Wow! What a day. This story was featured over at TLS. I owe all the thanks to Nic, (I suspect she was behind it), Jaime, (who made the beautiful banner for this story), Jo Fic Freak, Dolly Reader, and owner of my fanfic heart, Iris, for their amazing reviews.

Once again, Sri and Iris made this so much better. xxoo

Neither spoke on the ride home. Bella tucked her hands under her legs to keep them from tracing her lips.

Mike pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine, though he made no move to get out of the car. "What happened back there?"

"He kissed me."

It was what he expected to hear, but it still stung. "Son of a bitch."

"I kissed him back." She watched her words crush him, and it broke her heart.

"What?" he whispered, before he smacked the steering wheel with his open hand. "You what?!" That one was shouted.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"I don't even know who you are right now."

"I don't know. I don't know what happened. When I get around him-"

"When you get around him?!" Mike roared. "This has happened before? I know that you've seen him and haven't told me. Is that why? Have you been having an affair? I didn't think I would have to ask you not to see him. I'm not that guy, Bella. I didn't think you would end up being that girl." Mike hit the steering wheel one more time before vacating the car.

Bella took a few minutes to let him calm down before she followed him into their house. She met him in the hall. He was returning from their room with a pillow and blanket in his arms.

"Mike, I swear nothing happened before. Tonight was just that kiss."

"Please stop talking. That doesn't make a difference right now. Maybe it will in the morning, but not right now."

"Go to bed, Mike. Don't sleep on the couch." Bella reached her hand out to touch Mike's arm, but his glare stopped her cold.

"Don't, Bella. I can't right now. I can't even look at you. If I'm near you for another minute, I'm afraid we'll say things that can't be unsaid."

"Mike, please. I know you're angry-"

"Bella, stop! Do you think all I am right now is angry? I don't even have words for how I feel. It's taking all of my strength to not walk out that door right now."

"Go to bed." Bella reached over, and grabbed the pillows and blanket from Mike's arms. "I'll sleep on the couch tonight."

When Bella woke up to the smell of coffee, she was amazed at how well she'd slept. While she felt awful for hurting Mike the way she had, she couldn't bring herself to regret it.

She rolled over, surprised to see Mike standing in the doorway watching her. He held a cup in each hand. Bella sat up, pulling the blankets off the end of the couch to leave room for Mike to sit. She wasn't sure if he would want to. He handed her a mug and sat across from her.

"I fell in love with you the minute I saw you, which sounds ridiculous. But it's true. The problem was that I wasn't the only one." Mike spoke clearly and calmly. "The thing about love at first sight that's bullshit is that you don't even know the person. Here we are, years later, and I still love you, but I still don't know you." Mike paused to take a sip of his coffee before he continued. "I only have myself to blame for that. I was so intent on having the Bella Swan I'd dreamed of that I was willing to take any version of you available.

"I know you love me in your own way ‒ or you did once. But you've never loved anyone the way you used to love that guy. I don't know how to compete with him. I don't know what he has that I don't. It's not his money; you don't care about that. I don't think it's his looks, because there's nothing superficial about you, and it's not like I'm an ogre. I love you with everything that I am. But I'm not Edward Cullen, age 18. I don't understand why you would risk everything we had for him."

"I don't know. Everything I can come up with just sounds like an excuse."

"Do you know what's crazy? I should have seen this coming. Fuck, I did see it coming, but I trusted you."

"Nothing happened until last night."

Mike let out a half laugh. "I'm guessing that's not entirely true, is it? You may not have kissed him until last night, but that didn't come out of nowhere, did it?"

"No."

Mike nodded. He looked around the room for a moment. When his eyes landed back on Bella's, they were wet with unshed tears.

"Are you going to be with him now?"

"I think that I am… going to be with him. Maybe not right away, but yeah."

"Is that where you're moving to?"

"No. I'm booked into the Dew Drop Inn for the week."

"The week? You're giving it a week?" Mike ran his hand through his hair. "So I've got a week to prepare myself to see you two together?"

"It won't be like that."

"Bella, it already is that."

They finished their coffee in silence. They both shed tears, but neither offered the other comfort. There was no point. Mike didn't move from his chair as she left the room. She showered and dressed. She packed enough clothes for the week. At some point, they'd need to sit down and divide their lives, but it wasn't today.

Mike didn't move until he heard Bella leave their room, and then he met her at the foot of the stairs.

She said nothing. She decided to let him lead the way in how they'd do this part.

"I can't bring myself to ask you to stay. I don't know what that means, but I just can't bring myself to ask."

