The Arranged Marriage

Disclaimer: All recognizable features are actually the property of their respective owners while this story is mine. Please don't use it without my permission as that is theft and not cool.

A/N: You guys are seriously awesome. TAM made it to second round in the Avant Garde awards thanks to you. Go check it out again this week and let's see if we can win!

Thank you to everyone that has held my hand through all the . . . fun this week and for being patient with me. Also, thanks to Riss usc_mam for pre-reading, and Jenny Cullen and bonnysammy for betaing. Please send a few thoughts and prayers up for bonnysammy. She needs them right now and she's such a wonderful person. On with the show!

Chapter 14: Strides

BPOV

Edward's alarm ripped me from the best sleep I'd had in years, and I was still groggy when he got out of bed.

"Stay here, baby," he whispered into my ear. "You can lay here as long as you want."

I thought I mumbled something in response, but I wasn't certain. I rolled over and burrowed further into the covers, desperate to block out the noise and light. Edward was extremely quiet as he got ready, and I didn't hear him leave. In fact, I didn't move again until the clock showed that it was nine thirty.

I got ready as quickly as I could and went to find Demetri to ask if he could take me over to the university. He agreed readily, and I went to let Edward know that I was leaving. His office door was closed when I walked up, so I knocked softly.

"Come in," he called, and he didn't sound particularly happy. As soon as the door swung open, I saw why. Carlisle was sitting across from him with a stack of papers spread from one side of the desk to the other.

"Hey," I said with a smile at seeing my husband. "I just wanted to let you know that I'm heading over to school."

He smiled back and I instantly felt warm. "Do you need me to come with you?"

"No, you finish up here. Demetri's taking me. I might need him to take me over to New Horizons after, if that's okay."

He nodded. "Is he going to stay with you?"

I shook my head. "I don't think that's necessary. I'll just have him come back and get me. If that's all right with you, of course. Security is pretty good over there with all the kids on site," I added.

He smiled at me again and strode over to the door. Gently, he kissed me and rubbed his thumb over my cheek. "Be safe," he whispered.

I nodded and blushed as I caught sight of Carlisle's astonished expression over his shoulder. It felt a little odd to be showing our relationship so publically. I wasn't sure what that conversation was going to entail, but I was sure there was going to be a discussion.

Demetri was pleasant company, as usual, on our way over to the registrar's office. He did, however, watch the mirrors a little more, and scout the grounds as we walked to the main building. The fact that James had someone follow me and take pictures of me was weird, but here in the light of day, I was having trouble feeling the same sense of unease that Demetri and Edward were.

The registrar was packed, and we waited our turn in the somewhat cramped office. Despite the cold day, the office was sweltering and smelled slightly musty. When the lady at the counter finally called my name, I was more than ready to get out of there. Only one of my classes was already full, but I randomly chose another one I had marked.

Demetri was slightly edgier when we left the school just after one, but I didn't ask what had gotten to him. I decided to go over to New Horizons, because I would just have to leave again right away if we went home. He wasn't happy about just leaving me there, but relented after I told him that Edward had approved it and to pick me up at five. I rolled my eyes, feeling like an overprotected child for a few minutes. It annoyed me slightly, but it wasn't so overbearing that I couldn't deal with it for a short time. Nevertheless, Demetri watched me intently until I had made it through the doors.

Since I was so early, none of the kids were there yet, and it gave me time to get the room set up properly. I also walked over to the kitchen to see if the ladies would be willing and able to make a healthy snack for them. I had noticed that the girls who had something to eat were usually easier to talk to and more thoughtful than those that were hungry. Since we had already discussed the importance of a healthy diet, I wanted to reinforce that lesson. Much to my surprise, the kitchen staff was thrilled with the task, and Paula gathered them all together to discuss what options would be best. In the end, they chose to go with simple, and agreed to deliver apple slices, peanut butter, and carrot sticks just before the girls were due to arrive.

The topic on the board was fashion, so I went to see Nadya. She allowed me to borrow several pieces as demonstration tools, and I was barely able to get them into the room before the girls started arriving.

