A/N: Hello all. I wanted to make a couple of points here. I've changed some dates and years that things happened. While in the novel the Cullens came to Forks in 2003. In this story, they came in 1998. This change is due to when the vampires were exposed to the world. I wanted them in Forks, I wanted it to happen in 1999. This story is set during 2012. Bella is 25 years old. Those are the only dates I've changed.

If you have questions, please review or DM me. Some will be answered in later chapters.

Disclaimer: I am not Stephanie Meyers.

Chapter Three

Home

The moment past quickly. I shook the thought from my head. I could pounder it another time. Now I had more important matters to attend to. I let my fingers run over the curves of her cheeks. Memorizing every dimple. The terrain of her skin would be mine to enjoy and I certainly intended to enjoy it now. Everything about her was soft and warm.

In a flash my hand moved, a fraction of a fraction of an inch. Up and just as swiftly down.

Bella gasped and tensed. Was I the first to spank this perfect ass? The thought pleased me more than I'd like to admit. There was something primitively satisfying about being the only man to have touched this body. Her possible virginity didn't matter all that much in reality. If she were a virgin she wouldn't be for long.

As soon as her body relaxed once more, I did it again. On the other cheek this time. She squeaked and shivered, shifting, rubbing her thighs together. I gripped her hips to stop her.

"Your pleasure is mine," I growled. "Do not think to give it to yourself."

She stilled beneath me, whimpering, but obeying. I brought my hand down five more times. My mind focused entirely on her. She couldn't possibly know how infuriating it was for me to hold back so much. Even more so than I had with other subs. She had never done this before; I couldn't use the force I was used to. She would not be expecting bruises and I didn't really care for the thought of leaving them on her.

Bella had beautiful skin.

I watched as the perfect imprint of my hand bloomed on each cheek. Red and angry. I pressed my palms against them, letting the cold of my flesh sooth the sting. She sighed, relaxed and happy. Before I could be tempted to go further, I righted her clothes. Swiftly, I removed her bonds. Her wrists were red where she'd twisted against them. I let my fingers soothe her there too. I helped her stand, pressing her back to my chest. I cupped her chin, tilting her head back until our eyes met.

I found nothing but bliss in her expression. She was beautiful.

"That's enough for tonight, Bella." She stiffened in my arms. "Tell me." An order. Even though my use of her name signaled that our play was over, I still expected her to comply.

She took a few shallow breaths. "Are you going to leave me now, master?"

I quirked an eyebrow at what she called me, but let it be for the moment. Truthfully, I hadn't intended to leave her. The extent of my care for her relied on what she allowed me to do. If she let me, I'd reorganize her entire life to one that relieved her anxieties. One that let me handle those things that I could- money, was certainly the easiest. I had several of these clubs all over England and Europe. They practically ran themselves. I would visit them randomly to make sure, but rarely had any trouble.

Regardless, money I could use to make her comfortable. She wouldn't have to think about that anymore. She had mentioned school and an internship, friends and family. I couldn't assume all of her responsibilities, but I could unburden her in other ways. I would be her refuge in this world. When all those things I couldn't control became too much I would settle her, I would center her.

So, was I leaving her now? No. Was she going back to life she had before walking into my club? No. I would have to give her a choice in the matter. I didn't really want to but that was part of the game. I could only dominate her at her request. I had to accept what she was prepared to give me, no matter how much that infuriated me. That fury and frustration was such a sweet torment. Another test of my control.

"Do you want me to leave you, Bella?" I asked. She was shaking her head before I finished my question. "Do you want to come home with me?" Nodding, though there was a bit of uncertainty in her eyes. "Where do you live now?"

"Student housing." So, nothing permanent, good.

I turned her in my arms, one finger under her chin to keep her eyes on me. "If you agree, you will come to stay with me for tonight. In the morning, when you're rested, we can discuss a permanent option."

"Yes, master."

I tugged her into my arms, wrapping myself around her. She felt so fragile in my arms. Like a paper-thin piece of glass. She was vulnerable at the moment. I didn't like that. I wanted her strong and certain. Right now, she felt just on the cusp of falling to pieces again. The way she clung to me. Like I was the only thing holding her together. It was unsettling how much it bothered me.

