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Table of Contents

Summary

1. Chapter 1 – Stealing Kisses
2. Chapter 2 Higher
3. Chapter 3 Taking Chances
4. Chapter 4 Honestly Now
5. Chapter 5 Lifeline
6. Chapter 6 I'll be your Shelter
7. Chapter 7 In Your Eyes
8. Chapter 8: Warm Safe Place
9. Chapter 9 Run
10. Chapter 10 Quiet Nights
11. Chapter 11 Midnight Rambler
12. Chapter 12 When We Dance
13. Chapter 13 In Your Wildest Dreams
14. Chapter 14 Overjoyed
15. Chapter 15 If Walls Could Talk
16. Epilogue Evergreen

- 3 -

Summary

Bella needs to make some changes in her life, which includes getting away from

her abusive husband, Jacob. After a romantic encounter with Edward Cullen, she
chooses to divorce Jake, but not before he tries to kill her. Edward stays by her side,
vowing to save her from this nightmare, and to put Jacob in prison.

- 4 -

Chapter 1 – Stealing Kisses

Chapter 1 – Stealing Kisses

"'I was stealing kisses from a boy, now I'm begging affection from a man in my

housedress. Don't you know who I am? Don't you know who I am? I'm stealing
kisses." Stealing Kisses by Faith Hill

For the past 3 years, Bella Swan had endured more pain with Jacob Black than she

had ever experienced in her life. He had hurt her with words, manipulated her heart
with every emotional trick he could use. Bella had lost herself within Jacob and his
messy life. She should have been canonized for all of the effort and work she had put
into this long dead relationship. While sitting in the waiting room of her therapist,
Bella thought about some of the things she had done for him.

Nothing has ever worked, she thought. I tried everything for him. I tended to

every detail of our home, gave up my dreams of dancing and design just for Jake. I
gave up wanting children so that he wouldn't be bothered by them. I let myself just
fade away. That was all it took for the tears to come rolling down her cheeks. She
hid her face into her Bible once again, not wanting the receptionist to wonder about
her. Bella didn't want to call attention to her self any longer. Jake told her she
wasn't worthy of other people acknowledging her. That was one of the reasons why
she had to make up a lie about coming here to see her 9th therapist in the past 16
years.

They had all given Bella insight into her life, and she had come a long way from

her horrendous childhood. There was no doubt in her mind that her dad's alcoholism
had played a big part in her life. Every choice, good or bad, had honestly come from
this. Her dad had never approved of her dancing or design. Bella was told by her
mom that any form of art was simply an expensive hobby; that she needed to buckle
down and choose a solid career. The burn from that memory still hurt Bella in that
moment, as if it had occurred a minute before.

"Bella? Pardon me.." a gentle voice pulled her out of her mental dwelling.

"Oh, I am so sorry . I was just lost in thought. Are you Sarah?"

"Yes. Please come on back to my office. It is so good to meet you."

Sarah Stidham was Bella's new therapist, and she had a calming affect on her.

- 5 -

Her office was much more like a cozy spot for tea with Sarah's porcelain doll
collection on a far shelf. There were 2 sofas with chenille blankets thrown over
them, and the room had the softest pastel color pattern. Immediately, Bella felt at
home, and something about this room captivated her, as if she could have a room
just like this in her dream house. She simply walked toward the middle of this room,
and took it in with all of her senses. The smell of orchids and hydrangeas filled her
with a vibrancy she had lost so long ago. A peaceful memory of playing on her
grandmother's porch flooded her mind.

"Please forgive me," Bella said. "Your office is just so very calming, and I guess I

have just…just been so stressed out with him. All I can do anymore is cry."

"Thank you, Bella. I believe that in order for the process of therapy to go well, an

individual must be comfortable. I aspired for this room to be just that – a safe haven
for healing. Something tells me you are looking for just that."

"Yes, yes I am. Jacob is my husband, but he is no longer in love with me. I don't

know if he ever was. I do so much for him, though, and I keep thinking that if I try
the right thing, say the right thing, wear the right thing that everything will be okay
again. That he will love me again, and maybe we can try to have children. He has
some anger issues that I keep hoping he will get help with, but he says therapy will
not work for him. He's tried every kind of medication for his depression, but,
according to Jake, nothing works for him. The meds only make him angrier. And I
am so tired of trying so hard to solve his problems, so exhausted by his emotions. I
want to make his life better so that we can get on with our life. I'm sorry the way
this just came out, Sarah. I had to get all of it out before I exploded."

"Bella, you don't have to apologize for the things you say in here. If that is the way

you need to get your feelings out, then, do it in that method. Remember, you are
paying me, so you have control of this my dear. But, it sounds to me that your
husband has control of you in ways you may not know."

"Please tell me," Bella said. "I have to finally get to the heart of the problem.

Addressing the symptoms of this just won't cut it for me any longer."

The session continued for almost an hour, and Bella's eyes were finally opened to

what ripped her life apart. It wasn't just the alcoholism or Jacob's cruelties he pilled
upon her. They were part of the symptoms. One word finally cleared the emotional
fog she had been in for years –codependency. It shook Bella to her core, made her
feel just enough anger and motivation to take this knowledge and put it to use.
Sarah gave her a book title to look up, Codependent No More by Melody Beattie.
Bella was going to stop by the book store to pick up a copy before going back home.

- 6 -

While driving, Bella thought about that word – home. The place they had was not

really a home because there was no love there. It physically symbolized how their
marriage had fallen apart. The broken leg of the coffee table, the ripped up futon
that had so many stains, the dingy carpet in the bedroom - just thinking about that
place made Bella sick to her stomach. The house had so much promise years ago,
but Jacob had no interest in restoring it. All he wanted to do in his free time was to
watch wrestling and sleep. Taking care of their home was not even on his list of
priorities. So Bella took it upon herself to make the place more to his liking. She
painted the bedroom a dark blue so he would sleep better. She cleaned the yard
without his assistance so that he wouldn't be hindered with that responsibility. Bella
had it down to a fine science, and she had written out the details in her home caring
journal. If nothing else, she was meticulous to a fault. Jacob never had to lift a finger
to dust or cook, but he certainly knew how to lift his legs so she could run the
vacuum underneath.

She mulled over this in her brain till she arrived at the book store. Something

about the written word simply got to her. Jacob always hated how she read all the
time, at least when she wasn't tending to his needs. There was an unexpected joy in
her heart at that moment as she opened the door, something that she was not
overlooking. There was a pull towards the home and garden section. Bella stopped
immediately as she came upon this section, only to discover the reason she was
compelled to walk over here.

He was tall and lanky, with a profile that was heart rendering. His hair was the

most fascinating mix of auburn and brown that she had ever seen. Everything about
this man spoke volumes to her, and Bella had to know who he was. She had a rush of
images in her head, some that had been dormant for years. The stone cottage she
had always dreamed of suddenly became clear, along with the sound of children
laughing. She heard a soft whisper of a gentle voice telling her of his unconditional
love for her. This man in front of her was here for more than to simply peruse the
titles of books on home repair. He was here for her to bring her back to life. Bella
was assured of that as she walked closer to him.

"Excuse me, but I could not help but notice you were looking at the same book I

have been trying to get a copy of for some time. That is The Gentle Art of
Domesticity, isn't it?"

He looked towards Bella, showing her the gentlest smile she had seen in ages. "It

is", he replied. "I am here to pick up a copy for my mom. She has been desperate to
get her hands on it. I, on the other hand, am having no luck finding the book I came
to buy. I'm Edward, by the way."

- 7 -

"I'm Bella. Which book are you looking for? I have an extensive collection of home

repair books at my home." Suddenly, she questioned why this information came out
of her mouth so easily. This was the only hesitation she felt, and Bella wondered if
Edward was going to think she had ulterior motives. "Well, " he began, "I'm actually
looking for 2 books. One on wood floors, and one for one of my criminal justice
classes. I haven't gotten over to the crime section. Did you want the other copy of
The Gentle Art of Domesticity? Ironically, there are exactly 2 copies, as if one was
meant for you and one for my mom. "

His words gently stunned her, but Bella was not going to stand there mumbling

incoherent words. She pulled her thoughts together quickly. "Please, I really would
like one for my own library. You must like to read, Edward. That is something that I
look for in a friend." She wanted him as a friend, but she wanted him as so much
more. Bella was not about to fight this feeling that was resonating deep with her
soul.

"I enjoy reading a great deal," Edward replied. "My siblings tend to call me a

bookworm. But I honestly don't have too many friends that like books as much as
you seem to, Bella." The way he said he name simply captivated her. "Would you
mind if I bought you some coffee? That is if you are not in a hurry. I would love to
get to know you better, and it would be my honor to have a beautiful woman like you
sitting across from me for a spell."

Awestruck, Bella smiled and responded yes to his question. She had not been told

she was beautiful in such a long time. It was almost a foreign word she felt that he
was using to describe her. Edward had her completely then, as if Jake had never
existed. In Bella's mind, Jacob was gone, and she had no place for him in her heat
anymore. She would no longer be at his mercy for affection or kind words. He no
longer had control over her emotions or her actions. This was the beginning of the
break of her codependency cycle. This was Bella beginning her life over.

- 8 -

Chapter 2 Higher

Greetings, you all! Thanks for all of the love you have been showing me and

TPASAA! To one of my best friends, Josie, you are a fabulous writer! Your stories are
beyond awesome! Please look up Tufano79 and read her fanfics. You will be no less
than floored! Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight, but I get to work with her characters.
On to the good stuff….

Chapter 2 Higher

"'Cause there's a hunger, a longing to escape from this life I live when I'm awake.

So let's go there. Let's make our escape. C'mon let's go there. Let's ask can we stay.
Can you take me higher?'" Higher by Creed

Edward Cullen was lost in a deep thought. What was driving these men, these

criminals to behave as they did? He was reading Inside the Criminal Mind By Dr.
Samenow, and Edward was trying to wrap his intense mind around this information.
The thought that all criminals basically share the same mind set that was derived
from their childhoods was rolling around in his mind. He set the book down on his
desk, knowing he was getting wrapped up in this book. If he wanted to be an
investigator, though, Edward felt he needed to learn as much as possible about
crime and the roots of this subject.

All of his life, Edward had dreamed of being an investigator. He began reading by

the age of three, due to his mother continually reading to him. When most of the
kids were reading Dr. Seuss, he was burying his nose in the adventures of Sherlock
Holmes. If he came across anything he didn't understand, Edward would approach
his mom with his questions. He was fascinated with solving mysteries, as if he were
continually putting together the pieces of a puzzle. Deductive reasoning, patterns,
and logic had a stronghold on his mind.

Now he was trying to finish his master's degree in criminal justice, with an

emphasis on criminology. Edward had taken some time off from work to finish his
studies. He had been working in the forensics department of the crime scene
investigation department. He categorized the evidence that was brought in by the
detectives. He had caught the eye of the head of the department through his hard
work and dedication. It was paying off, because as soon as he was given his degree,
he would be the new investigator for the crime scene unit.

Life looked great for Edward, but he was missing something. His all consuming

- 9 -

love of education, as well as his pursuit of his dream, had kept him from seeking out
this something more. There were solid friendships in his life, and Edward's family
was ideal. If he ever wanted to have a girlfriend, there were plenty of women that
would love to fulfill that position. But they were all too similar to him for his tastes;
they were not what he wanted. Edward could only picture a woman by his side if she
were just different enough, and intelligent enough to keep him on his toes.
Everything else would fall into place after that was evident. It wasn't that he didn't
want to show her his feelings. No, one important thing about Edward Cullen was his
romantic streak that was a mile wide.

He envisioned showering the woman he loved with so much affection. He wanted

to give his entire heart to her, holding nothing back. There would be beautiful
intimate moments and nights filled with passion. Edward wanted to love a woman
authentically, unconditionally; to treat her as the goddess he knew she was. He had
the love letters almost written in his head, if not on his heart. He knew how to love a
woman, physically and emotionally. While he wasn't actively pursuing this dream,
Edward knew there was a woman who he was going to cherish, protect, loyally
serve, and love beyond all sanity. He smiled at this, thinking to him self that she was
most likely engrossed in a book. He might find his dream girl in a library, or perhaps
a bookstore.

Okay, Cullen. Enough with the daydreaming because you have a project that

needs your attention! These floors aren't going to be repaired by simply staring at
them. His father was coming over later that evening to help Edward begin the floor
repair his home needed. He liked to work around his house, and he was rather good
with making minor repairs. It gave him a feeling of accomplishment that he could
take care of the place that was sheltering not only him, but his dreams as well. That
included his dream of a family one day, but that was down the road. Using his logic,
though, Edward was certain he didn't know as much as he needed to about repairing
wood floors. When he was uncertain about a subject, Edward found his way to a
book, no less, but he didn't have any literature about wood floors. He could use the
internet, but he preferred the old fashioned way – the printed word.

The book store was calling his name, apparently, and he remembered he wanted

to pick up another book by Dr. Samehow. Edward performed a quick change of
clothes, feeling the need to look good. Yet he wanted to look more than good. He
took out his favorite black polo, along with his jeans. While he was never content
with his hair, he brushed it so it wasn't terribly out of place. Then he took out his
favorite cologne bottle. It was square and very blue – Cool Water. No other men's
fragrance had ever smelled as good as this one to him. It was his signature
fragrance. One last glance at his reflection and he was pleased with what he saw.

- 10 -

He took a quick glance at his calendar before grabbing his keys. Edward reminded

himself to pick up something for his mom's birthday. She too was an avid fan of the
written word. Immediately, he remembered the title of a book she wanted, because
it was different. The Gentle Art of Domesticity. He would find a copy during his visit
to the store.

Once he was settled into the driver's seat of his car, he put in a music disc, pushed

random, and let the sounds take over his thoughts. Edward's mind was working at a
fast pace today, which wasn't unusual for him, but there were moments when it was
more of a hindrance. Over time he had discovered music was a soothing mechanism
for this quirk. He had diverse tastes in music; at this moment he was soaking up
songs from a group called Creed. The lyrics from "Higher" were ingrained into his
mind, for Edward felt a connection with the emotions that were captured within it.

Upon arrival at the bookstore, Edward noticed that he felt somewhat anxious

when he pulled the door open. It was not a feeling of dread or fearfulness; quite the
opposite. He had never looked so forward to being in that place before, and he just
was not certain about the reason. Edward was a man of logic and practicality, and
he was seeking an answer as to why he felt a charge of electricity in the air. The
closer he walked to the books on home and gardening, this emotion became more
intense, almost a life force. He was almost looking for a distraction from this when
he saw the book for his mom.

There was suddenly a specific fragrance in the air that captivated him. Edward

knew that scent, almost as if it had been attached to a childhood memory. Love.
Comfort. Joy. Yet it was more than a simple sensory recollection for him. He saw
himself staring into his soul-mate through endlessly dark brown eyes. There were
small children happily playing in the backyard of a stone cottage. There was a
woman, lying in his arms, reflecting love towards him. For just a moment, Edward
was dumbstruck by the intensity of all of this, until he looked up from the book.

He had finally gotten the answer to his question as to why he felt this charge of

electricity. A petite, curvy woman with endlessly dark brown eyes was standing not
even three feet from him. And Edward knew she was the woman upon whom he was
to lavish love and tenderness. There was a brief second where he thought she was
fearful of him, but she erased that with the gentleness of her smile. "Excuse me, but
I couldn't help but notice you were looking at the same book I have been trying to
get a copy of for some time. That is The Gentle Art of Domesticity, isn't it?"

Edward could hear the lyrics to "Higher" running through his mind. He could not

help but to smile at this petite beauty. "It is," he replied. "I am here to pick up a copy
for my mom. She has been desperate to get her hands on it. I, on the other hand, am

- 11 -

having no luck finding the book I came here to buy. I'm Edward, by the way." This
woman had said few words to him, but he was completely and totally enraptured
with her.

"I'm Bella. Which book are you looking for? I have an extensive collection of home

repair books at my home." Oh, how he wanted to learn all about her home, and how
he wanted to be her home. "Well," he began, "I'm actually looking for two books.
One on wood floors, and one for one of my criminal justice classes. I haven't gotten
over to the crime section. Did you want the other copy of The Gentle Art of
Domesticity? Ironically, there are exactly two copies, as if one was meant for you
and one for my mom."

As they stood facing each other, Edward saw a type of fear in her eyes. Not

towards him, but he intrinsically knew there was an anxiety in her soul. There was
an urgency in him to protect Bella, but he had no idea from what was he protecting
her from. Or was it an individual that had control of her in uncomfortable manner?
All at once, her words pulled him out of his mind and back into focus. "Please, I
would really like one for my own library. You must really like to read, Edward. That
is something I look for in a friend." He wanted her as a friend, but he wanted her as
so much more.

"I enjoy reading a great deal," he replied. "My siblings tend to call me a

bookworm. But I honestly don't have as many friends that seem to enjoy books as
much as you do, Bella." Edward was hoping to spend more time with this beauty.
"Would you mind if I bought you some coffee? That is if you're not in a hurry. I
would love to get to know you better, and it would be my honor to have a beautiful
woman like you sitting across from me for a spell." His words were honest to the
core of his heart.

The smile on Bella's face gave away her enthusiasm for having coffee with

Edward. From this moment on, he knew that she was to captivate him with every
glimpse of those endlessly chocolate eyes. Their romance was going to be one for
the ages, and he was going to surrender all of himself to her, to their union. His
mind was clear of any doubt because he knew that, beyond this initial fear he saw in
her eyes, Edward felt a life force from Bella. It would all truly begin with her, that
was his life. She was there to help him to become more of the man he longed to be.
He was to serve her in all ways necessary to rid her of the anxiety he felt that ran
through her. And always, he knew he was to protect this angel.

Thank you all for reading this chapter. I spent much time in developing Edward's

character, because I love exploring his depth, intelligence, as well as his romantic
side. I am very enthusiastic about this story, and I hope you are as well. Please leave

- 12 -

any reviews or comments you may wish to post. I will be working on chapter 3
rather soon. I also recommend reading "A Nerd Story of Love," by the delightful
Josie Beckmann! It is one of my top five favorite fanfiction stories of all time. Thank
you all!

- 13 -

Chapter 3 Taking Chances

To Protect and Serve an Angel

Thank you all for reading and for posting your comments. I am very appreciative

of all Cullen Confection's excellent beta skills. You are the best, my dear! To all of
my wonderful TwiSisters at The Lemonade Stand, I love you all. I have to send out
extra special thank you's to Josie, Isabelle, Kiki, Crystal, Sandra, and Leslie. If I
forgot any one, please accept my apology! Stephenie Meyer owns everything, but, I
have the joy of working with her characters. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter 3 Taking Chances

"' You don't know about my past. I don't have a future figured out. And maybe this

is going too fast. And maybe it's not meant to last. But what do you say to taking
chances? What do you say to jumping off the edge? Never knowing if there's solid
ground below. Or hand to hold. Or hell to pay. What do you say?'" Celine Dion,
Taking Chances.

The ambiance in the coffee shop across from the book store was dreamy, at least

to Edward and Bella. It was obvious they were feeling the intense pull towards the
other. The lush jazz music played in the café mirrored emotions that neither could
have expressed yet. It was vintage Nat King Cole, filling the room with the strings of
"When I Fall in Love," and Bella had to smile. She remembered dancing on her
daddy's feet when she was a child to this very song. She was brought back to the
present by Edward's gentle caress of her fingers.

"Bella? I hate to interrupt your pleasant daydream, but I have to tell you that I am

completely enjoying our time together. I never realized how fascinating this place is,
and just from what you have told me of yourself, I can easily picture you here."

She greeted his face with an enchanting smile of which he was becoming deeply

fond. "Thank you for the compliment, Edward. Indeed, there is something about this
place that speaks to my heart, authentically. Take, for example, that these coffee
cups are not generic or bland. Quite the contrary, as I asked the owner where she
purchased them, since I want some for my own. She told me they came from flea
markets in Paris and various estate sales. They have so much more character than a
common cup. One can only imagine who drank from these once upon a time."

Never before had Bella engaged in a conversation, such as the one she was having

- 14 -

with Edward Cullen, with Jacob. She was absolutely taken back by the words that
were coming from within her. She laughed with ease, spoke with a new kind of
confidence, and realized she was having just as good a time as her company.
Edward was the man with whom she wanted a future, despite the fact she was
married to that other vile man. Both of them were sharing an intimacy that was
beyond this café – it was beyond either of them or this time period. They saw each
other's soul, and the longing for something more in their lives. Edward and Bella
were like a reincarnation of all the great loves of the centuries, and they knew this
intrinsically.

Cherished hours and conversation had passed, and the continual exchange of their

mutual love, while not so much through words, had not gone unnoticed by another
individual. The owner approached them, showing them her gratitude by offering the
cups as a gift. "You two need these to physically represent the beginning of your life
together. " She smiled at them, and neither was going to question her statement.
Edward was certain that Bella was to be the beautiful lady in his future, in his life.
After many years of confusion, chaos, and discontentment, Bella was eager to
embrace all of the wonderful changes she knew were coming her way. This man had
brought more than just a smile to her face; he was the person that had assisted her
to bring her dreams back from the dead. He was beyond vital to her, as she knew
God had a plan for them.

