Chapter 3

Between Charlie looking at me in the rearview mirror, with a smug expression that I was in the back seat of a police car, he asked questions. I knew that this was supposed to be a scare tactic. But it didn't scare me. What it did do to me, was somewhere between amusement and annoyance.

But I did answer whatever question he threw at me. He wanted to know about the first time we met. I told him the story about the bookstore. Where I had come upon this beautiful woman reading. I was mainly telling the story for Bella's benefit. I just hoped that she didn't think I was making it up. Then I told Charlie that Bella and I met through Jasper.

Which wasn't exactly a lie. If you think about it in a roundabout way.

He asked about my family, and I told him that they would be in Forks for the Christmas vacation, that Esme was restoring a house outside of town. Charlie was then very hopeful that I wouldn't be staying in his house hold. I would, for now, let him keep thinking that.

During this time, Charlie told Bella that they would be having Christmas dinner with Billy and Jacob. I knew from his thoughts that he was trying to figure out the best time to bring the subject up. I also knew that he only invited them for Christmas dinner was because I was there. I also realized that the 'Jake' from Bella's dreams was the 'Jacob' they were talking about.

Maybe I would get to beat his ass after all!

I started to get upset when Charlie started thinking that maybe Bella and Jake could rekindle their feelings for each other. I got that he didn't really know the reason that they broke up. I didn't either, but I'd be damned if I was going to allow that to happen.

When we made it to Bella's house, she decided that we need to go to town to get some food.

Apparently Charlie didn't cook. Which I guess is probably the reason that Bella could. Charlie scolded himself about not getting groceries before she came home.

On the porch, while I waited for Bella to come out, I saw her talking to Charlie. Apparently he was giving her a can of mace. I couldn't hear his thoughts, but I bet Charlie was telling Bella to use it on me, probably to keep me in line. I laughed when she came out side. "Mace?" I asked. She told me to shut up. There was something about her being on the porch, with the blanket of snow as her background that I found beautiful. I really wanted to kiss her. But I stopped myself before I did. I kept telling myself that I'm no good for Bella, but that wasn't the reason I stopped myself from kissing her. The curtains moved in the window. Charlie was watching.

At the store we ran into two girls that Bella went to school with. Their thoughts kind of matched Martha's, with: What is he doing with her?

What is it? Why does everyone think that I wouldn't be with Bella? I mean, she's beautiful and smart. And can put me in my place at a drop of a hat. What's not to love? I'll admit, she can be annoying, but then again, she's acting like me, because she only acts like that when I do.

But still…why would me being with Bella be so hard to believe?

One thing I know for sure was that those chicks were crazy.

Bella seemed to agree with me.

While we were standing in the aisle, with them acting as though they were Bella's best friends or something. I went through the blonds' head as she talked, since she seemed to be the leader. The other girl didn't talk until after the blond did. What I found in her mind was a little disturbing. Not only because she was a little disturbing, but I started paying attention when the name 'Jacob' flashed through her mind.

Then I started to get mad.

The other girls mind thought the name 'Jacob' too, so I started going through her mind.

Apparently both of these girls had relationships with Jacob while he was dating Bella. And I use relationships loosely.

Very loosely.

Also, it was evident that Bella caught the blond in the bed with Jacob.

What a pig.

And Charlie wanted them to get back together.

Yep, that's likely to happen.

Thank God I came up with an excuse to get away from the girls. Not only did I not want to read their desolate little minds, I also didn't want Bella to have to be in their presence for too long.

She already had too much on her plate without having reminders of way back when.

When we finally got back to her house, there was a figure on her front porch. I knew who he was already, from the thoughts of people around me. I had been shown that face a lot in the past few hours.

I still thought about acting like I thought he was a vampire, so I could just do away with him. But I have a feeling that Bella wouldn't like that very much.

Not to mention her police chief father.

So…this is Jake?

I had to ask anyway, though. I wasn't supposed to know who he was. "Who's that?" I tried to get my voice to sound normal before I did ask. No such luck. I was hoping that Bella didn't notice.

No such luck on that either.

"Jacob" She said. She started shooting me weird looks. Probably because I had a hand on the door handle, my fingers being shaped into it.

That's when I got the idea that I needed to be the perfect boyfriend. Like opening doors or being there for her whenever or whatever she needed me to do.

Like making Jacob hate me.

This was going to be fun

After helping her out of the cab, taking the bags from her…which she refused. They had a couple of words. Him saying that he had to check up on me to make sure I was good enough for her. Her telling him that he gave up that right a long time ago.

