A/N: Thank you to everyone that reviewed last chapter. We didn't break any review records – the two chapters I offered future teasers for are still winning. I'd love to see this story hit 5K reviews before it ends though, so I would appreciate your reviews again.

The Fandom Gives Back fund raiser will be doing author auctions and I have signed up for TEN (10) bidder-requested oneshots, 5k words in length. They will be selling for $50.00 each and I will post again once it is closer to the auction date in mid-November hopefully with a link and more information. Also, I've been tweeting about it often, so it might be a good idea to follow me on Twitter. If you think you might want to buy one, perhaps start thinking about what you'd like me to write? You're always welcome to tweet, gchat, email or send me a PM.

I loved all of the feedback from the last chapter, and especially the contrast of people who saw the signs coming about Bella and law school, and those who said I hit them out of left field with it ;) LOVE that you guys were so split.

Thank you to skyeblue0610, who very politely pointed out a consistency error in the last chapter.

Thanks to TwilightMundi, who I thoroughly confused with some positions this chapter. It made for some much needed giggles, though. Thank you, as always, TM.

I have no idea if this is truly how U of C does residency lotteries, but I do know it is accurate for how one med school out there does :)

All copyright and trademarked items mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. The remaining content is all mine. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without my express written authorization.

His nails were lightly scratching up and down my back and I nearly began to purr at the sensation. I fell asleep lying on top of him and slept the best I had since we'd been back in Chicago.

I woke up refreshed, still uncertain about what I wanted to do with my life ahead of me, but happy. It was the first time in weeks I woke up before Edward, and I made us breakfast. It was just eggs, toast, and coffee, but it was more than I'd eaten for breakfast in awhile. I brought it to bed on a tray and we began to eat together, when I had a thought. I leaned across the nightstand to grab my cell phone. When it began to ring, I pressed the speaker button and set it back down.

Jasper picked up and there was silence for a minute, then he let out a soft groan and I could hear the sheets rustle.

"It's early, baby, is everything okay?" he said, his voice scratchy from lack of use.

I smiled automatically, my heart swelling at the sound of his early-morning voice.

"Yeah, Jasper, I just thought we could have breakfast together. I'm going to go get our laptop, you get yours, okay?"

He hummed in agreement and I heard more rustling on his end as I carefully climbed off the bed. Once we had the webcams functional, I snuggled next to Edward and looked carefully at the screen.

"Jasper?" I spoke his name slowly.

Watching him move as he lifted his head to meet my eyes, I felt the tears begin to pool in my eyes.

"Hm?"

"Jasper," I whispered. I took an extra minute to scan over his face again, needing to be sure what I was seeing was accurate. Even through the grainy quality of the webcam, I could see it plain as day. "Jasper, you look awful." The tears began to fall of their own accord. "Are you eating, or sleeping?"

My hand reached out, tracing the dark circles beneath his eyes. I wanted so desperately to run my fingers through his hair, even though it had taken on a disheveled quality I'd only ever seen in Edward's before. It was longer than normal, untamable and out of control. This wasn't the well-groomed, well-cared-for Jasper I'd known over the last year.

"You're watching me eat right now, aren't you?"

His words were slightly hard as he spoke them, and it surprised me. Out of what I hoped was the camera's view, I grabbed Edward's hand and squeezed. I was begging him silently, praying he'd speak up or offer some guidance or interference about how to handle Jasper, having a lifetime more experience with him than I did.

Edward cleared his throat before speaking, then used a very soft and light voice. "Jasper, Bella's just worried about you, love. I am too; she has a point. The delivery could have been different, but she had good intentions."

There was a lot of awkward silence as we ate. My hand stayed inside Edward's as we ate one-handed. I kept stealing glances at Jasper, watching his too-thin stubble-covered jaw move. My tears had slowed. I was able to mostly hide them, but they had not stopped at the heartache of seeing him, and realizing he was just as affected as we were. Maybe more. I didn't think that would be possible, but the evidence was staring back at me.

I sipped my coffee, leaning back against the pillows. My eyes hadn't left the screen as I watched Jasper spoon the last of his oatmeal into his mouth. Licking the corner of my own mouth reflexively when I noticed the milk pooled there on Jasper's (he always put milk in his oatmeal), I finished with a sigh.

