A/N: Welcome back, awesome readers!

Thanks and Edward licks to my awesome preaders, Keye, Sandy, and Aleea, for their invaluable feedback and friendship.

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Chapter 22

~Shelter~

What feeling is so nice as a child's hand in yours?

So small, so soft and warm, like a kitten

huddling in the shelter of your clasp.

~ Marjorie Holmes

By the time Carlisle and I come upstairs, Esme has Sue and Seth settled on the couch in the living room. Billy Black's wheelchair is positioned next to the love seat. He glances up at me appraisingly, but his mind isn't easily read like the last time we met.

Carlisle, ever the diplomat, makes the rounds, asking after family and making small talk.

"I'll get Isabella and Hannah," I say as I leave the room.

Rose's fingers hit a sour note when I announce our company. Isabella seems both excited and nervous. Hannah looks up at me with big brown eyes full of trust, and I kneel before her.

"Listen, princess, there are some people we'd like you to meet. Would that be all right?"

"Okay." Hannah hops off the piano bench and places her hand in mine.

"Isabella?"

When we enter the room with my girls each holding one of my hands, the conversation stops and all heads turn our way, but it's Billy Black I'm interested in. He has the ear of the elders on the Res, a lot of influence over the Quileutes. His keen brown eyes take us in, and he focuses on Hannah's hand, which rests easily in mine.

"Hmph," is all he says. His mind is still guarded, so I'm not sure what he means by this noncommittal mutter.

Carlisle smiles in an effort to keep things pleasant. "Hannah, I'd like you to meet your grandmother and Uncle Seth." He gestures to Sue and Seth then faces Billy. "And this is Mr. Black from the Reservation, where some of your family lives."

Hannah looks around the room, and then she steps in front of me and raises both arms in the air. "Edwood, hold Nana?"

Without hesitation, I scoop her up and rest her on my right hip. This allows her a clear view of those in the room from a safe perch. I can understand a little one feeling a bit overwhelmed in a room full of strangers. I also realize for the first time that her mind is as silent to me as Isabella's. Not surprising.

Again, my eyes stray to Billy Black, sensing winning him over is somehow key here. He watches me just as closely.

"Hello, Hannah. I'm your grandma—Isabella's mother," Sue greets from where she sits on the couch.

"Hey, Hannah!" Seth smiles brightly and waves. "I'm your Uncle Seth."

"Hi, Gamma and Unco Seth," Hannah says shyly and rests her head on my shoulder.

Isabella lets go of my hand and comes to stand in front of me with her hand on Hannah's cheek. "Baby, Mama's sick right now, so while I'm trying to get well, your grandma offered to let you live with her and Uncle Seth. Would that be okay?"

"Edwood, put Nana down?" Hannah whispers in my ear, and I set her down.

The moment she leaves my arms, I feel bereft and wonder how I'm going to handle having her live somewhere I can't go. Billy gazes at me with great interest, and I feel almost as though he can read my mind.

Hannah wanders over to stand before Seth, looking into his eyes for a moment before moving in front of Sue. She grasps Seth's left hand and caresses Sue's cheek, her delicate lids fluttering shut. There's a pregnant silence in the room, as everyone waits for her reaction. She abruptly pulls her hands back, and says, "Okay. Nana go with Gamma and Unco Seth." She walks over to Billy and grabs his hand. "Nana has to see Mama and Edwood a lot."

Billy looks down at Hannah with a small smile, a mixture of awe and affection on his craggy features. "That's a deal, little lady."

The same thought races through all the minds in the room: how did Hannah know Billy would have any influence over how often we can see her?

The spell is broken as the front door opens and Alice enters with an armful of Hannah's belongings. "Seth, do you think you can help me load the car?"

"Sure, no problem." Seth follows Alice outside.

Hannah returns to me, holding her arms up. Once she's back in my arms, she rests her warm little palm on my cheek. "Don't worry, Edwood. Nana always yours."

"I know, princess." I kiss the top of her head, inhaling the sweet, innocent scent of baby shampoo, a smell I'm growing to love. A sickening pang shoots through my chest as I hand her off to Isabella to say goodbye.

Isabella hugs Hannah tight, a few tears slipping down her cheeks. "Mama loves you so much, baby. I'm going to try my best to get better soon. You might have to stay with your grandma for quite a while, though. I'll come see you all the time, and you can come here to visit me and Edward, okay?"

"Don't cry, Mama. I love you." Hannah kisses Isabella's cheek, her chubby little fingers tangling in her hair.

Alice and Seth return, announcing all of Hannah's things have been loaded into the car. After a tearful goodbye, Sue, Seth, and Hannah leave. Rose is nowhere to be seen, Alice has slipped away, and Carlisle and Esme offer their goodbyes to Billy. Which leaves me and Isabella alone with him as an awkward silence descends over the room.

"Isabella, your little girl is just precious." Billy speaks first, an offering of sorts.

"Thank you, Uncle Billy. This is so hard for us, but I'm glad if she can't stay with me she'll be on the Res."

