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thanks to my betawife, nic, for being all mind-melty with me so we can share ideas and pretty pictures.

For the first time in months, I'm by myself in the woods behind the Inn. Now that I know the Unseen are really just Edward and maybe the wolves, depending, I'm no longer afraid. The feeling of being watched lurks, and while the way it keeps the forest quiet, as if lesser prey have long since left to avoid the presence of something dangerous, I find comfort in knowing that I, at least, am safe.

Sloshing through mud puddles, I run my hands over mossy bark and wet leaves, letting rainwater trickle between my fingertips. The tiny diamonds on the ring Edward gave me are lovely when they catch the light, twinkling quietly like the raindrops that cling to leaves after last night's storm.

Oddly, it's a perfect fit, as if this ring was made for my finger…and maybe it was. The look on Edward's face when he realized this plays on a continual loop through my mind's eye. His eyes searching mine, and the subsequent smile of relief.

I laugh to myself now, wondering: doesn't this boy know he's everything? That the words and gestures are sweet but what we have is infinitely sweeter?

It's been a long time since I've enjoyed my own company this way. Rachel, like a lot of the shopkeepers downtown, opted not to open today due to the minor flooding down Main Street. Even though we'd been expecting the storm, the amount of rain took everyone by surprise. That's saying a lot, seeing we live in one of the wettest places on the planet.

I don't know where Edward is. He dropped me home early this morning, when nighttime met daybreak in a brush of blue, promising, as always, to contact me later. I'm not as anxious as I usually am. This ring he gave me signifies his commitment, and I know that he will never leave me again.

Underbrush and leaves crunch greenly nearby, and I pause, scanning my surroundings with meager human eyes and ears. Sunlight dapples through the canopy of trees overhead, and for a moment the play of light hinders me from seeing what's there. But then the wind blows, and the trees shift, and from the bushes emerges an abnormally large wolf with reddish brown fur. My fight or flight instincts flash momentarily through me before I take a breath and force myself to get a grip.

Before I can speak, though, he slinks back off in to the shadows, leaving me to wonder if he was ever really there at all.

"So now you do take walks through the woods?" Leah asks, arching an eyebrow.

I sigh, all at once at the end of my rope with her intrusiveness. It's becoming harder and harder to tell if her attitude is bossy or caring.

"Bella –"

"Jeez, Leah, yes. Okay? Yes. I needed to be outside. I needed –"

"Fresh air," she finishes.

"Right."

We eye one another. I turn on my heel, intent on hiding out in my room for awhile.

"I don't mean to smother you –"

"Oh really? Because that's all you do, lately," I snap, regretting immediately the way her face falls. But my stubborn nature, a part of me that got a bit mashed down during the months of wondering and grief, keeps me from apologizing. Even though I kind of want to.

"I'm just looking out for you," she explains, shaking her head. "We think there might be a vampire passing through. I didn't want to tell you and freak you out, but if you're going to be spending time outside, then…"

She pauses, her eyes darting nervously toward a window. Now I feel guilty; I know who the wolves are subconsciously sensing even though they don't think they have proof yet. There's no way I can appease them and protect Edward, though.

"Has…Jake been patrolling?" I ask, wondering if he's gone rogue or something.

"Yeah." Leah nods once.

"Oh. I thought I saw him."

She frowns. "He's supposed to keep a low profile."

"Maybe he was making a point." I can totally imagine Jake sulking that he's still on probation when it comes to me. He wanted me to see him today, wanted me to know he was helping protect me. I just hope he hasn't been watching too closely, because he mightn't like what he sees. Then again, if Jake had seen Edward, all of Forks would've heard about it by now, or at least the rest of the tribe.

"Probably." She rolls her eyes. "It was bad enough before, but now that the threat seems stronger, he insists on being close by."

"I promise I'll be careful, then… but beyond protecting the perimeter – or whatever it is you guys do – I need space. Personal space," I say, grabbing her hand. "I feel like everything I do is monitored, and maybe I needed that for awhile but I don't need it anymore. I'm… feeling better." I keep my voice even, not wanting my change of attitude to seem sudden or suspect.

