Chapter 17—Defining Relationship

Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.

Ann Landers

Edward's POV

Malcolm motioned for Moira to follow him. "Why don't we give my granddaughter and Edward some time alone," he said.

Neither of us said a word, and silence soon enveloped us. I was still trying to comprehend how I had failed to recognize the signs. Looking back, they were all there. I ran a hand over my face and up through my hair. I glanced over at Bella. She was sitting quietly next to me, wringing her hands. Reaching over, I grasped one of her hands to stop her fidgeting.

"What does this mean for us?" Bella asked, voicing the one question I had, too.

I shook my head, letting my eyes fall to the floor. "I don't know. I wish I did, but I don't."

"And a soul mate could be a friend or a lover. When I first suggested it to Grandfather, he didn't believe me. I can't say I did either, but to finally have some answers …" she trailed off.

"I know what you mean. There are no words." I fell silent a moment and shifted to face her. "Wait! You knew. How?"

She had shifted also, and her lip was between her teeth. "Not exactly, Edward. I had a suspicion, nothing more." She blew out a breath and pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I didn't know how else to explain the strange connection we have. It's been less than a week since we met, and I felt a strong pull the night you approached me in the bar. That's why I ran. You frightened me."

All I could do was stare at her. She had known that there was some mysterious attraction between us. "Why didn't you speak to me? Try to tell me?"

She looked away. "How could I? I didn't know until a few minutes ago that you were drawn to my side. Didn't know you had powers. Although you told me that you just wanted to help me, I didn't trust you," she said, looking at me again.

I swallowed. Those were some good points. "Do you trust me now?" I asked, taking hold of her hands. The familiar tingling warmth started to radiate up my fingers as I waited for her answer.

Bella closed her eyes. "I … I think I always have," she answered, opening her eyes. "It was myself I didn't trust."

I gave her a slight smile. "Then we are going to have to work on your trust issues," I said, leaning forward and placing a kiss on her cheek.

"And us?" she asked after I drew away.

I rolled my head to the right and then up to the ceiling, stretching my neck. It was obvious she wanted me to make the decision. I couldn't admit yet that I loved her; such a declaration would scare her. Taking a deep breath and releasing it, I lowered my head and faced her again. "I don't know about you, but I would like to see where fate takes us."

Bella's POV

His green eyes were sparkling when he once again looked at me. I hoped he would tell me what he wanted; I knew that I wanted to pursue this attraction I had toward him. Fear kept me from speaking this desire. I was elated when he answered, expressing his wish to see what fate had in mind.

Fate? Yes, that was an apt term. Fate had been what guided me to Driftwood Bar and into Edward's life.

"To fate," I said, smiling.

His laugh was rich and full as he wrapped his arms around me. "To fate, and wherever it leads us."

"I feel that we should have a flute of something bubbly to drink," I whispered.

Again he laughed, and I couldn't help but giggle. "We'll stop and get some sparkling cider on the way home," he said once he regained his composure.

"I still have one question."

"I'll call your Grandfather back in, then."

"No. It's more of a question for you." He raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to ask. "Did you have any idea that we were soul mates?"

He shook his head. "No, Bella. I had no idea." He lowered his head and captured my lips in a gentle, sweet kiss. He pulled back when a knock sounded on the door.

"I just wanted to check on you two," Grandfather said, sticking his head into his office. "You both were so quiet when Moira and I left."

A grin spread across my face as my cheeks heated. "Well, it was a shock to the both of us. And neither of us knew what to say," I said, freeing myself from Edward's hold as Grandfather came into the room.

Grandfather rubbed his chin and seemed to be contemplating something. "Lass, I don't want to go sticking my nose somewhere it doesn't belong, but I have to know if you two decided anything."

My blush deepened. Grandfather was right. He was crossing a line with his roundabout question.

Without consulting me, Edward answered. "We have, and we'll continue as we are."

Huh? That wasn't really what Grandfather was asking.

"I see, lad," Grandfather remarked, nodding. "I'll keep out of it, then."

Okay! That was a bit strange. Was Edward really telling Grandfather to butt out?

"We have got to be going, Malcolm. I have a couple more errands I would like to run while out. Why don't you stop by for dinner before you leave." Edward said.

"I think I will."

This was news to me. "When do you leave?"

"Sunday, lass."

My face fell, and my heart clenched painfully. Grandfather was the only family I had left, besides Ian. If anything happened to either of them, I would be devastated.

"Don't look so sad. I'll be back in a couple of weeks."

I stood and went to stand in front of Grandfather, wrapping my arms around his waist. "I don't want anything to happen to you," I whispered, sounding like a scared little girl as he embraced me.

