A/N Thank you so much for all the reviews (good and bad) really appreciate them all. Many of you are unhappy with the way the story has gone, I hope this is more to your liking, Anyway hope you enjoy it.

Chapter Eighteen. Anything.

Edward's POV.

I will be there
Always waiting
Waiting for you
To let me inside
Where your fire burns
In a city of angels
Just like a river rushing straight into the sea
I'm the one thing meant for you and you for me

Whatever you want
Whatever you need
Whatever it takes, I'll do anything

And as you sleep
Eyes to the window
I'm watching you dream
Well are you dreaming of me?
So why can't you see
You're all that matters
You know if this earth should crack
I'll be your solid ground
I will be there to catch you when you fall down

If I have to crawl
Get down on my knees
Whatever it takes, I'll do anything

I'd take the stars right out of the sky for you
I'd end the world give you the sun, the moon
For all of time, forever loving you
(Anything by The Calling)

I had a reason to get up in the mornings now, so I was up early to check the mail. I went straight out and I couldn't believe the euphoric feeling's that rushed through me when I saw the letter waiting for me from LA. I ripped it open as if touching her words would make her feel closer to me, the very thought that she still loved me, that she didn't hate me made me feel lighter than air.

My dearest Edward,

Thank you so much for the letters, I can't tell you how happy I am that you don't hate me for leaving you the way I did. I was frightened for the life of our baby, it was the only way I could see to keep her safe. I am so relieved that you understand why I left, I never meant to hurt anyone, especially you. Nothing would make me happier than being able to return to you, for us to be married and have our happy ever after, but its been so long and I am a little scared about it. Believe me I want to be with you so badly, but I'm still afraid Edward, maybe if we can talk some on the phone and maybe meet up with everyone on neutral ground. Once I am sure that our baby is safe, I will come back to you, I won't put our baby at risk no matter how much I ache to be back in your arms.

No matter what happens

I will always be... Your Bella xxx.

She wants to come back to me but she's scared, I guess I can understand that, she hasn't seen the utter devastation that her leaving caused in us all. How wretched everyone feels and how this place is just a house, a barren space without her here to make it a home. I will just go and get her the second I find out where she is, I won't give her a choice. I read through her letter several more times before what she actually said registered. She said she, our baby is a girl, we're having a daughter, I felt the muscles in my chest clench as my lungs inflated.

I have to find a way to stop her from acting on this instinct she has to run when she gets scared, to make her see that she never has to run from me again. I get it though, its been a long time since she had any adult guidance and when she had. Her mother was for want of a better word flighty, ditsy maybe and had a tendency to run from her problems, something she obviously passed down to her beautiful daughter. All I have to do is figure out how to put a stop to it, or I'll never be able to let her out of my sight, but no matter what happens I will get them back.

I walked back into the kitchen to find Mom and Dad looking worried and rushing around.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"There's been an earthquake and we're going to volunteer and help out." Dad said.

"What all of us?" I asked, surprised.

"No son, just you and I..." he said then paused and put his hand on my shoulder. "It was in LA." He said solemnly. I felt all the air leave my lungs as all the blood left my veins, no this can't be happening!

"When do we leave?" I asked as fear and dread washed over me.

"It's just under five hours until our flight, so get some breakfast and then pack a bag, we leave in half an hour." He said as Mom pushed me down into a seat and put food in front of me, I couldn't do anything more than stare at it.

"I-is, is it bad?" I stuttered out.

"It only happened an hour ago, its still too early to tell, we'll know more when we get there." Dad said. "Edward, its best you eat something, she's going to need you to stay strong for her son."

I only just found her, I would not lose her again, I couldn't.

~F~

I hate waiting, its the bane of my existence, I always seem to be waiting for something and today was worse than ever before. Waiting for a single minute to pass seemed to take an age, in the time it took for that half an hour to pass I could have driven to LA myself. The three and a half hours it took for my dad to drive to SeaTac airport in Seattle was agonizingly slow. As for the time it took to board the plane and wait for it to take off, most other planes had traveled half way around the globe. The flight itself was excruciating, I swear I was ready to kill someone, I was convinced my watch was taunting me, I know for sure that it stopped several times, just to mock my frustration and I swear it was even going backwards at some point.