"You're not really going to spend the first video chat we've done angry with me, are you Jasper?"

His head lowered and looked at … something, I wasn't quite sure what. It was then that I noticed he was sitting at a desk, not cozy in bed like we were. I wondered if Edward and I were flaunting that we had each other, snuggled so closely together on the bed.

"No," he said, blowing out a huge breath with the word. "I'm sorry."

He didn't expand or clarify, just looked up at us and I could see the hurt in his eyes again.

"When can you visit, baby?" I asked.

"I don't know. That's part of the problem. This coach, he's a very nice guy, but he has way higher expectations than before. I've been practicing harder, longer, more intensely than I did in Chicago. It's good, don't get me wrong, just an adjustment. I miss you two so much, and I want to be there every night. I didn't expect it to be this hard for me." His voice softened as he spoke, the volume and pitch lowering toward the end.

"Have you submitted your match choices yet, Edward?" he asked.

"Yep, last week. Are you going to be able to come for Match Day?"

"When is it?"

Edward grabbed his phone and gave the date to Jasper, who said he would look into it. We each had responsibilities to deal with, but it was nice to reconnect for a few brief moments. Despite the fact that it was tension-laced, I was glad to have seen Jasper. It reassured me, even if it raised other red flags.

I paid more attention to his email and texts from then on, making sure to stop and take part of each day for Jasper and Edward. If we couldn't be together physically, we had to work to keep our emotional connection. It wasn't ideal, sending each other email and texts, but Edward and I were both so wrapped up in our studies, I wondered if we'd even have interacted with Jasper more if he'd been around or if we were making a greater effort because of his absence.

Alice and I spoke every day like clockwork – the only time we missed a day was when Avery was sick and she had to get some sleep between shifts at the hospital. We still texted that day, but I laughed at how different it felt to go a full 24-hours without speaking to her. Alice had helped with the wedding location, planning ideas, and general reassurance that we'd be fine. I knew Jasper had been talking to Emmett more and more, and even Edward was texting him now and then, I found out.

Esme was calling me much more frequently as well, giving me updates on Carlisle's ordination and just chit chatting. I had asked her if Carlisle getting ordained was even necessary, but she just laughed, saying I certainly didn't know Carlisle well enough if I thought he was going to do anything less than the most official thing he could do. It was really wonderful to have an older female perspective. I was talking to Sue fairly regularly, but it wasn't the same. I felt like anything I told Sue would inevitably get back to Charlie, so some topics still felt mostly off-limits.

Although Edward and I stayed close emotionally, the physical component of our relationship remained strained. Finally, I was at a breaking point and practically attacked him when he came home from rounds one Sunday afternoon. I was stressed about school, life, the wedding, buying a house... There were too many things buzzing in my brain and I needed a pleasurable distraction. I had spent the morning using the spa gift certificate the boys gave me, being pampered and relaxing.

By the time I got back to the apartment, I was in a bubble of bliss. I changed into some sexy lingerie and waited at the kitchen table. When Edward walked in and saw me, he dropped everything in his arms, shed his heavy winter jacket, and walked slowly to me. With each step, I felt his eyes on a different part of my body, visual caresses for my deprived skin.

"Bella, I promised Jasper that I'd call him when things got back to normal. He sort of made me promise to..." Edward clearly struggled for words, a mischievous grin on his face. He bent and got down in his knees, spreading my legs and resting between them. "He made me promise to call so he could listen."

Fuuuck.

"You better get out your phone then, baby. I'm not sure how much longer I can wait."

I tugged on his shoulders and brought his mouth to mine. His hands were frantically patting down his pockets, no doubt looking for the phone he needed. I could hear the faint ringing of Jasper's phone through Edward's and laughed as Edward began to speak against my lips. I lowered my head to his shoulder as he and Jasper spoke quietly. Edward put Jasper on speakerphone, then set the life-saving gadget on the table.

Edward described what I was wearing and hearing his words turned me on more than ever. The way my bra, panties, and garter belt had affected him was obvious, but what struck me most was the way he would sprinkle in little comments about parts of my body I never even thought about. He kissed the mole on the inside of my thigh, at Jasper's request. The scar at my elbow received the same attention. Jasper hummed lightly and Edward continued his worship of my body, his mouth moving from my elbow to my wrist, then my palm as he kissed each of my fingers.

