7

Edward

It all started back at the hospital. My dad, after stitching up her shoulder, recognised a rather distinct looking tattoo on her back. It was the same tattoo used by Jacob and his men to identify their loyalty to the mob.

I immediately thought she was a spy - perhaps someone sent by Jacob to try and win my favour so she can report intel back to him.

It wouldn't be the first time he's tried to gain the upper-hand.

And so I had my own investigations underway.

Taking her jacket, following her back to Rose's Boutique - I had already known who she was by then. After all, Jacob may associate with many women but there isn't many he keeps close to his 'pack'.

She had to be important.

And so I was right - Bella was his ex-wife. Committed since their teenage years, from what my informant could tell me, but clearly things had gone astray in their marriage for her to no longer associate with him. It isn't easy leaving the mob but she had somehow escaped.

Jacob clearly hasn't forgotten her though.

After I found out it was his men who rummaged Bella's apartment, it didn't take Jasper long to hunt the men down and to get them talking. I needed to know everything - why Jacob was so intent on finding her, and why he would continue to torment her even after their divorce.

And they confessed.

She threatened him - if he didn't agree to the divorce, she would leak all the footage she has of him to his family.

What footage, you may ask?

Enough to make me want to kill the bastard there and then.

Jacob was just as much of an asshole as I thought he was.

Beating your own wife was despicable but he didn't just beat her - no, from what Jasper discovered, it was torture.

Her medical record exposed it all.

Broken ribs. A sprained wrist. A black eye. Bruises all over her body.

It was too much. I couldn't even read her full chart without wanting to pummell his men, and I did - I sent them back with the same black eyes they gave Bella, wanting them to tell Jacob what I did.

And that's why I understood...why she was so defensive.

She didn't trust easily yet why couldn't I help but tease her? I didn't even imagine proposing her to be my fake wife until I realised the fear of never being able to see her again.

I wanted to be someone she could let her guard down with.

It threw me off-guard, because of what I do, I never wanted to make someone feel safe, yet Bella did exactly that.

My mother told me it was because I had found someone I truly cared for besides Tommy.

I wasn't sure if I truly believed her but I did find myself wanting to be someone Bella could smile around, instead of constantly looking in danger.

As I approached her, she flinched but I immediately took her into my arms instead to cease her trembling frame.

She was silent, not expecting my embrace before she tried to push me off. "What are you...? Let me go! If you know who I am...why did you even bring me here? Are you deaf? You had no right digging up my fucking personal life. You're all the same - !"

"Watch it!"

It was far too late.

With her thrashing, we both tumbled to the floor and she was soon underneath me. Her fists now pounding at my chest but I held onto her stubborn wrists and held them against her body, my forehead resting over hers as we both panted heavily.

When I sensed she was calming down, my hand left her wrists and I moved to push some locks of hair away from her face. My thumb now moved between her brows and I began to press down on the area, moving it in a circular motion.

"W...What are you doing?"

"My mom did this to me as a child. Apparently if you press down between your brows, it'll help calm you down."

She tried to brush my hand away but I wouldn't let her. "3 minutes."

Knowing how stubborn I was, she said nothing but I bit back a smirk as I saw her pouting.

"I know I offended you by looking into your past without your permission, but I meant it when I said I wanted to protect you." Her big, brown eyes watched me and, for once, I didn't detect any form of defence from her.

She sighed. "You knew who I was from the start?" From my nod, she paused and seemed to hesitate. "If you knew then...you should have killed me. I thought you hated Jacob."

"He can rot in hell for all I care, but that doesn't mean I hate you." I sensed she had a thousand questions and chuckled. "If you're that curious to know how I feel about you, why don't you just agree to go on a date with me?"

Her eyes narrowed and she pushed me off her, clearly flustered. "I am not curious at all. The day I agree to go on a date with you is the day I use a chainsaw to cut off my own leg and feed it to the alligators, get that into your thick skull - !"

"Date?"

Rose appeared with a raised brow, with Emmett following shortly behind with many shopping bags hanging off his arms. He looked at Rose who gestured he should take them up to her room and he dutifully nodded without so much of a complaint.

I raise my brows. "Emmett's never that obedient. What did you do to him?"

She watched Emmett leave before she smirked. "Oh please, he's child's play. Just give him a compliment here and there and he'll do all your bidding." She looked over at Bella and stood by her side. "Don't let him change the subject, I know what I heard - a date?"

Bella shook her head. "Aren't you the one trying to change the subject? What's that look you gave Emmett as he walked up the stairs? You said you'd be back hours ago - !"

