Chapter 12: Pure Dogmatism

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine; I didn't write the Twilight books, Stephenie Meyer did.

WARNING: This story contains a very possessive, dominant Edward and disciplinary spanking so if you don't like it, don't read it.

Story Recommendation: Supernatural Guide 4 Avoiding Domestic Discipline by Sawny94

Book Recommendation: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

A/N: Hello out there! Why yes this is indeed an actual chapter update! Thanks for all of the REVIEWs, favorites, and alerts for chapter 11! You guys are awesome! Whenever I read the reviews I get this surge of energy, inspiration, incentive; yeah pretty pathetic but true, you guys make my day! Lol so anyways this might be the final chapter of this story…maybe…I haven't decided yet…please do REVIEW let me know if you think that this is a good ending or not. Thanx again 4 all of ur support! Enjoy the long, long, long awaited chapter 12! :D

BPOV

So… um…yeah, today totally sucked; not only was I forced to go to school instead of staying home and being able to greet Edward as soon as he returned, but I earned a detention for having one too many unexcused absences. I therefore had to stay an hour after school; further belaying my seeing Edward. Ergo, after my hour of solitary confinement was up, I raced out of the school building, intent on running home, and to my surprise, and great relief, found my trusty, old truck parked in the practically abandoned parking lot. Alice, having seen a vision of my plight, must have delivered the truck to me, 'cause I hadn't driven it to school that day. At any rate, I jumped into the cab, and slammed my foot on the gas; determined to get home as soon as possible. Edward would be waiting for me, I was sure of it.

I came to a screeching halt in Charlie's cement-cracked driveway, and quickly switched off the engine before clambering out of the cab. I stumbled up the front walk and into the house, thankfully managing to keep from falling flat on my face.

I was too anxious for words, I hadn't seen Edward in four days, and a ton had happened between now and Thursday night. I had missed him so much, but had he missed me too? Had he felt the same agony as I had? Of course he missed you stupid! A voice in my head shouted, he loves you and cares about you more than you'll ever know. But, he's probably mad as hell at you for disobeying him, and getting yourself into trouble_

"Hey kiddo, how was your weekend?" I just about peed my pants! Charlie was sitting on our lump of a living room coach, his back to me, the game flashing on the flat-screen; I hadn't realized that he would be home from work yet.

"Erm…it was okay I guess_" I made a quick sidestep to the left, heading for the staircase, still somewhat out of breath, "I'm gonna go do some homework now though, so_"

"Whoa there Bells, hang on a sec. I've got something to ask ya…"Gritting my teeth, I reverse-stepped back into the too small living room, Charlie turned his head to face me, muting the TV- never a good sign. "I got a call from your school on Friday, they said ya weren't there. So, I called Carlisle to see if you were alright, he told me that you and Alice had left for school together and that you should be there, and that perhaps the school had made a mistake…" he paused as if he wanted me to respond, however I refused to take his cue, my mind was already upstairs with Edward and there was no way in Hell that I was going to discuss that whole fiasco with him. After all, Carlisle had already…'dealt' with that matter. "Well? Bells, ya wanna tell me what happened?"

"Huh?" I said coming back down to Earth, he raised an eyebrow at me, "Oh Friday…" I began slowly, my mind drastically searching for the perfect excuse. "Well…you see…ummm…Friday was… Senior Ditch Day!" the words came out of my mouth so fast that I barely had time to think them through. I winced slightly, preparing for his rebuttal; there was no way that any parent would believe the load of crap that I had just dished out, let alone my own father, the chief of police.

"Senior Ditch Day huh?" Charlie nodded smugly, as if he were in on some secret.

"Yup…"

"Well good for you kiddo! Why back in my day, we were known to do a Ditch Day or two. We even had a Senior_"

"_Yeah, cool Dad," I cut across him; quick to escape his high school reminiscences.

I flew up the stairs to my bedroom, taking the steps two at a time in hopes of quickening my stride. I couldn't wait to see Edward again, to watch his liquid gold eyes light up, his crooked smile gleaming; I couldn't wait to be back in his arms. My heart fluttered wildly as I pushed open my bedroom door and came face to face with him. He wrapped his arms around me, connecting our bodies and making my heart race even faster than before.

"Listen to your heart," he smirked "It's beating so quickly"

"I missed you" I whispered, my face resting against his broad chest.

"I love you" he cooed in my ear; his cool hands rubbed soothing circles on my back.

