The party was underway, and Bella was running late, but not by much. Some issues arose with a survey team in California that she had to address before leaving her apartment. She was on her way and Edward was working the room in her absence. He talked with former clients from his days with Sherman and Associates. A few potential clients arrived, who were on the verge of scoping out the hot new architects in the area for future projects.

From across the room, Edward rose his glass to his mother and Alice, who had worked with some of the people in attendance. He had no qualms using their network to increase their own for business; it was how things worked in their world. Yet, he had morals, ethics, and hard limits.

One of them was the woman that approached him that very minute—Mrs. Irina Williams. Her husband was real estate genius, owning almost twenty percent of Seattle's business district, and a great deal of residential areas that surrounded the city. She had tried on several occasions to sink her claws into him, but he politely refused all her advances.

No matter how much they could use her husband's business, and rumor had it that she was a great influence on his decisions, negotiations would not occur between the sheets. He kept a smile plastered on his face, answering a question from a potential client as she made her way toward him. Dressed in canary yellow, an astonishing color in a sea of blue and black, she caught the attention of many men. To him, she was an obstacle.

Someone else caught his attention, making his fake smile widen into something genuine. Standing near the double doors that made up their office entrance, stood his partner in all things, his Bella. Wearing the black dress she teased him about the night before. His jaw clenched as well as his hands, and desire curled deep within him, at the sight of her. She smiled at someone, turning enough for him to get a view of the back of her dress, and noticing almost nothing but skin from her neck down to the dimples above her ass. Thin black straps crossed the ivory expanse and made his fingers itch to pull them off one by one.

It was only fair that she teased him, too, considering he was also dressed in the blue suit she warned him not to wear. Her head turned from side to side discreetly as she spoke with an older man he didn't recognize, as if she was looking for someone. Her eyes finally met his, and he nearly groaned at the deep red color of her lips. He cocked an eyebrow, daring her to complain about his attire, and taking the time to look over every inch of her. She returned it with a slightly teasing smile, shifting just enough for him to catch a tantalizing glimpse of her right thigh, along the slit that ran midway up. Before he could mouth something, he saw her gaze narrow and that was when he felt a few talons pressing into his sleeve.

It was clear that Bella knew exactly who was on his arm, taking liberties most wouldn't dare in a public setting. He offered her a real smile and allowed it to transform to one of business. She winked, slipping her hand on the arm of the man beside her. With a smile and a laugh, she headed toward him as Mrs. Williams attempted to strike up a conversation between them. He did his best to listen while keeping an eye on Bella. It wasn't until one of her former clients stopped her that he recognized her companion, Irina's husband. The man seemed charmed by her, laughing along with whatever was being said, patting her small hand with his. She knew how to work a room as well as he did, and he couldn't help but be impressed. Twice, she magically pulled out a business card that delighted those who spoke with her.

"What do you think?" Irina asked him, attempting to gain his full attention. The edge in her voice didn't escape his notice. Business, he reminded himself, he was there for business. This waiting was in essence a test, and one he strove to pass. They wanted to know if they could be professional while holding back their desire of one another. If Irina thought he wasn't listening because his attention was on Bella, he would need to prove otherwise.

"The renovations and updates to the Buckram building of which you speak would take a great deal of time but would enhance the cityscape and efficiency of the building. With building codes becoming ever stricter, and something of that magnitude, once construction could start, would take approximately two years."

"My wife is thinking well into the future, Mr. Cullen," Mr. Williams stated as he approached with Bella. "That project is not for another five to seven years, at least." He offered his hand, having met before. "Great to see you again, Edward. I see my wife found you before I could. No matter, I happened to find this nice, pretty girl over here." His Texas drawl was thicker than before, something that happened if he remained home for longer than a few months. Although he was twenty years older than his wife, Mr. Williams was still at the prime of his life. The grip with which he shook Edward's hand was strong as a metal vice.

"I literally bumped into him on my way in," Bella said, smiling and shaking her leg out slightly. "These heels aren't made for walking." Her long legs looked spectacular in her black heels and subtle smirk she wore said she knew it.

Mr. Williams laughed, his greying mustache twitching. "I told you boots are what you need."

