A/N: A huge thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed this story! I think I have responded to all reviews…if I missed anyone, it was an oversight! I try to send you all a reply to let you all know how much I appreciate you all! You guys are awesome! Also, to everyone who has favorited or alerted this story, many thanks! You all let me know that you are enjoying this!

Disclaimer: I don't own, yada yada…

Bella stared, dumbstruck, as multiple things happened at once. The Cullens moved too quickly for her to see their individual movements, but when they were all finally stationary, she assessed the situation.

Edward, crouched over Ben in a protective stance, his back to the rest of the family.

Jasper, being restrained by Alice, Emmett, and Rosalie, snarls ripping from his chest, his teeth barred.

Esme, suddenly standing beside her, a comforting arm around her waist.

And Carlisle, standing in the center of the chaos, ready to take control of the situation.

Bella felt that she must be in the middle of a very bizarre dream.

"Esme," Edward spoke, his head turned toward Bella, his eyes dark. "Please take Bella into the house."

"No, I'm not leaving," she argued, twisting against Esme's leading hand.

"Emmett, take Jasper to the forest," Carlisle instructed, his voice calm. "Alice and Rosalie, you two accompany him and stay with him until he's better." He stood silently as the three siblings wrestled their blood-crazed brother over the river. Once they passed the flowing water, Jasper appeared to cooperate better as the smell of Ben's blood was not so potent.

After they were out of sight, Carlisle spoke again. "Edward, you may let the child up. I'm sure his mother would like to hold him."

Edward listened for a few more moments before standing and lifting Ben gently with him. "Ben, are you all right?" He was beginning to believe that this child pulled bad luck toward him.

Ben nodded. "What was 'at?"

Edward looked at Bella then exchanged a look with Carlisle. He was surprised when Bella spoke.

"It was a wild dog, Ben. Didn't you hear it growling?"

He nodded.

She brushed his hair back with shaky fingers. "Thank goodness Edward was here to protect you and Emmett and Jasper were able to catch it." She knew that all of the Cullens had moved too quickly for Ben to have seen Jasper lunge at him.

Esme grabbed Carlisle's hand when Ben flung his arms around Edward's neck. "Thank you, Edward!"

Edward wrapped his arm around Ben and kissed his cheek, his hand actually shaking. He knew Jasper meant no harm; he was the newest to their vegetarian way of life and it was a constant struggle for him. Hell, they had all been there. He had only reacted the way in which he was designed. But still…if anything had happened… He started when Bella grasped his hand in hers.

"Bella, I'm so—" He knew this was the moment he had been dreading since he realized that he was in love with her.

"Shhhh," she whispered, wrapping her other arm around his waist, so that she was hugging both him and Ben. She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes.

"Well," Carlisle broke the tension. "I think everyone's had enough fun for one day." He smiled, trying to lighten the mood.

"Bella, I hope you'll come back soon," Esme said, worry creasing her smooth brow.

Bella pulled away from Edward, but kept her hand linked with his; she offered them both a smile. "Of course, thank you so much for having us today."

She quickly gathered Ben's things from the living room, during which Edward kept Ben in his grasp. She worried about what would be said in the car, as he had yet to attempt to pull her into conversation about what had happened, other than when she had cut him off earlier. She felt the butterflies return, this time in full attack mode.

The ride back to Charlie's house was silent; Edward was not sure what to say. Sorry my brother just tried to kill your son…so, you feel up to a movie tomorrow? He groaned under his breath. He knew that he had tried to warn her before, he had tried to convey to her the full extent of what he was. He was afraid that this incident had finally broken through her denials and proven exactly what he and his family were capable of. His biggest fear, however, was that she would fear him more than Eric and that tomorrow, she would be gone – disappeared without a trace.

He walked them both up the walk, stopping under the porch light that threw his features into sharp relief. The light bounced off of the bronze highlights in his hair and Bella thought she had never seen such a beautiful sight in her life. She wished she could capture him on film, but vaguely wondered if his image would develop.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked, attempting without success to make her voice steady.

He stared at her, his eyes widening in disbelief. In the yellow porch light, his eyes resembled two amber jewels, glowing in the darkness.

