Hope you're still with me….more at the bottom

Chapter 11:

After the initial shock of seeing the Model A rock to a sudden stop, fury pulsed through Edward's veins.

Mine.

Protect what is mine.

He slowly stood, hands loose at his sides, back straight. A low growl filled his ears but he was not sure where it came from.

Mr. Tyler, eyes wide in horror, peered over the side of the car at the crumpled body of Miss Swan.

Edward glared at the cowering older man.

"Your eyes…" came a shocked hiss from Mr. Tyler, his own eyes wide in astonishment at the glittering obsidian glare he found himself locked in.

Edward reached for the door, certain he would rip it from its hinges. Bella gave a low groan and her eyes fluttered open.

All anger drained from Edward as he knelt by Miss Swan's side, gently taking her hand.

"Don't move," he murmured, quickly looking over her for any damage. Other than a tear in her stockings, he could not ascertain any injuries.

Edward knew he should not be as fascinated by the creamy skin that showed through the rips but the glance was ever so enticing.

"I…" Bella stuttered, slowly sitting up with his assistance. "I think I'm alright. What happened?"

"You walked out in front of me is what happened!" Mr. Tyler spluttered, trying to open his driver's side door but due to a large Edward-shaped dent in it, could not. "I tried to brake in time but…"

"Oh no you do not, Ebenezer Tyler," came a sharp female voice from across a yard.

Bella and Edward turned to see Elizabeth Masen quickly flouncing down her front steps, skirts in hand, her face bright red. Emmett closely followed behind her, an amused smile on his face that he quickly hid as others gathered around.

"My son and this young lady were enjoying a promenade … on the sidewalk … and you come down the lane and nearly kill them. I have witnesses!"

A low groan from inside the car stole their attention as Jessica sat up, rubbing a huge knot on the side of her head. From the state of her attire, it was obvious that more had been going on in the front seat of the Model A than just a friendly drive home.

"What happened, Neezie?" she said in a groggy voice, looking out at the gathering crowd.

Jessica's eyes flew open as she saw the now-amused crowd and tried to slide down into the seat.

"Edward, take Miss Bella into the house. Zafrina will take care of her injuries," Elizabeth said in a low voice.

"But…"

"Edward Anthony," Elizabeth warned, her face a hard mask that brooked no disobedience.

Without waiting for permission, Edward swept Bella up in his arms and carefully carried her inside the house and into the parlor.

"But my car!" Mr. Tyler moaned.

"What seems to be the problem here?" a male voice interrupted the caterwauling.

"Ah, Officer Cheney," Elizabeth said with a smile as she watched what little color Mr. Tyler's face held quickly drain away. "My son and his lady friend were out for a stroll and this vehicle nearly ended their night. Permanently!"

"Is that so?"

Officer Cheney glanced inside the vehicle and noted the disheveled appearance of Mr. Tyler and Miss Jessica as well as a half-filled bottle of amber liquid rolling about the floorboards.

"Perhaps you two would follow me to the station for a little conversation," he said in a calm voice that police officers had long perfected.

"But my car!" Mr. Tyler moaned yet again.

"I do believe your car can stay right here for now and we can have it towed off at a later time."

"But the damages!"

Officer Cheney slowly walked around the car, examining it closely.

"What damages?" he finally asked.

Mr. Tyler threw open his door and scrambled out, paying no mind to the fact his belt and pants were undone and drooping dangerously low. He slammed the door shut and pointed to where a dent had once been but now was gone.

"But there was … right there … when I nearly hit … Mr. Masen just …"

Officer Cheney clamped a firm hand onto the older man's shoulder.

"Let us just go talk this over," he said. "This way."

Elizabeth and Emmett watched as Jessica stumbled out of the car and fell into line next to Mr. Tyler who was pointedly ignoring her as they were escorted toward the police station.

"Fine work you do, Mr. Mechanic," Elizabeth teased as she turned back toward the house.

