A/N: I have had to stay close to canon for a few reasons since starting this story, for the more OOC plans. This chapter has a lot of Breaking Dawn within it, but certain elements have been tweaked for the same reason.

Mild to low angst.

Lemons!

I am posting the next chapter right after this one!

I am excited about going forward with this story.

Thanks to those who have reviewed, I am not quite sure if I would still be working on this if it were not for you. It has not been an easy adventure. Now that I know where we are headed next, I am more grateful than ever.

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is the owner of everything Twilight. I am the owner of the original characters. Absolutely no copyright infringement intended.

Distracted.

(EPOV)

Bella's resolve did not make our lives easier.

To be fair, it wouldn't have been easier if she had allowed me to talk. I could have very well made the same choice.

I am sure I would have.

Just not the method.

I would catch sidelined glances that mirrored my own. It was impossible to keep from going back to the other night, our first night here. Every kiss, every touch, every sensation, each second as vivid as if had happened moments ago.

I was remembering but trying not to remember, wanting to act on memories but forcing myself not to. What a brutally torturous honeymoon! And I was mad at myself about our conversation, the way I made her feel and the space that had grown between us.

Our relationship HAD gone back to the way it was… before… Bella and I were married…

I had to remind myself that she was my wife, not my fiancé, not my girlfriend.

Before we were married, I didn't know what I was missing, so it was easier to resist. Now that I knew what it was like, so far beyond my wildest expectations, it was much harder. Talk about flipping the tables on me…yet again! She was the cautious and careful one. It was not because she was worried about her physical wellbeing or mine… but rejection.

The distance was the worst.

I endured.

The island offered Bella the opportunity to show off with magic, and it was during those times, she was the happiest I'd seen her… almost.

Perhaps it was because she was not in any physical training, it seemed as if her powers were growing exponentially, something that terrified her. Not having control of that part of her could be disastrous, and she did need to have control to master them as they came. First, was the mood, weather, and her command of the elements. I am not quite sure how, but she did it. The sky no longer darkened when her mood did. Her feelings were easier to detect.

Yet, her newfound power scared me when I first saw it.

Bella explained to me that she did not expect them to come on so quickly, her mom said before she was 25. Having both parents of magical descent, she constantly worried about the responsibility of each new power and how difficult it would be to have a regular life.

I experienced some firsts, trusting her completely, she learned how to manipulate large bodies of water, with me in it. First shielding me from feeling anything that would have knocked me around, then learning to speed up or slow down the pace of various elements. Eventually, she could move me away while creating a mighty storm.

There was a sweet spot Bella hit, harnessing the power from the elements to control them. She reminded me of Storm from the X-Men when she was in full command of this part of her, I knew it. I understood Gabe describing Bella's eyes changing before something happened. When she harnessed this gift entirely, her eyes glowed green, only for a short amount of time, this was how she was taught. A big part of me understood this fierce determination to never fail.

While this was quite entertaining and an exhausting way to spend our days… The nights were not so easy. On this tropical island, with the heat—admittedly, confined to the wardrobe Alice had packed for her—Bella dressed slightly different than she did in New York. Breezy sundresses, camisoles, tank tops, shorts …. Small bikinis … flimsy nightgowns… they reminded me even more forcefully of our one night together as husband and wife.

I wanted to see more, touch more, kiss more…

I had agreed to her wishes… and clung to them… I knew that due to my expression of regret and agreement to respect her decision, I made it look as if it was easy for me to do so. I started to worry that she would doubt herself and doubt the depths of my affection for her. I was working on perfecting a gift of my own, NOT getting into Bella's head

I was going crazy.

Bella did precisely what she said she would when needing time to herself, and those were the times I saw her sadness. Although she quickly learned how to control it, rain always appeared when she was gone.

I felt like shit.

She did fall asleep in my arms still and fell soundly asleep, but once she was, she stayed asleep for more extended periods than she ever had at home, through healing, retraining.

