A/N:

First off… The festival I'm talking about in St. Tropez… It's an October event… Well, it's July here in the story so I'm taking some creative liberty… Please forgive me. I should also add that it's not in St. Tropez but in Ramatuelle… It's a nearby town.

You guys are all amazing. Thank you for your continued support regardless of the controversial material.

Some analysis:

Bella is really very confused and you're going to see a lot of that in the coming chapters and this chapter as well. I said from the beginning this would be a very angsty story… So be prepared… She isn't leaving Jake any time soon. He's a master manipulator and he knows that if he loses her then his 'perfect' world would come crashing down… He needs her in his life not because he loves her but because of what she represents.

Edward is very patient and he really does let her walk all over him but what should be remembered is that he has never felt this way about a woman… And he is confused and excited about it. He loves the way she makes him feel and he is completely certain that she will one day leave Jake so any pain that he feels now, he figures sticking it out will be worth it in the end.

So… I think that's all I have to say now… So enjoy the chapter! I'm excited to hear what you have to say about it!

Oh! almost forgot! This story is now on Twilighted (dot) net... So you can check it out there though the process is slower as each chapter must be approved and what not... So only chapter one is up thus far but I hope to catch it up!

You Found Me
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

Chapter Nine

Oh no the battle forms inside
And I speak, but you don't see the signs
My heart aches, leaving me here to hide
My world shakes, until you assure me

Oh no there goes composure
Over and out to the sea
Oh no this won't control me
But it seems to get the best of me

The same problem, coming to haunt me again
And I know it's taken the best of my head
The same problem tears me to pieces inside
And I'm left to wonder oh why…

Oh no I'm crossing my fingers
In hopes that you will not leave me
Far away, the silence it burns me
As I wait, the tension builds

Oh why can't I move forward?
Oh why does my mind wander?
Oh why does my heart desire you?

Oh no there goes composure…

Waking Ashland, "Same Problem"

----------

"Do you really have to go?" Edward asked as he circled his arms around her waist, pulling her against his chest as he nuzzled his nose into her hair. He wanted to drown in her scent. He couldn't imagine anything ever smelling as wonderful as she did and though she would be leaving, he had some comfort in the fact that his sheets and pillows would still smell like her.

"Unfortunately I do. Jake will be back tomorrow."

"So you can't stay one more night?"

Bella sighed and closed her eyes as she leaned her head against his chest. It was such a tempting offer. She was certain that the week that she had spent with him and been the happiest week that she had had in a long while and she was reluctant to let it go. Still, though she was happy, she was still lost in her mind as she tried to sort out the conflicting feelings that she had for both the man that was holding her now and the man who would be returning to her home in less than twenty-four hours.

Edward's lips found her neck and she leaned to the side allowing him more room. He was doing it on purpose and she was more than aware of that fact. Even though they had been intimate for only a few days, he knew more about what her body wanted than her husband. How that was possible she had no clue but it was the truth. Edward knew exactly what to do to her to get his way and he was putting every ounce of effort into trying to convince her to stay just one more night.

"I want to…" her voice trailed and she felt him smile against her neck.

"Then say yes."

"I have clothes to wash and I'll have to clean…" She groaned. He moved to the sensitive area just below her ear. "I have to make the bed…"

"You can go in the morning." He pulled away and smiled at her flushed cheeks, proud of the affect he had on her body and almost certain that her husband couldn't do that for her.

"I can't," she sighed and looked up into his eyes, immediately wishing that she hadn't. She could see the sadness behind his green eyes as he tried to mask it as best as he could. Her hand found his cheek and cradled it in the palm of her hand and he pressed against it.

"I know… I don't want to make you feel guilty… I just hate that I'm going to have to sleep without you." He leaned down and pressed his forehead to her own. "I'm afraid I won't be able to."

"I know how you feel," she whispered before standing on her toes and pressing a kiss to his lips. "Hey…We still have a few hours… Might as well make use of them right?"

He grinned and lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist as he held her bottom to keep her steady. "Might as well."

