IM ALIVE! I'm actually updating, a shock I know! Sorry for such a long wait. Two months, give or take. Thanks for all the reviews and story alerts etc etc. I'd write more here but I am reallly tired! Hope everyone had a great Christmas and happy new year. Enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I have not, do not, and will not (ever) own(ed) Twilight.

Important note: Prologue has been added to chapter 1, please read! :)

Kate

BPOV

Charlie had arrived home from his fishing trip late Monday evening. He asked me how my field trip was and asked me if I had made any friends. I answered vaguely that I had a lot of fun and I'd made a few friends. He grunted in response, never really one to express emotion well. I knew that I would have to tell him about my marriage at some point, but I was terrified. He would be so disappointed in me, and Renée would be even worse. There would come a point when I could no longer avoid telling him, and prolonging the confession would simply make the situation worse. Knowing all this I opened my mouth and started. 'Uh, Dad? I need to tell you something.' 'Yes?' he replied. However, at the very last moment I chickened out. I had to think of something else to say as I couldn't leave it like that. 'Um, tomorrow a boy called Edward will be giving me a lift to school. Is that okay?' 'Edward Cullen?' he asked. I nodded in response, nervous. 'Yes, of course. Nice boy, nice family. Never cause any trouble.' He turned away then, going into the sitting room to watch some television. As I climbed the stairs to get ready for bed, I wondered how nice Charlie would think Edward was when he found out that we were married. I would have to make sure that Charlie's gun was well hidden for that particular encounter.

I woke up early the next morning, intent upon quizzing Edward about all the strange things I had noticed about him. I also wanted time to dress extra carefully and decide what to do with my hair. When I came downstairs for some breakfast, Charlie raised his eyebrows at me. Was the extra effort I had put into my appearance really that obvious? 'Should I be worried?' he asked me. 'No, of course not!' I said as innocently as I could. The time for worry was well over. I was already married to the guy. I was contemplating changing my outfit, I didn't want to look lie I was trying too hard, when Edward's car pulled up in front of my house. He got out of the car and walked up to my front door. He rang the bell and waited patiently for the door to be opened. I stood up to do just that but Charlie beat me to it. He wrenched the door open and folded his arms, glaring at Edward. Edward extended his hand to shake and said, 'Good morning, Chief Swan. It's a pleasure to meet you.' Charlie shook his hand and seemed to loosen up somewhat. 'Dad, may we leave now?' I asked after a prolonged awkward silence. He nodded unenthusiastically and then turned to Edward. Oh, no, I

thought to myself. What is he going to say now? 'You look after my girl now, Edward. Do you hear me? I'm watching you.' To Edward's endless credit, he didn't flinch or break eye contact. 'I will, sir.' He replied. Then he took hold of my hand and led me to his car, where he opened the door for me and helped me get inside. He was pulling out all the stops for Charlie. 'I'm impressed.' I said to him when the doors were firmly shut. 'Just trying to make a good impression.' He replied, while keeping his gaze focused on the road before him. 'So I take it that you haven't told him yet.' It was more of a statement than a question. There was no need to elaborate on what I hadn't told Charlie. 'I suspect that if you had, I would have a bullet in my head right now. Or, at least, have had a bullet fired at my head.' He chuckled at this; as if it were some hilarious joke that only he was a part of. What did he mean by that?! Just another thing added to the list of things that weren't quite right about him. Not entirely normal. I was unsure of how to broach the subject. What was I supposed to say, 'Edward, I've noticed a few things that are really off about you. (List them off) Would you care to explain yourself?' A bit too prying. Just a tad. However, I knew that I had to do it now. We would arrive at school soon enough, then I would be unable to question him until the end of the day. He could easily fob me off then or silence me with a kiss. Now was the time, when I could catch him off guard. Even if I only got to mention what I had noticed. At least it would then be out there and he would be forced to acknowledge its presence. But still, how to approach the topic? That was the question. I decided to just jump right in, as we were nearing the school with each passing second. Edward drove ridiculously fast. 'Edward,' I began. He looked at me, concerned at my tone of voice. He squeezed my hand and smiled down at me, that dazzling smile. What was I going to say again? 'What's wrong, Bella?' How did he do that? Dazzle with such ease? I had meant to question the abnormal things I had noticed about him, I really had. However, I was sidetracked by his amazing smile and instead asked this, 'How do you do that? Dazzle people like that?' as soon as I had said the words I wanted to stuff them back into my mouth. I sounded like such an imbecile. A lovelorn and pathetic little girl. Then he smiled at me again. Maybe he didn't think so. The disgust and disdain I had expected did not appear on his perfectly chiselled face. That was another thing to add to the list. Who really looked that good? Really? He stroked my fingers softly and whispered, 'Do I dazzle you, Bella?' I nodded feebly, my legs the consistency of jelly. 'Really?' he questioned, somehow surprised. I nodded once again, completely incapable of anything else. Then I realised that we had just pulled into the parking lot of Forks High school. I hadn't been able to question him on what I had really wanted answers to. Maybe if I asked him now, really quickly, I could refer back to it later. Then I would get my answers! As I was opening my mouth to do exactly this, Edward silenced me with a soft and blissful kiss to my lips. It was short and sweet but left me seeing stars long after it was finished. He opened my car door for me and practically lifted me out, as I was off in daydream land. It was a wonderful place really, where I spent all day long kissing Edward. Stop it, Bella, I chastened myself. I was falling for Edward with every passing day, and I was falling hard. This was ludicrous. We should be figuring out a way to get divorced quickly and cleanly, not acting like two lovebirds. However, the thought of losing this connection to Edward, of being apart from Edward, caused my heart to weep. Which was bad, it meant I was in deep. My brain and my heart were fighting on opposite sides. I didn't know which was winning. What I did know was that once your heart and mind began to oppose one another, it could only end in tears. If only I'd known then how true that statement was. Maybe if

