B-POV

I blinked against the soft gray light streaming in from the window. I ran my hand over my sheets, searching. Finding nothing, I dangled my hand off the bed, expecting it to be caught and kissed. I frowned and sat up. He couldn't be so invested in his book that Edward didn't realize I was awake.

"Oh!" I gasped. Instead of Edward in the rocking chair in the corner of my room, it was Alice. She was knitting a sock.

"Good morning!" she chirped. "You missed both your morning classes. You could still make the afternoon ones, but I decided you deserved a day off."

Though Rosalie was the one to thank for the safe return home and the neat bandage on my arm, Alice was the one who kept me well, fed, and sane for the rest of the night. According to both girls, Edward had to stay back. I didn't expect Alice to stay through the night, but part of me was glad she did. I wasn't sure I wanted to be alone. I opened my mouth to ask a question, but immediately shut it. I didn't want it to look like I was ungrateful for her presence.

"You want to know why I'm here instead of him?" she guessed correctly, anyway.

"Yes." I slumped back in my bed and pulled the blanket over my head. The mattress shifted. When I peeked out, Alice sat cross-legged at the end of the bed, her petite features professionally polite.

"Everything worked better than any of us imagined. Between you and me, Jasper didn't really believe it could happen. Peace between vampires and Hunters? Forget it! He thought Carlisle was living in his fantasy world again. But the treaty has been written and signed by both parties. No one died or fought. There was barely any bickering. Truly, you had the worst experience out of all of us." She rubbed my knee sympathetically. "We are so, so sorry."

"It's okay," I encouraged, hoping to move along to the point where she actually told me where Edward was. I'd dealt with Alice enough to know that every story was a saga and interrupting her only made them longer.

"According to Jasper, Sam was pissed at the Hunters who attacked Edward. He even agreed to not include Jacob Black or the other Hunters that attacked you under the protection of the Treaty. That's how pissed he was. They're on probation—whatever that means in the Hunter world. So, we're free to slaughter them as we see fit. Of course, Carlisle would never allow it. But I will say, I do have a juicy little vision of Jakey being hunted for sport by Emmett. Emmett's quite decided on it now, but maybe that will change when he's calmed down. Though, he is protective of the family…."

"And Edward?"

She grinned a gargoyle's grin. "Practically pulverized Jacob's arm. Picture this:" she held out her hands. Then, closed them back into fists. "Actually, don't picture anything. Edward would never want you to know. Pretend I didn't tell you that."

I rolled my eyes.

"So, yeah. All in all, a pretty decent outcome. The Hunters are going to leave us alone. In turn, we will inform of any news on the supernatural world we receive." She perked up and theatrically pointed her thumb at her chest, "That's my job! Carlisle said he would write a pamphlet…"

"Where is Edward?" I finally asked.

She pursed her lips.

Just then, the doorbell rang. I glared at her, annoyed at the cliché that she had been saved by the bell. I pulled a sweater over my tank top and clambered down the stairs. There was no one at the door, but sitting on the front step was an enormous bouquet of flowers. Delicate freesia bloomed from the vase in a colorful burst of pink, magenta, and peach.

I felt Alice's presence behind me, like a breath against my cheek. "I hoped he would be ready by now."

I didn't even need to read the card. I knew exactly who they were from. There was only one person who would send anything this ridiculously opulent and call it a present. The only thing I didn't know was why it was left at the door instead of hand-delivered.

"Where is he?"

Alice chose her words carefully. "He doesn't think you want to see him."

"How could he possibly think that?"

Then, I recalled the flash of pain in his eyes when I recoiled from him. My heart squeezed so tight, I thought it would collapse in on itself.

"He'll come back," she promised.

"Then what is this?" I yelled, pointing to the flowers.

"He's telling you that he still loves you."

"Well, I'm not going to listen!" I slammed the door shut, abandoning the flowers. "He'll have to come here and tell me himself."

"Bella," Alice fetched the flowers herself. The massive bouquet was almost half her size, but she had no trouble at all. "Just give him some time. Soon enough he'll realize he's being stupid."

