Sorry for the delay. Life rather sucks here right now. My dog of ten years passed away the other day very suddenly and it has made it very difficult to write (Is that silly or what) I miss him terribly and it's a very hard thing to go through.

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I want to give a HUGE thank you to my darling Betas! Yuki Sakura-Chan and AppleBurple! They are my girls and I HEART them immensely! They polish each chapter up to shine just for you! (But they haven't had chance to take their red pens to this chapter yet, I didn't want to make you all wait any longer :))

It should be clear by now that I don't own anything...but sure does own me!

Last Chapter:

He lifted me much the same way Jasper had with Alice. But instead of settin' me on my feet, he slid me down until my toes touched, but then crushed my body to his.

"I've missed you so, Bella," he breathed into my hair. "I hate being away from you."

"I've missed you, too."

He pulled his head back a little, lockin' his eyes with mine.

"You look so beautiful in the moonlight," he whispered, his eyes tracin' over my blushin' face.

"Thank you," I squeaked out.

Then he leaned down and placed his warm lips against mine.

And everything was right in the world for a moment in time.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*BS&CB*~*~*~*~*~*

The feel of his lips pressed against mine was enough to make me forget the reasons why I was here. But only for a moment, long before I was ready, the image of a skeletal buildin' still smolderin' from recent flames broke into my mind.

With a small sigh, I pulled away from him.

"Is everything okay, Bella?" He asked with a look of concern.

"I don't know."

"Why don't you know, Darlin'?"

"Did you burn down the church?" I blurted out. I didn't mean for it to come out that way and part of me, a very large part, wished that I could take it back. But it was out there now, for better or for worse.

"What?" He asked jerkin' away from me.

I tried not to let it hurt my feelin's.

"The church, Edward. It was burnt down; they are sayin' y'all did it."

"And you believed them?" He asked in a hurt tone.

"I don't know what to believe anymore," answered truthfully. "I have heard so much in the last few days that I don't know."

I felt a sob bulidin' in my chest, but I fought to keep it at bay.

"What have you heard?" his tone was rock hard now. Almost if he was waitin' for my rejection.

"Why won't you answer my question?" I asked, hopin' to divert the conversation away from what I had heard about Jess.

He took a few steps away from me, turnin' to look back at the house. Jasper and Alice had seemed to disappear at some point. I wasn't too worried; I knew instinctively that Jasper would keep her safe no matter what.

Edward turned back to me then, with a look of utter defeat on his face.

"You shouldn't be here," he murmured.

"Why not?" I demanded. I would be darned if he was just gonna send me away.

"It's not safe for you here. I'm sorry if I ever led you to believe otherwise."

"You'll keep me safe."

"I'm not enough," he said his head droppin'.

"Your family would hurt me?"

"I already told you, Bella, that my family is no threat to you. But there are others that would," he said with a sigh.

"Are these others the ones that burnt down the church?"

"That's hard to answer," he mumbled.

"I can't do this," I said turnin' back to the horse. But without Alice, I had no option to leave.

"You can't do what?"

"This," I said turnin' around to face him. "I thought I was okay with no answers to anything. But I'm not, Edward."

"What if those answers put you in danger?" he asked steppin' closer to me.

"Not knowin' is drivin' me away from you," I said quietly.

He stared at me for a long moment, his face shiftin' through an assortment of emotions.

"I didn't burn down the church," he finally said.

My heart dropped with relief. I wanted so badly to reach out and hug him, but he stopped me with his next words.

"But my brothers did."

"Jasper?" I gasped.

"No, not Jasper. Emmett and James, plus some of the regular gang," he amended.

I stepped back involuntarily. This was big news to take in, somewhere deep inside I was hopin' that the town had it wrong. I was sorely disappointed.

"We are not good people, Bella," he said with a sigh. "We have all done some really bad things."

"The man in Port Angeles?" I asked quietly.

"I already told you that I didn't kill him."