Edward rose up on his knees, unhooking the clasp of my bra and letting it rest on my body. His fingers dipped inside the lace-trimmed cups, teasing me gently before he rested on his haunches again. His lips went to my ankles, placing soft kisses up one leg, then back down the other, his hands never leaving my skin. I was sure I was panting like an idiot, but the way he was touching me, the soft words he was using, and knowing Jasper was right there listening and somehow slightly participating was perfect.

Now and then, I'd hear fabric shift and rustle, and I wondered where Jasper was, what he was doing. Edward's mouth moved between my legs and all rational thought left, replaced with undiluted need. As he placed hot, wet kisses on the outside of my black satin panties, I unconsciously slid down the chair to give him more access.

"I don't want to rip these, but they have to come off right now," Edward said, looking up at me.

I lifted my hips, allowing him to slide the panties down a bit, then off my body. I made a move to take the garter and stockings off, but he stopped me. His long, delicious fingers carefully undid the clasps connecting the garters to the stockings, removing the stockings with the precision of a surgeon, and I giggled to myself at the thought.

Reaching to the back of my garter, he undid the clasp on the material, removing the last item of clothing on my body. He quickly removed his own clothing and I took the break to ask Jasper what he was wearing. When he replied with "nothing," I groaned at the thought of him naked, slowly stroking himself.

Making love with Edward while Jasper listened felt both reassuring and completely dirty (in a good way) at the same time. As we lay exhausted on the ground, I realized our first separation was nothing like this one. Sure, we thought we were in love then, but it was nowhere near this level of depth and permanence.

Having Jasper on the phone ameliorated some of my guilt. We all talked and realized that none of us had been doing much to take care of our sexual frustration, essentially going from some form of intimacy on a near-daily basis to nothing at all for several months.

~-~

Jasper's schedule continued to be as insane as ours. We were expecting to see him on Match Day in late March, so I was completely shocked when I came back from the university library and smelled him in the apartment. It sounds strange, but I smelled him before I saw him, before I saw his bag, before my brain had confirmation of his presence. My heart sped and I began to search the apartment for him, calling his name. It was late in the day, so I wondered if he'd gone to grab a bite to eat. I went into the bedroom to see if maybe he was taking a nap, and found clothes laid out on the bed – a complete outfit for me, and a complete outfit for Edward. There was a note attached with instructions and I did some mental math and realized I had enough time to take a shower.

I turned the water on in the bathroom, then grabbed my cell phone to call Edward. There had been specific instructions in the note not to bother calling or texting Jasper, that the evening was a surprise. Just as Edward's phone began to ring, the front door opened and he was walking in. I could barely speak, hopping around excitedly and just behaving like a general spaz. Leading Edward to the bedroom, I showed him the note, then wandered away to shower.

I wasn't surprised when he joined me, but I was glad. We went quickly, both of us excited to see Jasper again. I don't think I stopped talking the entire time we were in the shower, wondering out loud about what Jazz had planned for us.

We toweled each other off, then got dressed together. I smiled at Edward; Jasper had picked out a very nice suit for him, a crisp button-up shirt and a striking tie to match. My own outfit was a soft, silky dress and lingerie that made me want to spend the whole night inside.

After I finished doing my hair and was rummaging through my make-up, I heard the door to the apartment open. Edward had been sitting next to me, telling me about how nervous he was for Match Day the following month, so I knew it wasn't him. Edward and I both ran out of the bathroom and were greeted by Jasper, dressed equally as handsomely as Edward. He had two dozen roses in his hands and a mouth-watering smile on his face.

Of course, Edward and I attacked him in greeting. We each took the flower bundles and set them on the table, then pulled our bodies together. I was glad I hadn't yet done my make-up, as there was no way I could have held myself together seeing him.

"Oh, fuck," I whispered into his neck, kissing and nuzzling him on my side. I could feel Edward doing the same on the other side, and I felt whole again, for the first time in two months. "God, I missed you so much. So fucking much."

