Here is the latest chapter. I've got a few more chapter notes so I should be able to get something to you all next weekend. And to address a guest reviewer who commented on the length of my chapters, they are what I can make them. Sometimes there is a natural end that makes them shorter, or sometimes they run longer because a scene runs long. Sometimes they end because it is time to get off the bus and it just works out this way. This fic is my commute fic, so it isn't as structured as some of the others. (Which will hopefully be updating soon.) I know some of you would like 8k chapters, but that wouldn't work here, not just for this story, but for the fact that I'm writing it on the move. 1.5-4k is what you're likely to see here.

Hope you enjoy the conclusion of date night and the morning after.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 11

Trying to decide where to start, I found a concept that would lead into the time before we meant anything to each other.

"Out there, the castes help each other by being patrons for lower castes. There are a few families that always buy from my father, or hire me to sing at their parties every year. It helps you survive. We were patrons for a family of Sixes. My father would have them help with inventory or paperwork when we could afford to. He was the eldest son, around my brother Tyler's age.

"Well, a while back, Tyler sold a huge metal sculpture for a lot of money. You may recognize the name."

Edward thought about it for a minute and I saw the moment the name clicked for him.

"Anyway, the whole family was excited. Vicky had just gotten married so we were down her income, but he kept nearly all the money for himself. He was addicted to the fame he gained, being able to charge outrageous amounts and having a waiting list. So he abandoned us. You don't do that to your family, sticking together is how you survive."

"He wanted to raise his caste. That was why he kept the money," Edward guessed correctly.

"He is determined to be a Two. If he could be content as a Three or Four he could have done that and still helped us. He doesn't care how long it takes. As long as he dies with a Two on his headstone, he will die happy."

"So am I safe to assume you aren't close?" Edward asked.

"Not now, but in the beginning I thought it was a misunderstanding. I figured he wanted to move out on his own, but he would still help us out. I defended him to my parents. And when he was actually moving I helped him, and the only other person helping was … him. It had been a while since I'd seen him, we weren't kids anymore, and we were alone setting up Tyler's apartment and studio.

"At first it was innocent touches, hands brushing when we'd reach for things, exchanged looks and smiles. I felt alive for the first time. Once that was over, it was stolen moments since we lived so close. I would go for walks hoping to see him, or he would come with his mom to help when one of my parents hired her. But that was it. He was a Six, I was a Five, and there are laws. Not to mention my mother would have lost her mind."

I took a deep breath and chanced a glance at Edward. He was watching me, but there was no judgement, just patience as I told him a story I had never shared before.

"Soon he was taping little notes to my bedroom window. Which meant he was climbing onto our roof to do it. It wasn't that high, since it is a ranch-style house with an attic. But to get to one of my two windows in the attic he was risking being seen.

"On my fifteenth birthday, my mother threw a party for me and his family was invited. He gave me a card and told me to read it before I went to bed. When I was finally alone it didn't say anything but 'Treehouse, midnight.'"

"Midnight?!"

I looked up at his shocked exclamation. "You should know I regularly broke curfew. I never left my family's property like he did, but that doesn't matter."

"You could have gone to jail," Edward hissed, clearly upset.

"I didn't care at the time. It was exciting and a little dangerous and I couldn't believe he wanted to be with me like that. That night we confessed our feelings and in that moment the sneaking around and lying didn't matter because he loved me."

The tears came then, unwanted and unwelcome. It shouldn't still hurt this bad, but Jacob had broken a part of me I didn't think could ever be fixed.

"We dated for almost three years, and we were so happy, even though it was in the shadows. But then I started asking about the future and he told me he couldn't give me the life I deserved. It didn't matter that I knew what I was giving up, that I was willing to scrub floors if it meant I could be his. And then the Collection was announced and he demanded that I sign up."

"He what?!" Edward shouted.

"We both knew that if I hadn't he would have always thought he held me back. And I never imagined I would be picked so I did it to make him and my mother happy.

"On the day I went to turn in my application his mother was there with his twin sisters and she confided that he'd been saving up so his mother assumed he had met someone and was saving to propose. Knowing that, I prepared a special dinner for him in our treehouse, hoping if the setting was right he would propose. Instead, he yelled that he was supposed to be taking care of me and he couldn't. It pissed him off that I spent money on him, and that I'd been saving for when he did propose. So he broke up with me. A week later I was named as a member of your Collection."

Edward angrily muttered something but I couldn't quite make it out, but now was the worst part of the story.

"We only saw each other two times since then, one time was at my house and his pride got in the way again and we fought. And then at my send off he was there with another girl, a Six."

"You can't be serious?" he growled.

His anger broke the dam and I began to sob.

"What is wrong with me that I couldn't be enough, Teddy? He was able to get over me in a matter of days and I'm still crying over him. Girls were always after him and now there is nothing to stop him. I can't go home and see him out in public with whoever he chooses, because that was the one thing we never had.