Some would call it throwing caution to the wind. Others called it what it was –

taking chances. Bella had not openly defied Jacob in this manner before, but she had
never allowed herself to fully live. That afternoon, that glorious afternoon, had
finally brought her to her senses. Until that day, Bella had been a missing woman,
and her authentic self had finally caught up with her. She could see with her eyes
that she, before today, had been a shadow of the woman she was becoming. The
moment had come when Bella knew no one on this planet had the right to keep her
from her new found joy. Her birthright was not fear, and of that, Bella was certain.
She had already been in hell, but there was a hand pulling her up from this pit.

The light of day was almost gone when she pulled into the driveway. Her desire to

go inside this house was minimal. Bella knew she was no longer defined as Jacob's
wife, or the caretaker of this excuse for a home. At that moment, she felt sorry for
the place that had sheltered "them." It could have been much more, just like their
marriage, and that was the only regret in her heart. Bella had cried far too many
tears over both of these subjects, and she had put forth much of her life's energy
towards them. As if she were looking in the rearview mirror of her life, Bella
understood how she had to experience this struggle; she also knew the time to let it
all go was approaching.

- 15 -

Sweet Father in heaven, thank you for Your love, for all that you have given me.

Gather me up close to you as I put on the breastplate of righteousness. Shield me
with your truth, God, and make me an instrument of Your peace. Above all else, help
me to love you with all of my existence. And I know with You, all things are possible.
Amen.

It was within those brief moments that Edward's love for Bella was solidified. His

first act of protecting her was to follow her home, to assure Bella he would keep her
safe. He saw it coming, as he was to be a witness to a horrendous act of violence.
Running, it felt like endless running towards his damsel in distress, and the white
hot anger coursed through his body. He saw firsthand what Jacob was capable of,
and there was only one word for it- psychopath.

I must apologize for not updating recently. My two year old son, Caleb, recently

broke my glasses, and I wrote this chapter while wearing the side of my glasses that
still had the lens attached. A HUGE thank you to my dear friend, Isabelle, who is
assisting me with this situation. This chapter was written in a large burst of
creativity that took hold of me. I hope you are enjoying this piece as much as I am.
Please leave any comments you wish to express. Thank you!

- 16 -

Chapter 4 Honestly Now

Chapter 4 Honestly Now (Safety's just Danger…Out of Place)

Disclaimer : I don't own Twilight.

I need to thank the divine Kitty Masen for her mad beta skills. You rock, my dear!

"'Truly now people play tricks on your mind. Shadows only fall far from

behind…Trying to describe an angel's face. Safety's just danger.'" Harry Connick, Jr.

Jacob Black had gotten into a very dark place within the past few years, but it

would not surprise anyone who had known him for some time. He was married to a
woman who would do anything to please him, including setting aside her own needs.
It just was not enough. He had been going from job to job lately, never staying in
one position very long. There was something off about his behavior, and that he
never socialized with others. Continuously, Jacob was pulling himself away from
Bella, as well as his family.

There were warning signs that were getting more obvious, but he had not done

anything that had warranted the attention of law enforcement. He had been using
people like objects for years, without any remorse on his side. Countless women had
given him sexual pleasure, and Bella knew nothing of this. Jacob just did not care if
she knew or not, but she had turned the other cheek on this matter years ago. Their
marriage was emotionless on his part.

Just a few weeks ago, Bella had cut her had while slicing vegetables in the

kitchen, and it was a rather nasty gash that was a few inches long. He paid her no
attention as she cried in pain for help. She drove herself to the hospital for stitches
while Jacob stayed behind, stewing in his own narcissistic thoughts. He took off,
driving to find a woman, any woman, who would gratify his needs. Just a few miles
away, he found a prostitute, willing and able to service him. Jacob took whatever she
had to offer, but he was not fully please with her job. Pulling her into a chokehold,
he threw her body against the wall. The prostitute did not die, but she had a
concussion and bruising on her neck.

"Don't come looking for me, bitch. I don't care if you die."

This had become his way of life, feeling nothing and acting upon his desires for his

gratification. Jacob had become numb to the feelings of anyone around him. Today

- 17 -

he was angry, though, because Bella had not yet returned to make his dinner. As the
moments ticked away, his impatience grew steadily. He kicked holes in the wall and
threw glasses against the unused fire place. This was completely unacceptable
behavior for her, and this had never happened in the past. She was there to make
him his meals and to keep this rat hole clean for him.

Bella had pulled up into her driveway, and he saw her just sitting in her car with

her head bent down. He always wondered what she was doing in that moment, but
Jacob was beyond the point of no return. He ran to her door and dragged her out by
her arm. There was blood running down her left temple because Bella had hit her
head on the inside of the car while he pulled her out. Without any hesitation, he
slammed her body against the gravel, kicking her body repeatedly, letting his rage
propel him to take it all out. Jacob yelled bitch at her till his throat was raw, and
then he felt someone pulling at him. He turned to see some man he had never met,
but he would just as easily become a casualty. This was no going to be the case,
though.

The intensive training that Edward has gone through during sessions at the

academy were going to pay off this very moment. He had been drilled to know what
to do when he came into physical confrontation with a suspect. The first thing was to
pull him away from Bella, and keeping her safe was paramount. Edward was not
sure of her injuries, but he was certain she would not die because of this. He pulled
Jacob's right arm around to his back, and pushed his head down onto the car. There
was the sound of police sirens in the background, and Edward said a silent thank
you to God for this. As the squad car pulled up into the driveway, two officers came
beside Edward, holding their guns up for protection. Another officer ran from his car
to Bella's side, calling for an ambulance to assist them.

While Jacob was being detained in the car, Edward answered the many questions

the police were asking him about the circumstances. His mind and his heart were
truthfully on Bella and the extent of the damage she had suffered. The officers
needed to get his statement before they took Jacob down to the station because
Edward was going to the hospital read from his dead eyes was anger. Was it anger
from being caught he wondered. There was certainly no remorse for what he had
done to Bella as far as he could see. It was this kind of person that ironically
fascinated him, to understand what made the wheels of their minds spin. At the
same time, Edward had never felt this filled with rage at another human being.

He slid into the back of the ambulance once the officers were done speaking with

him. The medical techs had informed him about the severity of Bella's injuries; that
they had to get to the hospital immediately. Edward held her dainty hand, studying
her face that was bloodied. Jacob had been too fast for him to stop him from hurting

- 18 -

his angel, and he was going to do everything within his power to help her through
this.

To my audience, let me thank you for reading this latest instalment. There will be

a hea, and that I can promise. I had to take a break from writing due to multiple
reasons, but I am going to continue this as long as I have interest. Please leave your
comments. Thank you for your support. XXOO

- 19 -

Chapter 5 Lifeline

Chapter 5 Lifeline

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Without the help of my beta, Kitty Masen, this story would not be as good as it is.

Thank you for your medical insight because my knowledge of anything that pertains
to the medical world is limited. You are a jewel!

'"You are my lifeline. You are my rescue. Strength in my in my darkness.

You are my safety. Lifter of my head. The air that I need to breathe when I
can't seem to breathe in.'"Mandisa

Upon arrival at Fork's General Medical Centre, Isabella Swan was taken back into

the triage area due to the extent of her injuries. Her pulse was weakening, and her
breathing was shallow. Edward did not want to be separated from her, but he knew
he had to let the physicians and nurses tend to Bella. The emotional weight of the
day was finally getting to him as he headed toward the waiting area. Jacob had come
so close to killing Bella right in front of his eyes, and there had been little Edward
could have done to stop him. As angry as he felt, there was a deep longing to take
care of his battered angel, to take away this intense pain he knew that would surely
follow her.

There were clear images of his future that were flooding his mind and Bella was in

every single one, leaving her signature upon his heart. She was not going to die on a
surgeon's table because she has too much to live for now. He saw their courtship,
filled with romance, and he saw he an heirloom ring that he would give her to
signify their engagement. Bella would walk down the aisle, wearing a white dress,
and the look of love would be shining in her glorious chocolate eyes. Edward was
certain that there was a cottage just waiting for them somewhere, where their
happily ever after could blossom. He could see them in their kitchen, dreaming
together and making plans. On a round table, there were the cups they had been
drinking from earlier in the café. Happy, smiling children were running in through
French doors, asking their mom what was for dinner. These thoughts were so very
real to Edward in this instant that he had not noticed the tears streaming down his
face.

"I cannot begin to imagine the amount of pain that you are feeling at this moment,

my son," a kind voice said, "but please know that God is still in the midst of this."

- 20 -

Edward looked up to see a slightly older man standing in front of him.

"My name is Carlisle Masen," he said as he extended his hand to shake Edward's.

"Do you mind if I have a seat?"

"Certainly. I'm Edward Cullen."

"May I ask you the name of the person that has you so worried?"

"Bella. Her name is Bella Swan."

"Is she your wife, son?"

"No sir, but let's just say she is my angel."

One of the attending physicians came over to Edward to explain what was

happening. Bella needed to have immediate surgery because she had a ruptured
spleen and internal bleeding. Jacob had managed to break three of her ribs on the
left side of her chest. She also had a severe contusion on the back of her head that
would likely result in concussion. The doctor could not rule out the possibility that
Bella could slide into a coma once they were through with the procedures. Edward
heard every single word from his mouth, but he was unable to comprehend the
enormity of it. There was something about having Carlisle nearby while the doctor
was talking to him.

"Edward," Carlisle began as the doctor went back to his rounds, "I will stay with

you while she is in surgery. You need to know you are not alone son. Let's go to the
cafeteria and get something to eat. I would love for you to tell me more about your
angel and just how she came to capture your heart." Even if the food in the hospital
would be less than appetizing, Edward was glad to have someone to keep him
company through this time. He knew he could not face this alone.

-TPASAA-

During their lengthy conversation, Edward learned that Carlisle Masen was a

minister, but he did not pastor a church. He had come from a wealthy background,
and he chose to teach others about the love of God. He had been helping people in
their fight with addictions at the rehabilitation centre for Fork's General. Carlisle
enjoyed reaching out to others, to help teach them that their disease was an
opportunity hidden in disguise. He believed, that through their battle, God was
reaching out to them by way of people like just like himself.

- 21 -

"I'm really nothing more than a vessel, Edward, or a lifeline. People need hope

these days, and right now you need hope. I truly believe everything happens for a
reason. I was walking through the er tonight after I had to escort a patient to the
rehab unit because I had to be there for you. "

"You might be onto something, Carlisle. I am honestly glad our paths did cross

tonight. Is it possible that there is a miracle for Bella?"

"I don't know, son, but if any one deserves it, your lady friend should have one.

None of us predict what will happen. Did you know that you would find the love of
your life this morning when you woke up? I'm sure you did not, but the fact that you
found each other seems like a miracle to me. You need to have faith that our God is
bigger than this, Edward, and that He listens to your prayers. "

Carlisle was telling him exactly what he needed to hear at this moment. He was

offering hope and metaphorical air to breathe. There were no words that he could
say to Carlisle that could express the gratitude in his heart. Inside of the Forks'
General Medical Centre cafeteria, a man returned to his faith, knowing that it would
sustain him indefinitely.

-TPASAA-

After her surgery was completed, Bella was placed in the critical care unit since

she had, indeed, gone into a coma. The doctors had removed her spleen, and she
had received several blood transfusions. According to the medical staff, they felt she
would hopefully come back into consciousness within a few days. It was a ball park
figure honestly, but the longer she remained in a coma, the harder it would be for
her to recover. Once he was granted permission to go into her room, Edward wanted
to only be at her bedside. Carlisle prayed with Edward before he left for the evening,
and he let Edward know he would return the following morning.

Despite the bruising and swelling, Bella still looked angelic. She looked like she

had fallen into a peaceful slumber. He ran his hands over her hair, the mane that he
wanted to run his fingers through that afternoon. How was it that her already dainty
hand seemed even smaller when he closed it up in his? Her entire body was
engulfed in a too big hospital bed. Edward wanted to do more for her. Tomorrow, he
would find a way to get a blanket for her because he worried his angel was cold. And
he wanted a hair brush to gently brush through her tresses. She deserved every
amount of love and affection he could show her.

Edward laid his heavy head down upon her bed, while still holding her hand. He

was not going to leave her room tonight.

- 22 -

-TPASAA-

(A/N – this part of this chapter will be in Bella's unconscious mind)

She saw the look on her father's face, it was that look that told her she had failed

yet again. The tears stung her face as she picked up glass shards from the hallway.
He raged all afternoon after her mom left for her small group meeting. Bella was
only eight years old, and she would be in the competent care of her father. Too bad
he drank all of that beer moments after her mom drove away. The glass cut into her
fingers, leaving tiny pools of blood on the floor waiting to be cleaned.

He was forbidding her to dance. It brought her joy to move to the music, and Bella

had talent. The vision was a mesh of her father's face and Jacob's face. No they said
to her. She took their problems upon her tiny shoulders and she would sustain their
world just a little bit longer. They could not do anything on their own. Bella was
blown about by every single emotional breeze that came her way.

There was a poster of a small child who was missing. She was described as having

brown hair, brown eyes, and a petite stature. Or was that Bella as an adult. The
nothingness that was her life had drowned her into a sea of depression. Had she
died already, or was she in a type of purgatory? She could not feel her body any
longer, but there was something that kept her from the freedom she wanted.

There was the memory of pain that floated into her mind, and she heard her

husband's cold voice yelling curses at her. Why did he hate her? He beat her
endlessly at that moment, shattering the light she was clinging to all along. No, she
had to fight this time because she had met him. Her savior.

She wanted to run to Edward. He was not going to hurt her because there was

love and protection. All she ever needed or wanted was found within those eyes that
were the color of evergreens. His name was a prayer upon her lips, and she
repeated it within her mind endlessly. If only she could say it loud enough, he would
be there. Maybe he was waiting for her, in the café, and he would pull her chair out
for her. Then he would place delicate kisses on her hand, her cheek, her forehead,
and her mouth. There would never be any more Jacob. Only the brightness of their
love was going to be there instead.

I have to thank you all for reading this story, and I enjoy reading your comments.

Don't we all feel empathy for Edward right now? Please let me know your thoughts
and feelings. I will be working on Ch 6. Much love XXOO

- 23 -

Chapter 6 I'll be your Shelter

Chapter 6 I'll be your Shelter

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Once again, I have to thank Kitty Masen for all of her help with this. You are an

excellent beta, and thank you for your patience with me. HUGS!

"'I'll see you through. I'll cover you with a love so deep and warm and true.

I'll be there…I'll be your shelter. I'll be the one to take you through the
night.'" Taylor Dane

Edward never left her side throughout the night, occasionally laying his head

down near her hand. He had a severe case of insomnia for most of his life, and
normally he did have a fixed sleeping pattern. If he totaled the amount of time he
had slept before the sun rose, he was sure it was close to 30 minutes. His mind had
not slowed down long enough for sleep to take over his body. Instead, he read over
various books of the Bible, searching for comfort and the certainty of hope. Within
the verses of the psalms, he took solace in knowing that King David had fought the
emotional battle that Edward was now facing. At one point, he began to read the
passages aloud to Bella, believing that she could hear them.

Nurses were coming into her room, checking to see what, if any, change had

occurred, but everything was always the same. The hum of the machines was a
constant reminder to Edward of how much he despised Jacob for the pain he
inflicted upon Bella. That man needed to rot away in solitary confinement for the
rest of his days. The way he disregarded Bella's own existence made Edward want to
send him straight to hell. He would see to it that Jacob would never come near his
angel again.

The soft knock on the door pulled Edward from his thoughts, and he walked over

to open it. Carlisle had returned just as he had promised, and he was also carrying a
bag with him. "Morning my friend. I bring you encouragement and breakfast. My
wife, Esme, packed up some food for you. She wanted to know if it would be alright
if she came later to visit? My wife has a huge heart you know, so much that it is
almost a flaw. She wants to meet you and to bring flowers for Bella."

"I would love to meet her as well, Carlisle. She is an excellent cook, by the way.

This really hits the spot."

- 24 -

"I knew you had not eaten since last night, and Esme wanted to help you as much

as possible. It's not that often that she cooks bacon, but she knew you would need
protein. "

Edward enjoyed having a home cooked breakfast, and, fortunately, he was able to

finish before the detectives came in to speak with him. Carlisle stayed in Bella's
room while Edward went to talk with them about Jacob's assault. The men
recognized each other from working in the same building. Officer Emmett Abrams
was only a few years older than Edward, and he was built like a linebacker for a
football team. His partner was Officer Jasper Whitlock, a man who had just
transferred to Forks from South Carolina. As the three men sat down in the waiting
area, it seemed they were three friends just sitting down to talk about something
besides a horrendous crime.

"Edward, you know all of the procedures that we have to go through now. Jasper

and I want this guy to be put away in prison. The more information we get, the less
likely the judge will grant bail. We were at the crime scene last night, and the
evidence we retrieved is mounting up against him."

"Is her home now considered part of the crime scene as well?"

Jasper nodded yes. "The judge gave us a warrant to search for more evidence.

This guy is really twisted, Edward. He has not shown any emotional remorse since
he has been arrested. There is a blank look on his face, and he does not make eye
contact with anyone. I have never encountered a person that is this cold."

"Tell me what I need to do to help you with this case," Edward replied. "I want him

in prison for the rest of his life."

-TPASAA-

Once they were done talking, Edward returned to Bella's room to ask Carlisle a

question. His wife, Esme arrived just a few moments later, bringing a bouquet of
mixed flowers with her. She gave Edward a hug, offering to assist him in whatever
way possible. Esme Masen was a classy woman, as it showed in her mannerisms and
generosity. She and Carlisle were a perfect match.

"Actually, there is something that I would like to ask for your help with, Esme,"

Edward began. "I want to find a blanket for Bella and hair brush. I'm rather
particular about what I want, and I have to find just the right place to purchase
them. I want something original for her. Do you know of a place where I can find
what I'm looking for?"

- 25 -

"An old college friend of mine, Victoria Campbell, has opened a new store on

Forest Drive. It is a specialty shop, Edward. She sells vintage items, including a line
of blankets from The Bella Cottage. They are luxurious to say the least. You can also
ask her if she has any silver plated grooming sets because that is something she
would Victoria would sell. Her name is on the front window. Tell her I sent you over.
And if you would like, I can stay here with Bella so that she will not be alone."

Edward thanked both of them for everything they had done for him as well as

Bella. If only his sleeping angel knew of the love that was surrounding her, it might
just be enough to wake her from this coma.

(A/N There is a store that is called The Bella Cottage, and they have beautiful

linens.)

-TPASAA-

Since his car was still across the street from Bella's house, Edward asked Carlisle

if he could give him a ride to pick up his Volvo. He wasted no time in driving over to
Victoria's shop since he needed to return to Bella's side very soon. A tall woman with
red hair greeted him from behind a counter when he walked in, and Edward walked
over to talk with her. He was impressed with the selection of goods and materials
that Victoria had on display for the customers.

"Hello, I'm Edward, and Esme Masen sends her regards. I am looking for blankets

that are from a company called The Bella Cottage. I was told by her that you would
have them available."

"Nice to meet you, Edward," she said."I have known Esme since college, and she

sent you to the right place. I am the only proprietress in the state that carries their
line of products. Can you tell me what you are looking for right now or describe
what you want?"

After he told Victoria that he wanted a luxurious blanket for Bella, they looked

through the collection of linens. He was sure that this was exactly what he wanted
for her, as these were no common blankets. The stitching was delicate, as was the
detailing. The colors ranged from a deep turquoise to the palest of silver. Then
Edward came upon the exact one he was going to purchase. It was a blue that
reminded him of early spring mornings – robin's egg blue. There were soft ruffles
that were at the hem, and the fabric felt marvelous to touch. He wanted to wrap this
around her tiny body to show her how deep his affections were becoming. Bella
deserved nothing less than this exquisite blanket.

- 26 -

Once that had been set aside, he decided to take a chance and ask Victoria if she

had a brush set. Pausing just for a moment, Victoria looked over towards a wall
where she had a selection of hand milled soaps, fine lotions, and crystal perfume
bottles. It was housed in a distressed china cabinet that she had repainted a pale
pink color. One day, he was going to bring Bella to Victoria's shop and spoil her
endlessly.

"I have a set that includes a comb, mirror, and brush if that is what you would

like. They are silver plated, and I found them on a shopping trip to London just a few
months ago. Most women don't have anything like this anymore to use, but they are
coming into vogue once more. This lady you are shopping for must be special."

Upon hearing that, he had a thought. "Do you have any paper that can be used for

journaling?"

She pulled up a few boxes from underneath the counter. "These are a special set

that I ordered from The Earth Angels Studio online. If you need more, let me know
first, Edward, because I can get special sets that she only sells to shop owners. Here
is my business card."

All in all, it was an excellent shopping excursion, and he had plans for that paper.

-TPASAA-

While sitting beside her bed, he pulled out a pen and searched through his mind

for the right words to express the depth of his emotions. He had never written an
authentic love letter before, but Edward believed this was as good a time as any to
learn about this art form. After all, he had the best inspiration near him.