Barely able to hold myself up under the weight of the outpouring emotion, I wrapped one arm around each of their necks and rested against them. The thought that Jasper was only with us temporarily flittered through my mind, but I pushed it down, wanting only to enjoy the time I had. Mourning his loss prematurely would simply rob us of our happiness in the moment, I decided.

"Happy Valentine's Day, baby," Jasper said to both of us. Was it Valentine's Day? Our foreheads were pressed together, lips never parting each others' for more than a few seconds. The world fell away in those precious few minutes and nothing existed but the three of us, wrapped in each other.

Once we were all composed again, Jasper told us we had plans for the entire evening, winking at each of us at the end of the sentence. He reassured Edward that he knew he'd need to leave for rounds and such the next morning, but that we had all of Friday night and Saturday together, his flight to Seattle leaving early Sunday.

It was still cold – freezing, really – we bundled up before leaving the apartment. We stopped at the door at the realization this was the first time the three of us had been around to necessitate our leaving ritual. We were so much more affectionate than normal, kissing, nuzzling and, I'm not gonna lie, groping a bit. The best part, however, was the verbal reaffirmation of our love for each other and watching the look in each of our eyes as we spoke. It made my heart skip a beat, thinking about having the two of them with me at the end of a beautiful aisle, joining our lives together.

We made our way, at Jasper's direction, to a beautiful restaurant downtown. As we sat, holding hands beneath the table, we talked and caught up. It was strange, we spoke every single day, but nothing took the place of these in-person conversations. We ate, exchanging bites and kisses, sharing a bottle of wine together. Edward and I had been so wrapped up in schoolwork and studying that we had both forgotten it was Valentine's Day. Jasper sheepishly admitted he might have forgotten as well, had it not been for Alice encouraging him to visit us.

After dinner, we went to several of our favorite places around the city, some by taxi, some by foot. I don't think more than an inch separated the three of us the whole night, all of us eager to maintain our physical connection as long as possible. We were sitting silently on a bench at the Pier, when Edward spoke.

"It feels like we're always saying goodbye to cities together," he said, slightly wistfully. "Hopefully this is the last time."

Jasper and I agreed and we talked a bit more about the wedding and housing in Seattle. Jasper talked about his time with the soccer team and how he was adjusting. Alice was helping him more than even she had let on, and I was grateful for that. Some small part of me was resentful that she could be there for him during a time when I couldn't, but I quickly realized that train of thought would get me nowhere. How would I feel of Jasper resented Edward the same way? Instead, I realized I needed to do something nice for Alice to thank her for everything she'd done for us.

Finally, it was time for us to go back to the apartment. I don't think the three of us had ever been so eager to be alone, not even the first night we all reconnected. I expected it to be a quick, rushed rejoining of our bodies, but Edward gave me a smile as we undressed that spoke otherwise.

Jasper tugged at my dress, one hand lifting the hem, the other already inside Edward's pants, and I laughed. Edward removed his shirt, then pants, and I pulled my dress over my own head, tossing it to the side, then we began to undress Jasper together. His hands covered mine and tried to help, but I shooed him away.

"Let us love you," I whispered. I took each of them by the hand, and we walked back to the bedroom.

He did let us, the first time. Edward laid on the bed, the two of them touching and pleasuring each other. I watched for a moment, temporarily mesmerized by their beauty. Not just the physical beauty of them together, but the sweetness and tenderness they couldn't possibly have hidden even if they tried.

Edward's lips moved at Jasper's ear. Jasper turned so his back was against Edward's chest, facing me. Edward's long arm reached to the bedside table and grabbed the bottle of lube from the drawer. As Edward touched himself, slicking his thick length with the viscous fluid, his other hand was wrapped around Jasper's cock. Jasper's head was tilted back, resting on the pillow next to Edward's and I could hear them talking softly. Catching my eyes with his, Edward winked and nodded, motioning me over to join them.

I shook my head, my turn for the mischievous smile, then explained, "I want to watch you two. Just for a minute, trust me, I can't take much longer than that, but let me see you. I want to watch as you enter him."

Jasper's hips flexed up at my words, a loud groan coming from his mouth. Edward's hand disappeared and moments later, Jasper's legs shifted wider, moving to the outside of Edward's. From where I was leaning against the wall near the end of the bed, I had the perfect view as Edward teased and prepared Jasper. By the time he entered him, I was ready to beg for it.

