Thanks to antipyro and the Myzterious Mazter Mind for their mad skills!!! You make me think and love it.

It all belongs to SM

BPOV

"Edward, I really appreciate you doing this, you know you don't have to." I silently reached over across the console of Edward's Land Rover and placed my hand on his leg. Edward immediately covered my hand with his, smiling and giving it a slight squeeze.

"I know, but thank you for indulging me. Since the storm let up I find I've been feeling a bit selfish and I, well, I just couldn't stand the thought of me being away from you. For some reason I feel like you're going to disappear."

"Edward," I said softly, "I'm just going to meet Jake, I'm not going anywhere." I felt the onslaught of emotion flood my senses even thinking that Edward and I would never see each other again. Ever since meeting Edward, an entirely new world had opened up for me, one of so many more possibilities, and they all centered upon on this one man. The feelings came out in my voice, "You don't know how long I've waited for you. Even thinking about losing..." My voice faltered as I brought our linked hands up to my lips and placed a kiss at the top of Edward's hand and nuzzled my face into it.

"Yes Bella, I think I do and I promise everything is going to be fine. We're going to get this all figured out."

I took a deep breath and smiled. "You're absolutely right. I guess Jake just has me a little over the deep end right now. To be honest, I'm a little pissed that he actually felt the need to fly all the way out here. I know he may think it's being supportive, but I call it suffocating and un-trusting. As if he thinks I can't take care of myself. I mean really, it's just like him to always come to the rescue. With my father, that was one thing, but lately it's everything. I can't even take a vacation alone."

"I understand why you would feel that way, but look at it from his perspective. You said you called him, right before I found you right?"

"Yes, I did." I could see where this was going and it seemed like Edward was trying to be an understanding person, looking at a situation from every angle. That's probably why he was such a great architect.

"What's the last thing you said to him?"

I paused before answering. "I said, 'Jake, I'm sorry'."

"That's it?"

"Yeah, I mean if I said anything else, I don't remember."

"Well, if that were me on the other end of the phone and those were the last words I heard from you, I'd be out on the next available flight as well. Bella, you left him on the other end of the line probably thinking the worst, any guy would react to that."

I let go of his hand and crossed my arms, thinking.

Edward let out a laugh, "Oh, so I do get to see a bit of the stubborn side huh?"

"I suppose you do." He was right, and I knew it but that didn't mean I had to like it.

"You know you're beautiful when you're angry."

I turned my head toward Edward, cocking it to the side. "Now how can I stay angry when you say stuff like that?"

"It's my job now to keep you happy, and you are beautiful." He reached over and untangled my arms, taking my hand once again in his and resting it on his lap. "Bella, don't worry about Jake, it'll be fine." He kept the smile plastered on his face; he was such an optimist. I could take some lessons from him.

"Eventually I'm sure it will be, but you have no idea how Jake is. He's already going to be upset enough over you finding me in the snow. I'm going to get a big fat 'I told you so'. And you? I can promise you this; when he finds out I wasn't just a guest in your home, well, I'm sure he'll try to commit me. I'm sure he'd find some way to explain why my situation with you makes no sense and that it was another 'hair brained' idea on my part. Just wait Edward, you'll see."

EPOV

We arrived at Ted Stevens Anchorage Airport and made our way over to the C baggage claim area about 20 minutes before Jake's flight arrival.

The airport was not overly large and on any given day traffic would be fairly sparse, but on this particular day there was an overabundance of people here. I could only assume it was because the storm had subsided and like Jake, people were finally able to get in.

We sat in the uncomfortable chairs hand in hand, silently waiting. I could feel the tension and nervousness coming off Bella in waves. It was as if she was waiting for a confrontation by an angry parent and knew what the consequences of her actions would be. Except she was not a child and Jake was no angry parent.

"Bella", I squeezed her hand looking at her. "Would it be easier for you if I went and grabbed a cup of coffee? We can always tell Jake another day, in a different way perhaps?"

"No, of course not. I don't know why I'm feeling this way. I think it's because I know what he's going to say and I know I'm not going to like it. But I also know, no matter what I say to him it's going to hurt and he's going to be angry."

