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 9
Surrender
A tangle of limbs and fevered kisses, we molded together, floating toward deeper waters. I could feel myself falling into her depths, overwhelmed by emotion and intoxicated by her presence. She held tightly to me, but it wasn't enough. Every cell in my body yearned for her touch, like a man dying of thirst, she was the only thing that could quench the fire burning within me.
My lips found purchase on the smooth skin of her shoulder. The scent of honey filled my nostrils as I kissed her balmy skin, swirling and invading every crevice of my mind – enticing and irresistible. I could feel her hands as they caressed the contours of my back, moving gradually lower until they rested on my hipbones. I kissed the tender skin just behind her ear, eliciting a soft sigh. It was that sound – that single moment – that broke the spell. What was I doing? Her hands inched lower, her thumbs sliding between my skin and the elastic of my swimming trunks.
No, I thought to myself. This needed to stop before it went too far. I had made a promise to her, a promise to myself. As much as it pained me, I needed to keep it.
My lips found hers once again, pressing more gently now, a kiss of love and devotion rather than wanton lust. With one hand still pressed against her back, I reached the other behind me and softly wrapped my fingers around her wrist. Her grip on the cloth tightened, but I easily pulled her hand away. Her eyes jerked to mine, hurt and pleading.
"Bella," I whispered. "We can't."
She took in a shuddering breath and, for a moment, I truly believed she would begin to cry, but the tears never came. I leaned down, kissing her trembling lip. "You know I love you," I said, "but we just can't. I can't hurt you again."
"You won't," she insisted, reaching her hand around my neck to pull me to her.
She hadn't an inkling of just how difficult it was for me to refuse her. There was nothing I wanted more in the world than to share that intimacy with my wife, to give her everything she desired. But her well-being was much more important than any satisfaction such a union would produce.
"It's not worth the risk. You're far too important."
She lowered her eyes, ineffectively shielding me from her disappointment. I wrapped my arms around her as she laid her head against my chest. We floated there for a time, breathing in unison, unfulfilled and left wanting.
She was quiet for the remainder of the afternoon, caught up in her own thoughts. The carefree atmosphere we created earlier had evaporated. It broke my heart to see her unhappy. She brought her hand up to her mouth, yawning widely as she sat on the sofa, freshly showered and wearing a simple sundress. She leaned back into the cushions, closing her eyes and breathing deeply.
"You must be exhausted," I observed. "Why don't you lie down and rest for a while? I can wake you in time for dinner if you like."
She slowly opened her eyes and nodded. "A nap sounds like a really good idea." She pressed her palm to her mouth as she yawned again. "I'm so tired."
I reached across the space, lightly caressing her cheek with my fingertips. "We had a busy day. It's not surprising that you're feeling a bit drained."
She arched an eyebrow. "Interesting choice of words," she said with a smirk.
"You knew what I meant," I scoffed.
She snickered under her breath as she rose from the couch and turned toward the bedroom.
"Would you like me to lay with you for a while?" I asked.
Her head turned back, a small smile on her face as she held an outstretched hand. Wasting no time, I appeared at her side, taking her hand and leading her to the bedroom. She collapsed on top of the plush down pillows, tangling her legs in the sheets. I lowered myself beside her and she moved close, curving herself around me, one arm and one leg draped across my body, her head resting on my chest.
Within seconds she was snoring softly, evidence of the toll the day's activities had taken on her. I ran my fingers through her long tresses, twirling the tendrils at the nape of her neck around my index finger. Her heart thumped a steady rhythm, like the ticking of a clock. I could measure my existence by the beats of her heart, however numbered they may be. Thump, thump, thump, ba-thump.
I cocked my head to the side, listening intently. Thump, thump, thump, ba-thump. I felt a twinge of concern as I listened to her heartbeats, pulsing at a rate more quick than I could recall them beating before and it sounded as though she had developed some sort of arrhythmia. I scanned through my medical knowledge for possible causes, but they were too varied to pinpoint without testing. I made a mental note to confer with Carlisle if it continued.
