"I need some space. My mind is really fucked up right now."

I don't know what I expected. Maybe I wanted him to put a bit of a fight, but he didn't. He simply sighed and ruffled up his hair. He stood stock still, looking directly in my eyes.

I had to look away.

"Just a little space, for a little while."

He nodded and backed away, eyes never deviating from mine, until I shut the door.

EPov (This picks up near the beginning of Chapter 11.)

She had shut me out, turned me away. She said she needed space and time to think.

It was the way it should be. She should keep her distance from me. Vampires and humans shouldn't be friends—or anything more. She was listening to her body's instinct and keeping away from me. Fight or flight had kicked in. Her heart was racing, she was breathless, and she wouldn't let me in. It's the only sensible explanation. What else could it be?

It was the right thing, and I knew it, but why did it feel so awful? The pain of rejection stung sharply, almost as bad as the pain of transformation from my human life to this soulless existence.

I slumped against the wall, leaving a dent, no doubt. I stayed for several minutes, listening for any sign of Bella. She stayed on the other side of the door for several moments before returning to her room. I tried to remind myself she had put a small condition on her declaration. She wanted a little time—not forever. I sighed. I should go hunt. I wanted my eyes to lighten.

I didn't want to be confined, contained, or run the risk of seeing anyone in my family, so I ran all the way to the Catskills to hunt. I quickly took down a couple of deer, giving myself over to the instinct, blocking all thoughts of Bella from my primitive mind as I hunted. It would not do to remember the smell of her blood or the beat of her heart while I sank my teeth into the carotid artery of a deer and drained it dry.

When I was through, I licked my lips and disposed of the two carcasses. Task done, the first thought on my mind was Bella again. I was going to return to her apartment; I didn't even pause to think on it. I would leave her alone, but I had to know she was safe.

I ran through the night, cool air whipping past my face, and returned to her building, waiting on the roof until long after I thought she might be asleep. Cautiously, I jumped down onto her window sill and stopped.

Despite the wind blowing and the sounds of the city, it was too quiet. I realized instantly what was missing—Bella's heartbeat.

I opened the window and crept inside. All the lights were out, and the apartment was silent as a tomb. There were clothes scattered across the bed, but otherwise the room looked as it had the last time I'd been here. My mind raced. Where was she? I tried to come up with a reasonable explanation. Perhaps she was working Third Shift or there was another murder?

But I had seen her car in its usual parking spot when I ascended the roof.

Maybe she had a date then?

If I had a beating heart, it surely would have thudded to a stop at the thought of another man's hands or lips upon her. I closed my eyes and could see roaming hands, wet kisses, and tangled limbs. I could imagine her face as she received pleasure from a faceless—and soon to be headless—man. Venom trickled under my tongue, stinging sharply. She was mine, and death to anyone who thought otherwise.

I would wait here until she returned….

But she didn't return.

When she didn't return by morning, I called the telephone number on her business card for the station. The call went to an automated voice mail.

Panic surged in me. I had left her alone when I knew I shouldn't. Another vampire had been in the apartment next door only days ago, and I left her simply because she asked me to. I used my phone to do a quick news search of the area. There was no whisper of the "serial murderer" in the city overnight. While that gave me a temporary calm, it did not truly assuage the fear crawling through me.

I left her building and ran home to get my car. Ignoring the looks from my family when I burst through the door and grabbed my keys, I hurried to the café where we'd met up twice.

There was no scent of her.

Tugging on my hair, I stood on the corner by the café, forcing the people bustling off to work to walk around me and leave rude remarks. Feeling lost, I looked around the intersection.

I felt extreme guilt at the thought of leaving her last night to go hunt. She asked me to go, but I never should have listened. What if something happened to her? Granted, I didn't smell anything strange in her apartment, certainly no blood and no strangers, but what if someone ambushed her?

Uncertain, I returned to her apartment building and waited.

And waited.

She didn't return again that night.

Nearly in a panic now, and I decided I'd plead for help. I texted Alice and asked for her to meet me on the rooftop of Bella's building. It was 2 a.m. before she showed up.

"Sorry, Edward, I was hunting with Jasper. Where is your Bella?"

I pulled my hair again and fairly growled as I closed my eyes and let my shoulders slump.

"I don't know. I was hoping maybe you could tell me."