"Almost as good as Rosie," Emmett said with a smile.

"So is it always this … interesting … around them?"

"More so when L is around but … yes, this is about par for the course. Bella is rather accident prone."

"Poor child. And nothing ever goes quite as planned, does it?"

"No, ma'am. Doesn't seem to."

"Hmm…too many cooks."

Emmett looked down at Elizabeth and tried to read her face but found it rather difficult. He shrugged.

"Not sure what you mean by that," he said finally.

"I'm sure you don't, dear boy. But I'll do what I can to straighten a few things out."

Emmett opened the front door for Elizabeth and the two headed for the parlor where Zafrina stood next to Bella who was fussing with Edward, insisting that she was fine. Elizabeth lightly touched Emmett's arm to stop him from entering the room.

"But you fainted," Edward said with more than a hint of exasperation, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Elizabeth smiled as she remembered that habit Edward shared with his father.

"He used to do that as a child," she whispered conspiratorially to Emmett. "He would get upset about something and either pinch his nose or pull his hair. His father did the same thing."

"But I am fine now," Bella insisted, trying to sit up from the davenport Edward had laid her out on.

"But…"

Bella gently laid two fingers on his lips to stop his argument.

"Edward," she said softly. "If it were not for my fainting, what might have happened to Mr. Tyler?"

There would be a funeral.

Edward rocked back on his heels and let out a long breath.

"You kept me safe. Protected me," Bella continued. "And for that, I thank you."

She paused and a smile played at her lips.

"It cannot be said that you do not show a girl an exciting time. A time I wouldn't mind doing again sometime?"

"Are you asking me out, Miss Swan?" Edward said with a crooked grin.

"Well, it is the twentieth century."

She was rewarded with a wide smile and found herself giving one in return.

"I would like that very much, Bella."

~BE~

Over the course of the next ten days, Edward found himself embroiled in a court case that took all of his free time, much to his dislike. Unbeknownst to him, Alice had planned this little escapade to keep him physically away from Bella so that the courtship would seem more authentic.

Their date had been on a Tuesday.

Wednesday, Edward sent a few pieces of poetry he had found that he thought she would enjoy.

Thursday, he invited her to an exhibit at the museum that would open the next night.

Friday, he sent apologies as he had to cancel due to an emergency. The apology was accompanied by a lovely bouquet of wildflowers and a promise to take her on a picnic.

Saturday, Bella found herself working the circulation desk at the library and answering more questions on her narrow escape with Mr. Tyler's vehicle and how Mr. Tyler and Miss Stanley were escorted to jail.

Each day away made him more and more fretful and co-workers began devising ways to avoid the sullen young man which only served to make his workload all the heavier.

Bella was not particularly fond of this turn of events, either.

"People didn't spend every waking moment together," Bella muttered in a fairly decent imitation of Alice as she sorted through a stack of check-out cards at the library's circulation desk. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder. It will give him time to properly court you. Blah. Blah. Blah. Meddling pixie."

"I beg your pardon?" Angela asked, pushing a wooden book truck back to the circulation desk.

"Oh, just muttering to myself. You didn't have to put all those books away by yourself."

"I didn't mind. Kind of nice not to have Jessica around."

Bella nodded in agreement. Ever since the night of her first date with Edward, Jessica had been out of sight. Esme had found another, more private job for the mess that was Miss Stanley. Something about spreading fertilizer around the many flowerbeds and trees that lined Chicago's slash Evermore's streets, she had said.

"I haven't seen your gentleman caller around, either," Angela continued as she pushed her glasses further up her nose.

"He has had several late nights at the law office," Bella said with a regretful sigh. "But he's sent me a letter every day."

"And the flowers." She motioned toward the three modest bouquets decorating various tables in the reading room.

Bella nodded as she remembered the letters. They were filled with poems Edward thought she would enjoy as well as simple retellings of how he spent his day and pleas to hear what she was doing and how she was faring. She discovered she was learning more and more about how Edward thought and what he found important and caught herself falling in love with him all over.

