Chapter 23

"The bad man wants to hurt mommy," she whispered in a watery voice.

I tucked Carlie in as I watched her slowly drift back to sleep. It didn't take her long to fall back to sleep once we got her in my room. "Are you asleep?" Edward whispered to me from the other side of the bed.

"No," I whispered back.

"What do you think she was talking about?" he asked in a whisper.

I looked at her face and stared at her as I thought about the question, "I don't know," I finally concluded.

"She seemed really scared," he murmured back.

"She was…I've never seen her that scared before," I told him.

"Never?" he asked.

"Nope…she's never been worried about things that serious before. And she shouldn't have to. She's only two," I told him.

"I know…maybe Bambi wasn't such a good idea," he concluded.

"Ya think?" I asked.

He was suddenly in my view. He propped his elbow up and had his head resting in his palm, "You're scared."

"What?" how does he know these things?

"You're scared," he repeated.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"I've known you for ten years Bella. I know these things," he replied back with kind eyes.

I stayed quiet and just looked back into his eyes, "I am."

"Why?" he asked.

"I…I just have this bad feeling," I told him.

"About what?" he asked.

"About what she dreamt about," I said as I looked over at her again.

"I know you're worried but there's no reason to be scared," he replied back as he lightly reached across and placed his hand on top of mine.

"You of all people should know why something like this scares me," I told him.

He looked at me confused, "Well I don't."

"Do you not remember all the stuff we went through before Carlie was even conceived?" I asked perplexed.

"Yes...but I don't get how a dream has to do with any of it," he replied back confusion etched all over his face.

"I'm about to try and solve my fathers murder…remind you of anything?" I asked.

He sighed, "You don't even know if you'll find the guy."

"That doesn't matter…this is serious and it's completely dangerous," I told him as I looked away from him.

"I promised I wouldn't let anything bad happen to you Bella."

I slowly looked back over to him, "I'm not worried about myself."

"Of course your not," he said with a shake to his head.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I whispered back.

"You never worry about yourself until it's too late. Until you end up getting shot or kidnapped," he retorted.

"I have other things to worry about than me dying," I told him.

"What can be more important? Do you not remember how our daughter reacted when she thought you might die one day?" he seemed a bit mad but then so was I at the moment.

I just stayed quiet as I looked up at the ceiling. "All you think about is the safety of others but you never think about how that person would feel or end up if you left…forever," he choked the last word out.

He was right. I never thought about how Carlie would do if she found out she would never see me again. I sighed deeply and looked back at him as I propped myself up on my elbows. "I'm sorry," I whispered.

His expression softened before he leaned over Carlie and cupped my face in his hands, "Don't be sorry love. Just remember that there are people here that would go crazy without you. People that love you too much that they can't even manage to think about losing you."

I pursed my lips and nodded in his hands before I reached up and lightly touched my lips with his, "I love you."

He smiled and reached up and kissed my forehead, "I love you. Now get some sleep. You need it," he told me as he pulled away.

"What are you trying to say?" I asked jokingly.

He chuckled lightly, "Go to sleep."

I lay back down and looked up at the ceiling, "Night."

"Good night love," he replied back as he turned his body towards Carlie and me and wrapped an arm lightly around her. I smiled at that but didn't move. I couldn't seem to fall asleep. Minutes passed and everything was quiet.

"Mmm daddy," Carlie mumbled in her sleep. She was just like me. She talked in her sleep and she was dreaming about Edward. I smiled lightly and turned my head to look at her.

"Bella?" Edward whispered.

"Hmm?" I hummed back.

"Carlie talks in her sleep?" he asked.

I smiled wider, "Yeah."

"I guess we can tell which parent she's more like," he mumbled to himself.

I turned my body towards Carlie and sighed lightly. "Eww," Carlie giggled out. I smiled and chuckled lightly. I finally managed to fall asleep and with a big smile on my face this time. I don't know what I was dreaming about but when I woke up I found myself giggling.

"That better be me you're dreaming about," I opened my eyes to find Edward sitting on the floor by my side of the bed looking at me with a smile.

I smiled back with a slight confused expression, "I don't know…I don't even remember what I was dreaming about."

He reached over and lightly kissed my lips. He pulled away with a smile, "Did I say good morning yet?" he asked as he slightly pulled away.

"No," I told him with a smile.

"Good morning," he said as he leaned in and kissed my lips again.

"Good morning," I murmured back once he pulled away.

"Carlie is downstairs watching her other new movie," he told me.

I grinned, "Hmm…so that means we have the bed all to ourselves."

He chuckled lightly as I moved to make room for him. I pulled the covers back and he got under them. I snuggled up to his chest and shivered from how cold his skin was, "Gosh you're cold," I told him.

"Thanks," he said sarcastically.

I smiled, "Don't worry I can warm you up."

He chuckled as he wrapped his cold arm around me. I rested my head on his chest and sighed, "Did I talk a lot last night?" I asked.

"Yeah…you and Carlie just kept blabbing and blabbing," he said in a joking matter.

I chuckled lightly, "Whatever."

"You guys were definitely dreaming about me though," he said happily.

"Oh yeah?" I asked.

"You wouldn't stop saying my name and sometimes the way you said drove me a little mad and she wouldn't stop saying daddy," he said as if he was proud of himself.

"How would I say your name?" I asked confused.

"A little too intimate," he explained.

"Oh," I could feel my cheeks start burning up just imagining it. I was just starting to get comfortable in Edwards arms when the doorbell rang I remembered what was supposed to happen today. I quickly jumped out of bed with a smile on my face, "I'll get it!!" I yelled out to Edward and Carlie.

I ran down the flight of stairs and right up to the door and opened it wide. A guy with spiky blonde and I'll have to admit cute features, was on the other side. He grinned at me once he looked me over. That killed it. I tried to be polite anyways, "Hey," he said in a deep seductive voice.

I gave him the best 'okay' expression I could manage, "Hi," I looked behind him to see the big rolling gift wrapped up, "Are you going to bring that in by yourself?" I asked confused.

He leaned against the door with a grin on his face, "Yeah I am actually."

I crossed my arms over my chest, "Look buddy either you bring it in or I will," I told him.

He moved his eyebrows up and down, "Frisky."

"Asshole," I told him as I opened both doors so he could roll it in.

"And she's got a mouth," he said in amusement but I realized he wasn't talking to me.

I looked back to find that another guy was with him except this guy was bigger and a bit creepy. I quickly walked into the living room and took Carlie's hand, "Sweetie go to your room and play with your toys. I'll call when you can come back down."

She nodded and ran upstairs quickly. I went back to the door to make sure these idiots didn't break or steal anything. I told them where to put it and took the clipboard from them so I could sign it.

I was signing the clipboard with a guy in front of me when I suddenly felt someone tap my bottom. I jumped up and turned around, "Hey what the–?" I was suddenly grabbed from behind.

A/N: So what do you think is going happen to Bella? Please review!!