Disclaimer: All things Twilight belong to the wonderful Stephenie Meyer and not to me… sigh.I also don't own Sleeping with the Enemy. The book belongs to Nancy Price and the movie belongs to Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation.

Sleeping with a Monster

"Esme? What day is it?" I whispered a little confused.

"It's Wednesday, dear," she said with a wry smile.

"Wednesday!" I squeaked. "I've been out for…" My mind was sluggish and wouldn't do the mental math. Luckily, Esme was quicker than I was at the moment.

"Three days," she finished for me.


Chapter 6 – Second Chance

"Do blondes really have more fun?" I joked with Esme as I pranced around her kitchen, modeling the blonde wig I was sporting. She laughed and gave me a hug – one of many she's given me in the week since I woke up to a life free of James.

Free of James. I'm still getting used to that, but with time and maybe a little help, I can get past it. I still found myself waking in the morning to a mind rushing through a mental list of everything I have to do in the day to appease James. Of course, as soon as I opened my eyes, a flood of relief washed over me when I realize where I am.

"Are you two ready?" I heard Carlisle say from the doorway of the kitchen as Esme and I broke out of our hug, laughing.

"Of course dear," Esme said as she walked over and kissed Carlisle on the cheek.

She grabbed the sunglasses off the counter and handed them to me saying, "I bought these for you to help with your disguise. Are you sure all this cloak and dagger is necessary? Your 'funeral' was two days ago and your death was determined to be an accident."

"I would rather be safe than sorry. I don't want to risk it, especially after seeing my picture plastered across every newspaper in the greater Miami-Dade area," I said ruefully. "I can always take the wig off once we are out of the area. I had no idea my 'death' would be such a big deal." I shook my head, perplexed.

When I hastily decided to stage my death, I didn't realize it would capture the media's attention. I figured I would garner an obituary and maybe a brief byline about a woman who drowned after falling off a boat. But, the urgency of my situation didn't allow for careful thought of the aftermath. I was too concerned with getting out to consider what would happen after. But I don't regret it, not for one minute and I don't think there was anything else I could have done differently. I just didn't expect so much attention, but I guess with James's prominence in the financial sector, it was to be expected. And the story really was tragic when you looked at it – a young married couple, still considered by some to be newlyweds, trying to start a family, living what appeared to be a fairy tale life blessed with success and wealth only to have tragedy strike. The news media was all over it. Of course, I was fully aware that appearances could be deceiving. But, from the outside, that is how my marriage to James looked.

It was unnerving to say the least to see pictures of my funeral in the newspaper. There was James, playing the part of the grieving widower. I was a little taken aback at the stunning redhead at his side. Wow, it didn't take him long, did it. The newspaper said she was a long-time friend, but in over two years of knowing James, I never made her acquaintance – figures. I don't know why I expected anything more of him.

"Let's get going. We've got a long drive a head of us," Carlisle said trying to rush Esme and me out the door.

"Really Carlisle, you and Esme don't have to do this. I can take a bus to Atlanta," I said giving it one last-ditch effort. They both insisted on driving me to Atlanta to retrieve the things my father had left me in a safety deposit box there at a bank. I could fly but the risk of being recognized was too great.

And my disguise didn't match my appearance in my driver's license photo. I was so glad I had the foresight to get a duplicate driver's license made; telling the DMV that I'd lost mine. I didn't want to take the chance that James wouldn't notice my license missing after my death. Besides, I would need it to access the safety deposit box in Atlanta. I just hoped the bank employee there had not heard of my death.

"Yes we do," Esme insisted. "We are not letting you go all the way to Atlanta on a bus. Besides, Carlisle and I have been wanting to get away for some time and this gives us the perfect excuse." She gave me a wink and a smile.

"Oh I see. You've been waiting for someone to come along to help fake a death, run away and assume a new identity all so you can go to Atlanta for a get away!" I said laughing. Esme and Carlisle laughed with me as we walked out the door and left Miami behind.

