Okay, guys, here's the chapter that was done in Edward's POV. I know someone at one point said to do things in Edward's POV. I figured for this part of the story, it was neccessary, just to help better understand his emotions, his reactions, and to see his side of things. I don't know if there will be any other parts/chapters done in Edward's POV. Originally when I started this, I just planned on keeping it all in Bella's POV, but...I figured this part should also be seen from Edward's perspective. And initially, I had planned on just adding in his POV in at the end of the last chapter....but it made it ridiculously long, so instead...you get a whole long chapter in Edward's POV. I hope you enjoy it.

I tried to make this chapter sound distinctly different, since this is supposed to be Edward's thoughts and perspective, whereas...all the rest are obviously Bella's, so hopefully that plays across well.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of the characters.

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Chapter 7

EPOV

I had just returned from hunting, my thirst now satiated and under control.

As I entered my home, I heart my favorite sound in the world - Bella's heartbeat, coming from upstairs in my room.

I quickly made my way to my bedroom and noticed she had Debussy playing softly causing me to smile, so I continued my descent to my room at full speed until I found Bella laying on my bed, her beautiful face hidden into the pillow. I could hear her heartbeat and the rhythm of her breathing; She was awake.

I approached the bed, and not being able to resist, I gently brought my hand up to her exposed cheek, and ran my fingers along her cheekbone, a faint smile adorning my face.

She let out a small ear-piercing scream, causing me to cringe and berate myself for scaring her. She jumped out of the bed on the opposite side of where I stood, her heart rate frantic and uneven.

As her eyes met mine, her body visibly relaxed from the tense position it had held.

I was instantly struck by the idea that maybe it was finally happening, just like I had originally thought it would. Could she now be scared of me, and what I am? Has the running and the screaming finally set in after all this time, and she now wished to have nothing to do with me?

I could feel my face scrunch up, the pain in my cold unbeating heart at the thought bringing forth a pain I never wished to experience again. But if she wished to be free of me, then I would let her.

However, I couldn't stop myself from asking. "Is this a delayed reaction? With wanting to run away screaming because of the monster that I am?"

She looked at me as though she was apologetic. "Edward, no. That's not it. I'm not -- I'm not scared of you," she said with a weak voice that was very unlike her. I could tell the amount of power she had tried to exert into her words, but her voice seemed to have betrayed her by its unevenness. But then a look of determination crossed her face. "I know you would never hurt me."

Something was wrong with my beautiful Bella. She was not herself, and she was never this jumpy, this frightened. She was always brave, always courageous. Yet now, she just simply wasn't herself. I was not foolish. I knew something was wrong, despite her refusal of that notion last night and even this morning when she pleaded for me to stay with her.

"Bella," I began, searching for the right words as I made my way to stand beside her, and grasping her small fragile hands in my own. "What is going on? If you're not scared of me, then what is it?" I was met with silence, aside from her slightly quickened heart. "What has you so afraid?"

I watched as her face filled with multiple different emotions all at once. Pain, hurt, regret, thoughtfulness, sadness, and consideration. But my thoughts immediately got pulled somewhere else when I heard Rosalie's voice within her thoughts.

"Bella thought it was Jacob who had been howling, thinking he had come back for her. I at least got to make sure Royce could never hurt me again. Alice is a fool to wait for Bella to tell Edward herself. She's scared, anyone can see that. And the longer Bella waits to say anything, the worse it will get for her. She's already so scared, so jumpy, much like I had been. Though shortly after, I had the strength of a newborn, which brought me some comfort. But she's still human, still fragile. I can see already that she's shying away from being touched and is making sure she keeps a distance from everyone. It had taken me quite a while to get over that as well, to be willing enough to let anyone touch me, especially Emmett at first, despite how much I loved him."

I tuned the rest of her thoughts out. Suddenly it all made sense. Rosalie's thoughts had made everything clear to me, filled in every missing piece of the puzzle. Bella had been raped. By that filthy mongrel. She was scared to be touched, scared for me to leave her this morning in fear of Jacob getting to her. She wasn't running and screaming due to the monster I am, it was due to that worthless dog, the monster that he was. He had harmed my Bella, he had raped her.

Fury filled me, consuming my entire being as I fought to control my urge to run off this instant and kill Jacob Black for even so much as touching Bella, and mostly, for hurting this sweet precious girl who stood before me.

Without realizing it, being too consumed in my thoughts, a snarl ripped from my chest, my entire body tensed and motionless.

"Edward?" I heard her call to me with an unsure edge to her voice. "What is it?"