"He is stupid!" I collapsed onto the sofa. "He's stupid if he could ever believe I wouldn't want him."

"Give him some time," Alice repeated.

The flowers were the first of many gifts that day. More flowers followed. Food was delivered. Books arrived with lovely hand-written notes in the margins. I assumed Edward stockpiled these presents and was unleashing them all on my unsuspecting household. Throughout it all, Alice remained at my side. An encouraging and upbeat presence. Though, I suspected she was in on Edward's plan more than she let on. By the time Charlie's car pulled into the driveway, she knitted a full winter set and a score of socks.

"Bella," I heard Charlie's voice before he even came into the house. "Whatever Edward did, I think he's sorry."

He shoved the door open with his back, for his hands were taken up with yet another bouquet. I said nothing as Charlie went into the kitchen, presumably to inspect the stems and water supply himself. There was a two-month period three years ago where Charlie became an expert on all things floral.

"Oh, my…"

His reaction was duller than I'd expected. Every available surface in the kitchen was taken up by Edward's flowers. Such a spectacle deserved at least one expletive.

"There's an empty table in here, Dad."

"Baby, what did he do?"

"Nothing," I sighed, heavily. "He went insane."

"I'm not sure that makes me feel any better," Charlie said, placing down the flowers on the side table I cleared for him. He turned with a huff, preparing his lecture. Then, his eyes settled on Alice, and he perked up. "Why, hello there."

"Hi!" she chirped. "I'm Alice."

I wasn't sure whether or not she was supposed to be Edward's sister in their convoluted story, so I let her handle the introductions.

"Pleasure. I'm Charlie, Bella's father."

"Well." Alice hopped up off the couch and gathered her knitting supplies. "I'm going to get going. Lovely to meet you, sir." Charlie smiled and turned to fluff up the flowers. As his back was turned, she gave me a stern look. "Let him work through it. He's going to suffer, first. He always has to suffer."

I leaned back on the couch with a sigh.

As soon as the door shut, Charlie turned back to me. "Now really Bella, what did he do?"

Expecting this conversation, I spent a good portion of my day developing a cover story. I drew my inspiration from all the modern romances I'd read and picked an easy trope that usually caused conflict. "His ex-girlfriend was in town, flirted with him right in front of me. He shot her down right away, but obviously," I gestured to the gifts around me, "he feels guilty about it."

"And you're sure that's all?" he asked using his Dad Voice.

I was certain he was thinking of my dating experience in high school, which I had hidden from him for so long. That reveal coupled with the fact that I was a terrible liar didn't bode well for poor Edward. I balanced out the lie with a convincing truth. "Edward would never do anything to hurt me. He loves me too much."

Charlie settled in the spot where Alice spent her day. He put his arm around my shoulders. "You promise you'd tell me if there was more?"

I couldn't even tell my father the basics of my relationship with Edward, let alone the nuances such as the origin of the presents. Still, to placate him I said, "I promise."

Charlie rubbed my arm, satisfied.

"How's Billy?"

Charlie puffed his cheeks. "Having a rough day. It's a good thing his daughters are in town. I think one of them is going to extend her stay..."

"What happened?"

"I don't really know the details of it. All I can say is it's a shame that I wrote up that entire speech on his son's behavior towards you because it turned out to be moot. Jacob left."

I felt my eyebrows shoot up to my hairline. That was swift. "Where did he go?"

"The kid turned off his cell service before Billy could call back and ask."

"Wow." I wondered if Jacob's disappearance was part of his preparation to run away with me or the aftermath of his Hunter Probation.

"It was out of the blue. Last week, he was my boyfriend's kid. We fished and joked and had a good time. In the span of one weekend, he became my daughter's emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend and my current boyfriend's runaway son. You think you know a person…"

"Yeah…"

Once again, Jacob Black had abruptly vanished from my life. It was unnerving to have so little of the full story. He could come back at any moment, like he had before. Between Edward and Charlie, I doubted he would have an easy time reaching me ever again.

