a/n Welcome to the chapter in which there is a showdown. In one corner—Edward Cullen, mind reader. In the other—Mike Newton, antagonist.

Enjoy.

a/n 2 This chapter has been revamped. What happens when you get dragged into helping plan and prep for a baby shower? Lots of errors. Thanks to dazzleglo for calling them out! Without her, you'd probably think me a moron... :-)

CHAPTER 11-HONESTY

Mike woke early the next morning to the familiar blanket of cloud cover in the sky, and for a brief moment, he thought everything had been a nightmare, and he'd wake up next to Tanya.

No such luck.

He sat up and looked around. He was in an unfamiliar room, and when he looked outside and down onto a large lake and scores of trees, he knew he hadn't dreamed anything.

The smell of coffee and bacon met his nostrils, and he rolled out of bed. He blinked down at the pajamas he didn't remember putting on—flannel pants and a gray t-shirt. They were a little tight, but a close enough fit, as if the owner were a little taller and…

A thought crossed his mind, and he made a mental note to ask exactly where these things had come from.

After locating a bathroom, Mike slowly made his way toward the smell of cooking food. As he went, he took note of the house—big, open, lots of hardwood. It reminded him of a ski lodge, especially with the windows facing down the hill.

He rounded a corner in time to find Bella standing in the middle of a huge kitchen. She smiled when she saw him, and gestured for him to sit.

"Coffee?" she asked, smiling.

"Yeah, sure," he said.

"How do you take it?"

"Black's fine." He reached for the steaming cup. "Wakes me up faster."

"I hope scrambled eggs are okay," she said, setting several dishes in front of him. "You probably haven't had a decent meal for days."

Mike laughed. "Not really, no. Lots of drive thru. This looks terrific."

His breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and fruit. She chattered at him for several minutes while he ate, talking about places she'd gone on summer vacations—Argentina, Brazil, England.

She laughed when he asked her if she was planning to eat breakfast, as well. "Tanya said she told you she doesn't eat?" Mike nodded around his mouthful of food. "Neither do I—not anymore."

Mike stopped chewing. She sat down across from him, cocking her head off to the side and smiling slightly.

"You have to chew before you swallow so you don't choke," she said.

He chewed, and she changed the subject again.

"So Tanya said you went back to California for school," she said, reaching over to refill his coffee. "Why didn't you go to Washington?"

"Because I could say I lived with relatives in California and go for their costs, and not have to walk around with soaked jeans for half of my life." He grinned. "And I can surf all year. Without hypothermia."

Her phone rang then, and she picked it up off the counter. An annoyed look crossed her face and she answered, not greeting her caller, simply saying, "Where the hell are you guys?" There was a pause, and she rolled her eyes. "Oh, for God's sake, Edward. Sometimes it's like you're five." Another pause, and this time she laughed. "Whatever. Creeper." She glanced out the window, smiling. "Yes, I see."

He followed her gaze. See what? Trees?

"Whatever. I'm requesting Springsteen for sing-a-long tonight," she said, matter of factly. There was a pause, then she hung up the phone, looked out the open window, and smiled. "Hope you're comfortable out there, baby," she said, her voice raised only slightly. "You're gonna be there for a while, sounds like."

There was a roaring, then two four wheelers came racing up the long lawn. The riders were both tall, clearly male. Unless it was a chick with no tits.

Nope, two guys. One of them was Edward, and he had an odd look on his face, like he'd heard what his wife had just said. And not only heard, but believed. He trotted up the steps and into the house.

The other guy left his helmet on for a little too long, and Mike didn't get a good look at him until they entered the kitchen. He was about as tall as Edward, good looking with blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. His eyes twinkled as he entered the kitchen. "So I see they couldn't talk you into the mass exodus?"

"Nope." She smiled. "I wanted to stay and pick on my buddy here."

The man's eyes, which matched those of Tanya, Edward, and, he now noticed, Bella's, twinkled. He held his hand out. "I'm Garrett," he said, grinning. "You've got to be Mike."

"Yeah." Mike clasped Garrett's hand in his. It was cold as ice, just like Tanya. "Good to meet you."

"Nice to have another guy around," he said. "It's just me and Eleazar and we're not a good match against three women." He smiled at Bella. "First time this kitchen's probably had men outnumbering the women."

"Not really," Edward said, coming around the corner. "We were a man up for a long time."

Bella stared at her husband for a long moment, and Edward stared back.

"Not fair," he muttered, and stalked away toward a corner, where there was an old desk with several charging phones resting on it. He picked one up and unplugged it before starting to fiddle with something. After a moment, he said, "Jake says they're going to stay down there for a while longer until we know what's what."