"I know, but was your family involved?" I pressed him. I know last time I asked him this, he had shut down. But this time he was gonna answer me.

"Bella," he groaned reachin' up to grasp his hair in his fists. "There are some things that are safer if you didn't know."

I looked down at my feet then, not quite sure what to say.

"It was James," he breathed out.

"What?" I blurted out, my eyes snappin' up to his.

"James killed that man, but it's not what you think," he spoke in a rush. "They were gamblin' at the Saloon there, feelin's were runnin' high and everyone was drunk. The man lost to James fair and square, but when it came time to pay up, he claimed James cheated. He was rantin' and ravin' all over, the Saloon about the fast one's we Cullens pull. Of course, given who we are, the owner sided with the man. Kicked us all out of there and told us not to come back."

He stopped for a moment, his eyes trained on the trees behind me.

"James was spittin' mad. He didn't like to be cheated and had no qualms about sayin' so; it would have been fine if that man hadn't followed us out of the saloon. Emmett had a good arm on James, towin' him towards our horses, but it wasn't enough. The man started yellin' things at James, callin' him names and such. All it took was for Emmett to release him for a moment to untie his horse and James took off like a shot, he bowled the guy right over. It happened so fast, they were punchin' and cussin' and then the man was silent. James had pulled his knife and buried it into the man's throat."

I couldn't hold back my gasp this time. I felt sick to my stomach.

"Now do you see why I didn't want to tell you?" Edward asked steppin' towards me. This time I didn't step back, I let him closer. "There are things a lady shouldn't know, but I'll be damned if I let this come between us."

I nodded numbly as he wrapped his arms around me. I fought with everything I had not to start cryin' into his chest. The picture he painted the night of that murder made my skin crawl and I knew without any doubt that I would never want to be alone with James.

"You're safe," he cooed against my hair. "I've got you."

He held me that way for a long time, the feel of his flannel shirt pressed against my face. Even with the story he told me, I felt safe. I knew that Edward would let no harm come to me.

"What else did you hear?" he murmured.

"Huh?" I asked pullin' away from him a bit.

"You mentioned something earlier about hearin' a lot of things in the past few days. What else was there?"

I fidgeted against him for a moment, but he didn't let me go. I guess I had no other choice but to buck up and tell him the truth. It was my own darn fault for openin' my big mouth.

"Mr. Stanley came to see my Pa last night," I said quietly.

"Okay."

"He told him about the church and how y'all did it," I said with a hard swallow.

"I think we made it this far before," he said with a slight chuckle. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

I licked my dry lips, tryin' to think about how to put this. "He told my Pa that he caught you lookin' at his daughter Jess in town the other day," my words were so quiet that I almost wondered if he heard them.

By the way his body stiffened, I knew he had. Thankfully, he didn't pull away from me.

"And you believed him?" I couldn't tell by his voice what he was feelin' so I dared to look up at his face.

It didn't reveal much either.

"No, yes, well I don't know," I answered honestly. Part of me did believe it, because it made no sense for him to like someone like me. I was plain and lived a borin' life.

"You don't know?" he asked hurt lacin' his tone.

"I didn't want to believe it, but Jess is so pretty and I'm not."

He chuckled then, a full belly laugh.

"What?" I asked tuckin' a piece of my hair behind my ear self-consciously.

"You obviously don't see yourself clearly," he said with a wry smile on his face.

"What do you mean?"

"You're beyond pretty, Bella. I have never laid eyes on a woman as beautiful as you are. Your eyes entrance me and your smile makes me feel whole," he rushed out.

I felt my face heat in embarrassment.

"And your blush, well let's just say it does things to me that isn't proper to say," he said reachin' up to stroke my reddened cheek.

I felt like I ought to gasp at his statement, even I didn't fully understand what he was sayin', but he interrupted me before I had a chance.

"But even with all that, at the heart of it all, I could never feel in my heart for another the way I feel for you," his voice came out in barely a whisper.