Dear Angel,

As I write this letter, you are in a deep slumber, and I pray that your thoughts are

peaceful. I left your side only briefly to buy your blanket and hair brush set, as I felt
you needed those things. I miss your mesmerizing brown eyes and wonderful smile.
I know we have known each other for a small amount of time, but I will say that
meeting you has made a major impact on my life. The future to me, as it is to many
others, is not certain. I want to assure you of my feelings and that we have a future
together. We have our share of obstacles to over come, but I won't leave your side.
Bella, I am yours for as long as you will have me. There is no other woman that has
ever captivated me in quite the manner that you have.

Please consider this as only the first of many letters I will write to you, but only if

- 27 -

it is your heart's desire to read them. There is so much that I want to share with you
when the time is right. Rest assured that I will not pressure you to do anything that
makes you feel uncomfortable. You mean too much to me to ever make you feel the
least bit of pain. You are safe with me, Bella, and I will protect you.

All of my heart,

Edward

He folded he sides together and set it next to the comb. Then he gently kissed her

forehead and pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. It amazed him how much
she had come to mean to him in such a brief period of time, but he was not going
spend time questioning why they had met at that book store. Edward had this
feeling that he would be thanking God every day for that chance meeting. He pulled
the blanket up to her shoulders, hoping that she would like what he chose for her.
Gazing upon her sleeping form, he wanted nothing less than to be the knight in
shinning armor that had defeated the dragon. Then he could climb the winding
staircase to a bed chamber to see his sleeping angel, waiting for his kiss to wake
her. And they would never be separated by any human force again.

Edward pulled out another piece of paper, because he knew that he would say

these very words to her at some point. They were far too significant to be left in his
mind because he wanted Bella to hear them. After writing this down, he set it on the
small table and took her hand in his. Gently, he pulled her hand over his heart, in
the hope that she could feel it beating. Edward barely felt her fingers moving when
their eyes locked in that moment. It was nothing less than a miracle.

Are you all enjoying this? I asked my husband if I could use some of his love

letters he wrote to me, and some of the parts of Edward's letter are from my
husband's heart. I am an avid reader of Romantic Homesmagazine, and, if you love
Shabby Chic style, find a copy of this! I appreciate all of your reviews, and knowing
your thoughts about this is a huge help.

If you like this story, you might be interested in Pink Sand, which is the second

story I posted. It is not as sad as this one, but there is sweet fluffy romance. Since I
know all about it, that is what I write about in my stories. Thank you all so much!
XXOO

- 28 -

Chapter 7 In Your Eyes

Chapter 7 In Your Eyes

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

If it were not for the help of my amazing beta, Kitty Masen, this story would not be

as good as it is. Thank you more than words can express!

"'In your eyes the light the heat. In your eyes I am complete. In your eyes I see the

doorway to a thousand churches. In your eyes the resolution of all the fruitless
searches…'" Peter Gabriel

She had wandered through the different periods of her life while she was

comatose. Her alcoholic father had tried to break her spirit once more, but she had
been carrying around just enough anger to finally push her over the edge. For once,
he was not going to get the better of his daughter. Bella told him that he could never
beat her again, and that he would never shove her against the wall any more. She
forgave him for all of the pain he had put her through, but she reminded him that he
was responsible for his behavior. Then it was time to face the man with a much
darker soul – her husband. He slid into her thoughts grinning because he was the
one who put her in a coma. Jacob yelled at her, doing his best to belittle her, but she
was not bowing down to him any longer. While he was screaming at her, Bella had a
moment of clarity. He was making a fool of himself, and, once he had shut up, what
tool of intimidation did he have left to use? His hands melted away, and there were
ropes tying him to blackness. "No Jacob, I won't let you hurt me any more."

All at once, she felt a pull toward something that was far more warm and

comforting. Bella heard a soothing voice that made he feel overjoyed. It was that
person she had known for a brief time, but he was a part of her. It was Edward! He
was waiting for her to return from this world. She had tended to the memories of
her alcoholic father and had turned him over to God and Jacob had been swallowed
up by his very own evil soul.

The next clear noise she recognized was a humming noise, like a machine. She felt

a thick plastic tube that went down the length of her throat. There was a warm
blanket that was pulled up to her left shoulder, but her right shoulder was not
covered up. Someone was pulling her right hand arm up in the air, and it landed on
the place where she could feel a heartbeat. Bella willed her eyes to open because
she had to know who was holding her hand.

- 29 -

The beauty of his green eyes, and the gentleness of his smile, made Bella's world

to spin on a new, brighter axis. She was victorious over the coma, and she reveled in
the kiss he planted on her hand. "Let me get the doctor and nurses, angel," Edward
said to her as he placed her hand back down. Sprinting out of the door, he knew this
was no minor miracle for him and for Bella.

-TPASAA-

Once the doctor had examined Bella, she was moved to a different room outside of

the critical care unit. Edward called Carlisle to let him how far she had progressed
in a short time. He would visit tomorrow morning along with Esme, if Bella wanted
to have visitors. She would still need several rounds of medicine during the day, so
they would not stay for a long time. The room Bella had moved into was smaller, but
there was far less medical equipment in there. She had fallen in love with the
blanket once she had a few minutes to examine it.

"I wanted you to have a real blanket because I know hospitals are usually cold," he

said as soon as he noticed her running her fingers across the ruffles.

"Thank you" she whispered, as it was rather difficult to speak.

"I also came across a grooming set for you, Bella. When you feel up to it, if you

would like, I'll brush your hair for you."

She was not quite sure how to respond because she was deeply touched by this.

Except for her mom, no one had ever offered to brush her hair. Edward was
impossibly good. In all the time she and Jacob had been married, he had never
bothered to care for her needs. It was indescribable, how this man had captivated
her now, and how he brought joy to her. Bella could not take her eyes off the man
that was holding her heart with gentleness. It pained her that she could not speak
the words she needed to say to him.

"Don't try to talk if it hurts, angel. You eyes speak volumes. We have only known

each other for such a short time, but I can not simply call this a connection. You
bring an essential light to my life that I can not live without any longer. I can only
pray that the feeling is mutual."

"Yes," she whispered. "I want …I want…, "but the traitorous tears started to fall

down her cheeks. With a gentle caress, Edward rubbed every one away. He knew
she was frustrated because her throat burned from the breathing tube. She was too
weak to write down her feelings. Bella hated that she could not express how deeply
she felt about him. He saved her life and he made her feel more precious than any

- 30 -

jewel mankind had unearthed.

A nurse entered Bella's room, and she told her that it was time for her to have

some medication. It would allow her to sleep for several hours to allow her body to
heal. It began to work quickly, as Bella's eyes were closing more frequently. He
pulled the blanket further up over her and then laid a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Sleep for now, beautiful angel. You deserve nothing less than sweet dreams. I will

be here when you open your eyes."

-TPASAA-

The next few days passed by with quiet moments and shared thoughts. Bella

enjoyed meeting Carlisle and Esme, and she felt as if she had found a kindred spirit
in Esme. They all prayed together for Bella to continue healing so that she would be
able to leave the hospital soon. The doctors were pleased with her progress, so
much that they believed she would be home with in the week.

Yet she had learned from the detectives that her home was basically a crime

scene. Bella gave them a statement once she was coherent, and she no longer felt
like the house they lied in was her home. There were some personal items, pictures,
clothes, and toiletries she wanted to retrieve, but she honestly never wanted to see
the place again. The police could burn the place down when they were finished as
far as she was concerned.

Being the gentleman that he was, Edward offered to let Bella stay in his home, as

he felt the urge to keep her safe. Just the thought of having her under his roof made
him smile. Bella looked over at him, knowing that he would not take no for an
answer.

"I want to say yes to you, but I have to be certain that you understand the

commitment this requires. I don't know how long I will be at your home, or if you
might change your mind. You have your own life, and I do not want to interrupt it."

"Angel," he began, "the moment we met in the bookstore, you became a part if my

life. Now before you start feeling anxious about our future living arrangement, I
want you to read over something I wrote. I have been waiting for just the right
moment."

Edward pulled out the box of beautiful stationary, and he found the first letter he

wrote to his beloved while she was in a coma. He handed it over to her, watching as
she read it over slowly. The words he had written were some of the most beautiful

- 31 -

that she had ever read in her life. All of the dreams, desires, and wishes she had in
the past for an authentic love were coming to life. He was showering her with more
care and affection than she had ever known. She wanted out of that bed and in his
arms right then. Instead, he knew instinctively she needed to be in his arms.

"How can I ever deny what is deeply true, and deeply felt Edward? I can see it all

in this letter," Bella said, as tears of joy fell down her face. It was their moment as
they looked into each other's eyes. Hope, light, possibility, and warmth were shining
through. Edward pulled her up closer, watching her eyes flutter shut. Taking this as
a sign that she was ready, he brought his lips down to hers, and it was the sweetest
moment of his life. Bella found herself getting lost in their kiss, enjoying it endlessly.
Neither one wanted this to end, but he wanted to make sure he was not hurting her
body.

"Do I really need to ask you to stay at my home now, beautiful?" he asked as they

began to laugh together. Their future was assured through that one kiss, the first of
many.

I have to say that I appreciate every review and comment. I am surprised that you

all really like this as much as you do. It's just my over active imagination at play. I
love you all! XXOO

- 32 -

Chapter 8: Warm Safe Place

Chapter 8: Warm Safe Place

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

"'Come and lay here in my arms. I'm looking for a warm safe place. To feel your

hand on my face. Let the past roll off my back. Baby let's not talk about that. I just
want to make it through the night. Lock the door and hide away."' Aaron Pritchett

I want to say what a sweet friend, Steph is, for helping me to find the appropriate

song for this chapter. You are a doll, my dear! As always, I have to thank Kitty
Masen for her fabulous beta work. You're fabulous!

Bella was able to leave the hospital eight days after she had arrived. She longed

for the comfort of a bed that did not have buttons or handles on the side. The
blanket Edward had bought her was one of the finest she had ever touched – what a
luxury. It was a marvel how he knew what she needed, and, because she needed a
place to stay, he had opened the door of his home for her.

In order for her to feel like it was her place, Edward asked Emmett and Jasper if

they would help by getting Bella's personal items. She did not need to be exposed to
the painful memories of that place. Simply knowing that he had gone to these
lengths for her gave Bella a deep sense of contentment. Esme and Carlisle were
helping him to set up the guest bedroom for her, adding cozy, feminine details to the
room.

They had moved in select pieces of furniture, including a petite writing desk and a

dark blue velvet settee. Esme, much like Bella, had a love of Shabby Chic décor, and
she was overjoyed by sharing her furniture. The detectives were able to move her
jewelry armoire into Edward's home. Once it had been set in the room, it looked as
though it had always belonged there. The walls, which were originally painted
robin's egg blue, would be perfect for Bella. Esme changed the window treatments
by swapping dark blue valances for crisp white eyelet café curtains. She had found
some small, round eyelet pillows in shades of cream and white to set on the bed. A
tall cornflower blue lamp was on the side table, and the shade was originally made
from a blue gingham baby doll dress. There were three miniature vases around the
room that were going to be filled with flowers divided from a bouquet. Each vase
had a dainty silver ribbon tied around it. The floors were not overlooked, either, as
Esme found matching rugs to place on either side of the bed. They were in an earthy

- 33 -

shade of mahogany, which complimented the dark blue carpeting.

It was going to be a wonderful homecoming for Bella.

-TPASAA-

As Edward pulled the Volvo around to the front of the medical centre, he smiled to

himself because he was bringing his girl home with him. Carlisle had assured him
that everything had been put in place over the past few days and he, along with his
wife, would be calling to check on both of them. Esme had also sent over some
casseroles for them to heat up in the oven. All he needed was to see the nurse
bringing Bella down in a wheelchair so they could move forward. Edward waited in
the front lobby in the mean time, just in case some one asked about his car.

The bell of the elevator rang out, and there was his angel, smiling at the man who

captivated her. Another nurse was following with her hospital bags. Edward had
been fully instructed on how to take care of her wounds once they returned home.
He was going to make sure that Bella would have a full physical recovery. She had
no difficulty getting into the car, and they placed her belongings in the trunk. After
saying a round of goodbyes, the engine roared t life and they were off.

It was time for them to go home.

-TPASAA-

While they were in the car, Edward explained how Esme had been getting the

guest bedroom ready for her arrival. Yet there was no way he could have prepared
Bella for exactly what she was going to see. The home Edward lived in actually
belonged to his parents, Anthony and Elizabeth Cullen. At one time, they had lived in
Forks, but Seattle was their residence now. His mom believed the home had too
much charm for them to sell it. It was smaller than the ranch style home Bella and
Jacob had shared. She immediately loved the small porch that had just enough room
for rocking chairs and flower boxes.

Bella had never been this happy to be at home as she in this moment. Walking

through the front door was a leap of faith into her new life. Edward would always be
her safety net; she just needed to jump. There was a window seat that would be
perfect for her to sit whiles he lost herself in a novel. The kitchen was the right size
for them to cook a meal together. As they climbed the second floor, she noticed the
multiple family pictures that were grouped together on the wall. Photos showing a
young Edward at school or summer camp brought a smile to her face. He was a
handsome young man.

- 34 -

"I know I have been rather quiet, but your home is beyond inviting, Edward.

Living here will definitely agree with me," she said as they reached the top of the
stair case. "Your heart is nothing short of amazing. There are not many men like
you, and I am better woman for having you in my life."

"Well, my mom always said that when the glacier melted, I stepped off of the ends.

I never really fit in with most guys my age, but that was never my ambition." He
lifted her chin to look directly into her eyes. "Bella, you belong right here with me. I
have never been surer of anything else in my life except for this fact. We have a
connection that defies logic and reason. It is a haven from the cruelty of the world."

He pulled her into his arms, wanting to show her the depth of his feelings. There

was no fear or apprehension in their eyes. The missing piece of the puzzle was right
in front of them. It would be a crime to fight the attraction. Bella ran her hands
through his thick hair, relishing the feeling of each strand. That was all it took for
him to kiss her, and Edward was in heaven once he had his mouth on his angel. It
was soft, warm, with each other parting their lips to allow their tongues to touch.
Eagerness caught Bella by surprise, as she wanted to feel more of his mouth on her.
It was almost impossible for Edward to pull away, even just to catch his breath. He
whispered her name while gently placing soft kisses on her face.

"Is this what it feels like when your heart finds its' resting place?" Bella asked as

she looked into the endless evergreen magic of Edward's eyes. She saw straight into
his soul as they stood at top of the stairs. He had become everything wonderful in
her life in a short span of time. He gave her hope, and it was running through her
very existence now. Bella finally believed she had a future that included her long
forsaken dreams. It was her turn for happiness and unconditional love.

Edward looked down upon her, smiling, as he felt completely lost in her. "Angel,

your heart is my home. You need to know I am spell bound by you," he replied as he
ran his fingertips over her cheek. "I am going to take care of you to the best of my
abilities. I will protect you, always, and I want to be the one who provides for your
needs."

"You have given me more in this past week than any one has ever given me,

Edward. I am not quite the woman I want to be yet, but you make me want to
become her."

He pulled her into his arms, rubbing her head. "You astound me, beautiful, and I

am amazed by your strength. What we have is a once on a lifetime love. And yes, I
said love because that is how I feel. There are no two ways about it, angel. I am
falling hard for you."

- 35 -

"I am in love with you too. How can I not feel this way?"

Their hearts pounded as their lips crashed.

-TPASAA-

Bella had never seen a room as luxurious as his guest bedroom, as it was like one

she had imagined more times than she could remember. The silver grooming set
looked like it belonged on the distressed white dresser. Edward helped her put away
her clothes, and they laid the comforter across her bed. He was fighting the urge to
lay her across the bed at that moment. He knew neither of them was truly ready for
becoming that intimate. Her body was still recovering, but he would be patient for
as long as necessary. The knowledge that she loved him almost brought him to his
knees.

"Beautiful, I know you have to be hungry because I know I am. Esme brought over

some food, and I am going to warm it up in the oven. Once you get your bearings,
come and find me downstairs." He placed a lingering kiss on her forehead.

"I will be there in just a few minutes. Thank you for making me feel like this is my

home." Bella sat down at the writing desk as she heard him walking down the stairs.
Living at Edward's home was vastly different to that of living with Jacob. She knew
that she belonged here in this place. It brought her comfort and joy. She marveled at
how he spoiled her, that no detail was ever overlooked. He had written her three
love letters during her stay at the hospital. They were worth more than gold to Bella.
Just the way he caressed her cheeks while they kissed was overwhelming to her.
Now she was certain that he loved her, and it brought tears to her eyes.

-TPASAA-

Edward lit several silver tapered candles around the table. He was determined to

make their first meal in their home an occasion. He had chosen to warm up the
chicken and poppy seed casserole in the oven. For the side dishes, there was a
spinach salad with almonds and saffron rice. Cooking was something that Edward
had been doing since he was a young child. He used to help his mom and
grandmother in the kitchen, so it became second nature for him to cook. He was
glad that he had Esme's help tonight.

"This is beautiful, my love, but you did not have to go to all of this trouble. I would

have been happy eating on the couch."

"Angel, this is only the start of what I intend to do for you. I want to know

- 36 -

everyone of your precious heart's desires, and I want to be the man that helps you
bring your dreams to fruition. I love you, and I want to shower you with endless
affection. Come have supper with me."

He had a way a rendering her speechless, and she rather enjoyed it. After pulling

the chair out for her, Bella sat down to the delicious meal. Their conversation was
delightful. Heaven's grace shined down upon the young lovers as they became more
enraptured with each other. Edward asked her if she would like some dessert,
because there was a lemon buttermilk pound cake on the counter. Ironically, that
was Bella's favorite dessert, and she offered to cut it.

"Edward, I want you to know this is the best dinner I have had in several years,"

she said as the knife sliced through the cake. "But the best part is your company.
Thank you for making this special." She handed him the piece of cake while she cut
one for herself. Then she made herself very comfortable on his lap. Picking up a
fork, she fed him a bite, and then she followed it with a kiss. Her boldness was a
welcome surprise for Edward. She was his temptation. Their tongues explored each
others' mouths with a heightened passion. The need for oxygen was the only reason
they stopped.

"Bella, you are my every thing now. Kissing you is nothing short of heaven, but we

need to get these dishes put away. Please know that I want to continue holding you."

"The feeling is mutual, my love, and I want to be back in your arms. Let me help

you clean up."

Once the food had been placed into the refrigerator and the candles had been

blown out, they walked upstairs together. Edward made sure she took her required
medication. He was going to make certain her wounds, both physically and mentally,
would heal. He was so lost in his thoughts that he did not notice that Bella had
walked out of the bathroom. She was wearing her pink plaid Capri pajama pants and
a pink night shirt. He thought she looked lovely, even more so when she smiled at
him.

"Where are my goodnight kisses, my Love?"

"I was simply waiting on you to finish, beautiful," he said, pulling her small body

into his arms. "Thank you for letting me take care of you. Tonight has been
wonderful. I know your medicine makes you sleepy, so I am going to help you get
into bed."

Her bed looked very inviting to Edward once the sheets were pulled down. He laid

- 37 -

her down immediately because her medication was making her wobbly. Her brown
eyes were closing rapidly, but she pulled her self up one more time.

"I love you, Edward, more than anything. You'll be in every one of my dreams," he

whispered as he laid her head back onto the pillow. He kissed her eyelids shut. "I
love you, my sweetest angel. I will be close by if you need me." Once she was tucked
in, Edward kissed her brow and quietly walked out of the room. He did not feel the
need to go to sleep yet, but there was a resounding need within his heart to put pen
to paper once again.

What do you all of our lovebirds now? I will have to say the lamp with the baby

doll dress is actually an idea that I read in one of Sarah Ban Breathnach's books.
She is my favorite non fiction writer. Simple Abundance, which she wrote in 1994, is
a book every woman needs to have on her bookshelf!

I have a group page on Facebook, too, and I would love to have you as a member.

Here is the link: groups/163281877153436/#!/groups/163281877153436/.

As always, I love to read your reviews. They thrill my heart almost as much as

Protectiveward! Love to you all! XXOO

- 38 -

Chapter 9 Run

Chapter 9 Run

"'You pull me in close. You buckle my knees. I shake and I shiver just to feel you

breathe. You trce my lines (I trace your lines). Stirring my soul. Shoot sparks at the
heart of the world and I watch it explode (I watch you, I watch you)). You turn, turn,
turn, turning me on. Like a slow fire burn…yeah I run, run, run, run right into you.'"
Matt Nathanson and Sugarland

I have to thank you all for reading TPASAA. Your kind comments always make my

day brighter. As always, thank you to my beta, Kitty Masen. You help me bring this
story to life.

Even though he could not fall asleep, Edward was fully content lying in his bed

and thinking about Bella. She had been asleep for several hours, and he was
concerned that she would wake up from a nightmare. Apparently, the medicine she
had been prescribed was strong enough to let her sleep well. He was listening to
music on his iPod, as that was his usual custom at three in the morning. In their
brief time together, he had yet to find just the right song for the woman that had
captured his heart.

