A/N: I don't own Twilight. Stephanie Meyers does, I am just obsessed with them.

This is the first thing I've ever written.

If you feel so inclined, please leave a review. I would appreciate any words of encouragement or ideas that would make me a better writer.

Sincere thank you to my Beta Yeah Her.

Chapter 3: Bella's Point of View

Renee cradled me in an embrace. It felt so good. Renee was not always so demonstrative in her love. I never doubted that either of my parents loved me, they were just a bit detached. I am sure I would have been stunted emotionally if not for the love of the Cullen's. I never felt like they were a substitute for my real family, they were a much needed extension. As Renee rocked me in her arms, neither one of us spoke as Phil awkwardly stood by. What are the words you use when faced with such a situation?

I was reeling from shock and disbelief. I just kept repeating to myself that this cannot be happening to us. I have always felt blessed, that Edward and I lived a sort of fairy tale. Well I was now in anything but a fairy tale.

Renee's POV:

In this moment Bella was my baby girl again. She looks so empty already, like a frightened animal. Her eyes were darting, she was not crying or speaking. I have never witnessed a connection like hers and Edwards. What if he is not coming back? Can she survive this? I have never felt more inadequate as a mother as I do right now. Carlisle and Esme called to tell me what happened and instructed me to go to Bella. They said they would be arriving by eight this evening. I told them I did not know what to do to comfort her. I knew I was being needy and immature it was their son who was taken; but it was the Cullen's that were reassuring me. They told me that my presence was what she needed right now.

After we broke from our embrace I started to make myself busy, I began with mundane chores and started to straighten the house. I told Bella that all six Cullen's would be arriving about eight this evening. Phil and I turned the living/dining room into a sort of Command Post. We set up tables and chairs and positioned the television so we can all see in case there was any breaking news. I put out some pads and pens for note taking. I was desperately trying to feel useful. I knew Bella was not ready to talk so I just assured her that I was here for her. I offered to make a light lunch and surprisingly she accepted. When she began to eat she got a panicked look on her face. "What if they are not feeding him? What if he is hurt? Mom, where is he, where is my Edward"? Bella then burst into tears and ran into the bathroom. Phil and I just exchanged pained expressions. How can we help her?

Bella's Point of View:

I feel like I am loosing it. I have never felt so helpless and numb in all my life. I want to pull myself together because I know that Edward needs me. I have to help find him. As I close my eyes I can see his stunning green eyes and crooked smile before me. I start to remember our college years. It was the first time we lived together. We got an apartment off campus. My dad tried to protest at first but knew we were going to do it with or without our parents' blessing. He figured I would be safer living with Edward anyway. It was paradise. We knew each other so well that we just fell into living together so easily. The freedom to not have someone walk in on us was so freeing sexually. This is when our intimacy really developed. Edward was always a gentle and considerate lover, but now we were free to explore. And did we explore! What can I say? We were college students and we loved to do research. These cherished memories were just too much for me to endure. Good thing I was locked up in the bathroom. The little that I ate came right back up. I remember our first semester in college. We went to a party and I got so drunk that when we got home I became ill. Edward held my hair and rubbed my back. Afterward he helped me wash up and rinse my mouth and put me to bed. He always took such tender care of me. Will everything remind me of him and our time together? I am certain that it will.

I left the bathroom and went back to the living room with Renee and Phil. It was already six o'clock in the evening. I did not realize that I was in the bathroom that long. Esme and Carlisle and the rest of the family would be here shortly and as much as I needed them I just know that seeing them will overwhelm me. I want to be strong but I don't know if I can.

As I sit numbly in the chair I wonder why I cannot feel the connection to Edward. We have always been able to communicate with each other no matter how far apart we were. Since he has been in Africa we have been able to feel this bond at least twice. One time I got the distinct feeling that Edward was lost and starting to panic. Edward never had the best sense of direction and we often joked about it. When either of us got the feeling that the other was trying to communicate telepathically so to speak, we would try to answer and help each other. I started to send calming feelings his way and told him if he would just relax he would get his bearings and his sense of direction would return. He was going to be fine. Sure enough the first letter I received from him told of the day he got lost. He said he went into town to pick up supplies and lost his way. He started to panic because there really were not any good landmarks. Then he said he just started to think of me and asked himself; "what would Bella do"? After that he said he was able to calm down and get a sense of where he was and which direction he needed to go. It was uncanny. The second time, while he was in the field, we felt this mystical connection while I was sleeping. I was woken up by the sound of his voice. I felt calmness overtake me and I could hear him as clear as if he was in the room with me. He warned me that there was a fire in the garage and I needed to call for help and get out of the house. I went immediately. I trusted his message without question. Sure enough when the fire department arrived, they were able to stop the fire before any real damage was done.

Why can't I hear him now!