I stood behind her smiling like an idiot. I couldn't help it. Bella's pretty hot when she's pissed off. This might explain why I piss her off so much.

While Bella cooked, Jacob and I just stared at each other. That is, until he thought about asking her if she needed help.

I beat him to it.

Muhahahaha!

But then the conversation got a little weird, and she asked me why I didn't call her beautiful. It's not that I won't, I just don't want to think about what it would mean if I did call her beautiful.

Because I really did want to call her that.

And I told her as much.

After dinner I even carried Bella up the stairs for bed. She had just been sitting beside me on the couch, talking out loud. No one else heard her, but I'm sure she said something like that her thigh was her favorite body part or something. Or course I was drawing patterns on her thigh, getting a rise out of Jacob. He was still pretty possessive about her. Either that or he just really didn't like me.

I'm thinking it might be the later, because Bella has been saying things around him to the effect that she and I are having sex. I'm not complaining about that. But apparently she and Jacob dated for about a year, and she never had sex with him. So he's a little perturbed by that.

And me carrying her up the stairs didn't help with his whole not liking me either.

It was great. Her being in my arms, not necessarily the part about him not liking me. Although that was good too.

By the time we made it up the stairs, she had woken up a little, and decided that she wanted to take a shower. I couldn't spend all my time up the stairs, so I went back down with them.

Right before I turned the corner to make my way into the living room, Jacob asked something that caused me to stop in my tracks.

"What are we going to do now that she's home Charlie?"

"Well, its better that she's home if it happens, than in Texas."

"Yes," Billy said. "But what will it mean for our family? You know we can't-" He was cut off by a shushing Jacob. It was quiet for several moments, and then I decided that I should show myself.

When I walked around the corner, they were all staring at the TV intently. I tried to go through their thoughts to figure out what they were talking about. But they were thinking about the show.

Charlie looked at me, feigning innocents. "Hey, Edward. Bella go to bed?"

"No sir, she decided to take a shower." Why would he ask that? It's not like he can't hear the water running

He nodded his head. "Ah" He turned back to the show.

If it wasn't for the thoughts going on in the room, I might actually believe that I would feel a little welcome. But no one in the room really wanted me there. When I heard the water turn off, I went up the stairs, telling them good night, that I was going to take a shower since Bella was getting out.

Charlie grunted something unintelligent, and all I got from his thoughts was that I had better not stay up there too long.

While I was getting clothes out to sleep in, I decided to check Bella window, to make sure that it was latched securely. Not that it would stop a vampire, but maybe it would give me enough time to get up the stairs if one did come through her window.

That is, if I am ever down stairs while she's asleep.

I heard movement from the doorway, right before Bella asked "What are you doing?" I told her I was checking her window as I turned around. I almost stopped talking in mid sentence. She was wearing some very short shorts, and a white tank top…with no bra. Bella crossed her arms over her chest, as I tried to return my mind to what I was doing before she walked in.

Window.

Clothes.

Shower.

Wet Bella.

No! Me a shower!

I finally made it out of her room, with my thoughts still intact…for the most part. When I went back into her room, I couldn't help myself. I walked over to her, to see that she was asleep.

"Good night, love." I ran my fingers through her hair.

During the night, I wondered how long I could stay in Bella's room without waking Charlie. Sometime after midnight, I decided to chance it. I was never one for much sleep anyway. But with Charlie's snores, it was almost impossible.

I found out why, when I made my way up the stairs. He had his door open. I guess thinking that it would stop me from sneaking into his daughters' room. Boy was he wrong. Plus, I wasn't really sneaking into her room for the reasons he thought I was.

On this night, she didn't dream about vampires. She did however dream of me.

At least, she said my name a lot. But there was also Jacob, Charlie and a few others that I couldn't decipher. At one point she said "damn him and his perfect male specimen self."

Not sure why that was in her dream, but it made me wonder who she was taking about.

Early in the morning, Charlie started stirring in his sleep. So I figured that was my queue to head back down the stair. And maybe try to sleep a little more. Although, I wasn't sure how much more I could take on the couch, that thing was of the devil.

Once I settled back on the couch, I heard Charlie come out of his room. His first stop?

Bella's room.

I heard him open the door, and several moments later, I heard it close. His footsteps sounded down the hall coming closer to the stairs. I wanted to see his face when he saw that I was on the couch. But I couldn't…he would think I was up to something. More than he thinks I up to already. Charlie peered from around the corner. I could see myself in his thoughts. Good, he's on the couch.

