Disclaimer and Authors Note

I do not own Twilight or its sequels. This is however an original story being posted as a fanfiction (see profile). Main character names and appearances have been made to match the likeness of characters from the Twilight universe. Anything not Twilight (original characters, plot, etc…) belong to me.

Here is one more chapter. If I make some progress this weekend, there will be another chapter posted Sunday. Thank you and Enjoy!

WARNING! There is not graphic sex in this story. It is only referred to not depicted.

Chapter 13 ~ Decision

Bella arranged the breakfast dishes one by one. She and Edward had already eaten. He was in his office taking care of some phone calls. It made her wonder about his job. Besides the day before, he had not left the house for work or even the grocery store since she had been there.

Now that was going to change later today. Edward had already told her that he would be leaving for the grocery store in the afternoon. He was going to go with Jasper, so Alice was going to stay with her. They would visit and work on dinner. "That way she can also help you get ready for…you know if you decided you want to go that route."

She had yet to make her decision but wasn't worried. Edward was giving her until dinner to tell him whether or not she wanted to risk faking it or not.

Fake it. It sounded so dangerous. Her breaking her own hymen wouldn't be bad, but if anyone who worked for Volturi found out that she wasn't sleeping with Edward… She didn't want to think of the consequences.

After adding soap, she closed the dishwasher. She started it immediately with a push of a few buttons. Despite the dishwasher being full, the sink was not empty. The frying pan still set there waiting to be hand washed. It was her next task.

As she soaked the pan, she let her mind wander to the night before. She still could not believe that Edward had offered her a choice. The surprise almost made her fall off the sofa. It's a good thing I didn't. It would have been hurt hitting the coffee table.

Once he dropped the proverbial bomb on her, Edward explained that faking it would be dangerous. It seemed the facility conducted routine checkups of the all slaves including the ones that had been gifted to employees like her and Alice.

She would be examined and asked questions to see if she and Edward were both meeting the requirements. To make faking it work, she would have to lie about having sex with him. She would have to make up 'nights' they had spent together and fake the intense emotions that she would most likely feel from that type of event.

At the same time, Edward would be questioned too. Their answers had to match. If one of them were caught in a lie, one or both of them would be punished.

I am an awful liar.She thought as she scrubbed the frying pan with a sponge. I don't think I can do it. As much as I would like to skip…it, I don't think it will work.

There were reasons why she had been such a good girl growing up. The fact she looked guilty a lot and couldn't lie to…well, save her life was one of them. Yes, I wanted to be a good girl and not get in trouble. Yet, I am the one that ended up disowned.

It was ironic. Out of her and her siblings, she had always been the most obedient. She feared getting in trouble the most. Since she couldn't get away with anything, it had been easier just to follow the rules. That is until she found writing.

Despite being told to focus on her degree subject, she couldn't let go of writing. Now here I am not able to write. Then again, maybe I will be. She smiled. All I need is some paper. I doubt Edward will say no to that.

Once she adjusted the hot water so it would not burn her hands, she rinsed the pan, dried it, and then put it in the cabinet where it belonged. That's another thing I want to do if he will let me, rearrange the kitchen.

Bella didn't know who had arranged the kitchen or why they had done it the way they had, but the arrangement was not efficient. A few changes would make the kitchen a lot easier to use. Edward probably did it and never thought of changing it.

Her morning chores were done. The rest of her chores for the week were done too. There really was not much else for her to do until lunch. However, I do need to make up my mind. Do I risk it, or do I face my fear?

They had talked about her fears last night as well. Edward had insisted on it. "I want to be prepared," he told her.

Am I prepared? Am I prepared to have taken the gift I was saving for my husband? She walked to the sofa to sit down. She ended up hugging a pillow like she had last night.

It is not like I will have a husband now. Slaves don't get married, and I'm probably never going to be free again. She looked over her shoulder towards the hallway. I can a least lose it to someone who will be gentle. He did promise to be. He has kept his promises so far.

Continuing to think, Bella laid down. What do I do? With escaping and going home not happening, I know I want to stay here. Going back to the facility…no, I can't do that. So, I only have the two options. It's not like if we don't fake it, Edward is going to have me in his bed every night. No, he had already told her how often he expected her.

"Just enough not to arouse suspicion. I'm already known for not being…active. It won't be strange if I only take you once or twice a month. And you can always tell me if you don't feel well. I don't want to make this more uncomfortable than it already is."

She sighed. This decision was not easy. It's not like I expected it to be, though. That would be weird. Now she was getting side tracked. I need to concentrate.

Frustrated, she threw the pillow to the other side of the sofa. She didn't want to hold it anymore. What she wanted to do was pace; but she didn't think Edward would understand. Then again, he does seem to be very understanding.