"I think I'm going to make some coffee." I needed something warm and soothing.

"It's dinnertime."

"I think I'm going to make some coffee and cook some dinner."

"Better." He leaned his head against the back of the couch and closed his eyes. "Bring me some of the cheese I saw in there."

I searched for the untouched cheeseboard among the uneaten cupcakes, the unread books, and the unwanted flowers. Endless flowers in elegant arrangements and succulents packed tight in little pots. All because he felt sorry. I shuddered at the thought of what Edward would do for an event that actually called for gifts. I decided right at that moment, I would never tell him what day my birthday fell on.

After dropping the cheeseboard on the living room coffee table, I pushed aside the zinnias, daisies, and lilies to get to the coffee pots. Since I had the time, I wanted to use my little Turkish pot. Next to it, was a small gift basket with fresh beans, a vintage coffee bean grounder, and a handblown piece of glass.

I scowled.

I took it out of the cabinet and placed it among the rest of the gifts I planned to ignore. But Edward knew me too well. Curiosity got the better of me. I reached for the coffee grinder. I turned it in my hands, awed by its exquisite craftsmanship. Next, I took out the little glass piece for a thorough inspection and found a little note attached to it, tied with twine. The message itself was scrubbed out, though I was certain I could make out the words love, forever, and seventh. Below was a hand-drawn diagram of my antique spiral siphon coffee maker with labels and instructions. Shoving aside tulips, roses, and hydrangea, I pulled out the antique. I replaced the indicated valve with the handmade piece. Sure enough, the coffee maker worked for the first time since Charlie and I bought it.

Such a thoughtful and brilliant gift.

From such a thoughtless and ludicrous boy.

I didn't need coffee to warm me from the inside out—rage did the trick. Dumping the coffee I made into the sink, I threw on my jacket, took the keys from the hook, and let Charlie know I would be back. I contrived a lie that we were out of a critical ingredient for dinner, but Charlie didn't ask, and I didn't need to use it.

I shoved the keys into the ignition, planning to give Edward a piece of my mind. Clearly, the replacement valve was planned as a future gift, otherwise, he would have given it to me already. Which meant he didn't think I would see him again. How he could think such a thing was beyond me. It was one flinch. One tiny, little flinch. A single recoil didn't mean I stopped loving him. In fact, my love for him grew. Even in the monstrous state of his, he fought against his worst instincts to keep me safe. He might have been as scared as I was, but he didn't stop loving me.

I didn't even take my foot off the brake when I turned the keys again and shut off the truck. The frustration I felt immediately vanished when I stepped into Edward's shoes for that single moment.

If he weren't with me, it meant he was alone somewhere, broken and hurting. The last thing he needed was for me to show up and yell at him. It was a difficult weekend for us both. His girlfriend was kidnapped. He was physically assaulted. He was taunted and teased with human blood.

Worst of all, his inner monster was provoked. Enough that it tore through his careful human façade. The human façade he kept up not only to hide his identity but also his greatest insecurity. What happened to Edward was like if someone had stripped me naked in front of him, exposing my doughy curves and dimpled flesh. Only, if that happened, Edward would have reacted with absolute adoration and compassion. Just as I would need him to.

I fiddled with the keys again, wondering if I should show up anyway, but as a shoulder to cry on. I thought better of it. Though I needed his gentle touches and soft words, Edward needed space and patience. Both of which I could offer, albeit reluctantly.

Alice promised he would be back.

I had to trust them both.

Chest aching, I left the truck. This time, Charlie did ask what happened and I let him know I changed my mind. I told him I was beginning to feel sick and wished to sleep it off. Up in my room, I threw open the window, turned on the record player Edward gave me, and patiently awaited his return.

E-POV

The song that drifted from the piano wasn't as sad as the one that played in my heart. Frowning, I moved one hand down a few keys to add a few dissonant notes to the melody.

It sounded worse.

Which was better.