In recent weeks my family had been fairly respectful of my new-found attraction to the detective. They found humor in it, of course, and had their private thoughts about my success or failure. Carlisle, Esme, and Alice had a tentative hope, Rose was sure I'd fail and was still sore about the fact that I'd attracted attention to our lifestyle, Emmett didn't mind either way, and Jasper was ever-wary.

So long as Isabella Swan didn't know the truth, they would put up with my "silly infatuation."

"Edward, you know it's very difficult for me to see Detective Swan. I don't know her well enough."

I knew this when I asked for Alice's help, but what choice did I have? "Please? There's a rogue hunter out there behaving irresponsibly, and he has ties to Bella. Alice, I'm the only one who can protect her."

My sister huffed and rested her hands on her hips. "Alright, give me a minute." She closed her eyes, relaxed her arms, and took a deep breath. My mind instantly targeted hers, allowing me to see exactly what she would see.

She looked through the distant future, seeking out any possible avenue for Bella Swan's future to intersect my own. It would be the easiest way for Alice to see the fate of someone she didn't know well.

There was nothing but empty pathways.

"Try harder, Alice," I urged as each possible future ended at another dead end.

She growled softly, struggling not to break her concentration. "I'm trying!"

She struggled for several minutes to see anything in Bella's future, but ultimately, she sighed, defeated. "There's just nothing—but that doesn't mean anything is wrong, I just don't know her well enough to see her fate."

I nodded in thanks. "I know. I'm going in her apartment," I announced, crossing the roof to the point above Bella's window.

"What? Edward, that's—"

It was my turn to growl now. "I know. It's weird, it's creepy, whatever. Just help me, please?"

Not waiting for her, I slipped over the edge of the building and landed on Bella's window ledge. I slid the window open and crept inside.

The apartment looked just as it did the last time I was here. Bella had not been back in my absence.

The night I brought her home from the bar I'd seen a laptop in her bag. That was now my focus. I didn't want to snoop through her belongings, but my fear for her was genuine and growing.

I heard Alice land on the ledge outside Bella's window, but I was already down the hall in search of Bella's bag. I looked on the dining table, the table in the living room, and the kitchen counter with no luck. I inhaled deeply, seeking out the unique scent of the plastics and paint associated with a computer and its components, but I found nothing.

Alice had crept down the hall behind me, and stopped at the end of the corridor. As she looked around, I searched out Bella's service gun. If she was on duty she'd have it with her, but if she were ambushed, it might still be here. I'd seen her hang it on the shelf near the door. The belt was there now, but the firearm was gone.

"Edward?" Alice's voice nearly broke with emotion. I turned to look at her, waiting for her to find the words. "She lives here?" She gazed around the apartment, staring. "It's empty. Sad. There's no life here. No personal effects, no pictures, nothing. Humans need these things. What kind of human is your Bella?"

Bella is…

"I don't know for sure, Alice. Sad. Quiet. Alone—lonely. She has no family and few friends."

Neither of us needed to say what we were thinking—she was the perfect victim for a rogue hunter.

I didn't know what to do now. I had no clues to follow and nothing to go on. She could be near or far, alone or in the company of someone else, alive or…

I couldn't bear to think of that.

I only had one resource left—Bella's cell number.

I pulled out my phone and sent her a text.

To: Isabella Swan

Bella? Have you left town?

I waited for a prompt reply.

I waited for nothing.

After an hour, Alice and I returned to the roof. I handed her the keys to my car and gave her a pat on the back. I knew she felt guilty. She left with a sincere apology; I stayed until dawn. I made several calls to the police station. They went to voice mail.

At my wit's end, I sent Bella another text.

To: Isabella Swan

Bella, I'm sorry if I upset you by showing up at your apartment that night.

Really sorry. Please. Just let me know you're safe.

I stayed on the rooftop of her building all morning. I didn't remember what nausea felt like, but I felt positively sick with worry. I couldn't fathom wanting to drink from Bella mere weeks ago when now I realized I'd do anything to keep her safe—to keep her with me.

Just after noon I had a terrible moment of ambiguity as the Tech Unit from the Police Department arrived. My initial feeling was fear—had something happened to Bella? And alternately, I had hope that I would see her when I realized the team was there to process her neighbor's apartment. Unfortunately, she wasn't with them. The Tech Unit began to remove anything from the apartment that could be used as evidence. They wouldn't find anything useful. I took the opportunity to return home; I hadn't seen my family in several days, and I knew that if Bella returned in my absence I would be able to smell her. I couldn't search for her alone, I needed help.