"I'm going to go find myself a pair tomorrow."

Edward couldn't help himself, since he was literally watching a master, as there was not one ounce of disinterest or animosity in Bella as Mr. Williams introduced her to his wife. Irina slinked her way over to her husband and sent her a scathing look. There was a genuine smile still on Bella's face as they spoke of a possible addition to one the couple's many homes, as Irina made sure to point out.

"Now, Bella my dear, have you envisioned your own dream house yet?" A few others gathered around them, listening as she explained in that passionate way of hers what her dream house could look like.

"It seems to change a bit daily, as new techniques and materials are introduced, but I hope to someday build it."

Edward placed his hand at the small of her back and smiled. "It will happen and it will be beautiful."

"The envy of the entire state by the sounds of it," his mother said, raising a glass of champagne like the others.

Edward felt Bella tense and he shifted his fingers to pinch her side, grimacing as she did the same to him. He didn't blame her for her shock, since he'd forgotten to tell her that his mother was able to attend after all. Other than Alice, they were his only family in attendance. It could've been worse if his overfriendly cousin Emmett and his wife, Rosalie, could have made it. Thankfully, she wasn't able to fly due to being thirty-three weeks pregnant. His father on the other hand was the main speaker in Los Angeles for a conference and couldn't make it.

"Ms. Swan, a pleasure to meet you," his mother said, shaking Bella's hand as he formally introduced her to the group. "Tell me more about this house." A smile formed on Bella's lips, widening as she answered questions of seemingly genuine interest.

Several minutes later, his mother pulled him aside. "You didn't tell her I was coming, did you?"

Edward winced, slipping his hands in his pants' pockets. "No, it slipped my mind. It wasn't until you arrived that I realized my mistake."

"You would think that the woman you plan to spend your life with should know her future mother-in-law was in town."

His eyes widened, and he looked around to make sure no one overheard. "For God's sake, Mother, don't get ahead of yourself."

"You spend a great deal of time talking about her whenever we speak," Esme stated, running a hand over her reddish curls. "You and I know what's already in your heart."

Edward sighed, nodding. "That may be true, but until I know what's in hers, we can't move forward." His mother sipped on her glass, watching Bella as she continued to speak with several potential clients.

"Alice told me that you two wouldn't do moving of any kind until both of you have signed a client. That doesn't exactly sound as if this is nothing more than a fling for either of you."

"Alice needs to stop eavesdropping, but yes, that is essentially our agreement. We need to focus on business before we can turn that to each other. I also want her to believe in herself, and that she is capable to pulling in interest for her work."

"She seems to be doing just fine," Esme stated, smiling as Bella had the group laughing loudly. "How close are you to signing anyone?"

"If Toshiro is serious about our last discussion, at most, a few weeks," he replied, walking his mother back toward another group of people. "Introduce me to Gary and his partner. I heard they have something in mind for Chicago." He waved at Bella, and she returned it with a bright smile. It was time to broaden his network while his partner did the same.

~oOo~

What felt like hours later, Bella looked and found Edward at the bar they'd had Jasper temporarily set up. The party was dwindling as it approached midnight and they had effectively spoken to all the right people. Hopefully, she would have at least a few lunch and breakfast meetings scheduled soon with some of the socialites, thanks to Alice and Esme.

He had his elbows propped up on the bar, an amber colored drink in his hand and looking like an advertisement in GQ for some fancy brand. Dressed in a finely tailored, dark blue suit, the one she loved, he looked every bit the professional he was. He had even worn the tie she bought him for his last birthday, along with the cufflinks. As she watched him talk with the bartender that was cleaning up for the night, she wanted to sidle up to him and help him unwind with a knee-weakening kiss.

"I see Alice and your mother left," she said, joining him. She ordered a glass of wine as he turned to look at her, resting one arm along the bar, his fingers skimming over her elbow.

"I'm sorry, it slipped my mind," he replied, his knuckles continuing the exploration up her arm. She didn't stop him, and it was something he did when they had moments to themselves throughout the night. The rare occurrences hadn't come often enough, and she could tell he had missed her. "I'll make it up to you." He licked his lips, his eyes dipping down the column of her neck as if he knew exactly how he would do just that.

