I watched out the window as the snow got heavier and heavier. There was no buildings to be seen, no other cars and definitely hard to see the road. I took a look over at Edward as his eyes were squinting to see the road. Why on gods snow earth would he risk his life and the baby’s life in weather like this to come look for me? I’m sure the neighbor could have looked after the baby while he was at work for a little bit or while he went looking for me. Either way, taking the risk of something happening to Alora away.

“Edward. Maybe we should stop and let the snow let up.” He shook his head.

“We are in the mountains. It isn't going to let up anytime soon.”

“But… you could get into an accident. Miss the road or even a animal you cant see.” He didn’t respond as the car slid. I gasped but he gained control of the deadly vehicle. “There is a hotel not far from here.” He looked over at me.

“How do you know that?”

“I slept on their back porch with their dog a few nights back.” His face turned red as he looked forward again. “You do have enough stuff for Alora and yourself right?”

“What about you?”

“I’ll manage.” He didn’t seem to want to buy that at all.

“I prefer to get home as soon as possible.”

“What’s wrong with hotels? I’m sure you’ve stayed in them.”

“I have. I don’t like them at all.” I turned in my seat looking at him.

“Well, take your dislike of them, set it aside so that we can get your child to a safe place before something happens.” He turned his head to me and within that few second lost complete control over the vehicle. I slammed against the door as the last thing I heard was the sound of metal hitting metal.

I woke to a small crying. I straightened myself up and rubbed my head feeling a bit unbalanced. Edward wasn’t moving as blood dripped from a small wound above his eye brow. I moved towards him when the car violently rocked. I gasped and moved back where I was. The car was tittering between the safe, snowy paved road to a icy watery death trap. I gasped and stayed still as much as possible. I looked over at Edward as He started to Stir awake. As he moved and Alora screamed the car tilted forward and started to slide off of the road. I gasped as Edward teetered forward and fell unto the steering wheel giving that little extra push forward. The car fell completely off the road. I held my breath as I used my abilities to hover the car inches from the watery death. I maneuvered the car back unto the road to make it look as if we had just hit the guard rail and that was it. I looked back at Alora as she stared at me. Her thumb in her mouth as we were safe on the road. Her brilliant eyes watched me further as I scooted closer to Edward to see if he was OK. I grasped his face to move him back against the seat.

“DA!” Alora squealed. He moaned and started to sit up. His hand went straight to his wound as he huffed a breath in. He looked hazily at the blood now on his hand. His clear eyes look over at me as he rubbed his hand in his pants and straightened up.

“Jaq… what happened?” He looked confused. I shook my head.

“You hit something on the road. Maybe ice… or soft snow and hit the guard rail.” He looked at the guard rail now not even there anymore. “Edward…” He looked over at me. “Are you OK… to drive?” He nodded and took his cloth out of his middle compartment looking in the back seat as Alora still stared at me with her thumb in her mouth.

“Is she OK?” I nodded.

“Now… back to our argument.” I said. His hand came over and was placed on my knee. He wiped his brow as the cut didn’t look too bad from how I saw it.

“Don’t… don’t bother. I’m sorry Jaq. I didn’t---”

“no more sorries please.” He looked over at me his eyes grew a lighter shade of green and his eye lids looked lazy.

“Lets go to this hotel you know of, OK.” He squeezed my leg reassuringly. I nodded again and turned in my seat placing the seat belt on. He started the engine again and even slower he continued on.

One hour later we had come to the small hotel. The parking lot looked empty as we pulled in. He pulled into the spot in front of the inn. Alora was sleeping. He put the car in park then looked up at the building. He looked over at me with tired drained eyes, his arm on the top of the steering wheel.

“I will go in and get a room. Stay here with Alora. I will come out and help you get her stuff. I know the couple here.” I nodded. He hesitated for a moment then opened and closed the door. I shivered in ward at the cold night air. It took him about fifteen minutes. He came back out and opened the trunk then my door. “Get Alora. I got this stuff.” I nodded and got out. I pulled the seat forward to climb in to get her. I wrapped her in a blanket and stepped out. He hadn’t moved from his spot as I was only inches from him. The baby in my arms, her small head on my shoulder. I looked up at him as he finally moved away and closed the door as I stepped away from the car. His hand came up to my now reddened cheek as the I’m sorry went to come out of his mouth but he stopped it then climbed the steps into the hotel. I followed as he went up another flight of steps. He stopped. The floor had only one door to it as if it was the only room on the floor. He placed the cases down and pulled out a key to unlock the door. He opened the door and looked down at me. “Go a head. There is a crib in the main bedroom.” I nodded and went in. I turned into a bedroom with a king sized bed and like he said a crib in the far corner. There was another adjoining room, the door opened. The bed looked well made but a size smaller then the one with the crib in it. I placed Alora in the crib and the diaper bag next to it. I bent over and changed her diaper as she sighed and stayed sleeping. I stood and straightened my shirt. “I will be right back.” I heard Edward and then the door opening then closing. I went into the sitting room and sat on the couch as I waited for him to come back. The clock said it was ten o clock at night.

