Disclaimer: Stephenie still owns Twilight...always has, always will. We own frequent flyer passes to the "fraidy holes", aka tornado shelters.

turning point - a point at which a decisive change takes place.

EPOV

Only moments after hanging up the phone, the door to my penthouse is flung open, my sister standing in the foyer, hands on her hips.

Rose was never one to make a subdued entrance.

"Sister," I say, giving her a curt nod. She knows I'm not happy she's here, so I don't bother with niceties.

Rosalie and I have always been civil to each other, but we were better at it when we were younger...human. Nowadays, we only speak when we absolutely have to and, apparently, tonight will be one of those times. I just wish I knew what she wanted to talk about. We won't be able to converse freely with Bella here and I have a feeling that my sister will enjoy this exchange much more than I will.

What is it about siblings that they enjoy seeing each other squirm so fucking much?

"Edward, my dear brother, how are you?" Rose air-kisses both of my cheeks before turning to Bella. "Well, who do we have here? Can this be the 'Bella' I've heard so much about? Oh, she's just adorable!"

Rose strides up to Bella and places both of her well-manicured hands on Bella's flushed cheeks. "Yes, Edward, she's too cute for words!"

Bella looks over Rosalie's shoulder and gives me a penetrating gaze, arching her brow for good measure.

"Bella, allow me to introduce you. This is my sister, Rosalie Cullen. I'm assuming she has heard of you through her boyfriend and my driver, McCarty."

Realization dawns on her face and she gives my sister a polite smile. "Of course. It's nice to meet you, Rosalie. If you'll please excuse me, I'm going to make myself more presentable for company."

I watch as Bella rushes off to the bedroom in her sheer nightgown and quickly closes the door. As soon as the door latches, I move to where my face is only inches away from Rose's.

"What the fuck are you doing here?! You knew that Bella was here; why would you show up out of the blue in the middle of the damned night?!"

"It's great to see you, too, Brother," she says, rolling her amber-colored eyes. Rose and I don't resemble each other much in the looks department; she looks more like our father and I like my mother, but our eyes are exactly the same. Of course, their odd color has nothing to do with our DNA.

"Don't be mad," she continues. "All I've heard from McCarty lately is about this girl who's been occupying your time. I can hardly remember the last time that's happened, so you can't fault me for being curious."

I sigh, sitting back down at my desk, this time facing Rose, and run my fingers through my hair. "Yes, I've known Bella for two weeks now. Do you have a problem with that?"

"I don't have a problem, unless you make it a problem for me."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You know we're alike in most ways now, but one of the main differences is that my track record is perfect. You've screwed up before, but never with someone that you've spent this much time with. What does she know about you? More importantly, what do you know about her? Does she have family? Friends? A pimp or someone who would come looking for her if she'd turn up missing? I like it here and I won't allow you to mess up the Cullen name or my life with McCarty. You've done enough damage already," she seethes.

"Fuck, Rose! You really will hold that against me for eternity, won't you? You'll never accept that my actions were out of love and protection for you!"

"Just answer the question, Edward! What does Bella know?"

I grab her by her biceps - knowing I can't hurt her - and speak through clenched teeth, our voices never rising above a whisper. "She doesn't know anything! She doesn't suspect anything! Mind your fucking business and leave us alone!"

She breaks away from me swiftly. "Will you tell her? About you? About me? Are you planning on turning her? Because if you are, I won't just stand here and let you do it. You never gave me the choice and I'll be damned if I let you do that to anyone else."

"Fuck you!"

"No, thanks. But that reminds me - if you kill her, McCarty and I won't help you clean up your mess. We won't do that ever again."

Before I can respond, I see Bella standing just outside the bedroom door. Her face is washed, hair pulled back, and she's now wearing a robe. If I had a heart, it'd be slamming into my chest just from looking at her natural beauty.

Rose quickly looks from my face to Bella's and puts on her most captivating smile, before motioning for Bella to join us.

"Come over here, Bella; don't be shy. Edward was just telling me how much he's been enjoying your company." Rosalie waits for Bella to enter the room and stand by me before adding, "You must be worth every penny you charge."

"Rose!" I yell at my sister.

"What?" She puts on a confused face, but no one here is buying it. "Well, I just assumed she was a working girl... that is your style, right, Edward? Bella, please forgive me if I'm wrong. I mean, who cares, really? It's just a job. A girl's gotta make a living somehow," she laughs, sardonically.

