"Tanya Denali? Missing?" Bella questioned, her eyes darting back and forth between the two officers that sat on the sofa looking more and more like bulls in a china shop. She had just come back from a little retail therapy with Alice, her arms laden with bags when she saw the two policemen waiting in the lobby of the building. They were waiting for her.

"We estimate about a week."

"I don't understand what this has to do with me. Maybe she went on vacation and didn't tell anyone."

"We're just following up on possible leads as to where she might be, you know, ruling things out." He said it so casually but Bella knew instinctively what he was implying. She didn't like it one bit.

"Well, the last time I saw her was well more than a week ago. I don't know how I can possibly help you find her but I'll be happy to give what information I have although it isn't much."

"Her friends say you an altercation a couple of weeks ago at a night club over a man. You slapped her and some time later threw wine at her."

Curse her stupid temper. They were waiting expectantly for an explanation. She couldn't lie. Tanya's friends probably already told the police what it was about. There was only one thing to say, the truth and hope that was enough. "She wanted me to think she was having sex with my boyfriend by taunting me. I reacted. It was wrong of me to slap her but she wasn't completely innocent either."

"Edward Cullen, right? Tanya was his personal assistant. Was she having sex with him?"

"No." She wasn't about to bring up that it wasn't for lack of trying, that she had drugged Edward and tried to force herself on him while he was out of it and completely at her mercy. It would only give them more reason to suspect Edward of some wrong doing.

"Is that what Mr. Cullen told you? And you never doubted it, not once, never entertained that she might have been telling the truth?" The officer leaned forward, a gleam in his eye suggested he was enjoying this, enjoying seeing her squirm and the truth that she probably couldn't hide it well.

"A woman like that," the officer continued, his implication very clear. "They work together…closely. Many men wouldn't be able to resist if she was interested. She is a very beautiful woman. " He seemed so skeptical and patronizing that she wanted to smack him across the face.

"I trust that Edward wouldn't betray me that way." She kept a straight face but inside she felt ashamed. She had doubted. She did think he had cheated on her even if the thought had been short lived.

"Maybe they were sleeping together and you knew it. Maybe you didn't want to give this all up," he said, motioning the room with his pen and leaned forward. "Maybe, just maybe…" He let his voice trail off as he tapped his pen against his chin, leaving her to draw her own conclusions on what he was suggesting.

"Maybe before you ask any more questions or make false accusations, I should call my lawyer and you can ask me all the questions you want while he is present."

"Do you have something to hide, Miss Swan?"

"Not at all. But I do know my rights."

"Okay, if that's how you want to play it. Here." He handed her a business card and she felt the figurative burden of its weight immediately. "Call your lawyer. I expect to hear from you very soon."

Long after they left, Bella sat in stunned silence, the officer's card locked in her hand with a death grip. She hadn't looked at it once, only felt the heavy card stock slip and curl between her fingers, her thumb gliding over the raised print. Tanya Denali was missing, presumed…who knew? She never liked the woman, hated her in fact but she didn't want her to come to harm, not really. She just wanted her to disappear from their lives. It seemed she had gotten her wish. But at what price?

Then again, who was to say Tanya wasn't getting the last laugh as she sat on some secluded beach resort, sipping cosmopolitans, lusting after cabana boys, knowing the trouble she was leaving in her wake. Bella shook her head. No. As much as it felt better for her to believe that, she couldn't shake the thought that something terrible did befall the malicious woman. She probably pissed someone else off, someone who was dangerous.

The police did say they had leads as in plural. She also knew that Edward had to be one of them. Scrubbing her face with her hand, she called him. Beyond needing to warn him if he didn't already know, she wanted him to trust her that she could be strong and open with him. It was a two street after all.

"I had a visit here as well," Edward said after she explained. "I was hoping they'd spare you an inquisition."

"It wasn't much of one. I refused to answer much of anything without a lawyer present. I hope you did the same."

"I almost didn't. But yeah, when I saw where they were headed with the questions, I put a halt to it."

"Good. Now we take the next steps and contact an attorney, preferably one well versed in criminal law. Do you happen to have one handy? In your back pocket perhaps?"

