So, once again mad love for EdwardsFirstKiss, because she's my beta and she's awesome. Also, a massive thank you to all of your ladies out there on Facebook plugging this fic. I never thought I'd have so many of you interested in my little city about a tiny little country at least half a world away from a lot of you.

Anyway, enjoy!

I woke with a start as the covers were ripped from my bed. Sitting up too fast, I freaked out and fell off it. I had to rub the sleep from my eyes and the pain from my forehead as I sat up, about ready to kill someone.

"You had better have a good reason for this." I seethed, turning to see a smiling Emmett. "I will cut you, Emmett."

"Whoa, whoa. Settle down Baby B." Emmett threw my covers back onto the bed. "You needed to wake up, and fast."

I looked at him with a cocked eyebrow. "Enlighten me."

He threw himself down on the bed and sighed dramatically. "Remember that taxi I borrowed the time I picked you up at the airport?"

I nodded my head. It really wasn't something I was likely to forget, ever.

"Right, well I received a call today from the driver, kay?" I nodded, although he wasn't actually asking a question. "Well, they just picked up a dude with an American accent. He apparently has no idea where he is, or where he's heading, so I told the taxi driver to bring him here. I figured you might know him."

I hoped I was looking at Emmett like he was an idiot because he was acting like an idiot. "Do you have any idea how big America is?"

"Massive, but I figured a hopeless traveler from Washington, maybe you two are like kindred spirits or something."

I rose to my feet and smacked him upside the head. "Why the hell would I be kindred spirits with a random dude who hopped a plane and landed in New Zealand?" I grabbed my pillow and couldn't help myself. I just kept hitting him over and over again. "You were dropped on your head as a kid, I swear."

A knock on the door is the only thing that saved him from a feathery pillow, death.

"Why bother knocking, just come on in." I shouted, about ready to start hitting Emmett with the pillow again.

"Bells?" A very familiar voice called, and I spun around quickly to find the person that matched the voice.

There, in my little apartment stood my stepbrother. He hadn't changed a bit although he clearly hadn't dressed for the weather. It was in the middle of July, in New Zealand. Winter and he was dressed in a thin t-shirt and jeans.

"Seth, what're you doing here?" I asked crossing the room to hug him.

"You told me you wouldn't know him—,"

"Fuck up, Emmett." I cut him off, throwing the pillow at him.

"So violent." He moaned, rolling to his feet and joining us in the living area.

I couldn't believe Seth was standing in front of me. It had been seven months since I'd seen him. I'd had dinner with him and his wife a few weeks before I'd hopped my plane to LA and started living my life.

"Charlie misses you, but he's too proud to admit it." He smiled, opening his arms to me. I stepped into them quickly, actually happy to see my family. Emmett may be like a new brother to me, but I'd known Seth since he was a baby.

"He misses me, but he can't come to see me himself?" Seth shook his head sadly.

"It's not like that Bells. He wants to, but he's scared you'll send him packing. I got sick of his whining and I booked a ticket."

"How did you find me?" I watched Seth's eyes light up with a story, so I told him to sit on the sofa. I joined him, sitting down on the arm—Esme would scold me if she'd been here. Emmett sat himself down too, wanting to hear the story.

I laughed at how similar his story was to mine. The serendipitous cab ride that landed him at the inn and Emmett's chat with the cab driver.

"This just doesn't happen." I said in awe, shaking my head.

"But it does Baby B." Emmett said insistently. "Embrace it. It's something my family lives by, we've told you this before. If it's meant to be, it will be. That's why we knew you were meant to be with us. It's just how these things roll. Your brother was supposed to see you again and here he is. "

"Seth." I told Emmett. "My brother's name is Seth. Hariru." I told him, interested to see how Seth would respond.

Emmett turned to me with a smile before rising to his feet. He gave Seth a hand, pulling him up, so they were both standing, and then continuing to hold Seth's hand, Emmett went in for the hongi.

"The fuck, Bro!" Seth said loudly, pushing Emmett away. Emmett acted really offended, though in reality, he was having a bit of fun. Emmett really was just greeting Seth properly. "I'm not gay! Just because you were palling around with my sister does not mean you can have fun with me too. I'm married dude, I have a wife."

"No homo." I told Seth with a straight face. "Emmett has a wife, he was greeting you properly. Hariru, that's what that means."

Seth looked at me disgusted. "He wasn't going to kiss you. He was going to press his nose against yours."

"Well Hardy-do to you too. I will stay in my bubble. My personal space bubble right over here, thank you." I laughed. I couldn't help it. My God he'd spent too much time with Charlie if he was that worried, and even to my ears his pronunciation was terrible.

"Well now that you're here, Seth, what're your plans? Are you going to be here for long?" I watched as Seth sat back down on the sofa, his features straightening out as he became very serious.

"I'm here to warn you."

"Well that sounds ominous." Emmett cut in as he sat down.

I cut him a glare, and he pretended to zip his mouth.

"Charlie still wants you to come back home, and he plans on sending Renee after you to make it happen." My mouth hit the floor. I mean I had to bend over and pick it up and reattach it to my face I was that floored.

Shaking my head, and blinking away his words, I tried to sort them out in my head. He hadn't said too many so there wasn't a lot of meaning I could really take from them, other than the intended one. My mother was going to fly to New Zealand in the not too distant future because my father wants me home?

"I thought he was coming around?" I asked after a few minutes of silence. Seth's dark eyes met mine, and behind his long lashes I could see he was hiding something.

Shaking his head, I watched as Seth started ringing his fingers in his lap.

"He lied." No shit, "He wanted you to believe he was okay with it, so that you would come home. He figured you were just acting out and needed some space. He thought you would have come home by now."

I could feel Emmett's eyes on me as I absorbed what Seth was saying. Charlie had been lying to me the whole time. He was trying to manipulate me into coming home. He didn't care that I was happy and settled here. He just wanted me home. He wanted to control my life again.

"I'm not going back Seth." I told him, looking him straight in the eye. "There's nothing for me there anymore. I'm happy here. I have family here too."

"They're not your family, Bella. I'm your family, Charlie is your family."

I shook my head, and rose to my feet in anger. "No. If he can't—if you can't accept my life here, then you can't be family. Families care for one another, they support one another. They don't fly across the world, just to try to drag another family member home by their hair. Trust me, that's what you'd be doing. I won't willingly return to the States."

"What if you had no choice?" Seth asked quietly. "What if Charlie gave you no choice and tried to force your return?"

