Electric Emotions


Forks, Washington
March 10th, 2005


The next day came quicker than I was ready for, despite my resolve last night to try my best and think of the positive.

When Edward came to pick me up this morning, there was silence on the entire ride to school. Thankfully it wasn't the awkward kind, but it was still a bit uncomfortable. I knew he was upset that I was blaming myself, but for now there was nothing I could do.

In time, I hoped to prove that I could deal with it and move on.

When lunch came around, I walked into the cafeteria, Edward by my side, to see Angela and Monster sitting together at our usual table. I allowed my husband to steer me through the food line and towards an empty table, while keeping my eyes on my daughter and grieving friend.

Angela seemed to be doing a little bit better today, as she wasn't currently crouched over herself. Her and Ren were talking quietly, but since my daughter wasn't physically touching Angela, I figured I could stop worrying so much at the moment and just let myself enjoy the time with Edward.

I sat down, next to him this time, and started picking apart my lunch, not really in the mood for eating. It would probably come back to bite me later, but I'd make myself a sandwich when I got home. I should've known, though, that my husband didn't miss anything, when it had to do with me. He never did.

"Eat something, love." he pleaded with me and I didn't have the heart to turn him down.

I quickly stuffed something in my mouth, not really paying attention to what it was. I was only doing it to placate him, after all. I kept eating, as I waited for him to speak, knowing that he had something on his mind.

"You seem... more calm, today," he said in a sigh, a mix of relief and yet agony still.

"Yes, well, I think I came to a decision last night," I said, not elaborating and he seemed to catch on to the fact that it wasn't something I was going to share with him.

The frustration was back in his face, I noted with a secret smile, hidden behind the slice of pizza he was practically forcing down my throat. I wondered, for a moment, if I should feel guilty for smiling, laughing, being happy, when Lauren was still in the hospital and Katie's body was barely cold.

And then I decided that I had every right to be full of joy. Yes, I would never stop blaming myself, rightfully so, for what happened that night, but I would also go on with the life I still had, the one that Katie had taken from her, so early. I would live, not just for myself or my father, not just for my husband, daughter or my family, but for her. I would live, because Katie couldn't.

I felt a cool blanket of touch on my skin, and looked up to see a pale hand, lying on top of my own. While he was certainly still frustrated, there was a look of wonder in his topaz eyes as well. I wondered, not for the first time, how things could be so different, this time around.

For some reason, the things I had changed, for the worse I might add, had made Edward more open. He was touching me more than he had, at this point, originally. He was also talking more, letting me in. Smiling more, not as moody. But that last part could probably be explained away, as the fact that he had only had to save my life once, so far, and it was from himself so I didn't count it. He could never hurt me.

Last time, he had saved me from Tyler's van and from those men. However, these things hadn't happened now. In his mind I was a klutzy girl, with a tendency to take blame for everything around me, but... I wasn't a danger magnet. Sure, I had been run over by June Richardson and stumbled upon the horrible scene of a murder and rape, but without being the one to save me, despite being a mind reader, he still didn't feel it, the way he had last time.

It was quite the turn, but a good one I was sure.

The first good change I had made so far.

I wasn't counting my relationship with my dad, just yet, as I still had no idea where that was going to go. I had hope, but that was also all I had. It was better than nothing, I guess.

"Bella," he spoke, pulling me away from my thoughts.

I looked up to see that handsome, crooked smirk on his lips, as he caught me in a daze. I rolled my eyes and returned his smile, waiting for him to speak again, knowing he had something on his mind, again.

And I had a feeling I knew what it was.

"I haven't brought this up yet, because it was obvious that you were going through something. You appear to be better today, as I said earlier, so I need to ask. Your comment in the car, the other night?" He said, obviously not daring to say the actual words out loud.

"Oh, you mean the part about you visiting my room, at night when I sleep?" I said, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

He seemed to choke on his breath as he nodded, slowly, his hands fisting at his side. I understood this reaction, recognized it. This was where he was waiting for me to run, screaming all the while. Silly man, doesn't he know?

I looked at him, with what I hoped was an innocent expression. Once again I was glad that I was the exception to his gift, since it allowed me to do, what I hated doing. Lie to his face. But this was too important. I had already changed so much for the worse, I wasn't ready to tell him my story, only to have him leave me.

And by now, I should know that that's a very real possibility.

