SM owns.

Thanks you so much Mommakat!

So one of my reviewers on Twilighted had some interesting concerns about Bella, Lucas, and Edward and in response to her and other who might be wondering, I wanted to tell you all a little bit about what I wanted to do with this story. I wanted to really play with the idea of mating and the idea of unconditional love. I think in SM's canon the two terms go hand in hand. Unconditional is a very unforgiving word though. Sure you could love a person if their flaws were something little like selfishness or overprotectiveness, but what if that person had really huge character flaws? What if the object of your unconditional love was truly a bad person. If mating is a thing that's supposed to be unconditional and predestined, there is absolutely nothing that person could do that would diminish they love you share. Right?

Bella

Lucas plopped on the bed and beckoned me forward. I crawled onto the bed and up his body to straddle his stomach. His huge hands latched onto my waist as he smiled up at me. I responded with a glare.

"Cut to the chase," I said.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you want? Why are you here?"

"I missed you. You left all those years ago. You didn't even spare me a goodbye or even a fuck you. I knew you were pissed at me, so I let you be for a while. I think you've had enough breathing room now though," he replied. He brought his hand up to cup my face and I leaned into his palm instinctively. I didn't want Lucas romantically anymore but I did love him. I still felt close to him even though I hadn't seen him in years. The connection between us was as strong and bizarre as it always was. I didn't want him to hang around for long. He didn't fit into the life I led nowadays. I was happy to see him but his visit needed to be short. The Cullens hated him and peace between them would only maintain for so long. Especially between him and Edward. They were both possessive when it came to me and there was a ticking time bomb ready to explode and destroy between them.

"You're full of shit," I smiled down at him.

"I did miss you!" he laughed. "Why is that so hard to believe?"

"It's not hard to believe. I missed you too. Very much. However I didn't go looking for you. I didn't track you down bearing gifts to get back into your good graces. And I wouldn't ever have unless I needed you for something," I replied.

"It's endearing to see just how much I mean to you," he snarked.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. I would wait all day for him to tell the truth if that's what it took. I needed to know what his agenda was though. If it was something simple, I would help him and send him on his way. If it was something outrageous, I would need to plan and plot to get him to leave without my services. I hoped and prayed to every higher power there could possibly be that it was the former.

"Oh please. You don't even have feelings to be hurt," I said. "Tell me what you want."

"To spend some time with you. You're the only vampire I've ever trusted outside of myself. You're so different now. This coven has changed you but not unrecognizably so. You're just multi-layered now. I can still see my girl behind those golden eyes. I want to get to know you again. I want to get to know them, too," he said.

I searched his eyes and found that he was telling the truth…but only in part. There was something else he wanted but like always he was going to butter me up first. I sighed and decided to let the issue drop for the time being. I needed to explain things to Edward soon. I didn't want him thinking I was going to leave him for Lucas.

"You've really been drinking animal blood?" he asked.

I nodded my head as he looked into my eyes thoughtfully. "I want to try it," he said.

"Really?"

"It'll be an experience. I'm not saying I'll commit, but I want to see what it's like."

"It's pretty awful at first."

"I can imagine," he shrugged before his hands encircled my wrist. He sat upright so that we were face to face. He tilted his head and leaned forward coming in for a kiss. I ducked my head to avoid him and buried my face in his neck. His scent was familiar and comforting yet at the same time jarring. His scent was wonderful. He smells like autumn spices and sandalwood. The aroma is undeniably pleasant but all I can think of is how different it is from Edward's.

This was going to be the hardest part of the charade. Lucas was used to me giving him my body freely. He was used to me offering myself to him, wanting to be with him in that way. I have never ever turned him down before with the exception of earlier in the day. He pulled back to look me in the eye with knitted brows.

"What's happening," he asked.

"I'm different now."

"You don't want me?"

"No."

He nodded his head and looked away from me and out of the window. He doesn't look hurt and I know he isn't. Sex between us stemmed from passion and intense physical attraction. It was never about our emotions or anything romantic. I knew his body, what he needed, what he wanted, and what he liked. He knew all those things about me as well and that's what made our sex life as great as it was. We had complete carnal knowledge of one another.

He sighed again and fell backward to lie flat on the bed again. His hands fell away from where they rested on my hips and I got off of him. I walked toward the door but stopped before exiting.

"I'll be back later on tonight. Will you try harder to behave than you did earlier?"

He smiled and nodded his head. I left the room and went back to the living room where I knew Edward was. The space was abnormally empty. He was the only occupant as he sat at his piano playing small segments of various compositions.

"Are you angry?" I used my thoughts to ask him.

"Yes."

"Will you come take a walk with me? I'd like to explain."

He closed the lid over the keys and reached for my hand but I shook my head at him. I opened the door for him to leave out first and he did. We ran into the night silently. The tension between us was thick. He was really upset and it hurt me to know that I was the cause. We stopped way outside of Forks just a few minutes away from the Neah Bay. I could smell and feel the water on the breeze. It served to relax the both of us just a little bit.

