A/N: sorry for the long wait! I went overseas, came back and got sick for the longest time. Plus my Internet got cut off so the chapter was done but I couldnt post it up! Please forgive me! But here's your fluffy chapter!
Bella's POV
I blinked a few times and swiped at my bleary eyes. This whole place seems so familiar, yet strange somehow. I turned in an attempt to get my bearings...
And fell to the floor with a muffled thump.
Oh yeah. I spent the night on Edward's leather couch. I looked at my watch. 3.47am.
Where was he? He didn't catch me. That was unusual. He left me alone. Oh god. I was a wreck.
My boyfriend couldn't even leave me alone without me breaking down. I leaned against the couch, hugged my knees to my chest and cried.
Why did all the bad things in the world happen to me?
Edward's POV
The phone had rung ten minutes ago and I had rushed downstairs to pick it up before it woke Bella up.
It was Charlie.
I reassured him with the fact that Bella was sleeping and was ok. He told me that he had called the principal and told him that Bella would not be in school for a few days. He also gave me full permission to take care of her for that period but if he found anything not to his satisfaction he would drag Bella straight home.
A couple of days, I mused, I could be absent for that long, if Carlisle could help me come up with an excuse.
Halfway through the conversation, I heard a thump coming from my bedroom and hurriedly ended the discussion. I ran back to my room to find Bella on the floor crying. In a split second, I was next to her, hugging her frail body to my strong one.
"Sorry."She hiccupped. "I didn't mean to..."
"Ssshh. It's alright." I carried her to the couch and laid her on it again. I stood next to the couch, looking down on her beautiful face. I was prepared to stay in that position until I was certain that she had fallen asleep but then I realised that I had yet to change since the date with Bella. Once I saw that Bella's eyes had closed, I reluctantly turned around and started pulling my shirt off when a small sudden grip on my arm stopped me.
"Don't go." She opened her eyes, traced a finger down my chest and smiled uncertainly.
""Please, don't leave me alone." She added in a small voice.
I flipped her so now she was lying on me on the couch. I placed my right hand under my head and used my left to trace the contours of her beautiful face and wipe the remaining tears off her cheeks.
"You know, it's so unfair. Here I am with my shirt off and there you are fully clothed." I said lightheartedly in an attempt to cheer her up.
Her face lit up slightly and I knew that she was going to be okay, at least for a little while.
She held my face in her hands and gently pressed her warm lips to mine. Her lips were urgent and desperate as she slowly kissed me harder. I parted my lips but she knew well enough not to slip her tongue in, due to my plentiful supply of venom-coated teeth.
I raised myself slightly, balancing my weight on the armrest. She allowed me entrance and I slipped my tongue in, exploring every crevice of her warm mouth. She abruptly pulled away and smiled slightly at my dejected expression. Bella got off me.
"We both have to change." she reminded me and promptly walked off into the bathroom, where her duffel bag of clothes was.
I sighed and pulled on a simple plain white tee over the jeans. I ran down to get a sandwich for Bella and ran back upstairs to find the room empty. She wasn't ready yet?
I felt a warm touch around my waist and I turned. There stood Bella with her head down. She had changed into a simple yellow printed tee over her usual jeans and sneakers.
"I'm sorry for causing so much trouble. Were any of you hurt?" she asked in a small voice.
"Silly Bella. How could Mike even scratch us?" but her words took me back into my memories.
Flashback startsIt was the day of the prom and I had just finished putting on my tux and was going to get Bella from Alice's room when Jasper and Alice walked in and promptly sat down on my couch. I sighed and leaned against the wall, waiting for what they were about to say.
"Edward..." Alice began uncertainly, "Are you going to change Bella or not?"
I sighed heavily yet again. "No I am not and you know why."
Jasper spoke up then. "Edward, during the time when we were with her in Phoenix, something struck me about Bella. She's different."
I started to interrupt then but Alice cut in then, "Not in the sense that you can't read her mind but I realised that she has no concern for her own well-being."
