Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. The original plot and storyline of Never Enough, however, belong to me. Please be nice and don't copy or translate without permission. Thank you.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my betas? Honestly, there would not be a Never Enough, and it would not update consistently, if it weren't for the unfailing support and friendship of iadorepugs and Cullen_Crazy01. I love you girls, and I treasure our friendships every single day.

So the response to New Year's Eve was…favorable. And it continues below! Please meet me at the bottom…

Chapter 14

I had no idea how much time had passed since we counted down the New Year. Standing in the circle of Edward's arms, I couldn't find it in my heart to care. The cacophony of sounds from downstairs had lessened considerably, shifted outside as the midnight revelers called out their goodbyes and headed home in the New Near. Edward's fingertips traced feather-light caresses across my cheekbone, my jaw, the tendons in my neck, and my collarbones, before trailing back up, leaving gooseflesh and shivers in their wake. I had my eyes closed, and my cheek was pressed against the smooth silk of his shirt directly over his heart. After a while, he grasped my chin between his forefinger and thumb and turned my face up to his. I opened my eyes slowly, looking up at him. The smile on his face was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen.

"Will you go out with me tomorrow night?" Edward asked suddenly.

"Go out with you?" I squeaked, trying to concentrate as his thumb traced the hollow beneath my lower lip.

"Yes Bella, go out with me. Isn't that how it's done?"

"How what's done?" I asked.

"A relationship. Dating. Friday night's supposed to be date night, right? It's been a while since I've tried this, so forgive me if I'm a little rusty." Despite his teasing tone of voice, I could tell that he was nervous when he raised his hand to his hair. "Unless you think that…I mean, we don't have to…"

I put my index finger over his lips, and he stopped speaking. We had just cleared the air after our last miscommunication. I wasn't going to allow that to happen again. "I would love to go out on a date with you, Edward," I said softly, gently tugging his hand away from his hair and lacing my fingers in his. "And however long it's been for you, remember, it's been much, much longer for me. It'll be a wonder if I remember how to do anything correctly," I teased.

"You're very good at certain parts of it. Damn near perfect, I'd say" Edward murmured huskily, his lips capturing mine once again in a slow, sweet kiss. I wound my arms around his neck, pressing closer to him as his tongue languidly stroked mine, swallowing his groan of pleasure while emitting one of my own.

"All right you two, you've got thirty seconds to finish doing whatever it is you're doing and cover up anything you don't want seen and then we're coming in," Rosalie's voice sounded outside the office door, followed by three sharp knocks.

I started to pull back, but Edward braided his fingers in my hair, stopping my movement. "She said we've got thirty seconds to finish, and I'm taking every…last…second," he growled softly, punctuating each word with a kiss before his mouth opened eagerly over mine, and I was lost again in a haze of desire.

I heard the door open, and the click-clack of high heels against the parquet floor. Judging by the sounds, several people had entered the room. Not that I cared. As long as Edward wanted to kiss me, a pack of hippopotamuses could tap dance around the room and I wouldn't stop.

Rosalie cleared her throat.

Edward sucked my bottom lip between both of his and traced its outline with his tongue.

Emmett coughed loudly.

I licked the corner of Edward's mouth where it turned up into the crooked grin that set me on fire.

Alice started to giggle, and Jasper whistled loudly.

Edward's fingers traced the column of my throat as he changed the angle of his kiss, and my answering moan was loud enough for the others in the room to hear.

"Oh for God's sake, get a room!" Rosalie finally huffed.

"I did get a room, I just forgot to lock the door," Edward muttered, pulling away and planting a soft kiss on the tip of my nose. He kept one arm wrapped around my waist as we turned to face our friends.

As Rosalie eyed me from head to foot, I could only imagine what she saw. I could feel the curls that had escaped my elegant upswept hairstyle when Edward had buried his fingers in my hair. My cheeks felt flushed and chafed from the scruff of his beard. And I didn't need a mirror to know that my lips were swollen from Edward's masterful kisses. Finally, Rosalie spoke. "Well, well, well, don't the two of you look delightfully rumpled. What did you do Edward, fuck her on the desk?"

"Rosalie!" Edward hissed in disapproval, the arm that was circling my waist tightening protectively.

