You know that saying about how a watched pot never boils? Well, life didn't stop when Charlie was ripped away from Bella, either. For the past eight weeks, she watched as her father stared at nothing. His eyes were void of any real emotion. Like before, he breathed on his own, ate when the spoon was placed at his lips, but there was no sign that he knew who his family was, and it was killing Bella.

She was selfish. It was a fact that she knew too well about herself, but she didn't care. She wanted her father back, and another chance to tell him how much she loved him. The few weeks they'd had together weren't enough, not by a long shot. And every day that passed a little piece of Bella died.

"Hey," Edward murmured.

Bella shifted her eyes up from the book she'd been pretending to read to the man laid across the bottom of their bed. Edward had a faint smile on his lips, but there was worry in his eyes. She wanted to assure him that she was okay, but she couldn't find it in herself to lie to him. He wouldn't believe her, anyway. He could always tell when she was putting on a mask.

"Hey," she replied.

"Good book?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow and shifting so that he was sitting up. His hand automatically lifted to his chest. Even after four months he still felt some discomfort. He assure her that it was normal, but she still worried about him. Just like he did her.

"I have no idea," she admitted. "Can't seem to focus on it."

Edward nodded. "Want to get out of here?"

"Sure," Bella said, tossing her book onto the bed and sliding to the edge. It was still odd when she heard herself speaking. Ten weeks of intense speech therapy had given her an almost normal speech pattern, though she still struggled with certain words and phrases. But at least she and Edward could have a normal conversation without her needing to use sign language all the time. Though, she had to be honest and admit that she still felt the urge to sign her speech most of the time. It had become such a habit for too long.

Edward wrapped his arm around Bella as the two of them descended down the stairs. Carlisle and Esme were sitting in the living room, snuggled up on the couch while watching a movie. Esme had all but moved in, spending every night here. Though they weren't officially engaged, Bella knew that one day Carlisle would ask her to marry him and Esme would say yes. Much like Edward and Bella, they had wandered through life, lost and alone until a chance meeting brought them together. They saved each other. In different ways, of course, but in the ways that mattered the most.

"Where are you two going so late?" Esme asked, not bothering to lift her head off Carlisle's chest. A week after Charlie "awoke" from his coma, Esme and three other women sat down with a reporter in Seattle and told their stories, depicting every horrid detail of how Mr. Greene had stalked them, assaulted them, and threatened them if they didn't comply with his demands. It turned out Esme had been luckier than the other three. Where she'd been stalked and threatened, he hadn't physically hurt her outside of a few bruises from when he grabbed her arms. Two of the women admitted that Mr. Greene had raped them, while the third refused to answer the question. A week after the four of them sat down with the reporter, their story was told during the nightly news, along with the fact that the police had opened an investigation in regards to the allegations made against him. Mr. Greene was arrested last week and officially charged with two counts of sexual assault, stalking, and harassment. There was a sense of relief on all of them, but, seeing as life tended to smack them in the face at every turn, Bella worried that Mr. Greene wasn't done with them, yet.

"For a walk," Edward replied before she could.

"Did you take your meds?" Carlisle asked, his eyes shifting from the television to Edward, who clenched his jaw in an effort not to show his frustration with his brother. Bella knew it bothered him when Carlisle nagged him about his health, but Carlisle was only trying to help. For too long he had let guilt over a simple decision eat way at him.

"Yep, after dinner, like always," Edward groused.

Carlisle opened his mouth to say something, but then promptly closed it. Bella sucked her bottom lip between her teeth as she tugged on Edward's hand. When he looked down at her, she titled her head toward the door, signaling that she was ready to leave.

"We won't be too late," Edward told them before following Bella toward the door.

The air was cool, but not too cold. There was a hint of moisture that felt like the heavens were ready to open. Edward kept his arm around Bella as they started walking down the block until they reached a small park a few blocks away. They'd found it a few weeks ago, and it had become one of their favorite spots.

They settled on a couple of swings, the sound of the metal chains squeaking echoed through the air. She still found it difficult to speak in front of other people, too. For too long she found it easy to just disengage and let herself get disappear. It was a hard habit to break.

"I've been thinking," Edward said, ending the quiet that had settled around him, and when she looked at him, he was smiling at her, which caused her cheeks to warm. "We need to go out on a date. We . . ." His hand came up to his chest. "We didn't really get to date before we got married, did we?"

"No," Bella murmured. Their relationship had been filled with so much heartache and silent wishes. They'd been married for almost four months and still hadn't made love. There never seemed to be the right moment for them to take that step. One set back after another kept them from being completely happy.

"So, will you go out with me?" he asked. "I will tell you, though, I am a married man, and I have no intention of ever leaving my wife."

Bella smiled. "Is that so?"

Edward smirked and nodded.

