A/N: I'm here and so is chapter 16!

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Chapter 16

APOV

I came in to the room to find Bella curled against Edward. It was pretty abnormal to say the least. Edward always complained about the girls, especially Tanya, trying to be affectionate to him. Edward never went beyond sexual contact with any of the women he got close to.

When he saw me I wiggled my eyebrows at him jokingly, and he chuckled quietly. It was official. Bella was cracking holes in his armour. Whether by force or by his own efforts, Edward became closed off and cold. The Edward that Bella had brought out hadn't seen the light of day for years.

I knew Edward could not have magically changed overnight. He could not have become carefree and peaceful in a few hours. Even when we were kids, Edward would always contemplate carefully before choosing his ice-cream toppings. Edward now, exposed to even harsher realities than the average man, took contemplation to a whole new level.

I knew that Bella would see beyond the darkness that he hid himself behind.

I just hoped that Edward could, too.

BPOV

I pulled in a deep breath, waking up from another nightmare. But a soothing scent filled my lungs and clouded my brain.

It was sort of citrus, but still not, mint... and... something.

Intoxicating.

It was strange.

My bed- too comfortable, too warm.

It was pulsing, thrumming... like a heart.

And then I remembered.

I opened my eyes slowly, realising it was still night or early morning. I didn't know how I ended up in Edward's embrace, but I wasn't moving.

I adjusted my head more comfortably and pulled myself closer to him. I even hitched my leg over him for good measure. Once I was comfortable, I smiled to myself and closed my eyes.

And then I felt Edward chucking beneath me, and blushed scarlet. I hoped it was dark enough to hide my blush.

Edward smoothed his free hand over my hair, and it felt so comforting, so right, that I did not protest or complain.

Sure, a psychotic serial mutilator was after me.

But really, I was sleeping in the arms of Edward Cullen. What could I complain about?

I woke up with a smile on my face. The sky was just beginning to show signs of morning. I knew what time it was- I always woke up at the same time.

A few minutes later, I felt Edward shift under me.

"Sleeping Beast has awoken from his endless slumber," I said theatrically.

He chucked quietly and I continued, "Just when I was about to give him a kiss!"

We laughed together as he scooped me up and growled at me. It was exciting and freeing, almost impossibly so. I'd only met him the day before.

He set me down and I excused myself to the bathroom. He threw me a bag which I hadn't noticed on the nightstand. It felt like clothes. Alice must have come and put it there during the night.

As I brushed my teeth and took a shower, my thoughts began to wander. Edward was so down-to-earth, so real and easy to be around, that I found it hard to imagine him being ruthless or dangerous.

But if he wanted to have a chance against a man like James, he had to be.

I looked over myself in the mirror. Alice had left me a navy blue sleeveless shirt and grey Capri's. I slipped my foot into a pair of AC grey and blue slippers. I owned the same pair in brown at home.

Home.

I guessed this would be home now.

I knew I had to get my feet planted more firmly in the soil, so to speak. I'd have to tell them everything about me, even the parts I kept hidden- I'd have to tell them I owned the foundation. I would have to get to know the people and learn the ropes to hold my own here.

And still, I hadn't ruled out the possibility that this was a... well THE ghost mob. I now knew that they had not kidnapped me, but it was only a start. What did they really do? Did they only hunt James? Did they do what James did? I doubted Edward would do things like that.

That's when I realised I didn't really know Edward at all. Maybe I felt the connection, the slight shock when he touched me. But he could have a girlfriend... a wife? What about that girl the pap's talked about? She said he loved her. Did he really love her? I thought he would have turned my offer down if he did.

I stepped out of the bathroom, giving Edward a small smile and trying to drag myself away from the depressing musings. I was unsuccessful.

What if he felt guilty? What if he regretted staying the night with me?

With thoughts like these in my head, my heart plummeted when Edward uttered four famous words.

"We need to talk."

A/N:

Well.

The dish has been marinated nicely, so I believe it's ready to be prepared for the oven.

Reviewers, I may be able to get you a ticket stub to wait for a night in bed with Edward. Next in line is number 8,743. Tickets start at #22,175. Only a few more years!