Baby You Can Stop Running
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or the characters. All that belongs to Stephanie Meyer!

Chapter Seventeen

BPOV

I heard the door to the bedroom open, the light from the hall casting a soft glow. I had been crying and I had no idea why. There were plausible reasons, things that could have presumably caused the tears to run down my cheeks at the rapid rate that they were but I'm not sure that those where the reasons for them. The tears hadn't started until Edward left the room with Emmett. My balance, my center, had been thrown for a loop and I was terrified that he wouldn't come back. I needed him if I planned on getting through the night.

I had never had a knight in shining armor, though I had read about them countless amounts of times. I always wondered what it might be like to have one around, to be the center of someone's world, to have someone love you so much that they would do almost anything for you. Maybe this was what Edward was for me; maybe he was my knight in shining armor. He was definitely not what I had expected; he was so much more than that and I wasn't sure what it was that he could possibly see in me. Still… I knew, from his words, that he had some kind of connection to me. "I was following you today… I saw you walking down to the coffee shop. You just don't seem to have good luck… And I've never been drawn to protect anyone like this and let me tell you, it's much more troublesome than I would have believed. But maybe it's just you. You seem to make it impossible to get through any day without a catastrophe and I've only known you for two days…"

"Bella?" His voice was whisper soft but still sounded like smooth velvet.

" I'm awake." I choked out in my attempt to hide the fact that I was crying. I didn't want him to see me like this; I didn't want him to know that I was upset over him leaving, though he would probably feel some kind of relief as his assumption would be that the tears were caused from the course of the day. He was by my side in a few seconds and sitting on the bed next to me, so quick even that I hadn't heard the sound of his feet against the carpet. My only reassurance that he was there was the groove in the bed and the warmth of his body as he moved closer. I took a shaky breath, and placed my hand on his arm, the familiar energy that I always felt as we touched shot through my body. "Will you stay with me?"

"I'll stay with you tonight." He said solemnly. He moved down on the bed so his head was resting on a pillow. He opened his arms and I moved closer letting my head rest in the gentle nook of his chest as I felt his arms collapse around me. Nothing had ever felt more perfect than how I felt in his arms. There was no comparison to any other time that I had spent wrapped up in Jakes arms all those years ago. With Edward, everything just seemed to fit. I buried my nose in his shirt; breathing in his scent and wishing that I could commit it to memory, or at least find a way to bottle it so I could smell it whenever I felt the need. Though, that might only create an addiction but maybe I was way past that. In two days, Edward had become almost the center of my world, he had become the balance that I was so completely unaware that I even needed and I realized that I wasn't sure what I would do without him anymore. I needed him to survive. For the first time, I felt whole.

I could hear him whispering something in the dark though his words were murmured and I couldn't understand what it was he was saying exactly though it sounded distinctly like a song. I closed my eyes and snuggled my head deeper into his chest, his head falling down upon the crown of my head. I wanted to speak to him, to continue talking. I was vaguely aware that he had something that he wanted to tell me but was afraid to. I just wanted him to know that there was nothing in the world that he could have done that would make me feel any way different about him. There was no changing this, I was in too deep and my body would never let me resurface again, my body called to him.

"Bella?" I heard his voice break the silence. I thought about talking but I decided to not say anything. Maybe he would be more vocal if he thought I was sleeping. It was a terrible trick to play but I felt as though I had no other choice. I wanted to know, I needed to know what it was that he thought was so bad, that I would run away from him. I felt his hand as it rubbed my back softly. "Are you awake?"

I bit down on my tongue, desperately trying to keep myself from saying anything but his voice was so tempting, so alluring that I wasn't sure what to do. I felt his lips against the top of my head and my throat tightened and my body stiffened. "Do I scare you that much?" His voice was still calm and soft and I turned slightly and lifted my chin so I could see him, his eyes fixated on my own and I forgot to breathe.

"Breathe Bella." He smiled and I did. There were so many things that my body was feeling, so many things that I wanted to tell him but I was afraid to. What if he wasn't as invested as I was, what if his pull wasn't as strong as mine was? Was it even logical to find something this powerful with a person in such a short period of time? It seemed so implausible, so unreal that I could feel all this for someone who I barely even knew. Was this how Romeo and Juliet had felt? "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hands upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in Ehiope's ear, beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, as yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, and, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Foreswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."

"I'm not scared of you." I whispered. "I'm scared of how you make me feel."