"Well, that seems fair since I am a married woman. Are you sure you can keep up with my husband, though? He's . . ." Bella made a whistle sound under her breath. "He's a bit of an animal, if you catch my drift."

"He is, huh?" Edward laughed, and the sound sank through her like a knife. He had a beautiful laugh, like presents on Christmas morning.

"Yeah," she whispered, her cheeks warm despite the cool air.

"That kills me," Edward murmured and when she looked back at him, he said, "When you blush, I mean. It doesn't matter that you've seen me at my worst, you still blush for me."

Bella smiled. "You make my insides quiver."

"I do?" He sounded surprised, though she wasn't sure why. He knew how much she loved him. "I thought I was the only one who felt like that."

"You're not."

"Good to know," Edward laughed with a smirk.

—SW—

Just before seven the next evening, Bella stood in front of the cheval mirror in their bedroom and smoothed out the dark green dress she was wearing. Edward had disappeared an hour beforehand, telling her that he would be back to pick her up at seven. He'd spent much of the morning on the phone and every time she came around, he suddenly got very quiet and muttered that he'd call whomever he was speaking to back. She wasn't sure what he was planning and she honestly didn't care. All she wanted was to be with him forever.

Her eyes flittered to the small scar on the side of her neck. Phil assured her that it would fade to the point that nobody would notice, but for her it would always be there. A sign of how much her life had changed in just a short amount of time. Eight months ago, she'd been so resistant to having the implant placed, afraid of what would happen if it failed, or if it worked. Change was terrifying, yet she was glad she'd taken the chance. To be able to tell Edward how much she loved him, how much she needed him, was so important to her.

He was the love of her life, the only person who saw the real her and not the muted freak. He was her world, her everything.

"Bella." At the sound of her name, she turned and found Alice leaning against the doorjamb of her bedroom. She was covered in paint: reds, blues, golds. A small smile played on her lips as she brought her hand up to her chest, toying with the neckline of her T-shirt. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you," she murmured, automatically bringing her hands up and signing the two words as she spoke. "Sorry, habit."

"It's okay," she said, shrugging her shoulders and shifting nervously. "Can I come in?"

"Of course." Bella turned toward her sister-in-law as the small, fragile girl stepped into the room, but stayed next to the door. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she replied. "A little wired, actually. I spent all afternoon working on a new painting, and . . ." Alice laughed softly. "I kind of feel stoned. Or what I would imagine being stoned would feel like, anyway."

"That's how I used to feel when I sang," Bella murmured. "I'd be so nervous before going on stage, but the minute I found myself standing there, I'd just . . ." Pausing, she brought her hand up to her throat. "Everything disappeared and I could just sing."

"I admire you," Alice whispered, just barely loud enough for Bella to hear. "After the accident, when . . . the burns were . . ." Alice brought her hand up to her face, wiping away her tears. "I wasn't supposed to be born. I was the accident, the unexpected baby. And Edward was so sick and needed so much attention. I just . . . I felt so angry that I was the forgotten child," she cried. "I begged them to come to my art show. Mom wasn't going to, said Edward needed her. I screamed at her, told her I hated that she didn't love me the way she did him. I . . . I never told her I was sorry, Bella, not even when they showed up. I was still so angry that she was putting him first again. Then they were gone, and I was left behind. I hurt. Physically, emotionally, I hurt all the time. And Edward pushed us away. He cursed God for taking Mom away, when . . . when it was my fault."

"No, it wasn't." Alice gasped and spun around, finding Edward standing behind her. Bella nibbled on her lip, unsure if she should leave them alone, but before she could make a decision, Edward stepped closer to his sister and cupped her face between his hands. "Pix, you are not to blame for Mom and Dad dying. No more than I am. Or Car is. It sucks that they were taken from us. That the only reason I can stand here and breathe is because Mom's heart is in my chest. But Mom and Dad, they loved you so much. You're Pix, and you'll always be my Pix."

"Promise?" Alice wept, reaching up and covering his hands with hers. The sleeves of her shirt pulled down, showing the scars that marred her delicate skin.

"I promise." Edward leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I promise, Pix."

Alice smiled at Bella before she slipped past Edward and walked back into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Just before the door closed, Bella spotted Jasper laying on Alice's bed, his earbuds plugged into his ears, but Bella knew that when Alice was in the room, he was completely tuned in to her. He loved her, and she loved him.

Edward shifted his attention to Bella, the intense look in his eyes had her trembling and her skin warming. "You look beautiful," he said, waving his hand in front of his face and signing the last word he'd spoken. "Incredible, actually."

"So do you."

And he did. He'd put on a pair of black dress pants, a white shirt that he'd left untucked. He had on a black jacket and his hair had been styled so that it looked like he'd just ran his fingers through his hair, but not like he'd just woken.