That shut me up immediately, Jasper and Alice was right.
"Throughout that whole period, Jasper was trying to calm her down, focusing on her fear for her own safety but only when I saw that he could not calm her down no matter how hard he tried that I realised, her worry was for others. It was for Carlisle, for Esme, for Jasper and me, for Emmett, even Rosalie, and most of all, for you. She cares too much for our family now, if you leave her or if you don't change her in the future, you're going to hurt her and yourself really really badly..."
Flashback endsThey were right. Bella has never worried about herself, even at the expense of her own life. I sighed and she looked up.
I hurriedly smiled, not wanting to worry her. I watched her as she ate the sandwich that I had made for her, hoping that it would suit her taste. As she stood up, I pulled her to me and ran my fingers through her luxurious hair as she slid her arms around my waist again. I wrapped my arms around her small body and soaked in the warmth radiating from her body.
Time had passed so quickly when we were with each other. The sun was rising over the horizon already. I picked her up before she even knew it and raced out to where my Volvo was parked, absurdly crooked across the driveway after the mad rush yesterday to get Bella to Carlisle. I strapped her into the front seat and slid into my own. We got onto the highway and I started out for our meadow.
Bella turned towards me with a questioning look in those beautiful chocolate brown eyes. I shrugged.
"Why not? It's still early and we can definitely get back on time, especially with my driving."
Bella's POV
Edward.
He knew just how to cheer me up. What on earth did I do to deserve a person like him? As we drove along the road, he reached over the seat to hold my hand securely in his, snapping me out of my daydream. I looked up into those beautiful topaz-coloured eyes.
"I'm never letting go off you again, you hear me Bella? Never." He promised me.
As we reached the meadow and he opened the door for me, he drew me to him, enfolding me in a huge hug. One arm across the small of my back and one hand at the back of my head with his lips pressed to my hair.
"Thank you," I murmured into his stone chest, "for saving me." And wrapped my arms around his waist.
His arms tightened protectively around me as we stayed in our embrace for the longest time. Suddenly without warning, he swept me up again, bridal style and raced off into the woods.
I felt no fear this time. Edward was with me. I couldn't wait until I was changed to go at this speed. It was exhilarating and altogether intoxicating.
Just like that it was over, Edward set me down gently in the middle of the meadow, among some tall grass and sat down next to me.
As we sat there, with my head on his shoulder and his arms around mine, I drifted off into my memories. I remembered the time when he had first brought me to this meadow of his. I remembered the feeling of happiness as we resolved our quarrel. I remembered the night that Edward had proposed to me under the stars.
I looked up into his absurdly handsome face and reached out an uncertain hand to touch his cheek. He tuned his head to press his lips to my palm as I whispered to him.
"What are you thinking Edward?"
"About you Bells, who else? And about all our favourite memories, and the time that we will have in the future. How could I think of anything else at the moment?"
He brushed his thumb across my bottom lip, and smiled at the sound of my heart rate speeding up. I smiled too, forgetting all my worries for the time being, just being safe with Edward. A gentle breeze blew, swirling my brown hair softly around my face and mussing up Edward's already messy hair. I could just stay this way all morning.
I suddenly realised that we still had school to go too and stood hurriedly. But of course, being the clumsy idiot that I was, I tripped over a rock/stone/pebble/grass(basically anything that could be tripped over) and fell. I fell onto Edward as he chuckled with laughter and stretched his arms to catch me. My momentum though, 'helped' us to continue rolling and we rolled down the slope, laughing and gasping for breath.
We finally stopped, with Edward flat on his back and me sprawled over him with my head on his chest. A sheet of my brown hair fell over my face and obstructed my view of Edward until his hand reached through and brushed it away. He tenderly stroked my face with the most lovely expression that made me stop breathing.
"Silly Bella, I forgot to tell you, Charlie arranged for you to skip school the next couple of days."
I stared at him for a second or two, then shrieked in happiness as he chuckled at my reaction. I aligned my body on his then and took his face into my hands. He closed his eyes and smiled. I kissed his closed eyes, then his nose and finally his perfect lips. He opened his eyes.
