Disclaimer: I still don't own it, and it's still rated M.

"It's important for you to know that Bella. You have me; you're everything to me, and I am all yours. Sleep now, love. It's late. I'll be here when you wake up."

And he was. He allowed her to dress privately though, running home to change and get his car. He was relieved that his siblings had already left for school. He did not want to explain himself to them this morning. He knew he'd have to deal with Jasper's reservations, Rosalie's hostility, Alice's enthusiasm, and Emmett's inappropriate comments soon enough.

His silver Volvo was waiting for her when she came outside for school. Bella climbed in next to him and sat stiffly, not knowing what to say. Morning seemed to expose all her flaws and insecurities, and she felt vulnerable and uncomfortable all over again. Her cheeks burned, as she remembered how uninhibited she'd felt last night . . . and how much more she'd wanted him to do to her.

Edward noticed her uneasiness and reached out to brush a strand of hair off her cheek, tucking it softly behind her ear. He then cupped her chin in his cold hand, angling her face toward his. "Relax Bella. You are my life now. You are everything to me, and I intend to give you everything you want." And then he was kissing her. Bella forgot why she was uncomfortable, she forgot what she was so worried about, she forgot to breathe.

The morning flew by in a haze. Bella couldn't concentrate. She lived for the moments in between classes when he would meet her in the hallway. He'd wrap one cool arm around her waist and hold her close to his body, stroking her hair, her face with his other hand. People stared – they always stared at Edward Cullen. Bella hardly noticed. He occupied her every thought. She had room for nothing else.

They sat alone at lunch again. Edward laughed quietly as she took her seat across from him. "What's so funny?" she asked.

"Evidently, we're quite the topic of conversation."

"Really?" Bella blushed but could not help but smile. "Tell me." She hadn't gotten used to Edward's talent, but it certainly made things interesting.

"Well," Edward smiled indulgently and took her hands in his across the table. His touch sent shivers down her spine. Would she ever get used to this? "It seems the entire male student population is extremely jealous of me."

"Of you?" Bella responded incredulously.

"Yes. They can't seem to stand my good luck. Mike Newton especially."

"What's he thinking?" Bella leaned in eagerly.

"Some of his thoughts are too vulgar to repeat." Edward smiled mischievously. "But I might have to show you later…" He winked at her.

Bella stared at him blankly; she had no idea what he was talking about.

Edward continued, "He can't stand it, but he can't stop thinking about us. Well, what he imagines I must do to you. It's kind of a morbid curiosity. He wishes he were me, of course, but some of his ideas are rather . . . appealing. Mike's quite imaginative you know." Edward's lips curved into his crooked smile, and Bella's thoughts were flooded with erotic images of her own.

Edward watched her intently. "What are you thinking about?"

Bella blushed but answered truthfully. "Apparently, I'm thinking what Mike Newton's thinking."

His eyes widened in understanding. If the table hadn't been separating them, he wouldn't have been able to keep his hands off of her. He settled for reaching across and grasping her face in his hands, pulling her lips to his roughly. Her lips would be bruised later, but it didn't matter. Bella kissed back eagerly, opening her mouth to slide her tongue against his. She was vaguely conscious of other students turning to stare at them, but she didn't care. Excitement tugged at her stomach, and the familiar warmth flooded her body. She was also acutely aware of an overwhelming sense of pride. Edward Cullen was kissing her, and in front of everyone. She was his.

After a few moments, he released her and dropped his hands to his lap under the table. Her cheeks were flushed, and she gasped to catch her breath. Edward smiled back at her. "You drive me crazy Bella. I can barely control myself around you. She leaned back toward him, but he pulled away chuckling. "Later. We need to leave some things to Mike's imagination."

oOo

Edward's family was waiting for him when he got home that day. He sighed as he got out of his car and listened to their thoughts and low voices coming from the living room. He could not avoid this moment any longer; he had to talk to them.

