Chasing Fire (one-shot)

by

owenic

The sound of musical laughter captured Edward's attention, the way it always did when his
daughter laughed. The little girl was playing in the large rear yard with her Aunt Rose, while
her father and Uncle Emmett sat at the patio table discussing the mail Edward had received
hours earlier.

Edward's eyes strained on his daughter - the center of his universe - as she skipped through
the garden. He saw how the sunlight caught her bronze colored curls, how innocent her smile
was, how oblivious she was to the torment that engulfed her father.

Edward turned his attention back to the table and held the note in his hands. He stared at the
cut-out and pasted pieces of paper, but did not see them, for what seemed like the hundredth
time. His mind was running through impossible scenarios involving the safety of his
daughter.

Emmett spoke without looking at his brother. "I know you don't want this, but I'm doing it for
her. If anything were to happen to that little girl..."

Edward hung his head and sighed. "I know."

He hadn't once considered his own safety; his focus was solely on his little girl. He'd been
successful in obscuring her from the media. Not even the most savvy of the Seattle Orchestra
community knew that Edward had a daughter.

The doorbell rang and Edward and Emmett's heads both turned toward the sound. It was
exactly two in the afternoon.

"Punctual, anyway," Emmett admitted, knowing his younger brother was dreading this
meeting.

Not wanting the little girl to clue in on the pending conversation, Emmett called out to his
wife. "Rosie, can you take her upstairs?"

She knowingly gave a nod and smile, and lured the little girl upstairs with the promise of a
very important tea party.

Esme, Edward and Emmett's mother, opened the front door, greeting their expected guest with
a warm smile. "They're out the back. Come on through."

Esme turned and led the way through the huge foyer, through what looked like a house
straight from the pages of a glossy magazine: a large staircase, closed double doors to the left
and right, and then through to an immense kitchen that opened directly onto the outdoor patio.

The house was decorated in white walls, dark timber and marble. It was the perfect balance
and made the oversized house warm and inviting.

"Boys," Esme announced their presence as she stepped out onto the patio, with their expected
guest beside her.

Both Edward and Emmett were clearly confused at what they saw.

"Isabella Swan," Bella introduced herself curtly. While she was used to this reaction, it still
managed to annoy her, every time.

Edward was stunned into silence. Before him stood the most beautiful woman he'd ever
seen. She wore tailored navy suit pants with a crisp white shirt underneath a fitted jacket, her
long hair pulled into a tight ponytail. Her skin was pale, her lips were naturally pink and her
eyes were the exact shade of her mahogany hair. She was petite, delicate. Beautiful.

She was also supposedly the best ‘celebrity' security detail on the West Coast.

No resume, no business cards, no office. She was hired by reputation alone.

When Edward had received the latest letter in today's mail, Emmett had made some phone
calls to his brother's agent, who in turn had also made some phone calls. An appointment was
arranged for two pm at Edward's house, with the "best security money could buy." No other
details were given.

Neither brother had expected a woman.

Realizing his brother was rendered speechless, Emmett stood and shook Bella's hand.
"Emmett Cullen," he said with his usual disarming grin. "This is my brother, Edward. He's
not usually mute."

Edward shot daggers at his brother which of course made his grin widen. Edward stood, still
without speaking, to shake Isabella's hand.

Bella looked at her subject. When she'd agreed to this meeting she'd briefly researched
Edward Anthony Cullen, and she'd known what to expect. Tall, lean, strikingly handsome
with the oddest moss-colored eyes, though she wondered why he'd neglected to do his hair.

She took his offered hand firmly in her grip, making direct eye contact to show her
assertiveness.

Without being asked she took a seat and observed the white piece of paper on the table and
her brow creased.

"Nasty, huh?" Emmett said, nodding toward the note.

"Have you contacted the police?" was her only response.

Edward shook his head and offered a quiet, "No."

"Why not?" she asked, point blank.

Bella soon realized why Edward's hair looked so disheveled when he ran his hand through it,
causing it to stand on end. He spoke like he'd had this argument ten times before, "I don't
want, or need, the publicity right now."

Emmett interjected, "What he means to say is the Foundation doesn't need any bad publicity
right now."

"The Seattle Symphony Orchestra's Soundbridge Foundation is preparing for the New Years
concert. It's been twelve months' work and I don't want any negativity surrounding my
involvement."

Bella held in the sigh that threatened to escape. Edward noticed the look of what could only
be called disdain on Bella's face and his jaw clenched. Before he could speak, Bella
continued with a pointed glance at the note on the table. "Someone begs to differ."

Edward sighed, resigned.

Bella leaned forward to look at the letter closely, though she never moved her hand to touch
it. "This is not the first," she observed.

Edward shook his head, no. Emmett answered, "Third."

This surprised Bella. "Regardless of whether I agree to contract my services to you, you
should involve the police. You should not have touched this letter. It's now contaminated
evidence." Looking toward the bigger of the two brothers, she asked, "I'd like to see the
other two letters, please."

Emmett didn't hesitate. He was inside and back out to the outdoor table setting quicker than
his hulking frame should have allowed. He opened the two folded squares and placed them
on the table in front of Bella.

"When did you get them?" Bella questioned.

"We got the first a month ago and then this one two weeks ago," Emmett explained as Edward
looked dismissively out over the garden.

"Which came first?" Bella asked.

Emmett gave a pointed nod to one in particular. The piece of paper itself was plain white,
non-descript. On it was cut-out red and black letters had been crudely pasted to read, "YOU
WON'T PLAY AT NEW YEARS..."

The second letter, with matching paper and similar cut-out and pasted letters read, "I'LL
GIVE YOU ONE REASON WHY..."

Then the third letter, which arrived only hours before, was on the same white paper, though
this one was noticeably different. There were cut-out and pasted numbers instead of letters.
"345513836."

Bella's eyes narrowed as she tabulated codes and possible encryptions in her head. "Bank
account numbers? Security access codes?" she pressed. "Can you think of anything that
these numbers relate to?" Edward shook his head.

"Are these numbers significant to your music?"

Edward's eyes widened slightly. "Uh, no," he hesitated. "At least I don't think so."

Emmett shrugged. "We have no idea what it means, which is why we decided to contact
someone..." he trailed off when Edward shot him a look. Then he amended, "Which is why I
decided to contact someone. Edward here is too pig-headed to admit he needs help."

"I still don't think it's anything serious," Edward mumbled. "I get odd-balls writing me all
sorts of weird and not-so-wonderful things: endorsement requests, marriage proposals,
indecent proposals."

Emmett elaborated, "His fan-mail goes through his publicist." Then, turning his hand toward
the three notes on the table, he said, "These came to his home address."

Bella was quiet, though her finger tapped on the table, as her mind went over the letters on
display before her. "I'll give you one reason why... I'll give you one reason why..." Bella
mumbled over and over, the one line of the second letter, trying to unravel its meaning.

Edward and Emmett watched, as though they could see her mind ticking over.

"One reason," Bella repeated. "What's the one reason?"

"Whatever the hell the numbers mean," Edward sniped, his patience frayed. "Even I can
figure that much."

Bella tilted her head a little and stared at Edward. She didn't appreciate his cold, distant tone
and she didn't like the fact that Edward, the subject she was to protect, was opposed to her
being there. She was made to feel unwanted even though she was, after all, here at their
request.

Edward was frustrated with this infuriating, cryptic woman. She waltzed into his home, asked
a handful of questions and answered none of his. He met her stare with his own, the two of

them trying to stare the other down. Emmett shifted in his seat, uncomfortable at the tension
between the two.

Edward finally broke the silence. "I mean no disrespect, Ms. Swan, but what exactly are your
credentials?"

Ignoring his question completely, she answered him. "You needn't worry if I'm qualified. I
know who you are, Mr. Cullen," she returned the sentiment he'd used in addressing her. "You
wouldn't be the first Grammy Award winning musician I've contracted to. The first classical
pianist, I will admit. Though if I can coordinate rock stars amongst fanatical groupies,
international airports, security and police, paparazzi and the odd sociopath, I am sure I can
handle you."

Edward snorted a laugh. "It's not me you need to be able to handle."

Bella cocked her eyebrow at Edward, and Emmett chuckled at them.

"Something amuse you?" Bella asked him.

Emmett grinned, "Nope."

Bella stood, pushing her chair away from the table. "I think we've wasted enough of
everyone's time. I'll see myself out."

"What? No..." Emmett stammered with a shake of his head, his eyes bewildered. "Why?"

"It's obvious I'm not really wanted here," Bella answered, looking directly at Edward. "My
clients are usually a little more appreciative of my skills, Mr. Cullen. Aside from the
deranged psychopath sending you fan mail, I don't see a reason for my being here."

"A reason?" Edward seethed at her, "You want a reason?" But Bella had heard enough.

As she turned toward the way she had come, a blur of giggles and pretty colored curls raced
out the door. "Dadda!" the little girl cried and raced toward where the two men were still
seated. Bella expected the child to run toward Emmett, but was shocked when it was Edward
who opened his arms for the child.

Emmett swiftly pocketed the letters as Edward scooped up the little girl and held her tightly.
He looked up toward Bella with piercing eyes. "This is my reason, right here."

Bella looked at Edward, and the cold, rude, egotistical man she'd presumed him to be, was
really just a... father. A paranoid, scared and threatened father. The fact that he was a father
was not disclosed in any report she'd read. She knew him to be an extremely private,
extremely talented musician. Granted, the two hours preparation time for this meeting wasn't
exactly a long enough time for proper research.

The little girl was beaming, despite the immediate company of a stranger. The resemblance
between father and daughter was remarkable. She spoke animatedly about teddy bears that
only liked chocolate milk and did not like tea, at all. And next time there should be some
strawberry milk in case the Barbies want to come.

Bella watched as Edward smiled for the first time since her arrival, his eyes shining at his
daughter. He nodded and kissed her forehead and the little girl smiled proudly, then turned on
her father's lap. "Hello," she said to Bella, making her own introductions.

"Hello," Bella returned a smile.

"My name is Addy."

"That's a beautiful name," Bella told her.

"My real name is Adelaide, but Dadda only calls me that when he's mad."

Adelaide.

Adelaide...

"Addy," Edward said softly. "Run along inside please, while Dadda finishes up here," and the
little girl scampered off his lap and raced inside.

Adelaide.

Edward noticed the look of distraction on Isabella's face as she mumbled his daughter's name.
Her eyes were unfocused and he could almost hear her mind's cogs turning.

Coming to life, Bella quickly had her blackberry out of her pocket and her thumb skimmed
the buttons expertly. "I need a phone."

Edward stared at her. She had a phone in her hand and her request for another made no sense.

"Phone!" She demanded, her agitation edging her tone.

Emmett clumsily fished a cell phone from his jeans pocket and handed it over. Bella punched
in a familiar number on Emmett's cell and held it to her ear, while scrolling on her blackberry
in her other hand.

"Seth," she said by way of greeting. "I'm taking the Cullen contract."

Edward's eyes widened. She'd just declared a moment ago that he was wasting her time. He
wondered what on earth had changed in the last 90 seconds.

Bella paced as she continued her phone conversation, "Clear my schedule until after New
Year's Eve. No, I'll be staying here in Seattle... I don't care what you have to tell them...
Recommend MacKenna Security for the LA leg... No. I'll explain when I see you. I need you
to do a sweep and a full install. Can you be here in twenty?"

Edward's head was swimming and Isabella's urgency was starting to scare him. He got to his
feet as she clicked off the phone call.

Bella looked Edward directly in the eye. "The notes... I know what the ‘one reason' is," she
declared, and handed over her blackberry to Edward.

What he read on the small screen made his stomach fall through his feet, and he could literally
feel the blood drain from his face. "No..."

"What is it?" Emmett demanded, now standing next to his brother. "Edward?"

"The numbers," Bella explained. "It's a longitude and latitude directive."

"For?"

Edward's voice was just a whisper. "Adelaide."

~oOo~

Bella found herself talking to room full of Cullens. She'd been introduced to Edward's
parents, Carlisle and Esme, his sister Alice her husband Jasper, and Emmett's wife, Rosalie.
The room was quiet, the people in it pale-faced and obviously frightened.

Edward was sitting on the lounge, with his daughter tucked tight into his arms. Edward had
insisted on Bella talking to the whole family - he wanted them to know as much as he did.
Keeping her voice calm, but direct, she told him, "If we're going to do this, we do it my way.
If anyone questions what I say, if anyone hesitates, I walk. I will not fight with you on this.
Things will change around here. Security here at the moment is non-existent and that will
change. I will be installing alarms, there will be procedures and no-one enters or leaves
without my say so."

The others stared wide eyed but Edward's arms tightened around his daughter and he nodded
slowly. "Anything. Whatever it takes."

"I'll need details on other properties you own or visit, any hired staff, where your vehicles are
serviced, your routines and schedules, specifics on any child caregivers," Edward's eyes
widened at this, but Bella continued, "I'll need specifics on the Foundation mentioned earlier
as well. I will need lists of all the people you've been in contact with over the last six months,
including anyone who doesn't particularly like you."

"I will be looking into every aspect of your life. It might not be pleasant for you, but it is
necessary. If there is... anyone else in your life that I should meet - ex-wives, girlfriends...?"

Edward shook his head a little and spoke quietly. "There isn't anyone else."

The doorbell sounded and Bella left the Cullens sitting quietly, to answer the door knowing
who it would be. "Hey, Bells!" Seth greeted her loudly.

Bella smiled at him. She'd always found it hard not to smile at him. "Come in guys," she
instructed and they followed her through the foyer to where Edward and his family were still
sitting, shell-shocked and silent.

Bella introduced Seth and Jacob, advising that they'd be doing a sweep of possible bugs and
would be installing security alarms and surveillance screens.

Edward watched as the life as he knew it was turned on its head. He watched Isabella bark
orders on the phone, organizing things he wasn't sure he wanted to know about. He watched
the two men, Seth and Jacob, rifle through his home, running cables, drilling holes, installing
screens and touch pads and sensors.

Edward stood in the kitchen, leaning against the island bench, while his house buzzed around
him. Esme busied herself in the kitchen around her son, making dinner preparations, trying to
keep some normalcy.

Edward's mind raced with possibilities. Who would want to harm him enough to threaten his
daughter? Who even knew of his daughter? They'd worked so hard at concealing her from
the public eye... Who would even consider harming a child? His child?

A large hand clapped his shoulder, startling him out of the dark corners of his mind. "You
okay, man?" Seth asked him. Edward had not even noticed him standing there.

Edward sighed and shook his head, no. No, he was not okay. His life had gone from near
perfect to hellish within the space of a few hours. "No, not at all."

The tall, dark haired, dark skinned man nodded. "Ya know, Bell's is the best there is."

"Bells?" Edward asked.

"Yeah, Bells... Bella, Isabella," Seth nodded to where Bella was outside, talking on her cell.
"She's small, but don't let that trick ya. I've seen her take down six foot ice-addicts, all sorts
of freakin' crazies. Don't faze her none, nothin' does. You and your little girl'd be safer with
no-one else."

Edward watched the woman who was standing on his patio, with her phone to her ear. It was
hard to imagine her as some lethal weapon, but somehow he didn't doubt it. "How do you
know her?" Edward asked. "What's her story?"

"We grew up together, her, me and Jake here in Seattle. Then Bella was, um," Seth hesitated
and started again, "Bella took up self-defense in high-school and dragged us along to all the
courses she could find. She had a bit of help from the Seattle PD, of course," Seth said with a
smile, "pulled a few stings and she somehow scored a deal with the Feds. If she used
that English Degree of hers to help re-write outdated training manuals, she got to sit in on the
special op's training. One thing led to another and now she's out on her own. She's got a real
talent for what she does..."

"Are you and Jacob involved in what she does?" Edward asked him.

"Nah, not really. We know how to run the tech side of it all, but it's her show. We're her go-
to guys. We get her stuff."

Then Jake walked into the open kitchen area and spoke to Seth. "Cars are done."

Seth was quickly back to business, even standing up straighter. "All clean?"

"Yeah, no devices," Jacob nodded.

Bella walked back inside and started on the findings of her two associates. Edward tried to
keep up with their discussion on optics and CCTV's but quite frankly, his mind was running
in circles. He was still wondering how on earth his life had become so complicated, when
Addy came into the kitchen.

He picked her up and sat her on the kitchen bench, grateful that he was distracted from the
conversations of those around him. His family sat at the rarely-used dining table, discussing
the day's events, while his security detail discussed the same. He was grateful that his
daughter included him in her bubble of blissful ignorance, even if only for a moment.

Absorbed in the workings of the four year olds mind, Edward didn't hear Isabella approach
them. "I need to leave, go home and grab a few things. I'd appreciate it if you could show me
to a guest room where I'll be staying."

Edward's mouth fell open as he realized that Isabella intended on staying in his house. He
still hadn't answered, so Bella turned to Esme who was still in the kitchen watching them.
"I'll show you," Edward's mother said with a smile and the two women left Edward alone with
his daughter.

A smiling Emmett walked over to Edward. "So, bet you weren't thinking there'd be a hot
woman moving in with you when you woke up this morning?"