"Yeah, about that." Billy's eyes meet mine. "Edward, I sense how uncomfortable it is for you to let that child go—to have her live on the Res where you can't reach her."

"Extremely difficult," I admit freely. Why try to hide it?

"The issue's been discussed at length between the elders on the Res, and they've given me final say over the decision."

"What decision is that?" I ask carefully. Flickers of a group of men seated around a rough wooden table carved with symbols rush through his mind. The conversation grew quite heated at one point, but they finally conceded to Billy and agreed they would go along with whatever he decided.

"My job here today was to see what the story was between you and Hannah, Edward. You've obviously bonded with the child, yes?"

"Very much so." Again, why hide what he's been able to plainly see?

"We understand the bonding all too well. We recognize Isabella as your mate. Why then shouldn't we recognize your bond with Hannah? We know with our people it's painful to keep imprints apart, and I can see it's painful for you to be away from Hannah. The fact that you put her needs ahead of your own comfort says a lot."

"Thank you for recognizing our bond. It came as a great surprise to me, but it was strong and immediate."

"That's why we will allow you on our land. Only you, with a Quileute escort. No other vampires will be granted access. One of us will show you the rendezvous site, which is on our eastern border halfway between here and First Beach. You will be allowed to go to from our border to Sue's house and back."

Isabella flings herself across the room and hugs Billy, while I swallow the huge lump that forms in my throat.

"Thank you, Billy. I understand how difficult it must be for your people to accept even one vampire on your land. We're very grateful and will follow your rules explicitly."

"I know you will, Edward. When you want to visit Hannah, just contact one of the wolves on patrol. They will all be instructed not to give you a hard time. Now, if one of you could get someone to drive me home, that would be much appreciated."

Carlisle offers to drive Billy to the Quileute border.

Isabella hops on my back and we walk slowly back to the cottage. I'm still marveling over the Quileutes making this exception for me. I know it won't go over big with the young and volatile pack. Even though Billy assured me there would be no issues, I'm not so confident that Jacob or Paul won't decide to hassle me—they seem to be the most aggressive and out of control wolves.

Isabella is lost in her own thoughts, too. Her cheek rests between my shoulder blades, and my shirt is damp with her drying tears. When we get home, she curls up in the living room to read. I check on a few things and then pretend to be on the computer while I'm really watching her. I never get tired of looking at her or trying to figure her out, but I hide it because I don't want to make her self-conscious.

Late in the evening, Isabella leaves me to get ready for bed. The water runs in the bathroom as she performs her nightly rituals. I hear the sheets slide against her skin as she gets into bed.

"Edward," she calls quietly, knowing I'll hear.

When I enter the bedroom, I'm greeted by the sight of her creamy skin against wine silk sheets. She's completely naked; her damp mahogany locks are spread across the pillow, and her ivory skin glows pink from a recent shower. My eyes roam over her body hungrily, and I feel my cock stirring.

"Isabella . . ." I avert my gaze. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes. You're not on this bed with me, naked and ready." She leans over and tugs open the drawer of the nightstand where a pile of condoms from Emmett's famous "Party Pack" are strewn haphazardly, and my eyes are drawn back to her. She snags one between her index and middle fingers and levels me with a come-hither stare. "I need you, Edward."

I've been so good. I've been everything a man is supposed to be when the love of his life loses their baby: concerned, loving, understanding, patient. I put aside my manly needs while she was healing, while she was upset over Hannah. I've tried not to think dirty thoughts when she's in the shower or showing a little too much skin. I've held her when the inevitable nightmares come, ignoring the call in my loins to ravish her.

But her blatant invitation, her beckoning naked body, the scent of her growing arousal curling up my nostrils sets me aflame with want. In mere seconds, my clothes are in a shredded pile on the floor and my naked body covers hers. I lean on my elbows and look down into her beautiful face.

"Isabella, are you absolutely sure? I thought you might have reservations after . . . what happened."

"Reservations about being with you?" Her eyes widen and pain fills them. "My wanting you has never been in question, Edward. Why didn't you tell me you were concerned?" Her fingertips brand my face.

I place a gentle kiss on her lips. "I didn't want to burden you."

"But we're a team, right? You can always come to me. I know you'd expect me to come to you."

"I'm sorry. You're absolutely right."

"And, Edward?" She waits for our eyes to meet. "I'm sure."

It's all the tinder that's needed to ignite the passion inside me. When I lower my face to hers, she slides her fingers into my hair and curls them tight. Our mouths meet in passionate kisses that soon give way to a bold exploration of her mouth when she parts her lips under mine and allows my tongue inside to play. It's been too long since I touched her this way; my hands itch to explore every dip and crevice of her body. She's finger candy for me. Before I even consider rolling on the condom, I bring her to orgasm with just my fingers playing her body, slipping inside her silken heat to coax her exactly where I want her to go. She breathes out the sweetest sounds and is so responsive, I know exactly when she's about to come.

I take her there again with my mouth, kissing my way over her skin with excruciating slowness until my lips nuzzle against her sex. The scent of her arousal coats my nose and throat before I even press my tongue against the pulsing bundle of nerves between her legs. Using two fingers to part her, I make love to her with my tongue. She coos so sweetly, leading to breathless gasps, and eventually cries out with abandon as she comes for a second time.

