Hello to all. As you can see we are still alive! We apologize for not updating in forever but R4L had a crapload of work to do! And LSR has been busy as well. But we're back now. R4L is graduating high school next saturday!Bazinga! LOL. But we'll shut up now and tell you more at the end. Read people.

Disclaimer:"I own. R4L and LSR own a family of twelve cyber bunnies who they love to death. Read people. That's an order. And please review!" S.M.

Chapter 5

BPOV

Pierre showed me different shops within a five mile distance from the apartment. Some, I could walk to, others I would have to get a ride to. I was thinking about getting a car. Pierre didn't need to drive me everywhere. We went to a few stores and bought loaves of bread, some cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and meats.

It was so different going grocery shopping here. It wasn't like going to the Super Wal-Mart or Sam's Club like in Miami. The stores here all had different names, too many for me to remember them all, but some sold the same things, others sold completely different things.

If I named them all I'd probably be able to write a book or something.

Pierre also showed me some sights as he had my schedule so he knew when to pick me up and drop me off, he knew that I was going to be a whole lot busy this week. He drove by the Eiffel Tower, across the bridge that Princess Diana supposedly died on, and a French high school that looked more like a castle than a school.

There were boats on the Sienne River filled with people eating lunch, a few tourists, or people just altogether enjoying their selves as it was a nice hot day.

By the time we got back to the apartment it was close to four in the afternoon. I hoped that Damien wasn't too much trouble for Sky and Krista. It was the first day.

"Wow, Pierre. I never knew there were so many stores here."

"Oui, Bella. And this is only a small part of Paris."

We grabbed the bags from the trunk and headed into the building. When we got off the elevator I suddenly remembered the man that sneered at me. No doubt, he was beautiful. I couldn't deny that but really, what did I do to have him sneer and push me the way he did? Pierre wanted him to apologize but I didn't want him to get in any trouble with that man. I didn't know him or what he would do so I couldn't let him take that chance.

I sighed heavily, not knowing what to do. I knocked on my door awkwardly because my hands were full then Sky opened it a second later.

"Salut, Sky. How was he?"

"Oh! He was an angel. We had no problem at all, though one time I had to get Sky to help me catch him because he got away when I tried to fix him something to eat. I almost cut myself with a knife!" Krista said, standing from the couch. I don't think she took through that whole thing. Sky smiled. I took the bags to the kitchen while Pierre and Sky went to get the rest.

"He's sleeping, now. Tired himself out after running around for a while."

"You did put him on his stomach, right?" I asked, remembering not telling her about it earlier.

"I did, after he refused to sleep on his back. He kept whining and rolling over. I thought something was wrong until Sky just put him on his stomach. It was all quiet then. It's the simplest things sometimes…" She shrugged.

"Sorry about that. I should've told you earlier, I just didn't expect to be gone that long. Damien never liked sleeping on his back even when he was born."

"It was no problem at all. I'll remember that next time."

We put the rest of the things in cabinets, drawers, the fridge and the freezer.

"That's everything." Pierre said as he and Sky brought the rest in.

"Merci, Pierre," I said.

"Well, if that's all, I'll see you tomorrow morning," He said heading to the door.

"Bye," I waved.

I turned to Sky and Krista in the living room. I handed them each fifty euros.

"Bella, we don't w—"

"It's just for today. I didn't think I'd need you guys today but I did, so, thank you."

"You're very welcome," Krista said. Sky nodded.

"I believe you'll be paid every Friday?" They nodded.

"Well, okay, then. Do you have a copy of my schedule and everything?"

"Oui, Bella, everything's set." Krista said.

"Merci. See you tomorrow."

I closed the door softly as they left. For some reason I felt drained. It must've been all the walking I did with Pierre and the plane ride. I walked to Damien, still sleeping on the couch and kissed his forehead. I picked Snow up off the floor and picked Damien up. I laid him down in his bed and turned on the baby monitor I found in the drawer. Sometimes he'd wake up crying and I'd have no idea why. I grabbed the other monitor and walked to the kitchen and made myself a snack.

After I ate I hooked up my laptop and read over the plan for tomorrow. There was a knock at the door a few minutes after I had my plan for tomorrow ready.