He got up out of bed to walk down to her room, as he had done this earlier. The

moonlight was coming in from the window, and it softly lit up Bella's room. It was
the perfect room for his angel. Esme had outdone herself with the work she had put
into decorating her room. He walked over to close the door on the armoire when he
heard Bella turning over. She took his breath away with her vulnerability and her
beauty. The blanket she was sleeping under had fallen down, and Edward went over
to pull it up under her chin. Delicately, he ran his fingertips across her left cheek,
and he leaned down to place a soft kiss on her brow. He was almost certain she said
his name as he walked toward the door.

-TPASAA-

The morning light from the sun felt good on Bella's face. She lay in bed for several

minutes, quietly praying to God. He had brought her through a truly horrendous
event, and she was safe with a man who loved her. He had never forsaken her, nor
abandoned her. The horrors of her past were over. The prospect of having a new life
filled her spirit to the brim with excitement. She might just have the chance to
achieve her creative dreams and longings.

- 39 -

Once she had completed her daily toilette, Bella changed into a comfortable, but

well fitting, pair of jeans. She absolutely abhorred the look of sweats, as she much
preferred the look of fitted and tailored clothing. Since she was still being cautious
about her wounds, Bella chose a loser fitting burgundy cotton shirt with quarter
length sleeves. She had already applied her cosmetics in the bathroom, and she was
searching her train case for the right perfume. Chance by Chanel had been her
choice for several years, but she never wore it around Jacob. Her life was changing
now, and what better way to signal that than to wear this.

She was not sure if Edward was awake, and it would not be right for her to walk

into his room. Finding him in bed, whether awake or asleep, would prove to be far
too tempting. Instead, Bella walked downstairs into the kitchen to start breakfast.
She looked in the cabinets and the fridge for a few minutes. There was plenty of
food for her to choose from, and once she saw there was an ample amount of eggs
and bread, she settled on French toast. She made a pot of coffee for them to share
and peeled some mandarin oranges. Edward made his way downstairs, and he
cautiously walked over to her. He did not want to scare any woman while she was
standing over a stove.

"Good morning, beautiful. You made a lovely breakfast," he said as he started

pouring coffee into one of their cups.

Bella turned to face him, and she saw the delicate cup he was drinking out of. The

smile on her face reached from one ear to the next. "You saved them! Those are the
cups from the café. Edward, I never thought I would see them again. I love you so
very much, my love. " She wrapped her arms around him as tightly as possible. He
had to set the cup down in order to keep from spilling it on them. Her small body felt
heavenly in his arms, and he was thrilled with how delighted she was over the cups.

"How could I ever let go of them? They are important to you. I'm glad I could

bring that much joy to you, angel. You deserve to feel this way. I love you, too."

"Do you like French toast?"

"Yes, in fact it is something I used to make with my mom when I was a kid."

"Do you think I'll get to meet your mom one day, Edward?"

"Perhaps," he responded as he pulled out dishes. "My parents travel frequently,

but they should return to Seattle in about a month. They are in England right now,
visiting some family members. "

- 40 -

"Do you miss them?"

"Occasionally I do, but I have had the fortune of finding an angel," he said as he

pulled her into his arms to kiss her. Their lips met softly, touching and tasting each
other's mouths. It became a more intense as the moments passed. He nibbled on her
bottom lip, and she moaned his name. Edward placed his hands on her face, gazing
into her deep brown eyes. He searched them, looking into her soul, seeing how
beautiful it was. She saw love and devotion shining down on her face.

-TPASAA-

After breakfast, Edward gave Carlisle a call to see when he and Esme would like

to come over for dinner. He had not forgotten the kindness of his new friends, and
Bella wanted to have them to come over for a visit soon. They settled on the
following evening. He went to find Bella to tell her the news, and he found her
curled up on her bed reading her book on the domestic arts. He stood in her
doorway watching her while she was engrossed in it.

"Carlisle and Esme are coming over for dinner tomorrow night. Will that be fine

for you, angel?"

"That would be great. I was hoping you would invite them soon. Please come and

sit by me."

Edward walked over to her bed and sat beside her. He brushed some of her dark

brown locks out of her face so he could see her clearly. She set her book aside and
ran her fingers through his messy hair.

"I never did thank you for saving my life, Edward. You opened your home to me,

and you make me feel safe and alive. Maybe more than that, you have given me hope
for the future. I never felt this way when I was living with Jacob, not for one
second."

"Angel, you are everything bright and beautiful in my life. My faith has been

restored because of you. We have the start of, dare I say, a beautiful life together? I
want to be the one that helps your dreams come true. Tell me what you want to do. I
will sincerely put forth all the necessary effort to help you."

Bella could not stop the tears that were falling down her face. He was an amazing

man. There seemed to be no limit to his love for her. Edward leaned over and lifted
her chin. He saw the tears, and he kissed them away. He was concerned he had said
the wrong words to her, or that he had come across as too strong. He wanted to

- 41 -

apologize when he saw that she was starting to talk.

"Love, you are my joy, my comfort, and my life. I am simply overwhelmed by the

depth of your emotions for me. Don't get me wrong because the feeling is mutual.
Honestly, this morning, I was thinking about how I have unfulfilled dreams and
creative urges. I was not able to go to college, and you know that is something I
want for my self. When I was little, I dreamed of becoming an artist, Edward. I want
to bring beauty to this world through my creativity. If nothing else, Jacob taught me
that life has an ugly side, and I think the world needs people to brighten it. I'm sorry
if what I am saying does not make any sense to you."

"Bella, you have the soul of an artist. There are things that only you can give to

the world. We are all waiting to see what you can bring to us. Knowing that I would
be by your side while you create your personal art is an honor for me. If you want to
go to college, then we will find all of the information we need. If it's your dream,
then it is significant to me."

"Thank you, Edward, but I want to ask you a question. Would you mind taking me

to the store where you bought this blanket and the grooming set? If the rest of the
merchandise is anything like this, then I would like to see what else is available.
Perhaps I might just draw some inspiration from them."

-TPASAA-

Once they had entered Victoria's shop, Bella was almost certain she had entered a

different world. The soft strains of the theme from Peter and the Wolf made her feel
content. A long forgotten happy memory from childhood flooded her mind, as she
recalled drawing what she heard in this song. Edward heard the deep sigh that
came from her, and he was overjoyed. Just as he had suspected, he knew Bella
would be happy here. He looked up to see Victoria headed in their direction.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Cullen. I'm glad to see you in here again. Is this the lovely

lady you were telling me about during your last visit?"

He reached forward to shake her hand. "Good afternoon to you as well, Victoria.

This lady is indeed the woman I was telling you about. Bella, this is Victoria
Campbell, who is the proprietress. And Victoria, this is Bella Swan."

After the ladies had exchanged formalities, Bella was drawn to a pedestal table

that was had various vintage photos in tarnished frames. Tea lights were burning
inside mercury glass votive holders. A dried hydrangea wreath surrounded the table.
Above the scene was a petite chandelier with blue and silver crystals dangling from

- 42 -

the lights. It was like being in a fairy tale land. To her left, on the wall, there was a
white distressed case that overflowed with every kind of ribbon that Bella could
have ever imagined. Their colors ran from deep burgundy to palest eggshell. She
ran her finger over them, feeling that unmistakable burst of authentic happiness.

There was a white armoire near that could have been an exact replica of the one

in her room. It was filled with antique placemats and table runners. A metal quilt
rack held throws and quilts in baby soft pastels. She walked over to the same
placewhere Edward had found her grooming set. Victoria had recently increased her
selection of fine soaps and lotions. Bella settled upon a set that was called blue
hydrangeas, as they were her favorite flower. There was a set of dishes in the china
cabinet that made her swoon, as they would match their teacups.

Standing in the middle of this vintage paradise, Bella had a brief vision of her

future. There was a rout iron bed, covered in satin pillows and a quilted bedspread
in royal blue. Edward was there, in that room, lifting her hands to his mouth, placing
soft kisses upon them. He told her she would be a beautiful mom as he pulled them
both around to look in an ornate mirror. She was pulled from her reverie by him at
that moment, as Edward placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Just tell me what your heart's desire is, angel. I only want for you to be happy."

They spent another hour in the boutique, as Edward was insistent upon Bella

having what she wanted. Her happiness was worth its' weight in gold to him. One of
the most pleasant parts of the trip was that Victoria told Bella she was in need of
extra help. If she was interested, she told Bella to give her a call back in the
following week, as Victoria would be going on a shopping trip to Paris over the
weekend. Without any hesitation, Bella told her she would think about that
possibility.

-TPASAA-

Edward helped pull in their purchases once they had returned home. They were

famished after the excursion, and he was once again grateful for Esme's fine
selection of casseroles in his freezer. The one labeled baked spaghetti with
mozzarella cheese caught his attention. Bella walked into the kitchen, surrounded
with the scent of springtime. Edward pulled her to his side so he could lean down to
nuzzle her neck.

"Do you like what I'm wearing, love? This is what you bought me today."

"It is almost as beautiful as you are, Bella. Had I been looking for a gift for you, I

- 43 -

would have chosen that perfume."

"Would you like for me to help you make dinner? I can make a salad with mixed

greens if you would like."

"That sounds great, angel. I am going to set up my iPod for us. I'll be downstairs in

just a moment."

Bella had never been more content than at that moment while she cut radishes

and cucumbers in Edward's kitchen.

-TPASAA-

Once they had eaten dinner and put away the leftovers, he pushed the couch over

to make room for them to dance. Bella was surprised by how much Edward wanted
to do this with her. The selections on his iPod varied from rock to country to
selections from modern jazz. He pulled her into his arms.

"May I have this dance, angel?" He placed a feather light kiss on her soft lips. The

glow from the candles was reflected in her eyes. They swayed to"Wonderful
Tonight." At just the right moment, Edward dipped her while Garth Brooks sang "To
Make You Feel My Love." When he sang along to Elvis Pressley's "Can't Help Falling
in Love with You," Bella was moved to tears. She would never tire of dancing with
the man she loved.

"There is one song I have wanted to play for you, beautiful. It's called"Run." I

know we are not ready for physical lovemaking, but I have to tell you this is how I
feel now. When the time is right, my sweet angel, I promise it will be passionate and
you will know the depth of my love for you."

Their lips crashed together as the music began playing. It was a slow, sensual kiss

that reflected their dancing. Bella ran her fingers through his hair as their tongues
touched. He moved his mouth over to her ear to whisper the lyrics. Then he began
softly kissing her behind her ear, eliciting a sigh from her.

"Edward," she moaned. "I don't want this night to end."

"You know this is only the start, angel. I will romance you forever if you will allow

me."

"Forever?"

- 44 -

"Yes my angel. Forever."

-TPASAA-

He laid her down into the bed slowly, as he ravished her lips. He knew that they

were not ready to consummate their love, but it appeared they were ready to draw
fresh boundaries concerning their level of intimacy. Bella could not have enough of
this man, of his touch. He trailed kisses down the length of her neck, and she began
running her small hands under his polo shirt. Edward had to pull back for a moment,
as her hands were leaving a white hot trail over his chest and abdomen. He had to
pull his shirt off. Their lips met again, tongues dancing, twisting and intermingling.
Bella eagerly flipped him onto his back, settling her body on his.

"Love, I want you. I will always want you. Tonight, I want you to hold me while I

sleep, just like this. And I agree that when we make love, it will be very passionate."

"Your wish is granted, beautiful. I just want you to be aware that I will kiss you all

night long. I love you."

"As I love you, Edward."

He watched Bella fall into a deep slumber with in minutes. As she drifted off, he

lifted her chin to kiss her once again. He knew it would be the first of many
throughout the night.

What do you all think about our lovebirds? Thank you for indulging me in my love

of all things shabby chic and vintage. I love reading your reviews and comments!
They make me smile every time I read them. Don't forget to drop by my "parlor" on
facebook. Here is the link:

#!/groups/163281877153436/

Love you all! XXOO

- 45 -

Chapter 10 Quiet Nights

Chapter 10 Quiet Nights

"'This is whereI want to be. Here with you so close to me until the final flicker of

life's amber. I who was lost and lonely believing life was only a bittter tragic joke,
have found with you the menaing of existence. Oh, my love!"' Diana Krall

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Hello you all! I apologize for the delay in the posting of the last chapter. The web

site was having difficulties uploading chapters. I have the best readers, and I love
you all. To Kitty Masen, beta extraordinaire, thank you for all you do! Who would
like some citrusy fun with Sweetward? I know I would! Enjoy!

The sunlight came through the window, and Edwardloved how the light brought

out the rich color of hair. He was normally asleep at this time, but her beauty was
too amazing for him to miss. He felt her stretch her arms and then pull herself into a
sitting position.

"Good morning, angel," he said. "Did you sleep well?"

"Good morning to you, too. I slept rather well, love. It's all because you were

holding me, but I'm honestly surprised to see you are awake. Are you ok?"

"I'm more then ok, Bella," he said as he lifted her hand to kiss it. "I have to go to

work for a few hours this morning, but I want to have breakfast with you. What
would you like to eat?"

"Anything would be good since I will be more interested in the man sitting across

from me at the table."

The smile on her face was more than enough temptation. He drew her into his

arms and pulled her on top of his body. He could not help the growing desire he felt
for her as he lavished her neck with his mouth and tongue. The soft moans that were
coming from her mouth were music to his ears. Edward ran his hands over her back
down to the top of her bottom. He wanted to touch all of her, to feel her petal soft
skin, but he was hesitant. He pulled her body flushed to his as she laid her head over
her favorite resting spot. Bella had fallen in love with the beating of her love's heart.

- 46 -

"I hope that was not too much for you, angel. When you smile, I get this urge to

show you how much I love you. And I have to use every part of my body, because my
heart is just not enough. "

She looked up at him as she tried her best not to let a few tears spill over.

"Edward, the amount of love you have for me is hard to fathom. I've never known
any one who could love me the way you do. You treat me like a priceless jewel. I love
you more than my words could ever express."

"There are not enough diamonds or rubies or any other gem stone in this world to

represent how deep my affections are for you. Now bring your lips closer to mine so
that I can let you feel the love I have for you."

-TPASAA-

Even though Bella missed him while he was at work, it was good for her to have

some time alone. The events of the past two weeks had changed her life immensely.
She needed some time to comprehend the many changes that had happened, as well
as her feelings about these changes. Emmett and Jasper had assured her that Jacob
would be kept in the correctional facility untill the trial began in a few months' time.
He had been denied bail by the judge, and Bella felt safer knowing he was behind
bars now. She needed to arrange a meeting with a lawyer to begin divorce
preceedings within the next few days. In her mind, their marriage was over long
before Jacob had tried to kill her. Thinking back on that day sent shivers up her
spine.

She had talked with Edward about that day, and she was accepting what had

happened. He held her when she cried over the pain she experienced, and he
encouraged her when Bella said she wanted to find the good in the situation. He was
one of the best "things" that had come from her near murder. Edward had been a
rock for her, lending his strength to her. Their new found relationship was pure joy
to her. She treasured the love letters he wrote to her. As she sat at her desk this
morning, inspiration came upon her as she reached in for a piece of stationary.

Dearest Love,

You were brought into my life for a ceratin reason that I am assured of now. I

don't believe in coincidences. I have never felt this alive or this comforatble when I
was in the presence of another man. You wrap me in a cloak of love and protection,
one that I never intend to remove. My love for you could never be denied or
contained. Our hearts are bound together by the love we share. I know we have
great things waiting for us in our future, and we have the potenial for greatness

- 47 -

together.

I love you,

Your Angel

-TPASAA-

Bella spent the reminder of the time Edward was away at work relaxing, reading,

and day dreaming. Getting lost in her thoughts was a form of therpy for her, letting
off some of the steam from life's pressure cooker. In her mind, she imagined a small
house in a garden, a place for her to create and dream. There was sufficent room for
an easel and canvases. She had windows with flower boxes overflowing with
peonies. Hydrangeas were blooming next to the entrance, and several rows of
purple Dutch irises were in full bloom near her cottage. Of course, there was a three
shelf book case that had volumes on Impressionism, and a copy of Julia Cameron's
The Artist's Way was sitting on a dainty silver side table. Bella was going to add this
dream to her wish journal.

After she had written the details of her mental image down in her book, Bella

decided to make lunch for her and Edward. It was one o'clock, and he would be
leaving for home within the next thirty minutes. She pulled out the necessary
ingredients for a chef salad along with a loaf of French bread. She found much
pleasure in making a meal for Edward. There was a soothing quality found in mixing
the greens and buttering the bread. Bella had only to focus on the task at hand, and
knowing that this was an extension of her love for Edward, she found it all the more
rewarding. Once the bread was done toasting, she sliced it and set it in one of the
dishes they had purchased at Vicoria's store, and covered it with a cloth napkin to
keep the bread warm. As she set the salad bowls and bottles of dressing on the
table, Bella heard the turn of the lock and ran to greet her love.

Before he could set down his briefcase, Edward had her in his arms. She was a

sight for sore eyes, and he drank her in greedily. They pressed their lips together,
tongues meeting, dancing as she ran her fingers through his auburn hair. The scent
of his cool water cologne was overwhelming her in the best of ways. She wondered if
he would only wear that at night and nothing else. It was rather maddening how
deeply she was intoxicated by this man. He brought out her sensual side with just a
simple grin. It was not until she heard the thud of his briefcase on the floor that she
reined in her lascivious thoughts.

"Hello, beautiful. How was your morning?"

- 48 -

"Hello my love. I had a quiet morning, but all of my thoughts went back to you.

How were things down at the department?"

He placed a kiss on her brow as he reached for his briefcase. "I had to look over

some blood splatter reports and I helped with the identification process on finger
prints. It was very interesting, but I am glad I'm home. You did not have to make
lunch angel, but I must say it looks appetizing."

"Edward, I knew you would be hungry when you returned home, and making a

meal for the two of us was important for me."

"Thank you, Bella. I love you. Let me pull your chair out for you."

"I love you, too," she said as their lips met in a kiss.

"Would you like to help me make dinner for Carlisle and Esme in a little while? I

have some ideas and I wanted to ask you about them."

"Certainly, angel. I would love to help you cook dinner. What would you like to

make?"

"Can we have grilled steaks and roasted potatoes? I saw a bag of red potatoes in

the bottom of the refidgerator, and I was hoping you would not mind if we had them
tonight. There are also some fresh asparagus spears I would like to sautee."

"That sounds delicious, but you have to agree on two terms."

"What are your terms, Edward?"

"I have to be the one to taste what you have made, and I have to be able to kiss

you while you are cooking."

"You terms are easy for me to agree to, love. I want you near me in the kitchen

whenever I am cooking."

"Bella, I want you in every room of our home," he began as he looked deeply into

her brown eyes. "You are the kind of woman that I want in my bedroom when I am
sick and in my bed when I'm not. I want you, angel, now and forever."

Hearing those words, Bella dropped her salad fork, and she found it difficult to

develop a cohesive thought. There was no way they could deny each other what they
desired. Like watching the impending waves coming towards the shoreline, there

- 49 -

was no way to stop the oncoming night of love making .

-TPASAA-

At exactly six o'clock, Carlisle and Esme knocked on the front door. They brought

over a bottle of merlot as a hostess gift, and Bella was happy to spend time with
them out side of the hospital. Once they had settled at the table for dinner, the
conversation included Victoria's offer to Bella for her to work in her store. They also
talked about Edward's family coming home from England within the next month.
The ladies were making plans for a dinner for them once his parents had settled
back in Seattle. Carlisle extended an invitation for Bella and Edward to come to
their home the following week for dinner. Once their guests had made an exit, and
the kitchen had been cleaned, they walked up the stairs holding hands.

He pulled her into a tight embrace once they were on the second floor. "I only

want the same things that you want tonight," he said as they began to kiss. He
pulled his lips to her ear. "I want to run a bath for you, angel. Is that within the
realm of possibility for us?"

She lightly gasped at this prospect. "Oh, Edward, please don't wait for me to say

yes to that request."

He smiled at her, being satisfied with pleasing her with this small gesture. They

walked towards the bathroom, and he began to run the water. While she rinsed
away her makeup, he set the ambiance with candles in her room and in the
bathroom. The bathtub was almost overflowing with her signatureblue hydrangea
scented bubbles, and he walked back into the room to find her soaking in the bath.
Bella had pulled her hair back into a messy French twist, and he loved how elegantly
it framed her sweet face. Edward could not help but to put his hands on either side
of her face and bring it closer to his own.

"You have me spell bound, Bella. I am lost with out you and lost within you."

"I need you more than I need my next breath of air, Edward."

Hearing those words only sparked him on further. He kissed her bare shoulders,

allowing his hands to roam into the water and over her body. She moaned his name
as he caressed her nipples making them hard like small stones. He could not hold
back from rubbing her breasts as his lips found hers. She sucked on his tongue, and
then she nibbled gently on his lower lip. Edward had to stop and take his jeans off
because they were far too tight for his comfort. He wanted to ravish her right there
in the tub, but he was going to wait.

- 50 -

Bella, on the other hand, was eager to leave the bathroom as fast as possible. He

was torturing her with his nearly naked body right next to her . She wanted to
remove his boxer shorts and take matters into her own hands.

"As much as I love taking a bubble bath, love, I can not wait much longer. Let's go

to bed."

