Chapter Seven

A/N: Words often times come so easily to me…but you all have me speechless. Every time I get a new alert or review I am in awe of your support. Thank you…sometimes your words are the brightest part of my day.

Melanie helped me get this chapter right, and again, there are no words to express how important she is. She actually put my stories ahead of the Sheviking's My Viking update Monday night. Don't worry...I set her straight…it will not happen again ;)

Can you find the shout-out to a very popular fic in this chapter?

Ready for Jasper to redeem himself? Wanna see what's wrong with Charlie?

Ummm… warning for the last half of the chapter. Yeah, might need those tissues.

Edward helped Bella off of the floor and sat down on one of the chairs, keeping her in his lap. Emmett sat across from the pair, holding a sheath of papers. Edward tightened his hold on Bella as Emmett set the papers down and looked up at them.

"Bella, I am just gonna tell you this straight out…your father has been shot."

Bella gasped loudly and reached for the papers. Emmett set his hand down so she could not pull them away and held his other hand up, asking for her patience.

"I haven't been able to tell if this is related to your disappearance or not. The details I was able to gather were sketchy at best. What I do know is he was shot investigating a tip, what that tip was I'm not sure. He is in a coma in Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles." Emmett said before removing his hand and allowing Bella to take the papers. He knew she had found the crime scene information when she started to cry.

"He was shot in the head?" She sobbed as Edward took the papers from her shaking hands and read them himself. It appeared that he was taken by surprise or set up and his attacker got off one shot before fleeing the scene. Edward put the papers back down after seeing the pool of blood in one of the attached photos. Bella buried her face in Edward's shoulder, crying as she tried to imagine her strong, powerful father hooked up to machines and confined to a hospital bed.

"So you don't know if this has anything to do with the bastards that took Bella in the first place?" Edward asked quietly and watched Emmett rub his hands over his face.

"If I had to hazard a guess, I think it is likely that Chief Swan was asking questions that someone didn't want answered and decided to shut him up."

"So this is my fault?" Bella sobbed, turning her tear-stained face to Emmett. The big man blanched as he tried to figure out how to answer her. He knew that if it were his daughter that had been taken, he would have done the same thing that Charlie Swan did, damn the consequences. Edward turned Bella in his arms so she was facing him and held her firmly by the shoulders.

"The only people at fault are the ones who did this. If it turns out that your father was hurt by the same people that took you, well then it is twice their fault. You did nothing wrong." He whispered vehemently, praying that she would believe him. She dropped her eyes and nodded but deep down she knew he was wrong.

**()*()**

Edward pulled the muffins from the oven when it buzzed and suddenly the room was full of hungry people. The food processor buzzed as Edward whipped butter with honey and cinnamon to spread on the warm muffins. The French toast was served with fresh banana and mint whipped cream and chocolate curls. Bella sat with her knees pulled up to her chest as the table filled up with people. Emmett sat across from her and she was distracted for a moment as she watched him inhale his food. He barely stopped to breathe and she was amazed that he did not choke. She was startled when a plate was set down in front of her laden with food. Esme sat in the chair next to her while Carlisle took one across from his wife. A large hand placed a mug of steamy hot chocolate next to her plate and it took everything in her not to jerk backwards. She knew it was Edward, she could smell the cinnamon and spice and warmth that seemed to follow him everywhere, but over the last few months the only time a hand had come towards her, it brought pain. She took shallow breaths as she watched Edward sit in the chair next to her.

"I know you are upset about your father Bella, but can you try to eat something. Please, for me?" Edward spoke quietly to her, his hand wrapping gently around the back of her neck, fingers sifting through her soft hair. Feeling a bit more under control she nodded at him and set her feet on the floor and reached for her fork, thankful that everyone seemed to be engrossed in their own meals. Bella felt her eyes roll back in her head as the first bite of French toast slipped past her lips. Aside from the muffins and bagels Edward had snuck her yesterday; this was the first real meal she had had in months. While she was by no means overweight when she had been taken, her captors thought it would be beneficial for her to lose some weight, which was why at five foot four she had only weighed ninety four pounds when she snuck on the scale in Edward's bathroom earlier. She had been closer to one hundred and twenty before. A soft moan slipped unknowingly from her lips and Edward's fork halted in mid air as his eyes flew to Bella's face. Thankfully everyone else was completely absorbed by their own plates and no one noticed his stare. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were slick with the butter and whipped cream that covered her mountain of French toast. When her little pink tongue peeked out to lap at the sticky substance that coated her lips Edward let his own groan loose. Bella's eyes fluttered open and she turned her head, taking in Edward's dilated eyes and slack-jawed state. She smiled shyly and pointed at her plate.

"This is really good." She mumbled around a mouthful of food. He chuckled at her as he quickly checked to make sure he was not drooling. He turned back around and started eating, his heart feeling fuller after watching her enjoy his food.

**()*()**

"So piggy piggy, you back so soon?" Mike smirked as he ushered Jasper into the hallway. Everything looked fairly normal, the usual array of mind altering substances were scattered across the coffee table in the living room and several girls in various states of undress were draped across the couches and chairs. His heart caught for a moment when he did not see the one person he was looking for.

****

When Jasper was assigned to infiltrate the house, his Commander told him to pick one girl and stay consistent. If he somehow managed to crack her they could use her as an inside informant. The first day he walked into that house, his eyes locked on the little dark haired girl sitting in the corner. Her gray eyes were too big for her face and she didn't look much older than 16. When Jasper picked her out Mike laughed.

"You get to break the new one in, you lucky bastard. I hope you know the price is double for that." He said as he held his hand out for payment. Jasper handed him the correct amount and Mike walked over and hoisted her up. Jasper held his hand out and she took it, her eyes trained on the ground.

"You enjoy little Maria there. Make sure you tell me how she was before you leave." Jasper tried to tune his crude comments out as he steered her into an empty room, locking the door behind him. The girl walked to the bed and started to take her shirt off. Jasper was quick to stop her and encouraged her to sit on the bed next to him. He spent his allotted hour asking her questions about herself and the other girls. It was easy to see that she had been brainwashed since she was unable to answer any questions pertaining to her life before she got there. He did find out her name was Maria, although he doubted that was her real name, and she was 22. When he balked at her age, she smiled and said that she always was mistook for someone much younger, she even got carded when she tried to get into an R-rated movie. As soon as the words were out of her mouth her eyes clouded and she looked confused, as if not knowing where that memory had come from. Before his time was up, Jasper looked around the dismal room, noticing the unsoiled white bedding and remembering Mike's comment about breaking Maria in. He knew there was no way he could leave the room the way it was and not arise suspicion. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Swiss Army knife, the sudden movement eliciting a frightened gasp from Maria. Jasper smiled at her before pulling up his pant leg and dragging the blade over his calf. He swept his finger over the shallow cut and smeared the blood on the sheets, praying that his slight of hand would be enough to convince Mike. Cleaning up as best as he could, Jasper pulled Maria back down to the bed and explained that she needed to stay quiet about what really happened between them. Jasper hated to leave her, but when their time was up he led Maria back out to the main room and pulled Mike aside.

"I want her to be mine…just mine. You sell her to anyone else for sex and I'll know. I'll be here every night." He said. Mike smirked before holding his hand out once again and smiling when his palm was full.

"Whatever you want piggy piggy."