I watch as Bella winces as Rose kicked at her shin and she howls. "Ohhh fuck! And you say I have anger issues? Your heels are death weapons!"

She rubbed at the area and I must have let a laugh slip because she soon narrowed her eyes at me. "You think this is funny?"

I shrugged and walked over to her. "Quite." I swoop Bella into my arms and carry her bridal-style. Seeing her flutered expression, I gesture upstairs. "Since you're in so much pain, I'll carry you to your room."

"W - Wait, Rose and I usually mess around. R - Rose...!" She tried to reach for her best friend but the blonde had simply waved her off and Bella's look of betrayal was almost comical. "I'm going to kill her..." She huffed and slumped in my arms.

"Try not to. I like to keep my house clean."

Her death glare was ignored as I take her into her room, laying her in bed and sitting down beside her.

She was perplexed. "Aren't you going to leave?"

"I thought I could keep you company."

"Why?"

"Because we didn't finish our conversation downstairs."

She pulled the covers up over her body and laid down on her side. "I thought it was pretty much over...I'm not interested to know what you think of me. I already know."

"You do?"

"You either feel extremely sorry for me...or you like me." She shuffled in bed to get more comfortable, even adjusting the pillow and sighing softly as her eyes closed. "But don't..."

"Don't what?"

"Don't like me...I'm no good, Cullen. You know what I've been through. I'm hardly anyone's ideal woman. Jacob made sure of it that I couldn't be with anyone else." Her hand gripped the blanket tighter and, without thinking, my hand slowly enveloped hers.

"That's a load of bull if I've ever heard it, Swan." My fingers squeezed her own. "You're the only person who can decide if you do want to be with someone else."

I thought she had fallen asleep but her fingers returned my embrace. "That's...probably the nicest thing you've said to me."

I rolled my eyes. "I am nice, you just always want to pick a fight." Her small smile made my heart pound and I notice how relaxed her demeanour was getting.

"Maybe if you stopped being silly then I wouldn't be so mad all the time."

"You're the first to call me silly besides my family - usually I'm known to be scary. You aren't?"

"I was...at first...because I thought you were like Jacob. It was why I...wanted to run away from you so badly but I was wrong...I'm sorry. You're nothing like Jacob. You're more..."

She trailed off, as if trying to find the right words but struggling. "...warm." Her hand started to slip away from mine. "But I meant it...you shouldn't like me. I have a hard time trusting people...even you...you could still change and end up hating me."

My fingers caught hers and this is where her eyes finally opened and she was met with my intense gaze. "I could never hate you, Bella. I can get mad...but I'd never do what he did. You may have a hard time trusting people but not everyone is like him."

I bring her knuckles to my mouth and place a ghostly kiss to her skin before I let go and stroke her hair, feeling her shudder.

"I'll take you on a date tomorrow night. Get ready by 7."

"Hm...wait, what?"

I was already out the door just as she began to retort, smiling as I began to head back to my own room for the night

"Good day?"

Jasper was by the door frame by the time I arrived. "I need you to do me a favour and let Alice know I won't be able to make it for dinner tomorrow."

"I think I know why." I shoved past him and he followed me into my room. "You're taking Bella out tomorrow? You know Alice is already dying to meet her. You can't keep her from them for long."

I shook my head. "I know but I can't overwhelm her. I'll ask my dad to help explain it – my mom's been wanting to meet her too, although I'm not sure why. They were never this keen on Lauren."

Jasper had an all-knowing smile on his face. "Maybe it's because they can tell how much you're changing." At my confused look, he continued. "When you were with Lauren, you took every chance you could get to leave the house to go on business trips, but since meeting Bella, your trips have never been more than a week long. It's only natural they want to meet her."

I fell silent, just as Jasper handed me a slip of paper. "Rose said Bella's been wanting to visit this new bookstore that opened up. Maybe take her there."

Just before he left, Jasper lingered by the entrance. "Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"It's good...seeing you happy again."

Happy?

I wasn't sure if I was really changing but, I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited to spend time with Bella tomorrow.

I slowly look down at my hand, recalling how soft her skin felt and then looking up the address Jasper left behind for the book store.

I talked the talk but could I really make Bella happy?

It was worth a shot.

lostandbrokendreams: Hopefully that all gives you an insight into Bella's past. Next chapter will be their first ever date! I was also considering doing Rosalie's POV for more of her background with Bella, but please let me know if this is something you would all be interested in.