I'd had fragile subs before. Subs who needed me in every part of their lives. Subs who needed a Dom in charge of everything in order for them to feel at all secure. It wasn't a dynamic I particularly liked. Those encounters didn't last long. I much preferred the sub who gave up control as a part of the game we played together. She allowed me to have control, not because she would fall apart without it, but because she thrived under it.

But Bella was different. While the impression I got now was that she didn't feel secure, it didn't put me off her as it had with the others. It made me want to help her find the security in herself. She had been certain before. She had been very self-assured and assertive in what she wanted. Yes, there had been moments of weakness, but who among us can say they haven't felt as much in a new situation? She had strength in her. Perhaps all she really needed was a safe place to let it grow? So many unanswered questions.

My fingers threaded into her hair. "We have so much to learn about each other, don't we?"

She smiled up at me. "I want to know everything about you, master." Her voice was strong and certain again. Like I was the puzzle she was trying to figure out. Perhaps I was.

"Soon we will know everything about each other," I promised. She stifled a yawn. "But not right now. I think it's time for my human to rest."

"With you," she insisted. I smiled at the demand in her tone.

"With me."

I bundled her in my arms, moving swiftly from my private room. I grabbed her backpack before leaving, slinging it over my shoulder. It was a move so ingrained in my memory that for a second everything screamed to a halt. Without meaning to, I was back in high school. Pretending, badly, to be human. For the sake of my family. For the sake of Carlisle, really. We wanted to be together, but how did you explain seven adults living together? Turning five of them into children was an easy enough answer. It allowed Carlisle to work in the local hospital and all of us to remain together.

A family.

I shook my head. It had only been a second. Bella didn't even notice I'd stopped. I took us out the back, employee entrance. My Aston Martin was parked right next to the door. I settled Bella, looking pointedly at the seat belt until she buckled herself in.

She watched me while we drove through the streets of London to my Kensington home. It was technically a three-story townhouse, with far too much room for one person. But Esme had bought it for me, and I hadn't had it in my heart to turn it down. I had already hurt her so much. All the furnishing had been picked by her. Almost as if she wanted me to be surrounded by her even thousands of miles away. Though I could have, I never changed it.

I had an odd thought that perhaps Bella wouldn't like it. I shrugged, mentally, she could change it if she wanted to. I froze as the thought crossed my mind. I would be keeping her. She would be living with me and it mattered if she liked the house or not. I wanted it to feel like it belonged to her as much as it belonged to me.

I thought back to the incessant phone calls from Alice. What exactly had she seen that made her so insistent on talking to me in that moment? I would have to call her after I got Bella in bed.

"You live here?"

I blinked. I'd parked in my usual spot in front of the house, all without really thinking about it. I gave her a tight smile and got out, coming around to get her door before she could blink. She gave a startled squeak, then smiled. A smile that pleased me more than I wanted it to. I grabbed her backpack again and led her inside.

"I'll give you a tour in the morning," directing her up the stairs.

She was grinning at me and practically skipped up to the second floor. Of course, she stumbled halfway up, I righted her before her knees hit the ground. Even that made her giggle. She seemed giddy. It was a rather common response after a punishment. A sort of high from the pain. Her eyes were bright, looking all over, barely keeping her feet beneath her. The lovely contradiction of this woman. She was too exhausted to walk straight but the endorphins flooding her system kept her on her feet.

I couldn't help smiling at her. I had found these moments annoying with prior subs. Their thoughts were so consumed with desire for me, whispered praise of my skill flooding their minds. It was bothersome how they saw me. My self-hatred in those early days saw to a distinct lack of aftercare for my subs. Something I regret to this day. Those women had needed me to take care of them and I had failed. Not because I lacked the ability to do it, but because I was too irritated by their thoughts. It was another learning moment for me.

I had to set aside my own desires to see to the needs of another. In those moments it really wasn't about me at all. Aftercare was all about the sub. Soothing the sting of her punishment, reassuring her of my devotion and her own safety. On the one hand, it would be easier to do this with Bella. I couldn't become aggravated by her thoughts. On the other hand, I couldn't read her thoughts to discover exactly what she needed in that moment. I would have to learn by trial and error.

