Disclaimer; All the brain child of the talented Stephanie Meyer.

I woke up the next morning with a chill in my bones. I wasn't too sure if that was a good thing until I looked at the person lying in bed with me. He lay perfectly still, one arm wrapped around my waste, the other propping him up.

"Good morning," he whispered, picking up his hand and stroking my cheek. A shiver ran up my spine. He was forever touching me this way; gently, almost ghosting the actions, barely there. I longed for things to return to normal. I wanted him to hold me, talk to me, love me, but mostly kiss me. I was convinced that the one small action of his lips against mine would cement our renewed relationship for good.

I smiled, and then I remembered where I was. "Charlie?" I asked.

"At work," he replied, answer already rehearsed, in his perfect velvet voice. "He left an hour ago."

I nodded, placing my head on his cold, hard shoulder. He sighed what seemed like a sad sigh, and I snuggled in closer, involuntarily shivering from the cold. Edward reached for the blanket and placed it between my body and his. I huffed in annoyance and kicked it away. I heard the rumble of silent laughter in his chest.

We sat in silence for a while. Then, he spoke, "I missed you."

He said it so it was barely audible, as if it pained him to say it. He touched me again, this time on the small of my back, and color rose to my cheeks. His hands were so smooth and lithe, so unlike the rough, calloused hands that gripped my waste not so long ago…

I was grateful that Edward couldn't see the image that popped into my head. I willed myself to forget, to erase every trace of the friend -almost more- that I had hurt so badly. His face kept creeping into my thoughts; his smile, his laugh, his hands, his…his lips. I yearned for something I could never have.

Edward traced the outline of my lips with the tip of his finger. "Tell me what you're thinking, Bella."

"I wanted to know why you came back," I lied. Although, not exactly a lie, it was hardly the truth of my thoughts.

"You have to understand something, Bella. I lied to you-"

"What?"

He held up a finger to silence me. "-I told you I didn't love you. I lied. I loved you all along. I loved you when I left you. I loved you when I was away, but I wanted to give you a chance at a normal life; kids, growing old, a family. I couldn't give you any of that, Bella, and you deserved it. You deserve more than I could give you."

"I don't want anyone but you," I told him, almost laughing at the absurdity. I felt a pang in my heart for a certain black haired werewolf. I shoved it down deep, only to have it crawl back again.

"And neither do I, Bella. I would have come back eventually, days maybe. I was lost with out you, wandering aimlessly, and drifting, reverting back to the way I was before I met you. You were always in the back of my mind, like some sleepless dream, a ghost of a girl that I had once loved. Bella, I… I missed you so much; it killed me to leave you."

I stayed silent, sensing he had more to say.

"I considered giving myself up to the Volturi, hoping to end my pain and give you a chance to move on. But I was selfish; I couldn't bear to die if you thought that I never loved you."

His voice was silky, oddly devoid of any emotion. I found myself wishing for something richer, deeper, and woodsier; someone like…someone like Jac-

"I love you, Bella, and I want to keep loving you, if you will have me," he breathed out at last, interrupting my thoughts.

I swooned a bit at his words, my brain going into an incoherent frenzy. "Edward…"

He inched his head closer, his lips closing in on mine. His scent washed over me and my eyes rolled back into my head. "Kiss me…"

And so he did. His cold stone lips crashed onto mine and started moving in an uncomfortable pattern. His hands cupped my face, and where they touched, I froze. I buried my hands in his bronze hair and tried harder.

A face swirled in my mind.

Inky black hair.
Rough, loving hands.
Hot, so hot.
Lips everywhere.

A single word vibrated in my mind.

Imprint.

I wrenched myself away from Edward and touched my frost bitten lips. He looked on at me, a confused smile etched onto his too flawless face. "What's wrong, Bella?"

"I…I don't know," I rasped. "I thought…you…I don't know."

"I thought this was what you wanted," he questioned. I nodded despite the doubt bubbling in the pit of my stomach.

