The Edge

Summary: Edward is running away from his past when he finds Bella at the edge of a cliff ready to jump. Will they save each other and find a way to move on together? AH & Potential for lemony goodness

Stephanie owns it, sadly not me.

Chapter 1

Only 80 miles left to go. So close I can almost feel the soft bed under me. Whose idea was it to drive straight through the night? Oh yeah, that would be me... idiot. I've been on the road for 13 hours already with one more to go and I'm so ready for this trip to be over. My home in Chicago feels like a distant memory or at least I hope it soon will be one. I'm ready to start over in a new place and this new position as Chief of Psychiatry at Bon Secours Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia is the perfect place to start.

Looking out over the gorgeous view of the Blue Ridge Mountains I couldn't help but feel calm, peaceful almost. I can't remember the last time I felt this at ease. It seems like as long as I can remember there's been a constant buzz in my head from the commotion surrounding me in the city. Well, it's not like Richmond isn't a city also but at least I'll be able to live far enough into the country to have some peace and quiet when I get home at night. And just being away from the consistent nagging of my family will be a new kind of repose unto itself.

Don't get me wrong, I love my parents and I even love my annoyingly hyper sister, Alice. They've always been supportive of me and they've always wanted the best for me. The "best" however is an issue up for some debate.

Suddenly I was brought out of my internal trip down memory lane when a hissing sound began to emit from my car followed by a gust of dark gray smoke which almost blinded me as it bubbled out of my hood.

"No girl! You've made it so far. Don't give up on me now!" I tried to reason with my overheated engine but alas it would not listen to my pleas. I realized I was coming up upon one of those Scenic View rest stops that frequent mountainous landscapes so I let my beat up old Volvo coast into the first parking spot. I reached for my iPhone to search for a tow truck or some kind of mechanic but was defeated when I realized it was dead. Stupid battery lasts ten minutes! And do I have my car charger with me, of course not. It's probably sitting in my other car that I sadly left behind. Well it's not like I was taking the Vanquish on a cross country excursion.

I begrudgingly got out of my car and was relieved by the refreshing breezing filled with the most beautiful scents of wildflowers and fresh greenery. Well if I'm going to be stuck somewhere at least it's somewhere with a magnificent view. The cliff edge in front of me dropped off into a stunning valley with patches of farm land dotted with cows and covered in rows of newly growing vegetables. Beyond the valley was a wall of smokey blue mountains framing the only slightly lighter blue sky.

The breathtaking view of the countryside dazzled me so it took me a moment to realize I wasn't alone. At the far end of the parking lot sat an old rusty red truck that looks like it may have just been abandoned here sometime in the late 50's. Just in case however I scanned the area for life. Obviously there was phone booth here so unless I find someone with a working cell phone I'll be walking at least ten miles to find help for my car.

That's when I saw her, with her mahogany waves of hair blowing in the breeze and creamy white skin that seemed to almost sparkle in the sunlight. I only saw her from behind as she was much closer to the cliff's edge but what I could see made the beauty of the scenery pale in comparison.

After forcefully closing my slack jaw I tried calling out to her.

"Um, Miss! I'm so sorry to interrupt but I seem to be having a bit of car trouble. Would you happen to have a cell phone I could borrow?"

There was no response or indication that she knew I was even speaking. It is rather windy so I figured maybe I should move a bit closer. Slowly I closed the distance between us to the point where I could reach out and touch her. Of course I didn't want to startle her, especially if she hadn't heard me before. It was a steep drop off that cliff and she was right at the edge. So I tried just clearing my throat to get her attention.

Nothing.

"Miss," I spoke softly but clearly, "I really am sorry for bothering you." Still nothing... until I realized her whole body was shaking.

I like to think of myself as an observant person but I could have kicked myself for not seeing more clearly before. I was so dumbstruck by her beauty I didn't take into account a very important detail. The siren in front of me was balancing, quite precariously, on the other side of the guard rail which lined the edge of the cliff. In that split second I realized I'd just stepped on a land mine and if I wasn't exceptionally carefully I would be watching this damsel in distress plummet to her death in mere seconds.

Instantly my years of experience in psychiatry came streaming through my mind. I tried to pull any and every morsel of information I could to solve this as fast as possible. If I could just get her to stop and think for a moment then all hope may not be lost. First, I wasn't sure if she was even aware of my presence. Given her probable state of mind it was likely she was so focused in her task at hand that she had no awareness of my being a mere two feet behind her. Possible solutions started pouring through my mind.

I could grab her and pull her back to safety … which, if she had an instantaneous adrenaline rush could result in her flailing and thus pulling me over the edge along with her.

Best not to touch her in any way. But I had to break the spell she was under. No telling how long she's been standing here but by the goosebumps on her uncovered milky white arms I'd say she's been in the cold wind for a while.

I had tried speaking to her but that obviously wasn't working. A moment of clarity hit me and I quietly but briskly retreated to my smoking car. A quick search and I had what I needed. I stealthily moved closer to her, this time I wrapped one arm around the top bar of the guard rail beside her, just in case. Careful not to touch her, I held an earbud right to her ear and pressed play. Claire de Lune by Debussy began to emit from the tiny speaker and her reaction was instantaneous, but nothing like what I was expecting.

"What the hell do you thing you're doing?" She turned her head in my direction and with lucid but reddened eyes. I was utterly shocked, not only by her comment and harsh tone but by the incredible depth of her chocolate eyes. It was like I could see straight into her fractured soul.