Edward knew that kissing Bella in the lunchroom would have confirmed any remaining suspicions they had about his involvement with the girl. Still, he could tell from their thoughts that they all believed Bella could be nothing more than a plaything to him.

He could hear them arguing. Rosalie was especially livid. She took everything so personally and honestly seemed to believe that he was acting this way just to ruin her life. Of course, he knew that just one wrong move really could ruin everything.

The thought of hurting Bella, though, was too much to bear. He shuddered and pushed the idea far from his mind.

Emmett was trying to calm Rose down. He assured her that Edward wouldn't do anything too stupid. Surely he was allowed to have a little fun.

Yes. A little fun couldn't hurt anyone, but he wanted so much more than that. How could he ever begin to explain the depths of his feelings for Bella to his family? Could they possibly believe that this was anything more than a dangerous infatuation?

Japer was doing his best to be reassuring, but he was clearly very uncomfortable with the whole idea. He maintained that Edward clearly desired the girl's body as much, if not more, than her blood. That alone was reason enough to believe that he didn't have any immediate plans to kill her. Certainly not the biggest vote of confidence, but at least it was something.

Even now though, as Edward stood on the driveway eavesdropping on the thoughts of his family, he couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort at Jasper's knowledge. His brother's ability to read emotions often provided far more intimate details about their individual lives than Edward's mind reading ever could.

Alice was hopefully optimistic. She seemed certain that she and Bella would soon be best friends. But Edward could still hear a darker, subtle undertone in her thoughts. She would never admit it, but there were hints of reservation deep within her conscience.

Her visions had initially been very spotty, constantly shifting from one possible future to another. Some were positive, and she filled her thoughts with those pleasant images of a happy, healthy Bella and Edward whenever her brother was near. Others were deadly. And, while she did her best to conceal these thoughts from Edward, he had seen enough to know that his future with Bella was not one hundred percent certain or safe.

Now, however, as Edward became even more entangled in the girl's fate, Alice's positive visions were clearly dominating her premonitions. The dark futures were becoming increasingly less frequent in her forecasts.

Edward took comfort in the fact that it seemed all the time more unlikely that he would actually kill Bella.

But Edward knew the possibility was still there. And although Alice rarely saw that deadly outcome anymore, Edward couldn't ignore the risk. He knew it was still possible for him to lose control…to injure her accidentally…or for his desire for her blood to overpower his restraint, his love…

And there were still others, these perhaps more dangerous and disturbing than Alice's most lethal visions. Edward had seen his beautiful Bella, still breathtaking, but changed, different, deadly. Her pale skin like porcelain, her brown eyes red.

His breath caught as he contemplated these images. Was this potential outcome the worst of Alice's possibilities? Could he ever wish this fate on anyone? Especially his Bella…To stop her heart beat, to turn her warm skin to ice, to make her body hard as stone, to never see her cheeks flush with blood… And what about her soul?

But in reality, this idea excited him more than he could ever admit. For her to be his entirely, forever. To know that she was his and only his. To know that she was safe – that he could not lose her. A large part of him selfishly wanted this more than anything he had ever wanted. And he would be complete, have his other half, like Esme and Carlisle, Alice and Jasper, Rose and Emmett. Forever.

But he couldn't allow himself to think about that…could not allow himself to wish. He would never choose this fate, his fate, for Bella, especially not to satisfy his selfishness.

His pushed those thoughts from him head and tried to clear his mind. He couldn't put this conversation off any longer. He took a deep breath and went inside to face his family.

They were seated around the large mahogany table in the dining room they usually used for family meetings. No one spoke as he entered the room, but their thoughts were coming through loud and clear.

Rosalie sat, arms folded across her chest, a death glare on her face. She was practically screaming at him in her head. "How can you do this to us you fucking bastard? Do you have any idea how much danger we're in now because of you? And for what? A stupid, ordinary, human girl! Really? A human Edward!"