**********

After we retrieved my information from the bank in Atlanta, I retreated into my hotel room to take in all the items my father had given me. When Charlie died, he arranged for his pension, life insurance and the proceeds from the sale of his home to be placed in a trust fund in an off shore account for me. He had also instructed his lawyer to inform James and I that Charlie had donated all that he had to charity. At the time, James was sure to tell me how my father didn't love me enough put me in his will. It was truly one of the darkest times of my life, having lost my father, not being able to go to the funeral and then the have my husband continually berate me and the memory of my father. From the moment my father died I was truly alone. My mother Renee died of cancer when I was young. I was an only child, so for most of my life it was just Charlie and me. Charlie and I were close, but James drove a wedge between us, something I would regret the rest of my life. I so wished I had the opportunity to tell my father how much I loved him. That I wished I could take back the decision to marry James and the damage it did to my relationship with my father. But I couldn't.

And now, here I sit, in a hotel room in Atlanta. Alone to take in all that my father had done for me, knowing I was in trouble – A trouble that was deeper than I realized at the time, but Charlie knew. I had money, I had identification, and I had a new past. I had everything I needed, even a work history in my chosen profession – teaching.

As I took in this most beautiful gift my father had given me, I was overcome with emotion. I cried – for my father, for the time I would never have with him again, for the love he had for me and I had for him. I cried for joy in knowing that my father's gift would give me the life and freedom that otherwise would have been difficult. There was no way I could thank my father for this. The only thing I could do was live my life, happily and not waste it.

A few hours later, I heard a soft knock on my door. I opened it to find Esme. I'm sure my tear streaked face alarmed her as she immediately pulled me into a tight hug as I pulled her in the room. She just held me for a moment before she pulled back, wiped my tears and smiled at me.

"Are you okay dear?" she asked, her voice full of concern as she stroked my hair.

"Yes," I croaked through my tears, my voice rough from crying for my father.

"My father was amazing. I can't believe what he did for me." I pulled away to show her the things Charlie had given me. As she listened to me her eyes welled up with tears.

"Your father must have been a wonderful man who loved you dearly," she said as her tears brimmed over.

"He really was. I miss him terribly," I said through my sobs. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my tears. I needed to pull myself together. I excused myself to clean myself up in the bathroom. As soon as I finished I came back out into the room.

Esme looked up at me smiling and said, "So, shall I call you Isabella?"

"Isabella. Wow, I haven't been called that name for a while," I mused. Esme had a confused look on her face. "Isabella is my first name, but when I met James, he

took to calling me Marie, my middle name. After a while, at his insistence I started going by Marie as well. He said Isabella was such a 'messy' name. I'm not sure what that meant, but he had to control everything about me, even my name. He was making me into what he wanted and that included my name as well," I said with a sad frown.

"Okay then, Isabella," Esme started but I cut her off.

"I prefer Bella, actually. Isabella is so formal and it's was my father called me when I was in trouble," I said with a laugh.

"Bella, then. Let's go eat. Carlisle is waiting for us." She grinned and pulled me out the door.

********

I spent another day with Carlisle and Esme in Atlanta before I decided it was time to leave and let them have their little get away. To say they weren't happy was an understatement. I think they were a little uneasy about me going out into the big wide world on my own. They really were starting to feel like parents and it was heart-warming. I truly had learned to love them for all they had done for me in the last two weeks. How did I get so lucky to have then in my life at time I needed it so much?

But I needed to go – spread my wings, if you will. I wanted to find me again. That was something I had lost during my marriage to James and I wanted it back.

I needed to become Bella again.

"Won't you stay with us a little while longer?" Esme begged.

"You know that's not a good idea. I'm dead remember? I can't stay in Miami anymore than you can come with me," I said with a wry smile. "Besides, I wouldn't be able to go out in public without a disguise. And as much as I like being a blonde, I would really like to be me," I laughed.

"I know you're right. I just don't want to see you go. I'm going to miss you so much," Esme said sadly.

"Where are you planning on going?" Carlisle asked.

"Well, I would like to get a job this fall teaching. But before that I'd like to do a little traveling. And since I've got the summer to play, I'm going to go for it," I said as a grin spread across my face. I had been stuck doing James's bidding for over a year. I was going to do what I wanted for once. I was really starting to feel selfish and I suppose I should feel guilty. But I didn't.

