Authors note; Hello?! Is anyone still out there? Might I start with an apology? I am so very sorry that this chapter has taken so long to post. Now this chapter isn't beta'd so all mistakes are very much my own. They normally are but even more so now. Thanks for sticking around and reading and thanks for finding me on FB and making sure I'm okay! I hope you all enjoy this next chapter!

Chapter 10

Bella's PoV

I press my back into the side of the house. We're trapped, boxed in by the porch and the house. I can't get to the others and they can't reach me.

"Bella!" I hear beside me. Under the porch, on the other side, I can see them. I meet Alice's and Emmett's frantic eyes. "No, Edward!" Alice shouts before disappearing. Not even a full thirty seconds later Alice is back holding an axe in her hands. She hands it to Emmett and he doesn't hesitate, he starts chopping away at the porch siding.

"You better hope they get to us quickly." James says, getting my attention. "I'm almost out of ammo." He turns and fires again and a second later you hear a guy yell out before branches break. At least he's making the bullets count.

I press back into the house when I feel it, my gun. Edward insisted I should carry it and thanks to him I'm not completely helpless, not this time.

Reaching behind me l wrap my fingers around the handle and pull it from my waist but not insight of James, just in case.

He drops his guns, "Hold tight princesses, things are about to get interesting." He says looking back at me as he pulls a hunters knife from his waist.

I look back to Emmett and our eyes meet, you're not going to make it, runs through my mind. He sees it, I know he does because he starts working harder, faster and then starts yelling my name.

I turn back around just in time to watch the first guy round the corner. James doesn't hesitate, his knife sinks to the man's chest and then he drops him to the side. He doesn't get much time before there's another guy to replace the first. I watch in complete horror as the second man drives his own knife into James. Within seconds my gun is drawn, and the safety is off, he pulls the knife from James before he falls. The man looks up and starts to smile at me before he realizes that I have a gun in my hands, I pull the trigger as the smile slowly drops from his face. His eyes widen, a red circle appears on his forehead. I hear a loud roar before a crashing sounds behind me. Emmett has just broken through by running full force through the wood of the porch. Just as he gets through the man drops to the ground.

"What the hell?" Emmett asks before I hear James cough and gasp. Another man is rounding the corner and Emmett is fast, he's dead before he could fully round the corner and now Emmett is back in the gun fight.

I rush to James, "Help me!" I yell as I try to lift James. Alice comes running over, together we manage to get James up to his feet but he's in a lot of pain and his knees keep buckling under him. I'm struggling to keep him up right but there's no way I'm leaving him behind. We manage to get to the other side of the porch and Emmett is rushing back to us.

"What the fuck is he doing here, I got him girls." Emmett says taking James from us with ease.

"He was supposed to meet with Carlisle." Alice informs us. She covers Emmett as he takes him inside.

Edward is at my side in an instant. "Bella, are you okay?" He asks, he's frantic in his movements, his hands are everywhere at once.

"I'm okay, Edward, I'm fine.I promise." I tell him as I watch Emmett drag James into the house by himself.

The thing he does next is unexpected, Edward pulls me into an embrace so tight and I feel his lips on my forehead, one hand in my hair the other low on my back, pulling me as close as possible. "Fuck, Bella. I've never been so scared."He says, planting another kiss after another."

I find my arms wrapping around him as well. "I'm fine, they didn't touch me. I shot one of them, the one that shot James." I tell him.

Edward freezes and then pulls me back just enough to look at me. "How are you feeling?"

I shrug, "I don't know." Looking around I notice a lot more people out here than I thought. I think a lot of them are security or they work for the family.

"You killed the guy?" He asks.

I nod, "I shot him in the head."

He pulls me close again and starts kissing my forehead like before. "I'm so proud of you. You defended yourself." He says smoothing out my hair.

"Boss, perimeter check complete. Eight dead, others ran, they're being chased as we speak." A man I've never seen says.

"What are our numbers?"

"Three down, one fighting for his life." The man answers.

"James?" The guy nods. "Keep me updated on the chase."

We walk back into the house when I notice drops of blood on the hardwood floors. "Edward, where is he?" I ask.

Edward looks down too. "Carlisle has his own operating team. Best in the world, plus he's a surgeon as 're downstairs."

I'm starting to learn, expect the unexpected in this family. You never know what's going to come up. "Can we go see?" I ask. I'm not sure why I asked, James isn't someone to trust...Is he?