----------

When Bella walked into her house she was surprised to see that a light in the kitchen was on. She furrowed her brow trying to remember if she had turned it off or not. She couldn't remember having left it on and bit her lip as she walked in, dropping her bag by the stairs while examining the home, afraid for a moment that maybe someone had broken in and was still in the house. She grabbed a long umbrella just in case, it wasn't exactly a great weapon, but it would do more harm than her own hands could if she needed to chase someone out.

Her heart was beating in her chest as she cautiously looked around and yet nothing was amiss; everything exactly as it had been when she had left to go to Edward's four days ago. Shrugging it off, she just assumed that she had been in too much of a rush to get to him that she had failed to turn the light off. Annoyed with her oversight and the fact that the bill would be higher than it could have been because of her careless mistake, she flicked the switch before walking into the hallway and gathering her things up and beginning her trek to the bedroom.

It was there, in the hall on the second floor that she saw the light blue glow that the television screen cast in the bedroom that she shared with Jake. She grimaced, it meant that he had come home early and she still wasn't ready to face him. One of the reasons why she had been so adamant about leaving Edward's flat had been because she needed a night to decompress, a night to try and sort through some of the things that were floating around in her mind before she would have to share a bed with her husband again.

She was terrified of being found out; terrified that Jake would take one look at her and see the infidelity that she assumed was written across her forehead. She felt as though she might as well of been Hester Prynne with a giant scarlet A pinned to her chest. She quietly stood in the hallway and pulled her shirt to her nose, Edward's scent was all over her body and she bit her lip wondering if there was a way that she could hold off going into that room until Jake was asleep. She needed to shower, she needed to change and most of all, she needed to get the clothes that she wore into the hamper so Jake would never find out.

"Bella, is that you?" She heard his deep voice call out from the bedroom and she hung her head realizing that there was no way out of this. Then again, maybe it would be easier. Maybe this was how it was suppose to happen, to keep her from actually having to make a choice. Jake would make it for her once he smelled the sweet scent of Edward on her skin and clothes. Part of her was happy about that because even though her husband was right on the other side of that door, she still wanted to be with Edward. The other part of her was still set on fixing things with Jake, or at least, seeing if there was any way to fix it. Either way she knew that she would have to come clean about Edward, and, if she chose the road to stay with Jake she would be honest with him, and she would give him the opportunity to leave her.

"Hi," she replied meekly as she walked in and dropped her bag on the bedroom floor. Jake was propped against the pillows, his head resting casually on the headboard. He diverted his attention from the TV to look at her. She focused on his eyes and the look on his face and for a moment she thought she saw something there that hadn't been there before. Though she had heard remorse in his voice when he had called, his face screamed a desperation that hadn't been there before. "How was your trip?"

He shrugged and moved to get off the bed but she held her hand up to stop him. "You weren't supposed to be home tonight."

"I came home yesterday hoping you would be here." She bit her lip and tried her hardest to suppress the urge to vomit again. "Where were you?"

"I stayed at Emmett and Rose's home in the Lake District," she lied and he nodded his head. "I just needed to get away and think… To sort things out."

"And you didn't think to answer your phone?" His voice was surprisingly calm.

"I needed time Jake."

This time, he bit his lip. Since she had walked in all he wanted to do was wrap her in his arms and apologize for his behavior. He knew how close he was to losing her; he could see it in her eyes, even now as they stood in the same room there was a distance between them that he had never noticed before. "What did you decide?"

"I'm still not sure."

"So you're just going to give up on us?"

"You gave up on us a long time ago… Don't pin this on me!"

He was cursing himself for his choice of words. He had cut his trip short so he could come back and beg her to stay with him, to show her a little of the man that she had once loved because he couldn't lose her. He needed her and he could see how much she had grown and changed over the past few months and how independent she was becoming again. She wouldn't need him any longer and that meant he would have to change his tactics if he was going to keep her in his life. He needed to be the man that she had fallen in love with.

"I'm sorry."

"Are you?" She questioned as she moved to the bathroom.

"I am."

