Well, here we are a couple days early. On with the update! (*Warning: There's a little sampling of citrus ahead. If anyone cares.)


Disclaimer:All fictional characters, government agencies, and brands still belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.


From Chapter 5—

"That's all I needed to hear."

~(~)~(~)~

Chapter 6:

His lips are on mine before he even finishes his sentence. My mouth molds around his, giving where his take. I sigh and part my lips, causing him to moan. It's a sound I quickly answer with a whimper as his hands find their way around my waist and to the small of my back. His fingers flex against the muscles there, lighting every inch of me on fire as my body bends to his, as though they are two pieces of the same puzzle.

I wrap my arms around his neck, opening my mouth further when he teases my bottom lip with his tongue. I touch my own tongue to his, encouraging him as he tentatively explores my mouth. He tastes incredible, smells incredible. Our kiss grows more heated, almost desperate.

I slip my hands into his hair and pull myself closer to him. It's as though I can't get close enough and I wish I could just wrap myself around him altogether. He must be able to read my mind because he tightens his hold on me and lifts me off the ground in the next moment. I forget about my wardrobe situation and try to wrap my legs around him. As a consequence, when his hands slide to my bottom they're met with bare skin.

"Holy hell, Bella!"

Edward groans loudly at the discovery and drops his head to my shoulder.

"What are you doing to me?" he asks breathlessly.

"Sorry," I apologize. I really don't feel that sorry at all though and lift my head, kissing and sucking on a sensitive spot on his neck.

"We shouldn't do this," he moans softly in response.

Despite his words, his hands seem to have a mind of their own and flex against my backside, kneading the skin there. I've never even had a man hold me in that precise way before, but I really like it. I move my mouth down his neck and then along his jaw to his other ear.

"Maybe we shouldn't do this," I whisper. "But I want to. I really want to. I'm so sick of pretending."

He groans again and climbs up on my bed, lowering me until I'm resting against the pillows with him between my legs. I immediately assume he's giving in and I try not to let myself overthink this. I want him and being with him now feels right. After all these months of denying my attraction to him, he's finally touching me, holding me, kissing me. I can't deny how I feel about him anymore. I can't deny how I feel when I'm in his arms. I'm already so far gone it's not even funny. Unfortunately, I'm so far gone that I don't even notice Edward's no longer kissing me.

"Bella?" he whispers, gaining my attention.

"What is it?" I ask, surprised to look up and see his pained face almost a foot away.

"We can't. I want to. Believe me, I do," he says, clenching his eyes a little tighter before he shakes his head and opens them again. "But..."

"But..." I sigh.

"You're still technically my student. You're not a minor, thank God, but you're still enrolled at the same school I teach at."

"But I might not be tomorrow."

"But you are right now."

I sigh and think for a moment, before smiling slyly up at him. "You know? Technically, I'm not enrolled at Forks High School. Technically, Anna Bella Dwyer is. And I've just admitted to you that I'm not her," I grin. "Problem solved."

He grins back, but shakes his head. "Not exactly. I'm the only one who knows that."

"Not true. The FBI knows. Witness Protection knows. And Emmett assumes that I'm living under an alias. What's to say–"

"Oh, God..." he groans. "Emmett! Emmett would kill me. Then arrest me."

"Why would he do that?" I ask honestly. "I'm twenty-three. You're a few years older than I am, but there's nothing illegal about that."

He sighs and moves over so he's lying down next to me. "Assuming we could prove it. What does your driver's license say? Or your file from Social Services? He'd throw the book at me."

I roll onto my side, adjusting my towel as needed. "Okay, I'll tell him I seduced you. I did kiss you first. And I answered the door in a towel. Clearly, I was taking advantage."

"Clearly," he chuckles, then sighs. "Truly though, Bella... You've been through an ordeal tonight. You're scared. You're uncertain. I would be taking advantage."

"I don't think so," I say softly, my humor and confidence falling just a little. "You've been nothing but proper with me until I practically threw myself at you."

He smiles and touches my cheek, sweeping his fingers over my skin reverently and making me shiver. "My thoughts have not been proper. At all. I honestly believed I was losing my mind."

"Really?" I ask.

"Really," he says, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear.

I swallow back an unexpected wave of emotion. "I felt that way too," I whisper. "And I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I'm not. I think maybe it's true what they say."

"What's that?"

"That you can't help who you fall... for."