"What are those doing here?" Avery, one of my more tom-boyish girls, asked of the dresses hanging on the rack.

I laughed. "Oh, Avery, those are just for you!" I teased, and two of the other girls just arriving laughed along with me.

"Whatever," she muttered. "I wouldn't be caught dead in that." She took her seat as the rest of the group came in, and they were followed by the snack lady.

As soon as everyone had their snacks and had quieted down, I started things off. "Okay, last week, Rebecca chose fashion out of the box, so that's what we are going to talk about today. More specifically, what kind of images different fashions imply. Each of us has our own style, and as soon as someone sees us, they use that information to make a judgment on our personality. For instance, when you look at Avery, do you see someone that likes to shop, or someone that would prefer to play sports? Why?"

They all agreed that she was more of a sporty girl.

We went through the different outfits I had borrowed from Nadya. The business suit exuded power and intelligence, and the mini-skirt and tube top screamed "cheap hooker." I could only internally shake my head at what people felt the need to donate. We talked about the importance of dressing how you wanted to be taken. If you wanted your elders to see you as a responsible person, you had to look like one as well.

"My big sister always says that what you wear underneath is just as important as what others see," Tina said hesitantly. "She says that underwear makes the woman."

"Yeah, when I wear my PINK underwear, I always feel more fun and flirty," Sandy interjected.

"I wonder if sexy lingerie has the same effect," Melissa pondered. "Bella?"

I flushed a deep scarlet and pondered what else that lingerie did, according to my sister-in-laws. Perhaps, I might have a chance to test it now . . . Their staring eyes brought me back to the topic at hand, and I thought about their question.

"Yes, I suppose it does. Knowing that you are beautiful down to your skin can give you a lot of confidence," I answered. "No one else has to know that it's there, but you do, and that's all that matters."

Kate knocked on the door, signaling that our time for the day was over, and the girls reluctantly gathered their bags.

"Jenny," I called to a shy girl that listened more than she spoke. "It's your turn to pick the topic for Wednesday. Can you come draw it out now?"

She nodded timidly and walked slowly over to the box. Tentatively, she reached her hand in and pulled out a slip of paper. She looked nervous as she handed it over to me. Jenny had confessed to me when we started this that she was anxious about some of the more intimate topics that were put into the box.

I gave her what I hoped was an encouraging smile and unfolded the paper. Finances. That should be somewhat safe.

"Okay, girls, on Wednesday, we are going to talk about money," I yelled over the din of girls getting ready to leave. There were a few groans, and I laughed. No one really liked to think about what stuff cost when they were teenagers.

I quickly restacked the chairs and grabbed the snack tray to take back to the kitchen. Demetri would be waiting for me, and I knew he had better things to do than wait for me. Tina and Melissa came rushing back in just as I was getting ready to leave, tittering about something.

"Aren't you all supposed to be on your way home?" I asked, amused.

"Oh my gosh, Bella, the cutest guy is standing at the other end of the gym," Melissa gushed.

"Like flaming hot," Tina added. "You have to see him." She tugged on my arm and pulled me over to the door. "I wanna talk about him on Wednesday."

I chuckled. These girls were always boy crazy, but usually, they played it a little cooler about the boys that came to the center. They cracked the door and told me to look over by the door at the other end of the gym. I heard them giggling behind me as my eyes scanned the crowd of teenage boys. Then, my eyes found the object of their affection, and I giggled with them. Edward was leaning against the door frame, with his long legs crossed in front of him. He was the picture of relaxation and cool as he observed the basketball game in full swing on the court.

"Do you see him?" Tina asked me urgently.

I turned around with a grin on my face. "Yes, I see him. And no, we won't be talking about him on Wednesday."

"But, Bella!" Melissa whined.

I just laughed and grabbed my bag. "Come on, girls. It's time to go. Besides, my husband is waiting to take me home."

Slightly dejected, they followed me across the gym, mumbling about me being a spoilsport. When we got close to Edward, I called for him, and his face broke into a huge smile when he saw me. He pushed off the doorframe and walked over to me in two strides.