"But he's your friend Bella, won't he just be happy that you're safe?"

"Sure he will be, but you just...you have to understand Jake. Even before my father's death he's had this odd sense of responsibility when it comes to me. This need to protect me and take care of me. To be honest, I don't know how we've remained friends for as long as we have. We're complete opposites and his need to protect me, and my stubbornness do not go hand in hand. As a matter of fact I think we squabble and fight more than anything. But he's always been there."

"It's my fault really. I should have stood up for myself a long time ago, I never should have let it get this far. I am a grown woman after all and I've been on my own for quite some time now. I had a wonderful father; I don't need another."

There was a sense of renewed strength in the words Bella had just spoken. As if she had just given herself the pep talk she needed to face Jake, no matter what lay ahead.

"I sense you're feeling a bit better about things now?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am." Bella sat up a little straighter, with more resolve in her voice. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, but why exactly are you thanking me?"

"For listening, for being here. For just being…"

I unclasped our hands and placed my arm around Bella, snuggling her closer to me. She nuzzled her face into my shoulder and chest and I heard her breathe in deeply. Suddenly, I felt her tense and her head turned. Following her line of sight I saw a man walking our way very determinedly. Bella sat up straighter and slowly stood walking toward whom I could only assume was Jake.

He was at least 6'2 with russet skin, short black hair and dark angry eyes. His build was muscular and judging from a man's point of view, I briefly wondered why Bella wasn't physically attracted to him. He wasn't a bad looking man at all. Maybe it was the demanding overbearing personality she had described that turned her off.

I watched him wrap his arms around her in a hug, lifting her off the ground as he did so. He was sweeping the hair back from her face in a caring gesture when his head snapped up and he looked over in my direction. The happy look on his face was suddenly glaring daggers. Looking back at Bella, they spoke animatedly for a moment before he grabbed her hand and they started walking my way.

It was blatantly obvious to me that he was staking some sort of claim by being so familiar with Bella and he wanted me to know to keep my hands off. I stood as they got nearer. Bella looked at me with a panicked expression on her face. I stepped forward, holding out my hand to Jake and with a friendly smile on my face, I introduced myself.

"You must be Jake...I'm Edward Cullen. Bella has told me so much about you." Jake stared at my hand and then glanced back up at me before shaking my hand. I could feel him mentally sizing me up and I didn't like it one bit.

"So, you're the local Bella told me she met up here huh?" The disdain in his voice was evident, he was judging me before he even got a chance to know me. I tried to put myself in his shoes, think like he would if the situation were in reverse but I couldn't. I just didn't have that kind of attitude in me.

"I guess so, yes. That would be me. It's really nice to finally meet you." I kept my voice polite, cordial, not wanting to do any more damage for Bella's sake. Bella was right, Jake was not taking this well at all. I wondered how she was going to handle it.

"Jake," Bella spoke up with a forced smile on her face as she unravelled her hand from his and moved to my side wrapping her hand around my arm in a supporting gesture. "Edward is the one that saved me. He found me outside in the snow after he heard me calling you over his radio."

"What do you mean he heard you calling me?"

"Edward has one of those old fashioned radios that pick up stray frequencies sometimes. His luckily picked up mine when I called you." Bella looked up at me and smiled warmly. Gone was the forced smile from before.

"So, if he found you, where did he take you? I was under the impression some search party found you during the storm."

"There was no search party Jake, Edward took me home, to his house. I was unconscious and freezing to death, the storm was so bad no one could get through, no one expected it at ths time a year. I've only been back to my cabin to get my stuff and that was after the storm let up this morning."

"Excuse me? You mean to tell me that you've been shacking up with this guy for days?? He could be an axe murderer for all you know! Bella, what in the hell is wrong with you? You have more sense than this. My GOD! I'm glad I'm here now. Someone apparently has to be here to keep you in check with all the crazy ideas you seem to have running through your head. I knew coming to Alaska was a bad idea."

"Bad idea? Jake, coming to Alaska was the best decision I've ever made and meeting Edward was the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"You're out of your mind Bella, you must have cabin fever or something. Did you have a doctor check you out?" He was sneering, trying to show his dominance over her and I couldn't stand the way he was speaking to her. It was inexcusable and he had no right. She didn't belong to him. She belonged only to herself.