Sure, I'd seen porn, but nothing could turn me on like this. Nothing could make me feel this way. Nothing could combine the raw sexuality of these two men together, knowing they wouldn't be pleased until I had joined them.

One last pause for a final mental picture to store away for later use was all I needed, and I walked casually to the bed. My hands trailed up Jasper's legs, then body, as I climbed on top of him. I could see from Edward's face that he was already straining to not let go and have his orgasm. When my body weight added slightly to their joining, pressing Jasper farther onto Edward, they both grunted. I sank down onto Jasper, feet flat on the bed so I could support most of my weight, and began to move. Jasper's hands were everywhere on my body and although he came first, my own climax was right behind his.

The three of us had been so intensely quiet, the only sound in the room was each of us breathing and the moans and groans forced out of us from pleasure.

We huddled together, a warm mass, and I fell asleep quickly. Sometime in the thick of the night, we were awake again, each of us moving on instinct. Jasper was more rough, needy, and faster, the second time. Had I not woken up deliciously sore the next morning, I might have thought I dreamed the entire thing.

Edward woke up before us, leaving to get his early morning rounds completed and come back. Before he returned, I got up and started the coffee pot, knowing we'd all need extra help to stay awake. I brought Jasper a mug and slipped back into bed beside him, kissing him awake.

As we laid there together, I realized that there was a shift that happened when the three of us were in geographic proximity to each other. Whenever Edward had been out of town interviewing, I felt the same hesitation and guilt as when Jasper had moved, just to a lesser degree since it was a shorter separation. Now that we were all in the same place again, the tinge of guilt was gone, even though Edward was at work. I knew it had nothing to do with the depth of my love for either of them, but it was a curious thing to think about and consider. Hopefully we wouldn't have to experience it much in the future.

We sat up and talked about our day and plans, which consisted of nothing beyond the walls of our apartment.

"Will Edward be home soon?" Jasper asked, unfamiliar with the routine and schedule that had changed in his absence.

"Yeah," I said, checking the clock. "About an hour."

"He told me what you two talked about, B. About you being a lawyer. Do you want to talk about it?"

I suddenly felt guilty. I hadn't wanted to burden Jasper with my insecurities while he was dealing with so much on his own in Seattle.

"Not really."

Jasper turned my face so that I was looking at him and kissed me slowly. It was the kind of kiss I'd grown accustomed to from both of them, actually: slow, soft, somehow so very good at conveying just how much they loved and needed me. When either of them kissed me like that, my entire body felt like it was on fire, desire bubbling up to the surface of my skin.

He broke the kiss but kept our heads close to each other, bodies mirroring our behavior, twining around each other.

"Baby, Edward's known his whole life he wanted to be a doctor. Well, except for that short stint of time he was convinced he could be a superhero," he said, laughing. "Me? I've always excelled at sports, soccer specifically, so it just seemed natural for me. For you? Watching you blossom, bloom like a flower before our very eyes, has been a privilege. I don't know if you're meant to be a lawyer, Bella, only you know what's in your heart, but I do know that seeing you go through these life-altering events and come out the other side? It's fucking beautiful. Watching you make decisions and choices and seeing how the three of us navigate our lives together?" His body pressed against mine, his growing desire becoming obvious, as he spoke. "There is nothing sexier. The you from a year ago doesn't even hold a candle to the you today."

Touching and rubbing me, he continued to whisper in my ear, telling me the ways I'd grown and changed. Reminding me of the unsure girl I'd been then, the voluptuous woman I'd turned into. He was right – I'd had no idea how sexy I could be when I ran into them that day in the airport. His words, his touches, everything he was doing was fanning the flames.

Neither of us had bothered to get dressed after our night, and as he gently guided me onto my back, I felt myself ache. The conflict of the soreness from the activities the night before fought with the wetness between my legs and Jasper's hands already teasing and coaxing my body to orgasm. He tugged my legs and I shifted lower on the bed as he moved slowly around my body. His hands touched my face, my hair. They slipped down my arms, up my sides, over my breasts. As my nipples ached to be touched, he circled feather-light touches around them, never quite touching them as I wanted, teasing me perfectly.

