Disclaimer: I am NOT Stephenie Meyer and I don't own any of the Twilight series' characters or stories. I borrowed the dialogue and storyline from Breaking Dawn, but the rest is my own take on the story, as seen through Edward's eyes.

Chapter 2

Brothers

Slender fingers made quick work of the buttons on my shirt, skillfully unclasping them one by one. Two warm hands moved across my skin, her touch like fire, as she pushed the shirt from my icy shoulders until it fell to a heap on the floor. The combined feeling of the night air on my skin and the heat of her hands sent a wave of desire through me as I grabbed Bella around the waist and pulled her to me. Her fingers knotted in my hair as she pulled my face to hers, her soft lips molding against mine in the most delicious way.

By this time tomorrow, we would be man and wife. The event had been approaching quickly and I could scarcely believe that it was finally here. My years of loneliness, decades of being the solo member in a family of mated pairs, were finally coming to a close. I found myself vacillating between overwhelming joy and crushing terror. The time for negotiations was quickly dwindling and the moment of truth would soon be here. Would I be able to fulfill Bella's one request or would it all end in disaster? Despite Carlisle's reassurances, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread and my uneasy trust in my own self-control. Yet, all my fears seemed to melt away when Bella's lips met mine.

The smoldering heat of her skin warmed my own and I became lost in the sensation of her touch. I peppered a trail of kisses down her neck as my fingers glided along the hem of her shirt. She gasped softly as the tips of my fingers slipped just underneath the fabric and my cool touch caressed the sensitive skin of her lower back. A shiver ran through her body, quickly reminding me of the need to protect her from the chill of my skin.

She whimpered at the loss of contact as I pulled back and wrapped her in a quilt, shielding her from the cold. It was yet another facet of the honeymoon that I needed to take into consideration – I had serious doubts that she would be amused if I tried to keep a barrier of fabric between us on our wedding night. Thankfully, the conditions at Isle Esme were quite warm and ideal for our unorthodox union.

I pulled her to me, cradling her in my arms as I continued to kiss my way up her neck. The clock on the wall ticked loudly, marking the relentless passage of time. It brought me closer to my wedding day, which couldn't make me happier, but before that, I would be forced to endure the frivolous rite of passage that my brothers absolutely insisted upon – a bachelor party. I leaned my forehead against hers and let out a groan of frustration.

Her lips pressed to mine and I could feel the frown tugging at the corners of her mouth. She pulled back, meeting my eyes. "I miss you already," she said with a slight pout.

"I don't need to leave," I whispered as I nuzzled my face in her hair. "I can stay…"

"Mmm," she hummed, pressing a kiss to my temple.

I reached up, cupping her cheeks in my hands and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Her eyelids fluttered closed as the tip of my nose skimmed the contours of her face. This is where I wanted to be. Right here with Bella, holding her, kissing her, that was my place – not with my juvenile brothers doing who knows what. I shuddered to think of what the evening had in store, but until they came to drag me away, I was perfectly content to lie here with my beloved.

Her skin flushed beneath my touch as the pads of my thumbs traced soft circles on her cheeks. I would never cease to marvel at her beauty, at the enigma that was her silent mind. I couldn't for the life of me imagine how I had been so lucky to find her, and luckier still that she chose me above all others.

Her eyelids slowly opened and our eyes met. I was locked in her gaze, drowning in chocolate depths. In her eyes I could see my future, see the possibilities of what we could be together. I memorized every detail – the subtle changes in hue, the cinnamon and hazel flecks, the faint striation that was imperceptible to human eyesight. I tried to imagine how I would feel when the color faded, when it became crimson, when it matched my own. I felt the familiar pang of guilt in my heart for even the smallest loss I would cause her when she was changed.

Breaking me from my reverie, she wrapped her hands around my neck and pulled me down to her, her lips seeking my own. "Definitely staying," I murmured.

"No, no. It's your bachelor party. You have to go." Her words told me to go, but her body contradicted her completely as she pressed herself against me.

"Bachelor parties are designed for those who are sad to see the passing of their single days. I couldn't be more eager to have mine behind me. So there's really no point."

"True," she murmured as she lightly drummed her fingers on my shoulder, slowly moving them down my chest. Her feather-light touch sent a shiver through me. I pulled her tighter to me, my lips crashing to hers – perhaps it was to prevent her fingers from exploring any further or to avoid giving her the knowledge that I was indeed ticklish. True to form, Bella interpreted my actions merely as an expression of passion. Even with this understanding, the velvety feeling of her tongue as it slid across my lips caught me somewhat by surprise. As often happened in our more intimate moments, it was I who pulled away first, forcing a halt to any possible advancement.

