*EPOV*

I felt a sound tear from my throat that could have passed for a growl as I stepped in front of Bella. Emmett stepped with me, and put his hand up to catch the fist of Bella's ex who was about to punch her. He hadn't expected it. That was why we had hung back and away.

I had told Emmett about seeing the blue jeep all day, and when he pulled out on to the road and one followed us we knew it was him. I didn't want to make Bella nervous, not that she wasn't already, but I didn't want to make it worse.

Emmett's hand closed around his fist and he turned his arm so that he had turned this guy completely around. Two bouncers were there to grab him up and escort him out. Someone pointed out the other three guys and said they had been with him. They were ushered out as well. There had been no true physical violence, but I was afraid that Bella was upset by it all. I myself was enraged that he had touched her that he felt he could talk to her like that. My whole being wanted to go after them and to=finish things outside. Emmett put a hand on my shoulder. And then he said something that snapped me out of my rage induced haze.

"Edward, remember who you are, bro. It's over, James and the guys are calling the cops. He violated the restraining order; he's not going outside man he's going to a jail cell. The DJ saw the whole thing go down, and the guys saw him grab her. It's done." I looked me in the eye and was holding me by the shoulder to make sure I paid attention to him. Emmett spent most of his time being a goof ball, which meant when he said something serious, he said it with profound understanding and clarity. I looked at him and nodded.

"Okay. I'm okay. I just. I just never thought he would actually come after her like that." I shook my head. Jasper moved the girls back to the couch to make sure they were okay. One of the other bouncers was getting a statement for the police and then going to see what other people had to say.

"Dude, he did much worse to her in the past. Rose told me about the bruises and scars. Bella is tougher than you are giving her credit for. That girl has dealt with a lot more than you or I will ever understand. This might not be over with him and she might definitely need us for back up but what I saw tonight of Bella is a woman who is not going to be pushed around anymore. So my advice for the rest of tonight, and her life don't treat her like she is." He clapped my shoulder one more time then when over to where Rose was and kissed the top of her head. "How's my fierce woman doin'? Um also where did you get 'ass jack' from? Babe we really need to work on your 'I'm-gonna-kick-your-ass' phrases." He put his arm around her and she leaned against him, then his free hand went to her stomach. I slapped my forehead.

"Idiot!" What the hell, I should have stayed with them.

*BPOV*

Edward was beating himself up for the whole thing. I was shaking a bit, but all that kept going through my mind was how I had stood up to him and the best he could do in regards to it was to try and punch me. I looked at the five of them standing around me and giving their version of the story. Edward and Emmett were informing the bouncers of all the information they had, including the restraining order. Jasper handed me a glass, I looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"It will help calm your nerves." Jasper said to me. Edward looked over at me and gave me a questioning glance. I didn't know what Jasper was giving me but I figured he was probably right.

"Thanks, I think." I replied taking a sip of the liquid. It was enough to make me pucker my face and shake my head. "Oh my goodness Jasper, what the hell is this?" I asked feeling it burn as it slid down my throat.

"Took your mind off of things for a moment didn't it." He chuckled. Edward sat down next to me, he placed his head so that he was looking over my shoulder at Jasper. I leaned my head against him. I let out a sigh and wished that we were anywhere but here. Alice leaned up against Jasper and Rose looped her arm in Emmett's. I felt right at home. Deep down I knew if I had never left, if I had stayed this would have been my life. I would have been with Edward throughout college, we probably would have been engaged by graduation, and married after he finished med school. However that isn't how it all worked out.

As I mentally kicked myself for allowing myself to end up in the situations I always do. Edward felt me sigh against him, and kissed my cheek. "Bella, why don't we get you out of here?"He asked, I could tell he was worried about me, and probably wanted to make sure I was okay. I sighed again. I wasn't ready for the night to be over just yet. I hated that Brian had ruined it.

"You own me a dance." I said it without much thought, the words just came out. I wanted to slap my forehead for saying it. They probably all wanted to get out of here because of me, and I was requesting a dance instead. I looked up at Emmett, who was holding Rose close and swaying with her to the music that was pulsing through the speakers all around us. He winked at me.

"What?" Was all Edward could come up with. I shrugged my shoulders and prepared to have to leave much like he was trying to tell me we needed to. Again, my sera gate big brother stepped in to save me.

"Edward, we have kind of neglected the ladies all night. I have seen more guys try to dance with my wife then the number of times I have actually gotten to do so myself. I am getting a dance with her before we leave here. I'd get her drunk and take advantage of her if she wasn't already carrying my child, hey I can try for the taking advantage part at least. That douche isn't coming back in here. And if he shows up around Bella again we will handle him. That or Charlie will shoot him. Either way I have plans for the next song dude." And with that said Emmett lead Rose out onto the dance floor and away from us.

Edward looked at Jasper for help, but Alice was whispering something in his ear. He cocked an eyebrow and grinned. "Sorry man, Alice has threatened me with physical harm if I don't follow Emmett's lead on this one. There might have been the promise of something else if I did follow him, and I am going to choose the latter of the two." He winked as he stood and lead Alice out toward Emmett and Rose.

