I know, a new chapter for Twisted Fate. Try not to faint. Thanks to RuthPerk for beta reading and FandomForPreemies for their fundraising efforts. Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. I just like to pull the strings; sometimes I tangle them.

I sat at my desk, reading an article on a new cancer treatment. The light was fading as the afternoon wore on, a late November chill in the air. I tapped my finger in time to the classical piece coming through the speakers around me, Rachmoninoff's Third Symphony.

She must have borrowed a vehicle, because Bella's beast of a truck would have alerted me even through the music. As it was, I didn't hear her until she unlatched the door. I dropped my journal in surprise. She peeked around the door before stepping into the study.

I smelled her even as I heard her; Her fragrance was so unique. I understood why she would be the first human Jasper would find different from the masses. Even I, who had never tasted human blood, had a special desire for hers. I didn't doubt Alice thought the same. Hers would be the first, and only, human blood I would taste. I hoped she had changed her mind. I was sure that in a few more months, another year, she would find her humanity too much to deny. She would find she needed to experience motherhood, marriage, birth, death, all the normal steps in human life.

She was walking purposefully. She stopped at the player and swapped tracks. Etta started belting over my speakers, At Last. I couldn't fault her choice, though I wondered at it. She pulled off her raincoat. Beneath was her usual attire, a cotton shirt and denim jeans. She hung the jacket on the back of my chair, leaning to kiss my cheek.

"It's good to be home, Carlisle," she said with a smile, turning to lean on my desk next to me.

"It's always good when you come, Bella. I've missed you so much. Alice and Jasper promise they'll be here tonight. Hopefully, I'm company enough until then?" I asked, reaching up to put my palm to her hot cheek. She leaned into it.

"Definitely," she assured me, turning to kiss my palm. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," I told her with a smile. I wondered what she could ask that she felt the need to seek permission.

"Have you ever considered changing a human before?"

My heart sank. So much for her waiting another year. I swallowed the venom that her scent had produced, gathering the memories to share with her.

"Yes. There were two women who made me consider it. The first..." I closed my eyes remembering Elizabeth Masen. She had been beautiful, even in sickness. "She asked me to save her son. Begged, more correctly. She knew I was something more than I seemed." I rose and offered Bella my chair. This story would take some time to tell. She perched on my desk instead, so I sat next to her.

"What happened to her son?"

"It was the Spanish Flu of 1918. I was working in Chicago and the Masens were among many patients under my care. Edward Masen, senior, had already passed, but Elizabeth... she and her son lived longer. In her final moments, she begged me to save her son. She told me, she knew I could. To save him as only I could."

"But you didn't."

I shook my head. "Had she asked me to save herself, I would have. When faced with her unconscious son, Edward... He was so young, seventeen. He hadn't chosen this life, how could I condemn him to it. I agonized for days as he wasted away, but I didn't do it."

There was a lengthy pause as Bella digested the information and I pulled myself back from the intense memories. Edward could have been my son. He could have been my companion as Jasper was, only closer. He would never have tasted human blood either.

If only Elizabeth had asked for herself. She was married, I didn't really considered her as a companion beyond friendship, but after she died, I did. I realized how bright she was, how compassionate. Her loyalty to her husband and son had led to her deterioration. She might have survived the epidemic if not for that.

"You said she was the first," Bella pointed out.

My mind, still spinning around in the memories of 1918 now jumped ahead three years to 1921. "Esme Platt," I said sadly. "Well, that was her name when I met her as a girl. She jumped to her death from a cliff after the death of her infant son."

Bella gasped and covered her mouth. "Oh, no."

I nodded. "She had been such a happy child, to see her, broken, on the slab." I shook my head, fighting the emotions the image brought back. "She wasn't dead," I whispered, my voice not responding. "Her heart was barely beating. I was probably the only one that could hear it. I could have given her a new life. I could have..." I choked off.

Bella hopped off the desk and held my head to her breast, hugging me. "I'm sorry, Carlisle."

I clutched her waist, sobbing dryly. Not for the first time, I wished I could shed tears for Esme, someone should have. I felt moisture in my hair and backed up enough to see the tears on Bella's cheeks.

She sniffled and wiped them away. I put my hands to her cheeks, stroking with my thumbs, wanting to kiss them and her.

"That poor woman," she choked out.

I smiled and pulled her into a hug. "Thank you. I have wanted to cry for Esme for almost a century. Thank you for doing it for me." I released her and took a breath. "I contemplated too long. The decision was made for me when her heart stopped."

"And me?" Bella asked.

I smiled. "You are neither of them. You are not at the end of your life. You are not asking on behalf of anyone else." I put my hands to her face again, unable to stop touching her now that I had begun. "You have thought for months about this. You know exactly what you are asking for. If you are sure it is what you want, I won't deny you."

"Then, you won't mind if I stay?" she asked, tipping her head down to look at me from under lashes..