Bella sighed softly, snuggling even closer to me and I wrapped my arm around her, holding her there. I nuzzled my nose in her hair, breathing in her scent. I could recall with perfect clarity every moment we had spent together like this. A series of memories played out in my mind, like the first night I spent in her room in Forks, completely enamored with this girl and terrified of the way she made me feel. I remembered the night she said she loved me, changing me completely, and all the evenings we spent chatting idly about everything from literature to the prom, while keeping a cautious ear for her father. I recalled the first night she spent in my home, curled on my couch and failing to stay angry with me and then another night she stayed with me, the night I asked her to be my bride. So many nights together, so many hours spent with her in my arms, and none of them properly prepared me for our first night together as man and wife.
Every touch, every sigh, was etched in my flawless memory. I had surprised myself with the level of control I was able to maintain. Just as Bella had said, we were meant to be together. The night, of course, was not without its mishaps. I still felt physically ill when I thought of the damage I had inflicted on her body, but she didn't seem to be bothered by it in the least. Perhaps I had overreacted a bit. I wondered idly if I would be able to try again. Armed with the knowledge I was not privy to on our first encounter, could I keep any harm from befalling her?
I shook my head, scattering my ridiculous thoughts. It was monstrous of me to consider it, to allow my libido to cloud my judgment. To be in such close proximity to her, breathing in the delectable new aroma that came off her skin, seemed to be having a profound effect on me. She was enticing me, drawing me in, and she wasn't even awake. Had she any idea how much I wanted her in this moment, she would barely need to persuade me and I would gladly give in to her demands.
Stop it, I whispered to myself. What was happening to me? It felt as though I had traveled back in time to the day we met, to the day that I nearly killed her. I had never smelled something so sweet, so tempting in all my life. I had wanted her so badly that I could barely control myself. It took everything I had to run from her. If I had stayed a moment longer, she would have been my victim rather than my bride.
I shuddered at the thought. A single lapse, a singular moment of weakness, and I could have unknowingly destroyed my own chance at eternal happiness. But now, that familiar sense of want, that undeniable urge, was coming over me and I didn't know if I would have the strength to deny it.
I quietly shifted myself from Bella's grasp and, when my feet touched the floor, I was gone. A fraction of a second later, I found myself sitting atop a high palm tree overlooking the ocean. I breathed in the crisp sea air, cleansing my lungs of the seductive perfume that had begun to overwhelm me.
The ocean waves crashed below me, sending up a salty spray that glistened in the setting sun. I closed my eyes, listening to the sounds of the rolling waves, trying to clear my mind. My thoughts concerned me. What if I wasn't able to control myself? What if my emotions took over and I gave in to desire? It had been a week since we arrived, a week since I had fed. Harming Bella in a moment of passion was one thing, but allowing the possibility that the instinct to feed might come into play was unacceptable.
The tree shuddered as I leaped high into the air and dove into the roaring waters. There wasn't large enough game on the island to sustain me – for that I would have to go to the mainland. But a trip to the mainland would take too long and Bella would wake before I returned. For now I would have to make do with the sea life that surrounded the island.
I sliced through the waters, hunting for large prey. I passed thousands of colorful fish, crustaceans scurrying on the sea floor, lazy sea turtles floating with the currents. Several miles off the coast, I caught the scent of something larger. I sunk to the bottom, my eyes scanning the dark waters until I saw it. Twenty feet above me, gliding stealthily along, was a large male, bull shark. Emmett enjoyed the challenge of taking down a shark, but I never much cared for the taste.
This wasn't a time to be concerned with my discriminating palate. I needed to be prepared for every possibility. I could plan a trip to the mainland soon enough, but I needed something to sate my thirst now.
I swam silently, approaching the shark from beneath. Although seemingly disinterested, he was keenly aware of my presence. His tail swished back and forth, propelling him forward at a rapid pace, his speed increasing as I closed the distance between us. I twisted around until I was facing the belly of the shark and stretched my arms upward, firmly grasping the shark's fins. He thrashed and fought my grip, his teeth snapping ferociously as he tried to escape his attacker. He was strong - stronger than any lion or bear. I could see why Emmett enjoyed the fight.
I examined the creature as I restrained him, looking for the most efficient site to bite. I could hear the rapid rhythm of his heart beating near his gills. I grimaced, remembering how distasteful a cold-blooded creature such as this tasted. I fought my revulsion nearly as hard as I fought the shark. My legs kicked, propelling me to the surface. If I was to feed on this creature, at least I could do so at the surface to avoid taking in gulps of saltwater along with the blood.