Edward stayed silent waiting for me to lead the discussion. There was a cool and detached expression on his face that scared me. He had to know that I hadn't done anything with Lucas. He had to have heard our conversation back at the house. He'd had to hear me tell Lucas that I was different and I didn't want him in that way anymore.

"Lucas can't know that we're together. He's only here because he wants something from me. We have to keep things platonic between us until I can figure out what he wants. Most likely it's something he knows I'll say no to because he's not being upfront about it. He'll do whatever he needs to, to get what he wants including using you against me. I can't let him have that kind of leverage," I said.

"Use me against you how exactly?"

"He'll threaten to kill you and maybe even the others if he wants my help bad enough."

"I can handle myself, Bella. You're giving him too much power. I can read his mind. Any attack he tried to use against me I'd see it and combat it."

"That would only get you so far. Plus you've clued him in on your little gift so now it's useless. He'll mask his thoughts."

"People have done that before. I've never lost a fight."

"Neither has Lucas."

Edward balled his fists and turned his back on me. This conversation wasn't going at all the way I wanted it too. I was becoming scared that it would be easier to control Lucas than it would be to control Edward.

"You're giving him too much power," he snarled.

"You're not giving him enough. I understand that you hate him, baby, but put your feelings aside and think about all you know about him. Do you really think you'd be able to defeat him?"

"You think he's better than me?" Edward asked whirling around to face me again.

"Edward please!" I exclaimed rushing forward to take his hands. He wouldn't unfurl his fists though and I was forced to hold his wrists. "You're jealous but you have no reason to be. I love you. I'm not saying he's better than you. I'm saying as a fighter he's…,"

"Better than me!" Edward finished for me.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head into his chest before nodding my head. Edward stiffened and I heard the growl forming in his chest.

"It doesn't matter though, Edward. I don't care about who's a better fighter. I just want you to think about this logically. I'm going to get him to leave and no will get hurt. There won't be a fight," I said. "Carlisle has already given me permission to handle things my way. I need you to do the same."

"You want us to hide from him. You want me not to touch you or kiss you in front of him? You want me to treat you like Alice? Like Rosalie? Like my sister? Fuck that!" Edward yelled pulling himself away from viciously. "You're letting him control you just like before! Why can't we just kill him! You can help us! With your help we can kill him!"

"It doesn't have to come to that!"

"It needs to come that!"

"I don't want to hurt him, Edward!"

The words were out of my mouth before I had a chance to stop them. I heard Edward's sharp intake of breath but averted my eyes. I didn't want to see his expression. I knew it was going to be awful.

"Because you love him? Because you'd rather walk away from me than see him harmed? Because you love him more than me," Edward accused.

"NO!" I cried reaching out for Edward but he backed away from me. Hurt, rage, and betrayal marred his flawless features and tore at my heart. I could feel a lump forming in my throat but I tried to clear it because crying is the most pointless thing I could do at the moment.

"Please don't do this, Edward. Yes, I love him. I told you that. I can't help the way I feel. He was my family before you were even born. I don't want to kill him anymore than you want to kill Carlisle," I told him. "I'm in love with you, Edward. You mean the world to me. Don't you know why Lucas using you against me would mean an automatic victory for him? Don't you understand why any threat presented against you would result in my instant surrender?"

I knew that Edward wasn't going to respond so I didn't wait for his response. He was trembling under the pressure of his emotions and I needed to take his pain away.

"Because you're my mate, Edward. You're my real mate. You're my other half. You're the good to my evil. The light to darkness. We exist because and for one another. My feelings for Lucas don't compare to what I feel for you at all. I just want to keep you safe. I'm sorry that you're hurt and that I'm going to continue to hurt you but it's the only way to save your life. To save our lives. It is a necessary evil," I said.

Edward was like a statue before me. He turned so quickly that a human wouldn't have even registered the movement. The new expression on his face was confused yet insanely hopeful and dreamy. I smiled even though I knew that I wasn't quite out of the woods yet.

"What?"

"We're mates Edward," I said stepping closer to him. I was ecstatic when he didn't retreat. I closed the space between us and took his face in my hands. "Don't you feel it? The bond between us? The pull that defies gravity, nature, and reason. The sublime bliss that we feel when we're together. Our love is supernatural and all consuming. Our coupling is perfect and divine," I said.

He nodded his head as his eyes bore into mine with unfathomable emotion. He leaned his forehead against mine and smiled a luminous smile.

"We're mates. You're my mate," he said.

"Nothing can come between us. Not Lucas or any other person, animal, being, or force."

His eyes darkened at the mention of Lucas's name. His hands found my waist and his fingers dug into my skin as he pulled my hips into his. A loud moan escaped my mouth as I felt his rock hard erection pressing into me.

"You're mine," he growled bringing his lips close to mine.

"All yours," I nodded.

His lips connected to mine hungrily. He swallowed the moans that erupted from me in response and I kissed him back with equal intensity. His tongue lavished mine and he tasted so good. I wanted and needed more of him. He must have been on the same page as me because he immediately began undressing me. It took no time at all for us to both be naked. We lowered ourselves to the ground and Edward hovered over my body. He took my right nipple into his mouth and sucked hard before taking it in between his teeth. His hands simultaneously found my center and he slid a finger into me. My hips bucked against him as my breath left me rapidly.