"Jake, I realize you don't know me-"

"You're damn right I don't know you, and in a week's time, there's no way Bella does either so I would appreciate it if you would butt out. This is none of your business", Jake interrupted.

"On the contrary, I believe it is-"

"Cullen, BACK OFF," Jake bellowed.

"Jake, please stop it! You're causing a scene. Could you please lower your voice?" Bella was whispering to him and we were beginning to attract attention.

"No, I won't. Where's your stuff Bella? We're getting the next flight out of here."

Raising her voice to an even tone Bella firmly stated, "You are, but I'm not. I still have 6 days left of my vacation and I intend to spend it here."

"You're actually going to stay, after everything that happened? You really are out of your mind."

"I'm not out of my mind at all," Bella, hissed, "as a matter a fact, my mind has never been clearer. I'm staying Jake."

"Fine, stay, but then I'm staying with you."

"No, you're not. I want you to leave Jake. I'm perfectly safe here with Edward. I don't need you here."

"You're actually going to do it aren't you? Your father would roll over in his grave if he knew what you were doing."

Bella tensed and shook herself loose from me. Before I knew what was happening she had taken a step forward and slapped Jake across the face. It was as if at that very moment everyone in the baggage claim area had decided to stop speaking at once. All you could hear was the sound of Bella's hand meeting Jake's cheek and echoing in the silence. Jake reached up and covered his reddened cheek, his eyes wide in disbelief. Breaking the deafening silence, the sound Bella spoke from her mouth was one I hoped I would never have emitted toward me. It was low, fierce and angry. "Jake, don't you ever, and I mean EVER say anything like that to me again. You have no place and you have no right. YOU are not my guardian, ONLY my friend, and you are over stepping. I have put up with a lot over the past few years because I knew how much I meant to you but it's not going to happen any more. I want you to leave NOW." Bella squeezed my hand and looked up at me, tears forming in her eyes. "Edward, I do believe we did what we came to do. Can we leave now please?"

"Absolutely", I answered back softly and without another word I wrapped my arm around her turning her into me and we walked out of the airport.

When we reached the car, I walked Bella to her side, opening the door and helping her in. I squatted down, making myself eye level with her. Tears were streaming down her face and I could tell she was trying to hold them in. I reached over pulling her to me and wrapping her in my arms. This was the downside of not knowing a lot about her yet. As much as she had told me in the last several days about Jake and her family, I was still unsure of the bond or overall relationship they shared. I was at a complete loss for words. All I could do was hold her, murmuring that it would be okay. It hurt me that she was hurting and all I wanted to do was take away the pain and make her feel better. She needed to be cherished and loved, not abused and made to feel like a failure. She deserved so much more than that. I knew she must have been feeling completely overwhelmed. The one person in the world that was supposed to care for her had virtually alienated her and made her feel like an irresponsible child. To make matters worse he brought her father into it which told me so much. Jake was more worried about getting Bella to do what he wanted than he was about her happiness. Granted, she and I meeting and the circumstances we ended up in were a little hard to swallow, but Bella was a responsible adult, capable of making her own decisions. Moreover, if Bella's over analyzing past and stubborn nature were any indicator, Jake should have been feeling better about our relationship, not worse.

I held Bella until her tears subsided. Reaching down she pulled a tissue out of her purse and dabbed her eyes and cheeks. The redness in her eyes and cheeks only made her look sweeter, more vulnerable. I brushed my hand over her cheek and kissed her forehead, wanting her to know I was there and supporting her. Bella gave me a small smile and let out a deep breath.

"I guess I should have been expecting that, well not the part about my father, but his reaction. I just can't believe that he would stoop so low as to actually say something like that to me." Bella licked her lips and shook her head, "That's a deal breaker Edward. Even in anger, something like that shouldn't be said and Jake knows it. He knows more than anyone how that would make me feel. I don't want to throw away years of friendship but I refuse to let him treat me this way. If I'm being honest, he's been treating me like a child that can't make her own decisions or be trusted for years. It's time that it stopped."