"It's no time for joking," Carlisle admonished his eldest son as he joined them in the kitchen.

Emmett smiled regardless. "I think you've met your match in her. You can thank me later."

Edward growled at his brother, as Jacob walked toward them. "Excuse me," he announced
himself. "We're gonna run through the security set-up with you all while Bella's gone to get
Tyler."

"Tyler?" Emmett asked.

"Yeah, Tyler. I guess you could call him Bella's partner." Jake shrugged.

The day had been too trying and Edward had finally had enough. His anger at the whole
situation seeped though his words, "I can handle it if she thinks it's necessary for her to stay
here. That I understand. But I am not having some strange man staying in the same house as
my daughter."

"S'alright," Jacob joked with a laugh, "Tyler's good value. I promise you won't get a word out
of him."

Before Edward could comment, Bella walked back into the room. "Quit it, Jake," she
snapped at her friend. Then looking to Edward, she explained, "I promise he won't be an
issue. I'll bring him here and after you've met with him, if you still decide you'd rather him
not stay here, then Jake and Seth can take him back with them."

Bella noticed Edward's sigh of relief, but she added, "As long as you know, I'd prefer to have
him with me, but the choice is yours." Collecting her jacket, she told the room that she'd be
back in about two hours and left.

"Rose?" Esme called out, "do you think you could take Addy upstairs for a bath? It's getting
late." Edward gave Addy a quick hug before handing her over to his sister-in-law.

Alice, Edward's younger sister came into the kitchen. "It'll be alright Edward. If some lunatic
thinks they can touch that little girl, they'll have all of us to go through first."

"How did it get to this?" Edward asked, looking at the faces of his family. "When we thought
it was just about me, I couldn't have cared less. But if anything were to happen to my little
girl..."

Jacob, regretting his earlier ill-timed jibe at Edward, interrupted. "Bella knows what she's
doing. Listen to her and no-one will get within 100 yards of your little girl. She takes this
stuff very seriously, and would offer her own life in replace of your daughter's - without
hesitation."

Edward stared at the tall man, whose words resonated in the otherwise silent room. Edward
was clearly taken aback by the sincerity of what the man said. Then Jacob smiled and said,
"And she'll kick me right into next week if I don't have you guys up to speed on the security
by the time she gets back."

An hour and forty minutes later, after everyone was schooled in the new security system and
given personal access codes, Bella arrived back at Edward's house with a bag of personal
effects and Tyler in tow.

Walking into the lounge room, Bella's eyes fell on Edward who was seated on the lounge with
Addy on his lap. The little girl's eyes lit up at the sight of Tyler and she leapt up and was
across the room, pleading with Bella, "Can I pet him? Pleeeeeease?"

Bella smiled at the little girl and knelt down beside her faithful, four legged partner. "Of
course. Addy, this is Tyler. Tyler, this is Addy. Shake," Bella instructed, and the dog lifted
his paw as Addy squealed delightedly.

Edward was on his feet and next to his daughter. He wasn't afraid of dogs, he just didn't
particularly like them. They were messy, noisy creatures and he was unsure how he felt about
having one in his house. Although, he admitted to himself, he was more comfortable with
Bella's companion being a dog, rather than another man.

Seth and Jacob walked into the lounge room after double checking how the perimeter sensors
reacted in the dark, to find the little girl in pajama's with her arms around the russet colored
dog on the floor. "I want one!" she told her father.

Edward shot daggers at Bella, who tried not to smile.

"So," Seth interrupted, "I take it Tyler's staying."

"Yes, yes, yes," Addy told them. "He's staying with me."

"Mmm Bells, looks like you got some competition for the man in your life," Jacob joked.

Bella rolled her eyes. "Why Leah puts up with you, Jacob Black, I will never know."

He laughed and Bella ushered her two friends out the front door, while Edward pried his
daughter off the dog to get her ready for bed.

When Bella came back inside she followed the sound of voices to find the rest of the Cullens
back at the dining table, talking quietly about possible culprits and suspects.

When he saw her, Edward's father, Carlisle, stood up from the table. "Isabella, we cannot
thank you enough. Whatever you need, please ask."

Bella smiled sadly, while her fingers absent mindedly stroked Tyler's head at her side.
"Thank you," Bella nodded. "I would appreciate it if you could meet me here tomorrow."
Bella turned to face the others, "All of you, if you don't mind. There are a lot of details I need
to cover."

Bella heard Edward behind her and watched as Emmett's face broke into a smile, as he saw
his brother.

"Well," the big man said, standing up to leave, "We better let these kids get to know each
other a little better."

"Emmett shut up," Edward sighed. He turned to Bella, "Please excuse my brother. He's
twelve." He looked exhausted.

Esme's eyes saddened as she took in the defeated look of her son. "Addy all tucked in?" she
asked.

Edward nodded. "She's asleep."

And with that, Esme stood and took her son into a fierce embrace. "Oh honey..."

Bella turned to leave the family to themselves, when Edward's voice stopped her. "Isabella?"

Bella turned to face him, Tyler at her heel. "I'm sorry about earlier," he told her. "I didn't
mean to be rude. I apologize if I offended you. That was never my intention. It's been a
rough day..."

"I know." Bella gave him a small, but genuine smile. "Get some sleep, we've got a busy few
days ahead of us." Edward nodded, noticing she never acknowledged his apology. "And
Edward?"

"Yes?"

"Please, call me Bella."

~oOo~

The next two days were spent with Edward pulling apart the last six months of his life. Bella
made files and lists, spent time with each Cullen absorbing every increment of information
she could.

Bella quickly realized that while Edward was an extremely well-known and popular musician,
he was simply an intelligent, private person, who adored his daughter. His entire world
focused on that little girl, and when he spent time working on his music or with the
Soundbridge Foundation, Addy was minded by Esme.

When Bella had asked him why they shied the little girl away from the public eye, Edward
had simply answered with, "Because she's four. She shouldn't have a tainted childhood
because of what her father does for a living. And she is not media fodder." Which was fair
enough, Bella thought.

Adelaide was far from sheltered. She was bright and smart and exceptionally perceptive. She
argued her points rationally and Bella would quite often watch the little girl and her father in
serious conversations.

"I don't know why!" Edward had exclaimed at one point.

"Well, you should know. You're the Dadda," came the logical response.

"Well, next time I see one, I'll ask it," Edward reasoned.

"But Daddy..." the little girl argued, "You can't see them. If I could see one, I wouldn't have
to ask it, would I?"

Edward sighed, resigned.

"Bella?"

"Yes Addy?" Bella answered, looking up from where her paperwork was spread over the
dining table.

"Adelaide, don't bother Bella, please. She's busy," Edward warned.

"But Bella will know," Addy answered.

"What will Bella know?" Bella asked the gorgeous little girl.

"Why are unicorns invisible?"

Blinking, Bella recovered quickly. "Oh that's easy!" she told her and Addy's eyes lit up. "It's
because they eat white-chocolate cupcakes with strawberry flavored icing. And sprinkles...
the sprinkles are very important in making unicorns invisible."

Addy gasped with her eyes as wide as saucers, "For real?" And Bella nodded.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Addy squealed.

"I heard, sweetie," Edward said with a smile, "though something tells me that they might be a
favorite of Bella's too."

Bella fought a smile. "They could be."

Addy grabbed her father's hand. "We have to make some!"

"How about you make them with Gramma tomorrow?" Edward reasoned. "I have to go to
work tomorrow, so that will give you something to do."

Addy clapped her hands and bounced on her toes, with the biggest smile. Tyler, picking up
on her excitement, was quickly at her side, and they both ran upstairs.

Bella looked at Edward as he smiled after his daughter. "Those two are fast becoming
inseparable," Edward observed.

Bella chuckled. "They are, yes. I think Tyler's found a friend."

"He's a good dog," Edward admitted with a smile.

"The best. He's my eyes and ears when I sleep," Bella told him.

"Is that why you make him sleep at Addy's door every night?" Edward asked.

Bella smiled and was quiet for a moment. "Edward, can you take a seat please? I have
something to ask you."

Bella seemed nervous about the question she needed to ask him, which in turn made him
apprehensive. Exhaling a deep breath, he sat down at the table.

"I want to be honest with you. I did ask Alice, but she told me it was not her place to say. I
need to know whether Addy's mother could somehow-"

Edward held up his hand, interrupting where Bella was taking this conversation. "Addy's
mother is deceased."

"Oh," Bella said softly. "I'm sorry."

Edward sighed. "It's not something I like to talk about. So it's not an avenue you'd need to
look into, obviously." Edward stood, promptly ending the conversation.

"Was there any family on the mother's side that might have a problem with you?"

Edward shook his head, no. With a quiet voice, he answered, "None of them cared enough to
even attend her funeral, if that's any indication."

Edward walked out of the room, leaving a heavy silence behind him. He felt bad for leaving
the conversation where he did, but it was difficult for him to revisit. His guilt was salt to an
already open wound.

~oOo~

Seeing Edward dressed in his business suit when she had returned to the kitchen had made
Bella's eyes widen and her mouth to fall open. Bella had gotten used to his remarkable good
looks, his smile and even the sound of his laugh. For the last three days, he'd worn casual
jeans and a sweater, which was pleasant enough. But seeing him dressed in a grey Armani
suit, was not what she was expecting when she come in to refill her coffee. Thankfully
Edward was oblivious to her reaction, however, Esme saw it.

Her lips twitched as she fought her smile, but her eyes danced. "More coffee, Bella?"

"Ahh, it's okay, thank you Esme," Bella replied quickly, "I'll grab it to go. Are you ready?"
She asked Edward and he nodded.

"Would you like a coffee?" Bella asked Edward.

"No thanks," he replied.

"Are you okay, Edward?" Esme asked, causing Bella to look over at him.

"Um, just a bit nervous, that's all," he said, his eyes not leaving Addy as she ate her breakfast.

"She'll be okay here," Bella told him quietly. "The new security system is in place. After we
leave the front gates will be locked. No one can get in." She'd explained this a dozen times
already, but understood his anxiety. "I need to see your work place, go through some files,
check some dates, speak to some people... but if you'd prefer I can stay here."

"No, you're right, I know," he agreed. "It's just hard, now we know who they're after. She's
safe here, I know that. I just have to keep reminding myself."

Edward was quiet on the trip into the city. Driving through traffic, lost in his thoughts, he
caught himself sneaking glances at Bella when he thought she wasn't looking.

Bella kept her eyes fixed out the window, wondering if now was the right time to tell him.
Truthfully, there was no right time to discuss someone wanting to harm your child. "Edward,
I think the letters are connected to someone you work with."

His eyes shot to hers, but the statement was so out of the blue, he didn't know what to say.

Bella continued, "I just want you to be prepared, that's all."

"Prepared for what?"

"Edward, if it is someone you work with, then it's someone you speak to on a regular basis.
Someone that's nice to you, someone that smiles at you, asks how your day's been. Someone
you trust. I don't want you to be paranoid - you will need to act normal, or the person will
know something is wrong."

Bella let Edward get his head around this information and the rest of the trip was made in
silence.

By the time they walked out of the elevator into the foyer of the Benaroya Hall, he was
feeling sick to his stomach. "How do you do it?" he asked her.

Bella knew what he meant. How did she face this every day? How did she look people in the
eye and smile, knowing they might be the bad guy? How did she look so calm and collected
when he was falling apart on the inside?

"Because I don't want them to win."

Edward came to a stop in the middle of the foyer and stared at her.

Seeing that Edward looked a little mystified, scared even, Bella reached out and touched his
forearm. "Edward," Bella said quietly, "they won't win."

Just then, people filed into the foyer, some stopping where they stood when they saw Edward
with a woman who had her hand on his arm. There were smiles and smirks and some
downright stares, and once Edward had realized he was causing a scene, he apologized quietly
and continued down the hall toward his office.

Opening the door, he waited for Bella to walk in before him. It was a fair-sized, organized
room, tidy and functional. Edward explained that musicians didn't normally get an office, his
was courtesy of the work he did for the Soundbridge.

Edward caught up on emails and made some phone calls while Bella set about scanning
through files. Bella quietly cross-referenced dates and names, quickly and efficiently. After a
short while, Edward almost forgot Bella was even in the room. At 9:20 am, there was a knock
at the door. Without waiting for a response, the door opened and a man of Middle Eastern
appearance stuck his head through the door.

"Edward, do you need-" the man stalled, when he realized Edward was not alone.

"Sorry, sorry," he apologized repeatedly, clearly embarrassed.

"It's fine, Eleazar," Edward reassured him. "No, I don't need you to do anything. Give me
five minutes?" The man nodded and quickly closed the door behind him.

"Come on," Edward groaned. "We may as well get this over with."

The story was that Bella was a journalist doing a story for Marie Claire on eligible bachelors.
Edward had been named one of Seattle's most eligible bachelors for two years running, so it
was plausible. No one questioned why Bella followed him everywhere for the next two days
with a notepad in hand, asking his colleagues questions and taking notes.

Bella focused her questions to those active in the Foundation, and to those who played
alongside him in the orchestra.

Being well educated, well off and refined classical musicians didn't mean they weren't capable
of doing the unthinkable. In fact, it surprised Bella as to how competitive and conniving the
field of musicians was.

Edward was respected, and by far the most critically acclaimed classical pianist in the
country, if not the world. And at 28, he was also one of the youngest. He'd been offered
mind-boggling amounts of money to go to New York and London, but had declined, citing
varying reasons.

He'd declared that he was happier in Seattle, after spending his childhood in Chicago, and that
his family were in Seattle. Whilst he'd enjoyed working on movie soundtracks, he could do
more, with the Soundbridge Foundation here in Seattle in furthering classical music with kids
and raising proceeds for different charities. He had told them he played for the love of it, not
for the money.

He'd told Bella what none of the public knew, that he couldn't imagine taking Addy away
from his family. Yes, he relied on them to help raise her, but it would break their hearts, and
his daughter's, if he were to move.

Because he was held in such high regard, he was bound to have people who resented him for
it. Someone who thought they worked harder, longer, better. Someone who resented his
looks, wealth and talent. And after two full days of playing journalist and following Edward's
every move while he worked, Bella had a good scope on his associates.

When they arrived back at the house, they found Esme in a bit of a state looking for Addy.
"We watched you coming up the drive on the security screen, and I turned around and she was
gone, hiding again, she always hides, it's never bothered me before, but now..." Esme's voice
trembled.

"Adelaide Cullen!" Edward yelled toward the top of the steps. "You come down here this
minute."

"Mom, it's okay," he was quickly reassuring his mother, knowing Addy would quite often
play and hide and seek. Although in Addy's case it was more of a case of hide until she
comes out because no-one can ever find her.

Bella's heart pounded as she raced up the stairs. Looking into Addy's room and finding it
empty, she headed further down the hall. Bella had never gone any further than her own
bedroom door, which was across the hall from Addy's. The master bedroom was at the end of
the hall, and as Bella hurried toward it, she heard a familiar whining sound.

The noise was coming from the cleaner's closet. She'd know that sound anywhere - it was
Tyler. Bella opened the door, finding the long shelves of cleaning products but it was an
otherwise empty, narrow room. Which was absurd. Bella could have sworn she heard
Tyler...

Then she heard a whisping-thumping noise coming from toward the end of the room. Bella
recognized this sound too. It was Tyler's tail, beating against the floor, the way it did when he
was sitting down. But Bella couldn't see them.

Only when Bella crouched down on her knees did she see what she was looking for. Toward
the end of the closet, under the bottom shelf in the left corner was what looked like a vertical
panel that was not sitting flush with the wall. The sound of Tyler's thumping tail was getting
louder as Bella neared it. When Bella slid back the door, she crawled through, and found both
Addy and Tyler grinning madly at her.

Bella looked around and found the hidden cavity to be a utilities space to service the internal
plumbing for the two bathrooms on the second floor. It was narrow, about two and a half feet
wide and was decorated with pipes. But it was also the perfect hiding spot for a child.

Tyler huffed and Addy giggled. Bella shook her head at them both. "Your Dad is mad. I
think you scared your Gramma. She couldn't find you."

Bella followed them both down the stairs and into the kitchen. Edward exhaled loudly when
he saw his daughter, relieved but his anger still evident. "Adelaide. Please, no more hiding.
You scared us."

Addy tightened her grip on Tyler's neck and she mumbled, "I'm sorry, Dadda. I was just
playing."

Edward sighed and squatted down before his daughter and hugged her. "It's okay, sweetie.
No more hiding games, please." The little girl pouted and nodded and Edward asked her if
she'd like to watch some television before dinner. She and Tyler made their way into the
lounge room leaving the grown-ups in the kitchen.

Bella watched as Edward sighed and apologized again to his mother. "I'm sorry, Mom. She
didn't mean to scare you."

"Oh honey, that's okay," the older woman said with a laugh. "I'm just paranoid, that's all."

Bella smiled at her. "It's okay to be scared. It's best to err on the side of caution, right?"

Esme nodded. "I'll make some tea. We have some cupcakes that can turn unicorns invisible,
apparently," Esme said with a smile.

