A giant thank you from the bottom of my heart to my beautiful beta, Paige! I couldn't have completed this story without you.

I also want to thank Sherry and Fran for all their wonderful help and advice on this story! I love you girls!

And thanks to all of you! You don't know how cool it is for me to have someone read something I write, so thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to do so. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, followed, and recommended this story! Your support means the absolute world to me!

"Love is blindness

I don't wanna see

Won't you wrap the night

Around me?

Oh, my heart

Love is blindness

In a parked car

In a crowded street

You see your love

Made complete

Thread is ripping

The knot is slipping

Love is blindness."

-Jack White-

BPOV:

It doesn't take long for my husband to recover and return to his normal way of life. I suppose a man as important as he is doesn't have time to lie around in bed and wait for his wounds to heal. I wish I could rebound as quickly as he did, but the pain in my body seems to worsen every day despite Edward's efforts to help me get better. He's helped me every step of the way in my recovery. He even stayed home with me until he could no longer ignore his work. He hates being pulled away from me, but he has to take care of business.

While he's gone, I practice walking around the house until my limp is almost unnoticeable. With Victoria still out there, I want to be certain I can get around okay. Edward told me everyone in the house died that night, but he also said there wasn't a woman in the bunch. That means she's somewhere out there still wanting to do me harm. She's just as sadistic as James was. I can only imagine how she'll fly off the handle once she realizes her lover is died. They cared about each other deeply, that was more than apparent. After a few hours of taking their turns beating me, they made love to each other just a few feet away from where I lay wounded and bleeding. It's as if they wanted me to watch. It was one of the most disturbing things I ever witnessed because they were so rough with each other. Even when they were making love they couldn't help but scratch and hit each other until they left marks. In a very twisted way, James was her other half and I know she won't deal with the news of his death well at all. I expressed my concerns to Edward, and he seems to take them just as seriously as I do. When Victoria comes for me, I want to be healthy and I want to be ready.

She's not the only person I've been worrying about these past few days. Emmett has constantly been on my mind. Edward will meet with him tomorrow to determine his fate. I've begged my husband to spare his life. I don't want him paying the ultimate price because he listened to me during my most selfish and foolish hour. I understand Emmett should've known better, but I also doubt he knew I was lying to him. He thought I was an honest and sweet girl and I betrayed his trust. If anyone should have to make reparations, it should be me. Edward laughed when I told him this and he assured me he will tan my hide as soon as I'm back to my normal self. He can beat me as much as he wants, as long as he spares my friend. I'll talk to him again tonight, and perhaps I can convince him to agree to a lesser punishment.

I've spent the day practicing my walk, taking care of my injuries, as well as working hard to look my very best for tonight. I want to feel beautiful again. I took a long bath this morning, curled and styled my hair, and even attempted to use makeup to cover my bruises. I look much better by the time I'm finished and I feel like my old self again when I see my reflection in the mirror. I want to have a nice night with him, and perhaps convince him to see things my way. If I play my cards right, perhaps I can spare my friend's life.

Edward comes home a few hours later than usual. He rang earlier to tell me things were busy, but I wish I knew how long it was actually going to take him. Dinner is cold and practically unrecognizable by the time he arrives. He bursts in to find me sitting at the kitchen table, sipping on my eighth cup of peppermint tea with a book poised in front of me. His eyes widen in shock for a moment before they narrow in what looks to be utter confusion.

"What are you doing out of bed? I told you that you need to rest." Edward walks over to one of our cabinets, grabs a glass and pours himself some whiskey. He finishes off the glass before he continues to say, "Let's get you to bed. You shouldn't be stressing yourself out like this."

"I'm not stressing myself out," I admonish. "I wanted to cook a nice dinner for you." Edward finally notices the pesto cavatappi and garlic bread sitting on the table. He runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head at me. "I really appreciate it, sweetheart. I really do. I just wish you would allow yourself some time to relax. Your body needs to heal. You don't need to worry about cooking me dinner and dressing up."

I take a look at my favorite polka-dot dress and stare up at him with a hurt expression. "You don't like it? You always say I look pretty when I wear this."

"You look beautiful," he says with a dubious look. "I just want to make sure you're getting on okay."

I roll my eyes at his constant worrying. God, he can be so exasperating at times. If his reactions to things weren't coming from a loving place I could see myself being very sarcastic with him.