He chuckled at the teasing in her tone. "I actually have an attorney on retainer. I already called him. He's not a criminal one though but he's damn good."

"I'd be a bit worried if you did have a criminal attorney on retainer."

"You do think it's bull shit, don't you?" His voice lowered then, laced with uncertainty. "You don't think that I-"

"No!" Her response was immediate. "Of course not. I was teasing you."

"Good," he said, expelling a heavy breath. "Given everything, I just wanted to make sure. They're probably going to twist things and make me appear in a very bad light, try to make you doubt me.

"And they'll do the same with me."

"Bella, there is nothing that anyone can say about you that will make me doubt you or your love."

"Back at you," she said and realized she really meant it. "We'll get through this... all of it. Have a little faith. We did nothing wrong and the police will have to see that. We have nothing to hide."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. She could almost hear the cogs in his head moving.

"Except that video of when I fired Tanya," he said so quietly, it was a strain to hear him.

"No one knows what is on that tape or that it even exists except you and me."

"Why Miss Swan, are you asking me to lie to the police?"

"Not lie. Omit. There's a difference."

"Do you know how in awe of you I am right now?"

"In awe? Why?"

"You're being so calm and logical about this...and even a little devious. I expected, well...I wasn't quite sure what to expect."

"I'm a lot stronger than you think. It's time you started believing that."

Edward was completely worn by the time he made it home. He paused in front of the glass doors of his building, seeing his haggard expression reflected back at him. He was Atlas with a heavy weight on his shoulders. Between Jasper's words, concerns over Bella's safety and well being and now this new albatross around his neck like a slowly tightening noose, he wondered when it would all break.

After speaking briefly to the two guards camped by the elevator doors, he headed up. Bella hadn't left the penthouse again, something he was profoundly grateful for. There was no other activity, nothing that would raise any more red flags. He didn't think he could take any more. First being visited by the police, then finding out that Bella received a visit as well, he was so very angry and fearful, if he were to be completely honest with himself.

It had been Bella that provided the voice of reason and strength. She was the one being logical, thinking this through, that they would meet this head on, that they were innocent and had nothing to fear. He wanted to tell her she was wrong. Innocence meant nothing. But he didn't have to heart to shatter her illusions and there was hope in him yet. Not one to accept defeat easily, he refused to be pessimistic now.

Bone weary and a bit shell shocked from the day, he entered his apartment wanting nothing more than the woman he loved and two fingers of Scotch. Angry guitar-driven music reached his ears. Drink forgotten, he set out to find the source of the music, knowing when he found it, he would find Bella.

He watched her silently from the doorway. Resounding thwacks echoed around the room as she pounded the heavy bag with uncompromising fists. Her feet bounced in rhythm to the song while her ponytail swayed haphazardly. She was slick with sweat, her clothing clinging like a second skin. The sight was mesmerizing and his weariness evaporated and turned into something else as he watched her.

As a teen, she had been endearingly clumsy. Not now, not today. Today she was captivating her grace and her stealth. Bella had grown into an amazing and capable woman, full of sinewy grace and inner-strength. In his fervent need to protect her for his sake, he had somehow forgotten that, was blinded to it.

She executed a powerful roundhouse kick to the bag and stiffened. Whirling around, she extended her fists, her body primed to fight even as her chest heaved from exertion.

"Damn it, Edward." She held her hand over her heart, breathing heavily. "You scared the shit of me. How long were you standing there?"

"Long enough to get completely turned on." He stalked towards her until he was just a hairsbreadth away. She smelled sweet and salty at the same time and it was driving him crazy with desire.

"Ugh," she groaned, pulling away from him and grabbed a nearby towel. "How can you even think of sex? I'm all sweaty and disgusting right now."

"On the contrary." He pulled the towel from her grasp and tossed it away with one hand and pulled her to him with the other, nuzzling his face to her neck, inhaling deeply. The fast beat of her pulse thrummed against his cheek, making his own pulse escalate as he filled with need. "I want you. Just. Like. This." He emphasized exactly what he wanted with three quick thrusts of his hips into the crux of hers.