****

"Where's my girl?" Jasper said, turning towards Mike with his hand placed oh so obviously against his holstered weapon. Mike's bloodshot eyes scanned the room before flying open wide and all but running towards the kitchen. He came back in dragging Maria by her arm, her feet fumbling to keep up with him. He threw her down at Jasper's feet and smirked at him.

"There's your girl. She had a hard time earlier, so we were keeping her in the kitchen till she got back on her feet. Isn't that right baby cakes?" He laughed, using the toe of his shoe to push her over. Jasper had to bite his tongue from making a sound as he looked down at his girl. The entire left side of her face was bruised and bloody, her dark hair dirty and matted to her scalp. She was dressed in her usual boy shorts and tank top, but they were both ripped and ragged. He bent over and hoisted her up into his arms, easing his hold when she whimpered.

"I thought we had a deal man? She's mine. I'm gonna get her cleaned up before I enjoy her. You okay with that Mikey?" Jasper sneered, wishing he could just turn around and carry her out to the car. Mike laughed and waved him towards the back hallway before he went over to the couch and pulled one of the strung-out girls onto his lap. Jasper walked quickly down the hall and into the dingy bathroom, thanking God that there was a lock on the door. He set Maria down on the counter and turned on the water, but turned it off when he could not find a clean towel. Her head wobbled backwards, her eyes opening for a moment, but it was enough for her to see him.

"Jasper?" She rasped and he could see dark purple bruises wrapped around her throat. Someone had strangled her. He held her gently by the shoulders as he tried to get her to look at him.

"What baby girl, what's wrong?" He soothed. Her eyes were closed again as she answered.

"Tanya's gone. I couldn't find her anywhere and then Mike said I had to take her client since she was gone. He was so mean to me." She whimpered and he felt a tiny bit of hate that Maria was stuck here while Bella was safe at the Cullen's.

"You're okay darlin', I've got you. Are you hurt anywhere else?" He whispered, his hands searching for injuries. She surprised him when she started to laugh softly.

"I hurt everywhere Jasper. The only time I don't, is when I'm with you." She said as big fat tears started to run down her cheeks. She collapsed against his chest, sobbing quietly and he pulled out his phone and called his Commander. No way was he leaving there without her.

A/N: Poor Charlie…Poor Alice…Poor Jasper. Shit is gonna get heavy for a while now. See you Saturday!

Oh and…. Did you like my Unexpected Circumstances shout out? I am using my powers of suggestion to try and get Savage to update

Chapter Six

A/N: Hello new readers! Wow where are you coming from? I hope you all are still enjoying this ride. Did you like the cliffy-less ending last chapter? Good cause it will be the last one for a while ;( But as long as my children cooperate and I can get two more chapters done today there might be another surprise posting on Wednesday.

Melanie had a special request for Edward and he delivered for her in this chapter. Thank you girlie…you are much more than a beta. 

After a moment of silence between the pair, Edward shook his head, trying to get the less honorable thoughts from his mind. He reached his hand over and pulled Bella from the bench, averting his eyes as she tugged her borrowed shirt down to cover more of herself.

Her eyes strayed to the phone sitting on the nightstand and Edward nodded towards it. She raced over, sitting on the bed as she dialed the number, frowning as she once again failed to hear anything but ringing. She hung up dejectedly and looked up at Edward in defeat.

"Hungry?" He asked and her stomach growled loudly in confirmation. He chuckled as he walked towards the door, assuming she was following behind. When he turned to speak to her, he was surprised to find her still sitting on the bed. He watched her worry her lip between her teeth as she shifted restlessly, her eyes trained on her fingers that were twisted in her lap.

"You coming?" He asked quietly, trying not to startle her, but her head whipped up at the sound, her face and chest flushing pink.

"Could…" She mumbled and her hands flew up to cover her face as she tried to finish her request. "Could I have some pants to wear?"

Edward smiled as he slowly crossed the room to pull a pair of sleep pants from the dresser, silently thanking his mother for her sentimentality. She had kept all of his clothes from before he left for school, so the pants were much smaller than the ones he would wear now. He showed her to the bathroom and waited patiently as she took care of business and got dressed.

Bella splashed water on her still overheated skin and wiped the tear tracks from her face. She was embarrassed that she had kissed Edward, but could not say that she regretted it. Even before she had been taken she never acted on her desires. Her friends at school would do whatever they wanted without thinking about the consequences, but from the time she had been born, the fact that every action had a consequence was drilled into her head.

Her mother had slept around and ended up getting pregnant.

Action…consequence.

Her father gave up his scholarship to the University of Connecticut to stay in the small town of Forks so he could marry her mother and set up house.

Action…consequence.

A year after her birth, her mother went out drinking to try and forget her child and husband at home and ended up wrapping her car around a tree, dying instantly.

Action…consequence.

Bella could never do anything spontaneous because she always needed to know all of the possible consequences of her decision. When she sent her application in to the University of Washington, it took her three months to write out all of the pros and cons. Her father finally found the paperwork and mailed it himself, because he knew if he left it up to Bella, she would be working as a cashier at the Safeway for the rest of her life so she would never have to worry about the fallout of major decisions. But Bella was tired of thinking. She wanted to follow her heart instead of following her head. And her heart was leading straight to Edward and his family who took her into their home without even thinking twice. They did not worry about the consequences, they just did what they thought was best. And Bella vowed to do the same, no matter what the cost.

**()*()**

As Bella followed Edward into the kitchen, she was relieved that no one else was awake yet. She did not feel like dealing with the rest of his family, no matter how nice they seemed. Bella had not felt the comforting warmth of a mother's love in so long, especially since she could not even remember her own mother. While her father worked hard to make sure that she never wanted for anything, he did not think about the natural cravings humans have for touch. Bella could count on one hand the number of times her father had hugged her.

Bella leaned up against the counter as she watched Edward move around the kitchen. Since it had always just been just her father and herself, she had become the one to cook in their house. She loved watching her father enjoy a meal she had worked on all day. Edward moved around the kitchen as if he had been made for it. While some men just looked as if they had been born to be on a football field or basketball court, Edward Cullen was destined to be in a kitchen. He pulled down a large mixing bowl and gathered the ingredients he needed. When he set a large can next to her on the counter she turned and looked down at it.

"What is this for?" She asked, turning the can over in her hands.

"We're making muffins." He answered as he measured out flour and brown sugar in the bowl. He reached into a drawer below him and handed her a can opener. She smiled up at him before opening the can and looking down into the orangey-brown substance. Edward reached in front of her and dipped his finger into the goo, popping it into his mouth with a grimace.

"I usually bake and prep my own pumpkin, but we don't have one…and I am really in the mood for pumpkin muffins all of the sudden." He said as he grabbed the can and scooped the pumpkin purée into the dry ingredients. Bella pushed away from the counter and moved to the pantry where Esme had all of her baking supplies. She rummaged around for a moment before handing Edward a large red container. He stared down at the object in his hand for a moment before Bella laughed and took it from him, opening it and shaking some of the contents into the bowl. Edward turned his head and looked at her smiling face.

"You just ruined a perfectly good batch of pumpkin muffins." He mocked, making her giggle.