I was surprised. "Now? But you've barely started classes."

She sighed deeply, pushing off the desk and walking away. My hand was still reaching toward her, and I lowered it reluctantly. "I thought being on my own, truly independent, would make me feel," she paused in speech but started pacing the study, "stronger. It didn't. My strength comes from you, from Alice and Jasper, from your world. I don't want to go back. I feel alone, small, strange. Here I feel, powerful, important, loved. Can I stay?" she asked again. She had reached the desk and leaned on the far edge, her eyes boring into mine. Her warm soft, bottomless brown eyes. I loved those eyes. They held beauty, mystery, humanity, life. They were the windows to her soul, and I would never get enough of them. I envied Jasper and Alice the pleasure of her body, but if I could have a place in her heart, in her soul, that was more than I could ask for.

"Of course you can stay, Bella. I was glad you went on with your life, but I was very sad to see you go. I know Alice and Jasper will be thrilled to have you back."

She dropped her hands from the desk and looked at them. "I... I'm not... How do I say this? I'm finished with that. I still love Alice and Jasper, and I love the time we had together. I don't regret a minute of it. But I want more. Is that bad?" she asked, looking to me for answers.

I had none. I'd never had what they had. I'd never had any part of what they had. "What do you want?" I asked instead.

"I want someone just for me. Someone I don't have to share. Someone... someone who needs me the way I need them."

I could understand that. She was describing what Alice and Jasper had, with or without her. They were mates. They fit all the gaps in each other.

"I don't think that's bad," I said honestly.

She moved around the desk again, squatting slightly in front of me, swiveling my chair to face her. Our eyes were level and her hands were on my thighs. "I want..." She bit her lip. "They couldn't-" She stopped again.

She sighed and rose, turning from me. "They couldn't fill me. They were too scared of my blood, which I totally understand. So one of the reasons I left was to deal with that." She paced the room again, walking away from me back to the door. Her ponytail swung as she shook her head. "I intended to have sex with another human. A wild, crazy, stupid fling." She threw up her hands and turned on her heel to face me. She kept her eyes on the floor as she started back. "I couldn't do it. It was too empty, too meaningless, too cheap. I had poor Andrew half undressed before I chickened out. I still feel terrible, but not nearly as bad as if I'd gone through with it." She put her palms to my desk now and met my eyes once more. I held my breath.

"Carlisle. I need you."

I thought my heart, unbeating for two centuries, had just started back up. I had never dreamed to hear those words from her. I hadn't dared to imagine them. I had loved Bella from the moment Jasper brought her home. In all honesty, I was in love with the idea of her before that. A human that could transfix the blood-crazed son of mine enough to think about something more, especially while tempting that part of him more than average. She was singular, she was special, and she needed me.

"I'm yours, Bella."

"Please. I'm ready. I don't want to spend any longer dragging this dying body around. It feels wrong; it feels heavy. It feels like I'm missing some vital part of myself. I'm not supposed to be this way. I'm supposed to be like you."

My heart sank. She didn't want me, she wanted my venom. I had learned from Alice and Jasper that this was what Bella enjoyed most with them as well. The sweetness of Alice's venom, in particular, was like a drug to her.

"Please," she whispered now, rounding the table. "Please make me yours. Please fill me. Please take the barrier away and make me free."

My eyes widened as she perched on my lap and put her lips to my throat. She kissed the hollow under my ear and I thought I would melt. My arms reflexively closed around her shoulders. I filled my lungs with her scent.

"Carlisle," she whispered and pulled my chin down to put her lips to mine. "I want to be yours. Yours only. I need you." And she made herself clear physically. Her hand slipped between my thighs and brushed my fly. I exhaled roughly.

She turned, putting her knees on either side of my thighs. She kissed my nose as she flipped open the first button of my shirt. I still hadn't moved when she had unfastened two more and her lips were on my ear. That was when I heard her sob. She pulled her hand back.

"No." I grabbed her fingers and put them to my chest. "I'm sorry. I don't know what to do, Bella. I... I've been fighting this for so long."

Her eyes found mine now, still brimmed with tears. "You have?"

I sighed. "Yes." I cupped her bottom in my hands, trying to let her rest her legs. She was perched precariously. She sat back gratefully. "I've wanted you from the moment I saw you, but I couldn't come between you and Jasper. And I didn't want to be in the middle of..."

She chuckled. "I don't blame you. You were always welcome," she teased. I rolled my eyes. "I like it better this way," she whispered into my ear as her fingers found my belt buckle.

