Disclaimer: I don't own Twilligh. It belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

Hey everyone, thanks to the overwhelming response to the story I've decided to continue it. To my 'Taken' readers; don't worry, I'm not abandoning that story for this one. I might update a little less frequently if the two stories are going to run side by side from now on. I'm not really sure how this is going to work yet. But trust me when I say that 'Taken' will be completed. :)

Thus is Edward's or Homelessward's, as some of you have affectionately named him, version of the first chapter.

As always, I'm really wordy in EPOV and I've had to cut the chapter into two parts. The next one should be up later today.

Enjoy!

EPOV

I wanted to sleep. I needed to sleep. The numbness was slowly but surely creeping into my bones, blocking out the painful stabs of the cold around me.

Stay awake, stay awake!

I knew that if I gave in to darkness that was flooding my mind I wouldn't wake up again. There was no coming back from this. I would die right here on the sidewalk and they'd find me in the morning; a grotesque discovery that would surely scar the finder for life. I would be a human Popsicle.

Please stay awake. Please!

I was screaming on the inside, and I could feel my lips moving. In my barely conscious state I hadn't even realized that I had spoken out loud. I hadn't said a single word in over a year, and it seemed that now that the end was here, my subconscious needed to release a final utterance. I was shocked to discover that it didn't hurt, but then again my senses were being bombarded with equal parts pain and numbness, and I doubt that I would have been able to recognize the pain that the word would have caused me.

I was still shaking and this was a good thing. It meant that my body hadn't given up trying to raise my temperature just yet. I was so fucking tired, but I tried to move my body. Nothing. There was no point in trying to get up anyway. There was no shelter near by, and I would never make it before the cold did away with me. I felt another rush of darkness sweep over me, and I fought it with everything I had. I was exhausted from trying to delay the inevitable and I could barely even feel the cold anymore.

But suddenly my body was on full alert. Adrenaline flooded my system, and I became hyperaware of the fact that someone had just spoken near me. I didn't make out the words, but someone was definitely here with me. I could feel my weakened muscles clench involuntarily, preparing for fight.

I'm no match for anyone in this state. Let it happen and hope that it's over quickly. Let them take the backpack and be done with this insanity. No more pain, no more pain.

"P-please," I heard myself gasp, and a violent pain ripped through me.

I cursed my mind for betraying me like this, when at the same time it punished me for uttering the word.

Let them kill me now and make it quick. No more pain, no more suffering.

"Can you walk?" I heard a soft sweet voice ask, and at the same time I felt something on my shoulder.

My mind was running in two opposite direction. One half of me wanted to reach out to this voice for salvation, and the other half instinctually recoiled from the touch. The latter won and I felt my body flinch and pressed myself against the hard surface.

"Hey, I won't hurt you. Let me take you inside," the voice said.

It's a woman! A woman can't hurt me, can she?

Logically, I knew that a female could harm me if she really wanted to. A crazed woman who also lived on the street had once kicked me in the gut when I was lying down. She had stolen a bag of food from me, and run away before I could even react.

But she had offered to take me inside somewhere.

Warmth, shelter. I'm not gonna die tonight! Thank you!

I felt her tug on my arm, and rather than moving away I felt my body start to raise itself off the ground. My muscles ached and protested, but I managed to stand despite my trembling which threatened to keel me over. I stretched my back out, but was suddenly lightheaded and I felt my knees buckle under me. Just as I thought I might fall, I felt a presence at my side supporting me. Her arm was around my waist and she slung my arm over her shoulder to hold me up. I steadied myself and noticed how small she was next to me. The top of her head barely reached my jaw and yet she seemed strong enough to keep me from falling. I took a shaky breath and that was when I smelled her; sweet and floral. I cringed inwardly when I realized that I must smell like to her. I tried to keep myself clean, but it was difficult to do since most of the shelters didn't have shower facilities. I honestly couldn't remember the last time I had done more than wash myself by a sink, and I hoped she wouldn't be repulsed standing so close to me.

