A/N: Sorry for the longer wait. Real life takes priority. Most of you know what's been happening, but I don't want to say anything here in fear of jinxing, lol. Also, kids are no longer in daycare until we get settled in in about 6-8 weeks. For those of you who reviewed, I'm so happy that you all liked the last chapter!

Cherry beta'd for me!

SM owns all things Twilight. Everything else is mine.

Chapter 6: Our Magnetics Shatter Me

EPOV

The rest of the day and the next couple are spent in the same way. We wake up, get breakfast and watch some TV, read, and shower. We haven't been found, though I know it's coming, and I'm sure she feels it, too. She hasn't had many nightmares since that first night, which I think she's very happy about. I'm thankful too, not because it wakes me, but because she doesn't have added pain from the intensity, and that means she's on her way to getting better. I know she won't be over it all quickly, but it's one step in the right direction.

Emotional scars run deeper than physical ones, which only means they take longer to heal, if they ever do.

Her outside injuries look better, as do mine. Mine are yellow in color, but hers still look blue and purple. Her face looks better—less colorful, with only a few healing cuts left. I hope she's almost fully healed by the time they find us. The passing of time should give me hope, but it doesn't. It makes me feel anxious, like I'm waiting for the inevitable. Maybe they have found us, but are waiting for the right moment.

I want to leave this motel and go out. We can't stay here forever and we can't let them dictate what we do. The problem is, I don't know what we can go do. Go for a drive? Take a walk? I can see she's starting get a little antsy and I don't blame her. Maybe I should just ask her what she wants? I sigh and chance a peek to my left. She's reading her book of poems with a look of concentration. It looks like she's close to finishing it. It makes me sad to know she's almost through. Watching her read has been one of the best things I've ever done. She'll occasionally laugh or swipe a tear away at something that got to her, or just look thoughtful. It's the end of the book, but I feel a bit excited because that means she's not opposed to getting another. Perhaps she'd be up to coming with me to an actual book store.

The thought barely escapes my mind when she turns the page and sighs. She closes the book and puts it down on the nightstand between our beds.

"I take it you've finished." She nods and stretches her arms above her head with a groan. "How are you feeling today?" I ask, knowing she'll know what I mean.

"Better actually. It doesn't hurt much to stretch anymore, and breathing is easier, too."

"And, uh, how's … how's the bleeding?" I don't really know how to ask, but I feel I need to. She doesn't look that embarrassed, so that's good.

"Good." She swallows and looks down to her lap, nodding. "It's just a little, so I'm through the worst."

"That's good." We're silent for what feels like an hour, but is probably only about five seconds. I clear my throat and ask, "Would you like to go out?" She looks at me with a furrowed brow. "I mean, like get out of the room for a few hours," I clarify, and her face relaxes in understanding. I internally roll my eyes at my dumbass self for confusing her.

"Oh, um, sure. Did you have somewhere in mind?"

"I was thinking maybe you'd want another book. And we can go anywhere you want, whether it's to the gift shop or Barnes & Noble or somewhere else."

"You want to buy me another book?" I nod. Why is it so hard for her to believe this after I told her to get used to it? "It's not that I'm ungrateful, but why?"

I shrug. "Because you love to read—it's easy to see that—and it helps both of us escape reality, if only for a few minutes." She doesn't answer but seems to think it over. I can see that she really wants to, but fear holds her back. "Please. Let me buy you another book, or three, or ten. You can't let your fear keep you from something you love." She bites her lip, thinking more, but soon shows a small smile.

Bella nods. "Okay. A real book store it is." I grin and we get ready to leave.

We've been in Barnes & Noble for about an hour and she's still browsing. She's picked up four books—all parts of a series—and is looking at another while I grab two from James Patterson. She looks at peace and, in a way, at home. Of course, it helps to know that she really does feel at home around books, since she worked in the midst of them, a fact she'd shared when we walked in.

"My home away from home," she'd said after breathing in the atmosphere of the store and releasing it with a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. I was afraid she'd start skipping around to start her search, but she didn't. I bet she would have, though, if she were perfectly healthy.

I'm so happy that I suggested this. Her happiness in all this shit has made me happy and her smile is contagious, not to mention the little laughs that slip out. These little things are what make my days better, and I hope hers as well. When the inevitable comes, I'll be here to catch her and repair her.

I don't know how she did it, living with him for as long as she did, but she won't be going back to that town. I know I can't make her stay away if she doesn't want to, but I can't see why she'd want to return, unless it's to visit her friend. Bella hasn't mentioned her mom or dad, or anyone else for that matter. Does she not have anyone else? I wonder. This woman has made a dent in my life already and I barely know anything about her, other than how her relationship with her husband is and her current situation. I need to get her to open up some more.