"It's all in the sprinkles," Bella told her and Edward grinned. Esme smiled at them both while
she made the tea. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her son smile like that at
someone who wasn't Addy.

"Mmm, these are good," Edward said through a mouthful of cupcake.

"I know," Bella said with a laugh.

While they drank their tea, they discussed what information Bella had found of interest from
Edward's work. Bella had a few people she would run background checks on, but she needed
to ask something. "Is it common for classical musicians to take rejection so harshly?"

"What do you mean?" Edward asked her to clarify.

"When I spoke to a Ms. Angela Webber, I'd asked if the other musicians found it difficult to
live up to the expectations of people more talented, like yourself. She said that yes, some
did. Some pushed themselves harder to become better, and some struggled with it."

Edward explained, "Some find it harder than others, yes. Most classical musicians dream of
playing for the city Symphony Orchestra. And when they finally get there and find out their
life's work would never be good enough, it's... difficult."

"Is that what happened to James St. Laurent?" Bella asked.

Edward's eyes widened at the name then he chuckled without humor. "You find out
everything, don't you?"

"Yes."

Esme put her empty cup in the sink and went to check on Addy. Edward sighed, "James was
my understudy. He was a good pianist. He could have made a decent name for himself, he
was driven and focused... but the bottom line was he was not good enough. It was my
decision to have him replaced..." Edward paused, remembering the day he was told of how
James took the news.

"The police told us they found a suicide note, next to his body. The police said the note didn't
blame anyone, me, but rather he couldn't deal with failure. He had a world of issues
apparently, and not getting what he wanted tipped him over the edge."

"Did he have any family?" Bella asked.

"Not that I knew of."

Bella nodded, knowing she'd be looking further into that line of possibilities. "How long ago
was this?"

"About two years."

"And you have a new understudy?"

Edward nodded. "Riley Biers. You've met him."

"Mmm," Bella nodded. "He's been your understudy for about twelve months?"

"Yes. There was another in between, Siobhan Grace, but she didn't last either." Edward's
brow furrowed. "I'm not difficult to get along with, I just expect dedication."

Bella smiled. "So do I."

Edward took the two empty cups and placed them in the sink. He kept his back to Bella when
he asked, "Do you think it's someone I work that closely with? I mean, I spend hours with my
understudies."

"Maybe," was all she said. "What do you know of Riley?"

"Um," Edward wracked his memory through all the conversations he'd had with him. "He's
an only child. Both parents live here in Seattle. He has a girlfriend, I think..."

"Her name?"

Edward shook his head. "I never asked."

Bella noticed Edward was starting to get agitated. "Edward, I know it's not much of a
comfort, but I'm looking at about five people who I've met over the last two days. I'll be
looking into Riley, yes, because he has the most to gain by you not playing at the New Years
concert. He's an obvious suspect."

A visible shudder ran down his spine, and Edward ran his hand through his hair again and
sighed. Bella placed her hand on his arm again, in a show of reassurance as she walked past
him and went upstairs. Edward wondered why he recalled that was the second time she'd
touched him in two days.

Bella did her daily yoga routine, showered and presumed to spend the hours into early
morning doing some background checks on the few people who sparked her attention. Bella
had been sitting at the dining room table, pouring over paperwork and her laptop when she
first heard Edward play.

She'd seen the baby grand piano in the formal lounge, when Addy had showed her the
Christmas tree. She had also seen footage of him in concert, but had never heard him up close
and personal. The sounds he caressed from those ivories were unlike anything Bella had ever
heard.

It was hauntingly beautiful. It was sweet, hopeful. The melody morphed into the next and
without making a sound, Bella crept out into the foyer and watched Edward play. His
shoulders were squared and his head hung low as he gave himself to his music. Although his
face was in shadow, Bella knew he had his eyes closed. Completely absorbed in his music, he
had no idea he was being watched.

For about twenty minutes, Bella stood quietly in the doorway and listened. The piano sang
for him, and Bella felt like she was watching the art of seduction. Edward beckoned the notes
with just his fingers, like a lover's touch.

Feeling like she was watching something she shouldn't, Bella went back to her seat at the
dining table. When the final notes rang through the house, Edward padded toward the
kitchen.

"That was beautiful," Bella said, causing Edward to clutch at his chest in fright.

"Jesus!" he breathed. "You took ten years off me."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," Bella whispered.

Edward shook his head and took some deep breaths to calm himself with his hand still to his
chest. "I didn't know you were down here," he stated the obvious. He noticed Bella had her
hair down; he'd only ever seen her wear it up and she was wearing lounge pants and an old
college shirt. He shook his head after he'd realized that his thoughts were hardly appropriate.

Bella tucked her hair behind her ear, feeling a little uncomfortable under his stare. "I, uh, I
was just going through the CCTV feeds," she explained, waving her hand at the laptop sitting
on an array of paperwork spread over the table.

It was the first time Edward had ever heard Bella be anything but confident, and he realized
that he had made her feel uncomfortable. Embarrassed, he mumbled something like an
apology and left Bella standing near the table, wondering what on earth she'd said wrong.

~oOo~

After spending the next three days staying at the house, Bella wasn't surprised when Edward
said he wanted to take Addy out for a drive. He'd said there was a spot about half an hour
south of the city that he would take Addy sometimes. Sometimes Emmett or Alice went with
them, but not always.

It was a Park Reserve that was private and they were rarely disturbed. But it was beautiful
and peaceful and Addy loved it there. It was rare enough for sunshine before the weather
turned too cold, so they packed a lunch, a very excited Addy, and Tyler into the car and made
their way south.

Bella understood the need for some normalcy, particularly for Addy. After they'd parked the
car and found a spot to set up their picnic, Bella checked out the immediate grounds. Edward
was right; it was beautiful here. There were wildflowers and sunshine and it was obvious why
Addy loved it.

The clearing was empty of people, though there were two cars in the parking lot. Bella
assumed the owners to be hiking on one of the few trails that branched out from the park
area. As Bella was heading back toward where she'd left Edward and Addy, she noticed
another car parked in the lot, the driver still inside.

Bella quickly made her way to where Edward and Addy were sitting and laughing, putting
herself between Addy and the parked car. Bella sat down, so as to not look out of place, and
acted like nothing was wrong.

Edward, however, noticed the unease in her posture and the way Bella sat sideways, so she
didn't have her back to either the car park or to his daughter. He caught her eye and
questioned her with his eyes, silently asking if something was wrong.

The sound of a closing car door startled him and he turned to see a woman exit the dark blue
sedan that had pulled up earlier. She had a shock of long red curly hair and was smiling as
she walked past them. Edward thought nothing of her, but he noticed how Bella's demeanor

had changed. Her face had hardened somehow and although she smiled at something Addy
was saying, it was hardly genuine.

Tyler huffed and Bella's eyes flickered to Edward's and his blood ran cold.

Something was wrong.

"What?" He mouthed.

"Not yet," Bella whispered, and his mouth went dry and his heart hammered in his chest.

Bella waited until the red-haired woman was out of sight. "Come on, let's go," Bella said, in
her normal voice. "Smile," she whispered to Edward. He tried, really he did, but his face felt
like stone.

He knew Bella had wanted him to act normal and he was scared he'd given something away.
"Who's up for ice cream?" he asked, and Addy all but ran to the car, with Tyler at her side.
Edward and Bella had the picnic blanket folded and packed and were barely a step behind her.

As Edward pulled the car into reverse and before he could ask what the hell had just
happened, Bella was already on the phone. "Charlie? It's me. I need a plate check."

Edward didn't have time to wonder who the hell Charlie was before Bella was quoting a
license plate number. Edward couldn't even recall a particular thing about the car the woman
had gotten out of, but Bella knew the make, model and the license plate.

His hands were shaking on the steering wheel and although he could hear Bella's voice and
questions to whomever she was the phone to, her words weren't making sense. His heart was
still thumping in his chest and his head hurt. His eyes flickered between the road in front of
him, his daughter in the back seat, Bella beside him and the rearview mirror.

When Bella clicked off her phone, Edward whisper shouted, "Who the hell was that?"

"I'll have a full report emailed to me shortly," Bella said, fixing the side view mirror so she
could see what was behind them.

"What tipped you off?" Edward asked.

"Her shoes."

Edward blinked. "What?"

"She had a hiker's back pack, but she wore tennis shoes. No hiker would wear tennis shoes
along those trails. Plus, I've noticed a similar car in the CCTV footage of the road that goes
past your drive. It's always dark and I couldn't have been certain of the color. It was the first
thing I noticed."

Edward swallowed loudly and felt as though he would vomit. Bella sweet talked Addy into
having ice cream from home, if Bella promised to make the waffles herself.

It was the longest half hour drive of Edward's life.

~oOo~

While Bella made waffles from scratch, Addy sat at the kitchen island and was whispering as
she retold a story of her Dadda's failed attempts to make her waffles. She whispered because
he'd asked her at the time to keep a secret. That's why there were frozen ones in the freezer,
Addy had told her, because apparently her Dadda was okay with a toaster.

Before Edward could defend himself, his phone buzzed and he walked into the lounge room,
but Bella could hear him talking to someone who she'd quickly deduced to be Emmett.

Fifteen minutes later, Emmett, Rose, Alice and Jasper burst through the front door. They
were firing a thousand questions a minute and before Edward could explain what had
happened, Esme and Carlisle were there, too.

Bella had left the Cullens to themselves while she checked her laptop. When she had what
she wanted, she came into the room and told Edward she had something he needed to see. He
followed her out of the room, leaving Addy with his family.

Addy really had no idea what the big deal was about, but she loved it when her Aunts and
Uncles visited and fussed over her. And when her Gramma and Poppy hugged her and
squeezed her, she wondered if her day could get any better. She told them all how much
better Bella was at cooking waffles than her Dadda, and how the park was really pretty today.

Edward followed Bella into the dining room, which had become Bella's make-shift office.
Bella told him that she had enough information and was certain of who the offender was.
"Her name is Victoria Hunter. She lives here in Seattle, went to WU where she met the guy
who she had planned to marry. Her fiancé, James St. Laurent, was found dead by suicide two
years ago..."

Edward's breath left him in a whoosh, and fell into a chair as the realization hit him. James's
fiancé. James, who Edward had had fired, James. James, who had shot himself through the
temple because Edward proved to him he'd failed. That James... James's fiancé, Victoria.

"She dropped off the radar about a month ago. Hasn't been to her apartment, hasn't been to
work, hasn't been seen, basically. The time line corresponds roughly to when you received
the first letter."

"I have the Seattle PD helping in an unofficial capacity," Bella told him. "I explained my
client's anonymity is imperative to the safety of a child. The police take threats against
children pretty damn seriously Edward, and I have promised that if I think I cannot handle the
situation, they will be contacted."

"I mean it Edward. I won't hesitate. I don't give a damn about the Foundation or about
negative publicity. And I'm fairly certain you'd prefer to be arranging your publicist to handle
the ‘no comments' rather than to be arranging the funeral of your child."

Edward felt sick. He swallowed down bile, but Bella just kept telling him, no holds barred.
"The safety of Adelaide, and you, are my first concern. I will not jeopardize the safety of
yourself or your daughter, for the sake of a newspaper headline. Am I clear?"

All Edward could do was nod before he raced to the nearest bathroom to wretch into the
toilet. The rest of Edward's family was told, and Bella admired the way his family rallied
around him, and of course, Addy.

Bella noted the time, only 2:30 in the afternoon, and knowing that after another few hours of
trying to get into the head of Victoria Hunter, she'd need a physical outlet. Flipping open her
phone, she scrolled through her contacts for Eric, and booked him for a private session at six.

Until then, Bella buried herself in reports, research, police findings - anything she could get
her hands on. When the intercom buzzed at 5:50, Jasper interrupted Bella. "There's an Eric at
the front gates. Says you asked for him."

Bella asked for him to be let in and to please set up in the back yard. She closed down her
laptop and closed the job files and went upstairs to get ready. She could feel the tension in
her shoulders and her teeth hurt from being clenched too tightly for too long.

She needed this.

Bella came back down stairs, wearing gym pants and shirt and walked straight outside. With
a fond, but familiar greeting to the man waiting for her, she held up her hands and Eric started
to strap them.

By the time she'd had both hands strapped, they had quite an audience. All of the Cullens,
minus Esme and Addy, stood at the patio glass doors watching. Edward was unsure about
this Eric character; he was over muscled, with a well-flattened nose. He looked like he meant
business and Edward worried about Bella's safety. But Emmett thought it was great
entertainment. He chuckled when Bella put a mouth-guard in and thought it was funny when
the little woman sized herself up against the well-built man.

Emmett's laughter died in his throat when Bella gave Eric two swift kicks to the head. Eric
grinned at her and let fly with fast jabs and hard knees and Bella took as many hits as she
gave.

After thirty minutes of intense cardio, and generally giving and taking a beating, Bella felt the
tension easing out of her muscles. Eric had been Bella's sparring partner and defense coach
for a while now, and he knew when something was wrong. "What's got a bee in your bonnet,
Swan?" Eric taunted. "Bad guy get away?"

Bella answered with shin kick to his ribs and he hissed and chuckled as he swung his elbow
into Bella's side. Bella staggered back a few steps, but fronted up to her assailant once more.
"Again!" She groaned through her mouth guard.

"Watch your left, Swan," Eric instructed as he struck at her again.

"Jesus Christ," Emmett muttered, clearly shocked at what he was watching.

"Whatever you do Edward, don't piss her off," Jasper laughed.

"I like her," Rose said, and Alice laughed.

After about ten more minutes of sparring, Eric said, "All right Swan, that's enough. Cool
down, shake it out."

Bella bounced on her toes for a minute or two, taking deep breaths and shaking her hands and
arms, effectively calming herself down. Eric unwrapped her hands and said, "You might
want to get some ice on that eye." Then he laughed, "Sorry about that."

Bella snorted. "No you're not. And don't expect me to apologize for your ribs."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Swan," he said with a smile. "When did you wanna put on another
show for your paying audience?" He asked with a nod of his head toward the glass doors at
the back of the house.

Bella hadn't noticed that anyone was watching. "Um, once a week, if that's okay."

He nodded and told her to get inside and get some warm clothes on or she'd find herself
getting sick, and that she'd see him same time, same day next week.

Bella walked inside and into the kitchen. Rummaging through the freezer, she pulled out a
bag of peas and pushed them against her left eye.

"I can take a look at that for you?" Carlisle asked from across the island bench.

Bella shook her head no, and taking the bag of frozen peas from her eye, held it on her right
knuckles. "Thanks anyway, but I'll be fine," she told him.

Esme came into the room with a bathed and pajama'd Addy and asked Bella if she'd like
dinner.

"No thank you Esme," Bella replied. "I'll just shower and get back to work."

"If you're going to beat the crap out of people, you need to keep up your strength," Esme
answered, without room for argument. There were a few stifled chuckles from the others and
even Edward managed a smirk.

"Uh, I'll eat at the dining table, thanks," Bella mumbled.

Esme smiled knowingly and Bella shook her head as she walked up the stairs.

~oOo~

Although Bella had expected it, when it happened a week later, it made her stomach twist.

She'd told Edward to expect a fourth letter. Bella had reasoned that, in her twisted little notes,
Victoria had not finished her demands. She'd told them what she wanted; she'd told them
Edward was not to play in the New Year's Concert and she'd told them who would be targeted
if he didn't comply. The only thing she hadn't given was a dead line.

Until now.

On the same white paper used in the other three letters, with cut out and re-pasted letters, read
the longest letter yet.

"THEY'LL REMEMBER THIS DATE LIKE I DO,
THEY WILL LIVE WITH MY PAIN,

SHOW THE WORLD HOW WELL YOU FAILED,
WITH A BULLET TO YOUR BRAIN,

IT'S EITHER YOU, OR YOUR DAUGHTER,
AT LEAST YOU GET TO CHOOSE,

YOU DIE, OR SHE DOES,
EITHER WAY, YOU LOSE."

Edward staggered backwards until his calves hit the chair and he fell into it. His face was
ashen, green even and after what felt like an age, he had to tell himself to breathe. Bella was
clicking fingers on the keyboard of her laptop, while the blood pounded in Edward's head.

He tried to keep track of what Bella was saying, what she was doing. She was typing on the
laptop, then talking on the phone, then pacing through the hall, then back on the laptop, then
back on the phone. Not only did she function, but she thrived.

Edward concentrated on his breathing, while trying not vomit. Addy was somehow in his
arms and he feared he was holding her too tight. By the time Emmett got to the house,
Edward was barely holding it together. By the time the rest of the Cullens arrived, Bella had
enough information to tell them.

"The deadline, or date, Victoria refers to is two weeks from today. It is the anniversary of her
fiancé's death. She wants the date to mean the same to you, and those you love, as it means to
her - which is loss. She wants you to know loss like she does. Right or wrong, she holds
Edward responsible."

"She wants Edward's death to imitate James's. An eye for an eye," Bella's voice was quiet.
Edward leaned forward, with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.

"Suicide?" Carlisle whispered with wide eyes, and Bella nodded. His hand rubbed along his
son's shoulders, though Edward never looked up. Carlisle asked, "I thought this Victoria just
didn't want Edward to play at New Year's?"