She started walking and I stumbled with her, gripping my backpack tightly in my free arm. After just a few minutes she stopped at a door and pulled out a set of keys from her coat pocket.

I marveled at her bravery when she opened the door and pulled me inside and up a flight of stairs. She unlocked another door and I staggered after her and leaned against the wall.

Inside. Thank god!

I heard her remove her outerwear and her boots, and I stayed by the door unsure of what I should do. Nothing like this had ever happened to me before, and I wondered if she did this sort of thing a lot.

"You…You should take off your coat. It's soaked," she said.

I did as she told me. Following direct orders had become an automated response after my years in the service, and I barely even noticed it anymore until after I had complied.

"Um. Wait here," she said, and I heard her leave the hallway.

Where is she going?

I tried my best to stand perfectly still and await her return, but I couldn't prevent my body from shivering and I hugged myself tightly. I heard her walk back out and she stopped a few feet from me.

"Do you want a hot bath?" she rushed out.

Oh my god! Did she just offer me? Yes! More than anything!

I nodded eagerly and took off my hat and gloves. I almost keeled over again when I bent down to take my boots off, but somehow managed to stay on my feet. I grabbed my backpack which never left my side, and walked slowly towards her. I heard her back away from me, and her breathing had picked up considerable.

Fuck! She must be terrified of me!

I felt myself stop dead in my tracks when I realized that this woman was moving away because she considered me a threat. I couldn't let her think that I would ever harm her after having been so kind to me already. I slowly raised my head to look at her for the first time.

Jesus Christ, she's just a kid!

The woman looked to be in her late teens, and she was staring at my face with wide eyes filled with fear. I quickly averted my gaze, not wanting her to panic and throw me out. I had wanted to get a better look at her, but I all I managed to register was that she was young, small, had long dark hair and was holding a pile of clothes.

"Um, t-the b-bathroom is in here," she stammered

She was clearly terrified of me, and a part of me considered if it might be better to just leave immediately. But the promise of a warm bath and clean clothes was far too enticing to pass up, and I walked to the bathroom where she threw the clothes into my arms before opening the door.

"Towels are in the closet," she told me as I nodded and stepped in.

She didn't come inside with me, and I really couldn't blame her for that. I closed the door, locked it and leaned on it with a sigh.

What the hell am I doing here?

I really wanted the bath and turned on the water before I would change my mind. I used her toilet to pee, and hoped that she didn't mind. I turned to the clothes that she had handed me, and looked them over. They were obviously men's clothes and I held the sweater up to my nose to smell it. It had recently been washed, and I inhaled deeply with my eyes closed. How long had it been since I wore clean clothes? I couldn't even remember at this point. I placed them carefully on the small dresser by the door, and resisted the urge to look more at them. I didn't wanna taint them with my hands before I had had my bath.

My bath. Imagine that!

The bathroom was nice and warm, but I still shivered when I removed my clothes and placed them in an empty compartment in my backpack, since I didn't want to put them on her clean floor. I decided to wash myself by the sink before going in the tub. I scrubbed my face and hands and made sure to rinse the sink with water afterwards until it was spotless. I dipped my hand in the water, and assessed that it was warm enough for me to get in. It was tempting to take a very hot bath, but I was no fool and knew that it would hurt my icy skin me more than anything else.

The water was a little above body temperature and I sighed deeply when I slowly sunk in and its warmth enveloped me. I shivered again, but slowly started to relax. I knew that the door was locked and she wouldn't be able to come in here. Therefore I allowed myself to let my guard down, and closed my eyes while I leaned back against the edge.

My mind drifted back to the strange girl whose bathtub I was sitting in. What had she been thinking when she asked me up here? Didn't she realize how dangerous something like that was? I could have been a lunatic for all she knew, and yet she had given me a bath and clean clothes. She didn't seem like a careless person who usually did this sort of thing based on her reaction to me when I had approached her in the hallway. She had been afraid, and she was absolutely right to be. I sincerely hoped that she would never do something so reckless like this again in the future.