Charlie started his way into the kitchen, where I heard him start the coffee maker, and then he headed back up the stairs. Later I heard the shower turn on. I looked at the clock on my phone. It was only six o'clock. I wondered if it would seem funny to Charlie if I were to 'wake up' now. I could just tell him I'm a light sleeper, which is true. It has always been hard for me to sleep around other people. Their thoughts and dreams always invade.

When Charlie came back down dressed in his uniform, I 'started' waking up.

"Oh… good morning Edward. Sorry, did I wake you up?" His thoughts were somewhat sincere. He felt bad at first for waking me up, but then realized it was me.

"No, that's alright." I told him. "I'm a really light sleeper, anyway."

He nodded. That was his only response. He made his way into the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee, after he filled up his thermos. "Do you drink coffee?" He called out, after he argued mentally with himself over doing so.

"No, thank you. I don't drink coffee."

"Hot chocolate then?" Must be just like Bella, He thought.

"I like Hot Chocolate. But I'll fix myself a cup later."

"Okay." He said, coming out of the kitchen, coming to sit in the recliner. I knew from his thoughts that he already wanted to talk to me about my intentions with his daughter.

"Edward," He paused "what are your intentions with my daughter?"

See? What did I tell you?

"Mr. Swan," I paused to see if he would correct me….I guess not. "I have very intense feeling about your daughter," that wasn't a lie "and I want her to be happy." That was true too.

"Edward, I'm not going to lie, I don't know you, and that makes me weary." His thoughts were reminding him to run a background check on me.

"I understand sir. It would make me weary if you didn't."

"I just want you to know that if you hurt Bella in any way, I'll hurt you." He looked at me sternly.

I nodded in response.

"And I don't mean that lightly."

I knew from his thoughts that he didn't. It also made me wonder if he ever had this talk with Jacob, because apparently there was some type of miscommunication that went on.

"Now that we got that over with, will you be staying here every night, or only some nights?"

I wanted to tell him every night. But I also knew that there were going to be some nights that I needed to be here without him knowing.

"Only some nights. Me and Jasper are going to be dividing up days that we stay with mom and dad. Mom wants to get the rooms done without someone being there all the time."

"So," Charlie started, taking a sip of coffee. "Will you be staying there tonight?" He looked up at me hopefully. His thoughts told me that he might have to work tonight, to make up for the days off he had to take. I would just tell Charlie that I was going to stay there tonight, but the hopeful look on his face cause me not to.

"No, I'm going to be staying here tonight." I told him, as I stood up, making my way into the kitchen. Now would be as good as any to make that hot chocolate. Charlie huffed, and then rose from the recliner, grabbed up his thermos and walked out the door.

Five seconds later the door opened with Charlie sticking his head in to grab his gun holster, and the keys to his cruiser.

Charlie really didn't want me to be here.

Around eight o'clock, after finishing washing the dishes Charlie and I used, I decided that it was time for Bella to wake up, so we can make our way out to the house that my parents are staying at. I made my way up the stairs to wake her up

"What the hell is wrong with you?" She grumbled, face first into my pillow. "Didn't anyone ever tell you that it's rude to just drag someone out of bed without trying to wake them up by simply telling them it's time to get up?"

"I've been trying to wake you up. Actually we've had a whole conversation with each other."

"Wha?" She sounded too tired to even finish the sentence

I laughed. "You know, you talk in your sleep right?"

She looked up from the pillow then. "What did I say?" She blushed.

"Well, you told me to leave a couple of times." She smiled in thought about that. I decided to ask about what she said earlier that I wondered about. "You also said 'damn him and his perfect male specimen self'.

She blushed, dropping my head to my chest, not looking at me. She didn't say anything.

Why? Why couldn't read her mind?

"So, who were you talking about?"

"Uh.…" She looked at me, with a dazed look in her eyes. "Taylor Lautner?" She quickly looked away.

Taylor Lautner?

"Taylor Lautner, huh?" She nodded her head, biting her bottom lip. Something told me not to believe her.

She told why she said his name, I didn't listen to her. She rose up from lying down, and I started laughing.

"What? He's hot, okay."

"I wasn't laughing at that. I was laughing at your hair."

She touched her hair. "What's wrong with my hair?"

"Your hair looks like a haystack." I looked at her hair. I thought it was really cute. I had to stop myself from smiling at her, so I lied. "I don't like it." then shook my head.

