A/N: Sorry this chapter is a little late. Sappy scenes in which lovers unite are hardly the kind of scenes you want to write after a break-up and amist family problems, so thus the delay. But Its all here now, back on track, so please enjoy and don't forget to REVIEW!!

Disclaimer: I don not, under any circumstance, own Twilight or it's amazing characters!

Ch 4: Stranger

I opened my eyes slowly when I woke, unable to reassure myself that the previous night had actually happened; unsure if it was a strange dream that was half nightmare. My skin was warmer than usual upon waking and I opened my eyes wider to find the angel from my nightmare asleep on the sofa, my legs still draped over his lap. His skin was warm against mine, but I didn't mind. His face looked serene and relaxed. The green of his eyes was hidden behind closed lids and his bronze hair was a bit more ruffled than usual from sleep. Even in his dormant state he was perfect. I snuggled closer to him softly, not wanting to wake him; he might be having a dream worth keeping. His arms instinctively wrapped tighter around me and a smile played at the edges of his lips.

I sighed softly. This was too good to be true. I picked my head up and glanced at my alarm clock on the nightstand. It was almost eight a.m. I would have to pry myself away from him soon to go to classes. Life was so unfair. I closed my eyes and leaned back into him, trying to memorize this moment so I could imprint it on my memory forever.

I must have drifted lazily back towards sleep, because I hadn't heard the door open and shut softly or see Alice enter the dorm with Emmett closely on her heels.

'Hey Bella- Alice and I brought some breakfa- WHAT THE HELL?' I jumped as Emmett's voice broke through the placid atmosphere suddenly.

'Calm down Emmett.' Alice rebuked.

'Don't tell me to clam down Alice. WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?' He was yelling again, lurching me to consciousness. I felt Edward stir beneath me and I knew my troll of a brother's outburst must have awakened him.

'What's going on?' Edward asked groggily.

'That is EXACTLY what I want to know.' Emmett replied, still fuming. 'What the hell did you do to my baby sister?'

'Emmett, chill.' I commanded. He ignored me, glaring at Edward. 'Seriously Emmett, calm down and I'll explain.'

Edward looked around for a brief minute; waking up, and let his eyes settle on Emmett. The expression on his face was not one of panic, as I had expected, but was calm and collected. He looked like he was preparing to explain something complicated to a six year old. 'This is just a misunderstanding Emmett.' Edward responded.

'Like hell it is.' Emmett shot back. Alice simply looked amused by the whole situation.

'Last night when I was walking back from your place, I was followed.' I told him, skating over some of the scarier details. 'I don't know what would have happened if Edward hadn't been there Emmett.'

'You walked back? Why didn't you tell me you had walked? I wouldn't have let you come back alone.' Emmett asked, remorse tainting his voice.

'I didn't think about it.' I told him.

'Then why is he still here?' My brother asked, his tone icy as he glared back at Edward.

'She asked me to stay. She was frightened, that was all.' Edward stated, and I nodded in agreement, though it was a gross understatement of how I needed him. Emmett still glared tensely at Edward.

'Now that that is all sorted out, we brought breakfast!' Alice declared happily, as if no one had been yelling at all this morning. She held up some coffee and a bag of donuts. I couldn't help feel this situation was anything but settled and that the yelling was merely on pause while Emmett looked for more reasons to beat Edward up.

'Thanks,' I said as I reluctantly tore myself from Edward to walk over to where Alice stood. I gave her a brief hug, hoping she would understand how thankful I was that she had sent Edward to help me, if in fact her 'sixth sense' had tipped her off to call him. I excused myself briefly and went over to the bathroom. I gasped slightly when I looked in the mirror. I looked like a mess. My hair was a long, tangled, brown birds nest. I quickly pulled it back into a ponytail at the base of my neck and brushed my teeth before returned to the room.

When I opened the door everyone was lounging around the coffee table, eating their breakfast. Alice was happily bouncing in her seat while Emmett sat across from Edward, shooting him evil glares as he chewed his food. Edward looked as though nothing was wrong. I walked past Emmett and slapped him in the pack of the head and mumbled 'knock it off' as I passed.

Edward didn't stay long after he finished his coffee, he mentioned that he had a nine-thirty class and was going to be late of he didn't leave. I watched him go with disappointment plastered to my face. I hadn't wanted him to go.

'Emmett,' Alice began as soon as the door had clicked shut. 'In the future, you will refrain from yelling at my brother. Especially when he has done absolutely nothing wrong.' Her voice was strong and fierce, though completely steady and collected.

Emmett didn't respond, he just glared at the door, like the rays of his eyes could reach Edward through the wood.

As soon as Emmett left, Alice was in a painfully cheery mood, dropping bad jokes about Edward and I 'sleeping together' and laughing as she regaled me with the visions of her sixth sense. We got ready for our classes, taking turns in the bathroom, and when I came out, I found clothes laid out on my bed.

'What are these, Alice?' I asked, even though I knew the answer.

She glanced at the designer jeans and blouse, then back at me. 'Haven't you ever seen clothes before, Bella?'

'But these aren't my clothes.' In fact, my entire closet probably cost less than just one of these two pieces.

'I know. They're better!' I groaned before grabbing the clothes and heading back to the bathroom. This was going to be a long year if every morning was like this.

