A/N: As always, references to Twilight Series belong to Stephanie Meyer.

Ok, so this is where we are – I decided to shorten this chapter as well. Infact I decided to practically change it all together. Bella's POV needs to come through before we get to where this chapter was going. I guess my pre-hiatus issues had more effect on them than I first thought but we're on track now so please enjoy.

Chapter 27 – EPOV

As I stepped out onto the curb, the moisture immediately drained from my face. It was much colder than earlier in the evening when we had entered the restaurant.

Bella, already deep in conversation with an older couple also exiting the establishment, made no effort to follow my suggestion of waiting in the foyer until the SUV was ready.

She smiled sweetly. Nodded her head occasionally, affirming her agreement to whatever had been said. Pulled her coat a little closer when the biting air filled the space between her body and the external fabrics meant to protect her against such invasions.

She wasn't interested in hiding from the cold. Another social butterfly I thought.

Definitely social.

Definitely different from the other I compared her too.

My initial assessment of Bella Swan was ever evolving, ever changing.

I was a little disturbed to have been so off in my deduction of this woman. The raving lunatic that drove up behind me in the oldest vehicle I'd ever been within fifty feet of.

Disturbed but pleased.

In just a few short months, my first impression changed so drastically, Bella changed so drastically, and like her name suggested, she emerged into this beautiful swan, my beautiful, strong Bella.

The couple she conversed with were captivated by her genuine spirit and sincere personality. This was how a woman like Bella should be seen. Not as those men inside had ogled her.

If memory served, the gentleman of the pair was a retired public official and his wife. A man with impeccable values and morals, he did great things for this city contrary to many of his colleagues.

His retirement was viewed as a huge loss for his constituents.

Their discussion over the merits of Boston didn't interest me at that moment however. I had other priorities and stepped out of ear shot, using the time to reconnect with an old associate.

"It's been a while." The husky voice of Jenks sailed through the earpiece of my cell phone. He was always careful not to use names though with modern technology as it were, I didn't see the benefit.

Jenks, a former Navy Seal, was a jack of all trades so to speak. He was my go-to-guy for things I couldn't go to anyone else about.

His reputation, among those of dubious intent and monetary means, preceded him. Not your typical bring home to dinner kind, he was more of a mythical creature, lingering in the shadows, the fly on the wall per se. Known but rarely seen.

At any time, anyone of us could be his prey for a price but I was pretty confident Jenks would not turn on me. That didn't mean I was safe. There were more like him.

His real name was Jason Scott, an old connection of Jasper's. Only a select few knew Jenks true identity and naturally I was considered one of the few.

Jasper had introduced us years ago when he was still a Navy Seal. He told awesome stories of his experiences though I'm sure much of it had been embellished for theatrical and confidential purposes.

Truth was, and don't ask me how I know this, but he was a trained assassin. He wasn't the lunatic in the bell tower waiting for the right time to take his shot. He was the up close and personal, in arm-to-arm combat kind of assassin.

Unfortunately, like many of our soldiers, he came back from active duty damaged by all he'd seen and done. No physical injuries to speak of but the psychological wounds couldn't be healed.

As unnerving as it was to know people like Jenks existed there was a certain thrill in it as well. Our relationship proved to be one of my most valuable and elusive associations.

There were no pleasantries exchanged. A straight forward transaction was all that was necessary. I stated my need, which at this time was to find out Sutherland's date for the evening and Jenks was off.

Finding out her companion seemed a little trivial for someone of Jenks qualifications and capabilities but it was imperative the information be accurate and his nosing around be discreet. I had a feeling it would mean something more in the future.

I used Jenks whenever possible, when discretion was instrumental. He was thorough and competent and trustworthy but unfortunately, there were limitations.

Jenks identity was concealed and protected by anyone and everyone who had reason to employ him. Any information I obtained from him would be useless in a court of law. I could not and would not reveal the source.

Although I had never found reason to utilize Jenks in his "official" capacity, I would never purposely lead authorities to his underground for fear of guilt by association.

I'll admit the thought of Jane having an "accident" entertained my thoughts now and then but I would never follow through.