Bella nodded. "The first letter stated that Edward won't play at New Years. Admittedly, I
presumed that much too. But I now think it's safe to presume she believes he won't be playing
because he'll be dead."

"Oh my God," Alice breathed.

"And Addy?" Emmett asked.

Bella knew there was no way to sugar coat this. "Victoria is giving Edward two weeks, until
New Years Eve, to... well, to take his own life. If he doesn't, she will try to kill Adelaide."

Edward bolted from the lounge and rushed into the kitchen to be sick in the sink. Esme sat
stunned, with tears falling silently down her cheeks and Carlisle arms wrapped around her.
Jasper stood and went to check on Edward in the kitchen.

Edward was leaning, resting his forearms on the edge of the sink, while his head hung heavy.
Jasper patted his brother-in-law on the shoulder, but Edward shook his head. "I'll just quit.
We'll disappear, she'll never find us."

Bella was standing on the other side of the island. "I can protect you better here. And if you
run now, you'll never stop."

"What am I supposed to do?" Edward seethed at her. "Wait for this psycho bitch to kill my
reason for living?"

"Dadda?" Addy's scared little voice came from the bottom of the stairs.

"Adelaide!" Edward yelled harshly. "I told you to go to your room and stay there!"

Jasper was clearly shocked at Edward's outburst at his daughter, having never heard Edward
yell at her, ever. The little girl recoiled from her father's words like he'd smacked her. Her
little chin quivered and she turned and ran back up the stairs before the first tears could fall.
Edward let out a shuddered sob and took two steps toward the stairs and stopped. He
squeezed his thumb and pointer finger into his eyes, "Oh God... she'll be hiding from me."

Knowing no one else knew where to find the little girl, Bella told them, "I'll get her. I know
where she hides."

Sliding the utility door back, Bella easily crawled into the hidden room at the back of the
cleaner's closet. She found Addy with her knees pulled up to her chest and crying, with Tyler
at her side, in the dimly lit space.

Bella crawled up beside her and sat next to her. "Do you want to know what I know?" Bella
asked, but Addy didn't answer. "Your father didn't mean to yell. He loves you, very, very
much."

Little Addy just cried harder. Not knowing what else to do, Bella put her arm around the
child and pulled her against her. For the last week, Bella had spent so much time with this
little girl it was hard to be detached.

"Why's he mad at me?" Addy asked quietly, through broken sobs.

"He's not mad at you. He's mad at someone else, he just yelled at the wrong person," Bella
told her.

Bella had no experience with children, even her own childhood wasn't much to go by, but she
knew this little girl needed some stability. Her house, her world, had been turned upside
down and no-one had explained why. So taking a deep breath, and not knowing if she was
doing the right thing, she told her, "There are some bad people, sweetie, who want something
from your Daddy. And your Daddy's just very worried right now and he doesn't want you to
be worried, too."

Addy looked up at her with big brown eyes. "Grandpa says Dadda worries about me all the
time."

"I'm sure he does, sweetheart," Bella smiled. "Come on, if we want to keep this hiding spot a
secret then we better go back downstairs, okay?"

Outside of the closet door, Addy turned to Bella and put her hands up. Bella wasn't entirely
sure what to do, but then the little girl whimpered, "Pick me up."

Bella picked her up easily and carried down the stairs. As they got into the foyer, Edward hid
his surprise well at seeing Addy clutching tightly to Bella. He quickly had his arms around
his daughter, as though unaware he was half holding Bella as well. Bella peeled herself out of
his crushing embrace to leave him holding only Addy.

He was repeating one thing only, over and over. "I'm so sorry."

Bella could smell whiskey on his breath and as she walked past the others on her way into the
dining room, she noticed a scotch glass that sat on the bench a quarter full.

The Cullens united around Edward and Addy, in a familial front that Bella admired. The
dynamics of a close but large family was a foreign concept to Bella - she didn't know how it
worked so well, but it did.

Frustrated and getting more furious with every passing minute, Bella watched surveillance
screens and reruns of the CCTV feeds of the perimeter of the house, over and over, looking
for something she might've missed. The security gates' intercom buzzed, bringing her out of
her infuriated state.

Bella eyed the screen and recognizing the car, she sighed. Pressing the intercom speaker,
Bella told him, "I'm not in the mood, Eric. Sorry, I should have called you to cancel."

"Well, I'm here now Swan, deal with it. Let me in." Eric had never taken attitude from
Bella. She rolled her eyes and pressed the access button.

Ten minutes later, at Bella's request, Eric was set up in the snow covered yard and Bella came
downstairs dressed in her usual gym outfit.

Edward, who was now a quarter way through the bottle of whiskey, looked up at her and
scoffed. He was clearly drunk, and Bella stopped walking, but never faced him. Alice
touched Bella's arm and smiled apologetically at her and said quietly, "He rarely drinks.
Please don't mind him..."

Bella gave a small nod and headed straight outside. Strapping her hands, Eric laughed, "I
know you're a sucker for punishment Swan, but snow? It's freezing out here."

"Getting soft in your old age?"

He grinned at her and held up his fists and she bumped hers to his. And so the sparring
began. Round after relentless round, Bella felt no release from the anger and frustration that
she normally did when she sparred. She'd practiced with Eric for years and had always found
it cathartic. But tonight, with fresh death threats weighing heavily on her mind, she found no
relief. So she hit a little harder and kicked a little stronger and after taking a few hits, Eric's
usual snide comments about bad guys getting away, hit home harder than his constant right
jab.

And the pent up frustration, and debilitating fear of failure overwhelmed her and Bella started
to fight. Eric saw the change in her stance, the change in her eyes and after she landed a few
too-hard hits, he grabbed her wrists. Bella spun out of his grasp and had kicked him the chest
before she'd even realized what she'd done.

"I'm sorry," she panted, bent over, out of breath.

Eric rushed at her, and jabbed her shoulder. "What the HELL is wrong with you, Swan?"

"I don't KNOW," she yelled pushing him back. Bella didn't know what was wrong with her,
she'd never felt so out of kilter, off balance. She had done everything right, to the letter.
Victoria wouldn't come within 100 yards of this house without her knowing it, but it didn't
ease her fear. "I don't know."

Bella turned and walked inside, to where the Cullen audience was pretending not to watch.
"I'm sorry," she said to Eric without turning around. "I'll call you..."

"Bella," Eric called out behind her, following her into the house.

Bella kept walking, ignoring him. But when Addy called out her name, she stopped.

"Bella," the little girl said, oblivious to what had gone on outside. "It's my bed time." Addy
quickly had her little arms around Bella and Bella crouched down and hugged her back.

"Okay sweetheart," Bella said quietly. "Sweet dreams."

Edward slammed his empty glass down on the marble counter, the sound making the room
jump, and stalked drunkenly out of the room. Bella stood quickly, and without making eye
contact with anyone, jogged up the stairs to her room.

Rose had a tired Addy scooped up with promises of bed time stories and was quickly up the
stairs, while everyone else stood, shocked, wondering what had just happened.

"Holy shit," Eric mumbled. "No wonder her heads not in the game."

"What?" Jasper said. "What do you mean?"

Eric shook his head a little. "You saw what she was like out there," he nodded toward the rear
yard. "I haven't ever seen her like that before. Somethin's got her worried and I've got a size
eight imprint on my sternum to prove it." He rubbed his chest where Bella had kicked him.

"Is she guarding the kid?" Eric asked.

"And the child's father, my son," Carlisle explained.

The piano sounded, with keys being struck harder than necessary, the tune abrupt and angry.

"Well, that explains that," Eric said with the beginning of a smile on his lips. Before anyone
could question what he meant, he said, "Tell Bella I'll be here in two days after Christmas,
unless she calls me." And he was gone.

After Bella showered, she made her way back downstairs, to the sound of ivories being
punished. She'd only heard Edward play a few times, but each time the music had been
perfectly, sweetly, extracted from the piano. But tonight it was... different. Tortured.

Bella found the rest of Edward's family talking quietly in the lounge room off the kitchen.
When Emmett saw her, he asked, "Would you like us to stay with him tonight?"

Bella shook her head, no.

"He's gonna play for hours. It's not gonna be pretty," Emmett continued. "He's der-runk."

"Thanks anyway, but we'll be fine."

"Are you sure? It's no problem, we can stay," Alice repeated.

"Actually, you'd make my job more difficult if you were to stay. I'd have more people on my
mind than I should." Bella scrubbed her hand over her face. "Shit, I didn't mean that to sound
rude. I'm sorry."

"Please don't apologize," Esme said softly. "You're doing a remarkable job. We owe you so
much."

Bella shook her head, "I wish I could do more."

"Are you okay, Bella?" Esme asked, with pure concern in her eyes.

Bella nodded, softly touching her eye which had taken a hit from Eric. "Yes, I'm fine. I'm
just... I..." she trailed off. Taking a deep breath, Bella said, "I've never protected a child
before. It shouldn't be different..."

"But it is," Esme finished, and Bella nodded.

"It is different. She's so innocent in all of this," Bella said with a shake of her head.

"What do we do now?" Rose asked and six pairs of eyes watched Bella, waiting for an
answer.

"I'll discuss options with Edward, but in the meantime we wait," Bella whispered and the
music from the next room violently hammered the silence.

"He's angry," Jasper said, as they were leaving. "Not at you, but at himself. His anger is
directed inward. It always is."

Bella watched them leave from the front door, until their tail lights disappeared down the long
drive. Turning back toward the dining room, she stopped at the double doors that were open,
and watched Edward at his piano.

It wasn't hard to tell that he was angry. And incredibly drunk.

"What does my music say about me?" he slurred.

Bella thought a moment. "You're timing is out, and your key strokes are harsh because you're
angry. You normally make the piano sing for you. But not tonight."

Edward's fingers stilled, and the last chord resonated in the large room. His jaw clenched and
his eyes bore into Bella's, and then he laughed. "Sing for me?" he laughed again, though it
was not a happy sound. "I don't deserve the melody. Maybe Victoria," he said the name like
it tasted bad in his mouth, "is onto something. Maybe I don't deserve my life."

"Edward, that's not true."

"How would you know? How much of my life is in your files?" Edward's voice croaked.
Bella couldn't read the expression on his face. Anger, hurt... fear? Why did that bother her?

"Edward, don't... please."

"I'm a soulless monster. That's what I am," the whiskey moaned. "... a monster."

The look on his face was devastating. Bella didn't understand why her heart thumped funny,
or why her stomach twisted, when Edward's pain seeped to the surface. No other subject, or
client, had affected her to this degree. "You're hardly a monster, Edward. I've seen you with
your daughter. No monster would love a little girl like you do her."

Edward snorted a laugh, and Bella turned to leave. She got to the door, when Edward's quiet,
strangled voice, slurred, "I didn't even know her name."

Bella stopped, not understanding what he meant. When Bella looked at Edward, he was
staring at her. His voice was urgent now, "She gave me the greatest gift in the world. And I
didn't even know her name."

"Who's name?"

"Adelaide's mother." Edward whispered and then he finished off what was left in his glass.
"It was the night I won the Grammy," he waved at the cabinet that housed his awards and
rolled his eyes. "And I was really drunk. I woke up in some motel with a woman I couldn't
remember, and I left. I didn't even know her name."

Bella's eyes closed, as Edward bared his deepest, darkest secret. "I never even gave her
another thought. Not one thought. Until eleven months later, I have a six week old baby on
my doorstep with a letter telling me I was a father.

"Saying I was a little shocked would be an understatement. My father fast-tracked the
paternity test. It wasn't until the police found her body, and the baby's birth certificate, that I
found out her name."

"Oh, Edward," Bella's hand touched his. She hadn't realized she'd been walking toward him.

"She suffered depression..." he mumbled. "If I had have known, I could have done
something. But I didn't even know her name."

"And then I tell James he'll never cut it in the Orchestra and..." he sighed. "See? I'm a
monster." Edward stood up and staggered on his feet, knocking the piano stool over and he
started to fall backwards.

Bella instinctively caught his arms and held him upright. He swayed and the room spun as his
head stayed still, and he stumbled again as the effects of the alcohol hit him hard. "I didn't
even know her name," Edward repeated. "She gave me the greatest gift in all of the world,
and I didn't even know her name."

"Come on," Bella said softly, pulling her arm around his waist. "I'll help you get upstairs."

Bella maneuvered him up the stairs and steered him into his room. Edward stood next to his
bed and only swaying a little bit, looked meaningfully at Bella, as though he was studying
her. "What's your name?" he mumbled in a whisper. "I need to know your name."

Bella found herself staring back at him. She whispered, "Isabella Marie Swan."

Edward smiled radiantly, perfectly. He brought his hand to her face and traced his fingers
down her cheek. "So beautiful," he said so quietly, Bella wasn't sure she if she was meant to
hear it.

Edward fell back onto the bed and Bella pulled his shoes off his feet, leaving his socks on and
him fully dressed. He was out cold, so she pulled the covers over him. "Good night Edward,"
she whispered to the room.

That night, Bella didn't sleep. She lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling until dawn, with
thoughts of a certain man and his adorable daughter on her mind.

~oOo~

Edward dragged himself into the hottest shower he could stand, letting the pulsing streams of
hot water beat time with the pulsing in his head. He'd overslept and knew that Addy would be
hungry for breakfast. He was surprised she'd not been jumping on his bed.

When he walked down the stairs, he found Addy sitting at the kitchen bench, discussing the
importance of pink snow boots with Bella. Bella sipped her coffee, transfixed in the little girl
as she waved her hands around dramatically.

"Dadda!" Addy yelled a little too loudly, and Edward winced as the sound hurt his head.

"Hey, baby girl," Edward said softly as he kissed the top of her head. "What do you want for
breakfast? I'll make you waffles," he tried to bribe her, having never missed getting her
breakfast.

"It's okay, Dadda," Addy said. "Bella got me breakky already."

Edward sighed and his shoulders fell. He thought he couldn't feel any worse. "I'm sorry," he
told them both. He looked like hell. He felt like it. Bella put her mug of coffee down, only
to have Edward snatch it off the bench. He brought the cup to his lips and closed his eyes as
the aroma of coffee filled his senses.

"Want some coffee?" Bella dead panned. He nodded as he sipped Bella's drink, and slumped
against the kitchen bench.

"Dadda, will Gramma be here soon?" Addy just beamed excitement.

Edward looked out the window at the dismal Seattle winter weather. "I'm not going to work
today."

Bella raised an eyebrow at him. She'd actually planned to go with him again.

Edward put Bella's coffee down. "I'll call the Director shortly. I'm resigning from my
position, from the Orchestra, and from the Foundation."

"Edward," Bella started, but he cut her off.

"It's not worth it. Nothing is." Edward picked the coffee back up and took another sip, but
his head throbbed and his stomach rolled. He looked at the coffee like it had offended him
greatly. "I need to lie down."

Falling onto the leather lounge, his arm fell over his eyes and he groaned.

Bella had reclaimed her coffee, which he'd swiped off her and then discarded, and sat on the
other lounge. "Don't do hangovers very well, do you?" Bella said.

"Mm mm."

"Just how much scotch did you drink last night?"

"Too much," he mumbled.

"I take it you don't drink very often."

"Not normally, no." He lifted his arm off his eyes to look at her. "You?"

"Not at all," Bella answered.

"Smart," he sighed. Edward sat up with an "ugh," and said he had to make some phone calls.
Never in a hundred years would he have thought he'd ever stand down from his position
within the orchestra.

"I'm sorry it's come to this, Edward. I really am," Bella told him sincerely.

"I am too," he admitted. "But if I'm not going to be playing at New Years, I'd rather I did it
on my terms, not hers."

Bella nodded. "I'd rather that too."

He smiled sadly at her and walked out to make one of the hardest phone calls of his life.
Needless to say, the Music Director of the Seattle Symphony didn't take the news well.
Edward cited personal reasons and that if things in the New Year improved he'd be in touch.

The Director, Marcus Aro, whom Edward had worked alongside for years, told him outright
that if it weren't for the years of dedication that Edward put into the Soundbridge Foundation,
he wouldn't be welcome back.

Edward knew the news wouldn't be taken well; a week and a half out from the biggest night in
the Symphony's calendar and the star pianist was walking.

"Riley can handle it," Edward told him. "He's been studying me well for a year."

Edward noticed Bella look at him when he said this, but his attention was consumed by the
Director yelling in his ear.

Marcus reiterated that whilst his position on the Board in the Foundation would remain during
his hiatus, his position in the orchestra could not be promised. It was a cut-throat industry and
they didn't give second chances.

Edward told him that he understood, although in all honesty, it devastated him. His life's
work was over in one phone call. He took a moment to collect himself before he called his
Mom and Dad to tell them of his decision.

"No, I'd prefer some time alone today," he reasoned after he'd told his mother. "Maybe come
over tomorrow?"

Esme agreed reluctantly and he disconnected the call. He knew his mother would tell his
brother and sister and for that he was grateful. He couldn't bear to repeat the conversation
again.