Bella's lip trembled. She did love this boy standing in front of her, but he was right; she'd never love anyone the way she loved Edward. Mike pulled her against him. He held her tight as he kissed the top of her head, and then he walked away.

Neither turned to look back as she walked out the door.

There was one more person Bella needed to talk to. He surprised her at the treaty line.

"Mike called." Jacob skipped the friendly greeting as Bella got out of the car.

"So does that mean I'm not allowed on your land anymore?"

Jake stared at her a few minutes before embracing her. "Nah. It just means I'm messing with you. It's probably a good thing Sam and Emily moved away, though. I don't think they'd be so forgiving." He ruffled her hair with his giant hand as he stood back.

"He told you about Edward?"

"He did, but I knew it was coming."

"How?" Bella had barely seen Jake since the Cullens had returned.

"Your bloodsucker bought a house right on the treaty line. I had to pay him a visit."

Edward hadn't mentioned that.

"How'd that go?"

"The first time went pretty much as you'd expect." He flexed his bicep just to make it clear.

"The first time?"

"Let's just say it took a while for us to get to an understanding. He asked me to make an exception to the treaty."

Bella's lips parted in shock. He did? she asked herself.

"He asked me if he could change you."

He did.

Bella wanted to be irritated that this had happened without her knowledge, but she realized Edward had been trying to do the right thing.

"And?"

"Like I said, it's a good thing I'm the pack leader now." He pulled her into his arms again. "Come say goodbye first, okay?"

"Sure, sure." She echoed his youthful phrase and kissed his cheek before she jumped back into her car, eager for her next stop.

When she'd originally planned to talk to Edward today, it was to tell him she was leaving Mike. Maybe - hopefully - they would discuss the possibility of a future together.

And then he offered her all of his tomorrows.

And she wanted them.

She knew starting a relationship with Edward the day she moved out of Mike's house would be too soon. When she made the decision to see him today, it was to tell him she needed a little time. Some space to transition from her past with Mike to eternity with Edward. As the distance to his house decreased, so did the amount of time she was willing to put between now and that eternity.

Bella didn't see him as she turned into his driveway, but when she shut her engine off, her door had already opened. She stepped out, only to be instantly pressed against the now shut door. Edward's nose touched hers.

"What are you doing?"

He'd leaned further in so that his lips brushed against hers as he spoke. "Waiting for you to kiss me."

"I'm afraid that once I start I won't stop."

"I don't want you to stop." Their breath mingled, and their lips continued to touch as they spoke, making their words become gentle kisses.

Edward moved his hands to Bella's hips. In a single, fluid gesture, he lifted her and pressed her further into the car. His hands guided her legs to wrap around his waist. Her head fell against the roof of the car, exposing her neck to his waiting mouth.

"I need some time."

"Okay." His lips grazed the underside of her chin as he spoke. Her sigh turned to a whimper when they stayed there.

"Just a little time."

"Of course." He moved down her neck, speaking into her skin.

"Not today." The words came out quickly as her breathing became a pant.

"I know, love." His tongue flitted against her skin, dipping into the crevice where her neck curved away from her shoulder. He pressed and curled his hips so that there would be no mistaking his body's response to this encounter. Bella responded with a shuddering moan. Edward allowed himself one last taste before dragging his lips off her collarbone. "I'll let you come to me when you're ready." He eased Bella off the car and back to the ground.

She blinked, and for a moment, he wondered if she would pass out.

"Breathe," he whispered.

Her hands unconsciously caressed her neck.

"I'm using every last bit of restraint I have left here, Bella." He jammed his hands into his pockets, as if that could stop them from reaching for her.

She moved her hand to open the door at her back. "I'll see you at work tomorrow?"

He nodded.

She suddenly looked nervous. Her hand went to her mouth, and Edward quietly growled as he watched her fingers play with her lip. If she didn't stop that, he was going to snap, though he was disappointed when they moved away.

"Would you like to take me out after? Maybe we could go to a movie in Port A?"

"Are you asking me on a date?"

"Yeah, I think I am. I mean, we'd have to be careful. I'm not ready for this to be out there just yet. But I'd like to try doing it right this time." Her nerves vanished as she watched Edward's eyes light up.

"You can pick me up at seven," he grinned. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to back away slowly, and you're going to get in that car and leave before I have you against it again. I'm suddenly very hungry, and I think it's best I spend my night hunting."

"See you tomorrow, Edward."

"See you tomorrow, Bella." He didn't take his eyes off her until she'd driven out of sight. He contemplated running alongside her but decided he'd exercised his control enough already. Instead, he ran south. He had a feeling he'd need to be well satiated before he saw Bella again.

He didn't know how right he was.