"You don't need to worry about me, Edward. I promise." I pause and stare at his leg, which I know isn't much better than it was when he was shot mere days before. "Besides, I could say the same about you. You shouldn't be working while you're still having trouble getting around."

Edward gives me a pointed look before explaining himself. "I have responsibilities, Bella. I'm in charge of a lot of people. I can't just take a leave of absence from my work. It's just a gunshot wound. I've suffered worse."

"Well I have duties too," I quip. "You told me once you wanted a simple wife who did chores around the house and took care of you. Is that not what I'm doing?"

Edward's eyes rake over me before he meets my gaze once again and smirks. "You're anything but simple, Isabella."

"Have dinner with me," I beg, while tugging on his arm, trying to convince him to take a seat. "I can put it back in the oven and we can have a nice night together. I've been slaving in the kitchen all day, the least you can do is eat with me."

Although Edward looks exhausted, he nods and takes a seat. I pour him another glass of whiskey before heating up our food. I ask him about his day, but he gives me the usual vague responses. I know he doesn't want me to know too much, but I feel that I know a lot already. When I questioned him about his indistinct answers a few days ago, he explained it would be dangerous for me to know too much. He said it could make me a target for some people. Just the thought of being kidnapped and tortured again, is enough to keep me from broaching the topic.

"How was your day?" Edward asks as he finishes off his second glass of the night.

I shrug. "It was fine. I did some reading and practiced walking around. The limping is almost gone," I say with a bright smile, illustrating my point by taking a few steps toward him and a few steps back to the oven. "Anyway, after some reading I started working on this dinner for us."

"That sounds very productive," Edward says with a smile.

He gets up to pour himself another glass of whiskey and gives me a warm kiss on the cheek before plopping himself back down at the kitchen table. The intimate gesture has me reeling. He's rarely so casual about his affections, so when he kisses me spontaneously I barely know how to react. All I can do is smile. I finish our dinner and plate it, happy to serve my husband as he watches me with a satisfied grin. I pour myself another cup of tea, and top off his glass of whiskey before sitting down in my seat across from him.

"This is incredible," Edward says after a few huge bites of pasta.

I smile, happy I'm able to please him in such a small way. "Thank you," I say with a small grin. "I thought since our housekeeper has gone away to visit her children, I would try my hand at cooking. I had to cook for my mother growing up, so I became quite sufficient in the kitchen."

"Well, thank God for that. This is wonderful, Bella. I'll have to have you cook for me more often."

I blush, pleased by his remark. He's rather quiet throughout dinner, falling deep in thought after several glasses of whiskey. There seems to be more on his mind now than I've ever seen. I wonder if he regrets killing his brother. He's said many times he understood it needed to be done, as well as saying he would do anything in his power to protect me, but James was his flesh and blood. I'm sure ending a family members life is something that would traumatize you beyond anything I could comprehend.

"I'm sorry about your brother," I say quietly as I push around the pasta on my plate.

He gives me a small, pained smile and shakes his head. "I'm not." He sits back in his chair, takes another drink of whiskey and looks at me for a long time. "Victoria is out there somewhere. I've had my men comb the streets for her and she seems to have disappeared without a trace."

My eyes widen and my heart races at the thought of her still being out there looking for me. She's lurking around the city, waiting for me to cross her path before she pounces and ends things for good this time. I don't want to even picture her face in my mind. I fear if I think about her at all, my terrible memories will come flooding back.

"Perhaps she's dead?" I quietly suggest. Knowing it's only wishful thinking on my part.

Edward smiles at the possibility for a moment before shaking his head. "I hope not. After what she did to you, I want to be the one to kill her."

Edward's tone is low and menacing. As happy as the thought of Victoria being gone for good makes me, I want to lighten the mood in our conversation.

"I was thinking about working on a portrait of you," I say with a confident smile. "Maybe you could pose for me sometime?"

"You want a portrait of me?" he scoffs. "Don't you see me enough as it is?"

I suppress a smile, because I can tell he's pleased by the idea of me drawing him. "I love looking at you," I say honestly.

He takes a few bites of his meal before answering, "Well, I suppose I could pose for you sometime then. Would that make you happy?"