She moaned, sweat forgotten, and leaned further into him. His open mouthed kisses trailed along her neck and down to her collarbone. He pulled her tank top strap down to get at the slick skin underneath.

"If you give me a hickey, I'll be so mad."

He smiled into her shoulder, knowing he had her right where he wanted her. "No hickeys, I promise."

"Well then, Mr. Cullen, what are you waiting for?"

Edward didn't need to be asked twice. With almost supernatural speed, he had her backed up and had her lying down on the weight bench, his body hovering over hers. Discussions about the day and the problems that were brought with it would wait. This was something they both needed.

"This has to go," he said, yanking her top over her head. "This too." He took the tie from her hair, setting the damp curls loose to fall over her shoulders.

"You're a bit overdressed too." Bella pulled at his tie and slid it off his collar. Before she could let it drop to the floor, he took it from her, his eyes asking permission. She nodded as her breath caught and lifted her arm above her, crossing them at her wrists, a sign of complete submission.

A deep, raspy breath escaped his lips but he made quick work of securing the silk tie, binding her, immobilizing her. His fingers ghosted over her parted lips and his eyes rounded in surprise when her mouth drew him in, sucking delicately on his thumb, her hooded gaze directed on his face the whole time. She was clearly enjoying his reaction.

The realization that even though she was bound, she had just as much control over him as he had of her both surprised and pleased him. It was something he never thought of before. He wondered if she was just as aware. The seductive look she was giving him told him she was.

Enough. Withdrawing his thumb, he quickly removed the rest of their clothes so he could be with her skin on skin. God, she felt so good writhing beneath him. He was so ready her, so close to that precipice, he was teetering on the edge, desperate to fall.

"This is going to be quick." He felt it was only right to warn her. When he walked in the door, this wasn't the outcome he expected but God, did he want it. Only Bella could soothe the deep ache within him. She was the salve on his soul.

Bella gave him a brazen smile. "Do you worst."

"Oh you really shouldn't said that, Miss Swan."

"I trust you."

Those words, spoken with such faith, did him in. His body covered hers until he had no idea where he ended and she began. It didn't matter. Whether they were like this or apart, they were one, totally united. He basked in that feeling.

In the dark of night, long after the sun had made its descent from the sky, still too anxious from the stress of the day and what the morning would bring, he watched her as she slept. Though her eyelashes fanned against her skin in slumber, it wasn't a peaceful sleep. A crease marred the space between her delicate brow. He stroked his thumb over it in the hopes of smoothing it out and thereby remove the thoughts from her dreams that put it there.

How much could she…could they take? Tested. The strength of their bonds was always being tested, pulled taut and Edward wondered if they were strong enough to hold. It made him try to hold on tighter. She trusted him but did he trust her…trust them?

In that startling moment of clarity, he realized that must be the divine truth, Trust is what would hold them together. He couldn't afford to be insecure, lament over "what if's", despair and wonder if Bella wasn't strong enough when in fact, she was the one that was strong. Guided by his fear, he had been the weak one. Yes, he did trust in her. Her strength. He trusted in them. He had to. Most of all he had to trust in himself.

Bella moaned and rolled over, tucking her body into his and rested her head on his chest, her palm laying over his heart. It beat faster in response to her touch and he tightened his embrace around her. Even in sleep, she sought him. No matter how much she fought him, fought his need to keep her close and safe, her body belied her words when she wasn't shielding herself from him.

Restless and unable to sleep, he slipped out of bed, careful not to awaken her. He found himself in the library, her sanctuary and now his. The room was filled with words, meaning and feeling. He searched the stacks until he found what he was looking for. He unwrapped the book from the special casing he put it in to preserve it. No that it did much good with the amount of times he took it out.

The spine was deeply creased and lovingly worn, the yellowed pages within, read countless of times over the years. He had picked up that book many times over the years, just to get the scent of the perfume on his fingers and torture himself with the memories it brought.

