have an evacuation plan.

AS I entered the hallway I took the first left about 20 feet from the door, and pulled the gun out of the back of my pants. I never left anywhere without some kind of protection, especially now. Approximately 45 seconds after I hid I heard the door open. Which meant whoever was following me had been very close to me, and knew I couldn't be far. The humming electricity was still in the air. I heard slow footsteps coming down the hall when I heard "Bella I know your around that corner. This is what I do. I am 100% sure you have your gun drawn and I don't want to be shot so please put it away."

I couldn't believe my ears. I know that was Edward. He was the one following me?! No way this cant be happening to me. He rounded the corner with my gun still drawn because I had been to stunned to put it down. He walked right into the barrel and said "We've got to quit meeting with me at the end of your gun sweet girl." And along with that pet name he gave me the sweetest crooked smile I've ever seen in all of my life. I could hear my heart beat in my ears. "How long have you been following me?" It was all I could manage to ask him. "Pretty much since the moment you walked out the door. I don't know what it is about you Isabella, but I feel very protective of you." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Bella." is all I could say back. "My friends call me Bella."

"I don't think I can just be your friend Bella. I don't know what this is but I don't want to lose it." He said motioning in between us. "I know you feel it, I can see it in your eyes." He smiled softly to me and started walking further into the barrel of my gun. My stomach was doing flip flops I could not believe this was happening. "Please put the gun away." I went through the motions of re holstering my gun without evern noticing I was following his every word. This is so not like me, I don't do this. But for Edward I did. "Thank you sweet girl." He smiled my now favorite crooked smile. And in the blink of an eye his arms were around me and I was so shocked I couldn't move. But he didn't budge he just kept holding me and I breathed him in. He was unlike any scent I had ever smelled, he just smelled like my Edward.

Wow my Edward. I have no idea where that came from or why it gave me so much peace to think that way. But I wrapped my arms around him and never felt so whole in all of my life. It was as if half of me was always missing and it had found its home. I don't know how long we stood there, I noticed nothing around me other than him. Until I heard him talking, but not to me. "No, Alice she's not missing. She with me. No, I didn…okay yes I did. I couldn't help it. No Alice don't. Ugh okay we will meet you at home."

He smiled down at me as he kissed my head, "The girls are leaving and were worried because you never came to sit with them and they always assume the worst. But I've assured them you are safe. Since you haven't eaten because of me ambushing you I would love it if I could take you to lunch." His smile held so much safety, compassion and I would even say love, but it's too soon for that, right? "I would love that Edward." I smiled back at him mirroring his expression, and that's when I realized it. It was love, because I was feeling that too. It is so terrifying having these feeling so quickly, but life is short and my dad trusted this family. So I do too.

We walked our way through and out of the mall hand in hand and I couldn't excape the tingling feeling going through my body where we were connected. As I looked at our hands when we got to the car he said, "I feel it too. Its unexplainable and undeniable. I have never in all my years felt this way. And I know it is soon but I will spend every moment making you realize what I feel for you and how great we are together. We are going to be amazing Bella. We just have to let it." As he opened my door for me I realized that exactly what I wanted. Us to be together.