I inhale sharply and gaze at him with wide eyes. He grimaces slightly and opens his mouth to say something while playing with a strand of my hair.

"Bella... I... Um..."

"It's okay, Edward. I know what you mean. I think you're right."

"Do you?"

"I do."

He smiles softly and lifts his hand to my cheek once again, his fingers sliding into my hair this time.

"May I kiss you again?"

My smile is instant. "You don't have to ask."

He leans in, touching his lips to mine gently and then applying the most delicious pressure. I moan softly and part my mouth. He pulls back and then comes back in, more insistently, but still gentle. It's the perfect sweet, but sexy kiss. My whole body shivers from the sensation.

Edward chuckles when he moves away. "Are you cold?"

I shrug and think about suggesting we climb under the covers, but Edward hops up off the bed and walks to the dresser. "Pajamas?" he asks.

"Uh, third drawer down," I answer slowly.

Is he really getting me clothes?

I laugh a little, but I'm not sure whether to swoon or be offended.

"Okay, do you want pants or shorts?"

"Doesn't matter," I answer quickly.

"These okay?" he asks, pulling out some grey stretch-cotton capris.

"Yes," I say, giggling as he examines them and tries to figure out what they are.

He folds them haphazardly and then goes to my closet. He makes quick work of finding a nondescript t-shirt before he notices my packed duffle sitting on the floor. Instantly, he spins around and looks at me, his face worried.

"Did you pack already?"

I sit up, being mindful of my towel. "Yes."

"Why? I thought you said they would wait until the morning to decide."

"Well, Jasper's gut instinct was to move me. He wants to be sure it's necessary, but he told me to be prepared either way."

Edward walks to the bed and sits down, handing me my t-shirt and yoga pants. "Is it really that much of a risk that someone recognized you?"

I sigh. "Yes. It is."

Edward shakes his head and runs a hand roughly through his hair. I shiver again and he meets my eyes, smiling for me.

"Get dressed," he says. "I'll wait outside."

"No don't," I say, grabbing his arm. "Just turn around."

He looks unsure, but does as I request. I stand on the other side of the bed and quickly throw my clothes on, not caring that I don't have undergarments. I fold the towel and put it on the end of the bed before climbing back up and crawling over to Edward. I move to where he's sitting, placing my chin on his shoulder.

"All done."

He tilts his head back and smiles. "You're fast."

"I'm more accurate than I am fast," I tease. It's a reference to my shooting career which I know he'll get now. He turns around and gazes at me with what I can only describe as wonder.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask, blushing.

He smiles. "I'm just seeing you with new eyes. So much about you that I didn't understand just fell into place. It's like I can really see you now."

I blush and drop my gaze from his. "Can you?"

"Yes," he whispers, lifting my chin.

I smile. "I think I can see you too. Now that I'm not afraid to look."

"Oh, really? And what do you see?"

I smile wider. "I see home. I see..." I stop and check myself. I don't know if I'm really ready to lay it all out there just yet.

Edward isn't having that though. He levels his gaze on me. "What, Bella?"

I sigh and look down. "I see comfort. And hope..." And love.

I keep that last part to myself. Maybe he hears it anyway because he sighs my name and takes my face between his hands.

"Bella..."

I close my eyes when our lips meet again for another sweet but sultry kiss. It takes every ounce of restraint I have in me not to crawl right into his lap. Instead, I control myself and sit back.

"Stay with me tonight?" I ask, placing my hand over his heart. He meets my eyes and I see the conflict in them. "Please? Even if it's just to sleep," I add.

He nods and leans forward, kissing me again just once.

"I honestly don't think I could rest otherwise," he sighs. "I'd just end up sneaking in to keep watch over you."

I smile, blushing slightly. "Lay down with me?"

"Okay," Edward agrees.

Edward stands, and I scoot to the center of the bed, pulling down the comforter and blankets on both sides. His hands go to the buttons on his shirt and my breath escapes me in a rush as I watch him undress; his eyes on me the whole time. He slips off his button-down, but leaves his t-shirt on, and then his fingers go to his jeans but he hesitates.

"Should I..." he blushes, and I look away. "They're boxers, but I can go get my pajamas."

"No. Stay," I beg him.