I tore my eyes away from the windows, from where Rosalie's thoughts had come from within the garage, and my eyes fell upon Bella, her eyes holding the pain and anxiety she felt. I had to know if it was true. I had to know from Bella herself, so I stood unmoving, bracing myself for her answer. "Is it true, Bella?"

"Is what true?" she asked, seeming confused as she took in my stance. I could hear her heart pick up speed, as panic set in. Whether it was due to realization hitting her as to what I meant, or if my behavior at this moment was what was causing her anxiety, I wasn't sure.

My lip pulled back as a growl escaped my lips, preparing myself to say the words that were causing immense and unsurpassed anger to course through me. "Jacob Black. Did he hurt you?"

Her heart was pounding within her chest, and her breathing started to come in shallow bursts. She was panicking. I could see the tears starting to form in her beautiful brown eyes, despite her attempts to hold them back.

I couldn't take the silence any longer. I needed an answer. "Bella?" I asked after a few moments of her continued silence. "Did that mongrel rape you?" I asked, this time voicing the full accusation of rape. My voice came out harsher than I intended it to. I didn't want my voice to hold that anger when speaking to Bella, even if the anger was directed at that dog.

She yanked her hands from their place in mine, her eyes frantically darting around the room. "No!" she shouted. "No, no, no," she continued to mutter as her eyes furiously squeezed themselves shut. "Alice wasn't supposed to say anything."

Yes, Rosalie's thoughts had mentioned Alice knew, that Bella and Alice had spoken. However, she shouldn't be upset thinking that Alice betrayed her, so I decided to correct things, hoping to help calm her down.

"Bella. I didn't find out from Alice," I spoke more softly this time, trying to soothe her. "Rosalie overheard your conversation with Alice. She was thinking about it, comparing your reactions to her own," I told her gently, despite my still rigid stance. But now I needed to know once and for all if Rosalie's thoughts held the truth. "I need to know if it's true."

"She -- she doesn't know what she's talking about," she struggled over her words as her breathing continued to come out in slight gasps as she fought for air with her eyes still shut.

I heard people approaching my room. It was Jasper and Alice. They both stopped, and remained standing in my doorway, both with grim and apologetic faces.

"I just thought I'd come up here, in case Bella needs me, since she knows that I already know," Alice explained in her thoughts.

"I thought I'd come in case you might need some help to calm her down. I can tell she's freaking out and panicking," Jasper said to me within his thoughts.

I nodded in their direction, being okay with their reasons for being here before refocusuing myself back on Bella.

I couldn't take this. She was refusing to answer me. I needed to know the truth, to know if that mongrel had hurt her. I needed to know if she was hurt, and in need of medical attention. I needed to know the truth; Now.

"Isabella Marie Swan, did he rape you?" I asked her again, my voice more commanding this time, hoping the use of her full name would get her to realize I needed her to give me an answer. I took a small step forward, hoping she would open her eyes, and let me see her face so I could find out what was going on inside of her head. But as soon as I stepped towards her, she took a quick step away from me.

She stood there, seemingly refusing to answer, eyes still clamped shut, her breathing and heartbeat still erratic. But then I seen tears roll down her flushed cheeks, and noticed her give a tiny, almost barely noticable nod.

He had raped her. That mongrel, that worthless dog had raped my Bella! I felt the fury continue to flow through me, and I fought to control it. I resisted the urge to grab the bed and send it flying through the wall of windows within my bedroom. I fought to stay calm, and control the urge to break something, and to avoid breaking the treaty right this instant by going to La Push and murdering that animal, like I had all the other rapists during my years of rebellion.

I was too angry. Too infuriated to be near Bella. I was too in danger of losing control. My thoughts were too consumed with rage, and with the desire and urge to break something. I didn't trust myself to be near her, for fear of reaching out to touch her, to comfort her, and end up crushing her fragile body.

No, I couldn't let that happen. So I began to turn, wanting to step outside the room in hopes of calming down, with Jasper's help if necessary, because I couldn't be near Bella while I was in this state. I needed to calm down.

I heard Bella's breathing hitch, knowing that she had begun to cry harder, her tears no longer silent. I wanted so badly to reach out to her, to hold her, to bring her comfort in any way possible, but I knew I couldn't. Not until some of the anger dissipated.

As I continue walking in the direction of my door, I heard Jasper call out to me in his thoughts, but I ignored him, simply wanting to escape from this room for a moment in order to try and calm down so I could get back to Bella. But when I refused to listen to him each time he tried to speak to me through his thoughts, he decided to become vocal to grab my attention.

"Edward," I paused. "She's feeling abandoned and unwanted. She's scared. She thinks you're leaving her again," he told me in a hushed tone. I looked over to Alice, who was glaring at me for attempting to walk out of the room.