"Oh, lass," he whispered back, pressing his lips into my hair. "You've been through so much, and I wish I didn't have to leave, but I've already extend my stay a weeks. I have things to take care of in Scotland that can't wait. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Nodding, I stepped back and left with Edward.

~~ L.C. ~~

It was an hour later that Edward and I were watching the filming of his latest movie. The director, Omar Jenks, greeted me warmly and even gave up his chair so that I could sit.

"I thought movies were shot on location," I said when Omar called cut.

Omar's assistant, Jessica, looked at me. "They are, but not entirely. This is what is called a soundstage," she said, indicating the set in front of us. "Here, we have more control over the lighting and background noise. Anything outdoors is on location. Interior scenes, on a soundstage."

I looked back to the set. Edward was listening intently to what the director was telling the actors. "What are they talking about?" I asked.

"Who knows, but it could be about a little change Omar wants to make in the scene."

"But I didn't see anything wrong."

Jessica laughed. "Neither did I. The change could be as simple as the placement of a lamp or bringing more emotion into the scene. Or it could be that he wants to shoot the scene from a different angle."

"Sounds complicated."

"At times it is." Jessica shook her head. "Mr. Cullen must really like you."

"What make you say that?"

"He's never brought a girlfriend to a set before."

Bella turned back to watch Edward, wondering why that was. He was having an argument with the director, or that's what it looked like to her. He kept motioning to the set or one of the actors.

"How many girlfriends has he had?"

"Too many. I even went out with him for a couple of months five years ago."

Bella's eyes went wide. "You did?"

"Yes. We didn't mesh. I realize now that I was way too immature." Jessica shrugged. "But it was through Edward that I met my husband, Mike Newton."

Bella relaxed. "Mike Newton? He wouldn't happen to be from Forks, would he?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

It was Bella's turn to laugh. "It's a small world. I used to live in Forks, too. We went to the same school, though he was three grades ahead of me."

Omar called for Jessica. "We have got to talk some more, Bella."

"Most definitely."

After ten minutes, Edward walked over to where Bella sat, mumbling.

"What happened?" she asked.

He shook his head, looking toward where Jessica and Omar stood. "Omar is being impossible. I saw nothing wrong with the scene they just shot, but he wants to make changes."

"He must have his reasons."

"None that make sense," he said, wiping a hand over his face. "The actors agree with me, but they will do the scene again."

Bella looked back over at the set. "Don't you have any say?"

Edward moved to stand behind me, placing his hand on my shoulder. "Not at the moment. I'll have more of a say when the film is in my hands. Until then, he's in charge," he said, pointing to the director. "He's good and all, but he's a perfectionist. He won't move on until whatever scene he's filming is the way he wants it."

"And I take that, in the long run, it doesn't matter."

Edward rested his head atop mine. "Exactly. My team is talented and can splice together different takes. It's just this director gives us too many great shots."

"I would like to see how it's done."

Edward pressed a kiss on my crown. "Then let's go out of here, and I'll show you where the actual movie magic happens."

Once outside, Edward led me to a golf cart. I looked at it dubiously; there were no seatbelts or doors.

"It's perfectly safe, Bella, and we don't have far to go."

I still wasn't so sure but slid in next to Edward. He put his right arm behind me on the top of the seat, and off we went. After what seemed like miles, we were stopping in front of a three-story building with a sign that read "Cullen Productions."

With a hand on my back, Edward led me into the building. The receptionist looked up in surprise. "Mr. Cullen! I thought you weren't going to be in the rest of the week."

Edward chuckled. "Just a little tour of the studio and production office," he said.

Without turning to me, she asked with a bat of her lashes, "And who do you have with you?"

Oh, give me a break. "I'm his girlfriend," I answered, extending my hand. "Marie McCullough."

Her eyes went wide, and she slowly turned to glare at me. "Girlfriend?" Fire danced in her eyes, and I was afraid she was going to leap over the desk and claw my eyes out.

"Yes, Ms. Mallory. Marie is my girlfriend," Edward answered, drawing me to the safety of his side. "Message the guys and let them know I will be there in a few minutes."

Edward guided me over to the elevator. When the doors closed, he turned and cupped my cheek. Leaning forward, he kissed me. "You handled Ms. Mallory quite well. Thank you."

I grinned up at him. Before I could say anything, the doors opened and a muffled argument could be heard. Edward, again, guided me off the elevator, down a hall lined with movie posters, and closer to where I believed two or more people were loudly discussing chromakeying something on a green screen for the special effect—I really didn't understand what it was all about.

Edward and I slipped into the room unnoticed. The room was tiered. There was a huge screen at the front of the room with some numbers on the bottom-left side. A kitchen scene was paused, but I could tell what was about to happen by the way several actors were turned away from the window, their hands covering their heads. Looking at the window, I noticed it was green. That didn't seem right. In front of the screen was a table with three large, flat screen monitors. The same scene was depicted, and I couldn't tell if the window was green or contained something else. There were also several knobs and switches on either side of the monitors. Behind that, and on the level where Edward and I stood, was another table with two laptops sitting on it.

