A/N: I'm an accident waiting to happen, which is why this chapter is inexcusably late. I ended up breaking my wrist, hand, and finger in five different places. Needless to say that this monstrosity I call a cast is doing little in the way of helping me type. I am limited to using my left hand to write and it is harder than I ever thought it would be. Thanks to all who sent there support and well wishes, and to those who reviewed the last chapter. You all rock.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

~*~Tears and Fears~*~

Edward

I couldn't wipe the stupid grin from my face as I packed my bags Thursday night. I hadn't seen my sister in four years and that was when I left her out in the cold begging for me to forgive her. To say Rosalie and I had a rocky past would be an understatement. Our relationship was severely damaged, but hopefully with this weekend being the starting point, we would begin to patch things up.

But I also had my doubts. Rosalie and I had been different people from the very beginning. I was always into music and art, she was into make-up and social standings. And arguing. Rosalie always loved a good fight. We would fight over everything from who actually won the spitting contest to who our parents loved more.

Rosalie could convince a person that the sky was red as they were staring straight up at it. It made her one hell of a lawyer, but I was afraid maybe we had become too different over the time we had been on our own. What if we couldn't get past those differences? What if I was getting my hopes up just to be let down again?

I shook my head to clear it. No matter how far we had grown apart, she still helped me out of a difficult situation with no questions asked. I knew that part of that was because she felt guilty, but she would have been there regardless. She was my sister and she loved me. I knew that and I had to believe that things would be better this time around.

On that last line of thought I laughed out loud. It was like Bella was inside my head telling me to be calm and optimistic. I was so glad that I told her about Rose. I wanted to so badly, but there was the problem of our restrictions and I couldn't cross those lines again. But after what we did in the office I couldn't keep it from her. She was the reason I had the courage to reach out to my sister in the first place.

She was so happy for me she actually cried and I had to mentally restrain myself from comforting her. My hand was itching to reach out to her. Telling her was the best feeling in the world and although in that moment I didn't care about restrictions, I still couldn't go too far. I controlled myself and, thankfully, just being near her and seeing her smile was enough for me.

And seeing her stand up to Lauren was fantastic. I couldn't believe how confident she was. I could barely keep the smile down with how proud I was of her and Lauren's shock wasn't helping matters much. It was all I could do to keep my face straight as we left the office, but apparently my amusement was nowhere near Bella's because we barely made it around the corner before she doubled over in laughter.

What I wouldn't give to hear that everyday. The sound of Bella happy was by far the most beautiful thing I had ever heard and to be able to make that happen was one of the highlights of my life. Unfortunately, I wasn't aloud to want that. After that little conversation, we had to go back to the regular guidelines and pretend that we meant nothing more to each other that student and mentor.

I zipped up my suitcase and set it next to the door, no longer wearing my stupid grin. Why couldn't I have gotten a job in another district and met Bella in a coffee shop instead of in a classroom? I closed my eyes and sighed deeply. It was no use living on what ifs. The fact of the matter was that Bella was a student and being close to her was not an option.

As I laid down and tried to sleep I thought about all of the ways I had broken the rules with Bella. It was stupid of me to think that I could ignore my feelings, but I did and it cost me the best thing that ever happened to me. She was still in my life, but only just. I felt like I was living on a chess board. My life had become a cultivated game of strategy and with one wrong move Bella would be taken away from me forever. I honestly didn't know how I would survive something like that.

I must have drifted off to sleep because it seemed like not ten minutes later Emmett was yelling at me through the front door to get my lazy ass up. I looked over at the clock and groaned before I edged myself off the bed and went to answer the door.

"Emmett, it's five AM. I told you we weren't leaving till nine." Emmett shoved a coffee in my face and walked past me. How anyone could look so happy so early in the morning was incredible.

"Yeah, I was going to go out for a run, but it started raining so let's go," he said grabbing my luggage and walking back out the door. I grunted an insult after him, but it was lost under my yawn.

I snuck in a five minute shower before I got dressed and met Emmett down at his Jeep. Like he said, it was pouring and I had to run so as to not get soaked. My giant best friend tossed me a towel as I hopped into his monstrous vehicle and then sped off toward Seattle. When we got to the highway he turned up the radio and started bobbing his head to the beat.

"I swear it should be illegal for how peppy you are at this hour," I said before taking a deep swallow of coffee and rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"Can I help it if I haven't had a vacation in since last Spring Break? You're lucky you don't need a summer job to pay the bills, man. What I wouldn't give to be able to chill during the sunny months. So, does your sister look like you?"

I pulled out the tiny wallet-sized picture of Rosalie and handed it to Emmett. It had been in my wallet since the day that Rose gave it to me telling me jokingly that that way I could always see her beautiful face. Even as I grew older and switched wallets, I couldn't part with it. It was worn and faded and the girl in the photo was ten years younger than the one I was going to see, but it was the only picture I had.

There were tons of pictures of Rose at the big house, but when I moved into my apartment I left behind everything that house stood for. I left behind being abandoned and that meant leaving behind pictures, furniture and décor that tied me to the past. But still, I kept this one picture because I needed that small piece of my sister.

"Dude, your sister's hot," Emmett said seriously. I had to laugh. I was the one in love with a high school student, but Emmett was looking at the picture of a young girl and admiring her looks.

"She's sixteen in that picture, Emmett," I got out through my unrestrained giggles. Emmett snorted and glared in my direction.

"Yeah, alright. You're hilarious," he said dryly. "I meant that she's a good looking girl and I can imagine how hot your sister is now." I sighed and took the pictured back.

"Yeah, her fiancé thinks so, too."