"Your wish is my command," he replied, grabbing a fluffy bath towel to wrap

around her as soon as she stepped up. He pulled her small body into his arms and
carried her to bed. On the side table was her bottle of lotion and it gave him an idea.

"Please lie on your stomach, angel. I want to rub lotion on your back."

Bella eagerly complied with his request and pulled the towel off her body. If

Edward had an erection earlier, it was even more prominent now upon seeing her
naked form. The curves of her hips and belly increased how much he wanted to
touch her. He wanted to put his lips and his tongue all over her luscious tits. As she
laid her body out on her bed, he wanted to bury himself between her legs. When
Bella turned her body over, he could not stop his hands as he ran them over her
sweet ass. He opened the lotion bottle and poured it into his hands. He wanted to
warm it up before ihe put it on her back.

"Does this feel good, beautiful?"

"Hmmmmmmm. Yes, Edward."

"I want to touch every inch of your miraculous body with my tongue and my lips.

Angel, I want to bring you the most intense orgasm you have ever felt when I am
deep within your beautiful pussy."

His words went directly to her brain and between her legs. Bella had to turn over

to see the desire that was behind those words. His eyes were a dark evergreen, and
it felt like he could see her very soul. Neither one of them wasted a moment as they
began to kiss, letting their tongues lap each others. Her moans filled the room as he
continued to explore her curves. He licked his way over her collarbone, teasing his
way to her nipples. He felt the heaviness of her lush tits with his hands and began to
feast upon tham like a man who had not eaten in days. Their eyes made contact and
he grinned deviousl y at his angel.

"I take it that you like this?"

As she moaned his name, she tried to nod her head as best she could in response

- 51 -

to his question. It was deeply pleasurable for her as he lapped his tongue over her
hard nipples. He moved his mouth futher down lower over her stomach and
abdommen. When he kissed her belly button, Bella let out a small giggle since she
was very ticklish on that part of her body. He filed that information in his mind to
use that for his advantage later. At the moment, her legs were beckoning him to give
them his undivided attention. He ran kisses aliong the length of them, paying special
attention to her reactions a he mved closer to her center. Her hips were moving on
their own accord, adding fuel to the growing inferno they both felt.

He laid her le down and spread both of them to provide a full view of her

glistening pussy. Edward's mouth was watering just looking at her. He settled in
between her legs and lightly kissed her clit. Bella's eyes rolled in the back of her
head, and he wanted to watch that continuosly. He took a long lick of her lips and
began to swirl his tongue around her opening. The taste of her essence was going to
be the death of him. Bella's pussy was dripping with a sweet muskiness that Edward
wanted to taste every day from now on. He placed one of his long fingers at her wet
hole and teased it. Bella's body was on fire for his every touch, and her orgasm was
building.

"Please," she begged. "Please put your finger inside me, Edward."

He'd had enough of teasing her in this manner any way because he wanted to feel

her velvety walls. She was smooth and soaking wet, and he found her sensitive
rough spot with ease. He sucked on her clit and then gave her an intense tongue
bath.

"I'm coming, oh, Edward, oh, love, oh, uuuuummmmm."

"Come for me, baby. Let me lick your cum. That's it angel"

He licked up all of her sweet juices as she came all over his fingers, and he

watched her beautiful face as she came apart in front of him. That image of his
angel would be forever burned onto his mind. His cock was aching now, and he was
slightly surprised he had not come while watching her have an orgasm. He kissed
his way up her shaking form, as he pulled a blanket over them to keep her warm. He
knew her body temperature and blood pressure would drop soon. She opened her
brown eyes to look right into the eyes of the man she loved. Without any words, se
kissed him deeply on the mouth, reveling in how she could taste her self on him.

He began to pepper her face lightly with kisses. "Please do not deny me any part

of your body tonight, Edward. I want you inside me, filling me with your beautiful
cock. "

- 52 -

"I would never do that to you, angel. I told you earlier that I intended to be buried

deeply in your pussy. Are you ready?"

"Yes, my love, a million times yes."

He sat up slightly over her to rub the tip iver her lips. Bella moaned wen she felt

him pushing into her pussy, as he carefully filled her. He felt her tight walls around
his length, and he had to control the urge to pull out at a fast rate. Edward wanted
to take his time making love to Bella. Their eyes connected again, and there was
much love present. It was when she smiled at him that he was completely certain
that she was comfortable and ready for more of him. She wrapped her lega around
his waist, making sure that there was no space between them. They held each other
as tightly as possible while Edward pulled in and out of her glorious body.

Bella ran her fingers over his muscular back and through his hair while asking for

more of him. It was enough for both of them, and yet it would never be enough. He
wanted to last for as long as needed to bring his angel to one more orgasm, and it
seemed she was on the edge of the cliff.

"Go ahead, angel, fall off and I'll catch you. Come again, baby. I love you"

She responded to his urgent need with an orgasm that made her see a million

stars behind her own eyelids. Her walls clenched around his aching cock, and he
could no longer control his body. He felt the buid up in his legs and his balls, and he
just let go, falling over the cliff with his beloved angel. His eyes rolled deeply into
the back of his head, and he was almost certain he was having an out of body
experience. She had given him her body with any hesitation, and he was going to
shower her with abundant love.

He rolled onto his side because he did not want to crush her body with his weight.

Her breathing had evened out over the past few minutes. He leaned up on his elbow
to look at her. Edward ran his fingers gently over her cheeks, and he placed a soft
kiss to her lips.

"I will recall every detail of our love making with a clear memory always, my

angel. I am happily, and completely in love with you, Bella."

He saw the tears running, down her cheeks, and, for a brief moment, he wondered

if she was in pain. "These are happy tears, my love. Please do not think for a moment
that youever caused me any pain. I've never had an orgasm before, and you made
me feel the greatest pleasureI have felt in my life. I am deeply in love with you, also,
Edward. Will you still hold me tonight?"

- 53 -

"Where else would I go, baby? Sleeping by my self no longer holds any appeal for

me. If I have it my way, we will share a bed together every night." He drew her body
close to her in a spooning position because he wanted her to fall asleep in his arms.
"I want that, too, love," she said as she drifted off into a deep slumber.

"Sweet dreams my angel," he wispered into the shell of her ear.

Are you all as blissed out as I am after reading this? Sweetward always finds a

way to make us smile. Come and visit the parlor on facebook!
#!/groups/163281877153436/

I am also working on a collaboration with Fallenforthecullen s/8996537/1/

Knocking on Heaven's Door

Thank you for your reviews and comments. Reading them makes my day brighter!

Much love!

- 54 -

Chapter 11 Midnight Rambler

Chapter 11 Midnight Rambler

Disclaimer-I do not own Twilight

I am doing something a little bit different with this chapter, you all. The lyrics will

be posted in a different part of this chapter. I have been having some issues with my
computer lately, so I have to aplologize if I am late posting this chapter. I love
reading your reviews. As always, thank you, Kitty Masen for your amazing beta
skills. You are a jewel!

Heavy gray clouds came with the following morning, bringing with them a

downpour of rain. Edward normally loved waking to this kind of morning, but he had
come to love the sight of sunbeams on his angel. He missed seeing the various
shades of chocolate and mahogany that the sunlight brought out in her hair. He
pulled her closer to his body while he watched the drops fall aginst the window. The
previous night had been nothing less than heavenly, and he was completely content
after they had made love.

It was as authentic as the stars in the night sky. They had a connection that was

beyond their bodies. Edward had known this from the moment they had met in the
book store. There was something that he found in her heart and in her mind that
had become necessary for him to function on a daily basis. They could have deep
conversations, and that was refreshing to him. Bella was highly intelligent, and she
was different. She was an artist, desperatley seeking to live by her own light. He had
never met any other woman that was quite like her, except her soul sister Esme.

It made Edward happy that he and Bella were able to let their differences

compliment their relationship rather than hinder it. He could be serious minded, and
she brought her own kind of softness to his world. He was going to become a
detective eventually, but the hardness of that life would harden a person over time.
God knew what he was doing when he paired them together. Bella was the woman
who could not only bring much needed levity to his life, but he needed her seerenity
and beauty.

He kept all of these thoughts in his mind through the night as he watched Bella

sleep.

-TPASAA-

- 55 -

While Edward was in the shower, Bella made a pot of oatmeal for them. She was

dancing around the kitchen while she was gathering the ingredients. She found a
large bottle of Fench vanilla creamer in the door of the refidgerator, as well as a
cinnamon and sugar spice grinder. There was a box of waffles in the freezer, and
she thought their crunchiness would compliment the oatmeal. She took out the
green plastic box that housed the mixed berries and set them in a blue transferware
bowl. Bella reveled in the small details that made a house into a home.

Edward came downstairs and pulled her into a hug. "Breakfast smells and looks

delicious, beautiful. I would have been happy with a bowl of cereal."

"While I could have easliy poured you a bowl of corn flakes, love, that would not

have setled with me. You need more nutrition, and that is why I made oatmeal. It
will stay with you for several hours, along with the berries and waffles. Let me get
you a cup of coffee."

"After work ends, I want to take you out for lunch. You have been cooking too

much lately, and I want to take care of you. Is there anyting you would like to eat,
angel?"

"I would love a great chef salad, Edward," she said as she sat beside him. "Are you

certain you do not mind if I borrow your car while you are at work? "

He pulled her hand to his lips to kiss it. "Why would I mind? You need it to run

some errands, and I am more than happy to help you."

"Thank you, love. While it may take me some time, I am getting used to your

generosity. Goi ng up to the college is an exciting and frightening prospect. This is
the first step, though, toward actualizing my dream. I can not thank you enough for
your support."

He placed his spoon down to take her face on his hands. Edward looked deeply

into her bright eyes, and he saw a refelection of his love. "I love you, Bella, always,
and any way that I can help you further your academic pursuits is a blessing for me."
Bella kissed him that next moment, allowing her passion for him to take over. She
sucked on his lower lip, and teased the corner of his mouth who her tongue. He
could no longer hold out temptation's call as he plunged his tongue into her mouth.
They felt the need and the urgency as their kiss deepened. Bella ran her lips over his
neck, behaving like a woman who was drunk on love. He found the lobe of her ear,
and whispered sweet nightings to her.

"You are everything to me, angel. I want you to lie under me again, that I may fill

- 56 -

you with every bit of love I have for you."

Before he could blink, Bella had unbuckled his belt, and was busying her self with

the business of undressing him. She pulled his boxers down to revela his hardened
cock, and she took him into her mouth. Bella swirled her tongue around his tip, then
she ran it down to base. Edward kept his eyes on her as she enjoyed the grunts and
moans that came from his mouth. He ran his fingers over her cheek and rubbed the
back of her neck. It was deeply pleasureful for him, and he was struggling to hold
onto that small thread of control. "Angel, you are about to make me come, and, right
now, I want to feel you around my cock."

She pulled her jeans off, and slipped her panties down off her body. He would

never get enough of her loving touch or her glorious body. They would need forever
to communicate how deep the emotions ran for the other. After he swallowed hard,
Edward tok her dainty hand into his. "You are breathtaking. Let me shower you with
you love."

Bella sat on his lap and wrapped her legs around his waist. He was almost almost

too much for her to take into her pussy, as he filled her to completion. They were
equally dizzy with the sensations of their bodies. Their mouths kept finding their
way to each others, with an aching need to be closer with every passing trust. When
she begged for him to give her more, he obliged with his heart and his body. Their
souls were touching, embracing, and merging as the sheer force of their orgasms
took ahold of their bodies. Bella buried her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling
her love's essence, wondering where this man had been all of her life.

"I promise, I will never belittle our lovemaking by calling it sex, my angel," he said

while catching his breath. "What we have together is beyond that. People like us feel
deeply, more than most others. We belong to each other."

"You are my home, Edward, and I agree with you about everything. I never felt as

though I belonged any where until you allowed me into your world." She placed her
hands over his heart. "This is where I want to dwell all the days of the rest of my life.
I love you more than words can express"

Their lips crashed together, sealing their love for one another yet again.

-TPASAA-

Once she had driven Edward to the police department, Bella got out of the

passenger side of his Volvo, and adjusted the driver's seat to her proportions. She
was close to a foot shorter than Edward, and her arms and legs were equally shorter

- 57 -

than his. It was the perfect car for him, and driving it was a quiet thrill for Bella. She
set down her travel vial of her blue hydrangea perfume in the console before taking
off. Her phone had beenset up where she could easily access it when she was
driving. Edward was not going to have her get in an accident while driving. Putting
on her lipstick was the final touch, and then she turned on the ignition.

The drive to the community college was short, only lasting about twenty minutes.

Relief washed over her as she navigated her way around the campus. She found the
bulding she was looking for and parked the car in a close spot. The rain was
continuing to fall, and she remembered the umbrella he left for her in the floor
board. Bella opened it as she stepped out, knowing this was another extension of his
love for her.

Barrett Hall was the building in which most of the art classes were taken. When

she walked through the hallway, she smelled the acrylic paints and clays. There
were canvases on the walls displaying art work done by the students. Bella had
come to her academic home. It was ideal and perfect for her life right now. She took
the elevator up to the third floor, which was the hallway for the academic advisers.
It seemed her academic destiny was going to be in the hands of the person in room
305.

-TPASAAA-

The discussion she had with her future adviser, Mrs. Cope, went above and

beyond her expectations. Bella could enroll in school in the latter part of May so that
she could begin in June. She would have to take obligatory freshmen year classes,
but there were certain art classes she would be taking along with them. She brought
up the subject of Jacob's trial incase she would need to take any lengthy absences
from school. Mrs. Cope assured her that was a situation with unusual
circumastances, and the school would not hold that against her. She left the buidling
with more assurance of her choices.

After she was settled back into the car, Bella dialed Edwad's number because she

wanted to share her exciting news. They had a brief conversation since he was
getting ready to work with fingerprinting chemicals in the forensic lab. Her cheerful
voice made him long to wrap his arms around her body. Hearing how excited she
was over her meeting made his day. He had less than an hour left before she was
going to pick him up for lunch.

Before she met him, Bella decided to stop off and put gas in the car. During her

short drive, she turned on the radio. The lyrics to the song by the Rolling Stones
sent anxious thoughts trought her mind.

- 58 -

'"I'm called the hit- and- run raper in anger. The knife-sharpened tippie-toe…Or

just the shoot'em dead, brainbell jangler…And if you ever catch the midnight
rambler I'll steal your mistress from under your nose. I'll go easy with your cold
fangled anger. I'll stick my knife down your throat…"'

The thunderclap from the sky made her jump in her seat. Her instincts were on

alert now, and there was something that made her feel vulnerable to danger. She
had to get to Edward soon, to hear the soothing comfort of his heartbeat next to her
ear. She was going to go by the station across the street from the department, and
then she would wait for him inside in the lobby.

The wind was whipping around her as she enterd the information on the key pad

for the payment. Bella kept looking over her shoulder as she placed the nozzle in,
and she was startled when She heard Emmett's booming voice. "Hello Bella. Why
are you out in this storm?"

"I'm coming right over to the station to wait for Edward wen I'm done. Good to see

you, Emmett."

He waved goodbye to her and he got back into his police car. Once she had

finished, Bella waited for the machine to print her receipt, but she did not notice the
white van that silently pulled up behind the Volvo. A man got out, dressed in a dark
hooded jacket and dark pants, and he walked over to her. He placed a gun to her
temple and wrapped a heavy arm around her body. "Where is your body guard this
time?" He laughed darkly and threw her body into the car. She had hardly made a
scream when he covered her mouth with duct tape. Emmett heard some of the
noise, but he was unable to stop them as they pulled out of the gas station. There
was Edward's silver volvo, but Bella was gone.

Emmett made a call over to the station, alerting every able officer to get out to

find this man. Ironically, there was an incoming report about Jacob Black, who had
escaped from state custody earlier in the morning. Edward had just received a copy
as he learned that his angel had been kidnapped by some one driving a white van.
He ran out of the laboratory, trying to get to the main office. Emmett walked into
the office, and he told him all of the details. They deduced that hie kidnapper had to
be Jacob, and Edward told the chielf of police that he was going to the place he felt
they were going. He was certain Jacob was taking her to the place they had once
lived.

The adrenaline was rushing through his body as he ran across the street to get to

his car. There was no way Jacob was going to kill her, and Edward was going to
move heaven and earth to keep her safe. He got into the car, and pushed down on

- 59 -

the accelerator. All of Forks' finest were headed in the direction of Jacob Black's
former address. Edward prayed that his deductive reasoning, as well as his
knowledge of psychopaths, was not going to fail Bella. He looked down at the
console for a brief moment. There was the mini vial of her perfume, and he slid it
into his jacket pocket. He was going to return it to the woman of his dreams as soon
as he rescued his angel.

-TPASAA-

Bella was panic stricken when she realized the driver was Jacob Black. He was

driving more slowly now that he had pulled out of the station. She was cowering in
the corner, hoping she could find a way to unlock the door. Unfortunatley for her,
Jacob had ripped the door handle off when he had stolen the car outside of Forks.
He had planned all of this while he was in prison, and pulling it off was a testament
to how far gone he truly was. He killed two correctional officers, and then he stole
their guns. He hid in the woods surrounding Forks just long enough before he found
a distressed motorist. He happily changed the man's flat tire, and then shot the man
betweeen his eyes with no remorse.

There was only one mission for Jacob now, and it involved his wife. She had

escaped her punishment earlier because some random guy had cared enough to
save her life. Maybe that guy had a hero complex because he did not know any one
that cared enough to save her life. There was no reason for her to be alive, and he
was going to kill her this afternoon. He pulled into the driveway of their time he had
been rather clumsy in his botched attempt to end her life. No one was going to stop
him today.

Once he had Bella tied up properly, he dragged her body into the garage to avoid

entering through the front door. The place had been searched by the police, bu it did
not matter to him. He set her body on a chair in the midst of this mess. Tears were
running in streams down her face, and Bella knew this was the end of her life. The
time she had spent with Edward had been the best part of her life. They had been
madly in love, and she hoped he would find someone that would fill the void she
would leave.

If there was any ounce of grace in this situation, Bella found ot when she heard

the sound of the police sirens coming closer. He was coming for her! Hope beyond
hope began to fill her heart and mind. Her Edward, the man she loved with every
fiber of her being, was not going to let her die. Jacob heard them, but he was
unaware that Edward was coming for him. Instead of letting her idly sit in the chair,
he yanked her up to let her see what was going on. He ripped the curtains down to
let her get a view of the police outside. There was the silver voivo, and they saw

- 60 -

Edward walking over to a squad car to get his equipment.

All of the oficers were wating no time putting on bullet proof vests. The state

police had been alerted now about where Jacob was, as well as that he had
kidnapped his wife. There were back up units and a special task force headed into
Forks. They had to get the neighbors out of their houses as a precaution. No one
was sure what Jacob had planned, but they were going to be prepared for the very
worst. Edward pulled out the small bottle of perfume and placed it into his pants
pocket. Several officers had noticed that Jacob was looking out of a front window.
He was hoding Bella to his body. It took every ounce of control Edward could
manage to keep from charging into the front door. Emmett came over to his side
reminding him of how strong Bella was to survive the first attack.

"She is strong, Emmett, and I know she'll make it. We love each other too much

for Jacob to get the better if us."

"I knew you were in love when I saw you sitting in that hospital room. Now Jasper

owes me fifity bucks."

"Why do you owe him money?"

"Because he said you would tell him before you told me. I knew you would tell me

first."

"Only you could make me laugh in this situation, Emmett. I think the special teams

have arrived."

Jacob was not impressed with the police. He knew they were planning to take him

out. Before they could get to him, he was going to have his way with Bella one last
time. She had always been a lousy lay by his standards, but if he was going to die,
he was going to get one more fuck before it ended. He dragged her body away from
the window to the dingy couch. He pulled her jeans down her legs and then pulled
down his pants. He was a disgusting creature, pulling on his limp cock. He was
getting all into raping Bella when the front door was kicked in.

Several officers rushed into the room, including Edward. They knew exactly what

he was getting ready to attempt. Instead of surrendering, Jacob grabbed Bella to use
her as a shield. They would have to hurt her in order to get him.

"Kill her, her life has no value," he screamed.

Edward was right next to her now, his eyes staring right into Jacob's dark eyes.

- 61 -

This man was vile, using his angel in this manner. He wanted to put a bullet in his
cold heart. The room was quiet, all but Bella's cries.

"You want her, don't you? You can't have her. I'm going to walk out of here in a

few minutes, and I'm talking my wife with me. No one is going to stop us. Not even
you," he said as he looked right at Edward.

"Let her go, Jacob. Take me instead," Edward replied. "You only want a hostage as

a form of leverage. Let Bella go. You don't want her. You'd rather beat me up."

While the prospect of beating Edward was a pleasing distraction for Jacob, he was

not about to let go of Bella now. Besides, they had some unfinshed business to
attend to.

"I'm leaving now, and she's coming with me."

Jacob took a small step in the direction of the door, and he felt a horrible burning

pain in the back of his leg. He pushed Bella out of the way, and Edward caught her
before she fell. He was not about to let her get hurt any more. One of the officers
pounced on Jacob as he winced in pain. He kept fighting back, reaching for the
officer's gun. Edward managed to get Bella out of the house just before Emmett shot
Jacob in the chest because he had tried to use the officer's gun.

