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Edward

Bella wasn't entirely comfortable. We sat outside my sister's house and I watched as she stared out the window, her hands clasped in her lap. With her forehead against the glass, she stared at the cars going by, and I reached out, laying a hand on her shoulder. She jumped just a bit, turned to look at me with large started eyes, and I retracted the hand. We'd kissed. She'd admitted to wanting to be with me…in some capacity. She'd kissed me. I ran that back through that little moment in my head, smiling briefly at the memory. It had only been once, but it had been great. Still, I wasn't 100% sure where this left us.

"I'm sorry." I murmured.

"No…I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm so jumpy." Alice and Jasper lived in a small apartment that Alice had somehow made beautiful and tasteful and somehow bigger than it actually was. In their lot, I spotted my Dad's Mercedes and Emmett's huge truck. I suppose he'd won the argument of who got to drive that day. My little Volvo parked between the two, and Bella stared straight ahead at the building.

"We don't have to go." Honestly, I hadn't planned on coming, but Bella had said yes, and she'd seemed somewhat excited. I didn't want to discourage her if she wanted to socialize with my family. Besides, I wanted to bring her to a family event…I wanted her to be family.

"I want to." She told me softly. We'd parked about twenty-five minutes ago, and when I'd started to get out of the car, she hadn't moved, so settled into my seat, ready to wait. I didn't mind…I understood perfectly. Being around people was going to be hard for her…for quite a while. She would let me know when she was ready to go in. So she stared out the window for a few more minutes, then turned to me. "Okay." She murmured, reaching for her door handle.

"Ready?" She nodded, and I stepped out of the car, moving around to her side and opening her door. I held out a hand to help her out of the car, and after a second of hesitation she took it, her tiny fingers disappearing into mine, and the soft smile that lit her up face as she looked at me made my heart melt. She was so beautiful…it hit me as she stood in front of me, peering shyly up at me and blushing. My feelings must have shown on my face. I reached out, touching her face, then leaned in, initiating a kiss for the first time since her declaration. She didn't hesitate this time, her fingers linking behind my neck.

I lifted an arm, ghosting it behind her back and stroking her shoulders, purposefully keeping my hand high on her back. We were in public, and I didn't think she'd be comfortable with me doing any more than that. After a moment, I pulled away, resting my forehead against hers. "Have I told you today how absolutely beautiful you are?" Her face lit up, practically glowing in the daylight. "Guess not."

"I bought this at a thrift store." She murmured, embarrassed. I looked down quickly, taking in her appearance. She wore an outfit I'd seen her buy during her day with Alice; a nice blue blouse and a swishy black skirt that came to her knees.

"It looks beautiful." I told her with a shrug. "You make anything look beautiful."

"You two gonna stand there all day or what?" We both jumped at Emmett's booming voice that came from the apartment two floors up. I sighed, glaring up at my brother who grinned and waved. "Hey Marie." He called. Bella blushed, smiling weakly and lifting a hand to wave. "Come on up!" He practically screamed.

"Come on, before people start calling the cops on Emmett for disturbing the peace. They can probably hear him two blocks over."

"I heard that!" Bella snorted, taking my hand and leading me toward the door.

It was a quick walk up, and I slipped my hand into hers as we hurried up the stairs. She seemed glad to hold my hand, squeezing just as tightly as I did. Alice stood at her open door, Jasper right behind her, his hand on her hip, and I tried not to focus too much on that. She was still my little sister. Jasper caught my eye, chuckling and stepped back, hands in the air. Bella laughed softly, releasing my hand when Alice opened her arms, hugging her tightly and Jasper held out a hand. I clutched it a bit too tightly, meeting his grin with one of my own.

"Hey bro." I rolled my eyes.

"Jasper." My soon to be brother-in-law smiled at Bella as she was released by Alice and reached out, touching her shoulder reassuringly.

"Hey Marie. How are you?" She smiled a bit shyly, looking around.

"I'm good, thank you. How are you?"

"I'm good." He touched her shoulder. "Come on in."

Inside, we found Emmett and Rosalie on the couch with Esme who held Emilie in her arms, the little girl's head resting on my mother's shoulder as she chattered at my father standing behind them. He looked down at her with a gentle, indulgent smile, reaching out and ruffling her hair. And then they all caught sight of Bella.

I supposed Alice hadn't told anyone we'd invited her. I felt myself tense as Rosalie lifted an eyebrow at me, my eyes narrowing as I readied myself to defend her, but Rose only pursed her lips a little, turning her attention back to her daughter. But Emilie was focusing on Marie, and she jumped up excitedly. "Marie! Uncle Edward!" I braced myself, kneeling down a little and swinging her into my arms.

"Hey Em." I kissed her cheek, and she reached out to Bella who hugged her with a shy smile as best she could while I still held the girl.

"Hi Emilie."

"I didn't know you were coming!" Bella blushed, but before she could begin to feel uncomfortable, my father stepped in, holding out a hand to Bella.

"It's good to see you again, Marie." He took her hand in both of his, smiling gently. "How are you?"

