Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters; they belong wholly to Steph Meyers!

A/N: Thanks for those who did review, those new readers who added me to their alert list, and my silent readers as well! This is the same day as the last chapter just from Edward and Demetri's POV. Enjoy. Let me know if it's too wordy. Sometimes I get carried away…like now. LOL!

Chapter Four Vampires, Werewolves, and Baseball-Oh my!

(Demetri POV)

The door rattling off its hinges startled me out of my reverie. On the bed was her picture that I had sketched and an old photograph that showed her in all her glory-her mahogany hair gleaming as the sunlight struck it turning each strand different shades of red and her violet eyes-beguiling. She always wore her contacts when she went out in public, never mind that violet was no more normal than the vivid red that they truly were.

"What?" I yelled gruffly, my voice thick with grief-with unshed tears that could never form, but inside I was weeping. The pain as raw today as it two weeks ago when I clutched her decapitated head in my hands, and looked in horror as her body was consumed by the fire.

Edward poked his head in the room taking in the pictures scattered on the bed and my gruff appearance. "Bella has commanded us to vacate the premises for the day," he answered monotonously.

I just stared at him willing him to go away and to leave me to my grief. It was absurd to think that I was going anywhere with him. Bella maybe, but never him. I had grown closer to Bella than anyone aside from Heidi. She was not only kind but highly amusing; when I was willing to crawl my way out of despair I could truly appreciate that about her. She was exactly what I needed right now, the only distraction left to me. The only thing keeping me in this god forsaken world. The one bright spot; the sun when I was surrounded by darkness and haunting memories.

Edward couldn't stand the friendship that was being forged between us, and who could blame him really? For I would hate the man who monopolized my new bride's time, as well. They had been arguing nearly every night about that very thing. She always defended me to him and never once complained or acted as though it were a hardship when she was with me, though I knew it was. That only drew me to her more. Like a moth to a flame. But it was more than that. A moth can thrive without that flame; I, however, could not survive in this world without her right now, which considering that I was waiting for her to destroy me was quite amusing. The smile crept up my face at that thought.

Edward strode the rest of the way into the room giving me cool eyes. Damn, why did I always forget that he was privy to all the thoughts floating through my head? "Look, this is not exactly my idea of fun either, but I don't particularly want to face Bella's wrath. And I will if I don't get you out of here. As you so astutely pointed out in your thoughts," he sneered, "I have already spent enough time fighting with her over you." He picked up the sketch that I had completed just hours ago before continuing. "I know you do not want to come, especially with me, but do it for Bella. She has sacrificed a lot for you and asks for so little in return," he finished as he gingerly replaced the drawing on my bed.

I glanced out the window at the rain pouring outside and sighed. "Where are we going?" Dammit! If he had phrased his plea in any other way I could have disregarded it, but he was right-I did owe Bella. And it truly was a small thing to ask.

Edward's face brightened. "We're going to meet with some of the wolves and play baseball."

I couldn't have been more surprised if he had just confessed that we were going to eat them. "Play baseball…in the rain…with werewolves?" I asked incredulously. We are vampires. Vampires do not play baseball and most certainly not with dogs.

He nodded, an irritating smirk fixed on his face. "Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, and Emmett are downstairs waiting for us, so let's go!"

"But I've never played baseball before," I muttered as I began searching for some sensible clothes and shoes.

Edward's laugh reverberated through the room. "You hit a little ball with a bat and run around the bases," he replied sarcastically. "It should not be too difficult for you," he explained trying to suppress his chuckle as he exited the room.

God, how ever did I get myself into such a situation? I threw on a t-shirt and laced up what had to be the most ridiculous pair of shoes ever and joined the Cullen's. Well, most of the Cullen's. It did not escape my notice that Bella was not down there and my chest tightened at the thought that I had not talked to her once today and that I was unlikely to get the chance at all today. So far, not one day had passed without a visit from my shining light. "Where are Rosalie and Alice?"

Jasper smiled warmly. "They are upstairs plotting something," he shrugged.

"I am not certain…Bella's being exceptionally careful and has not told them anything that would be useful for me to overhear," Edward conceded.

"No good will come of it, that's for sure," Emmett laughed. "Who would have thought that Bella and Rose would ever be partners in crime?" He asked shaking his head while chortling under his breath.

(Edward's POV)

Jacob, Meghan, Quil, and Seth were huddled across the clearing under the foliage of the massive trees in an attempt to stay dry. Sam was holding a green patterned umbrella over Emily, oblivious to everyone around him as he was deep in conversation with her. Jared and Paul were being their typical idiotic selves and rolling around in the mud wrestling.

"So long as I'm not stuck on your team, bloodsucker, I think there's a chance that I might have a good time today!" Jacob sniggered as he came forward holding Meghan's hand, her hood up to keep her hair dry.

"No worries then," I smiled. "You're on Demetri's team." Demetri's head snapped in my direction as Jacob stared openmouthed between the two of us before snapping it closed.

"Sure. Sure. Like I said, anything's better than being stuck with you."

I cocked my eyebrow and asked, "Even being on a team with someone who has never seen a baseball game let alone played it?" I laughed as his smile wilted slightly. "Good luck, dog!"