-TPASAA-

Edward decided they needed some time away while the doctor was examinig

Bella. She had not been hurt during the time she had been kidnapped. The chief of
police had understood when Edward had called him a few minutes before, and he
even gave him some suggestions. He was going to tell Bella about their long
weekend getaway once they were settled at home.

He showed her the perfume vial as soon as they arrived. "You left this in the car,

and I kept it with me the entire time."

"I knew you were going to rescue me, love," she said as she melted into his body.

"I wish we could go away from Forks for a short time. I want to have time alone with
you, Edward. "

"I already have that planned, angel," he said as he kissed her forehead. "There is a

bed and breakfast in Port Angeles that I want to take you to tomorrow, if you would
like that."

- 62 -

Her smile brightened every corner of the room. "As long as we have each other, I

will follow you any where, love."

"Let me help you pack, my angel. Then I want to hold you all night."

I was not going to leave you all with a cliff hanger. Jacob had to make a

reapperance, and I wanted him to die quickly! Now you all see why I put the lyrics
further on into the story.

- 63 -

Chapter 12 When We Dance

Chapter 12 When We Dance

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

"Come and live with me. We'll have children of our own. I would love you more

than life if you come and be my wife. When we dance, angels will run and hide their
wings…" Sting

Now we can move onto more romance, you all! Aren't you glad I put all of that in

one chapter? I did not want to break it up because I was not comfortable with the
cliffhanger. Besides, I wanted to move on from the drama quickly. I love your
reviews. They make my day better. Thank you to Kitty Masen because you are a
super beta! This chapter is dedicated to one of my very best friends in the world.
She has the sweetest heart, and I love her tremendously!

They left Forks the following morning after a long night of hard sleeping. Edward

held Bella all night as she lay still in his arms. He expected her to have bad dreams,
but they never surfaced. She told him that she felt a sense of peace knowing that
Jacob was dead, and that brought Edward much needed relief. Leaving town for a
long weekend was going to be beneficial for them, and he could not drive fast
enough to get them to Port Angeles.

"You really take advantage of the open road, don't you love." Bella looked over at

him and slightly smirked.

"My philosophy is that you can speed, but cautiously speed. I'm only doing seventy

miles an hour, and we left most of the traffic behind in Forks." He pulled her hand
closer to his mouth to kiss it. "If you are uncomfortable with the way I'm driving,"

"Actually, it does not bother me, Edward. The further away we get from town, the

better I will feel. Tell me about the place we are going to for the week end."

"The chief has an inlaw that operates a bed and breakfast, and he said it would be

the ideal getaway for us. From his description, I am certain we will be able to relax.
Trust me, angel, this will be the first of many trips we will take together."

-TPASAA-

- 64 -

The Pattinson Lodge was nothing less than magnificent, as it was a private estate

that was turned into a bed a breakfast. The curved drive way took visitors near one
of the gardens. Bella gasped as she gazed out of her window. She had never been to
a place filled with this much beauty and wonder. In the back of her mind, she made
a mental not to send the chief of police a thank you gift for his recommendation.

"Tell me, Bella, what is your opinion so far?"

"There are just no words to describe how breath taking it is. This is a place I have

dreamed of since I was a little girl. Thank you for bringing me here."

"It is my pleasure, angel. I would do anything to see you smile," he said before he

leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Let's go inside and get settled."

As they walked through the large wooden doors, the opulence of the lodge

overtook them. The Great Hall was to their right, and there was a fire blazing in the
fireplace. Two dark leather couches were on either side of the fire place, and the
wall sconces gave off an abundance of light. There were thick Oriental rugs on the
floor and wing back chairs next to tables with Tiffany lamps. The sound of a
woman's voice that interrupted their thoughts.

"Welcome to Pattinson Lodge. From the look of your luggage, it appears you have

a reservation."

"Yes we do," Edward replied."It is under the name Cullen."

"Have a seat in the Great Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen. I am going to get your room

keys, as well as your welcome gift set. My name is Carey Pattinson, and my husband
and I are glad to open our home to you all."

"I'm Edward, and this is my girlfriend, Bella. We're pleased to meet you."

"I thought you were on your honeymoon from the details you gave my husband

over the phone. We have special services for weddings if the need arises." She
smiled with a glint in her eyes.

Bella walked over to the enormous window while Edward talked with Carey.

Outside in the garden she saw a pathway made of brick with a fountain and several
stone statues. In her mind's eye, she could see Edward at the end of the path,
wearing a tuxedo, smiling back at her. It would be the culmination of her romantic
dreams. Did he share the same feelings? Was it possible for them to marry one day
in that garden?

- 65 -

He wrapped his arms around her small waist, and nuzzled her neck. "What are

you lost in thought over, my sweet angel?"

"The garden, love. It is too beautiful to be real. I have seen pictures of places like

this, but I never thought I would be in a place such as this. You keep making my
dreams come true. " She turned her body around to face his, and he placed his
hands on her cheeks.

Edward knew that there was more to what she was thinking, but he knew better

than to push her. She was always worth the wait. He leaned down to caress her lips
with his own. It was easy for them to get lost in the moment. Their tongues danced
together, and he wanted to lay her down on the leather couch that moment. Before
he lost all of his control, Edward laid his forehead on hers . He was deeply, heavily
in love with the woman of his dreams.

-TPASAA-

At the top of the staircase, he stopped Bella long enough to scoop her up into his

arms. He felt that was the place she always belonged. He walked past several
mirrors, and she giggled every time she saw their reflection. The way they looked
together was heart rendering for Bella. She had stopped wondering why this
wonderful man wanted her. Instead, she decided since no other woman deserved
him, she was going to enjoy having Edward all to herself.

Once the opened the heavy wooden door, he set her down on her feet. Bella let out

a small gasp as her eyes wandered the length of the room. He had booked the
Grandview Room for their stay, and it was lavish. The duvet on the king sized bed
was silver and quilted, and the head board was a combination of leather and iron.
There was a full length mirror near a carved wooden armoire. An electric fireplace
was directly across from the bed. In the bathroom, she found a cast iron tub along
with a shower that had six showerheads. A kitchenette was provided in case they
wanted to have coffee or warm up food in the microwave. Edward was standing over
at the French doors that led out to a balcony.

"The portico deck is completely private," he said as he pulled her into his arms. "I

have plans for us that involve only my eyes feasting on your beauty. And don't
expect to wear anything other than a smile, because I will make sure it is on your
face."

Hearing those words fall from his lips brought on the stirrings of desire for Bella.

She brought her lips to his neck and her hand to his erection. He felt deliciously
hard through his jeans, and he growled as she bit down on his ear lobe. He groaned

- 66 -

her name as he began to pull her sweater off her body. "I want to make love to you
in the shower. Come with me to the bathroom."

She slid her hand into his, relishing in how divine this moment was. She was in a

near paradise with a truly wonderful man who was over the moon for her. They
walked together into the bathroom, and he turned on the water. Soon, there was a
small pile of discarded clothes on the floor. Once he had entered the shower,
Edward pulled her to him. Their eyes locked on each other, and the tenderness of
the moment was evident.

"I love you, Bella. I need you more than I need my next breath of air," he said.

Then he started kissing her on her lips. It became more intense as she sucked on his
bottom lip, then he began to run his hands down her bottom. The feeling of his long
finger tips grazing her sensitive skin made her release his lips and groan. His lips
found their way over her face and down her neck. Bella slid her hands over his
broad shoulders and down the plane of his chest. She loved the feeling of his
abdominal muscles, how goose bumps formed on them when she touched him. Then
there was his delicious erection. She could not resist palming his tip, and it elicited
a deep moan from him as he was starting to lick her hard nipples.

"Oh, oh, oh, Edward," she chanted repeatedly as his mouth moved further down

her body. He got down on his knees as he spread her delicate folds, and he began to
deeply pleasure her as he flicked his tongue over her swollen clit. She was teetering
on the edge of heaven and hell as he teased her pussy, making her crave more of
everything he wanted to give her. He plunged his tongue deeply into her as she felt
the power of her orgasm take over her body. Her walls clenched tightly around his
tongue as he lapped up her juices like a man who had not had a drink in days.

Edward sat down on the floor of the shower before he pulled her into his lap. He

rained kisses over her face and hugged her body close to him. She had never felt
this happy and this weak at the same time. "Was that too much for you, Bella? I
never want to push you beyond your limits." He gingerly pulled some of the strands
put of her face. She looked at his face to show him how deeply she pleasured
through their intimacy. A hearty laugh came out as joy, passion, and endless love for
her man coursed through her body and soul.

"Love, that was beyond intense. If you pushed me beyond my limits, I would have

never stopped you. That was nothing short of miraculous. There is something I want
right now. You see that bench over there? I want you to take me and claim every
inch of me as your own. Forever."

He lifted her up onto her feet, and she walked over to the bench, bending her

- 67 -

body over so he could take her from behind. Edward lined his throbbing cock with
her wet entrance and claimed her as he slid inside. Her grip on the bench was
almost tight enough to break it. "So sweet, angel. So tight," he managed to say in
between labored breaths. Bella turned around to gaze up him, only to let that look
on his face bring her over the edge. Her muscles clenched around his cock, pulling
him deeper into her body. He could not stop his impending orgasm as it hit him
forcefully. The rhythm their bodies created was overwhelming to both of them. He
slowed down and carefully pulled out of her body.

"Baby, I love you," she said. "Come here and let me bathe you." She opened the

bottle of shower gel and massaged it on his arms and shoulders. "Are you still a little
winded my love?" She had to ask because she wanted to know his response.

"Now what would give you that impression?"

"Your face is flushed and your breathing is still uneven. Do you think it will always

be like this?"

"Angel, I could never want any other woman the way that I want you. You have

drowned me in your love, and I never want to resurface. I love you very deeply. Let's
finish so I can hold you while you nap. I know you are tired."

"If I was not tired before we entered the room, I am thoroughly worn out now. A

nap sounds like a great idea. "

As soon as they were finished in the bathroom, Edward walked with her to the bed

and turned down the sheets. He slid in and she lay down with her head upon his
heart, which she considered her home.

-TPASAA-

She woke up alone in the large bed, but there was a letter sitting on the pillow

beside her. She brushed her hair from face and sat up so she could read it. Once she
opened the letter, there was a small charm that fell into her lap. It was a dainty
silver tea cup. The stationary was like the paper Edward had used to write to write
to her.

Dearest Angel,

I apologize for not being next to your side when you woke from your nap. This is

the first letter you will receive from me today. A second letter will arrive 30 minutes
after you call the office and speak with Carey. I have something very special planned

- 68 -

for this evening. I am sure you found the first gift I am giving you tonight. The tea
cup is significant because of our first "date." I cherish my memories of that
afternoon. Now go ahead and get your blue sun dress on (the one I begged you to
pack). Call Carey when you finish reading this.

I love you,

Your Edward

Bella set the charm on the side table and called Carey immediately. Then she

rushed over to her luggage and pulled out her blue sun dress and matching
cardigan. She pulled her clothes on and her paddle brush through her silky tresses.
She added bronzer to her cheeks and the all necessary mascara to her lashes. She
found it appropriate that she was wearing lip gloss that was called "afterglow." She
twirled in front of the mirror because she felt the urge, and then there was a soft
knock on the heavy door.

Carey was on the other side, and she handed her an envelope with familiar

stationary. "He loves you immensely, doesn't he?" Bella smiled at her, and shook her
head in agreement. "I have to say yes to that. He means the world to me. Thank you
for bringing this to me."

She closed the door and sat down in one of the plush club chairs. Another charm

fell into her lap, and she examined it. He had found a book charm for her.

Dear Angel,

I am certain you have noticed a pattern developing. The book represents our

shared love of the written word, as well as how we met. I thank God every day that I
went into that book store and that we found each other. Sweet memories…Since you
are dressed, I have to ask you to leave our room and head toward the main dining
hall. There will be another letter waiting for you on the main table.

I love you,

Your Edward

Bella walked out of their room, and she had to fight from dashing down the

mirrored hall. She made her way to the main dining hall, and there was a man that
was sitting at the heavy table. He looked directly at her with a familiar grin. This
man could have been her Edward, but he was older. They shared numerous physical
characteristics. He stood up as she walked closer, and in his hand was another

- 69 -

letter.

"He wanted me to give you this, Bella. I'm Tom Pattinson, by the way. It is a

pleasure to finally meet you. My wife, Carey, has been raving over how lovely you
are. "

"Thank you, Tom. Did your wife also mention how much you resemble my

boyfriend?"

He laughed. "She might have said something to me in passing. He wants you to go

ahead and read this. I have to help you with something when you are done.

She gingerly opened the envelope, knowing that here was another charm inside. It

was in the shape of a perfume bottle.

Dear Angel,

I promise there is only one more letter before we are together again. I have been

planning this for a short period, and I wanted to do this to show you the depth of my
love for you. I chose the perfume bottle because of the happiness your Blue
Hydrangea perfume brings you. It also reminds me of the delightful afternoon we
spent in Victoria's shop. I will always treasure the look I saw in your eyes –joy! Now
I need you to walk with Tom because he knows where I need you to go in the
garden. And yes, he and I agree that we do look like distant relatives.

I love you,

Your Edward

She slid the charm and letter back into the envelope. Tom was waiting for her at

the door, and he asked if she was ready to go outside. Bella could only nod her head
yes because she was having difficulty forming the necessary words. Edward had
reached into her soul and had placed his heart there for all eternity. She was
completely overwhelmed by his love. The soft pink clouds of the impending sunset
were across the sky. They walked by the fountain, and Bella smiled as she thought of
her mental images from earlier in the day.

"Do you all have many weddings here?"

"We have a good number throughout the year, Bella. The part of the garden we

are walking through is one of the most popular venues we offer for our guests. Have
you and Edward discussed marriage before?"

- 70 -

"We have not broached that topic, but I hope it is in our future."

"When you both decide that the time is right, Carey and I would love to host your

wedding. For now, I must bid you good bye as I hand you this letter. Follow this
pathway till you see the first row of twinkling lights. Then turn left."

"Thank you, Tom."

Once again, she opened his letter carefully, even more so because she was

standing in the garden. A set of silver bells came out of the letter. Now she was truly
puzzled by this charm.

My One and Only Angel,

We are but a few feet apart now, and I am counting the seconds till you are in my

arms again. I know you are wondering why I gave you those bells. The main reason
will soon be revealed. I love to make the windmills of your mind spin. I wanted this
to be a shorter letter so that we would be reunited soon. Just follow this path till you
see the bee lights on your left. I will be waiting for you.

I love you,

Your Edward

Bella walked the short pathway and she found the twinkling lights. As she turned

down the pathway, there was Edward at the very end, holding a bouquet of blue
hydrangeas for her. She ran to his arms and he caught her and spun her in the air.
He peppered her face with soft kisses.

"You sweet, wonderful man. I love you with all of my heart."

He kissed her deeply, exploring her mouth with his tongue while she ran her

fingers through his thick hair. While he was enjoying their embrace, there was
something he had to do within the next few moments.

"Bella, I want you to sit down please. There is a reason behind my madness."

"This is not madness, Edward. This is the love you promised you were going to

show me."

"Oh my sweetest angel, there is no way that I can possibly show you how much I

love you in this lifetime. There are days when I wish we could be vampires so we

- 71 -

could live eternally, but I cannot not make that dream come true. " He stood in front
of her with a small velveteen box.

"Bella I want to see all of our dreams come true together. I will spend every

moment of every day loving you, cherishing you, protecting you, and showering you
with affection. " He opened the box to let Bella see the diamond engagement ring
inside. She let out a small gasp. He was on one knee in front of her now.

"Yes, yes, yes! A million times yes, Edward! How could I ever say no to you?"

After he kissed her ring finger, he slid the sparkly bauble on it. That ring belonged

right there. He captured her lips with his, and they kissed for several minutes,
getting lost in the sensation of each other. Bella leaned her forehead over on his,
and then she remembered she had a question to ask him.

"Edward, you told me you would explain the meaning of the last charm you gave

me."

He smiled at her. "They are wedding bells, angel. I wanted to give you something

to symbolize the night I proposed to you."

"I do not have a charm bracelet to hold them, love."

"Actually, you have one, but Carey has it at the moment. She will attach the

charms for you. Jewelry making is one of her hobbies."

She hugged him to her body, whispering her gratitude in his ear. "I think you

forgot one detail. Where is dinner?"

"Angel, I had to get you out of our room so that Carey and Tom and their staff

could set up our meal. I told you there was a reason to my madness. How does steak
and shrimp sound?"

After several more passionate embraces, the love birds walked back to the lodge

to have dinner.

There is a place called Thornewood Castle in Washington state, and I modled

Pattinson Lodge after it. Please google it, and I promise you will fall in love with that
place. It is the only castle in the western U.S. I plan to go there one day. Thank you
all for reading and reviewing. This might just be my favorite chapter. Don't forget to
check out my facebook group page. Love you all! XXOO

- 72 -

groups/163281877153436/

- 73 -

Chapter 13 In Your Wildest Dreams

Chapter 13 In Your Wildest Dreams

"…The sun goes down and the moon comes up. My heart is pumping for you, and

the mad thing starts…Never in your wildest dreams did you ever get this feeling."
Tina Turner

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

I have a good feeling that you all liked the previous chapter. It is my favorite so

far. Your reviews are wonderful and encouraging. Thank you all from the bottom of
my heart. Kitty Masen, you are all sorts of awesomeness! Now, let's return to
Pattinson Lodge…

Once they had returned to their suite, the smell of grilled food was in the air. Food

had not been on Bella's mind until the scent hit her. Tom and Carey were waiting on
the deck for them with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. "I believe
congratulations are in order," Tom said to the couple as they walked through the
French doors.

"Indeed they are, sir. My lovely Bella has agreed to be my wife."

The pop of the bottle of champagne made her jump. Edward felt this and pulled

her closer to him. He loved being able to make her feel relaxed. She placed her head
on his shoulder and breathed in his cologne. "A toast to the future Mr. and Mrs.
Cullen," Tom said as he lifted the fluted glass. "May you both find your way here for
your wedding." Carey poked him in the side. "You have such a subtle way of
promoting the business, sweetheart."

"And you know you love how subtle I am when-"

"I think we've over stepped our welcome, Tom, " she cut him short. "Let's get out

so they can have a quiet night now. Then you can show me all of your, um subtleties.
Good night you all, and congratulations on your engagement."

Edward walked with the Pattinsons to the door while Bella looked over the deck.

The moon was beginning to come out and cast a soft glow over the gardens. The
view was spectacular, and she really did hope to have their wedding here. No other
place would suffice for them when they exchanged their vows. The thoughts she had

- 74 -

entertained earlier about marrying Edward near the fountain were close to coming
to fruition. As he walked closer to her, he wrapped his long arms around her and
brushed her hair from the side of her neck. He did not just kiss her; he sucked on
her neck, which caused her to moan. She felt his teeth as he gently bit her skin.

"If I knew any better, my love, I'd swear you were a vampire."

He laughed at her statement. "Well, I had a pet bat for a short time when I was a

kid. He bit me once or twice, so you may be on to something."

"What did your parents think of your pet?"

"My dad encouraged my interests. We built a bat house for him. My mom, on the

other hand, was afraid of them. I did not have the bat very long, and we got a dog
afterward." He pulled the chair out for her, and then he leaned down to caress her
cheek with his lips. He walked over to the other side of the table and sat across from
her. Her beauty in the moonlight took his breath away.

"Hearing about your childhood is interesting, Edward. I hope you always want to

share the details of your life with me."

"There is no other woman that I would rather spend eternity with, angel. Now

speaking of that, I want to ask you when would you like to start our forever?"

"Honestly, I prefer sooner as opposed to later. Since I am starting school in a few

weeks, I will be caught up in my studies and projects. Then there is my job at
Victoria's shop."

"Bella, I have to tell you about a few thoughts that have been in my mind since the

day we met in the book store. When we touched, I saw our future. You and I were in
a kitchen together and our two children were running inside playing. They wanted
to know what was for dinner. You looked like an angel in my thoughts when you
pulled them into your arms. Those thoughts or vision or whatever you want to call it
have stuck with me. I have never forgotten any one of those details."

She was in shock because of his admission of this. "Love, how could you know that

I had that exact dream, too? I can see the round kitchen table and your sweet face
when that comes into my mind. There were two children, a boy and a girl, and they
smelled like the outdoors. " They were silent for a moment as they looked into each
other's eyes. A conclusion had been reached.

"You want to get married next Saturday, don't you angel?"

- 75 -

"Yes, my love… Saturday cannot get here fast enough."

-TPASAA-

Her dress lay across the club chair, and the sounds of their collective moans filled

the room. He ripped her panties off as his long fingers rubbed over her sensitive clit.
Bella arched her back off the bed as he bathed her hard nipples with his tongue. He
teased her aching pussy with his fingertip. He loved the look of desire that filled her
brown eyes. Originally, he had planned to make love to her on the portico, but when
he saw her shivering when he was feeding her dessert, he changed his mind.

