Okay, everybody. I closed the poll. I had a talk with my beta and the consequences for Mike have been slightly changed. You'll find out in future chapters and you won't be disappointed. I promise! I would like to say thank you again to ilovemclife. She gave me the most awesomest, if that's even a word, review after I got flamed for something so stupid. Thank you so much. You made my day after that fiasco happened. Anyways, guys, read on!

Disclaimer:"Read on, guys! Reviews make us both happy." phone rings "Hold on ,guys." picks phone up "Hello?"

Me: "Hey, Steph!"

SM: "Oh. Hi, Reader4Lyfe. What can I do for you?"

Me: "Should I tell them I'm planning on doing a sequel or is it too early?"

SM: "You should wait. You don't have all your ideas together yet."

Me: "Okay, thanks. I'll talk to you later."

SM: "Alright. Talk to you soon! Bye!"

Me: "Bye!"

hangs up phone "Like I was saying, review, people!" S.M.

Chapter 11

BPOV

We'd spent the whole day on the couch and watched a grand total of five movies. Two were funny, one was gory and the others were . . . extremely action packed I guess you could say. I had three sodas and two turkey sandwiches. The sodas ran through me like water down a drain. I went to the bathroom three times.

Edward ordered Chinese food for dinner, it was really good. He taught me how to eat with the chopsticks. I couldn't pick up the beef that was in the fried rice, so instead of getting me a fork he fed it to me like I was a baby. I couldn't stop laughing.

I tried to do the same thing to him with his shrimp. I held the chopsticks the way he showed me, but I ended up dropping the shrimp in his lap. He laughed and I blushed.

Alice and company stopped by later on in the day. She brought me my toiletries bag and some clothes. Alice gave me a knowing look and Rose looked smug again. I blushed and hid my face in Edward's chest. He glared at them and wrapped his arms around me. Emmett and Jasper just laughed. Alice told us that Mike was still in the hospital because of his head injuries from running into the wall. I flinched a little at the memory, but composed a moment later.

They left soon afterward and it was close to eleven now; I was trying to figure out which order I'd get ready for bed in. I decided to take a much needed shower first and then change all my bandages. I told Edward and he said he'd replace them when I came out.

I un-wrapped all my bandages before I stepped into the warm shower. It was hot, but not hot enough to burn me. It felt good against my skin. I felt like I was washing away every bad thing that has happened to me in the past two days. I grimaced when I pulled my arm up to reach under it.

I had taken my meds a few hours ago, but this was excruciating. I tried to ignore it at first, but then it hurt every time I moved any part of my body. Quickly, I finished showering and climbed out, dried off and for the first time, I saw the scratches on my thighs.

They were deep; like someone had dug a knife into them. Four gashes; equivalent to the size of my hands; stretched down both my inner thighs. I shuddered, which didn't help the pain at all. They were the ones that hurt the most, besides my wrists.

I pulled the white towel further away and saw the blood. But it wasn't the sight of it that caused me to faint, it was the rust and salt smell of it that did so. I fell, pulling down my toiletries bag and whatever bottles were on the sink. Everything went black.

I felt someone lightly shaking me.

"Bella, Bella!" It was that angel's voice; Edward's voice. It was frantic. "Bella, what's wrong?! Can you hear me? Bella, wake up!" He shook me lightly again.

My eyelids pulled back slowly, still feeling a little drowsy from the smell. Edward's face was a few inches from mine and pushed my still wet hair from my face.

"Edward?" My throat felt tight. It was hard to breathe.

"Bella, what happened? I heard a crash and you didn't answer the door when I called you."

"B –Blood," I mumbled.

"What? Where?-" Both his voice and eyes were frantic with worry. I tried to ignore the still lingering smell of blood long enough to talk to him.

"My legs," I gasped. I tried to move my arms, but they hurt too much.

"Bella, you have to sit up. You have to put your clothes on." Edward sat me up slowly. He pulled the holey shirt I brought in over my head. I managed to put on my bra before fainting, but no underwear.

Edward wrapped the towel around me and sat me down on the toilet before turning around, so I could finish dressing myself. I struggled to breathe out of my mouth, so as to not faint again. I got my underwear on slowly without having to look at the marks; more like gashes on my inner thighs.

"Edward, can you cover these before I faint again," I panted. My breathing still wasn't normal.

Edward left the bathroom but came back a few seconds later with the bags Carlisle had given me and a cup of water.

He pushed the shirt up to my waist. I focused on his face as he put the cold ointment on the gashes and covered them up. He looked so focused, like he was trying his hardest not to cause any pain whatsoever; I was grateful for that. Edward wrapped up my elbow, my wrists, and my ankle, too.