I was not that kind of bad.

I figured my soul was damned enough with my grandfather's blood on my hands without acting on my fantasy hit list.

This train of thought reminded me of something else.

With my struggle to sober up and Bella's arrival and Christmas and court and all the other crap that's been going on, it hadn't dawned on me to call up the P.I. following Jane.

He should be able to clear up some of the blanks of that night.

"Who were you talking too?" Bella asked as she pulled the seat belt across her body.

"It's business Bella, nothing important." I said absentmindedly, wondering what the P.I. would say.

"Nothing important." She sighed quietly, repeating my words like I'd said something wrong.

"What?" I asked.

"What?" She repeated me again.

"Bella! What's wrong?"

"Nothing important." I was quickly becoming annoyed with her evasiveness and her parroting.

A deep breath and I tried again. "Please tell me what's wrong?"

"Noth…."

"Don't say nothing! Just tell me."

"Ok fine!"

Oh God! It was worse than I thought. I knew when a woman said fine, men suffered.

My teeth clenched instinctively, waiting for her to continue.

"Edward, we just discussed this at dinner. Were you even paying attention?"

"This has nothing to do with any of that. This is me conducting business."

"If it's important enough to do on my time then I have a right to know. What if some reporter puts it in the paper tomorrow that you were calling a lover while supposedly out with me?" She insisted.

I didn't necessarily agree with her logic but maybe she had something. "Ok. I called a P.I. friend of mine to look into Victoria's dinner partner. That's all."

And it was the truth. Jenks wasn't exactly a private investigator but that's basically what happened and getting into the whole Jenks thing wasn't relative at the moment.

"Was that so hard?" Bella grinned. "Why do you care who Victoria date's?"

"I like to know everything." I replied, allowing my cockiness to taint each word.

So, Bella won the battle with her 'on my time' defense. I figured it was my turn to win the war.

"Since we're on the topic of things discussed tonight, I have one to revisit."

Though I chose my words carefully in an effort to explain without being too crude or embarrassing her, broaching Bella's man handling condition didn't go over well.

At first, Bella took my description of the inappropriate stares, from the men in the restaurant, as a compliment.

It didn't sit well with me that she could be flattered by another man's attention, especially not that kind of attention.

Unfortunately, I failed miserably in getting my point across.

A flush of anger rushed through me quickly and my next choice of words were not as careful.

"Bella, they're a bunch of horny old men whose wives don't do it for them anymore. They see a new piece of ass and all they want to do is screw it," I growled.

I was definitely harsher than required. Harsher than I had first intended.

"You know what Edward?" She faced the side window. Her voice trembled, "You can't change other people, their behaviour, or the way they think. You can only control how you deal with it. So, I'll put it to you this way, you do what you feel is right in any given situation and I'll determine, at that point, whether you ever get near this piece of ass again."

Trembling voice be damned! Bella was standing firm against me. Who was this woman?

Ughhhhh! I slammed the heels of my hands into the steering wheel but managed to keep my thoughts to myself. This is not how I wanted this night to end.

She was offended, hurt, and lashed out. I couldn't blame her for that. It was my fault. Tact had never been my strong suit.

Bella continued to stare out the passenger side window. She wouldn't dare turn her head. I even jolted the car a few times thinking she would look to see what was going on.

I would have.

But not her.

She was steadfast and stubborn.

The silence between us was deafening. It allowed me too much time to think about what a jerk I'd been. Too much time to wonder how I should fix it without a suitable answer coming to mind.

Lampposts, high above us, lined the perimeter of the roadway. The cold reflection of blue-white light bounced off the fresh fallen snow making the city streets brighter than usual.

The muted hum of tires on pavement, the only sound to cut through the tension filled cabin, made it difficult to think of an icebreaker.

Effortlessly, my fingers slid across the steering wheel to the radio controls and turned up the volume.

The radio announcer listed off titles from the last set before moving into weather then traffic.

After an endless drone of commercials, music finally drifted outward from the high quality speakers.

Surprisingly, I was still speechless, searching for something to connect us, get us talking again.

'Say Something' a haunting duet by Christina Aguilera and A Great Big World filled the car.

