A/N: I would just like to let all of my readers know that this story GENTLE TOUCHES is the very same as author ANIMAL8. As I adopted it from her earlier on this year, most of the chapters that ANIMAL8 had already created are being posted the same as I do not want to ruin the amazing work she has worked so hard on. I will be setting up a link to ANIMAL8 page so it will be accessible to new and old readers. I do hope that I can do this story as much justice as ANIMAL8 and I do hope that you enjoy the old and new chapters of GENTLE TOUCHES.

Disclaimer: I Own Nothing Twilight

Gentle Touches

Chapter 11 – Stirrings (EPOV)

I waited until the next morning to see the girl again. Through the night, I had continued to play the lullaby over and over, experimenting with different endings, but still nothing fit. I was trying hard not to be frustrated, but the lack of progress was getting to me. Still, I knew it was still only early beginnings, after all it had taken me weeks or months to finish some of my other intricate pieces, and this had so much more meaning in its melody than the others. I wanted it to be perfect.

The rest of my family had eventually retreated to their own respective night time activities which meant that I was alone for the best part of the night. It suited me fine, though. The darkness was calming and helped me to concentrate. And despite not having any progression on the song, I was definitely relaxed now.

Just like with the girl, I needed to be patient. But despite the fact that I had all the time in the world, I was not often a patient person. When it came to her, though, I was willing to work on that. I couldn't afford to push her too soon and end up setting her back, or worse, driving her away from us completely. I didn't know what I would do if that was to happen, so I needed to have patience right now.

As the sun rose, I decided I couldn't wait anymore and quickly rushed to the room on the third floor with the girl. I opened the door quietly, hoping not to disturb her. She was lying still on the bed, exactly as Alice had seen last night, with her hands folded under her head as if she needed the extra support.

She probably found it comfortable, I mused, staring at her. I wondered how old this small human was. When we found her I had estimated that she was most likely about seventeen or eighteen, but seeing her like this she seemed like she could be a few years younger. It wasn't the first time I had thought this either.

I walked over to the couch on the other side of the room and lay down, gazing up at the ceiling. The room was silent except for the quiet sounds of the angel's breathing and the steady beating of her heart. Those two sounds together seemed to be their own form of music though, and just as soothing to me as Clair De Lune had been to her.

I closed my eyes, just listening as I allowed my mind to drift. I don't know how long I lay there in a state as close to sleep as I could possibly get, but I was suddenly roused by the sound of quiet shuffling from the bed.

My eyes flashed open and I looked warily in her direction. She had turned over onto her other side and was staring at me, her brown eyes wide and curious. I smiled at her as I sat up slowly, pushing myself into a standing position.

Carefully, I moved toward her, taking hesitant steps. She blinked at me as I perched on the edge of the bed facing her, but didn't flinch away. I noticed that the blanket had fallen to the side when she had turned, but she didn't seem like she needed it right now, so I left it where it was. My hand went to her face and gently swept her hair back, stroking my fingers through her long tresses.

She tensed at first, but then relaxed into my touch. "Hello, Angel," I whispered softly to her, my fingers still buried in her hair. Her eyes blinked again in response and I wondered if that was her way of greeting me. My mouth curved into a smile.

"Do you want me to put some music on?" I offered, hoping she would try to communicate again. Her expression was torn as she stared up at me and her teeth caught her lower lip in indecision, immediately drawing my attention to her mouth. Finally, she gave me the barest of nods, but it was enough for me. "Okay," I got up readily and moved to my stereo.

I noticed that Alice had left the CD out for me to use and I smiled at her thoughtfulness. The CD was in its case, so I removed it, placing it in the machine and setting it to play.

When I went back to the girl, I found that she had rolled over again, back to her original position, and was looking at me expectantly. Without pausing, I took my usual place stretched out beside her, but leaving some space in between us.

I moved my hand to her cheek and caressed it lightly, staring deep into her brown eyes. They were so much more open now, less wary and fearful. I hoped that meant she was learning to trust me.

She smiled shyly at me and closed her eyes as I moved my fingers into her hair, a soft sigh of contentment escaping her. To my delight, she leaned her head slightly into my palm. It was the first conscious response she had given me that she actually enjoyed the contact I was giving her, rather than just bearing it because she had no choice.

Strangely, I felt a fluttering sensation in my stomach, something like what I had heard the term 'butterflies' being described as and it made me pause. I knew I liked that she was accepting me, but it was more than that. I couldn't put my finger on it, though, but it was the greatest feeling I had ever experienced.

The smile on my face was unstoppable as I beamed down at her. She wasn't looking at me, though, her eyes still shut. My smile softened as I watched her. So beautiful, and so fragile, I thought. She should not have had to suffer.

I let my hand drift down to her shoulder, resting there as I rubbed her skin soothingly. She opened her eyes and stared at me curiously, but did not growl or flinch away as I had predicted. She just lay there and let me. I wondered, not for the first time, why the change in her actions.

She confused me. It seemed one moment, she was growling and warning me away, and then the next she was calm. Perhaps it was the music still playing quietly in the background. She had always been calm whenever I sang to her, so it was possible that it could be that. Either way, I was going to take advantage of it.