I had, I could've saved myself an awful lot of heartache.

Maybe lunch, I could ask him at lunch. We could go somewhere semi-private. My thoughts were interrupted by a male voice and a hand that was being offered for me to shake. English was just about to start and Edward had gone off to speak with his sister, Alice, about something. The boy sat down beside me, in Edward's seat. 'I'm Mike,' he said. When recognition didn't spark in my eyes, he continued somewhat less enthusiastically. 'From lunch...Yesterday... I introduced myself.. Mike Newton?' the final part was phrased like a question. I had a vague recollection of his interruption of our lunch yesterday, yes. 'Oh, yes.' I said in a non committed manner. 'So,' he continued, completely oblivious to the fact that I wanted him to go away, far away. Or maybe he simply didn't care. I looked around the room, attempting to ignore him, and then maybe he would go away. Jessica was also in this class, and she was giving me the evil eye. I guess that she was interested in this 'Mike' fellow. Well, as far as I was concerned, she could have him. My gaze continued to wander around the room as Mike babbled on and on about inane subjects. I nodded at certain intervals to not seem overtly rude, but I just wished that he would leave me alone. I was surprised to note that both of Edward's brothers were in this class. Emmett and Jasper. The entire female population of the class, and some of the male, were gazing at the two of them in adoration. Jasper looked like he was in physical pain and Emmett simply looked entertained. My train of thought was broken once again by Mike. 'So,' he said, 'what's going on with you and Cullen? Are you sleeping together or something?' What?! How dare he ask something like that? 'Ex-Excuse me!' I spluttered. 'How dare you!? That's absolutely none of your business!' I was fuming. The pure audacity of this boy! 'Whatever!' he replied. 'Chill.' Chill? Chill?! Was he kidding?!!! I'd chill him!!!! I was just about to open my mouth to give Mike the tongue-lashing of the century when a deep, velvety smooth voice sounded from above. All the colour drained from Mike's face. He was as pale as, well, Edward. 'Let me handle this, love.' Edward whispered in my ear. Love! He'd called me love! My heart fluttered in my chest and I could've sworn that I heard birds singing. I heard loud guffaws and looked over to see both Jasper and Emmett bent double with laughter. Edward glared at them. What was so funny? Suddenly, Edward caught Mike by the scruff of the neck and pinned him against the wall. His voice was low and dangerous when he said, 'Apologise to the lady, for what you said. Apologise to Bella. NOW!' He all but roared the final part. Mike was turning purple and looked ready to soil himself. 'I-I'm S-s-s-so-orr-orry Be-Bella!' he choked out. However, Edward's grip simply tightened on his throat. 'And do you promise to never do such a thing again?' I was scared, what if Mike actually suffocated? I jumped up and tried to pry Edward from him, but he was too strong. I looked over at Emmett and Jasper helplessly. However, their faces were mystified and shocked, as if they hadn't expected this whatsoever. 'Please Edward. Stop!' I begged. 'I promise!' choked out Mike. 'I PROMISE! Let go!' Edward suddenly let Mike drop to the floor and stared down at him in disdain. The whole class had been watching in rapt awe and now turned away in a feeble attempt to pretend they weren't. Mike was still struggling to breathe properly and pulled himself up from the floor. He struggled back to his seat, trying to retain as much dignity as possible. Edward sat down on his seat, his fists curled tightly and his hand still shaking with rage. I looked over to Emmett and Jasper yet again, but they still had that identical, dazed look on their faces. I turned back to Edward. 'Are you okay?' I whispered. He was quivering with fury. I began to rub his back softly and continued to do so after the teacher arrived and throughout the lesson. Gradually, his body stilled and breathing became less laboured. By the end of the lesson, he was smiling again, but I could tell that it was forced.

