Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, they belong to Steph Meyer!

Chapter Ten Fall From grace

(BPOV)

My feet felt like lead as I walked back into the living room full of inquisitive vampires. I'd thought that once I finally married Edward that my heart would never again be splintered, but again I felt a mammoth whole ripping through it with Demetri's departure.

I barely glanced at them as I headed for the stairs. "Demetri left," I said monotonously. "That should make you all so very happy." With that I strode off to Demetri's room. Everything was still in its rightful place. He'd left all his possessions behind. Not that he'd acquired much while he'd been here, but still.

On his bed was a leather-bound portfolio. Was it really an invasion of his privacy if I leafed through it? I sat gingerly on the edge of the bed and picked up the heavy book. I unraveled the string that kept it closed letting it fall open on my legs. The first sketch was of Heidi. He'd captured her perfectly and I could really feel those violet eyes smiling up at me mischievously. The next was a journal entry. I quickly turned that page over, that certainly was an invasion of his privacy and I would not read it. I stopped suddenly, staring intently at my own face as a human. A photograph could not have captured me more accurately.

My finger traced over my brow, my jaw line, my slender neck. When on earth had he'd drawn this? He'd only seen me a handful of times as a human.

The door opened hesitantly. Edward stood framed in the shadow from the hallway, a sliver of moonlight cutting a line across his sad face. "Can I come in?"

I slammed the book closed, my angry gaze slamming into his. My anger towards him was ill placed, I was aware, but I couldn't help but blame him for Demetri's decision. I was certain he knew about our lie now, and that he was playing along to finally have a valid reason to get rid of him. "It's your house you can do whatever you want." I held the portfolio against my chest, Demetri's scent surrounding me, but mixing in with Edward's luscious one. He blanched at my tone and cold words before wiping all emotion from his face and becoming as blank and empty as a statue.

"Sorry," I muttered. "I didn't mean that." I set the book on the table and motioned him in.

"Where did he decide to go?" He asked tentatively as he seated himself in the only chair in the room. Apparently he didn't feel much like comforting me. Not that I deserved it, mind you. But I was unaccustomed to Edward being truly angry with me.

"He's meeting up with Alyria. Mentioned Denali, but I'm not sure."

He nodded. Time ticked by with neither of us speaking, just staring at each other almost like strangers. How had things come to this? "Carlisle did not ask him to leave, Bella," Edward spoke softly breaking the silence.

"Not yet, he hadn't, but it would have come to that, correct? Demetri simply made the decision before things got that far." I watched the storm gathering in his eyes turning them obsidian. He clutched at the armrest tightly as he tried to restrain himself from saying whatever it was that he really wanted to say. I could feel his frustration and irritation with me, but mostly just plain old anger was roiling off of him. Honestly, I didn't know how Jasper lived this way day in and day out. I could have nipped this whole ordeal in the bud by using my powers to alter his emotions, but frankly I felt that I deserved to be raked over the coals.

He closed his eyes for a few breaths before continuing. "You don't know that and you shouldn't have talked to our family the way you did when you came back in."

That was what he decided to nit pick about? My tone with his family? It made no sense. All the anger that had been brewing since earlier this evening erupted in me at that statement. "So now you think you can control my thoughts and words? I know that you've said things in the heat of a moment that has hurt others…"

He cut across my words with his cold velvety voice. "Don't be ridiculous, Bella…"

I interrupted what I was sure would have been another illuminating tirade. "You are not my father-so don't talk to me like one-you are my husband."

"I'm surprised you remember that fact, because you most certainly don't act like my wife anymore," he said dryly.

I stood stunned by his words.

He watched me as I struggled to find a witty response, his anger evaporating as quickly as it had erupted. He sighed and leaned his head in his head. "I am not trying to dictate your thoughts, but you were out of line earlier."

The argument was almost over; I could see it in his posture. I might as well let him be victorious, as he was right. I had been disrespectful to all of them this evening. "You're right and I will apologize to all of them in the morning." I turned away before realizing that I'd left the portfolio on the table and reached back for it. All I wanted was a few minutes alone to process everything without his emotions beating at me, to let my guilt over Tyler's death and Demetri's absence take me over for a short while.

He watched me with a panicked expression as I picked up the journal. "Are you in love with him?" He whispered, his voice breaking slightly.

"No." I answered stiffly then left the room not feeling up to soothing his bruised ego.

Jasper had just reached the top of the stairs when I closed Demetri's door. He stood motionless keeping a wary eye on me. I could feel his nervous energy beating at me, but no condemnation. He wasn't angry at least. "I'm sorry I snapped at all of you earlier," I offered hesitantly, feeling like a complete ass for being rude to such wonderful people.

Edward slammed the door shut behind me and without so much as a look in our direction crossed the hall to our room before slamming that one with such force that walls shook.

Jasper placed a gentle hand on my shoulder turning my attention back to him a small sad smile on his flawless face. "It's okay, Bella. We all understand." His eyes lifted to the door that Edward had so violently closed. "Well, most of us," he conceded.

"Thanks, Jasper. I really needed to hear that right now," I sighed. "Still, this is no ones fault but mine; I shouldn't take my frustrations out on any of you."

"How do you mean?" He asked perplexed.

I debated for barely a second before I decided that I was going to come clean about everything. Jasper would be the most understanding of the bunch as he struggled with our diet more than any other.

I leaned against the wall and my lips pursed as I tried to word my confession properly. Jasper just stood there patiently waiting, not pushing in any way.

"Demetri didn't bite Tyler," I admitted softly watching confusion play over his features before his eyes widened in shock. I nodded in affirmation to his unasked question. "It was me," I confirmed as I hung my head. The shame of my earlier failure was as raw now as it was when I'd watched Tyler writhing on the ground-my venom burning through him. I held Demetri's book against my chest like some sort of comfort object, and oddly it did seem to help.

The door behind us flew open and Edward stood there looking horrified. Guess we should have moved that part of the conversation elsewhere. But it was good that he finally knew the truth. Course, it would have been better if I'd actually been confessing to him rather than his brother