Chapter 2

As the grand opening of the Esme Cullen Children's Reading Room came closer Bella became increasingly nervous. This was her first big job at the library and she had thrown herself into it. She hoped she did Forks, and the Cullens, proud. Although the book purchases for the project had been solely Bella's responsibility, she had very little to do with the opening. She wondered who would show up at the gala event. She knew the company they hired to put on the party would do a good job, but it was likely nothing compared to what Esme and Alice could have done.

Bella strolled around the nearly empty library trying to gather her nerves. She was going to have to make a speech tonight. Public speaking was something Bella tried to avoid at all costs. She had only ever done it twice before in her adult life; her best friend Angela's wedding and her own. Bella would never admit it to anyone, not even Angela, that she was also nervous of seeing the Cullens again. She wondered what they would think, if anything, of her. It was the way of small towns that everyone knew they would be in attendance tonight. Mike and Ben had laughed aloud at the idea of seeing the freaks again. Angela had quietly asked her how she felt about seeing him again. Bella had smiled and reassured her that she was no longer a moody teenage girl, but a happily married adult, seeing the Cullens would be nice.

Yet, here she was, her stomach in knots pacing around the library and looking as frantic as the Mad Hatter himself, fitting given tonight's theme. Bella tried to distract herself by imagining the Cullens' reaction to tonight's party. She thought Alice would think a tea party in Wonderland overdone. Bella began to entertain herself by coming up with her own theme, one that would fit such an eclectic bunch. She smiled to herself as she eyed the classic children's literature on display. Charlotte's Web, the story of loyalty and selfless giving could perhaps be linked to them. Or maybe The Secret Garden; with its themes on the regeneration of a family it would certainly fit Esme and Carlisle. Her eyes landed on Peter Pan. Bella had enough of that game.

As Bella turned away from the display she noticed the main hall of the library had started to fill up. A band had set up in the far corner near the bar. Bella made her way over hoping gin would help prepare her for the night.

It was not difficult for them to spot her. Even without their extra sensory advantage Bella seemed to stand out in the crowd. She was standing across the room, near the bar, using her straw to play with the ice in her drink. Alice was immediately proud of her clothing choice, a white vintage style halter dress, she'd overlook the flats. Bella turned slightly to the right, her eyes taking stock of the room, though she missed the Cullens. As her left hand became visible each of the Cullens faltered. Alice breathed out a shocked "oh."

Carlisle felt Esme's hand reach for his, but all his attention was on his son. Edward's jaw was set and his eyes were focused on Bella. Carlisle expected a greater reaction but then it dawned on him; Edward was prepared for this. Placing his hand on Edward's back Carlisle gently tried to encourage him to move forward, the seven of them standing there staring would draw attention. "Edward the director is waving us over, we should head towards the stage."

"I'm fine Carlisle. I just need to go unnoticed for a moment."

As the rest of his family moved forward, Edward remained alone. It took exactly 2.3 seconds for Bella to notice him.

She knew he would hear her heart racing. It couldn't be helped. Her memories had not done him justice. His beauty almost caused her physical pain, she could feel the beginnings of that hole in her chest. She momentarily worried about what that could mean, but just as quickly dismissed the idea. It was just that he was so...hot. Bella smiled shyly in his direction and followed it up with a sip on the straw of her g & t. Since he was still staring at her, Bella thought she should acknowledge him. As she made her way over she kept her eyes locked on his. It crossed her mind that she could be too much for him, that her scent could be overpowering, but she didn't worry about it. She figured if she survived that first day in biology she was probably going to survive tonight.

Standing before him Bella was surprised that he looked older. She expected to be standing in front of a seventeen year old in an expensive suit. Edward no longer looked like a teenager. While he certainly didn't look old, there was a quality about him that appeared to have aged him. Standing this close she could tell Edward wasn't breathing, and Bella was fairly certain he hadn't blinked yet either. There was certainly no warmth in his expression when he looked at her. Bella immediately felt a fool; of course he wouldn't want her walking over to him. At a loss Bella took another, longer, sip of her drink.

"Hello Edward." She held her hand out in offer to shake his.

