Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Vampire Diaries. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and L.J. Smith. I do own the original characters made up for this storyline. Please support the original release. Thank you.
Writer's Notes: Thank you Navywife, munzke, kuga, Roxhall, and delia for your reviews! Yes, very hot indeed. *smiles* Stefan is a sweet guy, he really is, but he can't let his fear get in the way of things. Honesty is important to Bella. But we will see how it goes. As always, don't forget to follow, favorite and review!
Bella heard the knock on the door downstairs and then her phone rang. She groaned a little and reached over and grabbed her phone and answered, not looking at it first. "Hello." She murmured; sleep filled her voice.
"I uh… was just wanting to check on you." Stefan's voice sounded in her ear.
Bella blinked a few times, and looked over at the sleeping Damon, laying in bed next to her. Her pulse spiked and she sat up in bed, the blankets falling around her and she pulled them up quickly. "I'm fine." She said. "Uh, Stefan, I just need…"
"Time… and space. I get it." Stefan said and paused. "Call me… if you need me." He said and hung up.
Bella put her phone on the nightstand and ran a hand through her hair. She was an idiot. Last night really happened. She felt the soreness of the amazing sex and the bite at her neck and thigh, her cheeks heating.
"Afraid he's going to find out?" Damon asked, his eyes still closed as he lay there next to her.
Bella looked over at Damon. "You've got to go. Get up. Come on." She said, pushing at him to get him out of the bed.
Damon's lips turned up in a wicked smile and he sat up now, his blue eyes looking at her lazily. "He's gone. He left like you wanted him to."
"Still. I… I shouldn't have done what we did last night." Bella said, her dark eyes landing on him, how incredibly toned he looked and sexy, staring back at her.
"You… loved every moment of it." Damon said, leaning in and kissing her softly, teasing her.
Bella's eyes fluttered closed when he kissed her again and she felt her heart leap a little, but she pulled away. "I can't be with you."
"Hmm, because of Stefan?"
"No, because of Katherine." Bella said and then got out of bed, pulling the blanket with her, as she wrapped it around herself, leaving Damon naked in bed. Her cheeks reddened more, as she realized what she did.
Damon just smiled and got out of bed, walking over to her, still naked. He brought a hand up, brushing it over her cheek. "Well, if you're going to disguise what we did here last night, then I suggest you let me heal your bite marks."
Bella hadn't thought about that, so she swallowed. "I think I can figure it out."
"Hmm and if you and Stefan start getting naked?"
"That's not going to happen." Bella said quickly, still flustered.
"Oh? So is it really over with him?"
Bella felt confused. She wasn't sure what she wanted anymore. "I don't know yet. Now, get dressed and leave. I have an interview at the Grille that I want to get to. I have to get a job if I want to make sure I can survive." She muttered.
"Something needs to be paid?" Damon asked as he picked up his pants from the floor and started pulling them on.
"Just… normal stuff. Life insurance went as far as it did. The insurance on the Jeep paid to replace the Jeep, but insurance is more expensive now. Everything that mom paid, I pay now. So, yeah, job is something I should get before I get in a situation." She said, getting dressed quickly.
Damon nodded, pulling his shirt on, before walking over to her and stopping her from moving around so fast. She was still pantless, but she was covered up top now. "Here." He said and then pricked his finger with a fang and rubbed his finger over the bite marks on her neck. "One less thing to worry about for your interview."
Bella looked up at him. "Damon…" she murmured.
"I meant what I said last night. I'm not the good guy Bella. I take what I want." He said and then winked at her before he left her to herself.
Bella stood there a moment, thinking about him. The way her body felt alive under his touch. She enjoyed the way his fangs pierced her skin and she wanted more of it. She fell asleep feeling content. Not that Stefan wasn't satisfying, but something had changed in her from last night. Hell, something changed in her the moment she knew Stefan was a vampire. She blew out a breath and finished getting dressed for her interview.
Damon walked in the boarding house, going to the parlor and pouring himself a drink. He lifted it to his lips, taking a long drink. He smiled a little and turned, looking at his brother. "Hello brother. Stalking me?"
"Did you stay with Bella last night?" Stefan asked point blank.
"I did." Damon said, lifting his glass to his lips.
"Why?"
"She was upset." Damon supplied. "Are you my babysitter now?"
Stefan's eyes narrowed, studying his brother now. "I know what you're doing."
"And what is that exactly?"
"Trying to ruin every bit of happiness in my life."
Damon gasped, faking a confused look. "Oh, whatever do you mean?"
