Fighting Memories

I huddled next to Jacob in my new set of clothes. They were scratchy and thin and worst of all, came up to the middle of my thighs so I felt extremely exposed. There was no blanket on our cot because an elderly woman shared our room and I didn't want to take away her extra blanket. It would just be too cruel. So Jacob and I were sharing a bed for body heat and I will still shivering.

"Bella just put your legs between mine."

"You'll be uncomfortable."

"No, I won't. Besides, I'm doing fine. You're the one that's freezing."

With a sigh I put my legs between his and snuggled closer to his chest. He wrapped his arm behind my back and ran his fingers through my hair, breathing heavily.

"Tell me what you're thinking."

"How can you be so warm?"

He chuckled.

"Not what I meant."

"I don't know. I guess I'm just scared of what's going to happen to us here. Carlisle told us there was a war like this once but this guy led it. He had camps like this but he tortured people there. He killed millions of people. I just don't want that to happen so us or Alice. I'm so worried about her."

He hugged me tighter.

"I am too."

He smelled like a forest and for some reason that smell comforted me. I felt my eyelids start to droop and mumbled a quick goodnight before I was out.

"Night Jacob, thanks."

I felt his lips touch my forehead and another brush of my hair.

"Goodnight Bells," he whispered.

--Edward's Point of View

I laid in my bed alone and sighed. I had the power to take any woman in here I pleased, to do whatever I wanted. I took advantage of the first often, mostly just so I could have company or save one of the women for a slightly meaner soldier. The second had never been an option because I considered it beneath me. That Alice woman said I had a wife, here right now who was with a rebel. Was she cheating on me or was he just a friend? Where was she? So many questions ran through my mind, none of which could be answered and it irritated me. Part of me wanted to go search the camp for her presence and the other part wanted to run away from it. It would break this unknown woman's heart that her husband had no idea she existed. How does a person handle that sort of pain? I sighed again and rubbed my temples. Finally, I decided I had to do something and went into the cabin of a younger soldier I trusted.

"Adams!"

"Yes sir?"

"Search the camp for a Jacob Black, he should have a Bella with him. Bring Bella and only Bella."

I thought for a moment, and added another bit for this unknown woman's sake.

"Blindfold her before she comes. I don't want her to figure out how to get here without help."

"Should I consider her armed and dangerous sir?"

For some reason that was funny to me. Like a lamb fighting a lion.

"No. Just blindfold her and tell her it concerns Alice. That should be fine for cooperation."

"Yes sir."

He walked away at a brisk pace and I went back to my room. My heart was racing and I arranged a makeshift resting place with pillows and a sheet. I hoped it would suffice, but I didn't know enough about her to know if it would do. I sat back in my chair and waited, breathing in slowly. I would have to handle this carefully. I decided I wouldn't tell her who I was at first, and I would speak at a lower tone so that she wouldn't recognize my voice-- just in case. I would ask her questions and see if anything brought back unknown memories.

--Bella's Point of View--

A bright light shone in my eyes and I groaned. I wanted to roll over and go back to sleep but Jacob was heavy and I couldn't make him budge. I shook his shoulder and smacked the back of his head and she inhaled deeply when he woke up.

"What?"

"Move. I wanna roll over."

The light went directly to my face and I squinted.

"Bella?"

I shivered a little and Jacob wrapped his arms around me.

"Who needs her?" he asked in a deep voice.

"It concerns-" he hesitated, "Alice. She needs to come to see about Alice."

I pushed on Jacob's shoulder and he moved his legs so I could sit up.

I was about to walk with the solider when both tried to speak to me simultaneously.

"Bella-"

"Please-"

There was a pause and Jacob spoke to me in a low whisper.

"Are you sure this is safe?"

"It's about Alice. I can't just sit here. I'll come back, I promise."

I went towards the light and he handed me something soft.

"It's a blindfold. You'll need to put that on."

"Why?"

"We're keeping your friend in a special facility only to be seen by soldiers so you have to have your vision obscured."

I put the cloth over my eyes and turned around so it could be tied.

"Alright," I said in a quiet voice.

The soldier put his hand on my shoulder and led me slowly up a trail. The ground felt soft beneath my feet and if I had to guess, I was on grass. Before I knew it, I was standing on something solid and there was a sound of fist against wood.

"Come in," a low voice said.

It was a beautiful voice and if it weren't in a completely new place I'd never been in, I would say it was familiar, but as I was in awe, I was pushed through the door and heard it close behind me. I shivered. For some odd reason, I wasn't thinking anymore that this was about Alice.

"Hello," the voice said.

I shivered and crossed my arms over my chest. I was suddenly feeling very vulnerable and not only because my uniform left little to the imagination.

"Aren't you going to talk?" he asked.

I shook my head and bit my lip, turning my head hopefully away from where he was standing. I heard a small hm and heard footsteps as he approached me. I tensed and held up my hands for defense, hitching in a short breath.

"What about Alice?" I whispered hoarsely.

The footsteps came closer and I nearly jumped out of skin when I felt his cold hands on my wrists. I tried to shake them out of his hands but he held them fast.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he said gently.

I kept thrashing my wrists and he let go. I balled my hand into a fist and swung for his face. Sadly, I missed and the momentum of my swing propelled me directly into his chest. He put his arms around mine, pinning them to my sides and he actually chuckled.

"If you would've hit me," he said softly into my ear, "That would've been quite a hit. Who taught you how to fight?"

"My husband," I said fiercely and stomped on his foot.

I heard him wince but he kept hold of me. He made another hm noise and patted my arm.

"The one in your room with you?"

"No. He's a friend."

"I see. Well since you've stopped thrashing about, would you mind listening?"

"Why should I listen to you?"

"Why shouldn't you?"

The timing was both perfect and terrible. I could finally give blame to someone for what happened to—him but at the same time I'd reopened wounds I didn't need to be open to make me weak. With a strangled voice, I answered.

"Because people like you are the reason my husband is d-- is in a coma."

"Were you about to say dead?" he asked quietly.

I nodded and blinked away two tears.

--Edward's Point of View--

I quickly thought of a lie to both make her docile and to get some answers I wanted.

"Your friend Alice said she was his sister and that you were his wife. If that's the case then you shouldn't be here and I'd like to send you back immediately."

Her face brightened at the prospect of leaving.

"But-"

And it dropped again.

"I have to verify that you are who you say. Any rebel could've done their research and could pose as the wife and sister of Edward Cullen."

She winced at my name and bent over her stomach slightly.

"Does it hurt you to talk about it?"

She shivered and I let go. She put her hand on her neck and nodded.

"It's just hard to--"

"You don't have to explain," I said gently. "I understand."

I looked at her shapely legs again and she shivered.

"Is there somewhere I can sit down?"

I led her to the makeshift resting place I'd made for her and she leaned against the pillows, inhaling deep breaths.

"So," she asked in a shaky voice, "What do you need to know to verify I am who I say I am?"

I sat in front of her and studied what I could see of her face. How could anyone forget such beauty?

"Tell me about your wedding."

--

I know I said it would be quick, I'm sorry it took so long. No lemon this chapter and I don't think next chapter either just because I don't want to rush anything between them quite yet. Anyways, I'm hoping everyone liked the chapter and understood everything I was trying to get out there. Review, review, review and I promise the next chapter will come out as soon as I can get it all written out. :)