Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

Give Me A Little Trust

Chapter Twelve: Burning Down The House

Edward's POV

It was 3:00am when the phone rang and pulled me from my sleep. I grabbed it off the nightstand and grunted what was meant to be a hello.

"Hi…Edward-d its B-Bella." She sounded upset and like she was crying. I shot up in bed, sitting straight up and now fully alert.

"Bella, what's wrong?"

"There was a fire." I could hear her sobs and immediately was out of bed.

"At your house?"

"Yeah."

"Are the fire department there?" I had the phone on loudspeaker by now and was shoving on boxers and jeans.

"Uh huh."

"I'll be right over. I'm going to hang up my house phone but call my cell and I'll stay in contact with you until I get there."

"Thanks." I heard her sniff a little and my heart ached for her. I hated her being upset.

I put my house phone down and grabbed my cell as I fetched a t-shirt from my closet. It rang and without missing a beat I answered it, glad to hear Bella's voice again.

"I'm just coming now my love."

"Thank you."

"Do you want to tell me what happened or shall we wait until I get there?"

"I was baking chocolates. I forgot I had twenty five boxes to be picked up later so did my best to get them ready. I don't know what happened. All I knew was that the fire alarm went off and the place filled with smoke."

Hearing her relay her story and the sadness in her voice encouraged me to put my foot down and drive faster through the dark city streets. I wanted to get to her as soon as possible.

"Were you hurt?"

"No, I broke a window and climbed out. The fire department came and managed to get it out but everything's ruined." She was crying again and I wanted to wrap my arms round her, hold her tight and never let go.

"I know this won't make you feel better but I'd rather have your belongings burnt rather than you." She laughed a little.

"I agree with you and you're right, it doesn't make me feel better."

"Sorry, I'll be right with you in about thirty seconds. You should see my car turning up your street…right about…now."

Her house came into view and there was still a fire truck on scene. Bella was sitting in the middle of her lawn, wrapped in a blanket and holding the phone in one hand and a mug in the other. Several of her neighbours could be seen looking out the windows at all the commotion.

"I see you." Before I had a chance to respond Bella hung up. I parked as quickly as I could and raced out the car, practically running towards her.

She stood up, left the cell phone and mug on the grass, which allowed me to pull her tight into my arms. Even though she said she was okay I still had to check for myself and after pulling back from the hug I scanned her, looking for any sign of injuries.

"Edward, I'm honestly fine, just upset." That I could see, she had red puffy eyes, tear streaked face and looked dreadful, but still as beautiful as ever.

"I know, I just needed to make sure." She rolled her eyes and rested her head on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry for waking you up. You're the only person I wanted to call." That made my heart sore. I thought she would call Emmett or Jasper seeing as they have known her longer but obviously not. She called me instead and I was so happy for that, just unhappy that this had happened to her.

"What have they said about the damage?" I asked, nodding to the firemen standing around, inspecting the mess inside.

"I can't stay here, obviously. I was going to grab a bag of clothes but there's none to grab." Tears welled up in her eyes and I brought her head back to rest on my chest. "I'll go stay in a hotel for the night and come back in the morning to see what I can salvage." She mumbled.

"Absolutely not, there's no way I'm letting you stay in a hotel. You're coming back with me." Bella raised her head quickly and pushed the tears off of her cheeks.

"No, I couldn't. I don't want to impose on your life."

"You're not. Now, don't be silly and come and stay with me." Softly she nodded and I led her to the car, letting her in and turning it on so she could be warmed up by the heaters.

I spoke to a few of the firemen and they were informed me that the house was in a real state. The kitchen, living room and most of the house would have to be rebuilt from scratch. It was unsafe and there could be a chance it would have to be taken down and built from the ground up again.

It had to be devastating for Bella, knowing that all of her belongings and possessions were just destroyed and there was nothing she could do about it. Everything she worked for had just gone up in smoke, no pun intended.

In here haze to the car she left her phone on the grass, I grabbed it and slipped it in my pocket before going back to the car. Bella was sound asleep, wrapped up all cosy like in the blanket and listening to the CD that was currently playing.

As the car was already started I quietly buckled Bella and I in then drove, at a decent pace, back to mine. I had trouble keeping my eyes on the road as I kept looking over at Bella and how peaceful she was. Though eventually we made our way back to my house, despite the fact I was travelling at snail's pace since I was watching her.

I turned off the car and walked round to Bella's side. As gently as I could I unbuckled her and lifted her up so she was still wrapped in the blanket. I got her from the car, up to the from door and then realised my mistake, I had no way of opening the door since my hands were full with Bella's soft body.