"You know what I mean."
Damon smiled his wicked smiled. "True. Though, I did warn you. So, really you should have known I would swoop in and try to steal happiness, since I'm the happiness killer."
"Leave her out of it. She means nothing to you. Why toy with innocent lives?"
"Are you sure she's so innocent?" Damon asked, lifting his glass again, taking a small drink before walking over to his brother. "Perhaps it's time she knows more about Katherine."
"You wouldn't. You'd ruin her view of you too."
Damon just gave him his signature snarky look. "You think I care? Tell me Stefan, is your blood lust under control? Mine is. I have an incredible amount of control. I wonder which brother she'll fancy more."
Stefan growled a little. "You keep your hands off her. Don't think I don't know when you've tried kissing her. She's not yours."
"So, she's yours?"
"You know what I mean."
Damon just half chuckled. "Talk to her brother, see what she says. Maybe that one night of rough passion was too much for her. Maybe, knowing you're a vampire and have the inability to control yourself, is the reason she's distancing herself. Maybe, she just doesn't like you."
"We were fine before you showed up. Did you have fun with Vicki? Was that whole thing-"
"Brother, I am causing mayhem in different areas. Vicki wasn't mine. Though, I am curious how long it's going to take you to figure out just who it is playing with you. For now, I have a lunch date to get too. Toodles." He said, and walked around his brother to go to his room to shower and change before he met with Carol Lockwood again.
Bella finished her interview and was hired. She was starting Saturday since she had school the rest of the week and that gave them time to get her shirts ordered and there on time. Bella was nervous about starting the new job, but she would suck it up and deal with it. She sat down at a table and Matt came over. "Hey Matt." She said, smiling a little.
"You got the job. That's good, because we really need the hands around here." Matt said, not mentioning Vicki flaking again.
"I hope I can learn fast." Bella said. "Um, I hate to make you work."
Matt smiled. "It's fine. Coke, burger and fries?"
"Yes please." Bella said and Matt dashed away to put her order in.
Bella sighed, pulling her phone out to look at the time. It was already one. She was hoping to get some laundry done before school in the morning.
Stefan walked in, knowing that Bella would be there at this moment. He knew he said he would give her space, but he couldn't let Damon toy with her and him any longer. He slid into the booth across from her and she looked at him. "Please, let's just talk."
Bella swallowed, looking at Stefan. "Okay." She gave a nod.
Stefan seemed relieved. "I just want to explain."
"You didn't tell me this secret because you were afraid of how I would react." Bella said, knowing that was the reason. What other reason was there?
"That was part of it. I don't like… myself, Bella. But you make me feel more human and I like how it feels."
"Okay." Bella said. "But you didn't trust me to tell me something important. People are dying, Stefan. Animal attacks." She lowered her voice.
Stefan understood how that was a big deal. "I know and I don't know who is doing it. It's not me, I swear to you that- "
"You only eat animals…" Bella murmured. "Damon said that you can't handle… human blood so." She said and then she stopped talking when Matt walked over carrying her coke and had brought one for Stefan too.
"I put in an extra order for you Stefan when I saw you sit down." Matt explained. "It'll be out soon."
Stefan nodded. "Thanks Matt." He said with a nod and Matt dashed away again to go take care of another table. He looked at Bella. "Damon told you that."
"He did. He told me that it's harder for you. That now you just… hunt animals." Bella said. There was more to it. "He told me why you two are at odds."
Stefan felt his heart sink to his stomach. "Oh."
"I'm not sure how it feels to be a newborn, but I imagine it wasn't a good experience. I saw what… you know who, went through and I just… I understand. Trust me, I do. What I don't understand is why you hate Damon so much."
"He didn't tell you?"
Bella shook her head.
Stefan sighed. "When I did what I did. He told me he would make sure I spent an eternity of being in hell. He's kept true to that promise. Which is why he's playing mind games with you. He's not here for your best interest. He's here for his own sick twisted interest. He could care less about what happens to you, he's doing what he's doing to get back at me."
Bella shook her head. "Did you ever stop to think that he just wanted a brother?"
"What?"
"You put off all these negative feelings towards him too. He has a right to be upset Stefan. You took something from him. You guys have stronger emotions. His pain and anger is amplified. Wouldn't you be angry if he did these things to you?"
Stefan was already too late. Damon got into her head. "You're taking his side."
"No, I'm not taking a side. I'm looking at this logically. I don't have anyone. Stefan, I would love to have a sister or brother. I told you already to fix things. Then fix them. For me, life is too short to wallow around in self despair. You're never going to be able to let go of whatever it is your feeling, until you confront it."