Remembering my lewd fantasies about just such a thing in the not-so-distant past, I groaned in embarrassment. Edward's eyes were warm with concern when he looked down at me. Looking at him properly, I couldn't stop the giggle that escaped at the sight of his hair, which indeed looked like he had just rolled out of bed after a wild night. The thought made me shiver, and his answering grin was so carnal that my knees wobbled just a bit.

"Like you're one to judge, Rosalie Cullen. Didn't I catch you bare-assed on my bathroom countertop at last year's New Year's Eve party?" Alice deadpanned, and I started laughing outright when Emmett blushed.

Rosalie didn't even try to fake embarrassment. "You try coming off a two week trial out of town and see how long you can wait when your husband is as amazing as mine," she said matter-of-factly, a wicked gleam in her eyes.

"God Rose, that's my brother," Edward groaned, pretending to gag.

"Well, I hope for Bella's sake that you're as well endowed and as talented as he is," Rosalie said, obviously enjoying Edward's discomfiture. "Now can we persuade the two of you to join us in a New Year's toast downstairs?"

"Come on, Bella, let me see if I can help you with your hair," Alice said, stepping forward and taking my hand, giggling as she raised her other hand to a large clump of hair that was hanging haphazardly off the left side of my head.

"I'll meet you downstairs," Edward said as he gave me a quick squeeze, his smile dazzling.

Alice led me down the hall to the master bathroom, which boasted two large sinks set an elegant marble countertop. Alice raised her eyebrows at Rosalie, who grinned and smoothed her hand along the expanse of marble separating the two sinks. Alice shuddered theatrically, and I suddenly remembered what Alice had said she caught Rosalie doing last year at this time. Both Alice and Rose laughed when my cheeks flushed scarlet.

"So, you and Edward?" Alice asked, wiggling her eyebrows at me, asking the same question she had asked two weeks ago at the bookstore.

"Yes, me and Edward," I grinned, then giggled in amused horror when I caught sight of my reflection. My hair looked like I had taken on an egg beater in a fight, and lost most spectacularly. Alice pulled a brush out of a drawer and started smoothing sections as Rosalie plucked pins from the tangled depths.

"Looks like you finally got your kiss," Alice teased, then her eyebrows furrowed. "But did you…I mean…did Edward…did the two of you…" She trailed off, and I had never heard Alice so flustered before. She blushed bright red with mortification as she spoke. "I-just-need-to-know-whether-I-need-to-have-anything-in-the-office-cleaned."

I choked on my own breath when I realized what she was trying to ask. "God no, Alice! To borrow Rosalie's elegant little turn of phrase, Edward did not fuck me on the desk! Or anywhere else in the office," I hastened to add, remembering that there had been a leather couch and chair in the room as well. "Aren't you kind of jumping the gun here? If you don't count what happened a couple of weeks ago, we kissed for the first time tonight. We haven't even been out on a date, although he did ask me out for tomorrow night," I admitted.

"Kisses and dates? Sounds like someone found herself a boyfriend," Rosalie teased.

I snorted at the terminology. Thirty-five year old women didn't have boyfriends…did they? And how would I know what women my age had or did, or how they acted when they started dating someone? I had read somewhere that a woman's mid-thirties were supposed to be her sexual prime. Did women my age have sex on the first date? Was I supposed to sleep with Edward tomorrow night? I just couldn't! I mean, the kids were going to be home on Saturday. Oh God, the kids! What was I going to tell the kids about my date? Sarah and I had just started healing some of the wounds the divorce had inflicted, who knew what kind of new problems my dating might cause. Not to mention Will and how he might react to another man in my life? I could feel the hysteria rising, and apparently Rosalie could see it as well.

"Breathe, Bella. It's going to be fine," Rosalie said reassuringly. Sure enough, when I caught sight of myself in the mirror, my eyes were wide with panic, and I felt light-headed as I gasped for breath. "Alice, she's starting to hyperventilate. Go get Edward!" Alice threw the brush down and turned to head out of the bathroom.

"No!" I cried. They both stopped to stare at me. "No, I'll be fine, I swear. I'm just having a delayed panic attack."

"What in the world do you have to be panic about?" Alice asked. "Edward's crazy about you!"

"And I'm crazy about him," I admitted in a small voice. "But I don't know what to do, or how to do it."

"You sure looked like you knew what you were doing a few minutes ago," Rosalie commented, flinching as Alice slapped her arm. "Ouch, Alice! Okay, sorry, sorry. Not the time or place. What don't you know how to do, Bella?"