She had to thank Alice for insisting that she wear her hair up. The man hadn't been able to resist touching her there or caressing her naked back when they stood side-by-side as they introduced themselves to various people.

He pulled away slightly from the bar, only to lean his back against it. His eyes wandered around the room, noting that no one but the cleanup crew remained. She smiled as he slipped his hand along her side, his thumb brushing under her breast, quickening her breath. It wasn't long before his fingers settled on the curve of her hip, where they tapped a beat before he pulled her to stand in front of him.

"You're beautiful." She saw his desire clear as day written over every inch his face, in the way that he stood before her, and in the battle in his eyes as he tried to fight it all. As if he lost, his hand slipped up her naked back, his nose flaring slightly as he watched the effect he had on her. She knew he saw her nipples tighten beneath the silk and lace, and how her pulse raced along her neck and the way her breathing quickened.

"You already know how handsome you look tonight."

A half smile graced his lips, lighting up his eyes. "I was told once or twice by a beautiful woman."

She laughed and rested her hand on his chest. "It was a fantastic night."

"You had them eating out of the palm of your hand." He lifted the drink he still held in his hand, tipped it just enough. "It won't be long before they'll want you to work some magic on their dream homes or projects."

"Same goes for you. Peterson and Jefferson were clamoring for your attention. It was a great idea to showcase our designs on the light tables." She looked toward a particular concept design he told her he dreamed up one night. He was still working with possible materials he could use to achieve the look and knew it was years before he'd ever see it built. "My favorite was a huge winner with our guests."

"I love that it's your favorite. It's mine, too." The bartender interrupted their little bubble to state that everything was clean, and the crew would be leaving. "We should go," he whispered to her as they handed the bartender their glasses.

"I left my coat in the office," she said, taking a moment to slip off a heel long enough to rub her foot against her calf. "Five hours in heels, ouch."

"Just wait here and call for a cab, I'll grab your coat and mine." Edward walked down the hall toward their offices, watching as he slipped his ringing cell phone out of his pocket to answer. She proceeded to call for the cab and showed the crew out of the office, thanking them once again.

Concerned that a few minutes had passed, Bella looked toward her office to find Edward tugging on his tie roughly, still on the phone.

"That can't be good."

It wasn't. He looked somewhat angry and in a rush when he finally came walking back to her. "That was Toshiro. He'll be in New York by morning and wants to sign me."

"That's fantastic," she said. "If that's the case then why are you upset?"

"I have to be on the red-eye in two hours if I am going to make it in time," he said, helping her into her coat. She shivered when he pressed his lips to her shoulder and lingered several beats. "I'd rather take you home and spend the weekend in bed celebrating. I want you, and I don't know how much longer I can handle this much want." He emphasized his words with a small push of his hips against her ass, eliciting a breathy moan.

"We need to go," she said, resisting and pulling away. "You have a flight to catch now." He nodded and cradled her face in between his hands. His lips weren't insistent or hard, but soft and tender, sweet.

She took his hand in the cab, curled up his side, and wished him luck. He settled his chin on the top of her head for the rest of the ride, his fingers tracing symbols along her skin, a heart among them.

~oOo~

Edward did his best to keep Bella updated on the progress with Toshiro. Their lawyer, Riley Biers, was ironing out the details in the contract and it seemed that they'd come to an agreement with the legion of suits Toshiro hired. In celebration, they were at a trendy bar, but all he wanted to do was call Bella.

He found his chance and sneaked into an empty room, thanks to a friendly bartender. "Hey, beautiful," he said as she answered.

"What time is it?" she said with a sleep-roughened voice. He cursed himself for not thinking, he was out and hadn't noticed it was almost two in the morning. "Please tell me there will be video of you doing karaoke."

"If there is, I'll make sure it's destroyed before I leave this place." He wanted to reach through the line and hold her as she laughed. "I wanted to tell you that I'll be home tomorrow night, though late."

"Well, get some rest and I'll see you first thing Monday morning."

"How I wish that were true," he said, his voice deepening with need. "I'll be waking up in an empty bed."

"Edward," she whispered, breathier than before. "Good night, Edward."