That left us, and an awkward silence. He was mad at me, or mad at himself. I couldn't tell which, but I could see it in his eyes. "I'm sorry I caused all of this." I said hanging my head. I felt like I was apologizing for all the things that Brian had done to me over the years. I felt like I was right back in those moments. Not wanting him to hit me so I apologized and hoped that he would be merciful. I could feel the tears starting to sting my eyes. I couldn't look up, especially once they began to fall.

"Come with me." Edward said holding his hand out. I felt like such an ass. I can't believe I just cried over this. Was it that I didn't want him mad at me like Brian always was, or was it that I didn't want to go back to how things had been before? Edward's hand was still there in front of me while I sat there like a dumb ass. I'm not sure exactly how long we were like this but after what felt like hours he grabbed my hand and pulled me to a standing position.

"Come on. We need to get some air, or something." Edward sounded frustrated and still angry. His voice had an edge to it that I didn't want to make worse. I took his hand and stood. I still wouldn't look at him directly. I felt like the puppy that gets kicked and comes back with its tail between its legs. I followed him up a set of stairs to what seemed like a more private part of the room. There was a bar up here, and off to the left lead to another section of the club. I had no clue where we were going but I followed Edward. He was hold my hand a little tighter and slowed his pace to avoid losing me in the crow up here.

When we made it through to the other room I found that we were in a more private area. There were couples sitting close together at little tables. It was quieter in here which was hard to believe since just through the doorway the music had been pumping off the walls. Edward lead me to a back corner table. We sat in silence. I kept trying to think of what I should say to make him not be mad at me anymore. I had so many thoughts just rushing at me and I couldn't get a grasp on any of them.

"Bella," he said in almost a whisper, "I am so sorry that this happened tonight." My brain couldn't wrap around my own thoughts let alone register what he was saying to me. I blinked and could feel more tears. A waitress came over wearing the most revealing outfit, I felt like I wanted to be sick with the way she was batting her eyes at Edward both as she approached and as she spoke solely to him.

"Hi, I'm Jessica can I get you anything tonight?" Her voice was sticky sweet and I felt my blood begin to boil with jealousy. Of all the times girls flirted with Brian in front of me I had never felt like this, only with Edward.

"No we're all set for now thank you." Edward said not even looking up at her. But she didn't relent.

"Well handsome, if you need anything, anything at all just page me with this and I will be here quicker than you can say sex on the beach." She handed him the small pager and winked.

"Thanks, but I don't think we will need it." He said trying to dismiss her yet again.

"You know what I think I will have a vodka tonic." I said with an edge to my tone. Edward raised an eyebrow at me. The waitress gave me a look of distain and walked away. As she headed toward the bar she sashayed her hips. Edward was the only male in the room not looking at her.

It didn't take her long to return and she placed the drink on the table with a Trinity napkin, she pretended to spill a little on the table and placed another napkin in front of Edward. It was my turn to cock an eyebrow, he looked at the napkin and then handed it to me.

I get off at 2am…call me and I can serve you more than a drink…

206-349-6671 xoxo

I crumpled it and tossed it on the ground. Edward chuckled and I took a long drink from the glass in front of me.

"Now now, don't go crazy with that please." Edward said as he took the glass from me. He took a long swig of it and then set it between us. I caught Jessica looking in our direction and I felt a growl rip from my throat. Edward placed his hand on my face and turned my head to face him and leaned into whisper in my ear.

"Clearly you can't be around that waitress so we better find a different place to talk." Edward said into my ear. I growled again as I caught her out of the corner of my eye coming by the table again. "Quit that, because I'm finding this side of you far too tempting." He said against my skin. He kisses a sensitive spot and his breath was hot against it then. He left cash for the drink on the table and picked up the glass and used his free hand to lead me out to a different location. Going back in through the Blue room we could see the others dancing and having a good time. Edward pulled me close to him as he lead me toward the stairs and down to a dark corner of the room where there weren't as many people.

When we reached the slightly excluded spot he positioned me so that I was standing with my back to the corner of the wall and he set the drink down on a tall table next to us and placed both hands on the wall trapping me in the corner.

"What the hell were you thinking tonight?" He roared at me with the same growl I had in regards to the waitress upstairs. His eyes flashed something that was not complete anger any more. And with the aid of my new found courage in regards to Brian, the jealousy with the waitress, and the vodka coursing through me I gave no thought to what I did next.

*EPOV*

I had to get her somewhere, where we could be alone. But there seemed to be no place. The waitress didn't want to get us drinks, she wanted to get into my pants. There was no way I was taking Bella into the VIP room so I dragged her back into the Blue Room and to a secluded corner spot. I took a second long swig from the vodka tonic that she had ordered and turned to her. My brain wanted to yell at her for the danger she placed herself in, the rest of me wanted to pin her against the wall and find a way to mark her as my feisty woman who no other man could have.

"What the hell were you thinking tonight?" I growled at her. My fear for her safety began to slightly override my need to just take her on the spot. She took a moment before she answered me, looking me straight in the eye. I expected her to give me some kind of Bella like answer. Instead she did something I didn't expect from her.

*BPOV*

I stared at him, I looked at his face and then solely at his lips. Something in me snapped and everything else took over in that moment. He was leaning in to keep our conversation away from prying ears. I placed a hand on the back of his neck and pulled him forward and crushed myself against him.

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SM owns Twilight and the characters, I own my laptop and the story in my head. The difference, she makes millions and I make nothing off these ramblings.