A/N: Hello Everyone, Thank you for your patience as I try to catch up and get back on track for my updating schedule. If haven't noticed, or if I haven't told you, I am trying to shoot for updating on Tuesday or Wednesday every week. This week I am kind of in exile at my parents' house to escape the low snow levels and still get to work. That being said, their internet is like non-existent. So if I take a bit to reply to your review, I am sorry.

Thanks again for all the reviews, PM's and support you are showing. I do greatly appreciate it.

Also, I have been asked by a couple of people to warn when there might be some medical or fire situations that might not be for the faint of heart. Since I am around this kind of thing daily, I am not sure when to warn and for what. In that case, whenever there are fire or medical things that could be difficult for people to read about, I will put this warning at the start of the chapter:

Fire and/or Medical scenes are present in this chapter. Please read at your own discretion.

Thanks to my wonderful beta LittleLea05

Disclaimer: Plot mine, everything else, Stephenie Meyer

In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were started by fireworks. These fires resulted in 6 civilian deaths, 70 civilian injuries and $34 million in direct property damage. In 2007, more than nine out of ten (92%) emergency room fireworks injuries involved fireworks that Federal regulations permit consumers to use. "FIREWORKS" by John R. Hall, Jr. June 2009 - The National Fire Protection Association, Fire Analysis and Research Division

Chapter 7 – Rockets Red Flare

Edward POV

It has been a month. An entire MONTH since I felt Bella's sweet lips against my own. A whole month of wondering where exactly we stood with each other, wondering if it was just a pity kiss after hearing about my mother, or more. A full month of carefully dancing around each other in the station trying not to draw attention to the fact that we kissed. A whole month inside my head screaming at myself that I pushed her to far too fast; it was too much. I was using this month to give her the time she might need to figure things out. I understood that this would be a difficult situation, especially one she might not be ready for. I was willing to wait. For her, I would wait for as long as it took.

I thought for sure the following morning after the kiss, I had to have scared her off. We woke up later that morning to find each other still wrapped around one another in a near lovers embrace. I liked it. I liked it far more than I should have liked it. So much so that I had to move away from her so she couldn't tell exactly how much I liked holding her that close. I thought it would be an awkward moment that morning, but yet again, Bella surprised me. She was so easy going about everything I had to wonder if it had all been a dream, or was she so drunk last night that she didn't remember waking up in the middle of the night, having a gut wrenching conversation with tears present and kissing? There was no way she was that drunk.

We went out to breakfast that morning. She acted like there was nothing going on. It was just a normal everyday thing for her. That façade she had put in place, that one that showed that her life was wonderful with no heartache, was amazingly strong and hard to see around. But I could see it. She was analyzing last night as hard as I was. I was glad to see she wasn't shutting me out entirely and letting me in somewhat. I could practically kill Jacob for hurting her so badly that she would retreat into herself instead of trusting another. Although I highly doubted it was all his fault. I had a feeling her mother might have a part in that heartache as well. I think that brick wall was up around her long before he entered the picture.

But since that fateful day, things have changed. Slowly and barely noticeable by anyone but each other, but things have changed. I would go so far as to say that we are attached at the hip, like "girl friends". This bugged me and made me happy at the same time. I was glad to be in her good graces and able to spend as much time as possible with her, however, I needed to ditch the "friend" card if she was ever going to look at me as something more.

We literally spent nearly all of our time together. At the station, if we weren't gone on a call or sleeping - we were working with each other. If I haven't said it before I'll say it again, Bella is a fantastic teacher. Being nearly six years older than me, she has the edge on everything regarding firefighting and life. With the help of Emmett and Jasper, Bella and I did some training practices out back in the training facility the city had built for us. That building was huge and provided an ample amount of opportunities for different scenarios of training. Bella was a genius when it came time to think up different situations. Often time she would have Jasper run the engine while Emmett and I went inside to find the victim, played by Bella.

Inside the training building, there were three separate floors. The bottom floor was designed like a large kitchen, one you might find in a restaurant. The second floor was a series of bedrooms and had beds, dressers and closets with plenty of places to hide. The third floor was designed in mind to be able to set fire to the room for realistic training circumstances. Everything in the room was made from cement so it wouldn't burn away. But the room was designed to look like an apartment just being moved into with furniture and boxes everywhere.

