Just three words: thanks, thanks, thanks…

Here's Edward's point of view, as promised…

Hope you like it: I do love Edward and Jasper a lot and therefore I like the idea of having them chat a little bit! Emmet's in the way, but he's fun too, so… 

Enjoy and PLEASE review! That really is cool. You have no idea! It's very helpful too.

Chapter 4

EDWARD'S POV

Being caressed by warm water did nothing good to calm my nerves. I had specifically asked Emmet to turn the temperature of the pool up, just knowing that this would be best for Bella.

"I am not very sure warmth will help much, though, Edward…" Jasper had told me that morning, while Emmet was actually checking the water.

"Why not?" I had asked. I was definitely losing every ounce of common sense.

I read my answer in his mind. 'It's cold water you want to…ehm…calm boiling spirits, you know. She's only human and definitely not as used to self-control as we are. She seems pretty absorbed in you.'

"I had not really considered that… - Oh my! – I simply didn't want her to freeze…she is sensitive to the cold."

"Why doesn't that surprise me? Look at her boyfriend! Don't worry…I'll watch over you!" He added, an impish smirk on his face. Sometimes he simply looked and sounded so much like Alice. Must be this soul-mates matter.

Still, it seemed like Bella at least was enjoying my kind initiative. For a fleeting second, as it had happened just minutes before with that playful sunray, I felt jealous of the hot water wrapping her delicate body tenderly. I wanted to be the one to do it; I wanted to be the one warming her. And I was exactly the last one who could.

I tried to calm down on my own, since Jasper seemed to be quite absorbed in Alice, the hypocrite!

My attempt to get a grip failed miserably as soon as my hands, always without my permission, grabbed her waist. Compared to her silken, bare, burning skin, water seemed like ice, even to me. It apparently froze my brain as well, because the most unfortunate (and yet true) sentence ever came out of my mouth. "By the way, this bikini really looks great on you!"

'WHAT? YOU IDIOT, SELFISH, INCOHERENT VAMPIRE!' I screamed at myself, hoping that my brain would defrost in time to avoid disaster.

It didn't, of course, bur Bella provided safety splashing water onto my face, which gave me an excuse to simply 'attack' her back and forget about awkwardness and bikinis for a bit.

My siblings' joining in was a relief. I felt a deep rush of affection for all of them; for saving Bella and me from myself.

"You don't want to be the only one having fun, do ya?" Emmet shouted, mentally adding: 'You'll have your own fun afterwards!' Jerk!

He then tried to start a fight, pushing me under. How many times did I have to go through this, before he understood that there was no way he could possibly beat me? I had to give it to him: he was determined.

'Fair fight, bro! Damn psychic!' he thought, his frustration mounting. I dragged him under easily. Doing the same with Jasper, took me quite some time, though. Jasper was another thing altogether. Emmet was strong, but he fought using his instinct and that only. Jasper was not only the strongest fighter of us, he was clever and in total control of tactics. Being able to read his next moves only gave me relative advantage. Never enough to beat him, anyway. Our fights were always called a draw by Carlisle or Alice.

I do not know how long we kept on playing around, but I felt considerably calmer by the time we resurfaced, laughing like ten-year-olds.

"I hate you two! - Emmet blurted out - One can read all my moves and the other one simply makes me feel all sleepy, when I tackle him. You are two big, fat killjoys! In a fair fight I'd kick both your asses big time!"

"Sure thing, Em! - Jasper said, with his best shot at sarcasm – To be true, I thought Edward would be an easy prey for us today, in the state he's in!" he chuckled, looking at me.

"This is not funny, Jazz! I…"

"No it's not! It's hilarious. – Emmet interrupted me, giggling - You should have seen your face before! It looked like you were about to throw up...Honestly, Edward, give up and let the chips fall! I don't understand why you put yourself in such a misery!"

"And I don't understand why I delude myself in hoping you'll start using your brain sometime!" I said.