"That's fine," Bella said, starting to put dishes in the sink to be rinsed. "That's kind of what I was trying to talk him into doing. He's already pissed at me." She stopped, her hands holding a large pot that held gravy remnants in it. "Are you sure she's okay with this?" she asked, her voice suddenly very intense.

Edward's voice was firm. "We talked about this. He's not happy with it, but as informed as he is, he has to understand the risks if the situation is left as it is."

"Is this about Jessica?"

The question exploded from his mouth before he could stop it. He was terrified, underneath everything else. Terrified that he would get busted, and Tanya right along with him. Terrified of risking her family. What a first impression that was to make to them!

"No." It was Edward that answered, and his eyes were wide. "This has nothing to do with that. I'll explain it later, but I guarantee that nothing concerning the matter that brought you here so quickly will affect you at any time in the future."

Details, he thought. He said, nothing though.

So it was a shock when he received an answer.

"Yes, details," Edward said, smiling. "She wants to explain it to me."

Mike blinked. "Huh?"

Edward smirked.

Mike stared. What the fuck?

"That's most people's first reaction, yes," Edward said, laughing.

No way…

Edward said nothing, but crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.

Do you know what I'm thinking?

Edward nodded.

Prove it. Say "big purple dildo."

The reaction should have convinced him, but it only made him more skeptical. He wanted to hear the words. Edward spluttered. "Absolutely not!"

Do it, or I won't believe you. He stared off at a wall, wondering if he needed eye contact.

"No," Edward said, frowning. "And I'm not saying it."

This is too funny. Say "big purple dildo" and I'll leave you alone. If you can really hear me, and you're not reading my face, say "big purple dildo."

A huff came from between his lips, and Bella frowned, glancing back and forth between them. "Edward?"

Edward muttered something.

"What was that? Those weren't words, they were mush."

"Big purple dildo," he said firmly.

There was a burst of laughter from the front of the house, and the slamming of a door. A moment later, Emmett Cullen entered the kitchen, laughing hysterically.

"You… said… big purple…" He was laughing so hard, he could barely speak. "Dildo! You said dildo!"

"Shut up, Emmett." Edward was clenching his teeth.

Mike could feel his face, a mask of shock. "Holy shit, that's for real."

If looks could kill, Mike would have died right there. "Yes. I hope you get a good laugh out of it later." They his eyes shot up, and he grimaced. "I didn't do anything."

Mike turned to see Tanya standing in the doorway.

Her eyes were bright, and she was glaring at Edward like Edward had glared at him. They stared at each other for a moment, then Edward simply said, "Yes."

She turned to Mike, putting a smile on her face. "Come on," she said. "You get changed, and we'll go for a walk."

"Okay." He stood up, smiling at Bella. "Thanks for breakfast."

Odd, how even though she was more radiant that ever, he felt nothing toward her now.

"Thank God," Edward muttered, and Mike glanced over at him. Edward forced a smile. "Perhaps now you understand why I don't like you."

Then a horrible thought occurred to Mike, and Edward just smiled and nodded.

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"So…" Mike picked up a flat rock and skipped it across the surface of the lake. "I had an interesting breakfast."

"Edward ruins everything," Tanya muttered, crossing her arms. "He always has. He completely ruined the sixties for me."

Mike blinked. "You can't say shit like that and not expect me to ask questions."

She closed her eyes. "Ask whatever you like," she whispered.

"Anything?"

"Anything."

"Full disclosure?" he asked. "No 'details' crap?"

"No," she said. "No crap. I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

"How old are you?"

She took a deep breath and let it out. "I don't know, exactly," she said softly. "I was born sometime around the turn of the last millennium."

Mike blinked. "The last millennium?" he asked. "Like, 1000 AD?"

"Yes."

He was very quiet for a while. She wondered what was going through his head. Then he asked another question.

"And the others?" he asked. "How old are they?"

"Kate is around my age," she said softly. "Eleazar is a few hundred years younger, perhaps, he doesn't really recall. Carmen is a little younger than him. Carlisle was born sometime in the 1640s—"

"Why don't any of them know exactly when?" Mike asked, confused.

"Time wasn't measured the same back then," Tanya said. "Unless you were the tsar or some nobility, your dates weren't as well measured."

"Ah." He nodded, his face paling slightly.

"Jasper was born next," she said. "He was born in Texas in 1843. Then Esme, in the 90s of that year. Alice and Edward were both born around the turn of the century, and Emmett and Rosalie about fifteen years later."

"And Bella?"

Tanya smiled. "Bella's as old as you think she is—same age as you."

Mike let out a breath. "Well, at least that's one."

She suspected his next question, but when it came a few minutes later, she still didn't know exactly how to answer him.

"Why do you all look so young if you're so old?" he asked in a whisper.

Honesty.

Everything she had been told to this point was that Mike's future was clear, irregardless. There was no decision to tell her how to tell him.