"I don't know how to…date. I mean, the only guy I've ever dated was Jake, and that was in high school. I'm pretty sure that Edward's not going to take me to the football game and hold my hand and ask me to the homecoming dance. That's the extent of my experience here, people! I don't know what to do. I don't know what he…expects," I ended on a whisper, realizing that I sounded like an insecure idiot.

"When you say Jake's the only guy you ever dated, do you mean he's the only guy you've ever been with?" Alice asked cautiously. I nodded. "Wow! No wonder you're freaking out." It was Rosalie that slapped her arm this time. "What I mean is, it's understandable for you to be a little nervous, if you've only ever been with one guy. And how long has it been since you were last with that one guy?"

"Two years," I confessed in a whisper.

"Two years?! Jesus Bella, you're like a born-again virgin. Does your hoo-ha even work after that long?" Rosalie asked incredulously, falling back onto the exact countertop she and Emmett had defiled last year after a mere two week sexual hiatus. My two year dry spell must have seemed impossible to her. I started to giggle, my giggles rapidly growing to full-bellied laughter. After watching me for a moment like I was crazy, both Rosalie and Alice joined in, until the three of us were leaning against the counter, breathless with mirth.

"Oh God, that felt good," Alice said, wiping tears from her eyes. "Okay, Bella, I'm going to give you the most profound advice you will ever receive. Are you ready?"

"Ready," I said, cutting off a giggle and looking at her seriously. My mouth twitched again, and Alice tried to glare at me reproachfully, failing miserably as her eyes crinkled in laughter.

"Okay, here goes. Bella, just be yourself, trust your instincts, and relax." Alice smiled widely at me like she'd just solved world peace.

Rosalie was nodding her head. "Actually Bella, Alice is right. You were obviously fine tonight with Edward until you started to over think things, right? I know you're a planner, but just try not to think too hard, make sure you discuss your worries with Edward, and things will fall into place. Have you ever thought he might have concerns too?"

Our session of mirth and their encouraging words had the intended effect, and I felt the panic being to subside. I hugged Rosalie and Alice in turn. "You are right, Rose. Thank you both for your advice, and for not letting me freak out any further."

Alice smiled and set the brush on the vanity. "All right, ladies. The guys are downstairs waiting for us. Let's start this new year the right way, shall we?"

I felt a flutter of excitement in my stomach when I descended the stairs to find Edward waiting for me at the bottom. He immediately reached for my hand to lace our fingers together and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. At his touch, I felt calm once again, and I smiled up at him.

Jasper stood at the kitchen counter, pouring champagne into six crystal champagne flutes. He handed one to each of us, then raised his glass. "You've probably heard this one before, but it's one of my favorites, and I wanted to share it with you. May you never lie, cheat, or drink. But if you must lie, lie in each other's arms. If you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink with all of us because we love you."

We all raised our glasses and touched the rims together. I watched Edward over the rim of my glass as we both drank, simply unable to look away. He laughed when I tried unsuccessfully to smother a yawn. "Time to get Cinderella home before she turns into a pumpkin," he teased.

"I can't be Cinderella, I still have both shoes," I said, sticking my leg out and pointing my toes, admiring the pretty silver sandals Alice had chosen for me.

Emmett let out a wolf whistle, and started laughing when Edward glared at him. "Okay, Prince Charming, get your princess home. My queen and I have a hot date with an empty house," he said, leering comically at Rosalie. She winked and slapped his ass, and Edward cringed again at the mention of his brother's sex life.

Edward insisted on getting my car from the valet while I bundled into my winter coat. There was a fine dusting of snow on the Jeep which he thoughtfully brushed off before pulling the car up by the garage. He saw me safely into the driver's seat and closed the door. Despite the cold and wind, I rolled down the window to have a few last moments with him.

"Drive safely and send me a text when you get home," he instructed. "Tomorrow night, about six thirty?"

"Six thirty is fine. Where are we going?" I asked.

"After all the frippery tonight, I was thinking someplace casual. We could go to Maria's, have dinner in the restaurant?"

I nodded, my lips trembling from the cold air that blew around us, and I was in the warm car while he stood outside. "Go to your car, Edward. It's fffreezing."