She'll end up dead if she isn't more careful who she trusts!

Yet here I was reaping the benefits of her faith in people, and I couldn't have been a bigger hypocrite. I didn't want her to do something like this, and I had still accepted the bath and the clothes. I shook my head and opened my eyes again. I started examining the bottle on the edge of the tub to locate some shampoo.

Luckily there was some lemon scented anti-dandruff stuff that didn't seem girly, and I chuckled a little at my insane thoughts. Did it honestly matter if I smelled like honeysuckle which seemed to be the scent that she preferred, judging from her bottles? It really didn't, and yet it pleased me even more when I found some body wash which was obviously intended for a man to use.

She must have a boyfriend who lives here. That would explain the clothes and the bath products.

The thought comforted me greatly. She wouldn't be alone here all the time, and that might stop her from doing something crazy like this again. I finished soaking in the bath and let the water out. Then I stood up and turned on the shower to wash my hair and body. The hard spray did wonders for my sore muscles that were already more relaxed from being in the warm water. I hummed to myself as I washed my hair twice to make sure that it was completely clean.

I squirted some of the body wash into my hands and lathered up. I sighed and enjoyed the sensation of feeling clean again everywhere. A rather unfortunate side effect of my thorough washing was the raging hard on that it had caused. I cursed my body for its reaction and tried to make it go down. It had been so long since my last release, and it seemed that my dick refused to miss out on this opportunity. It was almost impossible to do something like this in my world. The shelters were usually crowded with people and only once in a blue moon were I able to get a bunk in a secluded corner and take care of myself quietly when everyone else was asleep.

The water felt so nice and warm, and I very much doubted that I would get a chance like this again. I sighed and clenched my fists at my side trying to force myself to think of something disgusting to make my erection die down. I couldn't focus on anything other than being warm and relaxed for the first time in ages, and there was no stopping my body's involuntary reaction. I cursed internally and finally grabbed some more body wash to use as a lubricant.

I can't believe I'm doing this in a strange girl's bathroom. I'm fucking so sorry whatever your name is, brown-haired girl!

The decision had been made, and it probably took less than a minute for me to bring myself to climax. It had been so long since last time, and I had needed it badly. I tried to convince myself that it was probably a good thing that I had done it, since I was about to face the young woman again. I would never force myself on her, but if she turned out to be even moderately attractive I knew that my body would react to her in a way that I couldn't hide, if I hadn't gotten rid of my erection just now.

I quickly dried off and dressed in the clothes that she had given me. All of them were clean and fresh-smelling and I sighed when I felt the soft cotton of the t shirt against my skin. I wiped the steam from the mirror and looked at myself. My hair was still a little damp, and it was clean and sticking up in every direction. My stubble had almost turned into a full beard but even though it kept my face warm, I decided to pull out my shaving kit from my back pack. I didn't want to face the woman, looking like a mountain man and scaring her again. I used the last of the shaving cream I had and carefully dragged the blade over my skin, continually rinsing it off until I was clean shaven.

I studied myself in the mirror and smiled. I almost looked like my old self again, apart from the fact that I had lost around twenty pounds after living on the street. I took a dab of her moisturizer for my face, and hoped that she wouldn't mind. I decided to brush my teeth as the last thing, since she had toothpaste and I was all out. My toothbrush needed to be replaced soon, but it was low on my list of priorities since I had lost most of my things earlier that day.

Feeling clean and minty fresh, I emerged from the bathroom cautiously and looked around for her. I caught a whiff of a wonderful smell which made my stomach growl loudly. I followed it into the small kitchen where the girl was standing with her back to me next to a pot on the stove.

Food! She's cooking something! Please let some of it be for me!