"Pleasant dreams, Bella."

~oOo~

Monday had not gone well for either of them. There were still some issues with the contract with Toshiro, while Bella had yet to have someone to call her. The success of the cocktail party wasn't spilling over to their first day that they officially opened for business. Her stress was subtle at first, and it slowly progressed throughout the day. He watched as she started to constantly check the phone, pace in her office, and go through files on her desk that he knew she already memorized.

He was afraid it could happen, knew it was probable. Had he been able to remain in town over the weekend as planned, he would've prepared her for it. Their business centered on huge projects, and ninety percent of the time, millions of dollars, with a few smaller ones interspersed here and there. Many of the potential clients they met at the cocktail party were likely not ready to start the overwhelming process of beginning a new project, but eventually, they would be.

Checking the time and seeing that it was just after noon, Edward stood from his chair and flagged her down for lunch. Her eyes caught the movement, her brow furrowing. He tapped his watch and gestured toward the exit. She looked relieved and nodded.

Minutes later, they sat across each other as they waited for their food. It didn't take long for Bella to check her phone again. Edward placed his hand over hers, shaking his head. "Take a deep breath."

She did as he asked, and another followed soon after. "I swear I'm not usually this neurotic."

"Bella, you're fine, but for just an hour, let's concentrate on other things rather than business." She tried to protest, but he prevented it by placing two of his fingers on her lips. "If our phone rings while we're having lunch, we can answer."

"You're right," she stated, trying not to roll her eyes. "This isn't at all how I pictured our first day."

"How did you picture it?"

"That our phone kept ringing, so often that there wasn't enough of us to go around."

Edward sipped deeply from his glass of water, grateful that Bella wanted comfort food from a local diner near the office. He hadn't had time to have a good burger in weeks.

"A part of me wished that it would be, too, but…"

"You already knew it wouldn't and I knew that deep down," she said, shrugging and averting her eyes. "I was expecting calls today. At least, they said they would call."

"And they still might, and even though they haven't, it's not your fault. It is by no means a reflection of your talent. You wowed them that night and you will again."

She offered a smile, even if it didn't reach her eyes. "You did, too, and you have Toshiro almost ready to sign."

"And you'll have Jane or someone new before you know it."

He hoped his words would sink in and that she understood that it would get better.

~oOo~

By the end of the day, little had changed, and Bella looked as disappointed as ever. In an attempt to cheer her up, Edward invited her to dinner. "How about I make some of my garlic pasta, and we open up a bottle of wine at my place tonight? Say in about an hour?"

Bella shook her head and quickly walked past him. "I need to go home, and my dad is expecting my call tonight. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bella," he said, wrapping his hand around her wrist to stop her from leaving. "It will get better, I swear it."

"What if making me your partner was a mistake? I could bring our company down." Her eyes, darker than usual, dimmed more as she looked at him questioningly.

"I know you love what you do, and you stand behind your designs. I need you to do that now."

Her head tilted up, her chin doing the same. "You're right. I'm damn good at what I do, and damn it, I graduated at the top of my class and the college even used my concept for their new business and finance building."

"That's it, now have dinner with me."

She shook her head and smiled up at him. "I do need to call my father tonight. It's been too long, as he loves to remind me of daily through email or text. There should be a limit of how many times a parent could guilt trip their child a year."

"My mother is allowed five, that's it. She uses most of hers during the holidays." They both laughed. "All right, I'll be checking on you later, and get something to eat. I'll bring the coffee tomorrow."

Edward watched her go, and even though she said all the right words, something told him she didn't quite believe in herself. Time would tell, and he wondered if what happened in her past had come back to haunt her.

Hours later, as he went over revisions in the contract with Toshiro, there was a knock on his apartment door. It was well past eleven at night and couldn't think of anyone that would visit at the late hour without calling first. A quick look at his phone confirmed that no one had tried.

Realizing he was dressed in his black sleep pants and no shirt, he still went to answer. There was a possibility it was Alec, a jet-setting photographer that lived across the hall, but he wouldn't care. Whenever he had to leave on assignment in a hurry, he would leave his key with Edward to water his plants and feed his fish.