"It wasn't something I was sure of, until I found out your... secret. But I had a suspicion. It was more feelings, than actual fact. I'd wake up in the middle of the night and just feel a presence. I guess a part of me wanted it to be you, so that's the conclusion I came to. But, hearing the truth, I was sure I had been right. And I am, aren't I?" I sent him a smug smile, trying to hide the pain of the lie.

Though, the first time around I did have such thoughts. They just weren't as concrete as I made them out to be, just now. He had a thoughtful look on his face, but I saw the small smile touching his lips. Perhaps he was relieved that I knew, as it would help him in future visits. To know that I wasn't disgusted by it, as I knew he had been with himself, the first time he came through my window.

Finally, the war in himself seemed over, the winning side being joy, as a genuine and beautiful smile lit up his face and he reached out to take my hand once more. I squeezed the rock in my fingers, knowing that he would feel it, even as I didn't move an inch of his marble skin.

The gesture was seen for what it was.

Acceptance.

Something I knew he had never wanted more, than he wanted it from me. Even more than he had ever wanted it, needed it, from his father, our father, Carlisle. And I would always be there, like Carlisle, to grant that to him. Because he deserved it.

The bell rang, then, and I realized that we had spend more than twenty minutes in silence, simply holding hands over the table. The smile on my face only widened at that thought, as I gave him one more squeeze, before letting go. It was easier, no longer touching him, when I knew that we still had one more hour together. It was time for Biology.

Everyone watched as we walked together to our lab table. I noted, with a smile, that he was no longer angling his chair, to sit as far from me as the desk would allow. Instead, he sat quite close beside me, our arms almost touching.

Mr. Banner backed into the room then – what superb timing the man had – pulling a tall metal frame on wheels that held a heavy-looking, outdated TV and VCR. A movie day – the lift in the class atmosphere was almost tangible.

Mr. Banner shoved the tape into the reluctant VCR and walked to the wall to turn off the lights.

And then, as the room went black, I was suddenly hyper aware that Edward was sitting less than an inch from me. I was stunned, having forgotten this day, and the unexpected electricity that had flowed through me, hummed between us now, again, amazed at the intense energy that I hadn't felt since my change.

Mostly because I had gotten used to it, by then.

The impulse to reach over and touch him, to stroke his perfect face just once in the darkness, was too much to ignore. But I settled for simply taking his cool hand in my warm one. He jumped slightly in surprise, having obviously not heard the thought behind the action, but he soon relaxed in his seat, again.

The opening credits began, lighting the room by a token amount. My eyes, of their own accord, flickered to him. I smiled with much warmth and not-yet-proclaimed affection, as I saw the peaceful smile on his face, as he sat with his eyes closed. He seemed to feel my eyes on him though, the smile slowly becoming a grin, as topaz met brown.

I looked away before I could start hyperventilating. It was absolutely ridiculous that I should feel dizzy, when I was more than used to his dazzling effect on my senses.

The hour seemed very long. I couldn't concentrate on the movie – I didn't even know what subject it was on. I tried unsuccessfully to relax, screw the wide grin off my face lest the other students notice, but the electric current that originated from his whole body never slacked, as I was used to.

Occasionally I permitted myself a quick glance in his dazzling eyes, which never left my face, even as I stared in the direction of the TV, and the smile was just as obviously untamed as my own. The overpowering craving to touch him, beyond the hand in mine, also refused to fade, and I bit my lip just hard enough to not draw blood, until my skin was aching with the pressure.

I breathed a sigh, of both relief and disappointment, when Mr. Banner flicked the lights back on at the end of class, and stretched my arms out in front of me, flexing my stiff fingers. Edward chuckled beside me, though he had been hesitant to release my hand from his capture.

"Well, that was interesting," he murmured. His voice was dark and his eyes were cautious.

"Very," I smiled, chuckling slightly under my breath.

"Shall we?" he asked, rising fluidly, of course.

I almost groaned. Time for Gym. I may have gotten better in the many years that had passed, but it still wasn't good enough for me. I stood with care, worried my balance might have been affected by the intensity between us, in the last hour.

He walked me to my next class in silence and paused at the door; I turned to say goodbye. His face startled me – his expression was torn, almost pained and so fiercely beautiful that the ache to touch him flared as strong as before. My goodbye stuck in my throat, as I suddenly remembered this moment.

He raised his hand, hesitant, conflict raging in his eyes, and then swiftly brushed the length of my cheekbone with his fingertips. His skin was a icy as ever, but the trail his fingers left on my skin was alarmingly warm – like I'd been burned, but didn't feel the pain of it yet.