He grabbed my black sweatpants from the floor and slid them up my legs and around my waist. He gave me two of the pills for my pain; I guess he could see it plastered on my face. When I finished, he picked me up bridal style and carried me to his room. Somehow he managed to pull the sheets back and place me on the bed.

He pulled the sheets up to my waist. He kissed my forehead and pulled back to leave. I grabbed his wrist before he could leave.

"Where are you going?" I mumbled.

He chuckled.

"I'm going to go clean up the bathroom and take my own shower. I've been in these clothes for too long."

I smiled and let go of his wrist.

He left the door open as he walked out. I heard some rustling in the bathroom and then the shower was turned on. The light was on and I took the pleasure of exploring his room.

The wall to the left of the bed had two windows that were draped with golden curtains. I think they overlooked the lake I was exploring a while back. In between the windows was a desk that held a computer and printer.

To the right of the bed; from ceiling to floor; was lined with CD's. There was an expensive looking stereo in the middle of it. In front of the bed was the same T.V. that was in the living room, just a little smaller. Under that was a cabinet, also similar to the one in the living room, just smaller. To the left of the T.V. was a door. I assumed that was Edward's closet.

His room was nice. It was much better than the one at my old house. That one was smaller with baby blue colored walls and a dresser and an old computer desk with a computer than looked older than Charlie.

I sat up and swung my feet over the side of his amazingly soft bed. I wobbled over to the wall of CD's. I skimmed through them since there were so many. I was surprised to see Debussy. I picked it out, put it in the stereo and hit play.

The sound spread through the room like a blanket. Surround sound, I thought. It made it seem like they were playing right in front of me. I wobbled to the window and leaned against it. The moon reflected on the ripples of the lake. The bushes and trees surrounding the lake swayed in the light breeze I couldn't feel. It looked so peaceful, so serene.

I was so wrapped in the dream-like picture in front of me that I hadn't heard when the shower stopped. The music was turned down so it was background music. Edward's arms snaked around my waist. He placed a chaste kiss to my temple before resting his head on my shoulder.

He didn't say anything for a few minutes. I remembered that I told myself I'd tell him about Charlie and what he's done to my mother and me for over ten years. I figured that he'd probably tell me to leave his room and never talk to me again because I was so . . . fragile. I was so vulnerable and beaten. No one would want someone so weak, especially not someone like him.

I sighed.

"What's wrong, love?" Edward whispered, not wanting to break the comfortable silence that had settled in the room.

"Nothing."

It came out shaky and distorted. I didn't know my voice was going to come like that; otherwise I would've just shaken my head.

"That doesn't sound like nothing, Bella." His velvet voice was a little louder now.

I took a deep breath and prepared myself to tell him my story.

"I want to tell you something. But, I-I'm not sure how you'll take it. I know what you want from me, with me, and I want the same thing too, it's just I can't go on without telling you this. I've kept it from you for too long."

Edward's body tensed; as if waiting for a blow he knew was coming. "You can tell me anything," he said.

I turned until I was face to face with him. I looked up to find his green eyes staring down at me intently. I stared in his eyes and I saw all the reassurance I needed to continue.

I walked, wobbled, to his bed and sat down slowly. Edward pulled the computer chair and positioned it in front of me. He took my hands in his and rubbed soothing circles on the back of them.

"When I was four I saw my father, Charlie, beating my mother, Renee. I stood there shocked. She screamed for me to run, but I was young and walking was still a sketchy thing for me to do. He beat me with his belt when he spotted me and since then he hasn't stopped."

Edward sucked in a breath that seemed loud in the room. He squeezed my hands. I repeated for him the whole story I'd told Alice and Rose that night he stayed with me. Every now and then, Edward would squeeze my hands and his eyes seemed to grow darker as I got more and more into the story.

When I told him about what Charlie had done to me that night I came home from work really late, he squeezed my hands a little too much. I hissed and my face scrunched up in pain. Edward immediately dropped my hands and muttered a sorry.

I stopped after that. He stood up and pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, leaning against the window. He took a deep breath and nodded for me to continue. I explained to him why I had that panic attack the night we first met. I told him about my nightmares.

He didn't interrupt me at all; he just listened. I could see that his hands would clench and unclench at certain things I said. When I finished, Edward's body was so tense I could almost see the waves of anger coming off of him. He never moved from the window. He never looked at me.

I felt the sadness and rejection creeping into my system. I looked down at the floor and my hands fiddled with a piece of lose fabric from my shirt. I felt the tears well up in my eyes. I read the digital clock on his bedside table; neither of us had said a word in the past eight minutes.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. The tears flowed and a sob raked through my chest. My body shook as the hot tears streamed down my cheeks. I wanted to die. I wanted to go in a corner, curl into a ball and cry myself to death.

