This is dedicated to all the readers who have stayed with me up until this point. I know I disappear for months, but sometimes life gets crazy. I'm sorry for that, but please continue to stay with me as this story progresses. I own nothing.

Chapter 6

Rosalie's POV…

A few days later, I found myself back at the precinct walking arm in arm with the man I was going to marry. Everything had been good between us since our fight and now walking with him I knew now I just had to make everything okay with Eddie again. Nathanial needed to apologize or else I was afraid Eddie and I's friendship would end as quickly as it had begun. His arms were around me, he loved me again, but despite that I wasn't going to just forget about what happened days before.

"I love you," whispered Nathanial stopping me in that moment holding my gaze before bringing his face closer to mine he kissed me and I kissed him right back.

"Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to have lunch with me," I whispered smiling at him.

"I would have lunch with you every day if I could unfortunately the criminals in this town make that impossible," whispered Nathanial pulling me in for one last kiss.

"Could you do one other thing for me? Please?" I whispered. Nathanial only looked at me in that moment waiting for me to continue.

"Go apologize to Eddie. You scared the hell out of him. He probably thinks you're going to fire him or something," I exclaimed letting my hands drop to his shoulders my eyes pleading with him.

"Sweetheart…I plan to talk to Nygma…just not now. I'm busy," exclaimed Nathanial clearly not wanting to talk to Eddie at all.

"Nathanial…Eddie is my friend, and I'm not going to take your word for it that you apologized to him. I am going to be there to watch it for myself. I don't care if I have to stay here all day I will see you apologize to him," I snapped crossing my arms over my chest openly glaring at him.

"I can and I will wait all day, Nathanial," I said sickly sweet so he'd know just how serious I was. Nathanial groaned as he stared at me in that moment obviously hoping I would yield. But I didn't budge. I was going to stay there until he apologized and after a few minutes with another groan Nathanial was moving away from me out of sight. Smiling, I followed him right in the direction of Eddie's office. Running ahead of him, I grabbed Nathanial's hand pulling him along until we reached Eddie's door. Right before I knocked I heard it. Eddie was in there talking to himself.

When I heard the two voices whisper screaming at each other I felt myself go back in time for only a second. That part of him was still there and for the first time in years I found myself afraid to go anywhere near Eddie. Standing there frozen, I could feel Nathanial behind me then, and in that moment, I shook away that fear with a single thought. This was Eddie, I had to remember that my Eddie was part of that dark half, he had control of it, at least I hoped after all this time he did, and he wouldn't allow that half to hurt me again. Smiling at Nathanial, I hoped that thought was true because I didn't want to have to leave Eddie again; I wanted him to be a part of my life even if it wasn't in the way I wanted him.

"Eddie?" I called knocking on the door in that moment hearing silence as the voices disappeared before Eddie's voice broke through telling us to come in. Despite knowing that this was my Eddie, I still felt a chill when I saw Eddie just standing there. He looked so innocent, but also different. There was something off about him and I knew it was because that dark half was there inside him. It didn't escape my notice that when he saw Nathanial with me he stopped smiling openly frowning at the two of us. But after what had happened despite it all I didn't blame him for that.

"Rosalie…Captain Barnes…is everything alright?" said Eddie.

"Fine, Ed, I just came to apologize for the other day. I shouldn't have acted that way, I know now that you and Rosalie are just friends, that I overreacted. I hope we can move past it," said Nathanial wrapping his arm around me as he finished.

Eddie didn't respond at first, that frown remained on his face, but then after a moment he smiled. It was a big goofy almost unsettling smile that even creeped me out a little. Part of me wondered in that moment if we were dealing with my Eddie or the psychopath living inside him. I hoped it was the man I loved not the one I feared. As these thoughts went through my mind, I found myself brought out of them when Eddie started to speak. The sound of Eddie's voice made me breathe a sigh; the sound of his voice told me this was my Eddie and as strained as he sounded I was happy for that nonetheless. The man I loved would never let that part of himself hurt me, not again, and if he did I had Nathanial too. Nathanial would protect me if I knew nothing else I knew that.

"I think we can, sir. I'm just glad everything is as it should be, that Rosie can continue to be my friend, and hopefully we can as well," said Eddie smiling, though not like before, making me smile.