She nods. "I see that. It's a good thing, Bella. Maybe… I don't know."

I have a feeling she wants to reassure me about Edward, like she did when we discussed him before, but doesn't want to breech that topic in case I react badly. I can't say I blame her. Last time, I cried about it. Balancing the old me – the one who was in limbo because of Edward's disappearance – with the current, happier, at peace me is like walking a tight rope. I can't let changes in my disposition arouse suspicion.

"Just watch it out there," she says finally, exhaling. "At least until we know what's going on?"

"Will do." I squeeze her arm and duck in to the safety and quiet of my room.

The beginnings of a plan have been rumbling around my head since this morning, but with the news that the wolves are on high alert, I know now what I need to do. Because even when this "threat" passes, there will always be something, and I just can't live like this anymore.

"Summer courses?" Edward sounds incredulous, but also excited. I feel the same way: this might be a solution – albeit temporary – to our problem. "But what about all of the paperwork? Weren't you going to go back in the fall?"

I glance around the parking lot, making sure we're still alone. Edward's car idles just beside mine, so that he can leave on a moment's notice if necessary. "Yeah, but I'd deferred once before, so I'm hoping I can just switch things around again. And if I can't, then I'll just tell Charlie I need time away, that I want to work or something in Seattle."

"Like he'll agree to that," scoffs Edward. "You think I'm protective? That's your father..."

"Hey, I can be compelling too, you know," I tease. "Maybe differently than how you would do it, but –"

"Actually, that gives me an idea."

"You're not using compulsion on Charlie."

"Never said I was."

I finger the ring he gave me, which I keep in my pocket when I'm around other people. "Then…?"

"Admissions," he says, smirking. "I know the campus of UW like the back of my hand. Do you know how easy it would be to get in, fix the paperwork, and send you your acceptance letter?"

"I already have an acceptance letter," I tell him.

"Not for summer, you don't," he says, looking pleased. "If the school can guarantee your admission, I'm guessing Charlie won't have an issue letting you leave."

It's a good idea, if not a little shady. Luckily I'm not above shadiness in situations such as this.

"I'm surprised you're going for this," I admit.

"Why?" he asks curiously.

"Because… I don't know. You're so cautious these days. Definitely not as impulsive as before."

"Well, can you blame me?" He chuckles darkly. "If I started listing all the reasons I have to be careful, with you and with being in Forks, we'd be here all day."

"Point taken."

"But in this case, it'll be good for you to leave Forks. Your wolves are right: there are three vampires in the area. Carlisle's been keeping an eye on them since they passed by Port Angeles."

My heart leaps in to my throat. "Are you serious?"

He pulls me closer, probably sensing my unease. Ducking his head, he runs his nose along my neck. "In fact, I'd feel better if you got out of here immediately."

"But what would I tell Charlie?"

"That you're going to see a friend. Isn't Angela still in Seattle? Spring semester isn't over for another month at least."

"But…what about my family? My friends? Shouldn't we warn them?" I ask, knowing even as the words leave my mouth how nonsensical they sound.

"If by your friends you mean the wolves, then I wouldn't worry. They're more than capable of dealing with this, especially since they outnumber the travelers," he says. "And as for your family, I think Leah and Sam have that under control. I'll be honest, Bella, I want you out of town for selfish purposes… I won't be able to relax knowing that you're in the same vicinity as a trio of vampires when I can't be there myself. I can protect you best when you're with me."

I close my eyes as he kisses me along my throat and behind my ear. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you've thought a lot about all of this."

"Nope, I'm just a quick thinker."

"Another vampire trait?" I murmur, only half teasing.

"That's all me," he whispers, kissing my cheek before releasing me. My phone chimes, letting me know my lunch break is almost over. With things as close as they are at my house, and the wolves watching the woods in general, this is the only way Edward and I felt safe meeting today.

From the way Leah made it sound earlier, according to the tribe, the perceived threat is avoiding town for now and so are the wolves, giving us this tiny window of opportunity to see one another.