Emmett huffed out a breath and mumbled something about all the good ones being taken. I just shook my head. Out of all of the women that throw themselves at him, he wanted my sister after seeing an old picture. Sometimes I wondered if my head was really the one that was twisted.

The rest of the trip was mostly quite with me trying to sleep unsuccessfully and Emmett drumming away on the steering wheel. At one point, I found a comfortable enough position that I almost reached dreamland. Unfortunately, the radio station chose that moment to play Emmett's favorite Jimi Hendrix song and with the combined volume of that and my best friend's off key singing I was catapulted out of unconsciousness.

I could have tried to sleep again, but by that point we were an hour away from Seattle and my nerves were starting to get the best of me. Rose hadn't asked me much about the whole Bella situation, but it was bound to come up and I was worried sick that she would see me for the creep that I was and send me right back to Forks. Or what if we were so different that we couldn't find anything to do while we were there? I could handle a lot of things, but one thing I couldn't was losing my sister again.

Emmett must have noticed how tense I got because he turned down the music after a while and just let me work through my fears. When we got to the city, I pulled out my phone and dialed Rose. I didn't even realize I was holding my breath until she answered and all my air came out in a whoosh. I had to take another deep breath before I started talking at a speed ten times faster than normal.

"Hey, I know I said we wouldn't be here till twelve-thirty, but Emmett came over early and we headed out and I hope that's okay. If it's not, we'll just find a café until you're ready. You're probably busy. It was stupid of me to call you when you're working. I'll just let you go." I went to hang up the phone, but Rose stopped me, yelling my name from the other end. I put the phone back up to my ear eagerly. "Yes?"

"You mean I can talk now?" she laughed. I pinched the bridge of my nose and shook my head. She must have thought I was a complete imbecile. "I took the day off today, Edward. Just come on over."

I sighed, trying to calm myself and ended the call with a quick goodbye. Emmett already had the directions so I didn't have to talk much on the way to Rose's apartment and I spent that time trying to relax. I don't know how long we were parked before Emmett nudged my shoulder and I realized we were outside The Metropolitan Tower.

"You go on up. I'll grab the bags."

I thanked Emmett and walked inside. The woman at the desk seemed to have radar or something because she zeroed in on me the second I came within sight. She had fiery red hair and catlike eyes that I didn't altogether trust. I smiled anyway to be polite and she gave me a bedroom look that would rival most call girls.

"Um, hello," I looked at her name tag, "Victoria, I'm here to see a Rosalie Cullen in the Van Gough Penthouse Suite?"

Her smile faltered a moment and I wondered if she had a problem with my sister, but I really didn't care. The woman gave me the keycard that Rosalie had sent down for me and I told her to let up Emmett when he got inside. I pressed the proper button inside the elevator, slipping the keycard into the slot, and went up on what seemed like the slowest elevator ride I'd ever taken.

Finally, I was at the front door, but when I went to knock I froze. What would I say? Did I hug her? Give her a kiss on the cheek? How was I supposed to act? I don't know how long I stood there running over things in my mind before Rose threw open the door and almost collided with me as she started to storm out the door.

Her eyes widened as she realized who I was and she rocked forward on her feet for a moment like she wanted to reach out and hug me. Instead, she stayed as still as I was, and both of us remained silent. Neither of us moved for the longest time, but I could see the doubt in Rosalie's eyes and before I realized what I was doing, I pulled her into me and held her as tightly as my arms could manage.

Rose gave as good as she got and I felt her arms tighten around my torso almost to the point of pain. I didn't care, though. I just held on for dear life as she shook in my arms and stained my shirt with her tears. I knew that I missed and needed Rose and that some part of her needed me as well, but I never knew how much until that moment.

We stayed like that for quite some time, neither one of us willing to let go, until I heard Emmett clearing his throat behind me. I turned to see him wearing a knowing smile and I smiled back, punching him in the arm before turning back to Rosalie. She was facing the other direction furiously wiping her face, trying to look presentable.

I could believe I was looking down at my sister. It was so odd being that much taller than her. The last time I had seen her, I barely took notice of our height difference and when I was sixteen, we were both around five foot nine. She was still just under six feet, but I had grown almost half a foot since then.

Her hair was also straighter than it used to be. When she was in high school it had a slight curl to it, but now it just had a gently wave. Her skin was a little tanner, as well. She was still pale, but not as pale as I was anymore. And her face lost the girlish qualities it once had. She was all woman now and even though I was her little brother, I felt like I missed out on getting to screen her boyfriends over the years.

I was brought out of my thoughts when Rosalie took a quick, deep breath and turned with a smile to meet Emmett. There was a look that passed over her face when she looked at him, but it was gone before I could identify it, so I dismissed it. But when I looked at Emmett, there was no denying the attraction he had for my sister. It was my turn to clear my throat and Emmett shook his head, brought back to the present.

"Right, uh, I'm Emmett," he said extending a hand. Rose smiled and took it in her own.

"Rosalie. It's very nice to meet you Emmett."

I looked between the two for a minute and had to shake my head. I hadn't known my sister for seven years so I couldn't tell if she was flirting or not, but it sure felt like it. And the goofy grin that graced Emmett's face was a dead giveaway to how smitten he was with her.

"Likewise," Emmett said, not letting go of Rose's hand.

"So, Rose," I interrupted, "Where is, uh, Mr. Right this morning?" Rosalie looked confused for a moment as she was brought away from Emmett, but quickly realized what I was asking and tore her hand away from him, looking mildly embarrassed.

"Oh, right, Mr. Right. He went into work this morning, but he wanted to take us out to dinner tonight to meet you." I tried to speak but Rose didn't give me a chance. "Why don't you guys come in and get settled. There's only one guest bedroom, but I brought in another bed. You two will have to decide who gets the twin and who gets the queen."

