Author's note: I don't own Twilight.

Chapter 12: Partners in Crime

EPOV:

I sat with my knees pulled up to my chest, mist swirling around me in the dark. I sighed, like a coward, I wanted to stay hidden in my corner. I couldn't face her right now, even in my dream. She had knocked on my door late last night, but I pretended to be asleep. I wasn't ready to hear her rejection. I looked down at my short and chubby legs clad in knee socks and shorts. I was back to being a school boy, which seemed about right with the way I was behaving. I leaned my head back against the chilled metal wall and closed my eyes, wishing for a night of simple rest instead of these dreams.

Warmth radiated into the left side of my body, her hand wrapped around mine, entwining our fingers.

"You're all I ever wanted, and you don't want me back," I whispered.

"You don't want me, you want the fantasy," she replied, rubbing the back of my hand with her thumb.

I looked up at the cherub cheeks and the brown doe eyes of a four year old Bella. "That's not true, I was falling in love with you when I thought you were human."

"Were you falling in love with me? Or was it just a compulsion of the mating bond?" She retorted.

I closed my eyes and thought back. Yes, there was some force that drew me to her, but once we were together, it was her words I was compelled by. I was infatuated with her independence and ferocity.

"I don't think the mating bond made you break Newton's thumb," I said.

"Maybe it was the mating bond that made you like it," she answered.

"I guess, the mating bond could have made me into a man that finds strong women sexy, or we're mates because I think badass women are hot and you're a badass."

"Yeah, you don't have a mating bond with Jessica Alba," she said.

"Who told you about that?"

"Alice," she elbowed me in the ribs, "You're such a nerd, by the way."

I huffed, "I can't have one secret."

She sighed, "How am I going to talk to you about all this in the morning?"

"I was wondering about that myself. Sure, we can hash this out in my dreams just fine, but in real life…I'm pretty sure you're going to dump me before we even start dating," I said.

"Edward Cullen, I would never dump you. You're perfect." She snuggled into my side and I set my chin down on the top of her head.

"How am I supposed to talk about sex with you?" She asked, spittle flew into the back of my throat with my sharp intake of breath and I started coughing.

"Why do you need to talk about sex with me?" I croaked.

"Because that's what mates do right? Alice says that you wouldn't pressure me, but there's no way you aren't expecting it and I'm just not ready." Her voice took on a more childlike quality, a slight lisp when she pronounced her "s" sounds.

"I am not expecting that. I don't think I'm ready either."

I thought back to the incident in the hot tub the other day and how I had dismissed Jasper when he suggested that Bella and I would have sex soon. I wrote it off as guilt for imagining a girl besides my mate in that way. Now that the guilt was gone, I realized that I had arrested my development when Phoenix died, or maybe when the others started bonding. I wasn't mature enough for a sexual relationship with Bella, not yet.

"We should just try to progress naturally. What if we didn't call ourselves mates? What if we're just friends, or partners?" I suggested

"I want to be more than friends," she said, her voice becoming more forceful. I delighted in her proclamation despite knowing that this Bella was a figment of my imagination and that the real girl might feel very differently.

"Okay, so maybe we date? And we stop calling each other mates." I said, rubbing her pudgy arm. "That word kind of freaks me out too."

"We'll be partners," she said, nodding to herself. I smiled and kissed the top of her head, hearing the alarm sound in the distance.

Now I just had to have this conversation with the real Bella.

I ran to Vancouver and back, my bruised ribs aching and forcing me to turn around before I wanted. The sooner I got home, the sooner I would have my heart broken. I slipped off my shoes at the back door and sulked into the kitchen. No use putting it off any longer, it was getting a little pathetic.

Bella was sitting at the kitchen island, a mug of coffee in her hand, another sitting on the counter across from her.

"It's got oatmilk," she intoned, gesturing to the mug.

"For me?" I asked.

She smiled and nodded as I took a seat across from her, slowly spinning my mug on the marble countertop.

"I'm sorry about what I said last night, it came out wrong," she mumbled.

I nodded, staring at the swirls of steam coming out of my cup, my stomach twisting in knots.

"Listen Edward, about this mate thing…"

Oh god, here it comes.

I closed my eyes and braced for impact.

"It feels a little overwhelming for me to call it that, what if we just called ourselves partners?"

What?