Sighing heavily, I stow my phone and turn to Edward, who already has one foot out the door. "So you'll be in Port Angeles tonight, then, to see Carlisle?"

"Maybe. I don't know yet," he says, troubled. "On one hand, I don't want to add to the wolves' senses and suspicion by staying, but on the other I don't want to be too far away from you if anything goes down."

"Do you think anything will?" I ask, clenching the steering wheel anxiously. "Go down?"

He shrugs. "It's hard to say for sure, but if the read I'm getting on their thoughts is accurate, they're not here for trouble and they don't plan on staying long. Still, I'd feel better if you gave Angela a call. I'll go to Seattle if you do. Either that, or you should stay at the Inn this weekend."

Being stuck inside the Inn with parents, a little sister and a pack of nosy, overly protective shape shifters sounds absolutely maddening, so contacting Angela it is. "I'll call her as soon as I get back to the store."

"Good," he says, nodding. "It'll be easier for us to hang out in the city."

I'm already thinking of ways to do this very thing. "I'll text you when my plans are concrete."

He leans back in to kiss me quickly, and then slides out of my truck and in to his car.

Charlie's taken aback by my sudden request to spend the weekend in Seattle, but technically I'm an adult so there's nothing he can do about it. Besides, had things gone the way they were supposed to, I would have already been there for spring semester. It was only after Edward's disappearance that I ended up staying in Forks to wait until fall.

Well, that was my original, post high school intention – to take off a full year before starting college. It's no wonder my poor father's confused; he probably thinks I change plans like I change clothing.

And maybe I do, but there is nothing about my life that is typical. I was never a "go with the flow" type of person before, but when love, vampires and werewolves became a part of my every day existence, I learned pretty quickly how to wing it. The only thing certain about life is that nothing is certain.

My father is still frowning when I finish explaining my tentative plans, but then Leah of all people speaks up.

"Let her go, Charlie. It's better than moping around here, right?" She winks at me.

He shrugs, not that easily mollified. "I suppose."

"Forks gets old after awhile," Leah continues, mashing a banana in to her bowl of granola. She has her own reasons for wanting me out of town this weekend, though she doesn't know they're the same as Edward's. "Call me when you go, Bell. I'll give you the names of my favorite places to eat." She wanders out of the kitchen.

"I might try to get in for summer session, actually," I blurt. Might as well get it all out in the open, like ripping off a band aid.

Surprisingly, though, Charlie looks pleased at this. I guess hanging out with my friends in Seattle is suspect, but attending school there isn't? I give up trying to figure out the way his mind works. "That might be a good idea, Bells. It'll be good to have a little direction, something with a schedule. Keeps your mind right."

"I think so, too," I say, relieved I have his support. "It's time."

Angela isn't at home when I call, but she calls me back soon after.

"Sorry," she pants. "I was in class…in fact, I'm about to step in to another one…sorry…"

I let her ramble breathlessly for a moment before she finally asks if I'm okay.

"I'm…yeah. I am. Actually, I wanted to know if I could spend some time with you. There. On campus."

"Really?" she asks, sounding cautiously happy. "You'd come?"

To be fair, she's been asking me to visit since she started school, but I was always too busy, distracted, or depressed.

"Yeah. I miss you," I say, feeling awful that I'm using that as a reason even though it's totally true. I do miss her. "And I need a break from Forks."

"I was wondering when that would happen," she laughs. "Anyway, yeah. Come whenever; stay for as long as you want. I have a roommate, but she's pretty mellow about guests and stuff."

"Okay," I agree. Edward will be there, and he'll most likely end up getting a hotel room or something to stay close. If he does, I'm staying with him…but I'll figure that out when I get to the city. "I'll uh… I'll call you when I get there."

"Oh! Are you coming tonight?"

"I might. Is that okay?"

"I have a study group that might run a little late tonight, but you're totally welcome to crash here. I'll tell Carmen to just let you in."

Perfect.

After checking my oil and making sure I know how to change a tire, Charlie begrudgingly lets me hit the road. He makes me promise to call him as soon as I hit the halfway point, and again once I'm at Angela's.