"Bella, just ignore Rose; I do. She's usually pissed at the world, but no more than she's pissed at me."

I watch as Bella straightens her spine and squares her shoulders in Rose's direction. Looking right into my sister's eyes, she replies, "You're absolutely correct, Rose. I do have to make a living. I'm just fortunate that I can work and play at the same time."

"Well, don't get too comfortable, Bella. My brother isn't one to keep girls around. He may get urges to make things more...permanent, but he always fails."

"You need to leave. Now!" My sister loves pushing buttons, but Bella has done nothing to be on the receiving end of her wrath, and I won't stand here and watch Rose demean her a second longer.

"I'm done here anyway," Rose laughs. "Just remember what I said earlier, Edward, and don't do anything...careless."

Without giving me or Bella a second look, Rose is out the door just as quickly and dramatically as she entered it.

I stare at the door, trying to get myself under control. My sister's visit has pushed my limits and I cannot lose control around Bella; I will not. Unfortunately, Rose gave me some things to think about regarding Bella, but I can't focus on those just yet. Right now, I need to make sure Bella's okay and that my sister's abrasiveness didn't scare her off.

Slowly, I turn my face in Bella's direction and find her staring right back at me, chest heaving.

"What the hell was that all about, Edward?!"

"Bella, I-"

"No! You let me talk!" Fuck me, she's even more beautiful when she's enraged.

"Of course. Say what you need to say." I sit down on one of the couches and pat the seat beside me, silently asking her to sit with me.

"I'd rather stand for the moment, thank you." She paces in front of me a few times and I can tell that she's trying to figure out what she's going to say by the expression on her face. I'm not sure how much she heard or what is going through her mind. Maybe she's formulating an escape plan, but surely she doesn't suspect what I am - what Rose and I are. If she does, I won't blame her for wanting to get as far away from me as she can. I don't know if I can let her go, though. I still haven't figured out this hold she has over me; I don't even think she's aware of it.

"What are you thinking?" I ask, needing her to give me something to work with. Between her facial expressions and the increased heartbeat, I can only guess that she's either pissed off or just scared. I really need to know which one it is, so that I'll know what to do to calm her down and make sure she stays.

"I don't even know where to start. I mean, I can't figure out what I did to piss your sister off; I only now just met her! She was obviously attacking me for being a hooker, but why does she care what I do? Apparently, this isn't a new thing for you." She pauses briefly, taking a breath.

"Edward, I know I'm not the first hooker you've brought home. I can't, for the life of me, understand why you'd ever need one. The other thing I can't understand is why your sister seems to care so much about our arrangement. She seems okay with the fact that you're with a prostitute, so what's her deal? And, what was she talking about...about you having 'urges' but always failing to make things 'permanent'?"

I finally allow myself to look into Bella's eyes, and her gaze immobilizes me. My mind is working at warped speed trying to figure out the right thing to say. I'm so wound up and the only thing that would help relieve my stress, besides fucking, is feeding. I'm fairly certain Bella wouldn't approve of me leaving right now without an explanation, but I have to get out of here.

I stand up quickly, grabbing my room key before walking to the door. I glance over my shoulder and say, "I have to leave. I won't be gone for long and it is my sincerest wish that you stay here and wait for me. I'll answer your questions when I return."

"You're leaving?! It's the middle of the night, Edward! Where are you going?"

With my hand holding the doorknob, I turn my upper body toward Bella. "Don't provoke me, Bella. It's in your best interests to do as I say." My voice rises in volume and my control is slipping. "It's what I'm paying you for, remember?"

I know the steel in my voice has done its job when I hear her gasp. Her accelerated heartbeat only pushes me out the door quicker, desperate for an escape that only the forests of the Pacific Northwest can bring me.

Moving quickly, faster than what's normal, often at speeds that human eyes can't detect, I flee the hotel and slink into the dark night.

I don't take a breath until I'm well out of the city, knowing that I could snap at any moment. It would be so easy to pull an unsuspecting victim into a dark alleyway or an abandoned building. Their blood would be enough to quench my thirst for much longer, giving me more power and more freedom...but I can't. The small flicker of humanity left inside me wouldn't allow that.

When the forest finally surrounds me, I allow myself to breathe in, as I use my senses to quickly track down what I need.

I want to hunt and get back to Bella as quickly as possible. The brief thought that she might flee again crosses my mind, increasing my speed even more. When I think of her leaving, there's an ache in my chest, not the burning from my need for blood, it's different...something I haven't felt in decades.