I should've never said anything. I should've kept my mouth shut like I was supposed to. My mind rambled on with things like that.

Then suddenly I was jerked upward and crushed against something hard and warm. It took me a minute to realize that it was Edward's chest. He wrapped his arms around me. I felt like he was holding me together, which he probably was.

I cried into his chest; harder than I ever thought I could. I remembered that he didn't have a shirt on (a fact I'd forgotten while telling my story) when I tried to grab onto something. He lifted my head up with one finger and then cupped my face in that same hand. In my eyes his face was distorted because of my tears.

"Don't cry, Bella, love," he whispered. I couldn't help but cry.

"Y-you d-don't have t-to try and c-comfort m-me. I-I know y-you're j-just going t-to kick me o-out l-later. S-so I-I'll j-just go," I stuttered trying to stop my tears. I tried to get out of his embrace, but he held me fast. He held me so tight, I could hardly move.

I looked up at him questionably. I wanted to know why he hasn't kicked me out yet or why he didn't call me weak and bruised. Why he wasn't yelling at me for keeping this from him, why he didn't take advantage of my vulnerability. I wanted to know how he could stand to look at me right now and more so, I wanted to know why he was still holding me.

Edward brought both of his hands to my face and wiped the tears away with his thumbs. He shook his head at me and smiled that crooked smile I loved.

"I'm not going anywhere. You're not going anywhere. I'm here for you, Bella." His breath blew in my face. It clouded my mind for second. I shook my head to get out the clouds and to understand what he'd just said.

"Why aren't you mad at me for keeping this from you? How can you stand to look at me after what I've been through? How can you still hold me and wipe away my tears? How can you do this?" The questions spilled from my mouth like a river. I couldn't stop them. I wanted to know, I needed to know.

"Isabella," he said. "When I gave you that promise ring, I gave you my trust. I gave my understanding, my courage and my strength. I promised to be there for you no matter what and I don't intend on breaking that promise," he said it with such finality that I couldn't doubt him. He smiled at me and wiped the last of the tears that slipped from my eyes. I shook my head and smiled at him. He kissed me, hard. He put everything he said, everything he's done into that one kiss.

"I'm not mad at you, Bella. I could never be mad at you. I'm mad at the monster of a father that you have." He growled the last part.

"I've lived through it for thirteen years. I've endured excruciating pain, both mental and physical abuse. I'm glad he sent me here, but I'm also . . . sad." I looked to the floor, not wanting to see his eyes.

"Why?"

"My mother is still there. The only time she gets away from him is when she goes to work."

"You said she works at the local hospital in Forks, right?" I nodded. I could practically hear the light bulb click on in his head. "She was the one that took care of you. She was the one that helped you heal so wonderfully."

Then I remembered something.

"You saw my x-rays." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yes, while you were sleeping last night. Carlisle saw how most of the bones in your body showed up bright. When they do that, it means that they've been broken and have healed. They're fresh bones. He asked me if I knew anything about it and I told him no.

"I told him Rose and Alice would know, but they wouldn't say anything because you trust them not to. He also asked me about the faint marks on your legs. I told him the same thing as before. He was puzzled, but he didn't push the subject."

I didn't know what to say. Edward was quiet for a moment, but then he spoke.

"We have to tell him. It'll b-"

"No, Edward! Like I told you before, he could be watching out. He'll kill me if he finds I've told you. If he doesn't reach me first he'll kill my mother. I can't have her die by his hands. I can't. She's already been through so much." I was ready to cry again.

"Bella, it's okay, everything's going to be fine." Edward hugged me to his chest. It was warm and hard, yet soft and sculpted. I breathed in his scent and it warmed my insides. It calmed me down. I wrapped my arms around his waist as he held me. He smoothed my now dry hair back and kissed my forehead.

After what felt like an eternity, I yawned. I felt the hum of Edward's chest as he laughed, his chin resting on my head. I felt him move his head to the side and then back.

"It's late Bella. You need to get your rest." He lifted me up and lay me down on the bed. He covered me with the sheets again. He walked over the stereo and turned it off.

"Where will you sleep?" I mumbled, too tired to really pay attention to anything.

"I'll be in the living room." He kissed my forehead and whispered, 'Goodnight, Love.' in my ear before turning the light off and closing the door behind him. I glanced at the clock and it read 1:30 a.m. I yawned again and thought about Edward as I let the darkness have me.

I was running (well more like wobbling) down a dark alleyway. The ground beneath my feet was wet and my flannel shirt was splattered with blood. My ankle was broken and I had blood crawling down my neck. I was crying, bleeding and in a lot of pain.