He nods and moments later, Edward's jeans are in a pile next to the bed. Soon we're lying side by side, facing one another. I smile when he threads our top hands together and rests them under his chin. I can feel a day's worth of scruff under my knuckles. After a few minutes of just watching each other in silent admiration, he pushes a piece of wayward hair behind my ear with his free hand and smiles.

"Where did you go to college?"

I smile back. "Colorado Springs. The University of Colorado has a campus there."

"And your major?"

"Distributed Studies in English and Leadership Communications."

"Really?" he asks, seemingly surprised. "Why?"

"I wanted to major in English because it was my favorite subject, but I also was interested in Communications. I could have minored in one of them, but the Distributed Studies program let me customize the coursework around what I was most interested in."

He smiles and shakes his head. "And yesterday I thought you were just a junior in high school. Granted, you were the most serious student in the entire class, but still... listen to you now."

I laugh. "You can see why I had to keep my mouth shut at school most of the time. English and history were the hardest –I kept wanting to comment on things I learned in college."

"I can only imagine." He seems thoughtful for a moment and then laughs. "I just realized why you couldn't remember anything you learned in Trigonometry at your last school," he chuckles.

I groan. "I felt like such a dunce that day. Honestly Edward, the last time I was in trig was my junior year six years ago! After that I took AP calculus during my senior year and got a five on the AP exam. So I never had to take a single math class in college because it wasn't necessary for an English major."

Edward laughs. "Smart and beautiful. Surprisingly talkative too," he jokes.

I blush. "Sorry, you got me going."

"It's okay. I love hearing your voice and getting a glimpse inside your mind. It's just as exceptional as the rest of you."

My cheeks are now so hot that I bury my face in the pillow while Edward laughs.

"Come out here," he says, pulling me closer to him and lifting my face to his. He kisses me gently, his mouth opening this time, but not pursuing. I consider taking the initiative to deepen it, but he pulls away before I decide.

My eyes are still closed, my mouth still tingling, when I hear his voice again.

"How did you get involved in competitive shooting?" he asks softly.

I open my eyes. "My dad, Charlie. He was a police officer. He took me to the range with him and put a gun in my hands when I was just a little girl. I think his hope was that the experience would scare me into never wanting to touch one again as long as I lived."

"That went well for him," Edward grins.

I laugh quietly. "Oh, I was scared all right, but then everyone started making a fuss over the fact I hit the bulls-eye my first time out. Dad wanted to see if I could do it again."

"And you did," Edward guessed.

"I did."

"And so he just started taking you to competitions?"

"No. I had to ask him the first time. There was a poster up one day at the rifle range he used to take me to. There was a father-daughter event. We won."

"How old were you?"

"Twelve. Maybe thirteen."

"And then your father coached you all the way to an Olympic gold medal?"

"He did," I say, the pride in my voice reserved for my father alone. "Of course, I had other coaches when I made the national team and moved to Colorado Springs, but he was always number one in my book."

Edward's eyes are compassionate as mine grow moist. "What happened?" he murmurs.

I take a moment to gather my thoughts.

"The story you were told is true. My parents were both murdered. But the crime isn't unsolved like you were meant to believe. I know exactly who did it."

"And that's why you were sent here? Witness protection needed to hide you?" he asks, sitting up a bit.

I sigh. Can I tell him this? Should I? I'm in love with this man, and I think he might care a lot about me too, but there's so much he doesn't know about me. I can't hope that he'd both be able to accept my past actions and the consequences they hold for my future. I don't think he would blame me for doing what I did, but part of me believes he should know everything before getting any more involved with me. He deserves better than anything I can offer him now.

My continued silence is misinterpreted.

"It's okay, Bella. I know there are probably rules about what you can talk about. I'm sorry."

"No," I say, shaking my head. "You should know what happened. You should understand the gravity of my situation before this goes any further."

"There's nothing you can tell me that will-"

"You don't know that yet. Just please... hear me out."

He sighs and lays back down so we're eye to eye. "Okay. But I'm not going anywhere."

I smile sadly. "I told you my father was a cop. And he was a really good cop. His word was his oath and was unfailingly loyal. He fell in love with my mother when he was eighteen and never even looked at another woman in their twenty-five years together. He was faithful to a fault."

"He was like that with his job as well," I say, pausing to take a deep breath. "He swore to uphold the law when he graduated from police academy and kept that promise until his dying day. Some people have said that was what killed him. But it was really just a couple of thugs in expensive suits –mobsters who thought they might be able to get my dad in their back pocket if they threw enough money at him or threatened my mother. She was his only weakness. Well," I sigh. "One of two, I suppose."