"I love you Isabella Swan." He told me, in a huskier voice than normal.
I put the tip of my nose to his.
"You know what? I love you too."
We spent the rest of the day quite pleasantly, enjoying each other's presence, as well as walking around the meadow and the stream, enjoying the beautiful flowers and other wonders of nature. Edward never let go of my hand and was always there to catch me if I tripped, which was often.
It was amazing how being around Edward, my brain had seemed to convince my stomach that it didn't need to eat. However by mid-afternoon, when we had slowly gazed at all the nature while walking back to the Volvo, my stomach rumbled.
Edward laughed and in a few seconds, had buckled me into the Volvo and sped off. We pulled over in front of the restaurant where I had had my first meal with Edward. The same hostess and the same server greeted us, with surprised recognition and dejection, with good reason.
Edward had walked me to the restaurant with his right arm around my hip, never letting go as we stepped into the restaurant. I had placed my head on his shoulder, eating up the attention. As we sat down at the same booth, he insisted that I sit next to him and well, who was I to complain if Edward wanted me near him?
Throughout the meal, Edward fed me, spearing the food with the fork and waving it in front of my face until I laughingly opened my mouth and accepted the food.
At one point, he looked at me thoughtfully until I asked him what he was thinking,
"It's just, I never thought that I could find anybody that I could enjoy being with so much. And damn it if I'm not glad that I saved you from Tyler's car, and from those four drunk idiots and James." He added with a low growl.
I snuggled in closer to him.
"That wasn't a very romantic way to tell your girlfriend that you loved her but it's okay. I love you."
He burst out laughing then as I slowly finished up the remains of my food. It was the same during the car ride, as we teased, as we laughed, I was surprised that I could forget my troubles so easily.
We settled down in front of the piano then as I requested for him to play a song for me-When You Believe, from the Prince of Egypt. I used to know the piece but I had forgotten the basic notes.
He grinned and complied, having watched the movie with me once. As the first few notes of the melody began, I began to sing along, but felt that my throat was dry and so went to get some water from the kitchen, singing along the way as Edward continued to play.
Many nights we've prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hopeful song
We barely understood
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains long
Before we knew we could
There can be miracles when you believe
Though hope is frail its hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe
I walked back to the piano and leaned over Edward from behind, arms at each side of his neck, leaning in to reach the piano.
"I got it now."
I whispered to him as he lifted his fingers off the ivory keys. I continued, not as full a melody as when Edward was playing but it was alright.
In this time of fear
When prayers so often proves in vain
Hope seems like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
Yet now I'm standing here
With heart so full I can't explain
Seeking faith and speaking words
I never thought I'd say
There can be miracles when you believe
Though hope is frail its hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe
They don't always happen when you ask
And it's easy to give in to your fears
But when your blinded by your pain
Can't see your way straight though the rain
a small but still, resilient voice
Says love is very near
There can be miracles when you believe
Though hope is frail its hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe
Edward's POV
As she sang the last chorus, I twisted in her arms and looked up into her face. She didn't see me, she was too engrossed in her song. She honestly believed what this song was saying, that there were miracles in the world that I, we, my family, didn't have to be condemned to eternal damnation.
As her voice trailed off, she noticed me and smiled. As she hit the last key, I broke through her arms and slipped my arms around her neck, bringing her down to me, bringing her lips to mine. She too put her arms around my neck as we kissed. She threw herself into the kiss with more enthusiasm as usual but I didn't mind, as long as I was in control, nothing would happen to Bell.
The next few days were spent like these. Hanging out with each other but the highlight was when I persuaded Bella to go shopping with Alice and Rosalie.
I had already discussed it with my sisters and they agreed to help me out. The moment they were out of the house I picked up the telephone.
Bella's POV
Something's up. Edward actually let Alice and Rosalie pull me away from him, with no resistance at all. That can't be right, I'm going home in two days. But I had fun with the girls as they dragged me from shop to shop.