"Or whatever you want. There is just a…connotation with the word mate that I am not sure I'm ready for yet, soon maybe, but not yet."

"I don't expect…soon, or ever if you don't want to…" my tongue felt too big in my mouth. I took a drink of coffee which did nothing for the mounting temperature in the room. I wiped the sweat off of my head.

"You aren't leaving?" I asked.

She shook her head, "I don't want to, do you want me to?" Her reddened cheeks went white.

"No!" I shouted. I let air fill my lungs until it hurt then blew it out slowly through pursed lips, "Sorry, no, I don't want you to leave. Partners sounds great." We sat in silence for a few minutes, and like yesterday, tension filled the room.

"What if we take it slow? Act like normal teenagers, maybe go out on a date?" I suggested.

Oh god, I just asked her out on a date. What if she says no?

I gnawed on the cuticle around my thumbnail then chanced a glance at her. Her radiant smile nearly knocked me out of my chair. She looked beautiful with wavy curls falling to her chin. She was swimming in an oversized Garfield T-shirt and shorts that showed the creamy white skin of her thighs.

"I am so happy you said that," she said with glistening eyes. "How about tonight?"

I sat across the table from her, watching as she pushed salad around her plate. We were sitting in La Bella Italia, a little restaurant in Port Angeles. Soft music drifted through the room, bistro lights cast a warm glow around her hair like a halo. I had bribed the hostess for a table tucked into the large bay windows facing the ocean, but I hadn't looked outside. I was finding it was impossible to tear my eyes off Bella. Since our conversation this morning, things had been better, if not a little awkward when the rest of the family left us alone.

I was waging an internal war. The mating bond was spurring me on to make physical advances, but my desire to honor Bella's wishes was fighting back. The major problem was, every time we found ourselves alone in a room together, she would end up in my arms, caressing my cheek or winding her fingers into my hair. On the drive here, her hand found its way to my upper thigh. I knew from speaking with my siblings that she was facing the same compulsions as me, but it was hard to fight hers as well as my own.

"You guys want a soda or something?" The waitress stopped at our table.

"No!" We both snapped.

"Ooookay, I'll be right out with your meals," she rushed away thinking that our date was going badly. Although she was at least five years older than me, she was forming plans to leave her phone number on the bill. I rolled my eyes.

"So, what's your favorite classic book," I asked. I knew that she read enough that I couldn't just ask for a favorite, like me, she would have categories.

"Favorite classic sci-fi, fantasy or romance?"

I chuckled, "Sci-fi."

"Dune."

"Oh, you're right, there can be no other answer," I said nodding. "It's the basis of so many modern sci-fi novels. Thank you Herbert for the whole concept of the Jedi."

"And Tatooine, and I'm pretty sure that Jabba the Hutt is based on Baron Harkonnen. Fuck, Poe Dameron is a former spice runner."

She was stunning as she spoke, passion pouring off of her in waves. She was wearing a pair of high waisted dress shorts and gray stockings that looked like a sweater. Her navy blue lace turtleneck brought out the rosy hue of her skin. I rested my chin on my fist, admiring her beauty.

"Here you go," the waitress said as she sat our plates down in front of us. She turned and locked her eyes with mine, "Anything else I can do for you?" I flinched at the images in her head as she asked that.

"We're good," I said, eyes wide.

Bella snickered, "What was she thinking?" She asked after the waitress walked away. I shuddered, "I can't bring myself to say it."

"Well, you can't blame her. Look at you," Bella said, gesturing at me. I looked down at my black button up and jeans. "What? I should have dressed up more. What about you?" I asked, gesturing to her outfit.

"What about me?" She asked, looking down.

"Bella, you're gorgeous. Every man in here is staring." It was true, and getting on my nerves.

A soft pink colored her cheeks. She looked up at me from under her lashes, her eyes were dark pools of molten chocolate.

"Does that include you?," she whispered.

I snorted, "I can't take my eyes off you, it's been a hardship." She chuckled.

I took a few bites of my food, sneaking glances at her while she ate. I smiled the few times my eyes lifted from my plate to see her staring back at me. Each time she would turn pink and quickly look back down.

"So, do you miss being on the road with Charlie?" I asked.

Her hand paused, fork hanging limply midway to her mouth. "How did you know?" she asked, eyebrows high.