He found Addy and Bella in the lounge playing games. Edward was grateful that Bella was
distracting his little girl, and keeping her entertained. He knew Bella had a lot on her mind,
but she seemed genuinely content to be spending time with Addy. And, while it made his
heart swell to see his daughter so happy, he worried how she would react when Bella left.

He wondered how he would react when Bella left...

"Dadda," his little girl chimed, bringing his attention back to the present. "I beat Bella two
times."

"Did you, sweetie? That's because you're clever," he told her, knowing full well that Bella
would have let her win.

"Your turn," Addy claimed.

And that's what they did. They played board games and made houses of cards, and played
matching picture games that Addy was good at. When Edward and Addy would verse each
other, Bella would check security screens and emails and come back when it was her turn.

Addy made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for everyone at lunch time. Edward had
smiled proudly at his daughter, who explained she got good at making them with her
Gramma, when Dadda went to work. Bella smiled as she bit into the clumpy, broken pieces
of bread and was quite surprised at just how good it actually tasted.

"These are good!"

"Don't act so surprised," Edward laughed, and Bella chuckled.

By the time it was getting dark outside, they'd watched two movies - Addy's choice of course
- and played eye spy. Bella soon learned that playing eye spy with an intelligent four year old
was as difficult as it was funny - and they'd played 20 questions.

Edward learned that Bella's favorite color was green, her favorite food was lasagna, she was
an only child, she hated math, and she wanted to be a librarian when she ‘grew up.' That made
Edward snort with laughter. He also learned Bella didn't particularly like being laughed at.

Bella learned that Edward started playing piano when he was three. He could also play the
guitar, but rarely did anymore. He favored the color blue, though he had no real preference.
His first car was an old silver Volvo, and when he was little he used to pretend he could read
people's minds.

Addy learned that grown-ups were mostly silly, and that her Dadda smiled a lot when he
talked to Bella.

By the time Addy was tucked into bed, with Tyler at the door to her room, Edward found
Bella back in front of her laptop. He sat down at the dining table next to her and eyed the
papers laid out before him.

"Sad that my life is defined by two manila folders, isn't it?" he mused.

"Your life isn't in these folders, Edward. She's asleep upstairs."

He looked at her for the longest moment, unsure of how she knew exactly what to say to him,
what he needed to hear the most.

Feeling his eyes on her, Bella looked back at Edward. For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Bella noticed Edward's chest rising and falling, his breathing becoming faster. Like someone
snapped their fingers at his ear, he snapped his head around, breaking his stare.

"I'm uh... I'll see you in the morning," he said, a little too quickly, as he all but ran from the
room.

Bella stared at the empty space where Edward had just been. She knew the professional lines
were starting to blur, and rationally she knew she needed to put some distance between her
head and her heart.

She just didn't know how to do that.

She couldn't remember when she'd had such a perfect day. She'd chatted and laughed like
she'd imagined a normal 28 year old woman would. Bella hadn't really known normalcy in
her life. But she did that day.

And she liked it.

Bella fell asleep that night, wondering just what the price was for such normalcy. And who
would be the one to pay it.

~oOo~

Esme and Carlisle flooded into the house with arms full of brightly wrapped gifts. Addy's
eyes were huge and her excitement for Christmas launched into the atmosphere. Christmas
was only three days away, and Edward was grateful that his parents made it their duty to give
his daughter a proper, somewhat normal celebration.

Addy dragged Bella by the hand into the formal lounge so she could see the presents with
her. Esme watched as Bella smiled and laughed, and then as her son walked into the room
with a coffee mug in his hand. Without a word, he handed the steaming mug to Bella, who
said "thanks" with a smile. It was such a simple gesture, Esme acknowledged, but it was the
shy smile Edward gave Bella that made Esme's heart warm.

She'd never seen her son look so... smitten.

Throughout the day, there were quiet conversations between them, glances when they thought
the other wasn't looking and genuine smiles that only Esme seemed to notice.

But it all went downhill after lunch, with a simple conversation.

"Can I ask why you do what you do?" Carlisle asked, and Bella hid her discomfort well.
Well, she thought she did, because Carlisle quickly added, "I'm sorry, you don't have to tell
me anything..."

"No, it's okay," Bella told him. "I uh, um, I had a close encounter with a group of guys in a
dark parking lot when I was sixteen. They kind of herded me."

Edward blanched and Esme was quick to apologize, "I'm sorry, we didn't mean to pry... I'm
sorry." Carlisle nodded regretfully.

"No, no, nothing like that happened," Bella clarified. "Some passersby scared them off. They
never touched me. But they could have, and that terrified me. I signed up for self-defense
class the next day."

Edward nodded, relieved, and was then quiet for a moment. "What about your family?"

"My Mom left when I was little, about Addy's age. I haven't seen her since. My Dad's a good
man, but he's busy." Bella gave him a sad smile.

"It's Christmas in a few days," Edward noted. "Will you see your Dad on Christmas Day?"

Bella shook her head. "No, probably not. I won't leave you or Addy, and he'll be working
too, no doubt. I'll speak to him on the phone, but that's about it."

"I don't want you to miss out on Christmas with your father because of us."

The day had never been greatly significant in the Swan household. Bella had quite often
spent Christmas Day's alone if her father got called into to work. But then it occurred to
Bella, that maybe Edward didn't want her imposing on his family Christmas. "It's fine really.
I won't be a bother. You won't know I'm here."

"What?" Edward asked, incredulously. "A bother? You're hardly a bother, Bella." He
wanted to tell her that he'd more than like it if she was there, but stopped himself before he
couldn't take his words back. So, instead he said, "Since Addy, we've spent every Christmas
here. It's a whole day affair, there's enough food to feed a small country and Addy will be
spoiled rotten."

Bella smiled sadly without looking at him, and realizing she was going to say no, he braced
himself for her rejection. "If you'd prefer not to..." he said softly.

Bella was quick to cut him off, "No." Realizing what she had to say to keep him and his
daughter safe, Bella told him, "It's just that Christmas Day is a highly emotional day for

people who are... bereft. If it's at all likely that Victoria becomes impatient and decides to do
something earlier than anticipated, I'd expect it will be on Christmas Day."

Edward's eyes were wide and he swallowed loudly.

Without thinking, Bella reached out and squeezed his hand in hers. "Now that I know there'll
be a full house here on Christmas Day, I can amp up security."

Edward looked like he'd been slapped, and Bella saw something flash in his eyes. "I'm sorry,"
he apologized quietly. "I forgot... I guess... that you're at work 24/7. That this is just a job for
you. That we're just a job to you."

Bella couldn't deny that her heart thumped at his words, as disappointment curled around her
lungs and squeezed them. When Edward stood up, he pulled his hand out from under hers
and walked away.

Bella stared at her hand and marveled at how the warm feeling, from where his skin had
touched hers, quickly turned cold in his absence.

She heard his parents apologize to him in the next room, and of course he quickly dismissed
their concerns.

When they left, with the promise to return on Christmas morning, both Esme and Carlisle had
apologized to Bella. Edward was upstairs with his daughter and did not hear their ‘I'm so
sorrys' and he couldn't possibly have heard Bella lie and tell them it was okay.

Bella was sitting at the table pretending to read through her notes, when Edward stood in the
hallway. "I don't want you to associate with Addy, unless it's in a professional manner." His
voice was cold, matching the look in his eyes. "You're not good for her. She doesn't belong
in your world."

Bella had always known that she didn't fit in, in this world, with a beautiful man and his
gorgeous little girl. She should have never let herself get so attached. Truth and remorse ran
their ice cold fingers down her spine, and she nodded. "This changes things," Bella's voice
was just a whisper.

"Yes, it does," Edward agreed.

Bella wasn't talking about her relationship with Addy.

Neither was Edward.

~oOo~

On Christmas morning, the Cullens arrived fully armed with gifts and food. Addy was just
about beside herself. At first everyone was distracted with the festivities, and no one seemed
to notice the tension that had manifested between Edward and Bella in the last 48 hours.

The day before, Addy had asked her father why she couldn't play games with Bella. "Because
she's busy," was his only response. Edward was polite enough, but the smiles had stopped
and he'd leave the room if Bella entered it.

It had upset Bella, though she hid it well. She understood, all too well, the need for a father to
protect his child. But she couldn't see how much it hurt Edward. How his heart would pound
in his chest, how he'd bite on his tongue to stop himself from talking to her, or how he'd
pocket his hands so he didn't try to touch her.

Bella didn't know that Edward had lay awake for the last two nights trying not to think how
quiet, and empty, his house would feel after New Years, when Bella would be gone.

If he should live that long.

During Christmas lunch, Bella had not wanted to sit at the table with the others. She'd not
wanted to eat at all, but Esme would have none of that. Bella had cleared off her work
station, so they could eat at the table, and although the dishes of food smelled great, Bella had
lost her appetite.

She pushed her food around her plate, and after thanking everyone, she excused herself and
left the table. After sitting back in front of her computer and watching screens of the four
boundaries of the house, she pulled out her cell and phoned her father.

Conversations with Charlie had always been short. She wished him a merry Christmas, told
him not to work too hard. He said, "Back atchya," which made her smile.

They were so alike, in so many ways.

Charlie reiterated that two officers would be there at two and would stay until midnight, or
until Bella sent them home. Charlie had emailed photos and files on the two officers when
she'd explained to him the day before, that she had a gut feeling that Victoria's threats were a
ruse.

Something about Victoria wasn't sitting well with Bella, and Charlie agreed that increasing
security, particularly for Christmas day, was a good idea.

Being the Chief of Police for the Seattle PD allowed certain privileges, and sending two
officers for ‘his daughter's safety' was one of those privileges, he'd said with a laugh. The
fact that Bella could kill both armed officers with her bare hands made the order funny. But
Bella thanked him anyway.

Back in the kitchen, Esme had plated some pudding and asked Addy to take it into Bella.
Addy's eyes fell and she said quietly, "Dadda says I'm not to play with Bella anymore."

Esme stared at Edward, and he knew from the look in her eyes what she didn't have to say.
"Addy, you can give her this," Esme smiled, handing the plate of dessert to the little girl, who
did as she was asked.

When Addy had left the room, Edward said, "Don't start, Mom. Not today." He huffed,
resigned, "In light of everything that's gone on the last month, can we not just enjoy today?
Please?"

Before Esme could speak, Emmett turned to Edward and asked, "What did you do?"

With the weight of everyone's stares, coupled with his heavy heart, he defended himself. "I
had to do something. When Bella leaves it's going to break Addy's heart enough as it is. I
didn't want to make it any worse than what it's already going to be."

The room was quiet, though they could hear Addy chatting with Bella. Alice stepped up in
front of her brother. "What about your heart, Edward?"

"Addy and I are just a job to her," he whispered. "I should have never let Addy get so
involved."

Everyone seemed to open their mouths to speak, not knowing what to say, but were saved by
the buzz of the intercom. Not a moment later, Bella walked into the room and introduced two
uniformed officers. They'd be staying for the duration of the day.

She was strictly business, giving orders in short, clipped sentences. She was so removed from
the Bella who'd spent the last few weeks laughing and talking with Edward and his daughter.
Leaving the Cullens a little shocked, Bella gave both policemen a tour of the house and the
perimeters. It reminded Edward once again exactly why she was here.

"See what I mean?" Edward asked, though it was more of confirmation to himself.

Despite the security presence, the rest of the day went as a normal Cullen Christmas went.
Addy was spoiled with gifts and attention, and regardless of the darkening clouds hanging
over him, Edward was surrounded by his family, and he enjoyed the day.

Until the phone rang at seven pm.

"Expecting any calls?" Bella asked.

"No. Everyone's here," Edward answered.

"Let the machine get it," Bella told him.

Every chime of the phone twisted his heart, but Edward let it ring. Finally, the answering
machine clicked in. "Uh Edward? It's Riley. Riley Biers." Bella noted the voice sounded
drunk. "Look, I dunno what happened, but I just wanted to say thanks and I'm sorry." There
was a noise in the background, a muffling of sorts, then a high pitched voice away from the
phone said, "Who ya talking to, baby?"

And the call was disconnected.

Before Edward had blinked, Bella had her phone in her hand. Edward watched as she barked
at both police officers to run perimeter checks now, now, now.

"Get Addy upstairs," Bella said looking directly at Rose. Then looking at the little girl and
seeing her eyes go wide, Bella added, "Bath time for you missy. Gotta be a good girl, ‘cause
Santa's still watching," she said, and tweaked Addy's cheek.

The little girl smiled and went happily, though no one else had even breathed.

"It's just precautionary," Bella reassured them, just as the two officers came back inside.

"All clear," they echoed and Bella quickly pressed the code to alarm the house.

Bella started talking on her phone again, this time Edward had no idea who to. She'd
requested a door knock on Riley Biers' home.

Edward felt dizzy. "Riley?"

"I can't be sure. I'm not certain of Victoria's intentions. Something doesn't add up."

Four hours later, with Christmas festivities well and truly massacred, Bella suggested
everyone sleep at Edward's. She didn't want any of them being watched or followed as they
left. Bella organized the two officers to run four hour shifts. One would sleep for the first
four hours then they could swap. "What about you?" Carlisle asked. "You have to sleep,
Bella."

"I can sleep tomorrow," she told him. "I just want to get through tonight." She didn't bother
explaining she'd hardly slept at all in the last week.

The rest of the night went by without incident. Edward had insisted his parents have his
room, while he slept on the couch. Not that he slept very well; he tossed and turned and
mumbled and sighed all night. When Bella wasn't checking screens and walking the house,
she watched him as he slept from her post on the other lounge.

She marveled in the paradox that was Edward Cullen; hard as stone exterior, vulnerably
human on the inside.

At just before six am, Edward stumbled into the kitchen, aching all over. He found Bella with
her usual mug of steaming coffee, and already in a foul mood, he sneered at her. "Hope
you're happy."

Bella was surprised by his outright hostility toward her. "Good morning to you, too."

He snorted. "Did you expect me to thank you for ruining last night?" Edward didn't mean the
words that spewed out his mouth. But he was angry. He was angry at everything; the
situation, his life and Bella.

"Excuse me?" Bella asked incredulously.

"Do you not think you over-reacted?" Edward said, louder than he intended to.

Just then, Addy and Esme came downstairs and into the kitchen.

Bella looked pointedly at the little girl wearing My Little Pony pajamas. "No, I don't. Not at
all."

Obviously hearing Edward's half of the conversation, Esme's eyes couldn't hide her surprise.
Or her concern.

Edward sighed, a shaky sound, with his head in his hands. "I'm sorry," he whispered, but
Bella didn't hear. She had already left the room.

Bella sent the two officers home and fell into bed. She was too exhausted to wonder about
Riley, Victoria's intentions, or Edward's harsh words. Or the ache in her heart.

~oOo~

The next two days passed slowly for Bella, with barely a word spoken between her and
Edward. At his request, she'd put a professional distance between herself and Addy, which
she found incredibly difficult.

Bella found herself missing the little girl; her stories on the lounge, her giggles and even her
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Edward saw the effort Bella was making to not be so close to his daughter. He'd watch as
Bella would catch herself mid-sentence, realizing she shouldn't be indulging the little girl with
stories, abruptly changing topics and leaving the room. He saw how Bella would frown sadly,
and sometimes he'd catch Bella watching her and smiling.

Edward told himself, over and over, that he had done the right thing. His daughter's well-
being was his primary concern. He understood that Bella had concerns over her physical
well-being, but he had his daughter's emotional welfare to worry about, too.

When Eric arrived for Bella's appointment, two days after Christmas, he found Bella to be
more focused. Edward had taken Addy upstairs for bath and bed to give them privacy, he'd
said, though truthfully he didn't want Addy to witness the physical violence firsthand. So Eric
and Bella pushed the lounges to one side and set up in the family room, because the night was
too cold outside and the snow had made it impossible.

After an hour workout, sparring, and reflex training, Bella had asked Eric for some breathing
exercises. Eric was surprised, but obliging - Bella had never given much credence to Eric's
theories on using breathing to center one's self. But she felt she needed the control, so for
twenty minutes that's what they did.

Eric was quiet, giving instruction barely above a whisper, and Bella found it helped. Feeling
marginally better, she offered her coach a smile.

Edward had tucked Addy into bed, left Tyler at her door and as he came down the stairs, he
heard Bella and Eric talking. He stopped, undetected, and listened.

"So, you gonna tell me what's up, Swan?" Eric asked. "You've been out of sorts for the last
four weeks. Last week you wanted to kill me, this week you need controlled breathing
exercises? Something's got you worried. Spill it, Swan."

Eric knew Bella well, and she sighed. "The deadline for the death threats is in four days.
Something's... something's just not right."

Eric knew this was big news, particularly for Bella to admit she was at a loss. "Bella, you can
take this any way you want," Eric paused and watched Bella as he continued to speak, "it
seems to me that you're a little too close for comfort."

Bella nodded, and whispered. "I know."

"So, is it that cute little kid, or her father, that's got you hell bent out of shape?" Eric asked,
jokingly.

Edward stood, stunned, on the stairs and his heart stuttered in his chest as he waited for
Bella's reply.

