Sorry this took a while. School. Last major stuff being taken care of before finals. Eeek!

Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate it. I'll be gone all weekend - sniff - without - sniff - a c-c-comp! bursts into tears at thought So you won't hear from me at all until Sunday, at the earliest. Unless I manage to find a comp.... thinks about this Anyhow! Enjoy pigging out - I will - and being with family - I SORTA will - and enjoy this chapter!

I am thankful for all you readers and reviewers, and for my reporters for being generally awesome, V for making me a banner and just being a cool chearleader-like-person, and listening to me bitch and moan all the time. Thanks to whoever invented internet, and whoever invented FF, and SM for creating the Twilight world which I love to skew and twist and play around in, and I might as well thank whoever invented a computer too, since without it none of those first two would be here really....

Oh, and thanks to Assward for being like... the best character to hang out with. For, you know, amusement reasons.

Assward: rolls eyes You're so weird, IG.

Love you too, Assward.

BPOV

I glared at the door. "Go away."

"No."

"Rose," I groaned, rolling my eyes.

"Open the door."

"No," I mocked, smirking angrily.

"I'll knock it in."

I narrowed my gaze. "You wouldn't. Esme would kill you."

"I'll blame Emmett."

She would.

"I'm not opening the door, Rose," I snapped. "Go. Away."

"Bella, open the damn door already, okay? You'd regret not doing so."

"No I wouldn't," I muttered.

Rosalie groaned, then broke the door open. She set it against the wall as I glared at her the whole time, keeping my arms firmly crossed and glaring. Rosalie turned around, smirking, and mimicked my stance, raising an elegant brow.

"You have to talk to him," she said firmly.

"I don't have to do anything," I stubbornly reminded her. "He's an asshole and I can do better." This had become my mantra over the course of the day.

"Bella, you're right. He's an asshole. You can do better. But you love him and the asshole loves you and you should listen to him for those reasons alone."

"No," I repeated stubbornly, staring to the side so I wouldn't have to meet Rosalie's eyes. They were too steady, too knowing.

"Too bad." I snapped my head to look at her as she stepped out of the room. Edward walked in. I glared blackly, mentally daring him to take another step closer. He hesitated, eyes drifting away from mine, but continued stepping into the room, sideways to keep a decent amount of space between us. Not that it would help him.

"Hey Bella."

"Get out," I snapped flatly.

He tensed, lifting his gaze to mine, the green bright with anger. "Fuck, I'm trying here. I'm seriously trying, Bella, and you ain't making this shit any easier on me."

I glared. "It shouldn't have to be easy, Edward. You cheated on me."

"Fuck, do you really think that?" He glared. "Do you honestly believe I could do that to you?"

I shrugged coldly. "You've done it to other girls before."

He glared. "I'd never fucking cheat in a serious relationship. I've never fucking cheated Bella. All those other girls were fucks, not girlfriends. Got it? I didn't fuckin cheat on you!"

I shrugged. "So you say."

"I can prove it!" he snapped.

I snorted, rolling my eyes pointedly. "Oh yeah? How?" I challenged.

He pulled out a cell that wasn't his own and tossed it over. I caught it and peered at it, raising a brow before looking up at him.

"That's Mike fucking Newton's phone," he said, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his jacket and nodding his head at the phone in my hands. "He took the fucking picture. I passed out on the couch. Jess and Lauren stripped off my shirt and their own and posed like that. Mike was supposed to send it to them, and then Jess got the frickin' bright idea to send it to you. They set us up, babe. Those bitches were hoping to get with me, and Newton just fucking hates my guts. It had shit to do with you, it was all about screwing up the one good thing I had." He shook his head, glaring at the floor. "They knew what would happen. Newton wanted to fuck me over, and Jess and Lauren just wanted to be fucked."

I stared at him for a long moment. "I can't tell if you're lying or not Edward. Just because Mike's phone has that picture-"

"Fuck Bella!" Edward snapped, turning and slamming his fist into the wall. "Why can't you just fucking trust me. I've trusted you. For all I know, you can lose control in a fucking instant and I won't be able to do shit. But I trust you. I trust you not to hurt me. Why can't you fucking do the same?!" he yelled, and I flinched slightly.