He acts like it's because my truck is ancient, but I know my dad. He wouldn't let me drive the damn thing at all if he'd had misgivings about it. No, he's just being Charlie. I wouldn't have it any other way. After years of living with a sweet but rather flighty mother, where I often felt like the adult in the relationship, it's nice to be taken care of.

…To an extent. I'm ready for a modicum of independence now, freedom from both scenarios.

As soon as I pull on to the main road, I slip Edward's ring back on to my finger. It's too special not to attract questions and attention, and I haven't figured my way around that yet. I could say it was Mom's, or something, but lying about something as significant as this makes me feel slightly sick to my stomach. Then again, there have been lies of omission and straight up lies for weeks now. And the longer I stay with Edward there are only going to be more.

But for now the ring brings me peace. Peace in knowing my boyfriend's back safe, and he loves me, and he's mine as I am his.

I stop to stretch my legs and get gas before boarding the ferry. A silver Volvo pulls up alongside me, making me do a double take.

"Hey," Edward says, starting to fill his own gas tank.

"Have you…have you been following me this whole time?" I sputter.

"Yep."

"Why didn't we just ride together?"

"How would you have explained that to Charlie?"

He's got me, there. I smile, basking in the warmth of Edward's thoughtfulness and care.

He grins back crookedly, replacing the pump. "You want anything from inside?"

"I'm good, thanks."

We get back on the road. Even though my initial travel jitters dissipated long ago, I feel a whole lot better knowing he's so close.

Edward and I separate outside Angela's door. He wants to get things squared away with the hotel, and I need to meet Carmen by myself.

Bags at my feet, I knock steadily for nearly five minutes before giving up, wondering if she's not home, if maybe Angela's message got lost or confused, when the door swings open and I'm met by a tall, gorgeous girl with long, black hair.

"Bella?" she guesses, her voice husky like she smokes, or like she's just sexy by default.

"Hi, Carmen," I say, offering my hand.

Grinning, she takes it, squeezing. "Hey. Come on in...Angela said she'd try to cut her study thing short but...you know how those things go."

I don't, really, but I nod like I do. "That's fine. I appreciate you guys letting me crash here."

She waves me off. "Please, it's fine. Anyway, make yourself at home. I have a little reading to catch up on, but I'm here if you need me."

"Thanks."

She disappears in to what I assume is her room, keeping the door open just a crack. I'm hungry now, and wishing I'd taken Sue up on her offer to pack me food for the road. I'll just have to wait until Edward comes. Before Brazil, he'd already lived on this very campus for a year. He must know of all the best spots to grab food.

It hits me that for the first time since he came back, and probably since he was changed, we'll be able to do things like a normal couple, the way it used to be. He can't eat, obviously, but we can go on dates and spend time together without the scrutiny of others. There are people here who knew him before, and we'll need to be ready for what we'll say should we see them, but other than that I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my chest.

I turn on the television and toe my shoes off, settling back in to the couch. The drive tuckered me out more than I realized, and before long I start to doze.

"Bella. Bella!"

I awake with a shock, completely unused to my surroundings and the girl in front of me.

Carmen. Ange's roommate.

"Hey," I say thickly, rubbing at my eyes.

She holds up my phone. "It's been ringing. Like, a lot."

"Shit," I whisper, searching blearily though my missed calls and texts. They're all from Edward, with the exception of one from Charlie. I call him back first, apologizing profusely and explaining that I passed out as soon as I got to the dorm room. I call Edward next, and he answers on the first ring.

"You fell asleep, didn't you?" he asks.

"How'd you guess?" I stifle a yawn, proving his conjecture.

"Why don't you just sleep tonight? I can come tomorrow."

"No!"

"Oh, okay," he says with a small laugh.

"How soon can you be here?"

I shouldn't be surprised by the knock at the door, but I am. "Show off," I grumble, going to answer it. After squinting through the peephole, I open it.

"I heard that," Edward says, sliding past me. His cold fingers find mine, passing over the ring before clasping them. "I was going to stop by anyway."