Before he had a chance to move away from me, as I knew he was close to, I used every speed I had in my human body, knowing my silent mind would take him off guard. I put my own hand over his, holding his touch to my cheek, as I caressed his pale skin.

I knew that I was feeling very courageous, and missing the touch of his lips on mine, but also knew that I did not want our 'first' kiss to be in front of the gym doors. I would wait until we were in our meadow, and perhaps make it even more special than it had been the first time around.

Were that even possible.

When he seemed to be warring within himself, I gently removed my hand and allowed him to turn around and walk away.

I walked into the gym, lightheaded with undisguised glee.

I drifted to the locker room, changing in a trance-like state, only vaguely aware that there were other people surrounding me. Reality didn't fully set in until I was handed a racket. It wasn't heavy, yet it felt very unsafe in my hand. I could see a few of the other kids in class eying me furtively. Coach Clapp ordered us to pair up into teams.

Monster came to my rescue, before Mike could reach my side of the room to offer his company. She fitted her fingers around my elbow, steering me away from the hounding boy, giggling with repressed laughter. I rolled my eyes, and let her take the lead.

Damn graceful halfling.

I spent the rest of the hour in the back corner of the court, only participating every once in a while, when it appeared safe to do so. Thanks to her enhanced senses, Ren was not handicapped by my invisible partner status; she won all four games almost singlehandedly. When the coach finally blew the whistle, ending class, she gave me a hug, a grin on her face.

Thanks to her husband and many uncles, she was very competitive.

Unfortunately for me, Coach Clapp decided to pull Monster aside to congratulate her, which Mike took advantage of quickly, as he practically ran to my side. I swallowed my annoyance, knowing how fruitless it would be to try and avoid him, while we attended the same school and some of the same classes.

"So," he said, as he came to stand beside me.

"So what?" I hissed out, but as always he didn't notice my tone.

"You and Cullen, huh?" he asked, his tone rebellious. My previous irritation only tripled.

"That's none of your business, Mike," I warned, internally cursing his tendency to ignore the obvious.

"I don't like it," he muttered anyway.

"You don't have to," I snapped. We were even less friends this time around and still he found a way around the boundaries.

"He looks at you like... like you're something to eat," he continued, ignoring me, of course.

I couldn't help it.

He glowered at my bent over form, as I tried to control my bellowing laughter. His comment was just too perfect, like pure gold. If only he knew how close he was to the truth. I wiped a tear from my eye, as I watched his disappearing form, as he walked to the locker rooms.

Ren came up to me then, without comments as she had surely heard the whole thing from across the room, and helped calm me down from my giddy state, as we walked, arm in arm, into the locker room.

I dressed quickly, something much more powerful than simple butterflies battering recklessly against the walls of my stomach, as they always did when I knew I was about to see my husband again. Those never lessened, even after years of marriage. The joys of being eternal mates, I suppose.

I wondered slightly if he had told his family this time, or if they had heard our conversation in lunch, as they had originally.

I had been a bit too preoccupied with Edward at the time, to peer at their table in the back and see their reactions to our words, which to an outsider, would've have sounded very strange.

I was sure, however, that Emmett had gotten a kick out of my off-the-cuff remark about Edward's late night visits.

When I walked out of the gym, Edward was waiting for me, leaning casually against the side of the building, his breathtaking face untroubled now. As I walked to his side, I felt a sense of release, to finally be in his presence again.

Ren had long since left my side and a small part of me heard her car leaving the lot.

"Hi," I breathed, smiling hugely.

"Hello." His answering smile was brilliant. "How was Gym?"

"Why don't you tell me?" I teased, knowing he had peeked in today, though slightly wondering why, as we hadn't had the same conversation as last time.

Perhaps his curiosity simply couldn't be left unsatisfied any longer.

His eyes tightened. "Newton's getting on my nerves." He said, though a slight upturning of his lips told me that he was amused with my reaction to Mike's comment.

At least it was better than the self-loathing I had been expecting.

We walked in silence to his car. But I had to stop a few steps away – a crowd of people, all boys, were surrounding it. Then I realized, they weren't surrounding the Volvo, but Rosalie's M3, unmistakable lust in their eyes. None of them even looked up as Edward slid between them to open his door. I climbed into the passenger side, also unnoticed.

"What was that about?" I asked, aware of how strange it would seem, if I just let something like this slide.