"Bella, I don't mean to play devil's advocate here but, no matter what you decide I'm behind you all the way but you don't have to throw away anything. Just let him know how you feel. Lay it all out there on the line for him and tell him the consequences of his actions if it continues to happen. If he really is your friend as he claims to be, then he'll do what needs to be done to retain your friendship. In addition, if he doesn't, well I would think he wasn't even worth it to begin with and maybe you're better off. Bella, you have a good head on your shoulders, you're smart, funny, loyal and a wonderful friend, not to mention beautiful. Besides all that, you're also a responsible adult, perfectly capable of making her own decisions. It's not like you're 18 and fresh out of high school still trying to make your way. Let him know that, he may be much more receptive than you think."

"Where did you come from and where have you been?" Bella's eyebrows knitted together in contemplation. "I have never met another man with as much compassion for another as you've shown just in the last five minutes. It amazes me that you know exactly what to say to calm me down when all I wanted to do was scream."

"I really didn't know what to say, I just...see you, that's all. I see what's deep down, and not just what's on the surface. You're not a flighty, irresponsible adult. Just in the last few days that I've known you I can tell all that. It's not hard to see. Maybe Jake is just looking for the wrong thing. Maybe he's so focused on other things that he doesn't pay attention to what's right in front of his eyes."

"I don't know, and at this point in time, I really don't care... So! I have a week left here and I don't want to spend it thinking about Jake and what an ass he is. It's time for a subject change. What's the plan for the rest of the day? Are we going back to the cabin?"

"Eventually yes, but I kind of had something else in mind. Do you mind taking a side trip first?"

"No, not at all, lead the way." Bella smiled, the tears finally dissipating from her eyes and the redness fading.

I slid into the driver seat and started the ignition. Pulling out of the parking garage I turned heading south. Bella and I had been cooped up for days and I wanted to show her the wonders of Alaska, which were also some of my favorite places. With the snow chains on my tires it would be easy enough to make our way to the destination I had in mind. I turned on the radio to a local pop station and we settled into an easy silence, holding hands as I drove. As Our hands rested on Bella's leg, I began to draw lazy circles over the fabric of her jeans with my thumb. She brought our joined hands up to her lips and kissed the top of mine.

I blew a short breath out of my nose and lifted the right side of my mouth in a grin.

"What? Did I do something wrong?" Bella asked.

"No, on the contrary you seem to do everything right."

"Oh, please don't say that. I'm far from perfect. As a matter a fact, I'm sure I'm due for a screw up." Bella gave me a grimace and raised her brows.

"I doubt that, and even if you did it would be okay. I know we aren't perfect and I certainly don't expect you to be. However, I do think you're perfect for me. That counts for something right?"

Softly Bella spoke, "Yeah, it does count for something. Thank you Edward."

"For what?"

"For just...being. That's all. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad I got lost in that snow, even if it meant risking it all and I 'm so grateful it was you that found me. I hope I'm not being too forward thinking when I say this, but, I think you were meant to be part of my life and I think you were meant to save more than just me, physically."

"Bella," This time it was I who brought our clasped hands to my lips for a lingering kiss. "You're not being too forward thinking at all. I feel the same way. I meant it when I said I was waiting for you."

Bella took a deep breath, closing her eyes. Unbuckling her seat belt she leaned over and placed her had on my cheek cupping my face, she placed a kiss along my jaw line, moving lower and leaving a trail of kisses down my neck, the warmth of her breath lingering there. Leaning back over she buckled back in. "Thank you Edward".

"Bella, you don't need to ever thank me for that. It's the way I feel." We settled back down for the rest of the drive, chatting and listening to music.

We reached our destination a little less than two hours later. I got out of the car and went around opening Bella's door. When she got out of the car and looked up, I could hear her sucking in a deep breath. The look on her face and awe in her tone was evident.

"Edward, it's so beautiful. What is this place?"

"This is one of my favorite places. I come here when I need to think, and reflect. It's called the Portage Glacier. It's quite something isn't it?"

Bella turned to me with a puzzled look on her face. "Edward, why is the ice blue? Is that normal?"

