And on with the story! This chapter is a little shorter than previous chapters. Enjoy!

I don't own Twilight, but I do own this plot line.

Chapter 6

EPOV

Bella just sat there, not wanting to answer my question. I kind of don't blame her at the moment. A lot has been revealed and she must feel vulnerable to say the least. But a part of me couldn't help but be elated with the last bit of information. That she feels complete when I'm around and that I could possibly be the reason for her waking up out of her emotional coma. I could see how exhausted she was after everything came out into the open.

I wanted to pick her up and take her home and put her into her bed to rest. I wanted to take care of her, but I wasn't sure if that is what she wanted as well. I realized that we are at a critical junction and that I can't push her into anything or she will push me away again. I just have to be there for her and be patient. However, patience wasn't one of my virtues so I knew I had my work cut out for me now.

Then Bella spoke, "I think I'd like to just go home now." I could see that Alice didn't want her to leave, but the look on Bella's face broke me. There was nothing I wouldn't give this angel. I think Alice knew that I would never deny Bella any request that she asked, so she looked at me and nodded, that it was ok to take her.

I got up and scooped Bella up in my arms and said, "I'll take you home." She leaned her head onto my chest and I kissed head again. I walked out to my car and unarmed it. Opened the door and gently placed her on the passenger seat. I reached for the seat belt and buckled her in. She laid her head back and closed her eyes.

"Thank you Edward," she said. "Thank you for taking me home, for listening and for being here for me."

I knelt down next to her. How I wanted to just grab her and hold her and make all the pain go away, but I knew I couldn't. "I'll always be here for you," I stated, "no matter what." Then I got up and shut her door and got in the driver seat.

As we were driving back to the apartment, she grabbed my hand, opening it up and placing her soft petite hand inside of it. My heart just about melted. Did this girl have any idea what she does to me? She is so fragile like a delicate flower.

We finally reached the apartment and I parked my car. I walked to her side and opened the door ready to scoop her up again, but she got out before I could do that. I can't say I wasn't disappointed though. She started walking toward the building entrance but stopped and waited for me. I walked over to her and she put her arm around my waist and hugged me, whispering "Thank you."

All I wanted to do was reach down and kiss her and tell her how much I loved her. But I resisted. We began walking to the door hugging each other. We finally got to her apartment and I wasn't sure if I should go in or not. I wasn't sure if Bella wanted me to.

"Please stay with me Edward," she whispered. How could I refuse? I nodded my head accepting to stay. She grabbed my hand and headed to her bedroom. I wasn't sure what to do so I sat down on the chair in her room. She walked over to her jewelry box and took her ring off and placed it inside. Then she walked up to me and grabbed my hands and led me over to the bed.

My heart sank. I wasn't quite sure of what to do. She laid back and pulled me next to her. We were both lying on our sides facing each other. Her hands were tucked under her face but on top of the pillow.

"Edward, I'm really sorry," was all she said again.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, in fact, I'm sorry for upsetting you this weekend."

"You didn't know, you have nothing to be sorry for," she whispered. I could feel her breath blow onto my face. Oh how I wanted to just lean over and kiss her full soft lips right now. I wanted to feel her body next to mine. I wanted to kiss all the pain away.

"Maybe not, but I am still very sorry." I laid there just staring into her dark chocolate brown eyes. I was wishing that I could read her mind right now. Oh how I wished I knew what she was thinking.

"So much has happened this weekend and I don't really know how to grasp it all. I'm extremely confused by the turn of events of it all and I don't think I'm ready to rush into anything right now. Can you understand that," she asked.

I can't say that I wasn't a little disappointed but I knew I couldn't pressure her. She needed time and I would give her that. "I understand."

"Edward, the only thing I am sure of right now is that I can't lose you." What? Did I just hear her correctly, but then she continued, "I really do want us to be friends." Friends huh, that hurt a little. "I need time to sort thru all this right now and I need to know that you are ok with this."

"Of course, Bella, I want to be friends," I informed her.

"I am only capable of being friends though, nothing more," her eyes broke the gaze we had going on.

My heart hurt at those words. "I guess friend's is better than nothing at all. Bella, I just want you in my life. Listen to me, when I tell you that I love you, it means everything though. Friends and lovers as well, but I will be content with being your friend for now. Alice believes that we are going to be much more and so do I. I will give you whatever time you need, just don't shut me out. I will ALWAYS be here for you for whatever you need."