"Bella." Edward replied somewhat curtly. He didn't extend his hand. Bella figured this out and slowly withdrew her own. She was about to thank him for coming when a voice came over the loud speakers. Bella found herself standing beside Edward as her boss called for everyone's attention. Knowing it was her turn next Bella quickly finished her drink. Stopping as her straw began to slurp the empty glass.

"...Please join me in welcoming Isabella Newton..." Bella knew this was her cue. Unsure of what to do with her glass she looked to Edward, whose hand was now extended.

"ummm... hold this for me would you?" She pressed the tumbler into Edward's hand and walked to the stage. The crowd's applause was loud enough that no one heard the sound of stone crushing glass.

There is a difference in being prepared for an event and living through it. When Edward left Forks for the last time he began to prepare himself for Bella to live a normal, happy, human life. He spent years reminding himself wanting her was selfish. This choice he made on her behalf was truly what was best for her.

But in the time between Alice's feeling and now a new thought had begun to form; Bella was destined for more than this. She was so much more than this sleepy little town. Bella was an extraordinary girl and she deserved an extraordinary life.

It was this thought that guided his anger over her changed last name. Once the speeches were done and the festivities began Edward sought out Jasper for his insight into the situation.

"Jasper, what is she feeling? Is she miserable? Is she angry?"

"She is content Edward. Leave it alone."

"Content?" Edward felt the world once again slowly fall apart around him. "Content? She loves him? She is happy with him? That vile boy makes her happy?"

"Leave it Edward. It's what you wanted for her."

"Does she love him like she loved me? Can you feel that Jasper?"

"Not like she loved you Edward. But this is what you wanted for her. Leave this. Don't ask anymore of me."

Edward could not leave well enough alone though. "Does she still love me? Can you feel that? Do you feel her longing for me still?"

Jasper didn't speak out loud, but he didn't censor his thoughts either.

No.

"Bells, sorry I'm late. Traffic from Seattle was insane!" Mike leaned in and kissed her check, as would be appropriate in public, "God you make me so fucking hard in that dress." He whispered the less appropriate sentiment in her ear. Bella blushed. She knew Mike would be mortified if he knew he had been overheard.

"Wait until you see what's under it." She whispered quieter than normal, then returned his quick kiss. Although she knew she may as well have shouted at the Cullens, this was the typical greeting she would share with Mike. He loved her in lingerie. And she loved the way he would take his time unwrapping her like she was the most precious of gifts. She couldn't help but glance to where she knew Edward was, curiosity getting the better of her. There was a little part of her that hoped he would be jealous. The look on his face was anything but. Edward was looking at her, a look of pure disgust on his face. She thought back on the all the times he rejected her, she wasn't surprised he was revolted by the thought of her having a sex life. Bella had dealt with the hurt long ago.

It was with the gift of hindsight that Bella knew this was a foolish idea. She was working under the false assumption that Alice would be able to see her and hadn't yet stopped her. It was at the top of the Cullen's long private lane that her truck, reliable only in its temperamental relationship with the rain, sputtered to a stop. After a brief internal debate over calling someone for help versus just walking through the downpour Bella pulled her hoodie up and started to jog towards the house.

It was like moving through a wall of water, Bella was instantly soaked and though it was early spring the temperature was just hovering over the freezing mark.

"uhh...if there are any Cullen's within hearing distance... could you help me out?"

Edward's appearance was almost instantaneous.

"Hi Edward." Bella dismissed her elevated heart rate as nothing but a natural reaction to being startled. She was surprised at how quickly he showed up, and even more surprised at who had shown up to help her. "I don't suppose you brought your car?"

Edward continued to stare at Bella, while mentally berating himself for just running outside, without the means to help her. Bella just saw it as pissed off.

"It's just that my truck died. And I really wanted to stop by for a visit, Carlisle mentioned last night that I would be welcome to stop by anytime, and I thought now was as good as ever, and then well, my truck died and now I'm really wet." Bella rambled, annoyed at herself for presuming she could just show up here. She wondered if Edward had come to tell her to leave them alone.

Bella was just about to say she would go when she felt Edward's hand on her arm, then she was on his back, flying down the laneway. The trip was fast. Before Bella even had a chance to process she was once again running with Edward she was standing in the entrance of the Cullen's home. Edward still hadn't spoken.