"Well I'm sorry that not all of us can wake up in the morning looking like a super model." she said sarcastically.

"You're just not trying hard enough." I joked.

She hit me with a pillow. After I dodged her pillow a few times, I told her about Charlie. She flopped on the bed on her back, putting the pillow over her head.

"He gave the speech of not hurting you, or he'd have to hurt me. I'm wondering if he ever had that conversation with Jacob. He could have used it."

She groaned. Then told me not to annoy Charlie, because he has a gun. "No...Wait. On second thought, annoy him all you want!"

"Don't kid yourself. You know you'd be lonely without me around."

"Believe me, I could survive."

After Bella got ready to go, and had talked to Alice to find out that she and Jasper were going out to the house too. Alice offered to drive us out there, since she was driving her father's new car. But I decided that Alice's father would probably like it better if her car stayed intact while there were people inside.

So we took Bella's truck.

Which I started regretting as soon as we got in. I seemed to have forgotten how slow the truck moved since yesterday. But I guess it was better than being in the same vehicle as Jasper.

But I complained the whole time, causing Bella to refuse to talk to me. And I really wanted her to talk to me. One whole reason I was complaining was if I didn't, I might just stare at her. And I think that might be a little bit worse than the complaining.

At least the complaining is less creepy.

I said something about a rental that I was getting, because her truck was so old, I was afraid that if something happened and we needed to make a fast getaway, we wouldn't be able to. Good thing Carlisle agreed.

She said that she would be glad when I got my rental too, because then she wouldn't have to deal with me. I told her she'd still have to deal with me…just not her truck.

For some reason she liked the truck…maybe it was because I didn't?

"Can you seriously not go longer than five minutes without bad mouthing something?" She asked me.

"No, it's not really in my abilities." which wasn't really true. But it gives me something to do at the moment. "Besides," I told her, "I can't let you out of my sight. I'm your body guard, remember?"

She asked if Rosalie could be her body guard, because she was scary. Which is true. But I told her she would miss me if I wasn't around her. Or at least, I hoped part of her would, anyway.

"Why are you always so cocky?" She asked.

I turned away from her, mumbling that it was my defense mechanism. If I didn't act cocky, I would probably blurt all my feeling out to her. And neither one of us needed that.

Bella slammed on her breaks; I had to put both of my hands out to hit the dash before my face did. I bet she's going to be smug about the whole not wearing a seatbelt thing. Since I wasn't wearing one, even after she told me too. I turned to her sharply.

"Whoops! Sorry."

"Yeah, sure." I mumbled, turning back to the window.

When we pulled up to the house, I watched Bella's reaction. Esme hadn't been here long, only two days really. But she had workers here for the past week, rebuilding, rewiring, painting, and whatever else needed to be done before they got here.

The look one Bella's face was one of awe. I smiled. Esme had that effect on people. And Esme loved it.

When Bella and I started talking about the house and Esme, the conversation changed. It was my doing but I just couldn't help it.

"Mom's a very determined person, when she decides to do something. She does it."

"I wish I had that kind of determination."

"Me too." I said

She snorted. "You do have that kind of determination, Edward."

"Not really." I shook my head; I had to look away from her. I loved it when she said my name. And I shouldn't.

"I think you do." she told me.

"No, there are some things I would like to do, but I... can't" like, I would like not to be in love with her, and I was determined not to be…I just couldn't get myself to follow.

"What do you mean 'cant'"

"I just can't, okay?" It was impossible. I've never met anyone like Bella. Even trying to make her mad so that she would say something equally angry at me wasn't working. "Come on." I jerked the door open and got out. I really couldn't be in an enclosed area with her while I was upset with myself like that.

I started to walk away without her…that was until I heard thoughts about her that I didn't like.

Umm…like to have a piece of that!

I can make it better.

I'm way more man than that boy will ever be.

In each of them, they were watching Bella. I started back towards her when the cat calls started. She was still looking down, so apparently she hadn't realized that they were talking about her. I looked towards the men, hoping that it would cut them off,

No such luck.

"Edward, what-?" from the corner of my eye I saw her look their way.

"Hey, baby!" The short fat pudgy one called out. "When you want a real man, you should come and find me!" The other guys cheered him on.

"Seriously?" She asked in disbelief.

My only reply was to put an arm around her. This just caused the men to think other things that I didn't want to hear.

"You should stop doing that?" she said, when we made it to the porch. I moved my hand to the small of her back. My hand felt like it was on fire, and all I wanted to do was to touch her more.