"Bella." I stood, supporting her in one hand and sweeping my desk clear with the other. I felt her smile on my skin as I sat her on the wooden surface. I slid my hands under her shirt and she quickly lifted her arms so I could pull it off. As soon as her hands were free, she put them to my hair, scraping her nails over my scalp. I moaned and pressed myself to her between her legs. It seemed time hadn't completely dulled my instincts. My hands found her back, the hollow in the small of it, the curve of her shoulder blades, the slope of her shoulder. I couldn't stop touching her flawless skin, so warm, so pink. Her pulse matched the rhythm the band had set and I lost the music, hearing only the thrum tha-thrum, tha-thrum. I slid fingers under the strap of her bra, not wanting to miss any of the fragrant flesh.

She reached over my fingers to unclasp it and pulled it down.

My mouth fell open. I had examined breasts of course, even assisted a mastectomy, but that wasn't the same. This was the woman I loved. This was her, and she was open to me. I touched each one gently, carefully. She smiled and pressed my hands together.

"They aren't porcelain, Carlisle."

"They aren't?" I argued. "No, much softer than that." I squeezed very gently. "Much warmer," I dared to put my mouth to one. Venom trickled from my lips, and I was ashamed.

Bella moaned. "Yes, so wet." Her hand came under to sweep the drop away and lick it from her finger. "Don't stop, Carlisle." Her hands were at my waist again, continuing to free me of my pants.

"Bella." I sighed stepping back slightly. "What do you want?"

She chuckled. "I thought I was fairly blatant."

I looked down. "Well, yes, but is that all you want? Are you expecting...?" I slowly looked up to her eyes.

She smiled sweetly. "Expecting? No. I had thought – hoped - the two might come hand in hand, but I- oh, no, Carlisle." Sadness darkened her features. "No. I'm not... Oh crap." She put her hands to her face and pushed her hair back. "I'm sorry. I should have done this differently. I should have waited." She turned from me, starting to walk away.

I couldn't let her go. I closed my arms around her shoulders; my hands found her breasts again. "Don't go."

Bella leaned back into me, pulling one of my hands down over her stomach. I took her invitation, putting my lips to her ear, even as my hand slid under the waist of her pants. She was so warm and even warmer here. She turned her head, matching her lips to mine. "I want more than what you can do for me. I could have gotten that. Andrew would have obliged me; Jacob practically proposed to me; The Volturi would happily change me. I want more. I want you. I love you, Carlisle."

"I love you, Bella. I want all of you, for all of time."

"Make me yours. Now," she moaned, sinking her hands into my hair and pulling my mouth to hers again.

I pulled my hand out from her, popping the button on her jeans and ripping the teeth of the zipper apart. Cupping her, I lifted her to the desk again. I let go of her breast to slide around her. Her mouth was hot and eager on mine. I tried to keep her tongue out with mine, but she darted so quickly. I finally dropped my mouth to her neck, afraid she would cut herself before I was ready. I wanted the chance to alleviate her pain, if I could. But before that, I wanted her. I wanted her human, I wanted to hear her heart race the way I had before. I wanted to be the one feeling her skin burning me. I wanted to be the one to make her gasp for breath, not in reaction, but because she needed air. I wanted to enjoy every drop of her humanity before I spilled a drop of her precious blood. And I did not want to do it in the heat of passion. I was still afraid I'd drink too much, and being heady from sex would not do.

She freed me of shirt and pants. We rubbed against one another, cotton on lace, and I felt her wetness. I throbbed with her pulse, in time with her heart. Her wetness was mine; her heat was mine.

"God, yes, Carlisle. There, please."

The one thing Jasper had denied her. I hooked the cotton between her legs and pulled it, tearing through it. She rubbed against me again before I'd pulled my shorts away. My teeth clicked as I shut my jaw. Her heat on me was overwhelming. I was going to hurt her. I was going to lose. My naivety was going to cost me. I groaned, pulling back from Bella, sinking back into my chair.

A second later, Bella's eyes opened and she looked for me. "Oh. Right. I'm sorry, Carlisle." She jumped down and leaned over me, pulling me free. My head flew back and I groaned at her sudden heat around me.

"Bella," I growled, feeling her left hand join her right, covering my entire length. I was gasping now.

"Don't think," she said. "Don't worry about me, okay?" She licked me and my head flew down, nearly colliding with hers coming up. "Let it go, Carlisle. Give it to me."

She licked me again, and I did. I groaned and growled. I inhaled sharply feeling her sucking down everything I had. I sighed and put my lips to her head, kissing the top.

She looked up at me with a dreamy smile on her lips. I seized her cheeks and fell to my knees beside her. I wanted to kiss her tenderly, but instead I was mashing her lips with my own. I needed her so much, every last part of her.

"Thank you," I whispered between kisses.

"Thank you," she replied, one hand on my wrist, the other on my chest, nails scraping.

I pulled her to me and laid back, kicking her legs out with my own. "Will you marry me, Bella?" I closed my eyes and groaned. "I just said that out loud, didn't I?" I put a hand over my eyes.

She laughed, sitting on my stomach. She pulled my hand away. "Not the way I thought I'd be asked."

