A/N: Thanks again, everyone, for your enthusiasm, pimping and encouragement for our story! We enjoy reading each and every review—from excited to encouraging to angry to disbelieving and back again. You guys floor us!

Huge thanks to our pre-readers, Caz, Keye and Sandy, for their invaluable input and friendship and to Jess (jkane180) for her beta skilz. Mwah!


Chapter 7

~In This Together~


~*Bella*~

Tanya is gone, the mess in the kitchen has been cleaned up, and I find myself sitting nervously on one of the beige leather couches in the living room, waiting for Edward while he finishes dressing. He's taking a long time, and I have the feeling that he needs some time to himself to assimilate all that's happened so far. Hell, I knew I was coming here to Forks today with the intention of exposing Tanya for the lying, deceiving bitch that she is—not that it was my main reason for coming; I came hoping to reclaim my lost chance to explore the electrifying, magnetic pull that Edward Cullen has over me—but Edward had been hit between the eyes without warning. If I was shaking, nervous and scared about what all this meant, I couldn't even imagine what Edward might be feeling right now.

Despite the fact that I waited in the bedroom while Edward and Tanya duked it out, I heard almost all of what they were saying. The phrase 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned' floats through my mind, and I'm pretty sure that Tanya's not done with us. She may be heading to Fiji for a few weeks, but when she returns, she'll be trying to get Edward back in her life and her bed.

A sick feeling rolls through my stomach at the thought of Edward sleeping with Tanya... images of her raking her long nails over his back while he makes love to her fill my mind unbidden. I know it's ridiculous of me—of course he's had sex with Tanya. They've been living together in the same apartment, for heaven's sake. He's been with her for nearly four years—spending time with her, caring for her, loving her. All the things that he could have been doing with me if we weren't so naïve back then.

Edward has probably taken Tanya nice places, shared her bed, maybe snuggled up on their couch watching movies. Did they shower together after making love, getting frisky all over again? What was their sex life like? Did they have friends over often? I wonder how many mutual friends they have and what kind of pressure might be brought to bear on Edward to forgive Tanya for a mistake she made back in high school. That thought makes me feel as if I'm going to throw up—would he ever forgive her? After thinking about it for a while, will Edward realize he loves Tanya enough to look past what she did and take her back?

I don't even realize that I'm crying until warm hands are cupping my face, two thumbs gently wiping away my tears.

"Bella? What's wrong, sweetheart?" Edward crouches down in front of me, his green eyes filled with concern.

Now I've done it. What the hell am I supposed to say to him—I've been imagining you and Tanya doing all kinds of loving and sexual things together? I swallow around the lump in my throat, shaking my head slightly.

"Talk to me, Bella. This is only going to work if we do it together." Edward's voice is kind, not harsh. His eyes tell me his attention is all on me, that he's here with me, not thinking about Tanya. But will it stay that way?

Then again, four years ago, Edward and I didn't communicate, which is why we're both here today in pain. I have to tell him what's on my mind. If we're to have any chance at a future together, the playing field needs to be leveled.

"Edward, I'm sorry. I can't help but wonder about... you and Tanya. All these thoughts of how happy you guys probably are—were—keep running through my head, and I can't stop them. Logically, I know you spent the last four years with her, and you would have done many things together, but I still find myself... a little bit... jealous, I guess. I feel out of the loop—so left out. The thought of you... and her... I –" The words stick in my throat.

"Shh... it's okay, Bella. What you're thinking and feeling is normal for what we've been through." Edward moves to sit next to me on the couch, pulling me into his side. I lay my head on his shoulder, both for comfort and so I don't have to meet his eyes. "Hey, you think I like the idea of you and... fucking Mike Newton? I hate the thought of his hands all over you. It should have been me—us—those hands on you should have been mine." His voice is rough with pain, and there's some anger there, too.

I enjoy resting my cheek against his soft, cotton t-shirt, and I breathe in his masculine scent, content to pretend for a moment that there's nothing standing between us, that we're like any normal couple snuggling up together. We're not, though, and I still have some explaining to do.

Sitting up, I turn my body to face Edward's, taking his hand in mine. I look down shyly. "So, you don't think you'd ever... take Tanya back?"