I couldn't take it anymore, I needed him; I needed him to take me right here and right now. I stood up, on tiptoe, reaching my arms around his neck, and pulling his face towards mine with an eager flourish. And, as if our animal instincts were kicking in we began feverishly kissing. I let my tongue, tentatively, trace the contour of his lower lip, begging for entry.

He tensed and pulled away. "No Bella, not right now."

His expression was pained, uncomfortable even, but I couldn't help my self-conscious tendencies, and began pouting, my arms folded, insecurely, across my chest; what had I done wrong? Didn't he want me? And then my stomach dropped, it had dawned on me; Edward was mad at me! He must have talked to Carlisle! But why should I care? I had every right to see Jacob! But then again…I didn't want to disappoint Edward, I didn't want Alice to lose her Porsche; I wanted and needed his forgiveness, his approval, his love. NO! I was not wrong for seeing Jake! Edward was being way too over-protective! He should be apologizing to me not the latter!

And as if Edward really could read my thoughts or perhaps he was simply trying to change the subject, at any rate, he asked "Bella Love, how was your weekend?"

I gulped; what now genius? "Umm… painfully long…"

"For me as well_"

"_Edward!" I interrupted him, and took him by the hand over to my bed. I sat down, crossing my legs Indian style before noticing that Edward was reluctantly standing beside the bed; sheesh it's not like I'm gonna try and seduce him (again). Doesn't he trust me? "Edward, umm…did Carlisle talk to you yet?" I thought it best to start out slowly; no need to jump the gun. Let's find out where we stand Bells.

"Yes he spoke to me." Edward said calmly, but I detected an edge of sternness, despite his expressionless face.

Only a keen eye would have been able to tell that his tense, statue-like façade was masking his concern. Or was it disappointment? Anger? My eye has yet to become completely 'keen'. And despite my lack of know-how on facial expression decoding, I felt myself blush deep red. Not blushing purely out of embarrassment mind you, no I was feeling a rush of heated anger surge through me. I was thoroughly agitated about the entire Jacob-Edward-Me mess. I hated how much pain it had caused all three of us; it was the root of all of the trouble that I had been in lately and I had had enough of it. And my reckless behavior aside, I knew that this jumbled up mess was truly all about Edward's prejudices and actually had very little to do with my incidental infractions.

I jumped to my feet, staring up into Edward's golden eyes; I was bound to let my side of the story be told. "Ok, so yes, I did some stupid things while you were gone," I paced back and forth on the rug before him, my arms crossed protectively in front of my chest, "maybe even some things that might have warranted a…a spanking," I blushed furiously as the words left my lips; determinately keeping my eyes downcast. "But, forbidding me to visit my best friend," I said more vehemently; now looking him straight in the eyes, "simply because you say that it isn't safe, is like you're telling me that you don't trust me!" There it was, the words were out, and there was no turning back now.

I bit my bottom lip, continuing to look at Edward again; anxious for his reaction. His silence had been unsettling; I couldn't stand not knowing what he was thinking, but as our eyes met, I still couldn't decipher his thoughts, so I pressed on with my tirade before he could interrupt me. "Dogmatism Edward, that's what it is, pure dogmatism!" I was whispering as loudly as I dared, "You are prejudice against the Quileute's, that's the only reason why you think that they are dangerous!" I was on a roll now, totally letting him have it. I hadn't felt such a release in a long time. True it wasn't exactly the type of release that I wanted or deeply desired from Edward, but it would have to do for now. "_Or, like I said earlier, is it that you really don't trust me? Or are you…are you, you're not jealous of my friendship with Jacob are you?" My voice must have sounded incredulous; the question had come out sounding even more ridiculous out loud than when I had posed it in my head. Edward jealous of Jake? There was simply no competition between them in my mind. I loved Edward and Jake, but Jake was more like a brother to me; surely Edward knew that. But, judging by his sullen face, maybe I had been mistaken.

"Yes. Yes. And yes." His words were short and concise, but I still stood there in front of him with my jaw hitting the floor, "Bella Love, you are right on all accounts except_"

I blinked, shaking my head in disbelief. "Edward, I_"

"No, just listen." he pressed the very tip of his finger to my lips; gesturing for silence. "Let me elaborate: you Isabella, are absolutely, one-hundred percent correct on all accounts except for one, I do in fact trust you. I know that my prior actions must have proven otherwise, but I intend to right my wrongs." He let his finger slide down from my lips, gently tracing the contour of my lower lip and ending at my chin. He lifted my face so that I was looking directly into his honeyed eyes. "Believe me when I say this Love, for I will fix this. I'll make it right, I promise." I let out a deep breath, slumping forward so that my forehead was resting against his firm chest. I was overwhelmed, exhaustion consumed me; I needed a moment to collect myself. Edward stroked my hair, remaining silent as I stewed.