Together we broke the surface of the water and the shark continued to writhe in my grasp, its gills opening and closing uselessly as it gasped for breath. This is for Bella, I told myself. I swallowed back the venom in my throat and squeezed my eyes shut. In a flash of movement, I opened my mouth and lunged, sinking my teeth into the thick hide. The skin felt like sandpaper against my tongue as I bit down, tearing out a large hunk. I spit it out, returning my attention to the wound as the blood began to pool. The tepid liquid poured down my throat. I gulped as quickly as possible, hoping to avoid the taste of the fish's blood.
The shark's movements stilled as I drained the life from him. With blood in the water, I could feel the shift of the current as several other sharks circled below, coming to investigate. I released the desiccated carcass, wiping my mouth with my forearm and shuddering as the lingering aftertaste of the shark's blood coating my tongue. It was repulsive, but it still served its purpose in satisfying my thirst.
With my thirst sated, I swam back to shore and circled the house, entering through the door that led into the other bedroom. Scattered feathers blew across the floor from the breeze of the open door. I could still hear the soft breathing of Bella asleep in the adjacent room. Thankful she had not seemed to notice my absence, I strode to the bathroom and peeled off my soaked clothing, letting it fall in a sopping puddle on the floor.
I showered quickly; washing away all evidence of my hunting trip and taking extra care to rinse my mouth to eliminate any lingering taste of the shark's blood. I threw on a loose fitting pair of khaki pants and a white button down shirt before running my fingers through my unkempt hair and returning to Bella. Quietly, I slid next to her and, just as before, she wrapped herself around me as though I had never left. She sighed and a small smile curved at the corners of her lips. Her eyes gradually fluttered open and I leaned in to kiss her forehead.
"How long was I asleep?" she asked as she stretched her arms above her head.
"Almost two hours. If you'd like to go back to sleep, I can start preparing your dinner and wake you when it's ready."
"That's okay," she replied, shaking her head. "I think I'd like to cook for myself tonight."
"Something wrong with my cooking?" I asked.
She arched an eyebrow and smiled, reaching up to stroke my cheek. "Absolutely nothing is wrong with your cooking. You know that. I just miss being able to do it for myself. You've been spoiling me."
"And with great pleasure," I replied. "I've been trying for quite some time to spoil you. You haven't made that easy in the past if you recall."
She rolled her eyes as she scooted herself to the edge of the bed and padded barefoot across the floor to the dresser. She picked up a hair tie and pulled her hair back, wrapping it up in a messy bun. I followed her to the kitchen and sat at the counter as I watched her work.
She rebuffed my offer of assistance several times before finally giving in and allowing me to slice some fruit for her. The meal was simple – a large salad with grilled chicken, a plate of assorted cheeses, and slices of fresh mango, grapes, and papaya. She had accused me of making meals that were too large for one human to consume, but it was not lost on me that she prepared nearly as much as I had been, if not more.
It didn't take much persuading for her to allow me to clean up. She even refused the offer of a movie, saying that she would rather go back to bed. I watched after her as she went back to the bedroom to change into her nightgown. I was beginning to grow a little concerned at her level of fatigue. Some was to be expected, but perhaps I was overestimating her ability to keep up with the activities I had planned. Tomorrow we would slow things down a bit.
Bella was still in the bathroom when I entered the bedroom. I pulled my shirt over my head and swapped my slacks for a comfortable pair of jogging pants before climbing into the bed. I leaned back against the wooden headboard, crossing my arms behind my head, and waited. This was both my favorite and my most trying time of day. To end each day with Bella in my arms was absolute bliss – a dream come true, but with that came temptation.
The bathroom door creaked open and my eyes automatically shifted to the doorway, but I was not in any way prepared for what I would see. Bella strode confidently through the door in what could only be described as the essence of seduction trimmed in black lace. I fought to control my expression, but the sight was so unexpected that I couldn't help but be caught off guard. I swallowed back the venom that pooled in my mouth and tried with all my might to maintain a calm demeanor.
Like the skilled temptress that she was, she spun around, making sure that I had a clear view of every angle. Alice! I swore under my breath when Bella's back was turned. "What do you think?" she asked in mid turn.
I shifted uncomfortably and cleared my throat. "You look beautiful. You always do."
Her eyes pinched infinitesimally. "Thanks," she muttered as she climbed into bed.
