Hello wonderful readers - finally, I return! I hadn't even realized it had been so long until I saw the date on my last posting...cripes! Anywho, I have almost reached the halfway mark and bubs is doing great =) I've finally stopped being sick, work is slowing down, wedding and Christmas are a thing of the past. I'm hoping to use much of my free time to now finish off this trilogy (yes, it will be three! - well, four if you include the epilogue..) - I just have to add a massive thank you to you all for still hanging around waiting for me for this long! I truly hope I don't let you down =) Anyway, here's the next chapter, enjoy.

Bella sighed, letting her muscles relax and sinking into the strength of Edwards body, the tenderness of his kiss. He had a strength that she hadn't noticed when she'd first seen him on the jousting field. All she'd seen then was the slimmer lines of his shoulders and chest, the muscle not as obvious as on the Edward of her past. But now, her soft breasts pressed against his hard muscles, her roaming hands getting to know the contours of his shoulders and back she could feel the power, unobtrusive to look at in comparison to someone like Emmett, but all the more deadly for its subdued ability. Like a mountain lion, sleek and powerful, capable of outwitting and outrunning the big bears around Forks. Yet his hands, and his lips….gentle like a sun warmed breeze tickling the hair against your cheek. She sighed again, delighted, and Edward used the opportunity of her parted lips to taste the inside of her mouth with his tongue.

A growl erupted from her throat, and her back arched, forcing her heat against his ferociously. He chuckled against her teeth, catching her up against him and moving his mouth from her lips to her ear. Her fingers clawed at him, tore at his shirt, her knee edged up so that it was rubbing seductively against the outside of his thigh, she knew what she wanted; she wanted to know if this man could fulfill her needs in every way…

But on a sudden huff of breath he pushed her away.

Surprised and disoriented, Bella tripped, falling on the damp grass and blinking up at Edward in confusion. Then she smiled.

"Hurry, don't make me wait...." she snickered.

Her smile fell when Edward turned away from her instead. She watched his back with her brown eyes wide and shocked, watched as he steadied his breathing from the hurried panting of a mating animal to the calm motion of a man who was completely disinterested in the person with him.

"I'm sorry," he said hoarsely. His shoulders hunched, but he kept his back to Bella.

"Sorry?" she repeated, her mind a haze of disbelief.

"Very much so," Edward said slowly, his voice already polished and polite, a sharp, pointed blow to her wounded ego.

"Sorry," she said again blankly, the fog beginning to clear slightly, enough for the pain of rejection to fill her eyes with moisture. She remained on the grass, feeling the cold and wet begin to seep through her jeans. "Sorry." This time a touch of venom entered her voice.

He nodded slowly, his whole body still averted.

With a hiss of anger, Bella climbed unsteadily to her feet, fury incinerating her hurt. "Sorry are you? Not half as much as I am." She threw his back a final glare before spinning on her heel and stalking towards the edge of the clearing.

"Bella, you're going the wrong way," Edward said quietly from where he still stood.

Her cheeks flaming with the added humiliation, she turned to her left, and continued on her way.

Moving so silently and quickly Bella could almost believe he had flown, Edward was at her side, his warm hand on her arm, his green eyes sparkling with amusement and pity.

"Bella. Let me explain. Please."

"Pssh," was her response as she continued on, her pace slowed but not stopped.

"Bella." He pulled her to a stop, the suddenness of if it causing her to fall against him. With a surge of hot anger she pushed away, gritting her teeth.

To her disgust the amusement in his gaze strengthened, and his lips curved into a crooked smile. "You're still going the wrong way. I'm amazed you managed to find your way home from school each day all those years ago."

Bella crossed her arms over her chest and glowered. "So which way then, if you could bring yourself to do something nice today." Something that doesn't involve making me feel…she finished her thought with a heavy sigh. My own stupid fault. She added crossly. So what if he looks like my…she sighed again.

"I did want to do something nice today, Bella."

She scoffed.

"I wanted to take time, get to know each other." His face gentled. "I've wanted to be near you for so long…" A gruff laugh escaped. "I forgot…"

Bella raised an eyebrow as he untangled her arms and held her cool hands gently in his.

"I want you, Isabella, more than any woman I've ever wanted. But not on wet grass in the woods where anyone could walk through…"

She blushed, remembering another time, where the thought of peeping toms had never crossed her mind, and the grass had been a soft carpet, certainly nothing unwanted…her eyes drifted downwards, hiding her torn heart and mind. Into her thoughts his words continued to pour.

"I had a whole picture in mind of how it would be with you, how my intelligence and wit would blow you away, how our first date would be somewhere truly beautiful--dinner at the best restaurant, a movie maybe. I wouldn't try anything untoward with you; I would show you what a gentleman I was, that I could wait until you asked."

Bella choked on an unexpected giggle. I don't think I could have made my wishes any clearer…

"Instead," he continued. "I find myself wanting to throw you onto the ground, take you like an animal…"

She shivered. Like an animal, on the ground…this time the blush crept from her toes to her hairline.

"Please," he finished softly, squeezing her hands, confusing her blush for one of hurt and anger, not desire. "Give me another chance to prove myself to you, properly."