"Thanks."

"Everyone is out now. You're welcome to wait for them." Edward was speaking slowly and very formally. It reminded her of the first time he had ever spoken to her.

"Thanks. Again. I'd like that. Uhh... do you think there is somewhere I could dry off, and try to warm up?"

" You can use my room, there's a shower there. I'll bring you some clothes. Follow me."

Bella hesitated before following Edward, it didn't seem right to follow her ex-boyfriend to his room, but she was cold and clearly he was way over her.

When they reached his door he opened it and then moved aside to let her in. "If you just leave everything on the floor I will put it in the dryer for you. I'll leave a change of clothes on the couch." He moved back into the hall shutting the door behind him.

Bella starred at the closed door for a few minutes. She couldn't help but feel sad, Edward was behaving so strangely. He was obviously uncomfortable with her being there. With a small sigh she headed to the bathroom to get changed.

As Bella wrapped herself in Edward's robe she contemplated what to do with her underwear. It seemed a silly thing to get stuck on, but Edward was going to put her clothes in the dryer. Would it be worse for them to be there or not? With a shake of her head Bella decided she was being ridiculous and tucked them inside of her jeans. Out of sight, out of mind she decided. She wrapped a towel around her before she walked back into his room and placed her folded, wet clothes on the floor near the door. As Bella started the shower she heard the door to Edward's room quickly open and close. She flushed at the idea of being naked so close to him before rolling her eyes at her inner seventeen year old.

Edward waited outside the door until he heard the shower turn on, he knew she would be tucked safely in his bathroom then. He had never felt so close to losing his control since the first day he met her. Only, it was not the blood lust that consumed him this time. As quickly as he could Edward retrieved Bella's clothes from the floor of his room and tossed them in the dryer down the hall. He needed them out of his hands. They taunted him, these things that had been right against Bella's skin. He stopped in Alice's room to grab Bella a pair of jeans and the most Bella-like top he could find. He laid the outfit on his couch and stepped out of the room again.

The door closed and Edward leaned against the wall. He could hear her every movement in the shower. He knew he was indulging in a dangerous perversion as he listened and created images to go with the sound of her hands moving over her body, the unfurling of the towel and its subsequent whispered swoosh around her. As Bella left the bathroom he remained frozen, one foot on the floor, his back and sole of the other foot against the wall.

Bella looked down at the jeans Edward had left out for her. He had obviously gone to Alice's room to pick them up. While Bella was fairly confident she was never as tiny as Alice, even in her high school days, she knew with absolute certainty that she was not going to fit into the tiny pants before her today. With a small sigh Bella made her way over to Edward's drawers and rummaged about until she found something that would fit her.

As she pulled on his boxer shorts and shirt Bella thought how some men would find a woman wearing their clothes arousing. She felt it was a safe bet Edward was not one of these men. Or at least she wasn't his kind of woman.

As Edward waited, listening for his cue that it was safe to knock, he could tell Bella was going through his things. His curiosity was peaked as he heard the soft sound of cotton as it kissed her skin. Edward listened until he heard Bella's retreating feet and then the sound of her resting her hand against his window. Deciding she must be decent he knocked on the door.

Bella moved away from the window as she called "come in."

Edward was barely prepared for Bella to be in his house. He most certainly was not prepared for the sight before him. Bella Swan stood in his room, her wet hair clinging to one of his tee shirts. Her legs, more of her skin than he had ever seen in person, extended from his boxer shorts. Her scent, seemingly intensified from the steamy shower overpowered him. Edward felt his instinct take over as a small growl erupted from his chest.

Bella watched as Edward's expression hardened. Before she could offer an explanation for why she was in his clothes he growled quietly and took a step towards her. Bella stepped back but Edward matched it. As Bella's back pressed up against the window she felt confused. She wondered if she should be frightened, but she wasn't. Bella bit her lip as she watched Edward take another step so his body was only inches from her.

"Bella," he whispered, his voice taut. He reached up and moved Bella's hair off her shoulder. Bella felt the shirt pull at her shoulders as Edward fisted the hem that hung at each side of her hips. Against her better judgement Bella angled her head as Edward leaned into her neck, his nose, just millimetres from her skin, trailed a line from her collarbone to the tip of her ear.