Edward laughed. "Thanks, I guess. Nobody's ever told me I was beautiful before."

"Well, you are," Bella murmured, reaching on top of the dresser and picking up the small black clutch Esme had let her borrow. "Are you going to tell me where we're going?"

Her husband smirked as he held out his hand. "No."

"I didn't think so," Bella groused, but she didn't mind the secrecy behind tonight's plans. Edward would never do anything to hurt her. She trusted him with every inch of her soul. Bella wrapped her hand around Edward's forearm and allowed him to lead her downstairs.

Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, and Rose were waiting seated in the living room, and turned toward them as they descended down the stairs. Smiles crept over their features, but none of them uttered a sound as Edward and Bella walked across the room and out of the house. Their support meant the world to both of them, Bella knew. Young and sick, the decision to get married after only knowing each other a couple months was silly, but Edward was the love of her life, the only person who saw the real her and wanted her. Bella knew it was hard on her siblings, especially Emmett, to let her go, to let Edward love her. Maybe it was because they understood. After all Rose was Emmett's world, and Carlisle loved Esme.

The air was cool and Bella shivered as she stepped closer to Edward. He chuckled under his breath as he wrapped his arm around her waist and led her down to his car. Once he'd helped her inside, he closed the door and rushed around to the driver's side, sliding in behind the wheel.

They didn't speak as Edward drove them through Forks, past the high school where they'd met, and onto the highway leading into Port Angeles. Bella slid her hand over Edward's knees, smiling to herself when she heard him groan.

An hour later, Edward parked in front of the theater Bella had taken him to the day he collapsed. Without a word, she took his hand into hers and followed him inside, through the lobby and into the theater. Bella gasped, her free hand flying up to cover her lips as she looked around. Hundreds of candles filled the room. On the stage was a pallet made of blankets and pillows.

"Why?" Bella murmured, knowing he would hear her.

"Because this place is important to you," he said, tugging on her hand and silently asking her to follow him onto the stage. He released the hold he had on her hand and bent over, picking up a microphone and holding it out toward her. "Here."

"What?" she asked, taking it from him.

"I want you to sing for me," he said, rushing off the stage and settling in to a seat in the front row.

"I can't," she stammered, shaking her head.

"You can," he insisted. "It's just me, Bella. Just sing to me."

"Edward," she whispered, biting her bottom lip.

"Please." The simple word was filled with so much longing, Bella couldn't keep from nodding. She'd do anything for him.

Closing her eyes, she tossed her clutch onto the blankets and released a deep breath. Her lips parted and the words tumbled from between her lips. Her voice, so different than it was before cancer ate away at her vocal chords, shook as she tried to sing, yet she felt a peace crept over her. And for a moment — just a brief moment in time — she could be a star.

As the last word hung in the air, Edward stood up and clapped, causing Bella to blush. Though she tried, she couldn't keep the tears from falling.

"Bella?" Edward asked, rushing up to her.

"I sang," she wept, placing her hands on his chest. "I sang again. I never thought I'd be able to sing again, Edward. Never. But I did. I sang!"

Edward smiled. "You did. And you sounded beautiful."

"I doubt that," she murmured, sliding her hands around to the back of his neck, tangling her fingers in his hair. "But thank you. I don't know how you did this, but thank you."

"Emmett helped me," he confessed, pulling her down onto the pallet of blankets. "I wanted to bring you somewhere special, and I knew this place meant a lot to you. He called your aunt and uncle, who agreed to let us have the place for the night. Said they had planned on visiting your dad tonight, anyway."

"Oh," Bella whispered, shifting so that she was sitting with her knees bent in front of her.

"Here." Edward reached around her and pulled the basket of goodies that had been left for them. He stripped off his jacket before tugging the napkin off the top of the basket. "Emmett refused to buy us some wine. Gave me some bullshit about us being too young, and having a heart condition and cancer." He gave her a look as he pulled out a bottle of ginger ale. "Best I can do. But we do have wine glasses."

Bella laughed. "Sounds delicious. What else do we have?"

"Oh, a little of this and a little of that," he murmured. "First, we have some chocolate covered strawberries."

"My favorite!" Bella giggled, feeling giddy as her husband placed the bowl of strawberries in front of them.

"And, we have some rice crispy treats, because they think we're ten years old," he scoffed, but placed them on the blankets, too. "And, let's see, some cheese and crackers."

Edward tossed the basket onto the stage behind them and pried the lid off the cheese and crackers. "Want one?"

Bella bit her lip as she picked out a slice of cheddar cheese and a Ritz crackers, placing the cheese on the cracker and taking a bite. "Ugh, these suck," Bella groused, chunking her cracker and cheese back into the bowl.

Edward laughed and picked up the strawberries. "How about one of these?"