"Edward?" she prodded.

"Y-you're not scared?" he asked, disbelievingly.

She sighed, and opened the door, leading him inside. Charlie had not arrived home from his fishing trip, so she sat Ben down in a kitchen chair and looked at him, hard. "Ben, I need to tell you something very important."

Edward felt his stomach drop. Holy fuck! Surely, she's not going to tell Ben what we are!

"'Kay, mommy." Ben looked back at Bella intently.

She glanced up at Edward before continuing. "Sweetie, do you remember when we lived in Florida? And how you could not tell anyone about what happened at Eric's house?" She felt her stomach churn at mentioning his name again, but knew she had no choice.

Edward felt the automatic rage attempt to rise to the surface at hearing that bastard's name spoken, but he squashed it back, determined to show nothing but calm, cool, and collected, considering the current circumstances.

Ben nodded, his face serious.

"Well, I need you to do the same thing here, when you are at Edward's house." At seeing his eyes begin to well up with tears, she quickly spoke again. "No, Ben, it's not because Edward is going to hurt me. But Edward's family is very special, and other people won't understand. So, if you see something different, or if one of his brothers or sisters, or his parents, do something you've never seen before, you have to remember that you can't tell anyone, except me. Okay?"

"Like what?" Ben asked, confusion on his face.

Edward stared at Bella, his face as confused as Ben's. Why was she not running? Why was she not panicking? Could he really be blessed enough that she would stay with him, even after what had just happened?

Bella smiled slightly at Ben. "Well, like if someone…appears suddenly. Or they seem super strong. Stuff like that."

"Like Superman?"

She nodded. "Yeah, just like Superman." Sure, we'll go with that.

He wiggled down out of the chair and stopped in front of Edward. "I knew you was Superman," he whispered, before heading into the living room to watch cartoons.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Bella asked Edward, noticing his expression that was a mixture of concern and fear.

He shook his head slowly. "What the hell was…that?" He gestured to the empty kitchen. "Are you sure that was the best thing to do?"

She looked at him sardonically. "What? You want me to tell him the truth? Or would you prefer he go to daycare with stories of how you and your family can break trees and appear out of thin air? I'm sorry, but I don't want social services showing up on my doorstep, questioning me about why my son is suddenly telling his daycare workers that his mother is dating a vampire!"

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and middle finger. "Bella, of course I don't want that. But he's only three. Do you really think a three-year-old can keep such a secret?"

She felt her cheeks and neck flush and quickly looked down at the floor. "Of course he can, Edward. Why do you think no one ever investigated what happened in Jacksonville? He's been keeping secrets for his entire short life."

Edward quickly wrapped his arms around her, instantly repentant that he had brought the horrible memories back to the forefront of her mind. "I'm sorry, Bella. I didn't mean –"

She shook her head. "It's okay. It's something we're used to, Edward. Keeping secrets."

He kissed her lightly on the forehead. "You shouldn't have to, though. Maybe it would be best if I wasn't in your life at all."

She pulled back abruptly, her face looking as if he had just struck her. "Don't you ever say that! Ever! I don't care what happens. Today was bound to happen and now that it has, we'll all learn from it and move on."

He pulled her back to his chest and thought about her words. He wondered if she was right. He knew she was in danger whenever she was with him and his family and, to protect her, maybe it would be best if he just disappeared. Then, suddenly, Alice's vision of Bella lying on the floor of this very kitchen entered his mind, and he knew that if he was not there to keep her safe, then she would surely die. What a fucking quandary. There was a high probability of danger if he stayed, but her death was a surety if he left.

"Edward?" she asked, her voice quavering when he did not answer her.

He stroked her hair back, tightening his hold on her. Who the fuck do you think you're kidding? You couldn't let her go now, even under the lie that it was for her own good… "Shhh, love. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I was just thinking out loud. But you're right. We'll learn from it; the family will get a plan together to make sure it never happens again and everything will be all right."

"Good." She discreetly wiped the two solitary tears that had managed to leak out on his shirt, although she knew he would smell the salty tang. She hoped, however, he would not mention it. Once her face was dry, she pulled back. "Now, when Charlie gets home, I want to go talk to Jasper."