"Wait," she protested as she tightened her grip and wrapped a leg around me in a vain attempt to keep me close. "Practice makes perfect," she smiled against my lips.

"Well, we should be fairly close to perfection by this point, then, shouldn't we?" I teased. "Have you slept at all in the last month?"

She pushed herself up so her elbows were resting on my chest, but continued to nuzzle my neck. "But this is the dress rehearsal and we've only practiced certain scenes." She leaned back until our eyes met. "It's no time for playing safe."

Safe. If there was ever a time we needed to play it safe, this was it. Within the span of less than forty-eight hours, I would be testing the absolute limits of my self-control. Every moment with Bella – every caress, every kiss – was an exercise in caution. She attempted to reach her lips to mine again, but my hands clutched her delicate wrists, holding her firmly at length.

I watched a series of emotions play out on her face. "Bella…" I sighed.

Her eyes narrowed. "Don't start this again. A deal's a deal." She wriggled her wrist free, just enough to ineffectively poke me in the chest.

"I don't know," I shook my head, feeling the furrows in my brow grow deeper. "It's too hard to concentrate when you're with me like this. I – I can't think straight. I won't be able to control myself. You'll get hurt."

"I'll be fine," she rolled her eyes.

Fine. I hated that word. If the century of listening to the thoughts of others taught me anything, the word fine was never an indicator of someone's true state of being. "Bella…"

"Shh!" she pushed herself forward, silencing my uncertainties with her lips. As far as deflections went, I couldn't complain, but it did little to quell my fears. If I didn't calm myself soon, I would be a bundle of nerves when the deadline arrived. Was she not concerned at all? If I was uncertain about my promise, was it possible that she was also uncertain of hers?

"How are your feet?" I asked.

"Toasty warm," she smiled against my lips.

"Really?" I leaned back, arching an eyebrow. "No second thoughts? It's not too late to change your mind." Marriage was only the first step. Marriage would lead to a honeymoon which would lead to yet another promise I was loath to fulfill.

"Are you trying to ditch me?" she teased, although the subtle dissonance in her voice indicated a glimmer of uncertainty.

"Just making sure," I smiled. "I don't want you to do anything you're not sure about."

"I'm sure about you. The rest I can live through."

Live through. Survive. She was sure about me, but there was clearly some uncertainty about the other decision she had made. As much as I wish it weren't true, marriage is not a permanent condition. It can be dissolved, corrected, but to change her, to make her what I am – that was something that could never be reversed.

"Can you?" I asked, wishing with my last shred of hope that she would change her mind. "I don't mean the wedding – which I am positive you will survive despite your qualms – but afterward…what about Renée, what about Charlie?"

She sighed, tugging her bottom lip between her teeth. "I'll miss them," she admitted.

"Angela and Ben and Jessica and Mike." Was she certain? Did she fully understand what she would be giving up?

"I'll miss my friends, too," she frowned. A slow smile crept across her face and she touched the back of her hand to her forehead. "Especially Mike. Oh, Mike! How will I go on?"

My reflexive growl made her giggle as she pecked me on the cheek. Her palm cupped my cheek as she focused on my eyes. "Edward, we've been through this and through this. I know it will be hard, but this is what I want. I want you, and I want you forever. One lifetime is simply not enough for me."

My frozen heart swelled and fractured simultaneously. What a perilous position – to detest and covet the same thing at once. "Frozen forever at eighteen," I whispered.

"Every woman's dream come true," she smirked.

"Never changing…never moving forward." I had heard the thoughts in Rosalie's mind so often that I couldn't imagine Bella willingly giving up what Rosalie so desperately wanted for herself.

Bella cocked her head to the side. "What does that mean?"

The face of the little girl in the airport came to mind and my palm tingled at the memory of her innocent touch. She had said that I would make a good father. Until Bella, I never fully understood the tragedy of our lot, the missing pieces for both Rosalie and Esme. It was the first time I mourned the fact that I could not produce a family of my own.

Bella waited patiently for me to clarify. "Do you remember when we told Charlie we were getting married? And he thought you were…pregnant?"

"And he thought about shooting you," she chuckled. "Admit it – for one second, he honestly considered it."