If I hadn't known my sister's old antics with getting out of trouble I would have thought her take-charge attitude a sign of confidence. As it were, I knew she was nervous about something and I had a feeling it had to do with Emmett. Rose wasn't really one for blushing, but she had had a steady pink glow about her ever since she saw him.

I would have laughed, but it seemed like Emmett returned Rose's attraction and I didn't want my life or my friends interrupting her happiness. I wanted to say something to him about staying away from my sister, but I could hardly do that I front of her and she was still talking full speed ahead about sleeping arrangements. She did stop, however, when the door flew open and a beautiful strawberry blonde entered looking frazzled at the four coffees in her hands.

"I got here as fast as I could, honey, but the stupid barista didn't know macchiato from frappachino. Do you think your brother will like…" she trailed as she looked up and saw everyone in the room. She blinked a few times. "Oh…You're here."

Rose covered her mouth to keep from laughing at the woman's face, which resembled a deer caught in headlights. I could barely keep my own face straight, but looking over at Emmett made it slightly easier as he stared at my sister with a sense of reverence. Yes, I would definitely have to have a talk with him.

The woman passed out the drinks and introduced herself as Tanya Hutton, Rose's personal assistant and best friend extraordinaire. I could see why Rose would like her. She seemed light hearted, but tough skinned and she was fun to be around.

As we were talking, Rose wrapped her arms around Tanya's shoulders and I could tell by the way that she tilted her blonde head against the other woman's that Tanya had been there for Rose in ways I hadn't. They were more like sisters than colleagues or friends and although I was happy that Rose had someone to lean on, I also had to admit that I was a tiny bit jealous.

I was jealous that I couldn't have been that person, even though I probably wouldn't have been if we were close. And I was jealous that I had been alone to deal with my pain when she had someone to share the burden. I pushed my feelings aside when I looked more closely at Tanya. She was stiff in Rose's arms and it was confusing me that she seemed both happy and sad at the same time.

I tried to brush it off when she headed out to get breakfast for us, but something about her demeanor was nagging at me. I figured I'd just have to think on it more, later and focused on getting to know my sister again. Apparently, her apartment came with gym privileges and a pool and Emmett was ecstatic to be able to get in his morning work out.

It was weird how conversation seemed to halt once Rose and I were alone. It was several minutes before either of us actually said anything, but Rose took the lead as always.

"So, you're a teacher, huh?" I nodded. "I always figured you'd become a concert pianist," she said, wondering. I really had wanted that, but with everything that happened to me, I gave up on that dream.

"I'm happy doing what I am. I feel closer to mom," I told her with a small smile. She gave one right back and sighed. "So, you're some hot shot attorney. Kind of young to be getting invited to have dinner with the senator, don't you think?"

Rose laughed and pointed a finger at me. "Look who's talking! I guess overachiever must run in the family. Kind of young to already be a high school teacher, don't you think?"

I smiled a little and turned my head so that Rose wouldn't see the pain in my eyes. Overachieving really had nothing to do with it. I just didn't have anyone to get in my way and too much time on my hands for studying. Part of me wanted to tell her how miserable I was. Part of me really wanted to make her hurt for hurting me, but the better part of me just wanted my sister back.

"You've changed a lot," Rose said, bringing me back to look at her.

I smiled. "How so?"

"For one, you're huge. I hate that you're taller than me now, although I always knew it would happen eventually. And these muscles! You were so skinny in high school. You've got stubble now, too. I remember when you started shaving your freshmen year and I never understood it. You didn't have anything to shave!" I laughed out loud at the confused frustration on my sister's face.

"It wasn't about getting rid of hair, Rosalie. It was about becoming a man." Rose just snorted. "Hey, you got a period to mark your entrance into womanhood. This is the man's way of doing things."

"But you didn't have any hair," she said slowly to emphasize her point. I laughed.

"And you expected me to wait until I was eighteen to 'become a man'?"

"Well, men are slower when it comes to maturity," she said seriously and then smiled. I just rolled my eyes. If I didn't drop the argument, we would have been debating all night.

After a few minutes, Tanya came back with boxes and boxes of breakfast and we sat down to eat. Emmett was still working out, so we saved his and a little more. As I suspected, he came back up and finished all of his meal and the rest of the girls'. The man could put away food like it was air and it worried me that Rose was impressed by how much my friend could eat. I was going to have to have that talk soon.

The sparks I saw fly between the two were undeniable, but Rose was happy. She was going to be married. It seemed as if Tanya recognized the air between them too, but I was again struck by her demeanor. It was almost like she wanted Rose and Emmett to have something, but at the same time she was upset by it. I was starting to get a headache from how conflicted that woman seemed.

There was moment when she looked at me that I saw something I hadn't seen in her at all the entire time I had been there. Her eyes held hope and I couldn't understand it. It wasn't like any kind of hope I recognized and it seemed to be mixed with relief. She found something in me that made her hope and it confused me to no end.

I tried to clear Tanya's odd behaviorisms from my head, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. She seemed to cling to me if Rose was busy with something else, but she was never fully there. She tried to be, I could see that, but something in her mind was pulling her away from the present. A small voice in my head said it was Rose, but I shook it away.

Emmett and I spent the rest of the day getting settled in and getting to know my sister and her friend. It was a relaxing day minus the Tanya mystery that my brain wanted to solve and the scowl she got when Rosalie's fiancé was mentioned made me uneasy. I knew there was something there, but I would have to wait and meet the man before I could think straight.

