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.

A/N: Oh, I'm getting some heated comments from people who think Bella's really messing up the future… that she should tell Carlisle everything… and that she should either A. Jump Edward's bones or B. Back off! LoL!

All I can say is that I hope you stick with it and trust me. I think you'll like how things eventually come together.

Thanks to my wonderful betas Aecarlso and Tiffanyanne3 for their help with this chapter. You're the best! Special thanks to suespunky, who helped me find pictures of the Leland Hotel (on my profile). And much love to my Twitter friends, who always make me smile.

"Time is what keeps the light from reaching us. There is no greater obstacle to God than time: and not only time but temporalities, not only temporal things but temporal affections, not only temporal affections but the very taint and smell of time."

- Meister Eckhart

Chapter 13 – Of Suffrage and Seduction

I didn't have time to sleep after I got off work Friday morning. I got back to the boarding house just in time to pack a few things before Eleanor's car arrived. Her driver carried my bag, tossing it into the storage compartment in the back of the car as I got in and sat next to Eleanor.

"Lord, honey, you look tired," Eleanor observed as I took my seat.

"Thanks," I said dryly. "You look nice too."

She laughed. "Well, the good news is you can sleep on the train. The ride will be long, but I have a very comfortable car."

Eleanor was understating things a bit. Her train car was luxurious, even by modern-day standards. The gleaming hardwood floors were covered with plush Persian rugs and a few potted plants spaced along the walls. One end of the car was set up as a sitting area, with a tufted, gold velvet sofa and matching chairs. The far end served as a bedroom, and my weary eyes focused on the large, four-poster bed fitted with crisp white linens, an impressive pile of pillows, and an intricately-pieced quilt in muted golds and greens. A folding screen leaned against the wall, apparently intended to separate the two areas for privacy.

A porter set our bags in a large armoire near the front of the car. I took off my hat and coat, hanging them on a couple of hooks near the door, before collapsing into one of the chairs in a heap.

"Can I bring you anything else before we depart?" the porter asked Eleanor as he stood by the open door.

"I think we could use a little something to eat," she told him, adding after a glance at me, "and perhaps you could bring us some sherry?"

"Of course, ma'am," he said with a slight bow, pulling the door shut behind as he left.

Eleanor sat down on the sofa across from me. "Are you sure you don't want to lie down?" she asked, a worried look on her face. "You look like you're about to drop."

"I'm tired, but I'm too wired to sleep right now," I replied. "I've never ridden on a train before… except the 'L'."

"Really?" Eleanor seemed surprised. "How did you get to Chicago from Washington?"

Oh yeah. That's right.

I time-traveled… it's the only way to fly.

"Oh… of course… there was that." I rubbed my forehead. "I'm so tired I guess I'm not thinking right. But I've never ridden in a car like this. It's amazing!"

Eleanor looked around fondly. "Well, being rich does have its advantages. I don't travel a lot, but when I do I like to be comfortable."

The train lurched a bit and slowly pulled out of the station. I turned to watch the scenery roll by, gradually picking up speed. A few minutes after we departed the station, the porter arrived at the door, pushing a small cart carrying several covered trays.

He set the trays on the coffee table and my stomach rumbled loudly. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until I saw the delicious spread of finger sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, cheese and crackers, and little frosted cookies.

We ate in companionable silence for the most part, and Eleanor offered me a small glass of sherry.

"I know it's early," she confided, "but you seem tense. It's just to calm your nerves." I really wasn't that nervous, but the sherry was sweet and cold and it spread warmth through my stomach, relaxing my body.

I stared at the passing scenery as buildings gave way to farmland and didn't even realize my eyes were drooping until Eleanor said my name loudly, obviously repeating it for at least the second time.

"I'm sorry. What did you say?" I asked, fighting a yawn.

"You're about to fall asleep in that chair." Eleanor chuckled. "Go back and lie down in the bed, honey. I'll wake you when we get close to Springfield."

Too exhausted to argue, I stumbled back to the inviting bed, vaguely noticing that someone had set up the dividing screen. I pulled off my shoes and took off my dress, draping it over the foot of the bed before collapsing into its downy softness. I was asleep within minutes.

x--x

"Bella?" I groaned and stretched languidly. "Bella? We're almost there."

I opened my eyes to see Eleanor standing over me.

"Okay. Thank you," I croaked.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked.

"Very." I stretched again. I really had slept heavily, with no frightening dreams that I could recall. Eleanor moved back out to the sitting room and I dressed quickly, splashing a little water on my face from a pitcher on a low dresser. I straightened the bed and joined Eleanor in the front of the car just as the train began to slow.

Eleanor had a car and driver waiting, so the porter loaded our bags into the back as we took our seats. The drive to the hotel was quick, and I looked out the window to get my first look at Illinois' capitol. It was a lot like Chicago, from what I could see, with its paved streets, quaint shops, overhead electrical lines and busy sidewalks. In the distance, I could see the dome of what I assumed was the capitol building.

"It's the tallest in the country, "Eleanor pointed out, "even taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. They say the old Secretary of State, Henry Dement used to hunt pigeons from the roof with a shotgun."