"Hey, baby," he said with a grin.

"Hey," I returned with a smile. "Edward, this is Melissa and this is Tina." I pointed to each in turn. "Girls, this is my husband, Edward."

Internally, I giggled at their reaction and marveled at the smug feeling coursing through me. They stopped and just stared at him with their mouths slightly open. Finally, Tina must have realized that she had been staring a little too long, because she blushed and mumbled, "Nice to meet you." Melissa just waved and playfully glared at me.

"Oh yes, we will talk about this Wednesday," she said with a raised eyebrow, before stalking off to the front door and dragging Tina behind her.

"What was that all about?" Edward asked in an amused tone.

I laughed and looped my arm through his. "Ah, well, I think two of my girls might have a crush on this 'flaming hot' guy they saw. I think Melissa is disappointed that he's not available."

Edward laughed. "Nope, definitely not available. Are you ready to go?"

"I just need to drop this off in the kitchen," I said, flashing the tray around.

He nodded and accompanied me through the hallways. While we walked, I told him a little bit about New Horizons and what each area did for those that came here. He was suitably impressed.

"So, not that I'm complaining, but why are you picking me up?" I asked as we headed for the car.

"I just wanted to," he said simply. He held the door open for me and let me get in. I didn't miss his watchful eyes scanning the area, though.

Dinner was ready when we arrived at the house, and we went straight to our normal places at the table. Once everyone had eaten most of their food, Edward cleared his throat to gain their attention.

"There are some things going on that you all need to be aware of," he started. Everyone quieted down and shifted to face him.

"No kidding," Emmett said under his breath but loud enough for all of us to hear. "You all are actually speaking."

"Ha, ha, Emmett," Edward muttered sarcastically. "The situation is kind of serious, and I, well, we need you to be aware."

Alice's and Esme's eyes grew round, and the boys stilled. Rosalie just leaned back in her chair and waited for the explanation.

"Before our trip to the Spencers', someone dropped off an envelope of pictures for me. They were of Bella at a night club, and could have been taken very negatively."

I patted his leg and rolled my eyes, remembering all too well how negatively they had been taken.

"I asked Demetri to look into the matter, and it appears that someone close to the Windemere family has been following Bella. This isn't the first time that James Windemere has attempted to interfere with our marriage, and I am concerned that he is going to escalate his . . . actions."

Emmett gave Edward a look clearly meant to display what he thought of Edward's accusations. And knowing how Emmett felt about Edward's own behavior, I was sure that whatever came out of his mouth wasn't going to be kind. "First of all, what would James do to interfere with your marriage that's worse that what you managed on your own, and second, why would he care?"

Edward visibly stiffened at the reminder, and I gripped his hand to calm him. I also answered instead. "There is some land that has been in my father's family for generations, and he wanted to pass it down to me. A long time ago, a clause was put in the deed that it could only be passed to a direct male heir, which is where Edward comes in. The Windemeres are my father's second cousins, or something like that, and would inherit the property if a male heir wasn't available," I supplied. "Edward turned the property over to me on my birthday."

"At our wedding," Edward said after having cooled down a bit, "James was the one to tell me how old Bella was, and now, he's having pictures taken that, I'm sure, were intended to prompt me to end our relationship. Since that didn't work, I'm concerned that he might go to other lengths to remove Bella from the picture."

"But why would he even think that would work?" Rosalie scoffed. "For all he knows, you are happily married. All her assets would go to you if something happened, anyway."

Edward gave her a tight smile. "Not if he had something he felt could convince a judge that our marriage wasn't . . . valid."

"How could he . . ." Rosalie trailed off as realization dawned, and her mouth froze in a perfect O.

Carlisle spoke up for the first time. "Bella had the idea that perhaps the missing money from the Darton Construction accounts could be related, and after looking things over with Edward again, I'm wondering if she isn't on to something."

"Why does he care so much?" Jasper piped up. "There has to be a reason that he would stoop to violence, if that's really where he's going with this."