Edward rubs my arm and touches my cheek affectionately, waiting patiently while I gather my words.

"I walked in the door of my parent's house one night last November to overhear my father refusing a bribe from someone with a heavy accent. I listened from the foyer as he offered my dad a lot of money in exchange for his cooperation. When my dad refused, the guy with the accent had someone else in the room, his partner, put a gun to my mother's head. The sound of my mother crying out and the cock of the gun made me panic and I tripped. They heard me and that's when everything went bad."

"Bad how?" Edward asks, pulling me closer.

"The first man pulled his gun out and shot at me."

Edward's eyes grow slightly wild at this revelation. "He shot you?"

I immediately assuage his fears and hold my hand to his cheek.

"It was a blind shot, Edward. He missed me. But the maniac grabbed my dad and put the gun to his head, yelling at me to come out and spouting all kinds of threats. Dad tried to convince him that I was our family dog, but we didn't have a dog. He shoved my father to the ground and headed for the foyer where I was hiding. My dad tackled him, and my mom started fighting with her attacker at the same time."

I pause, closing my eyes and breathing evenly to stop the torrent of memories and emotions.

"It's okay, Bella. That's enough. I understand."

I shake my head. "No, you don't. Not yet. You need to hear the rest."

"Whenever you're ready."

I take a deep breath and nod, but continue before I can fall apart.

"My parents were killed trying to save me. I watched both of them get shot at point blank range right in front of my eyes. I didn't even think twice about what to do after that. I grabbed the gun that my dad always kept hidden in our foyer and pulled the trigger. I hit the first man with the accent, a man named Stefan Vladimir, in the chest. His companion, a cousin of his named Visili, was hit right between the eyes. I can't even remember firing that second shot. It all happened so fast."

"Oh, Bella..." Edward whispers.

I'm afraid to look at him, but can feel him holding me tightly.

"I don't remember doing it," I mumble into his neck. "I just acted on instinct, and apparently my instinct was to kill."

"Because you were defending yourself," he says, pulling back to look at me. "Those men would have murdered you too if you hadn't stopped them."

A few tears escape. "Well, I stopped them. I killed Visili, and although Vladimir survived, he's now facing a whole host of federal and state charges. Not the least of which are my parent's murders. The real kicker is, he's also the son of a well-known Romanian crime lord. The family is suspected of crimes all over Eastern Europe and the United States, but there has never been enough evidence on any of them to convict."

"Until now," Edward concludes.

I nod and smile sadly.

"And you have to testify against this Vladimir guy?"

"I don't have to, but he killed my parents. Am I supposed to ignore that because his family might retaliate?"

Edward looks at me with such compassion that I have to look away. He simply holds me closer and allows me the silence for my thoughts, until I find them too heavy to keep inside.

"You know, as many times as I've fired a gun, I never thought I would live to see the day I'd use one to take a life. And I hate the idea that I did that. It terrifies me that I'm capable of it, but at the same time, I feel so angry that both of them didn't die," I take a breath and blink back tears. "It's such an awful feeling, Edward. You have no idea. To literally wish someone dead? I want Vladimir to pay for what he did to my parents, but somehow life in prison seems like he'd be getting off too easy."

"I think so too," Edward murmurs.

"I'm a horrible person," I say, wiping more angry tears away.

"What you're feeling is normal after what you've been through."

"It doesn't feel normal. It feels awful, monstrous even."

Edward sighs and rolls me onto my back, hovering over me and holding my face. "Bella, it feels that way because what happened to you was monstrous. But it's not your fault. I don't think anyone would blame you for doing what you did. Or feeling how you feel. If it were me, I'd feel the same way."

"You don't think less of me?"

"No, love. Never. I'm so glad you told me."

"I probably shouldn't have," I whisper, suddenly realizing the gravity of what I've just done. "Jasper's going to have a cow."

"I would have found out eventually."

"Oh?" I ask, surprised. "You really think so?"

He smiles. "I do. Because no matter what happens next, I'm staying by your side. Here, or a thousand miles away."

My eyebrows shoot up. "What?"

"Bella, you mean too much to me for me to let you go now. I want to be with you through this."

"No. You don't know what you're saying, Edward. We're not talking about weeks or months here. I may never be entirely safe. Even if Stefan Vladimir is sent to prison for the rest of his life, I could end up being targeted by his family out of revenge."

