Disclaimer: I don't own.

We couldn't have been asleep for more then a half an hour before the sound of someone coming in my room spurred me awake. Who ever it was snuck in. they came over to us.

"Oh." they sighed. It was Derek. "My girls."

I smiled and rolled over. "Bella's always been your girl. But if you want me you'll have to work for it." I sat up and stretched.

"Oh…um…I meant…"

"I know what you meant." I stood up and took Derek's hand. "Let's let her sleep." We walked out into the hall and I leaned against the wall. He just looked at me. We were silent for a moment until I blurted, "You know, Derek, if you have any intension of telling me 'I told you so' just get it over with."

"That's not what I'm gonna say." He said and stepped forward. My gaze never once left his. I tried to keep my breath steady as he drew closer and closer. I locked my thumbs in the back pocket of my jeans to keep my hands from shaking. He placed his hands on my waist and continued to stare down at me. His voice met my ears in a whisper. "I was going to say that I-,"

"Mama!" Bella screamed from my room. We both jumped back and hurried into the room. I knelt down beside my daughter. Derek turned the light on and knelt beside me.

"What's wrong baby?" I asked and lifted her hand.

"Don't let him." she sobbed.

"Don't let him what Bella? Who?"

"Caleb! Don't let him hurt us Derek!" she sobbed. I glanced at Derek. Suddenly Bella launched herself into our arms. She had one arm wrapped around my neck and the other around Derek's.

"Shh…it's okay Bell." Derek whispered and hugged her. I followed suit.

"It was just a nightmare." I kissed her shoulder. "He can't touch you anymore."

"That's a lie." She mumbled. "I heard you." I glanced at Derek from behind Bella. "He's gonna take me tomorrow."

"No he's not Bella." I said and pulled back to look at her.

"I'm not going to let him." Derek promised then kissed her forehead. "I promise."

She stared at him for a moment before turning to me. "Mama I have to tell Derek something." She jumped off the bed and pushed me out the door.

"Bell-?" I started but she shut the door. I raised an eyebrow and looked around the hall. Bella's voice hit my ears. I knew it was wrong but I couldn't help but press my ear to the door.

"You can't make that promise." Bella said.

"Of course I-,"

"Don't lie. I want you to do me a favor."

"Uh…sure Bell."

"Take care of Mama. I know you love her. Don't let anything happen to her." there was silence for a moment.

"I promise Bell."

"Thank you."

I jumped back when the door opened a couple seconds later. Derek walked out then slowly closed the door.

"She's back in bed." He said before heading toward his room.

I suddenly touched his shoulder. "Derek? Can I sleep with you tonight?" then a blush tinted my cheeks when I realized how that sounded. I opened my mouth to correct myself but Derek cut me off.

"I know what you meant. And you can share my bed if you don't mind a twin size."

We walked into the room. It hadn't really changed since we were teenagers. There were fewer posters and more books though. Derek pulled back his dark blue covers and laid down. I crawled in next to him. Since the bed was so small, the two of us had to cuddle up close to each other. We didn't mind at all. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. I snuggled into his chest.

"I didn't sleep with her." he said softly.

I was silent before answering. "I know."

"I just wanted you to feel-."

I cut him off. "I know."

"I love you Casey."

I smiled lightly. "I know. And I love you." I whispered.

The next morning I woke up alone. I wondered briefly if my mind had made it all up. If it had been nothing more then a dream. But I pushed that from my mind and stood from Derek's bed. Slowly I walked down the hall and descended the steps.

"Derek." Bella called. "Can I come with you?"

"Sure. I'm just going out to get your-uh something." He looked up to see me. "Morning Casey."

"Morning." I smiled and walked into the living room to join them. "What's going on?"

"Uh…can Bell come with me to run some errands?" he asked me.

"Of course. Just be sure to be home soon." I said and glanced at Derek letting my eyes linger before turning to Bella. "You be good for Derek. Okay. I don't want to here about the menace you were to him." I straightened her coat.

"Don't worry. I won't Mama." Bella said and threw her arms around my neck. I hugged her back. "I love you Mama."