"My permanent residency is being fast tracked." Slight lie. It was in the final stages of approval, okay, I'd filled out the form. I'd need to live here for a few years first, but my visa was still valid. "I'd like to see him try."

"Why don't you want to come home, Bells?"

I sighed, "There's nothing there for me anymore Seth. I mean there are Charlie, Sue and you. But that's it. I didn't see a future there. I didn't see it with Jake; I didn't have it with my job. I was over it."

"Why New Zealand?"

I smiled this time. "Have you ever Googled New Zealand?" Seth shook his head. "The first thing I saw was 100% Pure New Zealand; it was a website full of pictures and facts about New Zealand. It showed the people, the land, and the culture. It was beautiful, and the more I looked into the country, the more I wanted to know and see it. I fell in love with this place before I'd even hopped on a plane to LA. I knew that New Zealand was where I needed to be."

"How does a website tell you where you need to be?" I shook my head, knowing I'd have trouble explaining this to him. Even now, I still had a hard time putting it in words.

"Because it showed me everything that living with Jake wasn't." Half-truth, because it showed me so much more. It showed me the life I wanted and couldn't have trapped as I was. "If you jumped on a plane and thought you could talk me 'round, and take me home, I suggest you catch the next flight out because I won't be going with you. I also suggest you tell Charlie to stop fighting me on this. If he pushes too far, I won't ever come back. That's a promise—Renee or not."

Not surprisingly, Seth didn't say anything else. He grabbed the duffle bag he'd bought with him and slung it back over his shoulder before crossing the distance between us. He knelt down and kissed the crown of my head.

"I've done what he asked me to do now, B." he smiled. A full toothy grin, but I could see it wasn't as heartfelt as he was trying to make me think he was being. "I said what he asked me to say. I've seen you, you're well and you're happy. That's enough for me."

Seth hugged me to him, and as he let me go, he looked at Emmett. "Look after her okay? This isn't over with her Dad; he can be a controlling dick when he's worried, and so you need to be there for her."

A voice from the door caught my attention. "We've always been there for her."

Edward crossed the room, wrapping his arm protectively around me. I didn't realize how much I needed his strength until he was here for me to lean on.

"Edward, this is my stepbrother, Seth." I offered in introduction. Edward held his hand out for Seth. "Seth, this is my partner Edward."

Seth's eyes narrowed quickly at the term 'partner', but I didn't care. Edward and I were solid.

"You're marrying him for citizenship." I scoffed in response to that statement. "A marriage does not get you citizenship in New Zealand. It can't even guarantee residency—it certainly can help, but it's no guarantee." I said as I'd been working toward my residency since I'd found the Cullen's.

That was another conversation I wouldn't be having with my father.

"Why're you really here, Seth? Clearly your intentions aren't limited to being Charlie's errand boy. What do you want?"

"I just want you to come home. Nothing's the same with your being gone. No one is the same. Everyone is sad and no one even brings your name up around Charlie anymore. They don't even ask how you're doing."

I wanted to feel sympathy, but I couldn't. Maybe if someone had asked me how I was doing a year ago, when I needed them to, I may have ended up somewhere else. I couldn't feel sympathy for him though. I just couldn't. He had only needed to have been willing to see beyond the surface when I needed someone to see me and he couldn't or wouldn't. He was so scared to rock the boat; I decided to jump out before it went down.

"I'm not going back Seth. Charlie can try to bring me back with whatever means he thinks he can, but unless I see someone from the New Zealand Federal Police, or immigration at my door, I'm not going anywhere.

"I won't let it come to that."

Emmett stood to his full height with Edward and me. "Oh, really? But you'll jump on a plane, fly for the better part of a day and be a good little messenger for her Dad? You know, I think you've over stayed your welcome. I'll escort you out."

Emmett didn't leave room for Seth to argue, and I didn't stop him either. I was too confused and pissed off at the situation to know what to say. My stepbrother had just flown for the better part of the day so he could beg me to go home, all at the insistence of my father who's been lying to me for months.

Jesus, when did my life become such a soap opera?

"So how's your day been?" Edward pulled me into a hug, ducking down to softly kiss my lips.

He's always been tactile, and affectionate, but as a couple, it's even more obvious to me. All the little things he did, the time he spent with me. Always stopping round when he had time. I wasn't exactly on the way, or in the area of Greenlane Hospital, but I'd seen him almost every day since we'd met.

"Its only really just started." Edward looked down at his watch and then back up at my face with a smirk.

"You do realise it's lunch time?" Edward asked.

"You do realize someone was texting me at all hours of the night." Edward just smiled at me. Yeah, he knows he's the reason I was up until a ridiculous hour.

"S'not my fault you don't sleep with your phone on silent." I just rolled my eyes at him.

It actually was his fault. There were four different conversations in which he told me I was to leave my phone on loud. The one time I didn't respond to his text message, he was dropping in at two am to check on me. To say he was clingy was an understatement.

I think this is how he was dealing with the immediacy of Uncle Paora's passing. He'd texted Uncle Paora two days before he'd received the phone call about his passing. At the time, he hadn't considered what the delay in messaging would have been. Uncle, according to Edward, had always been quick on the ball to respond. When he hadn't, Edward, like any person juggling a job, family commitments and a social life didn't think too much of it.

Realistically, there's nothing Edward could have done. Uncle Paora had already been checked into the hospital by that point. Aunty Ripeka hadn't thought to let Edward know when he'd finally been admitted into a hospice, she was too busy worrying about Emily.

"Are you okay though?" Edward asked seriously, cradling my face in his hand.

I shrugged my shoulders, reaching for his hand and pulling him with me to sit on the sofa. He followed silently, sitting down first, and pulling me down onto his lap. I snuggled into his chest before pulling his arms around me and settling into him.

I could smell his cologne and feel his warmth. This was home to me. This was my happy place. Anywhere with Edward was my happy place.

"I caught bits and pieces of what was said, Baby." Edward broke the silence. "It's only natural that a father would want his only daughter close by. I'd want my daughter home if she up and took off across the world. He's just being a dad."

I stared down at my hands, watching the way they fit so completely inside Edward's. "He's got a warped way of going about it, Edward."