"I thought you were happily married Bella. I never thought you would be so easily distracted."

Edward's allusion to their parting conversation in the woods snapped Bella out of her daze.

Bella pushed Edward's chest, who complied by moving back.

"How dare you? You think you can dazzle me and then judge me for being human? Fuck you Edward. Not all of us are so easy to distract as you are. Fuck you!"

Bella walked down the stairs. Knowing there was no point to running, if he wanted to Edward would catch her. The opening of the front door as she reached the bottom step was the only thing that gave her pause.

"Hello. Uh, sorry, excuse me." Bella didn't stop as she hurried by a very confused Rose and Emmet. She made a point of not slamming the door behind her. The rain had not stopped. "Shit."

"Did Bella Swan just leave our house in Edward's underwear?" Emmet looked from the door to the stairs repeatedly. There was a soft knock on the door, Emmet strolled to answer it at human speed.

"Hi Emmett... I ... uh... I need to get my clothes." Before him stood a very wet Bella. Arms crossed over her chest to avoid a spring break impression.

"I've got this." Rose gave Emmet a pat on the chest with one hand while wrapping Bella in a Trench with the other. "Let's go, Bella, I'll take you home."

Emmet found Edward where Bella had left him. It hurt him to see his brother look so obviously lost. "Hey man, what just happened here?"

Edward looked to his brother. He was prepared to lie, to keep his confusion to himself, but the look on his siblings face stopped him. He wasn't going to get through this alone and of anyone in the house, Emmet was actually the one with the advice he needed. "I nearly lost control Em. Not nearly. I lost it, just for a second."

"You nearly bit her?"

"Uhhh... no."

"But...oh...ohhhh... Edward can I offer up some advice here?" Emmet continued on, not pausing for an answer, "Bella's not a girl anymore. She's a woman." Edward winced as he heard Emmet add and a pretty fucking sexy one at that, for a human anyway but he let it go since Emmet left it unsaid. "I am not sure chaste kissing is going to curl her toes the way it used to. You need to figure out what you are going to do here. You can't go at this half assed."

"I'm not going at anything. She's married. She is having a nice normal life, which is something I couldn't give her."

"Edward, she is your mate. You want to claim her," Edward winced once more as Emmet's thoughts slipped to his claiming Rosalie. "She is yours, but what's more, you are hers. This mating thing isn't like some grand chivalrous love story. I guarantee you will not be able to stick around and be magnanimous about her finding love. That's bullshit anyway. The feelings you have for each other transcend human emotion,"

"That may be true for me, but she is human. She has human emotions, she has moved on."

"Don't underestimate her. Again."

Once Rose had Bella's address, the car ride home was silent, which Bella was extremely grateful for. Bella had grown into a confident woman, but Rose was still an intimidating force. It wasn't until she pulled into Bella and Mike's drive that she spoke.

"Are you happy Bella?"

It wasn't the question Bella was expecting. If it was her, she'd ask about the underwear. "Yes Rose. I know we all thought Mike was a tool, but he's really a great guy."

"You aren't interested in Edward anymore?" Surprisingly there was no judgement in Rose's voice.

"No."

"If I told you that Edward had taken up with a beautiful, well, one of us, that wouldn't bother you?"

"No Rose, I dealt with that a long time ago. It's why he left after all."

Rose turned her head, and arched an eyebrow at Bella. "Why do you think that?"

"He told me, in the woods. I believe the word he used was 'distraction' but I knew what he meant. He wasn't being very obtuse. For a while I wondered if I really knew any of you at all. I wondered if Edward was a bit of a succubus. That you all backed him in his innocent virgin act and I thought perhaps I wasn't worth the work."

Unexpectedly Rose laughed. "Oh Bella! I almost wish that was the case."

"What do you mean? He didn't leave me for someone else?"

"That is not my story to tell."

Bella laughed humorlessly at Rose's statement. "Well that's all in the past now isn't it?"

Rose, never one to beat around the bush answered, "No, I'm not sure it is, Bella."