A/N: Thank you lovelies for reading and reviewing!

Disclaimer: Don't own.

"Yes!" I hopped off of the exam table, ecstatic at having good news for once in a doctor's office.

"Take it easy, Bella." Charlie handed me my cane, my new walking instrument of choice.

"You heard what, Dr. Snow said. I'm good to go." The door out of the small exam room was held open for me as Charlie and I made our way back to his cruiser. I could drive Big Clunker around, but had to take it easy with normal activities. I could go to school, walk around for longer than a half hour a day, and the best news of all: go back to the firehouse.

"You have to keep your foot elevated as much as you can." His pace slowed down to keep up with mine. I realized that slower pace equals more room for conversation. Yuck.

"Ever heard of something called a chair?" I hobbled like an old lady with my cane, as we walked the linoleum paved hallway of the hospital.

"Don't get smart with me." Charlie sternly warned.

I rolled my eyes, as we continued out of the emergency room sliding doors for the millionth and one time.

Once I arrived home, I told Emmett the good news. His bear traps opened up and closed in on me in his classic vice. He swung me from side to side. I tried my best to wrap my arms around him, but they just flailed like dead fish at my sides.

"I've had enough broken bones, Em." My face was squished against his shoulder, muffling my words. I missed the hugs, but not enough to get back in the car and go back where I just came from.

"Sorry." Emmett released me, looking at me with refreshed eyes. He definitely wasn't just hugging me because I could walk again. "Hey, you know what today is?"

"The 10th?" Really, Emmett. The calendar is mere feet away.

"Yes." He rolled his eyes, "…but it's a Tuesday," he said drawing out the last word.

"What does that matter?" Tuesday? What's so special about…Oh. Oh! Comprehension crossed my features.

"You up for it?"

For the first time in a long time, Emmett and I munched on mounds of nachos and tacos at our favorite fast food eatery. Just the two of us.

It was after four o'clock when we got there. The nice, cozily heated joint wasn't too busy. The late afternoon rush of customers was getting in that last snack before heading home for dinner.

"What? That is ridiculous. I can't believe they wouldn't let you on the team." I picked up a whole glob of nachos and placed them on my plate.

"I'm too big for wrestling, but not big enough for football. I'm straddling two weight classes." Emmett delicately held his taco, glopping on extra sour cream. The contrast of Emmett, the massive tight end for the varsity football team putting soft sour cream on his dainty taco made me internally snicker.

"That sucks, Em. Although, I'm glad I don't have to sit around watching you tackle another sweaty guy to the ground." Hearing the sounds of guy's bare limbs smacking against each other always made me squirm.

"What about football? I tackle guys there too."

"That's not full on contact the whole time though." I physically shuddered at the image of the tangled arms and legs.

"My head is so into the game, I don't even notice it." Emmett took a sip of his drink.

We sat and chatted easily like that for a long while. It was definitely like old times. Only happier. Whenever I would talk to my brother in the past, I always felt like I was living through him. He'd talk about some crazy house party experiences he had during his freshman and sophomore years. The shenanigans of some of Forks' teens were highly amusing when they were intoxicated. I was glad to hear that Emmett knew when to stop drinking enough himself and instead paid attention to some of the crazy shit that went on there.

Emmett also had lots of friends outside of Forks. They'd go off-roading, hitting all the bumpiest spots. When he was in his earlier years of high school, he'd have some friends of his pick him up and they'd go out in their cars. Once he got his license, he asked for a Jeep and now he had his own car to go off-roading with. Emmett would often come home with his face splashed with tan colored mud.

The idea of getting drunk or bouncing around in a dirt caked vehicle weren't necessarily things I wanted, but knowing someone was having the time of their life was enough for me.

"I heard this screeching from the kitchen. And I wasn't exactly quick on my feet. I finally hobble in there and see Alice trying to fish out the cheese packet from the mac and cheese box that was now swimming in the boiling water. I asked 'What did you do?' She said…" I had to stop because I couldn't continue without letting hysterical giggles escape me. "She said 'I thought it dissolves in the water.'"