He sighed, muttering something that sounded like 'ostentatious', under his breath. "Remember what I said about it this morning? This is why we take my car."

"Oh, okay," I replied, not interested in repeating the 'car and driver' conversation.

It took him a few minutes to successfully navigate around the car enthusiasts, carefully maneuvering his way until we were on the free road, at last. The mood in the car seemed to lighten, now that we weren't surrounded by boundaries, due to the milling students.

His smile was easy, as he reached out to grab my hand, as we made our way to my house. "So, it's almost Saturday," he said, trying to sound relaxed and failing entirely.

I laughed. "Yes, it is. Are we eager?" I asked, smiling at him like the giddy school girl I suddenly was again.

Not that I'd ever been giddy.

He simply continued to smile, squeezing my hand as a response. I let the topic fall, too happy to ruin the mood as I was sure to do, by accidentally bringing the masochistic Edward back into the conversation.

I looked up when he parked in front of the house, behind my new truck. Now that I was back to being human, it was easier to ride with him if I only looked when it was over. When I looked back at him, he was staring at me, yet another look of wonder in his eyes.

"Tell me something," I smiled at him to continue. "Why did you trade in your car? Not that I can blame you, but you seemed to like the old Chevy?"

"Well, I did love it and the nice gesture from my dad. But it was just so slow." I exclaimed, staring at him with wide eyes.

For the first time since being back here, I heard a genuine laugh from my husband. Not a chuckle or a grin or even a sarcastic, self-loathing snort. But an actual, full of joy, laugh.

It was invigorating.

When he finally quieted down, that look was back on his face, like he was afraid that any sudden movement from him would scare me off. Of course, a part of him still wanted that to happen, for my own sake, but it seemed that now, that part was eclipsed by the need to keep me around.

Good.

I let him stare at me, as I glanced out through the windshield, at the thick, rolling clouds that seemed to press down, almost within reach. A cool shiver ran down my spine, as he touched my cheek, bringing my full attention back on him.

Our eyes held, and the silence deepened – and changed.

Flickers of the electricity I'd once been so used to began to charge the atmosphere as he gazed unrelentingly into my eyes. It wasn't until my head started to swim that I realized I wasn't breathing. Again. When I drew in a jagged breath, breaking the stillness, he closed his eyes.

"Bella, I think you should go inside now." His low voice was rough, his eyes on the clouds.

I smiled, to show that I was okay with his behavior. I just had to keep reminding myself that this Edward didn't have experience with my scent, or the fact that he was in love with a human, fragile girl. Baby steps, he would get there.

I opened the door, and the arctic draft that burst into the car helped my emotional state, washing away the unshed tears. I stepped carefully out of the car and shut the door behind me without looking back. The whir of the automatic window unrolling made me turn.

"Oh, Bella?" he called after me, his voice more even. He leaned toward the open window with a faint smile on his lips.

"Yes?"

"Tomorrow it's my turn."

"Your turn to what?"

He smiled wider, flashing his gleaming teeth. "Ask the questions."

And then he was gone, the car speeding down the street and disappearing around the corner before I could even wave goodbye. I smiled as I walked to the house. It was clear that, despite the war still being battled inside of him, he was still planning on keeping himself close to me.


Forks, Washington
March 11th, 2005


When I woke I was still tired, after a restless sleep filled with dreams of the stranger. I pulled on my new skinny jeans and a blue blouse, that I had bought in Seattle with the girls. It seemed like a lifetime ago, after everything that had happened in the last few days.

Breakfast was turning out to be quite the enjoyable affair. Monster joined me and dad, though she hadn't officially moved in yet, and the conversation was far from the stilted ones I used to share with him, when it was just the two of us, the last time around.

"So, when am I finally meeting Edmund?" Dad asked, a glint in his eye as he purposely spoke the wrong name.

I mock-glared at him, while Ren giggled under her breath. "Edward will be picking me up on Saturday. I told him he could introduce himself then. Okay?" I said, lifting an eyebrow, daring him to continue teasing me.

The butterflies were still going crazy.

He just shook his head, a smile playing on his lips, as he allowed his granddaughter to change the subject. Apparently the two of them were planning a bonding fishing trip this weekend, while I was spending time with Edward on Saturday and meeting his family on Sunday.

I was happy to see how great the two were getting along, already.

"And you're not going to the dance, right?" Dad suddenly turned to me, humor still sparkling in his brown eyes.