Instead of answering, I kiss him. He moves me further inside the room, kissing me back as the door shuts with a muted click.

He stiffens just barely, and I pull away, sensing Carmen's presence. Bashfully, I duck my head and turn around, embarrassed at being caught making out in her dorm.

"Carmen, this is–"

"Anthony. Hi," Edward says, looking intently at Carmen.

"Hi." She blinks back, dazzled.

It's the first time I've seen Edward use compulsion, but I roll with it. "Yeah. And Anthony, this is Angela's roommate, Carmen." He gives her a small wave, keeping his distance. I assume it's so that he doesn't have to shake her hand, either to avoid the issue of his cold skin, or maybe her expression, which has gone from dazed to somewhat lusty.

She's definitely the type of girl who is used to getting what she wants, and right now she's looking at my boyfriend like he's a juicy steak. Little does she know; if anyone was going to end up on the dinner menu, it sure as hell wouldn't be him.

"Nice to meet you," she says, folding her arms across her chest as she leans in her doorway.

"Likewise," Edward replies. "Bella, you ready?"

"Yep. See you later, Carmen. Edward's taking me to get something to eat."

She smiles knowingly. "Have fun."

Outside, I zip my jacket up against the light rain that's begun to fall. "Guess I'll have to get used to that."

"What?"

"Your vampire voodoo."

"I wouldn't have used it had she not been friends with Angela. I'm not supposed to be here."

"I understand." And I do. No need for additional complications just yet. "I'll also have to get used to girls reacting to your inhumanely perfect looks."

He shrugs. "It's a survival device. Helps us attract prey."

The detached way he says this sends an honest to goodness shiver up my spine. Prey. I could be another vampire's prey. I could be his, if he didn't love me so much.

Edward leans closer, sliding his arm around my waist. "I may not be able to read your mind, but I can read your body. Don't be afraid of me."

"I'm not."

His face falls. "Don't lie to me, either. You never did before."

"You're right; I'm sorry." I kiss his chin in apology, not wanting to ruin our chance of having an easygoing night to ourselves.

We've come to his car, parked on the curb not far from Angela's building. He leans me gently against it, pressing his body against mine. "I love you."

His words, and the look in his eyes, set me aglow. He's no predator; he's the guy I love. Every day he regains parts of his old self, re-becomes the person I knew and adored, and I find myself falling deeper and deeper in love with him. It's a heady feeling, because while what we had before was beautiful, this feels so much more permanent.

"I love you, too."

Being in Seattle reminds me of how much I've missed city life. Forks has real estate on my heart, but there's no denying how tempting and exhilarating the sparkling nightlife of a metropolis can be.

Edward's hotel room is, of course, posh. He's used to a certain lifestyle, and I don't fault him for it. He says he stayed here with his parents once, right before leaving the country last summer, and that he'd really liked it at the time.

To put it mildly, Edward's loaded. Soon after returning to the states, Carlisle and Edward got in touch with both the Masen's lawyer and the executor of their estate. Because both offices are based in Seattle, it was easy to transfer the funds to Edward solely without having to actually go to Forks. Obviously, Edward did end up going to Forks, but it was to secretly see me, not for the purpose of dealing with the house (which he's "sold" to Carlisle to effectively cut ties with the town) and his family's affairs.

While he doesn't spend wildly, Edward doesn't scrimp, either. We sprawl across the vast bed, lounging the night hours away in pajamas. I've already thrown out the empty containers from dinner –Thai takeout; the smell bothers Edward – and texted Angela to let her know I'm staying the night with a friend in the city, and that I'll be by in the morning to see her.

Something's been nagging me, though. "Edward."

He looks away from the movie we're half watching.

"One night, I swore I woke up outside. But when I got up in the morning, I was in bed…only, there was dried mud and grass on my feet. You were there that night, weren't you? Were you with me?"

His eyes narrow and he nods briskly. "That was the night you hit Jacob and had to go to the hospital."

"Yes! Yes, it was," I say, glad he remembers with such clarity.