"Yes, please!" she cheered, waiting for him to open the bowl before plucking one out. Wrapping her lips around the tip, she moaned as she bit into the chocolate covered fruit. "That's fucking delicious."

"You're fucking delicious," Edward murmured, causing her to shift her eyes to him. He grabbed her wrist and brought the fruit to his mouth, taking a bite off the piece she'd just been eating. "Mmm, good."

"It really is," she murmured, letting it fall from her hand as she grabbed the back of his head and pulled him toward her. His mouth met hers and they both moaned, falling back onto the blankets and pillows.

Edward's hand gripped her hip, tugging her body against his as their lips moved in a hurried frenzy. His fingers crept lower and lower until they reached the hem of her dress. Dipping beneath, he slid his hand upward, his fingers finding the lace of her panties.

"Oh, God, lace? You're wearing lace panties?" he groaned, moving his lips to the curvature of her neck. He sucked and nipped on her skin.

"Edward, touch me," Bella begged, needing to feel his fingers inside of her.

Edward didn't say anything as he tugged her panties to the side and slipped one finger inside her. Together, they moaned.

"So warm, so wet," he groaned, and leaning up, he looked her in the eyes and said, "And mine."

"Yours," she whimpered. "Make love to me!"

Edward stopped moving, stopped breathing for a second, and Bella wondered if she had pushed him too far. "Are you sure? We can wait if you're not ready."

Bella smiled. "I'm ready, Edward. Ready to be your wife in every way."

Releasing a deep breath, he removed his finger from inside her and reached into the back of pocket of his pants. His cheeks turned red as he held out a condom. "Figured, you know, we should be prepared."

"God, I love you," Bella laughed, sitting up. She reached up and began to unbutton his shirt. Once she had all of them undone, she slid it down his arms, letting it fall to the side. Edward's breath caught in his chest as Bella leaned forward and placed a kiss on his scar. "Do you know what I see when I look at your scar?"

"No," Edward whispered.

"I see strength and love and determination." Bella shifted so that she was kneeling in front of him. Placing her hands on his hips, she shifted her eyes up to his. "You say I gave you a reason to live, a reason to let go of your anger, but you want you don't understand is that you're my reason, Edward. I had gotten so used to not mattering to anyone, that when I suddenly found myself facing someone who wanted me, I was scared. So scared."

"Me, too," he admitted, tugging the straps of her dress of her shoulders before sliding his hands to her back and lowering the zipper slowly. "I think I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. You never spoke to me, and I couldn't understand why it bothered me. You made me feel again."

"I love you so much," she whimpered allowing him to remove her dress, leaving her in just her panties.

In a frenzy, they removed the last of their clothes, laying on the blanket naked. Edward placed his hand on her hip as he leaned over and kissed her again, needing to feel her lips against his. Bella shifted them so he was hovering over her, and then tore the condom wrapper with her teeth, before rolling the latex down his hard cock. She placed her hands on his shoulders.

"I'm ready," she whispered.

"I love you," Edward murmured, pressing just the tip of himself inside her.

"I love you, too," Bella whimpered.

Slowly, all too slowly, he pushed himself inside of her. Her groan and his moan echoed throughout the theater, and he blew out a heavy breath to keep from coming right then. She felt amazing and warm, like summer afternoons and birthday wishes.

"Move," she cried. "Please, keep moving."

Edward groaned again as he began shifting his hips back and forth, trying to be gentle. He knew it wasn't going to take him long. He'd been dreaming of making love to his wife for months. Bella's hands were gripping his shoulders, her fingers digging into his skin, and she had tears in her eyes.

"I love you, baby, so much," Edward moaned.

"Me, too," she gasped.

Edward tried to hold off, tried to give her time to find her release, but the pressure wrapped around him was too much, and after only a couple dozen thrusts, he found himself filling the latex condom. His arms gave out on him and he lowered himself on top of her, burying his face in her neck.

"I'm sorry. You felt too good," he grumbled.

"It's okay. It was nice," Bella murmured.

Edward rolled off her and tried to be discreet as he removed the condom, wrapping it in a napkin and placing it on the stage next to his jacket. Turning back to Bella, he placed his hand on her stomach. "I know you didn't, you know, come, or whatever."

"No, I did," she lied.

Edward snorted.

"Okay, so I didn't, but it . . . well, it hurt a little," she said, softly.

"Next time will be better," he said, trying to muster some confidence.

"Next time will be way better," she giggled, shifting and laying her head on his chest and listening to his heart racing. "You didn't push yourself too much, did you? I mean, with your heart, and everything."

"I'm fine," he insisted.

Bella hummed, but didn't push for more as she closed her eyes and let her mind drift away to silent wishes and whispered hopes for a future filled with happiness.

Thank you so much for all the reviews. This story was emotional from day one. I know I left a lot in the open, but the good news is that there will be a sequel titled "Whispered Hope."