He chuckled at that and I savored the sound, knowing that it wouldn't last long, he would go back to brooding in a matter of moments when he allowed the truth in my words to sink in. His behavior earlier in the car only alerted me to the fact that he did not want me to like him, and my confession was going to disappoint him.

Which was why I was so surprised when his arms around my waist tightened, effectively bringing us even closer together than we already were, and I felt my lips brush against his warm neck. My heart was racing in my chest from the closeness, my body feeling as though a thousand nerve endings were backfiring, sending millions of tiny electric shocks all over my body. This was what scared me. This was not possible. Feeling like this was a sure sign of my insanity.

"How do I make you feel Bella?" I felt his warm breath on my ear and my breath hitched. He was more open than I had ever imagined, this reaction was not at all what I had been expecting and it was what frustrated me most about him. How could he be so calm, so serene in one minute and then change into his cold, distant behavior?

"I… Um…" I stuttered. How could I find the words to describe how he made me feel? It was impossible. It was like trying to count all the stars in the sky. He chuckled again.

"Please breathe Bella… I wouldn't want to be convicted of a murder for your inability to inhale and exhale." His chuckle was gone however after the words had been spoken and his eyes darkened.

"I'm breathing… It's not my fault that you dazzle me." I responded weakly, still out of breath.

"We'll have to work on that then."

"I thought you didn't want to be around me."

"I never said that Bella… I said that it would be more prudent for you to stay away from me." His hand reached forward and brushed a few strands of hair off my forehead and I closed my eyes at his touch. "You should sleep Bella… You must be tired." I merely nodded my agreement and moved my head back down so I was more comfortable and drifted off to sleep to the feel of his fingers as he rubbed small circles on my back.

I was running. Running away from something that I couldn't see, but I could hear Edwards voice clearly in my head telling me to run and to run far away. How was I not tripping? The trees blurred past me as the tears poured down my cheeks. Internally I was feeling something though in my haste I hadn't taken the time to consider what it was, and then it hit me. Fear.

I turned my head to look to my side. Hadn't Edward been there? Where had he gone? And then, my body crushed into something hard and I heard a laugh that sent a chill from the base of my neck to the bottom of my spine. It was as though something cold had taken over completely. I felt arms wrap around me, keeping me from meeting the forest floor and when I composed myself I looked up into the eyes of the person holding me and nearly shrieked in terror.

"Who are you?" I asked. He was the same man from earlier. The same man that had haunted my dream asking me if I was with Edward though I could see him more clearly in the light that penetrated the thick forest. I was cold though I no longer knew if it was from the chilly air around me, or if it was radiating from the man before me.

He let out a low groan as he brought his head down to my hair and I heard him breathe me in. I struggled to escape his grasp but it was no use. Who was this man and how did he know Edward? How did he know me? What did he want with me?

I was certain that the fear shone brightly though my eyes. And then I heard it, his voice, loud and clear.

"Not her!"

"Bella!" I heard his voice again and I felt someone shaking me awake. "Bella wake up."

"Edward?" I asked as I heard him let out an audible sigh.

"It's okay, it was only a nightmare." He spoke and pulled himself up from the bed.

"Where are you going?" I questioned, my voice quivering. The dream had been all too real and I didn't want him to leave. I wasn't sure I would even go back to sleep if he wasn't there.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm just changing to get more comfortable." He stated as he began to unbutton his shirt.

I couldn't take my eyes off of him and I stared at him as his long, slender fingers slid the buttons from their holes until his shirt was open. I was slightly disappointed to see that he had an undershirt on. He looked up and his eyes met mine and the heat filled my cheeks in a deep blush which had him chuckling. I turned away quickly, burying my head in the pillow as I heard his belt come off. My heart was racing and a few minutes later I felt a cool breeze of air as I looked up and watched as he lifted the blankets and moved under them, his body merely inches from my own. I froze. It had been so long since I had actually shared a bed like this before.

I felt him move closer, his arms reaching out for me and I moved closer but my body was rigid and I saw his brow furrow.

"What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing." I stuttered .

"I'm not going to hurt you." His voice was soft and angelic and my body reacted before I had the chance to, pushing me closer against his body, tangling my leg between his own. I could feel everything now. His cool legs against my warm ones, the hard muscles of his chest.

"I trust you." I whispered and closed my eyes once more.

"I'll never leave you Bella…" He spoke so soft that I wasn't sure I heard it correctly, before I found sleep once more.