"I don't want to lose you." Stefan murmured.
Bella studied him. His green eyes were pleading. "You haven't lost me." And that was true. She wasn't lost to anyone. She was still staying here, not running away, because she cared. Maybe too much.
"You mean that?"
"I do." Bella said softly. "I want you to be honest with me. I need to know what you're thinking and feeling and I think you owe me that."
Stefan nodded. "You're right." He said and reached a hand across and took her hand in his. "Bella, I promise you, that I will tell you everything from now on. I won't keep anything from you. Just give me one more chance. I can show you."
Bella was quiet. She thought about last night and how she was with Damon. Damon ignited something in her, but she wasn't sure about anything anymore. If she gave Stefan another chance, that meant that she would have to suppress anything she felt for Damon. The way Stefan was looking at her was so pure. She could tell how much Stefan cared about her and she wanted to please him too. She didn't want to hurt him. She should tell him about her and Damon, but she didn't think that it was Stefan's business. "Okay."
Stefan blew out a breath of relief. He was so sure she would tell him no again. "Really?"
"One more chance." Bella agreed. "I- "
Stefan leaned across the table and his lips brushed hers, kissing her again for the first time in what seemed like forever. He wanted to disappear with her from looking eyes, so he could hold her and just savor this feeling. But he pulled back and smiled at her, reaching a hand up to brush a strand of her hair back behind her ear.
Damon walked in, seeing the display of affection, but he didn't say a word. He walked over to the table. "Look at you two happy kids."
Bella swallowed, not meeting Damon's gaze at first, but she didn't want to make it awkward. "What are you up to?" She said, saying something before Stefan could.
"Hmm. I just had lunch with the mayor's wife. Talked about some donations. I figured I would stop in and have a drink. Check on if your interview went well."
"I got the job. I start Saturday."
"That's good." Damon said with a cat-like smirk. "I take it you don't need me to accompany you tonight then?"
Bella shook her head. "No. That's okay. I'll be alright. Probably going to do laundry and go to bed early." She said and looked at Stefan, who was a little tense.
"I'll be home tonight." Stefan said, looking up at his brother. "Don't worry."
Damon smiled. "Good. It'll be nice to spend some quality time together tonight." He said. "Oh, food is ready." He said and then left to the bar.
Matt set down the burgers and fries in front of Bell and Stefan. "Enjoy guys." He said and he was gone again.
Bella sat back a little more, picking up a fry, and dipping it in the thing of ketchup on her plate. "Can you really… eat… human food?"
"Yes, it just doesn't have a great taste." Stefan explained and popped a fry in his mouth.
Bella ate her own fry. She was curious about vampires. What were the limitations for their kind? Which myths were real and which weren't?
Stefan rode back with Bella to her house. It was still early enough for her to get some laundry done and some cleaning. Stefan wanted to help, so he offered his help and Bella accepted it. They were quiet though, as she threw her sheets in the washer first. She realized that would likely be a good idea, considering the activities from the night before. She put free sheets on the bed, and Stefan helped her make the bed up.
"Are you okay?" Stefan asked, after a while, breaking the silence.
"Hmm?"
"You're just unusually quiet." Stefan said.
Bella looked over at him. "I'm fine. Just… maybe I'm still thinking about Vicki." She lied.
Stefan hated that Bella even had to do that and even worse, Elena and Jeremy were there to witness it. "Damon took away the memory for Jeremy. Not Elena?"
"Elena didn't want him to." Bella said as she gathered her basket of clothes and brought them out and downstairs to the laundry room, and she set them there, waiting for their turn to be washed. She turned and looked at Stefan. "So much happened so fast."
Stefan agreed. Things did progress quickly, from start to finish. "I still don't know who did this." He said and went to her, his hands going to her hips. He looked down at her. "You're brave."
"No, I'm just Bella."
"You know you're more than that." Stefan murmured and then leaned in to kiss her.
Bella's eyes fluttered shut as his lips connected with hers. It was soft at first, before he delved deeper, his tongue tangling with hers. It surged a sort of energy through them bot and he moved with her to the living room, his hands pulling her shirt up and off, and she did the same. He broke away from her mouth to kiss her chest, his mouth suckling slightly. Bella tried to stay in the moment, feeling Stefan's hands move over her body, going to her pants and she remembered the bite marks on the inside of her thigh. Damon healed the marks on her neck, but the ones on the inside of her thigh was still there.