"No, I just made a perfectly good batch of pumpkin raisin muffins. I promise you will love them. The moisture from the pumpkin will make the raisins all plump and juicy. I always add them to my banana bread and it just makes it ten times better. It's like my secret ingredient." She said quietly as she put the lid on the raisin container and set it back in the pantry. 

Edward grinned and winked at her as he added molasses to the batter. "Now you know my secret ingredient. These may be the best ever." Bella watched as Edward scooped the perfect amount of the mixture into each of the prepared muffin pans and slid them into the pre-heated oven. She smiled when he looked over at her, his forearms covered in bubbles as he washed the bowl and measuring cups he had used.

"You sure know your way around a kitchen." She teased.

"Well, my Mom really wanted a daughter, but when I was a boy she decided that she would just teach me to cook. Emmett never wanted anything to do with the kitchen except eat, but from the moment she tied my first apron on me, I was hooked. I loved watching the simple dry and wet ingredients become something delicious. I was the only guy in the home-ec classes, but it didn't bother me. All the girls thought it was sexy that I could cook." He said with a sly wink. Little did Bella know that it also made for some very rough times in the locker room when his classmates decided to hide his clothes after gym and fill his bag with their leftover lunches. It was not until he went to Le Cordon Bleu in Boston that he finally felt like he could show his true self without fear of ridicule, even if he was one of the only men in the Patisserie and Baking program.

Edward set the clean equipment on the counter to dry and went to the fridge, pulling out a loaf of cinnamon bread he had made the day before. Grabbing the cream and eggs, he set up an assembly line as he prepared his signature Crème Brule French toast. Bella watched as he made a quick caramel and swirled it on the bottom of a baking dish. He laid the egg-soaked bread slices on top and covered the bread with more caramel. The dish went into the oven with the muffins and soon the room smelled just like his bakery did. Edward had just started a pot of coffee when his mother and father walked into the kitchen, following the smell. Esme hated when Edward moved out of the house, not only because she would miss him, but because she would no longer be treated to a warm and delicious breakfast every morning.

"Good morning Bella dear. How are you feeling today?" Esme asked as she sat down at the kitchen table while Carlisle got two coffee cups out of the cabinet. Bella blushed sweetly as she remembered the kind woman holding her as she wept the night before and mumbled a good morning. She could not help but stiffen when Carlisle slid into the chair next to her, handing Esme her cup of coffee. She tried not to fidget as she felt his eyes on her, but it was no use. When she saw his hand move towards her from the corner of her eye, she darted from the chair and across the kitchen to where Edward was standing near the oven. The room was eerily silent as she cowered next to Edward, her hands hiding her face as she pressed against his side. Slowly he reached his arms down and pulled her into his side, his face coming down to press into her hair. He raised his eyes to search out his father, but the table was empty. Bella trembled in his arms as he guided her over to the table so he could sit, dragging her into his lap. She curled against him like a cat and he ran his hand over her silken hair.

"I'm so sorry. I keep messing things up." She whimpered into his chest. His hand stilled on her hair as he felt a wave of anger surge through him.

"None of this is your fault. You have every reason to be cautious after what you've been through. I am just so glad you're able to trust me. The rest will come with time." He replied, resuming the movement of his hand. She pulled away and looked up at him, her face tear-dampened and fierce.

"No, I shouldn't be like this. I was never like this before they took me. How long is it going to take to get my life back?" She snarled, looking more like a fierce lioness than the little lamb she usually was. He chuckled as he reached toward her face, halting his hand as he saw someone moving out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head and found his brother standing in the doorway, his face grim.

"Emmett?" Edward questioned, drawing Bella's attention to the hulking man hesitating in the entrance.

"I think it is going to take a bit longer to be able to go back to your old life Bella. I found out why your father has not been answering his phone."

A/N: Dun dun dun…. Oh no…what's wrong with Charlie. As I was pre-reading this chapter I found it hilarious that I am writing an Edward that is a Culinary School educated chef and another Edward that can barely make toast (The Cottage). Oh well, at least they are both very good at protecting their women.

Chapter Five

A/N: Hi! *Waves hands*

Your response to the last chapter was AMAZING! I though I would give you a bit of a bonus since you took the time to leave me some love.

I nearly had a heart attack this week when Arabella's and butterflybetty alerted this story. Their work (Rosebud and Taking Chances – among others) are on my favorites list and I was honored that they put me on alert. 

Melanie- you have already seen this chapter (Obviously) but you know where your shout out is. I just love reading all the things she adds to this Edward. I think she might have a thing for him ;-)

Your reviews continue to blow me away! I think if I had made Jasper bad in this story I might have had to go into the Witness Protection Program. Not to worry… 

"No, please. Just give me a minute to explain." Jasper pleaded as Bella hid behind Esme, grabbing hold of Edward's shirt when he moved towards Jasper. The minute the word was out of her mouth, Edward understood…Jasper was one of the police officers that had frequented the house, getting her hopes up every time he came into the room in his familiar uniform, only to dash them when he would take one of the girls into one of the back rooms. He growled low in his chest when Jasper started to move forward and it was only Bella's tight grip on his sleeve that kept him from beating the shit out of his long-time friend.

"I was undercover. I didn't do anything to those girls, - I just tried to get them to talk, I swear. I never touched them." He said and Edward could see Emmett standing behind him nodding. So if what he said was true, why did they not shut the whole thing down already and get those poor girls someplace safe? As if Jasper could read Edward's mind, he continued.

"We just needed to get a final count on how many girls were there and which ones were held against their will."

"Against their will?" Bella rasped from over Esme's shoulder. "I'll tell you which ones were held against their will. I was one, and so was Charlotte…whose name used to be Angela, before the bastards tied her to a chair and withheld food and water for three days until she finally broke and did whatever they asked of her. It took me two weeks to convince them that I was who they wanted me to be, but I would never let them see the real me. I would answer to the name they wanted and did the things they forced me to do, but I never broke. Now, do you need more names or is that enough?" She snarled and Edward could not keep the proud smile from spreading across his face. Bella was a fierce little thing when she was angry.

"I understand how you feel Tanya, but-" Jasper said but was stunned silent as Esme and Edward went from shielding Bella from Jasper to holding her back as she lunged for him.

"Don't you call me that you bastard! My name is Bella, I was never Tanya. Now if you aren't going to help me get those other girls out of there, I will find someone else who will, because I can't sleep in a warm bed knowing the kinds of things they are making those girls do. I lived through it; I can't let anyone else have to suffer the same." She yelled, the fight leaving her as she felt exhaustion overtaking her once again. Edward pulled her up into his arms as her legs collapsed underneath her. She rested her head against his shoulder and inhaled his scent, the cinnamon and spice soothing her.

"Bella, I'm sorry. You have to believe that I want to get those girls out of there just as much as you do, but if I don't do things by the book, those men will get off and just start up somewhere else. You want them to get punished for what they have done, don't you?" He implored and Edward felt her nod weakly against his shoulder.

"Why don't we talk about this later, she needs sleep." Edward said as his mother ushered everyone out of the room. Edward laid her down on the bed, settling next to her as he heard the door click shut. He propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at her as she snuggled into his side, her arm thrown over his side. She nuzzled her face into his chest like a bunny rabbit and he chuckled at the visual. She brought her sleepy gaze up to his face and smiled slightly, not embarrassed in the least to have been caught.