"Of course," I say with a blush. I toy with the napkin in my lap as I consider the best way to bring up the topic of Emmett. I don't want to be too forward about the subject, and I have to be careful about not upsetting him. I just wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to Emmett because of me. Hopefully he can just let him off with a good scare and a warning, and spare his life. "What are your plans for tomorrow?" I casually begin.

Edward, not realizing my motive, answers, "Just taking care of some business in the city." God, must this man always be so vague?

"Have you—" I take a deep breath and allow myself a moment to consider whether this question is a good idea. "Have you seen Emmett since everything that's happened."

Edward stills in his seat and his whole demeanor hardens at my question. "Carlisle and I will be talking to him tomorrow, why? You're always so interested in Emmett and I don't understand the reason," Edward gruffly states. Perhaps I'm imagining things, but he sounds rather jealous.

"He's my friend as well as yours," I say in a casual tone. "I just want to make sure things are okay between you two."

A harsh, mirthless laugh escapes my husband's lips. "His actions put you in danger. He went against a direct order from me," Edward spits out. "Do you honestly think things are okay between us?"

I hate when he talks to me like this. His sarcastic questions always make me feel so childish. "I know he made a mistake, but his mistake wasn't undermining you. His mistake was believing me when I lied to him. If anyone should be punished, it should be me!" My voice quivers as it raises to a pathetic scream. I've never yelled at my husband before, but I won't allow myself to back down on this.

Edward cocks a brow at me and gives me a sardonic smile. "You'll be punished, I can promise you that. However, what Emmett did warrants more than a few smacks on the ass. I can't let him live after his mistake. You're foolish to think otherwise."

His words are like a slap to the face. Foolish? Tears prick my eyes and I try my best to not allow them to fall. "He's your best soldier, you said so yourself. He shouldn't die because of me. Punish me in any way you want. Just please let him live."

Rather than looking sympathetic, Edward looks angry. "Don't you dare talk that way to me. He's an adult who's been in the business long enough to know better. He shouldn't have allowed an impressionable child to convince him to do anything."

Impressionable child?! I'm shaking in my seat and I close my eyes so he can't see what his words do to me. I wanted to be able to have a normal conversation with him about this, but all he wants to do is insult me. Holding my breath to keep from crying out, I rise from my seat and move away from the kitchen table. I can't even look at him. I don't want to see the condescending look in his beautiful eyes. How did our lovely dinner go so sour? I hurry out of the kitchen and toward the stairs, wanting nothing more than to collapse on our bed and break out into sobs. Edward calls out for me, but I don't turn around.

I manage to hold myself together until I reach our bed and then I completely fall to pieces. I've seen so much death, horror, and destruction. I couldn't bear the thought of having Emmett's death on my conscience as well. I know what Emmett did was a serious offense, but I wish my husband could find it in his heart to go easy on him. Maybe my husband is right, and I am foolish. I'd just rather hope for the best than expect the worse.

"Bella?"

I hide my face against my pillow and try to silence my sobs. I hear his footsteps come toward the bed and I stiffen as the mattress sinks with his weight. He rests his hand on my lower back, but makes no other attempt to touch me. We stay like this for a long time, before Edward decides it's okay to lay down beside me and pull me into his arms. I resist at first, but his comforting scent and the feel of his soft skin against mine relaxes me.

"I don't want to be the reason he dies," I sob against his shirt.

"You won't be the reason," he says in a soft, comforting voice.

"So, you won't kill him?" I ask timidly.

Edward sighs and tightens his arms around me. "Bella, please just stop."

I try to push Edward away, but he holds me against his body with a firm hand. I cry until I can't cry anymore. Edward rocks me in his arms, comforting me as if it was the only thing he could do. I wish I could understand why he won't change his mind. I suppose I really don't understand my husband after all.

Once my tears have dried and I'm too tired to cry anymore, I allow my body to begin to drift to sleep. Edward stirs next to me and slides out of bed. I feel him undressing me, then he leaves for a moment before returning to help me into my nightgown. He kisses my forehead before getting ready for bed himself.

"I'm going down to the kitchen to clean up," Edward says as he reaches down to smooth my hair back from my face. "I love you."

Despite everything going on, I quietly respond, "I love you too," before I hear him leave the room.