"Fuck no!" Edward blurts, and I can't help myself—I start giggling. Edward's face flushes with embarrassment. "Sorry. You caught me off guard. Why the hell would I ever take Tanya back? She's a lying, deceitful bitch, and she's lucky she isn't on her way to jail for what she did."

"Well, you love her. You were planning to spend the rest of your life with her," I remind him gently.

Edward stares at me, and his face slowly falls. "Oh. Well, yes, I did love Tanya in my way... but I, um... I settled, Bella." He brings a hand up and rubs his eyes hard. After a moment, he says, "I expected it was the best things would get for me because the one person in this world that made me really feel was unavailable to me."

I stare at him silently, unsure how to answer. I can understand what he's saying because I tried things with Mike, the difference being I was unable to go through with the relationship. Everyone reacts differently, though, and all this time, Edward believed I'd used him just to get to Mike. Now that all is said and done, now that the adrenaline of the day is wearing off, I just feel shattered inside—battered and bruised.

"Bella?" Edward looks into my eyes, his green ones troubled. "Is everything okay? I mean... as okay as it's going to get right now? Are you... upset with me?"

"No, I'm not upset with you, Edward. This is just so... screwed up. If only..." I shake my head as, once again, the gravity of the situation hits me. One moment in time—one night—brought us to this. If Mike hadn't 'fessed up to me, Edward would have married Tanya and spent the rest of his life with her. They might have had children and grandchildren, and she would have been the one to share all his joys and sorrows with him. "My God, Edward, this could have been so... so permanent. We lost four years, but it might have been forever."

"I know," he says softly, caressing my cheek. "I was so stupid back then, Bella. It destroyed me when I saw you making out with Mike that night. I was such an asshole to you. If I'd pulled my head out of my ass long enough, I would've noticed that you weren't with Mike after the party."

"We both messed up, Edward. It was all a huge misunderstanding. I wonder how many people that happens to. Thank God we found out the truth."

"How about a change of scenery? The woods around this place are beautiful. We can talk while we walk. There's still an hour or two of daylight left."

"That sounds good." I smile as Edward stands, holding his hand out to me.

Movement is good; it brings me out of my fog, encouraging me to think more clearly. Edward is free to choose whomever he wishes to be with—if that happens to be Tanya, there's nothing for me to say about it. What I don't want to do is push him away or alienate him because of my insecurities about us. I remind myself that this is a unique situation and decide to cut myself some slack.

With our fingers linked loosely, we walk along the serene wooded paths behind the cottage. I'm glad I listened to Edward and tossed one of his hoodies over my dress. Aside from the warmth it provides, it smells like him, and I'm happy to be surrounded by his scent; it's calming and reminds me that I'm the one with him right now. Edward also encouraged me to put on a pair of flat shoes—he remembered how clumsy I could be. Since all my stuff was in the trunk of the rental, it was no problem to dig up my sneakers.

I feel a little silly wearing a fancy dress with a hoodie and sneakers, but I don't feel silly holding Edward's hand or taking my chance at what we missed out on. Determination fills me, and I'm ready to tell him my side.

"Edward, I want to tell you everything. I don't want there to be any more misunderstandings."

"I'd like that, Bella," he answers softly.

Out of the two of us, Edward has it the worst. Not only did he think I chose Mike over him, but his relationship with Tanya was built on lies, and he was about to marry her. Having someone barge in on your wedding day is tough, even if it's justified.

I find that I don't want to do this while walking, so when I spy a big flat rock next to a bubbling stream, I tug on Edward's hand, leading him there. "Edward, do you mind if we sit?"

"Not at all."

We sit side by side, turned so we're nearly facing each other, our knees touching lightly. I take Edward's hand in mine, tracing over his palm. "Firstly, I owe you a huge apology for... for busting in on your wedding the way I did. I have my reasons, but I honestly didn't think about what it might do to you, and for that, I'm so very sorry." My eyes are trained on my finger, which is still swirling designs over his skin because I can't bear to look in his eyes as I say this. I'm afraid of what I might see there, afraid it might alter what I say, so I do this without gazing into his intense eyes.

"Why did you wait, Bella? Why didn't you come to me... sooner?" Edward's tone isn't accusatory, but he's clearly baffled, and he wants to understand.