With that thought, she stood up. In front of the fireplace seemed like the best place. Over and over, she walked an imaginary six-foot line that ran from the fireplace to the dining room window. At first, she just counted the times she walked the line.

One…two…three…four…

After the eighth time, she turned her thoughts to the matter at hand. What to do? What to do?

This is how Edward found her thirty minutes later. He had to call her name to get her attention. "You okay," he asked once she was looking at him. She could see the concern in his eyes.

He is probably wondering if he should've given me the choice. Need to put a stop to that. "Yes, sir. I was just thinking. Pacing helps." She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile.

"Okay." He didn't seem convinced but let the issue drop. "I wanted to talk about dinner tonight and the grocery list. I don't want to forget anything."

She nodded. "Yes, sir."

~TS~

Putting together the grocery list was another way Edward treated Bella like a servant instead of a slave. He asked her opinion on meals and her preferences on things like what flavor of ice cream to buy. They talked about what could be made for dinner from what was on hand. Spaghetti was decided. It would use the last of the hamburger meat in the house. They would have the cheesecake Edward had bought on a whim the night before as dessert.

Bella felt the urge to tease him about impulse buying and hording desserts but kept her comments to herself. I have a lot of freedom, but I don't want to test the boundaries of it today. There's enough on my plate already.

It was clear that Edward wasn't used to home cooked meals when his face lit up at the suggestion of roast chicken and stuffing one night. The meal was a favorite of hers, but she did not used to cook it often because of the prep time. Time wasn't an issue anymore. She literally had all day to do her housework and cooking. As long as the chores were done and meals were on the table on time, Edward simply did not care what she did.

Well, he does care if I spend that time plotting escape. But that isn't going to happen anymore. She unconsciously straightened her back. Yea, instead we might be plotting against his boss. That just didn't sound like a good idea to her.

Edward asking her if she could think of anything else interrupted her thoughts. "No, sir. I think we have everything." She took one last look at the long list in front of her. It seemed to have everything they would need for the next week or so. In fact, the list was so long that she wondered how Edward was going to get it all home. Well, Jasper is going with him. That should help.

"Nope. I think this is everything." She handed him the list.

"Good." Edward folded the paper before putting it in his pant's pocket. "I'll be leaving at two if you can think of anything else."

"Okay," she said put the pen and pad of paper she used to make the list back in the kitchen's junk drawer. When she rearranged the kitchen, the junk drawer would stay, but she did need to go through it. Who knows what was hiding in the back of it.

~TS~

By lunchtime, she'd made her decision. She believed that it wasn't only logical but the best for her emotionally. Faking it was just too much of a risk for her. It meant a lot that Edward would be willing to risk it all to let her keep her morals, but she wasn't willing to let him risk it. It was too likely that she wouldn't be able keep up the web of the lies. Deep in her gut, she felt she was making the right choice, the choice that would keep both of them safe.

She didn't say anything during lunch. Edward had said she had until dinner to make up her mind. Of course, she was not going to change her mind, but she did want the extra time to come to terms with her choice.

I'm going to let the man in front of me take my virginity. I am going to go to bed with a man that's not my husband. Despite knowing she was doing the right thing, part of her wanted to break down into tears.

However, she held it together during lunch and the rest of the afternoon. She was still hanging in there when someone rang the doorbell. Since she was not allowed to answer the door, she didn't look up from her book or move at all from the sofa she was sitting on. Instead, Bella continued to read knowing she had at least another minute to finish the paragraph before she needed to put the book down. Edward would get the door. It was most likely Jasper and Alice.

~TS~

Edward wasn't sure what to do. He didn't know what to think either. Both were sad states. What's wrong with me? He ran his hand through his hair.

He had been trying to finish a report but kept getting distracted with thoughts of Bella. What's she going to decide? Am I really going to be able to rape her even if it is her choice? It would be rape in his mind. She didn't want it. To him that was the definition of rape. He didn't care if she lay down and took it without complaint.

Maybe this would be easier if I wasn't raised with such morals. Then again, I wouldn't be having this problem if I hadn't. He let out a sigh. Maybe this would be easier if I didn't care for her? I can't believe I let that happen. I know better. What's bad is it didn't even take it that long. The woman is just too innocent not to care about.

Too frustrated to work, he closed the file on the computer. It was not due until Sunday. He would finish it tomorrow.

A look at the clock on the computer told him he had good timing. It was almost 2 pm. Jasper and Alice would be there soon. He could have left Bella alone; he trusted that she would not try to run away again. However, he felt she might need Alice to help her with the aftermath of the decision she made.

If Bella decided to fake it, Alice would prepare her the best she could by answering any questions. The same went for if Bella decided to go through with the act. He knew Alice would help her. In fact, he had a sneaking suspicion that the woman would show up with a bag of goodies that would fit either situation.