Edward shook his head. "We don't know. Bella and I are going to have to make a trip up to see her dad this week." It was sort of surreal to listen to this fantastic life being described and realize that it was mine.

Alice shot up. "You aren't going to be gone on Wednesday, are you?" Her voice was slightly panicked.

Edward raised his eyebrows. "I thought we might go over the weekend, but why does it matter?"

Alice let out an exasperated sigh. "The Halloween Masquerade? Did you forget? Not that Bella's safety isn't more important, but we've been planning it for months, and I already have your costumes!"

"It's fine, Alice," I placated. "I have to be at New Horizons on Wednesday, so it would be better to go closer to the weekend. Don't worry, we'll still be there."

Emmett scratched his chin. "Do you really think this James guy is going to try something? It seems . . . extreme."

Carlisle jumped in before Edward had a chance to answer. "It does seem a bit extreme, Emmett, but he's already tried to interfere twice, and the longer he waits, the less likely he is to prove that they are only married for convenience. Throw in fifty thousand of missing funds, and the situation becomes even more precarious. The point is that we all just need to be aware of our surroundings and keep an eye on Bella."

Everyone nodded and stood to leave the table. I grabbed Alice's arm and glared at her. "What do you mean, you already have our costumes? Just what are you expecting us to be?" I didn't really mind that she'd taken the initiative, but I hated that she did stuff like this without consulting me.

She looked slightly taken aback. "I thought we'd all go as couples from different decades. Jasper and I are going as a mobster and his flapper, Carlisle and Esme are hippies, Rose and Emmett are a typical 50's housewife and businessman, and you and Edward are going as a WWII soldier and his wife. Is that all right?"

I sighed. "Yes, that sounds wonderful, but next time, can you talk to me first, please?"

"Okay. I didn't realize you wanted to know," she said in a conciliatory tone. "Would you like to see them?"

"That would be great."

I followed Alice upstairs, and she whipped open her closet door to reveal eight hanging clothes bags. She rifled through them and pulled two out. Edward's uniform was a typical dress class uniform from 1944, and I knew he would look great in it. Mine was a beautiful gray dress with a crossed and pleated bodice. The high waist was accentuated with a thin belt, and the shirt flowed from there in the same cross and pleat pattern as the top. Long gloves that would stretch above my elbow complimented the dress perfectly, and I couldn't wait to wear it.

"Alice, that is . . . gorgeous! Where did you find it?" I asked breathlessly.

She smiled. "I made it. My grandmother had one just like it, and I used that as a model. Hers wasn't in good enough shape to wear, unfortunately."

I just gaped at her. "You . . . I . . . Alice! That's incredible!"

She just shrugged, as if it wasn't any big deal, and smiled at me while repacking the dress in its protective cover.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier," I apologized. "I didn't realize how much work you had put into this."

"It's okay. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you about it earlier," she said, and I gave her a big hug.

Once she had mine put away, she showed me all of the others, and I had to hand it to her, they were fantastic. I wasn't sure how many of them she had made, but each one was period perfect. She really had talent, and I wondered idly if she'd ever considered using it professionally. It also reminded me that I hadn't said anything to Esme about organizing a drive for New Horizons.

When I left Alice, I immediately sought Esme out. Her office was dark, so I strolled over to her room. She was sitting in her chair, marking through some documents with the door open, when I found her.

"Esme? Do you have a minute?" I asked quietly from the doorway.

"Of course, Bella. What can I do for you?" she responded kindly, setting down her papers and pen.

I stepped in, feeling a bit timid for some reason, and perched on the edge of a nearby settee. "I wanted to talk to you about New Horizons," I started.

"Is everything okay there? I thought you were enjoying it," she responded, slightly taken aback.

"Oh, I am," I hastened to assure her. "One of the things that they do is to provide business attire for some of the women there, and I thought we might be able to help. I meant to mention it a couple of weeks ago, but I forgot."

"How can they afford to buy clothing for all those women?" she asked.

I laughed. "They don't. It's all donated, and Nadya tailors it for each of them. That's why I thought we might be able to help. I know that Rose has several suits and outfits in her closet that she never wears, and I thought we might be able to organize something."