I laughed and we turned a corner, pulling to a stop in front of a large brick building with green awnings over the doors and windows. The driver grabbed our bags, following us into the hotel entrance. He handed the bags to a uniformed bellhop who set them on a brass luggage cart.

The Leland Hotel was… grand, I suppose you'd say. Polished wooden columns interspersed with potted palms dotted the carpeted lobby. Comfortable leather chairs sat in clusters in the spacious room - some occupied by distinguished-looking gentlemen or obviously well-bred ladies. I noticed with curiosity a set of double doors to the right with a brass placard reading "Gentlemen's Grill Room." The doors pushed open as two portly men emerged, bringing with them a cloud of sweet pipe smoke. Before the doors closed I took in an English-style pub with lots of wood paneling, dark wood floors, and sturdy tables – all occupied by men, of course.

I wondered where a girl could get a beer around here.

The reception desk was on the far end of the lobby, so Eleanor and I made our way there to check in. The bellhop led us to an old-fashioned – although it was actually new – elevator and I nervously stepped inside, holding tightly to a rail on the side of the car as the attendant closed the gate and turned a large wheel. The elevator shuddered and began to ascend, and I clenched my eyes tightly.

"Are you all right?" Eleanor asked with laughter in her voice.

"Fine," I said through gritted teeth, not willing to open my eyes. "Are we there yet?"

The elevator finally, blessedly, came to a stop and we followed the bellhop down a carpeted hallway to a door at the end. The suite was beautiful – all warm colors and gleaming surfaces - with a large sitting room overlooking downtown Springfield, the Capitol Dome surprisingly close. The sitting room was flanked by two luxurious bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. My nap on the train had refreshed me, and I wasn't even that tired, although I was dying for a shower.

Eleanor joined me at the window after the bellhop left, pointing out the route of the march the next day.

"We'll start there, at the Lincoln Home," she said, pointing out a rooftop a few blocks away, "then down Capitol Avenue to the capitol steps." I nodded, but was distracted. I was dying to grill Eleanor about her relationship with Carlisle, but unsure of how to broach the topic.

"So, Eleanor," I began, figuring the direct approach was probably best. "I found out I'm working for a friend of yours at the hospital."

"Really?" she asked, still looking out the window.

"Yes." I turned toward her, wanting to gauge her reaction. "Dr. Carlisle Cullen?"

Eleanor didn't seem embarrassed or shocked. Instead, she turned to me with a wide smile. "You work with Carlisle? You never mentioned it!"

"It never came up," I replied. "But when I told him I was going on this trip with you, he mentioned you were… friends." I emphasized the last word and was rewarded with a slight pinkening of Eleanor's cheeks.

"Well, yes," she admitted. "Carlisle and I were involved for a time after Pierre went back to France."

"How… involved?" I asked, hoping she wouldn't get mad at my prying.

Instead, she giggled a little. "Oh, involved enough," she said. "We were both lonely, I think. We had a lot in common and were able to help each other through a difficult time."

I felt like a perv prodding for details, but my curiosity was killing me. Still, I didn't think I could just ask her how he was in bed. Instead, I tried for subtlety. "He's a very nice man," I commented.

"Oh yes, very nice," she murmured, running her fingers along her necklace, seemingly lost in memories. "Very…. considerate."

Holy cow.

"Cold hands, though," she added, shooting me a grin. "Cold everything, actually."

A laugh burst from my lips. "Really?" I choked.

"Yes. He has some kind of blood circulation problem," she explained. "Nothing dangerous, but it makes his muscles tense and hard… and he's always cold."

I bit my lip to keep from smiling. Carlisle, you horny little liar!

"Still, he was very good at keeping me warm," she said with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

"Eleanor!" I couldn't keep the laugh down this time. "You're shameful!"

"Oh, Bella, you need to relax a little and enjoy life," Eleanor said. "And some men are… extremely enjoyable." She chuckled, turning toward her bedroom. "I think I'll take a bath, then maybe we can go and have an early dinner? We have a busy day tomorrow."

I agreed and headed to my bathroom for a shower, surprised by what I'd learned… and, I'd have to admit, a little impressed. I'd always thought of Carlisle as a patient, loving father figure… the pinnacle of protectiveness and self-control.

Who knew he had it in him?

x--x

The local Women's Suffrage Association hosted a lavish buffet brunch in the Leland's ballroom late the following morning. The room was packed with women – and a handful of men – enjoying the array of delicacies on the long buffet table. It didn't really even look like breakfast. One end of the table was laden with a variety of meats: steaks, roasts and chops, along with heaps of oysters and grilled fish. Further down I found a wide variety of fried potatoes – from simple shredded hash browns to larger chunks of potato, fried with bits of bacon and onion. Next came the eggs - scrambled, poached or fried – followed by biscuits and breads, sweet rolls and doughnuts… and of course, coffee and tea.

Gah. It was a heart attack waiting to happen, but it sure looked good.

Eleanor and I loaded our plates and found a seat in the middle of the room along with a few women I recognized from the meeting in Chicago. Several local suffrage supporters gave speeches during the meal, despite the chattering going on around the room, and tried to get the women fired up for the march.

After the meal, we all stood and moved toward the exits to walk the few blocks to President Lincoln's historic home. The sky was overcast and I felt a few random raindrops, but it was warm enough that we didn't need coats. Eleanor and I still brought umbrellas along, just in case.

