Stephenie Meyer is amazing. Thank you to my reviewers and whoever else reads. I appreciate it muchly, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

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I inhaled a breath of frigid air and turned quickly to see, with my own eyes, the source of that sound. My gaze met a pallid, flawless face and I immediately relaxed. He smirked at me and tapped the window of my truck again with two fingers. I returned the smile sheepishly and Edward disappeared from my sight, only to climb into the seat beside me.

"Fancy seeing you here," he smiled at me, and slammed the door shut behind him.

"Yeah," I replied breathlessly.

"You're out early," he stated.

"I wanted to get my errands done first thing."

He nodded, "Makes sense."

I wrung my hands nervously. I needed to leave. Corbin couldn't see me here with Edward. I didn't even want to think about what possible consequences this could have on my plan. I started backing out again.

"Wait." I felt his cold fingers fold over mine.

I was still turned around, looking back at the Forks Post Office. I saw Mrs. Stanley run out of the door holding an umbrella with two hands. I glanced over at Edward and saw that he was also looking back at her. His eyes narrowed infinitesimally, and he hopped out of the truck wordlessly. I shifted the truck into park and climbed out also.

"I'm going inside for a moment," he stopped walking, "I'll be right back."

Well, crap. "Can we just go, Edward?" I said, bouncing on the soles of my feet. "I know the weather doesn't bother you much," I shivered for added effect, "but I'm cold and wet."

"I'm wet too." His eyes proceeded to follow Mrs. Stanley as she made her way to her car.

"Please?" I took his hand in mine and tried to pull him back to my truck. He didn't seem to notice.

Edward stiffened suddenly and turned to look at me. "Just one moment," he said through clenched teeth. My gaze followed his retreating figure, and I cringed as I heard the bell marking his entrance into the Post Office ring from across the parking lot.

I pulled open the door to my truck and sat in the cab. I gnawed on my nails as I waited for him to come back. I was on the verge of departing when Edward returned. He had something in his hands. I felt my eyes widen and my throat close up.

I watched Edward incredulously as he climbed into the seat beside me, with the black bag in his hands.

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

"I'm stopping this. Now."

"But," I gasped, "how?"

"What do you mean, how?" He turned to look at me, fury boiling in his eyes. "How was I so stupid as to give you twenty thousand dollars without realizing that you must have had an alternative motive, or was it how did I find out about your plan?"

I felt a cry escape my lips. "Put it back, Edward."

"No," he snarled, "this will only entice him further. It will solve nothing."

I bit my lip and turned away, willing the brimming tears back into my eyes. He'd ruined everything.

We sat in a tense silence, both of us simmering in our own anger, until Edward finally dissolved the quiet. "You didn't seriously think that this would ameliorate the situation, did you?"

"I thought I could help."

"Bella," he exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "What did you do?"

"I was helping," I said coldly. "I had everything under control, Edward."

He scoffed.

"Please," I turned to face him, "just put it back."

"Why?"

"He said he'd leave all of us alone if he just got the money."

"He's a liar."

"How do you know?" I screamed at him. "Have you been around him long enough to read his mind?"

He seemed startled by the volume in my voice, but he was unyielding. "I don't want you to be the subject of blackmail because of me."

"I was a subject of blackmail by my own choice. I didn't have to protect you." I regretted these words immediately. It was exactly what Edward didn't want to hear.

"Bella..." his voice was soft.

"You're always the one that saves me. You're always the hero. Just put the money back, Edward. Let me help for once."

He sighed, "No, not like this."

"Edward," I said, "him not getting the money will cause more problems than it's worth."

"What could he possibly do to us?"

"You know what he could do. If you were so unconcerned then you wouldn't have gone to Port Angeles to look for him."

"That was a safety precaution."

"One that required the use of your entire family." I crossed my arms dubiously. "How did you find out, anyways?"

"Alice had a vision," he replied curtly.

"Of..." I prompted him.

"Of Corbin," he spat his name, "coming to town and getting something from a P.O. Box."

"So you came to check it out?"

"Naturally."

I closed my eyes.

"But everything clicked when I arrived. Mrs. Stanley was thinking about the same exact P.O. box that was in Alice's vision, and that it was your P.O. Box., Bella."

I remained silent as he explained.

"When I went in there," he paused, "I could smell the money, so I picked the lock and got it out."

"So why did you think that I was being blackmailed?"

"Mrs. Stanley overheard you on the phone."

I thought back to the conversation. I couldn't think of anything that would lead Mrs. Stanley to think that it was a phone call out of the ordinary.

"You'll leave us alone, then?" Edward quoted what he'd heard in her mind- what she'd heard from my phone call.

I winced. I suppose that was enough to arouse suspicion in the already suspicious.

"Edward..." I pleaded.

"I won't give it to him."