EPOV

I had every intention of leaving her side around five in the morning, however when I felt her body go rigid against my own, and her breathing speed up I knew that there was no way that I could. She started to whimper and I wondered, only momentarily, if she might have been having a pleasant dream, though when the dry sob broke through her small mouth, I knew that it was a nightmare.

I pulled away and put my hands on her shoulders. "Bella!" I began to shake her, trying to rouse her from whatever the dream was that she was having. I hated to see her in distress . "Bella wake up."

Her eyes fluttered open and she whispered my name. I let out an audible sigh as apparently I had failed to breathe in the minute that it took me to wake her.

"It's okay. It was only a nightmare." I replied as I pulled myself up off the bed. If I was going to stay with her I would have to change out of my jeans and shirt. It was the only way I could be comfortable.

"Where are you going?" Her voice quivered and I knew that there was no way I could leave. She needed me. I couldn't leave her when she was so clearly upset by whatever it had been that she had dreamt of.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm just changing to get more comfortable." I stated as I began to unbutton the shirt that I was wearing. I could feel her eyes on me and I felt a blush in my cheeks. What if she didn't like what she saw when she saw it? What if she was afraid that I was going to try and take advantage of the situation? A hundred thoughts were going through my mind and before I knew it the shirt was off and I was looking up, my eyes meeting her own as a blush of her own appeared on her cheeks. I felt something stir within me but I quickly thought about something else. Tonight was not about that. Tonight was about protecting her, about making her feel safe. She turned away quickly, her face buried in the pillow as I quickly unbuckled my belt and stepped out of my jeans before sliding in next to her.

"What's wrong?" I asked, noticing that her body was stiff as I reached out and pulled her into me.

"N-Nothing." She stuttered.

"I'm not going to hurt you." I whispered and in that moment she was flush against my body, her leg tangled between my own and I fought back every desire that was suddenly pulsing through my body. I could not resolve to passion. I could not scare her. I would not scare her.

"I trust you." She muttered against my chest and I savored the feeling of her warm breath against my it.

"I'll never leave you Bella." I said softly, fighting the urge to seal my words with a soft kiss upon her head. My heart was racing in my chest at her closeness, at the feel of her body pressed so tightly against my own. She fit perfectly; it was as though she was made for me.

I cast my eyes down towards her and looked at her as the soft light from the silver moon illuminated her pale skin. She was beautiful, not a soul could hold a candle to her and I wondered what I had done to deserve to have such an angel asleep in my arms.

How had this feeling come to me? Where had the passion that was building for this girl developed? How was it possible to feel so strongly for another human being in only a few short days? I had always despised Romeo, always despised his so called "love" for Juliet though having her in my arms, I wondered if there was more to it than that. Maybe he really had loved her after all. Was this the kind of love that Shakespeare was writing about? I never believed that it could exist but she was making me question everything that I had ever known.

"Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou her maid art fair more fair than she: be not her maid, since she is envious; her vestal livery is but sick and green and none but fools wear it; cast it off. It is my lady, O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were! She speaks yet she says nothing; what of that? Her eye discourses; I will answer it. I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks: two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, having some business, do entreat her eyes to twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, as daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven would through the airy region stream so bright that birds would sin and think it were not night. See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek." I recited his words from memory, not sure if I had even said them all correctly though in the first time in my life, they seemed to take on another meaning. For the first time in my life, I understood Romeo.

Would our ending be just as tragic? Was there any other option?

I closed my eyes and allowed sleep to take me, hoping that I would wake before her so I would not find myself unable to ever part from her. My pull to her was stronger than ever.

BPOV

The dark light of the cloudy morning hit my face, effectively pulling me from my dreams and back into reality. I rolled over, my body searching for the body that I remember being there when I fell into my deep and restful sleep, though he was not there, nor was there a warm spot where his body would have been. My eyes flew open as I searched around the room, my eyes falling on the rocking chair, the floor, the closet, still, he was nowhere in sight. Was it all just a dream? Just a vivid dream? I wanted to scream, to cry, to do anything but I was frozen in place. Where had he gone? He had promised that he would never leave me.

My eyes fell upon the bedside table where a small piece of paper was folded, and as my eyes took in the elegant script, I knew exactly who had written it.

Bella,

I'm sorry that I could not be there when you woke but I could not stay any longer. Rest, you need it. Doctors orders. I'll be by later to check on you, make sure you haven't gone into a delayed shock.