Bella never explicitly told me to stay out of her mind when she was sleeping, but I would slip out of bed during these times and watch the ocean, letting my thoughts torture me.

xxxxxx

About a week after we had arrived on the island, I was lying in bed, waiting for her to finish in the bathroom, I nearly gasped out loud when she came out. She had taken to the lingerie collection Alice had packed for her. Tonight, she was in something black and lacy, and more revealing than any of its predecessors.

I am not sure we would have lasted this long in New York if she'd worn anything like that… there … although I knew the shape of her body, above the waist, in a straightforward way, there was something about her that was much curvier, her lingerie accented cleavage. Every line, every curve of Bella's body was readily apparent underneath. The lace kept minimum to the imagination—somehow making it more alluring than if she weren't wearing anything at all.

It was outstanding.

And intolerable.

How frustrating she was! The thought came to me at times that she was waiting for me to make a move on her, given her strong belief in choice. I was still scared to do so. My head was a mess.

One night, Bella asked, "Edward…" she looked concerned … "do you think I am going to be some blood-crazed newborn? Will it be years before some part of this comes back to me?"

"You will always be my Bella, and that I am sure of."

She couldn't stifle her yawn.

"You're tired. Sleep, love." I started to hum her lullaby, hoping that would soothe her a little.

"For as tired as I've been, you'd think I'd sleep better."

I hesitated, surprised. As far as I had been able to tell, she had been sleeping more soundly than she ever had in the entire time I'd known her. Especially given she wasn't even talking in her sleep.

"You've been sleeping like the dead, Bella. You haven't said a word since we got here. If it weren't for the snoring, I'd worry you were slipping into a coma."

She frowned slightly. "I haven't been tossing and turning? That's weird. Usually, I am all over the bed when I have nightmares and shouting."

The one surprised me, "you've been having nightmares?" I looked at her with concern, trying to read her face.

"You haven't seen them?"

"No," I admitted, but not how it tortured me so. "I wasn't sure if you wanted me too. What are they about?"

"Different things—but the same, you know, because of the colors."

"Colors?"

"It's all so bright and real. Usually, when I'm dreaming. I know that I am. With these, I don't know I'm asleep. It makes them scarier."

Scarier? Of course, I would choose this time to decide what she wanted or did not want me to see. To hear that she felt the least bit scared here, in my arms, the safest place in the world for her, horrified me, "what is frightening you?"

She shuddered, "It doesn't make any sense."

"Many dreams do not. Tell me."

"Mostly…"

"Mostly?"

She hesitated slightly, apparently not wanting to say it. Finally, she whispered, "The Volturi."

Ugh. Them. That. Me Too. Just not dreaming.

I clutched her carefully, but more tightly to my chest. At least it wasn't something we couldn't deal with, "They aren't going to bother us, they will have no reason to. You'll be immortal soon." I hoped my voice was reassuring, but she looked unconvinced. "What can I do to help?"

She relaxed her shoulders, which she had been holding tensely against me. "They're just dreams, Edward."

"Do you want me to sing you to sleep? I'll sing all night if it keeps the bad dreams away."

"They're not all bad. Some are nice. So… colorful. Underwater with the fish and the coral. It all seems like it's happening. Maybe this island is the problem. It's bright here."

We could fix that quickly enough, "Do you want to go home?"

Bella seemed anxious and unsure … "No, we're here for two weeks, we'll stay the two weeks. Do you want to go home?"

"Bella, all I am doing is trying to respect your wishes. I don't want to end our honeymoon."

"Is that why you look so unhappy at night? I've seen you."

Should have known.

"I'm not unhappy… I don't know…" I didn't know how to explain all of the various feelings, giving myself whiplash.

Bella's brows furrowed, clearly worried. "I'm not unhappy, things are different from what I expected, but I love you, and being married…"

I drew her closer.

Nearly asleep, Bella found her place in the crook of my neck and whispered, "I don't want any more space if you want to see my dreams… nightmares… I'm okay with it, and we don't need this between us."

I nodded, feeling relief wash over me, "You look so incredibly beautiful by the way, don't think I haven't noticed."

Bella's cheeks went up in flames.

"Goodnight Husband, I love you."