She grimaced. "I'm going to take a shower… I think I'm going to sleep in the guestroom tonight. I need more time."

She was about to close the door when she heard him call her name again.

"Yeah?"

"Let's go away for the weekend… Saint Tropez. You and I… We can be alone and try and work things out… Try and get things back on track."

"I don't know… It's kind of late notice."

"Just… Think about it okay? Let me know tomorrow night?" She nodded and watched as he stood up. "I'll sleep in the guestroom. You can have the bed."

"Thank you."

"Goodnight Bella." He was walking to the door and she was thankful that he was being so nice but it really only made her hate herself. She had felt guilty before, like the time when she got into an accident and told Charlie that a deer had ran into the hood of her car, she had confessed a few days later because she hated the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. But this time, it was different. This was a guilt that she knew she wouldn't be rid of until she figured things out.

Her hand found the knob of the shower and she turned it on. As the steam filled the room, she lifted the seat of the toilet and the churning in her stomach ceased as she threw up. She figured that this was something she would have to get used to. She couldn't leave her husband yet, he was starting to remind her of the man that she had fallen in love with, and yet, at the same time, she couldn't leave Edward because she was falling more in love with him each and every day that passed. For the first time, she began to wonder if it was possible to love two people at the same time.

----------

Bella met Rose for lunch the next day in Soho. After thinking about it all night, she had finally come to the decision to agree to go away for the weekend with Jake. She owed him that after what she had been doing while he had been gone and if he wanted an opportunity to try and fix things then she would accept it and see what the weekend would bring. She figured she would go shopping with Rose after lunch to buy a new swimsuit or two. If she was going to Saint Tropez, she would enjoy the sun and the beach and with Jacob being so into appearances, she would need a few new things to take to the ultra chic vacation spot.

"How was your scandalous week?" Rose grinned before taking a bite of the salad she had ordered.

Bella pulled at her lip for a moment. "Edward is really great… Not that I didn't know that already and he really gets me Rose… More than I think anyone ever has before."

"But?"

"But Jake came home early and I am so sick about what I've done… But I still can't bring myself to end it with Edward because I'm falling in love with him."

Rose dropped her fork when her friend confessed love. She had had her suspicions but she thought she would have to wait longer until Bella would finally come clean or at the very least pester her to admit it. She was surprised with how soon the confession had come. She figured it would have taken a few more weeks.

"I just don't know what to do and Jake was so understanding last night… He willingly gave up the bed when I told him I needed more time and this morning he said that he would keep doing that until I was ready to let him back in…"

"But you love Edward."

"That doesn't mean that I should leave Jake…"

Rose sighed. Bella might have admitted to the falling but she still needed the epiphany. Rose knew Jake… She didn't know him well, not as well as Bella knew Emmett, mainly because Jake had never shown an interest in getting to know her and that was something that had never sat well with her. Jake had no desire to understand Bella or to be a part of Bella's life; he wanted Bella to be a part of his without having to make the reciprocal effort. Bella would figure this out eventually, and that would be when the epiphany would take place and she would figure it out, she would understand that she and Jake weren't supposed to be together. That wasn't to say that Rose thought she belonged with Edward either. She didn't know the man well enough to make that decision, but she was almost certain that if she called him up and asked to sit down and talk to him that he would agree to it, because she had a feeling that Edward truly cared about the woman that she sat across from and truly wanted to know her. Jake only called her when he was looking for Bella.

"Rose… He wants to go to St. Tropez for a long weekend." Bella bit her lip as she rubbed her forehead. Things were getting so complicated with her life and she was confused. She didn't know what she wanted anymore.

"Emmett mentioned something about that. We are heading there on the company plane tomorrow."

"What do you mean?"

"AEG wanted to send some of their employees for the Ramatuelle Jazz Festival," she shrugged and took a sip of the wine they had ordered with their lunch. "We're going to leave tomorrow."

"So all that crap he told me about wanting to get anyway and have it just be us was really just crap after all?"