I woke to feeling arms under my neck, under my bent knees and the smell of mixed whiskey, and musk. I stirred slightly as I heard a moan placing my hand on a warm, shirtless, smooth chest. The dim light seemed to go into darkness as I was carried into a darker room. Wait! The last thing I remembered was running from Seymour! I jerked up sending the person off balance and falling unto something soft. Had fallen on the bed myself wide eyes taking in everything around me. Oops. OK now that memory was back, Edward. His sudden approach, baby wailing, car skidding, way too many sorries, and one hotel later. That was where I was. Edward's smokey green eyes looked at me. He was leaning on his side on the bed that I was now sitting on. It was the smaller bed across from the main bedroom. His slight grin dark bags under his eyes, and the way he just laid there made me aware that he had been drinking. And not to mention the smell of whiskey. Yuppers, he will be sick later.

“Edward, didn’t we have this discussion before. Drinking…”

“Isn't good for me, I will get sick, not a good roll model, oh and definitely a big no no.” Even his words started to get slurred. He had had way too much again.

“Drinking the right amount is OK. But you splurge.” He only smiled. I sighed. “Look, go back to your room, don’t wake Alora up and go to bed.”

“What if I don’t want to sleep alone?”

“Ed….” He had gotten completely on the bed on all fours. His green clear eyes not leaving my face. I swallowed hard and backed into the head board. He crawled up to my straight legs, over them, placing his hands on either side of my head. His legs were parted as he was kneeling over me. He didn’t move as agile as I was use to watching him walk around the house. Sitting straight up. As if not just rich but also royalty. He wore only his black jeans. No shoes. No shirt witch now I realized my hand had just been laying across before I freaked out. His face was inches in front of mine as he stared at me.

“You should call me Ed more often.” His hand moved the small piece of hair away from my eye, as his features softened. “I did not mean to hurt you, Jaq.” His voice was low and husky. His eyes held hurt and sympathy. His body was shaking suddenly as he looked at me. “There has been nothing else going through my mind then the hurt in your eyes. The tears falling down your face. The way you had to close your eyes just to drown out the hurt so plainly in them. I was up for hours even days to think of how I could fix this.”

“There-There isn’t anything to fix.” His hand then rested on my thigh. Oh dear Lord! I exclaimed in my mind.

“I-” The sound of Alora screaming from the other room seemed to have gone through his head. He winced at the baby’s cry. The small rattling of the crib came next as she started to calm down.

“Should I-” Before I could move or retaliate not that I would want to his lips were pressed against mine. His hand came up and entwined in my hair. The slight taste of whiskey was on his lips but it changed. His lips tasted sweet and as his tongue traced the inside of my mouth making me gasp more. I had some how slid down the length of the bed as he was still over me. Our lips never leaving each others. He gave a low moan as I returned the gesture. His other hand trailed along the side of my body as he pushed his lips even more into mine. It changed. As if he wanted more. My arms wrapped around his neck as I did the same thing to his mouth. My tongue tracing the inside of his mouth. He moved slightly and I gasped. I could feel, not that it wasn't a pleasant “feel”, just how much this kiss was effecting him.

“I want to feel you.” He said against my lips. His breathing was ruff matching mine. I pulled away from him against the pillow. I looked up at smokey green hazy eyes. “Your skin. I want to feel the softness of your skin against mine.” OK, if he lost control last time he was damn close to it now!

“Edward…” I cleared my throat from the huskiness. I didn’t hear Alora anymore as I placed my hands on his smooth chest. “Your not going to feel that way in about five minutes.”

“I have always felt that way. Since the moment I saw your drenched little body getting muddied by those boys. I would never allow a stranger into my home. Then I saw you all dirty and cold. Lonely just as I had felt since my wife had died. Then, when you just took over Alora, knowing what was wrong, knowing just how to make her stop crying, my heart leaped. I tried to stay away. I tried to control my hand wanting to touch you. I tried to….” Then, his face turned green.

“Your goddess is waiting.” I said teasing as he jumped off the bed and headed into the bathroom that was connecting this smaller room. I shook my head. I got up went to his suit case and pulled out the pain killers, tooth brush and paste. I went into the bathroom my eyes still rolling. I took the glass and filled it with water as I have done over a month ago. I knelt next to him with a cold cloth and ran it over his forehead. His hand grasped my wrist, rather ruffly.