"As I love you."

xxxxxx

I spent the next hour mulling over the fact that Bella had been dreaming about the Volturi, vampires she had never met, only seen in pictures. I was not too fond of the fact that they had caused her even the briefest moments of unease, much less that they permeated her subconscious. I wouldn't say I liked the fact that they had the power over of any of us. But that was the reality of it, even worse, no one knew how they would react if they found out about Bella or her brother.

To find a shred of peace in this existence, I was going to have to learn to stop flagellating myself for things so far beyond my control. You would think I would have learned the skill of acceptance over the past hundred years. Everything would be much simpler for us after Bella became a vampire. She wouldn't have nightmares period, because she wouldn't sleep. There was always a part of me that knew she wouldn't be a bloodthirsty newborn. We would be equals in strength and ability. Our bodies would be the same, and all that would mean for our relationship.

Yes, I would miss her blush, her heartbeat, her one of a kind scent. Looking at the lines of her slender body under the sheer black lace. Once she was changed, we wouldn't find ourselves in this situation again. Thank God.

It was selfish but in that sense, I did look forward to the time I wouldn't have to be so paralyzed by fear of breaking her in half. I thought of Emmett and Rosalie and their earliest years together…some of the things I couldn't help but have heard coming from their room at times when they hadn't lived separately in a house of their own. I wouldn't mind being able to smash some furniture with my wife.

The thought brought a smile to my face as I considered the possibilities.

So… many… possibilities…

Without really deciding to do so, I permitted my mind to wander down that road for a while. Even the idea of kissing Bella without restraint… it left me a little light-headed. Warm, even. There were so many ways I wanted to make love to her.

I hadn't realized I was doing it, but my mind raced along this path, vividly remembering the other night and turning it into visions of the future. I was gently tracing my hand up and down Bella's back, over the fabric of her nightgown. When she suddenly moved, gasping awake. It scared the hell out of me.

Quickly gathering my wits, I shook her a little, hoping to make her realize where she was. "Bella? Are you okay?"

"Oh!" She gasped again and sat up. All of a sudden, she was in tears.

Another nightmare! "Bella? What's wrong?" I tried to brush the tears from her cheeks, but as I did another torrent took their place.

"It was only a dream," she murmured to herself, but her voice broke.

"It's okay, love, you're fine. I'm here." I tried rocking her back and forth in my arms but was finding it difficult to be very soothing. I had been taken off guard. My mind was still half in my mental world, not in hers at all. I didn't know.

"Did you have another nightmare?" I asked. "It wasn't real. It wasn't real."

"You didn't see?" she hiccupped.

"Too hard to be in your head and mine at the same time."

"Oh."

"Tell me."

"Not a nightmare," replied swiping at her eyes, impatiently. "It was a good dream," she added, but her voice broke and she started sobbing again.

"Then, why are you crying?"

"Because I woke up!" she wailed and threw her arms around my neck as she sobbed against me.

I laughed a little, not because it was funny. It was odd. She was upset by her dream somehow, yet sad that she had woken. "Everything's all right, Bella. Take deep breaths." I wasn't quite sure what else to say.

"It was so real! I wanted it to be real!"

I couldn't imagine what on earth she was talking about. "Tell me about it. Maybe that will help."

Bella's face twisted in torture; I was confused.

"Tell me!"

"You don't want…" Bella couldn't talk.

"I need to know!"

Bella looked away, still wiping away tears and shaking her head. "Okay…"

She placed her hands on my cheeks and closed her eyes, flooding me with her dream, and she was so upset that every single emotion and sensation came along with it. At first, everything was innocent walking on the beach, holding hands, then into the ocean kissing intensely… and then I saw what she was talking about we removed each other's clothing… she was replaying our wedding night in her head, and how complete she felt.

She immediately dropped her hands, looking away ashamed.

I had to take a moment to process all that had just happened.

"Bella, your dream life, is better than our real life?

She frowned, looking unsure how to answer that question.

"No, it's just that our wedding night was so amazing… I've tried so hard to let it go… when I'm awake, I feel guilty because I don't want to… so to feel that again…I'm so sorry."