I looked down at her. "Stop doing what? Saving you?"

"No, grinding your teeth. And calm down, your practically steaming here."

She could hear me grinding my teeth?

I slightly smiled "I am not."

"Yes, you are." she walked into the foyer, and then turned to look at me. "Just so you know, I don't like the way you do that."

"Do what?"

"When you go all mucho on me like that." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"So, you wanted those guys to make those cat call to you like that?" I pulled on her arms, grabbing the front of her coat. She started slapping my hands.

"What are you doing?" She shrieked.

"Stop." I said as I grabbed her hand that was hitting me. "I'm taking off your coat." I started to undo the zipper.

"I could do that you know." She said, watching as I pulled the zipper all the way down.

I know, but it wouldn't be as fun.

She took a deep, shaky breath as she looked up into my eyes, as my hands pulled down on the shoulders of the coat. Once she was free of the coat, I held it tightly in my hands, making my knuckles turn white. I took a step closer to her, which was hard to do, considering we were so closer already.

I didn't plan on taking off her coat to bring this type of emotion out of me. This lust. But after me know that I failed at not falling in love with her, and those men making me realize that I didn't want anyone else to have her; this is what it did to me.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" I asked, though I wasn't sure if it was directed at myself or to Bella. But Bella shook her head anyway, slightly.

I moved my hand, and lightly touched her fingertips, then made my way up her fingers to the palm of her hand. I wanted to take my time with this; no one was around. I brought my other hand up to her cheek, and leaned in closer to her. Focusing only on her lips. I was finally going to allow myself to kiss her, after struggling against myself for three days of not doing it. Her eyes started fluttering.

This was it. This was-

"Bella!" Alice's high pitch shrill could have probably been heard in New Zealand.

What the…where did she come from?

I wasn't used to people sneaking up on me. I flinched away from Bella, but kept her hand in mine as Alice and Jasper rounded the corner.

"Hey, Alice." Bella took a step closer to her, as she tried to get me to let go of her hand. I wouldn't let go. I didn't want to.

Jasper smirked at me. Did we interrupt something? Oh well, too bad!

"We have to talk to Carlisle, now." I said to Bella, and started dragging her away. Probably wasn't the best thing to do. But right now, I didn't really care.

After talking to Carlisle, who didn't tell me anything more of what I already knew. Esme used me to help her with some heavy lifting, when Carlisle told me to find Jasper, so that we both could help Esme with picking out furniture for the billiard room.

I found Jasper with Bella and Alice, and he and Alice were being lovey-dovey sweet to each other.

"You guys should quit. You're probably grossing Bella out."

"And why do you say that?" Alice asked me. If you had the chance you would be doing the same with Bella.

I wasn't even going to acknowledge that. "If I had been in here, it would gross me out." Alice huffed. Not from my answer, but because I didn't tell her if she was right or wrong. And I'm not. At least for a while. "Jazz, dad wants to see you." I winked at Bella before I walked out the door.

Once me and Jasper were far enough away I turned to him. "So what do you think their talking about in there?"

"Like you don't know!'

"I don't."

"Yeah right. You say that when all you have to do is read Bella's mind."

"I can't read Bella's mind." I guess no one told him.

He stopped in his tracks, grabbing my arm in the process. "Really?"

"Really"

"Wow! I wonder why?"

"Me too."

"So I guess that is really weird to you, huh?"

"Yes."

"But I guess being around Bella makes you feel normal, huh?"

I smiled slightly. "Not sure if you want to consider it normal."

He studied me, silently. I already knew what was coming "You like her don't you?"

I didn't have to say anything; apparently my face said all he needed to know. We started walking down the hall once more, when a noise sounded behind us.

"Guys!" I heard Bella screamed. "Jasper!"

Jasper and I both flew into the room at the same time. "What's wrong?" we both asked in union. I saw Bella holding Alice up, but Jasper was already making way to her.

I made my way towards Bella, never talking my eyes off Alice and Jasper as I put my hands on her shoulders. "It's okay, she's going to be fine." at least, that's what I said. Though I wasn't too sure. Her mind was a jumbled mess. Pictures were flashing through it, randomly. None of it connected. At one part I saw Bella standing in front of a vampire. I knew it was a vampire because he was in the light, and he was sparkling.

Alice couldn't explain what happened to her. Hell, I couldn't explain what happened to her.