"Good…thank you." He kept her hand, leading her over to the sofa where Esme sat, and gestured for her sit. Esme turned toward her, speaking softly, and I started to join them when Emmett stole his daughter then pulled me into a bear hug.

"Little brother!" I groaned when he squeezed me.

"I saw you a few days ago." I complained, shoving at him, and he let me go with a laugh, slapping me none to gently on the back and releasing his daughter who raced over to our father and jumped easily into his lap. He chuckled, lifting her and holding her close, dropping a kiss on her hair. "What's with you?"

"Good job bringing Marie." He mumbled, squeezing my shoulder. "Rose is happy too, and Mom and Dad already love her. Of course Ali and I like her…and you're obviously in love with her." I jolted, looking at him wide eyed, then glanced over at Bella, making sure she hadn't heard.

"I barely know her." I snapped.

"Be that as it may, you love her. Anyone could see that. Heck, Dad sees it." I glanced over at them once more, and found my father leaning in, his gentle smile on her, the same way he'd been when Emmett had brought Rosalie home the first time.

For a moment, I stared at the group of them and was struck by the warm ache in my chest…it was so…right, to have her there, between my mother and father, my niece on her lap, in my sister's home. It was perfect. Giving into the feeling, I moved over to join them, leaving Emmett by the door in favor of taking my place beside her. She relaxed a little…I felt the stiffness leave her body as she leaned back against me. I shifted until she was comfortably against me, my hand moving forward and taking hers.

My father met my eyes, his eyes glancing down at our combined hands, and Bella obviously noticed because she stiffened once more. But then my dad carried on with his conversation about her job, asking about the children and making sure she was feeling okay. I knew he was thinking back on how she'd looked at the hospital….and after her miscarriage. I was suddenly glad he'd been the one to help her that day. How would I have reacted to seeing her on her bed, covered in blood and crying? Would I have been able to be professional?

"Dinner's ready!" Alice called from the kitchen a few hundred feet away. It really was a tiny apartment. I knew Alice was excited to be moving to a bigger place. I glanced over at Bella. Would my house be big enough for both of us? Or would she want something bigger? The woman in question was looking at me, tugging almost playfully on my hand.

"Don't you want to eat?"

"Yeah, of course." I jumped up, tugging her along with me, and she laughed quietly. Glancing up, I found that everyone else was in the kitchen, focusing on taking their seats, and I took a chance, leaning down to kiss her. She returned it quickly, smiling a bit at me then heading over to the table. The words were on the tip of my tongue…now that I knew how I felt about her, I needed to tell her. But this girl was nowhere near ready for that kind of relationship…to admit to being in love with someone. I had to give her more time. I had to let her initiate it. So I'd hang on to that piece of information.

We all gathered around Alice's little dining table, Emilie squeezed in between her parents, and Alice practically on Jasper's lap. It was some kind of chicken dish with vegetables and rice…all I could think about was Bella. All I could see was her. The way she nibbled at her rice and vegetables, and the way she sipped her water and how she glanced at me with smiles every once in a while, still participating in the conversation to a degree. I could tell she was a little nervous, but she was comfortable with me. I put a hand on her knee, and she smiled into her chicken a little, glancing over at me once more.

I was sure that everyone noticed. But every time Emmett started to open his mouth, Rosalie would reach out and punch him, giving him a glare that effectively silenced him, and Emilie would look between her parents in adorable confusion. Jasper chuckled into his napkin a few times, gaining the attention of Bella who sat beside him, but he only shook his head, looking back down at his plate.

"Quit." I mouthed at Emmett, smiling down at Bella when she caught my eye.

"So, have you thought about my offer?" I wanted to kick Alice, but I couldn't be 100% certain that I wouldn't kick someone else. Like my mother. I settled instead for giving her a sharp glare that she ignored. Jasper reached over, touching her arm, but even Jasper couldn't discourage her. Carlisle looked up, his interest piqued, as did Esme.

"Um...I…" I squeezed Bella's knee, running my thumb over the side of her leg.

"Alice, you've barely given her any time to think about it." I put in, and my sister finally turned to look at me. I knew my father was dying to ask, but he was too polite. My mother wasn't.

"What offer?" She wondered. Bella cringed a bit, and Jasper cleared his throat.

"There's a job she thought Bella might be interest in." He brushed it off, grinning a bit at the girl who sat beside me who was picking at her food.

"Aren't you hungry?" I murmured when the rest of the family was occupied. She shrugged a bit, moving some vegetables around, and I squeezed her knee once more, starting to move my hand, afraid that I was making her uncomfortable when she reached down and held it, shaking her head a little. I was comforting her. The thought made my heard constrict a little with happiness and I smiled. I knew she was having a little trouble being with all of these people, even people she knew, but it was good to know that she was comfortable with me.

After dessert (a cake that Alice had somehow had time to bake and decorate) we all moved to the living room once more. Bella started to offer to do dishes, but Alice shooed her away from the kitchen with a firm 'no way.' Giving in, Bella took my side by he sofa where Emilie was coloring between her parents.