I saw the tears well up in her eyes. I reached out and pulled her towards me. I just held her as her head rested on my chest. She cried for awhile, but then stopped. I thought maybe she had fallen asleep, so I looked down at her and as I did, she looked up at me. Our lips were mere inches apart from each other. I so desperately wanted to lean in and kiss her beautiful full lips. She was biting down on her bottom lip. Does she not know this drives me crazy?

The next thing I know our lips were touching. We kissed hesitatingly at first, not sure who started this. After about a minute, our lips synced up with one another. The kiss was gentle at first but soon there was an intensity about it. I rolled her onto her back, one arm wrapped around her waist and the other arm cupping her face. I could feel her weaving her hand thru the back of my hair and the other one gliding over my neck.

My natural instincts took over and I knew I couldn't help myself any more. My tongue glided over her bottom lip asking for permission to enter, her lips slid apart allowing me access. As our tongues met in the middle, she began to moan. Hearing her made me do the same. She tasted so sweet and I never wanted to pull apart from her. She pushed me over so that I was lying on my back and she was above me. She broke away grasping for air. I continued kissing her on her jaw and down to her neck. Suddenly her lips were pressed back on mine.

I suddenly realized that if I didn't stop this now, I wouldn't stop it at all. I rolled back over hovering over her as she continued kissing me fiercely and with more passion. Oh, I wanted her, but I knew now was not the right time. I began pulling myself off of her, but she resisted holding me to her tighter. I so desperately wanted his beautiful woman lying down under me, but I knew she would regret things later on and that would kill me.

I tried to pull away but again she would not release. "Bella, please, we can't do this. We have to stop before things go any further."

Bella let go but the look in her eyes said it all, "You, don't, want me?" The tears began to form and that hurt me. I never want to hurt her and here she was hurt now.

"I do want you, love, but not like this," I tried to explain to her. "You don't know how hard this is for me to stop right now. But I'm just trying to think of you. I do not want you to regret anything and I'm afraid that if we go any farther, you will regret it."

She looked away as a tear escaped one of her eyes. I turned her face back to mine and wiped the tear away. "Bella, I want you more than you will ever know, but I can't take advantage of you." I leaned down and kissed her soft lips gently, hoping that she knew that I did truly want her, all of her.

"Please," was all she said. "I really want you." She bit down on her bottom lip again, oh man that drove me insane.

"I really want you to, but I don't want to be with you until your in love with me," I whispered to her. I knew at that point she wouldn't press the issue. Bella was not a woman who would say something to get what she wanted or was she.

"I do love you," she claimed.

I was surprised by the words she just spoke. I couldn't help but chuckle, she wasn't going to give up. "Is that so," as I raised an eyebrow up at her. I knew she was backing me into a corner. Then it hit me, "but are you IN love with me." Ha, I knew the answer already, so I knew this would be the end of it. Just a bit ago, it was her who said friends only.

I could see her mulling over the question and trying to come up with an answer. She looked rather cute as she contemplated her response. "Well," she began, "I do love you. But I don't know if what I'm feeling is gratitude or loneliness." She looked deep into my eyes searching for the answer. "I know so much about you from Alice, Jasper, Carlise and Esme, which is why I know that I do love you, but I don't know if I'm in love you…yet."

There it was her answer. I thought I was going to be hurt by her saying no, but she really hadn't said no, she just said, not yet. That gave me hope. I think she seen the glimmer of hope in my eyes because once again she was pulling me down on her, pressing our lips together. She probably thought that would allow us to truly be together.

As much as I didn't want to, I pulled away. "I'm sorry, Bella, but like I said, not until you are in love with me." She looked like a toddler throwing a tantrum, she was too cute.

"Fine then," she snapped at me. "Will you at least hold me then?"

Aw, now this I could do. I never wanted to let her go. I pulled her down on my chest as she snuggled up under my arm. Her head rested right in the nook of my shoulder. She tilted her head up and kissed my neck. This girl was going to be the death of me, I swear. I listened to her breathe and synced my breathing up with hers. Before I knew it, she was asleep.

I laid there and reminisced about this past weekends events. One thing was clear, Bella was on her way to healing and I was going to be the one to see that she does. I fell asleep with the biggest smile on my face, I'm sure of it.

So what did you think? Is the story becoming predictable? Please let me know your thoughts. I'm not getting much feed back and I'm wondering if I should continue with the story. I have the most of the next chapter written, so let me know if I should continue or take it down.

Until next time,

Steff