She was missing my point. Had she not grasped the fact that friends and family weren't the only things she would be sacrificing in exchange for eternity? I imagined Bella with a radiant glow, resting her hand gently on her swollen belly. I could almost feel the phantom sensation of the tiny kicks a growing baby produces. To be a father, to look into my own eyes, to hold a tiny bundle in my arms. Until Bella, I never quite realized how much I wanted that.

"What, Edward?" Bella pressed.

I hesitated. "I just wish…well, I wish that he'd been right."

Bella's eyes grew wide. "Gah," she gasped, a look of sheer horror on her face.

"More that there was some way he could have been," I explained. "That we had that kind of potential. I hate taking that away from you, too."

Her expression softened and she took my hand in hers. "I know what I'm doing," she said.

She's only eighteen, how could she possibly… "How could you know that, Bella? Look at my mother, look at my sister. It's not as easy a sacrifice as you imagine." The sorrow and absolute desperation I had witnessed from Esme and Rosalie bubbled to the surface of my mind. The mothering instinct is intense and overwhelming and Bella could not fully understand that yet.

"Esme and Rosalie get by just fine," she argued. "If it's a problem later, we can do what Esme did – we'll adopt."

Her cavalier attitude caused my temper to flare. I hated myself for taking this away from her. I hated the fact that she had to make such a decision, such a sacrifice. Even Jacob's words swirled in my mind – "Can you consider the idea that I might be better for her than you are?" I was a monster for even considering the notion.

"It's not right! I don't want you to have to make sacrifices for me. I want to give you things, not take things away from you. I don't want to steal your future. If you were human –"

Her hand clapped over my mouth and she smiled softly, unfazed by my outburst. "You are my future," she spoke with conviction. "Now stop. No moping, or I'm calling your brothers to come and get you. Maybe you need a bachelor party."

"I'm sorry. I am moping, aren't I? Must be the nerves." I shook my head, attempting to reign myself in. Once again, I was letting my own selfish need to protect her overrule my thoughts.

"Are your feet cold?" she asked.

"Not in that sense," I smirked at the dual meaning. "I've been waiting a century to marry you, Miss Swan. The wedding ceremony is the only thing I can't wait –" My words were interrupted by Emmett's lewd thoughts. Come on, Eddie…there's plenty of time for that on the honeymoon. Come on out or we're coming to get you!

"Oh, for the love of all that's holy!" I exclaimed.

"What's wrong?"

"You don't have to call my brothers," I groaned. "Apparently Emmett and Jasper are not going to let me bow out tonight."

She chuckled before wrapping her arms around my neck in a final embrace. "Have fun."

Ready or not, here we come!

The branches rustled noisily as Emmett ascended the tree outside her bedroom window. Bella's hands reached up to cover her ears as he scraped his nails against the glass. "If you don't send Edward out, we're coming in after him!" he taunted.

"Go," Bella laughed. "Before they break my house."

I could see the scene in Bella's bedroom through Emmett's eyes. Why, Eddie…no shirt? My, my, what have you been up to? I sighed, rolling my eyes before I stood and retrieved my shirt from the floor. I tried to block out the parade of images that filtered through Emmett's mind as he attempted to figure out exactly what Bella and I had been doing just before they arrived. I shot Emmett a glare, causing him to drop back down to the ground, before turning back to Bella. I leaned down, cupping her face in my palm and placing a soft kiss on her forehead, knowing that this was the last time I would see her before the wedding.

"Get to sleep," I whispered. "You've got a big day tomorrow."

"Thanks! That's sure to help me wind down," she smirked.

"I'll meet you at the altar."

"I'll be the one in white," she smiled.

"Very convincing," I chuckled before turning to the window, seeing Jasper and Emmett waiting below. I launched myself from the window sill, aiming straight for Emmett. He began to shift to avoid me, but I saw his decision to move just in time to adjust my course and I landed squarely on his shoulders, knocking him to the ground.

He thrust his fists forward, knocking me to the side as he uttered obscenities under his breath. Jasper stood laughing, shaking his head. I chuckled as Emmett got to his feet, shaking the blades of grass from his hair.

"Admit it, Em, you had it coming," Jasper smirked.

He huffed and crossed his arms, only causing Jasper to laugh harder.

I glanced up as Bella's voice filtered through the window. "You'd better not make him late," she whispered.

"Jasper, would you mind…?" I raised an eyebrow, gesturing to the window. He nodded, understanding perfectly that his particular gifts might be quite useful if my nervous bride-to-be had any hopes of settling down enough to get a good night's sleep.