The first training exercise that Bella constructed was rather difficult. She had the building closed off and filled the entire building with smoke, like the kind you would find in a Halloween party drifting around the floor. Let that run for long enough and it will fill an entire building. Bella played the role of helpless victim trapped in the house. She wore her own SCBA, because the smoke was awful and shouldn't be inhaled too much. Her job was to hide. Hide in the most creative spaces possible. You'd be surprised at where a child would hide when scared. And since Bella was small enough, she found all the tiniest nooks and crannies to hide in.

Since this training exercise didn't require water, Jasper came in as my second while Emmett timed us from outside. Out of the thirteen different places Bella so artfully hid, I found her twelve times. I was disappointed that I missed her the time she had hid in between the mattresses of one of the beds. I had never thought to look there but she insured me she had once found a small child hiding there before. I will never overlook that spot from now on.

One of the other creative training practices Bella came up with was the fire on the third floor. She would come up there in full gear and 'scream' from one of the windows to us to 'save her'. She was never in any real danger and the situation was always under control. The ladder truck guys even joined in on this practice session. Carlisle had thought it would be a waste if we didn't all get to practice with Bella. I had found out that apparently once a month Bella taught a single day training course through the college fire program. That shocked me. I had to wonder why I had never run into her before. The instructor for the day I went for training in the college's cement facility was a balding retired fire investigator who was definitely not Bella.

But the thing about these training sessions that I loved most was not necessarily the training themselves. It was great to gain that knowledge and to know that Bella was putting forth that much effort to teach me. According to Emmett, Bella didn't take the time like this with him or Jacob when they were her probies. But my favorite part was Bella and her 'acting'. Each time she went in to play the role of victim, she was a different 'character'. It was absolutely hilarious to see such a playful side to her, and every time I gathered her up in my arms to carry her out, she would say something along the lines of 'My hero!' Needless to say – it made my heart soar every single time she uttered those words.

However, over the last month, Bella and I had grown closer. I was sure that it was obvious to everyone the amount of time we spent with each other now; helping each other with the chores around the station, the cooking, cleaning and even playing pool with each other. She still sucked at the game but I was trying to teach her to play better. It was an everyday occurrence to cook at least one meal with each other at the station. The guys were getting spoiled by never having to do their part in cooking anymore, but Bella had told me that it wasn't such an unpleasant task anymore now that she had my help with it. I even found myself flirting with her more openly even while doing the mundane jobs around the station. I just had to hold out and hope that Bella would come around and see what we could have instead of seeing what Jacob did. I was not him and I was determined to prove that to her.

I was broken out of my reverie as the door opened to the showers. We had gotten back from a small building fire about thirty minutes ago and most of us immediately went to jump into the showers. The building that caught fire was a paper mill and the amount of debris floating in the air made us all feel disgusting. Besides, it was getting rather dark out and most of us would be jumping into bed as soon as we could.

"Edward, man you better get out there before Bella cooks the whole dinner without you." James chuckled as he stepped under the shower head and made a whipping motion with his hand. The only guys who laughed at his little joke were Mike and Jacob. I was quickly learning that I didn't care for James much either. He was a lot like Jacob in the crude way he acted towards people. And I had caught him more than once staring in Bella's direction when she'd come in to shower. Except for me, all the guys here were married. It was a general understanding that you don't look at Bella when she was in here, not like you could see much of anything anyway. But there was something about James that screamed that he was a perverted voyeuristic kind of man; maybe a sadistic too.

"Yeah, and when you're done, you can braid each other's hair and paint your nails." Jacob said in his imitated school girls' voice. Mike nodded along as he glanced around the room laughing. There was definitely a line drawn down the middle of the room, and if you weren't a part of this crew, you'd never know. The ladder guys keep to themselves with the exception of Jacob and Peter. If there was a rule about family members working on the same crew, I'd gladly vote to switch Jacob for Peter – any day. But it was beyond apparent that there was a certain degree of animosity between the two crews.

