Okay, people! First off, I want to say that YOU ALL ARE SO COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY AWESOME!! You guys beat the review count by 18! YES, 18!! I was completely amazed. I had to disconnect my internet right after I posted the last chapter. sucks. When I reconnected it and checked my email almost 24 hours later I had over 50 emails! It took me FOREVER to reply to all of those reviews. Some were funny, outrageous, threantening, upset and just all out unbelievable. I was threatened with a trained kinkajou. That one made me laugh like crazy. Only four people guessed what was in the bag and got it right...partially. And I've gotten a lot of reviews complimenting my writing skills and such, thanks so much. I see that you guys liked Esme. I liked her too...lol...

A few announcements:

ilovemclife was upset because she wasn't my longest reviewer for the last chapter so she sent me this EXTREMELY long review. She's my top reviewer. She complimented my writing and she loved Esme and she is just too cool! oh, yeah and thanks for 'cursing' me. Lolz.

Marchen Awakens Romance threw me into a torture chamber TWICE! She's still bff, though. She has the best threats...lol.

mayalucille: i'm sorry for the 'cruel and usual punishment' but I had to do it. XD

Libertine-skins had to second longest review, followed by Jane Austen Fan.

I would like to thank my beta BellaTonks, she's AWESOME, as always. But enough of my rambling.

And now the moment you've all been waiting for...EDWARD CULLEN!

Disclaimer:"Hello, everyone. Edward, here. I'm glad you all enjoyed the last chapter and reviewed like crazy. I was wuite happy myself. Read4Lyfe told me that only three people said thank you when I replied to their reviews. I was shocked after all the reviews I replied to. And ladies you are all quite welcome! Read4Lyfe owns nothing. Remember that. Love you guys." E.C.

Chapter 15

EPOV

As soon as Bella opened that bag I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Is that what I think it is? It couldn't be? How did she…how could she…what in the hell?! Where would she…? How would she…? Who in the hell…?

"B-Bella, where did you get that?" I stuttered.

"It was in my car. I don't know where it came from," she whispered.

I looked at her face. She looked like she was about to break down and cry. She looked like she wanted to run away. I wanted to comfort her, but I couldn't seem to get my body to move.

"A gun and a dagger," I said.

"There was a note," she whispered. She slipped her hand under the dagger and pulled out a note. She handed me the note, timidly.

I opened the folded piece of paper. It was addressed to Bella and the print was in cursive.

Dear Bella,

I never meant for any of this to happen. I thought that we could have a good life with love and happiness. But as you could see, it was far from it. I thought we were happy. I thought life was good. The day your father snapped was the day I was going to tell him I was pregnant. I had accidentally poured boiling water on him when I was trying to cook dinner. He exploded.

I didn't want you to get hurt. We were having problems before, I just didn't tell you. When he went after you, I thought he was going to kill you. It would've killed me if that happened. I was only six weeks pregnant when I lost the baby. I didn't tell you because I knew you'd lash out on him. I didn't want to cause you any more pain than I already did.

When your grandmother died she left me the gun and dagger. She said she bought them when she first found out what was going on in our house. I tried to get her to keep them, but she insisted, so I had no choice. She also left you her estate and all her money, which all together is worth about 100 million.

I never told your father, but he beat it out of me the first time you went to boarding school. He wants the money. The only way for him to get it is if you still live in his house under his supervision or… die. The only way for him not get it is if you aren't living with him and are married…by age 21.

I know it's a big step, but it's the only way. He'll do anything to get the money and rid himself of us. You were my mother's only grandchild and she entrusted you with this. Don't worry about me, honey. I can take care of myself. Don't let him destroy your life anymore. You deserve something better. You deserve something more.

Don't go back to Forks. Don't ever go back.

I hope and pray that you will never have to use these items, but if you do, please, please use them wisely. I've done all I can to help you now. Just know this; I love you. I'll always love you, no matter what happens.

Love,

Mom

I, myself, felt like I could be on the verge of tears. By the time I got to the end of the letter, my hands were shaking. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, say or think. I stared at the words on the paper, not really seeing them.