"According to Alice, I'm going to be the one to talk some sense into you." Rosalie's voice came into the room. "Which is absurd, you know. That you wanted to speak to me. The only worse choice than coming to me for comfort would be to go to you. Even Jasper could artificially calm you down."

"I didn't want to talk to you," I murmured into the keys. I didn't want to talk to anyone.

Rosalie joined me at the piano bench. Without warming up, she copied my cords two octaves higher. Then, she wove the notes into a delicate harmony. One that uplifted my dull, dreary melody.

"You're getting good."

To no one's surprise, Rosalie was officially the best musician in the family. Her skill surpassed mine. Just as her self-control, mechanical skill, and medical knowledge surpassed mine long ago.

"Thank you. Is there a reason you're up here pouting instead of comforting your girlfriend?"

My fingers froze. "You told me she was alright."

"Yeah, medically. I imagine she wants her boyfriend there to help her through whatever's going on emotionally."

"I sent her flowers." Mountains of flowers. All as lovely as she. And food and presents and books. I had arranged gifts to be sent to her over the course of the week.

"Alice wants to be placated with gifts. Do you really think Bella wants the same?"

"I don't know."

"Yes, you do know. And you know that you're wrong and I'm right."

I took a sharp breath through my nose, then resumed playing.

"So that's it, huh? You find this great girl who's actually willing to put up with you and you're going to hide the second things get hard. Makes perfect sense."

"Why do you even care? Isn't this what you wanted? You were right about everything. Her blood was too much for me to handle. I am too much of a freak for her. I did scare her away by being nothing but myself. I suppose I should heed the rest of your advice and leave. You claim everyone would be better off and you haven't gotten one wrong yet."

"God. You're such a drama queen. Bella probably would be happier without you."

"Great. I'll pack my things."

"You pry into my mind every second of the day, but you can't tell when I'm being sarcastic? She's not going to be happier without you, you dolt."

"Better off." There was a difference.

She made a scoffing noise in the back of her throat.

I played a few disjointed notes, then slipped my hands into my lap. Rosalie continued to play.

"I want to drink her blood, Rose." I swallowed into an inflamed throat, thirsty from the mere reminder of her blood. The sweet, tangy scent of her. The monster inside howled. My tongue licked my bottom lip like it hoped her blood was still smeared on my face. Even after Esme and I hunted, my stomach twisted. Animal blood hadn't been enough to satiate this hunger. "For one, horrible moment, I didn't see the girl I loved. I saw a beating heart and pulsing veins."

"You fought through it."

"Barely."

"Edward," she sighed, gently. "Those Hunters dragged a lion out of a cage and dangled a big, juicy steak in front of its nose. You were covered in blood. It's nearly impossible to resist exposure to blood to that extent. I don't think I could have done it."

"You could."

"And you did. Stop focusing on what could have happened, you pretentious bastard. You didn't almost fail. You succeeded."

I frowned. It seemed too close to failure to truly call it a success. Limping across the finish line certainly didn't constitute a victory.

"Go see her," Rosalie coaxed. "If you want, I can get her and bring her to the house. Let her suffer through your angst music."

"She won't want to see me, Rose." Thus, the presents I'd sent in my place.

Rosalie sucked a breath those her nose. Clearly irritated. She deflected the first four insults that came to her mind. "Because you think she's afraid?"

I winced at the image of Bella flinching away from me. The stab in my chest hurt worse than the fire in my throat or the ache in my limbs.

Rosalie never willingly opened up her mind to me, and I rarely accepted her thoughts. But she recalled a memory for me to watch. The first in almost one hundred years. The vision was of Bella. She sat huddled in the front seat of Rosalie's M3, looking wet and sad and stunning.

"Rose?" she asked in a small voice.

"What's wrong?" Rosalie spoke in the affectionate tone I've only ever heard her use with Emmett and Carlisle.

"Does Edward…" she began to ask but stopped herself. She started a new question. "Is the blood of a lover more tempting to vampires?"

"What kind of question is that?"

I didn't appreciate Rosalie's judgmental tone, but the Bella in her memory didn't seem to mind. "It's just… something the Hunters said."