"Just one more thing," he said, removing one of his gloves. His fingertips touched my cheekbone, then my temple, and he leaned in the open window to give me a soft kiss, lingering until both of our lips were warm again. He pulled back and kissed the end of my nose. "Goodnight, my pretty girl." My heart skipped a beat when I heard the possessive 'my' he added to his usual parting endearment. Had he said that on purpose? Please yes prayed my inner voice fervently.

I felt like a nervous teenager again, sitting next to Edward at a table for four in Maria's. I had felt the butterflies since meeting him, especially as my attraction to him had grown, but those butterflies had been manageable, believing as I had that we were friends and nothing more. Knowing now that he was interested in me as more than a friend, knowing that he wanted to spend time with me…especially knowing how it felt when his lips were on mine and his hands on my body…well, it just about made me throw up those butterflies. And I was pretty sure that no matter how crazy about me Alice thought Edward was, upchucking on his shoes would probably put a damper on the date.

I sipped my wine, enjoying the quiet atmosphere. Charlotte had grinned when Edward asked for someplace away from the traffic, seating us at a cozy table near the fireplace that she declared 'the best in the house.' I watched Edward over the rim of my glass as he read the menu, his expressive brows drawn together as he studied the selections. He noticed my gaze and smiled at me with a lazy grin. He set down the menu, then reached over and took my hand, his long fingers caressing mine. He flipped my hand over and traced a pattern on my palm, then lightly touched the pulse point at my wrist. He smiled playfully when he felt my heartbeat begin to race. "This is nice," he said.

"What is?" I asked.

"Spending the evening with you. No Alice and Jasper or Rosalie and Emmett to provide commentary. No interruptions. Just the two of us, alone at last." He lifted my hand, kissing the inside of my wrist as he had last night, his eyes dark with a look that made me press my thighs together and squirm in my seat.

"Bella?" A loud and all-too familiar voice called from across the restaurant, and I groaned quietly. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, hoping to maintain my composure. When I opened my eyes, Edward was studying me with a worried look, as perceptive as ever to my moods. So much for 'no interruptions.'

I smiled apologetically at Edward for what was about to happen and turned in my chair to face Jacob, now standing behind me with a huge grin on his face. "Hey Bells, we were just stopping in to pick up a couple of pizzas for dinner, and I thought that was you I saw." Renesmee offered me an embarrassed little smile. She seemed to know exactly what they were interrupting, even if Jacob seemed clueless.

"Jacob, Renesmee, hey," I said weakly. Why oh why did I have to run into my ex husband and his girlfriend on my first official date with Edward? Because I'm just that lucky! I turned back to Edward, who looked tense when the names registered. "I guess some introductions are in order, huh?" I asked lamely.

"Absolutely! I'm Jacob Black, and this is Renesmee Call," Jacob said, completely oblivious to my discomfort, sticking his hand out toward Edward.

Edward rose from his seat. "Edward Cullen," he said brusquely, shaking first Jacob's hand, then Renesmee's. I felt silly sitting down while everyone towered over me, so I stood as well, hovering indecisively between Jacob and Edward.

"Oh hey, you're the architect at Cullen Whitlock, right?" Jacob asked. "We had your outfit bid to do some work on our garage a couple of years back when we expanded, remember Bells?" he asked.

I squirmed uncomfortably at the mention of 'our garage.' Oh sweet Jesus! Could this be any more awkward?

"Um, that would have been before my time. I moved up here from Portland about a year and a half ago," Edward replied. I was surprised by this information I hadn't known about Edward, but it explained how we had never run into each other before.

"And you're doing the work on the bookstore, right? The kids say it's coming together nicely. You should have called us to paint, Bells, we would have been happy to help." Jacob rambled on. Oh, wouldn't that have been perfect? I thought sarcastically. Maybe Jacob could have walked in on our first kiss instead! I shuddered internally at the thought.

"You sure are dedicated to that store of yours, Bells, working on a Friday night like this, especially during the holidays. You guys taking a dinner break or something?" Jacob asked.

Renesmee snorted and rolled her eyes at me. "Jacob, are you blind?" she asked him.

"What?" Jacob asked, looking from me, to Edward, and then to Renesmee, his brow furrowed.

"Edward and Bella are here on a date," she told him.

Jacob looked startled. "What makes you think that?" he asked her.