The women disappeared to go get ready for the dinner and Emmett started toward our room at a quarter to eight. I followed close behind Emmett and made sure to shut the door when I entered the room. He was wearing his usual smile, but there was something off about it.

"Wipe that silly smirk off your face. She's getting married in the spring." Emmett looked like he was ready to deny his obvious infatuation with my sister, but decided against it and gave me a guilty smile. "Please, Emmett, don't ruin this for her. I just got her back and if you do something to screw up her relationship and I never get to see her again, I will kill you."

"Whoa, dude, calm down. I'm not going to do anything, okay? I'm not the type to go after a taken woman for a one time deal. I go for the long haul," he said with a grin. I let out a small growl and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Relax, Edward. Don't have a coronary. I get that she's off limits."

I believed him, but more than that, I knew him and I knew he was still going to mess with me. We got dressed in silence, but I could almost hear Emmett's mind as he contemplated ways to make me nervous. I loved the man like a brother, but sometimes I really wanted to smack him. Of course, we were ready an hour before the women and he had that extra time to taunt me.

When they finally did emerge from the bedroom, Rose looked nervous and a little angry. Tanya looked worried, but it was different than what Rosalie was focused on. Tanya never took her eyes off Rose.

"He was supposed to be here an hour and a half ago, Tanya. Why does he always do this?"

Just then, the door opened and a blonde man in his mid to late thirties walked up to us and gave a fuming Rose a kiss on the cheek. And put his lips to her ear.

"Baby, I'm sorry I'm so late. I got held up at the office. You understand how that is right?"

Rosalie took a deep breath to calm herself and turned toward Emmett and me, but I could tell through the smile that she was still angry.

"Edward, Emmett, this is James Thurston, my fiancé."

I shook James hand and had to fight off the glare that wanted to come out. There was something about this guy that I didn't like and paired with the way Tanya regarded him, it was a feat dismissing the bile that rose in my throat. How could Rosalie not see how gross this guy was? She never had a problem putting a man in his place when I knew her and it was foreign for me to see her be smooth talked.

I didn't say anything to James for fear that I would speak my mind. Emmett saw what was happening and, being the best friend that he is, took over the conversation as we left the building. I looked over at Victoria as we passed and was met again with bedroom eyes, but that wasn't what bothered me.

What bothered me was her slightly disheveled appearance and that her look was directed at my sister's fiancé. And the worst part was that he returned that look with a wink. Emmett and I took his Jeep since there were too many to take one car comfortably. We didn't say a word the whole way to the restaurant, for which I was thankful, but when we arrived I stopped him before he could get out.

"Go for it," I said and he looked at me confused. "She's not off limits. If you really want to be with her then go for it, but I swear, Emmett, if you hurt her I will not hesitate to kick your ass."

I knew that I couldn't really do any physical damage to someone as ridiculously buff as Emmett, but he got the hint. He didn't like James any more than I did and he did like my sister.

When we got inside, Rose and her beau were off to the side arguing in hushed tones. Tanya seemed really upset about it and I felt like I had to cheer her up. I walked up to her half paying attention to the eyelash on her cheek and half paying attention to James, now staring past Rose. I brushed away the lash and held it up for Tanya.

"When we were younger, Rosalie and I used to make wishes on eyelashes. Why don't you try it?" I was rewarded with a small smile. She looked over to where Rose now stood alone and closed her eyes, wishing. "Now blow it away," I said as I watched James walk into the lounge.

Tanya took a deep breath and blew away the lash, keeping her eyes closed for a long moment. I was trying to make her happy, but seemed like all I managed to do was make her sad. I seriously needed to work on that. I wanted to ask her what was the matter, but the hostess came then to lead us to our table.

Emmett was taking his job very seriously. The second James left, he was at Rose's side and he was able to nab a seat next to her at the table. James had been gone for quite some time and I looked up just in time to see him coming from the front of the restaurant, the complete opposite direction in which he ran off to. He was oddly happy and it made me wary. He had something planned and what ever it was, it didn't seem good.

"Rose, baby, you said you wanted to try out that new club, right? La Tua Cantante, you said it was. Well, we should take Edward and Emmett here, don't you think?" Rose narrowed her eyes as if she had heard this all before.

"No, James. I don't think. I'm sure Edward and-" but James cut her off.

"I think they'll like it. We're going." His tone was final, but I was sure Rose would argue. She always did. I waited for it, but it never came. My sister, the one who never settled down until she had things her way, let this creep walk all over her. It wasn't right.

I kept quiet all through dinner. I could tell that Rose wanted to talk and laugh with me, but I wasn't in the mood and I figured silence was better than half the things I did want to say. Tanya must have noticed how tense I was because before I knew what was happening I was half way to the dance floor with her.

"Tanya, I really don't-"

"When I can't stand the way he treats her, I get away. Do this for me if you won't do it for yourself." I sighed and pulled her into me as we began to move about the floor.

"She isn't the same person I knew," I said softly. Tanya nodded.

"I've known Rose a long time and she's broken. She doesn't think she is and I sure can't tell her if I want to keep my best friend, but when James came along and charmed her and…I'll say love for lack of a better word, but he loved her when she felt she was alone. She had me, but I was shy and it took me a while to come out of my shell. We didn't know each other like we do now."

"But you are here for her now. I can see it. Why would she let him get away with that? The Rose I knew would tell him to go to the damn club by himself."

"The Rose you knew lost both of her parents and her brother. I know that you were hurting over what she did to you, but when you turned her away it broke her. It may not be what you want to hear, but it's the truth."