"What about it?"

"Well, why was I outside? How did I get out there? And back in?"

"I brought you back in. You were pretty out of it."

"I was, wasn't I?"

"You were on medication; it made your blood smell funny."

"But how did I get out?" I ask. "That's been bothering me ever since."

"I don't know. You were on the ground when I got there. I carried you inside immediately. You kept saying my name, and I kept expecting you to wake up but you never did."

"Obviously, I talk in my sleep a lot. Do you think it's possible I sleepwalked, too?"

Edward frowns. "It's not likely, but it's not impossible. I mean, those meds were pretty hardcore."

"Well, thanks for taking care of me that night. Waking up outside, in the dark, was scary."

"It scared me, too. I started coming earlier after that, to make sure it didn't happen again."

We fall silent, and his attention once again goes to the TV screen. Mine goes to him. He can sit or lie completely still now, like a statue. It's kind of weird. His defenses are down around me, so the things he does to "appear human", something he says Carlisle has been teaching him, tend to be forgotten.

I toss a pillow at him, wanting attention. His profile faces me, and in it I see a smile starting. "What?"

"What do you mean, what?" I say, hitting him with another pillow.

I throw several more of varying shapes and sizes at him before he rolls on to his back, eyes gleaming dangerously. "You might want to behave, Bella."

"What, am I awakening a few more aggressive tendencies?" I taunt.

"You have no idea."

"I hate to break it to you, but you don't scare me right now."

He stands up. "You really shouldn't have said that."

All it takes is a split second. He's in the air and on top of me, flying us over the bed until we tumble on to the ground. I shriek loudly, grabbing at his t-shirt. His arms cradle me so that I don't feel any of the impact, but I'm breathless with shock. Letting me go slowly, he grins impishly as I melt on to the carpet, my heart racing.

Right as I open my mouth to speak, there's a knock at the door.

Edward's mischief is replaced by bemusement. Leaving me on the floor, he stands slowly, scratching his head, and goes to the door, not hesitating to open it to whomever is knocking.

"Yes, Alice?"

I pop my head up, trying to see. The last time I heard the name Alice was when Edward was telling me about the members of Carlisle's family. Could it be…?

"Hey…I had a vision. I just wanted to make sure…you know," a female voice responds.

"Bella," Edward calls.

I stand immediately and straighten my shirt, slightly mortified. "Hi."

At the door stand a couple, just as flawless and lovely as Edward, though I'll always be partial to his particular features. The girl is dark haired and petite, wearing the sort of clothes I've only ever seen in magazines. Her male companion is much taller, perhaps even more so than Edward, and blond.

"Bella, meet Alice and Jasper."

The first week of last August

Time moved faster until it seemed as though there was no break between days. I was caught between wanting the hours that I was apart from Edward to speed up so I could see him again, and wanting the hours I was with him to drag so I could wring every drop from them.

It was never enough.

I had him explain it to me a thousand times: Doctors Without Borders. What it was, what it meant, what it meant to him. I wanted to be inside of his mind and have him firmly, safely inside of mine so that when he finally was gone, I could feel his presence.

Charlie sat me down one night after dinner while Sue was giving Emily a bath. Edward and his parents were having dinner at the home of family friends, and he wouldn't be by to see me until much later. Both the Masens and my father had been very patient with our incessant need to spend time together, seeming to understand that our relationship was serious.

I smiled shyly at Charlie, having a feeling I knew what the conversation would entail.

He smiled back wryly, messing with his mustache the way he did when he was in a pensive mood. "You're a lot like me," he said eventually.

"That's probably true," I said, thinking of our quiet dispositions, our propensity for using only the most necessary words. "I got my eyes from you."

He snorted, which made me giggle. "That you did."

"I'm kidding. But yeah, I guess I am like you. More than I'm like Renee, anyway."

"God bless her," Charlie sighed, nodding. "But…what I meant was, I think you love the way I do. It won't happen much for you, and so when it does, it will mean something. It'll be strong."