I rolled my eyes. "Dad! Would you knock it off. You know I don't dance, and besides... ugh... do you really want me to go into details?" I asked, a smug grin on my face when he winced.

"Yeah, I guess I get the no dancing thing," he said, trying to save face.

No such luck, buddy.

"Sure, sure," I said, unconsciously channeling my inner Jake.

The phone rang then, and I left the two to their new conversation about Ren's new room, while I answered it.

"Hello," I spoke, distracted by the laughter of my family.

"Hi, Bella, it's Leah," I suddenly remembered the change I had made with her.

How could I forget?

"Oh, hi Leah, it's good to talk to you again. How are you?" I said, a bit too peppy, which she of course picked up on immediately.

"I'm good, but Bella... I heard about what happened in Port Angeles. I just wanted to hear if you were okay," she asked, though her tone told me she knew that I wasn't.

I sighed. "Look, I gotta get to school, but how about I come out tonight? We can talk then," I said, truly wanting to see her again, still amazed that I could've forgotten this little development.

"Sure, Bella, I'd like that. Come by before dinner, and bring Charlie if he doesn't have any plans," I could hear the smile in her voice and realized that she must've been doubting our new found friendship.

I knew that was my fault, for not talking to her since that night. Admittedly, I'd had a lot on my mind, with telling dad the truth, dealing with my infuriating husband and the incident in Port Angeles, but it still didn't justify forgetting Leah. I would do my best to make it up to her later tonight.

We said our goodbyes, and just before dad could leave for work, I asked if he wanted to join me at the Clearwaters tonight. He declined, with a pointed look in Monster's direction and I understood. They were having a grandfather-granddaughter night.

Dad left then, with a goodbye wave, and I went upstairs to brush my teeth and gather my books. When I heard the cruiser pull away, along with the Ferrari, I could only wait a few seconds before I had to peek out of my window. The Volvo was already there, waiting in dad's spot on the driveway. I bounded down the stairs and out the front door, joyful in the knowledge that, not counting sunny days, this was our new routine.

He waited in the car, not appearing to watch as I shut the door behind me without bothering to lock the dead-bolt. I

walked to the car, opening the door and stepping in. He was smiling, relaxed – and, as usual, perfect and beautiful to an excruciating degree.

"Good morning." His voice was silky. "How are you today?" His eyes roamed over my face, as if his question was something more than simple courtesy.

"Good, thank you." I was teasing him, mirroring his polite hello, though it was still true. I was always much more than good, when I was near him.

His gaze lingered on the circles under my eyes. "You look tired?"

"I had a restless sleep," I said, lifting one eyebrow, silently asking why he wasn't in my room last night.

He smiled, but answered. "I had a family discussion. Apparently, I forgot to tell my siblings about your knowledge and they, of course, overheard us in the cafeteria yesterday." His smile never fell, so I knew that things were okay.

But I still couldn't suppress the shiver, at the memory of Jasper's confession. He told me about his cemented plans, the night of the van accident. How he had clearly planned my death and Edward had chosen to fight him, to protect me. It was a scary thought, as my much clearer Vampiric memories were of a kind and loving brother, who might as well have been blood.

No pun intended.

"I suppose that's understandable. And they're really okay with it?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

He grimaced, as I had expected. "I wouldn't say... okay, but they're dealing." And then the smile was back.

I'd almost forgotten about his violent mood swings. Almost.

"Now, I believe it was my turn, today," he grinned, before reaching out to grab my hand as we left the driveway.

"Oh, that's right. What do you want to know?" I smiled, leaning against the seat so I could have a better view of him.

"What's your favorite color?" he asked, his face grave.

I rolled my eyes. "It changes from day to day."

"What's your favorite color today?" He was still solemn.

"Probably green," I said, looking out at the forest around us, while also thinking about the fact that Carlisle had let slide, so many years ago. I would have loved to see that color in Edward's eyes.

He snorted, dropping his serious expression. "Green?" he asked skeptically.

I knew why, of course. It was literally everywhere, so it sounded as if I had simply looked outside when I answered, not giving the ridiculous question any serious thought.

"Sure. Green is vibrant, electric. It can be so many different things. A forest, a leaf, even a pair of strikingly emerald eyes," I responded, trying not to sound too obvious.

He seemed fascinated by my little rant. He considered for a moment, staring out into the burgeoning woods.