"I hope you find someone you can't live without. And when you do, I hope you never have to try and live without them. Because I would never wish this kind of pain on anyone, especially you."

Edward stood up and swung around the bench pulling me into his arms. "There isn't a damn thing wrong with you, Bella. He is a bigger moron than I thought, but I promise you won't have to face him until you're ready. I'll keep you here as long as I can. I'll narrow down my Elite to you and two others and then let you go, unless you ask to leave sooner."

After he said that he just held me close, rocking slowly back and forth. It was soothing, as was the way his left hand held the back of my neck, anchoring my head to his chest.

"You know, for someone who panics when girls are crying, you're good at offering comfort," I told him.

"You inspire the best in me. I hate seeing you cry." I looked into his eyes, seeing a mixture of pain and anger etched into his features. "I'm so sorry you're hurting. If he was here…"

"I'm glad he's not, because that would make this really awkward. And that would be a shame because I enjoyed tonight."

"Even with me pushing you to tell your story?"

"Yes, now you know something about me that no one else does. It is our little secret."

"I like the sound of that. But I really should return you to your room," Edward said.

He led me through the palace and when we got to my room, he looked around. "I wish you didn't dismiss your maids. I don't like the idea of leaving you alone."

"If I ring for them, would it make you feel better?" I asked.

"It would," he admitted.

Reaching for the bell, I pulled the cord, knowing the girls would soon descend. I gave him back his jacket, already missing its warmth.

"Good night, Bella," he whispered.

"Sweet dreams, Teddy."

Nettie arrived and I explained the prince's request and she promised that even if I dismissed them for a while in the evenings, one of them would return to stay the night.

I slept soundly and woke feeling even more at peace after Edward's promise. I would have the time to find my new normal. Dressing in my new jeans, my maids are careful around me, no doubt due to the fact that Nettie found me looking a fright after my crying fit with Edward the night before.

When I entered the Women's Room, knowing I was expected to pass most of my Saturday there to help the queen entertain any visitors, I hoped that Alice will keep me occupied.

Before I could wonder too long, Alice caught my arm and led me to a corner of the room.

"You kept me waiting long enough," she sighed. Her eyes drifted to my jeans and she smiled. "Those look amazing on you. You're going to have to wear those for Prince Edward, I'm sure they will drive him crazy."

"I'm sure my jeans are not why you asked me to meet you down here."

"No," she giggled. "It feels weird telling you about this, but I can't see you as the enemy. If anyone besides me won, I would want it to be you."

"I feel the same about you, Alice. I think we all have good and bad qualities. I think personally I could be a safe haven for the prince, so he could unplug, but being bossy and dealing with the constant scrutiny? And it is a job as much as it is a marriage. I'm sure you feel the same. Now spill what was so important that I had to be here to hear it first thing."

"I had my date with Prince Edward on Thursday and it was wonderful."

I was shocked that he didn't mention it last night, I was supposed to be his confidant. Maybe he was waiting until he knew her better to confide in me about my friend?

"What did you do?" I asked.

"At first we just walked around, but then he led me towards the basement where there is a theater. We have similar tastes in movies so I picked a movie while he tried to run the popcorn machine, but it burned so he called someone to clean it out and make us some. Then we sat there in the darkened theater snacking and watching the movie. Near the end of the movie he reached over and took my hand."

I giggled as Alice swooned, even after he flubbed the popcorn she was taken with him.

That led to a deep discussion of Teddy's qualities. How cute we was and the intensity of his green eyes, and his awkward laugh.

"Yeah, but when he lets his guard down with you he is so passionate in his discussions and he is gives you his full attention when he's with you. And those arms …"

"Right, he just looks like the rest of the world doesn't matter if he's holding you," Alice gushed.

"It doesn't, trust me," I sighed and realized I had said that out loud.

"You can tell who he has been on a first date with by their demeanor. The ones he hasn't seen yet are worried about why it has taken so long and if he will dismiss them once they do have their date," Alice told me as she looked around.

I didn't have time to wonder about why Edward hadn't mentioned this as Jessica Stanley ambushed us.

"Tell me about your date," she demanded.

"I've already told you -"

"Not your first date, last night. It isn't fair you've had two while some of us are still waiting for a moment in private with him."

I must have looked confused because Alice explained that Tia told everyone about the prince picking me up the previous night.

"We just talked in the garden, he knows I like being outside."

Not satisfied with my explanation, Jessica stormed off to ask Rosalie about her date again.

It was in the relative quiet that followed Jessica that we heard the sound of Maggie Farmer smacking Tanya.

Senna began to cry, as the pair had grown as close as Alice and I. I immediately thought of how devastated I would be to lose Alice, especially since I knew Tanya well enough to know she probably provoked Maggie.

Maggie realized what she did and began to cry as well. She would likely be sent home. Maggie was a gentle person, during the attack she sat praying, but with her word against Tanya there was little she could do. Tanya whispered something and then stood up and left.

Maggie was gone before dinner.