Looking up at the slowly darkening sky, which is shot with streaks of purple, I sigh softly. "Edward, what was done to us... I just couldn't take a chance on it happening again. That night, there was a lot of 'he said; she said,' and Mike and Tanya spun our perception of events to fit their agenda. I couldn't bear it if I failed this time. There's strength in numbers, and it would be hard to pull the wool over the eyes of an entire church full of people."

"So you wanted to make sure that events weren't twisted again?"

"Yes. You were about to marry Tanya—I couldn't let that happen without you knowing the truth. Even if you had no interest in me, I wanted you to know what really happened that night, and I needed you to know how I felt about you. It's the only way I could see being able to move on with my life."

Warm fingers touch my face, nudging gently until I turn and look into his emerald eyes. He cocks his head slightly to the side. "How do you feel about me? Tell me." His voice is as soft and velvety as ever, and I'm transported back to that night—before it all went wrong—and I feel a throbbing start between my legs. It's all I can do not to moan out loud.

"Oh, Edward. I never got over you. Mike was always there to pick up the pieces, and at the time, I thought it was because he was a good guy. I had no idea what the motivation behind it all was. He was so sympathetic, and he seemed to understand that I wasn't fully available. He kept telling me it would come in time."

Tears fill my eyes, and I try to blink them back. This hurts to talk about even though I'm sitting here, holding Edward's hand in mine. The past is gone, and I should be able to leave it where it belongs, but I'm having a tough time doing so.

A tear spills over, and I try to turn my face away so he doesn't see.

"Don't. Don't hide from me, Bella."

I fight the urge to turn tail and run, forcing my eyes back to his. "I'm sorry. This is so hard for me." I shake my head, swallowing hard. "Several weeks ago, I realized my life had been colorless for the past four years. It hit me when I saw a guy that looked a lot like you, and my heart started racing, my palms sweating. Four years later, I'm still getting heart palpitations over someone who looks like you or walks like you—it just wasn't fair to Mike, so I broke it off with him. When I told him that I couldn't commit my heart to him because it belonged to someone else, he knew right away that I was talking about you. That's when he dug up the old recording and gave it to me.

"Edward, I never got over you. I know my feelings are based on a few months of flirting and one night of making out, but I can't control it. When Mike told me about the wedding... I cried for two days straight. The thought of you marrying her, the very person that destroyed our chances, left me sick with dread. Mike encouraged me to tell the truth. He admitted to being fairly certain you had feelings for me, too."

Edward snorted. "I'm sure Tanya told him about that night in his yard."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw the two of you, Bella! I saw Mike pressing you up against the shed—right where I'd just been minutes before—with his hands up your shirt, and you... had your leg hitched around his hip. It felt as though I'd been kicked in the balls. And Tanya was right there to lend her assistance in picking up the pieces." He shakes his head, a disgusted look marring his handsome features.

"You saw? Oh, God, Edward... that's even worse than I imagined." My heart breaks for the younger version of Edward that was forced to watch me making out with Mike when I'd promised to meet him back by the shed.

"I'm not going to lie, Bella—it fucking hurt seeing you with Mike. I was devastated, and I never really got over you, either. Yes, I did love Tanya, and I did ask her to marry me... but there was a part of me that was always looking for you, comparing her to you. In fact, I'm ashamed to admit that a part of me was hoping you would show up today. Just before you stood up, I was panicking, afraid I was making a huge mistake." Edward laughs bitterly. "And that's before I found out that I didn't really know the woman I've been living with for the past few years."

My heart starts thudding in my chest at his admission, and I feel I must make another of my own.

"Edward, I explained why I waited until your wedding to come forward... but that isn't the only reason. A part of me wanted to embarrass Tanya, to destroy her happiness like she did ours. I know that's awful and selfish..." I break off, breathing hard as I hang my head in shame.

Edward's reaction surprises me. "I'd call it understandable. If I was in your place, I don't think I'd have been able to stop myself from doing some physical damage." He chuckles.

"How can you laugh about this, Edward?" I look up at him incredulously.

Edward smiles at me warmly, rubbing his knuckles over my cheekbone. "Bella, this is the most horrendous thing that's ever happened to me. I can try to find the humor, or I can fall the hell apart. The thing is, even though what was done to us was heinous, awful and heartbreaking... I'm sitting here on a rock with my hands on the woman I should have been with from the beginning. I've been given a second chance—we've been given a second chance—and I'm thankful for that."