I ran home, careful to observe the sights, scents, or signs of any rogue vampires. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I picked up the scents of various family members on the trails in the woods surrounding our home.

Esme was planting some mums out front when I arrived and pumpkins, gourds, and variegated ears of maize decorated the home no one ever visited. She dropped her shovel, and her face lit up when I ran across the lawn, slowing to a walk near the porch.

"Here to get your car?" Her voice betrayed the hurt she felt. Her eyes took in my rumpled clothes and scruffy hair. "Here to change?"

I forced myself to swallow, a leftover human habit when consumed with guilt. "No. I'd, um, like to talk to the family."

A smile suddenly brightened her face. "Really? Alice told us you'd be stopping by today, but I didn't figure—wait, you're not leaving again, are you?"

The fall breeze picked up, taking Esme's smile with it.

I shook my head. "No. I'm not leaving. I need… help." It was easier to ask for than I imagined.

The smile returned to her face. "With your human? Your Bella?"

She wasn't mine yet. Not really, as much as I tried to convince myself otherwise. "Yes. I think she's in trouble."

Esme dusted her hands off on her jeans and then grabbed my hand. "We'll help. We'll do anything we can."

She all but dragged me in the house. The rest of the family was amassing in the living room even before we crossed the threshold. Alice flopped on the couch next to Jasper, Rosalie paced by the window, trying desperately to look aloof and uncaring, and Emmett leaned against the wall with his arms folded across his chest.

Carlisle was the last to enter the room, settling into the empty sofa across from Alice and Jasper. "Alice told us you might want to speak with us," Carlisle offered, reaching for Esme's hand. She took his hand but didn't join him in sitting. Instead, she stood behind him and put her hands on his shoulders.

I nodded to Alice in silent thanks, but I just stood there speechless. I rubbed at the back of my neck, unsure of what to say. I was walking a fine line between utter creep and concerned paramour, and I knew that whatever I said added stress onto my family's shoulders.

"Just tell them what you need, Edward. Tell them what you know." Alice was always so encouraging. I wondered if I was half the sibling she was.

Looking around at the faces of my family, I knew I had no choice but to plead my case. Bellawas that important to me.

"I think Bella—Detective Swan—is in trouble."

"I knew it was going to be about that girl," Rosalie muttered, leaning against the window sill and peering out into the encroaching forest behind the house.

"What's wrong with her, Edward?" Esme asked, drawing my attention from the negativity on the far side of the room.

I sighed. "That's just it. I don't know. I don't know that she is in trouble, but I haven't seen her in a couple days, and she isn't replying to my messages."

Carlisle nodded. "And is that unusual? I didn't realize your relationship had progressed beyond… curious observation."

Rosalie turned away from the window now. "Oh, come off it, Carlisle. Say it like it is. It's stalking!"

I got up from the couch, attracting Emmett's attention, and began pacing at the opposite end of the room from Rosalie. Carlisle tried to diffuse the situation by asking everyone to remain calm, that we were simply engaging in conversation, but I felt as though I was about to combust. The only thing that kept me from taking Rosalie's bait was the fact that I needed her help. Alice started to rock in her chair, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head. She started to recite the Declaration of Independence.

"Edward, if you'd prefer a more private conversation, I'd be happy to discuss things with you—"

I cut him off before he could finish his thought, but I knew he was offering to go on a hunt.

"No, I need all of you. I have no idea where Bella is. The rogue hunter hasn't attracted any attention in days, and I don't know if his or her path finally crossed Bella's or not. I've gone everywhere I can think of where she might be, and she hasn't been back home either."

"Hey, lover boy," Rosalie called, getting my attention. "Did you ever think that she's trying to give you the slip? Maybe she isn't taking your calls and messages on purpose."

I was just about to let her have it when Alice stood up and stepped in. "Get off his back. He's doing the right thing to protect her. She's his mate. She'll be one of us someday."

You could have heard a pin drop, with or without the vampire hearing.

I stood frozen, stunned. I didn't know what to say, think, or feel. I barely acknowledged the shocked expressions of my family. I had been so busy fighting my draw and bloodlust for Bella and then giving myself over to the attraction and trying to protect her to worry about the long-term. How did I feel about this glimpse into my own future?

I hadn't ever thought of changing someone before; never thought of asking them to endure the pain of transformation or relegating someone to taking the lives of animals—or humans.