I was actually beginning to ENJOY shopping.
We took Rosalie's convertible to the mall where they instantly dragged me to Victoria Secret's where I bought more surprises for Edward though I blushed throughout the entire process while the other two laughed and laughed. Alice also took us to the seamstress where she had put in the order for our gowns and to the tailor with the order of the tuxes. I had fun trying on the gown (A/N: details later at the wedding) and getting comments from Alice and Rosalie. I too complimented them generously as they tried on Alice's designs. We made the sales people in all the major clothes stores very very happy, as Alice and Rosalie threw everything at me to try on and buy for my honeymoon.
And it was with a very happy mood that I headed home to the Cullen Mansion. Edward wasn't at the door to help me carry up my purchases. Something was definitely up, if not very wrong. Emmett, Jasper, Esme and Carlisle met us at the door. Judging by the straight faces that they all, including the girls, were pulling, they knew exactly what was going on. I dumped all my bags into Emmett's waiting arms and dashed, to the best of my ability, up the winding staircase.
Tripping a few times and catching myself along the way, I finally reached Edward's room. He stood at the door, arms folded with a small smirk.
"Let me in," I demanded, "What does everybody know that I don't?"
Edward shrugged.
"There's nothing wrong," he insisted.
I rolled my eyes, "Right...", pushed my way past him, and burst into the room.
What I saw just took my breath away; there was no simple explanation about it.
His couch had been pushed to the corner of the wall to rest next to the big glass window. In place of the couch, just next to the shelves of CDs, there rested a huge new bed.
I couldn't speak. I knew Edward had gotten it just so I wouldn't have to sleep on his couch anymore.
It was a king-sized poster bed, I guessed, judging by the size. A red canopy framed the bed. The edges of the canopy were gold. The pillows were the same. Furthermore, the pillows weren't those big lumpy ones that you normally see, these were the flat but still floppy ones that you could just crash into. The comforter was a thick velvet red with a gold pattern stretching across it.
Cold arms slipped around my waist. "Like it?" he murmured at my ear.
I felt moisture on my cheeks and realised that I was crying at his thoughtfulness. He turned me in his arms and kissed away the tears. He chuckled.
"A simple thank you would have been enough Bella."
I sniffled, then smiled through my tears. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. He too wrapped his arms around my waist as he kissed me back. Slowly, slowly, as he tangled his hands in my hair, Edward edged me towards the big beautiful bed. The moment the back of my knees hit the edge of the bed, Edward gave me a small push so we ended up falling onto each other and the bed.
It was so soft and bouncy! I rolled over onto my stomach and looked at him, lying there, and smiled.
The bed was wonderful. The covers were thick enough that Edward could keep his arms around me without me catching a cold and boy, was I content.
Over the last few days, he had also purchased a beautiful table with a matching chair set. The table had metal legs but a thick glass surface while the chairs were made with the same metal material.
But it was all too soon when the days passed and it was the night before we had to go back to school. Charlie had already brought over my things earlier that day and I was internally cringing as I dressed for bed.
I grudgingly climbed into bed, dreading the morning that would come all too soon for my liking. Edward grinned from his position beside me, knowing me well enough now to 'read' my mind.
"Come on now, Mike wouldn't even dare to do anything now, knowing well that our entire family is bent on protecting you."
"But what about those classes when you're not with me?" I whispered.
"You forget, I have an excellent sense of hearing, and I AM a mind-reader." He tapped his head absently.
With all the reassurances and the lullaby of an angel, I drifted off to sleep.
The next day, the morning passed in a blur. The principal was waiting at the front door to talk to us. The only thing I remember of the conversation was that Tyler and Eric had been ordered to do 50 hours of community service to the school and the fact that Mike was sentenced to 5 years at a boys' corrective facility but that he would graduate from school first, at which Edward had muttered many profanities under his breath. He would have to maintain a respectful one metre distance away if he even wanted to speak to me.