"That's fine, Ed. I hope we can continue as we always have too. Now, you know how busy I am though, so I'm gonna leave, but I'll see you both later. See you at home, Rosalie," said Nathanial his words strained, but I decided to let that go for now. I knew Nathanial and Eddie would probably never really be friends and though I knew it should have that didn't bother me. Part of me wanted to keep Eddie all to myself since I couldn't have him, really have him. So, when Nathanial left kissing my cheek as he did, I was glad, it was just Eddie and me even if I was still scared of that dark half deep inside him. But that was not as important when I looked closely at Eddie once Nathanial was out of the room. Eddie seemed to fall, not just his spirit, but his whole body. I knew instantly something was wrong and going to him I instantly started to sooth him. I hated to see him like that.

I went to him immediately remembering that voice I had heard before entering the room. I couldn't let myself forget that that darker half was still inside him.

"Eddie? Are you alright…do you need me to get someone? Are you not feeling well?" I exclaimed placing my hands on his face. That darker half aside, I couldn't stand to see him sick even if it was heart sick. I wanted him to be happy, as happy as I was even though we were not together.

"Nothing," said Eddie.

"Don't you lie to me, Edward Nygma. I am your friend, you are obviously not okay, and you can tell me about whatever it is. I am here for you, Eddie. I care about you," I exclaimed making him look deeply into my eyes refusing to let him look away.

He didn't say anything at first, he only looked at me making me want to know what was going through his mind.

"I…I'm trying to gain the courage to ask Ms. Kringle out on a date. I was going to ask her when I have to go to the file room later, but I'm afraid I'll chicken out. I want to ask her out…but I'm afraid of what she'll say," said Eddie his voice quivering with his fear, but it wasn't that that made my jaw drop and my heart beat with sadness. If he asked her out he wouldn't be my Eddie anymore. He would be her Eddie, but as that thought entered my mind I thought of Nathanial. Eddie had to watch me with him every day, maybe my punishment for that was I would have to watch him with Ms. Kringle. It was that that made me smile at him pulling him in for a hug. In that moment, I didn't know how to feel, I wanted him to be happy, but it hurt that it couldn't be with me. For a second, a small second, I thought about telling him the truth, but that moment in the hall stopped me.

That moment so long ago flashed in my mind as I hugged Eddie tightly trying to sooth his nerves even as I didn't know what to do. I loved Eddie, but I didn't love that dark half of his. That part of him had only proven that he would and could hurt me. That knowledge kept me from saying anything to Eddie. I couldn't have it all. I couldn't have Nathanial, a good man who would protect me against the world, and have Eddie. Eddie, the love of my life, the only love I've ever known; I couldn't have him because he was dangerous and being with him could be the reason I get hurt. I had to protect myself that was why in this moment I had to let him go to be with Ms. Kringle. Eddie and I couldn't be together. We were best apart, at least, it was best we were only friends. Just knowing that made me finally pull back to look at him, really look up into his eyes, and holding the smile on my face I touched his cheek. In that moment, I was letting him go, and despite it all it was breaking my heart.

"I'm so happy for you, Eddie. I'm proud of you…you're taking my advice, and you're going to finally show her what a charmer you are. You shouldn't be worried…she will say yes…she'll never stop saying yes especially when she truly gets to see what I see. That you are the most amazing man in this whole city," I whispered kissing his cheek as I held in my tears refusing to let him see one hint that they were there as I looked up at him.

"I don't think she will," whispered Eddie making me frown. Eddie wouldn't look at me in that moment and taking his face in my hands I made him look at me.

"Eddie, what is it?" I whispered finally making him look right into my eyes. But Eddie just stared down into my eyes again his eyes saying something that I couldn't quite decipher. Finally, he wrenched himself away from me scaring me for only a moment as he moved with a slump to his shoulders to sit at his desk. When I saw him sitting there like that that fear left me and I realized this was my Eddie not that other half. This was the same person who I had fallen in love with, who used to hold my hand everywhere we went together, and most importantly he still needed me. Staring into space at his desk, nothing was said, I stood there waiting to hear what he would say. I wanted to go to him, but I didn't think he wanted me to yet. That was until he looked at me that was when I knew he needed me to take him into my arms to comfort him.

"What if she says no? She thinks I'm weird, remember?" said Eddie his nerves and fear evident in his voice. I went to him in that moment pulling a chair right next to his and taking his hand, I hugged him. He needed me in that moment and even as he didn't hug me back right away I didn't care. He would I just needed to give him time. And then he did, that's when I knew he was going to be okay. When he wrapped his arms around me hugging me as tightly as I held him.