As we gathered around the two-story home, I was reminded of the stories I'd heard about Abraham Lincoln's humble beginnings. This home, which apparently was where he had lived during the presidential election, had obviously been lovingly restored and maintained. The paint was fresh, the lawn neatly mowed, and spring flowers had been planted all along the front yard.

The crowd milled about and grew to an impressive size. I was bad at guessing the number of people in a group, but the yard was full and the crowd straggled out into the street and down the sidewalk. Several women walked through the gathering, handing out red, white, and blue sashes. Eleanor and I put ours on just as a woman stepped up onto the front porch, calling the group's attention.

"Ladies… and gentlemen," she shouted through a megaphone. "We have come here today to celebrate a victory… but also to challenge our leaders to make that victory a complete one." The crowd cheered and she waited for them to quiet.

"Illinois, as you know, was one of the first states in the union to extend the right to vote to women. Many of us were there along the way, fighting for our right to be heard at the polls. It was a long road, but our lawmakers finally made the right decision."

More cheers.

"But that victory was incomplete," she said, raising a hand to silence the crowd. "Even in Illinois, we are not allowed a voice in every election. And we have sisters across our great nation who are not even allowed that much. This, we believe, is wrong… it's unconscionable… and it must be changed!"

I found myself caught up in the moment and clapped and shouted along with the rest of the women.

"This fall, the United States Senate takes up a measure to adopt a constitutional amendment to extend suffrage to all American women… an amendment that has already been approved by the House and endorsed by our President." The shouting grew and she raised her voice to be heard over it. "We must send a message to our state's leaders that this amendment must be approved… that we will not stop until every woman across this great nation has an equal voice in government… a chance to be heard, that is our right!"

Applause rang out and she waited for it to subside a little before continuing.

"We stand here before the home of a great American president, Abraham Lincoln, who once said, 'The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.' I believe our cause is just! We must all be willing to take a stand… to make a statement… to let the world know that even if we fail, we will not be silenced. We will be heard!"

The crowd went wild, shouting and cheering. Eleanor had moved a few feet away to talk to a small group of women, and I was so absorbed in the speech that at first I didn't realize that a familiar figure had stepped up beside me.

"Good afternoon, Miss Swan," a low voice intoned.

I turned, surprised at being addressed… and even more surprised when I saw Carlisle standing next to me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, shocked.

"Nice to see you, too," he replied with a smirk.

I flushed. "Sorry. Of course, it's good to see you. I'm just surprised. You hadn't mentioned you were going to be here." My eyes flashed to Eleanor and I blushed more deeply, remembering our conversation from the night before.

Carlisle turned to observe the gathering. "Well, it's a worthy cause. I thought I'd come and lend my support."

"Carlisle?" Eleanor had returned, a wide smile on her face as she noticed my companion. "How lovely to see you, darling!" She leaned forward a bit and they touched cheeks quickly.

"Eleanor, you look lovely, as always." Carlisle returned her smile.

"Oh pish, you flatterer!" Eleanor waved a hand, turning to me. "The man never ages, I tell you. He looks the same as the day I met him. I don't know how he does it!"

I giggled and Carlisle raised an eyebrow at me.

"When did you get into town?" Eleanor asked, oblivious to our exchange. "We were on yesterday's train, but I didn't see you."

I choked on a laugh again as I imagined Carlisle running from Chicago to Springfield, leaving the train in the dust.

Carlisle ignored my outburst. "I arrived this morning," he said simply. I noticed he hadn't said anything about taking the train.

"It's such a coincidence," Eleanor continued. "We were just talking about you last night. Bella mentioned that you work together."

"That's right." Carlisle nodded. "She's been a world of help with my research. I don't know what I would do without her."

He glanced at me with a small smile, which I returned before we turned back toward the front of the group for the rest of the speeches. I noticed Eleanor watching Carlisle with a speculative gleam in her eye, but when she realized I was looking at her, she winked and turned away. I found myself wondering if Eleanor might still hold a candle for the good doctor.

Several more women made speeches before the group turned to walk the route to the capitol building. It was really well organized. The leaders arranged us into wide lines, instructing us to stay in formation for the duration of the march. Eleanor was on my left, Carlisle on my right.

I had the strangest urge to turn a cartwheel. If I could do a cartwheel, that is.

"I know what you're thinking," Eleanor said with a wink, "but if you step out of line, they'll be here in a flash. You do not want to get those ladies upset."

"They're kind of bossy," I complained.

"Oh, you can't even imagine," she replied. "A woman stepped out of line at the last march and ended up being hit in the head with a picket sign. I'm not saying it was on purpose, but…" She shrugged. "She ended up sitting on the sidewalk with a rag pressed to her forehead and didn't get into the group photo for the newspaper."

Geez. These suffrage ladies were kind of like the mafia. I decided I'd rather stay in formation than find a horse head in my bed.

The march to the capitol steps was relatively peaceful, except for the catcalls from a couple of drunk men standing outside of a bar. The group ignored them and made their way up the steps and a few photographers circled the group, taking pictures. I had to admit my heart swelled with pride a little bit. To be standing there with those history-making women… on the steps of a rather majestic building… it made me feel like I was a part of something important. I mean, I knew it would all happen with or without me. But to witness it first-hand was… well… pretty awe-inspiring.