Edward

I sat up, and my head spun for a minute as the blood flowed downward. Maybe I should have taken more time, actually taken my time when it came to sitting up. Apparently my equilibrium was off, not that that was surprising in anyway. I pulled myself from the bed and placed the note on the desk by the computer. I thought seriously about turning it on, about looking into Edwards past, the past that he seemed to not want to share with me. Would it be that easy? I knew barely anything about him, only that Carlisle and Esme had adopted him when he was young, that he had lived in Chicago before his parents had died.

Both parents died. It hit me then. Their death had not been an accident. Was this the secret that he was trying so hard to hide from me? How could their death be his fault? How could that make me turn away from him in fear? I pressed the power button on the computer, just in case I resolved to look him up. What could I do though; Cullen was Carlisle's last name, his adopted last name. Where would I even begin?

I grabbed the towel that hung on the back of my door and tossed it over my shoulder before padding my way to the shower, and noticed that the house was quiet. Emmett and Rosalie must have gone out… Or maybe they were still sleeping. I didn't want to check, afraid of what my delicate eyes might witness.

The shower didn't last nearly as long as I hoped it would. Even taking the time to blow-dry my hair, something I rarely did, and only consented to it because there was nothing better to do. All that was left for the day was to sit around and wait, maybe stop by the hospital and see if Charlie was feeling any better… Maybe see if Edward had gone in today, against Carlisle's wishes. I wrapped the towel around my body once more and moved back into my room, glancing out the window. Both Emmett and Rosalie's cars were in the driveway. They must still be sleeping.

I dressed slowly, my eyes taking in the clothes that I had packed, and I realized that I should have brought more things with me. I was no longer sure how long I would be staying in Forks, I was no longer sure I ever wanted to leave Forks ever again. I would stay there forever if it meant I was with Edward. I pulled my jeans out and slipped them on, followed by a simple black tee-shirt. Happy, that unlike the one that Alice had chosen, I did not feel quiet as exposed.

The old computer hummed with a force that almost made me laugh. My lap top in San Francisco was so quick, so quiet, that this machine seemed prehistoric. The internet had always been slow here. Charlie never thought to buy a new modem, even after all these years, and the dial up was terribly slow. I pressed the button, allowing the connection to start. I would go eat and hopefully when I returned, it would be ready.

I ate slowly, chewing each bite with care and when I was done, I washed the bowl and spoon, letting them rest in the rack next to the sink to dry. My feet dragged as I climbed the stairs, my body was still tired though I wasn't sure if it was from the travel, my hectic schedule, or if I was just depressed that Edward had not stayed like I had anticipated. I reached for my iPod that was sitting on the dresser and turned it on before placing the headphones on. I didn't want to be disturbed.

With a sigh, I turned to my computer. Naturally, the screen was covered in pop-up ads, a result of the free browser that I used. I sat down in the hard chair and began to close the annoying boxes, each one a bright vivid color that seemed almost blinding.

Eventually I made it to Google and I sighed again as I wondered what I could type. "Carlisle Cullen" my fingers had a mind of their own as I began to recall how I had done research back in college. There were a few results that had popped up; the usual ones which stated his credentials, where he was working… And then, I feel upon a page that seemed to be a newspaper article from a few years back. I placed the cursor on it and clicked, watching as the screen was brought up.

Dr. Carlisle Cullen Bestowed with High Honors

Dr. Carlisle Cullen has been awarded high honors by his peer group. Recently he has been bestowed the honor of one of the nation's top neurosurgeon's. A widely published doctor, who has helped advance the field, his years of teaching have finally seemed to pay off. Though he is humbled by the experience and has stated, "I have done what anyone else would have. It is my job to find cures, just as it is another's job to teach the children of the world. It is a matter of what we can do collectively, not what we can do as an individual. We must continue working together because only then can we become an effective society."

Dr. Cullen was awarded this honor on June 20, 2005 in Seattle, Washington. With him, to celebrate in his accomplishments were his wife Esme Cullen, daughter Alice Cullen and their adopted son, Edward Masen, the son of the late Dr. Edward Masen Sr. who had been a close personal friend of Dr. Cullen.

Edwards name had been Edward Masen. I returned to the Google website and typed, "Edward Masen Jr."

There were no results for his name, though there were thousands about his father. I moved the cursor when I found an article that looked promising.

Brutal Murder of Politician and Accomplished Doctor

June 11, 1992

Budding politician, and state senator of Illinois, Elizabeth Masen was brutally gunned down along with her husband upon leaving a charity event for the Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Elizabeth Masen and her husband, Dr. Edward Masen are survived by their ten-year-old son Edward Anthony Masen Jr. A memorial service will be held June 15.

