Hey peeps!

Here's the next instalment on this topsy turvy story! Hope you enjoy!

Before you go, please allow me to express the gratitude at your kind words and thoughts! I can't believe that this story has become so popular! So thank you sooo much for everything!

Bella came home, mumbling curses under her breath. The week had blurred past her, and it was finally Friday. Aro had spent every night with her, but she was still having those dreams of him. She used to find them pleasant, even though they had her in a state of perpetual arousal, but now since his big reveal, they got on her nerves.

It had such an annoying day at school.

Mike had been particularly trying today. He had insisted that they work together on an assignment, and he seemed quite oblivious to Bella's less than eager countenance. She preferred to do it alone, but he was deaf to her protests. Eventually she agreed, only to shut him up. She almost immediately regretted her decision as he as usual wasn't too interested in doing the work, but only wanted to chat and have fun.

The teacher tried to make him focus, but Mike's focus window was shorter than the space between his eyebrows. Bella grew increasingly annoyed and eventually berated the blond boy to within an inch of his life, and then she stormed off, finding a quiet corner where she could finish the work on her own. She felt his confused eyes on her back, and knew he would be hurt, but she didn't really care. He was so immature, and she had felt her attraction towards Aro grow exponentially.

As she sat, trying to focus, Edward and Alice were suddenly there. They sat down on either side of her, their faces serious.

"Did you see Aro?" Alice asked, even though she must have seen it.

Bella pursed her lips.

"Yes," she said. She didn't feel like talking about it just right now.

"Did he tell you about-?" Edward asked her, curiously watching her profile.

Bella felt a knot in her stomach at what Edward was alluding to. She couldn't speak, and so she simply nodded. They seemed to sense her anger, because they exchanged looks.

"what did you do to him?" Alice asked.

"I, uh, screamed at him," Bella said softly.

"You screamed at him?!" Alice asked, shocked, while Edward guffawed at the thought.

"Yeah," Bella shrugged. As far as she was concerned, he had deserved it.

Alice blinked a few times.

"That is probably the first time anyone has ever done that," she said, chuckling a little. Edward snickered.

Bella wasn't amused.

"What do you want?" She asked abruptly, far too tired to have a session of small talk with the two. Especially about her very private situation with Aro.

"We just wanted to check on you," Edward said.

"It must be a tough pill to swallow, your situation taken into consideration. You're the one stuck with him," he said, shrugging.

Bella scowled at him.

"I don't need this right now, Edward! Whatever is going on between Aro and me, is none of your business. Either of you," she added, turning her scowl towards Alice.

"You should have told me, and you didn't. I can't say how disappointed I am with you." With that, she got up and stalked off to her car. She would go home. School was over as far as she was concerned.

Charlie wasn't home. A note was taped to the fridge.

Bells! I will be gone for a few days, got a double homicide case in Mason County. Left money for you in the kettle. Dad

Bella hastily grabbed an apple, and went to her bedroom. As she was a couple of hours earlier home than expected, she had assumed Aro would be gone, so when she opened her bedroom door, she yelped in shock at seeing him standing just inside the door. Her body lurched with shock and the apple flew from her hand. Aro smoothly caught it, his eyes not even leaving her face.

Show off.

He silently handed it back to her.

"Are you alright?" He asked quietly.

Bella blew out her cheeks, not entirely certain what to say.

"I don't know," she finally said, truthfully.

"Do you wish to talk about it?" He asked her softly.

"Not really," she said, shrugging. She went to her bed, and sat down, biting into the apple savagely. Aro turned to follow her with his gaze. He closed the door, and leaned against it, crossing his arms across his chest. She watched him inconspicuously. God he was handsome. She found it hard to be angry at him and it frustrated her beyond belief. Her mind and body were on two different tracks, and the cognitive dissonance made her dizzy. She desperately wished she could go back to the time before she knew these things about him. Their shared moments were so beautiful, but now in this new light, they had lost their magic. She felt dirty somehow. He was a married man, and she had practically thrown herself at him, literally begging him to fuck her. She huffed. How desperate she must have seen.

The worst part was that she still wanted him. Her entire body seemed to hum whenever he was close, like a tuning fork, finding just the right resonance, and she felt herself gravitate towards him. Of course she knew why she felt like that, and it only served to annoy her even further. As Edward so eloquently had pointed out, she had no choice in the matter.

"Are you certain you do not wish to talk about it?" Aro asked her, sitting down beside her on the bed.

Bella shifted her gaze to him.

"Why?" She asked.

"Well, you have been scowling at that apple for a solid two minutes," he said gently.

Bella flushed.

"Please, my dear. Talk to me?" He said softly.

She considered him for a long moment.

"I want you," she said hesitantly.

"But I don't want you," she added, her eyes falling towards her hands. She was squeezing the apple in her fingers now.

"I am ridiculously attracted to you, but you are also utterly infuriating. I feel scared at what is expected of me, if I should ever go back to Italy with you. I don't want to leave this place, dreary as it is, I don't think I could leave it." She spoke as things came to mind, and she felt a little lighter as her mind was relieved of her thoughts.

"And you're a married man," she added sullenly.

"But it would seem that I don't exactly have a choice," she turned towards him as she spoke.

"This," she indicated the both of them, her index pointing at each of them in turn.

"Is not going away," she sighed.

"But you hurt me, and," she felt tears sting her eyes now.

"I'm not sure I can forgive you. And now, I have to live with that, because we are bound together."

Aro's gaze did not leave her face as he listened intently to her words, and she saw his crimson eyes grow tender as she spoke, and she knew he understood. She looked down, feeling the tears grow heavy. He slowly lifted a hand, and caught the first falling tear on his fingers.

"I understand," he said gently.

"It is a lot to be dealing with," he added.

"I cannot take away your pain, Isabella. I am the one who caused it. As of you coming back to Italy with me, do not worry. I can wait for as long as you need. I am sorry that I pushed you on the matter. I was selfish, not seeing your needs as well. I only wanted you to come back, because I… have a hard time doing this without the counsel of my Brothers. Especially Marcus has helped me see my errors," Aro's voice was soft and delicate as he spoke.

He cupped her cheek, looking into her deep eyes.

"He who dares not grasp the thorn, should never crave the rose." The words were whispered, his cold breath tickling her face. Bella frowned at the sentence. It was familiar to her.

"I have been such a coward," he said quietly.

"I see that now." He wiped another tear from her cheek as it rolled down towards his thumb.

"I am truly sorry, carissima," He added.

She looked into his eyes, sensing the truth in his words. They stared at each other for a long moment. The air between them seemed to solidify. She felt his cold touch as he cupped her jaw. Instinctively her eyes fell to his lips. Sensing her need, he ever so slowly bent down, carefully placing his lips on hers. The kiss was soft, tender. He pulled back after a couple of seconds, trying to see what she wanted. The apple rolled from between her fingers as she placed her hands on his arms, trying to pull him close again, whimpering softly for more.

*Hides beneath table*

Sooo, another day another far too short chapter. Please don't hate me too much! I am working on the big one, and it shall be up as soon as I can! I promise! Hold tight!

-Pancakes