Emmett looked uneasy, but his thoughts were all directed toward his wife.

Jasper was testing his emotions, and Edward felt vulnerable and exposed under his scrutiny. Jasper, of course, sensed his discomfort. "I know man…Now you know how I feel though with everyone constantly monitoring your control, as if I'm always about to snap and eat someone." Edward nodded. Jasper had a point. It must be nice for some of the attention and concern to be directed at someone else for a change.

Carlisle was calm as always, but he was directing a steady stream of questions at his son. "Is it true what they're saying Edward? You and this human girl? You have to understand the concerns. Do you truly know what you're doing? Obviously you are aware of the risks. Not just to the girl of course, although we cannot ignore her safety, but to all of us? Our entire life here?"

Edward looked at him imploringly and nodded gravely. Yes, god yes, he thought. Of course I know, and I will never, could never, do anything to hurt her or endanger any of us.

Carlisle believed him, trusted him, as he always did. "Then we will support you son. We all want you to be happy."

Edward smiled but cringed inwardly. Did he really deserve Carlisle's unfailing trust?

Esme's thoughts were silent – she just looked at Edward with complete love and acceptance and waited for him to say something.

Edward couldn't open his mouth though, so it was Alice who spoke first. "Guys, it's okay. Trust me already. He loves her. I mean, he really loves her. I can see it. Come on Jazz, back me up. You've got to feel that too, right?"

Jasper was silent for a moment before responding. "Yes. I can feel it. He does truly love this girl… But I cannot ignore the risks. Edward, to be close to her – intimate with this human – there is still extraordinary danger."

"I know," Edward responded emphatically. "Believe me, I know and I—

Esme cut him off. "Love? Edward, honey, do you really love this girl?" Her thoughts were radiating pure joy.

"Are you going to change her Edward?" Carlisle interrupted.

"No. I…I couldn't. I won't do that to her."

"You know she can't stay with us then…She'll die someday Edward."

Edward looked at his father pleadingly, his eyes tinged with both horror and sadness. "I—

Alice disrupted his mumbling. "Too bad bro. I've seen that too. You know I have. Bella will be one of us one day." The same images of Bella, porcelain skin, fiery eyes, arm in arm with Alice, smiling, flashed through her mind.

Edward glared at her, but she continued. "Better get used to the idea. It's happening, I just don't know when."

"Oh Edward." Esme couldn't contain herself anymore, and she was around the table in an instant to embrace him. "I'm so happy for you – I thought it would never happen." If she could cry, tears of joy would be streaming down her cheeks. "Yes, yes, there are a few complications, but you'll work it out. If anyone is capable of handling a situation like this it's you dear."

Edward hugged her back. What had he done to deserve a mother like Esme? Well, any of his family members really (except Rosalie perhaps; her thoughts were still murderous).

Alice couldn't resist a hug and quickly wrapped her arms around Edward as well.

"When will we get to meet her, Edward?" Esme asked, glowing.

Rosalie couldn't handle it anymore. But clearly outnumbered, she resisted the urge to argue and instead stomped furiously from the room, slinging a few more choice profanities and insults at the top of her mental lungs at Edward on her way out.

Emmett looked apologetically at his brother before getting up to follow her. "I'm not taking sides or anything… I just– well, I don't want to piss her off too much and lose all my privileges, you know?" he finished in his head for Edward's benefit.

"It's okay man, I understand. Spare me the details though please."

But it was too late. As Emmett followed her up the stairs, Edward got a stream of very explicit images of all the things Emmett hoped Rosalie would do to him. Evidently Rose rather liked angry sex. And the fact that she was irritated so often clearly did wonders for their sex life.

Edward shuddered. He did not need to see that…living with them was bad enough, but seeing explicitly vivid details of their sexual escapades was something he could very much do without.

Otherwise, Edward was elated. His family might not understand, but they accepted it and were happy for him. And all he could think about was Bella…

a/n: thank you. Violet