Upon hearing Bella's voice, I turned to look at her. She had her eyes squeezed shut, and mumbling "I'm sorry," repeatedly in between her sobs. I seen her knees begin to wobble, her body swaying as her legs were about to give out from underneath her.

Seeing her in this state broke my unbeating heart, and if I could cry, I would be at this moment. The image of her in this state pushed some of the fury out from within my thoughts, refocusing my mind on Bella and making sure she was okay.

I didn't want her to think I was leaving her again. No. I would never leave her, not as long as she wanted me. She needed to know that. To see I would stay by her side, and to see how much I truly loved her.

I seen her legs quiver from underneath her yet again, and immediately went to her. I began to bring my arm around her waist, wanting to bring her shaking body to mine to help support her so she wouldn't fall. But as soon as she felt my arm come around her body, she screamed.

"No!" I felt her tense and flinch, her arms trying to push me away as they flailed about, trying to break free of my hold.

"Bella," I said softly, hoping it would calm her down to realize it was only me who had grabbed her. I immediately let go of her once she had steadied herself, not wanting to upset her nor scare her. As she turned her face to look at me, I seen her visibly relax as our eyes met. "Your heart is racing, love," I murmured as I listened to her heart fly.

"Edward," she tried speaking, but her voice broke, and she struggled for words.

"Shh, love," I tried to comfort her as I brought my hand up to tentatively and excrutiatingly slowly brush it along her cheek as to not startle her. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere," I assured her.

Her face contorted in confusion at my words. "But you -- you were going to leave," she tried to say as her voice cracked, the raw emotion seeping into her voice.

"I wanted a moment to compose myself," I tried to explain to her. "Bella, I was too infuriated. I didn't trust myself with you while I was in that state. I feared I would lose control, that I wouldn't be able to concentrate enough to remember to be gentle with you," I told her, hoping she seen that I was going to leave the room just for a moment, and only for the sake of her safety. "I won't leave you," I promised her, and I meant it with every fiber of my being.

I seen her relax, her body slightly slumping from the exhaustion and relief coursing through her. And upon seeing this, Alice informed me through her thoughts that she and Jasper would be downstairs if they were needed, now that I had the situation under control.

"I'm sorry," Bella mumbled, apologizing again for something. But she had nothing to apologize for. She had done nothing wrong. I wish she had told me immediately what had happened, and I question why she hadn't. But we could discuss that later. Right now I just needed to take care of her.

"Shh," I soothed as I held up my hand for her to see and follow my movement, so she would be aware of my touch, so it wouldn't frighten her. I gently grasped her delicate left hand, and began to step back towards the bed as I gently pulled her with me. "Come on, love," I encouraged as I climbed upon the bed myself and moved back giving her more space, all the while never letting go of her hand. I seen her hesitation, and gave her hand a gentle tug, hoping she would climb onto the bed. She tensed, but then she tentatively climbed up onto the bed, and seemed to purposely keep a big distance between us.

Seeing that she was scared to be close, and wanted some space, I simply laid back, her hand still in mine, and I waited for her to lay down as well. When she finally did, despite her slightly increased heart rate, I turned to lay on my side to face her.

After a moment's hesitation, she did the same. I brought our intertwined hands up between us, and very slowly and gently gave her a reassuring kiss on the back of her hand, before bringing our hands to lay on the bed between us.

Our eyes were locked on one another's as I watched her slowly calm down and relax. I noticed her eyes begin to droop, and moments later, I heard her breathing becoming even and her heart slow slightly to an even rhythm. She was asleep.

There would be tomorrow to talk. Tomorrow to discuss what happened, and for her to tell me what happened with Jacob. And as long as her hand was intertwined with mine tonight, I will resist the urge to go and rip that mongrel to shreds for what he's done to my Bella. I won't leave Bella's side, and I will be here when she wakes up.

But when she wakes up, I know there will be a difficult task at hand, especially considering Bella's reaction to being touched right now; Letting her have Carlisle examine her to make sure she is okay. I already know that won't go over well...

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So what'd you think of Edward's side of things? Did that help explain his behavior a bit better? See, he wasn't being mean when he went to walk out of the room...he was doing it to try and protect Bella, as always. And we also got to hear Rosalie's thoughts in this, too.

Coming up next chapter...like I said in the last chapter [Bella's POV], Edward and Bella have a lot to talk about, so that's coming up next chapter...along with Edward trying to get Bella to let Carlisle examine her...which as Edward said, won't go over well. So the question is, will he be able to convince her to? How will she react to him wanting that, and how would she react to the exam itself if she agrees?

Anyways, please review, let me know what you thought, especially since this one was done in Edward's POV. So, review, let me know you're all still interested!