"That is not a reason to feel guilty."

"Or overreact?"

"Or overreact."

"But you don't trust me when I am telling you the truth."

"I should have."

"What does that mean?"

"Hmm," a smile slid across my lips. I reached out for the flimsy nightgown. A handful of lace in each hand, I yanked it apart with more force than was necessary and tossed it to the foot of the bed.

Bella threw her arms around my neck, grasping her fingers together in an attempt to make sure I couldn't escape. Her mouth was feverish against mine, frantic with the intensity of her passion. Given the night I'd been having before she'd woken, it was more than enough to ignite my smoldering desire into a full-fledged fire. My hands were in her hair, locking her face to me as we kissed.

I pulled my mouth away from hers, placing a hand on her back and gently eased her down onto the mattress, my gaze locked on hers. I hovered over her on one elbow and ran a hand down the length of her body, from her shoulder to her waist. I allowed my palm to trace its way back up to her neck, her stomach, her belly button, her abdomen, over one perfect breast, and then up to kiss her chin. Softly, ever so softly, I bent to kiss her again.

I pulled back an inch or two and then tilted her face to the side so I could brush my lips over the soft skin under her left ear, I whispered, "I'm tired of staying away from you."

In what started as a sigh of relief came out as a moan, "So don't."

Her heart started to thud in her chest. She was eager but kept with my pace, slow and delicate, I traced my hand to the apex of her thighs, and slid my finger inside, stroking her deep and slowly, at the same pace we were kissing — each kiss sending licks of electricity through my body.

Feeling her orgasm rocket through her, I couldn't help but smile with pride. Bella was so sensitive to my touch.

I carefully pushed inside her, and I had to pause, gasping, shaking my head against the fog of bliss that threatened to take me over.

Our bodies finally entwined; she met my strokes eagerly. There were instances of splintering wood. Bella didn't seem to notice as we moved together absorbed in my kisses and where my hands caressed her soft body. Even as we both reached our ending a handful of wood came away in my hand with a loud crack, she didn't bat an eye- although, admittedly, her eyes had rolled back in her head with such force that she probably couldn't have batted an eye at that moment if she wanted to.

Her breathing was ragged, panting as I tossed a hunk of wood to the floor next to the bed and reached up to put my palms on either side of her face so I could kiss her, again and again. I was still trembling a little myself, but I felt …ecstatic. Not only could I feel the relaxed, satiated euphoria settle in that I recognized from the other night, but I was sure this time nothing had gone wrong.

Long moments passed as we kissed each other, breaking apart only far enough to rub our cheeks or noses against each other gently or to kiss some spots on each other's face or neck. Of course, I was more than ready within a few minutes to make love again, and so was she.

This continued for several hours until her heart rate gradually evened out, and the flush in her cheeks subsided. I could tell she was sliding back into sleep, whether she wanted to or not. Eventually, she could resist it no longer and her eyelids slipped closed.

It was the greatest pleasure I had ever known that I could ever imagine. I couldn't believe we had waisted seven days not doing that.

My still heart sang when she sighed in her sleep and nestled closer, "Edward… I love you so much."

I kissed the top of her head, "as I do you, my Bella."

(BPOV)

I stayed very still when I woke up, it was getting dark, and I was confused, but I tried to keep my breathing even. I knew that physically; I was humming with joy. That didn't matter last time, so I was afraid to open my eyes. I was lying across Edward's chest, but he was very still, and his arms were not wrapped around me. That was a bad sign. I was afraid to admit I was awake and face his anger—no matter who it was directed at today.

Carefully, I peeked through my eyelashes. He was staring up at the dark ceiling, his arms behind his head. I pulled myself up on my elbow so that I could see his face better. It was smooth, expressionless.

"How much trouble am I in?" I asked in a small voice.

"Heaps," he said, but turned his head and smirked at me.

I breathed a sigh of relief. "I am sorry," I said. "I didn't mean…Well, I don't know exactly what

that was last night." I shook my head at the memory of the irrational tears, the crushing grief.

"Am I forgiven?"