Kissing my way back up her body, I bring my lips to hers and plunge my tongue into her hot mouth so she can taste herself on me. She moans around my tongue, and her heart beats faster.

Grabbing the packet, which slid out of her fingers while I was pleasuring her, I sit back a moment, ripping open the foil square with my teeth and rolling the condom over my throbbing cock. For a moment I worry that I've worn her out, but her eyes are wild and dilated with arousal. She hasn't had enough of me yet.

"I love you so much," I whisper raggedly as I nudge her thighs open wider and sink into her.

All the breath leaves me as I feel her heart start beating in my chest as I once again experience the intense heat of my cock encased deep inside her. Her fingers dig at my shoulders as I rock my hips against her. And I need more, so I toss her legs over my shoulders, the new angle allowing a much deeper penetration. Her sharp cry confirms how good this feels for her, too.

Her hands cup my face as I thrust into her over and over again.

"I love you, I love you, I love you . . ." She starts chanting the words, her lids fluttering closed. She lowers her hands, clenching fistfuls of the sheets in her fingers, and her head thrashes back and forth as a deeper flush spreads over her creamy skin.

I feel her body clench around me, and a deep growl rumbles in my chest as I let go. I have to turn my face away so I don't sink my teeth into her pulsing jugular. It's more difficult for me because I've made it a practice to combine sex with blood play. In my mind, I know this, but I still need to purposely separate the two.

I'd love to remain inside her while she sleeps, but my venom will break down the condom soon. After kissing her deeply a few more times, I pull out and roll onto my back.

"Blue?" Isabella giggles. "What flavor is that?"

I glance down at my still-hard cock, which is indeed covered by a blue condom, and laugh. "Blueberry maybe? You're the one who chose it." I slide my arm under her shoulders and roll her toward me until our chests press together.

We lie there in silence for a time, cuddling. I let go of her only to pull the down comforter over us to keep her warm. I don't even bother trying to place a barrier between us because I already know she'll protest. She never feels as if we can be close enough, and I understand the sentiment.

"You and your magic . . . everything wears me out," she says around a yawn.

I smirk. "Sleep, my love. You need to keep up your strength." I place my lips against her forehead and leave them there until I hear the soft snores that let me know she's asleep.

An hour later, I hear Jasper's thoughts out in the woods. For a moment I'm surprised, but then I realize he's broadcasting so loudly because he's upset. I slip my arm out from under Isabella and leave the bed, tucking the comforter around her before pulling some clothes on.

"Edward . . ." she murmurs, resting a hand under her cheek. Her lips curve into a smile, and I rub my index finger over them lightly.

"I love you, Isabella. Sweet dreams."

I move to the sun room because I can hear Jasper's thoughts in the woods on that side of the cottage. He's about a half mile away. I cock my head and try to tune in on his mutterings.

So glad the girl is gone. Her scent is maddening! I would never . . . never want to do that again. Fucking Maria and her deceiving ways. That taste never leaves. I can taste it even now . . . the blood of a true innocent.

Hannah's face floats through his thoughts, the blue veins running through her translucent skin, little tributaries coming and going from her . . . succulent little heart.

"Oh, fuck no. You are not thinking about my Hannah that way."

I can't tamp down the growl that rips from my throat. I break the handle on the sun room door in my rush to get outside and make a beeline for Jasper. I'm so done with his shit.

The night is clear, stars dotting the midnight sky, and the cool air whips through my hair as I run full out, intent on reaching him quickly. Jasper is so deep inside his thoughts of drinking the blood of a long ago child, he doesn't hear me coming until I lunge through the air with a snarl. We land on the ground with a dull boom; I press my knee against his chest and wrap my hands around his traitorous neck.

"You sick fuck!"

Jasper's black eyes meet mine, and they're full of hatred. He bares his teeth at me and hisses.

Keep the fuck out of my head. You think you know so much about me, but you know nothing. Mr. I-have-it-so-easy. The Golden Boy, apple of Carlisle's fucking eye. What's so special about you?

"I don't give a fuck about any of that. You dare even think about Hannah that way? I'll kill you."

I'd like to see you try . . . brother.

I hear Alice in the distance. She went hunting alone because she had yet another disagreement with Jasper. And now she sees, she knows. Her mind shrieks at me.

Edward, no! Please don't do this!

"I'm sorry, Ali," I murmur.

Anger and jealousy envelop me rather suddenly. It's so vile and hate-filled that I'm paralyzed with it.

And that's all the opportunity Jasper needs.

He's been living under the weighty pall of his emotions and still managing to function. But I falter, trying to assimilate his shit along with my own burning anger over his thoughts about Hannah.

Jasper pushes a jolt of his raw emotion into me, and I almost black out under the massiveness of it. Before I have time to realize what he's up to, he bucks me off his body and we're rolling over the snow covered ground in a tangle of limbs.

~*RK*~

A/N: Oh, you know what's coming next, right? A 'splosion. Thoughts, theories, opinions?

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