A/N: A note on Rumi... If you're anything like me, you read your stories as quickly as possible. When you get to the Rumi poetry, I invite you to slow down...way down...and to reread once or twice before you move on. In that way, hopefully they will speak to you as they do to Edward and Bella.

The females in the Cullen household had taken Edward under their collective wing.

He sat in an armchair, booted legs stretched before him, and listened to their wise counsel, only looking up when a question was directed his way. His jacket was thrown carelessly over an ottoman, and his hair was even wilder than usual, signaling his mounting impatience.

The women had him surrounded, as if they had purposely formed a barrier against his escape, though only Esme had a prayer of catching him, if it came to that, he thought with a sardonic grin. The other men were notably absent; Emmett was forgiven, as he was keeping an eye on Bella, but Carlisle and Jasper had willfully abandoned ship and gone hunting, the traitorous wretches.

The morning sun was well up, and Edward had not heard Bella's heartbeat, let alone seen her, since he had taken her home the previous evening. Alice had convinced him to take time away to hunt, after which the rest of his family had found one excuse after another to keep him from his mate. It was the first night he had spent away from Bella in six months, and he was nearly climbing the walls with frustration and anxiety.

Edward let his head drop back against the chair and closed his eyes. The conversation thus far had included the three women's feminine perspectives on human courtship—suggestions for outings, discussion of the rewards and perils of physical intimacy (much enthusiasm around this topic), appropriate gifts and tokens of affection, and the like—but now their advice had taken a most unwelcome turn.

"Semper in absentis felicior aestus amantis: elevat assiduos copia longa viros," Edward muttered with a grumpy sigh.

"Precisely!" Esme exclaimed. To Alice and Rosalie she explained, "It amounts to 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder.'" They nodded in agreement as she turned back to her son. "The adage has survived some two thousand years…surely you can see the wisdom of putting it into practice, Edward."

"It was written by Sextus Propertius, and he was an ass," Edward argued, grasping at straws now. "Carlisle will tell you — he knew his mistress."

Esme rolled her eyes. "Regardless, it holds true. Human emotions are different from ours, Edward. You know this."

"You need to give Bella a chance to miss you," Alice said gently. "Look at the good that came from staying away last night."

"It's difficult to look, since you are unwilling to share what you saw," Edward replied wearily, rubbing a hand across his forehead.

Alice's shoulders drooped. "I'm so sorry, Edward. I truly believe it's better for you not to know yet."

"Never mind, Alice," he said, waving away her apology. "I know you're trying to help."

Edward rose from his chair and headed for the door. "Ladies, I appreciate all your help, truly, but I've reached my limit. I need to be with her."

Rosalie was at his side in a flash, and he paused in the hall at the gentle touch on his shoulder.

"You can still be with her, you know," she said. "Just don't let her see you."

Edward lifted a brow in question and his sister smiled. "I have an idea about how you can still make your presence felt."

~oOo~

Bella leaned against the garden gate, watching as the last rays of the setting sun gilded the treetops beyond the field. Below, all was in shadow, the forest already shrouded beneath night's dark veil. The golden glow dimmed as she watched, until its warmth and light were but faded memories. Still she lingered, hoping to see a familiar form against the trees. At last the moonless night blanketed the field and forest alike in impenetrable darkness, and she turned to go inside.

She had not seen Edward all day, but she had found evidence of his presence nearly everywhere she turned. Her stomach fluttered as she thought again of his sweet gestures; throughout the day she had found wildflowers she recognized from the meadow, left for her in unlikely places as she went about her work. Now the blossoms were gathered in a vase at her bedside, where they sweetly perfumed the air.

Her aunt and Michael had already retired for the evening, so Bella doused the lights in the kitchen and slowly climbed the stairs to her room. She set the candle on the bedside table and paused with a smile. A perfect rose lay on her pillow, and beneath the blossom was a leather bound journal, wrapped in a ribbon of blue.

Bella lifted the rose to her face and inhaled its sweet fragrance, then added it to her bouquet, leaving the journal untouched. Her heart tripped with nervous excitement as she quickly readied for bed, casting frequent glances at the book that waited on her pillow. At last she crawled beneath the covers and sat back against the headboard with the journal on her lap.