"You just smell so good." She whispered before her eyes fluttered closed. Edward dropped his head to the pillow next to her, exhaustion taking hold and forcing his own eyes closed.

**()*()**

"When are you going to be able to raid the house?" Carlisle asked as Jasper flopped down into the chair at the kitchen table. Esme had started a pot of coffee and Emmett and Carlisle joined Jasper at the table.

"I have been going every night for the last two months. Always using the same girl to try and gain her trust, but man they have those girls so brainwashed, all she would do was sit there and try to get me to fuck her…sorry Esme." Jasper said shyly, blushing scarlet at his unintentional slip. Esme tossed her hand at him and sighed.

"Jasper, after seeing the marks on Bella and hearing the few things she has told us about her life there, that word is not going to bother me much." She said as she set three cups on the table as well as a pitcher of cream and the sugar bowl. Carlisle pulled her down into his lap when she passed and she relaxed against his chest.

"I need to contact my Commander and let him know that one of the girls has escaped. He might want me to go in there now and see how they are reacting to it." He sighed as he stood and pulled his cell phone from the holder on his belt, speaking quietly into it.

Emmett got up and poured the coffee into the cups on the table, plopping a huge spoonful of sugar into his cup before stirring it restlessly. He startled when his father spoke.

"Were you involved in this investigation at all?" Emmett shook his head before answering.

"No, the Commander knew after what we went through with Rose I might not be the best choice." He said before dropping his forehead to the table. "All I keep picturing is Rose. I don't know what would be worse, dealing with it for weeks on end with no thought of getting out, or having it go as far as it did but be able to go back to your normal life after." Esme pushed away from Carlisle and wrapped herself around her oldest son.

"I don't think either option would be good baby, but I know how strong Rose is and I can see that Bella has a bit of that strength in her as well. These girls are fighters Emmett; Rose has shown you that time and time again. She did not let her attack ruin her, and neither did you. I have never been prouder than I was that day when you held her in the emergency room. None of this was your fault, just like it was not Edward's or Rose's or even Bella's. No one asked to be treated like that baby, we just have to make sure we give them all the love and support we can while we help them heal. At least Rose got the justice she deserved for her attack. We can only hope that Bella will get the same."

"I have to go back in tonight. The Commander wants to make sure they are not planning on moving now that one of the girls is gone." Jasper huffed as he returned to the room and picked up the cooling coffee. He drank it all at once, wincing slightly at the bitter taste before slapping Emmett on the back.

"I'll keep you updated." He said before he left.

**()*()**

Edward rolled over, his hand searching the bed for Bella's warmth. He had stayed close to her through the night, hoping he might be able to keep the nightmares at bay. Finding the sheets cool to the touch he shot up from the pillows, desperate to make sure it had not been a dream. He did not have to search long. Bella was wrapped up in a blanket, sitting on the window seat. Edward's childhood bedroom was still the same as it was before he left for Culinary School. His books and CDs still filled the dark wood bookshelf and his stereo took up most of the desk. The California king-sized bed took up most of the room with its rich gold bedding. 

The walls were painted deep red with slate gray drapes pulled to the side of the huge bay window that dominated the south wall. Bella was sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest, staring out at the view below.

Bella had lived her entire life near the water. Forks, Washington was not technically on the water, but she had a second home with her father's best friend in La Push. There, on the edge of the Quileute Indian reservation, Bella found her favorite place. The cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean became her sanctuary. When she was old enough to know how her mother died, she sat at the edge of the rocks and stared down at the pounding waves, wishing that the water could wash away the pain and guilt she felt as it did the rocks and sand below. The water made everything fresh and new, no matter how much debris was in its path. Now, staring at an entirely different Ocean, Bella once again wished there was some way the waves could wash away the filth.

"Bella?" Edward rasped as he swung his legs to the floor and started towards her. He would have expected her to be cautious of him after the night she had, but she just looked up at him as he approached.

"Don't you have to go open the bakery?" She whispered, her throat still sore from screaming during her nightmare.

"No, my sister-in-law is taking care of things this morning." He answered as he sat down next to her on the bench, looking out the window as the first signs of light peeked over the waves. They watched together as the sky moved from deepest purple to pink and gold as the sun rose. Soon it was so bright that Bella had to turn away, her eyes meeting Edward's. He was beautiful in the morning light and she wished she had a camera to capture him. His auburn hair was haloed in golden light, making him look even more like the angel she thought him to be. His green eyes were darker than they had been, a perfect foil to his pale complexion. She could not stop herself from reaching forward to see if his skin was as smooth as it looked. His eyes closed as her fingers grazed his jaw and she giggled as his prickly whiskers scratched at her skin. She cradled his jaw in her hand as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his in a chaste kiss. He opened his eyes as she released his face and looked down at her in awe.

"That was what my first kiss should have been like." She whispered as she blushed and looked down at her lap.

A/N: So fucking sweet. I love this Edward…although just wait till we see some more Jasper!

Hit me up on Facebook – Kitkat Cullen - we are dicussing what Edward's bakery should be named!

Chapter Four

A/N: You all are amazing! I am overwhelmed with the response to this story. 110 reviews for only 3 chapters :-O shocked face.

Tissue alert with this one. And an italicized flash back, so if you need to skip it…feel free.

Edward's Eternal helped big time with this one…I love the things she adds to this Edward. I heart him big time in this chapter…he brought me to tears.

Edward stepped out of the shower stall and grabbed one of the oversized bath towels from the cabinet. After making sure Bella was wrapped tight, he pulled his wet shirt over his head and tied another towel around his hips, shimmying out of his boxers under the privacy of the fabric. Bella watched wide eyed as his broad chest and shoulders flexed with his movements. He looked like a stone sculpture and her fingers itched to trace the lines and dips of his body. It was amazing to her that someone so strong could be so gentle. Ever since she had been taken captive, her emotions had been locked safely away, but she could feel them rattling at their chains. She wanted to be able to feel again, but knew it was too soon.

Edward hoisted himself up on the counter and pulled her to stand between his feet. The towel covered her from chest to shin, but there was plenty of skin still on display. He held her gently by the shoulders as he looked down at her arms. To keep physical contact with her, he picked up a brush and slowly started brushing the tangles out of her long hair.

"Can you tell me how you got these marks?" He whispered and he felt her body go rigid under his hands. He tilted his head so he could see her through her water-logged hair. Her soulful brown eyes latched onto his and she wanted to trust him…so badly she ached. She wanted to tell him everything. When his gaze never waivered, she opened her mouth and let the nightmares out.

**()*()**

Nearly two hours later, Edward laid Bella down in his childhood bed after pulling one of the long sleeved t-shirts he kept there over her head. She pulled the shirt up to her nose and inhaled deeply, giggling. Edward cocked his head to the side and smirked, wondering what could be so amusing about a shirt. Bella sobered when she saw Edward's expression, embarrassed, but answered none the less.