Taking in his words, I know that he's right. This storm will pass, and in its wake, Edward and I will find our way together. A tear spills over, but this time, it's a happy one. Swiping it away, I grab Edward's hand and squeeze it.

"So... you're not upset with me for waiting until Reverend Weber said, 'Speak now or forever hold your peace?'"

"No, Bella. I'm just so thankful I didn't marry that viper." Edward shakes his head. "How in the world did I spend four years of my life with her and never really know her at all?"

I notice my butt going numb from the coldness of the stone beneath me, and I shift uncomfortably. Looking around, I realize that nightfall is only a few minutes away, and I shiver. I've been so enthralled with talking to Edward, I didn't realize the sun has almost dipped completely below the horizon and the temperature's dropped several degrees. I glance back at Edward, and he's beautiful and magnetic even in the bluish light that coats and distorts everything around us now. And he wants to try with me. What I never believed possible is now happening.

"Penny for your thoughts," he says softly.

"I just realized how dark it's getting, how numb my ass is on this cold rock... and how beautiful you look in this light." I can feel the blush creep over my skin as I say this.

Edward stands up, pulling me with him, and tugs me in close to his body. Lifting my chin with a finger so I'm looking up into his face, he smirks. "Shouldn't I be the one telling you how beautiful you look in this light? How beautiful you look in any light?" His expression grows more serious. "How relieved I am that you showed up today and that you're willing to take a chance on me?"

My breath catches. He has no idea, and I don't think words could convey to him just how hard things have been for me. I never got over him at all, and even though I kept telling myself that one hot make-out session with a boy in high school does not a fairy tale make, my heart never bought it.

"Edward, did you... think of me at all over the past few years?" I'm afraid to hear the answer, but I need to know.

He cups my face in his hands, moving in closer, and I can feel his warm breath on my face. "Always, Bella. I thought there was something wrong with me, and I had to keep reminding myself that you didn't want me, that it was just one night against a shed in Mike's backyard."

"Really?" My voice squeaks, and my heart starts pounding.

"Bella, I thought of you today... before the wedding. I wished... Well, I thought I saw your hair outside the window—it was just a flash of mahogany, and I immediately thought of you. Part of me hoped you would show up."

"Oh..." I breathe out in awe. "That was my hair... outside the window. I was peeking in at you."

Edward rubs his thumb over my bottom lip, and his eyes are intense—I can see this even through the gloom. "Bella..." he whispers, bringing his lips down to mine.

Sparks shoot through me as his mouth brushes lightly over mine. His kiss is light as a feather, but it has as much impact as it would if he'd crushed himself against me. My heart speeds, my breathing grows shallow, and my fingers grasp his wrists, holding his hands to my face.

He continues with the butterfly soft kisses, his lips slightly parted, and I can taste him on my tongue. He's so familiar because I've dreamed of his scent so often over the past four years, and I realize just how well-preserved the memory of that one night was. The impact of that has a profound affect on me, and I realize I'm willing to go wherever this leads me. How could I not when I have a chance for true happiness? If it doesn't work out, I will be no worse off than I was before, will I?

Edward pulls his hands away and wraps his arms around me, cradling my head against his chest. "We're going to be okay, Bella. Somehow, we will."

"I know," I whisper, snaking my arms around his waist and hugging him back for all I'm worth.

"You're shivering. Why don't we get back to the cottage?" Edward kisses my forehead then holds his hand out to me. We walk back to the cottage, hand-in-hand, a comfortable silence between us.

When we arrive, my handbag is vibrating wildly on the breakfast bar. I pull my phone out to check the display. Five missed calls from Charlie.

"Oh, shit," I whisper.

"What?"

"Charlie—my dad. I was hoping to talk to him before the rumor mill got started."

"He doesn't know you're here?"

"Um, he does now."

"Well, where are you staying?"

"I was planning to head over to Charlie's. All my stuff is still in the rental car." I silence the alerts on my phone, dropping it back into my bag. "I'll deal with him when I get there... I really should go," I sigh.

"Okay, I'll walk you out." Edward grabs my phone and programs his number in then calls his phone with mine so he has my number. "Can I see you... tomorrow?"

"I'd like that," I say shyly, busying myself with gathering my things.

We walk out front to the rental, and I put my things on the passenger seat. Edward waves his hand when I try to give him the hoodie back, and I'm secretly happy that I'll be able to smell him on me.