Bella carefully untied the ribbon and opened the cover.

My dearest Bella,

The poet Rumi is unsurpassed in his eloquent descriptions of love, yet even he cannot begin to express the depths of my love for you. Still, I leave you with his words, in hopes that you will glimpse at least a fraction of that which lies within my heart.

— Edward

I'm drenched
in the flood
which has yet to come

I'm tied up
in the prison
which has yet to exist

Not having tasted
a single cup of your wine
I'm already drunk

Not having entered
the battlefield
I'm already wounded and slain

I no longer
know the difference
between image and reality

Like the shadow
I am
And
I am not

Bella's hand came up to rest over her heart, rubbing lightly as if to ease the ache there. She thought of all the lonely nights Edward had spent watching over her, guarding her safety, when she hadn't even known yet that he existed. What kind of man possessed a heart so selfless? Yet he placed little value on his own worth.

She turned the page and gasped lightly; her own eyes stared back at her, Edward's initials in the bottom right corner naming him as the artist. The ache in her chest grew as she flipped slowly through the journal, finding page after page of drawings, skillfully rendered…all of herself. Some were sketches, hastily capturing the emotion of a moment with consummate skill, while others were completed drawings, each telling a story with exquisite detail. It was as if she were seeing herself through Edward's eyes…and the beauty of his vision was breathtaking.

In the early dawn of happiness
you gave me three kisses
so I would awaken
to this moment of love

You charm me with your touch
though I can't see your hands.

You have kissed me with tenderness
though I haven't seen your lips

You are hidden from me.
But it is you who keeps me alive

Bella's throat grew tight with unshed tears at the poignant longing in the words he had chosen. She missed Edward so that she felt her chest would burst with wanting him. She ran her fingers across the final page, and her tears spilled free. In a handful of days, her lonely life had been irrevocably transformed by Edward's love. In him, however improbably, she had found her heart's desire, her soulmate.

The minute I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.

Lovers don't finally meet somewhere,
they're in each other all along.

Bella closed her eyes and allowed images of Edward to fill her mind…his face alight with happiness at the simple pleasure of taking her for a ride…his eyes heavy with sorrow as he shared her pain at the loss of her parents…his kindness to little Jason when the boy wanted to "help" with repairs…his long, hard body pressed against hers, his eyes dark with need…

With a cry, Bella sat up, holding her forehead in dismay. She needed to see Edward, to tell him all that was in her heart. Morning couldn't come quickly enough.

Bella closed the journal and tucked it under her pillow, then blew out the candle. For a long time, she lay on her side and looked toward the window and the darkness beyond, before sleep finally overtook her.

~oOo~

The next morning brought a steady rain that made working outdoors impossible. Bella gazed out the kitchen window toward the trees barely visible in the distance, and wondered once more if Edward was there. She was unbearably restless, her longing to see him an ache that never eased. She resolved to look for him as soon as the rain stopped, the decision making her feel somewhat better.

The rain cleared just before noon, and a fresh breeze scattered the clouds until all that remained were a few fluffy stragglers adorning the brilliant blue sky. Cheered by the change in the weather, Bella made her way out to the garden so she could search the tree line, but to no avail. She returned to the house a short while later with a basket of peas, lettuce and strawberries and rinsed them at the sink.

A knock sounded at the front door, and Bella heard her aunt's footsteps tap down the hall to answer it. Curious, Bella peeked around the corner to see who it was, but quickly pulled her head back when the door opened to reveal Edward, holding a bouquet of flowers. Bella's heart pounded with nervous excitement as she listened to the two exchange greetings.

"These are for you, Mrs. Newton," Edward said, "a peace offering of sorts, since I fear I may inconvenience you once again. I wonder if I might visit with Isabella for a few hours this afternoon?"

Bella listened in wonder as her aunt spluttered an affirmative response. Had Katherine just giggled? Bella hung up her apron and smoothed her hair into place as best she could, then hurried back to the sink to look busy when she heard Katherine's footsteps approaching.

Her aunt bustled into the kitchen, flowers in hand. "Isabella, Mr. Cullen is here to see you!" she said as she took out a vase and filled it with water at the sink. "He brought flowers for the table — such a nice young man! Go ahead, don't keep him waiting. He's in the parlor." Her aunt looked over her shoulder to make shooing motions at her, then went back to arranging the flowers.