"Ugh. Those guys are a bunch of idiots. Don't listen to anything they say."

"Why would they think that?"

"Who knows? It's probably something they tell themselves. To make sense of why vampires would want to be romantically involved with humans. They can't start to think of any of us as people, so they have to devise a nefarious scheme for everything we do. Surely, vampires can't feel love. So, they pretend to love humans to make their blood sweeter. Like that makes any sense at all."

Rosalie's memory studied Bella's face. Her bottom lip jutted out ever-so-slightly and her shoulders drooped. I couldn't imagine she would feel disappointed that her blood didn't torture me more, but it certainly looked that way.

"It doesn't sound silly when you put it like that."

"Most likely, that jerk was only trying to upset you more. Don't worry. Edward would have suffered that way if it was anyone's blood."

"He'll be okay?"

"Yes, he'll be okay. He had to stay back to ensure everyone's thoughts matched their intentions, but I'm sure he's twitching in his seat, desperate to be with you again."

Then, an undeniable smile spread across her face.

"Do you want to know what dumb joke he told?" Bella asked.

"The dumber the better," Rosalie grinned.

I rubbed my forehead, feeling like an idiot in more ways than one.

"See, you ass? You resisted her blood when you were covered in it—I'm sure you can resist it when it's safely inside her. And she wants to be with you. What more do you want?"

"I didn't hear you deny that I'm too much of a freak for her." It was supposed to be a joke, but the statement hit too close to home. I didn't add the proper inflection to convey any humor. I sounded pathetic and needy to my own ears.

"What can I say? I like the girl. I wish she had better taste." The moment her comment was out of her mouth, Rosalie regretted what she said. She thought she had been doing a decent job cheering me up—she was excited to tell Emmett all about her job well done—and she didn't want to ruin her progress. "Her thoughts are safe from you. And honestly, to a lot of people, it's not that big of a deal."

"What about you?"

Her thumb landed on the final key and remained there until the note faded completely.

"I hate you," she said, bluntly. She started playing again. A new song. One that grew with insanity as she spoke. This song had been growing inside of Rosalie for years and she finally had the musical ability to release it.

"I was so happy to have an out to the life I lived. I was sick of being a cruel diva, but I was so boxed into that role, that no one would believe the nice things I tried to say, or assumed my good deeds had selfish intent. Then, Carlisle and Esme found me. It felt so good to receive praise for something other than my looks and felt better to be perceived as kind, no matter how nasty my ingrained thoughts were. I was no longer someone's little brat, but I was their perfect daughter."

The song took a dark turn.

"When I found out I was a replacement for you when you were out on your little binge, I thought I couldn't hate anyone more. Then, you came back and immediately entered their good graces. They wanted you. I was the perfect daughter, yet they still wanted you. And I found I could hate you more."

The music intensified.

"Then, I found out about your gift. You knew exactly what I was. I could never be what I wanted in this new life because you were always around. Witnessing every terrible thought I had, ready to reveal what a fraud I was."

The song reached its climax. A pulsing, pounding melody. A reflection of Rosalie's anger. Then, as her anger often did, it died off. A tense, sorrowful concluding chord played over her next words.

"It's so hard to have someone else in your mind when you don't want to be there yourself."

Her hands fell into her lap. Her gaze followed. It was difficult for Rosalie to share her feelings. Her wedding vows for Emmett were spoken into her bouquet.

I picked up the song where she left off. Something hopeful, happier. With soaring notes and fluttering keys.

"Does it help that I never wanted to be in your mind, either?"

She said nothing. She simply began playing with me. The cords conflicted with mine at first, but slowly transformed to something harmonious.

"If you had just given me the chance to prove it to you, you would have seen that I never cared about what you thought."

"I'm sorry."

"But you shut me out right away."

"I'm sorry!"

Our two melodies morphed and became one, two octaves apart.

"We could have been brother and sister. We could have inspired one another, rather than dedicate our lives to one-upping the other."