"I want to take you out, Bella. We never had the chance... to do things right."

"You mean like a date?"

"Yes. Many dates. We need time to get to know each other." He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it, sending pleasant shivers down my spine. "I don't want to rush anything; I want to take my time and savor you."

Oh, my God. The man makes me swoon. My insides feel like they've turned to jelly, and I just nod my head.

Edward holds the door open for me, and I start the car. He leans in the window and kisses me slowly, cupping the back of my head.

"See you soon, Edward." Rolling up the window, I put the car in gear and slowly back up.

"Bella! Wait!" Edward yells out, jogging over to the driver door.

I roll the window back down. "Did I forget something?"

"Don't go," he says breathlessly.

"What?" I put the car in park and look up at him.

"Don't leave. Stay here with me. I'm not ready to be without you yet." Edward reaches in and shuts off the engine, pulling the keys from the ignition. "Stay here tonight." His eyes capture mine, burning with intensity.

"Edward... I don't..." My voice is unsteady, and I don't know what he means by asking me to stay the night.

"Oh!" Edward rubs at the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I would never... I mean, you can have the bed, Bella. I just want you near me, that's all."

And I wasn't looking forward to being away from him, either, so I agree, and my things are brought into the cottage. I know how this will look if Tanya should come back, but I'm beyond caring.

When we get back inside, I play my messages—all hang-ups except for one.

Charlie's gruff voice comes through the speaker. "Isabella Marie Swan, what in tarnation have you gotten up to? And why am I hearing about it from everyone but you? We need to have a talk, young lady. I hope you know what you're doing. And if what I've heard is all true... well... good for you!"

Edward and I both start laughing, and I decide that my conversation with Charlie can wait until morning.

Edward builds a fire in the living room and then makes us grilled cheese sandwiches while I heat up a can of soup. We eat at the breakfast bar, and there's not much conversation happening, but it's a comfortable silence. I think the adrenaline has left us both physically and mentally devastated, and I can't stop yawning no matter how much I try to stifle it.

"I was going to suggest a movie, but I see you're about as tired as I am. Why don't we hit the hay early? I think we'll feel much better tomorrow."

"Sounds good." I yawn again.

Edward moves all my things into the master bedroom, insisting that he can sleep on the futon in the den. He kisses me goodnight in the doorway; a chaste kiss with no strings attached.

Looking around the huge room with an admiring eye, I'm tempted to soak in the Jacuzzi tub in the en suite, but I decide to pass. I'm just too tired. Yawning again, I barely manage to change into a tank top and shorts—I never could stand wearing traditional pajamas—and slide under the sheets before I'm dead to the world.

Sometime during the night, I wake up, disoriented. Focusing my eyes, I see a sliver of moonlight shining through the window onto the hardwood floor. After a moment, it all floods back to me, and I realize I'm in Edward's cottage. Shifting slightly, I realize I'm not alone—there's a warm body pressed up against my back, an arm encircling my waist. Wait, what?

I turn my head slowly, looking behind me. Edward is snuggled up behind me, his face buried in my hair. Even the small amount of movement I make causes him to tighten his arm around me. "Mm-mm, Bella..." he murmurs.

Tears fill my eyes, and I lay my head back down, entwining my fingers with his over my midriff, and slip into the first truly peaceful sleep I've had in four years.

~SN~

~*Edward*~

I know in my head that sleeping in separate beds is the right thing to do. That's the only thing keeping me lying flat on my back on the futon in the den. Sleep eludes me, though; I can't make the replay of the afternoon and evening stop. As I look up at the ceiling of the cottage, Bella's worried voice plays over and over in my head. So, you don't think you'd ever… take Tanya back? Her question caught me off guard, and I'd actually dropped the f-bomb when I responded to her. But at the time, I honestly didn't understand how she could possibly have thought that me taking Tanya back was even an option. Of course, Bella didn't know—until our talk in the woods—that I'd already been questioning the wisdom in marrying Tanya today. While having my wedding interrupted wasn't an easy thing to have gone through, it was the best thing that could have happened. Bella saved me from making what would have been a mistake—the biggest mistake of my life. She did today what I should have done months ago. I wasn't in the right frame of mind to marry Tanya, and I should have known better than to have gotten as far as the altar today.