I held out my arms for her and brought her to me, feeling marginally more at ease when I could no longer see the temptation that I was now holding against me. Her skin was blazing against mine and her heart continued to beat at an unsteady rhythm.
After several seconds of silence, she spoke. "I'll make you a deal," she said.
"I will not make any deals with you." Especially not when you're dressed like that.
"You haven't even heard what I'm offering," she argued.
"It doesn't matter."
She let out a loud sigh. "Dang it," she exclaimed. "And I really wanted…Oh well."
I closed my eyes and held my breath. I knew what she was doing and I was absolutely certain she was fully aware of how her words affected me. What did she want? Was it the same thing she had been asking for since we arrived or would it be something else – something tangible? Other than physical intimacy, she rarely asked for anything. Curiosity began to eat away at me until I couldn't resist any longer.
"All right," I gave in. "What is it you want?"
"Well, I was thinking…" she paused, nibbling on her bottom lip as she traced patterns on my chest with her index finger. "I know that the whole Dartmouth thing was just supposed to be a cover story, but honestly, one semester of college probably wouldn't kill me. Charlie would get a thrill out of Dartmouth stories, I bet. Sure, it might be embarrassing if I can't keep up with all the brainiacs. Still…eighteen, nineteen. It's really not such a big difference. It's not like I'm going to get crow's feet in the next year."
Did I hear her correctly? Up until now, she had insisted that she didn't want to wait any longer than absolutely necessary. At one point, I was nearly convinced she would ask me to change her here.
"You would wait. You would stay human," I murmured, still in disbelief at the offer. It was what I had been working so hard to gain – more time. If I could get her to wait a few more months, maybe she would wait longer. Maybe there was still a chance that she would decide to stay human, still a chance for me to protect her soul. But that wasn't a request, it was an offer. An offer for what?
Of course. It was the same request, the same thing she had been asking for all along, but this time the stakes were much higher. Coupled with the fact that I was already beginning to lose the battle against my own temptation, it was near torture that she dangled such a desirable offer in front of me.
"Why are you doing this to me?" I seethed, my tormented emotions getting the better of me. "Isn't is hard enough without all of this?" I clutched the hem of her lacy garment and showed it to her, emphasizing my point. We stared at each other for a moment. I could see the reflection of my anger in her eyes and instantly felt sorry for it. Had she no idea how cruel it was for her to test me like this? Did she not care at all for her own wellbeing? No. I wouldn't do it. I couldn't. I loosened my hold on her gown, feeling the weight of defeat as the one thing I had been fighting for slipped through my fingers as easily as the silk and lace of her lingerie. Her offer would mean nothing if she didn't survive to fulfill it.
"It doesn't matter," I said, shaking my head. "I won't make any deals with you."
She sat up a little. "I want to go to college."
"No you don't." I crossed my arms and averted my eyes, choosing instead to stare at the ceiling. "And there is nothing that is worth risking your life again. That's worth hurting you."
"But I do want to go," she insisted. "Well, it's not college as much as it's that I want – I want to be human a little while longer."
I pinched my eyes closed and blew out a sharp breath. I didn't know how much more of this I could take. "You are making me insane, Bella. Haven't we had this argument a million times, you always begging to be a vampire without delay?"
"Yes, but…well, I have a reason to be human that I didn't have before."
"What's that?"
"Guess," she whispered. I felt the bed shift and her soft lips met mine as her fingers brushed against the hair at the back of my neck. I returned the kiss. I already knew what she was asking. There was no need for guesses. I wrapped my arms around her, gently pulling her to my chest, putting an end to her advances.
"You are so human, Bella," I chucked. "Ruled by your hormones."
"That's the whole point, Edward," she murmured against my chest. "I like this part of being human. I don't want to give it up yet. I don't want to wait through years of being a blood-crazed newborn for some part of this to come back to me."
She brought her hand to her mouth, stifling a yawn. My ally, fatigue, had returned...and not a moment too soon.
"You're tired. Sleep, love." I rubbed small circles on her back as I began to hum her lullaby, attempting to lull her to sleep.
After a few moments, she whispered. "I wonder why I'm so tired." I could hear the sarcasm in her voice. "That couldn't be part of your scheme or anything."
I chuckled lightly. Bella, observant as ever – I should have expected that she would pick up on that. She had her methods and I had mine. I never promised to fight fair. She certainly wasn't. It was already an uneven battle, at best, with Alice on her side.