The need to taste her was driving Edward over the edge. He licked his way down

her body, leaving a trail of heat that was making her pant for more. After he was
comfortable, he wasted no time in lapping at her with his tongue. She was begging
her love for more of him. He could feel her orgasm getting closer by the second as
her legs were trembling next to his head. He slid in two fingers just as she began to
scream his name, and he felt her silky walls tightening around them. She saw stars
behind her eyelids as her body was overtaken. His face was saturated with her
plentiful juices.

As he looked up into her face, he saw the smile that lit up his world. She was

glorious to him, more treasured in his heart than any material item he had known.
He only lived to please her, to protect her, and to love her with every fiber of his
being. She motioned for him to lie on his back as she covered his face, neck, and
chest in soft kisses. His hard cock was soon in her dainty hands, and Bella looked
into his green eyes with desire. She hungrily licked her lips before she took his
hardened length into her mouth. She wanted to make him come in her mouth.

"Oh, baby, your mouth feels so good," he said as she continued to suck him into

her mouth. He never wanted her to stop. Every time Bella touched him, he grew
impossibly harder. She knew how to drive her man delirious with pleasure. She
wanted him to come in her mouth. He was close to the edge, and when she looked
up into his eyes, he lost all control. Bella purred like a kitten when he pulled her up
under his chin. "We need to catch our breath, angel, but I'm not done with you yet,
not by a long shot."

Once he was sure she was ready for him, Edward placed his body over hers, and

lined up his erect cock with her drenching wet pussy. "I love you, Bella. I hope you
feel every bit of it while I take you endlessly." He slid deeply and effortlessly into
her, filling her completely. This moment was sacred for them, and when they were
as one, it was pure bliss. All was right in their world as he grinded against her hips.
Bella grabbed ahold of his back as she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist.

- 76 -

They were completely wrapped up their lovemaking.

"So close, Edward. Faster please," she moaned and he was only too eager to

please her as he felt the oncoming power of his own orgasm. Her walls tightened
around his aching cock, and her juices coated him. When she moaned his name, he
exploded inside of her, drowning her walls in thick ribbons. He rested his head in
the crook of her neck. Bella ran her fingers through his hair.

"I love you with all of my heart, angel."

"As I love you with all of mine, Edward."

-TPASAA-

They spent the next two days enjoying their time together, as well as planning for

the wedding. It was obvious that they had chosen to get married at the lodge. The
Pattinsons were not surprised by their choice, either, and they began making the
arrangements. The attendance was not going to be a large number, considering
most of Bella's family was dead. None the less, it was going to be a grand affair.
Edward had spoken with Carlisle about their impending nuptials, and he was
delighted to be the best man. Esme was going to be Bella's maid of honor.

After some consideration, he called Detectives McCarthy and Whitlock. They were

his closest friends in the department, and he knew they needed to at least know
about the event. Both of them were going to head up for the rehearsal dinner and
the wedding. Their wives, Rose and Alice, wanted to meet him and Bella. Once he
had cleared the time off from work with the chief of police, Edward was further
relieved. Now he needed to make one more dream a reality for his angel.

-TPASAA-

They returned to Forks on Monday, and they were leaving for the wedding on

Thursday. The next few days would be spent on the few wedding details they had to
finalize. One of the major ones was for Bella to find a dress that would be part of her
dream. She had talked with Esme over this, and they decided she would be
overjoyed with a vintage dress. Of course this required some fast work on both of
their parts since they had no time to spare. The ladies asked Victoria for some help
on this urgent project because she had some contacts in the market with vendors.

At first there was a lead on some dresses that were in Seattle, but they turned out

to be colorful antique prom dresses. They were lovely, and Victoria purchased some
for the shop. Bella could not imagine saying her vows in a dark blue short dress. It

- 77 -

would not work. Late Tuesday, one of the vendors called and said that she had a few
dresses that she had bought in one of the flea markets in Los Angeles. She emailed a
picture to the store, and the three ladies swooned when they saw it.

The dress was as perfect as far as Bella was concerned. It was to be delivered

tomorrow morning. Before going home for the night, she purchased up extra bottles
of her beloved Blue Hydrangea.

-TPASAA-

Bella talked over all of these details with Edward when she came home. She was

glad that the time was going by quickly, but she wanted to make sure everything on
their end was completed. He and Carlisle had been fitted for the tuxedos that day,
and he would pick them up the following morning.

"Everything is falling into place, beautiful," he said as he rubbed her shoulders.

He knew the search for the perfect dress was tiring.

"You are the man of my dreams, " she whispered.

He turned her around so he could look into her beautiful face. He laid a small kiss

on her lips. "I am the most fortunate man in the world. I am going to marry my
heaven sent angel in a few days. " He kissed her deeply, exploring her mouth with
his tongue. She understood how deep his affections ran for her when they kissed
like this. It left her breathless, and she snuggled into his lap. She deeply sighed as
he embraced her tightly. "Just a few more days, angel," he said.

-TPASAA-

Bella was in the back office trying on the dress when she heard two unfamiliar

women talking to Victoria and Esme. She peeked her head out to see two women
who were close to her age. One was a petite woman with dark hair that was chin
length. Standing next to her was another woman who was taller with thick blonde
hair cascading down her back. She had thought they were customers until she heard
them talking about the wedding they were going to this coming weekend at
Pattinson Lodge. They said their names were Rose McCarthy and Alice Whitlock.
Bella immediately recognized them from talking with Edward.

As much as she wanted to run out and meet them, she stayed in the back admiring

her reflection in the mirror. The bead work on the v-neckline was simple yet stellar.
The dress was floor length and sleeveless. The fabric was delicate, and Bella was
content in her choice. This was everything she had longed for since she was a small

- 78 -

child. She was deeply loved by someone that would not hurt her. Jacob was gone
forever, and the pain he had caused her was no longer a part of her life. A tear fell
down her cheek as she was lost in her thoughts.

"You look amazing in that dress," said a voice. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting you.

I'm Rose, and Emmett is my husband. "

"It's wonderful to finally meet you. I'm Bella, but I have a feeling you already knew

that. "

"Yes. Let me introduce you to Alice."

The petite woman came walking toward the back. She had a certain type ofjoie de

vivre that was radiating from her core. "Hello, I'm Alice You look beautiful, Bella."

"Thank you both. Edward and I are delighted that you all can come this weekend."

"We would not miss this for the world," Rose said. "Besides, Emmett mentioned

that the place we are going is beyond description."

"Yes you could definitely say that about Pattinson Lodge. I fell in love with it, and

that is the only place we wanted to have our wedding."

"We were just dropping by in hopes to meet you, Bella. We have to finish getting

ready for the weekend."

"We'll see you tomorrow night for the dinner," Alice said. She and Rose gave Bella

a hug and left the store.

Victoria and Esme came back into the office, and they were equally stunned by

how lovely she looked in her dress. "I am glad you will be coming for the wedding,
Victoria," Bella told her as she hugged her friend. "I don't think it would be right if
you were not present. "

"I'm looking forward to it, Bella. You and Edward are the happiest couple I have

seen in some time. It inspires me to find the right man."

"You never know where you might find him," Esme said as she helped her get out

of the dress. "Love can happen in the strangest of places, and I agree with you about
how sweet Bella and Edward are together. You all remind me of how Carlisle and I
were when we were married ten years ago."

- 79 -

"I hope we are always as happy as you are, Esme."

"The love you share is unique, and it has been tested. I know you and Edward will

have a wonderful life together, my dear. Now let's get this dress in the garment bag.
We have to get up to the lodge soon. Edward can't wait to make you his bride!"

-TPASAA-

The rehearsal went smoothly, and Bella was surprised when Tom offered to escort

her down the aisle. It was uncanny how much he looked like her beloved Edward,
and she thought it was ironic that he would be giving her away. Alice asked her if
they were related.

"As far as they know, they are not relatives. Now I can see how my husband to be

will look in the future."

"What do you think of that?"

"I only hope I can keep up with him. I will have women to fight off for the rest of

my life."

Dinner was served in the great hall. They dined on grilled teriyaki skewers with

peppers and pineapple, saffron rice, and Italian bread. Bella and Edward were
content to be in the company of friends that they truly loved. Carlisle stood up.

"I wanted to make a toast not to the happy couple tonight, but to you all. I am in

great company as we begin to celebrate their wedding. My wife, Esme, and I are
proud to have made such new great friends. To a marvelous weekend, my friends."

Everyone agreed to the words he had just spoken.

-TPASAA-

"I will miss you tonight, my Bella, but I want you to sleep well. We have a

wonderful day on the horizon, and I want you well rested."

"Are you also hinting that I will need my strength for the wedding night?"

"Angel, you are going to need your strength for every night. I am fighting back

temptation right now. I want to ravish every inch of your glorious body."

"I want that as much as you do, Edward, but this will be the last night we ever

- 80 -

have to spend apart."

"I know I could never be away from you ever again after tonight. I love you, and

tomorrow is the start of our forever."

"I love you, too. Forever." They kissed for several minutes in front of her door. "I'll

be waiting for you at the end of the aisle, angel. Sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams to you, my love."

Bella could not wait to walk down the aisle, and, if she had it her way, they would

be married as soon as she woke up in the morning. Later on, as she slept, she
dreamed of bee lights, fountains, and her Edward.

Are you all ready for a wedding? I think Bella certainly is, and if my fiancé were

Edward, I'd be counting the minutes. You all know I love reading your reviews. Be
sure to check out the fic I have adopted, Knocking on Heaven's Door.
s/8996537/1/Knocking-On-Heavens-Door. It's a drabble fic. Also, come by and visit
my group page on facebook. Love you all! XXOO

- 81 -

Chapter 14 Overjoyed

Chapter 14 Overjoyed

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

"…For did my dreams come true when I looked at you. And maybe too, if you

would believe, you too might be overjoyed, over loved, over me…"Stevie Wonder

The last chapter was more of a transitional one. Finally, we are at the wedding

chapter! Thank you all for reading and reviewing. This is my first fic, but I have
more plot bunnies waiting. Once again, I have to lift a glass to Kitty Masen. You are
an amazing beta!

Bella sat up in her bed on the morning of their wedding and studied the facets of

her ring. It was breathtaking, just like her fiancé, and both of them brought a smile
to her face. She had slept well during the night as her dreams were of falling petals
and whispered exchanges of love. She lingered in her bed for a few minutes before
she walked into the bathroom. As she brushed through her long mane, there was a
knock at the door and the sound of someone announcing breakfast. One of the wait
staff pushed a cart into her room that had several plates on it. Even though she
missed Edward, it was a nice treat to have a quiet meal to herself. Bella was sure
that the rest of her day was going to overflow with activity.

On the opposite side of the manor, Edward was starting to wake up, and he was

aching for the presence of his lady. He had spent the better part of the night writing
to her. Putting pen to paper had become an essential detail of their relationship and
Bella has treasured every one of his letters. He loved seeing the smile on her face
when she received one. Before he had fallen asleep he had slipped a note under her
door.

Bella had missed seeing the note at first because it had gotten caught up in the

cart's wheel. Before she slipped off to take a shower, the kitchen rang her room to
tell her about their mistake. It was delivered to her immediately, and Bella sat down
to read it.

To My Angel, My Wife to Be,

You have been my every thought throughout this night. I had to fight the urge to

come to your room and hold you. Did you sleep well? In my mind's eye, I could see

- 82 -

your gorgeous hair spread out over the pillows and your sweet body curled up.
When you are sleeping, I like to kiss you softly and run my fingers over your face.
You snuggle closer to me when I do that. In a few hours, we will be married, and
we'll never spend another night apart. In addition to the vows we will speak in front
of our friends, I wanted to tell you that I have some private vows I will share with
you tonight when we are alone. They are only for our ears. I love you with all of my
heart. Seeing you walking towards me in your white dress will take my breath away.

Waiting In anticipation,

Your Edward

She clutched the letter to her heart. The things that he did to her made her

swoon.

-TPASAA-

"I might need you to remind me how to breathe when I'm standing next to him,

Esme."

"Everything will be great, Bella. You are slightly anxious and most of this is in

your head. I had the same emotions when I was waiting to marry Carlisle. "

"How did you manage the time when you were waiting?"

"We had a much bigger wedding, and there were people all over the floor of the

hotel we had rented for the occasion. My parents would drop by the room, along
with having five bridesmaids in there. The photographer was doing her best to
capture images of us before the wedding. Looking back on it, I would have preferred
a much smaller one. I did not have much of an opportunity to talk to people that I
wanted to talk to during the reception. My parents over spent to tell you the truth. "

"I doubt I would have handled a large crowd well. We only wanted the people who

are important to us be here. Thank you for everything you have done for us, Esme.
Our friendship is invaluable to me and I know that Edward is grateful for Carlisle,
too.

"We think the world of you all. I'll be back in just a little bit. I need to get dressed,

but I'll help you when I get back."

"Thank you. I will need help."

- 83 -

Before Esme stepped out of the door, she gave Bella a hug. She wiped a stray tear

that was falling down her face. Bella wanted to feel Edward's arms around her, to
help her calm down. She paced around the room. Little did she know that he was
pacing around his room, too.

-TPASAA-

Edward was adjusting his tie yet again. He was ready for the ceremony to start.

Carlisle was sitting with him near the fountain. "I can tell you are excited about
this."

"When I see Bella walking toward me, then I will feel excited. This waiting is

agony."

"Tell me what your honeymoon plans are. If you focus on that, then then time will

pass more quickly."

"You know me well, Carlisle."

Edward began to describe one of the places Bella had told him she dreamed of

visiting with him. One night during dinner, she spoke about Monet's Garden in
Giverny, France, and how she had dreamed of traveling there since she was a child.
Her first discovery began with a peek into one of her mother's travel books. It
enchanted her completely. Now as an adult, Bella hoped one day to stand on the
Japanese Bridge with her love and kiss him. Her dreams had become his dreams. He
could see her reflecting his happiness as they roamed through the blooming Irises.
It brought him a deep feeling of contentment when he booked the flight and
confirmed the hotel reservations. His parents assisted him with planning this for
him. They were going to meet up with them in Paris.

"And those are the plans I have for our honeymoon. What are your thoughts?"

"I only wish I had thought of doing that for Esme. It's very unique and decidedly

romantic, Edward. You have made a great choice."

"Thank you, Carlisle."

They did not notice the minister walking up to them or the violinist setting up for

the processional. "Are you ready to get into place?"

"Yes we are pastor."

- 84 -

-TPASAA-

Bella stood next to Tom in the door way. Esme was ready to walk forward when

she was given the signal by Carey. They had their delicate bouquets of blue
hydrangeas in their hands. "You and Edward will have a long, wonderful marriage. I
have seen many weddings here, but this one is remarkable. Are you ready?"

"How can I say no?"

Esme walked down the aisle as soon as she was given the signal. Her sliver dress

was shimmering in the sunlight. Bella had her arm wrapped around Tom's arm as
they stood at the back. Standing next to the pastor was her Edward, the man who
made her world spin on a new, brighter axis. She wanted to let go of Tom and run
right into his embrace and say those words that would bind them together for all
eternity. It was all she could do to simply put one foot in front of the other as they
walked in a normal manner towards him.

He wanted her next to him that minute, and time began to crawl at a slow pace as

they inched their way closer to him. The silver lining was that he got to feast his
eyes on his angel. The vintage dress was spectacular on her, and she kept her gaze
locked into his. He extended his arm as Tom handed her over to him, and Bella
quietly thanked him. The pastor began to welcome everyone that had gathered for
the wedding. When he came to the vows, she felt like the words were tumbling out
of her mouth. Edward had a method of manipulating her ability to focus on the task
at hand. When it came his turn to tell her that he would love her no matter what the
circumstances were, she listened with rapt attention. Esme handed her the band to
slide on his finger, and Carlisle did the same for him. Once the ring was on her
finger, Edward lifted her hand to his lips to kiss it softly. The pastor finished by
telling them that what God had brought together, let no man put asunder. Bella
hardly heard him tell Edward that he could kiss his bride when he had pulled her
into a body crushing hug. His mouth had eagerly sought out the softness of lips, and
she felt the pressure of his tongue caressing her own. They kissed for several
moments until the need for oxygen won out.

"I love you my beautiful wife."

"I love you my wonderful husband."

-TPASAA-

They gathered with their friends in the court yard for the celebratory reception

and dinner. On the menu, there were garlic roasted potatoes, grilled asparagus

- 85 -

spears, and bourbon marinated sirloins. Bella was deeply contented as she enjoyed
her food. Neither she nor Edward could keep their hands or eyes off each other.

"I read your letter this morning, love," she whispered into his ear. "I'm

anticipating what those private vows are that you wrote about to me."

He laughed as he thought about the certain words he had reserved for their

private time tonight. "You will not be disappointed, angel."

Carlisle stood up and cleared his throat. "First of all, I want to congratulate

Edward and his bride, Bella. I have seen many couples in love, as well as numerous
weddings. This one is unique because I have never known a couple that overcame
the odds they have faced. It was a beautiful wedding, and I am certain everyone in
attendance knows this is the start of a happy life. Secondly, let us lift our glasses
and toast… Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen." The clink of the fine crystal reverberated
through the garden.

-TPASAA-

She felt the coolness of his fingers as he unfastened her buttons. He brushed her

thick tresses to the side as he continued, leaving a trail of damp kisses on her back.
The dress slid to the floor in a white cloud of fabric. He held her hand as she twirled
to face him. Bella pulled his tie off from around his neck, and began the loving task
of undressing her husband. Her mind was filled with the thought that this man was
bound to her forever. Edward was finally her husband, as she was to be his wife
always. It sent a chill down her spine, and that did not go unnoticed by him.

"Let me get the fire started, beautiful because I can tell you are cold."

He found the remote for the fireplace and set it to where the room would be warm

quickly. He pulled off his pants and socks, and admired the woman before him. As
she lay back on the bed, he felt breathless when he drank in her splendor. Nothing
in this world had prepared him for this moment when he was going to drop to his
knees to worship this angel. He walked toward the bed and fell on them as she rose
up to look into his enchanting eyes. She ran her fingers through his unruly auburn
hair. There was an internal fight going on in her psyche as she wanted him to ravish
her that instant, but she knew they would never have this moment in time again.
They needed to savor every moment, every caress, and every touch. The time for
mad, passionate love making would come soon enough for them.

"Before I take one more layer of clothing off your glorious body, I want to share

my heat's vows with you, Bella Cullen. Saying your name gives me the deepest thrill.

- 86 -

I know I'll never get over that." He kissed her passionately on her full lips. She
wanted him to never break away as she nibbled on his bottom lip and his tongue
caressed her top lip. Breathlessly, they stopped as he dropped back down to the
floor.

"I promise that my deep reverence for you will never end. You have my soul to

claim as your forever. Our love is beyond epic, angel, and I will never fall out of love
with you. My heart, my mind, my body, they have all been in your possession since
that day in the book store. One night, we are going to hold each other so close, so
tight that our love will make a new life. I will do my very best to ensure that when
we make love, it will be beautiful and intense. I will use every inch of my body to
show you how much I love you because my heart just is not enough."

Bella could not control the joy in her heart as the tears fell down her face. There

was no way he could have ever said those words to any one in public, and a letter
would not have done them justice. She was overwhelmed in the best of ways as she
desperately pulled his lanky form over to her. At this moment, Bella was robbed of
the ability to form a coherent thought or to speak clearly, so she had to express her
love and want of her man through her touch. He smiled as their faces came closer
together, and he watched her close her marvelous brown eyes before their lips met.
It was a slow, steady kiss where they became loss in each other. She felt the
hardness of his erection through her silk panties.

He lifted her body carefully and laid her head on the pillows. He unfastened the

front closure of her sheer white bra as he caught her desire filled eyes. He pulled
the cups away to expose her hardening nipples. He drew lazy circles around them
before he licked them. As she arched her back up off the bed, he wrapped his arm
around her body, sucking and lavishing her perfect breasts with his mouth. Her
moans filled his ears like a lover's song.

"Angel, do you want me to use my fingers or my tongue to bring you to your first

orgasm?"

"Mmmmmm, b-both," she barely said.

"My, my, my. You are already so wet for me," he said as he ran his finger under

her panties. "Since you asked for both, then I shall grant your wish."

Edward removed her panties and leaned in running his tongue along the length of

her quivering folds. Her hips moved on their own accord as he slid two long fingers
inside. She gasped for air as he mercilessly licked her burning nub, bringing her
closer to the edge of insanity. He had never tasted such divine nectar in all of his

- 87 -

days.

"Come for me, baby. I want to see you come undone for me."

"Ed- Ed….Edward….oh, oh, oh, oh,"

Colors were brighter. The scent of his Cool Water cologne was headier. Her body

slowly collapsed deeper into the plush mattress. He kept lapping at her as the
explosion continued, and his masterful tongue sparked a fuse deep within her
triggering a second orgasm. Edward lifted her pelvis further up to his face as he
dipped his tongue as deep as possible into her gushing core. It was rapture.

Even though she wanted him to plunge right into her, Bella needed to catch her

breath, if only for a brief moment. He was kissing his way back up to her mouth,
setting her skin on fire with every single touch. The combination of passion and love
was showing in his moss green eyes. She devoured his lips when they met hers. It
was almost more than either one could handle. The ache in his cock was driving him
insane, but he wanted to make sure she was ready for the pleasure he was going to
share with her.