Rolling over, I punch the pillow, trying to get comfortable. It's a fruitless attempt for two reasons. First, I haven't slept alone in nearly four years; Tanya wasn't exactly a cuddler, but even just having her in the bed with me somehow allowed me to sleep better each night. Second, I know that Bella's in the other room, and I desperately want to fall asleep with her in my arms. Doing so would be inappropriate, though. The internal struggle keeps me awake for hours despite my exhaustion.

I sigh and sit up on the futon, running my hands roughly through my hair. There's no reason to continue lying on the thin, uncomfortable mattress if sleep isn't happening. Sitting up seems to magnify my tiredness, and I rest my head against the back of the sofa. No sooner do my eyes slip closed than Bella's words drift through my mind again. I have to show her that she's my choice. She was always my first choice. I pad across the hardwood floor to the bedroom. I'll just peek in, make sure she's okay. No harm in that. She's so innocent and peaceful in her sleep; I can't pull my eyes away. Time stops as I stand there, just watching her; it could have been two minutes or two hours. All that matters is being in her presence.

"Edward… please don't leave me. Please…" Her voice is thin, almost wispy sounding, and I know that she's still asleep, but that doesn't matter. If her subconscious mind still thinks that I'm going to somehow choose Tanya—or anyone else—instead of her, I have to do everything in my power to make her feel safe and secure. It doesn't feel like a choice anymore; she put herself, her reputation, on the line by coming back to Forks today, and if she thinks for even one second that I don't value the risk she took, then I'm going to prove her wrong.

Before I've even made a conscious decision of how to do that, I find myself slipping into the bed behind Bella, wrapping my arms around her slight waist, and burying my face in her chocolate curls; one deep breath of her scent, and I fall asleep, happier than I've been in four years.

~SN~

The sunlight streaming through the filmy white curtains wakes me gently in the morning. It takes a moment to remember where I am, but after a cursory glance around the room, I remember—my mother's cottage in the woods. The fact that the small house is set in a good-sized clearing in the middle of the forest was part of its allure to my mother. She loves waking up with the sun warming her face—when it decides to make its rare appearance on the Olympic Peninsula, that is—and the fact that the trees are close enough to provide plenty of privacy, and yet far enough away to allow the sun in, was in her top five favorite things about the cottage.

I feel more rested than I have in months, maybe years, and I take a moment to pause and think that through. Why is today so different?

Bella. With that one word, memories flood my mind.

Are those memories real? Did she—the one I've truly wanted all these years—really come to the Abundant Mercy Church yesterday and stop me from marrying Tanya?

I search the room for some sign that it wasn't all a terrible dream, that it's not Tanya in the bed with me. The space next to me is empty, so that doesn't provide me any clues. I wiggle the fingers on my left hand underneath the sheets and quilt; it feels normal. Carefully bringing it out of the covers, I glance at my hand—no ring. The sigh that whooshes out of my lungs is one of relief. I spot my suitcase over by the door, alongside another that I only vaguely recognize. It's not Tanya's; I know that for sure. She and I had a matching set. All the evidence is suggesting that my memories aren't deceiving me… the lack of wedding ring on my finger, the mismatched suitcases by the door…

The shower in the adjoining en suite turns off, and I realize that I didn't even notice that it was on. It's several minutes before the door opens, bringing with it a gust of steam and a gorgeous brunette. "Bella. It's you," I breathe, thrilled and yet somewhat shocked that everything I remember from the previous day actually is real.

She smiles at me and somehow looks even more beautiful than she did just a second ago. "I know. I wasn't entirely sure this was all real when I woke up this morning either." She approaches the bed and sits down next to me, taking my hands in hers. "But it was—it is. Everything we went through yesterday actually happened. And now we're here, together. And I can't think of anyplace I'd rather be." Her smile is infectious, and I can't help but return it.

"I'm not sure where we need to go from here," I tell her honestly. I know what I'd like to do with her—to her. But I remind myself that we're only just beginning here; moving too fast will be disastrous, and I don't want to lose Bella again. Slow and steady wins the race, Cullen. Take it slow and steady with her.

"Well, as much as I'd love to stay in that bed with you all day," she starts, smirking down at me, "I think I probably need to go talk to my dad. I have no idea who told him I was here; it could have been anybody in the church yesterday, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that he does know I'm here, and he deserves an explanation—a thorough explanation from me, not simply whatever half-story the townsfolk have told him."

