Jebus, I really need sleep. Sorry if this chap isn't as good as other ones, I wanted to get it up quickly and you people still rock at reviewing and being amazing. Cookies all around!

Don't own.

Ch. 14: Promise

Edward didn't speak to me for two days. Well, he did, but it was sheer business. It was Wednesday, and I was leaving work early before that awful date with that atrocious man Jacob Black.

What I had ever seen in him, so many years ago, I didn't know.

"Clemons' final draft is ready for print, it's on my desk." I said, putting my coat and gloves on. "Smith will have his on there by tomorrow morning, he's finishing it tonight, staying until he's done…"

"You're going through with this, aren't you?" he asked, his voice soft. He'd stopped me at the door, with his hands on my shoulders once more.

It was the first sign of affection he'd shown since Monday.

"Not because I want to." I sighed, trying not to look into his eyes, and see the way I'd hurt him. I couldn't help it, and found myself staring into his beautiful green eyes.

"There are other ways." His voice was pleading. "My family has lawyers, the best in the city. This is absurd. There's no way they'd win…"

"Edward, they could win. I assaulted him, I broke his nose. I know it, he knows it, a whole café full of people know it. I know you want to help, and I appreciate that, really I do, but…" I sighed, trailing off.

"I know." He said quietly, placing his hand on my cheek. "I can call my lawyer any time if you want out of this."

"Thank you." I said, looking away. Why couldn't I face him?

And why was I being so goddamn stubborn?

He pulled me into an embrace, and I rested my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

It felt right.

I belonged here, with him, not going off on an awful 'date' with an awful person that I hated.

What was I doing?

He was so good to me, and I was basically shoving his kindness in his face. But…I really didn't want a lawsuit. I didn't want to deal with the hassle, for me, for him, and for my mother. And there was that chance that, in a lawsuit, we'd lose and we'd lose the shop…

"I'm sorry." I murmured into his chest, feeling a kiss on the top of my head.

"It's okay. Do what you have to do."

He drew back, to look at my face.

His eyes were all I saw.

He was trying to be supportive of my decision, though he didn't agree with it. He was trying to cope with it.

"I got something for you." He said, and this was the first time I noticed the shopping bag he'd placed on the floor. "Here's a contract I had my lawyer draw up for this agreement. Make him sign it."

"I didn't even think of that." I murmured, as he handed me a packet of papers.

"Here's pepper spray, if you don't have a glass of champagne handy." He smiled, handing me a small spray bottle.

"You really think I'll need pepper spray?"

"Knowing him, yes." He said, and took something else out of the bag. "And here's a tazer, in case you don't want to break your other hand."

"You got me a tazer? Where the hell did you get it? Aren't these illegal?"

"Well so is assault. Chances are, he'd be too afraid to do anything if you pulled this out. And I think you can get a special permit for these. A lot of battered women are given them, along with the pepper spray, to protect themselves…" he said, as I was still shocked.

I knew he was making that up, but didn't care. I was floored.

What did he do, rob a police station?

"What, no shotgun?" I said sarcastically, putting my newly acquired self-defense items in my purse.

"That's for your next date." He chuckled, cupping my face in his hands. He leaned in and kissed me, a phenomenon I still wasn't used to. It was short and sweet, and still left me breathless.

My God. It wasn't just a dream, I really was dating Edward Cullen. I had to pinch myself every day, it seemed, in order to make sure it was real…

"Take care of yourself, Bella."

I nodded dumbly, unable to speak just yet.

Holy cow, that was amazing.

"Hey, Edward?" I said, as I opened the door. He turned back to me. "Thanks."

I wore my work clothes on the date, refusing to dress up for that jerk. I told my mother about it, and she was just as disgusted as I was. That, and she was angry that I'd broken my hand on his face. So she wasn't happy with him, either.

Well, I have to say the best part of the evening was seeing Jacob with his nose all taped up, or bandaged, or whatever those nose-casts were for people who broke their noses.