I hadn't had a proper meal in days and I was starving. Whatever was in the pot had a rich delicious aroma, which made my mouth water and my insides ache with hunger. I was completely consumed by the thought of getting a hot meal, and I didn't even register that I had moved closer to the woman. She turned abruptly and let out a scream.

I reacted instinctually, and for a brief second my mind was once again pulling me in different directions:

Fight or flight? Fight or flight?

Somewhere the rational part of my brain registered that this small creature couldn't harm me, and I quickly flew backwards rather than fight her. I hit the wall and realized that my heart was racing in my chest and my fists were clenched at my side. I was completely frozen and unsure if I should just make a run for it and leave her, before I scared her even more.

But all those thoughts were eradicated when I finally looked at her properly.

She is beautiful!

I gaped at the vision in front of me, as she looked me over as well. Her age was hard to pinpoint because of her contradictory looks. Her hair was long and wavy with the color and shine of chestnuts. Her skin was flawless and pale, and her eyes were a deep chocolate color. She had pink pouty lips and a small nose that turned up slightly at the end. Her cheeks were full which gave the impression that she was in fact very young, and her eyes exuded innocence.

But her body told a different story. She didn't have the waiflike figure of a girl, but rather the soft full curves of a woman. The swell of her breasts, the roundness of her hips and her slender waist all bore witness to the maturity of her body. She was breathtakingly beautiful and my body reacted instantly. My hands were itching to touch her and I clenched them even harder to resist the urge. I was practically panting as I tried to calm myself down, hoping to convey to her that I was in fact not a complete lunatic. I wanted to stay here and look at her just a little longer, but the chances of that happening were slim to none unless I got my shit together and stopped acting like a crazy person.

She suddenly cleared her throat and pointed to the table that had been set for one.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

What? Oh, the food. I forgot about that.

I nodded and slowly walked to the table. I was very much aware of her presence and my instincts were taking over again. Although I knew that she didn't pose a threat to me, I had gotten so used to being on alert around strangers that I couldn't prevent the defensiveness in my demeanor. She placed a plate with some sort of food and slices of bread in front of me and hurried away. The smell hit my nose and my empty stomach convulsed painfully. I forgot about everything else and started eating at a rapid pace. I faintly registered that it tasted wonderful, but I was much too focused on emptying the plate to really appreciate the flavor.

"Hey, slow down," she said, and moved closer.

NO! It's mine!

I reacted immediately to the threat of losing the food and shielded it from her. I was prepared to fight to keep it since this was an almost everyday occurrence for me. There was no honor among thieves, and as I had come to learn, this was also true of the homeless. People were continuously stealing food from each other at the shelters and on the street. It was dog eat dog, survival of the fittest, and any other cliché out there. Though I had never stooped so low as to steal, I had been in my share of fights to keep what was rightfully mine.

I was suddenly mortified when I realized that I had growled at this girl, and had repaid her kindness by acting like a rabid dog. She quickly stepped back and I looked at her.

"You'll make yourself sick if you eat so fast," she whispered.

I'm so sorry.

But all I could do was nod and continue to eat her delicious food while she watched me silently. Before I knew it the plate was empty and my stomach protested. I was still hungry.

That was the best meal I've had in a year, and I hardly tasted it. What have I turned into?

"More?" she asked me in her sweet voice.

I couldn't stop myself from smiling. I watched as she handed me the last of the food, which I could now decipher as being the best damn pot roast I had ever tasted.

But what about her? She hasn't had any dinner and this was obviously for her. I can't take all of it!

I tried to give it back to her but she refused and said that she wasn't hungry. I couldn't really tell if she was being truthful or not, but decided to take her word for it and dove into the second plate. I ate slower now, and thoroughly enjoyed the taste. She was still watching me carefully, but I didn't mind. I was so used to being ignored by people walking by on the street, that it was actually nice to be acknowledged for a change. I wasn't as invisible as regular people wanted me to be when I could catch the attention of one as kind and beautiful as this girl.