"Edward… that's… it's…."

"If you," he whispered furiously, "fucking say it's different, I give the hell up. I won't fucking try again with you. I won't fucking give a shit any more. And I won't fucking take you back if you want me to. Fuck, Bella, there's only so much I can take," he said, shaking his head. "I'm only fucking human."

I shook my head slowly, trying to sort through the conflicting thoughts and emotions. "Edward… I can't just… you have to give me a little time. You can't just demand I make a decision now."

He stared at me for a long moment, before turning and walking out without a word. I winced as the front door slammed.

Rosalie stepped into the room, staring silently. I looked at her helplessly. "I… I just needed…."

She nodded. "I know. You've been pissed and hurt all day, and now you're not sure how you should be feeling. Edward may only be human, but you're still human in that way as well, Bella."

I slowly sank down onto the floor. "I don't know what to do," I moaned, resting my head in my hands. "I don't."

Rosalie settled down next to me, wrapping an arm over my shoulders. "I can't tell you what to do. I can tell you that I believe Edward. And that Newton pissed his pants when Edward grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the wall asking what the fuck he'd done," she chuckled.

I looked over at her, surprised, and she nodded.

"Yeah, it didn't take much persuading for Newton to tell Edward that little story." She laughed. "Edward didn't even ask for his phone, he snatched it off the table and left."

I smiled slightly, and nodded. "I…. He was right. I should trust him." I shook my head at myself, bitterly. "I fucked this one up, not him."

Rosalie nodded, not sugarcoating it and telling me I was wrong with that statement.

I took a deep breath and asked, "Do you… he just left. Does that mean he's going to give me time or…?"
Rosalie turned her head to face me and raised a brow slowly. "I don't know. Go find out."

I bit my lip hesitantly before sneaking inside the backdoor and into the house. I tread slowly, not because I was worried about being loud or crashing into anything - vampire, remember? - but because I was… scared.

No, scared didn't cover it. I was positively terrified that Edward would turn me away. That he'd tell me he was serious and didn't want a thing to do with me any longer. That I'd ruined everything.

I sighed as I paused outside his door, gathering my courage and assurance that things would work out well before opening the door and stepping inside.

Edward didn't even glance up from his bed, where he'd just thrown a towel. His pajama pants hung low on his hips, showing off a good inch of his boxers - black. I loved the contrast to his skin, loved the stature of his back. I trailed my eyes over the tatts there, itching abruptly to run my fingers over the lines and curves of ink. Had it hurt? Had he cared?

He finally twisted around to stare at me, arms crossed over his chest. I didn't want to meet his eyes yet, afraid I'd see annoyance or disgust or worse - nothing. So instead, I let my eyes drift slowly over his bare chest, down his left side. The top one - to die, to flee. I bit my lip, taking a deep breath before speaking.

"What do the other two mean?"

For a long time, he didn't speak. His heartbeat didn't change, his breathing stayed the same, his stance and gaze never wavered. He was as close to completely still as a human could get without being dead.

I swallowed thickly and lifted my gaze to his.

"The second one," he finally said lowly, "Means dangerous. Unsafe. Perilous. I got it to warn people away." A smirk flitted across his lips, bitter and unamused. "My own personal fucking warning label."

I let out a shaky breath and shook my head, opening my mouth to say something, but he cut me off.

"Shut up," he muttered, shaking his head. "And the last one." His hand moved down to tap at the last and most intricate of the characters, right above his hipbone. "This is pain, suffering, sorrow. To hurt, to ache. This one is my constant fucking fate, it seems."

I took an uncertain step forward, but when Edward didn't remark about it, grew more confident. If he'd truly wanted me out, he would just outright say it. He wouldn't spare my feelings, because that wasn't the type of person he was. A blunt, honest… asshole.

I shook my head and trailed my fingers over that last tattoo, making him shiver and eyes close. I bit my lip, hoping it was not just because I was cold compared to him.

"I don't think you're meant to suffer, Edward."

His eyes slitted open, the green peering down at me. Neither of us said anything for what felt like forever in a moment.

"I made a decision," I whispered.