"You're right," he decided, serious again, fingers clenched tightly around the wheel. "Green is... vibrant," he sounded unsure, even as he said it, but I chose not to call him on it.

We were at the school by now. He turned back to me as he pulled into a parking space.

"What music is in your CD player right now?" he asked, his face as somber as if he'd asked for a murder confession.

I remembered that I'd never removed the CD from Phil. When I said the name of the band, he smiled crookedly, a peculiar expression in his eyes. He flipped open a compartment under his car's CD player, pulled out one of thirty or so CDs that were jammed into the small space, and handed it to me, "Debussy to this?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I could ask you the same, y'know," I teased back, as I pretended to look at the CD in my hand.

It continued like that for the rest of the day. While he walked me to English, when he met me after Spanish, all through the lunch hour, he questioned me relentlessly about every insignificant detail of my existence. Movies I'd liked and hated, the few places I'd been and the many places I wanted to go, and books – endlessly books.

I smiled through it all, the last time I had smiled this much, was when I was still back in my time, with my husband. The absolute absorption on his face, his never-ending stream of questions, hadn't lessened even after more than seventy years. Most of the questions were easy, a bit dull even, but I knew he wanted to know everything there was to know about me, so I indulged him.

When he asked me about my favorite gemstone, I peered into his warm, ocher eyes and replied, making him smile brilliantly, before he continued flinging questions at me left and right.

Biology was just the same as the day before. Edward had continued with his quizzing up until Mr. Banner entered the room, dragging the audiovisual frame again. As the teacher approached the light switch, I noticed Edward slide his chair slightly farther away from mine. Obviously he was having a few thirst issues again and I could respect that.

Though not enough to not grab his hand, when the lights went out.

As soon as the room was dark, the electric spark returned in full force, like a restless craving in the area just below my belly. I told myself to be satisfied with holding his hand, forcing my body to keep from jumping across the table and dry humping him in front of the entire class.

What? It's been a while.

I leaned forward on the table, resting my chin on my one free arm, my hidden fingers gripping the table's edge as I fought to ignore the longing that would surely get me in deep trouble. I didn't look at him, afraid that if he was looking at me, he would see exactly what was in my mind at the moment.

I sincerely tried to watch the movie, but at the end of the hour I had no idea what I'd just seen. I sighed when Mr. Banner turned the light back on, though I wasn't sure if it was out of relief or irritation, yet again. I glanced at Edward now; he was looking at me, his eyes playful, yet guarded.

He rose in silence and then stood still, waiting for me. We walked toward the gym in silence, like yesterday. And, also like yesterday, he touched my face wordlessly – this time with the back of his cool hand, stroking once from my temple to my jaw – as I held it to my skin, staring into his endless topaz eyes, before he turned and walked away.

Gym passed quickly as I watched Ren's one-woman badminton show. Mike was ignoring me and I tried to hide my smile at that. He had no idea how happy his invisible actions made me.

I hurried to change afterward, ill at ease, knowing the faster I moved, the sooner I would be with Edward. Eventually I made it out the door, feeling that same release when I saw him standing there, a wide smile automatically spreading across my face. He smiled in reaction before launching into more cross-examination.

His questions were different now, though, not as easily answered. He wanted to know what I missed about home, insisting on descriptions of everything I could hardly remember anymore. I did my best, and thanks to the fact that he has never been anywhere but the rainy towns, he didn't question my somewhat limited knowledge.

We sat in front of the house for hours, as the sky darkened and rain plummeted around us in a sudden deluge.

I tried to describe impossible things like the scent of creosote – bitter, slightly resinous, but still pleasant – the high, keening sound of cicadas in July, the feathery barrenness of the trees, the very size of the sky, extending white-blue from horizon to horizon, barely interrupted by the low mountains covered with purple volcanic rock.

The hardest thing to explain was why it was so beautiful to me – to justify a beauty that didn't depend on the sparse, spiny vegetation that often looked half dead, a beauty that had more to do with the exposed shape of the land, with the shallow bowls of valleys between the craggy hills, and the way they held on to the sun. I found myself using my hands as I tried to describe it to him.

His quiet, probing questions kept me talking freely, forgetting, in the dim light of the storm, to be annoyed at the repetition. Finally, when I had finished detailing my cluttered room at home, he paused instead of responding with another question.

"Are you finished?" I asked, knowing that when it came to me, he'd never have all of his questions answered, before he came up with more.

"Not even close – but your father will be home soon."