"They were holding hands when you decided to yell her name across the restaurant," Renesmee explained. "And right now, Bella frankly looks like she wants to kill you. Justifiably, I might add." I couldn't help but grin at her for her bluntness. She truly was perfect for Jacob.

"A date? Really?" Jacob asked, looking back and forth between Edward and me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And how long have you two been dating?"

"Oh my God, Jacob, will you knock it off? You're such an idiot!" Renesmee reached up and smacked the back of his head. "You live with me, and you're growling at Bella because she's on a date four months after your divorce?"

"Jeez, Ness, that hurt," Jacob muttered as he rubbed his head. "And I wasn't growling at Bella. I simply asked how long she and Eddie have been dating."

"I have been dating Edward," I corrected him, annoyed, "for all of about thirty minutes. And before you ask, no, I have not said anything to the kids, since I have not seen them in the thirty minutes since Edward and I started dating. I would ask that you not say anything to them right now, either."

"We won't say a thing, Bella," Renesmee promised, tugging on Jacob's arm. "C'mon, Jake. The pizzas are ready, and the kids are waiting at home. Let's leave Edward and Bella to their dinner." I felt a rush of gratitude towards Renesmee for the first time.

"All right. It was nice to meet you, Edward. Be good to my girl, okay?" Jacob said. I actually heard Edward's teeth snap together, his jaw flexing as Jacob referred to me as his girl. I groaned internally. Both Renesmee and I knew that Jacob meant absolutely nothing by the statement, that it was nothing more than an old habit that hadn't yet died. I was sure by the look on his face that it didn't sound that way to Edward. "I'll drop the kids off tomorrow afternoon, Bella," Jacob told me.

"Okay. Thanks Jake. See you later, Ness," I said, turning back to our table as Jacob and Renesmee walked toward the takeout counter. Edward was standing there motionless, his eyes hard as he watched them cross the restaurant.

I put my hand on his forearm and squeezed gently. "Hey, come back to me," I said softly. He looked down at me, and the cold look on his face actually made me shiver. His gaze softened when his eyes met mine, but I could see that he was truly bothered by the encounter.

Edward pulled my chair out for me, then sat down in his own, reaching for his wine and taking a large gulp. He inhaled deeply, his eyes back on Jacob and Renesmee as they paid for their order and left. "So, that was The Dog?" he asked, and I actually flinched at the anger in his tone.

"Edward, please don't call him that. I know Rosalie does, but…just don't, please," I said.

"I'm sorry, Bella," he apologized, his green gaze penitent, and his full attention was finally back on me again. "I just don't know how you can be so civil to him, and to her, after what they did to you."

"They didn't 'do' anything to me, Edward. Jacob and I had already separated before they started seeing one another. I don't hate either one of them. I just want Jacob to be happy, and Renesmee is the one that makes him happy." I knew it didn't make sense to people on the outside. Even friends that had known Jacob and me for our entire marriage had been confused by our truly amicable split.

"How can you do that? It has to hurt, that he walked away from his marriage to you immediately into the arms of another woman," Edward argued. He reached over for my hand again, his fingers absently playing with mine. The warmth of his touch calmed the nerves set on edge after our encounter with Jacob and Renesmee, his touch more comforting than he could ever know.

"I'm not going to lie and say that it hasn't been rough at times. I mean, we were married for a long time, and it's hard knowing that she can make him happy like I never did. But he never made me truly happy, either," I told Edward truthfully. "We were friends before our marriage, and we're working on being friends again. I still have to raise two kids with him, with her now as well, and we all agreed to do whatever we can to make it easiest on them."

Edward was silent for a few minutes. "You make it sound so reasonable, so easy. I try, but just don't know how to be that forgiving," he admitted, and I was suddenly sure he wasn't talking about Jacob and Renesmee.

"Heidi cheated on you," I guessed. Her name had been branded into my brain the moment he had spoken it at our 'just-coffee' non-date months ago.

"For almost our entire marriage," he confirmed. "I was so clueless to what was actually happening. I mean, we didn't have the perfect relationship by any definition, but I honestly believed her when she said she was working late, or on business trips. Turned out that she was, but that she had Felix with her. She used to say such horrible things about him, about their marriage and divorce, and I realize now that was all subterfuge, so I wouldn't suspect that she was with him."

I was stunned. "Wait, Heidi was married to Felix first?" Edward nodded. "And then she cheated on you with her ex-husband while you were married?"