Edward gazes at me so tenderly, so acceptingly, that it nearly breaks my heart.

"So what am I supposed to do?" he says softly. "Just worry about you forever? At least if I go with you, we can face it together."

I gape at him. "You can't just leave everything behind for me. What about your job? Your family?"

"Bella, I could care less about my job. And yes, I love my family very much, but you're the most important thing to me now. The most important thing ever."

"But you missed them so much when you were away in the Navy."

"I did, but that would pale in comparison to what it would be like for me to be away from you now."

"Why?" I ask, stunned.

"We just found each other, Bella. I'd almost given up hope of feeling for someone what I feel for you." He stops and shakes his head with a wry smile. "Imagine my horror when I thought the kind of love I'd been waiting so long for showed up in my classroom! In one of my students!"

My mouth falls open at his words. Shocked that he could possibly be feeling the same thing I'm feeling, I gape like a fish. Edward chuckles and lowers his forehead to mine.

"Don't act so surprised, sweetheart. I may have knocked you off your feet when we met, but you ripped the ground right out from under mine. I was lost the moment I looked into those big, brown eyes. It was completely terrifying at the time."

"And... and now?" I ask, my voice shaking, a thousand tiny butterflies tickling my stomach.

"And now... it's amazing. I never knew it could happen like this."

I sigh and close my eyes, pushing my fingers into his hair. Could he really feel so strongly for me? After so little time?

I think about the way this man affects me. About the way everything feels right, and safe, and perfect when we're close, and I realize it has to be possible for him to feel the way he does, because I feel the same way. So I tell him.

"I know what you mean," I say softly. "I thought I was hallucinating you when I hit my head that first day."

"You did?" he laughs.

I smile and look at him. "I did. I figured you must have been a dream because you were the most handsome man I'd ever seen. And when you helped me up, it felt like one of those movie scenes where everything just sort of blurs except the person you're looking at."

"Like the rest of the world doesn't exist for a few seconds," he adds.

"Yeah. Exactly."

We just stare at each other, most likely both thinking the same thing, thinking of that first time we touched.

"Isabella Swan..." He says my name softly, like he's trying it out on his tongue or pondering some great thought.

"Edward Cullen..." I answer in the same way. He pulls back to look at me full-on and I know my eyes are dancing with words unsaid, just like his.

We both laugh a little nervously, and I hide my face in his neck.

"Come here," he says, tilting my chin up and closing the distance between us.

Our mouths meet then, and it's soft and sweet at first, but grows quickly in passion and confidence. Our tongues and breaths dance together, building in both tempo and intensity. The rest of our bodies join in the rhythm and when we part, we're both gasping for air.

Edward's breath is hot in my ear. "If Whitlock says it's safe for you to stay here, I'm quitting my job tomorrow."

I laugh because I can feel the probable source of his hasty declaration against my thigh.

I shake my head. "No you're not. If I stay I'll just tell them I can't take it anymore and ask to be homeschooled."

"Or," he suggests. "You could ask them to just stop with the teenage charade."

"I wish, but that might defeat the purpose of me staying."

"So then maybe it's not a bad thing for us if it ends up not being safe for you here. We can start fresh," he says, more serious now. He touches my face softly. "I want you to know something though. I would have stayed away from you before. I would have done the right thing if I'd remained unaware of the truth. As much as I cared for you, I never would have done anything inappropriate."

"I know you wouldn't have."

"It's all different now, though, Bella. I don't think I have the strength to stay away from you anymore, and I certainly don't have the strength to let you walk away."

I close my eyes momentarily. I don't want him to see the conflict there.

"I don't want you to have to live a lie for me, Edward, or give up your life for me. The starting fresh thing? It's not like that. There's so much baggage that comes with being with me. There always will be, and we have no control over any of it."

Edward is quiet for a moment. He strokes my cheek and waits for me to open my eyes. "Do you think it would be better? Staying here and working around your alias?"

"I don't know."

"How long?"

"How long what?" I ask, confused.

"How long will you have to live as Anna Bella? Do you know if you'll get to go back to your life at some point?"

"I don't know. I don't like to think about it, but right now? I'm dealing with this indefinitely."

"So... for all intents and purposes, you could be twelve years younger than me for what? Years?"