More speeches were made… chants were shouted… songs were sung (although not by me). Finally, the group turned to disperse, once again walking down Capitol Avenue since many of the out-of-towners were also staying at the Leland. Eleanor, Carlisle, and I walked with the group down the street.

"You must join us for dinner," Eleanor said to Carlisle. "We haven't had a chance to chat in ages and I'd like to hear how you've been."

"I'd love to," Carlisle agreed, before all of our attention was drawn to a commotion a short distance ahead of us. The crowd was still pretty heavy, so I couldn't see exactly what was happening, but I could hear shouting and see several women turning to move quickly in the opposite direction.

"I wonder what's happening," I murmured, stretching to see above the crowd. Several people jostled past me and I stumbled a little. The crowd parted slightly and I saw that the two drunk men who had heckled us earlier had been joined by half a dozen friends and were shouting into the street, waving their beer bottles. One of them climbed up onto the top of a car and threw his bottle onto the pavement. The breaking glass seemed to jumpstart the screaming and suddenly people were running in every direction.

"We need to get out of here," Carlisle said, grabbing my arm.

"Wait!" I pulled away. "Where's Eleanor?" I scanned the crowd around me, but somehow my friend had disappeared. I pushed my way forward, thinking she might have been swept away, calling her name.

"You lousy suffragettes! Why don't you go home?" The drunk man on the car had been joined by a friend and they were now flinging beer out of full bottles onto the heads of the women before smashing the bottles on the sidewalk. "Can't your men keep control of you?" they jeered, obviously targeting a man in the crowd who had come to support his wife. At this, a fight broke out and the crowd began to surge and sway. Before I realized what was happening, the men had jumped down from the car and tipped it over into the street. I was being pushed and shoved from one direction to the other as more sporadic fights broke out, and people tried to escape the growing melee.

I wanted to turn and run, duck into an alley or a local business, but I was frantically searching for Eleanor. I was worried that she'd been hurt and despite my increasing panic, I pushed on. I could no longer see Carlisle and hoped that he was looking for her too. Of all people, I knew Carlisle could keep her safe. A woman stumbled before me, falling to the ground, and I bent to help her up before continuing on. Around me the shouting escalated and the peaceful crowd seemed to morph into a threatening mob. My hat was knocked from my head and as I turned to grab it, I felt a sharp shove from the back. Gasping, I fell forward onto the ground, catching myself on my hands and knees. A flash of pain ran through my extremities and I realized I'd landed not only on the harsh pavement, but also on broken glass. I raised a stinging palm to my face and grimaced at the trickles of blood flowing down to stain the sleeve of my white blouse.

I tried to stand, but once again was pushed to the ground as the frightened crowd rushed around me. A wave of fear surged through me as I remembered Edward's warning about the suffrage march and I winced at the realization that he was right. Still huddled on the hard street, I looked up to see two men just a few feet away locked in a scuffle and moving toward me quickly. The taller one clenched his fist, swinging hard at the other and solidly connecting with his face. The shorter one's head spun around, flinging blood and spittle my direction before he steadied himself and swung back. I tried to get up to escape the fight but once again was forced back down. I finally just closed my eyes and covered my head, resigned to trying to protect myself as well as I could until it was over.

Suddenly, I was no longer on the ground - and instead of shouting voices, all I could hear was the whistling of wind in my ears. It took a moment for me to realize I was cradled against a rock hard chest in a pair of strong arms. By the time I opened my eyes I was no longer in the midst of a crowd, but in a damp alley being set gingerly on a wooden crate.

"Are you all right?" Carlisle's worried amber gaze took in my bloody hands and torn skirt. Dazed, I just nodded.

He looked out to the mouth of the alley. "I'm going to go look for Eleanor," he said. "Just stay here. I'll be right back." I nodded again and slumped back against the brick wall as Carlisle rushed out of the alley. He returned a few moments later empty-handed.

At my concerned look, Carlisle tried to console me. "I'm sure she's fine," he said reassuringly. "The crowd is breaking up and the police have finally arrived to calm things down. She wasn't in the street, so she probably went into a restaurant or shop to wait until it was over."

He took my hand gently, examining the cuts. "I should clean and dress these," he murmured and I looked down. The blood flow had slowed, but with the sudden drop of adrenaline, I found myself growing woozy at the sight of the dark rivulets dripping from my palm. I felt myself sway and Carlisle quickly swept me up into his arms again.

"I'm okay," I argued pitifully.

"Yes, of course you are." Carlisle chuckled. "Just hold still."

It turned out, we were in the alley behind the Leland and Carlisle managed to easily open the service door before carrying me down a dark hallway. Avoiding the elevator, he quickly climbed six flights of stairs, and I told him our room number and handed them the key from my purse. When we entered the room he started to set me down on the couch in the sitting room, but I protested, not wanting to get blood on the carpet or furniture. Instead, at my insistence, I sat in the bathtub in my bathroom with my eyes closed and my head laid back against the cool porcelain.

"I just have to get my bag," he said in a quiet voice. "I won't be a minute."