"Oh wow. And here I thought Esme and Carlisle wanted to house two bickering brats."

"There were so many times I wished I could be there for you, but I knew my insight would only make you more upset."

"There were so many times I was too scared to ask you for help because I thought you would throw my awful thoughts back in my face. The only monstrous version of you was the one I created in my head."

I slowed down my pace, letting the notes sing loud and long, to accompany Rosalie's upbeat staccato.

"You're not a monster," she clarified. "In case you're too slow to pick up on that one."

"Thank you," the words caught in my throat.

Our song came to a cheery conclusion, one bursting with hope. We stared at one another, neither one of us sure how to continue.

"I'm sorry I made fun of her appearance."

"I don't think I'll forgive you for that one."

"That's okay. I won't forgive myself, either."

"I can thank you for being a good friend to her. Even if it was to spite me."

"It was only out of spite for a bit. She really grows on you."

I smiled. "Every day, I think I love her as much as someone could love a person. But every day, I discover something that makes me love her even more."

"Go," Rosalie elbowed me. "You can't risk losing her. She almost makes your presence tolerable."

"Thanks, Rose." I rose from the piano bench and brushed off my pants. I took two steps towards the window before I paused. "I don't hate you," I said without looking back.

She didn't return the sentiment, but from what I could see in her mind, she wished she could.

We will work on that.

On that hopeful note—literally and metaphorically—I leaped out of my third-story room and landed on the spongey ground. The persistent rain had let up, so I was thankfully still dry when I arrived in the woods behind Bella's house.

Etta James' deep and sultry voice drifted from her window, singing of the stormy weather while she and her love were apart.

I grinned.

I'd given her the album for the powerful love ballads, but Bella used it as a beacon to call me back.

Retracing my footsteps from the fateful day of her kidnapping, I climbed up the side of her house to the window. This time, she was right where I expected her. She lay in the center of her bed with her eyes closed, but I could tell from her short, shallow breaths that she wasn't asleep.

"The stormy weather has passed," I said in response to the song.

Faster than I'd ever seen a human move, she whirled towards the sound of my voice.

"Edward," she breathed, climbing out of the bed. "Edward!"

I caught her before she collapsed onto the floor. Then, buried my face in her hair. It was an exquisite relief to hold her in my arms without eminent danger nearby. Holding on to her, I sank to the floor. She adjusted, wrapping her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist, hugging as fiercely as she could manage with her feeble human strength.

She pressed her lips to my neck—the only place she could reach without moving—and kissed with a ferocity that had me worried she would bruise her lips against my stone skin. After a slight adjustment, I caught her lips again, hoping for a gentle kiss that would calm her down and keep her from getting hurt. But Bella would not have it. She opened the kiss right away, running her tongue along the edge of my teeth as if to prove they did not scare her. Touched, I matched her enthusiasm. I wound one hand in her soft, silky hair, and another around her side and down her back, pressing her against me. Soft curves met solid stone.

We kissed until the urgency dissipated. Fiery passion smoldered and settled into loving devotion. Our lips moved in tandem, slowly, languidly. She loosened her grasp around my neck, trusting that there was no need to maintain her hold—I wasn't going anywhere—and her hands laid limply against my chest. Likewise, my hands cradled the back of her neck, thumbs tracing either side of her jaw.

"I love you," I said, for the twentieth time since we started our kiss. It was the first time I spoke slow and loud enough for her to hear.

"I love you, too." Still in my lap, she collapsed against my chest.

I kept one of my hands on the back of her neck, still running my thumb along her jaw.

"Don't you ever—and I mean ever—send me gifts as a replacement for you."

"I take it you didn't like the flowers."

"I would have liked them perfectly fine if they arrived with you."

"I'll keep that in mind." I kissed her temple. "I'm sorry. It was the wrong thing to do."

"I know."

"How are you?" I asked, for that was the most important thing. That she was safe and whole and well.

"I'm okay."

I turned her bandaged arm over and ran a finger along the edge of it, "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Rose said I didn't need stitches. I need to change the bandage soon, though."