I heard the most cynical laughter I could ever hear. It was him. He was coming after me. I heard gunshots being fired behind me. The brick walls seemed to close in as I got closer and closer to a small figure that was standing ahead of me.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO TELL ANYONE! All you had to do was keep your lousy mouth shut," Charlie growled behind me. He was gaining ground as I lost blood.

I tripped over a piece of trash that was lying in the ground. I fell flat on my face and continued crying. I tried to get up, but my body wouldn't listen to my mind.

I heard his gun go off again, but this time the bullet hit something; my arm. It was bleeding and I screamed from the pain that shot through my body.

I forced myself to get up. My legs and arms protested, but I got up. As I started running again, I noticed bodies on the ground on either side of me. I used my good arm to reach up and wipe the tears and sweat and blood from my eyes so I could see.

I almost fell down again as I realized who the bodies were. Alice, Rosalie, Emmett … Jasper, Esme, Carlisle; they were all shot. I didn't see Edward anywhere. I kept running, but I stumbled even more than before because I was shot.

I had no one, nothing. I'd be better off if I'd just stopped running and let him kill me.

I was ready to stop when a velvety voice whispered 'Keep going'. I pressed on even though Charlie was still behind me shooting his gun off and laughing hysterically.

'You have to keep going, Bella,' it said. 'Don't stop, Bella. You can do it.'

I kept going. It had started to rain and I was drenched through and through by the time I had reached the figure at the end of the alleyway. I practically threw myself at it, not really knowing what it was. It wrapped its' arms around me and held me up.

I looked up and saw Edward's green eyes staring down at me.

I cried.

He smiled at me.

"Edward . . ." I whispered.

"Bella . . . I lo—," He never got the chance to finish what he was saying because Charlie's gun went off.

I hardly felt the bullet go through me, but it did. It went right through me and Edward. It went straight through our hearts. We held on to each other as though if we let go, we'd die. But that didn't make much of a difference.

We both collapsed on the ground in the drenching rain and cold. We lay there, bleeding; our blood mixing together with the rain. We breathed our last breath and our hearts beat our last beat.

"See I told you not to open your mouth," Charlie said standing over us, "Bitch."

Everything went black.

I awoke with a start. I jolted upright, sweat covering my face; my breathing was labored. The room was black as night, except for the green glow that came off the digital clock on the bedside table. It read 4 a.m. I was only asleep for about three hours. Once I got my breathing under control I threw my legs over the side of the bed.

I didn't want to be in here alone; I never wanted to be alone again. I needed to be in his arms. I needed to feel him against me; to make sure he was still here with me.

I grabbed a blanket from his closet and wobbled out of his room. I could hear the T.V. in the living room. I could see the glare from it on the walls, as all the lights were out.

I walked into the living room and saw Edward sprawled out on the couch. He took the pillows off to have more space and his head rested on the armrest. A movie was playing, but I didn't know what. I watched as his chest rose and fell with every breath he took. He still had no shirt on, so I couldn't help but ogle him for a minute before I felt a pain in my ankle. I was subconsciously standing on it with a little too much weight.

I walked over to Edward's sleeping form and gently shook his shoulder.

"Edward?" I whispered. He stirred, but didn't wake up.

I shook his shoulder a little harder and whispered his name again.

He stirred and opened his eyes slowly.

"Bella, what's wrong?" The concern in his voice was shown in his eyes as well.

"My nightmares, I can't sleep."

Edward stared in my eyes for a long minute before pulling my hand lightly. He moved back on the couch until his back hit the back of it. He pulled me down and I pulled the blanket over us. Edward wrapped his arms around me as I snuggled into his warm chest. He kissed my forehead and I forgot all about my nightmare.

He ran his fingers up and down my back as he hummed the same tune from when he found me at the club. I shivered when his fingers ran over my stomach. Edward kissed my hair, my ear, my neck, my eyes, my nose, my cheeks, and finally my lips. Everywhere he kissed felt like a fire was being ignited. I couldn't feel anything that wasn't Edward. I didn't want to feel anything that wasn't Edward.

I moved to deepen the kiss, but Edward chuckled against my lips and pulled back.

"Sleep, love," I groaned, but did as he said.

He kept humming that same tune; it was soothing and relaxing. I felt it cover me as the blanket covered me. I'd have to ask him about that later.

I was slowly slipping into the darkness again and I knew that this time I wouldn't have any nightmares. As long as Edward was here with me I could get through it.

I could get through it.

Thanks for reading. And like S.M. said upstairs...lol...reviews make us happy! You guys never beat the review record, which was 27, but no worries, no pressure. I 'm hoping to update on Mon or Tues since I can't get the cpu on weekends, if not then it'll definitely be Wed.

Reader4Lyfe, peace!