I closed my eyes and squeezed her briefly. "I love you too baby." She broke the embrace.

"Come on Derek!" she said and tugged at his hand before running out the door. We followed her.

"Can I borrow your car so I don't have to move the car seat?" he asked me.

"Yeah." I handed him my keys. He turned to leave but stopped and turned back. He looked at me and leaned forward kissing my lightly before running off toward my car muttering. "God I'm acting like a teenager." I laughed and went back inside.

A couple hours later Bella and Derek came back. I was walking down the stairs when they walked in the door.

"Remember Bell." Derek whispered to my daughter. "Don't tell Mama. Kay?"

"Don't tell me what?"

Derek visibly jumped. "What? Nothing." He said quickly. "So what did you do while we were out?"

I gave him a strange look. "I ate a cookie, watched T.V. and sat in my room staring at the ceiling." Bella suddenly scurried past me up the stairs. "Bell honey, where are you going?"

"Bed." She called back.

"Strange little girl." Derek commented. "Smart. Stubborn. Fiery." He glanced at me. "Just like her mother don't you think?"

I smiled and walked down to stand next to Derek. "The intelligence isn't my quality." I took him by the hand and led him to the couch. We sat down. "It's her fathers."

"How can you be so sure?" he asked me. "You're one of the most intelligent people I know."

"Her father was a high school English teacher. If you asked him about any of Shakespeare's plays he could recite the entire fifth act."

"So? He's still the dumbest guy I've ever met." He said. "I mean what kind of idiot could want to hurt you?"

"Well a lot of idiots I guess. Guys just seem to be hurting me right and left." I said and laid my head on Derek's chest. He wrapped his arm around me.

"Well no more. I swear to you, I will not be an idiot. I'm never going to hurt you." He kissed my temple. I lifted my head and looked up at him. I brought a hand up to cup his cheek. I pulled his lips toward mine. Just before they could touch, I whispered to him.

"I'll hold you to that." Then I kissed him softly. He took his hand and placed it on my neck. I could feel him shaking. I pulled back and smirked at him. "Nervous?"

"What? No…no way." He said trying to act tough and calm. "It's not like this is my first kiss or anything."

"I know." I leaned forward and pecked his lips. "But darling, you're shaking."

"Oh." He said and looked down at his hand. "Yeah."

"Why are you so nervous?" I asked and brushed some hair from his face.

"Because you make me nervous. I don't want to screw anything up."

"You won't." I leaned toward him once more capturing his lips with mine. He was still shaking but not quite as much. He lowered me to a lying position on the couch. My arms snaked up around his neck and through his hair. His hands moved down to my waist simply for support. There was a crash from upstairs. We pulled apart.

"You hear that?" he asked me. Without answering, we jumped up and sprinted up the stairs. "Bella?" Derek called. We were passing the closet when a hand reached out and grabbed my ankle. I jumped and looked down to see Bella hiding in the closet.

"Bella what are you doing?" I asked and knelt down.

"T-the shelf." She whimpered and pointed to my open door. "I was lying in bed and it shook then fell." I looked at Derek and we stood. In my room I saw various book littering the floor. The wooden plank that was my shelf was lying across most of the books. In the wall, there was a support on the right side but not the left.

"That shelf has been there since before I was born." Derek said and picked it up.

"It was bound to fall eventually." I said and picked Bella up. She was still breathing heavily.

A little while later Derek and I were preparing to leave. We got in Derek's Jeep and started toward Caleb's house.

"Are you sure you want to do this Derek?" I asked him "Yes Casey. I'm a third year law student. My professors say I'm top of my class. I can do this."

"But do you want to do this?" I asked. He looked at me then took my hand.

"If it's to help you and Bell I'd light myself on fire." He smiled.

"Oh really? Well…" I trailed off and giggled.

"If you have the match I have the fuel."

When we arrived at the house, I saw an unfamiliar car in the driveway. Must have been Caleb's lawyer. They were sitting at the kitchen table when we walked in.

"What is he doing here?" Caleb asked pointing to Derek.

"He's my lawyer." I answered simply and took the seat opposite Caleb. Derek sat next to me.