I suddenly heard sobs. They were light sobs, but I could hear the pain and sadness and anguish in them. They sounded distant, but then as I brought my mind back to my body and relocated my eyes to Bella's face, I finally knew where they coming from.

Bella sat in front of me on the edge of the bed crying. Her face was in her hands and her body shook.

I felt a pang in my chest as her whimpers grew louder with each passing second. I longed to see her beautiful face, to see her big bright brown eyes, to see her cheeks fill with the blood of her blush.

The paper I was holding was gone from my hands and Bella was in my arms faster than I thought possible. The bag fell to the floor with a soft thud.

Bella was crying into my chest; they raked through her body. She shook uncontrollably. I wrapped my arms around her small frame, burying my face in her soft strawberry-scented brown hair.

She gripped at my shirt and mumbled things I couldn't understand. She shook her head a few times and pulled on my shirt.

I rubbed her back and hummed her lullaby, but Bella's sobs only got worse. I wasn't sure what to do anymore. I rocked her back and forth and murmured some comforting words in her ears.

When she didn't stop and instead, got a little louder, I was grateful that my door was closed. Esme and Carlisle were down stairs and couldn't hear her. I didn't want them to worry.

I pulled her into my lap as I slid back on the bed. I pressed my back up against my headboard as I let Bella cry into my chest.

If it was all I could do, than I would do it. I would do anything for her.

As I listened to Bella's sobs, I thought about the letter. It was obvious it was from her mother, Renee, as she'd told me before. Her mother lived through much more than she had.

Renee didn't want Bella to live through that kind of pain or any kind of pain really. She just wanted her to be happy, like I do.

And the money … Oh the money!

That filthy, greedy, bastard. Bella didn't even know she had her grandmother's money until now. She didn't know that her mother possessed a gun and dagger.

I looked down at the floor. I stared at the gun and dagger on the floor. I couldn't think of a time when Bella would have to actually use them. I was not letting her go back to that place. No matter what, she was not leaving me and I was not leaving her.

In some ways, I was grateful for her grandmother. Even though she died, she died giving both her mother and her something to remember her by and protect themselves with at the same time. Renee has done a lot for Bella. More than I think I could ever do for her.

I silently thanked her even though I knew she'd never get to say 'you're welcome'.

In so many ways Bella was just like her mother. She put other people before all the time, not caring about what happened to her, just that the people around her were happy. She had enough courage and strength to do that.

I tightened my arms around Bella. Her sobs had quieted but she was still shaking. I buried my face in hair again. Her breaths were coming in short gasps. I rubbed her back.

Charlie had really brought her down. Bella was broken, scarred, hurt, and destroyed. I knew it was going to be hard for her now, trying to heal.

I wish I could take all her pain away. I wish I could take away her past, take away all of her hurt. I hated seeing the pain in her eyes when she'd have those nightmares. I hated seeing the look on her face when she'd think or see something that reminded her of her past or that her mother was still with that poor excuse of a human being.

Bella whimpered and I kissed her hair and rubbed her back again.

My heart felt like it had been ripped out of my chest and sliced into a million pieces. I could hardly keep myself together while holding Bella. I knew she needed me. I had to stay strong for her. I just had to.

I felt a few tears escape my eyes and roll down my cheeks. Her pain always hurt me. It was the first time I cried in a long time. I couldn't hold it in any longer. I let a few more escape as I tried to soothe Bella again.

She never looked at me. She never removed her head from my chest. Sometimes she would grip my shirt and pull me closer to her or her sobs would get a little louder.

It felt like an eternity holding her while she cried. I tried not to think too much about her past or her pain because I knew it would destroy whatever strength I had left not to cry, to stay strong for her. I tried hard.

As her cries became softer and turned into quiet gasps, I thought about all the things I loved about Bella; to get my mind in a better state than in the one it was in. When she finally wanted to start talking to me I had to be ready.

I thought about her hair, about how beautiful and soft it was between my fingers and the scent of strawberries wafted up my nose. I pictured her luminous brown eyes staring up at me when she was happy. I saw her glowing smile when she'd look up at me through her impossibly long lashes. And the way she smelled of freesia was intoxicating. She couldn't be any more beautiful and radiant.