That was… frustrating. And not necessarily in a good way. I needed to take care of her and at the moment I had no idea how. My mind went blank. Forgetting everything I'd learned over the past twelve years. Unadulterated panic flooded my system. If my heart could beat it would have been pounding; I would have hyperventilated. As it was, I froze, letting her slip out of my arms.

Bella took a couple of stumbled steps down the hall, her knees going out as another yawn took her. I was by her side before she hit the floor, scooping her into my arms while she giggled. She threw her arms around my neck, rubbing her face into my throat. I took her swiftly down the hall to the master bedroom.

"Wow! That's gonna take some getting used to!" she laughed. Smiling down at her, I let her fall from my arms, she squeaked and laughed as she bounced on the bed. She stretched her arms out to me, wiggling her fingers. "Lay down with me, master?" I glanced over her attire and quirked an eyebrow. She huffed, sitting up to tug off her shoes.

"Would you like something to sleep in?" I offered. I didn't keep women's cloths here, but she would fit into one of my t-shirts.

She shook her head, "I usually just sleep in my t-shirt anyway."

I watched my demure little lamb pull off her socks and shoes dumping them over the side of the bed. She threw herself down again, pulling at the button and fly of her jeans. My head tilted slightly to the side. This silly behavior seemed like more than the usual high after punishment. I vaguely wondered if, perhaps, the alcohol was finally getting to her.

Bella cursed quietly as the button remained stubborn and the zip of her fly jammed. I brushed her hands away and accomplished the task for her easily. Pulling the fabric from her legs was a joy I wanted to savor, but Bella disagreed. She was kicking her legs, silently demanding I move faster. Once she was free of the denim, she grabbed my arm to sit up again, twisting around to unclasp her bra.

I could almost feel my pupils dilate, following her every movement. She managed to remove the garment from under her t-shirt, only exposing the soft skin of her stomach to my avaricious eyes. She flung it carelessly across the room before flopping back into the mountain of pillows. I watched the delicate bounce of her freed breasts, savoring this moment. She rolled over, shoving her face into the pillow beneath her. Inhaling deeply, she sighed.

"They smell like you, master."

I chuckled leaning over her, letting my hand caress her from the back of her knee to the back of her head. She shivered, peaking at me almost shy. "Soon, you will smell like me too, Bella," I promised. "And every vampire in London will know you're mine."

She gripped the pillow, knuckles white. Her eyes were excited again. She bit her lip. I reach out, pulling the plump flesh from her teeth.

"Sleep now, Bella. We can play more tomorrow if you like."

Bella smiled and clapped her hands, rolling over on the bed. She gave a deep sigh, relaxing into the comforter beneath her. I watched her eyes flutter close. Unconsciously, I began to hum a composition to her. Something I hadn't played in years. I toyed with her hand as she drifted into sleep. I kept up the tune until I was sure she was fast asleep.

My hand slipped into my pocket, grabbing my phone. Turning it on and bringing it immediately to my ear. It was ringing a second later. I accepted the call.

"Hello, Alice."

She sighed. "I would like an apology, but I know better than to expect it."

I smiled. "I was busy."

"I'm aware, but you were also about to-"

"Alice," I growled.

"Oh, calm down!" she snapped. "I'm alone, out in the woods. I managed to shake off the others. Even Jasper, which was no small feat. He could feel my panic. Do you have any idea how close you were-?"

"I was in complete control."

"You absolutely were not! You were a second from killing her. And then the Vultori would have come for you-"

I hung up. She called back immediately, as I knew she would.

"All right so no more what ifs. You didn't kill her. I guess that's what's important. And before you start- I wasn't looking. As you know I can't always control it. You can't expect me to just not do anything. I even bought plane tickets!"

"Return them," I picked up Bella's hand, running my nose across her fingertips.

"I already did, you ass," Alice snapped. "Although I thought about keeping one. Not to see you, maybe to switch it into a ticket for you."

"Where am I going?"

She growled at me. "Home, Edward."