"Good idea, Bella. I am sure that we can do that. I know that Carmen cleans out her closet every two or three years."

"Not to mention what's in her daughter's," I agreed. If Tanya was spending ten thousand dollars on clothes in one weekend, I was certain that she had more than enough to give away.

Esme laughed and nodded. "Can you draft a notice about it? Just something we can send out. I'll talk to Rachel and see how they want to handle it."

"Thanks, Esme." I smiled and turned to leave.

"Bella?" she called after me. I twisted back around. "This thing with James Windemere, is this something you're really worried about?"

I sighed and sat back down, rolling my eyes slightly as I did so. "No, not really, but Edward is. Unless there's something he and Demetri didn't tell me, I don't really see the threat. Yeah, he's tried to cause problems, but escalating to violence?" I shrugged.

"Well, just be careful, okay? And if you need anything, let me know." Esme smiled at me, and I gave her a quick hug before leaving. It was getting late.

Edward was reading through some papers on my couch when I got up to my room. As soon as he saw me, he set them aside and gave me a tired smile.

"So, what did you find today?" I asked as I made my way over to him.

He yawned. "The money has been taken in a couple of different ways, so I'm not entirely sure that it's only one person involved. There are short deposits, and strange cash withdrawals on one hand. Then, there's a contractor that has been paid for work that was never done. I can't tell who set up the account, or who the payments went to, so Dad called Eleazar today to get a copy of the contract and the submittals."

"Who is the contractor?" I asked.

Edward shrugged. "They're listed as McFadden Asphalt, but there's no such company. I even Googled it. We've paid them more than thirty thousand dollars for materials and work that was never done over the past two years."

"Two years? I thought this was recent?"

"The shorted deposits are recent, and that's what drew my attention. It's been going on much longer than that, though," he answered.

I paused. "Why do you suspect Tanya, then? She's just taken things over, right?" The really mean part of me wanted it to be her, just for spite, but the timelines I had didn't match up.

He grimaced. "She just started managing the business, but she's been working in the office since she graduated two years ago—right before our wedding."

"Then why do you think it has anything to do with my land? I don't understand," I said.

"It's the timing and the details. Large payments were made around my birthday and Christmas last year. We had the bank trace where the checks are being cashed, and it's always at the same local bank. The manager was able to confirm that the Windemeres have an account there, but that's all he would tell us," Edward said with a shrug. "What was Alice's deal with the costumes?" He changed the subject abruptly, and although I allowed it, I knew that I would return to his point about the large transfers later.

Instead, I smiled. "She's made us all couple's costumes for the party. They're really nice." I sighed. "I just get tired of people making decisions for me without asking my opinion. I feel like what I want doesn't matter to anyone."

"It matters to me," Edward said quietly.

I gave him a sad smile. "I think it matters to you as long as you think what I want is best." Really, I wasn't trying to pick a fight, but I wanted him to understand how deep an impact his past decisions had made on my psyche.

Edward grimaced. "Do you still feel that way?"

I shrugged. "Sometimes."

He exhaled roughly and braced his forearms on his knees. Edward's expression, what I could see from his profile anyway, was pensive as he stared at the floor. "When do I—" he started to say, but cut himself off. He seemed to be trying to figure out what to say, but he kept falling short. "Tell me?" he finally asked.

"The trip to Italy, this thing with Windemere—those are the big ones," I answered softly.

He turned and gave me a quizzical look. "The trip to Italy? I asked if you wanted to come!" he said incredulously.

"Yes, but then you got mad when I said no," I explained.

"I got upset because I missed you and wanted you there with me. I respected your wishes, once you explained them, but shouldn't I be able to have my own feelings, too?" he asked, clearly frustrated. "And the Windemeres—clearly I'm missing something, because I thought your safety was important. At least, it is to me!"

I sighed. "But did you actually care why I didn't want to come?"

"Of course I cared, Bella, but it hurt to know that you didn't want to be around me. Especially knowing that it's my fault." Edward hung his head and curved his shoulders.