I looked away from Tanya. It was easy to pretend that I was the only injured party, but Rosalie needed me and I turned my back on her the same way she did me and Tanya did not have any qualms over telling me. I had to look back at her when I heard her shift in tone. She had it whenever she talked about my sister's fiancé.

"As for telling his royal highness to shove off, she doesn't want him to leave her." Tanya's voice was low and dangerous sounding. "He used to frequent the hottest Seattle night spots all the time, but Rose kept getting on his back about it. He refuses to give up partying so he takes her with him. It disgusting really. He always gets 'paged' with some work emergency and leaves early with some tramp. I really wish that I could make Rosalie see what he is, but-"

I was captivated by the way Tanya spoke about my sister and James. There was hatred and disdain evident in her voice as she talked about him, but when she mentioned Rose's name, I saw something there that I hadn't recognized before. It was so subtle, but I knew it was there and I mentally kicked myself for not seeing it sooner. I had been torturing myself with the mystery of Tanya's dynamic and it was staring me in the face the whole time.

Tanya noticed my gaze and ducked her head. I didn't realize how intently I had been focusing on her, but it must have made her uncomfortable. I opened my mouth to apologize and felt lips on mine before I could register that Tanya had moved. Immediately, I pushed her away. I tried to speak, but I was so confused and Tanya pushed past me with tears in her eyes before I could gather my wits about me.

I went after her because I had to know if I was right. If I wasn't then I was sure to make the situation worse, but I could have sworn that I knew what was going on. I found Tanya on the second floor balcony, tearstained and blushing from embarrassment.

"Tanya-" I started.

"Please, just leave me be." She was trying to sound firm, but her voice broke. I sighed and walked up beside her.

"You don't want me," I said looking out over the water. I could feel her confused gaze. "I see the way you look at Rosalie. And I hear the way you talk about her. You love her a lot more than a best friend should," I said turning to her, finally.

The fear I saw in Tanya's eyes was heartbreaking. "Please," she asked in a whisper, "Don't tell her. I'm begging you. I can't lose the little piece of her I have. Please-"

"Tanya, I'm not going to tell her. I'm just confused, is all. Why did you kiss me?" Tanya opened her mouth to say something, but closed it as more tears streamed down her face. I wiped them away with my thumbs and tilted her chin up to look at her. "I won't judge you. Believe me. I'm the last person that should be judging anyone."

"It's just…You have the same eyes." She shook her head slightly as if incredulous at her own reasoning. "You look nothing alike except for your eyes. I just thought that…maybe I could love you close to the way I love her. It's stupid, I know it's stupid, but you don't know how hard it is, loving someone you can't have!"

She covered her mouth the moment she made her admission and broke down in sobs. I gathered her into my chest and stroked her hair. I had only known Tanya for a day, but I felt some sort of strange kinship with her.

"Trust me, I do know," I said sadly. She snorted and pulled away.

"So, you're in love with a straight man?" she asked seriously.

"I, uh, well, no…I, well, I'm not-" My stuttering was cut off my Tanya's giggles.

"Don't worry, Edward. I know you're not gay." I let out a relieved sigh and looked back out at the view. We stayed quiet for a few moments consumed by our own thoughts until Tanya broke me away from mine. "Tell me about her," she asked softly.

I smiled the second I thought about Bella. "She's amazing. She's kind and shy, but at the same time very personable. I can talk to her for hours and not realize that time is passing. And she's smart. God, she's so smart and talented. She only let's me see her writing because she doesn't trust anyone else, but it's exquisite. She doesn't know how truly wonderful her mind is.

"She blushes when I tell her how great her stuff is. She blushes a lot actually," I laughed. "If she gets embarrassed or angry she turns bright red. It's the most adorable thing I've ever seen. Oh, and if you do make her angry she gets this determined look on her face. She's one of the most stubborn people I know. You can't tell her to do something she doesn't want to do because it will be like pulling teeth." I sighed. "Except with me. She listen's to me and trusts me."

"So what's the problem?" I looked over at Tanya, forgetting that she was there, momentarily.

"What do you mean?"

Tanya rolled her eyes. "I mean, what's the problem? Why don't you guys give it a go? Hell, if she makes you that happy, why aren't you guys hitched?"

"Because it's impossible, that's why," I said a little harsher than I meant to and turned away. It didn't faze the woman next to me in the slightest.

"It's not impossible if you love each other-"

"Bella doesn't love me," I said cutting Tanya off. I waited for her rebuttal, but it never came and when I turned to see the shock on her face, I realized my mistake. "Oh, God…"

"The student in the rumor? You…you told Rose that was just a rumor."

"It is! It is, but I…I mean, the reason…We talk all the time and we're close," I stumbled out. "We were always close and when I realized that I loved her I stopped talking to her. I hurt her so badly and I couldn't continue to do that! And some malicious twit saw something in the way I acted around her or something. I swear I would never-" Tanya's fingers on my lips stopped me from rambling on.

So many things crossed through my mind as she stared into my eyes, the most prominent being that I was going to lose my sister if she told her. I couldn't let that happen. I thought about threatening her with her own secret, but dismissed the idea as soon as it came. As much as I feared my feelings coming to light, I just couldn't use hers against her.

Tanya took her hand away after a second and then turned from me shaking her head. I was too stunned and afraid to speak or even move. I just stood frozen while she appeared to be working something out with herself. She eventually turned to me and I could see the anger and determination in her eyes. She was also sad. It seemed like her eyes were always sad though.

"You are a stupid, stupid man, do you know that?" I tried to speak, but she cut me off before I got the chance. "No. It's my turn to talk and yours to listen. Edward, she loves you! Do you even hear what you say half the time? Ah, men! I swear this is why I don't like men." Tanya threw up her hands in frustration and if I hadn't been so worried, I would have found it funny.