Fitting I thought.

"…say something, I'm giving up on you…." The words dug deep into my heart. Would she give up on me?

Apparently, Bella was moved by it as well.

"Where are we headed?" She asked. Her controlled voice escaped through tight lips.

Moved, yes, but still angry.

I'd take it! I'd take anything as long as it meant we were speaking again.

"Well…," I hesitated. My plan didn't seem as appropriate now as it had this afternoon when I thought it up. "I'm afraid to say."

Bella turned to me, with one eyebrow raised in disbelief, her voice filled with disdain. "You? Afraid?"

"A little," I confessed. "Don't think for a minute I haven't noticed the changes you've been making."

"Changes? What changes?" She asked coyly.

Then it was my turn to cock an eyebrow in disbelief. "Really? Well, I suppose I've seen that little spitfire in you a time or two before but it seems to be gradually working into your way of life these days."

"Good. I'm glad you noticed. Now, where are you taking me?"

I took a minute to clear my throat. Still unsure if I should spill but I guess there was no choice. "Ok, you have to understand these plans were made earlier today when you weren't pissed off."

"Uh huh." She grunted.

"With the utmost honourable intentions…, I reserved the penthouse suite for us at The Boston L." I raised my arm to protect myself against any urges she may have had to smack me upside the head.

Bella huffed in good spirits, a sign her mood was lightening, and diverted my defensive reaction with a well-placed, playful jab to my rib cage.

The car swerved across the lane before I regained control and my composure from her unexpected manoeuvre. A few car horns later and we were actually laughing.

Together.

"I'm sorry Bella, for what I said. I shouldn't have been so crude."

"I'm sorry too. I just don't think of men looking at me like that. I thought you were kidding until you started yelling in that colourful way of yours."

She didn't think men looked at her that way?

Bella probably didn't.

She didn't see herself as beautiful.

She didn't see herself through my eyes.

"Are we ok?" I asked reaching for her hand.

"Yes." She replied, placing her hand in mine. "If we're going to the hotel we should probably make a pit stop first."

"Pit stop?" I questioned.

"Yes, a pit stop. Honourable intentions or not, I think we both know where this is going. As long as you don't piss me off again, that is." Bella chuckled deviously sending me into a state of hot that was not socially appropriate. "I…uhm…I'm not protected."

I don't know what prevented me from jamming on the brakes and causing a multiple car pile-up but somehow I managed not to completely lose my mind in shock. "What about the other night?"

"Nope."

"Jeezus Bella!" Again with the absence of tact.

"What about you?" She accused immediately. "Why is it only my responsibility?"

Who the hell was this girl? Where did my sweet Bella disappear to?

Quite frankly, I thought she was hanging around me too much. We were rubbing off on each other. I was going soft and she was taking charge.

I wasn't sure if liked that.

"Sorry. Sorry. You're right." I didn't like saying that all the time either.

"Ok." She said loudly.

Winning.

Again!

Her voice calmed, "We should be ok, so don't worry but I don't want to take any more risks."

Risks!

That reminded me. I had to get tested again. I told her I would but it was even more important now after the … Jane incident.

I took the nearest exit off The Pike and headed to the pharmacy on Tremont. It took me all of ten minutes to get in, get the rubbers, get checked out and get back to the truck.

I placed the bag in Bella's lap before speeding off the parking lot.

"Isn't that the museum?" She asked as we passed by.

"Yes."

"Why are we back here?"

"The hotel is about 6 minutes that way." I pointed to the road ahead.

"Edward, we've been driving for over an hour. What were you doing?"

I snickered, "waiting for you to get in a better mood."

"Excuse me?"

"Well, it was either you get in a better mood so we could go to the hotel or stay in your bad mood and we go back to Ma and Pa Cullen's. What would you have preferred?"

Her body shook with quiet laughter. "You're kidding?"

"No, I'm not. I was only going to give it another hour and then I'd be bringing you back to Carlisle's."

She laughed again, "another hour?"

I laughed too. "Yup, that's it. One hour because I'm not a patient man, you know."