"So what kind of job did Alice ask you about, Marie?" Esme was wonderful. She was the most wonderful mother I could have ever asked for, but heaven help me if I didn't want to throw something at her for pushing Bella. The girl beside me squeezed my hand, and I took a second to be happy once more that Bella was comfortable with me before I gave my mother a look. She ignored me.

"It…um…" Bella stuttered, glancing up at me, obviously uncomfortable, then went on. "It's a job…at a school. Assisting…at a daycare, I mean. A preschool…I'd be helping a teacher."

"That sounds wonderful. Do you think you want to take it?"

"I um…I don't know. I might…if…um, I might." She stared down at the floor, and my father pulled on her arm gently, shaking his head.

Bella

Edward knew. He could tell I was falling apart. Esme kept asking me questions…or it felt like she did. Edward excused us, keeping my hand as he had the whole night. Jasper was the most understanding, placing an arm around Alice and nodding when Edward told him we had to be going. "Thank you for coming. Bella, it was good to see you again." He was always so calm…in the face of my panic and Alice's exuberance, he was the picture of calm. His hand on my arm soothed me almost as much as Edward's hand in mine. That had been the best thing. Edward had stayed beside me practically all night, his hand on my knee or holding mine. He'd told me again and again, just by that gesture, that he was here for me…that he cared about me and that he wouldn't leave me alone.

"Okay….thank you for coming." Alice told me after being calmed by her husband. "It was so good to see you again Bella. I'll try to come by this week." I had nodded, accepting the hug she insisted on giving me, and then following Edward out the door. Edward called out goodbyes to his family, leading me out to the car and then we sat inside his car for a moment.

"Are you alright?" He asked quietly. I thought about it or a moment, wanting to be honest with him. He'd been so kind…I owed him honesty.

"I think so."

"I'm sorry I waited so long…I should have left right after dinner."

"No…I had a good time." I told him, injecting as much sincerity into my voice as I could and reaching out to touch his arm. "I really did…"

He smiled then, his eyes softening, and he reached out, a gentle hand tracing my cheek. He started to lean in, and for a second I was started to realize that he didn't remind me at all of James. Not even a little…this was completely different. I wanted this kiss. I wanted Edward closer…I reached out, linking my fingers behind his neck and pressing my lips against his. I felt him smile, his hand stroking my hair. It was perfect…this feeling, this happiness, it made me feel like I could take that job and Alice's apartment…that I could move on with my life. It made me feel like anything was possible.

After a moment, he started to pull away, but I moved closer, and he didn't fight it…his arms moved down to my waist and he pulled me until I was pressed against the console, and he released when I squirmed a bit. He frowned at me in concern, but I pointed down at the thing between us and he chuckled, running his thumb down my cheek. "So beautiful." He murmured, making me blush again. "Would you like to go back to my house for a while?" I nodded. I did…I didn't think too much about what exactly we'd be doing…I just enjoyed the ride, my hand held tightly in his, but as we approached his house, my heard started to pound. What if he expected…I was shaking. I was staring out the window and shaking and Edward was pulling into his driveway and then he was touching my shoulder, but I was remembering the last time.

He must have picked me up. I didn't mind that. James had never picked me up. He'd never carried me into a room and wrapped a blanket around me. "What's wrong?" He'd never asked me that. "Bella?" I jumped a little, realizing this was all actually happening. "Bella, what's wrong? Are you okay? Did I…I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…"

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

"Bella, sweetheart, you don't have to be sorry. Can you tell me what's wrong?"

"I'm just…I can't…" He moved to sit beside me from where he'd been crouching in front of me, pulling me back against him, my head on his shoulder. He waited. He was the most patient man I'd ever know. "I can't do…that."

"Do what, Bella?" I shook my head, unable to say it. Unable to even think about it. I knew it wasn't supposed to be like this. Any thought of intimacy weren't supposed to make my skin crawl and my stomach turn inside out…it wasn't supposed to remind me of pain and sorrow. But it did. I tilted my head up to face him, hoping it would show in my face. I hoped he wouldn't make me say it, and after a moment, his eyes widened a little. "Bella, you don't think I'd force you to…" He must have noticed how I flinched at the implication, and he sighed softly, resting a hand on my shoulder as he held me.

After a long time, he spoke, his arms holding me gently to him. "I will never try to force you into anything. I will never attempt to do something you're uncomfortable with. I will always let you make the first move when it comes to intimacy. I promise you that, Bella, and if I ever do anything that makes you uncomfortable and I'm not aware, you can tell me. I will back off. I won't be upset, or put off, or anything like that. I promise…can you trust me?" I did. I tried to blink back the tears and nodded. "I know it will be a very long time before you're comfortable with intimacy. That's okay. You can take as long as you need. I can promise you that I will never be someone you have to fear."

I nodded. Turning a little to face him, I kissed him gently on the cheek. I didn't trust the feelings that welled in my chest. I knew what it felt like, but it couldn't be. Turning up to look at him, I smiled weakly when he brushed the tears away. "So beautiful." He whispered, pulling me closer, and I pushed my lips against him, losing myself int hat feeling once more. I couldn't be in love with Edward Cullen. Not yet. But I was certainley on my way.

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you liked it.