But now I was able to share some of my own stories and talk about my own friends with him. He laughed along and exchanged more of his own in return. I was on a similar playing field. It was refreshing and thrilling.

=X=X=X=X=X=X=

"That sounds great! So eight o'clock, instead of seven?" The kitchen phone sat against my ear, as I listened to Jacob on the other end. My hands tore through the cellophane on the bulk size package of chicken cutlets. I was cutting and bagging them for later use.

"You know how to get to La Push?" Jacob's cheery disposition radiated through the phone. "Quil, go get the rolls." I heard Quil on the other end ask 'What aisle?' "I don't know. Go ask someone." Jacob responded back. "So you know how to get there?"

"Yeah, Charlie will tell me."

"Alright, see you then…look at the signs," he responded back to Quil, before his phone clicked off.

Jacob and all of his Quileute friends were having a huge bonfire and barbecue. What better way to celebrate than to watch a gigantic fire by the beach? I was made of pure joy at the thought of not only getting to play with flames, but attended an actual event. I had never been to too many things that I was officially invited to by people close to my own age.

When I was a kid, I would be invited to places. When everyone was still young enough to hang out without having formidable opinions about each other. Everybody was still innocent to the word clique and no one felt embarrassed to hang out with certain kids. I remembered attending this girl Annie's birthday pool party. She had the best above ground pool in town. And the best swimming toys to go along with it. All the kids from her local pre-k class were invited, including moi.

The shining moment when I was at the party was when little Jessica asked me to join her in a game of Marco Polo. I remember Annie's mom taking a picture of the two of us. Jessica's hand reached out to tag me, but I avoided her touch the last minute. Yeah, that shining moment is real lackluster now.

I heard someone rap on the front door three times. With cane in hand, I made it there in record time. Edward stood in the door way, smiling down at me.

The shirt incident had never been discussed. It was the proverbial white elephant in the room. Anytime I thought about it, I blushed brighter than a tomato and felt individual beads of sweat form on my forehead. Edward never had any tell tale signs; straight faced bastard that he was. I never saw his reaction after the whole thing. Maybe it was best left brushed under a rug. Or a shirt.

"Wow. Only took you twenty seconds this time." Edward quipped.

I rolled my eyes. "Wow, Edward. Sarcasm fits you so very well." So do those jeans….wow, um, head is…slightly dizzy.

Back in the kitchen, I laid the big chicken pieces out on a plate. I sliced them horizontally and washed the poultry, before stuffing them into a bag. I was about to zip up the first full bag, when Edward came up next to me.

"Would you like me to season them?" Edward asked, his body heat radiating against my arm.

"Season?" We do that in the Swan house?

Edward chuckled. "I only need olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, and rosemary."

"Rosemary? What do you think this kitchen is a Simon and Garfunkel song?"

His hands pressed against the edge of the counter, he was just about eye level with me, "Why don't you tell me what you do have then?"

"I think I have oregano?"

"Oregano will work."

I pointed Edward in the direction of all the ingredients his seasoning called for. The lemon juice was hiding out in the fridge. The black pepper, oregano and olive oil were in a cabinet above my head. Edward grabbed them from the bottom shelf of the three tiered cabinet.

For the next ten minutes, we were in a comfortable silence working as a team. Preparing and packing chicken. I washed and cut, while Edward dipped the chicken in the seasoning and packed them in their freezer bags.

After I washed my hands of the chicken, I walked to the fridge to grab a drink. Edward was still working with the last of his pieces.

"So, did you want to hang out and work on homework later?" Edward dipped the chicken in his concoction.

I peeked up from the fridge at him. "Homework? It's the weekend, Edward. And I have my freedom." I swung the door closed, cradling a can of soda in my hand.

"Oh." Edward ran his hands under the running faucet, squeezing soap into his wet palms. "…You know? We could go catch a movie."

Popping open my drink, I froze "Oh, um…."