Due to the quake our flight was transferred to land at another airport and Dad hired another car, more waiting... eventually we arrived at a hospital in LA. They had people all over the place, all staff were called in to cope with the influx. Dad managed to check the hospital to see if Bella had been admitted but her name never came up. So Dad and I volunteered to go out to the worst affected area. My heart sank as we got closer, there where power lines down, buildings were crushed, it was utter devastation. My hopes of finding Bella alive and well were highly unlikely in this mess and my heart ached at the thought of her trapped out here somewhere. I hadn't realized that sobs were escaping until my fathers hand clasped my shoulder.

"If she's out here, we'll find her Edward." He said confidently, I wish I shared that confidence. We were taken to the make shift hospital tent that had been set up on the beach and we were put into a group led by a fireman, who asked us to call him Arrow. Along with two European body builders called Ben and Liam. Dad and I went to start looking for survivor's in a street not far from the beach. It seemed to be a mix of business's and residential buildings and many people were lining the street and crying after loved ones trapped. Starting at the first building Arrow entered first trying to gage if it was safe for us to enter. Once he was sure it was safe enough we entered and started to sift through the debris, according to residents two people were still in here. It took us an hour to dig out the first a young girl of six, she was bruised and scared but otherwise she was fine. I found an elderly gentleman trapped and kept him talking whilst the others dug him out, that took another hour, he was unhurt.

The next building only had one person left inside and that building was in far worse a state, floors and furniture were everywhere and our calls got no responses. It took two and a half hours to find the woman and get her out, but the poor soul was not so lucky, she was already dead. By the time we got to the next building we were joined by Dimitri, who bought with him some heat seeking equipment which meant that we could prioritize our search. Five people in the next building but only four showed up, but at least we could scale down the search time, knowing where they were buried under the piles of rubble and furniture. It was my job to keep the victims calm whilst they were dug out, which meant I had chance to sit and get a drink, it was sweltering in the heat.

Eventually as it got later and later, our team was relieved and we were taken to a hotel and given something to eat, I was just moving automatically. I was told to get my head down for a few hours and then we'd go back out there, I took a quick shower and fell into a bed. I tried to sleep but all I could think about was the thought of my Bella somewhere out there trapped and dying. I must have slept eventually, as my father came in to wake me when it was light enough to get out there again. I was horrified to find that things were getting worse, as building after building was cleared, more dead were coming out and my hopes were slowly getting more and more crushed as time went on, as we were clearing one building, Arrow was checking out the next. As we come out of the latest building to be cleared I felt knots spasm in my stomach, but I ignored it. I could see a girl around my age crying and begging Liam to find her friend Marie. I went in to find Arrow, as I neared him my arms tingled with goose flesh, which was weird, it was so damn hot that even the stagnant air in the buildings melted any breeze.

"Eddie boy." Arrow called, "I need you to come and talk to Marie here, until we can work out how to get her out without the whole place coming down." He whispered as he led me over to a pile of floorboards and furniture, I could see a hand sticking out. "Marie, this is Eddie, he's going to stay and talk to you whilst we work on getting you out." Arrow said to her.

I crouched down to take hold of the tiny hand, before I had even made contact I could feel the electricity fizz between our fingers, only one person on the planet had that effect on me. "Bella?" I gasped as I grasped her hand in both of mine. I got no reply but I felt her squeeze my hand. "Bella, is it really you?" I asked again, she squeezed my hand twice. "It's me... it's Edward." I sobbed, I'd found her, she didn't answer though. "Can you speak?" I asked, trying to keep the fear from my voice, she squeezed my hand once. "Is the squeezing once for no and twice for yes?" I asked, she squeezed my hand twice in conformation. "Bella, is... is the baby alright?" I asked suddenly more nervous, she hesitated, then squeezed my hand twice. "Thank god... and you Bella, are you.. hurt?" I asked and received one squeeze, as my dad and Arrow came back.