"Stefan…" She murmured, pushing away slightly. "Maybe it's not a good idea… so soon."
Stefan's green eyes swirled with want and need, but he nodded. "Right. I'm sorry. I just thought you were with me…"
"I am, it's just." Bella bit her lip. "I can't right now."
"Oh. I'm sorry." Stefan said, running a hand through his head. He could sense arousal in her, so he felt confused still.
"Stefan…"
Stefan shook his head. "No, you… you're afraid of me, aren't you?"
"No, that's not it at all. I'm not afraid of you Stefan. We've been… through a lot and I don't want to hurt you, I just think that maybe…" Bella was more afraid of the questions that Stefan would ask if he saw the marks on the inside of her thigh. Should she just tell him now? But how would that make him feel? It could set him off and then what? "I don't feel great. Not like me."
"What?"
"Um… the last time we were together, you were rough. And then when you didn't touch me afterwards, I was confused. Before… before I knew what you were and your reasons, but I just think we should take it slow. So I can get a handle on myself as well."
Stefan felt that guilt. The guilt that rose in him that he had hurt her. It made sense. "I get that. It makes sense. I really am sorry. I never wanted to hurt you and I'll never hurt you again. I promise you that."
Bella offered a smile and then stepped towards him. Showing him that she wasn't afraid. "I know." She said and leaned in and kissed him softly, before she grabbed her shirt and pulled it back on. "Baby steps."
Stefan nodded. "Baby steps." He agreed.
Bella slung her bag over her shoulder and got out of the Jeep and walked inside the school. She got there earlier than normal. Stefan left last night like he promised Damon and that made her feel better. She turned the corner towards her locker and ran into Edward. "Oh, I'm sorry." She immediately apologized.
Edward steadied her, his hand automatically going to her hip. "Oh, it's okay." He said quickly.
Bella looked up at him. "Oh, hey, are you feeling better?"
"What?"
"You seemed to rush out Friday, you weren't looking great. I figured you were sick or something."
"Right, yeah, I feel better today." Edward said with a nod. "You're here early. You usually ride in with Stefan or… Caroline?"
Bella nodded. "Sometimes. It's been a weird week though. Seems like you're early as well."
"Well, sometimes I like to get here to use the school pool." He lied.
"Right, I forgot about the pool." Bella murmured. "Anyways, I finished up the biology project. Since things have been weird lately, I just went ahead and did it all. So, don't worry about a thing."
Edward blinked a couple times. "Oh, I forgot about it too…"
Bella smiled. "See, no worries. I already completed it for both of us." She said. "Well, I'm going to go get something to eat from our lovely cafeteria before the school day begins. Glad you feel better." She said and then walked away.
Edward watched her walk away. It was getting harder for him lately, to see her without actually having her. He wondered if her and Stefan worked things out or if they were still at odds with each other. But he decided that it didn't matter now. He would take her, use compulsion and then he'll have her then. It was the only way.
Bella rummaged through her bag again for her keys at the end of the school day, when Stefan walked up. "Oh, hey." She muttered and frowned when she couldn't find her keys. "I can't believe I have lost both sets of the keys." She sighed.
"You lost both sets of keys?" Stefan asked, smiling.
"Well, yeah. I never found the first pair and now I have misplaced the other set."
"Did you lock them in the Jeep?"
Bella shook her head. "No." She said and opened the door. "I don't lock it."
Stefan leaned in the Jeep, looking in everything, including under the seat. "I'm not sure. I'll have it towed to your house then. We'll have to get new keys made."
"I just hate that I keep doing this. I swear they were in my bag." Bella said and rummaged through it again, but they just weren't there.
"Hey, it's okay." Stefan said and leaned in and kissed her softly. "It happens." He said and brushed his hand over her cheek. "Come on, I'll call to have it towed. In the meantime, let me take you home."
Bella nodded then she went with Stefan to his car and got in. Stefan called as he drove towards her house, to have the Jeep towed to her house. She was grateful for him. Sometimes he was her knight in shining armor.
They pulled up at her house and he went around and opened the door for her, kissing her as she stood. Things were going back to normal or at least they were for Stefan. Bella was still struggling internally about Damon still, but she put on a smile for Stefan.
They went inside and she put her bag up. She stretched a little, knowing that her shoulders were a little stiff. Stefan came, massaged her shoulders a little and she melted back against him. His lips brushed her neck, kissing her softly.
"You're so tense." He murmured.