"A girl would not spend so much time with a guy, especially an unavailable guy, if she didn't have strong feelings for him. You said yourself that it hurt her when you shut her out. Edward, listen to someone who knows about unrequited love and take a chance. I'm in love with a straight woman. There is nothing for me there, but you…you can have her if you truly want her.

"She's eighteen years old, right?" she asked and I nodded. I still couldn't speak. "There's nothing illegal about the situation then. Highly unethical, yes, but not illegal and I swear, Edward, if you let her go because you're too damned scared to do anything, you will regret it for the rest of your life. It's not hopeless for you, Edward."

And with that, she left me alone to think over what she had said. It wasn't possible, though. Bella couldn't love me. But why couldn't Bella love me? I was a teacher, but that didn't stop me from having feelings for a student. Could it really be that she loved me too and I just didn't see it? I did hurt her. I hurt her more than I thought I would when I told her I couldn't be there anymore and looking back on our time together I could remember little things that I didn't think of at the time.

Was it possible? If it was then I could be with Bella. I smiled at the thought but then I remembered that she was, in fact, a student. I couldn't do that to her. I couldn't put her through that kind of scrutiny. But graduation was just around the corner. She was shooting for Dartmouth. Maybe I could go with her. But I couldn't do that if she didn't love me and three months of summer is not enough time for someone to fall enough to move cross country. I would scare her if I followed her.

I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder, forgetting where I was. "You okay there? I just got you back, I don't want to give you a heart attack," Rose said amusedly. I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath. "You want to tell me what you were so deep in thought over?"

I could see the hesitancy in Rose's face and I felt reprehensible. I was so worried about her reaction to me that I never thought about how scared she must have been in meeting with the brother that left her out in the cold. I pulled her into a hug and she laughed, but her own arms were tight around my waist.

"I'm so sorry, Rosalie," I whispered in her ear. "I was too proud and I hurt you in the worst way. I love you so much and I'm sorry. From the bottom of my heart, I'm so very sorry."

Rosalie was shaking her head against my chest and I knew that she wouldn't speak for fear of revealing that she was crying. I took a deep breath and held her tighter. That's when she started sobbing and I felt hot tears seep through my shirt. Rose may have been stubborn and strong willed, but I knew how to get to her still. She pulled back after a minute and wiped her eyes.

"Don't apologize to me. I was horrible to you. You were just a kid and I left because I couldn't handle the pressure. You had every right to turn me out like that."

"No," I said firmly, "I didn't. You may have hurt me, but I never should have hurt you back. I wanted to hurt you, Rosalie. The things I did, I did because I wanted you to feel the same pain that I felt and look where it got us? It was stupid and immature and I will regret my actions for as long as I live."

"Stop it!" My sister's face was one of pure anguish and I mentally kicked myself for not being able to do anything right. Why was it that every woman I came in contact with ended up with tears in her eyes?

"Rosalie, please-"

"No! You please! I don't want you to ever feel like that about what you did. It may have hurt me far worse than anything I have ever endured, but I deserved it, Edward. I wanted it! Do you think I just wanted to waltz back into your life and have you forgive me right then and there? I knew that what I did was beyond contemptible and part of me was praying that you would yell at me and kick me and hit me. I wanted you to hurt me!"

I stood in shock as Rosalie crumpled to the ground with broken sobs. I closed my eyes to push down my emotions and kneeled down to gather my sister in my arms.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry," she cried out as I stroked her hair and shushed her. "I didn't know how bad it would hurt. And now I do and I'm so sorry. I hate myself for what I did to you."

"Rosalie, no. I don't hate you and you shouldn't hate yourself. Both of us made some pretty terrible mistakes, but we're here now and trying to fix it, right?" I felt her nod against my chest. "Alright. Let's go home and then we can talk about everything."

Rosalie looked up at me then and I could see that it was taking every fiber of her being to hold herself together. We walked back downstairs together and the tension in the air was palpable. Everyone at the table knew that something had happened, but they were all strangely silent. Even James, who I expected would say something out of turn, was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.

When we got back to Rose's place, Tanya and Emmett went down to the lounge and James disappeared somewhere. Rose and I sat next to each other, both of us trying to think of something to say. Neither one of us wanted to have that talk, but it was necessary. The kind of pain we inflicted on each other ran deep and there was no way that we were going to heal from it if we didn't address it.

We started slow. It took a while to get everything out in the open about our past, but we did it because we had to if we wanted to salvage our relationship. For hours, we talked and yelled, cried and apologized. It brought up a lot of old feelings and hurtful memories, but we got through it and because of that we were stronger than ever.

I gave Rose a tight hug before heading off to bed and with everything that happened and the long day that we had had, I was able to fall into a heavy sleep within seconds of my head hitting the pillow.

Rose had the next day off so she took us to some of the hottest tourist locations around the city. James was also supposed to be off, but was missing for a good portion of the day. I didn't mind though and by the look on Rose's face when she was with Emmett, she didn't mind too much either.

I told Tanya about Emmett's attraction to Rose and she was all for getting her away from her creep of a fiancé. We spent the majority of our time in couples. Tanya would pull me off to the side or I would her. It was actually kind of funny when Rose dragged Emmett off because she wanted to give Tanya and me some alone time.

It was great having someone to talk to that somewhat understood what I was going through. Tanya and I never did talk any more about our love lives, but we had an unspoken bond that made it easier to be around each other. It was just comfortable. However, when Emmett wasn't hanging on Rose's every word he was trying to figure me out.