"Uh sorry, Miss. I couldn't help but notice what you're trying to do and I wanted to ..um... help?" It came out as more of a question than I'd hoped but the intent was still there.

"No I don't have a freaking cell phone for you to use so get lost. The next exit is 12 miles back so you better get walking if you want to make by sundown." And with that she turned back forward, writing me off. She had heard every word I'd said, she was just ignoring me, but I had to keep her talking.

"My name is Edward," I had to establish some kind of rapport if I was going to get her to talk, "can you tell me which direction I should choose?" I'd hoped she caught the double entendre but would be happy if she simply answered the direct question.

"It's not my job to tell you which way to go." She definitely understood me, but didn't want advice. That's fine, I can still work with that.

"So you're saying that one path is just as good as another?" She didn't respond. "Maybe I should just stay here then." I decided to go for snarky. "When you're done here I can get a ride back into town." As soon as the words were out of my mouth I realized I'd gone too far and wasn't specific enough, but at least it got a rise out of her.

Looking back in my direction she responded, "The keys are in the truck, take it... I won't be needing it. But if you don't mind I'd like to die alone, thank you very much."

"You don't have to die alone, ya know."

"Oh really, would you like to join me?" I couldn't be sure but I think I saw her lip twitch like she was trying to suppress a smile.

"Not today, thanks. What I meant was, you're not alone and you don't need to die." I have to tread lightly here, she's obviously smart and won't respond well to a direct line of fire.

"Oh that's right, you're here to save me, I forgot. Well, go run along, you're wasting your time and mine."

"I can't agree with you on that one."

"Rest assured, your time IS being wasted on the likes of me." She turned back to looking forward. New tears started flowing freely from her eyes. I was losing her, time to back track.

"Oh no, that's not what I meant at all. I meant I'm not wasting your time. You see, if you're planning to off yourself any minute now, how could I be wasting your time? The way I see it, every minute you keep talking here with me is one more minute you're gaining, not losing."

"Do you really think all your stupid psych-babble is going to convince me to change my mind? Don't you think I have a good reason to be here in the first place. That I've thought this through?"

"Oh I'm absolutely certain you have a damn good reason to be here. It has to be something absolutely wretched for a beautiful angel like you to want to fall." I let her sigh in disgust, I wanted her to think I was just some shallow womanizer – better that than a shrink that's going to try to analyze her. Do I think she's an angel, damn straight! But that wasn't the reason for the comment. But I couldn't let her think I'm a total creep so I continued, more softly this time. "Why does anyone make this decision? But then again, why does anyone decide to NOT jump?"

Her brows furrowed and I had to hold back the incredible urge kiss away the wrinkle above the bridge of her nose. "Why are you doing this?" she responded.

"Well Miss..." I looked at her expectantly hoping she'd give me her name

"Swan... Bella Swan"

"Miss Swan, or can I call you Bella?"

"Bella's fine."

"Bella..." I'd used this little exchange to get ever so slightly closer to her. I was now close enough that I could smell her hair, mmm... lilacs. Back on task. "The way I see it, Bella, I was brought here for a reason. My car never breaks down and today of all days it did, right in front of this cliff. And considering I haven't seen a car pass once in the last twenty minutes or so, I'd say that's a rather big coincidence. I need help and it looks like you might need some help as well. Maybe we can help each other?"

Again, she did not respond how I expected but I shouldn't have been surprised. Her groan of disgust filled the air and seemed to echo in the valley below.

"Really? You see a girl on a ledge and all you can do is think with your dick? Typical freaking man. Well too bad, bucko – unless you're a necrophiliac you're not going to enjoy it. Now please just let me do this in peace you sicko."

The doctor in me was taking mental notes... likely a victim of sexual abuse, immediately assumes men are out for sex... Well can you blame her? Chances are a beauty like that has been hit on constantly her whole life. And you did go for the womanizing skeeze routine earlier to get her off the path of thinking you're a shrink. Better get her back on track, this is getting ugly. I need another angle and fast.

"Okay Bella, have a nice life, all ten minutes of it." I started walking away but very slowly. "Oh one more quick question. Why today specifically? I'm not asking what happened just why today and not... oh, I don't know, tomorrow for example?"

"What are you trying to do? Convince me to wait a day so you can take advantage of me in the meantime... thanks but no thanks."

"Not exactly what I meant, see I have this little problem and I'm going to need your help." I rushed on so she wouldn't think I was asking for something creepy. "See the sun is starting to set, and I don't really have time to walk 12 miles before dark. There's your truck of course but if I drive it off and you're found dead people will pretty much assume I killed you and stole your truck.

"If you could put off the whole suicide thing for a little while and drive me to a rest stop, or even better into Richmond where I'm headed, I will promise to let you head right back here to off yourself in peace. Otherwise I'm just going to have to stand here and yammer your ear off til you die of boredom."

She looked at me and I knew in that moment I got her. It may not last but for now I got her. Now to lay on the last straw to tip the scales in my direction. "I promise not to touch you." I can't be sure but I thought I saw a flash of disappointment cross her features before her face went blank. "And you know I won't kill you... well you don't know that for sure but at least you won't be any worse off, right?" I smiled hoping that last line convinced her I could be trusted.

I stood there in a staring match with her for what felt like eternity and until she swung her leg over the railing.

"You better not try anything, buster." Her face as fierce as an angry kitten and even more beautiful than I'd thought. I finally saw her full on, with the glow of the setting sun setting her brown eyes ablaze and I realized in that moment my whole life had changed.