My heart clenched. I hadn't anticipated on expounding on my relationship with Edward, as it felt private and I wanted to savor it that way, but now the words were bubbling beneath the surface. "It has happened, Dad."

He just nodded again, like he'd been expecting that. "I want you to be careful, Bells."

"Da –"

"Listen," he said, his eyes kind but stern. "I know you love that kid. You don't have to tell me; it's written all over your face. I like Edward. He comes from good people. But I need you to understand that the likelihood of you two staying together indefinitely is low. He has a very different lifestyle, and very different goals, than you do."

"I know that," I said, frowning in to my lap. "He and I've discussed this ad nauseum. We're willing to make it work, though."

"Every couple thinks they're different," he said. "Your mom and I thought we'd be different, too."

I squashed the urge to roll my eyes. It was of paramount importance I deal maturely with Charlie, otherwise I'd just be proving his point. "Charlie, I love you, but Edward and I are not you and Mom. We have completely different plans, not just as a couple, but as individuals too. We know it's not going to be easy, especially if Edward continues traveling like this, but we're willing to try. There's no way I could live with myself if I didn't try."

"Like I said…just like me," he said.

I regarded him momentarily. He wasn't being patronizing or condescending, just honest. And I knew that what he was saying was probably true, at least, from his standpoint. Just like I wouldn't be true to myself if I didn't give Edward my all, Charlie wouldn't be true to himself if he didn't voice his concerns. I got that, I really did. I just didn't agree with him.

Stubborn. So yeah, I guess I really was a lot like him.

Edward's flight would be leaving Seattle early Sunday morning. He'd already packed; I'd helped him. His parents had been taking these trips long enough that they knew exactly what he'd need and wouldn't need, which streamlined the process significantly.

On Friday night, I pulled up to Edward's and parked. The house appeared dark, like the lights were off, but I knew he was home because we'd just gotten off the phone.

I rang the doorbell, antsy for him to let me inside, already. The woods surrounding his house were just as dense and green as the ones around mine. Sometimes they were beautiful, but other times they were a little creepy, the stuff of dark fairytales.

"Hey you," Edward said, pulling me inside.

My bag hit the ground as we kissed. He was just as hungry as I was for all the intimacy we could squeeze in before Sunday.

"Mmph…what about your parents?" I gasped against his mouth.

"They're already gone," he said, barely breaking away. "They left a little while ago."

"I don't get it," I whispered, already half drunk with desire.

He kissed the corner of my mouth before moving away completely, bending to retrieve my bag from the floor. "I'll meet them at their hotel tomorrow night, and on Sunday we'll go to the airport together," he explained. "They wanted to give us this time together."

My eyes must have bugged out in surprise, because he laughed merrily.

"Sorry, my parents just aren't as progressive as yours are," I said, unable to keep from smiling, myself. "Well Charlie's not, anyway."

"They trust me," he said simply, taking my hand. "They know I'm waiting. We're waiting."

I blushed at the notion of Edward's parents knowing such cozy details about our love life.

The Masen's backyard had become a haven of sorts, perfect for our summertime dalliances – especially at night. The days stretched and lingered in to the prettiest dusks, giving us sunsets that bloomed from orange to gold, and then sometimes purple.

Sometimes it was drizzling, and if we wanted to be outside we had to do so from beneath the shelter of the porch. Once, Edward insisted we "rough it" in his childhood pup tent. That lasted until thunder and lightning joined the rain, at which point I jumped ship and ran inside, ignoring Edward's playful taunts.

But some nights, like tonight, the weather gods were smiling upon us. We'd missed the sunset, but the yard was resplendent with Elizabeth's lanterns and fairy lights, now permanent backyard fixtures. Edward had turned them all on, placing blankets and cushions in the middle. A white sheet hung between two trees, and a little table with a projector stood off to the side.

Gasping, I took in the scene, hardly able to believe that Edward could possibly be any more perfect. Why did he have to go? Why? I felt like I'd just found him, only to have him yanked away too soon. But it was only temporary, and I resolved to make the most of our time apart. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that, which was probably bullshit, but it sounded good and so I clung to it.