I had to laugh to myself. I was perfectly fine with him thinking there was something going on between Tanya and me. It got him off my case about Bella and it gave Tanya an out if she was receiving unwanted male attention. Tanya was rather beautiful. I don't know how many times I had to step in when some jerk stalked after her like a dog with a piece of meat.

I had to groan later that night when I saw what the girls were wearing to the club. It was going to be an interesting evening trying to keep away the groping drunks.

We got to the club at around nine and found a table on the second floor. The place was decent. It played hip-hop like every club, but the drinks weren't bad and being on the upper floor meant less weirdoes to worry about. Everyone was having a great time until James' pager went off. Rose asked to speak with him privately then.

It was a few minutes before she came back to the table looking upset and having already talked to Tanya I knew that James must have left early, yet again. I looked at Emmett and nodded my head quickly to the dance floor. He got the hint and pulled Rose away despite her many attempts to say no. I was going to do the same to Tanya when I noticed her making eyes at beautiful woman in the next booth.

I smiled to myself. The woman didn't look much like Rose. She had the same height and build, but with rich mahogany hair and what looked like violet eyes. I had never seen that eye color before, but it was stunning. She was gorgeous and although her features differed from my sister's, the woman in the next booth gave off that same confident air that Rosalie did.

I turned to Tanya and pinched her side, smiling. She glared at me. "Go ask her to dance," I yelled over the music.

Tanya looked at me scared, but I wasn't having any of that. I pulled her up and pushed her in the direction of the table. She glared back at me, but kept going and after a few seconds of talking with the woman, they both made their way down to the dance floor. I was thrilled for Tanya, but that also left me with out a date.

I leaned my elbows on the railing and observed the goers of Seattle nightlife. Clubbing really wasn't my thing, but it was a fun night more or less. I was about to sit back at the table when James caught my eye. I knew that he was most likely going home with some bimbo, but it seems like he should have been gone already. Instead, he just stood there staring at something and holding a drink that he wasn't sipping from. There was something in his other hand too, but I couldn't make out what it was.

I had a really bad feeling about James from the get go, but it was even more intense now. I took my eyes off of him reluctantly to see what he was staring at and my heart sank into my stomach. This couldn't be possible. But it was. There, standing at the bar was Bella in the most striking dress I had ever seen. And it was far too revealing. The dress hugged her curves exquisitely with the smooth skin of her back being completely bare; the only thing keeping it secret was her hair falling in loose curls behind her.

I moved my eyes back to James, but he was gone. Franticly, I scanned the floor and saw him moving toward Bella as if she were his prey. This was not good at all. I looked back at Bella to see her accepting a drink from the bartender and I was praying that she would walk in the opposite direction, but she moved straight to James. I screamed her name, but nothing could be heard over the damn music.

It would be okay. Bella was a smart girl and I would keep an eye on her from here, I told myself. But the sickening feeling in my stomach just got worse and then I saw her collide with him. The drink that James had no intention of tasting ended up on Bella's dress and the object in his other hand I realized was a vial when he poured its content's in Bella's glass while she was distracted. I screamed louder for Bella to hear me, but she took a sip of her drink and waved to someone dancing.

I pulled out my phone and dialed 911. Why was it taking so long? I rushed to the stairs all the while trying to keep my eyes on Bella. She wiped at her dress a bit and then put her hand to her head shaking it slightly. I screamed again as the operator came on the line, but Bella still didn't hear me and she walked away in the direction James had gone. Damn it! Why was she going over there?

I finally got to the bottom of the stairs, but I had lost Bella. I knew where she went, but that didn't help if he already had her. I pushed my through the crowded dance floor, telling the man on the line what I saw. He said that the police were on their way, but I didn't have time to wait. I pushed harder though the sea of bodies.

I got through eventually, but too much time had passed. I looked around the hallway that housed the bathrooms, but there was no sign of them. I was freaking out. If he did anything to Bella I would kill him. He would not live to see another day.

I was about to turn back to the main floor when I saw a faded emergency exit sign hanging above one of the doors. I pushed though and nearly died at what I saw. James had Bella against the wall stroking her face and I could barely make out her whispered no's. Within a second I had James off of Bella and she fell hard to the ground. I wanted to go to her, but I couldn't let James get away.

It was a struggle to keep him restrained. Not only was I fighting the man himself, but I was fighting with my head which was telling me to kill the son of a bitch.

"Come now, Edward. I'll share if that's what you want," James grunted. He was not helping my resolve. I closed my eyes trying to calm myself. Never in my life had I strained so hard to maintain my self-control.

Bella let out a small choking noise that almost sounded like she was trying to scream and I made the mistake of diverting my attention. James pulled out of my grip and slammed my forehead into the brick wall of the club more than once.

The smart thing for him to have done when I crumpled to the pavement would have been to run away, but James was sick and he didn't give up his fight.

"Well, you had your chance. Say goodbye to her, Edward," I heard him say.

I opened my blurring eyes to see James stalking toward Bella and I fought my dizziness to get up. I was not going to let him hurt her. As soon as I got my bearings I launched myself at James and sent us both hurtling to the ground.

"You will never touch her," I growled in his ear. He just laughed and thrashed around trying to get free, but I wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

It took everything I had to keep him confined until the police arrived, but I did. They apprehended him then and tried to ask me questions, but my head was in too much of a fog. I waved off the officer and crawled to where Bella was being checked out by the paramedics. She looked so pale.

I stood as they loaded her onto the stretcher and swayed on my feet. Someone in a uniform tried to get me to go with them, but I wouldn't leave Bella. I couldn't leave her until I knew she was okay. I climbed into the ambulance after her and felt someone holding my shoulder. My head was swimming, but I got a hold of myself and looked at the woman trying to speak to me.