He leapt up the side of the house, resting his elbows on the edge of her window. I could feel the tension and nervousness as he absorbed Bella's emotional state, followed by the waves of calm he began to exude. "Don't worry, Bella," he soothed. "We'll get him home in plenty of time." Or just enough time – Alice made me promise to keep him away until the very last moment.

Jasper's shoulders relaxed as Bella's anxiety eased as a result of his influence. Yet, even though she seemed measurably calmer, there was still a slight edge of uneasiness. Through his eyes, I could see her twisting the blanket in her fingers. I understood why as soon as I heard her speak.

"Jasper?" she asked, looking shyly at her hands. "What do vampires do for bachelor parties? You're not taking him to a strip club, are you?"

A strip club? Now you're talking! "Don't tell her anything!" Emmett hissed. He crossed his arms and smirked, thoroughly pleased with himself.

As I felt Jasper's power intensify to quell the disquiet that Emmett's comment had caused, I took the opportunity to once again tackle Emmett to the ground. And once again, my action was followed by Emmett's cursing and my own laughter. Jasper turned for a brief moment and shook his head before turning back to Bella.

"Relax," he said. "We Cullens have our own version. Just a few mountain lions, a couple of grizzly bears. Pretty much an ordinary night out."

"Thanks, Jasper," she whispered.

Jasper joined us on the ground below and I took one last longing look at Bella's window before Jasper and Emmett both grabbed my arms and began tugging me away.

"Okay, lover boy, you'll see her tomorrow. Until then, you belong to us," Emmett snickered.

I allowed them to drag me away, knowing full well that if I didn't go willingly, Alice would appear and assist in shoving me as far away as possible. We only had to go a short distance down the road until we reached a small clearing where they had parked Emmett's Jeep.

The car moved swiftly through the darkness until we finally reached Goat Rocks, an area frequented by my brothers and myself. We made quick work as we set up the makeshift camp and set out on our hunt.

More than ever, my focus was on doing anything I could to sate my thirst, to ensure that I did everything within my power to satisfy the monster within. I supposed that there was something to be said for human bachelor parties as well. Perhaps they were also a means of satisfying an undeniable thirst, although a thirst for something much less macabre.

My need pushed me forward as my feet tore through the wilderness. Jasper and Emmett had visited a few days prior and located a sizeable den of mountain lions just for this occasion. I headed to the place in their memories, propelled by the desire to feed, by the ever present need to keep Bella safe. It wasn't long before the rhythm of thumping hearts filled my ears, the deliciously wet sound of warm, thick blood being pumped through veins.

I stopped on a cliff, seeing the family of sleeping lions below. There were four, perhaps five lions slumbering on the rocky ridge, completely unaware of the predator stalking them. I licked my lips, debating the possibility of taking them all, of gorging myself until I couldn't absorb any more. The debate was quickly over as Jasper reached my side, gazing at the bounty below.

"Your choice," he said, gesturing his hand to the buffet that awaited us.

"Emmett?" I asked.

Jasper shook his head, chuckling quietly. "He's wrestling a grizzly a few miles away."

I smiled, nodded, and leapt from my perch onto the back of the large male. The silence of the night was ripped by a fierce growl followed by snarling from the rest of the pride. I wrapped my arms around the lion's neck and heard the satisfying crunch as I twisted my wrists. He fell limp in my arms and I hugged him tight to me as I leapt to one of the branches above. The snarling grew in volume as Jasper took his own turn, taking down one of the lionesses.

I ignored the scene below as I held the creature in my arms. I could hear the beast's heart begin to slow, no longer receiving communication from the brain. Not wanting to allow the blood time to cool, I sunk my teeth into its massive neck, closing my eyes in ecstasy as the warm fluid began flowing down my throat. The warmth spread through my limbs, the lion's strength coalescing with my own. Much too soon, the vessel was empty and I flew down to take another.

The pattern continued until I had killed and consumed all but one of the creatures. Jasper stood by, arms crossed, concern etching his features. The last time he gorged himself like this… Memories flashed through Jasper's mind – visions of myself when I had first met Bella, when I first returned home from Denali, determined to face my demons. It had always been an odd sensation, feeling my own fears amplified through Jasper's power, but it troubled me more tonight than it had in the past.

He eyed me warily as I sat among the pile of cooling carcasses. He knelt down, waiting until I met his gaze. "Are you alright?" he asked. I often wondered why Jasper bothered to ask others about their mood or feelings, but dismissed the notion, thinking perhaps it was his attempt to give at least the illusion of emotional privacy.