"Berta?"

The old woman was standing in my doorway, smiling.

"Salut, ma cher. I was just coming to see if you were all good and settled. Herbert would've come but he was preoccupied with something."

I smiled at her generosity.

"Everything's fine. Pierre took me shopping to stock up on food and whatnot, so I'm fine, thank you."

"How's that son of yours?"

"He's fine. He's sleeping."

"He seemed like a handful earlier. How did Sky and Krista do?"

"Great, actually. Damien loves them, especially Krista."

"That's good."

We stood there a minute and I wasn't sure if I should invite her in. She didn't look like she was staying. Then I remembered that man again. Funny how he seemed to always pop in my head when I least expect him to. Maybe Berta would know something about him…

"Berta, do you know a man that lives on this floor? He's kind of tall with green eyes and messy weird colored hair."

Her face lit up.

"Oui! I do know him. Edward, his name is. He's such a dear. I wonder why I haven't seen him all day…" She looked lost in thought for a minute while she tried to figure out why she hadn't seen him then she remembered I was standing there. "Cher, why do you ask?"

"Oh. I just saw him earlier today. He was…quite rude." I said remembering what happened for the millionth time today.

"Really?" Berta looked shocked.

"Well, yes."

"He's not usually that way, I assure you. He must've been having a bad day. I apologize for him. He's usually a nice boy. I'll tell you what." She said, suddenly happy. "He lives right there." She pointed to the door across from mine. I could feel my eyes grow wide. "If you go visit him and tell him I said to apologize, I'm sure he'll do it."

"Oh no," I said shaking my head. "It's not that important, Berta, really."

She scoffed.

"Nonsense. Tell him if he doesn't, I'll tell Victoria that he likes her." She wiggled her eye brows.

I laughed. I couldn't refuse Berta. I had a feeling she'd get me to do it somehow, someway. And who was this Victoria person?

"Thanks, Berta," She walked to the elevator and got on.

I could feel the blood rushing in my ears. I suddenly felt shy and nervous. I didn't know why and that bothered me because I hardly ever got shy and nervous. With the job I had, how could I? I talk to groups of people every day, gave presentations and proposals on a daily basis.

Ugh!

Maybe if I talk to him for a few minutes, get him to apologize then this feeling will go away and everything will be normal.

I checked on Damien and slipped the baby monitor in my back pocket before taking a deep breath and going across the hall. I knocked on his door. I heard no movement for a minute. I was about to knock again when the door opened.

And there he was.

He looked tired, like he was working on something nonstop for hours on end and refused to eat or sleep. His green eyes widened in what looked to be shock as he looked at me. He looked ready to slam the door in my face but he didn't and for some reason I was glad and a small smile touched my lips.

"Salut," I greeted him softly. My voice was a whisper and I wasn't even sure he heard it but then he blinked, his handsome face becoming slightly guarded as if he didn't want me to see his true feelings.

"Hi," He said. I had to stop myself from shuddering as the sound of his velvet voice washed over me.

"I'm Bella. I believe we met earlier, on the elevator."

He looked nervous suddenly and raised a hand to run it through his hair. He chuckled without humor.

"I'm Edward. Sorry about earlier. I was…having a bad day."

Why did it seem like there was so much more to it than that? I wanted to ask but I didn't think I'd get any answers.

"It's fine. I was beginning to think I was unwanted." I smiled jokingly.

Edward's eyes widened some but his face stayed indifferent.

"Um, would you like to come in?"

He moved to the side some and I walked in. His apartment was much the same as mine or at least the layout was. It was surprisingly neat for a guy. I took a seat on the couch and he sat in the chair adjacent to me.

"You're lucky, you know."

He cocked an eyebrow. "How?"

"I talked to Berta. She was wondering why she hadn't seen you all day. When I told her I'd seen you and what happened at the elevator she told me to tell you to apologize or she'd tell Victoria that you liked her."

I didn't know who this Victoria was but it seemed to catch his attention because his eyes bugged and a few curses slipped from his lips in French. I raised my eyebrows.

"…evil old woman…" I heard him mutter in between the French.

"Edward?"