"And what was it?" he asked, leaning down so the warmth from his breath fanned across my face. I could feel it pulsing from his lips as well, almost feel the blistering, heated pressure of them on mine.

"My trust and heart belong to you." I took a deep breath, staring straight into his eyes as I said it. "I love you."

This I love you wasn't like the sweet-fast-meaningless 'love you's' we'd shared before. I put every emotion I felt for him into those three words, wishing he'd say it back…

…And knowing he wouldn't.

He blinked several times, his breathing shaky and uneasy.

"Bella… I…."

I put my finger over his lips, quieting him. "I don't want you to say it because you have to, Edward. I want you to say it, because you can't help but say it." I smiled at him. "I know how you feel. I feel it every time you touch me," I admitted quietly.

He stared for a long moment, eyes burning. Gripping my shoulders tightly, he pressed his lips to mine, desperately, his tongue slipping past my lips and lapping at my own. It was the easiest - only - way for him to say it back to me, for now.

Like I was going to complain about him kissing me, reminding me just how good he as at it? Yeah; right.

EPOV

She was lying on top of my bare chest, and I was tracing patters down her back, then up it, only to repeat the circuit. Bella's chin was in her hands, elbows braced gently on top of my chest. Her gold eyes were staring down at the rise and fall of my chest with this fucking tender and soft look that made my chest ache and throat tighten.

I would have forced those damn words past my throat if she hadn't stopped me. She wanted me to be so desperate to say them that they flew out of my fucking mouth. She wanted that kind of raw emotion. If that's what she wanted, I'd give her nothing less.

It was about one in the fucking morning, and I was dead exhausted, but my mind wouldn't let me sleep. This wasn't unusual or any shit like that, but it didn't make it any less frustrating. I wanted a smoke.

I wouldn't. Bella'd leave, and that wasn't damn acceptable any longer. I didn't want her apart from me unless we had no other fucking choice.

I yawned, and Bella looked up at me, smiling. "If you're tired…"

"I know, I know," I mumbled. "I should fucking sleep." I sighed. "Can't, babe. Too wired."

She bit her lip, releasing it and lightly licking it. I groaned, leaning forward and grabbing the moist plump bottom lip between my teeth lightly, tugging. Her hands, which had fallen to rest lightly on my chest, clenched slightly, the nails dragging over my skin.

Fuck.

She pulled away, getting up, and I threw my legs over the side of the bed, rubbing a hand through my hair. "Where are you going?"

"I'll be back in fifteen minutes," she smiled. "Less, even. Trust me." She bent over and kissed me slowly and sweetly before disappearing from sight. I fell back onto my pillows with a groan, counting down because I had nothing better to fucking do.

Twelve minutes passed before she returned, smiling. A water bottle was in one hand, the other lightly fisted, and I raised a brow at her.

She handed me a small white pill and the bottle of water. "Take it, Carlisle said it would help."

I hesitated, then shrugged and swallowed the pill, making a face. "That shit's nasty."

Bella crawled into my lap, grabbing my face between her frigid palms. "Is it?"

"Mmm." I stared at her lips. She grinned, and I leaned forward to kiss her again, deepening it quickly. She pressed gently on my chest, easing us back, her hands running over my chest. She made my heart race, and I clutched her hips tightly, groaning lowly into her mouth, wanting more and knowing I wasn't likely to fucking get it. At least, not tonight. Not soon.

Fuck it all. Patience sure as shit wasn't my thing.

I trailed wet, open-mouthed kisses down her neck, over the base of her throat, then down between the space between her breasts, nudging the shirt aside with my nose as best I could. What type of bra would she be wearing, I wondered.

I quickly sat up, keeping her in my lap. She wrapped her legs around my waist, making me tense and groan. God, she was going to kill me. Death by fucking pleasure. Death by non-release. Death by Bella.

Fuck….

Her shirt came off easily enough, and I stared hungrily at her bra. Blue, a silky yet cottony material. Still fucking sexy. I was willing to bet my last pack of cigs she could make anything sexy. Even a damned wooden barrel.