"It's clean…and it smells like you." She whispered as he tucked the blankets around her with a smile and sat on the edge of the bed to wait for her to fall asleep. Ten minutes later she was snoring softly and he eased the door shut and walked down the stairs. He passed his father and brother as they spoke quietly in the living room and as much as he needed to tell Emmett all of the details Bella had relayed to him, he needed to get to the kitchen. His mother stood staring out the window above the sink, her hands wrapping around the white porcelain as she gazed into the darkness. He could see that she had known what he would need and kissed her on the back of her head before grabbing the measuring cups and flour she had laid out. Minutes later when the dough was ready he turned it out onto the marble countertop and kneaded it roughly. Over and over he punched the elastic dough down and turned it, only to repeat the same motion. His vision blurred and all he could hear was a faint buzzing sound as his hands moved through the flour-coated mass again and again. It was not until he felt hands wrapping around his shoulders did he stop, realizing that he had been sobbing as he punished the bread dough. His mother guided him down to the cold tile floor, holding him against her chest as he cried.

**()*()**

"You want to go home? You are home my sweet little thing. I swear to God, if Mike was not so intent on keeping you pure…oh the things I would do to you." Benjamin hissed as he yanked her hair back and stroked his hand down her throat, gripping it tightly. She swallowed convulsively, praying that she could find a way out of the room. She had been tied to a chair for the last three days, unable to move. The men came into the room every few hours, sometimes bringing other girls in and making her watch as they brutalized them. Bella could literally see the life fading from their eyes as the men took them again and again. 

"This is what you have to look forward to baby cakes." Mike grunted as he finished inside of the girl and dragged her from the room by her arm. Bella would close her eyes and think of her dad, praying that he would somehow be able to find her. By the fifth day, she was sore and broken, having been made to sit in her own filth without food or water as they tried to force her new identity on her. Benjamin came into the room, dragging a green garden hose behind him. He smiled at her before turning the nozzle on and spraying her with freezing cold water. She screamed as the water went up her nose and in her eyes. Over the sound of the spray, Bella could hear him laughing. Finally, the water stopped and she gasped, trying to catch her breath the cold had stolen.

"Now that you're clean, let's see how far we can go without breaking you." 

"NO!" Bella screamed as she scrambled from the bed. Emmett and Carlisle were still sitting in the living room and when they heard the terrified cry, they both sprinted up the stairs. Emmett was the first in the door and searched the room for signs of danger. Carlisle pushed past his son and ran to where Bella was hiding, pressed into a corner with her hands over her head. He approached her gently, explaining what he was going to do before he touched her. As his hands made contact with her skin she let out a pitiful moan and pulled her arms closer to her body. Carlisle could see blood trickling from her arms as her nails punctured her skin.

"Please Bella, just let me look at you." Carlisle implored but when he tried to pull her into his arms to lift her to the bed she screamed again, startling him so badly he fell backwards on his behind. 

On the first floor, Edward pushed away from his mother's embrace when he heard Bella's first scream. He was moving slowly, exhausted from his crying jag. He had just made it to the open doorway as he heard her second scream. He pushed into the room taking in his brother's pained expression and his father sprawled out on the floor. But his eyes were soon on the one person that had somehow become the center of his universe. Stepping over his father, Edward pulled Bella into his arms, little puffs of flour flying off of his shirt. She gripped his neck tightly as he sat down on the floor with her on his lap and ran his hand up and down her spine. She sobbed quietly, pausing to hiccup or wipe her nose on the sleeve of her borrowed shirt. Emmett sat down in the oversized chair in the corner, while Carlisle joined Esme in the open doorway. A door opened and closed on the ground floor, but no one noticed as they watched Edward try and sooth Bella. Several minutes later, Bella pulled her face from Edward's shoulder and glance around the room apologetically.

"I am so sorry to have acted that way. I had a nightmare…it was so real." She whimpered. Esme crossed to the pair and held her arms out to Bella, who accepted the embrace gladly. Edward stood and brushed the residual flour from his shirt, laughing quietly as he reached forward and swiped a smear of the powder off of Bella's nose. Movement in the doorway caught Edward's eye and he raised his head in acknowledgement as Emmett's partner Jasper entered the room. Still dressed in his work uniform, Jasper walked towards Emmett, who had called him earlier. Bella looked towards the newcomer and her heart stilled in her chest as she pointed a shaking finger towards the blond-haired officer.

"You."

A/N: Oh no…not Jasper. Wait and see my friends…wait and see.

Update coming next Saturday unless my kids cooperate and let me get some more chapters finished.

Want to read something short and sweet in the meantime?

Barks, Wags, Hugs, and Love by mostly a lurker

A o/s told by a dog. Brought a tear to my eye.

Chapter Three

A/N: Surprise! I am loving this story so much that I can't wait to share it with you! I am not going to make a habit of early/additional posting unless you bribe me with reviews (*hint hint*)

Let's see how Bella reacts to finding out she not in Seattle anymore.

*Tissue Warning?

"So when you say Portland…you mean Oregon right?" Bella asked quietly as Edward knelt in front of her. She had finally managed to calm herself down after Esme introduced herself and made sure she knew she would be safe in their home. Carlisle had not been able to examine her, but just from observing her over the past few minutes he knew there was nothing life-threatening about her condition. Esme sat next to Bella on the couch while Emmett and Carlisle stood close to the doorway as not to overwhelm her.

"No Bella, I mean Portland Maine." Edward answered calmly. Bella turned swiftly and looked at Esme, hoping she would tell her it was just a joke and she was not on the other side of the country. Esme nodded her head and Bella felt herself starting to shake again.

"Do you remember what happened after you were taken in Seattle?" Emmett asked from his position across the room. Bella cautiously looked up at him, trying to remind herself that he was not one of the bad policemen, but someone who wanted to help her.

"I was walking home from class; I had just started at UDub, when someone pulled me off of the street and into an alley. I tried to fight against them and get to the pepper spray I had in my bag, but he had my arms behind my back before I could move. He tossed me into the trunk of a car and we drove for a while before he took me out and tied me up. I remember feeling a pinch in my arm but then everything went black. When I woke up again we were at the house and I was lying on a bare mattress with three other girls." Bella answered softly as she looked down at her ragged and broken fingernails. Mike told her once her training was over she would be given nicer clothes and allowed to use the shower more often, since he was sure she would be in demand. Bella shuddered remembering how excited he was with the amount of money she would bring in.

"Do you think you can remember how to get back to the house?" Emmett asked as he walked into the room and took a seat on the chair by the couch. Bella shrunk into Esme's side and Edward held tightly to her hands, trying to reassure her that Emmett was not a threat.

"Umm, I don't know. I would be willing to try anything though, to get those other girls some help." Bella said, finally able to garner the strength to meet Emmett's eyes. When she saw the large man smile encouragingly and nod, she relaxed and allowed herself to look around the rest of the room. The walls were painted dark gray and the large windows she saw from the outside allowed a beautiful glimpse of the trees beyond the glass. She was sitting on a dark brown leather couch while Emmett sat in a matching chair. Beautiful prints as well as family pictures covered the walls while dark burgundy drapes framed the windows. Bella suddenly realized how dirty she was and jumped up, turning around frantically trying to brush off the soft leather. Esme covered her mouth at the embarrassment and fear she saw in Bella's face and Edward gently wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"Dirty, so dirty. I'm so sorry I'm getting your things dirty." Bella whispered over and over as she wiped at the invisible dirt. Edward pulled her up into his arms, thankful that Bella responded by wrapping her arms around his neck. He looked down at his mother and she understood, getting up to find something for Bella to change into. Edward climbed the stairs and took her into his old bedroom, thankful that he had an en suite bathroom. Bella protested when he tried to set her down on the counter and he realized he was going to have to help her get clean. He shifted her in his arms so he could reach into the shower and turned the water on, making sure it was nice and warm. He kicked off his shoes and somehow managed to get his jeans undone, allowing them to fall to the floor. He stepped out of the fabric and walked into the steamy shower stall. Bella moaned appreciatively when the warm water hit her, shivering as the chill started to leave her limbs.