"I love how this is home for you, I do. I love that you see us as your family, because trust me, you're my whanau too." He paused, seeming to think about what he was trying to say. "He's your Dad, Bella. The only one you're ever going to have and you're his flesh and blood. He may have a fucked up way of trying to let you know that he loves and misses you, but maybe you should try to see past his actions, to his intentions. I can't blame him for wanting you home. The idea, of not being able to see you for extended periods of time fills me with dread, but if it made you happy, I'd do it. I'd let you go—"

"I'm not going anywhere." I cut Edward off, looking up from our joined hands to meet his eyes. "I'm not. My home is with you, Edward."

Edward kissed my lips chastely. "I know baby, but this isn't your only home. Your Dad is home for you too. So is your Mum. You can have more than one home."

"Are you trying to convince me, or yourself? Because even though you're saying the words Edward, it sounds as if you don't want to mean them."

Edward sighed, ducking down until our foreheads were touching. He needed a haircut. His fringe was making me itch.

"In my heart, I know it's the right thing to tell you, but at the same time I can't stand the thought of you leaving me." I closed my eyes, just enjoying his warmth. "More than anything else Bella, I want you, but I want you to be happy. If being with your family, your Dad means you'll be happy I—I don't know what I'm saying anymore Bella."

"It's not that I didn't plan on ever going back. It's nothing like that. It's the idea of how he's trying to go about it; sending Seth here, or Seth coming here on his own—whatever the actual truth is. My mother is something else entirely; she's like a needy child. She doesn't know how to think about anyone other than herself."

"She's your mum Bella, she managed to raise you." I bit back a laugh.

"She didn't raise me. Even when I was a baby, Charlie was pulling double duty being Mommy and Daddy, and trying to build his career. Renee was off trying to chase her own dreams. When it was just the two of us, I was the mom. I wasn't nurtured and raised like you three were. I had to grow up fast, otherwise we'd have lost our house, or the power would have been cut off. Worse than all of that though, is that I can't say 'no' to her; I grew so used to letting her have her way; the idea of saying no just doesn't exist in my world."

Edward's lips brushed the crown of my forehead.

"If she asked you to go home—back to the States, are you saying—would you say yes?" There was a hint of vulnerability in his voice that he was trying to hide.

Because I knew what he wasn't saying. Would I let my Mom take me away from him—from the Cullen's? I wanted to say 'No', and mean it. I wanted to be able to tell him that no one could take me away from him, but I wasn't sure.

"I want to tell you 'No'. I do."

"But you don't want to lie to me." Edward sighed, before tightening his grip around me.

"I won't leave you, Edward. I don't want to leave you."

There was so much unspoken between us; the most obvious being that my words would mean absolutely nothing unless I followed through with them. I hadn't been able to tell Renee 'no' a day in my life, I prayed that the past seven months had changed me enough that I'd finally be able to stand up for myself.

One could only hope.

Days, then weeks passed without a word from Seth or Charlie. There was no word from Renee, and absolutely no word as to whether or not Seth had told Charlie I had Edward and the Cullen's and that I was happy.

There was nothing but radio silence. That was the hardest thing of all. I knew everything was too good. I was so happy; everything was finally working out for me. I hadn't managed to find a permanent job yet, but I was substituting at Point Chev. Primary on and off, and I was tutoring for NCEA levels 1, 2 & 3 for the local high schools.

For once, it was nice having people appreciate my work. I may have had a secure job when I was living in Seattle, but they didn't appreciate my work. They expected it. They had turned something I loved into a chore.

"Yo?" I was pulled from my musings, as Rose walked in through the front door.

"Hey Rose." I smiled, waving from my seat at the kitchen table. I'd been sitting here so long my cup of tea had long since gone cold.

"I text you to see if you wanted to have dinner tonight, but you didn't respond. Thought I'd ask you in person." Rose said as she sat down next to me. "Where's your phone?"

I pointed over to the counter where my phone had been charging for the better part of a month, in expectation of a phone call or message from my father. I was anxiously waiting for something to come through, but every time my phone lit up with a message, I refused to look at it in case it was my dad.

I had to work myself up to it, and the hour and a half between Rose's text message and her arrival was not enough time.

"Oh, you still haven't heard anything?" I shook my head. "What's the worst that can happen?"

I sighed, resting my chin on my palm as I settled my elbows on the table.

"What're you worried about the most, B?"

"Renee."

"She's your mum, right?" I nodded my head as Rose sat down next to me. She slid my phone across the table in front of me. "What's there to be worried about?"

I could see the genuine curiosity and concern on her face. She was worried for Edward. He was like her brother and unlike Jasper, she chose to love Edward. At least that's how Emmett tells it.

"I didn't grow up like you guys did, Rose. My childhood wasn't a real childhood by any stretch of the imagination. I raised Renee, not the other way around. I watched her heart get broken, I paid the bills, and I did the grocery shopping. I had to be the adult, and she was the child."

Rose just looked at me. I could see on her face that she was trying to piece something together, but she looked like she was struggling.

"You don't agree?"

"It's not about whether I agree or not with the way you grew up—I mean, who am I to say anything about the way you were raised? What I don't understand, is why your mother's inability to mother you as a child has made you worry about what she'd say now. If it was me, I'd have written her off a long time ago."

"Even if she was your Mom?"

"Because she's my mum." Rose said, as I sat up straight. "Look, I say this because I love you, and I think you're good for Edward. But if she's been so…absent—for lack of a better word, why do you still let her have the power over you that you're suggesting she has?"

I just looked at Rose. The way she'd phrased things, it made me look back on things with new eyes.

"Look, don't take this the wrong way—set me straight if you want." Rose said seriously. "I think you need to look back on your life, Bella. Think about what's made you happy, and where and with whom you have been the happiest. No one will be able to take that from you. Not even your mum."

I simply looked at Rose—no one had ever put things quite in perspective like she had. When had I been the happiest? I don't really think I've ever been happier than I have been with Edward and the Cullen's.

I loved and missed Charlie. Even when I was living with Renee, Charlie had always been old faithful. I always enjoyed spending my summers with him. We had quiet time on the water when we went fishing. I hated fishing, but I loved baiting the hook and the silence of the boat. He didn't hover and he let me read while he fished.

That was always the type of relationship we'd had growing up. It worked for us. Sure, he was taciturn, and not always in touch with his feelings, but I knew he loved me. It was the little things he did that made me feel his love.

He skinned and filleted the fish at Billy's rather than at home. He always bought me a new coat in November. He would always have a stash of chocolate for me. I'd mentioned liking Cocoa Puffs once on a visit and every summer after that he had Cocoa Puffs in the cupboard.

