AN- Okay, I'm posting two chapters at once again. They are really one very long chapter, with a break in the middle. I made the break in chapters to take this opportunity to remind you, my dear readers that this fic is rated M, for content that is suitable for those 16 and older. This chapter is safe, with a bit of tender fluff at the end. The next gets highly suggestive.


Edward hears the truth

I could tell they hadn't been gone long. His stench was still lingering in the yard. Leaping from the ground I landed lightly in Bella's room. Thank god, there was no trace of him in here. I mentally kicked myself. Of course there would be no trace of Jake in Bella's room. Had I not just gone through this? I shook my head in disgust. Would I always be an insecure teenager when it came to this? I laughed at myself. I was after all, eternally seventeen.

"I'm glad you're not angry," Bella said, seeing me laugh as she came through her door.

Though I couldn't smell him in her room, Bella was a different story. She reeked of dog. My lip automatically pulled back at the stench.

"Edward," she said, "calm down."

I took a deep breath, bad mistake. I tried not breathing at all. It was a little bit better. Bella took my hands and led me to the bed, indicating I should sit down.

"Edward, please, there is a reason I smell like Jake." She insisted. I was sure there was. I just wasn't sure I wanted to hear it. I growled at myself in frustration. I was being ridiculous again! Bella mistook my growl. "Edward, calm down."

"I'm not angry with you." I said, finally exhaling.

"I know," she said, smiling tenderly at me. "I'm sure you've found some way to twist this so you can be angry at yourself." I smiled at her astuteness. Then I breathed in and my lip curled back again.

"Bella," I all but snarled, "I can smell him on your lips." It came out much harsher than I meant. I didn't mean for it to sound like an accusation.

Bella sighed like a parent trying to be patient with a petulant child. The sweet scent of her breath broke through the disgusting tartness. I regained some composure, but hung my head.

"Edward, not only is there a reason I smell like Jake. There is a reason I still smell like him. I could have easily showered before coming in to meet you."

I stared at her. Why would she come to me smelling of him on purpose?

"I know you, Edward." She said softly, "You would have tortured yourself, probably for years, with all the different things that could have happened. This was the only way I could think of for you to really know what happened, without being there." She explained. I had to smile again. She was right. I did have a talent for torturing myself.

"I gave him a hug, Edward. And when he asked if he could kiss me goodbye, I said yes." My heart tore as half dropped to my stomach, thinking of her kissing him, half lifting as it registered the 'goodbye' part, as in to see no more.

"He kissed me on the cheek, and I returned it to his cheek, Edward." She turned her face to one side and I could indeed smell him stronger there. I shook my head in disgust at my behavior.

"I'm sorry, Bella," I apologized. I looked up to her face, my eyes pleading for forgiveness, "Jealously doesn't usually listen to reason."

She smiled at me again, "I know that. I have had a battle or two of my own with jealousy since meeting you." She squeezed my hands. "That's why I'm not mad. I just want to you be okay."

I smiled sheepishly at her. Once again she had forgiven me my unending faults.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied, but continued to avoid breathing.

"Good, because I want to tell you what he said," Bella's eyes were shining with joy. It must be very good news. "Jacob has found hope, Edward. He still misses me, but he's realized that someday he'll heal and move on." I blinked. That didn't sound much like Jacob.

"He even said he was going to do some traveling, maybe find the girl he's meant to be with and imprint," she finished happily. I was having a hard time believing Jake had suddenly had such an epiphany.

Then I realized he hadn't. No one who has loved Bella could simply decide, 'hey, that's okay, I'll get over it eventually'. I realized he had said these things to Bella to give her peace, to let her move on. He was a much better man than I had given him credit for. I wouldn't be the one to rat him out.

"That's great, Bella," I said, trying to sound convincing. It either worked, or she was too excited to notice.

"There's more," she went on, "he brought wedding presents."

I blinked again. What?

"This one is mine," she emptied a small leather pouch, reddish brown in color, into my hands.

I stared at the stone carving. The detail in it was incredible. This kind of craftsmanship would cost a fortune. Jacob didn't have a fortune. Then it hit me.

"Jacob carved this,' I said aloud. Bella nodded. It would have taken months. Months of him having to stare at my face as he worked the stone for Bella. I traced the lopsided curve of my granite lips.