That, and I'd apparently hit his upper lip while I hit his nose, and it was swollen and puffy, and he looked like a duck.

"Donald called, he wants his look back." I said as we went to the cab. He didn't say anything, just glared.

I loved duck lips. It was amusing.

And he has a lisp because of it.

"Shut ub." (Shut up)

It was fantastic.

Just seeing it made my broken hand seem more and more worthwhile.

"I have something for you." I said, once we sat down to our table at the way too expensive restaurant he'd chosen.

"Oh?" He said with a crooked grin.

"Down, boy." I rolled my eyes, and pulled out the contract. "It's a contract. If I follow through with these dates, this guarantees that you won't put up a lawsuit. If, in the case of crude or lewd behavior I choose to pull out of this agreement, this protects me against any charges."

"You drew ub a contract?" (You drew up a contract?)

"I didn't, Edward's lawyer did. Sign it, or the deal is null and void, and I can go home and have a nice evening." I said, feigning curtness.

His lisp was really funny. It was taking everything I had not to crack a smile, or crack up laughing.

"Why suth precaution?" He said, amused. "Are you afraid ob me?" (Why such precaution? Are you afraid of me?)

"I don't want to even be here. And after the opera house, I don't trust you." I said simply, folding my arms over my chest.

"Oucth." He said, dramatically. "Dhat hurts, Bells. What happened, widh us?" (Ouch. That hurts, Bells. What happened with us.)

"What happened? Oh, you know, you were pressuring me to do things I didn't want to do, things I refused to do because I wasn't ready. And then you got bored, and left me for bimbos at college." I summed it up simply, harshly.

I was over him, and had been for a while. But I hated the fact that I had been with him in the first place, and hated the fact that I'd been heartbroken when he broke up with me.

So now I was a spiteful, prideful bitch. I loathed him, and refused to budge.

I had Edward, anyway. Edward was at least a hundred times better. Way more than a hundred times. A million times.

I felt myself smiling, as I thought of Edward.

No. No, Bella. Don't smile. He'll think you're enjoying yourself.

"Dhere's dhat smile I lobe." (There's that smile I love.)

Shit.

"Well, it's not for you." I said indignantly, as he tried, and failed to take my hand, on the table. We placed our orders, and he ordered red wine.

Ha. Red wine. Edward had ordered white. I liked white wine better.

"Dhen what's it for?" (Then what's it for?)

"I was just thinking about something." I said, retracting my hand as I took a sip of the wine.

Ugh. I really didn't like red wine.

"Why cam't we be friendth?" he asked, trying to keep up a conversation; one I didn't want to have. (Why can't we be friends?)

"Because you're a jerk." I answered, taking a sip of water, instead.

"Becausth you'd rather see your perfect Ebwarb Cullen." He said darkly, his brown eyes blazing. (Because you'd rather see your perfect Edward Cullen.)

"Yes, actually, I would."

"What makes him so spethial? Dhe fact dhat his father owns half dhe city?" (What makes him so special? The fact that his father owns half the city?)

"Do you really think I care about money? Wow. You better think about what you're going to say next long and hard there, buddy." I could feel myself angering more. "I enjoy his company, thank you very much."

"I'm djust saying, he has a reputathiom." (I'm just saying he has a reputation.) He looked at me seriously, almost as if he cared. "I dom't wamt you to get hurt." (I don't want you to get hurt)

"The only thing that could hurt me right now is you, Jacob. Edward is a perfect gentleman. He doesn't step over the boundaries, like you, he's actually wanted…"

To be honest, right now I was trying to get him to break the agreement, to be sick of my behavior and leave.

I'd put the meal on his tab, and sit here and eat it myself, if he left. I just wanted him to get out of my sight.

As if his face hadn't been a sight to look at before, now with a busted nose and fat lip it looked even worse.

Haha…duck lip.

At least I was enjoying my thoughts, making fun of his duck lip.