"And have you thought to visit him at his office? Maybe take him some supper?"

"Angela! That wouldn't be proper!" And, to be honest, she had not thought of it.

"Proper shmoper. A man has to eat."

Bella pinched her lips together to avoid responding with 'not all men.'

"Excuse me."

Bella and Angela looked up to find Officer Cheney standing next to the circulation desk. Bella noticed Angela's eyes widened as she took in the handsome policeman's appearance.

"Officer Cheney, good afternoon!" Bella said with a smile. "How may I help you?"

"I just came in to inform you that Mr. Tyler and Miss Stanley will be of no bother to you. Miss Stanley's family has agreed to send her to some family in Wisconsin and Mr. Tyler will be kept away as well."

"Oh, thank you."

The three stood there in a peaceful silence for a few moments before Bella noticed Officer Cheney and Angela surreptitiously watching each other.

"Oh, Officer Cheney! This is Angela Weber. Angela, this is…" Bella began.

"Benjamin Cheney. A pleasure to meet you."

Bella glanced back and forth between the two as they silently gazed at each other. She could almost see the little red hearts floating above their heads, bursting in disgustingly sweet displays of confetti and ribbons.

It was enough to make a vampire throw up.

She took that as her cue to leave and with a murmured excuse, dismissed herself to her office. After sitting at her desk, Bella began to flip through the stack of invoices awaiting her but found her mind just was not focusing.

She was antsy.

Fidgety.

Bella realized she had just kicked a hole in her antique desk and groaned as she dislodged her foot and imagined Esme's disappointed looks.

Since she had first met Edward, they had never been apart for more than a day or so and thanks to modern communication devices, she had always heard his voice.

Not so much now.

She picked up a letter and quickly reread it. Edward had poured out his heart, apologizing for things that were far beyond his control and promised to do everything in his power to see her again.

I miss your smile, your eyes, your face, your wit. I long for time to just sit and enjoy your presence. I want to learn every secret you may have and create a few of our own.

Soon.

Bella fanned herself with the note, though it was totally unnecessary. She missed her husband, her lover, her mate and she was going to do everything in her power to get him back.

An idea struck her and she quickly changed her mind and then changed it again. She was not about to risk Alice interfering with her plans.

"Knock knock!" came a voice from the doorway.

Bella looked up to see Elizabeth Masen standing there, a picnic basket in hand.

"I hope I'm not being too forward," she said, closing the door behind her. "But I fixed you and my son a supper. With Zafrina's help, of course. And once I saw Alice head off to London for some baby shopping, I jumped at the chance to get you and my son a little time alone."

Bella gave a genuine smile up at the older woman.

"I greatly appreciate that."

"Seeing the future ruins the spontaneity of a good courtship, in my not so humble opinion."

"That's Alice."

Bella rose and took the basket but not before giving a hug that was warmly returned.

"Love her dearly but sometimes she…" Bella continued before her voice trailed off.

"Like I said, spontaneity is ruined. Now, go drag my son away from that terrible office and enjoy the overcast day in the park."

Bella gave a mock salute with a hearty, "Yes, ma'am!" and smiled as she heard a delightful giggle come from her mother-in-law.

Perhaps things would finally go according to the plan she and L had made.

~BE~

I am so sorry for the delay—between test taking (I passed! I passed at the professional level! Now to find a job…), end of year concerts, awards ceremonies, and 2 nieces that had to be born 2 states away a week apart so we travel 6-8 hours, each way twice, to celebrate, I have not written much and inspiration left.

But school for the kiddos ends tomorrow and while June is a pinball machine (I'm going to Toronto! Whoo hoo! Gonna fangirl all over Sailor and Poppet and The Professor's home territory), I should be able to wrap this puppy up sooner rather than later.

I greatly appreciate y'all's patience and continued reading. Oh, and for those that were curious—a Media Specialist is what they are calling school librarians now.