I leaned back and relaxed when I had finished the food. I sighed deeply and enjoyed the unfamiliar sensation of a full stomach and a warm place to rest. The only thing that could improve this moment was my one and only vice. I didn't drink and I didn't do drugs, but cigarettes were my one luxury when I could afford it. I had almost an entire pack and this was a rarity. I pulled it out but suddenly remembered where I was.

You can't just stink up her place like that.

I looked questioningly at the girl.

"Go ahead," she said and even found me a lighter and ashtray.

I smiled and lit up. The girl went to the fridge and got me a bottle of water and a coke.

Does her generosity know no boundaries?

I drank half of the water and relaxed again. I was feeling better than I had for a long time. I had a full stomach, clean clothes and cigarettes. I knew that these were things that other people took for granted on a daily basis, but to me it was heaven.

I suddenly realized that I was being incredibly rude. I didn't have much to offer her to show my gratitude, not even a 'thank you.' but I did have one thing. I handed her the pack, hoping the she might accept so that I could give her something in return, even if it was something as miniscule as a cigarette.

I smiled brightly when she took one. Her face lit up in a beautiful smile as she exhaled the smoke with her eyes closed. She looked at me again, still smiling.

"I used to smoke," she said, and I nodded.

She got herself a coke from the fridge and sat on the counter. Then she turned on the radio and it made me smile. I loved music in every form, but like most things it was a rare luxury to me. At one point I had owned an mp3 player but it had gotten stolen one night when I had fallen asleep in a shelter. Sometimes I would find a spot to sit near some musicians who played for money on the street. It didn't happen often since people were more inclined to give them their spare change rather than me, who didn't contribute with anything. I was a simple beggar with a Styrofoam cup, and if folks had the choice they would always choose them over me. I could understand that completely, and begging for money was not something that I was proud of doing. It was a means of survival, and most days it ensured that I had a little to eat and drink.

I wondered if this kind girl ever gave money to homeless people. She didn't seem rich, although her apartment was a palace compared to the places I slept. Her clothes were simple but they were pretty on her. Of course, anything would look good on this enticing creature. She had on jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt, no makeup or jewelry that I could see. She was stunning in her naturalness and needed no enhancements.

She noticed that I was ogling her and seemed uncomfortable under my scrutiny, so I quickly look down on my hands in stead.

"What happened?" she asked curiously and pointed to my bruised knuckles.

I shrugged and lifted up my backpack, hoping that she would catch the meaning.

"Someone tried to steal it?"

I nodded. He had taken everything else, but I had managed to hold on to it even when he kicked me repeatedly in the side.

"Is that everything you own?" she asked cautiously, as if she was worried that it might make me upset.

I nodded and offered her a smile.

Don't feel sad for me, sweet angel. I don't want your pity, just your company for a few minutes before I have to leave this little heaven and descend back into hell. Jesus, I'm even bumming myself out now!

I examine my knuckles more carefully and made a face when I remembered hitting the guy. I didn't like violence but it was a part of the world that I lived in now. The irony wasn't lost on me. Being in a war had turned me into a pacifist, and still I fought almost every day.

"Do you want some ice for that?" she asked, referring to my chafed knuckles.

I almost laughed. I had been close to freezing to death just an hour ago, and the last thing I wanted was to feel something cold on my skin. I looked at the girl and tried to stop myself from teasing her with my expression, but it was rather unsuccessful.

"Probably not, considering the condition I found you in, huh?" she said, when she finally realized the foolishness of her offer.

I chuckled and shook my head a little. This girl was too cute for words.

Which incidentally makes her perfect for me since I've lost my words. No, don't think like that!

"Do you want coffee?" she suddenly asked.

What? She doesn't want me to leave just yet?

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had almost finished my cigarette, and was already dreading the thought that this little meeting would be over soon. I would have no excuse to linger here once the smoke was stubbed out, but now the girl had offered to extend my stay for a little longer. I would be crazy to turn her down, so I quickly nodded and gave her a smile.

