Here's chapter 2. Thanks to those who subscribed to this story. And thanks to ReLeeS for the review -- that was my first!

I was frozen with panic. "I – I – Edward, I – "

Edward watched me silently. His anxious expression became one of frustration as I stuttered and stalled. Finally, he sighed and pulled me into his arms. His sweet smell washed over me, calming me instantly. I pressed my face against his hard chest and inhaled deeply, closing my eyes. Edward's hand cradled the back of my head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, Bella," he said. "It just caught me by surprise. I know you're torn between letting Alice have her way and just eloping to Vegas. I'll do whatever you want to do, you know that."

Why did he have to be so good? I felt shame welling up inside me. I couldn't tell him about Jake's idea. What was I thinking?

I still hadn't answered Edward. I could tell he was trying to figure out what I was thinking. "Is this about your . . . er, demand?" he guessed. Demand, ha. I guess that's one way to describe sex.

I peeked up at his face. "Why? Would you reconsider your position?"

"About you having to marry me first? No way," he said smoothly. "It's the only way I'll get you to marry me."

His response didn't come as a surprise, but it made my stomach churn. Getting married, ugh. I shuddered. Maybe I did need more time to think about it. I cleared my throat. "About getting married, Edward," I began.

He stiffened. "Yes?" he said cautiously.

I took a deep breath. "I think I need more time. To get used to the idea."

There was a beat of silence as he considered this. "To get used to the idea of getting married? Or marrying me?"

"Um, both, I suppose." I watched his eyes darken with shock and hurt. "I love you, Edward. You know that. I just need to slow things down a little."

He scrutinized my face. "I thought you couldn't wait to get things moving so I would change you."

"I know. It's just that I realized today, when I was visiting Jake –"

"This is about Jacob?" he said sharply. I cringed. "You need more time because of Jacob?"

I looked down at my hands and swallowed hard. "I'm not ready to lose him, Edward. He's my best friend."

"If you did lose him, it would be his choice, not yours. Surely he knows that."

"I don't want to have to face that possibility yet. I love him, too."

Edward stared out the windshield. "You know, before yesterday I wouldn't have wondered about what kind of love you mean." I didn't say anything; I couldn't. I watched his face work as understanding dawned on him. He nodded to himself. "You need more time to choose between Jacob Black and me." It was a statement, not a question.

"Not exactly," I corrected. "I could never choose Jacob over you, Edward. I can't live without you. I don't want to. I just need more time to reconcile myself to the idea of living without Jacob."

This seemed to reassure him. He relaxed a little. "So . . . things just continue the way they have been? You spend time with him on the reservation and come home to me?"

This was where it got complicated. I cleared my throat again nervously. "I don't know if I can go back to being just friends with Jacob," I said quietly.

I flinched when Edward's head snapped toward me in disbelief. "What do you mean, Bella? Do you want to . . . be intimate with him?" He thought for a second. "Were you today?"

Now I felt like a heel. I couldn't look at him when I answered. "Yes. I wasn't planning on it . . . It just sort of happened . . . I kissed him." I couldn't quite add an apology. I knew I would kiss Jacob again the next time I saw him.

Edward's arms tightened around me. His hands were clenched into fists. He didn't speak for a long time. When he did, I could tell he was trying very hard to keep his voice level. "Let me get this straight. You want both of us. You desire both of us."

"It makes me sound cheap when you put it that way," I mumbled. "If we were all just regular teenagers we'd refer to it as dating. I want to date both of you."

"We aren't regular teenagers, Bella. You're breaking my heart."

I couldn't bear it. I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Never mind. You are the most important person in my life, Edward. I won't lose you to Jacob. Forget I said anything." I kissed his neck, his jaw, his cheek. I was afraid to kiss his mouth, afraid that he wouldn't let me. But to my surprise, he turned his face to meet my mouth with his and kissed me roughly. He poured his heartbreak into the kiss and my will crumbled. I would do anything, anything to keep Edward. I'd suffer heartache myself.

I was already thinking of what I would say to Jacob. I would have to call him. I couldn't tell him face to face; I was too weak for that. I would just say . . . I'd just tell him that . . .

Edward broke our kiss abruptly. "No, Bella. I love you. I want you to be happy."

"I am happy –"

"No," he interrupted me. "I am not going to force you to choose me. I am not going to force you to marry me. If you need more time, so be it."

"No, Edward, I don't want to hurt you –"

"Bella, I hurt you first. My choice to leave you led us here. You are involved with Jacob because of me." He paused, faltered. "I – I want you to choose me. No hesitation, no regret."

I didn't know what to say. I knew he was right, but hearing him say the words made me feel so guilty. No matter what, one of us would have to sacrifice something. Compromise, that's what it was. We would all have to compromise, for now. Jacob and Edward would have to share me, and I would have to live with the fear that one of them would lose their patience and leave me. "So, we can try the dating thing?" I asked shyly.

"We can try the dating thing," Edward agreed. "Maybe this will be good for me, make me try harder for you. I will try to win your heart completely, Bella."

I kissed him, relieved that for now, everything was all right. After a moment, he chuckled. "You're going to have to talk to Alice, though. She was a bit hysterical about the wedding plans."

I groaned. Edward laughed again. "Shall I drive? So you can figure out what you're going to tell her?"

"Do we have to do this now? I don't think I'm ready to face your family yet."

"You'd rather tell Charlie first?"

I thought about that for a moment. Billy probably called Charlie as soon as I left, which meant Charlie probably thought I'd broken up with Edward so I could date Jacob. If Edward and I came home together now, Charlie would be curious. And he'd probably say something rude to Edward.

"I have an idea," I said. "Why don't you go break the news to your family, and I'll go talk to Charlie. That way, we can get it all out in the open, and they can ask questions without feeling awkward because you're with me or I'm with you."

"I don't want to let you go so soon," Edward complained. "Why don't we go to your house together and I'll wait outside while you talk to Charlie, and then you can just call Alice and break the news over the phone, and she can pass it on to the others?"

"Okay." I scooted behind the steering wheel again, keeping hold of Edward's hand. He drew my seatbelt across me and buckled me in, then scooted closer to me and gave my hand a squeeze. A thought suddenly occurred to me. "Where's your car? Did you run all the way here?"

Edward shrugged. "Yes, I ran. I was nearby anyway. I like to stay close to La Push while you're there."

I turned and kissed him one more time before I started the engine. He kissed me back softly, then planted a kiss on the tip of my nose. "Let's get this over with," I grumbled. "Will you please try not to listen while I talk to Charlie?"

Edward's eyes grew wide. "Who, me?"