~oOo~

Edward eagerly rose to his feet as he heard Bella's footsteps in the hall, but she paused just out of view. He waited in some trepidation as he wondered why she hesitated. It seemed an eternity before she finally entered the room, and her carefully pleasant expression revealed nothing.

"Bella." He spoke her name with a sigh of relief, and his eyes hungrily took in every detail of her appearance, starved for the sight of her. Her hair was pinned into a loose coil at the nape of her neck, and tendrils had escaped to frame her face in gentle curls. Her cheeks were rosy, but from what emotion he didn't know. She met his eyes only briefly before lowering hers.

"Edward," she murmured, "it's lovely to see you. Won't you have a seat?"

He sat at one end of the settee, and Bella perched at the other, her hands folded demurely in her lap. Bella was terribly frustrated at her sudden shyness with Edward, but he simply was too much; his beautiful eyes seemed to see right through her, burning her with their intensity and forcing her to look away. Every nerve in her body sang with excitement in his presence, making it difficult to think.

They exchanged pleasantries about the weather, mindful of Aunt Katherine and the others who were within hearing. Presently, Katherine appeared, carrying a tray with tea and muffins. Edward rose to his feet and took the tray from her, earning a flurry of thanks from the older woman.

Katherine made much of the fact that Bella had made the oatmeal muffins, effusively praising her niece's skill as a cook. She watched as Edward took a bite, smiling when he hummed appreciatively. Bella suppressed a cringe on his behalf as she watched him chew.

Katherine peppered Edward with questions about his family, and he answered at length, relieved at the excuse to talk, rather than eat. Before long, Katherine seemed to decide she had fulfilled her duty as hostess and chaperone.

"Well, I'll leave you two alone to enjoy yourselves," she said. "Edward, please extend an invitation to your parents to join us for dinner one day soon."

Edward assured her that it would be their pleasure, and Aunt Katherine took her leave, smiling warmly at Edward as she said goodbye, and even giving Bella a pleasant look.

When Katherine had entered the kitchen, Bella whispered, "I'm so sorry, Edward! Are you very uncomfortable?"

He shook his head with a smile. "Not at all," he whispered. "I've had a great deal of practice at only appearing to eat." He opened a napkin to show her the dry crumbles of muffin that she thought he had eaten. There was the faintest flash of motion, and Bella blinked at his now empty hand.

"Where is it?" she asked with a delighted smile, trying to peer around and behind Edward while he enjoyed her efforts. Finally he took pity on her and pulled the napkin out of his jacket pocket.

Bella snorted and then covered her mouth, but Edward grinned and leaned close to whisper in her ear, "You're perfect." She lowered her eyes, a pleased smile curving her lips.

He stood and offered his hand. "Shall we go for a walk, milady?"

~oOo~

The air was pungent with the aromas of the forest after the morning's rain, and a cooling breeze made its way through the trees, caressing their faces and surrounding them with the gentle rustling of leaves. Edward took Bella's hand from his arm and linked his fingers with hers. "I missed you yesterday," he said, catching her eye before looking quickly away. He wished he could know her thoughts.

Bella's heart sped a few beats and she glanced shyly up at him. "I missed you, too," she answered. "Thank you for the flowers, and the journal. They were wonderful." Edward nearly sighed with relief. He resolved to thank the women back home as soon as he saw them.

He turned to face her. "Where would you like to go today?" he asked.

She looked up at him thoughtfully for a moment and then closed her eyes, an impish smile curving her lips. "Surprise me!"

"Are you sure?" he asked, and she peeked up to find him looking down at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. She closed her eyes again and nodded, then let out a squeak as he whisked her up into his arms.

Edward bent his head close, ignoring the flare of pain at her nearness. "Hold tight," he whispered roughly in her ear, and she buried her face against his neck, breathing in his delicious scent with a sigh. He set off slowly at first, gaining speed until the wind whistled in her ears and blew her hair loose to stream behind them. They were going somewhere new, she realized with excitement, someplace much farther away than their meadow. It seemed to her that they were climbing a hill, and then Edward slowed to a stop and she opened her eyes. An enormous sitka spruce loomed before them, its trunk easily ten feet in diameter.