"I don't know Bella…"

Bella grimaced, maybe Jake hadn't changed at all. "Fine. I'll go and I'll spend the whole time ignoring him…" She knew it was childish but the way he had made it sound was that it was just the two of them, not once had he mentioned that it was work related and though she hated to admit it, it didn't really surprise her much.

"You can stay with Emmett and I if you like, you know you're always welcome. He booked some huge suite and I wouldn't be surprised if there were more than one bedroom."

"I love you Rose…" Bella replied. "I'm not sure what I'd do without you and Emmett."

"We love you too sweetie. We just want what's best for you."

Bella felt her phone vibrate and she pulled it from her purse and saw that she had a text message from Edward.

I miss you. Will I be able to see you at all today?

She smiled not noticing that Rose was grinning wickedly at her.

"Lover boy?"

Bella nodded as she typed on her phone. That depends. What are your plans?

"What are you saying?" Rose inquired as she leaned across the table but she still couldn't see the phone.

"He wanted to know if we could get together today…"

"And?"

"And after what you told me about Jake… It's looking more appealing." Her phone buzzed again.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I'm having lunch with Rose. Then going to Selfridges for some shopping. Meet me in two hours at our café?

"Okay… We should pay the bill." Bella was looking around for the waiter.

"Someone's impatient."

I'll be there.

"Just there's a lot to do and I want to see him. I should tell him that I won't be around this weekend." Suddenly she was scared. She was afraid of how he would take it. Would he be understanding?

"He'll understand Bella… You did talk to him right?" She nodded her response. "He might be upset but I have a feeling that this won't be a make it or break it decision. Have you told him about your parents?"

Bella shook her head and looked down at the black folder that had been dropped off at the table. She quickly threw in her Visa credit card. "I feel like I've laid so much on him that the last thing he needs to hear about is my parents."

"He needs to know eventually… I think it will help him understand where you are coming from and why you are so apprehensive about leaving Jake."

"Rose… I'm not leaving Jake because I don't know if it's the right thing to do."

"Because you are afraid of ending up like your parents."

"My mother is happily remarried."

"But your father sulks around because he lost the love of his life. Come on Bella… You know the reason that you won't leave Jake is because you are afraid that one of you will end up like Charlie. And… Don't be mad but mainly, I think you're afraid that it's going to be you… I just wish you would see that Jake isn't the love of your life."

Bella sighed. She knew Rose didn't like Jake and she wasn't afraid to talk about it but it did bother her when Rose brought up her parents. Though they had become fast friends, Rose had never met her father and the fact that she was talking about something that she barely knew except from the context of Bella's own stories, bothered her. Still, she knew her friend meant well and decided to over look it.

"Ready?" Bella asked, effectively ending the conversation much to Rose's dismay. She just wanted to make Bella see what was right in front of her and what she could be throwing away with Edward if she did make the wrong choice.

"Yeah, wouldn't want to keep Edward waiting." Rose smiled as they stood up and gathered their things.

----------

Edward sat at their table sipping the cappuccino he had ordered for himself and keeping his eye on the door. He was early but it was merely because he was too excited to see her again. Sleeping without her had been hell. He kept wondering if her husband had come home early and if she was wrapped in his arms. It was foolish, he knew that it was inevitable that she would be sharing her bed with the man, but he couldn't help the pang of jealousy that he felt when he thought about it. Though she wasn't entirely his, he still felt that she was.

A flash of bright yellow caught his eye and he was startled when she sat down beside him. He had been so busy thinking about her that he hadn't even noticed when she walked in. He took her in; she wore those damn skinny jeans that hugged her ass and legs perfectly and a simple black tank top.

"Hi." She smiled and he reached towards her chair and pulled it closer to his own.

"Hello love." He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. He wanted to do more but they were in public and being that she was married, he had to keep his hands to himself. It was a test of his will power and he was surprised with how well he had been doing.

"How was your night?"

"Hellish," he replied and pushed the drink he had ordered for her towards her. "Sleep was not easy to come by."

She smiled all the while thankful that she hadn't been the only one. "I know how you feel."

He reached for her hand under the table and squeezed it. "I'm glad you could come."

