So before you begin reading, I must mention my lovely beta Twilighted4Eternity :)

Also, thank you to my reviewers! There are only a handful of you, but you make my day! So thank you!

So here's ch.4 for my wonderful readers :)

We arrived at my apartment in good time and I helped her up the stairs to my door. She was still limping and I knew that she had to have this injury checked out as well as any others she is hiding. She seems like she is good at hiding thing like this because by looking at her you couldn't tell that there was anything wrong with her.

She was beautiful. Her long dark hair shielded her pale complexion, she wore very little makeup, but she didn't need any. I have never seen anyone so naturally beautiful. I should probably stop staring right about now.

I unlocked and opened my door and guided her in side. "Welcome to my humble abode. Make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you, Edward."

"Would you mind if I had my dad come and check over your injuries? He's a doctor. I figured you wouldn't want to go to the hospital and keep this low key."

"Um, sure," she said. I wish I knew what was going on in her head.

I ran my fingers through my messy hair. Nervous habit.

I called my dad and asked him to come over with his medical bag. I also texted Alice and asked her to bring something for Bella to wear tonight and tomorrow. She told me she would be back from dinner with Jasper by 9 so I was expecting her by 9:30. Well this is not how I had thought my night would turn out.

After I was finished calling my dad and texting Alice, I went to sit next to Bella on the couch. I turned to her and noticed she was trying not to cry. Her eyes were moist and she was trembling, "Bella it's ok. You don't have to worry about anyone hurting you anymore." I told her. She looked over at me and a tear fell from her eye. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you." I pulled her into me and she started crying into my chest. It was hard to see her like this. "Bella, why did you call me? I mean I am glad you did, but we hardly know each other."

"You are the only person I know outside of our group of friends. If I went to one of them they would tell him. And when I am around you, I feel safe. I don't know why."

"Can you tell me more about your relationship with-," I realized I didn't even know this prick's name.

"His name is Mike. We have been together since high school. I met him when I was 16 so I've known him for 8 years. We got married when I was 22. We were young but I loved him so much. I noticed that after we got married, he became more protective and almost controlling of what I did. Then it got worse when his parents were both killed in a car accident. He started drinking. And he hasn't stopped. I try to get him help but he denies that he has a problem. I've tried to leave him but his threats were too much. I ran and he found me. I couldn't go to the authorities because it wouldn't do any good. He had tons of money. I have had enough of the abuse and the yelling and being scared in my own home," Bella practically whispered.

I took her hand and as I looked at her, I almost shed my own tears. She was so broken, but the expression on her face was one of relief. "You will never have to feel scared again. I promise I will never let anything happen to you."

We stayed sitting together on the couch, her hand in mine and her head on my chest. The silence was comforting and being with her was even better. I dozed off for a while and when I woke up I realized that she was asleep as well. I looked at the clock. It was 9:30.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I opened it and saw that I had a message from my dad. Be there in 5-C

K just come on in-E

I took this time as an opportunity to start waking up Bella because I didn't think her waking up with an unfamiliar man checking her for injuries would be a good idea.

I started quietly saying her name to wake her. She starting to stir and then her eyes opened wide. "Oh my gosh. He's going to kill me. I have to get home." She was freaking out.

"Bella it's ok. You're safe, remember. And be careful. You're hurt."

"Edward! I'm sorry. I thought that this was a…dream. I freaked."

"Bella its fine. I was just making sure that you were awake. My dad is going to be here any second to look over your injuries. It shouldn't take long. And then you can go back to sleep. Alice should actually be here soon as well. She's going to bring you some clothes because I don't want you going back home tonight. Or tomorrow."

"Alice? Is she the one that was with you at the club?"

"Yep. The one and only." I said with a smile. "If she didn't force me out that night I probably wouldn't have met you."

"Well I'll have to thank her for making you go to the club, getting you wasted, and leaving you with me," Bella said. We started laughing. I hadn't heard her laugh since the night at the club. I had forgotten how beautiful it was.

"Thank god for Alice!"

"You don't need to thank God. I believe I did some of the work!" I hadn't heard him come in but my dad was standing in the entryway of the living room.

"Hey Dad. This is my Bella."

"Dr. Cullen?"

"Isabella? I should have guessed," my dad said as he came and sat on the chair across from us.

"You two know each other?" I asked confused.

"Yeah. Dr. Cullen has been my doctor since I moved here. I am quite the klutz, so he saw me quite often." Bella blushed.

"She came to me at least twice a month…until she got married. Then she started neglecting me and only coming in for the big stuff like when she would fall down the stairs or trip over something," my dad said. The tension in the room multiplied. "Oh you poor girl. You don't deserve any of this. I always knew that Mike Newton was scum." My dad looked like he was furious, but he was keeping calm for Bella's sake.

Bella just sat next to me not knowing what to say. "So, Dad, do you think you could look at Bella's ankle?" I said with a tone that told him to drop it and get back to the reason why he is here.

"Yes, of course," he said. I let Bella out of my grasp and I stood up. I told them I had to go call Alice so I left the room for a little, walking out onto the porch that connected to the living room.

I stood on the ledge and I couldn't help but let the tears I have been holding, out. So much has happened in the last few days. I met this woman who took my breath away, I asked her out for coffee and then she met me and left and then I was taken back to the coffee shop to help her get away from her abusive husband. I feel bad that she had to go through everything that she did.

It truly was fate that brought us together. If I hadn't found Tanya cheating on me that night, Alice wouldn't have taken me out that night. And I would have never met Bella. Everything happens for a reason.

I was startled by the sound of the sliding door opening. I turned to see my father standing there.

"She has some bruising on her abdomen but her ankle will be fine. I've recommended her to take a hot bath as well as some ibuprofen, and to ice her ankle."

"Thank you for coming, Dad."

"You're welcome. Edward, everything will be fine," my dad said practically reading my mind.

"Dad, I have never felt so protective of someone. Not even Tanya."

"She's a very special girl. I've known her for years. She had a brightness about her until a year into her marriage. I knew something was wrong, but she insisted that everything was alright. I can promise you that she feels the same way you feel about her. Her brightness is back," he said.

"Thanks Dad. Uh, where is she?"

"Well Alice came in, so Alice offered to draw her a bath and help her wrap her ankle." I love my sister. "Alright, I am going to head out. Make sure Isabella takes some ibuprofen, and your mother told me to tell you to call her," he said.

We walked back inside of the apartment to the front door. "Edward, take care of her. She deserves it."

"I know she does."

I shut my door, turned, and saw my sister standing there offering me a hug. I took it. "I owe you one, little sis." She replied by squeezing me tighter.

It took a few broken roads to get to where we were, but I think we're headed in the right direction now.

I hope you enjoyed! As you can see, the drama is unfolding…finally! Please read and review. There are hundreds of readers, but only a handful of reviewers. I like to know what my readers like, don't like, and your suggestions as well.

Anyhoo…let me know what you think! Thanks for reading :)