Until now.

Honesty.

The absolute bane of her existence for the past few months.

The one thing that could finally get everything out of the way, so that they could move on to their glorious future together.

"I'm immortal," she said softly. "We all are."

Mike inhaled sharply, but he didn't look at her. "Were you born that way?"

"No," she said softly. "We were turned."

His heart was beating so fast. She wanted to go to him, hold him, console him. Make love to him until he couldn't think straight and had forgotten all about everything strange.

Instead, she sat on her rock, feeling her fingers tighten and the stone start to give way.

Another few minutes passed, and she realized that every time he got an answer, after his heart rate accelerated, he seemed to be taking the time to steel himself for each new question, and brace for the answer.

"Turned into what?"

She couldn't. Was it fear? She wasn't sure. She suddenly wished Jasper were here to control the mood, but at the same time, she didn't want anyone near this conversation. They were five miles out, far from any prying ears or minds.

"Tanya." Mike's head snapped to look at her. "Turned into what?"

Honesty.

Get it over with and move on. No more lies, no deception, no 'details.'

"Vampires," she whispered, staring into his eyes. "We were turned into vampires."

His face lost all color, and for a moment, she expected him to run. He didn't.

He looked terrified. It was the first time she'd seen the full extent of the fear Edward had alluded to.

Whatever she expected him to say, it wasn't what came out next.

The mask of terror coupled with his boyish face was reminiscent of a small child cowering in fear of finding out that monsters in the closet are real. It was appropriate that his voice only came out in a small whisper. "Are you lying?" he whispered.

He didn't believe her.

"The fear you feel right now?" She smiled bitterly. "It's your survival instincts telling you to run—that I'm dangerous." She clenched her fists and showed him handfuls of gravel. "I could kill you." She stood, feeling his eyes follow her, and held perfectly still for a moment before circling the lake once and ending to stand at his other side. He was still turned, his face shocked, looking at where she'd disappeared two seconds ago.

He turned to look at her, and his face was so disturbing she had to look away.

Had Edward and Alice been wrong? Would this make him leave?

And if he left her, would she have the strength to destroy him? She knew she wouldn't. Knew she'd have to break the laws she'd always upheld, or have someone else do it. The last thought terrified her.

Mike stared at her for a long time before he did something odd. He put his hand on her chest, splayed between her breasts, and concentrated.

"No heartbeat," he said quietly.

"We're dead," she whispered. "For all intents and purposes, in any case."

"No." His fingers clenched in her shirt.

No? What was he talking about?

It was poetic that the clouds chose that moment to open to allow a long, rich ray of sunshine through.

Her skin erupted into a million shards of diamond light, and he stared, his mouth hanging open.

They stood, staring at each other, for a long time. She was as mesmerized as he was, watching the way the sunlight played with his hair, making it look even more blonde. It brightened his already lit eyes and added color to his complexion.

Then, he spoke. His voice was quiet, and laced with pain. "What happens to me?" he asked, the scared little boy again. "I'll keep aging. I'll die eventually."

"I want you to stay," she muttered, burying her face in his shirt and inhaling the scent of flesh and blood. "I love you, and I want you to stay here, with me, forever. If you'll have me."

She was glad she couldn't see his face. "Give me a few days," he said softly. "Just to think. I just… have a few worries. Not about you, about me."

"What?"

"Just give me…" He paused. "Give me three days."

"I'll give you three years," she whispered, hugging him tighter. "Whatever you need."

He finally laughed. It was a nervous sound, but it healed her a little nevertheless. "Just three days."

"Three days, then," she agreed.

He took a few steps back away from her and stared at her. He seemed a little calmer. "I love you," he said softly.

She smiled up at him, hoping that the worst had passed.

"So, do you sparkle everywhere?" he asked, sliding his hands around her back and under her shirt.

It had.

She laughed. "Yes," she said mischievously. "Would you like to see?"

He nodded, and she stepped away.

Slowly, she stripped herself bare in front of him. She felt so exposed as his eyes covered every inch of her skin. She stood naked for several minutes before he finally moved, stepping closer and dropping to his knees. He pushed her knees apart with his hands, and his lips connected with the flesh of her belly.

He worshiped her like she was some bizarre, shining goddess, kissing every inch of flesh he could find. He lay her down on the thick grass, staring at her before resuming burning paths across her skin with his lips.

Finally, when she could take no more, he took her there, on the forest floor, beside the lake. It was bizarre.

It was fulfilling.

And she saw, for the first time, the possibilities of exactly how wonderful eternity could really be.

a/n Yeah, I end sentences with prepositions. I'm from the Midwest—cut me some slack. I will fight you with my brain. I will win.

We're running out of chapters, kids. Three more plus an epi. Enjoy.

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