Charlie didn't forget he had bills; he'd managed to set up automatic payments all on his own. He wasted a lot of water, putting in a load of washing every day, and though the house wasn't spotless, it was clean and tidy. He was over protective though, in an almost debilitating way when I moved in with him in my junior year.

Renee was the antithesis of Charlie. She forgot to pay the bills. I had to remind her to put gas in her car, and I had to start doing the laundry when I was in elementary school because she kept forgetting, and sent me to school in clothes that were the least dirty. I learned very quickly how to be a clean child. Where Charlie was strict, Renee was too lenient. I didn't have order at all, except for school.

Moving here and being surrounded by the Cullen's was the most unique experience of my life. They took me in with open arms; they gave me a roof over my head, and helped me find a job. Every one of them stopped by to see me; they were always hugging me and calling me nicknames. They were almost always feeding me, and on top of all of that, they never once asked for anything in return.

"I think I know what to do now." I told Rose honestly. There was hesitation evident in her blue eyes as she stared back at me.

"You wouldn't only be leaving Edward behind, Bella. You'd be leaving us all."

"What makes you think I'm leaving?" Before Rose could answer, I thought I heard the front door. I turned around to look, I even shouted 'come in', but maybe I'd been hearing things.

Rose shrugged her shoulders, so it was highly possible.

"You didn't turn out too badly, Bella and even though your Dad seems to have a poor taste in partners for you, he's your dad. You've talked about how much of a mess your mum is, but not your dad."

I grabbed Rose's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Yeah, next to Renee, Charlie is pretty awesome, but you guys—for the first time in my life I feel like I'm a part of a real family unit. I don't think you understand quite how much that means to me."

"What if your mum turns up all of a sudden and asks you to go home?" Thinking back on what Rosalie had said about where I found my happiness, the answer was simple.

"I've never been happier, in my life, than the way I've felt with you all. That's a fact."

"Then why do you still need convincing?" I shook my head vehemently.

"I never needed convincing, I don't think. I just needed reminding. Renee has always had power over me whether she realized it or not. Her hold on me made me miserable." I answered with a new sense of clarity.

"Then my work here is done and I expect to see you 'round ours for dinner tonight. Tell Edward too when he stops by." I nodded, as Rose kissed my cheek before leaving.

I sat at the table thinking about everything I had gone through with Renee growing up. My failed childhood, cab rides to the airport to spend summers with Charlie because she was either still in bed, or too preoccupied to drive me. I had to make sure there was always ice cream in the freezer for when someone else broke her heart.

I looked down at my phone to check the time. Rose really hadn't been here all that long, so I figured Edward should arrive soon so we could have lunch together.

My phone registered that it was after one. I figured maybe he had gotten caught up at work, so instead of making myself something to eat, I boiled the jug and made myself a cup of tea instead.

When I finished drinking my tea, and Edward still hadn't arrived, I worried that something had happened to him. Normally he'd tell me if he was running late, or he'd text me just casually throughout the day. Maybe he was in surgery?

I spent so much time waiting for Edward to turn up, my ass went numb and I had pins and needles in my feet. I figured lying down on the couch would be the better choice, so I shuffled over to the couch and lay down.

Compared to the chair at the table, lying across the sofa was incredibly comfy. Within a few minutes, I found myself drifting off to sleep.

Banging on my apartment door startled me awake. I wasn't sure how long I'd been sleeping, but the sun was definitely beginning to set outside my window.

When the banging didn't start up again immediately, I thought briefly that I'd dreamed it until it started again. "Bella!" the banger cried, "Bella!"

Given my door was very rarely locked these days; I was most certainly surprised to have someone trying to knock it down.

Worried for the safety of my door, I quickly stood up. If Charlie was here, he'd think I was an idiot, but I knew that voice. At least, I was fairly certain I did.

I opened the door quickly, Edward unfortunately was mid knock, and he ended up knocking on my forehead.

"Bella!" he said shocked and surprised. "You're still here." He was clearly drunk, and was lacking the determination between inside voice and outside voice, but the thing that registered the most for me, was how shocked he was that I was still here.

"Of course I'm still here. Where would I go?" I asked honestly as I quickly tried my best to help navigate Edward inside the room.

His steps were heavy and awkward, but so was his weight. With my arm around his waist, I tried my best to guide him. I wanted to walk him toward the couch, but his inability to walk at all had me thinking that leading him to the sofa would be a terrible idea.

There were too many things for him to run into or trip over. It was a bit more of a walk, but I held onto him and carry-walked him into my room. It didn't take much for me to push him onto the bed.

He was stinking drunk. It was practically leaking from his pours. Now I knew Edward, he mostly drank beer. I'd seen him drink through a box of fifteen of Lion Red, the Cullen beer of choice by himself, and he was still functional. I shuddered to think of how much he'd have to have had to drink to be in such a state.

"You lied—you're leaving." Edward sobbed, just as I tried to guide him onto my bed. "You said—Rose."

I had no idea what he was talking about. I wasn't leaving. Rose had helped me see the mistake in my wanting to leave if Renee showed up. I was happy here, happier than I'd ever been.

"Baby, I'm staying. I'm not going anywhere." I told him as earnestly as I could manage.

Looking into his eyes, I could see the drunken haze dulling their brightness. They were also red too, bloodshot. I couldn't tell if it was due to the excessive consumption of alcohol, or if he'd been crying. Realistically, it could easily have been both. He was in a terrible state, and he was already clearly emotional.

"You said." He all but sobbed, clinging to my shirt.

"When, Edward? When did I say?"

"With Rose." He said, again bringing Rose into this. I only recalled having one conversation with Rosalie, and all she'd done was to help me realize the place I wanted and needed to be was here, with Edward.

"I didn't tell Rose I was leaving Edward; she made me realize that I couldn't leave."

"'bout 'nee?" I realized I was having a conversation with a heavily intoxicated person, but there was a desperation in his voice that made me think he really needed to hear this.

"She can come and try to take me home, but I'm not going." I tried to fill my voice with as much conviction as possible, so Edward would understand.

I couldn't leave. New Zealand was beginning to feel as every part of me as the United States.

"Rose…?" Edward trailed off confused. I couldn't be sure if it was the alcohol that had him cloudy, or genuine confusion.

"Its okay, Baby. I'm staying." I offered, trying to shush him. He needed to sleep; I could see it in his face.