"Hey, Alec, where you off to this time?" he asked loud enough for Alec to pick up. However, when he opened the door, Bella stood looking as exhausted as ever.

"Can I come in?" she asked, one of her words cracking. Her arms were hugged tightly around her middle as if they were holding her upright and her eyes imploringly gazed up at him.

"Of course. Are you all right?" he asked, stepping back from the doorway to allow her to pass.

Bella nodded as she crossed the threshold, but she kept her back to him until the door closed. He was about to reach out to her when she turned to face him, her head moving back and forth and her arms waving out. "Actually no, I'm not all right. I'm sorry for barging in on you like this, but I couldn't sleep and I'm just so pent up and anxious. I needed someone to talk to."

"No apologies needed. Why don't you make yourself comfortable and I'll grab us some wine, then we can sit and talk, okay?" Edward replied calmly, resting his hands on her shoulders.

"Okay." Her voice was barely above a whisper and he knew he was witnessing a side of her that she rarely allowed anyone to see. The strong, confident woman he'd come to know was not the one standing before him at that moment. She was softer and more vulnerable than he had ever seen her, and she needed a friend.

~oOo~

Bella bypassed the couch in the living room and settled herself on one of the two cushioned chairs in the dining room that Edward set up in place of their desks, now at the office. Staring out at the picturesque view of the night sky beyond the windows was a welcomed sight. All evening, she had been trying to remind herself of how high she'd set her hopes and expectations, and only a small portion of it had been because of the man in the next room. Of course, she wanted him, but more than that, she wanted to prove her capabilities to herself.

"Hey." Edward's voice startled her out of her thoughts, and she looked up to him, giving a small smile as she took the glass he was holding out to her. Her eyes focused on his bare chest as he sat down in the other chair, giving her mind a temporary respite from the hellacious cycle her thoughts had been on all day. For just that one moment, she could think of something else; the smooth definition of his muscles, the firmness of his chest and abdomen, and the way the night pants hung on his hips. But it was just a moment, and just as quickly, it all came back to her with one look into his eyes. "Bella, you're not still doubting yourself, are you?"

Her gaze fell to her wine glass, taking a sip and then running her finger around the rim. "I'm trying not to and keep reminding myself that it's one day. Our first official day of business in our office. And I'm almost always successful when I think about the people at the party. They only just met me three days ago, and most of them either hadn't even thought about building a house just yet, or at least didn't have concrete ideas for one. Calls like that take time, and I know that. But that's not the case with Jane. It's been a week since I sent her the last revision, and nothing. Not even an email that she was looking at it or thinking about it."

Edward shifted the chair to sit closer, brushing his fingertips on her shoulder. "You know better than anyone how Jane operates. You could go weeks without hearing anything, and then for three days straight, you can't keep up with the constant flow of emails and phone calls. She's probably just busy. I have no doubt you'll hear from her soon."

Bella sighed heavily, setting her glass on the floor beside the chair and rising to pace again. "I'm not so sure. I know that no client comes easy and everything takes time, and in our field, there is no such thing as a guarantee until that signature is on the contract. So, what if she doesn't like one thing too many this time? What if I've wasted my time and this was all for nothing? That it's my pipe dream, not hers. As much as I want you, even that pales in comparison to how much I want this project. I have busted my ass and most people would think I'm completely insane for putting this much work into a project without a guarantee. And if it were another architect doing this, I have to admit, I would be thinking the same thing. But I can't stop. I don't want to shoot for something simple just so I can get that first client, you know?"

Edward leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and looking up at her. "Bella, what's going on here? You've never doubted yourself this much."

"I've always strived hard to be the best. I was a straight A student in high school, had a 3.94 GPA in college, and was actually pissed about those few little points that held me back from a 4.0. Everything I've done, I've worked my ass off to make sure that I couldn't have done it any better. You've seen that firsthand," Bella ranted, gesturing her hand toward him. "I thought I had grown a tougher skin than this, especially with the competition in this business. Hell, I'm competitive to the nth degree, but I'm clearly still a work in progress when it comes to handling failure. I don't want to fail you, Edward, and I really don't want to fail myself."