"Are you afraid of heights?" Edward asked, his face only inches from hers. She stared up at the tree towering above them and shook her head. He bent closer still to whisper against her cheek, "You must hold on very tightly, Bella." He brushed his lips against her skin, and a light tremor ran through her body at his touch.

Bella buried her face against his neck again and tightened her grip. With a tremendous jolt, Edward leaped twenty feet onto the tree's lowest branch, and Bella let out a squeal of surprise, then laughed in delight, wiggling her feet playfully.

She grinned up at him, then looked down. "This is not so very high," she observed saucily. Edward feigned a panicked expression and pretended to drop her, laughing with her as she shrieked and clutched at his shoulders. When she had settled he looked up the trunk and then eyed her appraisingly.

"The climb will go faster if you ride on my back." He raised his eyebrows in challenge.

"Ah." She stared at him for a moment, and her eyes sparkled. "You'll need to let go of my legs first."

He smirked and carefully lowered her feet to the enormous branch on which he stood. Bella braced a hand on Edward's arm and bent down, pulling the back of her skirt up and tucking it into her waistband.

"Ready?" she asked.

Edward shook his head. "Probably not," he said with a wry smile, but he turned his back and nodded over his shoulder, bending his knees so she could more easily reach his neck.

She hopped lightly up and Edward caught her, supporting her weight with his hands under her hips until her slender legs were wrapped securely around his waist. Edward closed his eyes, steeling himself against the feel of her body pressed against his, then turned his head to murmur over his shoulder, "You probably shouldn't watch," and Bella obligingly hid her face against his neck.

They began to climb, the occasional brush of soft spruce needles against her face marking their passage upward as Edward smoothly moved from branch to branch, occasionally scaling the trunk unaided. At last their motion stopped, and Bella opened her eyes in surprise when she heard Edward's boots on what sounded like a wooden floor. A platform had been built into the tree, stretching out from the trunk some eight feet on all sides.

"You can climb down now," Edward said, "It's quite safe. Emmett built it."

Bella released a shuddering breath and loosened her grip. She slid down, then sank to the floor to sit on her heels as Edward sat companionably beside her. The floor beneath her swayed with the motion of the tree in the wind, and Bella clutched at Edward's arm nervously.

Edward rubbed his hand soothingly over the small of her back. "I asked Emmett to add the railing for you yesterday," he said. "I hope it helps you to feel secure."

Her heart stuttering nervously, Bella rose to her feet and gingerly crossed to the sturdy waist-high railing at the edge of the platform to look out. Edward joined her, watching her profile as she gazed into the distance. Her hair had come loose and tumbled down her back in tangled curls, her cheeks were flushed, and he thought she had never looked so beautiful.

In her wildest dreams, Bella had never imagined being so high. The platform was at least two hundred feet up the giant spruce, and the tree itself was situated at the top of a hill. It was like being in the heavens, looking down on the beauty of creation all around. The lush green of the forest spread on all sides, the Sol Duc and Queets Rivers a sparkling deep blue as they wound their way through the trees, searching out the lowest route to the sea. The ocean was clearly visible in the distance, a lighter blue with dark, rocky islets jutting high out of the water like tiny fingers.

"I feel as if I'm in a dream," she murmured, turning shining eyes up to smile up at him. "Thank you for bringing me here."

For a long moment Edward was lost in the radiance of her smile. "I'm glad it pleases you," he murmured, brushing a lock of windswept hair from her cheek.

They moved along the rail, Edward pointing out landmarks as they went, and when at last she had looked her fill, Bella turned to study the tree house more closely. A roof covered half of the platform, leaving the rest open to the sky. Next to the trunk was a stack of large cushions, and Edward took one and placed it near the edge of the platform where they would be able to see the ocean. They sat together, their shoulders lightly touching.

"What inspired Emmett to build this?" Bella asked. She gripped the post next to her and carefully looked down, scanning the forest below.

"We all have such keen hearing that there's no privacy at home." Edward avoided looking at her as he replied. "The couples in the family felt the need for a place they could go that was well away from the house." He shrugged a shoulder. "And two hundred feet up a tree, there's no chance of hunters or loggers interrupting, either."