I nodded, standing to my feet. Emmett decided to arrive at that moment and his eyes grew wider as he took in the carnage before him. Whoa! Someone was hungry. I smiled sheepishly as I went to pick up the remains of the first lion.

"Not tonight, little brother," Emmett insisted, pushing me aside. "This is your party. We'll do the clean up." I watched as my brothers worked in tandem, one clawing the soil with his fingers, creating a mass grave for our kill, and the other carrying the bodies and depositing them into the earth. Together they concealed the evidence of our actions and, to the casual observer, you would never know what had happened here tonight.

We silently made our way back to camp and I found myself leaning against a tree as Jasper stoked the fledgling fire. It crackled, sending sparks floating skyward and lighting up the small clearing. Emmett and Jasper exchanged a loaded glance as they circled the camp, busying their hands as I watched. When there was nothing left to distract them, they finally sat.

"You can stop ignoring the elephant in the room," I mumbled.

Elephant? What elephant? Emmett turned around, peering through the trees.

"It's a metaphor, you idiot," Jasper chuckled.

"Yeah, I knew that," Emmett insisted, rubbing his hand across the back of his neck.

"Are you sure…" Jasper began.

"I'm fine," I cut him off. "Pre-wedding nerves, that's all."

"What's there to be nervous about?" Emmett laughed. "You've been planning this for what…a hundred years?"

"It's not necessarily the wedding itself that I'm worried about," I whispered.

The forest was silent for several beats. The honeymoon.It was Jasper who thought it as his eyes bore into mine, but it was Emmett whose voice broke the quiet.

"What…the honeymoon? What's there to worry about?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"What? It's not like….I mean…" Emmett stumbled over his words. Memories of his own honeymoon filtered through his mind and I cringed at the graphic images. I had seen more intimate moments between my adopted siblings than I ever cared to and I certainly didn't need a review. "It's not like that, right?" he asked.

"Emmett," Jasper hissed. "What happens between Edward and Bella on their honeymoon is not our business. That's between them."

"Oh, come on…what's so private about lying on beach and playing a few games of chess. What else could they do?" Emmet scoffed.

"I'm wondering the same thing myself," I sighed.

Jasper's eyes narrowed as Emmett's widened. "You mean?" he asked, stunned. "No way. No way! I won't believe that until I see it," he shook his head.

"Emmett," Jasper reproved.

"No, I mean …come on," Emmett argued. "This is Edward we're talking about." The eternal virgin. "Besides, he would never do that, not while Bella's still human."

I lowered my face into my hands. "Could you please not talk about me as though I'm not here," I mumbled against my palms.

Jasper reached across the space, placing his fingertips lightly on my arm. I could feel the calm flowing through him and my mood lifted marginally as my eyes met those of my brothers.

"You can talk to us, you know," Jasper whispered.

I gazed between the two and resigned myself to the fact that my brothers could be of some help. Carlisle and Esme had been able to provide me with some insight and wisdom, but perhaps my brothers, who were closer to my own age, could explain more than my father could. The wedding hour was fast approaching and if there was ever a time for last minute brotherly advice, this was it.

"Bella and I are going to Isle Esme for our honeymoon," I began.

They both nodded, waiting for me to continue.

"Before I asked Bella to marry me, she asked for something. You already know that she wants me to be the one to change her and that I told her I wanted to be married to her before that time came. Well…"

"Bella wanted something as well?" Jasper asked, finishing my sentence.

The corners of my mouth drooped down as I nodded.

"No way…Bella?" Emmett snickered.

Again, I nodded.

"You're telling us that Bella…sweet, innocent Bella…said she wouldn't marry you unless you promised to…to…do it?" Emmett's laughter grew until he was doubled over, clutching his midsection.

"Emmett!" Jasper scolded, reaching across the space to punch him in the arm. "It's not funny."

"Of course it is," Emmett smirked. "I had no idea Bella had it in her." Little vixen.

Jasper shook his head, ignoring Emmett. "Edward, she must understand the risks."

"She does," I agreed. "I tried to explain to her the dangers, but she would not be dissuaded. She insisted that she wants to be with me…intimately…while she's still human. She's afraid that it won't be the same after she's changed."

She's not wrong. She'll have other needs, other desires, other distractions. "She's worried about the newborn stage, about the bloodlust?" Jasper asked.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you say something before?" he asked.

I raised an eyebrow, gesturing to Emmett who continued to snicker like a juvenile. "I spoke to Carlisle just after Bella made her request. He gave me the best advice that he could."