"I'm sure you won't," I said wryly without opening my eyes.

I heard him laugh quietly before he left the room. True to his word, he was back in less than a minute with his medical bag in hand. Carlisle cleaned the cuts in my palms first, and I felt a flash of déjà vu as I remembered him completing a similar task after my birthday party mishap. Once he got the blood cleaned up, I actually felt much better – less dizzy. He applied some salve to my hands and wrapped them in gauze.

"Those should heal up nicely," he said, tossing some trash into the garbage can. "Just keep the dressings clean. Do you have any other injuries?"

I winced. Actually, I was sore all over. Now that I had time to evaluate my condition I realized I was going to be pretty bruised for quite a while.

"I think my knees…" I began, lifting my torn skirt. Carlisle knelt before me to examine my knees. Only one was cut – the other was just scraped, so he quickly treated those injuries and stood to wash his hands.

The telephone rang and my head snapped toward the sitting room. "It might be Eleanor," I said, raising myself up carefully to sit on the edge of the bathtub.

"Just stay there a moment," Carlisle ordered. "I'll answer it, then I'll help you into the other room." He walked out and I carefully stepped out of the tub and wobbled after him, using the wall for support and worried to death about Eleanor.

I walked into the sitting room and leaned on a table as Carlisle answered the phone. He rolled his eyes at my disregard for his orders and muttered a low, "Hello?"

A moment later, his eyes flashed to me. "Yes, she's right here. One moment please." He set the phone down and walked over to help me to a chair.

"It's Edward," he said impassively.

Shit. Oh shit. I'd forgotten Edward was going to call. And Carlisle answered the phone… in my room.

Edward was going to be pissed.

I picked up the phone and Carlisle went into the bathroom to finish cleaning up. I took a deep breath, preparing myself to face the music.

"Hello?" I said in a weak voice.

After a beat of silence, I heard Edward's curt reply. "Bella?"

I tried to hide my discomfort. I had done nothing wrong, after all. "Oh, hi Edward! How was the meet?" I asked cheerfully.

"Bella, why is that man answering your telephone?"

Okaaayyy…. So the diversion tactics weren't going to work.

"Oh, Dr. Cullen?" I said cheerfully. "Eleanor and I ran into him at the march today."

"Why is he in your room, Bella?" Edward's voice was quiet… deadly. I almost preferred the ranting, raving Edward.

"Oh… ummm… well, there was a little problem after the march. I hurt… myself a little…"

"What?" Edward's voice grew agitated. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, it's just a scratch, really," I assured him. "I just fell in the street and scraped my hands up." That sounded minor, right? Not a big deal… nothing to be concerned about. Carlisle emerged from the bathroom with his bag in hand and tried to pretend that he hadn't been listening to my whole conversation.

"You just… fell," Edward repeated, disbelievingly.

"Ummm… yes." I squirmed a little in my seat, even though Edward couldn't see me. Carlisle caught the motion and I saw him smirk a little.

"For no reason at all," Edward continued.

"Uh huh." I bit my lip. God, I was a terrible liar.

"Are you sure about that, Bella?" he asked, giving me a last chance to come clean. I hesitated, but knew that - knowing Edward - he'd read about the incident in the papers… and then he'd be even more upset that I hadn't told him the truth.

"Well…" I began, "…there may have been a fight…"

"I knew it!" Edward exclaimed. "I told you those marches were dangerous! I can't believe I let you go down there!"

"Wait a second," I bristled. "What do you mean you let me?"

Edward continued as if he hadn't heard me. "…and then thugs on the street start a riot and of course, you're right in the middle of it. You could have been seriously hurt… or killed!"

"Edward…"

"But you just have to get involved. You can't just write letters or put up posters… no… not Bella Swan…" he ranted.

"Edward…" I said a little louder.

"You have to be right in the thick of things… willing to risk your very life…" I looked up to see Carlisle chuckling and rolled my eyes.

"Edward!" I shouted.

Finally… blessed silence.

"I know you're worried, but I promise you… I'm fine," I explained. When he tried to interrupt, I continued. "The fight had nothing to do with the march... not really. There were a few drunk guys causing problems and things just got out of hand. It could have happened anywhere."

"Anywhere you were," Edward muttered.

I pretended I hadn't heard that. "I lost my balance and fell… I scraped up my knees and cut my hands a little, but they're fine… I'm fine."

Edward was quiet for a moment, then I heard him exhale heavily. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I just don't like the idea of you being hurt. And I really don't like you being so far away," he admitted. "I… uh… I miss you."

I smiled. "I know. I miss you too."

"And I really don't like the fact that Dr. Cullen is there with you," he muttered angrily. Carlisle, to his credit, had moved to the windows and was gazing out of them thoughtfully, acting like he wasn't listening.

Stupid eavesdropping vampires.

"It's a good thing he was," I told Edward. "He helped me get away from the crowd and then treated my cuts and scrapes."

"Well, that is good… I guess," Edward admitted grudgingly. "So, may I still come for you at the train station tomorrow?"

"Of course. The train is scheduled to arrive at two-fifteen," I replied. Then, before I hung up, I remembered to ask him, "You never said how you did at the meet today."

Edward's voice notably cheered. "It went well, I think. I qualified for the regional meet."