Carlisle thought it would be best if everyone went outside once Alice was able to calm down enough to walk. I tried to follow Bella outside, but Carlisle wanted me to stay in. he wanted to talk about what happened.

All I wanted to do was to be outside with Bella. It worried me that I wasn't going to be with her; nor could I explain what had happened inside of Alice's mind.

And I told dad as much when he asked me.

I turned towards him, away from Bella's retreating figure through the trees. "I don't know what happened. But it doesn't sit right with me."

"Well, what did you see?" He asked. He sat down on the couch beside Esme, where she sat when everyone else had left to go outside.

"It was like…" I paused, trying to figure out how to tell them what I saw. "It was like I was watching a movie or something. I knew it wasn't true, but it made me think that it could be true."

"What do you mean?" Esme asked.

"There were different pictures running through her head. None of them made sense. But one was of Bella." I looked back out the window, hoping I could see her. I couldn't.

"What did you see?"

"I saw a vampire standing in front of Bella. And Bella asked him not to hurt her."

Carlisle and Esme exchanged looks.

I wonder if the outcome of her attack is going to be anything like Edwards. Carlisle's thought came to me.

"What attack?" I wasn't aware of any attack. Carlisle started to think about whatever attack he was thinking, when I caught another thought.

Thoughts that I knew shouldn't be hearing.

Bella's all alone!

My head snapped to the window.

Poor, poor Bella!

My legs started moving before my brain caught up with what I was doing.

Bella's all mine! No one is going to stop me!

This thinker had another thing coming if he thought no one was going to stop him.

Because I was.

I raced out of the house so fast that I barely caught Carlisle and Esme shouting my name behind me.

Before I made it to the tree line I saw an axe that had be left by one of the workers, I picked it up thinking it would come in handy.

Besides, I had no other weapon to use.

It didn't take long for me to follow the thoughts of the person following my Bella. But what I saw when I came to the clearing, mad me stop in my tracks. The vampire was walking closer and closer to Bella, who was laid out against a tree at an odd angle.

No way would she be there, sitting in front of the tree like that willing.

The anger I felt towards him was greater than anything else I've ever felt, but it didn't take my mind way that I had seen this vision before.

Just a little bit ago when Alice had all those different things going through her head at one time.

I stepped out into the open, away from the shade of the trees. He still hadn't realized I was behind him, which was stupid on his part.

Considering he was a vampire.

I started walking faster, gripping the handle of the axe tighter. As soon as I brought the axe up to swing, he spun around facing me, gripping the handle too, stopping me from my mark.

"They warned me about you!" He hissed in my face, trying to pull the axe down from where I had it angled from his neck.

I only pulled harder. The anger that was coursing through me allowed it. I didn't know what happed to Bella, I couldn't check on her to even make sure she was alive. And that hurt me. More than I thought would be possible. I never wanted her to feel pain of any sort. And this happened.

I wasn't there to save her.

"So you're the mind reader, huh?" He questioned. "Then read my mind!" his thoughts flashed with all sort of scenarios of what he was going to do to Bella; the last one lingering on her with red eyes.

"NO!" I made a strangled cry. I wouldn't let that happen…even if my life depended on it.

I gripped the handle of the axe tighter, and pushed with all my strength. One second I was seeing red, the next I looked down to see the blond vampire staring up at me from the ground.

How? Was his last thought. I swung with all my might down, shutting my eyes, tightly. I felt it struck, into something thick; hearing a splat. I pulled the axe back up, only to repeat the process several times in a row. Once my anger was spent…somewhat anyway, I finally opened my eyes. And saw red, again, but in a different way.

Blood, everywhere.

I didn't spend too much time on that. I dropped the axe and rushed to Bella, dropping to her side. She wasn't completely unconscious and she was moaning, and saying a few words. Most were 'don't hurt me', over and over.

From behind me I could hear movement, also the voices of Jasper and Emmett calling Bella. But it didn't matter, I had her now.

"Edward…what-?" Emmett called as he got closer to me.

I didn't answer. I didn't have to, there was no need. As I gently picked up Bella off the ground, I turned to them with a dark look. They all looked back with understanding. I even caught part of Jasper's thought of me knowing what it was like for him now.

But I didn't think that way.

Before I took her back to the house, and gave her to Carlisle to look over, I looked down at her, and spoke some words that were never spoken truer.

"I'm your Bella…and I will never let anything ever happen to you again."

AN~ Ironically, when I started typing this story the song 'read my mind' by the killers came on. Weird!

Read and review. Love ya!

~Sky.