"I really think the scene will benefit with seeing the explosion out the window instead of a calm serenity and the actors reacting. Why are they taking cover?" one guy was saying to two others.

"What does the script call for?" Edward asked.

The trio jumped, turning to face us. "Mr. Cullen," the dark-haired one said.

"Eric, what does the script call for?" Edward asked again.

"Uh?" Eric answered intelligently.

"Paul? Jared?" Edward questioned, turning his gaze to the other men.

Neither answered.

Edward shook his head. "How many times do I have to tell you to consult the script?" He ran a hand through his hair. "Let me see it."

A thick volume was soon produced, and with a quick glance at the screen, Edward was flipping through the pages. Finding what he was looking for, he read aloud, "Interior—Kitchen—Explosion seen through the window—Lutz, Greene, and Hemsworth react."

The snap was loud when Edward closed the script. His eyes didn't move from the trio as he pointed to the screen. "And what should be seen in the window at this point?"

I wasn't sure if it was Paul or Jared who answered. "An explosion."

"Correct, Jared. Let's overlay it."

Jared sprang into action and was in front of the three monitors before I could say "Mississippi."

"Roll it back and play," Eric instructed.

I watched, entranced as the scene played. When the loud boom resounded through the room, I flinched and moved closer to Edward as the window shattered.

"The timing is a little off," Paul said, glancing down at an open binder. He asked Jared to roll it back to a certain point, giving a string of numbers. "There's a notation in the script calling for a small explosion right here."

"Any indication of what explodes?" Eric asks.

"A pair of oil drums."

Three minutes later, the scene played again. I was prepared for the boom this time.

"Looks good. What do you think, Marie?"

Who? What? Oh, me! "Dramatic," I answered, looking up at Edward.

"She shouldn't be here," Eric said, drawing Edward's attention away from me.

"And would you have me leave my girlfriend in the lobby with Ms. Mallory?"

"No. But the movie—we can't risk it getting leaked."

I huffed, looking at Eric. "Without the name of the movie or way to record it, how can I leak it?" I asked. "Not that I would." Pivoting, I walked out the door.

The door slammed, but I didn't stop. I thought I saw a placard next to a room with Edward's name on it. I would wait there while he saw to whatever he needed to.

Entering the room, I was surprised to find that there was a small reception area. A blond-haired gentleman looked up from a computer screen. "Can I help you?" he asked.

I swallowed and stiffened my spine, my hand still on the doorknob. "I hope so. I'm Marie McCullough, Edward's girlfriend."

The gentleman leered at me. I didn't like that smile. It wasn't friendly or pleasant, and I had the distinct feeling that I had seen him before.

I went on. "He said I could wait in his office while he goes over something with Eric."

"To my knowledge, Mr. Cullen has no girlfriend at the moment," he stood and started to round his desk.

Something in his eyes had me stepping back, ready to flee. Still he continued walking toward me.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he said as I took another step back.

"Hrmph!" someone behind me said.

Sparing a brief glance over my shoulder, I saw that I had run right into Edward. I relaxed as his left arm snaked around my waist, and his right hand came to a rest on my shoulder.

"James, is there a problem?" Edward asked.

James' eyes went wide. "Mr. C-cullen," he said with a slight stutter.

The hand on my shoulder disappeared. "I take it that Ms. Mallory did not inform you that my girlfriend and I were here, either."

I didn't dare move. James scared me, and there was still the nagging suspicion that I had seen him before.

James shook his head.

"No matter. I'll see you next week." Edward's hand found mine. "Let's go, love."

A/N: So much happened in this chapter. Also, there are more questions. Who is James? Is he in league with Jacob? Or is he just a harmless creep who likes to scare women?

JCat, one of my beta's, commented that it has been a busy week for Edward and Bella. She couldn't believe it has only been that brief of a period. In reality, it's been five days. Here's the breakdown: Bella and Edward first met on Sept. 12 (Emmett's birthday); Edward rescues Bella on Sept. 13 (her birthday); Bella is reunited with her grandfather on Sept.14; Dinner at Canlis on Sept. 15; Edward and Bella reveal they're witches, jumping crystals, movie studio, and James on Sept. 16. Wow! I can see why she couldn't believe it. LOL!

Now, for as to which Hemsworth brother I am referring to in this chapter … I was vague for a reason. Picture whomever you chose. I like to picture Chris.

Finally, a big thanks to Jennej and JCat for helping me edit this chapter.

Thoughts and comments welcomed. If they are negative, please keep them to yourself. :)