"Edward," I mumbled, my face slightly muffled by his shirt.

"Yes Love?"

I straightened up, taking another deep breath, "Just in case I never managed to say this before now, I love you. I never wanted anyone else, and I never will. Jacob is my brother, nothing more."

"I know Love, and I'm sorry that I let my infantile prejudices and jealousies get in the way of our relationship. It was very wrong of me to dictate rules that we had not agreed upon as a couple."

I found myself blinking again, but my open mouth supplied no words, and could have been put to better use as a flytrap rather than a means of word conveyance. Edward took me by the hand and led me to my bed, placing his hands on either side of my waist, and hoisting me up onto it. He held my hands, kneeling down so that our faces were mere inches apart, "your opinion is important Bella. We are a team after all," he cracked a smile, "and once we are married we will have to make lots of decisions together, decisions that might even require a compromise or two. Wouldn't you agree?" I nodded. "I will no longer forbid you from seeing Jacob; however, I have a few conditions that I would like to set, if you are in compliance of course?" I nodded again, curious to hear the terms of his settlement. "You may even consider this our first compromise," my favorite crooked smile warmed his face, and I felt myself go weak in the knees; I readjusted myself on the bed, scooching backwards a little before crossing my legs Indian style once more; my elbows resting on my knees.

"Okay, what are they then?" Edward climbed onto the bed next to me, he winced slightly as he seated himself, and I found myself wondering, idly, why he seemed to be sitting so uncomfortably.

"First," he said holding one finger up, "I will drive you to and from the boundary line. Second," he held up a second finger, "you will be required to have with you, at all times, a fully charged cell phone, so that you can always reach me. And my third and final condition is that you call me or text me when you are finished with your visit, so that I can come and collect you." He waggled his fingers back and forth amiably, "are we in agreement?"

I rolled my eyes. He was being sooo serious.

"Bella?" he asked sternly, "do you agree with my terms?"

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance, "I suppose so…" I was actually rather pleased with his terms. They didn't seem too unreasonable or too overbearing; I could definitely live with them.

"Isabella," a thrilling wave of adrenaline raced through me at the sound of his 'commanding voice'. I smirked and turned to look at him. "I want to make sure that our relationship is consensual. I expect certain things from you, just as I know that you expect certain things from me in return. We live in a world with rules and consequences, one where our own actions directly dictate our futures. I will make sure that you are held accountable for your actions because I love you and care about your well being, but I will only continue to do so, in the manner that you and I have become accustom to, if you are in acquiescence with my rules and expectations. This is no longer a dictatorship, but a democracy."

This was throwing me for a loop. What was he trying to say? I mean, I had always known that Edward had well…old fashioned notions and ideals, but I never for one moment wanted any other type of relationship. I love Edward, over-protective tendencies and all. I love that I can depend on him for anything and everything; he's been the singularly most constant thing in my life and I never ever want to be without him. Of course, that is only one of the many reasons why I've agreed to marry him in the first place. And now that I think of it, I guess I have always known that Edward's and my relationship was different than most. Aside from the obvious vampire-human conundrum, Edward has always been far more…erm…dominant than any other relationship I had ever been exposed to, and well I kinda like it. No, I love it. Of course I will be in compliance with his rules, well…now that they are reasonable anyways and no longer prejudice and erratic.

"Bella Love? I need you to answer me."

I smiled up at him, "yes Edward, I agree. I still think that you're overreacting, but I agree."

He chuckled softly, scooping me up in his arms and lying back on the bed so that I was now laying on top of his cool chest. I lay my head down, nuzzling up against him; very glad that our fighting was over and done with and that we had been able to work out a compromise in which I could still see my best friend.

"Oh and Bella Love,"

"Hmmm?"

"I 'suppose' that you will then also agree with your punishment, should you neglect to follow our rules."

My eyebrows knitted together, that did not sound promising. Edward chuckled lightly, giving my ass a soft swat with the flat of his hand. I grimaced slightly, "guess I should have seen that coming."

He smiled again, pulling me closer, planting chaste kisses all along my jaw-line and down my neck. "Yes, I should think that that would have been a dead giveaway."

Soooo?

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