There was a frenzied need building between us. We couldn't touch enough of one another fast enough. Edward's finger pumped inside exactly two times before he pulled it back out and rose to his knees. His body was so far from mine and I whimpered at the loss. I needed him close. I needed him inside me. He grabbed my arms, flipped and moved my body as if it was as pliable as putty. I was suddenly on all fours before him. He draped his body over mine moving my hair to the side and trailing wet kisses down my neck and back. His fingers pinched and rolled my nipples before moving down my sides to my hips. He grabbed me firmly and pulled me back as he thrust forward.

"UGH!" I screamed in raw pleasure. We'd never done it in this position before. He was deeper than ever and my legs were already beginning to shake. His face was pressed into my back as his chest heaved with his shallow breaths. We took a moment to adjust to this new and splendid feeling. When we finally did began to move he gave it his all.

Edward pushed himself into me with wild and reckless abandon. The sounds of our moaning, growling, and gasps filled the air along with the loud smack as his hips hit my ass. I wasn't going to last long. The feeling was too good. My fingers dug into the hard earth as I felt the tightening in my abdomen.

"That's right," Edward grunted. "Come for me, Bella!"

His hand moved from my hip my sensitive nub. His finger rubbed me in quick tight circles and my orgasm hit me hard. My muscles clenched inside me and around Edward but he pulled out quickly. I whimpered again at the sudden loss but his fingers took his dick's place inside me. He stroked me slowly as the waves of bliss died down.

Immediately afterward he was inside me again. His hand fisted the hair at the back of my neck and the other grabbed my arm as he made the both us rear back on our knees so that I was seated on his lap.

"Fuck Edward!" I growled through gritted teeth as he thrust up into me again. His used his tongue and teeth on the skin of my neck as my head fell back against his shoulders. His hands were all over my body; my breast, stomach, thighs, and clit. His thick cock pounded into me relentlessly, hard and fast. I reached back to fist his hair in my hands and he groaned lowly in my ear. I loved the sounds he made. I loved hearing how good I felt to him.

My other hand reached down to feel where we were joined. I was so wet and his strokes were smooth as he throbbed inside me. My eyes rolled to the back of my head as I felt myself approaching the edge again.

"You're mine, Bella," Edward whispered breathlessly in my ear before pushing my hand away from myself. His fingers found my clit again as he leaned us forth back and his cock began hitting me at a different and more delicious angle.

"Yes!" I screamed as my second climax racked through my body. Edward pulled out again and my screams of pleasure morphed into tortured whines. I wanted him inside me as I came.

Edward flipped my body yet again so that we were face. His lips crashed against mine in a fevered kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist as I kissed him back. I moved my lips from his along his jaw and down his neck. His skin tasted so good that I was so tempted to bite him. I'd never forgive myself if I marred his perfect body though.

Edward stood, carrying me with him. He leaned his back against a tree and gripped my ass in his hands. His eyes pierced through mine as he lifted my body and lowered me back down on his throbbing cock. He spread his legs for a stronger stance and placed my hands on his shoulders.

"Fuck me, Bella," he said staring into my eyes.

I used his shoulders for leverage and moved my body up and down impaling myself on him over and over. I alternated between fast and slow and bouncing and rocking on him. He bit his lower lip as his head fell back against the tree. His face was screwed up in pleasure and he was sexier than I'd ever seen him.

"Harder!" he groaned and I immediately obeyed, this time digging my nails in the tree behind him. I slammed myself on him down to the hilt hard, just like he wanted me too. My legs hugged his body tight as he began to thrust up into me, meeting me as I came down on him. He opened his golden eyes and stared into mine. We were both breathing so hard and completely lost in one another. He grabbed my hair and brought my face down to his. Despite our animalistic love making, this kiss was slow and deep. I moaned into his mouth as his hand clutched my hips.

"I'm yours, Bella," he said into my mouth. "I'm all yours."

"Oh God," I whimpered. I was so close and by the look in Edward's eyes I knew he was too. He turned so that my back was now against the tree and thrust into me deep and hard as he lifted my leg over his shoulder.

"Fuck! I'm gonna cum!" he groaned as his head fell to the valley between my breasts. He fondled my clit feverishly trying to get me where he was going.

"Yes, yes, yes!" I chanted as my walls began tightening again. "Look at me Edward, baby, please!"

The second his eyes found mine my third orgasm exploded inside me as Edward's own climax pulsed deep and hot inside me. He growled and moaned loudly as his arms hugged my body to his. My arms wrapped around his neck as his powerful orgasm made his body shudder and thrust inside me erratically. I covered his mouth with mine, kissing and swallowing his cries of pleasure.

When Edward finally put me back on my feet, I was shocked to find myself unsteady on my feet as my knees shook. Edward held on to me though. He held my body and kissed me randomly on the lips, neck, forehead, and shoulder.

"I love you so much, Bella."

"I love you too. More than anything. More than anyone."

"I know," he nodded pulling back to look into my eyes wanting me to see his sincerity.

"Then please, please trust me," I begged.

He nodded and kissed me more time, "With my life."