Edward was finally able to set her on her feet and he turned her in his arms so her back was pressed against his front. Murmuring soft comforting words the whole time, he tilted her head under the water and watched as the water turned gray from the dirt that was caked in her hair. He reached for the shampoo his mother kept stocked in each bathroom and lathered the gel into her hair, carefully untangling each snare. It took two rinses to get her hair clean before he applied a hefty dose of conditioner. He left the thick cream in her hair while he reached for the body wash, suddenly nervous. Bella was humming softly and leaned into Edward's body as his hands started running up and down her arm, trailing the thick suds with them. He took each of her hands in his, making sure to get the grime from under her fingernails. When his hands moved to her abdomen, he hesitated, knowing it would be better for her to take off the sodden and filthy clothes. It would also give him a chance to make sure she was not hiding any serious injuries under the skimpy fabric.

Making up his mind, and continuing his quiet monologue, Edward grabbed hold of the hem and pulled it over Bella's head in one motion. Bella gasped quietly and her hands moved unconsciously to shield her breasts, but did not protest. Edward ignored her attempt at modesty and continued to rub the bubbles into her skin. He looked over her shoulder and saw the round burns that covered her abdomen and the evidence of bite marks across the top of her breasts. He wondered why they would mark their so called 'merchandise' in such a way if they expected her to be able to bring in the big bucks. When Edward slid his fingers under the band of her tiny panties, Bella released a shuttering breath as she prepared to be brutalized once again. Mike and Tyler were always careful to make sure they did not hurt her too badly but Benjamin always ended up taking things too far and twice the doctor had been called back in to make sure she was still 'technically' a virgin. Edward leaned down and whispered in her ear clearly as he pushed the fabric off of her hips.

"I will never hurt you. You're safe here Bella. I just want to help get you clean and make sure you don't need any medical attention, okay?" Bella nodded her head and took deep breaths as Edward massaged the gel into her skin, avoiding the open cuts and burns on her hips. Edward turned her in his arms and looked down at Bella, whose eyes were closed tightly. He ran his fingers gently over her temple and she blinked up at him. He could see the tears start to pool in her eyes at his gentle touch and he pulled her into his arms as she started to sob.

"I'm sorry." She whispered into his soaked shirt and he rubbed his hand up and down her back as he tried to calm her.

"There is nothing to be sorry for sweetheart. I'm here, I've got you. I'll take care of you now."

Chapter Two

Welcome to 'The Bakery'!

I was OVERWHELMED with your response to the first chapter. I think I always knew I wanted to continue this, but when you all were so enthusiastic with your support, it sealed the deal for me.

This is completely different from anything else I have written. This story is going to deal with physical and sexual abuse. I am not trying to be graphic, BUT it will get intense. I will try to always make Bella's flashbacks be in italics so if you want to skip them, you can. If you don't want to read them you can always PM me and I will give you a censored version of the chapter.

I am planning on updating on Saturdays.

Huge thanks to my beta Melanie, who has a connection to this Edward and likes to put words in his mouth. They are always wonderful words and I am super excited that she is so invested in this story. (Psss…did you know I share her with Sheviking? Am I a lucky bitch or what!) 

"Wake up Tanya." 

"Wake up! Damn it Tanya." This time the words were punctuated with a swift kick to the ribs. The girl rolled onto her side and wrapped her arms around herself, trying to push through the fog of sleep and remember where she was. She was not in her comfortable bed back home in Forks. At this point she was not even sure she was still in Washington. Knowing that the punishment would only get worse if she did not acknowledge the wake-up call, Bella pushed to her knees, throwing off the arm that was lying over her waist and looked up at her captor. There were three men that were in charge of 'training' the girls and making sure they did not escape. Benjamin, Tyler and Mike had to have been the cruelest men in existence. Not only did they excel at their jobs, they enjoyed it as well. It was Mike's bright blue eyes she looked into as she raised her head. It took her a moment to remember that she was no longer 'Bella' here, she was Tanya. Mike's overly-large hand wrapped around her upper arm as he dragged her to her feet, pulling her over the two other girls that were still sleeping on the mattress. There was no bedding to be had and the mattresses were piled haphazardly on the floor. The rest of the girls were still asleep, except for one pair of blue-gray eyes that watched as Mike dragged Bella from the room. 

"No, please not again. I promise I won't bite anymore." She sobbed as he came at her once more, his jeans unbuttoned and his semi-hard cock poking through the flaps. Bella knelt on the floor, her eyes filled with tears as he got closer and threaded his fingers through her hair, pulling her towards him. With his thumbs pressing against her jaw, he forced her mouth open and thrust himself in her, not stopping until she was gagging around him. Bella tried desperately to keep her teeth away from his flesh and willed herself not to throw-up on him as he shoved himself down her throat. Not soon enough, his entire body stilled and seconds later he was spilling in her mouth. Pulling away, he kicked his foot into her belly, sending her sprawling onto her back on the hard concrete. She curled into a ball and waited for him to leave, rubbing her tongue against her dirty shirt to try and get the taste of him out of her mouth.

"Bella, wake up. We're here Bella." Bella made herself as small as possible when she felt hands on her legs. She knew from experience that those hands would soon pull her towards unspeakable things. When the hands released her, she opened her eyes slowly and sobbed quietly when her eyes met Edward's horrified face. She pulled his fleecy coat closer around her and buried her face in the soft fabric. They were still in his car after he had insisted on taking her home until they managed to get in touch with her father. She pulled her face from the coat and started to move towards the open door. He had let her sit in the back seat and she must have fallen asleep on the soft leather. She startled when he slammed the door behind her and he gently pulled her into his arms. She shivered violently as his warmth seeped into her frozen body and grabbed tightly to his shirt when he tried to pull away. Deep in her mind she wondered how she could feel comfortable with this man when for the past four months any man that touched her had only brought her pain. But somehow, she knew she would be safe with Edward.

Edward had called his father once Bella, as she asked to be called, had fallen asleep and asked if he could stay at their house for a little while. His father was a doctor at the large hospital nearby and his mother was in charge of several local charities. There was always someone home and he knew that Bella would feel comfortable and well cared for there. He also called his brother Emmett and asked him to meet them at the house, hoping that somehow Emmett would be able to help.

The door opened as they started up the porch steps. Bella had never seen such a house; it was all worn wood and glass. She could hear waves crashing from behind the house and wondered if they were close to Port Angeles. When Bella looked up at the door she stopped in her tracks. The man's large frame took up the entire doorway. It only took a glance to recognize the dark blue uniform before she was hyperventilating and clinging to Edward as if her life depended on it, which at the moment…it might. Edward cursed when he felt Bella start to panic and pulled her up into his arms, walking quickly up the rest of the stairs and into the house. He called for his father as he pushed past his brother and tried to deposit Bella on the couch. She clung to him like a monkey and he was forced to sit himself down on the couch with her on his lap. She was trembling violently and her skin was turning dusky as her body was deprived of oxygen. She was mumbling softly and Edward put his ear close to her to try and catch what she was saying.

