A.N.: Hey guys! ^^ Sorry for the long wait, yet again. This is a short chapter and unfortunately, it's going to be the last for awhile. Along with my other stories. They're not going on any kind of hiatus, just.. postponed, I guess. I'm just so exhausted with school, family and friend quarrels, it just takes the energy out of me. I still love writing, of course. I'm just so exhausted these days. Even as I write this, I'm getting ready to go to bed for school in the morning.

So, I have Easter break starting April 3rd. I'll have two weeks off, so I'll be back then. That's two weeks. I hope it's not too long and you guys aren't angry with me. I hate giving excuses. I hate seeing people give excuses.

But, I will be back then. Give me a day or so to manoveure (sp?) and I will be back.

But for now, enjoy this chapter! Short as it is, I just had to get something out there before you came looking for me with firey torches.

Thanks to Jamie for Betaing, as usual.

Edward's POV:

I could hear the sounds of parents, married couples, children. Everyone was being rushed out of the apartments by the fire department.

Oxygen masks were given to help them breathe. I could smell the smoke coming from their bodies.

But there was one person I had not seen yet. Bella. My Bella.

I saw the smoke start in Bella's place, flames starting up.

There was nothing I could do. I was being held back by several policemen. They told me that they would get her out.

The fire marshalls were still a few floors below Bella's.

I saw a figure. A figure similar to Bella. And then it went up in flames.

"BELLA!" I screamed in agony.

"Edward!" Someone called my name, but it wasn't Bella. No, she was gone now.

"Edward!" A black figure emerged, shaking my shoulders. "Edward! Edward. Edward."

"Edward! Wake up!"

I woke up to the sound of someone telling me to wake up and they were continuing to shake me.

"I'm awake!" I shouted, pushing the person away. Emmett. I should've known.

"What do you want, Emmett?" I sighed, sitting up.

"Well, you were dreaming. Fussing and screaming out. I was worried you were going to wake up little Bella there next to you." He whispered, pointing to Bella's little figure next to me.

"Sorry. I was.. having a bad dream." I sighed again, running my fingers roughly through my hair.

"Do you want to talk about it? It looked a bit more than just a 'bad dream'."

"It's just.. it's silly, really. I'm worrying my head over nothing."

"Just spit it out, Edward." Emmett rolled his eyes, frustrated. "Just tell me and we can get this whole this sorted out."

I sighed, sinking back into the pillows. Not really wanting to think of the nightmare. But I knew that if I didn't get it

"I was standing in front of Bella's apartment block. There were fire engines, police. The apartments were in flames. I tried to ring Bella to wake up, but she wasn't answering. I tried to get in. But, the police kept holding me back. And.. I watched Bella. Go up in flames. And there was nothing I could do."

I was about to continue on, then Bella chose this moment to turn and curl into my side. Her plastered hand squeezing my arm for dear life.

I placed my hand on top of hers, stroking it reassuringly, before continuing on.

"Then, I realized that being so far away from her and being so helpless, it really isn't an up on my side. I hate being away from her at any length of time. If it's minutes or hours, I feel like a part of me has been taken away. Which is crazy, I know. Considering the amount of time I've known her. And then seeing her like this.. I just.. if something happened to her that is much worse than this, I just don't know what I would do. I would rather die than.." I trailed off.

"Than what?" Emmett pressed.

Bella began stirring at that point, and I knew I couldn't say those words aloud.

"Nothing." I murmured, kissing Bella's forehead softly.

"Edward.." I heard the angel call my name.

"Bella, it's okay. Shh, I'm here." I said, stroking her arm reassuringly.

Looking back at Emmett, I saw him sneak out of the room. To give us some privacy, I assumed.

I watched as her beautiful chocolate brown eyes slowly opened, looking into mine.

"You stayed." Bella spoke, smiling happily.

"Of course!" I chuckled, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. "Wild vampires couldn't stop me." I said, breathing into her hair.

"Good. I'm glad. I was scared that I would wake up and you weren't.. there. It's kind of pathetic, really. I crave your company far too much than I would like to admit." She sighed, leaning back onto the pillow.

"Bella, you're not alone there. I think I've been getting.. attached to you. And we've only known each other a few short weeks, but already I feel so drawn to you.." I was about to go on, but the nurse chose that moment to walk through the door and check on Bella, so I subsided.

"I see you're awake Isabella. How do you feel?"

"Pretty good." Bella answered, the nurse's light flashing in her eyes. "I was actually thinking that I might be able to go home?"

"Bella, I really don't know if it's such a good idea. You were only brought in last night." I interrupted, trying to make her see sense.

"I know that, Edward. But I can't just sit around here all day, leaving me with my thoughts. I just need to get out of here."

"Tell you what," the nurse said, "I'll talk to Dr. Forge, and if he seems to think that you are able to go home – then you may. I'll be right back."

Bella smiled gratefully at the nurse, while I waited until she left, to talk to Bella.

"Bella, you're not seriously thinking about going back home, are you? Alice said the place was robbed. So even if you wanted to go back home, it would be completely empty."

"I know that, Edward." She sighed. "But, I just want to be in a comfortable environment and I can't do that here. I don't want these doctors treating me like I'm some sort of a special case. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I got beat up. I just have to.. move on."

I winced at the fact that she was so upfront about what had happened to her. But, there was still some details that I didn't know.

"Bella.. what happened last night?"

"You know what happened."

"Yes. But, I want you to tell me everything that happened through your eyes. No cover ups. Just please tell me what's going on in your head." I pleased.

Bella sighed, throwing her head back to the pillow once again. She slowly ran her fingers through her hair. Recollecting her thoughts and memories, I assumed.

"It was dark when I got into my apartment. I heard voices.. rustling noises, like there was someone else in my else. And it wasn't Alice, and it very obviously wasn't me. So I went to go back out and go to your place, whether you wanted me or not. And then, one of them came. Pulled my hair, throwing me back onto the ground. Stopping me. I heard shouting, but I guess that I was panicking so much that I didn't really concentrate. I only felt them punching me over and over again. They didn't do anything like.. you know. They only physically hit me until I passed out, I believe. And that's it. They robbed my apartment, they beat me up so that I wouldn't run. And that's it. I just want to get on with my life. Besides, it's not the first time that this has happened before." She mumbled the last part.

"What?!" I shot up in the bed. "This has happened to you before?" I asked, angry.

She shrugged. "I guess it's not a good thing for a girl to live by herself with a vacant roommate, huh?"

"That's it, Bella. You're not staying there tonight. You're not staying anywhere by yourself any other night. You're staying with me." I stated firmly.

"Edward." She chuckled nervously. "Don't be silly. I don't want to be a burden on you or anything. I'll just be in the way."

"Nonsense. I don't want to hear it, Bella. You're staying with me and that's final. We have plenty of extra rooms, so you can take whichever you like. And I will happily buy you the necessities that you are missing."

"Edward.."

"No but's, Bella. This is final. I've already made the choice for you." I said firmly, again.

"Fine. But only to shut you up." She sighed, feigning annoyance. But I could see the smile tugging at her lips.

She was happy to be moving in with me. At least, I hoped. Maybe she was smiling at the fact that she had a place to stay instead of her abandoned apartment.

Either way, I couldn't be more thrilled. Bella Swan would be living with me, Edward Cullen.

I just hope that she wouldn't get freaked out by my habits or little its and bits hanging around my place.