"I'm thinking about it."

I sat up, planning to examine look for bruises myself—But as I moved, an odd wave of vertigo hit. I swayed and fell back against the pillows.

"Whoa… head rush."

"You slept for a long time. Twelve hours."

"Twelve?" How strange. "Is that why it's almost dark again?"

"Yep."

"Is the inventory complete?"

"Everything but the nightgown."

He nodded toward the foot of the bed, where several scraps of black lace were strewn across

the silk sheets.

"That's too bad," I said. "I liked that one."

"I did, too."

"Were there any other casualties?" I asked timidly.

"I'll have to buy Esme a new bed frame," he confessed, glancing over his shoulder.

I followed his gaze and was shocked to see that large chunks of wood had been

gouged from the left side of the headboard.

"Hmm." I frowned. "You'd think I would have heard that."

"You seem to be extraordinarily unobservant when your attention is otherwise involved."

"I was a bit absorbed," I admitted, blushing a deep red.

He touched my burning cheek and sighed. "I'm going to miss that."

I stared at his face, searching for any signs of the anger or remorse I feared. He gazed back at me evenly, his expression calm but otherwise unreadable.

"But as my aunt says…" I closed my eyes, making a circle with my hand one way, I said, "wax off… then reversed direction with the other … wax on… or something like that."

The room was as it was when we first arrived, including an intact headboard.

"When did you learn that little trick?"

"I am nothing if not thorough." I couldn't help but laugh at my horrible imitation of Edward's voice.

A sinking feeling in my stomach assaulted me… was last night the result of emotional blackmail? Not that Edward wasn't an active participant repeatedly, but I still felt guilty.

"What?" I demanded.

"You look so guilty—like you've committed a crime."

"I feel guilty," I muttered.

"So, you seduced your all-too-willing husband. That's not a capital offense."

He seemed to be teasing.

My cheeks got hotter. "The word seduced implies a certain amount of premeditation. I am not sure who did the seducing…"

"Maybe that was the wrong word," he allowed.

"You're not angry?"

He smiled ruefully. "I'm not angry."

"Why not?"

"Well . . ." He paused. "I didn't hurt you, for one thing. It was easier this time, to control myself, to channel the excesses." His eyes flickered to the once damaged frame again. "Maybe because I had a better idea of what to expect."

A hopeful smile started to spread across my face. "I told you that it was all about practice."

He rolled his eyes.

My stomach growled, and he laughed, asking me, "drunch?"

"Drunch?" I repeated, maybe the island was affecting him too.

"Like brunch except for lunch and dinner." Edward's voice was carefree, and I liked it.

"Please," I said, hopping out of bed. I moved too quickly, though, and had to stagger drunkenly to regain my balance. He caught me before I could stumble into the dresser.

"Are you all right?"

"If I don't have a better sense of equilibrium in my next life, I'm demanding a refund."

xxxxxx

I cooked for myself, frying up some eggs—too hungry to do anything more elaborate.

Impatient, I flipped them onto a plate after just a few minutes.

"Since when do you eat eggs sunny-side up?" he asked.

"Since now."

"Do you know how many eggs you've gone through in the last week?" He pulled the trash bin out from under the sink—it was full of empty blue cartons.

"Weird," I said after swallowing a scorching bite. "This place is messing with my appetite." And my dreams, and my dubious balance.

"I know."

"How much longer can we stay?" I asked.

"A few weeks?"

"A few weeks," I agreed because there never seemed to be enough time, I added, "So, I was thinking—you know what I was saying about practice before?"

"One-track mind, I swear," Edward chuckled.

"I want to watch a movie."

He pursed his lips, trying not to laugh at my disgruntled tone. "All right, whatever you'd like.

I wandered over to the shelves under the big TV and started scanning through the titles. It was hard to decide where to begin. They had more DVDs than a rental store.

The cleaning crew had arrived, unaware that I the one-woman cleaning crew of this house. Doing everything for personal gain, I tried not to think about that. Edward led them toward the kitchen. More food was a good thing, more eggs, I hoped.

"Why are they here so late?"