"I'm glad you had time."

"Bella, haven't you figured it out that I'll always have time for you?"

She was certain that her heart melted with his comment. She hadn't heard anything that sweet in years and the conviction in his voice as he told her only solidified to her that his feelings for her were growing just as hers were for him.

"What did you buy?" He motioned to the three bags that were resting at her feet.

"That's what I kind of wanted to talk to you about…" Her eyes glanced over the entire shop as she scanned the crowed for familiar faces. She needed to tell him, but she was afraid that it might cause emotions to flare and she wasn't sure that a public location was the best place for this.

"Do you want to go to my place?" She nodded and they both stood up. He reached for her bags which caused her to roll her eyes and he laughed. He knew that she wasn't used to men doing things like this for her and it only made him more adamant to do it.

They walked together down the street and though he wanted to hold her hand, he refrained until they were near his building. It never ceased to amaze him how perfectly her hand fit into his own.

"So… What's up?" He finally asked when they were in the confines of his home.

She didn't say anything, but instead walked up to him and threw her arms around his neck. "God I've missed you." She murmured against his neck as he fisted his hands in her hair and pulled her head so she was looking at her.

"I've missed you too." He groaned when her fingers found his hair.

Before either knew what was happening, they were kissing each other with a passion reserved for lovers who hadn't seen each other for days, maybe even months. They however, had only been apart for fourteen hours. Their lips molded together and he pressed her body closer to his, unable to feel close enough to her. He wanted more and he knew he wouldn't be satisfied until he was inside of her again, moving with her and loving her.

In one swift movement her legs were around his waist and he was carrying her to the bedroom. She moaned against his lips as he laid her down, pressing his own body on top of hers, as his hands began to remove the layers of clothing that separated their skin. He wanted to feel her flesh against his own. He craved it and the way she was reacting to his touch, he knew she did too.

"God you are so beautiful," he mused as he pulled away, taking her top with him. His eyes lingered on her body, each time more and more surprised with how beautiful she was. It never ceased to amaze him that when he thought she couldn't look more beautiful, she always did.

"I want…" She moaned but stopped as he moved back on top of her, his lips pressing open mouthed kisses along her delicate collarbone, nearly causing her to come undone. Though she loved how much she wanted him, the overwhelming need for him scared her. Her body had never been more aroused as it was when she was with him, it was as though their bodies called for each other and she wondered if sex with Jake would ever be as great as it was with Edward. Sadly, she knew that the answer would always be no. Even at the peak of her relationship with Jake, the sex was never this mind blowing, never this passionate and needy and loving all at the same time.

"What do you want my Bella?" He groaned against her skin as she pressed her hips against his own.

She whimpered but was unable to find her words.

"Tell me love."

"I want you." She managed and it was all the encouragement he needed.

----------

He drew lazy circles on the naked skin of her back as they lay together under the cool fabric of his sheets. The sun was starting to set and she knew that she would have to get going soon but she was finding it hard to muster the motivation to do so. They had made love three times and though she was pleasantly numb from the experience, she couldn't help but want more, especially as his fingers continued to stroke her skin.

"Will I see you again soon?" He asked as she nuzzled his chest.

"That was what I needed to talk to you about."

"Is Jake going out of town again?" His voice was excited and she hated that she was about to crush him.

"He wants to take me to Saint Tropez this weekend… I have to go…" She said softly, biting her lip, afraid to look in Edward's eyes.

"Oh…"

"I don't want to go… I'd rather be here but…"

He cut her off. "I understand Bella… Although I'd much rather have you to myself I know you're married… You don't belong to me."

"Sometimes… More often than not… I wish I did," she said quietly.

"I wish you did too."

----------

Saint Tropez was hot and Bella felt like the skin was going to melt right off her skeleton. Though she had enjoyed the heat when she lived in Phoenix, she had been away from it for too long and suddenly, much to her surprise, she craved the cool feeling of rain. They had been in the South of France for two days now and she had been doing her best to avoid Jake.