I don't know why, but I felt bad for telling him I had other plans. "Actually, I was invited to this bonfire over at La Push beach." My finger absently twirled the tab on the top of my can.

"Oh," was all he said as he dried his hands on the kitchen towel.

"I mean, it's a massive fireball. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than to be around a giant fire all night."

"All night?" He stepped toward me.

"Yes."

"Well…who's going to be there?" He ran his hand through his hair. The action sent his hair off in every direction.

"A lot of people from the Quileute reservation. Jacob and his friends. You've met him before. At the firehouse. And his friends came to the basketball tournament. You saw them too."

Suddenly, comprehension showed on his face. That followed next with color slowly draining from it. "Are you talking about those big guys?"

"Yeah?" I wasn't sure what his angle of questioning was with that.

Edward closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Bella, please just….be safe."

"What?"

"They seem very…" He paused, searching for the right word to use, "dangerous."

"Okay…" The word was drawn out with a tinge of annoyance. "They aren't going to do anything."

Panic set in his voice. "How do you know that?"

"Because they're Jacob's friends. I know Jacob. I hang out with him every Thursday." Jacob definitely didn't know how to hurt a harmless fly.

"But where? At work. He has to be nice to you there."

"Charlie would know if something was up with Jacob."

"I didn't say he committed crimes or has a record, but he could still be dangerous. Him and his friends."

"Jacob isn't going to do anything to me. Burt wouldn't have hired him if that was the case." Where the hell is all this coming from, Edward?

Edward was not making a very valid argument. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why he would pick on Jacob and his friends.

"I want you to be careful. Can't I have that?"

"Let you have that? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. I can't want my…" He paused again, "…friend to be careful?"

"Edward, I've been careful without you for a long time."

He opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off.

I pointed a finger at him. "Don't even mention my klutziness. That has nothing to do with this."

Edward pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. It looked like it hurt. "I don't want them to take advantage of you. There. That's what I want."

"Why? Because they are big guys? That's pretty harsh, Edward." Edward judging someone by the way they look was not something I thought I'd ever see him do. "Emmett is as big as them."

"Emmett is your brother. It's different." He seethed out his next words. "I have a few harsh judgments for him myself."

"You don't know the whole story," I grumbled under my breath.

Edward's fingers let go of his nose, "What's that?"

"Ugh, Edward?" I was about to tear my hair out of my head from the amount of confusion swallowing me at that moment. What did he want from the conversation? I decided to offer him an invite. "I can see if you can come. Would that make you feel better?"

"No, that's not necessary." He was very adamant about that.

"Then stop!"

"No. Bella, I hate to say it but I think you're…" He stopped himself, pulling at his hair close to his head.

"I'm what?"

He groaned to himself. "Forget it." He angrily pulled a chair out; his elbows painfully hit the table.

That's it! "Edward, I am so fucking tired of you putting shit out there and-and not finishing whatever it is you have to say to me." The metallic can in my hand was losing a battle with my fingers.

His shoulders were tense. He cupped the back of his neck with both his hands; his head hung low between his forearms. "I don't know if you'll…feel or understand what I mean."

"Well, that is the chance you take when you have opinions."

"Fine." He took a deep breath through his nose. "I think that…." I was waiting for the edited version of what was on Edward's mind "…you're naïve."

"No, I am not." I gritted my teeth.

He lifted his head. "Look at the Emmett situation. He is with someone who does these unjustifiable things to you. He practically shuns you and ignores you for months because he is with this person. And you…let it go? Just like that?"

No, not exactly like that. "I didn't just let it go, Edward. There's more too it than that."

"Care to elaborate?"

"I can't."

"Can't or won't?"

"What do you want from me? Unfiltered honesty?" I can't give that to you.

"That's the chance you take." Shit, he was throwing my words back at me. And he's so smug about it!

We were quietly seething for a few minutes. My eyes were trained on the cold drink in my hands. Words can only be analyzed so much. I looked at the clock. It was almost seven ten. I would need to leave soon to make it down there on time.