But the temptation! God. I could imagine how beautiful and strong she would be. I had so many questions. When would it happen? Would she be happy? I could imagine forever with her. I could imagine an end to the loneliness. Curiosity eventually won out, and I had to ask.

"How, Alice?"

She shook her head sadly. "I still can't see her immediate future. I just see you with her down the road. That means she's safe now, Edward, but I still don't know where she is. I saw it this morning, when you realized you'd do anything to keep her safe and with you."

Safety was a temporary luxury. There was still no getting around the fact that we had a sloppy rogue hunter on the loose and something needed to be done about it. If not by us, then someone else would interfere. Someone who wouldn't take kindly to an investigator meddling in the lives of a vampire coven. The Volturi. It was undeniable now; Bella was going to be mine, and I wanted to protect what was mine.

"Oh, this is too rich. Edward's going to bite a human." Rosalie threw her hair over her shoulder and folded her arms across her chest as she stared out the window.

I'd heard enough. "Hey, Rose, Emmett used to be a human once too. Remember? And you coveted him, but you got Carlisle to do your dirty work, didn't you?"

Her head drooped, the simple action betraying the shock, guilt, and sadness consuming her mind. She wondered, for the millionth time, if Emmett resented her.

I couldn't think about her guilt. Would I feel the same way one day?

Would I change Bella? Would it be planned? How would I tell her what I was?

Carlisle interrupted my reverie. "Edward, I know Alice has given you much to consider, but how can we help?"

I shook off the intoxicating thoughts rattling around my head and refocused on the situation at hand.

"We need to better monitor the rogue in our midst. He's getting too sloppy, drawing too much attention to all the vampires in the area. We'll have the Volturi in our backyard. We don't know if the nomad is aware that his latest victim was the neighbor of one of the lead detectives investigating the crimes, but he or she has to know their behavior has caught the attention of the authorities.

"We need to intervene. For myself, I'm involved to keep Bella safe, but also to keep the Volturi from investigating the crimes—and us."

We hadn't met the first coven Carlisle was a member of, but we knew they watched us with interest—and we didn't want them taking a closer look.

"So, what? You think we ought to split up and look for the rogue?" Emmett questioned, pretending to crack his knuckles.

Jasper nodded and tented his fingers. "I think Edward is right. For the safety of the family I think we need to run interference and find out what's going on with the vampire in our midst. Are they an inexperienced newborn or an irresponsible savage?" he offered, always the tactician. Alice took his hand in solidarity.

Carlisle nodded and looked first at Esme, then the rest of us. "Okay, let's be smart. No one should be alone, and we should stay in contact. We don't want to overwhelm anyone, but we don't want to be ambushed and attacked either." He sighed suddenly and scrubbed his hands over his face in an all too human gesture. "We should have gotten involved sooner. We shouldn't have given anyone this much leeway in our territory."

We divided up then, and I knew I wasn't going to voluntarily team up with Rosalie. I asked for some time with Carlisle, but I was still leery about leaving Bella's place unprotected, so Esme and Alice agreed to go there, while a more contrite Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper decided to scout the north and west, and Carlisle and I would explore the south and east.

Each group set out when they were ready. I waited for Carlisle to change out of his scrubs and grab his pager. While I sat on the porch waiting, I sent Bella another text.

To: Bella Swan

Is everything all right?

I'm worried about you.

As with the others, it went unanswered. Carlisle appeared moments later.

"No word from Bella?"

I shook my head. "Nothing. I just want to know for myself that she's safe. Perhaps that's foolish considering Alice sees a future for us, but I want to know."

Carlisle and I took off in a sprint across the yard to the tree line.

"That was some news from Alice, wasn't it? How're you feeling about it?"

I could always be myself with Carlisle; he was a father and mentor in every sense of the word. He had experiences I didn't, he was patient, non-judgmental, and he genuinely cared.

"I'm—overwhelmed," I began, the leaves and twigs crunching under my feet as we raced through the countryside, monitoring the air for anything unusual. "I don't know that I'd held out any hope for a mate. I've seen what you, Emmett, and Jasper have with your mates, but I'd never felt that kind of connection or draw until I encountered Bella. Once I met her, it was one episode of sensory overload after another. I didn't have time to dwell on the idea that she might be 'the one,' I was too concerned with the attraction to her blood, the fact that I couldn't read her mind, and the notion that she suspected us of the crimes, but she didn't know why."