I smirked to myself, quickly turned off the water and pulled a towel around my waist. "You're right Jake; I should go keep her company. But when she wants to braid some ones hair – I'll send her to you." I laughed as I started to walk to the door. "And as far as nail painting goes – I would hedge that Mike has more experience painting someone else's nails than I do." I pulled the door opened and stepped into the hall. Emmett and Jasper were just starting down the hall towards the showers. "Hey guys…" I mumbled as I walked by. Those two were the closest things to brothers that I would ever have.

I had just walked past the door to the living room when I heard my name. "Edward!" I looked over across the living room to see Bella standing at the entrance to the kitchen. I watched as her eyes trailed down my towel clad body and back up again. She let a little smile settle across her face. I couldn't help but imagine her standing here in a towel and letting my eyes roam her body too. Just the thought of it was making me hard. I saw her eyes drift once more and a devilish little grin come upon her face. She gently bit her bottom lip and she quickly stuck her hands in her back pockets. I had to try to not chuckle. She looked back up into my eyes, slight blush apparent, and smirked while raising her eyebrows up in an almost suggestive manner. "You coming?" She asked as she swiftly turned around and headed back into the kitchen.

"Almost" I mumbled under my breath as I turned towards the bedroom to grab my uniform off the bed to put back on. I dressed quickly and made my way to the kitchen. I quietly walked into the kitchen to find Bella standing with her back to me at the stove. I had found that she liked to listen to the radio while she cooked, and if she thought nobody was looking, she would sing along lightly and sway her hips back and forth. I loved watching her when she was like this; so carefree and open like she didn't have a worry in the world.

I recognized the sound of the bass starting up the next song on the radio. It was Peggy Lee's 'Fever'. It wasn't a song I thought Bella would like too much. It brought back memories of my mom listening to this song all the time. It was one of her favorites. But I watched surprised as Bella's hips started to sway perfectly to the beat and her voice singing smoothly with the words.

Never know how much I love you
Never know how much I care
When you put your arms around me
I get a fever that's so hard to bear
You give me fever

I was so absorbed by the view she was offering me. I wanted nothing more than to walk over and put my arms around her and be able to sway along to the song with her like I watched my dad do with my mom so many times when I was younger.

"Are you just gonna stand there and stare at my back side or are you gonna come help me cook dinner?" She glanced over her shoulder at me and winked before turning back to the stove. I smiled and shook my head as I walked over.

"What are we making?" I asked as I looked in the pan. She was browning a couple pounds of hamburger meat in a large skillet.

"Spaghetti, I felt like something simple tonight. Will you put on the noodles and maybe start getting some garlic bread ready?" I quickly got to work with the rest of dinner. I was standing next to her while mincing up some fresh garlic to put on some bread when I felt her bump her hip into mine. I looked up and saw her grinning while adding ingredients into the sauce. I turned to go over to the fridge and I lightly smacked her ass as I passed. She laughed and pointed the spatula at me, making open ended empty threats. This was how things were since that kiss. This was our flirting. Light touches here and there; some innocent but most were typically sexual in nature. Bella had gotten bolder with her flirting as of late. I tried not to get my hopes up that she was finally letting her walls down.

I walked back over next to Bella and started adding the butter to the mix of garlic. "Here, I want you to taste this.' I looked over at Bella and she had just put a spoon in her mouth, tasting the homemade spaghetti sauce she had made. I watched as she quickly stuck her finger into the sauce and brought it to my lips. I looked deep into her eyes as I lick slowly up her finger bringing the sauce into my mouth. Her eyes flutter closed and I heard a soft grown as a small shutter went through her body. She pulled her finger away from me and slowly opened her eyes.

"It's delicious Bella, like always." I said as I smiled down at her. If I just leaned forward a little bit more I could kiss her again.

Bella started to lean forward and I felt my hopes sky rocket. "Edward…" She sighed. I had just decided to say the hell with it and kiss her when I heard the bell start to chime.

Bing- Bing- Bing. "Engine 17, Ladder 17, Engine 13, Engine 12, Battalion 12 and Medic 15 please respond to a report of a structure fire on 21st street. Closest Cross Street is East Denny Way." I quickly turned and flipped the switch on the stove turning it off before Alice was even done announcing the call to us. We all immediately started running downstairs to get ready to go. Bella pulled the cover off one of the fire pole holes and quickly wrapped herself around it to slide down. I had to take a moment to just watch as she expertly wound herself around the pole. She would put strippers to shame with the way she grabbed a hold of it. She winked once at me as she slid down. "Fire was called in by the owner of the house and was apparently started by a stray illegal firework set off in the backyard. All units respond."