For whatever reason, he was under the impression that I was leaving and it made him drink until he was blind drunk. Definitely something he would need to work on, but that was clearly a conversation to be had when he was sober.

He was far more lucid than Jacob ever was when he was this intoxicated though. Less grabby too.

"Hush now. Sleep, okay? I'll be here when you wake up." I said, as I started running my fingers through Edward's hair. It was still it's usual softness, but slightly oily too. He'd either been sweating a lot in his sleep, or maybe he hadn't washed it at all today.

Under the musk of Lion Red, it really was hard to tell.

"Love you Babe." I heard Edward mumble as his eyes drifted closed and his breathing levelled out.

There was so much that he and I clearly needed to talk to about in the morning, but for now, I chose to let him sleep. No good would come out of a conversation at this point.

When Edward started snoring, I knew he'd drifted off into a drunken slumber. I couldn't help shaking my head at him. What could turn my beautiful, strong man, into a person who got scared and turned to alcohol?

I met his family, and they never hinted that any of them were dependent on the drink, ever. Sure, they imbibed when they partied, but never to excess. They got happy, and that was that. They chased everything with water, and they most certainly had livers of steel because they could certainly pack it away.

This was different though. From the brief snippets of sense I managed to drag from Edward, this was the result of fear. He was so scared I was leaving; he needed to find something to numb the pain. If that was going to be his coping mechanism when things got tough, I couldn't help but worry about our future.

I wanted a life with Edward, including children. I wanted everything, but if he turned to the bottle when things got tough, I needed to get out before my heart became too entangled. Realistically, I don't think I could handle losing Edward of my own fruition, but the idea of losing him down the track to a mistress of hops and barley in theory sounded a lot more painful.

I quickly placed a kiss on the crown of Edward's head, before getting up and wrestling off his shoes. He was a dead weight, and a lot more pliable than any grown man should ever be.

Getting his belt off was a lot more difficult. As usual Edward was wearing slacks, but with the way he'd situated himself on his side—almost in a recovery position, made trying to get him unbuckled worthy of the mission impossible theme song. It took me a few attempts, but eventually I was able to get his belt off.

I wanted to take off his pants and button down, but it was just too hard so I left them on. I hoped he didn't get the same suffocating feeling that I got when I slept in loose pants.

I left Edward on my bed, but he didn't have a blanket, so I grabbed the one off the back of the sofa and draped it over him. I was still a bit surprised by the events of this evening. I didn't ever think I'd ever have to deal with this level of inebriation in my life.

It was eye opening what fear could do to a person. At least, I hope this was just fear and not a common thing. I'd known Edward now for several months, and I'd only ever seen him as a happy drunk.

In the living room, I picked up my phone. I noticed several text messages from Rose and I remembered we were supposed to have gone to dinner at Rose's.

I quickly typed out my apology, but I wasn't surprised to find my phone ringing a moment later. I was surprised however to see it was Esme.

"Hey Esme." I answered softly, hoping Edward wouldn't wake. Realistically it wasn't going to happen, but I still didn't want to chance it.

"We missed you tonight, Bella. We were worried that maybe you'd been contacted by your parents." I shook my head no, but she couldn't see me.

"No, no. Nothing from them. Uh—," I paused not sure how to respond. "Well, I had all intentions of coming, but I fell asleep and then Edward turned up knocking on my door."

"Call me useless, but I fail to see why that would stop you from coming, unless—doesn't matter."

"Don't be stupid, you're not useless—and uh, no." I said quickly, settling down into the sofa. How do you tell your partner's mother, their son turned up blind drunk? Let's go with the Band-Aid approach. "Edward turned up on my doorstep, banging it down."

"I thought he had a key?"

"He does, but that's not the issue." I quickly clarified. "Esme he came to my door completely off his face drunk!"

There was dead silence in response and I worried the line had dropped out. I quickly looked at my phone, and saw that it was still showing an active call. "Esme?"

"Sorry. Sorry." She offered quickly. "I. I'm just—I actually don't know what to say."

The phone line hung between the two of us, because really, I had no idea what to say in this situation either.

"Did he say why?" Esme broke the silence.

I thought back on the broken conversation. "He didn't say a lot, but he kept saying something about me leaving and Rosalie. I—I don't know. He seemed really worked up like he thought I was giving up on us and moving home. I mean, I'm not. I'm staying. Renee can turn up with a letter from the President himself and I don't think it would make me leave."

"When was the last time that you spoke to Edward about leaving?"

"I don't know—it's not like I'm keeping score, but probably the other night. It doesn't come up often; I think he's trying to avoid the conversation."

"That wouldn't surprise me. That boy really dislikes confrontation."

I groaned. How would that cause conflict?

"If he'd have just come and asked me..." I sighed, hearing Esme's agreement through the phone. "Are you with Rose at the moment?"

"Yeah, we're all here for dinner."

I figured as much. "Can you apologize for us; say whatever you think is necessary. I'm going to watch Edward, and make sure he doesn't throw up in his sleep or worse."

"He's lucky to have you, Bella. "Esme said kindly.

"I'll remind him how lucky he is in the morning. Have a good night." Esme said her goodbyes, and I quickly ended the call.

I was still at a loss for words to describe quite how I was feeling. I'd never seen a person I loved get so drunk before, and to think that it could be in relation to something I had done or said. It was like a knife to the heart.

I seriously thought Edward and I were solid, unshakeable, even. But this. This was something I never saw coming.

I walked toward my bedroom, and I could hear Edward's snores. Quietly, I pushed the door opened, surprised there was some resistance. Peeking my head around, I could see Edward's belt was caught beneath the door. It was a short fight, and a hard won battle to pry it free, but eventually, I got it out and away from the door.

I leaned against the door jamb and watched Edward sleep. Even in his slumber, he looked like he couldn't relax. His brows were furrowed, and he kept tossing and turning. When I over imbibed, I'm pretty sure I slept like the dead.

Even smelling like a brewery, I found myself unable to turn away and sleep on the sofa. I climbed up on the bed, next to Edward. I couldn't peel back the covers, so I snuggled up close to him. I could smell hints of Edward under the alcohol, and unbelievably, that was enough for me to settle in.

"I love you, my stupid, stupid man." I whispered as I closed my eyes and allowed sleep to overtake me.

A heaviness pressing against my bladder woke me the next morning. I was uncomfortably hot, and the urge to go to the bathroom was getting increasingly worse. Opening my eyes, I had to blink a few times. In the confusion of everything going on last night, I'd completely forgotten to close the blinds.