"That's great, Edward. I'm so happy for you!" I smiled, then realized that I needed to keep the phone line open. "Edward, I wasn't thinking. I need to go. We were separated from Eleanor after the fight and I'm waiting for her to call."

"You mean you're alone in that room with Dr. Cullen?" Edward asked in a shocked voice. "Mrs. Donahue's not with you?"

Great. Me and my big mouth.

Fortunately, I was rescued from the conversation by Eleanor herself, who chose that very moment to burst through the door.

"Bella! Thank the Lord! I was so worried!" Eleanor rushed over to sit across from me on the sofa.

Saved by the belle. Heh.

"Edward, I'm sorry. Eleanor's here and I really have to go…"

"Bella…" Edward said in a warning voice.

"Edward, can we talk about this tomorrow, please? It's been a long day and I'm really tired," I pleaded.

After a beat of silence he relented. "All right. I'll see you tomorrow." I heard him exhale heavily. "I'm glad you're all right. Good night, Bella."

"Bye, Edward." I hung up the phone and sighed.

"Is everything all right?" Eleanor asked, reaching for my bandaged hand. Before I could answer, she noticed my injuries and my disheveled appearance. "Good Lord, Bella! What happened?"

"Well, I kind of ended up in the middle of a little fight…"

Carlisle laughed, walking over to sit on the arm of the sofa. "More like a full-on bar brawl."

I shot him a glare. "Really, it's nothing. Carlisle fixed me right up."

"Well, thank heaven for that." Eleanor shook her head in concern. "I ducked into a little bookshop when things started escalating. I looked for you, but couldn't find you. By the time the police had everything under control, I had no idea where you'd gone."

"Carlisle helped me back to the hotel," I explained. "I was lucky he was nearby."

"Yes… lucky," Eleanor murmured distractedly. "I take it your Edward wasn't too happy to hear about today's happenings?"

"That's putting it mildly," I muttered.

"Well, don't worry, honey, he'll be fine." She patted my knee. "Once he sees you're home safe and sound, he'll forget all about it."

I doubted that, but didn't comment. Instead, I suggested we all go to dinner in the hotel restaurant. I changed my clothes, wondering if the stained blouse and torn skirt could be salvaged, before we headed to the lobby. I limped along, wincing at my aching joints as Carlisle held my elbow to steady me. We sat at a round table set with white linens and gleaming silver. I sipped from my water glass and Carlisle leaned toward me.

"Here," he whispered, holding out a couple of white tablets, "these might help with the pain."

I looked at the pills skeptically. "They're not morphine are they? Or… laudanum?" I didn't want to become some kind of early twentieth century junkie, haunting the backstreets of Chicago looking for a fix.

"Laudanum?" Carlisle chuckled lowly. "No, I don't really use laudanum any more. It's just aspirin, I'm afraid."

I nodded and swallowed the tablets gratefully, hoping they would help ease the burning in my muscles.

Eleanor and Carlisle ordered steaks – rare for Carlisle, which earned a chuckle from me – and I chose a grilled trout with roasted potatoes. I surreptitiously watched Carlisle out of the corner of my eye, trying to spot what he was doing with his food, but I had to say the guy was good. Even I couldn't tell he was faking. He moved the food around on his plate, lifting the fork to his lips on occasion, but I couldn't tell if he was really chewing the food, or if he managed to tuck it into his napkin at vamp-speed before I could notice.

"Are you taking the train back to Chicago in the morning?" Eleanor asked Carlisle before taking another bite of her steak.

"Ah, no… I'll be taking a later train," Carlisle replied, moving a green bean from one side of his plate to another.

"Oh, I didn't realize there was a later train."

"Hmmm… yes… well," Carlisle said noncommittally. He faked another bite and I squinted at him, trying to see if he actually put it in his mouth. He noticed my staring and turned to me with a raised eyebrow, but I just shrugged sheepishly and returned to my fish.

"What's going on with you two?" Eleanor had set her silverware down and was looking from me to Carlisle suspiciously.

I choked slightly and covered with a sip of water. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know," she said slowly, eyeing us carefully. "It's like you're sharing a secret or something."

I reddened and my voice raised a notch. "A secret?" I croaked.

I saw Carlisle shake his head slightly out of the corner of my eye. Obviously, he was not impressed with my bluffing abilities.

"I think you're imagining things, Eleanor," he said calmly, faking a sip of his own water. "There are no secrets here. Perhaps Bella is having a reaction to the medication I gave her. It can have some unusual side effects."

Oh… good one, Carlisle. Why didn't I think of that?

"I am feeling a little tired… and… dizzy," I added as an afterthought. "Maybe I need to lie down."

"Oh, dear," Eleanor fussed, rising to the bait and waving for the waiter. "You need to get some rest. We'll get you up and to bed and you'll be right as rain in the morning." She told the waiter to bill our room for the meal and we stood to leave the restaurant.

Carlisle said goodbye in the lobby and leaned in to touch cheeks with Eleanor, then with me.

"Nice recovery," he whispered before pulling away with a smirk, tipping his hat to us, and leaving the building.

x--x

I was preoccupied the next morning as we boarded the train for the return trip to Chicago. I had slept well, very heavily in fact, and I wondered if Carlisle had told me the truth about the aspirin, or if he'd given me something a little stronger. Regardless, for the second time, I had been free of weird, creepy dreams and I was glad for the fact.