Want some cheese and quackers? Ah ha ha, I quack myself up…

Yeah. I'm lame. I like childish jokes sometimes, and with a duck lipped jerkface in front of me, it was the only thing keeping me from just hitting him again.

His presence bothered me.

But somehow, despite my blatant disregard for him, he didn't get angry enough to leave. That bothered me. I wanted to go home.

Jerk.

Maybe he'd figure it out…

"Hello? Bella?" Edward answered on half a ring, sounding worried after the awful yet uneventful date ended. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I smiled, walking up the stairs to his apartment. "He got drunk off the wine and I sent him home in a cab."

"Where are you?" he asked, relieved.

"Open your door." I answered, leaning against the doorframe. Less than three seconds later it was unlocked and there he stood, with his cell phone still in hand and on.

I hardly had time to shut my phone, nevermind greet him, before I was caught up in a warm, hasty kiss.

I dropped my phone in surprise, as I returned his fervent advances, a bit overwhelmed. I could feel my heart instantly quickening as I tried to keep up with his…hungry?...kisses.

There was definitely something different about this.

I could feel the anxiety dissipating, as he gradually slowed, and drew back just as breathless as I was.

"Hi." I said with a smile, as he just stood there with his arms around me, holding me. "Can I come in?"

Date Two. Friday night.
For our second awful date, Jacob brought me to another expensive restaurant, with more disgusting red wine. What was it with this guy, that he was so uncreative? He couldn't think of anything better than dinner?

This restaurant was better, though, because it had a live jazz band and couples were all over the dance floor, going crazy.

I'd refused to get up and dance with him, several times. And I'd still refused to dress up for him, and showed up in my work clothes once more.

What did I care? He sucked, big time.

It was kind of funny, that this was his attempt at wooing me, when not only was I taken, I wasn't interested in the least, and with these efforts, he didn't have a chance.

I hated dancing. I hated Jacob. The only thing that kept me going through the whole ordeal was thinking of Edward. We'd made plans for after the awful date, just to see eachother and watch a movie on TV...you know, just relax.

Jacob was the farthest thing from my mind.

I think he realized this, which is why he'd drank so much of the wine that night...

"Bella…you're beautifuw." A pretty tipsy Jacob slurred at, as he scribbled on the check. (Bella, you're beautiful.)

It amazed me that his lip was still swollen enough to mess with his speech. Then again, I had punched him pretty hard...

I scooted my chair back from the table, disgusted. Since he'd understood that I hated him and didn't want anything to do with him, he'd taken to downing the bottle of wine.

"I remembher dhose thummerth im high school." He continued, standing and swaying. "You were hawth." (I remember those summers in high school. You were hot.)

Inhale, exhale. Breathe, Bella, don't hit him again. Just make it through this…

"Jacob, you're disgusting. And you're drunk. I don't want anything to do with you in the first place, and that's tripled when you're drunk." I scoffed, wrinkling my nose at him. The whole restaurant was staring at him.

"Awbh, c'mom, Bellth." He said, trying to pull me up to dance to the blaring sax. I refused, and shoved him off. "What'th your problem." (Aw, c'mon Bells. What's your problem.)

His tone had changed for this last phrase, and I could see anger looming in his eyes.

"You're thubbothed to dabe me. I wamma danthe." (You're supposed to date me. I wanna dance.)

"I'm going home." I stood, walking past him, pulling out my phone to call Edward. He'd wanted me to call him when my date was over, so he could make sure I was alright.

It was a little controlling, I supposed, but it was different because he was trying to look out for me.

"Don't be like dhat." (Don't be like that.)

I ignored him.

"Bella? Are you okay?" Edward's voice said on the other end, as he picked up on the first ring.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I said, stepping onto the street. I was vaguely aware of Jacob following me, but didn't really think anything of it. "I just left—"

He followed me out, and caught my wrist on the sidewalk as I hailed a cab.

"Let me go now." I glared, and cursed my broken hand. I was trying, and failing, at finding the pepper spray in my purse. That, and I couldn't move my hand in its splint, and couldn't grasp anything.