"No police. They come too, please no police." She whimpered over and over, and Edward looked up at his brother's neatly pressed uniform. He knew that Emmett would never do whatever Bella was afraid of, but he needed to get her calm somehow. Edward tilted his head towards the door and Emmett took the hint and left just as their father came bursting through the door. He froze at the sight of his son holding the frail, dirty girl but his medical training kicked in when he heard her rasping breaths. He sat his black medical bag on the coffee table and approached the pair. Bella had her face pressed tightly into Edward's shoulder so she did not see Carlisle's approach. She screamed and jumped when he placed his hand on her back. Edward soothed her and tried to get her to look at him. Bella's eyes were wild as she brought her face from his now tear-soaked shirt and up to his. Her lips were blue and trembling, her cheeks tear-streaked.

"Bella, this is my father Carlisle. He is a doctor and just wanted to check you over to make sure you are not hurt. We need for you to calm down. No one is going to hurt you here." He whispered as he reached up and tucked her matted hair behind her ear. She leaned into his touch and turned her face slightly so she could see Carlisle. He could already see the scars and marks on her bare thighs and knew there would no doubt be more injuries under the coat. Bella leaned up and whispered in Edward's ear, causing his body to freeze. His heart started to race and his own breathing got shallow as he listened to her fears. He looked over her head at his father and Carlisle took a step back at the anger and terror he saw in his son's eyes.

"No one is going to hurt you now Bella, I promise. What the doctor did, no one should do. I swear to you, you are safe here. I will keep you safe." He said fiercely as he rubbed his hands over her too-thin arms. She nodded and looked over her shoulder at Carlisle. She stood on shaking legs and knelt down at Carlisle's feet. Edward put his face in his hands and Carlisle just stared down at the girl who was so obviously broken. Esme gasped loudly from the doorway as she came into the room, blankets and towels stacked high in her hands. She dropped the fabric and fell to her knees next to the girl, wrapping her in her arms. Bella tensed for a moment before relaxing into the warm embrace of Edward's mother.

Emmett poked his head into the room and managed to catch the eye of his brother, waving him over. Edward looked down at Bella, seeing that she was comfortable in his mother's arms and stood to follow his brother. Emmett leaned against the kitchen counter, his arms crossed and his expression grim.

"Would you like to explain to me what the fuck is going on?" Emmett growled. Edward sighed before dropping into one of the chairs surrounding the kitchen table.

"She broke into the bakery last night. I found her in the stairwell leading to the storage room. She was…Emmett I have never seen someone so broken and dirty. She stayed there the whole day and when we closed I called you and dad and brought her here." Edward stopped for a moment to swallow back the bile that had crept into his throat as he thought about what Bella had told him.

"She said…she said she was taken off of the streets in Seattle four months ago. She has been beaten and…other things to get her ready to be a, well I guess hooker would be the right term. Apparently there are some members of your department that have been there to test the merchandise and that was why she freaked out when she saw you in your uniform."

"Edward…does she know where we are?" Emmett asked as he crossed the room to sit next to his brother.

"I don't think so. I mean…how am I supposed to tell her that she is not in Seattle anymore…hell she is not even close." Edward said as he propped his elbows on the table and held his head in his hands.

"Edward…you are going to have to tell her soon. Does she have any family we can contact?" Emmett asked as he put his hand on his brother's back.

"Her father is a police Chief in a small town in Washington. We tried to call him a few times before we left the bakery, but there was no answer. I tried to get her to call him at the station, but she was too worried about someone alerting the authorities here and one of the dirty cops finding her first. She also has some issues with a doctor they brought in to examine her." Edward said as he rubbed his eyes roughly with his fingers, wishing he was able to rub away the visions Bella had put there.

"What do you mean 'issues'?" Emmett asked and Edward pushed away from the table, knocking the chair over in his haste.

"I mean they brought a doctor in to make sure she was a virgin, in the most humiliating way possible. I mean he made her strip in front of her captors and then they had her give the doctor a blow job as payment as they watched. I mean she thought that Dad was going to do the same thing to her now." Edward yelled, grabbing viciously at his hair. Emmett moved to his brother and held his shoulders, shaking him until he looked up.

"You freaking out is not going to help that girl out there. She trusts you or else she would never have told you all that. Now pull yourself together so you can go out there and tell her she is no longer in Seattle, but in Maine."

A/N: You still with me? What do you think…poor Bella is across the country and had no idea.

Chapter One

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns any Twilight characters that may appear in this story. No copyright infringement is intended. The remainder is my original work.

So I wrote this O/S for the Fandom Fights Autism campaign. I have no intentions of continuing it as of now, but if you like it and would like to see more…let me know and I will see what I can do.

Please be aware…there is talk of sexual assault and abuse ahead.

Enjoy

The door slammed shut behind her as she ran into the unfamiliar space. The fact that the door was unlocked seemed like a sign. Every space was unfamiliar to her now, but she had no choice. If they found her she would be taken back, and at this point anything was better than that. Her life had not been her own since she wandered down that dark alley four months ago, and now that her 'training' was complete, they had decided she was ready for the real thing. It had been easier than she thought it would be to get away from her captors. They were always less observant after a romp with the other girls, and the fact that the drinks and mind alerting substances were always within reach made it even less of a challenge. They thought they had beat her into submission. The days and weeks of starvation and sleep deprivation had only strengthened her resolve to find a way out of there. And now, huddled in the back of what she thought was a bakery, it seemed that she might have just done that.

Her body trembled as she sat crouched next to an industrial-sized oven. She wished it was on so she would be able to absorb some of the heat it would produce. She was still dressed in the meager scraps of clothes they had put her in that afternoon when they told her she would be entertaining her first client that evening. She had been waiting for that last dignity to be taken from her long ago, but apparently the going rate on a virgin was more than her captors could pass up.

While on the outside she played the meek submissive, inside she was plotting her escape. Now, free from there leering gazes and the disgusting sounds of the other girls earning their keep in the other rooms of the house, her tears flowed. Her tiny hands pressed against her mouth, trying in vain to keep the sobs quiet. She had run for what felt like miles after she bolted from the house, only stopping when she assumed she was far enough away. At only eighteen years old, she had been beaten within an inch of her life over and over again in an effort to wipe her former life away. Only her stubbornness had kept that from happening. While it had taken all of the other girls in the house only a week to adopt their new identity, Isabella Swan fought. When her captors would douse her with freezing cold water and smack her with a wooden paddle, she would only recite her name over and over. She would bite her tongue to keep from screaming when they would extinguish their cigarettes on her belly or pull her hair until it came out in clumps. It was not until they brought in the youngest captive, a girl whose name had once been Alice, but had been brainwashed into believing their lies and now answered to Maria, that her resolve faltered. The girl was barely a teenager, and Isabella had been holding her breath waiting for the day they sent her on her first job. Maria stood calmly as they pulled Isabella up by the hair, making sure she could see what was about to happen. They wrapped a rope around Maria's slender neck tightly, yet the girl did not make a sound. Even as her eyes bugged and her lips turned slightly blue from the lack of oxygen, she stood still and calm. Tears slid down Isabella's face as she watched the young girl drop to her knees, the life slowly fading from her before she cracked.