I read carefully though other articles, though there was never any other information regarding what had happened. Only that the murderer had been someone by the name of James Anderson. Aggravated that nothing seemed to yield any conclusive results, that nothing seemed to give me any insight as to who Edward was, I snapped off the computer's main power, not shutting it down properly. It was old as it was, I would just get another one if I ever needed it. Through my haste, I felt an overwhelming sense of embarrassment. This was all so stupid. I was prying into his life. A life that I had no business prying into. It would be his choice to tell me of his past, just as it would have to be my choice to tell him of my own. Something, that I knew I couldn't put off much longer, with Jacob's continued presence, he would only grow more curious and I was never one to tell a good lie.

I had to get out of the house, but there was nowhere I wanted to go that didn't involve a long drive. I pulled on my shoes anyways, unclear as to where I was going to go. I grabbed my keys when I went downstairs and pulled on a heavy coat. It was overcast though it had not begun to rain, yet.

I got into my car and pulled out of the driveway and just drove. The small town made it hard though, it seemed that as soon as I was on one side and my thoughts were beginning to make sense, I would have to turn around, which only made me push my resolutions to the side. It was no use. I pulled off the main road and parked, locking the truck behind me as I made my way to the coffee shop. Maybe caffeine would make it better. At least I was out of the house, at least I didn't have to continue turning around as the town ended. I could sit there and just, think.

"Bella!" I heard the voice call as I opened the door and she was by my side before I could even shrug off my jacket. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Alice." I smiled and placed it on a table. "Sorry for making you worry… Did Edward make it home okay?"

"Yeah, I saw him come into the house this morning but I think he went to the hospital." She smiled and we both took a seat.

"Non-fat latte" I said, as I smiled up at the waitress as she took my order before walking away. "So where's Jasper?"

"Oh he's still sleeping, but I just didn't feel like staying in… And I had a feeling I might run into you here."

"I'm actually kind of happy to see you…" I said softly. I wanted to ask her about Edward, to ask her what might have happened, what it was that he was hiding. Though I never expected her to tell me everything, even just something small would help.

"What's up?" She smiled.

"I had a question about Edward actually…" I started and she frowned slightly. "I understand if you don't want to tell me… It's just he's so confusing and I don't understand him at all."

"I can't tell you about Edwards past… It's not my story to tell. All I can tell you is that he has been pretty reclusive for the past five years… So much so that he's almost been difficult to be around. But he's different when you're around… It's like he's happy again." She shrugged.

"I'm sure there is more to that than me." I said solemnly.

"I'm pretty sure you have been the one to bring him out of whatever it is that he's been in."

"But he still is quiet." I stated. "I've tried to talk to him, to ask him about what is wrong but he keeps telling me that he's not good for me… That I should stay away from him."

"But you can't." She said, her eyebrow lifting as she eyed me curiously.

"No. I don't think I can."

"He'll tell you." She smiled.

"How can you know that?"

"Because I'm Alice, and I know everything." She was grinning now and I smiled back at her.

"So he's at the hospital?" I asked.

"Last I heard."

"I should go check on Charlie." I said, finishing my drink and placing a few bills down on the table.

"You should do that." There was a twinkle in her eye that surprised me, but I did my best to ignore it.

"I'll see you later?"

"Later tonight I predict." She replied and I shook my head.

"Bye Alice." I didn't even give her the chance to respond before I was out the door, my heart racing in my chest. I had to tell him about my past… Maybe if I did, he would open up about his own and he could see that it wasn't him who wasn't worthy of me, but rather me who was unworthy of him.

A/N:

I'm sooo sorry that it's taken so long to get this out to you guys! I've been slammed smack dab in the middle of a really, really, crappy week! Everything and anything that could be due is due for me and I'm so far behind because of my computer problems. But it doesn't matter… I got a new chapter! I'm happy with the beginning though towards the end, I don't know it just seemed a little rushed. Still, it was important to me that I gave you all something so you didn't think I abandoned you!

I just want to say WOW with the amounts of responses that I got for the last chapter! You guys are amazing! Please keep it up! You will make my crappy week bearable!

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Seriously guys! Thank you so much! Please continue to let me know what you think!

Preview: So basically Bella is going to tell Edward… But will Edward tell Bella? Oh, and I'm toying with the idea of going to the meadow! You'll have to wait to find out!