"For as tired as I've been, you'd think I'd sleep better," she mumbled to herself.
Her comment surprised me. Was she not rested? She had never slept more peacefully than while we were here. "You've been sleeping like the dead, Bella. You haven't said a word in your sleep since we got here. If it weren't for the snoring, I'd worry you were slipping into a coma." Admittedly, I missed her nocturnal musings. It was the one time I was able to get even a glimpse into her mind.
"I haven't been tossing? That's weird. Usually I'm all over the bed when I'm having nightmares. And shouting."
"You've been having nightmares?" I remembered what it was for her to have nightmares and she was right – she was anything but quiet. She tried not to speak of them, but I knew, for a time, she still had nightmares about being abandoned by me…again. Certainly that couldn't be the cause now. What could be bothering her so that would cause her unrest?
"Vivid ones," she explained. "They make me so tired." She paused to yawn. "I can't believe I haven't been babbling about them all night."
I wish she had. If she hadn't said anything now, I wouldn't even realize she was having them. "What are they about?"
She shrugged. "Different things – but the same, you know, because of the colors."
"Colors?"
"It's all so bright and real. Usually, when I'm dreaming, I know that I am. With these, I don't know I'm asleep. It makes them scarier."
An unnerving feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. Could she still be having those same dreams about my leaving? I'm here, we're married, on our honeymoon – what on earth could be scaring her. Was it the change that bothered her? Was she having nightmares about being bitten or about becoming a newborn? "What is frightening you?" I asked.
She began to shake and I held her closer to me. "Mostly…"
"Mostly?"
She was silent for several beats before she whispered. "The Volturi."
I pulled her tighter to me, pressing my lips firmly to the crown of her head. "They aren't going to bother us anymore," I promised. "You'll be immortal soon, and they'll have no reason." I felt a twinge of regret at my words. Soon to a vampire as old as Aro could mean nearly a decade – if she wanted to remain human for a while longer, there certainly was no rush to change her. I hoped she hadn't misunderstood.
When she didn't respond, I shifted so I could see her face. Her mouth was set in a tight line and her eyes were filled with a mixture of sadness and fear. It pained me to see her in distress. "What can I do to help?"
She shrugged and shook her head. "They're just dreams, Edward."
I cupped her face in my palms, gently stroking her cheeks with my thumbs. "Do you want me to sing to you? I'll sing all night if it will keep the bad dreams away."
"They're not all bad. Some are nice. So…colorful. Underwater, with the fish and the coral. It all seems like it's really happening – I don't know that I'm dreaming. Maybe this island is the problem. It's really bright here."
"Do you want to go home?" I had already begun making mental preparations for an early departure before even waiting to hear her response.
"No. No, not yet. Can't we stay awhile longer?"
I lay back on the bed, pulling her with me until her head rested on my chest. "We can stay as long as you want, Bella," I whispered.
"When does the semester start? I wasn't paying attention before."
I blew out a breath. Our conversation seemed to have come full circle. I stroked her back lightly and began humming again. Within seconds, I could hear her light snore and knew that I had, once again, successfully thwarted her attempts to seduce me.
But even still, how much longer could I deter her? It seemed that each moment we spent together brought me closer to the edge. I was already teetering and the slightest push may send me headlong into temptation. If she did decide to remain human for a longer period, it was almost inevitable that I would falter and give in to her charms. I could only pray that I would be more prepared the next time.
She slept soundly in my arms, free of any evidence of the nightmares she spoke of. It troubled me that she could be suffering silently while she slept, yet appearing so peaceful. I closed my eyes, listening to the sounds of the night – Bella's soft breathing, the beating of her heart, the crashing waves just outside, the buzzing of insects. I often found myself taking this time to reminisce, to play back my most cherished moments with Bella like a spool of film in my mind's eye.
I also found myself thinking of home, thinking of how different things would be when we returned. Esme was eager to complete her renovations on the cottage and even more excited to give it to Bella and myself. I wondered if it would be complete when we arrived – if any of Bella's things would be taken from her home with her father and set up in our new home together. Or if we stayed here for an extended period, would we move instead to the house in New Hampshire, just in time for the Fall semester? The possibility of actually attending Dartmouth rather than using it as a cover story for her change was becoming more and more appealing. I could just imagine how Bella would flourish in such an environment.