"Well we can make this quick and easy." said Robert Lenning Caleb's lawyer. "Just sign here and give Mr. Rowel full custody of Isabella Rowel-,"

"Venturi." I corrected. "How do you not get that? Her name is Bella Venturi."

"Okay." The lawyer wrote something on a form. "And why is that her last name? After the father?" he glanced at Derek.

"No. It's my mother's last name." I said.

"Sign here." He said and passed the form to me.

"What makes you think I want to give Bella up?" I asked and pushed it back.

"Because maybe you want to give her a better life." He said.

"She has a great life." Derek said.

"Living with an alcoholic mother is not a good life." The lawyer said.

"What the hell have you been saying about me?!" I yelled in shock at Caleb.

"It's the truth." He said seemingly convinced that I was a horrible person.

"I never drank in my life!"

Derek stood up and glared down at Caleb. "You're the abusive alcoholic freak!"

"She attacked me!" he said now standing.

"Bull shit! You came home drunk and started throwing her around!"

"No I came home and she was drunk. She was yelling at Isabelle!"

Derek took a step toward Caleb. "Don't freaking lie. You know what really happened! And her name is Isabella!"

"Guys!" I yelled silencing them both. Then I turned to Caleb's lawyer. "Is there a drug test to see if either of us has been drinking?"

"Well yes. But I would need a judge's approval and I can only get that if we go to court."

I paused and looked over at Derek. He nodded. I looked back at Mr. Lenning. "Okay. We'll go to court."

"Very well." Mr. Lenning started putting papers away but stopped and glanced my way. "That is unless Miss McDonald is willing to give up Isabella Rowel."

"Venturi." Derek said.

"Yes well a social worker with be by your residence within the next two hours."

"What?" I asked.

"Mr. Kahne will be by to pick her up."

"No! You can't take her." Tears stung my eyes.

The ride home was quiet. I stared out the windshield not really focusing on anything. My heart was being torn in pieces. My Bella, my little baby girl was being taken from me. I couldn't do anything to stop it. A hopelessly lost feeling crept over me.

When we got home, Bella was waiting in the living room with Lizzie and Edwin. "Mama!" she yelled and ran over to me. I knelt down and swung her up in my arms.

"I'm sorry baby." I said and started to sob. Derek knelt down with us. He wrapped his arms around up.

"What's wrong Mama?"

"There's a man. He's going to come take you away for a little while." I said. Bella started to cry.

"No Mama! I don't wanna go! Please don't make me go!"

An hour later, there was a knock at the door. Derek, Bella and I had spent our last hour just sitting on the couch. Bella was lying across both our laps. Derek's hand was on mine and I was leaning on him

"Hello." My mother answered the door.

"Hi." A deep voice came from the door. "I'm here to get Isabella Rowel."

We stood and walked over to him. "Her last name is Venturi sir." I said to the dark man. He smiled warmly.

"Isabella Venturi, then."

Bella looked at him then back at us. "Mama…Daddy." She whimpered and lifted her arms. Derek and I leaned down and hugged her. Both of us kissed her cheek."

"Don't worry Bell." Derek said. "I won't let Caleb take you. He won't hurt you or your Mama. I promise."

"I trust you." She said and kissed him. "I love you Mama. I love you Daddy."

"I love you too baby." I whispered and kissed her forehead.

"So do I." Derek kissed her hand.

"Bye." She whispered and Mr. Kahne gently took her hand.

"Buh bye Bella." I said back and felt tears stinging my eyes. Mr. Kahne put her in his car and buckled her up then put her bag in the front seat. When they drove off, I felt my leg muscles constrict just aching to run after the car. Derek finally pulled me back inside. I fell to my knees and wept.

"My baby!" I wailed. "Bella! Isabella…" Derek picked me up bridal style and took me up the steps. I cried into his chest. When he put me down on my bed. As much as he tried to sooth me, nothing worked. They had taken my baby. Finally, I was just too exhausted to do anything else. I fell into an uneasy dreamless sleep.

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I was a two-week long camp. And I just got back. So…what do you think of this latest installment?