He shook his head, not wanting to think about such things. Fortunately, the doorbell saved him. It was exactly 2 pm. Jasper was nothing if not prompt.

Standing from the desk chair, he shut down the computer. He did not plan on needing it for the rest of the day. On his way to the door, he saw Bella on the sofa. She looked to have helped herself to his books. She seemed…happy almost, having a book in her lap.

The look on his face told him she was concentrating on something. Probably finishing a chapter of something. He figured he was right when he saw her put down the book as he disarmed the security system. He might trust Bella to not run away but not enough not to give him a little extra assurance.

"Jasper. Alice." Edward greeted them both as they walked in. As he predicted, Alice did have a small duffel bag in her hand. Don't want to know what's in there. Do not want to know what is it there. He told himself.

"Are you ready to go," Jasper asked after saying hello to Bella.

"Yes. Did you think of anything you need?" He checked with Bella one last time. The answer was a 'no, sir'. "Then we will see you in time for dinner." It would not take the whole time to do the grocery shopping. He and Jasper already planned to stop by a sports bar and watch a game before coming home.

After shutting the door, he armed the alarm system. "So to Han's?" He offered as he pushed buttons.

"Sounds good." Jasper led the way to the elevator.

~TS~

"He what," was Alice's response when Bella told her of what happened the night before. "He gave you an option? What are you going to do?" She continued her questions not giving Bella time to answer them.

"Alice, stop. You have to give me a chance if you want answers." Bella motioned for her friend to settle down. Friend. I like that. That is what Alice was after all. Who would have thought I'd be a slave with a friend. Then again I never thought I'd be a slave.

"Okay then." Alice was containing herself now, but it looked to be taking effort. "What are you going to do? That has to be the most important question."

"He gave me until dinner tonight to make a decision."

"But…"

"But," she held up a finger to stress her point. "I have already decided to go through with it." Being the first time she had spoken her decision, Bella expected for her stomach to fall or something. She didn't feel happy, but she didn't feel like breaking down and morning either. That is progress. She thought, satisfied with herself.

After a few moments, her answer must have sunk into Alice's brain. All of a sudden, the woman stood up and reached for the duffel bag she had brought.

"What are you doing?"

"What do you mean? We have to get you ready? What do you think is in here?" Alice held up the bag.

Hanging her head, Bella murmured, "I don't think I want to know."

"I heard that." With her free hand, Alice reached for the other woman. "You will appreciate it when I am done. Plus I can answer your questions."

Figuring that she might as well let Alice have her fun and that she did have a few questions, Bella let herself be dragged to the bathroom.

~TS~

Bella had never been a girly girl. It was her sister that was into makeup and boys and Barbie's. She had never been into lingerie or the color pink. She preferred simple cotton underwear and the color blue. Even as a child, she had only liked princesses if they had a horse and got to be smarter and better at everything than any prince in sight.

By what came out of that duffel, Alice was a girly girl, and there was plenty of pink in sight. Pink in the form of makeup. There were lipsticks and blushes and eye shadows

"I am not wearing eye shadow or mascara," Bella was quick to insist once she saw the makeup. "I don't need that gunk on my eyes, and mascara is nasty."

"I can work with that." Alice continued to pull things from the bag. "The situation is not ideal, but I want to help you make this night as perfect as possible."

Alice's idea of perfect was not Bella's idea. First there was the waxing, which hurt like a dog…again but needed to be done. Then there was the plucking. Why my eyebrows need to be 'perfect' is beyond me. I can understand my legs, but seriously. Bella thought as her eyes started to water.

When she complained, Alice told her that she could always wax her eyebrows. That shut her up quickly.

As Alice worked, the two talked about what Bella should expect. The pain was a topic Bella lingered on. She wanted Alice to define pain, which was hard for Alice do since she had been forced to have a higher tolerance than most people to survive her time at the brothel.

"Just know that it shouldn't last long. I am sure Edward will be gentle with you. Just lay back and let him do his thing." With that, she went back to curling Bella's hair.

Now that is a little useful. Why couldn't she have just told me that and not poked and prodded me. At least, she hasn't forced me into pink panties.

Unfortunately, clothing was next on the list after the hair. Alice went through the lingerie Bella had been sent with and decided a blue satin set would be 'perfect'.

There is that word again. "Alice, I don't know about all this. I really don't…"

"Trust me, Bella." Alice said sounding serious. "You only get one first time." She held up a finger. "One. Like I said, the circumstances are not the best, but I want you to have a chance to make the best of it. To make it special for you. Maybe you can look back one day and have a half way decent memory."

She does have a point. And she would know. I don't want to think what it must've been like for her. She pitied her friend, but knew pity wouldn't change things. However, letting Alice help her and following her advice was something she could do. Okay, Bella. Time to shut up.

REPLACED 8/23/2014