"Don't think that way, she's gonna say yes, Eddie. Just remember what I said, show her what a great guy you are. Tonight, is your chance to do that," I whispered finally making him look at me. At first, he only stared as if processing what I said, but then that smile returned.

"I think I can do that. After all, I charmed you once…I think I could do the same to her," smiled Eddie making it impossible for me not to smile back still wanting to tell him that he still had me charmed, but holding back still. I hugged him one last time before kissing his cheek preparing to go.

"I'll see you tomorrow…I'll stop by when I bring Nathanial lunch," I whispered giving his hand a squeeze as I moved slowly toward the door.

"I'll be ready to tell you how it went," whispered Eddie latching onto my fingers for a second as I looked back at him with a smile.

"You better, I want to hear every little detail," I said waving as I left the room. The drive home was silent, I found myself stuck in my thoughts, and all those thoughts were of Edward Nygma. I had let him go, encouraged him to give it a shot with Ms. Kringle, but I hated myself for it. I wanted him to be mine. I wanted to be with him, but it was impossible. Every time the possibility even entered my mind that moment with his darker half did too. It kept us apart because it scared me; the thought that that could happen again scared me. But as I held the tears in my steps fast as I walked up the stairs to my apartment I couldn't deny what I wanted. I wanted Eddie. I loved Eddie and thinking of the man I was marrying I couldn't deny that when I was walking down the aisle to him I would want Edward Nygma to be standing in his place. I wanted to be Mrs. Edward Nygma, not Mrs. Nathanial Barnes, but that could never be. As that thought exploded in my mind, I entered my apartment shutting the door leaning heavy against it as I cried. I had to let him be with Ms. Kringle because Eddie and I were no longer an option. Eddie was mine, I was his, but still every time I thought that his other half entered my mind.

I had only met him once, but that had been enough. That dark half was evil, crazy, and it scared me that such a thing could be inside someone as sweet as my Eddie. But it was. That half was why we couldn't be together and thinking of that I thought of the reason why. Of the moment when I met that dark half for the first and last time. Once again that nightmare started to play out behind my eyes, but this time I couldn't stop it. It had been, so long ago, I could feel my nerves still as I walked to where Eddie lived. I didn't know how he would react to what I had to tell him and climbing the stairs to his dorm room that was the first time I heard him talking to himself.

He was doing that whisper screaming thing at himself, I knew it was Eddie only because the voice itself wasn't changing only sounding darker at moments, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. In that moment, I can't deny I didn't care I was so nervous as I knocked on the door. Eddie opened the door clearly not expecting me. He looked frazzled and looking at him I immediately noticed that something was off. But again, I ignored that bursting into the room. I needed to tell him while I still had the courage building inside me.

"Rosie…what are you doing here?" said Eddie closing the door. I had no reason to be afraid of Eddie then I had no reason for my guard to be up, in fact all my walls were down as I stood nervously in his room. Eddie approached me slowly clearly seeing those nerves as he held me close his arms around me and kissing my forehead then my lips I knew he was trying to make me look at him. But I couldn't do it. Not while what I had to tell him was still roaming around in my head.

Pulling away from the kiss, Eddie peered down into my eyes, and taking my face in his hands he held me closer.

"Rosie…what is it? Whatever it is you can tell me. I love you…whatever it is we'll handle it together," said Eddie gently our foreheads touching as I looked at him still not sure how to say what I had to say. Time passed, I could tell Eddie was desperate to know what was happening, but I couldn't say it, not yet. But Eddie didn't push me. He let me take my time and I was grateful for that as I looked up at him the words on the tip of my tongue.

"I love you too," I whispered needing to say that before anything else, not afraid because I thought that Eddie would hurt me, but because looking at him I didn't want to ruin his life.

"Rosie…" began Eddie my answer interrupting him.

"I'm pregnant," I exclaimed waiting to see what he would say before daring to look at him. Only when I found myself standing alone did I dare look at him. That was when I met his darker half. Eddie backed away from me his face expressionless and staring right back at him I still waited for him to speak. I couldn't imagine what was going through his mind. Eddie appeared to still be processing what I said, he wasn't smiling, and then suddenly he was pacing. I had never seen Eddie this way. It alarmed me as I stood there watching him. He paced back and forth that dark voice coming out of his mouth that first time in front of me. It scared me to see Eddie this way and watching him I wondered if what I said did this to him. Could I have broken Eddie? I didn't think so though, the way he was acting couldn't just happen this way, that's what I thought as I watched him, and beginning to shake I took a slow step towards him. Eddie was talking to himself. Talking about what to do with me, with the baby, and as those words came out of his mouth I felt a bit better about everything. Until his ideas about what to do weren't so nice anymore. Until Eddie or the dark Eddie started talking about getting rid of us.

