I just wanted to thank everyone for reading and reviewing! We have reached the approximate half-way point of the story (unless I decide to write some more chapters...which I may the creative juices have been flowing).

This past week I was away in Kansas City at The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) 2018 Annual General Assembly (AGM). It was a great conference and I enjoyed being in Kansas City. It was also the reason I did not post last Friday. I have been a Jane Austen fan for over 30 years, and I have been a member of JASNA for the past 5. I am also the Regional Coordinator of one of JASNA's largest regions as well. So yeah...I'm a big Jane Austen nerd. I know what you are thinking...He's a dude/father/husband that reads and writes Twilight fan fiction...and a Janeite! My only response is that a real man appreciates good romance literature...we will just assume canon Twilight can be considered "good romance literature" ;) Who knows maybe I will post some JAFF...after this story of course.

Once again thank you for reading and reviewing! I read every review and they mean a lot to me.

-Chris

~ Washington - August 20, 2004 ~

The past fifty-eight hours and twenty-two minutes have been hell. That is how long I've been away from Bella. After my call with Alice, Rose and Emmett did tease me…a lot. But I didn't mind. Since then, some of the realities of being with Bella have begun to sink in. The first was that I missed her terribly. I could now see why the others in my family could only be away from their mates for a day or so before they started to get antsy. What made it worse, and better, was that I couldn't read Bella's thoughts. Normally, it would be easy enough for me to go into town to pickup her mental ramblings, but I could not do that. Instead I would have to get close enough to actually hear her, but I knew if I got that close I would want to be with her. I was determined to not stalk my mate. She deserved this time with Charlie and he deserved it with her.

The other reality that started to sink in had to do with my conversation with Alice. The brief description of the vision she saw of Bella and I wasn't too flattering. I knew when I left the family I was all of the things Alice had claimed she saw.

Brooding…yes.

Prudish…yes.

Overbearing…yes.

Self-loathing…yes!

Intimacy issues…unfortunately, yes.

But I was different now, so very different. It was easy for me to imagine how I would've treated her once I got past the allure of her blood. I would have stalked her. I would have tried to push her away. I would have tried to micro-manage every aspect of her life in a failed attempt to ensure not the slightest discomfort or harm would've befallen her. I had hated my existence and myself. It would have blinded me to so many things, including what the natural end-stage would be for Bella should she ever accept me. And intimacy…it does scare me. My strength is such that I could easy hurt her, but I would imagine with careful and methodical practice, I would be able to overcome this. Unfortunately, my greatest fear regarding intimacy with Bella was I would be terrible at it. I've seen untold acts, an untold number of times, but I have never done anything, besides holding Bella's hand. During my youth, holding a girl's hand would be a huge step. Stealing a kiss even more so, but I knew what young adults did today. During my human lifetime, what most couples would wait for marriage to do, modern men and women routinely did without so much as knowing each other's names. Bella was a beautiful, vivacious, and alluring female. Her experience level and mine would be much different. If there were one area I wanted to excel at, it would be as a lover. Given my strength, as well as the appeal of her blood, we would have to go slow. This would allow me to learn, however I just hoped Bella would be agreeable to such a relative slow pace. This line of thinking all assumed she would ever desire me in such a way.

The rest of my time away from Bella had been spent hunting or running around with Rose and Emmett. They both needed to purchase new cars for our time in Forks. They had been driving a rental car, which Rose despised and Emmett was pushing its mechanical limits. In the end, Rose settled for a new BMW M3 convertible and Emmett opted for a tricked out Jeep Wrangler. Both suited them perfectly. I came close to getting a new car myself, as the Mercedes SUV was growing old, but a timely text from Alice told me not to.

The only other excitement to keep my mind off Bella was the delivery of two pianos that I had ordered when I first moved to Forks. One of the pianos would go in the main house. The other would be for my private use at the cottage, now that the restoration was largely finished. The renovations I had just completed were to add a music room and library on the back of the small structure. Given Bella's fondness for reading, I could now see why Alice insisted that I include comfortable seating and lots of bookshelves, which were now littered with my music collection, as well as a slew of books and personal mementoes. It was my sanctuary. The back wall was lined with windows that overlooked a small garden area, and beyond that the Sul Duc River. With the windows open, the smell of the garden's flowers and the sounds of the river were very soothing. I hopped Bella would like this new space as much I did.

As 10:00am slowly crept up, I raced to my SUV and drove over the Charlie's house. He had to spend the day and evening shift down at the station so he asked that I spend some time with Bella. I would have a whole day of uninterrupted time with her, as Rose and Emmett decided it would be best to go out hunting. My plan was to bring Bella by the house and the cottage. After that we would see how the day went. Yesterday on my hunt I found an amazing meadow. I would have loved to take Bella there, but it would require the entire day to hike there and back at a human speed. Maybe one day when Bella knows what I am I would take here there using my vampire speed.

I pulled into the Charlie's driveway exactly at 10:00am. Before I could reach the front door, it swung open revealing a scowling Bella. She placed her hands on her hips and gave me look of disgust. Before I could figure out what I did wrong she spoke.