The wind rocked the tree slowly, causing the great trunk to creak and groan against the boards of the treehouse. Edward lay back onto the cushion and Bella followed suit, gazing up at the bows above them that swayed gently in the breeze.

"I used to come here, to get away from the sounds at home," Edward confessed with a grimace.

Bella turned her head so she could see his face. "Was it very difficult for you, after Rosalie found Emmett?" she asked.

"No more than usual," Edward said, keeping his tone light. "I'd been the odd man out with Esme and Carlisle for a very long time before Rosalie joined us. I was accustomed to the role." Bella could see that Edward didn't want her pity, so she resisted the urge to say more on the subject.

She took his cool hand in hers and distracted herself by playing with his fingers. Opening his hand, she turned it over and slowly traced a path across his palm. Edward shivered in response to her gentle touch, and she raised her eyes to find him watching her intently.

"This is the effect you have on me, Bella," he murmured huskily. "A simple touch, and I'm undone."

Holding his gaze, she traced a finger lightly along his wrist and watched as his eyes darkened to a smoky amber, then drifted closed, dark lashes fanning his cheeks. She stroked her fingers along his forearm, reveling in this chance to study him unobserved. The afternoon sun bathed Edward's face in golden light, making the dark brows and lashes even more striking against his pale skin. The sinful curve of his lips begged to be touched, but Bella resisted, contenting herself with trailing her fingers along his arm, happy to see him so at peace.

"Your touch affects me as well," she whispered. To her dismay, Edward opened his eyes and gently pulled away.

Bella bit her lip as a blush stained her cheeks. "Why does that bother you?" she asked. "Why shouldn't I be affected by you? Don't you want me to be?"

Edward sat up and she followed, more slowly.

He sighed and took her hand. "It's not that I don't want you to be," he assured her, "I do, believe me…but I need to explain some things first."

"What kinds of things?" she asked, dejectedly picking at a loose thread on the hem of her skirt.

"You know that vampires are predators," he said, "but I haven't explained the effect we have on humans." Edward lightly touched her face, encouraging her to look at him. "Please, Bella…this is important." She abandoned the thread and straightened, giving him her attention.

"Even without our strength and speed, you have no defenses against us…against me." His mouth twisted. "Everything about me is designed to lure you closer…my face, my voice, even my scent. Bella, you aren't affected by me. You're affected by what I am." He scoffed bitterly, looking away. "You have no choice."

He turned back, his face grim. "When we were in the library together, I lost control. All I could think of was being closer to you. I seduced you, giving no thought to your wishes, nor to whether you had any choice in the matter."

He went on more quietly. "Bella, I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to force my attentions on you. I promise, I'll not take advantage in such away again."

Bella didn't know what to say. She looked away and watched the treetops in the distance rustle and sway in the quickening breeze. She had thought Edward's misgivings about their time together in his room had been laid to rest…but at least now she understood why he still believed he had wronged her. She also knew that it would be difficult to convince him otherwise.

She turned back to him and tilted her head. "All vampires are irresistible to humans?" she asked, and Edward nodded.

"Then tell me…Why am I not attracted to Carlisle…or Emmett, or Jasper?"

Edward gazed at her, his forehead lightly furrowed. "You aren't?"

"No!" she exclaimed, and her look of mild disgust made him smile, in spite of himself.

"I think they're handsome, in the same way I can tell my cousin is a nice looking man. But I feel no attraction to them at all." She shrugged and pursed her lips. "They do smell nice, I suppose…a bit like cinnamon cookies."

Edward snorted, and his eyes crinkled in amusement. "Don't tell them you said that," he said. "They'll be crushed."

"I promise I won't tell your family they smell like cookies," she said solemnly.

A thought occurred to Edward then, but before he could voice it, Bella leaned forward and daringly turned her face into the side of his neck, running her nose along the smooth skin as she inhaled deeply. Edward moved not a muscle as she backed off enough to look into his stunned eyes. She raised a finely arched brow. "You smell nothing like cookies," she whispered slowly, then sat back on her heels with a satisfied smile.