"I think I'm going to 'find myself'," I laughed.

"Have you thought about where you want to teach? Remember I have a place for you to stay if you need it. I happen to know that there will be a rental property available in about 3 months and it's yours if you want it – no references needed," Carlisle said with a wink.

"Where's it at?" I asked, unsure of how to take Carlisle's offer. I mean, wow! This was above and beyond, I thought.

"It's in Scottsdale, Arizona," he said with a sly grin, like he wasn't telling me everything. I looked at him warily as I narrowed my eyes a bit. "Carlisle, what aren't you telling me?"

"Well, I'm not sure how you will take this," he started cautiously. "I'm worried about you. What if James figures out you aren't dead. I'd like to be sure you are okay."

"But what does Arizona have to do with that?" I asked, more than a little confused.

"I know people in Arizona. If something happens here or if you think something is a amiss, I want to make sure you have options and someone to go to. That's all. Esme and I would feel much better about you if we knew you had someone you could turn to if needed." Before I could protest, he held up his hand and added, "Besides Esme and I – we can't help you very quickly from Florida."

"Carlisle, Esme." My voice choked with emotion. "You have done so much for me already. I don't know what I have done to earn your devotion and help," I said softly.

"I guess you're like the daughter we never had," Esme said as she hugged me. I couldn't believe this woman's capacity to love. I was amazing. She hardly knew me and yet she and her husband were willing to do anything for me. "So, will you at least think about it?" Esme added.

"I'll think about and let you know," I said, a little lost in thought. I did like the idea of having someone to go to if I needed. But I hated to pull anyone else into my situation and put them in danger if James reared his ugly head. In the end I already knew I would take the offer; it just felt right.

"Oh, I almost forgot. I have something for you," Carlisle smirked, as he produced a small cell phone. I looked at him questioningly but pressed in my hand. "Take it."

"What's this?" I asked looking down at the phone in my hand.

"It's a cell phone," Esme said stating the obvious and laughing at me.

"I can see that, but why are you giving me a phone," I laughed back at her.

"You will be traveling and won't have a permanent address for a while making it hard to commit to a cell phone plan," Carlisle reasoned. "Besides, we need a way to

get a hold of you in case anything develops here." I knew his reasoning was flawed. I could by a pay as you go plan. I had a feeling this was more about putting their minds at ease by maintaining a connection to me.

We argued for a moment as I tried to explain that they had done so much for me already. I could not possibly repay them for all their generosity. Esme confirmed my suspicions when she said it was as more for her sanity and she wanted me to have a good quality phone that could not be traced back to me.

"Call us if you need anything?" Carlisle said expectantly. "And don't forget to eat something. You're still too thin." I could hear Dr. Cullen in that last statement and shook my head and I smiled.

"Please check in with us from time to time so we don't worry," Esme added.

"I will." I said giving them one last hug before I left. I rented a car and started to drive not sure where I was going, but I guess that's part of 'finding oneself'. When I hit North Carolina, I stopped in the Raleigh-Durham area. It was time to get rid of the last piece of James I was still carrying with me – my wedding ring. My first instinct was to throw it in the ocean or better yet, flush it down the toilet. But, I decided that was too nice of a gesture.

So, I pawned it. I found the most run down, pawnshop in the worst part of town and pawned it. My wedding ring held absolutely no sentimental value whatsoever.

James had spent a small fortune on it. In return, I would treat it as an offending piece of jewelry and sell it to the lowest bidder. This gesture represented the complete disrespect James had given me during my marriage to him. I know it was spiteful, but it felt so good.

A/N: Okay I know it's not as exciting as the last 5 chapters, but its a transition chapter. And though it's not exciting, it has a lot of necessary info.

And now... Thanks to everyone for reading, alerting, favorites and REVIEWING! I have been trying really hard to respond to all your reviews. If I missed responding to your review, it was NOT intentional and I apologize. Please let me know if I snubbed you! :( I've started Chapter 7 so hopefully I'll have something up soon. :) - SavageWoman