I feel him join me in bed a little while later. I'm amazed he went to clean up the kitchen, because that's usually a task he leaves for me. Perhaps he feels bad about what tomorrow will bring. I hope he knows what killing Emmett will do to me, and decides against it. I honestly don't know myself how I will react to his death. I'm not sure how I will treat my husband afterwards, either. I just fear that things will be different for us. I'll enjoy tonight then. I wrap my arms around my husband and kiss his neck, wanting him to know just how much I love him in this moment. He wouldn't do anything to ruin us, would he? We haven't made love since I returned home, and although there are so many issues floating between us, I still want the comfort his body provides me. I want to know that we're all right.

I kiss his neck and work my way down his body, kissing every inch of exposed skin before I reach his crotch. I slip my nightgown over my head and smile at him. His eyes widen in surprise, as he realizes what I'm about to do. I quickly undress him and settle between his legs, but before my lips can wrap around his cock, his hand reaches out and grabs my wrist and pulls me to lay next to him. I'm confused at first, but I comply. He flips me onto my back so I am lying beneath him. He proceeds to kiss every inch of my skin, just as I had done with him. He pays special attention to my nipples before traveling down between my legs. I wrap my legs around his neck and let him pleasure me with his tongue. It doesn't take long for me to cry out as I shatter around him. He kisses me between my legs once more, before he crawls up my body and lines his erection up with my glistening slit. I cry out again as he fills me up and I hold him as tightly as I can as he thrusts into me until he brings us both to orgasm.

As I'm coming down from my post-orgasmic high, I relish in how much closer I feel to him. I know sex isn't the answer to every one of life's problems, but sometimes it works wonders at easing my mind. We drift off to sleep in each other's arms, and while I still worry for what tomorrow will bring, I feel more secure in my relationship with my husband.

A chill rouses me from my sleep. I open my eyes and find the covers have fallen to the ground and the door to the balcony that's connected to our bedroom is wide open. I rub my hands up and down my arms to calm the goose pimples that have popped up all over my skin. I slide out of bed and go to shut the door. It's windy tonight and the crisp Chicago air causes my nipples to pucker and my eyes to sting as I close the balcony door. I shut it with a huff and then venture back into our bedroom and pick up my nightgown which had been discarded on the floor during our lovemaking. I throw it on before sliding back into bed with my husband and pulling the covers comfortably around us. He doesn't seem disturbed by the cold weather in the least, and is sleeping like a baby. As he sleeps, I give myself a moment to really look at him.

He is just as handsome now as he was the first time I saw him. To this day, I still can't believe this beautiful and powerful man is mine. My eyes run over the curves of his sculpted cheekbones and strong jaw line, to the soft pucker of his lips, and finally to the long, luscious lashes I envy. He's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I rest my head on his chest and listen to the sound of his heartbeat. I wish we could stay like this forever. I close my eyes and allow the sound of his breathing to lull me to sleep.

I startle awake covered in sweat. The heat around me is unbearable and it takes me a moment in my tired state to realize the source of it. My eyes widen in fear and I almost forget to breathe as I stare at the flames that surrounds us. For a moment, I think I'm dreaming. This is nothing but a horrible, horrible nightmare. However, the fire that's suffocating me tells me this is reality. This realization spurs me to finally move. I slap my husband awake and scream things at him that I'm too frighten to understand.

Edward jumps out of bed, throws on his pajama bottoms and pulls me out of the room. As he's yanking me away, I take one final glance over my shoulder at our bedroom and my eyes fill with tears. Our bed is now engulfed in flames. I sob at the thought that if I didn't wake up when I did, we would both be dead now. There's no time to feel grateful though, because our fate is still unsure.

"Get down, Isabella!" Edward orders as he helps me to my knees to avoid the heavy smoke near the ceiling.

He gets behind me and directs me as we crawl down the long hallway toward the stairs. Tears are coursing down my face as the smoke stings my eyes and makes seeing nearly impossible. I try to breath, but the air burns my throat and makes me want to choke. Edward screams at me to crawl faster and watch out for the flames. The only thing that propels me forward is my adrenaline and the sound of his voice. I can't think, I can barely breathe, but luckily, I can still move. My body crawls forward like a wounded animal clawing its way out of a cage. A small sense of relief invades my senses as we reach the steps. The fire hasn't reached the bottom floor yet, which baffles me for a moment, but I realize I have no time to think. Edward jumps to his feet and pulls me to mine, as we both limp down the marble staircase toward the front door.