I was very confident nothing was going to happen. Jacob was not a danger. His friends looked that way too. So, I would be surrounded by lots of people. Most of which I didn't know.

"You're right. I'm taking my chances." I grabbed my cane and walked to the door.

"Where are you going?" Edward jumped out of the seat and stood in my path.

"Having fun. Doing something I really want to do. Ever do that for yourself?" I looked up at him, before pushing his arm out of the way.

"Bella, please---" Edward turned to me.

I didn't hear the rest of Edward's plea, as the front door closed and I caned it to my truck.

I arrived at the bonfire ten minutes late. The walk to the beach was not fun with my cane. I didn't think I was even half way there. Jacob came running up to me.

"Bella! Oh geez, I'm sorry. I forgot you had your cane. Want me to help you?" Jacob smiled and offered me his arm, I stared at it. It looked like it could crush me without any effort. Be safe. Edward's warning played in my head at that moment. You know him at work.

"No, I'll be fine. Slow, but fine." I shyly nodded back to him.

Once we reached the bonfire, I took in the biggest flames I had ever seen in my life. Piles and piles of wood lit ablaze by their orange enemy. Stacked high to keep the fire burning for hours on end. The heat brushed my cheeks, as I took a seat by a few pre-arranged logs.

I looked around and observed my surroundings. They always teach you that in school, right? I saw Jacob, who had run off to play hacky sack with Embry and someone I didn't know. I caught sight of Leah and Seth, Sue's two teenage kids. Leah was sitting with someone; their arm wrapped around her shoulders. I can only assume it was Sam, the boyfriend Leah wanted so badly to spend Christmas with. Seth was by the barbecue pit, chatting up with an older man.

I counted the number of girls. Surely if there were more girls than boys, not too much can happen right? I don't know where that irrational thought came from, but it seemed comforting that girls slightly edged out the boys.

At that moment, I was very glad I was sitting in front of an inferno wall. My hasty exit from my house left me with only a hoodie. I dug my shoes in the sand. The coolness of it washed over the front of my sneakers. I wrapped my arms around my shins, trying to keep the warmth within.

Eventually, everyone rushed over to line up for the food. Many of the partygoers sat in the sand. Some beach chairs were spread out for people to plop down in. A few people sat around on the logs facing the fire.

I felt the weight of the log shift. I peeked over from the corner of my hooded head.

"Want some food? I took too much." Jacob smiled and held out his plate to me. Two hot dogs sat on his paper plate. My stomach was grumbling, but I was likening the situation to a child taking candy from a stranger.

"No, I'm fine. I ate a little something before I came." I looked back down at my feet.

"Hey Black! Ten bucks says you lose!" I heard someone call from behind us.

"Why don't you just hand me your money, Paul? It'll save you from looking like the sore loser you'll be when I'm done with you." Jacob called back to Paul. Jacob turned back to me. "Sorry, Paul has a bit of a temper." Suddenly, a small round object flew into the back of Jacob's head. A hacky sack fell into the sand at our feet.

"Alright, I'm coming." Jacob called back. "Do you want to play, Bella?"

I stared at the squishy, intricately weaved sack on the ground. I had never played before. It looked like fun. Doing something different. A nice memory I could make for myself. Maybe one that wouldn't fade into something bitter like my Marco Polo memory.

I looked back at who I would be playing with. They were all boys, men really. They had taken their shirts off. They were tall and dark. They were silhouetted against the fire I had been sitting in front of. Would I be able to outrun them? Stand up to them? What if that Paul kid lost his cool? I didn't know what set off his temper. What about Jacob?

I picked up the ball and handed it to Jake. "No, I'm not allowed to do anything strenuous," I lied. I picked my foot up to indicate my still injured leg.

"Alright, maybe next time." Jacob bounced off the log and headed in the direction of the other players.

I sat and tried to enjoy myself in front of what should be the most exciting thing I had ever seen. But, a lump kept building in my throat. I was hurt and scared. I was tired and uncomfortable. I wanted to be in my element so bad. This fire is so bright. I love it. It reaches so high…damn it, Bella that's so fucking fake.