"You won't. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind about that. Let me ask you this. Is Jane even consulting with another architect right now?" Edward asked and she lowered her eyes, shaking her head. "You've been in this business long enough to know how rare that is. If a potential client isn't a hundred percent sure that they have found the right one, they will explore their options, weigh other ideas and bids. Bella, she wanted you, even when we were still with Sherman. She practically jumped at the chance as soon as her schedule allowed to even fit a few minutes in with you. I know the wait is excruciating on the nerves, I just went through it myself with Toshiro, and I was competing against two other architects. And that was for a business. Jane is trusting you, and only you, with her home. Something very personal. If she didn't have the same confidence in you as I do, after all the time invested for the both of you, with all the money she will be pouring into this, she'd be exploring those options by now."

Bella sighed and returned to the chair, sitting down and rubbing her hands roughly over her face to relieve some of her tension. "You're right. I know you're right. And I know there will be other projects that will be just as great, and our phones won't always be this silent. I'll probably even laugh at myself someday for getting this worked up over a singular project. This one just inspired me from day one, everything from the beauty of it to the challenge. I don't want to lose it when I've come so close."

Edward's hand appeared in her line of sight, covering hers where it had fallen to her lap. "I know you don't. Just give it a few more days. Either way, everything is going to be all right."

Bella watched the path of his thumb dragging slowly back and forth over her hand and the corner of her mouth tugged up sadly. "You know what really sucks about this whole waiting thing?"

Their gazes met and she couldn't help but chuckle a little at his confused raised eyebrow. "What?"

Bella turned her hand until their palms met, threading her fingers through his. "Times like this. Dates, I can wait for. Sex, obviously I can wait for, even though it's really difficult at times. But tonight, when I was at home freaking out and I needed someone to talk to, you were the first person I thought of. You were the one I needed. And I can't just climb into your lap and have you hold me. To be in your arms when you tell me that everything will be all right. It really does suck."

"Says who?" Edward replied and then gave her hand a gentle tug. She stood from the chair and stepped toward him, lowering herself to sit on his lap. Almost instantly, he slid his arms around her, and she tucked her face into the side of his neck. His lips pressed to her temple, and the sensation was so comforting that her body almost instinctively curled into him more. "I don't need the official title of boyfriend to hold the woman I love in my arms and comfort her. And a title isn't a requirement for you, either, if you need me."

Bella closed her eyes and drew in a slow breath, absorbing both the warmth of his embrace and the weight of his words. They might not have been the three that seemed to be thrown around far too carelessly most of the time, and maybe they weren't ready for that yet. However, his meant so much more. He was opening up to her, trusting her with a glimpse into his heart, which was exactly what she had asked for in the very beginning. She wanted to know him, but she needed to give as much as she was receiving. She needed to trust him in equal amounts.

His fingers were running gently through her hair, winding the curl at the end around them, while hers drew indistinct patterns from his collarbone down to his bare chest. "What are you thinking about?"

"My mother," Bella answered honestly, and felt his hand still and move to curl around her shoulder. "I don't think about her much. And I don't let her affect most aspects of my life, but I've never been able to handle failure or rejection well, or my fear of it. My trust in people. There's always been that part me that asks 'how can you expect this person not to reject you, when your own mother did?' And at the worst possible times."

Edward's arm tightened protectively around her and his other hand cradled her head to hold her close, and she felt his lips against her hair. "Will you tell me what happened that day?"

Bella tilted her head to look up at him and saw everything she needed to know in his eyes. He was opening that door for her, to share with him something she had done with no one else, while still leaving her the option to say no. Nothing would change whether she told him or not, but he was there to listen.

"I was seven, a couple weeks before my eighth birthday. A few days before school was going to be starting up again, she took me out shopping. I was so excited to be going back to school. It was all I had been talking about all summer. She told me to pick out any backpack I wanted, and I found this really cool one, purple with black swirls all over it. I didn't want something with cartoons on it, because for some reason, third grade just felt so grown up and like real school for the first time." She paused with a sad chuckle, shaking her head. "I remember hugging that bag so tight, and then she picked me up and put me in the back of the cart. I was so caught up in that backpack, it didn't register with me when she told me she loved me and to wait in the cart. I just said 'okay, Mommy, love you, too,' then she kissed the top of my head and left. Didn't look back once."