By this time we were all downstairs pulling on our turnouts rapidly. Bella already had the engine started and waiting for us to finish loading up. Seconds later we were in the truck and screaming down the road. Seattle at night was a sight to see, but it was not always the best circumstances for a fire. I wouldn't want to be the one driving this huge engine, going code three down the packed downtown city roads, at night no less.

"Damn man. Fourth of July was two days ago. Why are we still getting calls for fires caused by fireworks?" Jacob yelled over the sound of the sirens.

"Because there are still idiots out there with fireworks Jake…" Jasper responded and rolled his eyes at me. We were all getting rather annoyed with Jacob as of late. It was almost as if he set out to make our lives all the more miserable. I had talked to Emmett and Jasper about this a couple of weeks ago when we all noticed his change towards everybody. They thought it was probably because of me, the friendship I was starting with Bella and their history. There was evidently more to the story than what Bella had told me a month ago, but the guys insured me that it wasn't anything big. More like Jacob's stupid mistakes and not really anything to do with Bella.

We pulled up in front of a modest middle class home. It was two stories and a putrid green color. The Battalion was already there along with both the other engines. The other two engines were located closer to this residence then we were so it was no wonder they made it here before us. Bella pulled up behind one of the other engines and Carlisle quickly jumped out to go find out what was going on.

We grabbed our BA's and slung the masks around our necks getting ready for instructions. I glanced over at the house and already noticed that there was one crew around back and one that had gone through the front of the house. It looked as though the fire was only on the bottom floor and it didn't look to large in size yet. In all actuality, they probably could have gone without calling us out at all. But it was just in case things went awry that they called out a third engine.

I noticed now that the ambulance that was also called out was Rosalie's. I saw here walking out from behind the house with a gurney and her partner at her side. The little boy on the stretcher looked horrible. His left arm had, by the looks of it, second and third degree burns as well as a couple spots throughout his upper body. I could hear him crying out for his dad, asking if he was okay as his mom walked on the other side of the gurney. His mom was gently rubbing the hair out of his face which I was just now noticing had a couple small burn marks as well, about the size of a cigarette burn. I would imagine it would be a cold day in hell before this boy ever plays with fireworks again.

Emmett noticed Rose's presence too and quickly darted over to her to find out what was all going on. Another firefighter from one of the other engines came walking around the back of the house moments later helping an older gentleman walk out. From first sight I would hazard to guess that it was the father. He too had burns in several places over both his arms, but mainly his hands. I would guess he had pulled his boy out of harm's way when the fire started. I could smell all the different smells that came from a house fire. The smell of plastic burning, wood and the material stuffed in couches and seats. But no other smell was more apparent than the sickly sweet smell of charred skin. It was one we all knew immediately and one we all wish we could run from. I saw that, not only myself, but several others pulled their BA masks to their faces in order to get some fresh smelling air into their lungs instead.

Moments later Carlisle came walking back over to us. We all turned to listen to him intently. "Well it looks as though we are pretty much here for back up. The fire was small and was only in the kitchen dining room area. Apparently the two boys, the eight year old you saw moments ago and his ten year old brother snuck a few fireworks from their dad a few days ago after the Fourth of July celebrations. Their dad was out front getting stuff out of the car and their mother was upstairs. The boys snuck out back to try out the firework, and he held it instead of putting it in the ground, thus the massive amount of burns on his arm. The firework shot off in his hand and he accidently pointed it at the house. It hit the side of the house right next to the open window. The boys rushed in to put his hand under some cold water; however the firework that hit the house caught the curtain on fire. I am sure you can see where I am going with this." We all nodded our heads as we continued to listen. "The boys got trapped in the kitchen; the father was able to get them out the back door and in the process, him and his boy both got burned pretty badly. However, the mother and the other boy are just fine. Their kitchen isn't but they're lucky the fire didn't spread any further than that."

We all stood in silence for a few minutes listening to the commotion going on around us. Emmett had just walked back over to us to give a report on the boy he got from Rose when Jacob opened his big stupid mouth.