Although I wasn't happy with doing so I put her down so she was propped against the door. This gave me a chance to quickly go back and shut the car door and lock it then come and open the front door. I unlocked it but didn't open it far as she would have toppled backwards and hit her head on the hardwood floor.

Leaning down I picked her up and put her onto the living room couch then returned and locked the front door. She was peaceful and I hated to have to lift her up again but I knew from experience that couch was not comfortable and Bella would wake up with a killer neck. So again I headed upstairs with her in my arms and for some reason I put her in my bed rather than in the guest bedroom.

I guess I just wanted to see her in my bed, finally.

I lay down beside her and tried to go to sleep but instead stayed awake to watch her sleep.

Bella's POV

I woke up in Edward's bed, with him nowhere to be seen. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand I saw it was 11:00am and stretched before getting up. Before I left his room I looked in the mirror and all the memories of last night, or rather the early hours of this morning, came back to me. The messed hair and puffy red eyes were just a little reminder of the events that took place.

Just thinking about it brought tears to my eyes. I had lost most of my belongings, if not all. The only way I would find out would be to go over there and find out myself. I'd ask Edward to come with me, I don't know if I could handle it on my own.

"Hey." In the mirror I watched as Edward came in and wrapped his arms round me.

"Hi." He kissed my neck and rested his head on my shoulder.

"Are you alright? You want some food?"

"Mhmm…maybe." He nodded and kissed me again as he rubbed my arms.

"Do you have anything planned for today?"

"I need to go see my house. Can you come with me? I don't know how I'll cope alone."

"Of course, we can do that. When would you like to go? Just you tell me and we'll go." I turned in his arms and wrapped myself round his neck and kissed him.

Edward placed his hands on my hips and brought me a little closer to his body so we were practically moulded together. He made a soft groaning noise at the back of his throat and I felt the vibrations against my chest which added a little more heat to the moment.

We moved backwards slightly but instead of making it to the bed my back was pressed against the closest wall. Edward became a little more aggressive with his lips and this was a side I was not expecting for him but began to thoroughly enjoy.

He was moaning more and groaning in frustration with me. I wasn't so much as teasing him, just not letting him have his way completely. "Bella, please." He whimpered in my ear as he kissed down my neck.

With that he hoisted me up so my legs were wrapped around his waist. Clothes were becoming a bit of an issue as his hands groped through them and under them. It was clear he wanted my top off and was trying hard not to just rip it off my body.

"Bella, you better be here!" With Alice's shrill voice slicing through the air we broke apart only to hear the door slam and her small feet pad up the stairs.

The bedroom door flew open before Edward had had a chance to pop me on my feet so I was still wrapped around him. Alice stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, death glare in her eyes and her right foot tapping insanely against the carpeted floor.

"I drive over to see my best friend and find her house practically burnt to the ground. So after freaking out for ten minutes and harassing your neighbours I come here only to find you two having a lovers tryst. Did you not think it appropriate to call me?"

Edwards put me down on my feet and I walked over to Alice slowly, taking in her mood as I walked. I knew she was angry and it was perfectly understandable why she was. I should have called her and now I feel incredibly guilty for having worried her.

"I'm so sorry Alice." I wrapped my arms around her. "I didn't think you would go round there. I never meant to worry you and with everything that's happened I just wanted a distraction. That's where Edward came in. Sorry."

"It's okay I just thought the worst had happened and you were lying in a hospital bed somewhere burnt to a crisp." I shook my head and pulled back.

"Luckily I wasn't hurt at all."

"Well there's a first."

"How did my house look in the light? I didn't really get a good look last night." I asked, dreading that I wouldn't be able to salvage anything.

"The front of the house isn't looking good and the back looks better but honestly Bella the place is pretty grim looking."

"I have to go round there and see what belongings I can save. Will you come?" Alice nodded.

"Absolutely. I take it Edward's coming too, so with the two of us to support you everything will be fine. Where are you staying in the meantime?"

"I was going to check in to a-"

"She's staying with me." Edward cut me off and came to stand behind me.

"Aww, I wanted you to stay with me. We could have had a good girl's time living together."

"Nope Alice, not happening. She's mine." Edward kissed my neck and held onto me possessively.

"Fine but don't think that she won't be coming round to mine for several days." They spoke like I wasn't even there. "Have you guys eaten? I saw a load of food downstairs."

"Not yet."

"Great. Let's go eat." Alice grabbed our hands and brought us downstairs.

They were both there for me, even when my life was all over the place. I was very thankful to have them both and it felt better knowing that they would be with me when I went to look at my burnt home. This morning going there felt like a massive worry but with Edward and Alice coming it made things a little easier.

Hopefully I'd still think that when I saw the devastation that use to be my home.