Bella's silence shocked Eric. "Holy shit, Swan! It's both of them, isn't it?" He barked a
laugh. "Jesus, girl. You know better than to get emotionally invested in a client."

"I know that," she hissed. "Keep your voice down."

Edward couldn't move and he still hadn't breathed. It was Eric's voice that Edward heard
again. "Well, you've got four days to get your head in the game, girl. Four days..."

"I know," Bella said again.

Eric gave a short lecture on how the only thing that insecurity and self doubt was good for
was getting her killed. Or worse yet, getting the muso and his daughter killed.

"He's not a muso," Bella corrected him. "He's a pianist."

"Oh, there's a difference now?" Eric asked with a laugh. "Once upon a time, anyone who
played music was a muso. Jeez girl, you have got it bad."

"No I don't," Bella growled in response. "I just... I have to... I need to focus on my job."

"Yeah, you do." Eric told her honestly.

Edward finally found his feet and ran upstairs. He didn't want to hear anymore.

The next three days were tense. Bella occupied her time between CCTV footage of the
perimeter, notes, police files and keeping tabs on all the Cullens. They'd each visited every
day, sometimes twice, sometimes staying for hours. They'd all brought with them smiles and

conversation, though the fear and anguish of what the coming days would bring was clearly
left unsaid.

Edward's family knew they couldn't stay with Edward on New Year's Eve, because then Bella
would have eight people to watch instead of two. The police were not available, as they were
on Christmas day, as New Year's was the busiest night for them, too.

The dread and anxiety bubbling under the surface was ever present in the Cullens; in every
kiss of the cheek, touch of the hand and held-too-long embrace.

Edward was quieter than normal, and like Tyler, he never left Addy's side. The night before
New Year's Eve, he even slept in her room. He held her every chance he could, kissed her
forehead, cheeks and hair every couple of minutes, like he knew his time was running short.
The music he played on his piano was full of sorrow, regret and grief. It made Esme cry, and
even Emmett had to walk away.

It was as though, through all his uncertainty, he was telling them with his music that he loved
them and he was sorry. It broke Bella's heart to watch.

On the morning of the 31st, New Year's Eve, as Bella walked past Addy's room, she found
Edward fast asleep on his daughter's bed. He was curled around her tiny sleeping frame, with
her wrapped in his arms, and the two of them slept soundly.

Bella watched them for a moment and when the lump in her throat became too much, she
went downstairs and threw herself into her work. She double checked, triple checked
security, watched the CCTV feeds from the few hours she'd slept, checked her emails and
went over the evidence on Victoria, for the four hundredth time.

Something was off with the threats from Victoria, Bella just couldn't pinpoint what it was.
Victoria had deliberately left something out - there was a piece missing and Bella couldn't
make out the picture as a whole without it.

Victoria wanted to avenge her fiancé's death, but threatening Edward into suicide just didn't
seem theatrical enough. If she wanted the world to know, why was it so secret? If Edward
did take his own life, the emphasis would be on his life and his career and she would have no
spotlight. If she wanted James to be remembered, how would this achieve that?

At half past ten the phone rang, and the puzzle started to come together. Bella answered the
call on speakerphone. "Marcus Aro, Seattle Symphony Music Director, for Edward Cullen,
please," the accented voice declared.

Edward's eyes were wide, his surprise obvious. "Marcus?"

Then Marcus started rambling sentences that weren't making sense, and Bella recognized that
half of what the man said wasn't in English, but in Italian. Edward was evidently used to the
man. "Wait! Marcus, what are you saying?"

"Your damn understudy! Disappeared, that's what. We can't find him and the show is on
tonight, Edward, tonight! He was supposed to be here at nine."

Bella was already on her cell phone, speaking so fast Edward found the bilingual conversation
with the Director easier to understand. Slowly, like a creeping mist, realization hit Edward
that this was really happening. Whatever plans Victoria had in mind had been set in motion.

"You have to play, Edward!" Marcus instructed.

Edward's voice was barely recognizable, even to his own ears. "I have to go." And he
disconnected the call.

Edward watched Bella as she paced with her cell to her ear, Tyler at her heels. He had Addy
in his arms, unable to bear not touching her. From what Edward could gather from her
conversation, she was talking to Seattle PD. She'd clearly been transferred to department after
department, given how many times she'd repeated her full name and request for information
on Riley Biers.

Bella turned to face Edward and her eyes bore into his. Her voice was quiet. "Homicide?"

Bella spoke in hushed tones, while the room started to spin around Edward. Without knowing
how he got there, he found himself sitting on the lounge with Addy on his lap and his blood
pulsing in his head.

Then Bella was sitting next to him on the lounge. "They found his body," Bella said quietly.

Edward's hands covered his daughter's ears, and he swallowed twice so he could speak.
"Suicide?"

Bella nodded. "Initially they thought so, yes. But it was handed over to Homicide when they
realized it had been staged."

Edward's arms tightened instinctively around Addy and his head was swimming. Incoherent
thoughts twirled and flickered through his mind, like a thousand overlapping voices.

"Edward? Edward!" Bella called to him, her hand squeezing his thigh.

His eyes snapped to her hand on his leg, then to her eyes. Bella noticed the lost look in
Edward eyes as he mumbled, "She's really doing this, isn't she? Victoria? She really wants
me to kill myself, doesn't she?"

"That's not going to happen." Bella reached her hand up to cup his face, "Edward, I need you
to focus for me." The intensity of Bella's gaze snapped Edward back into reality. "I need to
make some phone calls, why don't you watch some television with Addy, keep her occupied?"

Edward looked down to the little girl in his lap, seeing how his fear was scaring his daughter,
he nodded. Numbly, he went through the motions of picking her favorite DVD and pulled
Addy into his side. She watched, mesmerized, by the plasma screen, while he stared off into
space.

Only when Addy had called out, "Dadda, there's something wrong with the telly," did Edward
even realize the screen had gone black. Then Bella skidded into the room, her eyes fierce,
and Edward was on his feet.

"The power's been cut," Bella told him as she crossed the room toward them. Bella scooped
Addy up into her arms and grabbed Edward's hand, pulling him back across the room. Bella
led them upstairs and stopped in the hallway.

Placing Addy down on her own two feet, Bella crouched so she was looking the little girl in
the eye. "I need you to show your Dadda where you hide, okay?"

"But Bella," the little girl started.

"No buts, Addy." Bella said firmly. "I need you to hide with your Dadda until I come to get
you. You have to be super quiet. Can you do that for me?"

Edward mumbled some objection, but Addy nodded.

"Good girl, Addy," Bella told her. "You don't come out until I come to get you."

"What about Tyler?" Addy asked.

"Tyler has to come with me. You've got your Dadda," Bella tried to smile, but couldn't quite
get it to work.

Bella stood and looked at Edward. His eyes were wide with fear, his face a paler shade of
white. "Go with her," Bella urged. "No one will find you. Don't make a sound, no matter
what you hear. Don't come out, until I come to get you. Do you understand?"

Edward nodded his head mechanically, though he didn't understand at all. "What about you?"

"I'll be fine. Victoria's close, but she's not here yet," Bella answered. She raced into her room
and was back out before Edward had even blinked. "Go. Now," she urged them.

When Bella turned to run back toward the stairs, Edward noticed a handgun tucked into the
back of her jeans. But Addy tugged on his hand, and said, "This way, Dadda," and led him
toward the cleaner's closet.

~oOo~

Victoria had washed her hands in the sink, even though she'd worn latex gloves. She crinkled
her nose at the smell of gun powder and brain matter. It was a familiar smell, she realized.
The same putrid, yet oddly comforting scent she recalled as that which met her nose when
she'd found her beloved James... She'd held his ragdoll body until the police came. The smell
of blood and death etched into her skin and her mind...

Poor Riley.

He'd been the pawn in her plan, all along. She introduced herself to him, knowing full well
who he was - who he was the understudy for - and roused a relationship with him. Offering

whatever he wanted, needed, in his life, she'd be it. In return, although he was unaware, he
was offering inside information on the man she was truly after.

She'd never meant for Riley to die. Not really. But then when he'd drunkenly phoned Cullen
to thank him, her plans changed.

He thanked him. Thanked him!

Victoria would have been happy to kidnap the child, exposing her to the world and
demanding that Edward apologize, and subsequently be found responsible, for the death of
her James.

But when Riley had thanked Edward Cullen, something clicked in her head. A different plan.
A better plan.

She would kidnap the child, oh yes, that remained the same. But instead of his confession to
the demise of the real talent of one James St. Laurent, Edward could now play in the biggest
night of the orchestra's calendar.

Edward could play, like he always did. Edward could take the spotlight, like he always did.
But this time, he could stand in the spotlight, disrupting the night's performance, and he could
tell the world that James was always better than him. Then he could put a gun to his head and
pull the trigger.

Now that would be spectacular.

But that almost seemed like he got out of life too easy. He wouldn't suffer like she had. His
family would, but that wasn't enough. Victoria wanted Edward to suffer. She wanted
Edward to live through the pain and hopelessness, heartbreak and despair.

As Victoria slid through the now defunct alarmed gates, she remembered the day in the park
near the hiker's trails. She remembered how happy Edward looked, with the kid and the
woman, and she knew exactly what she would do.

Victoria would rip Edward's life apart and make him live through it, endure it. Just like she
had done; endured life, some days barely breathing, until she found something worth living
for.

Revenge.

Her grief turned to anger and hatred and her sole purpose was to seek revenge. Victoria's
thirst for revenge was her only reason for breathing, and it only seemed fitting that she set the
world straight. She had been chasing fire for far too long. It was time to watch him burn. So,
by taking the life of his daughter and his girlfriend, Edward would know exactly what
Victoria had endured.

The fact that Edward had a girlfriend was news to Victoria, though she'd hardly been
surprised. The entire world seemed unaware that he had a child, so it stood to reason, in true
Edward Cullen style, that his girlfriend was a secret too.

Victoria took off her back pack of goodies, as she got to the door. She pulled out the small
can of pepper spray and slipped it into the pocket of her jeans and then with a jiggle of the
long, thin metal file in the key hole, she unlatched the locks.

Victoria stepped into the foyer, just as the woman she'd seen in the park came down the
stairs. Victoria had obviously caught her by surprise because she stopped where she stood.
Victoria smiled. Perfect.

Bella took a hesitant step off the last stair and edged into the hall toward the kitchen. Without
taking her eyes off the red-headed woman who brazenly walked in through the front door,
Bella started to walk backwards. To Victoria, Bella would have looked panicked, but Bella
didn't want Victoria to see the 9mm Luger she had in the back of her jeans, and she was also
leading Victoria away from the stairs; away from Edward and Addy.

When Bella was close enough to the dining room, she stopped. Her laptop was on battery
back-up and she had connected a voice call to her father's office when she'd realized the
power had obviously been cut. Playing her part, Bella said, "Who are you? What are you
doing here?"

The red-headed woman smiled menacingly. "It is only fair that you know the name of your
killer," she mused out loud. "My name is Victoria. And I'm here to make Edward pay."

Bella watched the woman stalk closer to her, with madness in her eyes. It was then that Bella
realized that Victoria was not only irrational, but she was also clearly insane; she could not be
reasoned with. There'd be no chance of Bella being able to talk her down.

Victoria looked in each room as she passed, and finding them empty, Victoria looked back to
Bella and asked her sweetly, "And may I ask who you are?"

"My name is Isabella Swan," Bella stated, not for Victoria's benefit, but for the benefit of who
ever might be listening in her father's office. "How did you get in?"

"You'd be surprised as to what you can buy on the internet," Victoria said cheerfully, like she
was discussing eBay bargains. "For the right amount of money, the electrical distribution
circuitry diagrams are available for any house, on any street."

Jesus, Bella thought, this woman has done her homework.

"I knew Edward would be at home if he wasn't playing tonight, so I had him think it was a
good idea to quit the orchestra," Victoria told Bella. "Had to threaten his kid to do it, but ya
know... whatever works."

Bella was a little hesitant to rush at Victoria, or even to pull her gun on her. Victoria was
clutching that back pack and Bella couldn't be sure of what was in it. So, Bella tried a
different line of defense. "Edward's not here."

"Yes he is," Victoria said, as though it just weren't possible for him to be otherwise.

"What do you want?" Bella questioned.

"I want Edward to know what it's like to suffer. So I figure if I kill his girlfriend and
daughter, then he'll know what it's like... what he did to me."

Bella swallowed and Victoria smiled.

Then Victoria told Bella, and inadvertently the Chief of Police's office, every deviation to her
original plan. How she'd planned to just end him outright, then to have him end himself, or
for him to end his own life in a spectacular show during the concert tonight. Then she told of
how her plans had changed as the game had changed, but she didn't mind, she rather liked this
plan more.

Figuring that anyone listening to the voice message would have heard enough, Bella edged
Victoria back out from the dining room, and Bella put herself in between Victoria and the
stairs. "It was never Edward's fault that James died," Bella told her.

Victoria stopped smiling then and some sort of recognition flashed in her eyes. "How did you
know his name? I never mentioned his name." Her voice was gaining pitch and she took an
intimidating step toward Bella.

Tyler growled from behind Victoria, surprising her, causing her to take a sideways step. Bella
took this moment of distraction and leapt at her assailant, but Victoria already had her hand on
the can of pepper spray from her pocket.

Spraying wildly outward, the liquid hit Bella in the face before she could deflect it or defend
herself. The searing burn leached fire into her eyes and Bella staggered to her knees.

Bella heard Tyler growl viciously and then yelp twice. What she couldn't hear was Victoria.
Clambering to her feet, Bella stumbled into the kitchen and family rooms, finding them
empty, as were the two rooms off the foyer. Stumbling blindly, Bella took to the stairs
toward where Edward and Addy were hiding, pleading, praying that Victoria had not found
them.

With her eyes burning, blurred and watered, Bella used her hands to feel her way into the
upstairs hall. Bella knew this was too risky, and bordered on stupid, but she could not, would
not, leave Edward and Addy undefended, whether she could see or not.

Bella pulled the Luger with her right hand, while her left hand squeezed her eyes. Bella's
vision was reduced to a watery blur, and with an acrid burn in her nose and throat, she edged
down the hall toward the first door. Addy's room.

Bella got to the door just as a blur of red hair lunged at her. Bella felt teeth sink into the wrist
on her right hand as Victoria savagely bit into her, and instinctively Bella's fingers let go of
the gun.

With a muffled scream, Bella clutched the wrist of her right hand to her chest, while her left
arm struck out defensively. She could feel the burn of the bite spread into her hand as blood
ran down her arm. Her sight was hazy, her eyes were on fire and it felt like her brain was
melting.

Victoria was gone, Bella noticed a little too late. And so was her gun.

~oOo~

Edward clutched his daughter, in his vice-like arms. He could feel her heart beating against
his chest, thrumming like a hummingbird's as he held her. He felt terrible that he'd left Bella,
not that he'd be much help, but he couldn't have even contemplated leaving Addy.

He knew Bella would never have asked him to. Bella would be fine out there on her own, he
convinced himself. Ultimately, this is what she was here for. He'd seen her fight Eric, a man
easily twice her size. Surely one woman would be no match for Bella.

Then they heard a strangled cry before Tyler growled and yelped, and Addy whimpered in her
father's arms. Edward's chest tightened at the realization that the confrontation was in full
swing, and something had just happened to one of the women and the dog. Addy shook in
his arms, and sobbed. "Sssh, baby girl," Edward whispered against his daughter's ear. "Sssh."

Just a moment later, Edward heard someone run down the hall only feet from where he sat
huddled in hiding with his daughter. And with his heart in his mouth, he waited for Bella to
rush in and tell him it was all over. He waited and waited and waited...

Then there was scuffle of some sort, he heard the commotion, followed by a groaning wail.
Edward covered his hand over Addy's face, as she burrowed into his chest, and he bit the
inside of his cheek to stop himself from making a sound.

There was the sound of running down the hall and back down the stairs, and Edward finally
breathed, the oxygen raw in his lungs. "It's okay, sweetheart," he rasped over and over, as he
held his frightened child.

"WHERE IS HE?" Victoria screamed through the silence.

Then there were men's voices which didn't make any sense, and Edward's heart went cold at
the possibility of Victoria not being alone.

Two shots rang out through the house and Edward's heart stopped beating. He felt Addy
freeze in his arms and she let out a loud sob. He clutched his daughter in his desperate,
shaking arms.

Oh sweet Jesus, no, he thought. No, no, no, no...

Edward wanted to run. He wanted to take Addy and run until she was safe. He wanted to run
to see if Bella was okay. Though frozen solid by fear, he wasn't sure his legs would work.

~oOo~

Bella grabbed the banister, holding on with her left hand to the railing so she didn't fall down
the stairs. Unarmed and still without sight, she got to the bottom and, not knowing which
direction Victoria had gone, Bella stayed close to the wall and listened.

Victoria was going room to room, searching for her prize. Bella reasoned in her mind that she
had taken down armed attackers before, albeit not with only one good arm and without
vision. She cursed herself for letting it get this out of hand.