He eyed her for a moment before nodding his head. "Okay."

***

Bella was once again staring at the Cullen's large white house, Edward's Volvo behind her, his hand in hers. Now that she was here, her stomach clenched as her nerves tightened; she felt as if electricity was buzzing through her central nervous system, making her jump and twitch at every minute stimuli. But she knew that no matter how uncomfortable she was feeling, Jasper had to be feeling much worse. "Is he here?" she asked Edward, knowing he would be able to hear Jasper's thoughts from where they stood.

"Yes, and he's extremely upset with himself."

"Let's go."

Edward led her into the house where they found Jasper slouched on the couch, staring out of the large, plate glass window at nothing.

"Jasper?" Bella asked quietly, worried at the blank expression on his beautiful face. "Can I talk to you for a moment?" He turned his eyes on her and she was relieved to see they were the color of warm honey. She had been secretly afraid that they would be the frightening crimson shade that Edward had told her their human-hunting brethren sported.

"Sure." He shrugged, his voice flat. I'm sure you hate me, Edward.

Edward shook his head, trying to make his brother feel the depth of emotion he had for him. He understood – he understood what his brother was going through more than Jasper knew. The only difference was that he had been fortunate enough to never act on his desires. But if Bella had ever actually bled around him before he had been in tune to the depth of his love for her… He shuddered at the thought of what would have happened.

She took a deep breath, her heart thudding madly. She knew every occupant of the house could hear it. "Jasper, I – "

"Bella, I'm so sorry," he cut her off, his voice holding an undercurrent of desperation she could not miss. "I-I don't know what came over me, but I wouldn't blame you if you hated me."

She shook her head and placed her warm hand over his wintry one, squeezing his fingers. "Don't be silly. I don't hate you. And I don't blame you for anything. You reacted on instinct, Jasper."

He closed his eyes, his face contorting in pain. "But if anything had happened…if Emmett and Alice and Rose hadn't stopped me in time…" He let his voice trail off, his unfinished sentence hanging heavily in the air.

"But they did," Bella said firmly. "And everything is fine. Ben is perfectly fine."

"I'd understand if you don't want to bring him around me anymore. I've been debating on whether or not it would be best for me to just leave."

Bella threw her hands up in the air. "I've just about had enough of this leaving shit. No one is leaving on my account, all right? I'm not going to be responsible for you leaving your own home. There's no point in it anyway," she pointed out, looking him straight in the eye. "Ben. Is. Fine."

"He'll be afraid of me forever, though," Jasper moaned, his hand over his eyes.

Edward shook his head. "No, he won't. Bella told him it was a wild animal and that you and Emmett caught it and pulled it out into the woods. He never even saw you. He probably thinks you're pretty cool," he added with a chuckle, trying to lighten his brother's mood.

Jasper pulled his hand away from his face to finally look at his brother. "Really?"

"Really," Bella nodded. "He's perfectly fine. Not even a scratch…well, except for the ones on his knees, and you didn't cause those."

"She's right, Jazz," Alice confirmed, gliding into the room and sitting down on Jasper's other side. "I've been getting fuzzy visions all evening, but now it's clear. Everything is going to be fine."

"I'm not going to hurt him again?"

Alice shook her head. "Nope. Not Ben or Bella either. Everything and everyone will be fine."

"You're sure?"

She glared at him, as if he had just insulted her in the most profane way. "Am I sure? Jasper Hale, are you daring to insinuate that I don't know what's going to happen?"

He quickly shook his head, missing the smiles exchanged between Bella and Edward. "Of course not, Alice. I've just been so upset – it was more of a rhetorical question, sweetie. You know what I mean?"

She looked at him for a moment, head slightly cocked to the side, before giving him a wide smile. "Of course I do. Why don't you go upstairs and relax and I'll join you shortly." She winked at him, causing Bella to blush hotly.

Jasper turned to Bella and gently took her hand in his. "Thank you, Bella."

"I'll see you soon, Jasper." She tried to watch his movement as he ran up the stairs, but he was just a blur. She then turned as she felt Alice grab her hand.

"Bella, I can't thank you enough. Earlier today, I saw Jasper leaving," she choked out, looking as if she would cry if she was able. "He's been more upset today than I've ever seen him."