"Kiss me again!" I cried.

His lips touched mine for the second time, so cold. Hot. His soft hands grasped my waist. Rough. My fingers twined in his golden locks. Black, so black.

"Edward," I moaned.

Jacob, my mind screamed.

Edward reeled back in shock. "Bella, what was that?"

I rung my hands nervously, "What was what?"

"I heard you, in my head. You screamed so loud, projecting your thoughts," he explained.

"What did you hear?" I whispered.

"The mutt's name," he said, carefully measured malice in his voice.

"Don't call him that!" I defended immediately. I had never raised my voice again Edward.

He shook his head, "I thought you could fight it, Bella. I thought we could fight it."

"Someone please explain things to me, because I don't get it." I leapt off the bed and planted my feet firmly in front of Edward. "What didn't I fight?"

"The imprint, Bella! The imprint!"

"I don't understand…"

"The imprint, the soul mate principle, your other half, the love of your life. Take your pick, because that is what I'm up against," he shouted, exasperatedly.

Now, I was getting plain mad. "You're beating around the bush, I want a straight answer."

"Do you recall the time when Jacob ignored you?"

I winced visibly and I guess he took that as his queue to continue.

"That was around the time he first started phasing; when he starting morphing into a giant dog-"

"Wolf," I corrected automatically.

He scowled and ignored me. "Now, do you recall the moment he first laid eyes on you after that? The day you went to his house with the intention of beating down his door if he didn't talk to you. And don't pretend you don't remember, Bella, because I saw everything."

"What does this have to do with anything?" I demanded.

"It has everything to do with this. Everything to do with you, me, Jacob and the future! The second he laid eyes on you he imprinted. The universe wove your futures together because you are his perfect match; you are the one created for him, his soul mate."

I blinked, all the color draining from my face. Jacob. My one true love. The pang in my heart, the doubt in my stomach; all of it explained. Why kissing Edward felt so wrong, why I yearned for heat; it was because Jacob was mine, and I was his, because I loved him.

"Bella, stop!"

"Stop what, I'm not doing anything," I implored.

Edward rubbed his temples. "Your thoughts, I can hear them! All I hear is his name; all I see is his face. It was enough that Jacob was projecting his thoughts loud and clear, but now you too?"

I didn't want to even think about how that was possible, about how Edward had penetrated the safe haven that was my mind. All I wanted to do was run to Jacob, the man I was surely killing by staying away. I had no time to feel remorse to what I had done to Edward.

"Edward," I spluttered. "I need to go. I need to go see him."

I fluttered around my room collecting my things, changing out of my dirty clothes – indecency be damned. I needed to leave now.

I reached my bedroom door, only to be held back by a cold hand.

"Bella, wait," he said. "I just want to tell you that I don't blame you. I want you to know that you're doing the right thing. This is what I wanted from the beginning, a normal life for you, and that is what I got in the end. I should have never come back, but always know, Bella, you have a place in my family, you are loved."

I stared at him incredulously, my heart filling with gratitude. "Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me. Please, don't do anything stupid, and tell your family I love them."

Edward chuckled, "Don't worry, I won't."

I hesitated at the door. "What will you do now?"

"I suppose I could go spend some much needed time with my family. Maybe go visit Tanya…"

I smiled and flung my arms around his neck, embracing him in a friendly hug, all prior lust and love dissolving, making way for a new platonic friendship. "Good luck, Edward."

He smiled my favorite crooked smile, "Go, Bella. You've waited too long already."

And on that note, I flew out the door.

A/N; WOAH FAST UPDATE!
Aha, I'm sure all you Jacob lovers - myself included - will love this chapter. See? They end up together. So for those of you having a fit (an uncalled for, kinda mean one, calling me f*ucking crazy --- you know who you are) please, calm the frig down! Jeeze!
On a happier note, there will be two more chapters!
Until next time,
Cassieeeee.