I sigh, feeling his growing despair. "I suppose that's possible. I pray it will only be until I have to testify, but I have no way of knowing whether or not I'll be safe ever again."

"Why does it suddenly feel like we only have tonight?" he whispers, rolling onto his back.

I stay silent, not knowing how to answer him. Thinking that his words were nothing more than frustration with the hard facts of my situation. I've been there, and I can't begrudge him.

But then I think further on his words, and I wonder if it feels like we only have tonight, because perhaps we do only have tonight. Perhaps tomorrow the spell will be broken and these feelings that seem so certain now will be shoved aside in the harsh light of day, in the light of reality.

I prop my head on my hand, and gaze at him. Pondering our choices.

"What if all we did have was tonight?" I finally ask him, my voice soft, but steady.

"What?" he asks, turning his head sharply in response. "Why would you...? That's not what I meant! I was just feeling overwhelmed. I meant it when I said I would go with you."

I smile and place a hand on his chest. "No, I know. I believe you, but a million things could happen after tonight and I want to know. If all we had was tonight, do you think it would it be enough for you? Would it be enough for forever?"

He turns onto his side to face me and pushes up on his elbow. "No. Not at all," he says, unflinchingly. "I don't want a one night stand with you, Bella. I want... well, I guess I want the forever part."

I smile sadly. "I don't want a one night stand either. But what if one night was all that was in the cards for us?"

He looks horrified by my words, but I know he has to see there is a valid question in them. He can see that this is the reality of my situation. Of life in general, I suppose. The world is an uncertain place; you never know which moment might be your last.

"I don't know what you're thinking right now," he says after his initial shock wears off. "But I'm not going to make love to you tonight just because you believe there's some sort of sword hanging over your head. It's not now or never."

"Maybe not," I say, running a hand through his hair. "Maybe I'm overreacting."

"You are overreacting," he breathes, closing his eyes as I stroke his scalp with my fingers.

"So then, make love to me because you want to," I say. "And because I want you to."

Edward's eyes flutter open and I can see the effect I'm having on him, the battle raging behind his eyes. There's fire and passion there, just waiting to burst forth. I take a shaky breath and muster enough confidence to chip away at the damn holding it back.

"Make love to me, Edward. Make love to me because I've never felt this way about anyone before, and I'm pretty sure you feel the same way."

He groans. "God, Bella, I do, but..." His eyes soften and his voice grows tender. "I'm not going to rush into anything because you're afraid of what will happen tomorrow, love. I won't do that to you."

I swallow, my throat thick with emotion. "I've been afraid of what will happen tomorrow every single day for the last five months. All I want to think about tonight is us. I want to forget about tomorrow. Give me tonight, Edward. Please?"

"Bella," he sighs, lowering himself until he's flush against me. "You're making it impossible for me deny you."

"Then don't," I beg.

"Are you sure?" he whispers, closing his eyes. "So much has happened so fast."

"I know it has, but I'm sure," I answer, running one hand down his back to the hem of his shirt. My confidence wavers a bit when I reach my destination and he's still looking away –looking uncertain. "I mean, unless you don't... want me... like that."

His eyes flash open and his jaw clenches. "I think we've established that I very much do want you like that." Slowly, his hand slides down over my ribs to my hip, gripping it hard. "And you're not playing fair right now, you know that?"

I smile and fist his shirt tightly in my hand before sliding my palm over the skin of his back. "I'm a competitor, Edward. I play to win."

He groans, and the sound is that of a man undone. It's a sound I've honestly never heard before. "God, how I want you. You have no idea."

"I want you, too. Now. Tonight. No more pretending."

His hand slides down my leg, gripping it behind the knee and hitching it over his hip. I whimper in response and feel his lips near my ear. "Right now, Bella? Tonight?"

"Yes," I hiss. "Please, yes."

He hums and kisses the spot behind my ear. "Tonight is yours then..." he whispers. "Tonight, and then the rest. All of it. We're in this together."

"Together," I agree, praying that we aren't doomed from the start.

~(~)~


End Note:

Sorry about cutting it there, ladies & gents. But you'll be glad I did it this way eventually. Say, maybe... next week?

See you then! :)

PS- Super-duper "thank you"s to my super-hot beta, SueBee0619. I keep making last minute changes on her though, so any mistakes above are my own. Also, anothe bit thank you to StellaBlueBella for being a frick-awesome pre-reader & pal! Love both you ladies!