Edward sat on the Chesterfield, clutching to the book to his chest as he inhaled the scent of the tome like he always did. It was a comfort to him; the smell of must with an underlying presence of grass and vanilla and even still, after all the this time, the faint, almost invisible essence of the citrus scented perfume that bore that same scent as the girl that had gifted the book to him.

With near perfect recollection he remembered asking her why she had doused the book of famous historic love letters with her perfume.

Bella's hands had slid into the pockets of her jeans and she looked towards the floor, her hair a curtain veiling her face. "Years ago, women used to send scented love letters to their sweethearts to emphasize the link of a physical connection. The sense of smell is the sense the most closely linked to memory and emotions. Well... I wanted that...for you to know that no matter where you are , if I am not physically with you, that you only have to pick up this book... that we will always be linked." She had stopped speaking then and looked back up at him, her face mottled red with embarrassment. "You see? I told you it was silly."

"It's not silly at all." He had cupped her face then with the palms of his hands. He had been so filled with love and reverence that he was near to exploding with it. "I am so in love with you right now. But what's with all this talk about remembering and being apart? I have no intentions of going anywhere, least of all without you."

That day had come though, by his making, his own choice and her words had rung true almost like she had predicted his leaving all along. Maybe, he thought with sudden clarity, that she had.

He thumbed through the pages, reading some and skimming others. Feeling like he was being watched, Edward looked up, startled, to see Bella standing there, her frame silhouetted in the doorway, adorned in nothing but his t-shirt.

"Well, aren't you a site for sore eyes."

"" she said, her voice soft and knowing.

"I couldn't sleep. What are you doing up?"

"I woke up and you weren't there. I came to investigate and I saw the light on under the door."

"I figured reading would make my eyes tired."

Her eyes drifted towards the book. "That's pretty heavy reading for three in the morning."

"Do you remember when you gave this to me?"

"Of course. It was your graduation present from FCCJ. I figured Dr. Suess's 'Oh The Places You Will Go' was a bit too cliche. I'm surprised you still have it after all these years."

"If you breathe deep, it still has a faint smell of the perfume you used to wear."

"Only because I went a little nut with the atomizer."

"You knew I was going to leave even before I did, didn't you."

"Not consciously," she admitted. "But you were restless, full of anger. Leaving was inevitable for you, whether I went with you or not. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that. Expecting you to stay, that was selfish of me."

"Perhaps we were both selfish. Kind of like the characters in the book you like so much, 'Withering Heights'," he said, purposefully mispronouncing the title, just like he used to.

"'Wuthering Heights'" She smiled as if onto his game. "Kathy and Heathcliff."

"Yeah those two miserable souls."

Bella closed her eyes, her eyebrows pulling together in thought. Then she opened her mouth and quoted the book with perfect recall, "My great miseries in this world have been Heathcliff's miseries, and I watched and felt each from the beginning: my great thought in living is himself. If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it."

She reopened her eyes and looked at him with with such emotion that it was palpable. In turn, he pulled up the the quote that had resonated with him despite his lack of enthusiasm for the depressing work of fiction.

"In every cloud, in every tree—filling the air at night, and caught by glimpses in every object by day—I am surrounded with her image! The most ordinary faces of men and women—my own features—mock me with a resemblance. The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her!"

It felt as if someone had just stepped on his grave as soon as he spoke the words. All those years he had lamented over leaving her, even though he had felt her absence so greatly, he knew he had never truly lost her She had always existed in this world.

If anything happened to take her away from him...he suppressed a shudder.

"That's enough of a walk down memory lane. Come." He stood up and held his hand out to her. "If we both can't sleep, I can think of better ways to alleviate insomnia."

A/N - Thank you to all of you who have decided to stick with this story and to the new readers that recently discovered it. I had been gone longer than anticipated. I also wanted to send a shout out to the guest reviewer who had commented on my improper usage of the semi-colon. If you're still reading, thank you. I did, in fact, re-familiarize my self with its proper use and you were correct. It just goes to show that computer and grammar check programs aren't always reliable and I would rather know I was making the mistake so I could correct it, rather than remaining oblivious, destined to continue to make it.