"Dr C, this is Marie, she is trapped, she's not hurt but her chest is constricted." Arrow said.

"Dad, it's Bella." I interrupted.

"You're sure?" He asked.

"Absolutely." I replied.

"Bella, honey, its Carlisle are you and the baby alright?" Dad asked, two more squeezes.

"Yes." I said.

"How do you know?" He asked me.

"She squeezes my hand, twice for yes, once for no." I informed him.

He nodded, "Bella, Sweetheart, we are going to get you out, but there is a risk of more debris falling so its going to take us sometime, Edward is going to stay with you whilst we work, but we'll have you out just as soon as we can, okay?" Two squeezes.

"Yes." I replied for her, as he and Arrow went off to look at the fallen debris to see how best to start moving it. "Bella?" I asked, two squeezes. "I love you." I told her, she pulled her hand away from mine then pushed my hand open and wrote 'I heart U' on my palm. A sob escaped my lips, I can't believe I've found her. "We're going to get you out and then we're taking you and our daughter home okay?" I said, she took my hand and squeezed it twice.

There were so many things that I needed to say to her, but most were things that I needed to be said face to face and I needed her to answer me. So I had to scale down to questions that could be answered with simple yes or no answers.

"Bella, I need you to know that no one is going to try and take our daughter away from you, you believe me don't you?" Two squeezes, "you said in your letter, 'she,' so I'm guessing we're having a daughter?" Two squeezes. "I can't tell you how happy that makes me, I always wanted a daughter." I told her, I felt her arm gently pulling, jerking but not pulling away, "are, are you crying?" I asked, two squeezes, "Why?" I asked stupidly, then I felt a swell of hope in my heart, "Does it make you happy to know how happy I am about becoming a dad?" I asked. Two squeezes. "Oh my Bella, my love, I will never let anyone harm anyone in my family and you and baby Bella are my family, my life. I would do anything for you... anything, including traveling across the country to dig you out of a collapsed building. My love for you both is unconditional and you need to know that no matter what the circumstances I will stand by your side, so you never ever have to run from me." I told her, her hand was shaking. "I love you both so much." I told her.

~F~

Time seemed to be passing but not much progress had been made when my father came back to us with Arrow. Arrow was here to stay with Bella whilst my father took me outside to talk.

"Bella, love, I need to go outside for a moment, I will leave Arrow here with you and I will be right back okay baby?" I warned her and got two quick squeezes before I released her hand, I wont be long love." I repeated before going outside with my father.

"What's wrong?" I asked him the moment we were out of hearing distance of Bella.

"The cupboard that is on top of Bella is holding up the rest of the floor, to move it would cause the rest of the floor to fall and land on her." He explained.

"Then how the fuck do we get her out?" I growled at him.

"Calm down Edward, I think there might be a way, but..." he paused.

"No buts, we do whatever it takes." I stated.

"Its still risky Son, but there might be a way around it."

"Go on." I encouraged.

"We have managed to make a small gap through to her from the other side of the building, but its too tight for us to get through." He explained.

"But I can?" I asked.

"Yes... maybe... but Edward, if you get to her it will be a tight fit and you are going to have to lift the cupboard up and get her to move out of the way. And then put something back in her place to hold it up.." I didn't wait for my Dad to finish.

"Show me where I can get to her." I instructed.

"Its still extremely dangerous Son, I'd never let you do this for anyone but her." He said.

"I'd do anything for her, just show me." I said and he showed me around the building to a side entrance.

It was difficult working our way across the debris without causing more to fall, but once there I carefully started to crawl on my hands and knees through the small gap.

"Be careful and good luck Son." My father whispered as I began to work my way through the small gap, sharp edges and broken, splintered wood sticking out from all angles. The way ahead got smaller and smaller until I could see Bella's legs, twisted at odd angles, once I reached her I placed my hand on her calf.