The two Eddie's were suddenly talking about killing me, about killing our baby, and as that conversation took place I found myself frozen not able to believe what I was hearing or who I was hearing it from. One Eddie appeared to be talking about killing me, saying it had to be done, but the other Eddie, my Eddie I think, he fought against it until suddenly it was like he was ruled out. Suddenly my Eddie was gone completely and I was left alone with just his darker half.

"I am going to handle this if you won't. A baby will ruin all our plans…it will ruin our life, and I can't let that happen. I will get rid of the problem, Ed…you just sleep for now. I can't have you getting in my way," whispered the evil Edward his back turned away from me as he spoke to no one or the good Eddie or I don't really know. I just know he was talking and it wasn't to me. With wide eyes, I watched him then as he turned letting me see his face. He looked like my Eddie, but the second our eyes met I was afraid.

"Eddie…what's going on? I'm sorry if I upset you…I," I began my words shaky. This man was not my Eddie, he was darker, scarier yet as he moved slowly my way I noticed he held a confidence I rarely saw in the Eddie I knew. I wasn't sure how to feel as I watched him, he looked like my Eddie, but looking at him I knew he was going to hurt me. I found myself frozen in fear at that knowledge even as I thought that my Eddie would never hurt me.

"You've been distracting us for far too long…and now you're trying to ruin us. As much as we love you, Rosie, I can't let that happen. It's time for you to go away…to be a memory for us to look back on," whispered the evil Edward stopping as he said that they loved me looking at me almost with a sadness in his eyes.

"Eddie, please, I don't understand," I began.

"You don't have to understand. You just have to go away, Rosie. But don't worry. I love you, Ed and I both love you, so I'll kill you with as little pain as possible," said the evil Edward stepping towards me again. I started crying in that moment which made him stop again. The dark half just stood there staring, he looked almost torn, and part of me knew he didn't want to do this. Part of me thought I could talk him out of it.

"Eddie," I began.

"I'm sorry, Rosie, this is how it has to be. Just be real quiet now," said the evil Edward moving swiftly now. Suddenly he was right there. He was right in my face and staring at him with wide eyes I didn't move. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know who this was, I just knew that this wasn't my Eddie. I looked him in the eyes and I saw that immediately. Eddie would never hurt me and yet this thing was going to kill me. Eddie was the sweetest man I'd ever met, but looking into this thing's pitch-black eyes I couldn't say the same. This thing was a demon and he was living inside the man I loved. This was not my Eddie. This was a part of him I didn't know and looking at that half I was glad. And then as I realized that Eddie was going to kill me I felt more tears stream down my face. If I survived this I knew one thing for sure, Eddie and I couldn't be together anymore.

"Goodbye, Rosie, I love you…I'm sorry it's come to this," whispered the evil Edward even as his hands went around my neck. Even as he was choking me I couldn't believe it was happening. I just stared into his eyes at first hoping to suddenly see the Eddie I knew in them, but he never came. Eddie wasn't there, he was gone, and he had left me alone with this monster inside himself. And that monster was going to kill me. As that thought entered my mind, my need to survive kicked in, and suddenly I was fighting back. I was fighting to stay alive. I tried to scream, but his hands around my throat stopped me. I started scratching at his hands, it was that that finally set me free when I pushed his glasses aside jabbing him in the eye that was when I ran for the door. Opening it, I ran down the hall not looking to see if he was following.

When I finally decided to do that it was at the wrong moment. As I ran down the stairs, I glanced over my shoulder seeing Eddie behind me, but not seeing the step at my feet. Missing the step, I stumbled falling down the remainder of the stairs hitting the bottom hard. I blacked out after that waking up to find myself not just in the hospital with a sleeping Eddie by my side, but sadly no longer pregnant. I bled too heavily causing me to lose the baby. I found Eddie had no memory of what happened, he didn't even remember me telling him I was pregnant. And with the memory of that other evil Edward in my head I found myself in my apartment again. My hands had found their way over my stomach and looking down at it I burst into tears. As scared as I had been, I would have liked having a child, especially if that child had been Edward Nygma's. But that dark half of his had denied us that. That was why I couldn't be with him, he had proven he couldn't protect me from himself; how could he protect me from the rest of the world?