I smiled; Bella really was quite inquisitive, asking the perfect questions. "Actually, it's not really blue. Glaciers often appear that way because the ice absorbs all other colors except blue; which is reflected off the water. Did you know that almost ninety percent of an iceberg is below water? Only about ten percent shows above water."

"Really? So you're like the glacier expert now that you've become a native?" There was a distinct teasing tone in Bella's voice and it warmed my heart that I was able to help put it there.

Sticking my hands in my pockets, I rocked back on my heels and gave Bella a sideways grin. "As a matter a fact, I do consider myself somewhat of an expert although I wouldn't call myself a native exactly." Bella walked toward me and with her gloved hands, grabbed the lapels of my jacket, pulled herself up on her toes and gave me a soft, warm kiss.

"Edward, this really is quite beautiful."

"I wanted to share this with you for two reasons. First, I couldn't stand that you were so upset, even in the car on the way here, I could tell you were trying to force yourself into a better mood. I don't want you ever to do that. You can always feel free to express yourself with me no matter how you feel. I…I wanted to try to make you feel better though, and this place", I paused looking around me, "this place always brings wonder and gives me hope. I wanted that for you too. I don't know you well enough yet to know how to help you, but I want to learn. I don't know what to say but I want to be able to talk to you. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this was a good start."

"It was a perfect start and it did work. It made me forget, and it made me realize that there is so much out here that is bigger than us all."

I leaned down, resting my forehead on hers; her skin was cold where the hat didn't reach. I wanted to warm her, wrap her in my arms and never let go.

"You said there were two reasons, what's the other?"

Leaning back I gave Bella a wide smile. "I spoke to my father while you were in the shower this morning."

"Oh! You were able to get through to him, I'm so glad."

"Uh, yeah. I wanted to talk to him alone first before I spoke to you."

Bella looked puzzled, "I don't understand".

"I'm getting to that, don't worry. Like I said, I spoke with my father this morning- about moving back to Chicago." Bella's eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed without a single sound coming out. She was stunned, I was sure by the quickness of my decision. I could tell no matter what we spoke of before, that there had still been lingering doubts in her head, and I wanted them dispelled. This woman had bewitched me and stolen my heart. I had the means to do whatever I wanted, so what was the harm in taking the leap? My father was over the moon about my decision so my reasons for doing this were of no consequence to him.

Hesitantly Bella spoke, looking up at me through her eyelashes. "So, when exactly do you think you will be making this move?"

"I was hoping you would ask that, the sooner the better as far as I'm concerned. I'm keeping the house; this is where it all started, for me and for us. We need a place to come back to. So really all I need to do is tie up loose ends, pack my stuff and find a place in Chicago, preferably near you," I grinned. The thought of Bella being permanently near me made me swell inside. I had not felt like this since, well since ever.

Bella was motionless, silently staring at me; I dreaded her reaction. "Bella, please tell me you're okay with this. I didn't read into us wrong did I? Oh God, I did, didn't I? I just thought because of the talk we had and what we said-"

Bella shook out of her disbelief, "No! Oh my God, no, Edward," There were tears in her eyes as she spoke. "I was just a bit shocked for a moment, that's all. It still amazes me that a little over a week ago I was coming here to unwind, seek solitude and look for answers. What I found was you and it was so much more than what I was looking for. I keep waiting to wake up from this dream Edward, for someone to shake me and tell me to snap out of it. If this is all a dream..."

"Bella, this is real, I am real and we are real." I brushed my hand over her hair and pulled her to me leaning in for a searing kiss that left me wanting so much more. We pulled back, her breath lingering with mine still and I could taste her on my lips. I had never needed another woman more; it was a burning need. I raked my teeth over my bottom lip and closed my eyes breathing deeply, trying to get a hold of myself.

After a moment I spoke, "We have both been waiting, feeling like something was missing right?" Silently, Bella shook her head yes.

"Who's to say that we", I pointed to her and me, "are not what the other has been waiting for, and don't we deserve a shot to figure it out?"

The smile that covered Bella's face reached all the way into her eyes, "Yes, we do."

"Well then?" I questioned.

"Let's get packing; I can't wait to get you home."

Drop me a line it never hurts to let me know what you think.

MB