"And now?" Carlisle asked, dodging between the trees.

"Now? Now I'm unsure how to proceed. When do I tell Bella the truth about our family? How do I say it? When do we get together? Is she safe? How…close… can we get? Can I give her the kind of relationship she wants?"

I could hear the humor in Carlisle's voice. "That's a lot of questions. Sometimes it's best to just let love and life take its course. Your control is strong, and your hand is light. You won't hurt Bella now that you've realized what she is to you. Keep yourself in check, and you will be fine. I can't say when the right time to tell Bella is. When the time comes, you'll just know. Be careful about sharing it—you know the rules—and you wouldn't want to be forced into a Volturi-imposed timeline. Trust yourself, trust Alice."

Truth be told, those were only the questions I had the guts to voice aloud. What would Bella say when I told her what I was? A corpse-cold, severely obsessed, undead suitor. What a catch. How would she react? Alice's vision of the future didn't give me any comfort; the future could always change. Furthermore, what kind of future would Bella and I have? Would she want to become a vampire? Could I change her? It was a huge decision. Not a life changing one, but a life ending one. It would be three days of excruciating pain, and I wasn't sure I could stand by and watch that kind of suffering.

An unbidden thought crept into my mind. It would also mean forever with Bella and a kind of physical affection I'd imagined since the first day I saw her. I closed my eyes and envisioned her gold eyes clouded with lust as I gripped her hips and buried myself inside her.

I pushed the thoughts out of my mind.

For now.

"It's good to see you hunting again too. I'll admit, I was worried about you for a while."

I nodded. "I wasn't trying to do anything, you know." I wasn't sure if it was the full truth. I'd quit hunting during the summer because I was lonely and depressed. I wasn't that big of a drama queen to think I'd 'end it all,' but I was frustrated and angry. I didn't resume hunting until after I'd met Bella. After I met her I wanted my eyes to return to gold, the black scared humans.

I couldn't search for more than a few hours at a time without sending her another text.

My fear escalated when it went unanswered again. Maybe Rosalie was right, maybe she was ignoring me or hiding.

No one found anything of consequence on our recon mission. Emmett, Jasper, and Rosalie came across some new scents, but they were faint. We decided to patrol every day for the foreseeable future to ensure the safety of Bella—and Rochester.

As I stood atop Bella's building that night awaiting her return, it afforded me a great deal of time to think. Carlisle was right, maybe I just needed to let things run on their own course. It was against my very nature to relax, to be patient, but if I was going to forge a relationship with a human I might as well get used to waiting, of thinking of her first. However, I realized what a fine line I would be walking. If I waited too long to tell Bella the truth, she could accuse me of lying, of letting her get too attached before she could make an informed decision. On the other hand, if I told her too early, there might not be a future for us at all.

I also sent another text.

To: Bella Swan

I know you asked for space, but Bella, I'm going crazy.

If I was feeling crazy now, I couldn't imagine myself in another few days, or a week, or a month! When would she come back?

Not for the first time, I began to wonder if there was any way I could find Bella that I hadn't already considered. I gave a moment's pause to going to the police station and peeking around Angela's or Detective Newton's minds and prompting them for some answers, but Alice sent me an immediate text to let me know that wouldn't be a good idea.

For the rest of the week we continued to patrol, even thought we knew our rogue could be in the Yukon or in the Deep South. We had often made hunting trips to Michigan, Maine, or Canada on a whim. Vampires could travel anywhere and quickly.

Friday it was my turn to run with Rosalie. Things were tense between us, but her thoughts were contrite. We ran west along the coast of Lake Ontario toward Niagara Falls, neither of us speaking until she eventually cracked.

"I'm sorry, you know. I didn't really mean to hurt you. As you know, I didn't adapt well to change as a human, and it's even stronger now. I'm just worried, Edward. I'm worried we'll be discovered, worried we'll be blamed for what's going on, and I'm worried the Volturi will come down on us. And I worry about losing my place in the family. I know I'm not easy to get along with, but what if your Bella is liked better than me?"

I didn't want to merely downplay her confession, I knew it was genuine. Instead, I had to relate it to her and assuage her fears. "No one can replace you, Rose. I don't know what else to do. Wouldn't you do anything for Em? Bella is my mate, or she's going to be. I'd do anything for her, but that doesn't mean I'd abandon the family or put us in danger."