Bella drew her brows together. "Why? He just reacted the way he's designed…I couldn't fault a shark if it took a bite out of me if I was swimming in the ocean. It's part of the territory. It's just doing what it's designed to do. If you don't want to take the risk, you stay out of the water."

Edward shook his head at her logic. "But a shark cannot think for itself, Bella. We can."

"And I'm glad you can, because now that's it's happened, Jasper will be more aware so that it won't happen again," she retorted.

"So you'll come back?" Alice asked happily.

Bella nodded. "Of course I will. I trust you all implicitly. Jasper included." She knew wherever he was in the house, he could hear her, and she wanted him to hear that.

Alice suddenly hugged her, her stone arms feeling like vice grips. "Thank you, Bella," she whispered in her ear. "Thank you for coming. I know he'll feel so much better."

Bella hugged her back. "You're welcome."

***

"Thank you for doing that," Edward whispered in Bella's ear, holding her close to his chest and feeling the goose bumps raise on her skin, whether from his voice or the coldness of his skin, he was not sure.

She snuggled closer, the heavy blanket wrapped around her impeding her progress. "You're welcome; it needed to be done. It was the right thing to do."

"So, besides the wild animal attack, did you have a good time today?" Edward asked with a small laugh, settling deeper onto the bed. Tonight was the first night that he was spending inside her actual room instead of in the tree outside and, he had to admit, it was much more comfortable. He had waited until Charlie and Ben were asleep before scaling the wall and climbing through the window, and his patience had been rewarded when Bella had greeted him with open arms. He had intended to only watch her sleep from the old rocking chair in the corner, but she had pulled him onto the bed with her where they had cuddled and whispered in the dark. He thought his silent heart would burst with happiness.

She nodded. "Yeah, I did. I really like your family." She tried to wiggle her leg out of the blanket cocoon that Edward had her restrained in. She did manage to work her arm out and wound her fingers into his hair. She pulled his head down to hers, knowing he would come willingly. The moment his lips met hers, she felt as if someone had submerged her into hot water; her entire body was on fire and she could not breathe. Not that she wanted to; she wanted to keep her mouth fused to his forever. As her head began to spin due to lack of oxygen, she was again hit by the irrational fear that he should not have this hold over her – that he could ask her to do anything, and she would do it gladly, no matter the consequences. She would follow him to hell, which, in reality, she might be doing – and she did not give a flying shit.

Finally, he pulled back, an amused expression on his face. "Breathe, Bella." He heard the air whooshing back into her lungs and smiled at the flush that covered her face and neck. He had to admit that it was a boost to his male ego that he could excite her so much with just his kissing prowess, especially as he had never had any practice.

She suddenly was back in the present and wondered how vocal she had been. "Is Ben…?"

Edward laughed softly. "He's still sleeping soundly, dreaming about flying through the clouds. Very peaceful. And Charlie's snoring softly in his room."

She sighed in relief. "Edward…"

He heard the nervousness filter through in her voice and saw the heat color her face. He wondered what in the world she wanted to talk to him about that would cause her to suddenly become so jittery. "Hmmm?"

She stared at the brand emblem sewn onto his shirt, having no idea what it stood for. She assumed it was a high-dollar item as Alice did all of the Cullen's shopping and she did not buy bargain. Now that she had started this conversation, she wondered if she had the guts to finish it. "I-I was just wondering. Just curious. I-if it would be possible – feasible even…for us to…you know…ever to…eventually…a long time from now…you know." She felt the blood burn her face and wondered if her heart would explode from beating so fast. She had a brief picture of Edward having to perform CPR on her due to death by embarrassment and a hysterical giggle burst from her lips. Oh, shit…oh, God! Now he's going to think that you think that the idea of the two of you having sex is funny…ohfuckohfuck! Bella, get a fucking grip!

Edward stared at her face, his features drawn in concentration and slight confusion. His vampire brain was processing what she had attempted to say while also trying to decipher what the expressions crossing her face meant. He had heard enough female thoughts over his years that he knew he should be able to figure this out. Of course, this would be the one time that his genius brain would fail him. "For us to…?"