A loud thunder clap sounded. Suddenly, buckets of rain came from the sky. A few people grumbled, while I heard girls scream from the wet that now dampened their hair.

I had something dampened of my own. My spirit.

=X=X=X=X=X=X=

I pulled into my driveway, noticing that no other car was in its spot. Big Clunker was put in park. I was nowhere near dry from the stupid onslaught of sporadic Forks weather. My anger was only fueled more by it all. I leaned my head back against the head rest to calm myself. The scent of rain and my sweat from the humidity enveloped the cab.

A small glint of color caught my eye. Sitting on the porch step up to my door was Edward. His slick wet bronze hair shone from the yellow light near the door. I fisted my keys in one hand, grabbing my cane from the passenger seat with the other. Pushing the car door open, I was met with round two of Fork's no mercy weather. I responded with a splashing slam of my own.

I kept my eyes on him as I trudged up the driveway. My cane must've made me look like a mad old lady.

He stood up once I stepped onto the tiny step, wiping my feet on the mat.

"Why are you here?" I turned the key as I shoved the door open.

"I didn't mean to upset you." He quietly offered, as he stepped in after me.

"I wanted to have a good time, Edward. But, your words messed with my head." My free hand motioned to my head. I continued my walk to the living room.

"Again, I'm sorry."

"You had me freaked out that something was going to happen. What--Why would you scare me like that?" My eyes began their slow churn of traitorous tears.

We stood there looking at each other. Both drenched. My eyelashes wet from the fresh rain and my own stupid emotions. My nose joined the party.

I wasn't sure what was happening with Edward. He was breathing harder. His hands shook, either from the cold or the nature of the conversation. His eyebrows met in the center, creating an unidentifiable groove.

We must've been like that for a long while. I was doing my best to calm my nerves and cease the visible effects his earlier words had on me. I leaned into my cane, wiping the wetness from my eyes with the back of my hand. A significant sized lump had formed in my throat, strangling my words.

"Edward, just go." One sniffle escaped me.

How long does one sniffle last? I don't know. I guess it depends on how much energy you have to let one out. Maybe it depends on how much crying and yelling you've done. It could be as simple as the amount of upset you feel at that point. My one sniffle seemed like a lifetime and a millisecond all at once.

After my sniffle, Edward took a few long steps at a time toward me. I looked away from him, not wanting to deal with it anymore.

My face didn't stay away from his for long. His hands turned my head, as his lips met mine in a soft, firm kiss.

What in the name of…

I was thrown off balance by the surprise reaction. My cane slipped from my hand, clattering to the ground as I fell back on the couch. His lips still pressed to mine as I braced our fall, his palms flat on the couch below me. My eyes were wide open, looking at his concentrated closed ones. The softness of his mouth molded to mine. His bottom lip nestled between my own. He slowly let my top one go, ending my first kiss.

How long does a swallow last? Enough to push down the emotions building up inside? Possibly not long enough to think about your next move.

Edward's hot, sweet breath fanned my face as he captured my mouth again.

Is this…am I…being kissed kissed?

I really wasn't sure when this was ever going to happen to me. I thought up all kinds of ways this moment would go down. I narrowed it down to getting it done at a kissing booth at a carnival, a random person wanting to taste food in my mouth, or maybe college.

But this was right now and I wasn't prepared. I didn't know what to concentrate on. I wasn't sure if I should do anything. My body was still and the only thing making me move was Edward playing with my lips.

His soft lips came back again and again to massage mine. Light smacking sounds filled the mostly quiet living room; the sound of rain pelting against the window was static noise in the background. He tugged at my lower lip, sending goose bumps up and down my body. The goose bumps turned to heat and it was the most pleasant feeling in the world. It was comforting, melting warmth that ignited my largely ignored hormones. Wow, is that what that is?