"He said that's the look you get when you talk about me," Bella explained. She grinned, "It's my favorite of all your smiles." I looked up at her, still in a bit of shock.

"This one is yours," she said. She emptied a second pouch, this one a brown very close to the color of Bella's hair, into my other hand. I blinked yet again. Mine?

I looked down at the wooden carving and gasped, "Bella, it's you." It was delicate and warm and the lines were soft. Just like Bella.

She smiled again. "I'm not quite that pretty, but I do like it." I shook my head; she would never see herself clearly. The carving looked exactly like her.

"He said to tell you he was sorry, but that he couldn't picture me as stone," she whispered. Neither can I, I thought.

"It's perfect," I said aloud.

"That's what I told him!" She laughed. "He also told me to tell you 'thanks for everything'."

I stared at her. Jacob had definitely grown up since the last time I talked to him.

She grimaced a little, "He also said to tell you that you'd better take good care of me or he'd hunt you down, rip off your head and spit down your throat."

I laughed loudly, "Now, that sounds like Jacob." She laughed with me. I couldn't believe what had happened. Jacob had given Bella the closure she needed to really be free of him. I wondered if I could have done the same, were our places reversed.

"Jacob Black is a good man." I said quietly.

"Yes," Bella agreed, "and one day he will make some girl very happy."

We smiled at each other for a moment. Then I leaned forward, stench or no, I wanted to kiss her.

"Wait," she said, holding me back by putting her hands to my chest. "I need to go shower."

"I don't care how you smell, Bella," I responded, leaning against her hands, "I love you even when you stink."

She smiled at me, but backed away. "Be that as it may, I don't want any of this 'stink' rubbing off on you." She reached out and put one hand to my face. "When you hold me tonight I don't want anything lingering between us."

I took her hand from my face and kissed it tenderly. Tilting my head to one side, I inhaled deeply. I raised an eyebrow at her. She smiled, "I already washed my hands. I knew I couldn't resist at least touching you." She said sheepishly. I laughed again.

"You'd best be quick," I said, releasing her.

"As quick as possible, while also being thorough," she laughed, winked at me and left for the bathroom.

I stared at the carvings for a time while I waited for Bella. I was still amazed at what he had done. I replaced the carvings in their pouches and walked over to set them on the desk.

Bella had been through so much. Simply knowing me had put her in so much danger. Loving me had nearly ended her. And still, here she was, about to become my wife, because it's what I wanted. I would find a way to be worthy of her. I would be the man she needed. I would love her so well and so completely that she would never question her choice.

I laughed at myself. Bella never questioned her choice once it was made. I would love her so entirely, no one could question it.

Bella returned wearing her flannel pants and ratty old t-shirt. Damn, she looked good. I supposed she would look good in just about anything, or nothing at all for that matter. I laughed at myself.

Bella blushed, "I know, but I haven't done laundry in forever." She looked down at her pajamas. "It's all I had clean."

"I wasn't laughing at you, love," I said, shaking my head, "You look fantastic." I smiled at her, "I was laughing at my reaction to you." Bella's blush deepened.

She began to run a comb through her wet hair. I watched for a moment, my head titled to one side. Then I walked over to her and gently caught her wrist. "May I?" I asked softly.

She blushed again, "If you want." I led her over to the desk and pulled the chair out into the room. Seating her in it, I gently gathered her hair and lifted it over the back of the chair. The smell coming off it was heavenly. I breathed in deeply.

"I washed it three times," she admitted sheepishly.

"That would definitely count as thorough," I said, smiling. She smiled back at me and I caressed her crimson cheek with the back of my hand.

As I combed her long hair, I found myself telling her how beautiful it was. That I liked how she left it long and wore it down most of the time. My voice became tender and soft as I confessed that I found it endearing when she hid behind it like a veil sometimes. But I didn't like that she let it hide her eyes. Her eyes were so amazing. Most humans with brown eyes had eyes that were flat and boring. Her eyes were warm and fathomless. I found myself drowning in them often.

I continued to blather on and on, knowing I sounded ridiculous. I didn't care. It felt wonderful to open my heart and pour out my thoughts, random as they may be. I told her all the beautiful things about her, her soft ivory skin, her smell, her laugh. There were so many things I could never live without.