His green eyes snapped to mine and held them. It was a moment before I could look away and when I did I felt my face warm a bit. I heard Edward sigh heavily.

"Sorry about that. Berta knows I despise that woman." Why did an intense of relief flow me when he said that? Edward shook his head as if dispelling a disgusting sight then looked at me again. "So, how was your move?"

"It was fine. Berta and Herbert are a great help and Pierre took me shopping."

"Pierre?" I swear I saw a flash of anger in his eyes or was it jealously? It was gone almost as fast as it came.

"My driver," I clarified. "I needed to stock up on food and whatnot."

"Oh."

There was a pregnant silence. It was awkward and I wanted to go but another, smaller part of me wanted to stay, just to hear him talk some more. I know he wasn't from here but from the states. I wanted to ask him where but from the look on his face he didn't look too keen on talking about himself to a stranger. He looked like he was having an internal battle with himself. His eyes were slightly unfocused and there were worry lines on his forehead. I could feel something in the air, something was wrong with him but I didn't know what.

I decided to leave. I wasn't sure what was going on but he didn't need any company right now.

"Um, well, it was nice meeting you. If I see Berta I'll tell her to, um, stand down." I smiled and stood, heading to the door.

"Yeah, nice meeting you, too, Bella,"

I turned and almost crashed into his chest. How did he move so fast, so quietly?

"Bye, Bella," He smiled at me. My heart sped up some. It took me a moment to answer.

"Bye, Edward," I walked out the door.

"Great! Great! Great!" I said the next morning. I was practically pulling my hair out trying to find the presentation portfolio I needed for the meeting. I know I have it because I looked over it last night to make sure everything was in order. Pierre would be here any minute and so would Krista.

Damien was playing with Snow on the floor completely oblivious to the rampage going on around him. I searched the cluttered coffee table and the cushions on the couch and still couldn't find it.

"Dammit," I muttered under my breath. I went to the dining room when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" I called.

"Bella?" I heard Krista call but before I could say anything Damien squealed.

"Krisha!"

"Damien!"

I heard him giggle and squeal loudly again. I was about to ask her for something when I noticed some paper under my laptop. I picked it up and sure enough, there it was.

"Yes!" I said a little too loudly.

"Bella?" I heard Sky call this time.

I walked to the living room.

"Sorry. I was all but having a panic attack trying to find some papers I needed for work."

"Oh," He said standing behind Krista.

Damien was already in her arms, talking animatedly.

"Morning, Bella. Pierre's on his way up. He had to pull around the side of the building to park the limo. The front was crowded." Krista said as she rubbed Damien's hair.

"Thanks," I said.

Sky's phone rang.

I packed up a few more things and double checked that I had everything. When Pierre arrived Sky turned to Krista as he'd just got off the phone.

"I've got to run. I'll be back by four."

Krista set Damien on the floor and popped Blue's Clues in the DVD player then turned to Sky. She kissed his lips and I heard them say 'I love you' in French before he left with a wave and smile to me and a nod to Pierre.

I cocked my head to the side as I gazed at Krista. She seemed to be glowing, like his professing his love for her fueled her already happy mood. I wish I had something like that. I thought I did once and my eyes drifted to Damien, but I was wrong.

"Bella?" Pierre's voice was right next to me.

I started a little.

"Are you ready?" His eyes showed light concern so I smiled and nodded.

"Be a good boy, Damien," I kissed his head.

"Bye, bye, momma," He smiled a cheeky smile at me.

"See you later, Krista."

"Have a nice day!"

Pierre was already out the door and down the hall. When I turned after closing the door, Edward was just stepping out of his. He gave me a small crooked smile.

My breath hitched. Cue pulse acceleration.

"Morning, Bella,"

"Morning," I said, a little breathless.

"Sleep well?" We started down the hall.

"Hm," I nodded because I couldn't trust myself to speak yet. I took a deep breath before asking him the same.

"Mostly," was his answer.

The elevator ride was quiet and uneventful. I wanted to talk to him but I didn't know what to say. I could feel his eyes on me and it made me feel shy. When the doors opened I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and suddenly realized that there was a shitload of tension in there. It felt like I just walked out of a thick bubble full of…something. I decided not to dwell on it. At least not so early in the morning.