"It's a unique situation you find yourself in, Edward. I don't envy you. Is there anything we can do to help?" Jasper asked.

As much as I wished I could keep these things from my brothers, I was beginning to feel that any advice at this point would be helpful. What could it hurt, right? The more prepared I was, the better and safer it would be for Bella.

"Can you explain to me how it was for you…what should I expect emotionally, physically?"

"Little Eddie, are you asking us for advice…about sex?" Emmett smirked. Never thought this day would come.

"At this point, I need all the help I can get –" I sighed, " – even from you."

Hey, what's that supposed to mean? "Well, if you don't want my help…" Emmett huffed, crossing his arms.

"Come on, Emmett. You have teased and tormented me mercilessly for the past seventy some-odd years and you question why I would be hesitant to ask you for advice?"

Emmett rolled his eyes, but the corners of his lips slowly turned up. "Okay, fine. I'll give you that. But you gotta admit, you're an easy target. You set yourself up for…"

"Emmett!" Jasper interrupted. "Not helping."

"Sorry," he smiled sheepishly.

"I just need to know what to expect," I said. "Carlisle has given me an idea of what I would experience, but I thought it would be prudent to get more than one male's opinion on the matter."

Emmett opened his mouth to speak, but Jasper held up his hand, signaling him to stop. "To be intimate with a woman, someone you truly love, is an experience like none other," Jasper began. "It's an indescribable feeling of overwhelming love as you make this deeply intimate connection with another being. It's powerful and intense and…"

"Hot," Emmett snickered. Jasper turned to glare at him. Well, it is!

"As I was saying…I can't tell you from experience what it's like to be with a human, but I know from my own experience with others of our kind that the act itself it raw and powerful and, at times, uncontrollable."

"That's what I'm concerned about," I confessed. "I need to maintain control. I'm afraid of losing my focus and hurting her…killing her."

But what a way to go, Emmett thought.

"Understandably," Jasper nodded. "If I was trying to describe the impact or the emotional affect the sex act itself has on us, the only thing I could equate it to would be the feeling you get when you feed. And I'm not talking about animal blood, Edward. I'm talking about the absolute bliss and satisfaction you get when you give into your true nature and feed on human blood."

"It's that intense?" I asked, becoming increasingly nervous.

"Not quite, but it's close," he acknowledged.

I ran my fingers through my hair, becoming increasingly wary of the promise I had made. It was impossible. If being with Bella in that way would be as intense as Jasper was describing, there was no way I could be absolutely certain of maintaining control. What if I slipped? What if the desire for her body turned into a desire for her blood? What if…?

"Edward," Jasper soothed, sending a fresh wave of calm over me. "You shouldn't worry so much."

"But you just said," I stammered.

"I know what I said," Jasper shook his head, "but you didn't let me finish. Yes, the act is intense and yes, you will need to be very careful, but as I've said before and as you've demonstrated, the level of control you have around Bella is unparalleled. I've been around a lot longer than you and have seen a lot of things, but you are the first I have ever witnessed who displayed such a level of discipline and restraint.

"You've been close to Bella before, even tasted her blood before, and yet she is still alive and well. I firmly believe that the love you have for her is stronger than your natural instincts."

"Do you really think so?" I asked.

"Without a doubt," Jasper smiled.

"Yeah, and after the meal you just had, you shouldn't be worried at all about biting her," Emmett added.

"Emmett," I groaned, raking my palm over my face.

"Actually, he's right," Jasper agreed. "You've overfed yourself, clearly as a result of your worries, and it was probably the best thing you could do."

"And you're sure I can do this?" I asked again, still unsure of myself.

"Absolutely," he nodded.

"Need some pointers," Emmett asked, waggling his eyebrows. "I've got skills, you know." Just ask Rosie.

"Trust me, I know…more than I care to."

We sat in silence for several moments as I attempted to process Jasper's words, trying my best to convince myself that he was right. I was as prepared as I could be, I supposed. The moment of truth would be here soon. And I never promised that I would go through with it, I promised we would try and that's the best I could hope for…to try.

A/N: You guys are absolutely amazing! I am bowled over by the response to the first chapter. It is so good to see so many familiar "faces". Welcome to all the new readers and to those who have stuck with me for a while, welcome back! Thanks so much for the overwhelming support!

Special thanks to my beta, NellyBear85, who's always full of ideas and ready to help, even at 1 am. And thanks to misticbutterfly for her invaluable input and WC time. Love you gals!