I walked over to Sam and Emily and held out my hand. "Mind being on my team, Sam? You can play second base."

He nodded and turned back to Emily scooping her into his arms and kissing her thoroughly before following me to the center of the field where Carlisle was busy placing the base markers. "Emmett, you can pitch and Esme, you can catch." I headed to outfield as I was the fastest. "Seth! Jared! Take first and third," I called.

I watched Jasper pull Demetri aside explaining all the rules and positions to him.

This is supposed to be fun? It must be the effects of living on animal blood. Beyond absurd…Childs play…Out in the rain.

Jasper was up to bat first and Demetri studied his every movement and position in an attempt to make up for his lack of experience.

Emmett pitched and Jasper nailed it, the ball sailing towards me like a bullet. I put on a burst of speed and caught it about a mile out.

Demetri picked up the bat uncertainly, much to my pleasure. Do not let me miss. Do not let me miss. I am over two hundred years old and will not be made a fool of by these childish vampires.

The ball soared right past him into Esme's waiting hand. Well damn! I barely even saw that coming. He looked in my direction and I tried to stifle my smile. Look at him smirking. He thinks that I am an imbecile and that I will not be able to play this ridiculous game. It is not a ball-it is his head. Not a ball-Edward's head. He continued reciting to himself while analyzing Emmett's every move.

Emmett wound up again and threw another fastball, but this time Demetri's bat thundered into it, the ball flying deep into the woods. I'd run nearly three miles before I found it and raced back to the clearing where Demetri was sitting with Jasper and Carlisle laughing at how long it had taken me to get back.

We played while the storm lasted- about three hours. All of us were soaked to the bone and coated in mud. We'd won by one measly homerun. Embarrassing. But seeing Demetri actually laughing and talking was promising. Maybe Bella wouldn't be spending so much time coddling him anymore.

"Still glad you weren't on my team, fur-ball?"

Jacob scowled at me, mud dripping off of him. "Bite me!"

"And get your foul blood in my mouth, I think not!" I scoffed. He grabbed Meghan's hand and led her towards me. "Are you coming over?" I asked politely now that she was in earshot.

"Sure. Sure. Seth and Quil are too."

(Demetri POV)

Who knew that hitting a minute ball with a stick in the rain could be so invigorating? For a few short hours I had forgotten everything except the acrid smell of wolves, a ball, and a bat. I did not mourn the loss of Heidi or notice that almost one whole day had passed without a visit from Bella.

Perhaps Bella was right after all. Maybe, just maybe, I could get past this. Maybe Heidi wasn't my version of Edward's Bella. If I was already being distracted from Heidi, already looking forward to spending time with another woman-albeit in a non-sexual manner, could I have ever been in love with her? As soon as I thought that, I knew it was rubbish.

Even so, Bella's image floated through my thoughts. Her dark hair sliding down her back like silk, my fingers running through those soft strands, brushing them out of her perfectly lovely face. The image was promptly erased by Heidi's voluptuous body and her ruby lips.

I saw Bella's crimson eyes looking into mine from underneath me-as I made love to her then just as suddenly it was Heidi's marvelous form. What the hell was wrong with me? How could I think about Bella in such a manner? She was my friend and confidant. But the real image of her terrified and half naked with Marcus flashed through my mind. She'd been astounding as a human; she was even more exquisite as a vampire. I groaned trying to rid myself of the images and wretched thoughts.

I knew I wasn't in love with her, but I was so lonely. Everything about her was intoxicating from her scent to her lyrical voice. Most importantly, was that when I was with her I felt whole and the pain receded for a few moments and I could breath again and escape the horrors of my life. I could imagine continuing this existence and being almost happy as long as she was around.

I knew that deep within my soul that if Bella wasn't already immersed in Edward's life that I could be very distracted by her. I firmly pushed those thoughts aside as I continued on the path to the house when I remembered Edward's damn power. I glanced back at him hoping that he had been too involved in his conversation with the wolf and its mate to be concerned with the twisted workings of my mind. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

Edward had stopped walking and was glowering at me, rage pouring off of him in waves. The wolf and its woman had continued ahead quite a ways before sensing something amiss and noticed that Edward was no longer following them.

I stiffened, ready for the assault that was certain to happen as the rest of the vampires instantly became aware of the hostility drifting on the light breeze.

A low snarl emanated from Edward, who was holding himself rigidly, trying to keep his predatory instincts at bay. "Leave us!" He growled, never taking those topaz eyes from mine. I didn't dare look away to note anyone's reaction, but I heard them moving off toward s the house and Jasper's low whisper to Carlisle. "Should I stay to diffuse the situation?"

A/N: Okies…that's all you get today! I'm not good with cliffies as I have a tendency to want to wrap up each post fully, but this was already a massive post and darn it-I'm tired of typing! Writing from the boys' perspective is exhausting for me for some reason. Bella is easy, Demetri not too bad, but man, Edward is tough! Hope you like seeing the workings of Demetri's mind and Edward's too to some extent. Feel free to point out all my faults as a writer or anything that I happen to get right, as well! I like knowing what u guys think and what direction you want to see this story take. Thanks for reading.

Sabrina