I loved to hear her laugh, especially one of those body shaking laughs, knowing that I'd done that. I'd made her so happy that her body could not contain her joy.

The hotel's entrance was brightly lit. A young man, dressed in The Boston L colors, opened Bella's door and helped her out.

I tossed him the keys as I rounded the front of the vehicle and held out the crook of my arm for Bella to link up to me as we walked into the foyer.

The front lobby was impressive. Ceilings, raised high above us, capped the tinted glass walls that allowed street lights to beam through in a brilliant array of sparkling colors.

The back wall was textured with a deep recess where desk clerks were at the ready, waiting to assist the hotel's clientele with their every need.

Our reflection stared up at us from the immaculate marble flooring, escorting us across the room with the echo of Bella's heels bouncing all around us.

"Your luggage arrived and has been unpacked for you, Sir." The young lady behind the counter, needing no introduction, held out the keycards for the bellhop.

"I'll take those." I said, intercepting the cards between hands. An escort was not required.

"Of course Mr. Cullen." She smiled politely. "These elevators here will take you to your suite. Please insert the card into the wall panel slot provided and it will take you directly to your private foyer."

"Thank you." I said smiling back.

"Our luggage? Unpacked?" Bella asked while we waited for the elevator doors to open.

I just smiled and nodded. I could tell her later how I had Esme's staff pack her belongings and send them here. I had to get out of the Cullen mansion and I wanted Bella with me.

The elevator opened into a fairly large rectangular room.

It was freshly painted in dark tan with only an antique leather bench on the opposite wall to fill the space. A simple white door at the far end, to the left of the elevator, was the only other break from the mundane walls.

"So this is a penthouse?" Bella asked, assessing the room.

"Well the foyer of a penthouse." I chuckled.

"Hmm. And people usually live here temporarily?"

"Actually, at this hotel they tend to be permanent residences."

Bella shot me a look of disbelief, "really?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"So this one just happened to be vacant?"

"It recently became available." I had hoped to ease Bella into city living. Or atleast the idea of city living but her questions forced my hand. "My real estate agent suggested it. I thought we could get a feel for it while we looked for our own place."

"How do people visit?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You had to use that card thingy to get us up here so what if someone wanted to visit?"

"Oh." I chuckled again. "The front desk would call up to announce them and, if we allow it, the bellhop will escort them to our foyer."

"Oh." Though my answer seemed to satisfy her, her questions didn't stop there.

"Bella," I stopped her, "Can we go inside?"

She laughed, "sure and I'll only ask one more."

"Ok, shoot."

"Where's the emergency exit?" She asked.

The keycard slid easily through its slot and I heard the lock click open, " there is no emergency exit."

"No staircase or nothing?" Alarm building in her voice.

"Bella, this hotel is very safe. We don't need an emergency exit. With all the measures in place it's practically indestructible" I pushed the door open.

"That's what they said about the Titanic." She mumbled under her breath as she walked passed me in the doorway.

"If it makes you feel better I'll demand they build a fire escape outside the window, twenty floors high." She didn't hear me. Her attention, suddenly, was far from safety as the city lights poured into the dark suite from floor to ceiling windows.

"This is so beautiful." She said in awe.

The darkest blue of winter's night sky played host to the magical skyline of twinkling lights.

Bella's slender silhouette was defined and complimented by the halo of lights surrounding her. "Yes, yes it is." I said no longer talking about the world outside.

Things seemed to fall into place after that.

Everything I had wanted for the night, for the night's end, came together better than I had imagined.

The memories of her soft skin and sweet breath lingered on my body as the sun slowly began its ascent. The powerful beams of light peering through spaces between buildings, finding me, as it climbed up toward its high point in the sky.

Bella was sound asleep. Her head rested on my chest, nearer to my heart, with her silky strands flared out over my shoulder.

A white linen sheet was the only cover to conceal our naked bodies, still entangled from the night before. The duvet had long been lost as we romped around in passionate fervour.

Careful not to wake my sleeping beauty, I freed myself from our spider web of arms and legs and other body parts. I wanted to stay in bed but it was impossible with the glaring sun and, let's be real, I'm not a sleeper.