I was shocked when I heard the bedside table open and my head turned. I saw Edward standing there, naked again, obviously home from his hospital work. Jasper hadn't stopped what he was doing and I couldn't help the look of lust and wanton need I was likely giving Edward. My mouth was pursed and I was vaguely aware of noise coming out of it as Jasper's hands continued to tease my body, much lower than he had been.

There was a slight shift in our positioning after Edward moved behind Jasper, and I grabbed a pillow to prop up my head. I heard Jasper let out a sharp noise as Edward's hands moved around his hips, pulling him closer. Jasper was kneeling on the edge of the bed and as Edward began to thrust into him, he smiled at me and lowered his mouth to my pussy. Each time Edward pressed forward, Jasper was pushed harder against my body. His fingers joined his mouth, and I came undone quickly. My hips pressed up into him and he lapped at me greedily.

Never had I been so glad to be a woman, as they continued moving together and Jasper gave me just enough respite to catch my breath before licking and sucking at me again. His noises vibrated against my body and I saw Edward's hand curl around to stroke him. I knew their orgasms could not be far off, and felt my own climax grip my body again. As I came down, everything felt so sensitive, so heightened, I almost begged Jasper to stop touching me. Thankfully, I saw Edward moving and assumed they had both come as well as Edward walked to the bathroom to deal with the condom. I laid, limp and spent in the middle of the bed as Jasper crawled up and curled around me, then Edward did the same on the other side.

I woke up some time later, alone. I could hear Jasper and Edward talking in the kitchen. It sounded like they were debating what to order for lunch, so I just laid and relaxed, enjoying the warmth of the bed. The rest of the day was spent pretty much repeating our morning. Obviously, the boys were already well spent, but we touched and loved each other as much as we physically could over the last 24 hours of Jasper's visit.

We parted much the same we had the first time, in reverse. Jasper asked that we simply drop him off and say goodbye at the curb, saying it would make things easier, so we respected that. I cried the entire train ride back to the apartment, but it felt somehow different and easier the second time. We were closer to our end goal.

As the weeks passed, Edward and I fell into a comfortable routine. I knew Match Day was coming, the excitement and worry palpable in the air around Edward. We'd been intimate a few times since Jasper went back to Seattle, but it wasn't the same.

Jasper and I had planned a surprise for Edward, telling him that Jasper couldn't make it back for Match Day. Edward explained that it was a huge deal – he promised there would be lots of alcohol involved, followed by drunken debauchery. I was excited, I confess. Jasper was going to fly in and meet us at the location the matches were announced, and I couldn't wait to see Edward's face.

I took extra time getting ready, having bought a new casual, comfortable jersey knit wrap dress for the night. As I slipped into my heels, I thought about how much closer we were. One more step, one more month, one more moment.

Jasper took me completely by surprise, showing up at the apartment as I was leaving. After a quick greeting, we got on the train and made our way down to the place we were meeting Edward. We had agreed not to hold hands or be affectionate, not wanting things to be potentially complicated for Edward around his colleagues.

When we got to the bar, they had a complicated lottery system of announcing matches, calling people up to the stage and telling them their match choice. Edward would know before we did, and we'd have to wait to find out where he matched, until he could make his way down to us. The waiting was excruciating, watching him be called, find out, and then walk away. His face seemed to say he'd gotten in to Children's Primary, but we hadn't worked out a foolproof way for him to convey the information to us – not to mention, he was entirely shocked when he scanned the packed crowd and spotted Jasper with me. Was he just happy to see J, or was it the residency?

Finally, several minutes and alcoholic beverages later, he found us in the crowd. My heart leapt into my throat and more tears sprang to my eyes as we each hugged him, praying we just looked like friends to all the outsiders there.

The thudding in my chest was becoming more and more distinct as I waited for him to say the magic words I desperately needed to hear. Jasper and I looked at him expectantly, each of us seeming to vibrate in place with anxiety, when his face softened into an easy smile.

"Three more months, and we get to go home."

A/N2: People sent a lot of concerned words in reply to the last chapter; yes, this story is almost at its natural end. However – there will be a sequel. There are too many other milestones I want to carry this trio through, and I just cannot imagine not writing them and/or trying to rush through them in a series of outtakes/oneshots.