"You know I was quite upset to find out Dad had arranged for me to have a babysitter." He tone was quite terse as she glared at me. After a long moment, she smiled brightly and giggled. "Oh god, you should see you face, Edward Cullen. You look like a little boy who just had his favorite toy taken away!" Bella laughed and I started to wish again I could read he beautiful mind.

So am I trouble or what?

Bella bounced down the steps before grabbing my arm. Her eyes widened as her finger tried in vain to squeeze my stony flesh. "Wow! You must really workout." She said in astonishment. "I mean, damn! Your bicep is like steel!"

Bella shook her head as she ran her hand up and down my arm a couple of times. The feel of her warm hand on my arm was surreal and wonderful, so much so I almost moaned in appreciation. I knew I would never tire of her touch…ever!

Bella slid her hand down until she grasped my cool hand, wrapping her fingers with mine. "Anyway, I'm not really mad, at least not anymore," she said as she guided me up to the house. "When my Dad told me he asked someone to come over and spend the day with me, I thought he meant this one boy, Jacob. He's the son of an old family friend, but he looks at me like he's memorizing me for his spank bank, if you know what I mean."

Bella shivered at the thought of Jacob pleasuring himself with her in mind. I on the other hand was ready to violate the treaty and kill him…painfully. Bella was mine! Or at least I hoped that she would be mine. It looked like I might need to have a 'come-to-Jesus' meeting with young Jacob to set him straight on few things…like keeping his ogling and lecherous thoughts directed towards anyone but my Bella.

"Sorry," Bella sighed. "That was a bit crass of me to say something like that, but he gives me the creeps. However, when Dad told me you were coming over, well let's just say I had the opposite reaction." Bella turned her head to hide the embarrassed blush spreading over her cheeks. Once inside she shut the door before leading me to the family room.

"I'm glad you approve of your father's choice." I replied not trying to hide the smile on my face. "Also, I would hate to think I elicited the same reaction out of you that Jacob does."

"The same reaction?" Bella replied before raising our joined hands for me to see. "You wouldn't find me doing this with Jacob, so no, definitely not the same reaction." Bella paused for a second. "How do you know Jacob?"

I motioned for Bella to sit down on the couch with me. "He stopped by the station with his dad one evening while I was helping out. I don't think Billy Black likes me too much, and you would be wise to stay away from Jacob and his perverse thoughts." I said until I realized my verbal blunder again. Bella noticed it too.

"And just how would you know about his perverted thoughts? Hmmm?" Bella asked playfully, but I could tell by the slight raise in her eyebrow she thought my statement was odd. Charlie had a habit of doing the same thing, so it must be a Swan family trait.

"Just by some of things he said. Let me just say he seemed a bit too eager to hear about your arrival." Bella groaned at my answer, which caused me to smirk. "I think even Charlie was a bit wary of him and his intentions."

"And just what are your intentions, Mr. Cullen?" Bella asked teasingly while she batted her eyelashes. I loved that she was being playful with me. I had so many strong emotions and desires coursing through me, it was almost painful. Some of them were fueled by her delectable blood, but most were because she was my mate. Her lively and easygoing manner was like a salve that soothed and calmed my extreme emotional and visceral reactions to her.

Plus, they made me want to tease her back, so I slowly leaned towards Bella, angling my lips to meet with hers. Bella's breath caught as her lips parted. Her eyes dilated slightly and her heartbeat started to race. I knew fear, and her reaction was quite the opposite. As I closed the distance, Bella started to lean towards me as well.

Just before our lips would have met, I turned and whispered in her ear. "My intentions, sweet Bella, are just something you will have to discover for yourself." I punctuated my statement by blowing a soft stream of cool breath across Bella's ear and down her slender neck. I could feel the heat pouring off Bella and I loved how it grew in intensity after my words and actions. "Breath, Bella," I said softly before I pulled away.

Bella nodded as she took a slow, ragged breath. "I think I'm in over my head," she said under her breath. I just gave her a crooked grin. If anyone one was in over their head, it was I…and I couldn't be any happier.

"So did you have anything specific you wanted to do today, Bella?" I asked while I gentled rubbed lazy patterns across the back of her hand.

Bella took a couple deep breaths. "No, what did you have in mind?" She asked.

"Well, I was thinking of taking you over to my house for a bit. And then afterwards, since you seemed to enjoy the water during our little ferry adventure, I thought we could drive down by shore."

Bella's smile grew as it lit up her whole face, as well as my existence. "I like the sound of that. Maybe we could have a picnic on the beach if it doesn't rain?"

I resisted the urge to frown in front of her. In my planning I forgot one of the most basic human necessities…food. Also, since I don't consume food this could get interesting. Just then my phone beeped telling me I had a text message.

"Why don't you deal with that, while I go find a basket and an old blanket." She released my hand and went off to find her picnic supplies. I just stared at my now empty hand as I felt Bella's residual heat bleed away from it. My phone beeped again, so I retrieved from my pocket and viewed my waiting message, which I knew would be from Alice.

"Yay a picnic! I had Rose and Emmett pick up some groceries this morning that will be perfect for the outing. Go after 2:00pm. Enjoy!"

At least the food problem was solved…for Bella. All I needed to do was figure out what to do about me not eating.