Hesitantly, these things called hormones responded back. I gently kissed his full, red bottom lip. I closed my eyes and waited for a response.

Should I have done that? The double meaning of my internal question didn't escape me in that moment.

Edward took my lip again with more vigor. His hands moved to brace the arm rest behind me, his forearms prominent in my peripheral vision. I realized I had been lying stiff and straight the whole time.

Edward moved his legs to get more comfortable with our entangled limbs. Suddenly, I was very aware of our bodies touching. Our rain wet, jean clad legs rubbed shin to shin. His shirt had ridden up a little bit from supporting his upper body on the arm rest. His lower abdomen rubbed against the skin exposed where my own shirt had come up.

The contact of that bare skin sent a burning blaze, covering my body. It possessed an intensity that was too hot to handle. It was strong and never ending. Consuming me and pulling me under.

Could I have stopped it? But I wasn't sure if I wanted to stop it.

My lips worked with his, trying to work through this. Our swollen mouths softly nipped and tugged each others, testing out the new territory. The softness was unlike anything I could've known. The combination with the slow pace allowed me to take more in, enveloping the warmth in my mouth.

My body's supply of oxygen was wearing thin and I needed to breathe. I pulled away, taking in the small amount of air around us. Edward apparently didn't need the air, as his lips pressed into my neck.

A small gasp left my numb lips. He had hit a spot. A daringly delicious spot. His lips were the end of a match and I was the striking point. I was the lumber and he was the flame. I had reached a new point and it was mind shattering.

My head turned to stare at the back of the couch, the fibers filling my vision. His tongue licked at my pulse and I shakily exhaled.

Once his tongue hit my heated skin, my mind wandered down a winding thought path. Am I capable of having this? Did I want this? Did I deserve this? Can I do this? What is this? I wasn't sure what to think anymore or what to feel. His actions were undeniably good, but the swirls of emotions were taking hold of me. The bold power of it all shook me was making me doubt. It was battling with the urge to continue this fresh finding.

Should I let him continue and see if fear subsides? Oh God, I don't know, I don't know---

"I don't know." I unconfidently whispered.

Shit!

His wet lips slowly left my neck; the chill of the room took its place. I turned to face him. His eyes shone with happy apple and confused jade. He glanced back and forth between my eyes, glancing at my lips. His Adam's apple bobbed with a swallow.

I urged him to allow me to sit up. Edward crawled off of me. We sat less than a few inches apart. I was now more aware of him than I ever had been before.

I tucked my hands under my thighs, taking in a small amount of air before I said, "I don't know."

"Don't know what?"

"About…this." My tongue ran across my lips, licking them clean from Edward's taste.

He stared straight ahead at the picture above the television. It looked like he was looking past it and not admiring the studio portrait. It was the last posed Christmas picture we took as a family. My ugly green, cable knit sweater that I loved so fucking much. My stringy brown hair looked thin; a long green ribbon tied my hair back into a ponytail. Emmett wanted the tips of his hair dyed blonde, even though it looked stupid on his curly hair. And Charlie with his stoic smile, his mustache hiding his upper lip.

Mouths. Yes, those are on my mind.

I gazed over at Edward's. His sat in an angry cherry pout; the color stood out among his pale, slightly flushed face. I could hear the breathing coming from his flaring nostrils. His eyes glinting from the lamp light in the room.

"That's stupid, Bella."

Excuse me?! "Stupid? My feelings are stupid? Well, that's the chance you took." Nothing like reclaiming my words.

He stood and his wet clothes left water marks on the couch. His anger and hurt was a blazing light that lit me with my own.

I stood up too, giving him one final thought. "You should've thought about my feelings before you kissed me."

"Touche." He called from the door before he closed it behind him.

And there the words go again. Defeated, I hung my head in my hands, feeling the tears form behind my lids.

A/N: I await your thoughts on this chapter...

I wrote a canon!Charlie one-shot called And Then There's Morning, for a fan-fic challenge on the_gazebo. It was interesting being in Charlie's head. Check out the other entries for the contest as well!