I watched as she made the coffee, and she even dug out a pack of chocolate chip cookies from the cupboard. My mouth watered again at the sight of them when she handed me the plate, but I refrained from diving in immediately. I couldn't keep acting so rudely in front of her, and I desperately wanted her to talk to me for just a little while.

"Milk and sugar?" she asked me, and glanced at me over her shoulder.

I shook my head, and when she turned her head my eyes wandered down the length of her body. She was curvaceous and slender at the same time, and had an ass that you could bounce a quarter off by the looks of it.

I wonder what it would feel like in my hands?

I forced myself to look away from her. There was no point in thinking such thoughts since they would never become reality. I should just enjoy her like this, for as long as she would let me. I wondered where I would sleep tonight. The shelters would be full by now, and I resigned myself to a night wandering the streets to stay warm. At least I could do so with a happy memory of a kind beautiful stranger playing in my mind, and a stomach that for once didn't ache with hunger.

She placed the coffee in front of me and I saw that she was returning to her spot on the counter. I quickly pointed to the chair on the other side of the small table and gave her a pleading look.

Please join me. Just for a little while.

I was thrilled when she got her own mug and sat down at the table. She seemed much more at ease around me already, and I hoped that she would say something. I put down the cigarette and rested on my elbows with the mug in my hands. I had read somewhere once that leaning forward indicated that you were open for communication. Since body language was all I could offer her, I hoped that she would read me correctly and tell me something about herself.

"Are you…are you waiting for me to say something?" she asked.

Yes! I knew that she would get it.

I nodded and smiled.

Please say something, my angel.

"Oh, like what?" she asked and looked a little confused.

Tell me about yourself.

I pointed to her and hoped that she would understand what I meant.

"Bang! You're dead?" she grinned widely.

I felt the laughter bubble up inside me and it erupted in my chest making me shake with amusement. It was the silliest little joke, and yet it in that moment I thought it was the funniest thing I had ever heard. She was so childlike in some of her mannerisms, and I found the girl to be a complete mystery to me. Why had she brought me home with her when most people would have pretended not to notice me? Was she so perceptive that she could sense that my reluctance to speak wasn't out of impoliteness, but necessity? Who was this kind beautiful angel who had saved me?

I suddenly wished that I could spend a lifetime unraveling the enigma in front of me, learning all her secrets, hopes and dreams.

Maybe in another life, sweet angel.

I lit another cigarette and offered her one. She accepted it, and I was once again ecstatic that I could give her something in return. I smiled and pointed to her again, hoping that she would get it, although another joke would also be wonderful. I couldn't remember the last time I had laughed so hard.

"You want to know about me?" she asked.

Yes, everything. Please, let me stay and listen to your voice all night.

I nodded and prayed that she would reveal something about herself like her name.

"There really isn't much to tell. I'm twenty-five, I'm a librarian, I bring home men who like my cooking, but don't talk."

Twenty-five! Her face looked much younger than that. I had started to feel like a dirty old man for lusting after her, but she was my junior only by a year.

Not that it makes a difference. She'll never be mine.

And she was a librarian. She would be well-read and had easy access to books then. I envied her that. I had never had much of an interest in literature, but now that I was denied it, I found that I missed reading. Such a typical response, really. People always wanted what they couldn't have. I couldn't get a library card because I didn't have a permanent address, and I couldn't get this girl for about a hundred reasons like it.

And she truly is the most unattainable thing I have ever come across. Naturally, I want her more than anything as a result. Irony thou art a heartless bitch.

I chortled at her little stab at me for not talking. She was funnier than she realized, this girl. Or maybe we just shared the same sense of humor. She sat quietly watching me, and I motioned for her to continue.

Please tell me more!

"Um, I went to college in Seattle, but moved here to Chicago afterwards with my roommate Angela when she got a great job. There are libraries everywhere so I could easily come along," she said hesitantly.

