DISCLAIMER: THE STORY DOESN'T BELONG TO ME; THE CHARACTERS ARE PROPERTY OF S. MEYER AND THE PLOT BELONGS TO DANNYSK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SHARE YOUR STORY IN ENGLISH!

¡GRACIAS DANNY, POR DARME ESTA OPORTUNIDAD!

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Edward slept the rest of the afternoon, luckily for her.

The silence that floated between them after his question, made the awkwardness between them grow and the brunette better chose to leave him alone in the bathroom. He seemed stunned, he wanted to tell her something clearly, but she couldn't bear to wait, maybe she should have pressed him, but she was still afraid to hear the answer and that had her still sunk in a sea of doubts. She urgently needed to collect herself so as not to fall under the spell of his gaze or his words, she even almost went crazy with just a smile from him to the level of not being able to trust herself. The closer she let him get, the deeper she dug the bottom of her grave. She reminded herself again that what Edward felt for her was only physical, allowing herself to believe his words, allowing herself to be carried away by a future where he loved her, and the children was so tempting it hurt.

She sighed as she finished arranging the groceries in the deserted pantry. The heavy blizzard announced again that it was hailing, for God's sake, it was terrible. Lighting the wood heater, Bella told herself that she couldn't count on Edward, she only had herself and she was strong and independent enough to make it on her own, with the children. Because she could never again believe in the man who had taken her heart so many years ago and destroyed it, even if he hadn't done it on purpose but as a consequence of irreparable loss. Her mobile phone vibrated on the table, startling her, and as she picked it up and saw Jasper's name, she sighed. He was charming, a great conversationalist and friend, handsome and attentive, but as she watched the screen flicker, she thought there was no way she could ever trust anyone enough to love again. She partly understood why Edward couldn't do it.

"Are you and the children really alright?" The brunette nibbled her lip, telling Jasper exactly where she was, would be like shouting at him that she hated him.

"Yes, everything is fine, thank you for your concern."

"I'm staying at a small hotel on the edge of town, it has heating, instant food and a power plant in case the power goes out, I even think there's an area for the twins, they'd have fun."

The young woman smiled at his attentions, and how tempting it sounded to be with the children in a place where there was play and... light, she thought, looking at the kitchen illuminated only by the lantern at her side.

"Why didn't I think of going to a hotel before?" Jasper laughed.

"That's what you get for being a city girl, the prettiest one I've ever seen in this town, by the way." He joked. Jasper loved to point out that Forks was a town, he'd moved back a couple of years ago to take care of his sick dad, and when he passed away, he stayed mostly because he loved the quietness of the place.

"I'm sure you haven't looked properly, what about Alice?"

"She's just a friend, the only one I'm interested in inviting to spend a storm by my side is you." She blushed at his flattery as she laughed but froze when she glanced towards the door and met an almost lethal green gaze, Edward was watching her, leaning against the door frame. "Anyway, if you need anything I'll be there in a matter of minutes, of course, snow permitting."

"Thank you very much... I'll... I'll keep you posted. I'll see you." She hung up nervously, leaving the mobile phone on the table almost as if it were an evil device, and then, annoyed by his reaction, sighed, turning back to the heater faking dementia. "I was thinking of making us something hot for dinner, can you bring the torch closer?"

Edward looked better except for the occasional throat clearing, his silence filling the place almost as much as his imposing body.

"I'll put candles all over the kitchen and living room, we need to save the lantern batteries as much as we can."

"Sure, good idea," she muttered, hating the tremor in her voice.

Edward was watching her. Every time he went back to the kitchen to light a candle, or fetch another, his beautiful eyes found her. Without meaning to, Bella dropped a bowl, spilled some of the food she was cooking on the floor, and dropped a hot spoon on her foot, all because of those hateful intense stares. How was she supposed to concentrate and not be a disastrous idiot with him staring at her like that?

"Will you make beef stew? I'd love that." He was sitting right behind her, and it stole another shiver. The fact that he wasn't mentioning anything about the call had her incredibly worse.

"I brought groceries, but don't exaggerate," she murmured, trying to lighten the mood. Besides, I didn't even know you liked it.

"It's actually my favourite."

"Of course, and since I'm here to satisfy all your desires..." she rolled her eyes.

"Not all of them," he murmured in that husky voice that could make her skin crawl. Isabella sighed in denial, making him laugh, that strange sound she'd rarely heard. "I'm teasing you, sweetheart."

"I see," she replied as she chopped a couple of vegetables, ignoring that affectionate nickname he'd been addressing her with lately. "Chicken broth is the closest thing to something hot; do you like it?"

"Of course."

And then he stood watching her again in silence, with such thoroughness that she had to restrain herself from checking the state of her hair, but who cares? She was even wearing his sweatshirt... Wearing one of his clothes wasn't something she'd considered in the last few days either, but since the world seemed to have gone mad, the brunette had been left with no choice but to reluctantly accept it while her clothes were slowly drying as there was no power for the dryer. And even though everything was a mess, she just continued cooking and remained as calm as he was.

"A while ago in the shower... I didn't mean to be an idiot." He ran a hand through his hair. "You know I adore you." Isabella tensed, nearly cutting one of her fingers.

"It's okay," she commented, unable to hold back a sigh.

That wasn't good enough for her anymore, that wasn't what she wanted to hear, why go back to someone who refused to give his all? She loved him; she didn't beat around the bush with "I adore you". For the love of all that was holy, they were married, had known each other for years, a couple of beautiful children... but if he still couldn't fully accept his feelings, then he never would, and she wasn't ready to fly anymore, knowing how severe the fall would be. Edward tensed at her response; she could see it out of the corner of her eye.

"Bella, really, I..."

"You don't have to say anything you don't mean, Edward. There's no point." He was silent long enough for the brunette to feel nervous.

"There's no point because you're already seeing someone else?" Again, the brunette tensed.

"I'm not dating someone... like that. Not until you sign the divorce."

For a long moment he looked at her as if she were a big jigsaw puzzle and he was trying to fit the pieces together. She wished him luck because she'd never been able to do that herself. She had always done things she didn't even understand, until much later, like the mistake of having accepted a loveless marriage and lived in hope for years.

"Don't you want a glass of whisky?" Isabella frowned at the change of subject, then looked away, annoyed with herself as she stared longer than necessary at his handsome face.

"You shouldn't take that with analgesics."

"It'll just be a drink, to warm me up somehow. The fire in the fireplace is all very nice, but I'd appreciate the warmth of the heater more." Bella smiled involuntarily before rolling her eyes. "I can't wait for the power to come back on."

"You're so whiny." His green eyes sparkled with amusement.

"I just like to be comfy. I'll get you some."

Thank you so much for all your support, for all your theories and for commenting, do you think Edward will finally start talking? If he doesn't, Jasper will definitely walk all over him, how do you see it?

PS Marymary123: Don't worry, the Irina theme will be talked ;)