Bella finally raised her eyes to Edward's. The bright green held a desperate plea for forgiveness.

"Only if you promise me that fantastic dinner," she said in mock seriousness.

He grinned. "Deal."

* * * * *

Jasper tapped his fingers against his desk in irritation and stared blindly at the steel grey skyline visible through his office window. Something wasn't right, even more than he already expected. Jenks was becoming even hedgier, if that was at all possible, and Laurent had taken to keeping his phone switched off. Worst of all, though, was Alice. He truly adored the woman he planned marry, saw her as the one truly bright spark in his life. From day one she had been like a bright warm wind, breezing into his life and lightening any load, even before he had found himself tangled in this mess. Never, until now, had her 'feelings' touched upon his other life, the one he didn't speak of, the one that allowed him to shower her with the things that wouldn't be possible if he was truly nothing more than a government employee. Always she had accepted without question that it was only through his parent's generosity that he could offer her what he did.

Suddenly their phone calls were stilted, his connection to her felt strained, her voice sounded taut and worried. Each time he swore there was nothing to worry, about he felt her disbelief intensify, found himself putting the phone down with a sense of loss, a break in the natural order of things.

A bird soared past the window and Jasper's unblinking gaze. Free, unhindered, unconcerned…

Laurent was in Forks. That much Jasper had been sure to find out. Alice was also in Forks. Now seemed the perfect time to live that old adage 'two birds with ones stone'…it was time to reorder. Time to remind himself what mattered the most.

* * * * *

Alice breathed deeply and slowly of the moisture filled La Push air. She had fled Forks for the serenity of the beach, the odd calm of the wide expanse of ocean breaking against the shore. Instead, the crashing waves had frightened her with their unexpected ferocity, their violent, angry movements. She was alone on the beach; the heavy feel of the air had turned away all but the most dedicated of beachgoers, and even they had disappeared when rainclouds had edged along the horizon. She could hear nothing of any living creature, an odd silence in that gelled harshly with her ingrained fear of what was coming. Not for the first time she wished her intuition were stronger, that it were more like the Alison that Bella had spoken of--focused and certain. All Alice felt sure of was that something was coming, something bad. Her heart constricting with fear, she forced another breath into her aching lungs. She had to believe it would end well, whatever was coming, no matter how bad. And no matter that she knew otherwise.

* * * * *

"This isn't funny, you know." Jacob said softly, his muscles taut even though his pose was relaxed, his hands resting on his knees.

"I agree with you, Jacob. This is not at all humorous." Luned stepped away and scooped her crumpled shirt up off the floor, drawing it over her head. "It is frightening for me, and very confusing…"

"That's not what I mean. Amish, I can understand. Sort of. What you're saying is insane. You're trying to tell me you're some telemovie time travelling freak?"

"What is telemovie?"

"Luned." Jacob rose to his feet, tall and impressive, his naked body still glistening slightly with sweat. With one long stride he was standing beside her. "Luned, please," he begged her softly. "Tell me…"

"Jacob Black, you can take me as I am or not at all," she stated simply, her huge dark eyes showing little emotion even though her mind was in turmoil. He didn't believe her. Of course he didn't, she could barely credit her circumstance and she was the one living it. Still, it caused an ache in her heart she had hoped had been filled when she had met this time's Jacob. He was so much like her other Jacob, in more than just appearance. Jacob of her time would never have believed Isabella had she told him where she was really from, in fact he would have been one of the first to call for her to be burnt as a witch. Still she had hoped, indeed prayed, that this Jacob would be more trusting of her….With a heavy heart, she steeled her emotions. She had spoken only plain truth when she had said take it or leave it. She loved Jacob, had loved him in every form, but she would be truthful this time. She would not have him believe her an innocent woman, nor a woman of this strange time, for she wasn't. It was right to be alone. Not good, but right, if he refused to trust…

"I think I should leave," he said tersely, collecting his own clothing.

Luned remained completely still, barely breathing. It wasn't until he was at the door, glancing at her one final time before her resolve broke. "Please, Jacob, if you do not believe me, ask you Isabella. I know you trust her." Her voice quavered on the word trust.

In return Jacob turned his face from hers. She listened to his footsteps on the stairs, the slamming of the Swan's front door. It wasn't until the gentle hum of his car faded into the distance that her legs gave way.

* * * * *

Laurent St. Clair threw his phone away from him in disgust. Ten unread messages, all from J. It was ridiculous the way the man thought he could be controlled, thought that Laurent's job was a hired lacky to do his master's bidding. No, he was a mercenary, selling his talents to the highest bidder, one who would leave him to his work, would trust implicitly his skill. Only once had he failed, and even then…well, he hadn't really failed. He wouldn't accept that his choice was a mistake. What happened to a girl after she left his hands wasn't his problem. As long as he saw his money, what were these women to him? No more than lambs to the proverbial slaughter. If one was a little less…pliant than another, who was he to care? As long as he got his money, Laurent was happy. Well, as long as he got that and the rush that came with taking something precious from someone. He liked to be sure to find just the right victim, to inflict just the right amount of pain. After all, what use was a homeless woman if there was no one left to mourn her? No use at all.