"So what you are saying is we got called to this fire and away from our dinner and beds for nothing? We're just gonna stand here?" I turned and looked at him incredulously. Did he really just say that?

"Jake!" Bella hissed and stepped up to him. We all heard the resounding smack as her hand slid across his face leaving a very vibrant red mark. "How dare you?" Her voice hissed with more malice than I have ever heard from someone before. "What we do, the calls we get, though they might not require our services on every single one of them, they still mean something. They are never meant for nothing. That poor child, no matter how unwise the decision to play with fireworks was, still needs our help. He is going to be scarred for life just by making one insignificant little decision. So, we may not be needed to go in and fight fire this time, but we are needed to make that little boy and his family know that they aren't alone and that someone is here fighting for them. If that doesn't sound like something in your job description, then I think you are in the wrong career."

Bella quickly turned on her feet and walked away to go talk to the little unharmed boy that was trailing after his father. Just with the way the little boy responded to her and fell into her arms, I knew that one day Bella would be an amazing mother. The way she was with people, let alone children in a time when most would panic, showed that her strength was vast. As soon as Bella was out of hearing range we all turned on Jacob to give him what for. But before we could get a word in edge wise, Carlisle put up his hand silencing us all.

"Jacob. I do believe you may need to reevaluate your thoughts on our job. It is not just our place to run in and put the fire out but to also offer up our help in another manner that seems to fit with the occasion. In this case, we are here to help out with any duties around here that the other firefighters need assistance with. If they decide that they don't need it, so be it. But if we were called then we work with no questions asked. It doesn't matter the call or the situation. Doesn't matter if it is a multimillion dollar home that is burning or an abandoned warehouse; we don't judge. I would like to hope that by our next call, your attitude has changed." With that Carlisle turned and walked back over towards the Battalion Chief in charge.

I gave Jacob one hard look and turned to walk over to Bella. I barely caught that tail end of whatever Jasper and Emmett were going off on him about; something with the words 'ass' 'disappointed' and 'ignorant moron' in the mix. I walked up next to Bella who was standing with the mother of the house. She was loading her uninjured son into the car and briefly talking to Bella. Rose had already driven away the ambulance with the other son and the father in it. I imagine the rest of the family would be leaving soon to go after them.

I stepped up next to Bella and gently bumped my hip into hers trying to get her attention subtly. She looked up at me and gave me a very forced smile in front of the mother. She stepped forward and hugged her briefly before she got in her car and sped off down the road. Bella leaned into me and I could feel the tension still rolling off her shoulders from her little altercation with Jacob.

"You okay?" I whispered as I pulled her into a one armed hug. I didn't pull her fully into my arms like I had wanted to but just offered her the support I knew she needed.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I just can't believe some of the things he says, how inconsiderate he is now." I 'humph' in argument as she went on; "I'm serious. When he first started here, before we dated and while we dated, before it ended badly, he was a totally different person. He was so free spirited and at one with nature and life. He loved his job and the opportunity to help anyone and everyone that needed it. Now – now it's as if he resents his job, like he hates helping people. I just don't get it. Especially in this last month or so since you started. It's almost like he has detached himself from this crew, he doesn't want to be a part of it anymore and I can't help but wonder what I did to make him that way."

I couldn't just stand here and listen to her talk like that. I smoothly spun her so I could look into her eyes. "Bella! You did nothing wrong. This is all on him. Do not berate yourself for his choices and mistakes. You are one of the best people I know and one kick ass engineer and lieutenant. He is an idiot. Don't waste anymore of your time on him, understand?"

She nodded her head and looked over at Carlisle and noticed him getting everyone together to leave. "You're right. I'm not going to waste any more time thinking about Jake, his skewed perception of life or the time we had together. It's time to move on." She stepped away from me and headed back towards the engine. She pulled open the door and as she hopped up the steps to get in she smiled at me. Today – I took another brick down off the wall she kept around her. A few more considerable opportunities and it will soon come crumbling down.

A/N: I know that you all are dying for them to get together already, but from the information you know so far, you have to consider their pasts. It's obvious he is more than ready to, but Bella's got her own issues to work through. In due time, I promise. And trust me, you won't regret the wait.

Please let me know what you thought. Thanks for reading!