"Touchy-touchy, uh?" Emmet started, playing with the ball on his own.

"Well, Em. We might not be the best judges for this. Think how it would be if you could not touch Rose…" Jasper interceded. All of a sudden he was my favourite brother.

Emmet seemed to be struggling to find an answer, but then he remained silent and somehow thoughtful. He started throwing the ball in the air, absent-mindedly.

I could read what was passing through his mind, though 'I think I'd go mad if I couldn't be with Rose…maybe she wouldn't mind that much, though. Last time…'

"Exactly, Emmet. – I said, interrupting his train of thought, before it could get embarrassing – And she would mind, believe me. It's quite disturbing being around you, guys, when you are in the mood!"

It really was: it made me feel like running, no, flying to Bella and…

But I could not. I would not let my lust prevail over my love, over her safety. I owed it to Bella. I owed her my privation, my strength. I owed her this and more, because I loved her. "What if I fall…I don't want to hurt her." I said in a whisper, more to myself than to my two brothers, who sure enough heard me.

"You are really having a hard time, aren't you?" Emmet's voice had changed completely. It seemed that now he really understood what I was going through. 'I see now, but you chose her…This is the price to pay, bro.' he thought. He threw the ball in the air one more time.

"It's a price I am willing to pay, Emmet, really, but this makes her deeply unhappy. I hate not giving her what she wants! And I hate that I want it too, when I shouldn't. She even thinks I don't find her attracting at all. It's ridiculous!" I was almost whining now. And for the second time in minutes, I felt like a whimsical ten-year-old.

"Edward…Nobody in their right mind would doubt you find her attracting. You barely get your eyes off her. It's a physical pain for you to be apart from her. I feel it, you know." Jasper took the ball out of Emmet's hands.

"Well, she's not exactly right in her mind, that girl. So that explains why she doubts you, Ed!" Emmet added, trying to make the situation lighter. He could not endure emotional storms for long.

I couldn't help laughing at this. My Bella was definitely 'unusual'.

'Edward...' Alice's mind called out to me.

"Ah!" I moaned, as soon as I connected to her. My mind was suddenly bombarded by images of my own Bella, wearing nothing else but alluring lingerie. I felt the pain, the pang in my stomach, my hands forming fists and my head spinning. My throat went dry and not out of blood-thirst. My eyes were shut.

"Hey, Edward! – Jasper shouted out, worriedly, shaking me – Edward! What is it?! You are scaring me!"

"Ah! Ask your little devil of a wife, Jazz!" I couldn't explain further.

"What has she done this time?" Jasper asked, smiling knowingly and shaking his head.

"She's being naughty, I bet." Emmet said, his face confused. I knew how he hated when we 'psychics' communicated, letting the rest of the world out.

"You win again, Emmet. You are lucky with bets today…" I joked.

"Emmet! – Alice called out, for everyone to hear – Rose will be back in five minutes. She bought you a present. And Esme wants a chat with me and Jasper! Edward, Bella, you can stay as long as you want, of course! Charlie won't be home till late!"

This she also thought for me 'Sorry, Edward. I couldn't resist…don't worry, you'll be good today! Just let her breathe and let yourself go a little bit."

I watched her face, as she exited the pool. I could not been mad at Alice, even if I had wanted. She loved Bella too, after all. If she said I would not hurt her today, then I had to believe her. But I knew I was about to hurt Bella again somehow, by refusing her what she wanted. My mind was set: too dangerous.

Emmet and Jasper were already out of the water too, their thought bent towards their mates, while they dried themselves.

'I just hope they'll sort this out…it must really suck! I so want to see my Rose!' Emmet was thinking.

Jasper winked at me, before following Alice in the house, his thoughts quite similar to Emmet's now.

I was lucky to have such a weird family, I told myself.

Lucky and also madly in love with the girl now looking straight at me with her deep, chocolate eyes, half embarrassed and half terrified…