"See you later, Bella," He said when we reached the glass doors. He walked out and turned left, onto the cobble stoned street filled with stores and shops. Pierre pulled up in front of me. I got in and he pulled off.

"…and that's what you'll make by the end of the year if you sign with us." I finally finished.

Four hours of talking with two breaks for brunch that weren't nearly as long as I wanted them to be was a lot. I'd just finished my proposal to one of the top manufacturing companies in Europe. Davidson said that if I could sway them to use us to promote their products it would be the first international deal made in A&M's history.

Lay the weight of the world on my shoulders why don't you?

The ten gentlemen in the room deliberated in quiet voices. I was practically sweating my brains out, waiting. I was nervous, surprisingly, and now that their attention wasn't riveted on me, I didn't know what to do. I took my seat at the head of the table, folded my hands, crossed my legs and squared my shoulders.

I hated waiting.

After about ten minutes of hearing their mutterings they turned to face me and I stood. I think they held the silence just to make me sweat. And after a good thirty seconds, they accepted my proposal.

I breathed a heavy sigh of relief and smiled. They came towards me and shook my hand.

Now that the hard part was over, I could set up everything they needed and call Davidson. We had a lot of work to do.

EPOV

Why did being near her make me lose my grip on everything? Standing in that elevator, such a small space, was torture for me. I tried to play it cool. I think I did pretty well. But there was tension in that small space. So much tension! I spent the whole walk and then some figuring out what that tension was about.

I couldn't understand it. When we talked last night there was nothing but awkwardness and nervousness. Now, I didn't know.

I didn't know how I actually felt about her. I just knew she shook me to the core. She was the angel and I was the devil, come to tear away her innocence. I scoffed at how ridiculous that sounded in my head.

I was working on a piano in the back of my shop. I needed to keep my hands busy. My A/C was broken back here so I was shirtless and dirty because I had to take the piano apart piece by piece and it was hot as hell. I tried to play it earlier but it sounded like something was stuck in it somewhere. So I took it apart.

No matter how busy I tried to keep myself, she just wouldn't leave my mind. She distracted me from the overbearing darkness I spent so long in. She let me dwell not on death as I have been for the past five years but on life. She made me feel like something else was there to believe in and not just the one thing I blamed myself for.

All this time I thought I had control over how I lived. I thought there was nothing for me out there except the small bit of reprieve I got from my music. The last bit of anything that reminded me of my father since my mother left.

But I decided not to think about that.

My mother finally contacted me. She finally spoke to me. I still couldn't believe it sometimes when I thought about it. I got so used to the thought that she wouldn't ever speak to me again because she was too lost in her mourning to do anything else. Even though I tried countless times to find her and contact her I just never thought different.

I remember a night when she read me a story. It was raining outside and it had just started to thunder. I was scared so she read to me to get my mind off the outside world. It was one of those traditional childhood stories that everyone knows, the one about the little engine that could. She said just like the engine thought he could make it up that hill I could make it through the night like a big boy and not be afraid of the storms outside.

I was five when she taught me that and since then I always remembered. So just like the little engine that could I kept my life going regardless of the fact that my father died and my mother ran away. I did it because of my music. I did it because I knew that my mother wouldn't want me to run away, too.

But I had control.

I had a certain way of doing things, a certain way of thinking. I never used to when my father was alive because he was always there. My mother was always there, too. I felt like I didn't have to hide or shield myself like I do now. But then…

She came.

Bella.

She made me lose focus. She made everything seem like it didn't matter, that I could get through it. It excited me and scared me at the same time. I haven't been scared in years. I haven't felt truly excited in years.

And she talked to me. I felt like a giddy schoolboy last night when she came over. I hadn't expected that at all. She smiled, too. Such a beautiful smile. It lit up her whole face, twice over. I was glad she let me apologize for my horrible behavior that afternoon. But I was nervous talking to her. I was tongue-tied. I hardly knew what to say to her.

Then she told me that I was lucky I apologized because Berta was planning on telling lies to the evil concubine on the top floor. I shivered.

Oh shit!