An hour later we've purchased our books and are on our way back to the motel. She got a total of five and I have two. She'd asked if it was okay that she bought so much. I had to remind her that I have enough cash and, if it made her feel good to buy those books, then the sky was the limit and to go for it.

Once inside our room, she sits on her bed and opens her first book, Cinder. I like the cover, but I don't know what it's about. I'd love for her to tell me about it. Her voice matches the rest of her: beautiful. Everything about her really is beautiful and pulls me in like a magnet. If I'm not careful, this girl could shatter me in the best way.

*GOA*

BPOV

Buying these books felt so good. I feel normal again and it's better than before. Edward has been so good to me, and it's hard not to think that he's too good to be true. The last time something was this way, it turned out to be the worst decision of my life. It—he—almost killed me. There were times that I wished he had just so I wouldn't hurt anymore, but I'm kind of glad he didn't, because then I wouldn't know what this feels like. It may feel similar, but I just know that it isn't. There's something different about Edward, something that just draws me in along with something Sam doesn't have and probably never actually had.

A heart.

I felt both weird and excited about buying so many books at one time. I mean, we may have to just pick up and go at the drop of a hat and I don't want to weigh us down, but he said that I should anyway. Plus, I really wanted to. It's been a while since I had the opportunity to purchase more than two books at a time. Once we're back in our room, I'm so excited about the books that I start reading the first one in a sci-fi series.

I reluctantly close my book a couple hours later, due to the need of the bathroom and get food. Edward had gone to the McDonalds across the street about fifteen minutes earlier, and should be back shortly. Once inside the bathroom, I close the door and do my business, and then wash my hands. I've been avoiding the mirror as much as possible, but I feel the need to finally look. Locking eyes with myself, I suck in a breath and gaze at the yellow spots on my face. I don't like looking at them and wish I had grabbed what little make-up I had when I packed some odd days ago.

I blow out a big breath, thankful that my ribs are feeling better and I can almost breathe normally. Turning the warm water to cool, I splash my face and lightly pat it. Then I hear the room door unlock and Edward walk in. I turn off the faucet and dry my hands and face before walking out to join him.

"Hey, you okay?" he asks.

"Yeah, I'm good. I just needed to wake up a little," I say, only half lying. I was a little tired from reading. He just nods and starts taking food out of the bag, setting his down and handing me mine. We sit on our own beds and dig in, eating in comfortable silence. I'm hungrier than I thought and I finish everything, including my medium Coke, in about five minutes, letting out a decent belch. My eyes widen and I cover my mouth, my face turning as red as a tomato from embarrassment. "Sorry. Excuse me."

Edward just laughs, saying, "No worries, although I'm sure Emmett might be offended to know that he may have some competition."

I bury my face in both hands and shake my head. "That doesn't really happen much, so there really isn't any kind of competition here." He nods, smiling, but reassures me that there's no need for the apology. I nod back and relax against the headboard, picking my book up. "Do you mind if I read some more?"

Shaking his head, he says, "No, go ahead. I was thinking about reading some, too."

After a half hour of us living in our own world, he asks if he can sit next to me while we continue. I tell him that's just fine, and together we live in imaginary places for the rest of the day. It's great that he likes to leave the real world for a little bit just as much as I do.

*GOA*

SamPOV

We've been looking for these two for days now. How could they just disappear? Fucking bitch needs to come to her senses already.

No. I need to get rid of pretty boy so she doesn't have a choice. If she refuses, then she'll be sorry. If I can't have her, no one can.

"Yo! I got something!" I hear from behind me. I turn away from the window and quickly walk over to the computer screen, seeing a black and white video from a security camera. "It looks like they were at a book store in Spokane."

With a frustrated sigh, I ask, "Have you found out where they're staying yet?"

"Not yet, but I should here shortly. This is the first time my camera hacking has caught them." I grip his chair harder and grit my teeth, irritated that he gave me this information when it's not what I need. "Hey now. No need to get your panties in a twist. Now that I've located them, it'll be a hell of a lot easier to track them." I loosen my fingers and stand up, crossing my arms in front of my chest. "I should know where they're hiding once they stop moving."

I leave this douche to do what he needs to do. If these two guys hadn't agreed to help me, I don't know what I would've had to resort to. I've lied to Charlie before, but I didn't want to drum up another lie. Besides, the legal way isn't fast enough.

Two hours later…

"I have a positive location on them!"

I race over to the computer, looking at the spot where he's pointing. "All right. Let's go!" It's time to get this done.

A/N: This story is coming to a close, so only two or three chapters left to go. I'll get them out as soon as I can.