I rubbed my eyes. I should have seen this coming. And in a way I had. It was the same argument we'd been having for twelve years.

"I am home, Alice."

"No, you're hiding, but that's beside the point. You should call Carlisle-"

I hung up again. Picking up once more when she called back.

"The vision came out of nowhere, Edward. I was playing chess with Esme when it happened, everyone was home. They heard you at the bar, so they know it was about you. They're panicking right now. The only reason they aren't all already on a plane is because I cancelled the tickets when you didn't kill her. I didn't go into any details, but I did manage to put them off. For now, anyway."

Bella's eyes fluttered behind her eyelids. She gave a little gasp in her sleep and shifted towards me. The hand I held gripped my fingers. She was dreaming. For a moment I wished I could be asleep beside her. To sleep, perchance to dream. Ah, I would dream of her.

"She talks in her sleep, Edward."

A moment later, "Master."

I grinned.

"That's an unpleasant smile. It doesn't suit you."

"Then don't spy on me."

"I'm not-!" she growled, cursing under her breath. "Is that all you have to say?"

"No, I do want to thank you."

"About time. For what, exactly?"

"For keeping them in Forks." I kissed Bella's knuckles, rubbing my lips back and forth over her sweet-smelling skin. "I know you don't agree with me, but it really is for the best."

Alice scoffed. "Betting against me, Edward, really?"

A gave a short, humorless laugh at that. "You can see the future, Alice, not the past."

She was quiet at this. I waited, knowing there was more. "I wish you'd tell me what happened. I can see that you won't, but I really wish you would."

"I won't change anything."

"You don't know that!" she said, emphatically. "You can't know that!"

"Neither can you," I pointed out.

"Only because you won't tell me!" I could hear her stomp her foot. She dropped the phone for an instant, yanking a tree from the forest floor and throwing it. I could hear it all, see it in my mind's eye. She caught the phone before it hit the ground.

"Don't destroy the foliage, Alice."

"I wouldn't have to if you weren't so stubborn."

I quirked an eyebrow. "Pot, kettle."

She snorted. "True, but I'm stubborn for the sake of my family, while you- don't you dare, Edward! Don't hang up on me again!" I moved my finger from the red dot on the screen. She took a few deep breaths. "How much do you know about what happened that day?" she asked, softly.

I thought about hanging up again but decided against it just as swiftly. This was my punishment.

"Everything seemed normal enough, or as normal as things were in those days. You were gone, of course, you were always gone after nightfall."

It was crystal clear in my memory. Esme had been up in her office, trying to decide on what she would do with the little cottage we'd just restored on the property. Jasper was watching a football game and Emmett was pestering him to go out back and wrestle. I was walking down the hall to the garage. My decision had been made weeks ago, while Alice had been preoccupied with Jasper. At that moment, she was at the computer, fussing with a fashion project. Rosalie was in the garage, but she wouldn't pay me any mind. I'd been leaving like this for months now, nearly a year. None of them noticed it anymore.

"The only thing that struck me was that you took your car. Your Aston Martin. It was different. In hindsight I wish I'd paid more attention to it. Maybe then I would have seen it in time to do something."

I was beginning to hone my control. There was no pleasure in running anymore. It was too instant. I needed to learn patience. The car was slower than me. It would take me that much longer to get to the club in Seattle. I would have to wait, and I hated waiting. I remembered how frustrated I'd been and how much satisfaction that brought me. Waiting was its own kind of torture.

"The next vision I had was of Carlisle- don't break your phone, Edward," Alice snapped. I relaxed my grip. "We'd all assumed he was just working a late shift that night. Even you, I'd bet. The vision was confusing to say the least. He wasn't on a road he usually took to get home from the hospital. It looked like he was trying to cry. Which made no sense."

Bella squeaked in her sleep, tugging at my hand. I let her pull it across the bed. She curled around it, forcing my palm against her chest, right over her heart. The beat was steady and calm. I tried to focus on that.

"I started looking then, but whatever had happened already did and I'd missed it. Carlisle was already in his car, driving home, trying to cry."