He walked me to my first class, English, and hugged me just before nudging me gently into the room. Jessica and Angela flanked me the moment I walked in, offering comforting words and insults to the three guys. I smiled tentatively at them and sat in my normal seat, making sure to pull Jessica and Angela to sit on either side of me. I could see Mike all the way, in front of the teacher's desk, with a hulking officer leaning casually against the wall next to his table.
I shivered at the implications. The court actually thought Mike dangerous enough to order a guard to watch him as he finishes high school.
Everything went well, till the time where I picked up my books and was heading out the door. A heavy hand on my shoulder stopped me and I turned, it was the guard. Mike wasn't allowed to touch me of course, though he wanted to talk to me. But as he stood there smirking with the most unpleasant expression I had ever seen, I freaked out.
And screamed really really loud.
I heard a bang as the door slammed open as Edward ran in from his class next door. He glared with a murderous expression as he gently guided me to behind his broad back, shielding me. He spoke in that low angry voice he always used when he was furiously angry.
"What in hell do you want with Bella, Newton?"
I peeked at the guard, who was leaning against the wall once again, watching the proceedings.
Mike took a step forward and took a deep breath.
"I just wanted to say...that...I'm glad that I did it. I'm actually GLAD even though i didn't get to finish what I started. 'Cause now I know that Bella will be afraid of anybody coming on to her again, so that she will have problems with her DARLING EDWARD..."
He was on the brink of shouting now and I shook my head and tears welled up and threatened to spill over. I clutched at Edward's arms and his muscles tightened and he switched into battle-mode.
"It's ok that I'm going away for a few years, 'cause I'll be back Bella. Oh you bet I will." He smiled nastily at me.
Edward's muscles rippled as he snarled. Without hesitation, he pounced and hit Mike with the effect of a bulldozer, propelling them to the far side of the wall as some of the girls still in the room screamed, whether at Mike's words or Edward's reaction, I did not know.
At that moment however, Emmett, Jasper and the two girls burst into the classroom. Rosalie and Jasper set about calming the onlookers and Alice ran over and enfolded me in a hug. Emmett calmly reached over and held Mike a few inches off the floor.
"Now what did we warn you about threatening Bella again?" he mused as Mike stopped struggling in his iron grip.
Edward got up, put his arm around me and the whole troupe of us, guard included, marched off to the principal's office. The guard explained to the principal what had happened and the school agreed to allow Edward and I to return home. Mike would have detention for the rest of the day and a report to his corrective home would be written up. I rubbed away the tears as the rest of the Cullens patted my back and walked off to their respective classes.
Edward held my hand tightly and stalked off to the car, his mouth set in a hard line. Only when he had placed me carefully in the car and strapped me in did he release all his tension in a long breath. I kissed his cheek gently.
"It's okay. It's okay."
"No it's not. Didn't you hear his threat Bells? He's not going to let this go."
"But I'm going to be a vampire by then won't I?" I pointed out.
His brow gradually relaxed. "Oh yeah. I forgot."
We drove back to the house. I got some coffee from their new expresso machine and went to his room, where we sat at the newly bought chairs, facing each other across the table.
"So what would you like to do now?" I asked him as I sipped at my coffee, not sure whether he was really alright.
"You sure you're not afraid anymore?" he questioned me with piercing eyes, evading my question.
"I'm not, honestly." I whispered.
"Are you sure?" he whispered back, leaning across the table.
"I'm sure." I replied, leaning over until our noses were nearly touching.
He smiled at me.
"Are you going to kiss me or do I have to grab your face?" I whispered against his cool lips.
Edward grabbed me by the arms and hauled me across the table, miraculously leaving everything intact he wrapped his strong arms around me as we hit the floor, all the while covering my mouth with his.
Edward's POV
I never realised that coffee actually tasted so good. But of course, now I was tasting it on Bella's lips so that accounts for the difference I suppose.
But oh, how I wanted to wrap her in my arms and spirit her away from this world into one where nobody could hurt her, especially Mike.
But for the time being, I had Bella's lips against mine, and the world went away.