Edward looks troubled but nods. He leads me downstairs, an arm around my waist the entire time.

We find Esme waiting behind a glass that separates us from the operating room. They're lots of people in there working around James.

"How's it going, Esme?" Edward asks.

Her arms are crossed and one hand covers he mouth as she watches the chaos in front of us. "I'm not sure, he's lost a lot of blood. They've bought in more for him but,..."

Before she could finish a long beep sounds and I realize James has just flat lined. CPR is started as they bring in a machine to jump start his heart.

Carlisle yells, "Clear!" Everyone stood back and I watch James body jump.

"He saved my life, Edward." I don't take my eyes off of James. I watch as three more times his body jumps until finally his heart beat is back. I don't know why but a weight lifts from my chest.

It's well over an hour later when things start to slow down and they start cleaning up. Edward left after sometime to get an update on our situation so it's just been Esme and myself. "He's going to live, come on, let's find Edward." She tells me.

"There is nothing linking them back to the Volturi. You know their mark is all over everything. These guys were clean, unmarked." A man, with a messy mop of light brown hair, is saying. His eyes meet mine and he nods in my direction.

"Hey kid." Emmett calls out. Edward and Jacob turn to face me. It's Jacob that rushes to me and wraps me up in a hug.

"Bella." He says, sounding relieved.

I look over at Edward, he's looking at the wall behind us, an annoyed and slightly angry expression on his face, maybe I shouldn't have interrupted.

"I'm sorry, I could step out." I say, biting my bottom lip. I don't want to make him mad.

Edward looks at me, his face softening. "Nonsense, Bella, I want you to meet Garrett. He's our head of security." Edward says pulling me over to his side.

Garrett gives me a warm smile, "I've heard a lot about you, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." He says with a wink.

I shake his warm hand. "How is James doing?" Jacob asks.

"He flat lined once but seems to be doing better now." I answer.

"And how are you doing?" Edward asks next.

I turn to face him, concern and worry are all over his face. "I'm fine, just tired." I tell him, honestly.

"It's late, let's go home." He says pulling me closer to lead me out.

"You could finish up here, I don't mind." I tell him.

We continue to walk pass everyone, "I am finished here, Emmett and Garrett can handle it. Let's go home."

"Okay."

~oOo~

I am calm, maybe to calm about everything that's happened today. It's surprising just how calm I've been. It surprises me that I haven't broken down. I think it surprises Edward as well, since we got home, huh home, he's been hovering. As if waiting for me to break, to catch me if I fall, but I feel fine. Tired a little but come on, it's nearing three in the morning.

We're alone right now but I'm sure we're not really alone, security well be doubled around the house.

"I'm hungry." I announce as I walk into the kitchen.

"Let's make something." Edward says heading to the fridge.

Together we go through the thing until we agree on fried chicken. "I'll make the sides." Edward says. We work around each other really well.

After sometime Jasper and Emmett walk through the door.

"Oh fuck, that smells good." Emmett growls.

"You guys hungry, there's enough for everyone." I throw a smile over at them.

Jazz shrugs, "I was just going to make a sandwich but that smells better."

"One of you two get the plates." Edward says beside me.

I watch as Emmett brings the plates, Edward sets the sides, mashed potatoes, corn and white gravy and then I set each chicken on the plates, giving Emmett the biggest.

"Oh god, it smells so good!" Emmett says excitedly.

"Don't tell Esme, but I think your chicken is better than hers." Jasper says half way through the meal.

Edward nods in agreement, but Emmett laughs, "I am so telling Esme you said that, even if I maybe agree with you."

"Thanks, Bella, for the food." Jasper says after finishing up.

"Yes, thanks so much little sis." Emmett, the big goof he is, gives me a big greasy chicken kiss on the cheek.

I push him away and rub my cheek, "Ew, Emmett, that was nasty."

"Ha, Emmett, how many times have you been told that one!" Jasper laughs, "Good night guys and thank you for the food."

Edward waits for the guys to leave before speaking. "Are you ready for bed?"

"Yeah, let me just clean up in here..."

Edward cuts me off, "Leave it, Mrs. Goff will get it in the morning."

I want to protest, I can clean up my own messes but I really am tired.

...

"Can I get you anything?" Edward asks for the umpteenth time.

I sigh, "I'm fine, really Edward, just tired." I tell him honestly. Every time I blink it feels as if there's sand in my eyes, scraping my eyeballs.