Edward had rolled over at some point in his sleep and thrown his leg over my hip and it was pressing down into my bladder. I tried moving him gently, but all that did was make him snuggle all the more tighter.

"Edward!" He startled, lifting his leg off of me finally, but also rolling off the bed in the process. I didn't even have time to laugh as I shot to the bathroom to relieve myself.

When I walked back into my room, a lot lighter, Edward was still on the floor. His arm was thrown over his head and he was groaning.

"How're you feeling?"

"Not so good." He groaned.

"I'm not surprised." I offered as I sat down, cross legged, on the bed. "It looks like you had yourself a right old time last night."

"I'm so sorry, Baby, for anything stupid I may have said last night."

I couldn't help myself as I leaned forward and started running my fingers through the length of his hair.

"Do you remember anything?" He shook his head. "You were so miserable, Edward—"

"I'm so, so sorry." He cut me off before I could continue. He sat up, rolling onto his knees grabbing a hold of both of my hands. He was leaning forward, holding our hands, so they rested in my lap. "I really am sorry. If I said and did anything stupid, Baby. I—I don't really remember what happened, but I am so sorry."

"Stop apologizing. I don't want you keep saying you're sorry, when you don't even know why you're apologizing." Edward nodded his head. I could see in his eyes he was definitely tired, but the drunken haze had lifted, and he was most definitely more lucid; although he probably could have used more sleep. "I just want to know why you drank so much—I, I've never seen someone so intoxicated in my life."

Edward paled, and I worried he was going to throw up. "I didn't do anything to you, Bella, did I? Don't spare my feelings. I—" He let go of my hands and shuffled back across the floor tugging at his hair.

Under his breath, I was pretty sure I could hear him cursing himself out, but I wasn't certain. It definitely sounded like it though.

"Stop berating yourself Edward, you didn't do anything to me other than wake me up." He looked up at me like he didn't believe me. "If you had, the last thing I would have done was put you to bed. You didn't hurt me. You just confused me. You—," I paused. "You seem to think I'm leaving Edward."

He nodded his head, like he agreed with that assessment. "I'm not leaving Edward."

"But I heard Rose and you yesterday. She said something about you leaving me—us." I slapped my forehead. I knew I'd heard the door yesterday.

I slid down off the bed and knee crawled my way to Edward. I grabbed both of his hands in mine, but I didn't stop moving toward him until our foreheads were touching.

"You silly, misinformed, man." I cooed. "If you'd stuck around another minute, you'd have heard me tell her I wasn't leaving. She pointed out to me something I have been overlooking the whole time—my happiness. She told me to think about where I'd been the happiest in my life, and that's been here with you and your family. I told you, I'm not leaving you Edward. I can't."

"But I heard Rose." He muttered, uncertain.

"You probably did, but you clearly didn't hear me." Edward dropped his eyes down from my gaze. "Look at me Edward." I said softly.

A few beats passed before his green eyes met mine again.

"I've never been happier in my life, than I have since I met you. Even before we were Edward and Bella, when you were my best friend, I still couldn't remember a time when I'd been happier. That's what Rose told me to think about. She told me to think about where, when and with whom I was the happiest, and it put everything into perspective. I've never been happier than I've been since meeting you."

I could tell the moment everything clicked for Edward, but I had to stop him. I clapped my hand over his mouth just as he was about to lean in and kiss me. "Shower and brush your teeth first. You smell like a brewery."

Edward laughed at me, but he got up and headed toward the bathroom. We'd had enough sleepovers now for him to have a change of clothes and a toothbrush waiting for him. Though in our near future, I imagined a conversation about permanency cropping up.

I sat on the floor, even as I heard the shower start. Our conversation didn't even scratch the surface of everything that we needed to discuss. Realistically though it was probably a good start

I decided Edward must be hungry, so I called down to Alice. She was already in and answered on the first ring.

"Yo." I shook my head at her greeting.

"You realize your family really needs to work on their phone manners." I offered, making Alice laugh.

"Oh give it a rest. There's caller ID that comes through. All of the other rooms show the room numbers except for yours. "

"Right…" I trailed off. "Anyway, I was calling down to see if you could have breakfast for two brought up. Edward and I need to have a talk and I don't want to leave to get something."

"Yeah, that's sweet, B. Mum told me about last night. I'll be up shortly, kay? Keep me posted 'right sis. I really don't want you to leave, but, yeah. I'll be up soon." She rushed everything out so quickly, and then hung up before I could get a word in, but I just shrugged it off. She was like that sometimes. I guess that's why she was able to run this place so easily.

Edward, not surprisingly was still in the shower by the time I got off the phone. While I waited for our food to arrive, I boiled the jug and tidied my room. Somehow we'd managed to mess up the bed terribly last night, so I assumed that had a lot more to do with Edward's sleeping habits than mine. I'd been the one that woke up in an Edward burrito.

I'd just finished the bed when Edward stepped out of the shower smelling like my body wash—coconut and vanilla. He looked a lot better than he had earlier, and he certainly smelled better.

"Can I have that kiss now?" he pouted as he crossed the room, still dressed in only a towel hung low on his hips.

I rolled my eyes, but relented all the same. His lips were warm on mine as he kissed me softly. A quick peck followed by another until we were making out like teenagers.

This could have quite easily escalated into something more, given Edward was wearing a towel and my bedroom was only a few steps away, but Edward had the control of a saint.

I gave him one more kiss on the lips before I stepped away. "Breakfast'll be up soon, so you might want to put some clothes on." I said as my eyes scanned over the length of him. I really was lucky I thought to myself as I looked at the moko tattoo stretched across his back in a mixture of solid and shaded lines and patterns. Knowing he still wanted to incorporate me into the piece still amazed me.

Edward turned around and headed back into my bedroom, I thought his hand was holding the towel in place until it loosened entirely around his hips and he was holding it in his hand.

My eyes were all but trained on his ass, and what an ass it was. I knew he went to the gym religiously; it was obvious in his overall definition. His pecks and abs were a masterpiece certainly, but the curve of his back and the defined line of his spine were downright sinful.

I didn't know the name of all the muscles in someone's back, but all of his were perfect.

"Tease." I called after him, just as someone knocked on the door. Edward heard it too and quickly picked the towel back up and wrapped it around his waist.