"Bella, I'm right here and I'm going to get you out." I informed her, I heard a tiny whimper and she moved her hand to reach for me. "Bella I need you to listen carefully, I'm going to try and lift the cupboard off you, but I won't be able to pull you free. You are going to have to get yourself out whilst I hold the cupboard off you, do you understand?" I asked her, she squeezed my hand twice, "that's my girl."

I tried to stand up but there wasn't enough room, so I had to stoop down, "Are you ready Bella? If so give me a thumbs up?" I said and she did just that, "the second you feel the weight off you, start to work your way out okay?" I asked and got another thumbs up. "Okay here goes." I said and with everything I had I tried to lift the cupboard off her, fuck it was heavy with the weight of the upper floor on top of it. The moment it budged Bella began to move, I could feel the strain in all my muscles and I had barely lifted it, just enough to take the weight, it was an immense weight, the very second that she was free, Bella shuffled to her feet. "Bella I need you to take off my hard hat and place it under the cupboard where you were." I instructed and she did as I asked and I eased the cupboard down again and prayed it would hold, but now we were in darkness as the only light was coming from my hat. Slowly and carefully we eased our way out, I sent Bella out first, once we were free of the debris I scooped her into my arms and carried her outside. She flung her arms around my neck and hung on to me tightly. The sight of her and her baby bump swelled my heart that had been silent for so long, now it beat loud and strong in my chest.

Back outside in the darkening twilight I reached my father who ushered us into an awaiting vehicle, to take us down the the first aid tent on the beach. A girl came screaming up to us, I recognised her from earlier. She insisted on coming with us, I rested Bella on my lap and stared into her eyes.

"You came for me?" Bella cried and pressed her face into my chest.

"Baby I would do anything for you two." I said placing my free hand on her large bump. "Anything, I love you." I said.

"I love you, so much." She sobbed and the girl beside me cried out.

"No, Marie... No."

Bella looked up startled. "I-I'm sorry Angela, I could never return your feelings, my heart always has and always will belong to Edward." She said causing the girl to cry some more.

I couldn't help myself, I lifted Bella's face to meet mine, slowly, softly I stroked my lips across hers, trying to gage her reaction, she pulled me to her and kissed me with fervour.

Once on the beach my father checked Bella over, it was a miracle that she wasn't hurt, just some minor cuts and bruises, but his priority now was to get her home. She clung to me almost as tightly as I hung on to her, she said goodbye to her friends and allowed me to take her back to my hotel, where she only had a small bag of belongings but no clothes. I bought her some clean clothes to change into for tomorrow and I ran us a bath once we got to our room.

"May I join you both?" I asked her and she gladly welcomed me to, much to my relief.

So I sat in the warm bath with my Bella between my legs and leaning against my chest, I wrapped my arms around her and placed them both over her beautifully swollen belly. Once we were settled, Bella moved my hand and pressed it into her belly, I felt something strong push against my hand and I gasped. "Was that..?" I said completely enthralled, staring at my hand in awe.

"That was our new kicker." She whispered, I chuckled, I couldn't believe it, it felt so unreal.

Once the water began to cool, I helped Bella out of the bath and helped her get dry, she was still shy and quiet, I helped her dress for bed in one of my t-shirts and a pair of my boxers. Seeing my clothes on her again made my heart swell, but seeing them stretched over her belly like that did strange things to my insides. I felt so many different emotions it was confusing, worth, pride, love, are the ones I could put a name to.

I took her hand in mine, "come, please will you sleep in my arms?" I asked, a little unsure.

She took my hand and lifted the other one to my face. "Edward... I never want to sleep anywhere but in your arms ever again for the rest of my life."

"Come then, lets get some sleep, as tomorrow I'm taking you home." I said as I lifted her up and then placed her on the bed where I crawled in next to her, wrapping my arms around her. Then for the first time in what felt like a very very long time I slept through the night with my girl and my daughter in my arms and I was free from nightmares and happier than I thought I'd ever be again.