My shivering hand jerked an already lose screw holding the lines of the keyboard together out. The whole piano came down on me.

"Shit!"

I would have a few bruises later…

I shoved the pile of keys and strings off my face and chest and stood. I looked at my watch. It was just after one in the afternoon. I needed lunch. I donned my shirt, checked to make sure I had my wallet and went across the street.

I ordered a pastry and a coffee. I sat at one of the tables on the far edge of the shop outside. I watched the people walk around. Some were tourists as I could tell from the maps and cameras they held. Others were couples who kissed every now and then. Others were people who were just out enjoying a beautiful day.

They were clueless as to what was going on inside my head and I don't think they'd want to know either way. Sometimes I wish I could live as freely as they do, as open as they do. I moved to get away from all that reminded me of what happened to my family. I thought I was going to bear this weight on my shoulders for the rest of my life but…she made me not want to.

She broke my well built shields just by looking at me.

And there she is again, in my mind. I can't escape her. And I don't think I want to. I wanted to let her in. I wanted her to know what happened to me. I wanted her to know me, not use me, not lie to me, none of that.

I wanted her.

Roughly twenty-four hours she's been here and she already had me in her grasp. I didn't think it could happen to me but it did and because it was so sudden I almost ruined my chances with her. But now that I knew this, I was still confused.

Sky said he and his girlfriend were babysitting. I'm guessing that meant she had a child. Maybe that was a baby monitor in her back pocket I saw last night when she left…

Kids.

I was great with kids. I don't know how and I don't know why but kids loved me and I loved teaching them. I did every day. I wonder if she'd let me meet her child…

"Edward?"

I was jerked from my thoughts by one of my students. Matt, who was eleven years old, was standing in front of me. He was small for an eleven year old but with his bright blue eyes and dirty blonde hair and a smile that could melt any girls' heart you didn't pay that much attention to it. He was an avid learner much like Emma.

"Salut, Matt," I stood and drank the rest of my coffee before throwing it away. I looked around for his mother but I didn't see her.

"Where's your mother?" I asked him as we walked to the stairs that led up to the studio.

"She had to get to work. She was running late. She gave me this to give to you."

He pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to me. It was payment for today's lesson. I put in my back pocket as we went up the stairs.

"Running late?"

"Oui, it's after two."

I looked at my watch. It was twenty after. She was running late and so was he.

"She hoped you wouldn't charge extra for me being late."

I shook my head.

"No, I won't." We reached the studio. "Have you been working on that piece I gave you last week?"

He nodded and pulled his music book from his small back pack. "Ma mere says I sound great but I don't think I got some notes right."

"Well, let's see."

We sat at the piano and he opened his book to the piece I gave him and he started. The piano was out of tune so I told him to wait for a moment. I ran downstairs, grabbed my tools and ran back up. I tuned a few notes, asked him to play them and when they sounded just right I listened to him play. He played almost as wonderfully as Emma. I was thinking of having them do a duet together.

As he played my thoughts once again drifted to Bella. This time I didn't think about how her eyes captured me. I thought about her physically. To be thinking of someone physically while in the presence of young children was not healthy. See what I mean about her breaking my thought control?

Damn.

Her creamy skin and long brown hair…I wanted to run my fingers through it and brush them across her skin. Her hips were wide and the way she walked was so tantalizing that I swear I had a bit of a hard on when she left my apartment. I wonder if she knew how sexy her walk was or how radiant she looked when she smiled.

"Edward, did I do it right?"

I visibly jumped when Matt's voice broke my day dreaming. I looked down at him and told him to do it again. And this time, I was going to actually pay attention.

Mostly.

Okay, people! Here's the deal. We aren't when the next update will be. The next chappie is mostly done but that's not the problem. We need reviews. How will we know you guys want more if you don't review. They fuel our writing meter, you know. Without reviews our writing speed goes down and so do the updates. Yes, we do this for own enjoyment but we want others to enjoy it too. Please, please, please review! We want to know your thoughts and if there's anything you'd like to see in the story. Again, we'll update when chappies are done. We may set a schedule but only if the demand is high. If you want more, TELL US!

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~R4L and LSR~