I felt my own heart start thunderin' at his words. Could he feel the same way as me?

"What is it that you feel?" I breathed out.

His fingers found their way under my chin, liftin' my eyes to meet his.

"I love you," he said with conviction. "There will never be anyone else."

"Oh, Edward," I gasped.

"No, you don't have to say anything," he cut me off. "I needed to tell you, I'm not tryin' to force you into anything."

"You don't have to force me," I said with a smile. "Because I love you, too."

His face blossomed into the most amazing smile; he wrapped his arms around me and crushed his lips to mine. It was different from every other time he had kissed me. Instead of the gentle lovin' kisses, this was bold and passionate. Before I could catch my breath, his tongue slid across my bottom lip. I wasn't sure what he wanted, but I gasped in shock at the feel of it, my open mouth allowed his tongue to invade. It slipped in, strokin' and rubbin' against my tongue. I wasn't sure what to do, but it felt nice. After a moment, I got brave and moved my tongue a little, rubbin' it up against his. I wasn't brave enough to venture into his mouth, but he seemed to enjoy my movements, because he pulled me closer to him until there wasn't a room for even a blade of grass between us.

His kisses slowed and his tongue slipped back into his own mouth, but the memory of it left me weak in the knees and caused a funny stirrin' in my stomach. Before I wanted him to, he pulled away after softly pressin' his lips against mine twice.

"You love me?" He asked with a grin.

I nodded at him, but trustin' myself to speak after what had just happened. I may blurt out that I wanted him to do that again.

"Even with all this," he waved his hand towards his dilapidated house.

I nodded again.

"How is that possible?" he asked with a shake of his head.

"I tried to figure that one out myself," I said with a soft sigh. "But I couldn't find an explanation, you've wormed your way into my heart and soul and I can't imagine you not in my life. There are so many reasons that I should run from you screamin' and I honestly don't know how we will work this all out but I can't stop myself from lovin' you."

"You should run from me screamin', you still can," he said with a sad chuckle.

"I didn't mean it that way," I said with a sigh. "I was tryin' to say that I couldn't run from you, but not just that, I don't want to."

"I don't want you to either," he said pullin' me close to him again.

"But there are so many things standin' in the way, Edward," I pointed out. "The town is out to get y'all, my Pa will never agree to this and Michael."

My heart broke as I listed the things that were in our way. I hated to tell him about my Pa and about Michael, but they were there and the way things were goin' I was goin' to be married soon.

His jaw clenched tightly at my words and I couldn't help but reach my hand up and run my fingers along his tight muscle.

"Please," I said quietly. "I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" he asked quietly, his hand comin' up to rest on top of mine.

"For blurtin' it out like that."

"You shouldn't worry about the town, we have that under control," he said after a moment. I went to ask him how, but just as I opened my mouth, he stopped me.

"I know you want to know everything," he said with a sad smile. "But there are some things that I can't share. It is in your best interest not to know. Just in case."

He continued before I could cut in. "I wish I could go to your Pa and show him how good I could be for you, but it wouldn't matter. This town and the people in it, have it all figured out. I wouldn't stand a chance."

I nodded because that was the truth.

"And Michael," he spit his name out like it was poison. "I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"I know that he has intentions towards you," he said with a sigh. "Its big news in town, his Pa was in the saloon one night braggin' about it."

My heart clenched at his words.

"They pretty much have you married off to him," his sad eyes met mine.

"I know," I said turnin' my eyes to the ground. "I tried to get out of it."

"Do you want out of it?"

"Of course," I said snappin' my eyes back up to his. "Why would you ask that?"

"He's a better choice for you. He can give you all the things I can't."

"I don't want those things with him," I said with a smile. "I just don't know how to stop it all."

"Has anyone asked what you want?"

"No," I answered with a bitter laugh. "I told my Pa that I didn't want to marry Michael, but he brushed me off. He thinks that the Newtons are perfect."

"Nobodies perfect," he ground out.