"Do you want me to come with you to talk to him?"

She frowns slightly, thinking. "I don't know. I mean, of course I want you to, but at the same time, I think I might need to talk to my dad on my own. I know his voice mail sounded… what, proud?" I nod and smile, remembering the message from the night before; 'proud' is a pretty apt description of Charlie's tone in the message. "But I think I need to tell him the same story I told you. He never disliked Mike, but I think he always knew that I wasn't quite happy, either. A good father/daughter talk is definitely in order."

"Okay, fair enough," I tell her. I can completely understand her desire to have this talk with her father. "Do me a favor though? Don't go until I take a shower? I kind of need a ride to my parents' house, since we rode here together in your rental."

She giggles, and it's music to my ears. "Deal."

When I emerge from the shower twenty minutes later, the smell of bacon greets me. I can't keep the grin off my face as I walk into the kitchen. "Something smells good."

Bella turns, startled, but she recovers quickly and returns my smile. "You're just in time." She swiftly places two plates on the breakfast bar where we ate our grilled cheese and soup last night. This time, it's fried eggs, crispy bacon, and sourdough toast.

"This looks great, Bella. You didn't have to cook, though."

"I know I didn't have to; I wanted to." She hands me a fork.

"Thanks." The food tastes even better than it looks—or smells. Like last night, we eat in a comfortable silence. It's nice to not feel like we have to talk every minute of the day; Tanya always had something she wanted to talk about–whether it was our relationship or the new shoes she just bought. I kind of like the quiet that Bella provides.

When the food is gone and the dishes are clean, it's time to leave the cottage. Bella heads for the door while I go back to the bedroom to gather our luggage; I'd like to come back here with Bella again tonight, but I'm not sure that's going to happen. It's best to bring the suitcases; be prepared and all that.

I nearly crash into Bella when I walk out the door. I'd expected her to be in the car already, but she's just standing on the stoop, looking out into the forest. I follow her gaze and realize that it's not the trees she's looking at. The Toyota has been defaced; the word WHORE has been spray-painted on the white paint of the passenger side in broad strokes of blood-red; TRAMP is painted on the back windshield, and HOMEWRECKER is on the hood, all in the same shade of crimson as the dress Tanya wore last night. My mind is blank as I take in the scene before me. I feel like I should somehow comfort Bella, but my eyes are raking all over the car, taking in the damage.

Only two people knew that we were in the cottage last night. One was my mother; the other was Tanya. I know my mom would never do something like this, and honestly, I never thought Tanya capable of it either. It's just one more instance of me not knowing her true personality. I can't believe I got as far as the altar…

"God, Bella, I'm so sorry," I finally manage to choke out. "I can't believe she did this." My voice is quiet as I work through the shock of the situation.

"Do you think it was Tanya?" I can barely hear Bella; a whisper would have been louder than the tone she just used.

"Without a doubt," I reply darkly. "She and my mother were the only ones who knew you and I were here together, and my mom was in support of me and you talking. Besides, I'd like to think that Mom's a little more mature than to spray-paint a car." It was meant as a joke to lift the mood, but my voice isn't light enough to pull it off; neither of us even crack a smile.

"What am I going to do? That car's a rental. I'm going to be on the hook for the damage."

Logic is my strong suit, and if I can't make her feel better with a joke, I hope I can with the facts of the situation. "You got the insurance that the rental company suggested, right?"

She looks up at me, and I can see the tears that have pooled there; I can also read the determination in her face. She's trying hard not to let this bother her, but struggling. "Yeah, of course I did. If I only learned one thing from my dad, it's the importance of insurance."

"Well, I'd think this would be covered, then. I mean, I guess I don't know for sure, since it's the rental insurance, but it would definitely be covered if it was a private policy on your own car. You shouldn't worry about the cost until you talk to the rental agency. That's what insurance is for, though. It's not like you asked for the car to be vandalized or did it yourself. Even if it's not covered, it's my fault that this happened; I'll pay the damage."

"How is it possibly your fault? I came all the way here from frickin' Florida and busted up your wedding. You had no idea I was coming, much less why. If anything, it's my fault for coming here in the first place."