I wasn't shocked to find Alice at the door. I was expecting her to be holding a serving tray, so seeing a McDonald's bag and a cup tray in her hands was a bit of a shock.

She saw my surprise and just smiled. "Mum called me, remember? Besides, it's guaranteed hangover food. Here," she handed me the bag first, followed by the tray of drinks. "Long black for Edward, trim caramel latte for you and two OJ's. Enjoy."

"Thanks." I called to her retreating form, but she merely waved her hand as she continued to jog down the stairs.

"I smell Mickey D's." Edward said, snaking his hand around my waist and tucking me into his side. For a very brief moment, I assumed he was reaching for the paper bag in my hand, but he just hugged me to him and walked us over to the sofa.

"Don't want to sit at the table?" I questioned as Edward took the bag from my hands, and sat it down on the coffee table, followed by the tray of drinks.

"Nope." He answered quickly, flopping down in to the cushions and pulling me down onto his lap.

"Too mainstream?" I joked, making Edward laugh before quickly leaning down and pecking my lips.

"You just get me."

I shook my head at him, and he winked, before he reached around me and started pulling everything out of the bag.

Alice clearly didn't do anything halfway because by the time he'd emptied the bag I could have sworn there was nearly one of everything on the menu laying on the table.

When Edward realized he wouldn't be able to eat with me sitting in his lap, he gave me room to move, so I could sit beside him. He still kept an arm around my shoulders, holding me close.

"I always love sending, Alice for breakfast." Edward laughed, as he opened the lid off one of the containers in front of him.

I recognized it once he'd opened the lid; it was a Big Breakfast, only it was different. Rather than a sausage patty, it was well, sausages. Edward caught my staring.

"Did you want some?" I shook my head because I'd never really eaten big breakfasts.

"It just looks different to what I'm used to." Edward shrugged and offered me the hotcakes. Those, for whatever reason I loved. Even after I found out they were pre-made; snap frozen and heated in the microwave, I still loved them.

"I figured McDonald's was more or less the same everywhere, but I don't know what that is." I said pointing to one of the wrapped bagels.

"NYC benedict bagel. It's got the most amazing hollandaise sauce on it." I thought back, and I couldn't ever remember having ordered a bagel before, but the idea of hollandaise sauce was certainly appealing. Then again, I also didn't frequent McDonald's much. Jake was staunch against it, Charlie hated fast food chains and Seth preferred Taco Bell,

Hotcakes forgotten I reached for the bagel instead. I figured I'd most likely regret this later, but for now I was definitely keen to see what it tasted like.

Biting into it, I couldn't help but moan and turn to give Edward a smile. It was awkward with my cheeks puffed full of food. Edward just seemed to look at me.

Swallowing the bite in my mouth. "What?"

Edward set down his breakfast and turned to me, reaching for the bagel in my hands and set it down too.

"Edward?" I asked confused, until his lips crushed mine. Before I could register what was happening, I was on my back and Edward was between my legs.

His kisses were bruising, but his hands were tender as he held me around the waist with one hand, while the other crawled up my back threading through my hair.

"That sound." He said, pulling away and looking me in the eye. His eyes were so dark, more black than green and the way he was pressing against me, I could gather as to why. "You. Have. No. Idea." He punctuated each word with a kiss and a hip grind.

I do now buddy. I wanted to tell him, but I really didn't get the chance.

His mouth was back on mine immediately. He tasted like sausage with a lingering hint of mint from when he'd brushed his teeth earlier.

We were grinding and making out like teenagers, and he was amazing. He was pressing against me with the right amount of pressure at just the right angle and I could feel myself chasing an orgasm.

Realistically, it wasn't going to take much, it had been too long. When I felt Edward getting a little more eager, I knew he too was nearing the brink as his movements less rhythmic and more urgent.

Just as I felt the coil in my abdomen my front door was opened and Esme walked in.

"Shit." I heard her curse, as I sat up immediately sending Edward sprawling across the other side of the sofa.

Clearing my throat, I turned to look at Esme. I couldn't tell if she trying not to gag, or holding back her laughter.

"Morning?" Even to me it sounded like a question.

"Morena." Esme said taking a seat in the arm chair, helping herself to one of the hash browns.

"Hey Ma." Edward sounded terribly embarrassed I felt sorry for him. Not that I wasn't embarrassed myself, but Esme walking in on Edward having sex would be like Charlie walking in on me—mortifying!

"I see you're feeling better."

He was actually feeling really good, but I don't think Esme needed to know that.

"Ugh, I still feel a bit seedy, but all things considered, it could be worse." Esme nodded her head.

"You didn't drive here last night, did you?"

Edward appeared to think about that for a moment. "I don't know. Was my car downstairs? Bella," Edward turned to look at me, "did you see my keys anywhere? Did I have them with me last night?"

Gnawing on my lip, I tried to remember back to last night. For starters he didn't let himself in, and I had checked his pockets and they hadn't been there. He certainly wasn't carrying them.

"You know, I don't think you did." Both Edward and Esme let our relieved sighs though there was a bit of a knowing look on her face.

"It doesn't make what you did last night any less stupid. What the hell were you thinking?!"

I felt like I wanted to be anywhere but here, but there was nowhere for me to go. I shrunk back into the sofa, hoping to fade into the background.

"I know." Edward said, sitting up properly, so he was looking Esme in the eye. "I know it was stupid, but, well I couldn't help it. It just felt like everything was slipping away, and that's no excuse. I just, the idea of Bella not being here and going back to her dad just about killed me. "

"I know son, we all felt that way. We did—do. But alcohol, really? I thought we raised you better than that." Esme shook her head as if she were taking the blame on herself.

"Stop it, both of you." I interjected. "Edward cocked up, Esme. He knows that, we know that and he has a lot to make up for. But, it's definitely not your fault. I know you're his mom and you probably had time to freak out between my call last night and this morning, but can we just let it go, please? I in part feel responsible too, and if you'd be so kind, I was rather hoping we could just let this go. Lesson learned, I'm sure."

"Bella, Dear." Esme said kindly, making me suddenly feel about an inch tall. "I love you, I do. I respect your input too, but trust me when I tell you, Edward deserves this. He knows our stance on blind drunk stupidity—."

"Mum, come on, I said I was sorry, and I promise it won't happen again."

"It doesn't matter." Esme insisted, turning to look at Edward. "You fucked up, which means you have to explain to your father why I had to drive to your house last night to make sure your car was there as well as your keys."

"But he's going to gut me."

