A/N: Ooh, look, another chapter already ;) Please leave a review and tell me what you think :D

Chapter Two

BPOV

"Will you please stay with me for a while?" Black Heart asked.

I wonder what his name is.

"I really have to get back to the village" I hesitated.

I wanted to stay and talk to him, ask him why people are spreading rumours about him. But, I was needed in the village. I had chores to do and it looked like it was getting closer to dinner time, I needed to cook supper for my father.

"Will you come back tonight? Please? I haven't talked to anyone in so long" he said.

I contemplated it.

I could sneak out after father has had his supper and gone to his bed.

"Okay" I conceded.

His face brightened.

Black Heart picked up the pails and started carrying them towards the water, filling them back up to the top.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Well, these pails are quite heavy, especially now with the extra weight of the water so I thought I might join you on your walk and carry these for you" he said, motioning with his head to the now full pails.

"Thank you" I said.

Usually between Alice and I we would each carry one pail but seeing as she's not here right now I an thankful he offered.

Silently, I lead the way back to the village, Black Heart staying falling in line with my steps. He kept up with my pace even with the added weight of the pails and the water.

I turned my head towards him.

"So, why are there wanted posters for you all around Forks Kingdom?" I inquired.

I watched as his shoulders tensed.

"Never mind, you don't have to answer if you don't want to" I assured him.

"I will tell you someday, just not right now" he said.

The way he said someday made me seem that he was going to be staying around for a while. The thought made my stomach tighten, in a good way I think.

"So, see you tonight some time?" he asked as we reached the forests edge.

I saw my fathers' cottage up ahead but I didn't see my father in sight.

"I'll meet you by the creek as soon as I can" I said, taking the pails from his hands.

His hands look big.

With quick goodbyes to each other, I was heading towards the well in the centre of the market square. I glanced back at the forest edge but Black Heart had already gone.

"What took you so long to retrieve the water Bella?" my father asked, standing by the well.

"I didn't have Alice with me so the pails were two times as heavy this time father" I said.

I wasn't going to tell him that Black Heart was bathing in the creek. He'd round up all the guards and go after him.

The thought of anyone trying to kill Black Heart made my heart clench.

I don't even know him.

I may not know him but already I can see that there is a soft side to this supposed 'murderer' of women and children.

After filling up the well with the pails, I started walking home after telling father that supper would be ready once he arrived home.

-BC-

Just as I was putting the evening meal on the dinner table, the front door opened.

"Good evening father" I greeted.

"Good evening Bella, what great things did you cook tonight?" he asked with a smile, the twitching of his moustache making me smile in return.

"Oh nothing special tonight father. It's just leftover roast from yesterday" I said.

"Well, better dig in before it goes cold hmm?"

We both sat down at the small table and father said grace. We started eating while asking about each other's days.

I told him how my dad went, skipping the part about meeting Black Heart and in turn he told me how he had to break up a fight between two boys who were fighting over who was going to have what candy.

Conversation stilled as I cleared the table and started cleaning the dishes in a tub of hot water that was heating over the fire during dinner.

I heard father clear his throat behind me and I turned around to look at him.

"You take care of me so well Bella" he said.

"You're my father, it's what I have to do. Besides, I don't mind looking after you" I smiled at him to let him know that I didn't mind taking care of him.

"But I think it's time you started looking after someone else, other than me Bella" he said.

I looked at him, confused.

"What do you mean father?" I asked.

"Most of the women your age in this village are already married and have a child on the way" he said, bluntly.

I gasped.

"Are you saying you want to marry me off?" I asked.

"No that is not what I am saying Bella" he gave me a gruff look.

"Sorry"

"But most of the women your age already have a husband. Don't you want to get married and have a family of your own?" he pushed.

I shrugged my shoulders.

Ever since my mother died when I was ten, it was just me and my father looking after each other. My mother never talked to me about getting married and having children before she died so I never thought anything about it.

"I never really thought about getting married and having children" I told my father.