The house makes a wheezing sound around us and I hear the floorboards creak as they are engulfed by the flames. This whole house is going to fall apart. That thought makes me want to cry, vomit, and scream all at the same time. The only solace I have is the front door which is mere feet away. I cough and cry as my throat burns with every breath. Everything around me starts to feel fuzzy as the smoke begins to consume me. I hear my husband yelling at me, but I can't understand what he's saying. I hear the floorboards creak again before I hear a loud crash that sends me straight to the ground. I scream as my head bangs against the marble floors and I stare in shock at the shattered chandelier laying mere feet away from my face.

Edward picks me up, grabs his car keys from the table by the door and rushes us out into the night. He comforts me as I gasp for air and wipes away my tears. I stare back at our home, watching it as it becomes nothing but ashes. The fire almost looks beautiful, in a twisted way, as it lights up the night sky. The faint sound of a woman's laughter seems to float around us, sending a chill down my spine. I look around, searching for the source of the unsettling sound, but come up short.

"Did you hear that?" I ask my husband between gasps for air.

"Hear what?" he questions as he stares at our home in utter disbelief.

Perhaps I'm going crazy, but I could have sworn… The laughter is drowned out by the crackling of the flames that are destroying our home. I can't fathom how this happened, but something in my gut tells me that someone did this on purpose. Edward wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead, whispering comforting words in my ear. As the house begins to fall apart, Edward pulls me away, obviously not wanting me to see this. He pulls me toward the car and helps me into the passenger seat, before jogging around the car and getting in. As we pull away from the house I can't help but stare in the sideview mirror as our home slowly starts to collapse.

"Don't look, Isabella," he says as the car roars to life.

I can't help but be captivated by the glow of the fire and its hunger for destruction. Edward throws the car into drive and takes off into the night. I stare at what's left of our home in the mirror until it's out of my sight. It's then I realize I'm still crying. I rub the tears away and look down to find my hands covered in soot. I raise myself up in my seat to look at my reflection in the mirror. My face is smudgy, black and unrecognizable. I look to my husband to find he looks just the same. The only specks of my skin I can see are the trails left by my salty tears.

"We have to leave Chicago," Edward finally says.

Leave Chicago? The thought makes me want to cry even more. Although this city is not my home, I feel like my life never truly began until I came here. My life never truly began until I met Edward. So much has changed in the few short years I've lived in this city. When I think of the girl I once was, I barely recognize her. I feel like I've transformed into a woman during my time here, and leaving it behind seems unfathomable. I've never had a home before. I've grown used to nothing in my life ever being consistent. My mother's multiple marriages would cause us to move around constantly, so I've never felt at home anywhere. Until I came here… I had a real home, a husband who loved me, and friends I cared about. It hurts my heart to think of leaving this city behind.

"Where will we go?" I finally ask, as I stare out my window at the bright lights of the city.

I watch the people as they move up and down the sidewalks with carefree smiles on their faces. I watch the bright lights from the billboards as they illuminate the night sky and smile as their reflections dance along the shop windows. I gaze at the restaurants I loved to eat at and shops I would spend my days in with my mother. We pass by night clubs that hold memories of nights dancing to bands and laughing with friends. We pass by the bookstore where we first met. A smile graces my face as tears prick my eyes, as my mind bounces from one memory to the next. I can't believe I'll be saying goodbye to all of this. And without any closure. I wish I could walk the streets one last time and say a proper goodbye.

"I have business in New York," Edward states, seeming unimpressed with the city that surrounds us. "I hadn't planned on going so soon… but it seems that the opportunity has presented itself," Edward teases, obviously trying to lighten the heavy mood in our car.

New York City. My imagination runs wild with what adventures will await us there.

A/N: So, I really hope you guys have enjoyed this story! I really loved this Edward and Bella so much and it was so fun to write them! It was especially cool to have them go to places that actually existed in Chicago in the 1950s. I would be really sad right now…but their story is obviously not over. Actually, it's just beginning for these two characters.

The sequel to Chicago will be titled Lust for Life and will be published on FF in 2018! I'll be posting teasers and banners for the story in my Facebook group (The Highlander Princess's Clan) so feel free to join and check that out! Also, if you want to keep in touch while waiting for the sequel, you can friend me on Facebook at Lizzie Lee!

Song- "Love is Blindness" by Jack White.