I was surprised to hear Edward whining. Normally, he was pretty sober in his communication and never really sank to whining like his siblings—especially Alice, though I guess that comes from being the baby of the family.

"Wait, you know where my keys are?" Edward said with realization.

Esme nodded her head and fished them out of her pocket. "You left them in your front door."

"You're kidding?" Esme shook her head at me, making me bark out a laugh.

"My God, Edward. You seriously know how to epically cock up."

Edward wasn't laughing though as he looked his mother in the eye. "Everything was there though, right? In my room—nothing was taken?"

Esme shook her head. "No, you were lucky. Everything" she said with emphasis "was where it should be."

I couldn't help but notice how relieved Edward was to hear that. I mean seriously, what had he done, taken home controlled meds or something.

"Thanks, Mum."

Esme shook her head. "Don't thank me, Edward. You still need to talk to your father."

"He's gonna give me a hiding."

Esme just shrugged in response to Edward's panic.

Even as adults all the Cullen children held a level of fear and respect towards their parents. Rightfully so, because even though I had only seen a jovial side of Carlisle, his size and stature alone had me thinking he was certainly not the type of person you messed with.

Charlie might have had a badge, but Carlisle had his own brand of authority. It was softer, but nonetheless authoritative and something told me it was scary.

"You should have thought about that last night." Esme said before standing up. "Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you were alive, and you weren't giving Bella too much grief."

Edward mumbled something unintelligible under his breath and although I know Esme heard him because I did and she was technically sitting far closer to him than I was, she chose to ignore it.

"Love you both." She called at the door before pulling it shut behind her.

"Tell me that didn't just happen." Edward groaned, as he cradled his face in his hands as his elbows rested on his knees.

"Uh…" I trailed off.

Dead air just hung between us as I watched Edward deliberate. It was obvious when he had made up his mind as he reached for me, drawing me into the circle of his arms as he rested his head against my stomach.

He blew out a long, almost tortured breath as he held me. Unsure what was going through his head, but still wanting to comfort him I ran my fingers through the ends of hair. Scratching his scalp gently with my nails.

"Well the mood has been officially ruined."

I sighed, it really had been.

"Well, how about we finish our breakfast then?" I asked lifting Edward's face, so he was looking at me.

He gave me a small smile, letting me go so I could sit next to him on the sofa.

Our breakfast was cold, and it really had lost a lot of its appeal, but I was still hungry. We ate our fill and put the rest into the fridge. We might eat it later, or someone else would.

Sitting back on the sofa, Edward had tucked me into his side as we sat there. We weren't saying much, and given that it was probably the biggest mistake we'd made in our relationship so far. It was probably time we worked on that.

"Edward?"

"Hmm?"

I watched his face as he turned to look at me. There was only curiosity in his green eyes as they met mine.

"We won't work if you get drunk when things start getting tough." Edward reached out, cupping my cheek in his palm.

"I know that." He answered. "I still don't know what happened. I got home from the hospital, and I knew there were a couple of boxes in the laundry. I must have been out of it before I even walked inside though if my keys didn't come in with me. Last night was an exceptional situation, I really believe that. Bella, I'll give up alcohol altogether if I need to, to show you how serious I am about everything. This," he gestured between the two of us, "means more to me, than anything else."

There was so much earnest in his voice, and even in his eyes, that I knew he was being honest. He believed in what he was saying, he wasn't just saying things for the sake of it.

"I'm not going to ask you to give up alcohol, Edward. Let's be realistic. I just don't want to have to see you like that again." Edward was nodding his head along with me.

"You won't Bella. Even though I only woke up a little seedy today, if I had managed to drink my way through anything but beerelse last night, I probably would have woken up far worse than I did."

I nodded my head along with him, remembering the one and only time I allowed myself to get drunk on tequila, wine and wine coolers.

Well I wasn't really feeling it that day, but that probably has more to do with the fact that I blacked out until early evening the following day. Unfortunately I then had to deal with Seth mocking me and my emotional meltdown that I have no recollection of. That was a long story, but to it short, I freaked Sue out when she forgot I'd fallen asleep in the car—where she'd left me for about five hours—and went to drop Seth off at work. Somehow, I managed to walk my way to my bed where I slept for a solid twelve hours. But I digress.

"We need to talk. Whatever happens, we need to talk to each other."

Edward nodded his head.

"From here on out, even if we pretty much do anyway, we tell each other everything."

I turned to him, with a raised brow remembering what Esme said about his penchant for avoiding conflict.

"You can't avoid conversations just because you don't like where they're going. We won't work if that happens. If you don't like something, I need you to tell me. I'd rather fight with you about it than have you avoid conflict. That only makes things worse."

Edward scoffed.

"Because that's perfectly normal." "Be serious, Edward," I said with narrowed eyes. "Yell at me, argue with me. If you're not happy with me, if you've had a bad day, tell me. Don't wait for us to be home before you say something, or when no one else is around. I just—please, never show up on my door step like you did last night."

Edward reached forward, lifting my chin, and holding it to keep my gaze on him.

"If you want to fight, I'll fight."

I didn't realize I'd started crying until I felt Edward wiping away the tears. I'd never admit to Edward how truly scared I had been last night. It was entirely unfounded, and probably a little melodramatic, but still the idea of seeing Edward like that because of me felt like a kick in the gut.

"That's all I ask." I said with a sniffle, smiling up at Edward

"And we seal it with a kiss." Edward joked leaning down and kissing me soundly on the lips.

There was still the chance that Renee or even Charlie could show up, but I was resolute in my decision. I was too happy to leave. It's not because I'm in a bubble either, where everything is perfect. It's not. Last night proved that.. But I'm happy, I'm finally teaching in an environment where I feel like I'm actually making a difference.

"No crying, Baby Girl. Okay?"

I nodded my head at him before pulling his arms around me and snuggling into him. I love how much he loved to snuggle. He was really good at it too. Charlie didn't snuggle, Seth liked a good hug, but Jake always thought it was needy.

Edward didn't. He liked touching me, and I loved being touched by him. There was another thing he did well, and that was to show me how much he loved me.

A few minutes passed before a thought returned to me.

"When are you going to talk to Carlisle?"

Edward groaned and I felt him burying his head in my hair as he just held me to him.

Poor Edward... but can you blame him? What would you do if you thought your forever dream was being taken away... a second time?

Anyway, you know I love reading your thoughts.

Arohanui ki a koe,

NicNyx.