The corner of Edward's mouth curved upward as he regarded her with a hungry glint in his eyes, and Bella's stomach tumbled in response. He picked up a spruce cone that had fallen from the branches above and rolled it in his fingers as he studied her.

"So, you don't find the other males in my family attractive…"

Bella shook her head. "Only you, Edward."

He frowned slightly and his fingers stilled. "Perhaps it's because you're my singer," he murmured.

"I'm your singer? What does that mean?"

Edward looked down at the fragile cone in his hands. "Your blood is…perfect…for me, as if it was made for me alone," he said quietly. He lifted his eyes to hers. "It should be impossible for me to resist killing you."

"But you haven't. You won't," she whispered, her eyes completely trusting.

"I seem to have a talent for self-control," he agreed with a crooked smile, tossing the cone away, "at least where your blood is concerned." He sat forward. "But I wonder if being my singer makes you more susceptible to me as well?"

Bella closed her eyes in frustration. Of course, that was what Edward would focus on. He seemed determined to believe the only reason she was drawn to him was some overblown predator-prey relationship…but that was far from the truth. She had to make him see that her feelings were real, and not something imposed upon her by vampire magnetism.

"You believe I have no defenses against your…" she waggled her fingers in his direction "…vampirey…powers of seduction?"

Edward smirked and nodded, "I know you haven't."

Bella smiled. "Edward…that first night we met in the kitchen, did I seem defenseless to you then?" She raised an eyebrow and waited.

Edward frowned in confusion.

"No," he said, clearly surprised at his answer. "You were attracted to me, but you also seemed to find it quite easy to hold yourself at a distance."

"I did find it easy," she agreed. "In fact, I found you too attractive. It made me feel vulnerable. I didn't like it."

"You were right to feel that way," Edward said. "You should trust those instincts, Bella."

She ignored him and pushed on, "The point is that you were wrong about me. I was not defenseless against you. Edward, even once we began spending time together, I didn't truly give you a chance, not at first. I was too concerned with guarding my own heart." She took his hand. "Edward…I'm sorry for that."

Edward smiled, though his eyes were sad. "I understand, Bella," he murmured. "I'm far from the ideal partner for you. There's no need for apology." He looked down at their joined hands and was silent, his face pensive. The wind lifted his hair, gently tousling it against his forehead, making him look younger even than his human years.

She needed to tell him.

Bella's heart began to pound. She knew that once she uttered these next words, there could be no turning back with this man. His love ran too deep. He had known more pain than anyone should have to experience in a lifetime, and more, and she would sooner die than add to his suffering.

Edward lifted his eyes. "Your heart is racing," he said quietly. "Bella, please tell me what's wrong."

It was as if she stood at a precipice, ready to leap blindly into the promise of a new world. But as she gazed back at him, she knew with certainty that it didn't matter where she landed, or what she found there, as long as Edward was with her.

"I've no need to guard my heart any longer," she whispered, her eyes bright with tears. "Edward…I love you."

I'm not worthy of your love.

Bella reached up and smoothed the tension away from Edward's forehead with gentle fingers. "You deserve to be happy, Edward," she whispered, her gaze never wavering from his. "You deserve to be loved. Edward…I love you."

You're too young…you don't understand what you're saying…you'll come to realize your mistake in time…

"Edward," she whispered, "you love me. Trust me."

Bella leaned in and pressed butterfly kisses against his face, whispering words of love, and Edward didn't move, didn't even breathe.

Trust.

He did trust her.

An age-old tightness in Edward's chest suddenly released, the sensation so sharp that he gasped. He shuddered lightly, every particle in his body flooding with light and warmth.

You love me.

Edward buried his hands in Bella's hair and traced open-mouthed kisses across her face, murmuring against her skin, "Bella mea."

He drew back and gazed into her eyes, his face transparent with wonder. "Mirabile dictu. Me amas."

She smiled up at him, her eyes soft as she stroked his hair.

Edward pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her slender form, resting his head on hers and closing his eyes as he rocked her gently. "Deliciae meae," he whispered, "in aeternum te amabo."

Bella mea = my Bella
Mirabile dictu. Me amas. = It's a miracle. You love me.
Deliciae meae = my darling, my sweetheart
in aeternum te amabo = I will love you forever.
Confidere = to trust completely

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