"Bella?"

I gaped at Edward, who was watching me in amusement. He knew me by now, knew my girly expressions, the things that made me laugh so hard I snorted, as well as the ones that made me tear up. He knew I often got lost in my thoughts.

I hoped he knew how much I loved him.

"I can't believe you did this," I said, walking to the pillows. "Actually, yes I can."

He made a small chuffing sound, all smug and and happy with himself and my reaction.

"You're… you might be perfect, Edward, I don't know…"

"No, you might be. I know this isn't easy for you, and it's quite possibly one of the most selfish things I'll ever do – running after my dreams this way – but you're letting me go and for that, you deserve everything. The best things."

I kicked off my shoes, not knowing what to say. We sat on the makeshift bed in the grass, where he pulled out two glasses and a bottle of his mother's sangria. "She made it just for us," he said.

Neither of us ever drank, really, but one would be hard pressed to find a person that could resist the appeal of Elizabeth's homemade sangria. Once she'd discovered, at their Fourth of July party, how much our family liked it, she'd made several bottles and sent them home with me for Charlie and Sue. And she'd never tell them, but she and Edward's father allowed us to have it at their home, as well.

We passed the time snacking and watching a Cameron Crowe marathon, who we could always agree was a genius for making movies that appealed to both sexes. Once the sangria was finished, we turned the projector off and lay back, surrounded by love and light.

And lust. Edward's hands had been wandering all night, but he'd kept it PG-13 until now. While I was fully onboard with Edward's reasons for saving ourselves, I'd worn a skirt expressly so that things could escalate easily. Maybe I'd stopped trying to convince him long ago, but I had no problem tempting him.

He crawled on top of me, kissing and nipping at my throat. I wrapped my legs lazily around him, resting my bare feet on his calves. Sweet turned to hot, and our kisses grew deeper, longer and more intense. He ground against me almost automatically, instinctively. We'd gotten to this point before, sometimes even letting it ride until we came, but this time Edward dragged himself down my body and yanked my panties to the side.

Opening my eyes in surprise, I propped myself on my elbows, half sitting up to see if he was doing what I thought he was. Then his eyes met mine, and he was smiling… and going down on me.

I collapsed back on to the blanket, panting with pleasure, fisting his hair. This was the first time he'd done this to me, and I started quivering under his tongue soon after he began.

It's a good thing he didn't have neighbors.

I woke up with the sun in my face.

We'd fallen asleep outside, a first for us. Last night had been full of firsts, although we'd kept the most significant one on hold until he returned from Brazil. I found I didn't mind that; it gave me even more to look forward to.

Yawning, I rolled to my side so that I could watch Edward for awhile before he woke up. There were lines creasing his face from where his skin had been pressed in to the blanket, and his hair was crazier than ever. I stared at his lips, red and a little raw from the hours of making out we'd just had. Mine felt chapped, too.

His eyes floated open, and for a minute, he simply stared back.

I reached over to touch his hair, and he pulled my wrist to kiss it. "So no wild animals attacked us during the night," he surmised, his voice scratchy from sleep (or a lack thereof).

"Nope. Safe and sound," I said, sitting up.

He sat next to me, running his hand through his hair. Neither of us said it, but this was it. Our hours were numbered now.

He followed me back to my house so we could drop off my car, and I left a note for Charlie, hoping he'd just think I'd had a late night and an early morning. Edward and I spent the day together, and around three o'clock I helped him load the car and lock up his house. He brought me home, where we kissed for way too long in my driveway. I tried not to cry and almost succeeded, but then he laughed when I did, and I laughed, and my heart was surprisingly light.

His text came as he boarded the plane.

Keep my heart safe. I've left it with you.

almost full circle now.

please review, loves. i like knowing i'm not rambling aimlessly, here. many thanks for reading, and for those of you who ~are~ sharing your thoughts and theories and reactions and questions with me - *hugs*

also, hearing about the things everyone was thankful for just made me feel good. attitudes of gratitude are powerful, yo.

twilighted thread on my profile.

xoxo