Bella shuddered in my arms and gasped, suddenly sitting up and glancing around the room.
She seemed to be in a daze, almost as though she were still asleep. "Bella?" I asked, sitting up and wrapping my arms around her arms, shaking her gently. "Are you all right, sweetheart?"
Her confused eyes met mine and she gasped again. "Oh." Her bottom lip began to tremble and I was unprepared as tears began to flow from her eyes.
"Bella!" I burst out, cupping her hand in my palms and trying to wipe away the tears with my thumbs. "What's wrong?" The tears flowed freely from her eyes and her entire body quivered under my touch. Was it another dream? I couldn't remember seeing her ever react so violently to a nightmare.
"It was only a dream," she howled, her features crumbling in utter despair.
I pulled her into my lap, cradling her to me, and began rocking in an attempt to soothe her. "It's okay, love, you're fine. I'm here." She continued to sob in my arms and I felt completely helpless. "Did you have another nightmare? It wasn't real, it wasn't real."
"Not a nightmare," she sniffed, shaking her head. "It was a good dream."
A good dream? I was at a loss for words. "Then why are you crying?"
"Because I woke up," she sobbed, throwing her arms tightly around my neck.
I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it. Here I thought she had woken up, terrified from the images in her dream, and I couldn't have been more wrong. "Everything's all right, Bella," I soothed. "Take deep breaths."
"It was so real," she whimpered. "I wanted it to be real."
"Tell me about it," I offered. "Maybe that will help."
"We were on the beach…" She paused, leaning back to see my face. I could see her tear streaked cheeks in the moonlight, her eyes still filled with such sadness. Her eyes searched mine, but I didn't understand why. It was infuriating that I couldn't see into her mind, that I was powerless to help her.
"And?" I asked after several moments of silence.
A fresh batch of salty tears fell from her eyes. "Oh, Edward…"
She was really beginning to frighten me. I hadn't seen her like this, not in a while. The last time I saw her like this, she had just told Jacob that she had chosen me. She couldn't possibly have dreamed about what it would have been if she had chosen him. Could she? The familiar feeling of jealousy and doubt pricked my heart.
"Tell me, Bella," I implored.
She didn't utter a word. Instead, she pulled her arms tighter around my neck and crushed her lips to mine. Her kisses were desperate, tormented. I returned her kisses to reassure and comfort her, but the more I responded, the more urgent her kisses became. It was a mirror image of the scene from the waterfall earlier. She shifted up, pressing herself against me as she continued to kiss me fiercely. I could feel myself teetering on that proverbial edge, the need to comfort her through touch – to reestablish that deep connection – was overwhelming.
But I couldn't. I gripped her shoulders and gently pushed her back. "No, Bella."
Her whole body seemed to go limp as a fresh burst of salty tears poured down her cheeks. What was I to do? Nothing I did gave her the comfort she needed and what she seemed to crave with an almost debilitating hunger was the one thing I struggled against giving her.
"I'm s-s-s-orry," she stammered.
I couldn't take it anymore. She was breaking my heart. I reached out, pulling her tightly to me. "I can't, Bella, I can't!" I deplored, but I could already feel myself slipping.
"Please," she whispered. "Please, Edward?"
That one small word was my undoing. I couldn't deny her any longer. Her need was tangible and mine was consummate. I pressed my lips to hers, surrendering to desire, giving myself over to my unequivocal yearning for her touch. In the darkness of the night, we came together once again as man and wife, no longer able to deny our mutual hunger for one another.
A/N: *sigh* So Edward FINALLY gave in. Sorry for the tease at the end of the last chapter – some of you seemed afraid I was going to veer off-canon – but nothing to fear, this fic will remain canon until the end. I really hope you enjoyed the chapter. I had a lot of fun with this one and am getting excited as we get closer to the return home.
For those who have asked, I'm going to do my best to get through Jacob's section of the book before the movie release in November since that's the general consensus as to where the two movies will break. And another quick note, if you do ask a question in your review (which I love), please be sure to sign in first so I can respond to you. I've enjoyed conversing with the few of you who have asked questions or PM'd me about the story.
Thanks to my beta, NellyBear85, for helping me think things through and snapping me out of it when my perfectionist brain hones in on minute (and probably insignificant) details. And thanks to misticbutterfly for her friendship and support, even in spirit.