We sat in silence as I considered his words. Was his reaction merely because he was hurt and disappointed and not because he wasn't in control? It was possible. I thought back over his words and the rest of his defense finally registered.

"Why are you so sure that my safety is in jeopardy?" I asked, rather out of the blue since we had been talking about Italy.

"If Demetri's right about who this guy is, there's reason for concern. There have been rumors over the last few years on the underhanded things the Windemeres have done to solidify their power, and people that crossed them have gotten hurt. I'm worried . . . about you. Whatever's in that land is worth something to Windemere. If it wasn't, he would have given up a long time ago." Edward was clearly nervous, and I wasn't sure if it was because of his worry or that he thought I would be upset.

"Why didn't you tell me this?" I asked. Once again, I felt my frustration mounting.

Edward shrugged and turned to look at me. "I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily, and you seemed as concerned as I was when we talked about. It might be nothing, but what if it isn't? I can't lose you, Bella," he whispered, the pain clear in his voice.

I shifted closer to him and ran my hands up and down his arm. "It'll be okay."

He let out a breath that I didn't realize he was holding. "I'm sorry that I made you feel like your opinion didn't matter. Please understand that I do care—if you don't think I'm taking your opinion into account, just tell me. I'll listen."

"Okay," I whispered. "I guess we need to work on that. I'll tell you when I need you to listen, and you tell me the whole story."

He gave me a half smile. "Deal."

We sat there for a few more minutes, with just our arms touching. I finally broke the silence. "So, how was the rest of your day?"

Edward barked a laugh. "It sucked. I've been staring at little numbers in more than a dozen accounts, and my brain hurts. How did things go for you at the registrar's office?"

"I got four classes that I wanted and I think I'm going to like next semester. I decided to take an intro Psych course. With my work at New Horizons, I thought it would be interesting. Maybe I can do more for the girls," I told him excitedly. "They have so much potential, and I want to see them grow into it."

He grinned his crooked smile, and it reached his eyes. "That sounds great, love. Are you thinking about counseling, then?"

"Maybe. I really like working with them." I shrugged. "Between them and the family drama, though, I'm tired. Can we go to bed?"

Edward laughed. "Are you giving up on me already? It's barely ten o'clock!"

My face reddened, and I twisted my ring on my finger. I had never paid it much attention before, but lately, I had taken to playing with it when I was nervous. "Not exactly." I cringed as my voice broke. "I just thought we could move the conversation."

For a second, Edward looked confused, and when what I was asking dawned on him, he openly gaped at me. "Ah, do you mean that you want, um . . . are you suggesting . . . do you think we should . . ."

"Yes," I said firmly. "I'm tired, and I want to go to bed. Would you rather sleep in your bed or mine?"

"Whichever one you're going to be in is fine with me," he answered with a grin. "Are you sure about this?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I think I am. Can we sleep in yours? It's more comfortable than mine."

"Sure." Edward stood and held out his hand to help me up.

I stretched onto my tiptoes and placed a quick kiss on his lips. "I'll be right there. Just let me wash my face and change."

"I'll be waiting," he called after me as I hurried through the door into my room.

This felt like an important step to me. I liked sleeping with him, and we were married. Eventually, I wanted to move his bed to my room and do something else with his, but that was a discussion for another day.

After getting ready quickly, I made the trek over to his room. Thankfully, the house had warmed up during the day, and it wasn't so cold that I had to run and hide underneath the covers. Edward was still in the bathroom, and I could see his exposed back from my perch on the bed. I remembered the way his sinuous muscles felt underneath my fingertips, and I shivered. Luckily, he was busy at the sink and couldn't see me shamelessly check out his body. My mind wandered, and my thoughts returned to our activities the night before. I had never felt like that before. His hard body shifting underneath mine, the fireworks exploding behind my eyes . . .

"See something you like?" Edward asked with a smirk, pulling me from my fantasies and memories.

I blushed and ducked my head. "Yeah, of course I do," I mumbled.