"Right," I said, internally freaking when I remembered that I was supposed to be in La Push tonight.

I looked out at the rain-darkened sky. "How late is it?" I wondered out loud as I glanced at the clock.

"It's twilight," Edward murmured, looking at the western horizon, obscured as it was with clouds. His voice was thoughtful, as if his mind was somewhere far away. I stared at him as he gazed unseeingly out the windshield.

I was still staring when his eyes suddenly shifted back to mine. "It's the safest time of day for us," he said, answering what I was sure he felt was the question in my eyes. "The easiest time. But also the saddest, in a way... the end of another day, the return of the night. Darkness is so predictable, don't you think?" He smiled wistfully.

"I like the night. Without the dark, we'd never see the stars." I frowned. "Not that you see them here much."

He laughed, and the mood abruptly lightened.

"Your father will be here in a few minutes. If you want to wait until Saturday to introduce me..." He raised one eyebrow.

"I do," I smiled, gathering my books, realizing I was stiff from sitting still so long. "So is it my turn tomorrow, then?"

"Certainly not!" His face was teasingly outraged. "I told you I wasn't done, didn't I?"

"What more is there?"

"You'll find out tomorrow." He reached across to open my door for me, and his sudden proximity send shivers down my spine. I really hoped I could convince him to earlier this time, to take me to bed.

I was dying here.

His hand froze on the handle. "Not good," he muttered.

"What is it?" I was surprised, at both the disturbed look in his eyes and the fact that I didn't remember whatever was coming next.

He glanced at me for a brief second. "A complication," he said glumly.

He flung the door open in one swift movement, and then moved, almost cringed, swiftly away from me. The flash of headlights through the rain caught my attention as a dark car pulled up to the curb just a few feet away, facing us.

"Your dad's around the corner," he warned, staring through the downpour at the other vehicle.

I hopped out at once, now perfectly aware of what was going on. The rain was louder as it glanced off my jacket. I made out the shapes of Billy and Jake in the front seat of their car, obviously waiting for Edward to leave, before they came out.

I could see my husband illuminated in the glare of the Black car's headlights; he was still staring ahead, his gaze locked on something or someone I couldn't see. His expression was a strange mix of frustration and defiance. Then he revved the engine, and the tires squealed against the wet pavement. The Volvo was out of sight in seconds.

"Hey, Bella," called a more than familiar, husky voice from the driver's side of the little black car.

"Hi, Jacob," I threw back, as my dad's cruiser swung around the corner, his lights shining on the car in front of me.

Jake was already climbing out, his wide grin visible even through the darkness. In the passenger seat was the much younger version of the man I had watched die in a hospital bed, many years ago. His face brought a surge of tears to my eyes, remembering the kind man who had come to mean so much to me, and even more to my daughter.

Billy was staring at me, scrutinizing my face, so I smiled back, knowing what he was thinking. His eyes were wide, in either shock or fear, or both, his nostrils flared. My smile widened, I was feeling in a teasing mood and he was getting on my nerves. I hadn't forgotten about the way he manipulated Jake into disrupting my Prom.

"Billy," my dad grumbled, as he joined me by their car. He still wasn't too happy about the secrets his supposed best friend had kept from him, for so many years, both now and in my time.

The man in question looked surprised at my father's tone, and held out a hand for Jake, who was getting the wheelchair out for him, stopping his motions. I guess he sensed that maybe he wasn't as welcome here, as he had expected to be.

"Sorry, but you should've called. I've got plans out of the house." Dad said, in no uncertain terms, his eyes a little colder than I liked.

And then I realized that it wasn't Billy he was glaring at, but his son. I choked back a laugh, when I finally figured it out.

Dad was pissed at Jake, because in the future he was married to his granddaughter and was meant to do so again, sometime in this future, as well.

Silly old man.

"Well, this is nice and all," I said, looking awkwardly at the trio. An angry Charlie and two confused Blacks. "But I have to be at the Clearwaters for dinner, so I should go." I was sure none of them were listening to me.

I quickly ran into the house to deposit my school bag and grab my car keys. I ignored the image of Monster, who was battling two emotions. She couldn't seem to decide if she should be mad at her grandfather, for how he was treating her wolf, or proud that he was standing up for her, and for himself.

I didn't wait around to see what feeling she chose to land on, as I rushed out to my truck and left the three of them, still standing there.

Edward was certainly right, this was quite the complication.

Just not the way he had meant it.