Still, even though he was there for an AEG sponsored event, he was more attentive to her than she could ever remember him being when it came to his business functions and that surprised her.

"Would you like another drink babe?" He asked and she cringed. She always hated being called babe.

"That would be nice."

He nodded and stood up leaving her there alone. She was doing all she could to push the thoughts of Edward away when she was with Jake but when he would leave her, even if it was only for a few moments, she found herself wondering what he was up to and even though she had sworn she wouldn't, they had been communicated through text messages the entire weekend. It seemed that she couldn't go long without him and it both excited and frustrated her. How was she supposed to try and make things work with Jake if she couldn't even go a weekend without speaking to Edward?

"Bella right?" Her thoughts were disrupted when she heard her name and turned to see the woman that she had spent watching with her husband all night at the Brit awards after party.

Bella nodded. "Leah Clearwater?"

The woman nodded and Bella sat up a little straighter, not noticing the look that Jake was casting their way from the bar.

"I just wanted to get to know you better… I've heard so much about you from Jake and I feel as though we are friends already." Leah's smile was genuine and it relaxed Bella a little. Though she had been suspicious about the two, the fact that Leah was so comfortable around her, seemed to put her at ease.

"I wish I could say the same… Though Jake doesn't talk much about coworkers… Or work in general."

Leah laughed and flipped her long, dark hair off her shoulder. "Well… I wouldn't worry too much about it. The job isn't that exciting. Jake said you were an English major at the University of Washington." Bella nodded. "Wow! I wish I had the confidence to do that… I went into business because it didn't involve analyzing text."

"Oh it's not that hard really… I'm sure it's much more difficult to come up with the proper arguments to sway a client to join AEG."

Leah shrugged. "So how do you like London? Jake said you moved from New York."

"Oh… London is wonderful but it's hard being so far from home… I don't know that many people here and so many of the wives are rather catty. Though I suppose they don't appreciate their husbands working with a single woman."

"Oh, those women don't care so long as they have someone to pay for their clothes and cars and drinks," Bella commented which made Leah laugh.

"You're definitely not like the other wives," Leah mused and watched as Bella's face scrunched up in confusion, unsure if that was a compliment or not. "I mean that in the best possible sense of the word. You actually seem like someone I could be friends with."

"I'll admit that I was skeptical about you at first," Bella admitted and Leah cocked her head to the side.

"What do you mean?"

"It's just… Jake hadn't ever mentioned you before and when I saw you together… You must know you're a beautiful woman."

"Oh Bella, you seriously underestimate your own beauty. Besides, I don't get involved with married men… I was involved with someone in New York who told me he was single and it wasn't until his wife called me that I found out he was lying. The woman was so upset… I felt horrible and I would never want to inflict that kind of pain intentionally."

"I'm sorry you went through that."

"I suppose it happens," she shrugged. "What matters is that I told him how disgusted I was with him and left him immediately."

"Is that what prompted the move here?"

"Well… Yes and no I suppose. That relationship ended two years ago but as big of a city as New York is… I often ran into him and it was too painful."

"You'll find someone else. Someone who is worthy of you… And not married."

"You're right Bella." Leah leaned back against the chair. She wasn't sure what it had been that prompted her to approach Jake's wife… Well, she did know, and the more she got to know her, the more she began to hate herself. "I really hope we can be friends Bella."

"That would be nice."

They sat there and chatted for a bit before Leah told her that she had to be getting back to her room to change for the events that evening. AEG had wanted her to attend a performance at the jazz festival and if she didn't get a move on, she would be late. They parted having made plans to get in touch when they were both in London to have lunch and get to know each other better.

----------

Leah turned as she felt a hand grab her arm and pull her around a corner. "What the fuck was that about?"

Jake stood there looking down at her, his eyes dark with anger and she just glared back up at him. "I was getting to know your wife."

"Stay away from her."

"Why Jake? Afraid I'll tell her just why you left Berlin early? I suppose you told her it was because you missed her."

"Leave Bella alone Leah."

"I'm not going to tell her anything Jake. Lighten up. Whether you like it or not, your wife is actually someone who I think I could be friends with."