"You gave the money to me. It's mine. I should be able to do what I want with it."

I watched as his grip tightened on the bag.

"I want to give it to him." I pulled at his sleeve, "Edward, it's more than that: we need to give it to him."

"It's not necessary for us to give him anything."

"Give me the money, Edward," I demanded.

"I will not give you the money!" he yelled. I heard the fabric of the bag rip as his grip tightened further.

I felt my lip tremble. "Get out," I sobbed. I released my hold on his shirt. "Just get out." He didn't even appreciate the effort I'd put forth to help him. He'd already categorized it as stupidity.

Edward froze and turned his topaz eyes upon me. Something on my face must have pained him, because his anger immediately melted away. I heard him sigh, "You really think it will help?"

I nodded dumbly, all sorts of fluids running down my face.

"I'll give it to him, then."

I shook my head. "He said he didn't want you to know about it."

"Tough."

I began to protest again when he cut me off.

"It should be enough that he's even getting the money," he growled.

I closed my eyes and shook my head again. More problems. This will merely cause more problems.

I watched as Edward hesitated before leaning closer to me. I did everything in my power to ignore his transcendent beauty. I turned away from him and pressed my cheek against the window of my truck.

"Isabella," I felt his cool breath on my neck, "intimidation may be the only thing going for us. I'll give the money to him."

"Putting on your big, bad vampire act?" I asked the window.

I could feel his smile as he kissed my temple. "Yes, I suppose that's what you'd call it."

"What am I going to do then? I don't want to spectate."

"You can stand next to me," he kissed me again, "and scowl. You can scowl at him."

"Wow," I said wryly, "what an honor."

"An honor, indeed." He paused for a moment, preparing his wits, "I'm sorry, Bella." He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

I grunted something unintelligible in reply. His fingers stopped, still cupped behind my ear. I clench my teeth as I resolved not to lean into his touch.

"We compromised, Bella," Edward reminded me unnecessarily.

"I know that," I replied stiffly, and I felt his fingers lift away.

"You think I'm happy about this?" He said harshly, but he caught himself, "I don't think either of us are happy with the arrangement," he added in a softer tone.

I held out my hand, "I'll be happy if you let me put it back."

He narrowed his eyes again, "And I'll be happy if we didn't give the money to him at all." He waved his hand, "Like I said before, we compromised."

I sunk back into my seat and nodded.

"I'm forgiven then?" he prompted.

I sighed, "Slightly."

"I'll take what I'm given," he said with a somber tone in his voice. "I'll have you know that I've forgiven you."

"Thanks so much," I said, avoiding his gaze.

"You're being completely unreasonable."

I shrugged, but I felt more and more inclined to grant him this forgiveness in full. I didn't like being angry at Edward.

He sniffed the air once, and then again. "He'll be here soon."

My eyes widened as he reminded me of the impending situation. A shiver wracked my body.

"We'll be fine," Edward said, undoubtedly witnessing my stressed state.

I twined my hands together and shut my eyes tightly.

"Forgive me, Bella, please," his voice was desperate.

"Why?" I asked, my voice cracking.

"I can only comfort you so much with words."

I bit back a cry.

"I don't like to watch you flinch when I touch you," he added despondently.

I didn't like it either. I lifted my hand up to wipe my cheeks, still not looking at him.

"Bella," he whispered, "I'm sorry that you don't like the plan, that you don't like me disrupting things, but I'm just trying to help. Please, just realize this."

I nodded. I realized this, I didn't like it, but I realized it. Without thinking, I took his hand and pressed the back of it to my lips. I heard Edward laugh weakly beside me.

"Forgiven?" he asked.

"Yes, Edward."

He unbuckled my seat belt and gently pulled me onto his lap.

"How far away is he?" I whispered.

"He'll be here in about two minutes."

Another shiver traveled down my body, and Edward pressed his cheek against the top of my head. "That certainly helps," I hummed.

"Helps us both."

"And what's my job again?"

"Use your Depressor anguli oris muscle to pull down the corners of your Orbicularis oris muscle and incline your Corrugator supercilii, and you'll be set."

"I think that you've forgotten that I haven't been through medical school," I said.

He chuckled and pulled me closer. "Scowl, remember?"

"Oh, right." I rolled my eyes.

I looked up at Edward and saw that his gaze was following something. I lifted my head to try and find the object, my heart thudding against my ribs. Sure enough, a small, tan car had pulled into the parking lot. I heard Edward growl at the newcomer. I pressed a hand against his cold chest, in an attempt to bar his fury. He glanced down at me and then placed his hand over the one I had against his chest.

"Don't do anything you'll regret," I urged.

"Stay with me and I think I'll be fine."

I took his hand in mine, "I won't go anywhere."

He pressed his frigid lips against my forehead and then threw open the door.