In a few long strides, Edward crossed the room and climbed into bed next to me. He sat with his legs brushing against mine, and he gently held my hand. "Bella, I . . ." his voice faltered " . . . I have to know what you want and what you are ready for. You know that I want you, all of you, but I know that we need to take this at your pace, not mine. Last night was . . . amazing, but I don't want you to think that, that is what I expect every time."

"Hmm," I murmured, flipping his hand over and running my fingers over his palm. "It's up to me?"

He nodded solemnly and watched each of my movements. His eyes widened as I lifted up onto my knees and threw one of my legs over his, so I was essentially straddling his lap. I placed each of my hands on his cheeks and leaned forward to press his lips to mine.

Edward responded eagerly, his hands gripping my hips and his lips moving with mine. As it usually did, one of my hands slid into his hair. His groan spurred me on, and I plunged my tongue into his mouth. I really had no intention of doing more tonight than making out, but I was determined to make it good. Edward's mouth pulled away from mine, and he kissed down my neck, sucking lightly where my neck and shoulder met. I threw my head back, because the sensation was becoming too much.

Swiftly, Edward pulled me off of his lap and lay me on the bed next to him. We stretched out together, making our bodies meet in as many places as possible, while our lips and tongues moved together. I worked hard to keep my hands anchored above his shoulders, because I didn't want him to get the wrong idea. He said that our physical relationship would run at my pace, and right now, I just wanted to kiss him. A lot.

And that is exactly what we did. Edward took his cues from me and never advanced things too much. My lips were swollen and my breathing heavy when we finally parted.

Edward rested his forehead against mine and placed a sweet kiss on the tip of my nose. "Oh, Bella," he murmured quietly, and those were the first words that we'd spoken in what felt like hours.

I settled into his side and rested my head on his shoulder while he pulled the covers over us. "Do the Spencers usually come to the Halloween party?" I asked softly, sort of fearing the answer.

For the last two years, I had gone, but had spent most of the night helping with the details instead of joining in the fun. Since I wasn't drinking and dancing, there hadn't been much else for me to do.

Edward gave me a curious look and a sad smile. "Yes, they do usually attend. I called Eleazar before I went to Italy and asked that they not come."

My eyes shot open in shock. "Did you tell him why?" I breathed out.

Edward hesitated, and I knew that meant that he hadn't. Part of me was glad, because I didn't want our sordid private lives to be paraded everywhere, but the other part was disgruntled, because I didn't feel like he'd had to pay much for his indiscretions.

Like he knew where my thoughts were going, he held up his hand and took a deep breath. "I told him that given the situation with Darton and that being around Tanya made my wife uncomfortable, it would be better if they made other plans."

"Did he ask you to explain that?" I asked. I was a girl, and that level of detail wasn't going to satisfy my curiosity.

"No, he didn't." Edward sighed. "You've been so reticent about our own family's involvement, I didn't want to spread it around even more. I swear to God, though, Bella, if you want me to, I'll call him now and tell him why."

"That's not necessary," I told him with a sinking feeling of dissatisfaction. I had no idea what I wanted him to have to do to atone for his sins, but there was a part of me that just felt like he hadn't done enough. Edward was showing me in every way he could that he cared about me and that I was important to him. I sighed and settled in for the night. My thoughts were running rampant, and I wasn't sure that sleep would come easily.

"Just tell me what to do, Bella," Edward whispered thickly. "I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you; you know that."

"I know," I whispered back. "I just don't know what that is, Edward. I want to move on, but sometimes my thoughts just run wild. I guess we just have to give it time."

"Whatever you need, Bella. I'll wait as long as it takes. You'll never know how sorry I am that I didn't have enough faith in us before to start here instead of making us both wait and making all the mistakes I did. Please, just talk to me and tell me what you need," he pleaded.

I nodded against his shoulder. "I will. Good night, Edward."

"Good night, love," he whispered, and his arms tightened around me.

There, safe in his arms, I finally drifted off to sleep.

We're making progress! Thank you so much. No teasers in reviews this week because of Christmas, but there will be one on the forum. Please come visit and bat stuff around. Also, if you have an outtake idea that you would like to see, please let me know ASAP . . .