Bella shifted in my arms and loosened her grip on my shirt. She wiped her face and moved away from me a little.

"Bella," I said.

She didn't say anything or look at me. She leaned up and my hands stayed on her shoulders. Bella kept her gaze down on her lap. She wiped a few stray tears from her face and swept her hair behind her shoulders.

Her breathing was now regular. She moved to get off the bed. I grabbed her hand so she wouldn't leave, but she pulled away and I didn't stop her.

"Bathroom," was all she said.

She left the room.

BPOV

I cried. And cried, and cried, and cried, and cried. I let everything out. Everything that I went through, everything that happened to me, I poured it out all over Edward's shirt.

I looked at myself in the mirror of Edward's bathroom. My eyes were insanely red and my hair was a little messy. I grabbed a towel hanging on a rack to wipe my face after splashing it with some cold water. I sat down on the toilet with my head in my hands.

I winced at the pain in my wrists and elbow, but I could care less. Edward hadn't said a word since I started crying save for the comforting words he whispered in my ear to try and calm me down.

They only made me feel worse. I threw my problems at him or at least that's what it felt like to me. I told him about everything. Now he knows. I know he'll leave me this time. Even though he held me and tried to comfort me, he could've just been doing it so his parents wouldn't come in and try to figure out what was going on. I couldn't have that. They couldn't know. They'd probably try to do something about it and I didn't even want to think what would happen if Charlie found out.

I shuddered.

I feel like the most vulnerable person on the face of the earth. I let everything go; everything that was in me.

Edward knew about the money. He knew about the gun and the knife and what I had to do to keep it from falling into Charlie's ungrateful, abusive hands.

Edward was too beautiful to have a burden like me on his shoulders. I wanted to stay in his arms. I wanted to never let go, but I had to get away, I had to think. I didn't chance a look at Edward's face. I don't think I could bare the look that he might've had on his face.

I was glad that he didn't follow me or force me to stay when he grabbed my hand. I knew in my gut that something about Edward drew me to him. He treated me like no other had before. He treated me like a precious gem, something so delicate.

I smiled at the thought. It made me feel warm after all these years of feeling so lonely and cold. After all this time I finally have something that could help me, save me from the pain.

I have to trust him, I thought, I have to… because there was no reason not to.

I splashed my face with some cold water again. I looked in the mirror and saw that I looked a little better than I did before.

I didn't know how long I was in the bathroom, but it seemed long enough for me. I took a deep breath and made my way back to his room.

As soon as I opened the door Edward was there. He scooped me up in his arms and carried me to the bed. He somehow managed to pull the sheets back and lay me down. He slid in beside me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

Neither of us spoke for while.

The moon shown through the big window and cast a few rays of white light on the walls of the room.

After another minute I turned to face Edward. He was still awake; his green eyes staring back at me. One of his hands left my waist and moved up to my face. He traced my face, running his fingers lightly over my lips. They parted under his touch.

I couldn't help but do the something to him. My hand slowly made its way up to his face. I ran my fingers over his eyelids and his nose and cheeks. His skin was so smooth, like marble. When they ran over his lips they part slightly and his eyes closed.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

Edward's eyes opened slowly.

"I didn't mean to cry all over you like that. I never meant to put my burdens on your shoulders. I just . . . I knew that keeping this from you would hurt too much and that since I'd already told you what . . ." I flinched at the memory ". . . what happened to me, I thought you should know everything else." I emphasized the word everything.

Edward stared into my eyes. The hand that was tracing my face now cupped my cheek. I leaned into his touch as his thumb caressed my cheek.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Bella. You are not a burden to me. I understand that you had to let it all out. I understand that. I'm not saying that it was an easy thing for me to see but . . ." He stopped.

I flinched as I saw the pain in his eyes, plastered all over his face. I felt the tears well up in my eyes again.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered again. I closed my eyes. I couldn't stand to see that pain, my pain on his face. I felt a few stray hot tears stream down my face.

I hated putting him through this. I hated seeing his beautiful face so distorted and hurt. It hurt me too much. I tried to keep a tremble from running through my body, but it was no use.

I felt Edward's lips kiss my tears away.

"Don't cry. Bella, love, please don't cry," he murmured against my face. He pulled me closer to his body.