"Angel, I want take you now. Are you ready?"

With a heart rendering smile from his wife, Edward lined himself up. He knew he

wanted this to never end as he slid into her warmth. Making love with Bella had
never been this erotic. Her walls kept tightening around him as he felt her pulling
him further inside. She grabbed him by the ass and moaned out for more. All at
once, her body shook from the strength of another orgasm. He could not find a way
to douse out the flames of desire that he felt within his soul for this beguiling
creature. He sought out her swollen lips once again, and, in between kisses, he told
her he was going to explode at any moment.

"I want it all, baby," she said in between breaths.

He held her body even more tightly as he began to come harder than he ever had

before. He thrust into her as he exploded, calling out her name. Bella could not get
enough of the sensation of his orgasm spilling into her body. She ached for him to be
buried inside of her from dusk to dawn. She ran her fingers over his broad
shoulders.

"Edward, love, I'm completely floored by you."

He lifted his head from the crook of her neck and gave her a smile. "This is only

- 88 -

the beginning, sweetheart. We have our entire life ahead of us. You have only had a
small taste of what is to come, so to speak."

"I want everything for us, "she said, running her fingers over his face. "We should

never deny each other our affections. That would be sinful."

"I will never withhold love from you, angel." He pulled her shaking body into his

arms. "I need to get this blanket over you now. I can see you are freezing."

"I'm not really cold, love, but you wore me out." He could not help but drop his

head down and feel the pride in that statement.

"Does that mean you are ready to fall asleep?" He pulled the covers over their

bodies.

"Why in the world would I choose to sleep when the best looking man in the world

is waiting to make wild, hedonistic love to me? Baby, sleep is the last thing on my
mind right now."

"As you wish, angel." He began to explore her body again with his mouth and

hands, fulfilling his promise of loving her with his entire body because his heart
could never be enough.

I wanted to make this as romantic, sweet, and sexy as possible. We are headed on

a honeymoon in the next chapter you all! Then we will have an epilogue. Please let
me know your thoughts, musings, and comments. XXOO

- 89 -

Chapter 15 If Walls Could Talk

Chapter 15 If Walls Could Talk

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

"If walls had eyes-my…they would see the love in sight. They would see me…in

your arms in ecstasy. And with every move they'd know I love you so." Celine Dion

I am completely thankful for the amazing reviews you all have posted. Can you all

believe we are near the end? The epilogue will be following this chapter. I have the
best beta! Thank you, Kitty Masen, for all that you do. Let's go on a honeymoon with
Sweetward!

After a lengthy flight, they had arrived the previous day at their hotel in Giverny,

France, after a lengthy flight. Bella had never flown before, and she enjoyed it once
her anxieties settled down. Edward made sure that they had flown first class
because every detail about their honeymoon had to be as close as he could get to
perfection.

When he told her about where they would be traveling, Bella was speechless. He

was making another one of her life's dreams come true. They left after sharing
breakfast with their friends at the lodge, ready to start their time alone.

-TPASAA-

They had arrived in Paris several hours later, and the jet lag was catching up with

them. A taxi had taken them to the small town of Vernon, which was near Giverny.
Edward had found another bed and breakfast for them, The Lilacs. It was used as a
farm house when it was built during the eighteenth century. Once the taxi had
pulled up, they were welcomed by Ariane and Alain Cauderlier, who were the
owners of the property. They were also well versed in the history and culture of
Giverny.

make love to her husband, but exhaustion was getting the better of her. She

brushed her teeth, washed After a brief meal, Bella unpacked her toiletries and
began getting ready for bed. She wanted to off her make up, and slid on an icy blue
slip. Edward was waiting for her by the bed. He peppered her face with soft kisses
before he took her lips with his own. Every time they kissed in this manner, Bella
felt the tug of desire. When their tongues met, it was if time stood still. He wanted to

- 90 -

show her all the love he had in his heart. Gently he lifted her into his arms and set
her body upon the bed. Bella was pleasantly surprised by the lushness of the
mattress. She had not expected that.

"I am having a hard time resisting you, beautiful," he said in between kisses. "Why

did you have to tempt me with this satin slip? You know I cannot resist you in this
color."

"I was not trying to tempt you, love," she said as her back lifted up into his

embrace.

He placed his hands on either side of her face and looked into her mesmerizing

chocolate eyes. He was waiting for the right words to come to his mind. "Mrs.
Cullen, you could drive any man on this planet insane with lust. It really does not
matter what you are wearing… I will always want you."

"The same can be said for you, Edward. I will have to be on my toes around these

French women. They have their own secret weapons that I could never possess, and
I would hate to lose you to one of them."

Edward rolled over on to his back, laughing a full body laugh over that last

statement that came out of his wife's mouth. "Angel of mine, you are priceless. You
will never lose me to another woman because she simply would not be you. As for
secret weapons, the women of France would benefit from anything you would be
willing to teach them, but I am going to be greedy about you. I am keeping you all to
myself forever."

"I am yours forever, love. Now you know you have started a fire within me. Are

you going to fan the flames or-"

His lips crashed into her before she could finish the sentence. The urgency to take

his wife again was building, and Edward was not about to ignore this stunning
opportunity. She looked ravishing as his mouth drifted over her neck and collarbone.
He could feel how she was struggling to take in air as her body was writhing in his
arms. Her satin covered curves were calling his name. In one quick movement, the
straps were off her shoulders and down her arms. He lovingly cupped her breast as
he devoured them. They felt heavenly in his hands.

Once he had taken her slip completely off her body, he lightly trailed his fingertips

across her belly and ran them over her legs. She took his breath away with every
gaze. Everything about her was magical. In the dim light of their room, her entire
body glowed with love. He could not wait one more second to taste her essence. He

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settled between her legs and began devouring his version of paradise.

Bella could not hold back the pleasure she was experiencing as he lapped her

folds. It was almost too much ecstasy for her to handle. She wanted to watch him as
he brought her to the edge, but one look was nearly enough to make her come
undone. He could never have enough of his angel as he devoured everything she
was giving him. He slid his fingers in and out faster of her divine pussy as he felt her
legs trembling.

"Ed-Edward…I-I'm coming-"

He said nothing as he simply looked up into her eyes and gave her a devious grin

as she felt her walls clenching around his nimble fingers. Every tremor, large and
small, that emanated from her body captivated his attention. He memorized every
detail of their love making, from her blissful smile to the feeling over her toes
curling near his legs.

Bella surprised him by rolling him on his back once she had gotten her breathing

back under control. She had neglected to go down on her husband as of late, and
she wanted to feel him around her lips. She licked her way down his chest and over
his stomach. He watched with rapt attention. She loved the feel of his strong legs,
almost as much as she loved the hardness of his cock. His tip felt velvety as she
stroked it with her thumb. She teased him as she ran her tongue over it, savoring his
taste. He closed his eyes when she began to lick the length. When she heard him
moan her name, she took him into her mouth, sucking and gently nibbling her way
up and down. The sensations she was causing with her mouth were indescribable for
him. His hands found their way to her hair, touching it as she brought him closer to
an orgasm. As magnificent as it felt for her to go down on him, Edward wanted to
come inside her beautiful pussy more than her mouth.

"Angel, would you please get on top of me. I need to be inside you."

She stopped long enough to crawl over his body and pull his cock inside. The sight

of her on top of him, enjoying every moment of their connection was beyond bliss.
He pulled her body into his arms, letting her feel how much he needed her. She
kissed his neck and licked his mouth before she slid her tongue in, tasting her
essence on him. Something about that made her feel more excited. She wanted as
much of him as he would allow.

Edward felt her tighten her grip around his body and around his aching cock. He

could not resist sucking on one of her nipples in that moment as she arched her
back. He began pulling in and out of her body faster as he felt his own orgasm begin

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to take ahold of his body. Her name echoed through the room. His body moved of its'
own accord when he fell over the edge. Bella whispered sweet nothings in his ear as
he began to come back down. The feeling of her soft lips running over his face was
dreamy. She ran her fingers through his hair. Then he heard a giggle.

"I was not the only one who had an orgasm."

"You are correct angel. I love you so deeply," he said as she laid her head over his

heart.

"Edward, I love you more than words could ever express. I apologize for being

sleepy. Yet again, you have worn me to a raveling."

"You have no reason to apologize. I want nothing more than to hold you all night."

He leaned his head down to brush his lips across her mouth. "Sweet dreams, my
beautiful wife."

As he laid his head back onto the pillow, he noticed that she had already drifted to

sleep.

-TPASAA-

They enjoyed a hearty French breakfast the following morning before heading out

for Monet's home. Life in France was vastly different from the way they lived in
America, and Bella was embracing it fully. The drive was brief, lasting only ten
minutes, and she was relieved that Edward knew about the euro system. The more
she learned about her husband, the further she fell in love with him. The pictures
that the Cauderliers had taken of the gardens were nothing in comparison to the
actual place.

They were permitted to walk along the side alleys and through the gardens. The

cherry blossoms and narcissus were in full bloom, and the irises were going to open
in May. There were two sides to the garden. The first was the Clos Normand, which
was in front of the home. Tulips in shades of violet, plum, and aubergine were
growing in multiple rows in this part. Bella was breathless as she took in the heady
scent of the blossoms. From the walkways, Edward snapped more pictures than he
could honestly count. His wife looked amazing, more beautiful than all of the natural
outdoor beauty combined.

Monet's house was a rainbow of colors, both inside and out. The exterior was

rather long, with pink walls and green shutters. It blended well with the gardens. As
for the rooms indoors, Monet had chosen different colors for every room. The sitting

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parlor was bright blue. In contrast to the dominant dark and heavy colors of the
Victorian era in which he lived, the dining room was painted a vibrant yellow. The
kitchen walls were covered in blue tiles that contrasted with the warmth of the
yellow dining room.

It was absolutely fascinating for Edward to watch his wife as she studied Monet's

home. The rooms that he used as his studios were the rooms that captivated her
attention more than any others. There were replicas of his paintings on the walls.
Bella hoped one day that she would have her own studio in her miniature cottage
she dreamed of frequently.

The sun was shining brightly as they made their way outdoors. They were headed

to the Water Garden, which was accessed by a tunnel that Monet had built
underground. During the late eighteen hundreds, there was railway traffic that he
wanted to avoid, thus, he had the tunnel constructed. Edward took advantage of the
space by pulling her into an embrace. They kissed each other passionately for
several moments before they walked onward. Once they had exited the tunnel, they
were on the Japanese Bridge. That was the very place she had dreamed of kissing
her love, and he was aware of this. They stood facing each other, as though they
were the only people who lived on this planet.

"This is my dream come true, Edward. I've never been happier than I am right

here with you. I am eternally grateful for you."

"Bella, knowing that you are this happy makes me feel like my heart might

explode. You never need to thank me. It is my privilege to do anything for you."

He ran his fingers through her hair and over her face. Her arms were wrapped

around his waist, and then her lips were soon on his. He placed his hand on the back
of her neck and deepened their kiss. Tongues met and danced together. He sucked
on her lips as she poured her love out to him. The soft wisteria brushed up against
them. Pulling back only briefly, they softly kissed and lingered on the bridge for a
time. He wrapped his arms around her back, cradling her body net to his. The pink
and white water lilies were flowing down the brook. They had found their heaven on
Earth.

-TPASAA-

The next few days were spent in a whirlwind of love making and spending time

immersed in the beauty of Giverny. Every moment was a small piece of bliss that
they cherished. The time was drawing near for them to travel to Paris to see his
parents. Bella was relaxed about meeting her in-laws, and she wanted nothing more

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than to express her appreciation to them for bringing Edward into this world.

They settled into the Hotel Raphael, which was one of the most luxurious hotels in

Paris. His parents would also be staying there as well. Bella had never been spoiled
this much before in her life. They had a view of the Eiffel Tower from both of the
windows. The wall paper was made of a toile fabric, with scenes depicting life in the
country. She felt like a regal princess standing in the middles of this room. In the
bathroom, there were bottles of Chanel products sitting on the counter. A large,
ornate mirror was hanging above the sink.

As she admired her reflection, Edward walked in behind her pulling her into his

arms. The feel of his embrace was a never ending pleasure for her. He lifted her
chin to look into her eyes. He was smiling at her.

"Is this hotel up to your standards?"

"If I had standards, this place would blow the competition away in a heartbeat. Is

there any limit to what you will do for me?"

"Never, angel. I have promises I made to you that I have to keep. I will always do

whatever is necessary to make you feel as wonderful as you make me feel."

"You have outdone yourself this time, love."

"I've only begun to spoil you." They began to kiss slowly, as their tongues glided

over their lips.

-TPASAA-

The newlyweds walked toward the dining hall while they held hands. Edward

could tell that other men were eyeing his wife, and he stayed by her side closely. He
kept kissing her in order for them to get the message that she belonged only to him.
Bella was delirious with joy because of the affection he rained upon her.

Once they entered the hall, there were a number of couples sitting down, but a tall

man walked toward them. He was almost as tall as Edward, and they shared the
same moss green eyes. He shook Edward's hand before he turned to greet Bella.

"Son, you said she was gorgeous, but you never told me she was enchanting. I'm

Anthony Cullen, and it is a pleasure to meet you Bella."

"The pleasure is all mine, sir. Thank you for meeting us for dinner."

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"You are more than welcome, my dear. Please come over and have a seat. I would

like for you to meet Elizabeth."

Edward's mom had a short, chic haircut that made the most of her thick red hair.

It was obvious that he inherited his mom's hair. She was elegantly dressed in a black
skirt and burgundy sweater set. There was a quality about her that spoke of another
time, old money, and fine living. When she spoke to a person, she made you feel as
though you were the only person in the other room.

They had a lovely dinner of lobster thermidor, rice pilaf, and steamed vegetables.

The conversation flowed smoothly, as they talked about their time in Giverny. His
parents were especially interested in helping Bella with her future art career.
Hearing this brought tears to her eyes. They loved her almost as much as Edward
did. He brought her hand to his lips.

"Are you okay angel?"

"I'm more than okay, Edward. Simply overjoyed."

-TPASAA-

After they bid his parents a good night, they went for walk in the city. Paris was

magical at night, more than it was in the day time. It was a city of romance and
splendor, and Bella wanted to soak it all in. Every few moments, they would pause
for a sweet embrace or passionate kiss.

"What is your heart's desire right now?" he asked.

"I want to go to the Eiffel Tower, love, with you."

"Your wish is my command, angel."

They climbed into the nearest taxi, and the driver sped away to their destination.

Fortunately, there were fewer people that visited the landmark at night, so their
waiting time to ascend to the top was shorter. They entered the elevator, and it soon
opened up to a spectacular view from the observation deck. Paris was aglow with
old world charm. He wanted to return tomorrow with his camera to photograph her.
The look on her face was awe inspiring for him as he studied her. There was an
unimaginable beauty about her face as she looked over the city.

Edward felt as though he was the most fortunate man on God's green earth when

he stood next to her. The panoramic view from the deck was amazing. Nothing could

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have ever prepared Bella for how she reacted to this sight.

"I'm completely speechless," she finally said.

"It is rather impressive. We'll need to purchase a book to read up on the history.

You realize that everything about us began with our mutual love of books."

She turned to face her husband. "I will forever cherish that afternoon we met,

love. Who would have ever thought that books would have ever changed our lives
that dramatically?"

He ran his fingers over her cheeks. "I don't know for sure, angel, but I am

certainly glad for it."

Standing on the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower, Bella and Edward kissed

well into the night. It was the start of a beautiful life together.

This is the final chapter, you all, but there is an epilogue coming up! It should not

surprise any of you that Claude Monet is my favorite painter. His home in Giverny is
as close as to heaven as I think a human can get. Don't forget to look up Knocking
on Heaven's Door, which is the fic I adopted. Pink Sand will also be the next fic I will
be updating more frequently. Surferward gets to me, too! Please leave your
thoughts and reviews! Love you all! XXOO

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Epilogue Evergreen

Epilogue Evergreen

Disclaimer: I do not Twilight

"'Love soft as an easy chair. Love fresh as the morning air. One love that is shared

by two I have found with you…You and I will make each night a first. Every day a
beginning…we have the brightest love. Two lights that shine as one. Morning glory
and midnight sun…"' Barbra Streisand

I cannot tell you all how much you have moved me with your reviews. This story

has come a long way since the plot bunny fell into my lap almost three years ago.
Sweetward owns me for life. Thank you to Kitty Masen, my awesome beta. This story
would not be the same without your touch!

Nine months later….

Edward was driving like a mad man. He had gotten the call that Bella's water had

broken about five minutes ago. It was one of his last days he was working before the
baby was born. He was taking three weeks of leave to stay at home with his family.
He had this feeling that the baby was coming soon. Bella was having contractions off
and on for the past few days. He made sure that there was someone always with her
the past week. She did not need any extra stress. Thankfully, her pregnancy had
gone smoothly, minus a few bouts of morning sickness. Bella enjoyed being
pregnant with their child.

She had become pregnant while they were on their honeymoon, and they were

thrilled about having a baby. Bella had to put off going to school for now. They
agreed that waiting to return was a good idea. She worked part time at Victoria's
shop, but Victoria told her she needed to stop working two weeks ago. Bella needed
to get some rest before their child was born.

Esme was with her when her water broke. They were outside in Esme's garden

when it happened, along with a strong contraction. They called Edward immediately
and drove over to the hospital. Carlisle met them in the emergency room, and she
was ushered upstairs to labor and delivery. He stayed downstairs to wait for
Edward. He pulled into the parking lot and ran inside. The two men headed upstairs.
He called his parents to let them know their grandbaby was on the way. They had
returned to Seattle last month from another trip to London.

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Bella had received nubain and phentermine from one of the nurses. She was

starting to fade out, but Edward walked in before she fell asleep.

"Thank you," she said weakly.

"I am here, angel. I won't leave your side."

-TPASAA-

She slept for several hours before the nurses had to wake her to start pushing.

Edward stayed by her side, doing anything he could to assist his wife. The doctor
told them that the baby's head was slightly off, and he needed to use a suction cup
to pull it out. He assured the couple that this was not an unusual procedure. The
baby, as far as he could tell, was doing fine, but he needed to do this now. With one
last push, the doctor placed the cup on the baby's head and the head was out. Once
the baby was out, the doctor placed it on Bella's lap.

"It's a girl, love! We have a girl! She has your hair." Bella stared at her for a few

minutes while the doctor had Edward to cut the umbilical cord. The smile on his face
was amazing. He could not take his eyes off the two most beautiful parts of his life.
Their little sunbeam was here, and, beside her auburn hair, she looked like a
miniature version of Bella.

"What do you want to name her, angel?"

"She looks like a Jackline to me. A beautiful Jackline Olivia Cullen to me."

"That sounds absolutely perfect to me."

Five Years Later

Bella was standing in the kitchen of their stone cottage. They moved in shortly

after their second child, Declan Kieran, was born. They needed the room, and their
new home was another dream realized. Edward had known, since the beginning of
their romance, how much this meant for her. Living here made them feel content.
Bella had decorated it with help from Esme and Victoria. They had made the house
into a home with soft furnishings and gentle colors. Whenever they had family and
friends over for dinner, they always talked about how comfortable their cottage was.
Bella had raised the bar on hospitality and home caring.

She could see her husband pulling up into the driveway. He purchased another

silver Volvo, as it had become his signature car. He had become a detective with the

- 99 -

police department. All of Edward's dreams had come true. He got out of the car and
walked to the door. Bella was waiting for him, like she always did when she knew he
was on his way home. He put down his brief case and pulled her into his arms, as
though he had not seen her in years, much less a few hours ago. His lips met hers in
an intense kiss. After all these years, they were still ravenous for each other.

"I missed you today, angel. How are you?"

"I'm wonderful, and I'm thrilled to see you. I have some good news."

"Tell me what it is."

"I received a phone call today from the purchasing department for one of the

galleries in Seattle. They are interested in having a show of my painting, Edward. "

"That's wonderful, Bella. I am so happy for you."

"I don't know many details yet, but the buyer will be coming here next week. I

have to get my creative space in order."

"I'll help you clean up your petite cottage tomorrow. You don't have to do that by

yourself."

As soon as he said those words, two small children came rushing through the

door. They were elated to see their dad had returned home. They rushed into his
arms, and he picked them up, hugging them to his body. Bella loved this time of the
day because her family was together once again. Jackie and Declan asked her if they
could play in the backyard till she called them in for dinner. She allowed this since
she had to start cooking. After they ran out, Edward pulled her into his arms.

"Our life is beautiful, angel. I could not ask for more than this. I love you more

with every passing day."

"I love you, too. I can't wait to get you alone tonight to show you how appreciative

I am for everything you have given me."

He kissed her deeply on the mouth, their tongues caressing each other's slowly.

"Tonight can't get here fast enough."

And there you have it! I have enjoyed sharing this with you all. I have numerous

plot bunnies, and don't forget to visit the parlor on facebook.

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groups/163281877153436/. Please leave your thoughts and reviews!
groups/163281877153436/

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