I shook my head. "Not the way you should be asked. Forget I said that, please. I'll ask again, when it is appropriate."

She chuckled again. "Well, when you do, the answer is yes." She leaned over to kiss me. "That is exactly what I want. I want to be yours, and you to be mine. Not that I don't love Alice and Jasper, but I want what they have."

"So do I." I put my arms around her again, holding her to me. She shifted, and I stiffened. Her wet heat was over me.

"Ready?" she asked, watching me for hesitation.

I reached for my hip and tore away the fabric still between us. Then I took a deep breath. With my hands to her hips, I held them and pressed up into her. I stopped immediately. The moment her heat enveloped me, I knew I wouldn't be able to control it. I would press right through her. So rather than try, I stopped. It was already enough. I could smell the blood, I could see her grimace. I could hear her whimper. She put her hands to my chest and again scrapped with her nails, this time in pain.

I relished her heat, her tightness, her folds wrapped so completely around me. I let my head fall back to the floor and relaxed my hold. She was still tight on me, but slowly eased as well. She let out a sigh before bending to drape herself over me. I was still held in her, though part of my length was exposed now. So cold outside her, so warm within. I stroked her hair.

"Bad?"

"Not good, but better now. You still feel huge inside me, but it doesn't hurt as much now."

"Good."

She sat back up and my face contorted as she warmed me again. She rocked a little on her hips.

"Don't rush yourself," I advised her.

"I won't." She lifted herself on her knees and slid off until only my head was still held inside her. Then she fell on me and we groaned together.

"Damn, that feels good," she murmured, gripping my hips more tightly.

I needed to kiss her. I sat up and then rolled her beneath me, cradling her head so it didn't hit the floor. I kissed her while I made myself flush with her again, buried, held, squeezed. "Yes, Bella," I moaned now, pulling out only to thrust into her again. It was slower than I expected. I was enjoying every millimeter of flesh touching and rubbing. I didn't want to rush either.

Bella sighed and pulled her legs up, hooking them around my hips. My mouth fell open and my head tucked as I was pulled deeper within her. She pulled my mouth back to hers, sucking up any venom she may have missed before.

"So good," she moaned again, arching under me, her breasts exposed by the bend in her back. I put my lips to one soft peak, sliding from her. I pinched and squeezed the other. She gasped and twitched beneath me. "Yes. Oh, more." She slid her hands to my hips now, pulling me back into her. I thrust more quickly this time, and she grunted.

At first, I thought I'd hurt her, but she sighed and pushed up into me. I ran my hand along her beautiful thigh, exposed when she jumped from the desk. I hadn't gotten to touch them yet. I let my fingertips trail down to her hip and around the back of her leg, pushing it up.

"Oh God," she moaned, and I felt her twist on me. I held still, waiting for the sensation to subside. I moved with her again, holding her leg in my palm. Eventually her ankle found my shoulder, her leg tensing. She was getting wetter, her breathing more ragged, and her heart was racing as I'd always longed to make it. I worried for her health even as I thrilled at being the one to test it.

The longer I listened, the more I realized, as I hadn't before, that I was listening to her health. This wasn't the sound of a dangerous stutter, it was the steady, fast, hard thumps that came from exertion. I was working her. She was working me. I wasn't going to last long with her massaging my length the way she was now.

"Carlisle," she gasped, one of her hands falling to the hair between us, sliding down so her nails scraped my length now.

It didn't set me off, which surprised me, but made me aware of what she was doing. I moved my hand to the place of hers, rubbing along the swollen flesh. I could smell the blood pouring through her, cycling so quickly through the capillaries just beneath my finger. I stroked up and she arched right off the floor again. I cupped one of her hips, afraid she'd hurt herself hitting the floor like that. It kept me deeper in her, and she squeezed me more tightly, constricting along her length in quicker succession.

"Oh, Bella." I was going to explode. I was going to melt. She was going to destroy me.

"Come in me, Carlisle."

I dared one more stroke of her tender flesh and the result sent us both over the edge of our ecstasy. She screamed out my name as I growled the most predatory sound I'd ever made. Throb after throb, each one sent another ripple from her down my length. We were each setting the other off, a circle without end.

But end it did. There was nothing left to give her and she quieted, still gasping, heart still racing. "Thank you," she rasped.

"Thank you, Bella. I love you so much." I hugged her to me, rolling to our sides and cradling her.

She closed her eyes and sighed before yawning. "Oh, excuse me."

I kissed her forehead and lifted her in my arms, carrying her to my bed. I glimpsed Alice and Jasper in the hall, the music covering their entrance as well. Both wore smug grins. I ignored them, setting her on the unused covers and the pulling one over her

She pulled on my arm. "Don't go."

"I'll never leave you," I promised, climbing in and curling behind her. I closed my eyes and drank her scent.