She stopped near the bluffs at Hamlin State Park, scaling the rocky ground with ease. She surveyed the territory to the west looking for anything suspicious. I'll try to be patient and to understand your choices, she thought, unable—or unwilling—to say the words aloud.

I nodded, not wanting to dwell on the conversation if she was uncomfortable. So long as she was trying, that was good enough for me. For now.

"Race you to the border!" she called over her shoulder, leaping from the cliff down onto the sand and causing a rockslide.

I let her win.

Saturday finally came around and brought with it the sun. I couldn't lurk on Bella's rooftop, so I stayed indoors with the family.

The Policeman's Ball was quickly approaching, and Alice used the 'inclement weather' to prepare for the event. Corsages and boutonnieres were ordered, wardrobes coordinated, and a very large check was written as our family's donation. I aimed for privacy and holed up in my room with my cell phone awaiting the message that wouldn't come, but I couldn't tune out the family's excitement at the chance to get out and mingle with Rochester's finest. The who's who of western New York would inevitably be there. Even as I heard Alice, Rose, and Esme discussing trending fall colors, the pros and cons of certain flower blossoms over others, and whether or not the ten percent increase over last year's contribution was sufficient, I wondered if Bella would really be there.

I'd seen the RSVP on the refrigerator in her apartment and she had checked the box on the invite confirming she was attending. I couldn't wait to see what she might wear.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sighed. I was frustrated, in more ways than one, and I felt cooped up. I waited until well after dusk, when twilight stretched across the sky, and then I decided to go for a run. Emmett offered to tag along, but I knew he already promised to help Jasper and Rosalie give Jasper's old 1959 Triumph Trophy motorcycle a tune up. Besides, sometimes I just appreciated the silence of my own mind.

I left the house and ran east. While I tried to enjoy the earthen scent of fall in the air and the cloudless sky, I was too busy searching for the scent of a stranger to enjoy much. And Bella was on my mind, as always.

Running for hours, I eventually crossed the border into Canada before my phone vibrated in my pocket. I looked at the screen not surprised to see Alice's name. I debated not answer for a moment, but I knew she'd just call back.

"Hello, Alice."

"She's going to text you. I've seen it."

I nearly dropped the phone in shock. "What? When? Is she home?"

Her voice was buzzing with excitement. "I don't know. Tonight? Tonight. Yes definitely. I still can't see her well—though it does seem to be getting better. I don't know where she is now, but she'll be home by morning. I see you there—"

It was all I needed to hear.

I jammed the phone back in my pocket and began the run home to Rochester.

I was on the roof at Bella's apartment by 4a.m., but a quick check of her apartment told me she hadn't arrived yet. As I waited, I wondered what her text might say. Alice seemed excited and happy, but she seemed that way more often than not, and I think she would forewarn me if the reply was negative.

I waited impatiently as the people in the apartment buildings below began to wake up and start their days. I paced the rooftop until nearly eleven when I heard a car pull up.

Even before I peered over the edge of the building, I heard the cardiac melody that kindled my long-still heart. I could smell her scent on the breeze as her hair whirled around her face, and I got my first look at her in a week. She was safe, and exhausted if the way she dragged her luggage away from the taxi was any indication. She had gone away, but where to? She was as pale as ever, so definitely nowhere warm and sunny. Regardless, a part of me wondered where she'd been and who she'd gone to see.

It was only a few minutes later when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

From: Bella Swan

Yes, I've been out of town. Am fine. Home now. Thanks for worrying.

Author's Note: Thank you to the lovely and talented duskwatcher2153 for the beta.

WOW! I'm absolutely floored by the outpouring of support this fic has received recently! Epic thanks to m7707 for rec'ing my fic. I don't know who rec'd me at ADF, but thank you, mystery person! ;-) I've tried to answer as many reviews as possible, but I was sort of overwhelmed, lol. I'll do my best to answer any questions you might have though- providing it doesn't spoil you!

I know there's been a lot of worry that I won't finish this fic, but I can put that to rest! I know I've been slow to update lately, but I am a busy college student who had a crazy semester this fall. I'm using Christmas break to write as much as I can. I'll never bail on this fic (or the fandom!) This is absolutely my happy place, and I love being able to share it with so many awesome people- like you all! I'm sorry I'm a slowpoke.

So, no worries! We're back to Bella for the next chapter, and the Policeman's Ball is coming soon! Thank you all for reading. Much love.