"Bella? Bella, what's happening?" I heard Edward's voice on the other end, as my phone was still in the hand that Jacob had caught.

He took it, and closed it with his hand, tossing it away into the shadows between the buildings.

Crap. He was angry, and drunk, and had a less than savory look in his eyes.

And in my place on the sidewalk, I was between buildings. What the hell.

Apparently I didn't have any luck, with a sketchy looking dark alley RIGHT THERE as a maniac gripped my good hand…

"Jacob, now."

Kick him in the balls and run, Bella.

Kick him. This counted as misconduct and crude behavior.

"What, I'm mot thexy emough for you?" He snarled, as I winced. (What, I'm not sexy enough for you?)

My fingers had just brushed the pepper spray, but I couldn't pick it up, as he twisted my arm.

"I'm moth Ebwarb Cullen? I'm mot rith emough for you?" (I'm not Edward Cullen? I'm not rich enough for you?)

He pulled me close to him, and I turned my face away, gritting my teeth to not let him know he was hurting me. He'd find too much pleasure in that…

Crap.

He still had my arm, and was holding it tighter and tighter.

Oh my God, I didn't need another broken bone! Not on the other arm!

"Jacob, stop!" I exclaimed, jerking my arm away. I only succeeded in having him twist it more and hold me to him, my back to his chest. I could feel him breathing next to my cheek, smell the alcohol on his breath.

God, no.

This was NOT going to happen.

Edward's apartment was just blocks away! I was so freaking close!

I stomped down hard on his foot, and tried to jerk away, but he was so inebriated he didn't feel the blow.

Shit. Shit goddamn.

I felt tears come to my eyes as I struggled, trying to get away. I was panicking, and couldn't find my voice to scream.

I shuddered and gasped in pain as he pushed me face first up against the stone of the building, holding both of my arms behind my back.

And he wasn't being gentle with my hand. I felt my bones protesting against the splint as he pressed it into my back, roughly.

Why didn't I kick him in the balls while I could? What was wrong with me, I never had a problem being a cruel bitch before, what was going on?

Then again, I'd never really been in a situation like this before.

I began shaking, as his hands began wandering, over my torso, into my shirt.

I felt so dirty.

"Help!" I tried to whimper, but my voice was hoarse. I began struggling more violently, but he slammed me into the brick wall of the building, causing me to cry out.

Holy shit, this was not happening!

And why was he so goddamn strong!

I felt his lips on my neck as he pinned me to the wall with his body and held his hand over my mouth.

EW GROSS DUCK LIPS!

I bit down with as much force as I could muster on his hand, and broke the skin, causing him to stumble back.

I spat, wiping my mouth.

He hadn't bled quick enough for me to have it in my mouth, but I could taste it anyway. Ew. Gross.

Before I could whip out the pepper spray, a familiar looking figure slugged Jacob. I was panicking, and backed up as the person came up to me, spraying furiously.

I didn't notice that Jacob was unconscious on the ground, and in my panic tears spilled from my eyes, blurring my vision.

"Get away from me!" I exclaimed, as the person ducked around my line of fire and gently lowered my arm.

"Bella! Bella, it's okay." Edward's voice told me, and then I saw that it was him. "I'm here."

"I was wrong, Edward!" I began blubbering, burying my face in his chest as he held me. "He was drunk, and he grabbed my good hand…and I tried to get away but he was too strong, and…and…"

I felt so weak, and so stupid. He'd warned me, he'd even given me tools to help myself, and I still couldn't take care of myself.

"Shh…shh…it's okay, Bells." He whispered, kissing the top of my head as I soaked his shirt. "Just hold on one minute."

He took out his phone and called an ambulance for Jacob's unconscious form, though I thought we should have just left him.

But he was the good guy, and in a more stable state of mind I don't think I could have left him unconscious without help coming, either.

"C'mon." he said, picking up my phone from the dirt and walking slowly with me down the sidewalk, walking the three blocks to his apartment. I clung to him for dear life, my face buried in his shoulder as his arms were around me.