Swiftly, I take down the first buck that crosses my path. Sinking my teeth into its flesh, I allow my primal instincts to surface for the first time in over a week. I feel immediate relief from the fire in my throat, and for the first time in the last 24 hours, my muscles uncoil and tension leaves my body.

I could hunt more, but my mind is clear and my control is firmly back in place. The desire that takes over now is Bella. I need to get back to her and give her what explanation I can...enough to make her stay.

Once back at the hotel, I use all of the rear entrances that I know so well, moving quickly past security cameras and going completely unnoticed up the emergency stairwell. At the floor just before the penthouse, I walk into the hallway and slip my card into the slot inside the elevator, giving me access to the top floor.

As I step off the elevator, I'm greeted with the soft, slow beats of Bella's heart. I'm relieved to know that she's still here and that she's calmed down. From the sounds coming from inside, I would guess that she's asleep.

Quietly slipping my card into the slot on the door, I enter the room, barely making a sound. I walk into the bedroom and find the most beautiful sight I've ever seen in my 66 years.

Bella is peacefully sleeping in the middle of the large king-sized bed. The contrast of her chestnut brown hair against the stark white sheets is lovely, her porcelain skin taking on a soft glow in the moonlight shining through the window.

I walk silently to the chair in the corner of the room and sit for hours, just watching her sleep.

Sometimes, I wish I could still sleep...I wish I could turn off my mind and senses and urges, if only for those brief hours during the night...if not for nothing else, but to get a reprieve from my sentence.

I've always wondered what people meant when they said they were living vicariously through someone else, but in this moment, I understand the meaning. By watching Bella sleep, I remember what it's like, and I allow my mind to turn off...I think of nothing else but the rise and fall of her chest, and the rhythmic breaths she takes.

"Edward," I hear her say softly, almost a cry, as if she's calling for me in her sleep. When I said that I could deny her nothing, I meant it. So, I go to her, kneeling softly on the bed. I slide in beside her, gently placing my arm over her waist and gather her close to me.

Her eyelids flutter every once in a while, making me wonder what she's dreaming about. I hope it's good...and happy. I want her to be happy.

Her lips draw together, as if they're trying to form a word, and she says my name again...softly, almost reverently this time.

The desire to kiss her is so strong. I know I can resist it, because I have for so many years. Not just with Bella, but with any woman I've been with. But I don't know if I want to anymore.

There's a small chance of venom being passed from me to her, but the odds are slight of it doing anything permanent. The main reason I don't kiss is because it feels too personal...too intimate.

I focus on her lips...the shape, the color; even in the darkness, they have a darker hue than the rest of her skin. They look so soft...the dip of her top lip is something I've wanted to touch since the first time I saw her.

I know it's risky and breaking all the rules, but I can't help myself any longer.

I close the short distance between us, until we're breathing the same air...our lips only a whisper apart. Swallowing back the naturally-pooling venom, I prepare myself. As I hold my breath, I press my lips ever so slightly to hers.

The feeling is electric, like a current passing from her body to mine. The warmth of her lips is like a blazing fire. Taking it one step further, I slowly open my mouth...just slightly, only enough to taste her skin.

I could feast on her for days, not in the way that my instincts would insist, but in a completely different way...I want to taste her and feel her...be with her.

I've never felt this way and it scares me. That fear is what pulls me from the bed. At lightning speed, I'm across the room and back in the chair...a safe distance from this woman who's caused me so much confusion and distress...and other emotions that I didn't know I was still capable of feeling.

A short moment later, I watch Bella awaken; her eyes immediately finding mine. Her heart rate spikes and I hope it's from being surprised to find me looking at her, not from fear or anger.

"Good morning, Bella," I say, trying to be patient for her response.

She sits up and runs her fingers under her eyes, her hair covering her shoulders in a tangled mess. After clearing her throat, she finally answers. "Morning. How long have you been sitting there?"

"I've been here most of the morning, ever since I returned from my sudden...departure."

At the mention of my leaving, her face hardens and I begin to panic inside. "I was lying down with you...in bed...for a while, also," I admit, hoping to soften her anger at me.

"You did?"

"I did." Tentatively I walk to the edge of the bed, silently asking for permission to sit on it. "You, um, said my name. You sounded worried and I wanted to reassure you, so I climbed into bed and held you."

A beautiful blush covers her face as she bites her lip and looks away. "I was worried. I didn't understand why you were so mad or where you'd gone." She looks back up at me. "I didn't know if you'd come back."