However, I knew in a few short hours I'd be seeing Edward again, and that had me worried for a couple of reasons. Of course, there was the immediate issue of Edward being upset about me being hurt in the fight… and even more upset that Carlisle was in my hotel room. To be honest, I couldn't really blame him. I knew Edward had some jealousy issues regarding Carlisle, however ill-founded I believed them to be. I couldn't really explain it to him, though. The fact that Carlisle was a lonely vampire who found in me a friend and somewhat-confidant, despite our "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" situation made perfect sense to me… but wasn't exactly something I could tell Edward.

So there was that. Still, I believed once we'd talked things out I could make him see reason and we'd be okay on the suffrage/danger/Carlisle front.

But there was also the other problem at hand. Once I returned to Chicago, I needed to really kick my Save Edward plan into gear. Which meant I needed to figure out a way to break through his well-rehearsed self-control and get at the passionate Edward I'd only seen glimpses of.

Yeah, back to the whole seduction thing. And my lack of skills in that arena.

So I sat, biting my nails on the sofa in Eleanor's private car as the train pulled out of the station, distractedly looking out the window.

"Bella? Is something bothering you?"

Eleanor peered at me over her teacup, and I decided if there was one person who could help me with my dilemma, it was the woman in front of me. She obviously had a lot of experience in the area… she was a cougar before they even coined the phrase.

"Ummm…" I began, blushing. "Well, it's about Edward."

Eleanor laughed softly. "I assumed so. Are you worried about his reaction to all of this?" she waved a hand, indicating my bandages.

"No… not exactly," I replied. "I think I can handle that."

"What then?"

I bit my lip thoughtfully. "You have a lot of… experience… with men, right?" I asked, hoping I wasn't insulting her.

Thankfully, she just smiled. "More than some, not as much as others," she said.

"I was just wondering how you… ummm…" God, how was I going to seduce Edward if I couldn't even talk about it without blushing and bumbling like an idiot? I squared my shoulders and took a deep breath. "I need you to teach me about seduction," I said firmly, my flaming cheeks belying my resolute tone.

"What?" Eleanor gasped. "Bella, what is this all about?"

My squared shoulders slumped. "It's about Edward. He's been so sweet and considerate lately…" At her wry expression, I added, "Last night on the phone the exception."

"So why is that a problem?" she asked.

"I want him to be… not so… sweet and considerate," I said pointedly, blushing even further, if that were possible.

"Ahhh," Eleanor said with a knowing smile.

"Yeah." I nodded. "I was hoping you could help me… move things forward a bit."

"Are you sure that's what you want, Bella?" She moved to sit next to me on the sofa, taking my hand gently. "I'm going to let you in on a little secret, honey. I love my life. I do. But it's not an easy one. If it wasn't for my money, I'd be more of a social pariah than I already am.

"For you, it could mean ruin, Bella. A young girl like yourself has to consider her reputation. If you go down this road, there's no turning back," she warned. "And if you succeed and give yourself to Edward in this way... if he loses interest… sets you aside, you could be destroyed."

That was true in more ways than one, but I lifted my chin in determination. "I know what I'm doing," I replied firmly. "Will you help me?"

She looked into my eyes for a long moment, then sighed heavily. "All right," she said, suddenly all business. "Now, I'm not saying I know everything there is to know, but I've found a few tricks along the way that could help. These may sound simple, but they are effective."

"Should I be taking notes?"

Eleanor laughed, and the tension between us lifted and she sat back down across from me. "Okay, honey, first thing you need to do is find a way to be with Edward around other men. You need to make him jealous, without him realizing what you're doing. I think you've already seen that can have an impact."

I thought about Edward's reaction to Carlisle and nodded. I wouldn't use Carlisle, though. I just couldn't do that.

"Second," she continued, "you need to offer him forbidden glimpses, again without being obvious."

"Glimpses?" I repeated, unsure of what she meant.

"Perhaps you raise your skirts a little higher than necessary to step over a puddle, or bend down a little to offer just a peek…" she suggested.

My face fell into my hands. "Who am I kidding? I could never do that!" I moaned.

"You're the one who asked for my help, Bella," Eleanor pointed out. "If you really want this, you will have to overcome your insecurities."

I peeked at her through my fingers. "What else?" I mumbled.

"Well, you'll need to touch him… frequently, but subtly," she suggested, standing again and pacing across the room. "A brush of your fingers on his arm, a light tap on his chest… that kind of thing. The goal is to drive him a little crazy, without looking like a loose woman. It's a delicate balance."

"Do you really think that will work?" I asked doubtfully, skeptical not of her advice, but of my ability to pull it off.

"Do you have any other options?" she responded quickly.

"The only thing that's worked so far is getting him mad," I said dejectedly. "And lately, he's even been able to control that."

"Getting mad, hmmm…" Eleanor tapped her lips thoughtfully. "Well, that does make some sense. Passion is passion… you can use that to your advantage as well."