"That's true, but he thinks the match is perfect. That I would have a perfect life with Michael," I amended.

"He's right."

"Maybe from the outside it would be perfect, but I would be killin' myself inside if I did it."

He wrapped his arms around me then. "I'll find a way to fix this all, I promise."

I didn't say anything; just let myself sink into him. He held me like that for a long while, gently swaying us with the wind.

"I love you, Bella. I promise that I will make it right," he said finally pullin' away from me.

"I love you, too."

I noticed movement behind; thankfully, it was just Alice and Jasper makin' their way back to us. It had to gettin' late and I was suddenly worried about how long I've been gone.

"I came here tonight to warn you," I said abruptly.

"Warn me?"

"The town, Edward. I know you don't want to talk about it. But there are gettin' a lynchin' posse together," I said urgently.

"I know, Bella."

"You know?"

"Of course, darlin'. There are many loose lips in this town," he said with a chuckle. "Please don't worry about it."

"The last time you told me that, the church got burnt down," I insisted.

He made an exasperated sound, his hand comin' up to grab his hair. "I promise you, that you don't have to worry about it."

I wanted to argue with him, but Alice and Jasper were upon us and I didn't want the evening to end with an argument.

"Alright," I conceded. "If you say so, I'll believe you."

"Bella, we have to go," Alice interrupted us.

"I know," I said glancin' up to were the moon rested in the sky. "We've probably been gone to long."

I turned to Edward again. "When will I see you again?" I tried to keep the desperation out of my voice.

"I don't know," his hand came up to rest on my cheek. "I'll find a way, be on the lookout for clues."

"I will," I pushed up onto my toes and boldly pressed my lips against his. Before I pulled away, I quietly whispered that I loved him.

"I love you, too," he said releasin' me.

"It was lovely to see you again, Isabella," Jasper said breakin' the bubble we were in.

"You too, Mister Cullen," I replied smartly earnin' a chuckle from him.

"You wound me," he said dramatically graspin' his heart.

He leaned down and kissed Alice soundly. They whispered their words of departure.

"Do you want me to take you home?" Edward asked drawin' my attention back to him.

I thought about what it would be like to ride on the back of his horse in the dark, my arms wrapped around him. But amazin' as it sounds, it just wasn't realistic.

"I would love that," I started.

"But?"

"But, if we got caught, it would ruin everything."

"You're right," he admitted. "It's better if you go with Alice."

Before I knew it, Edward had helped hoist me up onto the back of Alice's horse and we ridin' back into the dark woods. No words were spoken between Alice and me until we reached the main road.

"Did Jasper tell you what their plans are?" I asked breakin' the silence.

"No, I told him what we knew and he just brushed it off statin' that they had a plan."

"That's pretty much what Edward told me too," I said with a sigh.

"It's not good," she said ominously.

"What do you mean? Have you seen something?" I badgered her.

"No, not anything definite. It's more of a feelin', things never go to plan."

We spent the rest of the ride in silent, Alice got me as close to my house as possible before slowin' her horse to a stop.

"I'll come see you tomorrow," Alice, said as I slid down from the mount.

"Okay."

"Be careful," she said before flickin' the reins and turnin' the horse back towards her home.

I turned on my heel and dashed toward home. I retraced my steps from earlier tonight, slippin' through the hole in the gate and stayin' behind the barn and equipment. I didn't stop until I was behind the woodshed, out of breath I flopped down onto the bench. I pressed my hand against my heart, tryin' to slow it from its racin' beat.

I only gave myself a few moments, before standin' and grabbin' up the slop bucket. I had already been gone too long, I was lucky no one had come lookin' for me.

But it seemed my luck had run out, because at that moment my Pa's voice boomed from the other side of the woodshed.

"Isabella Marie!"

The bucket clattered to the ground and I knew I had been caught.

I'm gonna go hide now...Love me…! So do you think she's been caught or is it something else? Let me know in your review! I love hearing your thoughts!

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XO-

Symphiann