Slowly, my hand trailed down her arm, reaching a spot above her elbow. Her muscles tensed minutely and I paused to look up at her, but she showed no visible discomfort, so I continued. My hand travelled further and I hesitated when I reached her bandage, but then carefully traced my fingertips over it, barely brushing the protective material.

Her body quivered as I rested my fingers lightly on the back of her hand. I didn't make a grab to hold it this time. I was going to wait until she was ready. I waited and when she didn't pull away I began delicately stroking all over her hand and fingers, tracing slow, gentle pattern with my fingertips.

Again, I waited. I looked up at her and was surprised by the conflict in her gaze. I watched her closely, unsure, as I cautiously slipped my fingers into her palm, wrapping them loosely around her hand.

Amazingly, and much to my delight, she relaxed as soon as her hand was in mine. The same electricity flowed between our touching skins in an almost welcoming way. I watched our joined hands curiously and she watched with me.

I held her hand gently, using only the lightest of pressure, and stretched out her fingers, feeling the movement of her joints as the muscles flexed. Impulsively, I drew her hand closer to my lips and planted a soft, lingering kiss on the knuckles. My eyes closed as I did so, enjoying the warmth and scent of having her skin close to me.

She gasped slightly, but didn't show any other reaction, leaving me to hold her hand. Glancing up at her warily, I moved my lips up further and kissed her wrist over the bandage, being mindful of her injury.

Keeping her hand in mine, I lifted my head, laying it close to hers on the pillow, and watched her. She was staring at me with an expression I couldn't quite understand and, frustrated, I tried again to read her mind. It was still no use, though; her mind was just as silent as it was when I first found her.

Her eyes moved down to her hand, which I noticed I had been stroking absently with the pad of my thumb. Experimentally, she clenched her fingers around mine, though so weakly that there was barely any strength behind it. The simple movement ignited a stronger fire that flashed through my skin, burning but never painful.

I held my breath as I waited for it to pass, as it did after a moment. I turned her hand in mine, trying to figure out what I had experienced. Somehow, I knew there was something more to it than merely body heat, but I didn't understand my reaction. It felt as if I wanted, needed, more of the contact. But I shouldn't want that, I admonished myself. There was no way I would allow that. The girl needed to heal.

During my thoughts, I traced the patterns and lines on her palm, feeling the soft, cushioning skin. The angel had her eyes closed again, but a small crease in her brow and the tempo of her breathing told me she wasn't asleep.

Gently, I swapped her hand into my left one, so I could raise my right and brush her hair. She flinched a bit and her eyes flickered open. "Its okay, Angel," I whispered.

Because the blanket was still bundled up against her back, I had a clear view of the clothes Alice had dressed her in. The top had longish sleeves, so they covered most of her arms, minus where her wrists were bandaged, and it hung loosely around the rest of her torso.

I laid my hand on her side, curving it to the shape of her body. I could feel every one of her ribs as I brushed my fingers along her side. The prominence of them scared me, though I had already known she was underweight. She gave a hardly audible whimper, making me glance up.

She didn't do anything, just watching me with her hand still held in mine, so I went back to my exploration. I stroked my thumb over the ridges of her ribcage again and this time she tensed slightly.

I stared intently at my hand as I felt over her side, calculating how much weight she had lost. It was difficult to do not being able to see and the outline of her body shrouded with the baggy clothes. Had she been fed while she was held captive? How long had she been a held? I frowned as I wondered these things. We didn't even know where she came from. I was sure that there was someone out there who was worried about her disappearance, because she had to have come from somewhere.

My other hand rubbed her smaller one comfortingly as I contemplated. I could faintly here the CD playing in the background, but the sound was lost on me as I focused on other things. I was brought to awareness by the sharp sound of her yelping and I froze, startled, and looked up.

The girl's face was creased in pain and I panicked, thinking I had hurt her while I was distracted. I should have been more careful, paid attention to what I was doing, I berated myself. Quickly, my brain re-evaluated my hold on her and I relaxed as I realised that I had only applied the barest of pressure.

But that fuelled my concern. She was hurt and I had to do something. My hand stroked through her hair soothingly, begging her silently to open her eyes and look at me. "I'm sorry, Angel," I apologised, "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Her tiny hand squeezed mine lightly and I shook my head incredulously. She was reassuring me. I was the one who had hurt her even though I hadn't actually inflicted any wound on her I had still caused her pain. Alice had said she was covered in bruises. I took my hand away from her face and clenched it in anger. Someone had hurt her badly and I wanted them to pay.

The feelings were new to me, but I already knew that I wanted to protect her, look after her. I was coming to believe that I could possibly do anything for her and that both frightened and thrilled me. I didn't understand the feelings she stirred in me.

The angel opened her brown eyes and gave me a small smile. And everything felt right as I smiled back at her, grasping her hand firmly in mine.

A/N: I make no promises as to when I post new chapters…but I will do my best to make them as closed together as possible. Please remember to review as more reviews will get a faster posting of the next chapter.