I didn't open my eyes, still scared that I'd still see the pain there on his beautiful face.

"Look at me." I felt Edward's hands on either side of my face. "Bella, open your eyes."

I didn't.

I felt myself move. I refused to open my eyes even though my curiosity was raging.

"Please," he begged. I couldn't refuse him when his voice sounded like that. He was pleading. His voice wrapped around me like a warm blanket.

I opened my eyes.

I was on top of him, his hands cradling my face, his delicious green eyes staring at me.

"I know you think I don't want you. I know you think that you are a burden to me and my family. But the truth is that none of it is true. My family loves you. I love you and I'll always want you … No matter what."

I shook my head. Even after he'd told me this a hundred times already, it was still hard for me to believe it. I had a hard enough time trying to figure out what that spark was that always shot through my body when he was around or when he'd touch me.

"Bella, please listen to me. I—"

"No! You told me you loved me. You told me your family loved me. How can I believe that?! How do I know that all of the things you all are doing for me isn't just out of pity? How do I know that you will be there no matter what? I've been through hell and I—"

Edward's soft lips silenced me.

It was a soft kiss. It calmed me. It was sweet and soothing.

"I could never take you for granted." His lips danced against mine. "Everything I've told you is true."

His words rang with finality. There was such authority in them that I couldn't deny it.

I sighed and looked into his eyes. They showed so much love, care, and adoration. I couldn't doubt him again. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't do it.

"Edward. . ." I sighed. I started to move up, but he held me fast.

"Really, Bella, I don't care about the money. I don't care about the marriage thing. All I care about is you. I just want you to be happy."

Why does he have to look at me that way? Why does he have such power over me? Why? Why? Why?

Why does he love me? Why does he think I'm beautiful? Why did he rescue me from my party? Why is he taking care of me?

Because he loves you, you idiot! A voice yelled at me in the back of my head.

But, still.

No! It argued back. He loves you! Deal with it! Accept it and maybe you could start loving him back like you're supposed to, like you need to.

Yeah, I guess.

Don't 'I guess me'! You do it!

Fine!

"Okay, Edward," I sighed. "We'll get through this."

His eyes smoldered. He brought my face to his again and our lips met. The way he kissed me made all my worries and fears momentarily go away. I only thought of him and how he made me feel in that moment.

I knew he was just trying to make me feel better. He always tried to make me feel better when I wasn't happy.

When he pulled away I almost whimpered at the loss of contact; it was lolling me in a different direction that I was all too eager to go in, but I kept myself in check.

"I'll be there for you, Bella. Never forget that." He was pleading with me again.

"I know, Edward." I sighed. "I know."

And I did know. I had absolutely no reason to doubt him, lie to him or not trust in him. As long as he was with me, as long he was here I could get through my pain. I could get through it all.

"Sleep, now Bella. I know you're tired and your eyes are still red. If you would like to talk more about some things, then we'll talk in the morning."

I mumbled an 'okay' and rested my head on his chest. He kissed my forehead and started to hum that same tune. I remembered I wanted to ask him about that.

"Edward?" I mumbled.

"Hmmm?" he said.

"What's that you're humming?"

"It's your lullaby. I wrote it for you. It's how I feel when I see you. It's how I feel when you're around me. It's just… you altogether."

"It's nice." I'm not sure if he understood what I said as I felt his chest vibrate lightly with his soft chuckles. He kissed my hair and tightened his arms around me after pulling the blanket over us.

I turned my head and kissed his chest through his shirt. He started to hum my lullaby again.

I drifted off to sleep; his sweet voice covering me like the blanket covered us. I let the darkness take me as its temporary prisoner.

There you go, guys, just like I promised. The review count to beat is 47. If you all continue to beat the review count Edward will do the disclaimers for the rest of the story. And maybe I can get other characters to reply to your reviews. Upon request, that is. If you guys ask for a specific person you want to reply to your review than I will get them to do so. Request who you want in the review and I'll be happy to obey your wishes. Again thanks to everyone who reviewed and the compliments and comment and everything! I'm so proud! Give my beta BellaTonks some praise too. She helped me out a lot.

Reader4Lyfe, peace!