Bella wanted to crawl under the blankets and never come out. Why, oh why did you feel the need to bring this up? They were just so comfortable, laying on the bed together, that the thought just popped into her head, and she just had to voice it. She mentally cursed herself some more, half wishing that Edward could just read her mind to save her the trouble and mortification of finishing this conversation and also glad that he was unable to see into her crazy thoughts. "Never mind…forget it, it's not important," she stammered, hoping he would just forget what she had said and begin discussing something mundane. Fat chance.

His perfect features were scrunched up, his mind working at a feverish pace. "No, I don't want to forget it. If you brought it up, it must be important."

"Edward, just forget it," she growled, praying for the Earth to open up and swallow her whole.

He stared off into space. "Love, you're going to have to clue me in, because I'm sorry, but I can't read your mind," he said with a small chuckle at his little joke, hoping to reverse whatever strange mood she was suddenly in.

"Sex," she whispered so low, she hoped his supernatural hearing would not be able to pick it up, but of course, Bella was not a lucky person. She dived under the covers when she heard his sharp intake of breath, knowing he had heard that small little word. "Just forget it," she mumbled, then flipped over and buried her face in the pillow when Edward pulled the covers off of her.

Edward was shocked. Stunned. Totally fucking dumbfounded. But he knew that to say that to her would make her feel even worse. "Bella?" He turned her over easily and smiled to himself when she swiftly covered her face with her hands.

"I said just forget it, Edward," she mumbled. "It was stupid to even bring it up. I don't know why I even did."

He sighed, and pulled her to his chest. "Bella, there is nothing I would love more than to be with you in that way. I don't have the words to express how much I love you. I would make a deal with Satan himself right now, if he would make me human for one day, so that I could make love to you. But…I don't think it's possible for us to be together…physically."

She pulled her hands away from her face at the pain in his voice. "Why?" She felt slightly braver at his willingness to discuss the topic without laughing.

He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. "How to explain this to you without frightening you?" he murmured to himself.

She glared at him. "After today, you mean? Just spit it out. I think I can take it."

Edward smiled at her slightly. "Yes, I see what you mean. You continue to take me by surprise. Well, Bella, I don't think we could ever have a physical relationship – more than what we have now, anyway – for the simple fact that I don't want to kill you."

"Oh."

He nodded. "Humans don't realize how utterly fragile they really are. I have to maintain constant control when I'm with you at all times and, from what I understand, sexual relations for our kind are second only to the consumption of human blood. And when we taste human blood – going back to your shark analogy earlier – you've seen episodes on the Discovery Channel of how sharks behave when a piece of raw meat is thrown into their midst? This is somewhat how we behave when we taste human blood – a frenzy begins and our base instincts take over. We have no control until the victim is drained. So, I don't know if I would be able to maintain that control if I were to make love to you. I may not even realize that I was on the verge of killing you until it was too late. And I will never take that chance with you. You are too precious to me." He stroked her hair back from her face, his tawny eyes shining with the love he felt for her. "Although, if you feel that this…arrangement is not enough for you, I would not stop you from leaving me. I understand that humans have…needs."

She closed her eyes and covered his hand with her own. "No, Edward. I don't want anyone but you. I-I was just curious, that's all." She felt the blood color her face again and heard Edward chuckle softly at her embarrassment.

"I don't want you to be missing a vital part of your life, Bella, for being with me," he insisted.

She rolled her eyes. "It's fine. Now, can we talk about something else," she begged.

"You brought it up."

"And I'm sorry I did."

He chuckled again. "Your wish is my command. What would you like to do tomorrow?" he inquired, earning a sigh of relief from her that the subject was now officially changed.

She chewed on her bottom lip in thought for a moment. "Well, I need to do a bit of shopping, actually. Ben needs a better fall wardrobe, considering the weather here is not what we were accustomed to in Florida."

"God, don't tell Alice. Charlie will have to remodel to hold everything she'll buy for him," he laughed.

She shuddered at the idea. "No, he doesn't need all of that."

"So what do you want to do?"

She smiled up at him. "Are you up for a trip to Seattle tomorrow?"

He kissed her lightly. "As I said, your wish is my command."