I let it drop until lunch. When we were firmly seated with our unappetizing food, I pounced. 'What's wrong?' He seemed surprised that I had noticed. He also seemed annoyed that I had, abnormally so. 'Nothing,' he lied between clenched teeth. 'Do I look stupid to you?' I questioned with my hands on my hips and my head cocked to one side. Maybe a bit of humour would release some of the tension built up in his shoulders. 'No', he replied. 'You're perfect.' Then he dropped his head into his hands and groaned in distress. 'Oh, what have I done? I'm so sorry!' 'Edward, you're scaring me! What's wrong?' He finally gave me an answer. 'Well,' he said. 'Let's just say that Alice said something was going to happen. Something I don't want to happen. She says it's already happening. And believe me; it's not wise to bet against Alice.' His entire body slumped forward. I was lost, completely lost. After what seemed like an age, he finally raised his head. He had a glint in his eye that made him look somewhat mentally unstable. 'I have something I need to tell you, Bella. You need to believe me. Do you promise that you'll believe me?' I nodded, unsure of where this was headed, but certain that I would believe him. Why would he lie? 'I'm different from other people,' he began. 'I'm a…' Suddenly his brothers were there. 'Sorry, Bella. We need to take our brother somewhere. He must have forgotten to mention it.' 'But he was just....' I protested, but was cut off. 'See ya.' They called as they half dragged Edward away. They had his mouth clamped shut but he was able to open it, just for a second. He shouted, across the entire cafeteria, the entire student body within earshot, listening intently, 'I LOVE YOU, BELLA!' Emmett and Jasper almost dropped him at that; their mouths fell open in absolute shock. Alice had joined them and was now dancing with glee. My face heated up as the curious stares of all my peers were focused on me. I wanted to; I don't know what I wanted to do. It didn't matter though, they were gone, all of the Cullens.

I didn't see Edward at all for the rest of the day. I guess I would be walking home. At least I would have time to think. And I did think. I thought about my day as I walked home, as I cooked dinner, as I did my homework, and when I crawled into bed I was no closer to figuring it all out as I had been all those hours ago. The events of the past day had made absolutely no sense. As I drifted off to sleep I felt the questions spinning around and around in my head, and the unnerving sense that I was not completely alone.

Sneak peek of next chapter.

EPOV

They dragged me out of the cafeteria and into the Volvo, incredulous. Well, except for Alice. She had known all along. A warning would have been nice! Bella, sweet, sweet Bella! I drifted off into a daydream land where thoughts of her were ever present. When I came back to the real world I realised that we were inside our house. They must have carried me in. thoughts and words were being shot at me like arrows. 'You idiot!' You could've exposed us all! Etc, etc. I wasn't listening, I was thinking of Bella. Rosalie seemed to realise this and slapped me across the face. Alice was dancing around in a circle. Damn pixie! Among all the chaos, Emmett was grinning like a fool. 'I guess that means we won the bet. And you know what that means!' Oh, no. No, no, no, no! 'Not that! Have mercy!' I begged. 'A bet's a bet! We won fair and square.' He rubbed his hands together in glee. 'Come on, Jasper.' He cackled. 'It's time to prepare.' Alice fell to her knees laughing, undoubtedly having caught a glimpse of my fate. Oh, no. this was not going to bode well for me.

Well? Want to know what happens next? Well, then. Review! And if you have any guesses as to what Edward will be forced to do, let me know! Sneak peek. Lucky readers! I thought that you deserved it after such a long wait. If there are any readers left... I hope so! Who was in Bella's room? Ooh, now I wonder who that could've been? Anyway, leave a review. Hopefully the next chapter will be up reasonably quickly.

Kate