I set the suitcases down on the stoop and cup Bella's chin in my hand. "Hey, hey, hey, don't say that. You did a noble thing here, Bella. I don't want you regretting it, not one bit. Yeah, it was a bit of a shock, but I'm over it. No, I mean it," I assure her when her eyes close in disbelief. "I've told you this already; I'm thankful I didn't marry Tanya yesterday. She's a cold-hearted, manipulative bitch, and I should've seen through her act a long time before I did. Besides, you were leaving last night, and I asked you to stay, remember?"

I can tell this is still a difficult conversation for Bella, and that thought is confirmed when she speaks again. After a deep breath, she opens her eyes and completely changes the subject. "You really think the insurance will cover it?"

"Like I said, I don't know for sure, but I think so. Of course, that doesn't help in the short term. I don't really see any way out of driving the car like that. Unless we just stay here for a few more days." I waggle my eyebrows suggestively.

This time, my joke carries a little better; Bella bursts out laughing. "Okay, you can't do that." She barely manages to get the words out through the giggling and is pointing at my forehead. "Seriously, that eyebrow wiggling… that's about the funniest thing I've ever seen." I laugh with her at her synopsis of my action.

After a few minutes, we've finally calmed down, and I bring us back to the situation at hand. "Tell you what. I'll drive again, and when we get to my parents' house, you can take my car to your dad's."

"Really?" I nod. "Thank you, Edward."

With the luggage in the trunk of Bella's rental, we climb in and make the short drive from the cottage to my parents' house. I'm secretly glad we don't have to go into the town of Forks to get there; I'd do it for Bella, but driving the defaced car is a little embarrassing.

When we reach the end of the quarter-mile drive, I keep going, past the house and out to the garage where my Volvo is kept. Handing Bella the key that I've just dug out of my pocket, I point out the right car.

"I know which car is yours, Edward," she says, giggling. "It's the same one you had in high school."

"Yes, it is," I reply, chuckling gently. I shift the Toyota into park and turn toward Bella. "So, when am I going to see you again?"

"Sometime tonight, I think. You mentioned something about a date?" She smiles coyly.

"Yes. Yes, I did." I can't keep the grin off my face.

"Good. I'll call you in a few hours after I talk to my dad, okay?"

"Okay."

She turns to get out of the car.

"Bella?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you again for coming here and keeping me from making a mistake. I think I'll be indebted to you for as long as I live."

She reaches over the center console and grasps my hand in hers. "I'm just glad you didn't tell me to get lost." She lifts my hand to her mouth and places a gentle kiss on each fingertip before releasing my hand and climbing out of the car. I watch her enter the garage and pull my Volvo out of its spot, and we wave to each other as she pulls past me, down the driveway. When I can no longer see the glint of silver from my car in the rearview mirror, I pull the Corolla into the spot the Volvo just vacated and cut the engine.

I sit in the car for at least half an hour, just thinking. Finally, I climb slowly out of the rental car and walk back to the main house. Time to face the family.

~SN~


A/N: You know you have something to say after all that... probably multiple somethings. Ready, aim... fire away!

For those who've been asking, we plan to continue updating this story every 1-2 weeks, and we're ahead a few chapters.

Thanks so much for reading! Reviewers will receive a teaser for the next chapter. Please note that if you have PMs disabled, you won't be able to receive review replies/teasers.

Psst... Wendy has a new story coming out in the next week or so called 'Music of the Heart.' As her beta, and having read the first several chapters, I say you need to put her on your author alerts. It's an AH, E/B story with James as his usual lovely self.

There will be a special outtake of 'Speak Now' featuring Mike and Tanya gifted for the Fandom for Sexual Assault Awareness in June.

Sarita would like to recommend a story this week. 'Strawberry Wine' by Kas90. It's an AH E/B fic that has too few reviews. Please check it out, and let the author know where you heard about it!

Wendy's (wmr1601) blog is: www . wmr1601 . wordpress . com

For more of Wendy's stories and information you can check out her profile, wmr1601, or her collab profile with Caz at wmrcaz.

Sarita's blog is: www . saritadreaming . wordpress . com

Sarita is working on several multi-chapter stories (double forehead slap) and Fandom Gives Back projects which are listed on this profile.

Sarita is finishing an update of 'Broken Windows' this week and beginning work on the next chapter of 'I Want It Painted Black.'

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