A bitter, angry part of my mind wanted to say, "Good." I held it in check. Nothing that had happened that night had been Carlisle's fault. He couldn't help his thoughts, no one could really. In an instant he'd reacted to what he saw in front of him. He thought what he thought and that was it.

"Then I saw you, Edward. Also, in your car. Driving somewhere. You didn't even know where yet. The only thing that was certain was that you weren't driving home."

Endless days of driving. Up north through Canada. Stopping only to get gas. In one of the cities, I'd found another club. There I took my first and only vampire sub. That interaction was blazon in my memory in a way I despised. The frustration I took out on her was unkind and brutal. If she had been human, she'd have been dead. As it was, she loved it, begged me for more, but I couldn't. After the anger had faded, I was disgusted with myself. My desire to dominate didn't stem from anger.

I had punished her not out of a desire to dominate, but because I had been mad as hell. Mad at myself, mad at Carlisle, hell even mad at Alice. How could she have not seen his decision to follow me that night?

"I wish I'd never told anyone where you decided to settle. Maybe then you'd still be there. Rosalie said she just wanted to talk to you. And I'd thought that maybe you'd listen. You were so all over the place in those days. Changing your mind about what you were going to do second by second. I couldn't see how you'd react to her. Which is super annoying by the way. Yet another interaction I missed. Thank you for that. She was so angry when she came home. But Jasper told me later that it was actually grief. It was just easier for her to pretend to be angry."

Ah, yes. My dear sister. Screaming her head off at me in the tiny studio apartment I'd been staying in. All she did was yell. Call me selfish. Call me a fool. Call me every name she could think of, and she could think of a lot. I could see myself through her mind. Still as stone in front of her. A rock on the coast, being battered by the waves of her anger. Jasper hadn't been totally right in his assessment of her feelings. Perhaps when she got home it was grief. In the moment it was nothing but fury and fear.

"And then you were off again. The visions I had then were of just the six of us. I could see that you weren't coming home. Not any time soon."

"I am home, Alice."

"You really believe that Edward?" her voice was small, sad. I hated that.

"What else is there to believe?"

"A million other things. Our family isn't whole without you."

I sighed. "What's done is done, Alice. It can't be undone. Not even by you." She took a breath, ready to argue. "You've seen what I've been getting up to. Don't deny it."

"I have and I won't."

"You're a smart woman, smarter than most, what do you think happened?" I demanded.

"So, you like kinky sex, Edward!" she exclaimed. "So what? That's not enough for you to hightail it out of the country! Something else happened, I know it!"

Rubbing my eyes, I tried not to see his face. I failed. "Ask him."

"I have. He won't say."

He wouldn't. Even now he still out shown me in every way. He was protecting my privacy. After everything I'd done. It would be so easy to hate him for it, but that had always been impossible.

"He told us you wanted your privacy and we had to give it to you. After the Rosalie debacle we could see he was right."

"He's always right isn't he," I growled, mostly to myself.

"Edward," Alice signed. "This has gone on long enough. Are you going to be mad at him forever?"

"Who says I'm mad at him now?"

"You're tone mostly," she snapped.

I took a deep breath, letting Bella's sweet fragrance settle into my every pore. The fire raged in my throat. How I longed to quench that thirst. How patient and in control I'd have to be every second I was in her presence. Such sweet torture, it aroused me to no end.

"Ew, Edward!"

I chuckled. "If you don't like seeing it, stop looking."

"Or maybe keep a lid on your kinks while talking to your sister," I could hear the eyeroll in her voice.

"Other than this foray into our shared past, was there anything else you wanted to discuss with me?"

I heard her feet shuffle on the forest floor. "Maybe I need to remember that you annoy the living daylights out of me. Maybe I needed to let you piss me off, so I'd be a little relieved your thousands of miles away. Maybe I wanted to be angry at you so that I wouldn't miss you so much." Her voice cracked at the end. I grimaced. "And maybe, just maybe, none of that really matters. Maybe I just wanted to hear your voice no matter what it was saying. Maybe I wanted to waste my time begging you to come home. Even knowing the whole time, it wouldn't make a difference."

We were silent. A moment later, she sighed and hung up.