"I would miss it, spending all that time with him. Being in a different place every day. You guys were explorers for thirteen years. By comparison, Fork's High School is probably pretty boring."

"I do miss it," she said, letting out a breath, " I haven't even really let myself think about it, but sometimes I just crave being on the highway. I hope that doesn't freak you out." I shook my head and gestured that she should continue. "It was my childhood, the purr of the engine was my lullaby." I chuckled and took a bite of eggplant.

"I get that," I said once I finished chewing, "there are things that I miss about my old life. Private tutors," I held up one finger, "I am pretty sick of sitting through lessons on subjects I learned when I was twelve. Not dealing with the Mike Newtons of the world," I said, adding another finger.

She wiped her mouth then neatly folded her napkin and placed it on the table next to her plate.

"All done?" I asked, Bella nodded.

I set my napkin down too and the waitress rushed over with a black folder. I pulled out cash, handing her too much so that I didn't have to deal with the note she had written on the back of our bill. Seeing it in her head was more than enough.

Did she really draw a picture?

"We don't need change," I said, eyes fixed on my partner.

I stood and held out a hand to help Bella from her chair. She, of course, didn't need my help, but it seemed like something you should do on a date. I was rewarded with a bolt of electricity that flowed through me as her soft hand filled mine.

"Would you like to take a walk before we go back?" I asked, hoping that she would allow me to keep her hand wrapped in mine.

"Yeah, that would be nice," she answered, a thrill shot through me as she entwined her fingers with mine. We stepped out into the cool air. It was twilight and the street lights were starting to flip on. The final rays of sun sparkled across the ocean to our right. Briny sea air filled my lungs and twirled around my hair. I led us away from the crowded parts of town so that we could speak more freely.

"Well, you miss the road, but are there at least things to like about Forks?" I asked, trying to continue our earlier conversation.

She pursed her lips and cocked an eyebrow. "Yes Edward, there are things to like about Forks." She snorted. "Besides the obvious," she sent a pointed look in my direction and I had to suppress a skip as we walked, "I like the stability. I like having a home that is the same everyday, I really like my bedroom."

I winced, she would have to give it up to come live with us. I gave her an apologetic nod.

"I'll just move everything, it will be okay," she said as we turned down a dark street in the industrial district.

"It's weird, I love that I am not on the run anymore, but I miss the excitement of it. How about you?" she asked.

"I wouldn't call what I was doing for the Agency exciting," I said, guilt twisting in my stomach.

"What were you doing for them?" she asked. She stopped under a broken street lamp and turned to look at me. I could see the concern as her eyes bore into mine. "Charlie says he took me when he read the dossier for my next mission," I tear slid down her cheek, "They were going to have me kill someone."

I turned away from her open expression, ice filled my veins. This was it, the moment when she would leave me. I didn't know what I had been thinking, believing that I deserved this angel. Her soft fingers touched my cheek, coaxing me to look at her. I wouldn't lie, I owed her that much.

"I have killed twenty three people for the Agency," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "I understand if you can't be with a monster, Bella. No one would blame you." Faint light flickered across the broken glass littering the street.

I was startled when I saw her foot come down in a stomp, "You're no monster! They made you do it!"

I looked up and laughed without humor, "Did they?" I asked, rubbing the back of my neck. "I could have left. The others couldn't because they threatened their mates, but they didn't have anything to threaten me with. I should have run like you did."

She laughed, "When you were what? Five? Twelve? And they had the rest of your family. Besides, Charlie got me out, I di-"

A woman's scream cut through the darkness. I scanned the area for thoughts, I had been so preoccupied with our conversation that I hadn't noticed until now.

Please, please don't hurt me. She was surrounded by four men. I looked through the eyes of one of her attackers, she was perhaps nineteen and had short brown hair like Bella's. He was the ringleader, the other's were drunk and didn't realize how far Lannie was planning on taking this. I shuddered as he recalled victims from his past. I turned to tell Bella that we had to help this girl, but she was already running in the direction of the scream.

A chuckle bubbled through my chest and my dick twitched in my pants. These guys picked the wrong alley. My girl was going to destroy them. I chased after her, wanting to be a part of the action. I didn't miss the killing, but like Bella, I had to admit that I missed the thrill.

I caught up to Bella and we rounded the corner together. The men had the girl pressed up against the bricks of the building behind her. Lannie was stroking her face, tears streaming down her cheeks as she flinched away.