This should have ended the second Victoria walked through the door. Bella knew she should
have attacked her then, with the element of surprise on her side. Victoria was in a rage now,
smashing things as she went through each room looking for Edward and Addy - looking for
something, looking for anything.

Bella knew she was off her game weeks ago. Eric had seen it, Bella had known it. She
should have told Edward to find another contractor, someone who didn't second guess
decisions because of her heart. Bella knew it was too late when she wouldn't admit to herself
that this case was different. Because of Adelaide. The sweet little girl who giggled her way
into Bella's heart.

Because of Edward.

Edward...

"WHERE IS HE?" Victoria screeched. And Bella knew what she had to do. This had to end
now. If Bella could convince her that Edward and Addy weren't there, then maybe Victoria
would be happy with just killing her and then leave, and they'd be safe.

With red and swollen eyes and blood dripping from her hand onto the floor, Bella stepped out
into the open, making herself an easier target. Bella repeated, "I told you he wasn't here."

Victoria spun on her heel and raised the gun at Bella. "Then I'll just kill you instead."

Bella's mind went quiet as she waited for the inevitable. She thought of her father, of Seth,
Jacob and Leah, of Eric. She thought of the two people who were, thankfully, still hiding
upstairs. Bella could see the gun shaking in Victoria's hand and she saw her finger start to
squeeze the trigger. Knowing this was it, Bella murmured, "I'm sorry, Edward."

Two loud shots rang in her ears and she waited for the heat, the burn of bullets to tear through
her, she waited for the pain, for the nothingness.

But it was Victoria who fell. No expression, no sound. She just fell. Dark red seeped
outwards, spilling from two stains in her chest.

Two men in uniforms rushed past Bella, to where Victoria lay dead on the floor, and the
sounds around her surged back to a deafening roar.

One of the officers was then in front of her, asking her if she was okay. The other officer
stood over the body on the floor, talking into his mic, calling it in.

And it was over.

All over.

Everything was over.

Her career, her place in Edward's life, her shot at happiness. Over.

"Excuse me, Ma'am, you don't look so good," the officer told her. More police were there,
and someone was telling her to sit down.

"I'm fine," she told them, her voice despondent, quiet. "Upstairs in the cleaner's closet.
Edward and Adelaide Cullen. There's a utilities door. They're expecting me. Tell them I sent
you."

The young officer nodded and was gone. There were more people then, and then Carlisle and
Esme were there, and Emmett's loud voice, though Bella couldn't see him.

Carlisle's eyes were wide, fear evident in his ashen face. Then Emmett, with Rose behind
him, barreled through. Hearing them, Bella said, "They're fine." She tried to look around the
room again, though her eyesight was still blurry, and said to no one in particular, "But I can't
find Tyler, my dog. He's hurt."

The officers tried in vain to remove the Cullens, but when the officer came down the stairs
with Edward carrying his daughter, they flooded him. There were six people in that hug, and
as his family held him for the longest time, he looked over at the body on the floor, then over
toward where Bella was.

Bella was grateful that her sight was obscured. She couldn't bear to see the disappointment in
Edward's eyes. He must surely detest her for putting him and his daughter in such danger.

A low female voice told Bella. "We've found your dog. He seems okay, but he's not keen on
moving real fast." Bella could feel a familiar wet nose on her hand and she bent down and
blindly pressed her face to his.

The woman officer said, "I think he might have some rib injuries, but I can't be sure."

Bella stood back upright and swayed a little.

"We need to get you to the hospital, Ma'am," another officer said, which of course, had the
attention of Edward and his family.

"I don't want to go to hospital," Bella said as her head fell back, the pain and burning in her
eyes and the throbbing in her hand.

"I can look at her. I'm a doctor," Carlisle told them, walking toward where Bella was leaning
against the wall. He looked at Bella, really looked at Bella, and he gasped. "Oh my God
Bella, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Bella told him, as Edward, Addy and the other Cullens were ushered into the
formal lounge, away from the body on the floor, away from Bella.

Someone got a chair for Bella to sit on, and Esme suddenly appeared beside Carlisle with the
medical first aid kit from their car.

"My arm hurts and I can't see," Bella told him.

Carlisle reprimanded her, "That's hardly fine, Bella."

Esme gasped beside them, startling Bella. "Bella, we'll never be able to thank you enough."

Bella snorted. "For what? Nearly getting them both killed. For letting a psycho into their
home?"

Bella heard Esme inhale sharply and then Carlisle asked Esme to please check on Edward and
Addy, effectively leaving him alone with Bella.

While Addy was being hugged and squeezed to within an inch of her life, Edward stood by
the lounge, talking to two officers. Numbly, he answered question after question, though he
couldn't take his eyes off his Bella and his father.

Bella had her head tilted back with a wet cloth over her eyes, while Carlisle tended to her arm,
or wrist, Edward couldn't be sure, giving her sutures? They were talking, or quietly arguing
about something, it seemed. Bella would say something and Carlisle would shake his head,
then he would say something and Bella would shake her head in return.

Edward tried to listen, but the police kept asking questions. His mind was being pulled in a
thousand different directions. It had been the worst day of his life. He'd had a few to
compare it to, but today was a stand out.

He was getting angry that the police officers wouldn't leave him alone, he was angry that he
had to answer the same questions over and over, he was angry that he couldn't speak to Bella
and ask her if she was okay...

Then a man in a police blazer, stomped through the foyer and hollered, "What the HELL were
you thinking?" His anger obviously aimed at Bella.

Bella went to pull the wet cloth off her eyes, but Carlisle was quicker and kept it in place with
his hand.

"What. The. Hell. Were. You. Thinking?" The man repeated, furiously, and Edward had had
enough.

His anger and frustration had reached boiling point, and this man who had the hide to yell at
Bella, the woman who had saved his and his daughter's lives, tipped him over the edge. "Who
the HELL do you think you are?" Edward roared at the man in the foyer, as he walked toward
him. "How dare you come into this house and speak to her that way."

His family sat, shocked with gaping mouths, having never seen Edward so enraged, as two
officers appeared from nowhere to restrain him. But the man in the official uniform raised his
hand to the two officers, who then let Edward go. Half a smile twitched from underneath the
man's moustache.

Bella cleared her throat, and all the men in the room looked at her. "Uh, Charlie, this is
Edward Cullen. Edward... I'd like you to meet Charlie. My dad."

Edward thought he heard Emmett chuckle from the door way, but he couldn't be sure. Charlie
eyed Edward for a moment, but Edward was staring at Bella. Charlie's eyes followed
Edward's, and his gaze fell upon his daughter. She looked like hell. Swollen, red and blotchy
skin was masked by the wet cloth over her eyes, and Edward noticed the blood stained sleeve
of her right arm and her hand and fingers were covered in dried blood.

"Oh my God, Bella," Edward mumbled as he took a step toward her, Charlie beat him to her,
and Carlisle stopped Edward with a hand on his arm.

"Oh Bells, you look like hell, honey," the gruff man said, no longer interested in Edward.
"Are you okay?" he asked concerned, then added, "What the hell were you thinking, girl? Of
all the stupid things..."

"I know, Charlie. It was stupid. I was stupid."

Edward didn't understand what Bella was saying. He looked at Carlisle, who just shook his
head.

Charlie held his hands an inch or two off Bella, not knowing where to touch her without
hurting her. "What got into your head on this case?"

Just then, Addy squeezed through the sea of legs, and saw her Dadda, Poppy Carlisle and
Bella. "Bella?"

Still with her eyes covered, Bella's face turned to the sound. When she felt a small hand on
her leg, Bella crouched down and hugging the little girl, picked her up with her left arm.
"Hey, here's the bravest girl in the world," Bella voice hitched. Addy's arms tightened around
Bella's neck.

Bella couldn't see her father's reaction to seeing her hug the little girl, but his eyes were wide
at the sight in front of him.

Edward's heart was hammering in his chest.

"What's wrong with your eyes?" Addy asked.

"I got something in them," Bella played down her injury to the child. "They're sore, that's
all."

Charlie asked, "Pepper spray?"

"Close range," Bella answered.

Carlisle said, "I've flushed her eyes, but we'll need time to know if there'll be any permanent
damage."

Charlie turned to the doctor and nodded, concern evident on his face.

Bella gingerly lifted her bandaged right arm and pulled the wet wash cloth from her eyes.
Slowly, painfully, she opened her eyes and although her vision was still blurry, it was better
than before.

She saw the blurred but concerned face of her father, and that of Carlisle, and two police
officers she'd not seen before. Her gaze fell on Edward, who was watching her hold his
daughter like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Bella hugged Addy tighter, for the very last time, then told her to go to her Dadda. Edward
stepped toward them and took the little girl. Bella wouldn't look him in the eye, so Edward
whispered, "Bella?"

Her only response was a very quiet, "Don't."

Then she turned to her father and the two police officers and asked where they wanted to take
her for questioning. Edward saw the defeated look in her eyes. The sadness. He felt helpless
as she walked away.

The body of Victoria had been taken, and the police had photographed and catalogued most of
the house. Edward and his family stayed in the formal lounge, while Charlie had requested
Bella give her statement in the family room.

After the detectives had finished and most of the officers had left, it was getting dark. Charlie
had pulled rank; the electricity was restored and the house cleaned of all blood stains.

Only Charlie and Bella were left in the family room and the Cullens gave them some privacy,
though they couldn't help but hear most of their conversation. Bella kept the cold wash cloth
to her eyes and every so often would take it off to see how her sight was improving. The
burning pain was still there, in her eyes, nose and throat, but it was subsiding. The stitches in
the bite mark on her wrist had really started to throb.

"How the hell did your attacker get your gun?" Charlie's voice boomed, "You're damn lucky
she didn't shoot you point blank."

"I know that," Bella replied.

"If it weren't in evidence already, I'd take your damn gun off you myself."

"You can have it, Charlie," Bella told him. "Because I'm done. I'm finished. I won't be
taking on any more clients."

"You what?" Charlie's voice did little to hide his shock.

"I blew it!" Bella's voice was louder than she intended. "I almost got them killed."

"But you didn't," Charlie argued. "They're both alive and well because of you. You're alive
because you recorded the whole thing. If those officers hadn't have come in when they did...
two seconds later and it'd have been you in the morgue right now."

There was silence for a moment, and Edward fell back into the sofa and closed his eyes. The
words coming from the next room weren't intended for his ears, but he heard them
nonetheless.

Bella had failed. She'd never failed so catastrophically before. "I lost my focus on this job,"
she admitted to her father.

"What the hell happened?" Charlie asked her again. He looked at his daughter. She looked
beyond devastated. She looked... heartbroken? Then realization dawned on the older man.
"Oh jeez, Bells... Really?" Then he whispered, while pointing to the hallway, "The piano
player?"

Bella's eyes shot to her father's and Charlie had all the answers he needed.

Charlie barked at her, "No wonder you nearly got yourself goddamned killed." Charlie
regretted his tone immediately, knowing full well his daughter had lived a life of solitude,
much like his own. To have her even admit to any kind of feelings for someone was a
milestone. Though Charlie would never admit it to Bella, he liked the way the piano player
had yelled at him for yelling at her.

Edward ignored the insistence of his family to leave Bella and Charlie alone, and walked into
the family room. "Bella," was all he said.

Bella stood wearily, and without looking at him, she spoke quietly, "Sorry. I'll just pack my
things and I'll be out shortly. Dad can drive me home."

"What?" Edward asked, confused.

"We shouldn't be having this conversation here," Bella said, still looking at the floor. "Dad?"
Bella motioned for her father to leave with her.

"Bella," Carlisle interrupted. "You're staying here where I can keep an eye on you, at least
until tomorrow. Doctor's orders."

Bella protested, but Carlisle and Esme would have none of it. After Bella had said goodbye to
her father, Edward cornered his parents. "What are you making her stay for? She obviously
doesn't want to."

Esme's eyes softened and she smiled sadly, as she looked at her son. "Oh, Edward... Are you
blind?"

Edward blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?" Then looking at his father, he asked,
"When you were speaking to Bella before, what did she say? Why did she say she was
stupid?"

"She's very upset with herself, Edward. I think it's a good idea if she stays tonight. You two
need to talk," Carlisle answered, confusing Edward even more.

It had been the longest day, both physically and emotionally exhausting. It was only seven
pm, and Emmett, Rose, Alice and Jasper were in the family room being unusually quiet.
Edward walked in, and Alice made a ‘sssh' notion by pressing her finger to her lips.

With a pointed nod, she stared at the lounge in front of him, and Edward stepped forward
expecting to find his daughter. What he didn't expect was to find Addy lying curled up, safe
in the arms of Bella. Both of them were sound asleep.

Edward's heart thumped loudly in his chest, but his shoulders fell. The stress and emotions of
the day finally took their toll, and he felt like he could cry.

"Edward?" Alice was by his side. "They were watching television and fell asleep, that's all."

Edward watched them for a long moment, "Her heart's going to break tomorrow."

"I'd say both their hearts will, Edward," Emmett said. Edward looked over to his brother and
Rose and Jasper, and Alice who was at his side. They were looking at him like they were
privy to something obvious.

"For a guy with a near genius IQ, you're pretty freakin' dumb," Emmett said.

"Edward," Alice said, looking up at him with her big, round eyes. "Don't you see?"

"Leave your brother alone," Carlisle interrupted. "He's been through enough for one day."

And Edward's mind could take no more. He knew what they were implying, but they were
wrong. They had to be. It made no sense. He was so tired. "I'll put Addy upstairs and go to
bed myself... If you guys could re-set the alarm when you go, please?"

"You don't want us to stay?" Esme asked.

Edward shook his head, scooped up his daughter from underneath Bella's bandaged arm and
went upstairs.

He heard his family leave. He knew it was rude, the way he didn't even say goodbye or thank
you, but he'd well and truly had enough for one day. He grabbed his cell and sent a text to
them all, telling them he loved them and he'd see them tomorrow for breakfast, if they'd like.

He crawled into bed, but exhausted as he was, sleep wouldn't come. After lying in bed,
thinking impossible thoughts, he got up and went downstairs. He double checked the alarm,
watched the surveillance camera's for a while, and walked around his house. It was quiet and
dark. He considered watching the televised concert he was supposed to play in, but couldn't
bring himself to. He didn't know who had replaced him.

He didn't want to know.

He felt off balance. Seeking some familiar comfort, he found himself at his piano. In his
entire life, the only true solace he'd found was in his music. He had no idea how long he
played for, but he realized the music that night, held nothing for him. He felt... incomplete...

Bella had woken to the sound of Edward's piano singing a soulful song. It had taken a minute
for her to get her bearings, when she realized she was still on the lounge in the family room.
Addy was gone, the television was off, as were the lights and someone had kindly pulled a
blanket over her.

Bella sat up, wrapping the blanket around her and watched the snow fall silently outside. Her
eyes still felt swollen and grainy and her wrist throbbed, but it didn't compare to the ache in
her heart.

She hadn't even noticed the music had stopped until Edward spoke behind her. "Bella?"

Still unable to look at him, she acknowledged him with a small nod, but said nothing.

"Bella," Edward said again. "Look at me." She scrubbed her hand at her face and Edward
realized a little belatedly, that she was crying.

"Bella, please."

Bella shook her head, but she told him softly. "I'm very sorry about what happened here
today. In your home." Bella swallowed loudly. "I'm very grateful you and Adelaide weren't
hurt. But I'm sorry I let you down."

"Let me down?" Edward asked, incredulously, walking around in front of her. "Bella! You
saved me. And Addy."

"Saved you? She got past me, Edward," Bella croaked. "She had opened the door to the
room you were in. Do you have any idea how fucking scared I was?" Bella felt herself
starting to lose hold on her emotions. "I couldn't breathe, Edward. I just kept thinking that if
she found you both... you should have heard the sick and twisted shit she was talking about
doing to you... If I didn't care so much about you, I would have ended her the second I saw
her walk inside. But I second guessed myself," Bella sucked back a breath and fresh tears fell
down her cheeks. "I second guessed myself because it was you and Addy up there, not some
random client. If anything had happened to either of you..."

Bella was crying, and she felt open and vulnerable. Then Edward was on his knees in front of
the lounge and had his arms around her, and she fell into him. Bella hadn't ever needed
anyone - but God, how she needed him then. His arms wrapped around her and he held her so
warm, so tight, so safe.

She felt good in his arms, she felt right. Like it was where she was supposed to be. When
Edward felt her begin to pull away, he held her tighter. "Please stay," he whispered.

"Edward," Bella whispered into his neck, and he felt her shake her head.

"No, Bella. No," Edward said, firmly. He cupped her face in his hands and looked intently
into her eyes. "You said you second guessed yourself because you cared so much about me?"

Bella could feel the heat of his hands on her cheeks and his breath wash over her face. With
her well-constructed walls completely down, all she could do was nod.

"Really?" Edward couldn't help but grin.

Bella looked at him, his pale face glowing in the moonlight, his eyes shining. He had the
most beautiful smile. The fact that he seemed happy about this news, made Bella smile in
return. "Really."

"You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that, Bella," Edward said with chuckle of
relief, his face positively glowing.