I wondered why she was so careful about sharing this information. Did she honestly think that I wouldn't be interested in knowing about her?

So she wasn't from Chicago. I supposed I should have guessed from her lack of the distinct dialect many people had here. I had never been to Seattle myself, but had always wanted to go. It was the birthplace of grunge and Starbucks; two of my favorite things. I heard that it rained a lot there, but if this girl was at my side I could easily overlook that fact.

No, you need to stop thinking like that! It will never happen!

What else had she told me? She had a roommate, it would seem. I looked around for any signs of the other girl but could fine none.

"Oh, I live alone now. She moved in with her boyfriend," the girl said, almost as if I had asked her.

I loved we were almost able to have a normal conversation without my speaking. She didn't seem to need it in order to understand me, and not many people that I had come across had this ability. A thought popped into my head. She had said that she lived alone now that her roommate had moved out, but if she wasn't living with a man then why did she have bath products and clothes here? I motioned to the sweater and gave her what I hoped was an inquisitive look.

"It was my ex boyfriend's," she said.

Then she made a face of unadulterated disgust which made me laugh. Their break up had obviously been a relief to her.

"He just moved his stuff out today," she said.

Wow, lucky for me, I suppose. I wouldn't be sitting here if he had still been living here. He probably wouldn't have allowed her to bring home a stray like me.

I wondered what had happened to cause their break up and raised my eyebrows to her. She understood immediately what I meant.

"I caught him with some girl from his office on our couch," she said matter-of-factly and took a drag of her cigarette.

No fucking way! What kind of idiot would ever cheat on a girl like this?

I shook my head in disbelief. He would have to be both blind and eminently stupid to do something like that. From where I was sitting this girl seemed perfect; she was beautiful, funny, smart, easy-going and she cooked a mean pot roast to boot. What sort of man would jeopardize a relationship with her?

"You don't believe me?" she asked.

I shrugged. I didn't think that she was lying, but it was hard to understand why he would do such a careless thing. This girl was a keeper. That was for damn sure. Had I been my former self I would have dropped to my knees and begged her to go on a date with me.

But you're not, so stop entertaining the idea, already!

"Is it that hard to believe that he would cheat on me?" she asked, and I could sense a slight irritation in her voice.

Yes, what the hell was he thinking when he did something like that? I mean, look at you, my angel.

I nodded and gave her a big smile. I held out my hand, palm facing the ceiling and lifted it up and down in her direction.

You are kind, sweet and stunning. I wish I could tell you.

"Oh," she said quietly and looked down.

Why was she hiding her face from me? Didn't she like being complimented on her looks? I lowered my head to glance at her and saw that she was blushing.

She is the cutest thing ever! I didn't think that grown women were even able to do that.

I felt an overwhelming urge to touch her reddened cheek all of a sudden. I hesitantly reached out and cupped it in my hand. I felt a spark of excitement rush through me when she looked up at me with big curious eyes. I rubbed my thumb over her warm skin and smiled. How long had it been since I had touched a woman like this? Too long, much too long.

She suddenly pulled back and stood up quickly.

Shit, I took it too far!

I lowered my hand and hoped that she would sit down again, and that she could forget that I had ever been so stupid.

"Look, this was, err, fun but you should probably get going now," she said.

Oh no! I scared her! I can't leave her with that impression of me. I just can't!

I stood up and approached her cautiously. My mind was racing as she retreated and stood against the counter. What was I doing?

I stood right in front of her, desperately wanting to say something. To explain that I only did it to show her how much tonight had meant to me. I couldn't say a word to her, and touching was my only means of communication. She closed her eyes, and I took a deep breath and caressed her cheek again.

Yeah, like I said earlier, I had to cut this into two pieces or it would have been even longer than chapter 1. What can I say? EPOV brings out the best in me. ;)

How did you like his version of things? Did it answer some of your questions or just create more?

The next part will probably be up later today, as I have already begun writing it. :)

I hope you'll leave me a review and let me know what you think!