For some reason, when I spoke about marriage and children, Black Hearts face popped into my head.

He would have beautiful children.

"Well, I think you should start thinking about it" he said, pushing himself up off his chair and coming and kissing me goodnight on the forehead before heading off to his room.

I finished washing the plates and cleared up the kitchen, wasting time until I could hear dads snores through the thin walls. Once I had cleaned the kitchen thoroughly, I heard dads snores radiate through the walls from his room into the kitchen.

I grabbed a shawl that I had made for myself and wrapped it around my shoulders before grabbing a candle and some matches and heading outside. I looked around and saw that no-one was on the street, just a few lights on in various houses. I started walking towards the forests edge, the light from the moon illuminating my way.

Half-way through the forest, I paused.

What am I doing going to see Black Heart? For all I know he could've lied convincingly and he could be there waiting to kill me.

No, he wouldn't do that. He sounded sincere when he said he had never killed a child or woman.

I stopped my internal thoughts and kept walking towards the creek. I had to light the candle to illuminate my way partly as the canopy of trees was blocking the moonlight from lighting my path. As I came to the creek I looked around to find Black Heart. I couldn't see him.

My shoulders drooped.

"You came"

I spun around, the candle blowing out from the quick movement.

"I did" I said softly.

He walked towards me and I stayed put, wondering what he was going to do.

"Thank you" he gently pushed some of my hair out of my face.

"Come" he said, taking my hand and pulling me gently.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Somewhere warmer"

I followed as he tugged at my hand, the gentle breeze causing me to shiver and for goose-bumps to erupt on my skin. We walked into the forest for a few minutes, in the opposite direction of the village until we came to a tiny clearing where I could see there was a small fire.

"Sit down by the fire, it'll keep you warm" he said.

I sat down on a log near the fire and Black Heart sat next to me.

"What's your real name?" I asked, curious.

He looked at me for a few seconds before replying.

"It's Edward"

Such a simple name for someone who is wanted throughout the entire kingdom.

"Why are you wanted by the King?" I asked.

In the wanted posters it said that he was to be taken directly to the King if found. He hesitated as if he didn't want to tell me.

"I don't know why but I want to be honest with you" he said.

I looked at him and he looked like he was having a battle with himself.

"It's alright Edward, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to" I said.

Saying his name felt nice. It's better that referring to him as Black Heart in my mind all the time.

"I tried to kill the King and his guards onetime"

My eyes widened as he told me the truth.

"I know I said I haven't killed any women or children and that is true but that doesn't mean I haven't killed men. One day, I will tell you the whole truth but for now, could we talk about something different?"

I nodded my head to appease him, even though I had a thousand questions upon my tongue that I wanted answers for.

As the night grew darker, I told him about how I was born in the village and have lived there my entire seventeen summers, and how my father had to raise me by himself when my mother died.

When the moon was fully raised in the sky, I told Edward it was time I had to leave.

"I should be getting back now, I need to wake up early in the morning" I said.

"I'll walk with you" he said.

We silently walked back to the edge of the forest before he turned to me and took my hands in his.

"Will you come back and visit me again tomorrow night? I really enjoyed your company tonight" he said.

I looked at him suspiciously.

Would he try to do anything?

"I swear I will be a gentleman. I would never abuse your trust that way Bella" he said, bringing his hand up to cup my cheek.

I was thankful it was night time because if any one saw us right now, they would tell my father.

"I will try" I smiled up at him.

"What will you do during the day when I am not there?" I asked.

"I'm laying low at the moment so I won't be doing much, I'll probably just hunt a deer to cook for my dinner"

"Okay. Meet you at the creek again?" I suggested.

"How about here? I'll wait until you come" he said.

I nodded my head.

"That way I get to see you quicker" he smiled.

I smiled at him and turned around to leave.

"Until tomorrow Bella" he turned and walked back into the forest and I walked the short walk back home, letting myself in quietly and going to my room.

I stripped off my dress and got into my nightie, hopping into my cold bed and falling asleep instantly.