"Stop! I'll do whatever you want, be whoever you want…just stop." She begged, and through her tears she saw the life return to the little girl, and wondered if it would not have been better to have just spared her what was sure to come.

The thoughts of Maria and the other young girls propelled her off of the floor and deeper into the bakery. She needed to find a way to contact her father. He was a police officer and somehow she had to believe he could help her get the other girls out. She knew it would be pointless for some of the older women, whose real lives were only shadows to them now. They were in too deep, the years of sex and drugs were the only things they knew. But the girls like Maria, she knew she could save them.

She spied a phone on the wall by the swinging door she assumed led to the front of the bakery. It was still dark enough that she figured the space would stay empty a while longer, at least until she made this one phone call. The dial tone sounded like freedom as she raised the receiver and her shaky fingers pressed the number that had been ingrained in her brain since she was a little girl. She listened to the ringing of the phone, praying that her father was home sleeping and not working. She had been trying to talk him into an answering machine for months before she was taken, and as the rings continued she realized he still had not caved to the progression of modern technology. She slowly lowered the phone back to the cradle and sunk to the floor. She knew if she called the police here, there was a chance that she would get one of the dirty cops her captors had at their beck and call. More than once she had seen the familiar blue uniform come in the front door of the house, only to have her hopes of a rescue dashed as his rough hands pulled one of the girls up from the couch and pushed them into the back room. No, her only hope was waiting until she could get in touch with her father.

She stood up and walked around the perimeter of the room, looking for someplace where she might be able to hide out when the business opened in a few hours. She did not want to have to go back out to the streets and try to find another shelter. Just as she found an old staircase behind a door, she heard movement behind her. She threw herself onto the stairs and pulled the door closed just as lights flashed behind her. She kept the door open a crack so she could see.

**()*()**

He cursed as he found the back door unlocked again. How many times had he drilled it into Seth's head that he needed to make sure everything was locked up when he left for the night? Ever since his bakery had taken off, Edward had been able to hire more staff and not work from open to close everyday. The fact that he was unable to trust said staff made his blood boil. He whipped out his cell phone as his eyes scanned the kitchen for any sign that someone had been in there. When Seth's voice, groggy with sleep picked up, Edward did not even try to hold back his anger.

"Did you forget to do something last night?" He growled into the phone. Seth was instantly alert and apologetic as he said all of the right things to his boss. Edward let him hang for a few minutes before calmly explaining, once again, the importance of making sure everything was secure before they left for the night. Seth was full of remorse and promises that it would never happen again. After ending the call, Edward dropped his head to the prep table and banged his fist against the unforgiving metal surface. Had it not been so quiet, he would have never heard the startled gasp that originated from across the room. His head whipped up at the sound and he stared at the partially open door that led up to the storage room. He walked slowly to the opening, hearing the strangled breathing from whoever was inside the stairwell. Inside his head he was telling himself that he should have just called the cops and have them deal with the intruder, but as he got closer, the pathetic sobs got louder.

He would never forget the sight that met him when he swung open the door. The girl was slender, far too thin for her height. Her hair was dirty and matted with filth, but he could see it was long and would be a brilliant color brown when clean. She was dressed, if you wanted to call it that, in a pair of red panties and a white tank top, her feet were bare, dirty and bloody. He had yet to see her face since she kept it buried in her hands, her shoulders slumped as if trying to make herself smaller. He crouched down in front of her and tried to gently tug her hands away from her face. The second his skin made contact with hers they both jumped back. He was surprised by the chill her skin held while she was startled at the warmth and tenderness in his touch. She slowly brought her head up and they each gasped as her wide brown eyes met his shocked green ones. Never in his life had Edward seen eyes so soulful and broken. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and take her pain away. He could see her body better now that she was not so wrapped around herself. The scars and marks that littered her perfect alabaster skin helped explain her posture and behavior.

Edward sat back on his heels as he folded his hands in his lap. He was approaching her as if she were a wounded animal, which was a pretty good description of how she felt at that moment. She waited for him to reach for her again, to use his overwhelming strength and size to pull her from her hiding spot and do what he wanted with her. Wasn't that what every man did? She remembered her father being kind and gently, but all she had seen for the last four months was the evil side of men. He looked over her body, but instead of the hot lust she had seen before, his jade eyes were gentle and kind. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and have him take it all away. He was the first to break the silence.

"Did you come in through the back door?" He asked quietly, his voice sounding like honey melting over a warm biscuit. She nodded her head, her jagged fingernails scraping at the rough wood of the steps below her.

"Are you alone?" Again, another nod.

"Are you in trouble?" She hesitated this time. Was she in trouble? Yes she was. But she was hesitant to allow this gentle stranger to be pulled into what her life had become. If he would just let her use the phone and call her father she could save him from being dragged down with her. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, the back door banged loudly, startling both of them. It only took Edward one look at her tear filled, petrified eyes to push the door closed and press his back against the wood, protecting her. The clicking of heels brought his eyes over to the door as he watched his manager, Rose, strut through the kitchen.

"Running a little late, huh Edward?" Rose joked as she looked around the empty space. By the time she came in he usually had the bagels up and had started on the scones and muffins. She took in his aggressive posture as he leaned back against the storage room door and the lack of activity in the kitchen.

"Something wrong?" She asked with an arch of her perfect blonde eyebrow. He shook his head as he reluctantly moved away from the door. He needed to get things up and moving before he would be able to deal with the mystery girl on the steps. At least he knew she was safe in there.

The morning rush started soon after the doors opened. Edward dashed through his usual prep work and soon the smell of warm raisin bread, cinnamon muffins and onion bagels permeated the air. During a lull in the action, he nonchalantly walked towards the door, his warm fleece coat in one hand and a bag of muffins in the other. With an eye on the swinging door, he knocked quietly before opening the door a crack. He tossed in the jacket and the bag quickly before easing it shut again. He could not stop his heart from stilling in his chest as he heard her soft 'thank you' before he moved back to the bread dough he had been working on.

His day continued that way. When he had a quiet moment, he would thrust a bottle of water or a blueberry bagel into the stairwell, only to be given her quiet gratitude. He called Seth and told him he had the night off, wanting to make sure he was in the kitchen at all times in order to keep his visitor safe until the bakery closed for the night. It was not that he did not trust his employees, but he feared that introducing anyone else to the girl might scare her off.

Finally the last of his goods were either purchased or sent to the food kitchen down the street. He sped through the clean up and prep for the next morning, and made sure all of the doors were locked before heading towards the stairwell. He slowly opened the door after a quiet knock. She sat on the third step, her tiny body dwarfed by his coat. She had collected the trash from her meals into one bag, her stomach filled for the first time in months. She had listened to him work all day, his quiet humming lulling her to sleep more than once. She wanted to trust him, to be safe with him. He had done nothing to show he would be cruel to her, but still she hesitated to take his hand when he offered it to her. She looked up into his patient eyes and realized that she needed to take this first step to get her life back. She grabbed onto his hand tightly as she rose from the step.

"My name is Isabella Swan, and I need your help." She whispered. He gripped her hand tightly as he pulled her into his chest.

"My name is Edward Cullen, and I will do everything I can." He answered back, just as quietly. She laid her head on his chest and inhaled his scent, it was cookies baking and spice and trust, and she realized she could trust this man to help her find her way home.