Edward nodded again. "I met her a couple weeks after her divorce was final, and we went through a whirlwind courtship. It never occurred to me that she was on the rebound, or that she married me to make Felix jealous. Her plan worked like a charm. I didn't find out until much later, but she started up with him again about six months after we were married."

"How did you find out?" I asked before I could stop myself.

Edward answered before I could retract the question, his reply stunning me. "Heidi got pregnant. It was Felix's, so we divorced very quickly while she was still pregnant. She and Felix remarried before the ink on our divorce paperwork was dry."

The pain in his eyes made my heart ache, as well as stutter in fear. "Are you still in touch with her?" I asked quietly.

His fingers gripped mine tighter, even as his other hand rose to run his fingers through his hair. "Sometimes. Even though the divorce has been final for a while, we're still trying to resolve a few things. I talked to her over the holidays." He looked up at me, his expression guilty. "Sorry I didn't mention that before."

"It's okay, it's not like you're obligated to tell me anything," I said, all the while I wished that he would talk to me about everything. I fought against the doubts that were creeping into my head.

"There's honestly not much more to tell. But Bella, I don't want to start our relationship with lies or secrets. It's just really hard for me to talk about," he said.

"You're still…"hung up on her? I wondered, terrified to give voice to the thought. "Hurting. I understand." This time I was the one requiring the liquid courage, and I picked up my wine glass, knowing he would see how badly my hand was shaking as I drained the liquid in one long swallow.

Edward took the glass from my hand and set it on the table, then took both of my hands in his. "Yes, Bella. I was hurt by Heidi. But I do not have any romantic feelings for her, and I do not want to be with her. There's only one woman that I want to be with, and she's sitting here with her trembling fingers in mine, looking like a deer caught in the headlights."

He reached up and cupped my face in his hands, brushing his thumb across my cheekbones, and I felt tears fill my eyes at his tender words and affectionate gesture. "Please don't cry, my pretty girl," Edward whispered, leaning closer, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. "If it weren't for what she did, I wouldn't be here with you, where I belong."

I gasped softly, feeling a tear escape. He brushed it away. "No more of these, Bella. I used to be sad about my marriage, but I realize I have so much more to look forward to than what I had with her. You helped me see that."

This time it was me pressing my lips to his, my hands reaching up to entwine my fingers in his hair, and Edward gasping into my mouth as I deepened the kiss. I had to remind myself that we were in public as I fought the urge to straddle his lap and really lose myself in his touch. I could feel his smile against my lips as I reluctantly ended the contact, nibbling on his bottom lip and loosening my grip on his hair.

"Thank you," I whispered, and he chuckled.

"For what, Bella?" he asked.

"For trusting me, for talking to me even though you're not ready to share everything," I told him. "For not running for the door the moment you met Jacob and had to put up with his asinine protective behavior. For asking me out tonight. For, well, everything."

"You're welcome. And thank you for trusting me, for listening, and for not being angry with me for being angry with your ex. I especially thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me tonight," he said, pressing one more lingering kiss to my lips before pulling back with a grin. "Speaking of which, we should probably allow our poor waitress to take our order. She's been hovering for the last ten minutes. I think she's scared to talk to us."

I turned my head to see the timid waitress peering at our table from the door to the kitchen, obviously unsure whether or not to approach us. I laughed as Edward waved her over, my heart feeling the lightest it had since the conversation began. I suspected there were still details he still wasn't telling me, but I felt encouraged by his willingness to share what he had already. I could be patient. For him. For me. And for us. He was worth it, and so were we.

So we get a little more info on Edward's past – looks like our boy is finally opening up a little bit.

To answer a question that I get asked frequently: Never Enough will be told entirely in Bella POV. Not to say that Edward doesn't talk to me. I have already written EPOV outtakes of critical scenes, but they contain storyline spoilers. I haven't decided if I will post them when the story is complete, so if that's something you'd be interested in reading, please let me know.

Insane amounts of thank yous to my loyal reviewers – I love hearing your thoughts as the story progresses (and JSRose - no hidden Twi-references this chapter :) Welcome to the new readers and lurkers who commented on Chapter 13. I'd love to hear from even more of you. If something made you smile, laugh, sigh, or even growl in frustration, please let me know. Your words are absolutely precious to me!

Thank you for reading!