Fran betas. Jill, Ariel, and Pearly preread. I love you all but I don't own any of this.


"Edward? Hi! To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Angela Weber looks winded and flushed when she answers the door, opening it wider to gesture me inside. I only offer her a cocked eyebrow, to which she rolls her eyes and grins to confirm that I did, in fact, just interrupt her and her husband's canoodling. She's just too much of a lady to admit it out loud.

As soon as I left the office, I came here, tucking my tail and all but crawling on all fours.

I loathe asking for help, but I'm fucking falling apart, and Lord knows I can't keep myself together on my own.

"I need to ask a favor," I say harshly, causing her steps to falter. She was leading me to their living room, I'm sure, but she knows me about as well as I allow anyone to. I don't do favors. Granting them or asking for them.

"Is everything okay?"

She goes from freshly almost-fucked to solemn and concerned in the matter of an instant, and it makes my jaw tic. I don't need people to be concerned for me. I've taken care of myself just fine, without anyone's help.

"No, Ang, it's not. But it will be."

"Okay," she nods. "Have a seat, and I'll get you a drink. Corona?"

"No, I'm driving, and I don't trust myself to stop at one right now. Coffee, maybe?"

Angela offers me a soft smile and a nod, disappearing into the kitchen, and I take a seat on her couch. It's big and comfy and feels like a home, and the fact that I even notice, makes my heart pound a little more painfully in my chest.

While she's gone, Ben pops his head in to greet me quickly before he makes some excuse about yard work that needs done, and when Angela returns, she's a little more put together.

"So, spill," she barks with the authority of a worried mother a few minutes later when she sets two mugs on the table.

"I don't know; your carpet is a little too nice to be sporting coffee stains," I grumble facetiously, my foot scraping against said carpet in emphasis.

"Edward."

Sucking a deep breath, I nod, knowing there's no way she would let me avoid this any longer.

"It's Cygnet," I offer.

Angela gasps, her hand covering her mouth. "No, what happened?"

"Nothing happened. She's fine. She's safe. But I have to give up her case."

The look Angela gives me reminds me why she's such a kick-ass detective. She's stony and firm, no-nonsense, but there's a gentleness to her. With her, there's no need to pull a good cop/bad cop move because she's both all wrapped up in one.

"You're in love with her."

"Jesus Christ, what is with everyone? You all are acting like some chubby fat guy hit my ass with an arrow. No, I'm not in love with her. But I am attracted to her more than I should be to manage her case objectively."

"And I don't do private cases." She leans back in the chair she sat in across from me, crossing one leg over the other and sipping her coffee as if to say, 'checkmate, fucker.'

"I'm aware. Hence why it's a favor," I grit.

"You don't do favors."

"Also a-fucking-ware." I can feel the heat rising in my blood, upset at the fact she's using this stoic bullshit on me.

"Edward," she begins, and I sip my coffee to hopefully get the energy to deal with this conversation. I deserve it. I practically asked for it. "I've worked with you from the start, and you've never asked anything of me beyond the scope of my duties. You slipped up for the first time ever when we were there to investigate, and you have personal feelings I wasn't even sure you were capable of."

"I know, okay? I don't know what to tell you apart from that. This is atypical and silly, and exactly why I need to get rid of this case. My foundation is all fucked up, and I need my balance back."

She pretends to think, but I already know she's going to do it.

"I need to know she's in good hands."

"Edward, we're so swamped right now," she trails, chewing on her lip.

"I know. And I'm sorry. But you know I wouldn't do this if it weren't important."

"I know," she nods again, setting her mug back down. "Okay. But this isn't what I'm trained for. I can only do so much."

"All I ask is that you make sure Jacob Black doesn't get anywhere near her. She's not dangerous. In fact, I don't even think she could kill a spider. Not even a really scary one." My voice has transformed to betray my amusement, so I clear my throat and drink more coffee to make myself shut the fuck up.

"I'll do my best," she promises.

"I don't doubt you a bit, Ang."