"So jealousy… forbidden glimpses… touching him, subtly… and making him mad," I ticked off the points on my fingers. I exhaled heavily. "Eleanor, is it wrong for me to do this?" I asked, feeling guilty. "It feels so manipulative."

"Oh, honey, it is manipulative," she agreed, sitting down again. "But you're not going to make him do anything he doesn't want to do," Eleanor added. "You're just encouraging him to act on feelings I suspect he already has."

Still doubtful, I nodded. "I'll try…"

"And if all else fails," she added, "you might have to be a little forward… become the aggressor." She looked me in the eyes intently. "But again, Bella, be cautious. If you're going to protect your reputation, you'll need to make sure any advances are not observed by others."

"I understand."

"Oh, and one more thing," she said, holding up a finger and going to the low dresser by the bed, shuffling through some papers in a drawer. "Read this."

I looked at the pamphlet Eleanor placed in my hand.

Family Limitation by Margaret Sanger

Curious, I flipped through it quickly, my eyes widening as I realized Eleanor had just given me a pamphlet on birth control… a very detailed, fully-illustrated pamphlet on birth control. I was shocked. I knew the Pill wasn't around yet… and that the early condoms were not wholly reliable, but the pamphlet had several other options.

"And if you have any questions, or need help obtaining anything mentioned in there, just see me," Eleanor added, sitting down and picking up her teacup to take a sip. I murmured my thanks as I tucked the pamphlet away to read in detail later.

"Now," Eleanor said, setting her cup down again and eyeing me intently, "I need to ask you for a favor."

"Of course, Eleanor, anything," I replied, not sure of what she could possibly want from me.

She took a deep breath. "Promise me you'll be careful… with Carlisle."

Her request confused me. "What do you mean?"

"I'm asking you to do your best not to hurt him."

"I would never hurt Carlisle," I replied emphatically. "He's one of my closest friends."

"I'm sure you wouldn't… not intentionally, at least," Eleanor clarified. She tapped her lips with her fingers. "I can't be sure, of course. Carlisle guards his emotions so closely. But a few times I got the impression that his feelings for you might be… deeper than you suspect."

First Edward and now Eleanor. How could I explain the unique connection between Carlisle and me? To outsiders it had to appear strangely intimate, full of inside jokes and shared confidences. I could understand where Eleanor would come to the conclusion that we were more than friends. In a way, we were. But Carlisle was… Carlisle. I had come to know him better, appreciate him as a person like I had never had the chance to before. Yet, there couldn't really be anything more to it than that.

At least on my end.

An uncomfortable feeling snuck up my spine as I wondered if Eleanor… and Edward… might possibly be seeing more of the truth than I was at that moment. Carlisle had given no indication to me of the deeper feelings Eleanor alluded to. He had always been the perfect gentleman – protective, yes – but other than that…

I shook my head, unable to delve any deeper into those thoughts at the moment and opting for denial.

"Don't worry, Eleanor," I reassured her. "Carlisle and I are close friends. We have a lot in common and enjoy each others' company. That's all."

She bit her lip pensively. "Perhaps," she relented, "but please, promise me you'll be careful."

I took in her worried gaze and felt it mirrored in the pit of my stomach. Hurt Carlisle? The one person in this crazy world who came close to knowing who I really was – the truth about my presence here? I couldn't bear it. I would do anything to keep from hurting him.

To my surprise, tears pricked at my eyes and I brushed them away quickly.

"I promise," I said quietly.

She nodded, and we both turned to look out the window at the passing scenery as the train rolled down the tracks.

A/N: Yes, it's true. They did have birth control, although both birth control devices and dissemination of birth control information were outlawed by the Comstock Act of 1873. Instead, contraceptive devices were sold as "hygiene products" or on the black market. The pamphlet Eleanor gave to Bella was originally published in 1914 and there's a link to it on my profile if you'd like to check it out. The author, Margaret Sanger, is credited with coining the phrase "birth control" and was arrested numerous times for her efforts to make it legal and available to all women. She opened the first birth control center in America in 1916, and in 1923 founded two organizations that would eventually merge and become Planned Parenthood.

Interestingly, it was World War I that changed the birth control laws, at least to an extent. Sexually transmitted diseases were a problem for soldiers in Europe and U.S. military leaders tried to teach them abstinence. Most soldiers in ignored those orders, however, instead obtaining condoms while abroad… and then eventually bringing them home when the war ended. In 1918, condoms became legal in the United States.

Just a little bit of history I found interesting!

A couple of reminders: If you'd like to talk about Beyond Time, there's a thread on the Twilighted forums (link on my profile.) You can also follow me on Twitter (Tkegl) if you like. And teasers are posted on Mondays at www(dot)fictionators(dot)com.

I'm also co-hosting a fun new contest:

Announcing the Long Distance Lovin' Anonymous One-Shot Contest!

When love's long distance, sometimes you've gotta make do. So we want your best phone-sexin', skype-lovin', naughty-textin', IM-mmm-mmm-ing good times. The only requirement is your two long-distance lovers must do the deed via some mode of technology... no hands-on activity allowed, unless it's the do-it-yourself kind.

Banners will be awarded for first, second, and third place, as well as two honorable mentions.

Submissions will be accepted starting JUNE 1, 2010… so get to writing!

For more information, go to www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/~longdistancelovincontest