One of the drunk fools that was blindly going along with this horror turned and noticed us. "Lannie, we have company," he slurred.

The predator turned and assessed me first. He took in my lanky build and shrugged. He thought I wasn't a threat. I chuckled.

Just wait.

Then his filthy eyes raked across my partner's body and I let out a territorial growl. She turned and rolled her eyes at me.

"Sorry, it just came out," I said.

Bella sauntered towards the group of men, hips swaying as she walked. I leaned my shoulder against the bricks and pushed my hands into my pockets.

"Hey little lady, want to join the fun?" Lannie asked.

"I sure do," she said, her fist slamming into his nose with a crunch.

Yes! She's so fucking hot.

I took that as my cue and rushed into the fray. I grabbed one of the drunken idiots by the back of his shirt, pulling him away from the scared girl and spinning him around so that his temple collided with my waiting fist. I was careful to make my movement look human, like I was simply a skilled fighter and nothing more. Although I couldn't read her mind, it seemed Bella could read mine. I saw that she was holding back as well when she let one of her punches go wide.

I let a wild punch hit my cheek. It felt like a kitten's swat, but I put on a show of twisting my head to one side and spitting onto the asphalt. I stood straight and swung back around, backhanding him in the jaw in one smooth movement. I felt the pop of his tmj dislocating and he fell unconscious onto the street. Bella chuckled and tossed me a wink. Next she kicked Lannie in the chest a little too hard, causing him to fly through the air and smash into a dumpster. A brief wave of empathy washed through me, remembering what it felt like to be on the receiving end. I rubbed a spot in the center of my chest, at least I hit a soggy tree instead of reinforced steel.

"Shit," Bella winced. I just shrugged, he deserved worse. Between the fear and chaos the human girl was never going to remember Bella's inhuman display. I scanned her thoughts, she was wondering which dojo Bella was affiliated with. I elbowed the last man standing as he approached me from behind with a broken beer bottle. Feeling lighter than I had in years, I took in the scene. Men littered the alley, all unconscious. I carefully approached the human girl. Still pressed against the wall, she was shaking violently.

"Did they hurt you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

Honestly, I was flying. It felt so natural to fight with Bella at my side. I realized I had been in chains my entire life. I had been a weapon wielded by the Agency, forced to use my abilities to advance their corporate interests. Since escaping, I had been suppressing my powers, avoiding them out of guilt and shame. This fight felt like a good stretch after being stuck in a cramped space for too long.

"No," the girl croaked. Good, we would figure out what to do about Lannie later. We'll have a good long time before he's up and about again though.

"Can I walk you to your car? I doubt there are any other men like that in Port Angeles, but you never know," I said, holding my hands up to indicate I wasn't a threat to her. She looked over at Bella for reassurance. Bella nodded and touched the girl's arm, leading her out of the alley.

We walked in silence until we made it to a well lit street. I tried to hide my growing smile and the bounce in my step. Bella shot me an amused glance.

You're being weird Cullen.

The woman pulled a set of keys from her purse and a small blue Toyota beeped. I walked to the car and opened the driver's side door for her.

"Are you okay to drive?" I asked. She nodded and sat down in the car, taking a shaky breath. She clenched the steering wheel and looked up at me with wide eyes.

"You guys saved my life. You're heroes," she said.

I stumbled back like she had struck me. No one had ever called me that. I wasn't a hero, I was a villain.

Right?

I looked over at Bella, she nodded, seeming to confirm the girl's words. I shut the car door and she drove away without another word.

Bella took my hand and dragged me back to my Volvo. I was only partially aware of our progress to the car, feeling distinctly like I was viewing my body from the air above. I mechanically opened Bella's door then walked around to my side and climbed in. The tiniest seed of an idea planted itself into my mind.

Can I atone for the sins of my past? Can I be redeemed?

Bella reached out and stopped my hand as I turned the keys in the ignition.

"Hey Edward, just be honest if this is a bad idea, but…let's be superheroes!" she said with an excited smile, shrugging with her palms facing the sky. She looked like a child suggesting a cookie heist.

"Bella, that is the worst idea I've ever heard," I felt my lips pull up into a wicked grin. "Let's do it."

Author's note: My editor and I had a good time with this chapter. What do you guys think the waitress drew? Hope you liked it, please review…