It was then that I noticed he didn't have a coat on, that he'd run the way from his apartment blindly. But I'd told him where we were eating…so he knew where I was.

I was so lucky I had him. So lucky he was so close, so lucky his mindfulness made up for my stupidity.

I was still shaking, when we made it to his apartment.

"Let me take a look at it." He said quietly, as I got my hand out of my sleeve.

It had been throbbing, and probably had to be reset.

I had almost forgotten about it, in my panic and with the rush of adrenaline…

Now that I was calming down, the pain came back in waves.

Ow.

Oh My God, oh crap…ow ow ow ow ow!

Shit.

It was swollen, and bruised, and more crumpled.

It definitely had to be reset.

"I'm going to call Carlisle." He said quietly, sighing. I was still staring blankly at it, wide eyed.

Then I saw his fist, swelling a little but not broken or anything.

That's right…he'd punched Jacob pretty damn hard…

"You're hurt." I murmured, as he waited for Carlisle to pick up.

"It's nothing." He smiled, placing the hand on my cheek. "Carlisle? It's Edward. I need you to come over and take a look at Bella's hand, I think the splint needs to be reset…alright, see you in a few."

"It's not nothing." I said quietly, as he got an ice pack for my hand. "You…you came running. You just…came, to my rescue."

"You think I'd just leave such a beautiful damsel in distress?" He said lightly, smiling at me with those beautiful eyes of his.

"My hero." I said dramatically, taking my good hand and placing it at my forehead, palm up. He chuckled, and placed his hand on my cheek, brushing away a stray lock of hair.

"I'll punch Jacob Black in the face for you any day." He was still smiling, and I found myself lost in his green eyes.

My God, he was beautiful. He was also still in his work clothes, however with his tie loosened and the top button of his shirt undone. But it was the expression in his eyes that struck me.

I think I knew what that look was.

But it was so soon! He couldn't!

Half a second later I felt his soft lips on mine, in a gentle, sweet kiss. I could feel that he wanted to kiss me differently, and was holding back, but was glad that he was. I wasn't sure I could deal with much more than that, considering what had been happening.

Ugh. I felt so dirty.

I couldn't look into his eyes, when he drew back. I had screwed up, and taken his kindness for granted. I didn't listen to him, and had nearly gotten myself…

I shuddered. I couldn't even think of that.

I was manhandled. His foul lips had touched my neck, my cheek, his hands…

"Bella?" he asked, quietly, tilting my chin up so I met his eyes.

God, those beautiful, sincere eyes…

I was nothing more than a cheap whore. I was dumb enough to agree to 'dating' that asshole in the first place, and I guess karma was catching up with me…

I wasn't worthy of Edward. He was too wonderful, too kind, too beautiful a person, inside and out, for the likes of me.

"He…he touched me." I murmured, looking down again. My good hand went instinctively to my neck, and to my chest. I glanced up and saw his lips in a thin line. His eyes were sympathetic to me, but also flaring with rage. "I deserved it. I was stupid, I didn't listen to you…look what almost happened! Edward, I'm not worth it! Now you're going to have a lawsuit, and it's my fault, and—"

He cut me off by kissing me, that same sweet way as before. He knew that would shut me up, and it did.

"Bella, I don't care. Bring it on. Jacob Black couldn't do anything to take you away from me."

"You're sure?" I whispered, transfixed by his eyes again.

"I promise." He said, kissing my forehead. "So long as you want me, I'm here."

OKAY I hope that makes up for last chapter. I was going to have that happen after a few dates, but I really couldn't stand the idea of putting Bella through any number of dates with Jacob. I couldn't bring myself to do it. So it happened on the second date. And writing the dates themselves was painful enough, so I kind of took one date and broke it into two parts. Oh well, you forgive me.

And I'm not sure about that last line, I feel like I've heard it before, so if it WAS in any one of the Twilight books, then obviously I don't own.

Review, my lovelies!