I have a big shirt on and small shorts to sleep in already, I am so ready for bed. "Do you think you'll have nightmares?" Edward asks, pulling back my covers for me.

Nightmares, god I really hope not. I shrug, "I'm not sure, it's very possible."

"I could stay with you." He offers.

I look to the small sofa, Edward is so much taller than it, it can't be comfortable sleeping there.

"Isn't sleeping there uncomfortable?"

"It's not too bad." His voice gives it away, it must have been terrible.

I climb into bed and pat the spot next to me because after everything that has happened to me today, I'm bound to have nightmares. I'd rather sleep next to Edward and have him there to wake me than to face them alone.

He hesitates, "I...Are you sure?"

"I am." I nod.

He looks between myself and the spot I just patted before saying, "Okay, um, I'm just going to change. I'll be right back."

I slide under the covers and moan, this bed is heaven to sleep in. My eyes start to drift closed when I feel Edwards presence in the room. I peek an eye open and find him sitting at the couch. One hand dragging roughly though his hair. Then it clicks, maybe he's not comfortable sleeping next to me. Maybe he doesn't want to sleep next to me.

"You don't have to if you don't want to." I tell him, slightly startling him.

"I thought you were asleep. What are you talking about?" He asks.

"If you don't want to sleep with me..." my chest and face grow warm at the way my words came out.

He gives me that crooked smirk of his, "No, I want to sleep with you," he grins, "I just don't want to make you uncomfortable in anyway."

"If anything you're comforting me." I pat the spot again.

He gives me a soft, still crooked, smile before joining me on the bed. "Thank you." I tell him as I lay down.

"Anytime." He says as my eyelids slip shut.

I'm not so lucky in my dreams, not only do Edwards parents plague my dreams but James and the man I'd shot dead are there too. The dream shifts to a blurry image of Edward leaning over me, a concerned look on his face.

"I'll never let anyone take you from me, I promise." Edward says, his arm wrapped over me and his hand holding mine. It feels so real, so good, I give a weak smile.

"Promise?" I hear myself asking.

"I promise."

"Good." I snuggle closer to his embrace and just as the pull of sleep takes over I think, what a strange dream.

~oOo~

"Seriously, come here." I hear whispered. I'm so tired, still, it takes me a minute to realize that it's Alice whispering.

"I don't want to see her in bed." I hear Jasper next.

"What's so special about her being in bed?" I hear Emmett ask.

Alice hushes them, "She's not alone, someone is in there with her."

Before I can even react Emmett comes barging into the room. "What the fuck, who?" He asks out loud.

But I know who it is, I asked him to sleep with me, after he offered to stay.

Edward.

I pull the blankets up and over me and probably him too since Emmett is still going on. "Who the fuck is under there with you Bells? I'll kill him with my own fist!"

"Just go away!" I groan.

"Not till you two come out." He growls.

I feel Edwards arm tighten around me. I didn't even know he was holding me.

I hear a click and then someone is pulling the blankets from me, turning over as much as Edward allows me to, I glare over at Emmett, Jasper and Alice. Edward has his gun pointed at Emmett. "When Bella says to get the fuck out, you get the fuck out!" Edward yells at him.

The guys looked shocked, Alice though, is trying to smother her giggling and is failing miserably at it.

"She said, just go away, not get the fuck out." Jasper says, Emmett still looks to be in shock.

Edward shrugs, "Okay fine, I'm saying to get the fuck out then."

"Yeah, alright, just put the gun down man. Emmett didn't mean anything by it. We didn't know it was you." Jasper says.

"Well now you nosey fuckers know, so get the fuck out!" Edward growls.

It's Alice who gets them to leave. She pushes Jasper to the door and grabs Emmett to pull him out.

"We'll have so much to talk about later!" Alice says in a singing like voice.

I groan and pull the blankets back over me. "I have nothing to say."

"I could silence her if you want." Edward says too happily.

I smack his arm that is still around me. "She's your cousin, be nice."

"She's not nice."

"That's beside the point, you don't shoot family."

He shifts behind me, laying back down he says, "Whatever you say, woman."

"So, um, how did we end up spooning?"

"You're nightmares were getting pretty bad but you seemed to calm down when I touched you. I figured holding you would be easier, I guess." His arm tightens around me a bit. "It worked so..."

"Thank you, Edward."

"Anytime."

AN; So let me know what you all think!