Edward's hand resumed its motion through her hair, but it still felt comforting rather that pitying. And for that, she was grateful. "Just like that?"

Bella nodded and burrowed more into his arms, loving the feel of them around her. "Just like that. And I did exactly what she said. I didn't move from that cart, just kept waiting for her. She knew no one would dare hurt me there, and that everyone knew who I was. In a small town like Forks, the daughter of a police officer doesn't go unnoticed. My dad is an amazing man, he grew up there and did so much for the community, and everyone loved and respected him. So she knew it wouldn't take long for someone to notice his little girl sitting in a cart in the middle of an aisle. Especially during something like back-to-school shopping. It was probably only about twenty minutes before they realized she wasn't coming back and called the station. I'll never forget the look on my dad's face when he came to get me. I had never seen him anything less than completely composed in my entire life, and he was scared to death. That was what finally got to me, and I asked him 'where's Mommy?' And all he could manage to get out was 'she's not here, sweetheart.' I never saw or heard from her again."

"Oh God, baby," Edward whispered, and she lifted her head from his shoulder. Now, he just looked worried about her, as if she was about to burst into tears any moment.

"I'm okay. Like I said, I don't think of her much or allow her to affect my life most of the time. My dad got me into counseling very early on, so I could work through it all before it could fester. I'm not loaded with abandonment issues or anything, because I was really lucky to have an amazing father. I didn't miss out on anything from not having a mother around who obviously didn't care enough, because my dad gave me enough love for the both of them. I think there's just that small lingering question of why, in the back of my mind that creeps up every now and then. Especially in times like this where I'm a little scared."

Edward brought his hand to her face, cupping her cheek and brushing his thumb over it gently. "For what it's worth, I think you are an amazingly strong woman. And I won't patronize you and say you have absolutely nothing to be scared of, because that is never true. But I do have a really good feeling about Jane. Just give it some time."

Bella gave him a tired smile and brushed her lips against his. "Thank you. For being here and listening."

"Anytime," he replied with his eyes still closed, his smile returning when he finally brought his gaze back to her.

Bella glanced up at the clock on his wall and groaned, her head falling to his shoulder. "Oh god, it's almost midnight. When we have to work tomorrow, and God only knows what time you went to bed last night. I'm sorry. I'll head home and let you get some sleep."

Edward kept his hold around her, stopping her from rising off his lap. "Stay. I would feel a hell of a lot better about you driving home in the morning with it raining like that."

Bella looked back to the window when he nodded to it, and sure enough, rivulets of water were trickling rapidly down the pane. Rain was beating against the glass, and she really didn't want to drive home in that. "How is that going to work, though? You're too much of a gentleman to make me sleep on the couch, and I can't go," she paused, pointed toward his bedroom door. "There yet. I'd never get that out of my head."

Edward turned her chin with his finger to look at him, their lips a breath apart. "Technically, I am too much of a gentleman to make you sleep on the couch. At least not when I'm lying on a comfortable bed in the next room. However, I have a plan."

"Oh you do?" she challenged, enjoying the eased demeanor between them. As they stood, she literally felt lighter, as if talking to him had lifted that invisible weight from her shoulders.

Edward grinned as he took her hand and began backing toward the couch. "Yes, I do. Stay here with me."

"But…"

"I can keep my hands to myself, Bella. I just want to hold you."

Bella gazed up into Edward's eyes, which had lost all traces of humor, and she nodded her head. "I, uh, just need something to wear again."

After a kiss to her forehead, Edward let her go and made his way to his room, grabbing her a similar outfit as she wore the last time she borrowed his clothes. Once she had changed, she returned to the living room to find him already on the couch, waiting for her. Lying down beside him, she hummed softly as he pulled a blanket over them and encased her in his arms. She was happy and felt warm and safe, but one thing remained on her mind—his words from earlier that she had not returned. The first time she said the actual words and hear them from him, she wanted him to be completely and thoroughly hers. So she told him in the only way she could.

"I have no problem spending the night in the arms of the man I love."