She pulled herself away from his grip. "Just accept the inevitable. She's sweet. I can see why you married her."

"I mean it Leah… This is only going to hurt her."

"Then maybe you should have thought with your big head, and not the little one." She didn't wait for an answer, instead she just walked to her room leaving Jake standing alone.

She wasn't proud of her actions, but as far as she was concerned, Jake was just as much at fault for what had happened as she was. She told herself it wasn't going to happen again and the only way she could assure herself of that was if she befriended his wife. Sure she felt guilty, but she was certain that strengthening her bond with the woman who had no idea, was the only way she could keep her conscience in check.

----------

How's the sun?

Bella smiled as she read Edward's message.

It's hotter than hell here. How is London?

Jake had gone to a concert and though he had begged her to go with him she had declined, feigning heat stroke. He had been around her all weekend and though she was happy to see him making an effort to be with her, she felt as though she was being smothered.

Lonely without you. When do you come back? She couldn't help but smile as she read his message and her heart raced as she thought about seeing him again. She wanted to feel his arms wrapped around her waist.

I'll be home tomorrow afternoon.

She heard a knock on her door and tossed her phone on the bed as she walked to it and found Rose standing on the other end.

"Hey stranger," she smiled as she opened the door.

"I'm glad you are here. I thought you might have gone with Jake to the concert."

Bella shook her head. "No, I didn't feel like it really. I've had enough jazz for one weekend."

Rose nodded, "so what are you doing?"

"Just relaxing.

"Do you want to go down by the pool? Have a few drinks while we wait for the others to return?"

Bella just shrugged and walked to the bed, picking up her phone.

God I miss you. My bed smells of you and it makes me miss you more. Can I see you again soon?

Rose stood and watched the smile on Bella's face and she knew instantly who it was she was talking to. She took it to be a good thing that even though she was there with Jake, she was still communicating with Edward. It was a step in the right direction.

I'll call you when I get home.

"What?" Bella asked as she looked up and placed her phone in the bag that she was taking with her to the pool. Rose just shook her head and laughed. "Seriously Rose… What?"

"Nothing… I'm just happy for you is all."

Bella knew what it was she was talking about but she also knew that it wasn't the time nor the place to talk about it.

"I better get to meet him formally soon. Emmett wants to meet him as well."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea Rose."

"I think it's a fantastic idea… It's better not to put it off Bells. We'll meet him eventually."

----------

"Did it make you feel powerful?" Jake commented as he leaned closer to Leah.

She bit her lip. She could smell him all around her and it was intoxicating but she made a promise to herself. She was going to be friends with Bella and nothing would ever happen with Jacob ever again. "She's a really sweet woman Jake. I'm not going to put her through what I put Emily through."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that this is over… We work together and that's all that it will ever be. You're married and she is wonderful and she deserves to have a husband who isn't sneaking around behind her back. I don't have many friends here Jake and I can't burn any bridges and if we keep doing this, that's exactly what is going to happen."

"You say that now but you'll be back."

"You'll never leave her."

He shook his head. "No… I never will."

"And we will never be together again." Jacob just shrugged at her comment. He wasn't taking her seriously and if she was being honest, she wasn't sure she was taking herself seriously. She had no idea what to expect, but what she did know for certain was that Jake would never leave Bella and if he wasn't cheating on Bella with her, it would only be another woman later on down the road.

----------

"Did you have fun this weekend?" He asked as he leaned across the seat to kiss her neck.

She nodded. "So am I off probation?"

"Yes Jake… You're off probation." She couldn't have said no. He had been more attentive to her in that weekend than he had been over the past few months, maybe even over the past few years and it seemed to her that he was actually tying to change. That he was trying to be more like the man that she married and less like the man that he had become. Sure it only served to confuse her even more, but she knew that this was something that could happen. She would wait and see what would happen. Everything was still far too fresh for her to make any solid decisions.

He grinned and leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes. He had his wife back. His plan had worked. He would just need to find a way to make sure that she stayed happy.