Bella closed her eyes. "Yeah, I suppose so." She said and sighed, the tension melting under his hands, his mouth kissing her again. She got a flash of Damon in her head, his fangs piercing her neck, and she opened her eyes again, and turned to face Stefan. "I think I'm going to take a shower." She said with a smile.
"Okay. That will help your muscles." Stefan said smiling. "Do you want me to help you with your shower?"
Bella smiled at him. "Hmm. Maybe. But you can't keep your hands to yourself sometimes." She teased.
"I can try." Stefan said and kissed her softly a few times. His phone rang and he sighed, leaning back and taking it from his pocket. It was Damon, and Bella saw that it was Damon calling, so he answered. "Hey."
"We have a problem."
"And?"
"I need you to meet me at the old church."
"Why?"
"You'll see." Damon said and hung up.
Stefan sighed and looked at Bella. "Damon needs me for something. I'll come back later." He said and leaned in and kissed her.
Bella smiled. "That's good. You two helping each other. I'm proud of you."
Stefan smiled. He was trying to do better. "Well, you were right, so… I'll make amends with him. If that means having to pass up a very steamy shower with my very sexy girlfriend, then…"
Bella chuckled a little. "Go, don't keep him waiting." She said and kissed him one last time before he left. She just shook her head and walked upstairs to get some clothes together for her shower. She took off her clothes, pulling on her robe, wanting to spend extra time pampering herself, which she didn't do often. There was a knock on the door and so she went downstairs and opened the door. "Oh, Edward."
"Hey, sorry, I wanted to just drop by and just look over the project. I feel bad." Edward said lamely, smiling a little.
Bella nodded. "Right, come in, I'll go grab it from my bag." She said and left the door open as she went to collect her bag and pulled out the binder and then the biology project and brought it back to Edward, who was standing in the living room now. "Here. I'm pretty sure my work is sound, but please, add to it what you want. I know that your biology grade is higher than mine anyways." She offered a smile.
Edward smiled, taking the project. "Well, I'm sure it's fine. I just want to contribute somehow. I really am sorry for acting strange." He said and looked her over. "Oh, you were in the middle of a bath?"
"Oh, yeah shower. It's fine. Homework and school is more important." Bella said, brushing it off.
Edward nodded and then stared at her, walking close to her. His gaze capturing her. "You want to kiss me." He murmured, in a hypnotizing voice.
Bella stared back at Edward, blinking a couple times. "Uh. No… Edward… are you okay?"
Edward wasn't sure why the compulsion didn't work, maybe she was wearing vervain on her body somewhere and she was resisting his compulsion, or maybe she ingested it somehow. That angered him somehow. "I'm not okay."
Bella frowned. "I don't understand."
"I need you."
"Edward, I'm with Stefan. I-"
Edward pushed her up against a wall, his movements so fast that Bella didn't even see how he did it. His grip was tight on her now.
"Edward, you're… you're hurting me."
"You don't see me. I've been nice to you. Don't you get it? You're the one that calls out to me Bella. You can't be with anyone else, but me."
Bella swallowed, fighting back tears. "You're… impossibly fast."
Edward's green eyes bore into hers. "Why don't you accept me Bella? Am I that horrible?"
"No. That's not it. I just… think of you as a friend. That's all. Edward please, let me go. You're hurting me."
"I'm not letting you go. Not ever. You're mine." He said, the veins under his eyes darkening.
"You're… a vampire." She murmured, everything making sense now.
Edward tilted his head. "Now you know."
"Please, Edward, just let me go. Stefan is coming back and-"
"And I'm stronger than he is." Edward said, his voice like venom now. "I want you, I will have you. I'll even stop killing so close to town. All these animal attacks are bound to create a problem sooner or later."
Bella was in shock. "It was you, that turned Vicki… you killed Coach Tanner." She said, her voice wavering.
"Yes, but I only did that so I could get stronger… for you."
Bella swallowed. "You'll stop hurting people?" She stuttered a little.
"As long as I have you, I have no reason to continue getting so strong. I am strong, do you feel it?" Edward murmured, his lips drawing close to her throat now. He heard her pulse as it jumped around. He wanted to taste her sweet essence, so his fangs made their appearance and he pierced her throat, the rush of her blood filling his mouth. He moaned the taste so sweet to him, that he pulled away, almost dizzy.
Bella winced as his fangs bit into her. She closed her eyes, fighting back tears. "What do you… what do you want me to do?" She swallowed, trying to keep herself calm.
"I want you… all of you." Edward murmured and then he moved with her up the stairs to her room.