I let out a deep breath and sit down on the bed, remaining a respectable distance away from her. It's killing me to be this close to her and yet not being able to touch her. I want to touch her so fucking bad.

"Of course I was going to come back. Bella, I wasn't mad at you. I was mad at Rosalie; mad that I couldn't answer your questions right away...mad at a lot of things but never you. I sometimes have a problem with my anger and there are only a couple of things that help me...control it. You know one of those ways, as evidenced by our escapades after dinner with the Whitlocks. The other I can't tell you about just yet."

Bella moves like she's going to get off the bed but I grab her wrist before she can get too far, making sure to be gentle with her.

"I want to, Bella. I want to tell you everything about me but I can't...not yet. I-I'm sorry."

The only other person I've ever apologized to is my sister. Bella, of course, doesn't understand the magnitude of me saying this but I hope she believes my sincerity.

She grabs my hand that's still holding her wrist and I let her remove it. I'm surprised when she holds my hand in between both of hers. The air becomes electric and I can't tell the difference in the sounds of our breathing.

"I want to know all about you, Edward. What can you tell me about yourself now?"

This is one of the few times that I'm glad I don't have a heartbeat. Bella would most certainly be feeling the rapid rush of my blood through my hands if I did have one. The only mannerism of mine that shows my anxiousness is running my hands through my hair, but there's no fucking way I'm removing my hand from hers any time soon.

"Well, you already know a few things about me. You know my occupation and that I enjoy only the finer things in life. You've met my loving sister," I say, smirking at her to know I'm kidding, "and you know I have a voracious sexual appetite."

I feel her body shudder at my words but she quickly controls her reaction and adds, "I also know you can't drive a stick for shit."

Even I am surprised at the laughter which bursts from my mouth. This woman has me experiencing things I never even realized I was missing, all in just two weeks' time. How will I ever be able to let her leave? I can't think about that now. Now, I have to give her something...anything to satisfy her curiosity and make her want to stay.

"Yes, well, I haven't had much need for learning how to drive; I've always had a driver."

"Always? As in, always? Even when you were a kid?" she asks, disbelievingly.

I smile at her, using the hand of mine that she's not holding to draw circles on her knee.

"It's probably no surprise that I come from a wealthy family. My father had a very successful business while I was growing up, so, yes, I've always had someone drive me where I needed to go. I know how to drive automatic, I'm just not very good with manual transmissions," I laugh.

"I can teach you."

My mouth goes dry as she gives me a shy look. "You can teach me how to drive a stick-shift?"

"Yeah, that was one of the few decent things my mom taught me - that, and how to survive on the streets." She continues on when she registers my confused expression. "My mom was a hooker. I don't know who my dad is."

I don't know how to respond to this information. I've wondered these past few days how Bella decided on prostitution as a career choice, but never did I suspect she followed in her mother's footsteps.

"Bella, I-"

"No, it's cool, Edward," she interrupts. "It is what it is, you know? It doesn't do me any good dwelling on the past or wondering 'what if'; I just have to live the best way I can."

Her words floor me. She could be describing my life just as easily as she's describing her own. I have so many regrets and so much pain, but I've never been able to let it go. Instead, I've let it all fester inside me, deep into my bones, becoming a monster, both literally and figuratively. I thought I was redeeming myself - at least in my eyes - by drinking only from animals and not humans, with a few accidental exceptions, of course, but I'm lower than the scum of the earth compared to this angel in front of me.

I cannot change what I am, but I can change the type of person I am, can't I? Do I dare try? Do I dare allow myself to feel emotions that have been dormant for decades? Hope...happiness...love...are they even possible for someone, something, like me?

I don't know if those things are possible, but I do know this: I'll risk it, risk everything for her, if she wants me.

"Bella, you make me want to be a better man."

A/Ns:

Jenny Kate: Well, Jiff has high-tailed it outta the country...or, at least Oklahoma. She had enough of the stupid tornadoes and went to Louisiana for the weekend. And, I blame her...and Fanfic Maplestyle, and Livie Liv for this chapter being posted so late. They started talking about Glass House by Livie Liv and got me all distracted...and twisted my arm...and held me down...basically, forcing me to read it. So, that's what I'll be doing the rest of the night, while I ride out the storms.

Thanks so much for reading, rec'ing, and reviewing! We love you guys! If you're in the paths of these crazy ass storms, BE SAFE!

We'd like to thank our awesome beta, Mauigirl60! Thank you so much for making our words pretty!