I dipped my head down, licking along the edge of her bra. She purred; best fucking sound in the world. Breathing uneasily, not wanting to push her but wanting so much more than this, I trailed my lips down the cloth of the bra, right to the center of it. I sucked her through the material.

Bella groaned, low and throaty and surprised.

Forget that slander I said earlier. Bella groaning was the best fucking sound in the universe.

Her fingers tugged insistently, yet carefully, on my hair, and I lifted my head. Before I was entirely righted, her mouth was over mine, desperate, hungry, uninhibited. I imitated her, kissing her back just as wantonly, pulling her tighter to my chest. Her hands slid down my chest, so frickin' light and fuck it turned me on even more. She paused just a bit over each of my ribs, traced the damn tattoos on the front of my body, before sliding her hands to my back. And then she traced those tattoos. Made me so fucking glad I'd gotten them done; it was all worth it to have Bella tracing her fingers along the designs.

I leaned back, still kissing Bella frantically, while she ran her hands over all the bare skin she could reach, making me feel like she couldn't get enough, making me feel so damn… needed.

After a while, the kisses slowed, and I mentally sighed, knowing this shit was coming to an end. Bella pulled back, pecking my lips a few times before smiling at me. "You're going to fall asleep soon. That pill I gave you really does work."

I grumbled, rolling my eyes, even though I could feel it taking effect, proving her right. "I'd rather keeping fucking making out."

She laughed, and I smiled drowsily at the sound. Bella curled up against my chest, nuzzling her head into the crook of my neck. She was so fuckin' adorable.

"Night Edward," she whispered, sighing happily.

She may have been so fucking pissed at me earlier tonight, but I'd made her happy by the end of it, and that shit was all that really mattered. She'd forgiven my sorry ass and was happy. Case fucking closed.

"Night babe," I yawned, closing my eyes.

I was out in the next damn second.

The next morning, I watched as Bella walked up to Mike, a deceptively sweet smile on her face. The shithead turned red and then started talking to her, so fucking interested it made my fists clench with the urge to slam his face into one of the brick walls of the old buildings.

Bella leaned close, whispering into his ear, making his eyes momentarily glaze over with lust. I turned and slammed my fist into the car door, shaking it afterwards to dispel the pain. Looking back over, I smirked happily to see Mike so fucking pale he looked like fresh pure white paint. Ha ha!

Bella smiled, and it was still sweet looking, but deadly. Sexy as hell, too. She clearly spoke as Jessica and Lauren passed by.

"Mess with Edward like that again, Michael Newton, and you're going to fucking regret it."

Turning, she walked back over to me, sending that same sweet fatal smile at Lauren and Jessica, both of whom quickly scrambled away. I grinned at her and wrapped her in my arms, kissing the top of her head and smirking over it at Newton, Jessica, and Lauren. Behind her back, I flipped them all off.

Bella chuckled into my chest, bringing my attention back to her . She smiled up at me, so fucking happy looking.

"Enjoying your victory Edward?"

I smirked down at her. "Hell fucking yes. Those shits tried to take you from me. And it didn't fucking work. I'm gonna rub that shit in their faces all I want. They deserve it, at the very least."

She shrugged, nodding carelessly, and turned, grabbing my hand with hers, and led me to her class. "You're so crazy sometimes, Edward. But it just makes me love you all the more."

I grinned, loving hearing those words from her now that they fucking meant something, even if I couldn't quite say them back yet. Out loud.

Yeah, I fucking love you too, my Bella.

There you all go! Please leave me some reviews so that way when I come home, exhausted from hanging out with my crazy family - anyone who has read Ignorance will realize what I mean if I tell you I based Bella's family on my own; the one's I'm going to visit tomorrow until Sunday - I will have all these lovely reviews to read and cheer me up.

OH! Important - if you have any questions for Assward, please let me know about them. Anything you're dying to-

Assward: Fuck, no! FallenAngels will ask something that's totally fucking uncool again. I swear that girl is a stalker, IG!

Assward, that's not nice! frowns Sorry, FallenAngels. ANYHOW, anything you're dying to know, please submit as a question. Plot related, Assward related, random - ALL OF IT. His interview is coming up, and the reporter and I thought it would be cool to see what all of you want to know and get it answered.

REVIEW!!!