"I can help with that."

"Are you sure?" She slipped her arm out of my grasp and hid it behind her back. "Alice can come back. There's also Charlie. He wouldn't even ask too many questions. I'm always tripping on something."

I clenched my jaw. It made sense she wouldn't want me around her wound and it was stupid of me to offer.

Her expression morphed into one of sympathy. She drew her arm back out and held it against my chest. "But if you want to, I have no problem with it. I promise."

I cradled her forearm in my hand. "You were never supposed to see me like that."

"Saving my life?"

"That sure is a unique way to spin it."

"It's the only way I care about."

I squeezed my eyes shut. She always saw the best in me. The sides I couldn't even see in myself. I risked a small smile. "I'm afraid your freak monster boyfriend continues to get freakier and more monstrous by the day."

Her answering smile was wolfish. "I can get into that."

"No, Bella. You shouldn't have to. I'll work harder to be normal for you. I'll push back the thoughts and lock away the monster. Pretend to eat, fake sleep. I'll be so human, you'll think I doused myself in body glitter if I stray into the sunlight." I tucked her head under my chin. "I swear you will never suffer again because you chose to be with me."

I broke apart our embrace slightly to kiss her ear, then her cheek.

She traced along my bottom lip with her pinky. "Sweetheart," she said, softly, "I don't want you to hide anything. Just as you love every inch of me, I love every dark, buried facet of you."

I ran my hands around her waist and down her thigh, savoring all those inches I truly loved. It seemed Bella regarded the thoughts that declared me a monster the same way I regarded the ignorant thoughts that deemed her unlovable: I discarded them completely. This divine creature wanted me, just as I wanted her. Completely, wholly, without change. She loved the parts I wished she would ignore. With that realization, my love for her intensified. Just as it did every, single day.

My eyes traced down her beautiful face, and followed my hand down her chest, her waist. All the way down to those flawless, full thighs.

"What?" she asked, a stunning blush rose on her cheeks.

"Nothing, my love." I kissed the hollow of her throat. "You dazzle me."

Wow, guys! Other than a small epilogue, this is basically it! Technically, the one-shot Flaws is the epilogue to Dazzled, but I'll post something to wrap up the particulars of this story in a few days. (I promise—it's almost done)

There are a few things I want to say. Please, please read the rest of the AN because I really need everyone's input.

As you all know, I thrive on constructive criticism. Let me know what you like, and what you don't like. I love to hear it all.

That being said, I have to be honest with you guys, I am not happy with the ending of this story. In fact, I haven't been happy with this entire B-plot. Basically, everything that involves Jacob. I kept trotting along because I thought it felt wrong and boring because I knew what was going to happen, but hoped it would feel fresh and exciting for you. The deeper I dug, the more often I wished I kept the whole story a bit more low-key. I always think I need some epic moment where Edward swoops in to save Bella's life, but it didn't feel right here. So please let me know if you agree, or if you think I'm crazy. You can DM me here or send me a message on tumblr. Whatever you want. Just know, you may get a notification from me in a few months asking you to save the story somewhere, because I might take down the chapters after Edward and Bella get together and try again.

What's next: I have a few stories buzzing around in my head. I obviously have to finish my canon-divergent fic, and I'll get to that eventually. Aside from that, I really want to do another plus-size Bella AU where low self-esteem isn't a plot point. Someone on tumblr gave me a great idea for an AH story where Edward is an artist and Bella is his muse. I also have an idea for a canon-divergent New Moon fic that involves mermaids instead of werewolves. Or, I want to do a collection of canon-compliant one-shots in the summer between Twilight and New Moon.

So, let me know what you'd be most interested in! Please! I want to write what you guys want to read.

This is literally my ideal version of Edward and Bella, so the fact that this story stuck with so many of you means the world to me! Thank you for the kind words and support. I truly have the best readers!

I'm going to spend the rest of the year working on a personal project, so whatever you guys tell me to do next won't happen until January. Until then, thank you all!