Then abruptly serious, with their faces barely inches apart, Edward asked, "I thought it was
you that got shot... I thought you'd died for us today... I can't begin to tell you how I felt..."
He shuddered. "Bella... please... I need, um... may I kiss you?"

All Bella could do was nod before he pressed his lips gently to hers. Like he was savoring
her, for the longest moment, he didn't move; just pressed his slightly open lips to hers. Then
slowly, slowly, he began to kiss her.

His hands held her face, tentatively, sweetly, as his lips began to move against hers. This
kiss was tender and kind. He was adoring her in that moment, and Bella was lost in how
reverently he mastered his kiss.

He pulled his lips from hers, only to rest his forehead on her forehead, then he traced his nose
against her nose and along her cheek until his lips found hers once more.

As she deepened the kiss, Bella's arms had found their way around his neck causing her to
bump her sore, bandaged arm. She flinched.

Edward immediately pulled away from her, and gently grabbed her bandaged hand. "I'm
sorry," he repeated again and again. "I wasn't thinking. Your arm and your eyes... Are you
okay? I mean, I shouldn't have... I mean I wanted to - God, how I wanted to, but I should
have checked to see if you were okay..." he was rambling.

Ignoring the pulsing ache in her arm, Bella put her finger to his lips to stop him. "You so
weren't done kissing me. Nowhere near done."

Edward grinned again, and this time Bella pulled him closer, and unable to get enough of the
taste of him, she opened her mouth fully to him. She felt him shudder as their tongues met,
and his intensity amplified as Bella leaned forward from the lounge and pressed herself
against him.

Using her left hand, Bella held the side of his face, feeling his jaw flexing, open and close, as
they kissed; feeling the muscles in his neck flex as his tongue invaded her mouth. Not
breaking the kiss, Bella untangled her legs and maneuvered herself so Edward was kneeling
between them, as she still sat on the lounge. Brazenly, she pulled him forward, desperate to
feel more of him against her.

Edward moaned embarrassingly loud as their bodies made contact, and Bella leaned back,
pulling him with her. As he leaned over her, pressing her into the sofa, Edward pulled back,
his breathing ragged. "I think we should stop. Otherwise I don't think I'll be able to." His

eyes closed, so Bella wouldn't see the turmoil raging there. Stopping where this was heading
was the last thing he wanted...

"Edward, I don't want you to stop," Bella whispered. His eyes opened to find her staring back
at him.

"I don't want to stop," he told her, honestly.

"Then don't."

Edward took Bella by her good hand and led her upstairs. He walked them into his room and
turned to face her, and Bella saw hesitation flicker in his eyes.

"I want this," she reassured him.

Edward chuckled once and shook his head. "It's not that..." he paused, "... it's just... it's just
been a long time for me."

He was nervous, Bella could tell. She ran her hand along his jaw. "For me as well."

When he realized that he had no protection, he sighed. "I don't have any condoms," he
murmured, embarrassed. He quickly explained, "I've not been with anyone since Addy was
conceived. I know that's a really long time but I've always been so into my work, then I got
Addy and I never had any time for that..."

"It's okay, Edward," Bella said softly. "I've not been with anyone since before I started
contracting out security... So, it's been over three years for me... no," Bella amended, "make
that four. Oh God, I've lost count."

Edward smiled. "Is this a sexually deprived contest? Because I still win."

Bella couldn't help but laugh. "I was going to say I have the contraception injection because I
never know where I'm going, and I have blood tests every six months. I was clean six weeks
ago."

"Oh," Edward stammered, not even thinking about that. It's not that he was naive, just out of
practice. "Oh. Oh, my dad ran all sorts of tests when we found out about Addy. Everything
came back clean. I haven't been with anyone since..."

"So," Bella smiled and took a step toward him.

"So," Edward repeated, the fire back in his eyes.

Bella leant up and kissed him, and he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her
against him. And there was passion and urgency, and Bella could feel him, all of him, pressed
against her.

His mouth was on hers, desperate, devouring, and his hands were certain, seeking. Then they
were undressed and falling and pushing and pulling, and when he was lying over her, he
begged her to please, please let him please her.

All he wanted to do was give her pleasure before he took his own, for Edward knew once he
was inside her, he wouldn't last long. His whole body was aching, wound tight and hard. But
his hands sought her pleasure, while he watched bliss in her eyes.

He kissed her neck and her jaw, and traced his tongue over hers while his hands made her
writhe. And he watched her face as ecstasy overtook her, feeling her heartbeat through her
chest.

As Edward moved over her body, he held his weight on his elbows. In her semi-coherent
state, Bella wrapped her legs around him, and pulled him to her. Edward held himself, for as
long as could and when he could bear it no more, he pushed himself inside her. She was all
encompassing, around him, so entirely intoxicating, Edward had no chance...

It was so overwhelming, so tremendously perfect. Bella could feel him, every inch of him, as
he filled her, again and again, and it was bliss, it was everything.

She was in awe of his beauty as he lost himself in his pleasure, his parted lips, his squared jaw
and corded neck. Bella felt the tremors that ran through him before he shuddered violently,
holding her so tightly before he stilled.

When Edward's breathing had simmered somewhat, he hummed. Bella murmured into his
neck, "You're so beautiful."

He lifted his head and clumsily rested his head on his hand. Opening his eyes lazily, with a
blissful smile, he traced his other fingers down her face, and across her lips. "I could say the
same for you."

She giggled.

"Something amusing?" he whispered.

"Your hands," she answered. "They're insured for a million, right?"

Edward froze, causing Bella to look him in the eye. "Yes," he whispered, almost too softly
for Bella to hear.

She lifted her head to kiss him chastely. "You should double it. My God, you should triple
it," she told him with a giggle.

Edward sighed, then chuckled. "Three million, hey?"

"More... they're worth much, much more," Bella giggled again. "And the world thinks you're
talented with a piano?"

Edward had never heard Bella giggle and laugh so much, and he couldn't help but smile back
at her. He was amazed at how easy it was to be with her like that; it was the most natural
thing in the world.

They made love two more times, three if the time in the shower counted... Both so
mesmerized by the other, they missed the sound of fireworks, the dull roar of New Year's

countdowns, and cheers from neighbors. The clocks in the house all ticked over, signifying a
new day, a new year, but neither Bella nor Edward noticed. Quiet moans and whispered
names was all they heard.

~oOo~

Bella felt the odd sensation of being watched intrude on happy dreams of gifted mouths and
talented hands. She felt warm and safe, and she didn't have to open her eyes to know Edward
was wrapped around her. She could smell him; the body wash she'd scrubbed him with in the
shower at one am. Her forearm ached but it couldn't deter the smile that played at her lips.

Opening her eyes slowly, she found a mass of copper colored curls and big brown eyes and
My Little Pony pajamas grinning back at her.

Addy.

Bella instinctively pulled the blanket up tighter and leaned back, trying to disappear into
Edward. "Edward!" Bella whisper shouted. "Addy's here."

Edward's arms tightened around Bella. "Addy. It's too early. Go back to bed," he mumbled,
still asleep.

"No it's not. It's breakky time," the little girl said.

"You go and start it. I'll be down in a sec," he mumbled.

Bella watched Addy smile, and skip out of the room.

"Edward!" Bella hissed, nudging him.

Edward sat up, totally confused. He blinked, looked at Bella and a slow grin spread across his
face.

Bella smiled, but pushed him with her hand. "You just told a four year old to cook breakfast."

Edward looked from Bella, to the door, and then back to Bella. "Oh shit," he hissed.
Scampering out of bed and quickly getting dressed, he raced down the stairs.

By the time Bella and gotten dressed and made it downstairs, she was met with all the
Cullens. Edward smiled at her apologetically as he handed her a coffee. Emmett threw a
copy of the Seattle Times on the counter. "Front page!"

Edward sighed, resigned, and picked up the newspaper and started to read. And there it was.
The entire story. His story: his daughter, Bella, the death threats, the real reason why Edward
had stood down from the Symphony, the death of Riley Biers, the attack in his home and the
fatal shooting by police officers.

Nothing was sacred. Written in black and white, for the world to see. He only read the first
two paragraphs and threw it back on the counter. The security screens showed there were
media vans at the front gate, Edward's phone showed 32 missed calls. He ignored them all.

Esme organized bagels, cream cheese and fruits, and Bella looked on and admired this large
family. Bella was raised by a single, working father. The Chief of Police, no less. It had
only ever been just the two of them. Charlie had never really been one for words and Bella
had come to appreciate the comfortable silence.

But the Cullens were the opposite - loud, always in motion and four different conversations
happening at once. Bella watched them, in wonder. Edward was harassed by Jasper and
Alice who were eager for details of yesterday, but he looked over at Bella, catching her eye
every so often.

Carlisle smiled kindly at Bella, looking at her wound and in her eyes. He asked, "How did
you sleep?"

Before Bella could answer, Addy had declared, "Bella was very scared last night."

The room was now silent and watching. "I, um I..." was all Bella could manage before Addy
smiled.

"It's okay Bella," the little girl said. "I sleep in Dadda's bed when I'm scared, too."

The room was silent for approximately 2.4 seconds, before Bella heard the first giggle from
someone in the room. Bella closed her eyes slowly, and whispered, "Oh. My. God."

Carlisle, who was standing directly in front of Bella, stammered a quiet apology, more
embarrassed than Bella, but it was Esme who recovered the quickest. "That's right, sweetie,"
the Grandmother smiled at the little girl. "There's nothing wrong with admitting you're
scared."

Ignoring the stifled laughter of the rest of his family, Edward stepped around his father and
stood in front of Bella. With his fingers to her chin, he lifted her face and with his eyes he
told her he was sorry.

But then Bella surprised him, by leaning into him and wrapping her left arm around him. Not
that he minded. Not at all.

Until Emmett yelled, "Just how many times were you scared, Bella?"

Bella lifted her hand, behind Edward's back, and held up four fingers.

"Four!?" Emmett and Rose called out.

Edward stepped back and looked down at Bella. "Bella?" But she smirked rather smugly and
shrugged one shoulder. He laughed as he pulled her back into his arms.

"Jasper! That's fifty dollars! You owe me fifty dollars," Emmett continued.

Then Rose piped up, "I'll take that fifty dollars." Then she said to Emmett, "Until you can...
scare me four times in one night, you'll see none of it, mister."

The look on Emmett's face was a picture, but Esme diffused the situation and told everyone to
finish eating the breakfast she'd brought with her. Edward's mother couldn't help but look at
her youngest son, and smile. She'd thought he was destined to spend his life alone. He was
so devoted to his daughter and his music, he'd put the rest of his life on hold.

But this woman had come into his life, in the most unfortunate of ways, and had changed
him. Esme watched as Edward stood against the kitchen island bench with Bella. He was
talking and laughing, and he was smiling like she'd never seen him smile.

Even when Alice had asked her brother what his plans were for the new year, he smiled. "I
don't know."

Everyone blinked at him. Edward had built his life on structure, dedication and planning, so
this was very out of character for him. "We had a pretty close call yesterday." He shrugged.
"I was thinking I might take a year off and see where it takes me."

"Ooooh kaaay," Alice said, looking at Edward with her eyes wide, clearly shocked at her
brother's change of heart. Bella smiled.

Talk turned to Addy starting Prep school this year and Bella found herself sitting out of the
conversation. When her cell phone rang, she read ‘Seth' on the screen and walked into the
formal lounge to take the call.

Edward watched her as she walked out of the room, and noticing the silence, he found his
family all watching him. "What?" he asked them, trying not to smile.

They all murmured inarticulate responses, but Esme smiled and hummed. Edward raised his
eyebrow at her, in question.

"I've just never seen you in love before," she mused, like she was discussing the color of his
shirt.

Edward scoffed and everyone in the room stared at him like he was missing the obvious. His
heart thump-th-thumped in his chest and oxygen caught in his throat. "Love?" he breathed.

"Oh Edward," Alice rolled her eyes. His tiny sister stood in front of him, "Now, get in there
and convince her not to leave."

Leave? Edward's stomach twisted at the thought of Bella leaving.

He followed the sound of Bella's voice into the formal lounge, and found her standing at his
piano. "Seth, I just don't think that's a good idea," she said. "No. I told you I'm out. I'm
finished with security detail."

Edward walked over toward her and she saw him and smiled. He mouthed, "You okay?" and
she nodded.

"Yeah, my arm's going to take a while to heal," she said into the phone, holding her arm out
though Seth couldn't see. "I think I'll be in staying in Seattle for a little while," she answered
Seth's question.

"A long while," Edward amended, and Bella smiled at him. "Indefinitely, if you'd like,"
Edward said to her, as though she wasn't on the phone to someone else.

"Seth, I have to go," Bella whispered. "I'll call you." Not taking her eyes off of the man in
front of her, she clicked her phone closed.

"Bella, I don't want you to leave."

"Edward," Bella started...

"I know I've been horrible to you this last week, but I only acted that way so you wouldn't see
how much I wanted you," Edward swallowed, then kept talking, "I'm sorry I took Addy away
from you. I lied and I saw how much I hurt you both, and I'm sorry. I should have told you
all this last night, I'm sorry I didn't. Forgive me. Choose me. Stay."

Bella had to swallow twice before she whispered softly, "I don't want to leave."

Edward stepped closer to her again. With his heart in his throat, he told her, "I'm moody,
temperamental, I'm a clean freak, I cannot cook, I spend hours with my music, my family
never, ever leaves and Addy and I are a package deal," his chest was heaving.

Bella stared at Edward, with wide eyes and ever so slightly, almost undiscernibly, she
nodded. "I choose you."

Edward's eyes widened, as did his grin. He touched the side of her face, with his fingertips
and his green eyes were alight. "I'm really difficult sometimes," he told her, still grinning.

"I think you're kind of perfect," Bella told him, and he tilted her chin so he could kiss her.

~oOo~ Six months later ~oOo~

Bella nervously fixed her pencil skirt, as Edward walked into the kitchen. The sight of her
still took his breath away, the way he imagined it always would.

"Oh my," Edward licked his lips. "You look stunning," he told her.

Bella still fidgeted with her skirt and without looking up, she asked, "Do I look okay?"

He pulled her right hand away from her skirt and brought it up to his lips. Kissing the arc
shaped scar on her wrist, the way he always did, he told her, "More than okay, Bella."

Bella looked at him, and took in his freshly showered body and his newly suited attire.

"Not too shabby yourself," she grinned at him. Exhaling loudly, she said, "Are you ready?"

Edward smiled at her, trying not to laugh. "I can't believe you're nervous. Bella," he
reassured her, "it'll be fine."

"I know," Bella nodded. "I know. I just worry about her, that's all."

"Oh for Gawd's sake, Dad?" Emmett hollered, "Give Bella a sedative."

"Oh, shut it Emmett," Bella hissed without missing a beat. Rose and Edward both smirked.
Bella had taken to the Cullens, and they to her, like family.

"Make me," Emmett taunted, grinning madly.

"Got that fifty dollars off Rose yet, Emmett?" Bella deadpanned.

Emmett huffed and pouted, but it effectively shut him up. Edward laughed.

Jasper chuckled. "So, I take it the background checks all came back clean?"

Alice glared at him. "Jazz, you weren't supposed to say anything!"

Bella glared at Alice. "Alice, you weren't supposed to say anything!"

"Bella?" Edward said calmly, "Did you get security clearances on Addy's teacher?"

Emmett snorted a laugh, and Bella admitted, "And the teaching faculty, cleaning staff and
grounds men." But she was quick to add, "It was Charlie's idea."

Edward sighed, fighting a smile, just as Addy came down the stairs, with Tyler in tow, for her
first day of school.

She was beaming. She'd been counting down the sleeps until she could go to school; she was
so excited.

Predictably, all the Cullens were there to see her off. Poppy Carlisle scooped her up and sat
her on his knee. For the last week or so, he'd been reminding her of being nice to others and
sharing. "So, what must you do at school?"

"Well, I must be nice. And share," Addy told everyone. "And Bella said I mustn't correct the
teacher if she's wrong... at least when no-one else can hear."

Bella beamed and nodded, and Edward looked between his two girls and chuckled. He'd
stayed true to his word; he'd taken 12 months off work, though he was offered his position
within the Symphony, once it had came to light the reason for him leaving. But he'd said no.
He still held his position on the Board at the Soundbridge, but spent most of his time
composing. He loved it.

Bella had fallen into security consulting. She used her expertise in the corporate sector, away
from personal protection, telling companies what security measures they lacked. It suited her
perfectly.

They had both taken the day off, however, to see Addy off to school. Addy was excited,
Bella was nervous and Edward was unusually calm and collected. He had more planned for
their day off, than Bella expected, or knew of. A surprise, in the form of lunch, a diamond
solitaire and a proposal.

He wasn't nervous at all. In fact, he'd never been more sure about anything.

He'd asked Addy the night before if she approved, and all she could do was squeal, bounce
and hug him. He took that as a yes. Sworn to secrecy by a binding pinky promise, she'd
vowed not to tell Bella. By some miracle, not even his family knew.

Edward grabbed Addy's school bag and made his way to the door. "Come on, my two girls.
Today's going to be the best day ever."

The end.