By the time I made it out the door I felt like a Barbie doll. Alice had practically man handled me with hair and make-up in addition to the clothes. I made a mental note to wash my face off with some water at the first bathroom I came in contact with.

I made it to room 230 in building 6 with five minutes and decided to take a seat in the middle, not lazy and not brown-noser. But as the teacher began class I found myself hopelessly distracted. My professor was a tall, skinny old man who seemed to have a love affair with Ernest Hemmingway. He was going over the syllabus for Contemporary Lit. while I decided my time was better employed elsewhere; daydreaming about Edward Cullen and how I had slept in his arms.

I could barely remember the terrifying reasons he had stayed last night, they were all crowded out of my memory by the detail in which I had memorized Edward. I closed my eyes absent-mindedly and I could smell his glorious scent and feel the strength of his arms around my waist. I don't know how it had happened, but I had fallen hook line and sinker for Edward. It was uncharacteristic of me to fall so fast and hard for a guy. Actually it was uncharacteristic for me to fall at all for a guy. I had never dated back in Forks, or previously in Phoenix when I lived with my mom. I had never had a guy who had enthralled my senses so completely as Edward had. The boys had grown up with me, watched me change from an awkward kid to an even more awkward and klutzy teenager. The spark just had never been there. And it had never really bothered me. While other girls were worrying about some boy I was worrying about schoolwork and babysitting my somewhat adolescent mother Renee. I never thought I had been missing out on anything.

Now that was all different. I hadn't had any idea what I had been missing because I hadn't known him; he hadn't entered into my world. And now that he was here, my skies were lit up by the light of ten suns. Nothing could compare…

I dragged my attention back to the ancient man in front of the classroom. He had just passed out our reading list and assignment due date calendar. Nothing looked too hard, but I had been right about the Hemmingway; we were reading four of his books first semester. Yuck.

At eleven fifteen the prehistoric professor had dismissed us and I found myself free until my next class at two. I heard my stomach growl loudly and remembered I hadn't eaten any of the treats Alice and Emmett had brought this morning, my stomach wound too tightly in knots to digest anything. I turned in the direction of my dorm and began walking.

It was a nice day as far as days in Seattle go. The sky was clouded over in light gray keeping the sun from shining through to the ground, though the rain hadn't begun yet. I was used to the clouds and rain, and found them pleasant, almost reassuring. I looked around campus. There were dark red brick buildings off in the distance. I was walking on a path that cut through the center of campus that was cleared into a large field. It was empty now except for a few students reading books or lounging against trees. I guessed it was usually used for intramural sports like Extreme Frisbee.

I let my eyes travel to the far corner of the field, away from most of the students and buildings and saw a figure lying on the grass. His eyes were closed, but his bronze hair gave him away instantly. Edward. My feet left the path in his direction before I even had a chance to protest. I slowed as I approached him. I saw he had headphones in his ears and suddenly I hesitated. What if he was sleeping? Or didn't want to be disturbed? I realized quickly how little I knew of this stranger who lit up my life.

Suddenly none of it mattered. I kneeled in the grass next to him; he was lovely. His eyes flickered open, like had sensed I was watching him. As his eyes met mine my cheeks burned red and a smile played on the corners of his lips. He was happy to see me. He pulled the ear buds out of his ears and turned his full attention to me as he continued to lie in the grass.

'Hello there stranger.' He smiled wider up at me as he spoke. My memory had not done him justice. He was far more beautiful than my memory had allowed. His untidy hair was a far more brilliant bronze than I had remembered and his skin was a perfect pale complexion. The green in his eyes shimmered like emeralds in the dim light and his smile could have stopped a monster in its tracks. No, my memory had done him a disservice by any recollection. There could be no comparison.

'Hello yourself.' I replied. 'I never got to thank you properly for… saving me last night.'

'The pleasure was all mine.' He assured me.

'But really…. Thanks. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there… what that terrible man would have done-' but I couldn't continue. His fingertip silenced me as he placed it lightly on my lips.

'The pleasure was entirely mine.' He stated again. 'Besides, I would have been over shortly anyways, even if Alice hadn't tipped me off.'

I was suddenly intrigued by his comment. What could he mean? 'Why would you have been over shortly? Alice wasn't even there.' I asked lamely. I was clearly very confused.

He merely smiled sheepishly and shook his head from side to side gently. 'You don't feel it do you?' he asked, looking strangely disappointed.

I blushed again and nodded. It could only be one thing.

He leaned slowly closer to me, brushing his fingertips against the pale skin of my cheek and a reached my hand up to hold his against my skin. This really was entirely too wonderful to be true. His other hand brushed a stray piece of brown hair from my face. I opened my eyes to see his green ones searching my face, smiling warmly.

'From the moment I laid eyes you, I knew.' He nearly whispered, his lips near my ear.

'Me too.' I nodded lightly. I pressed my check to his softly and sighed. This was heaven. This was bliss. There was no one else in the world but Edward and I. No one else mattered.

He pulled away and looked deep into my eyes, searching for something.

'Are you afraid?' he asked softly. What could I possible be afraid of? And then I remembered my two possible futures.

I nodded slowly, allowing my eyes to reveal all the vulnerability I felt there for a brief moment in my shining brown eyes. 'You?'

He nodded back at me.

'I wont hurt you,' I soother.

'I'm not afraid of being hurt.' I didn't understand. What could possible frighten this angel. 'I could never live with myself if I ever caused you any pain.'