"You need medical attention, may I check you out?" she asked. I shook my head.

"Bella. Check Bella."

"I can't do anything for Bella right now. Her heart rate is steady and she's breathing, but you have a nasty head wound and you look like might have a concussion."

I wanted to argue with her, but my head was throbbing too much to do anything and I gave her permission as I pulled out my phone. I had eleven missed calls and three voicemail. I dialed Emmett and he answered on the second ring

"Dude, where the fuck are you? There's police everywhere." I cringed at how loud his voice was.

"I know. James…" I let out a low hiss as the paramedic cleaned my cut. "James attacked Bella." Emmett was silent for a minute.

"What do you mean 'James attacked Bella?'" he asked slowly.

"I mean, I'm on my way to the hospital with Bella. You need to find Alice. I'm sure she's there if Bella was. Jasper's probably with her. Make sure they know what happened. Take care of Rose for me."

"Yeah, call me when you have an update on Bella," he said dazed.

I hung up with Emmett just as the woman bandaging me was finishing. I finally had a little more wits about me by then, but my head was still pounding.

"Alright, I've patched you up, but you should still have a doctor look at-" I shook my head cutting her off.

"No, I'm staying with Bella," I said without taking my eyes off of her limp form.

"I'm sorry, sir, but you can't go with her unless you're a spouse or-"

"Yes," I said without hesitation. I didn't care about lying as long as I could stay with her. "I'm her husband." The woman seemed skeptical, but didn't say anything and I was grateful. I needed to be with Bella or I didn't think I could keep it together.

We got to the hospital and she filled in the doctors about Bella's and my injuries and my supposed relationship with her. I didn't have to say anything. They tried once to get me into another room, but one glare told them I wasn't going anywhere.

They linked Bella up to heart monitors as they stripped her and put her into a hospital gown. I just stood in the corner as they worked, drawing blood, hooking her up to IVs, cleaning her face of make-up. When I thought that everything was done, I moved to sit in a chair next to Bella's bad and I held her hand. I wanted to say something to her, but I couldn't get my voice to work.

I just stayed there, silent, praying. My other hand unconsciously moved to her hair and stroked it away from her face. She was so beautiful even broken. I just stared at her. It may have only been minutes or it could have been hours and then a female doctor walked in the door and introduced herself. I didn't really care what her name was though. I wasn't really listening to her until I realized she wanted me to leave.

"What?" I asked, confused. She looked upon me with sympathy and repeated herself.

"Due to the circumstances in which your wife was brought in, I need to administer a rape kit." I pulled in a rough breath of air at that.

"No," I said angrily, although I was more scared than anything else. "I got there in time. He didn't do anything to her. He didn't. I didn't let him hurt her." I knew that there was no way to be sure how far James had gotten, but I had to believe that I got there in time. I had to.

"I sure you're right," the doctor said, but I could see the pity in her eyes. "This is just standard procedure." I nodded my head, but didn't move. The doctor sighed. "What's your name?"

"Edward," I said without looking away from Bella.

"Edward, I know you don't want to leave her, but this is something that should be done privately."

I looked up at her then and knew that she was right. It was wrong to want to stay with Bella for that. I got up and went for a walk. I had to call Emmett and explain things and I needed fresh air to do that. When I got outside I turned my phone on and dialed Emmett, but a high panicky voice answered instead.

"Mr. Cullen, what happened? Is Bella okay? I knew I shouldn't have left her, I knew it! Please tell me she's alright, please!" I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath before answering. Alice was still freaking out at a million words per minute.

"Alice, I don't know. I don't know anything. Can you hand the phone to Emmett?" I heard a distant sob over the line and then Emmett's deep voice.

"What's going on, Edward?" I had never heard Emmett sound so solemn before.

"They're doing a rape kit on her right now. But he didn't get that far, Emmett. I didn't let him. I swear he didn't get that far."

"I know, man. I know." I could tell by Emmett's tone that he knew I was trying to convince myself as well as him. "What exactly happened, Edward?"

I took a shaky breath and told him everything. He stayed quiet through all of it, but I could tell he was fuming. We said our goodbyes and he promised that he was taking good care of Rose. I felt terrible for not asking about her, but I had so much running through my mind and my head was killing me.

I walked back into the hospital and saw a couple of badges at the front desk just before the woman behind it pointed at me. I again had to retell the story, but was thankful that they didn't address my being Bella's husband. Lying to get into a hospital room was one thing, but I couldn't afford the legal trouble lying to the cops would buy me.

It took an hour of tedious and repetitive questions until they were finally satisfied that I was telling the truth. I got back into the room as the doctor was checking Bella's vitals. I wanted to ask, but I was too afraid. She realized at once what I wanted and smiled.

"You were in time," she said before walking out the door.

As soon as she was clear, I fell to the ground and let my emotions take me. I wanted to believe that I was there soon enough, but I didn't. Not really. Sobs wracked though my body as I tried to figure out how I would have handled being the one to let Bella get hurt, but thank God, I didn't have to. And I did thank God. I thanked him with everything I had for letting me save the woman I loved.

Slowly I quieted down and wiped away my tears. I walked back to my chair and watched Bella as she slept. I always knew that I would never be able to live without her, but the events of the night cleared up any doubt I had. I loved Bella and when the time came, I would make her mine.

A/N: To explain a few things: Yes, Bella is a virgin, and yes, the doctor would have noticed Bella's hymen were it still intact; the hymen can be broken for a number of reasons outside of sex (horseback/bike riding, falling a lot, masturbating), and Bella's is well past it's limit. Thanks a million for reading!