Hey guys, here is a new chapter. It's boring at first but at the end it's a little-well, you'll see.

lots. of. love.

PLT!

~AliceSwift

"When you're dreaming with a broken heart

Then waking up is the hardest part."

-Dreaming With a Broken Heart.

-John Mayer.

Lucy calmed down shortly after Bella went to sleep. I took her and Cynthia to Bella's room and they slept for awhile. I held Lucas for the rest of the night and let Bella sleep.

She was so perfect it killed me. Her skin, her hair, her eyes. Everything about her was flawless. If I ever did anything to hurt her-so, in other words, if I don't come back after the war-I could never forgive myself.

I didn't realize I had drifted to sleep until I heard a knock on the door. Bella was still asleep, as was Lucas. I stood up to answer the door.

"Hi Alice." I said stepping aside to let her in.

"Hey, how's everything going?" she said, I shut the door quickly behind her and she took Lucas from me.

"Um, fine. Lucy and Cyn are upstairs in Bella's room. They've been asleep for awhile."

"Good." she smiled then glanced at Bella before turning her eyes back on me. "So, have you thought about it?"

"About what?" I mocked. She gave me a look and I smiled. "No, I haven't. Not really at least."

"Well the days are running out. If you want it to be something she'll really remember then you're going to have to go big." she rocked Lucas in her arms.

"I seriously doubt that anyone would forget how they were proposed to." I scoffed as we walked up to Bella's room.

"But still." she was silent for a moment. "What are you thinking about for a ring?"

"I haven't." She was really getting frustrated now.

"Damn it Edward, you have to get going on this if you want to do it before you leave."

I sighed. "You're right." I said as I opened Bella's door.

"So, what do you say?" she asked. "We can go ring shopping tomorrow. I have a few hours between my first and second shift open. We can go to the mall, look around, maybe even pick something out."

"Well, could you do it before your first shift?" she gave me a look like I was crazy. Alice made it clear to everyone that every minute of sleep she got was cherished. "I want to take Bella out, get her used to the idea maybe." I raised my eyebrows and she rolled her eyes. "The things I do for you guys." she shook her head and tapped Cynthia on the shoulder.

She sat up groggily and then woke Lucy up. "Come on guys, time to go home." Alice said softly.

I repacked Lucas' bag and gave it to Alice. We walked downstairs and I held Lucy's hand to make sure she wouldn't trip and fall. Alice took her too when we reached the door. "Do you need help out to the car?" I asked and she gave me a look. "Yeah Edward, I'm the one who needs help." she scoffed and I smiled.

"So, the mall. At six?" she asked and I nodded. "Goodnight then." she walked out and told her goodbye. I turned to see Bella sitting up on the couch.

What if she had heard? "Bella." I said, though she seemed, still, too sleepy to really hear me.

"Edward?" her hand came up to her hair which was knotted. She yawned and stretched and fell back on the couch. I knew her back would hurt in the morning if I didn't help her upstairs.

"Come on," I nodded, grabbing her hand. "Let's get you to bed." she gripped my hand and I pulled her up. She leaned against my chest and I tried to stand her up again. However, she fell and I couldn't help but smile at how sleepy she was. I finally just picked her up and carried her up the stairs.

I laid her in the bed and she curled up with the sheets. Her hair fell in her face and I tucked it behind her ear. The expression on her face twisted at my touch and I smiled. "Goodnight Bella." I whispered and kissed her temple lightly. "I love you." I flipped the light switch off.

"Wait." she said. I turned the light on again and looked at her. "Will you stay with me?" her voice was small.

Of course I wanted to, but I would have to leave early and I wouldn't be able to explain to her why. "I don't know." I said. "I have to meet Alice early."

"You could leave then. Just please, stay with me." she begged. I wasn't sure if it was the sleep coming through in her voice or if she was holding back tears.

"Okay." I flipped the switch on the wall and the room went dark. I climbed into bed with her under the covers. She curled up next to me and I wrapped my arms around her. She fell asleep quickly, as did I.

I'd always been a light sleeper, so when Bella and I first slept in the same bed together, almost everything she said woke me. However, over the years, I'd learned to ignore it, to roll over and go back to sleep if it woke me at all. So, naturally, when she grabbed onto the back of my shirt and said something, I turned into her, closed my eyes, and tried to go back to sleep.

"No please." she said, a little too clearly. I put my hands on her back and shushed her, trying to comfort her.

"Wait, no. Stop, please." she begged. Her volume grew louder and I was afraid Charlie might come into see what she was screaming about.

"Bella." I opened my eyes and she looked like she was crying.

"Edward!" she replied, though I wasn't sure if she was truly talking to me. Her words were loud and worried, almost pained.

"It's okay." I started but she moaned again. I pushed a few pieces of hair away from here sticky face but her hand slapped mine away. "Stop." she said sharply.

She calmed for only a moment before she yelled again. "Please. Don't go! Edward!" she flinched and screamed. "No, Edward."

I shook her again. "Bella, I'm right here." Her eyes flew open and she looked at me. "I'm here, it's okay." Her hands latched onto my shirt again and she pulled herself close to me. Her tears soaked my shirt as she cried for a moment more before composing herself. She stayed close though, and I ran my fingers threw her hair.

"Edward." she said as she put her hand on my chest, letting it lay there flat. She sighed and closed her eyes, trying to go back to sleep.

"Bella, what were you dreaming about?"

"I was dr-" she started. "Nothing. Don't worry about it." she smiled.

"Were you dreaming about-" I tried to ask her if she was dreaming about me leaving but she stopped me.

"Really, Edward. I'm fine, just a nightmare or something I guess. I really can't remember." her dark eyes looked up at me and she started at me. "Truly, I'm not sure what happened."

"You sounded pretty scared. Worried perhaps." she shook her head. "I'm fine. Just go back to sleep, I'm sorry I woke you." she shut here lids again and started to breath deeper. I kissed her head gently before looking over at the clock that hung on her wall. It was about five and I should probably go home soon so I could change and meet Alice, though I couldn't will myself to leave Bella here. After what had just happened, what, I'm sure, she had just dreamt, how could I do that to her? Then again, that's exactly what I would be doing to her in only a little while.

Review to let me know what you think. p.s. I'll be updating all my stories in the next few days so look out for that. Okay bye!

lots. of. love.

PLT!

~AliceSwift