"They called, you were asleep, I told them to come around sunset."

"Ah."

The two Brazilians looked incredibly short and dark next to him. One was a round man, the other a slight female, both their faces creased with lines. Edward gestured to me with a proud smile, and I heard my name mixed in with a flurry of unfamiliar words.

The little man smiled at me, politely.

But the tiny coffee-skinned woman didn't smile. She stared at me with a mixture of shock, worry, and most of all, wide-eyed fear. The look I had seen before, she must have known about me but Edward? If she did know, well, that would be something to think about. Before I could react, Edward motioned for them to follow him toward the chicken coop, and they were gone.

When he reappeared, he was alone. He walked swiftly to my side and wrapped his arms around me.

"What's with her?" I whispered urgently, remembering her panicked expression.

He shrugged unperturbed. "Kaure is part Ticuna Indian

She was raised to be more superstitious—or you could call it more aware—than those who live in the modern world. She suspects what we are, or close enough." He still didn't sound worried.

"They have their own legends here. The Libishomen—a blood-drinking demon who preys exclusively on beautiful women." He leered at me.

"Beautiful women only? Well, that is kind of flattering."

"Yes, beautiful," Edward said, rolling his eyes.

"She looked terrified," I said.

"She is—"

"She's afraid of both of us, although more me than you. I am the demon." He chuckled darkly and then looked toward the wall of movies. "Oh well, why don't you choose something for us to watch?"

I laughed and clasped my arms securely around his neck, stretching up on my tiptoes. He leaned down so that I could kiss him, and then his arms tightened around me, lifting me off the floor, so he didn't have to bend.

"Movie, schmovie," I muttered as his lips moved down my throat, twisting my fingers in his bronze hair.

Then I heard a gasp, and he put me down abruptly. Kaure stood frozen in the hallway.

She stared at me, her eyes bugging out, as I blushed and looked down; she recovered herself, turned her dark eyes away and continued down the hall.

'Two monsters in a pod,'

I shook my head at my angry thought I had toward Edward a week ago.

"She was thinking about what I think she was thinking, wasn't she?" I muttered.

He laughed at my convoluted sentence. "Yes."

"Here," I said, reaching out at random and grabbing a movie. "Put this on, and we can pretend to watch it."

It was an old musical with smiling faces and fluffy dresses on the front.

"Very honeymoonish," Edward approved.

While actors on the screen danced their way through a perky introduction song, I lolled on the sofa snuggled into Edward's arms.

I smiled widely. "Will there be more destruction?"

He laughed at my expression. "I think it might be safer if it's premeditated, rather than if I wait for you to assault me again."

"It would only be a matter of time," I agreed casually, but my pulse was racing in my veins.

"Is there something the matter with your heart?"

"Nope. Healthy as a horse."

"Maybe it would be more polite to wait until we're alone. You may not notice me tearing the furniture apart, but it would probably scare them. There is not much for them to do now, with that talent of yours."

In truth, I'd already forgotten the people in the other room.

"Right. Drat."

Gustavo and Kaure moved quietly through the house while I waited impatiently for them to finish and tried to pay attention to the happily-ever-after on the screen. I was starting to get sleepy—I'd slept away the day—when a rough voice startled me.

Edward sat up, keeping me cradled against him, and answered Gustavo in flowing Portuguese.

Gustavo nodded and padded toward the front door.

"They're finished," Edward told me.

"So, that would mean that we're alone now?"

"How about food first?" he suggested.

I bit my lip, torn by the dilemma. I was pretty hungry.

With a smile, he took my hand and led me to the kitchen. He knew my face so well. He didn't need to read my mind.

"This is getting out of hand," I complained when I finally felt full.

"Do you want to swim, it's lovely this time of night—burn off the calories?" he asked.

"I had another idea for burning calories."

"And what was that?"

"Well, there are bountiful headboard's —"

But I didn't finish. He'd already swept me up into his arms, and his lips silenced mine as he

carried me with inhuman speed to the blue room.

A/N: Woohoo! Thanks for reading and reviewing. You have kept me from giving up on this story entirely.