Three months later…

"I hope this storm misses us. It looks bad." Beverly said as she was restocking the bar for the Friday night crowd. It was a little past seven, and the sky was full of dark, rolling clouds.

"Weatherman said the storm should be here around eight. Do you need to go, Bev?" Jimmy said, leaning against the door jamb between the bar and the kitchen.

"No, the boys are with my Mom. They should be fine. Well, the kids will be fine. We should all say a prayer for my mother," Beverly chuckled.

Bella had missed Beverly's laugh. She had been heartbroken when John 'left town,' but after a few calm weeks, she realized how much she did not need him in her life. Bella was able to relax again too. She had kept up with the gossip around the bar. Her suspensions had been right about his shady dealings. John had owed a lot of money to some very bad people. Everyone assumed they had come to collect.

The next few hours were filled with regulars coming in, soaking wet from the downpour of rain, bright flashes of lightning, and thunder that rattled the windows.

"Edward!" Beverly called to him when he came in the door and sat down on his regular stool. "You are soaked, honey. Why didn't you call? Someone would have come to pick you up!" Beverly made herself busy grabbing him towels. As he pulled a soggy cigarette from his pocket, she laughed and tossed a fresh pack on the counter.

Bella looked through the kitchen pass. It was only nine thirty; what was Edward doing here? Before she could ask him, a loud crack of lightning followed by a boom of thunder caused her to jump as the power went out in the bar.

"Well shit, there goes business for the night," Jimmy said, staring at his almost-cooked burgers on the flat top.

"Give those a few minutes, and they will cook through, and I'm sure Edward will eat at least one," Bella said as she walked behind Jimmy. She took off her apron and tossed it on the table by the time clock.

"What are you doing?"

"Clocking out, the power is out, Jimmy." Bella smirked.

"What about me?"

"What about you?" Beverly asked as she came through the saloon doors. "I, for one, would like to sit out there, drink a beer in the dark, and forget I have children and laundry for a few hours. Jimmy," she said, turning to him, "those burgers hot? I am starving!"

"Sure, I'll plate you one up. Bella?"

"No, I'm good. I ate before I got here. Edward will want one, I'm sure." Bella started pulling down buns from the shelf over the flat top. "Bev, did you leave Edward out there alone?"

"No, Randy's out there."

"Oh lord. Make these burgers, will you? I'll save Edward, kick Randy out, and lock the door." Bella laughed as she walked out behind the bar.

"Randy, time to go," Bella said.

Randy held up his half-full beer. Bella grabbed a bar towel and started shooing him toward the door.

She opened the door as he took his sweet time putting his coat in. "Good night, Randy!"

"See ya tomorrow night!" Randy called as he walked out into the parking lot.

Bella locked then door and pulled the chain to turn the open sign off before turning back to Edward. "What are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you too." He responded, grinning. Their relationship had changed a lot since Christmas Eve. He was loosening up, smiling more. Bella was glad she liked this side of him. He was almost playful.

She looked him square in the eye and said, "To what do we owe the pleasure of your company, good sir? Is that better?" She walked behind the bar, chuckling, and started wiping up the spills.

"Much better, thank you." He laughed. "The factory lost power about two hours ago. They made us hang around just in case it came back on. Merrill got up in the shift manager's face when he said they weren't paying us to sit in the dark, and he finally let us go."

"Good for Merrill, but you should have called."

"That's what Beverly said. I didn't mind the walk." It made Bella so happy that her best friend thought of Edward, too, and she knew that Beverly would have dropped everything and gone out in the storm to pick him up. Edward was becoming part of their little Thelma's family, that was for sure.

"Here ya go," Jimmy said to Edward as he sat the burger in front of him.

"Thanks." Edward grabbed the plate and pulled it closer. He picked up his burger, then stopped and went for his wallet.

"Your money's no good here," Jimmy said over his shoulder as he went back to the kitchen.

Bella winked at Edward, "Eat. I need to clean up a little, and then I can take you home for some dry clothes."

"No!" Beverly yelled, sitting down with her beer and burger. "I told you, I want to drink beer in the dark, no kids, no laundry, remember. Besides, we had all planned on being here til midnight anyway. Why don't we find some candles and play a little pool, maybe?"

"Might be fun," Edward said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Edward, did I hear you right? You want to have fun?" Even in the dark bar, Bella could see Edward's cheeks turn beet red. Beverly narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "And why are you so chipper this evening?"

"Well," Edward looked down at this mostly-eaten burger, "I feel like celebrating."

"Celebrating? Is it your birthday?" Beverly raised her eyebrows in surprise as she glanced at Bella, who was as puzzled as Beverly was.

Barely above a whisper, Edward said, "I haven't had a drink in ninety days."

"What! Edward! That's so great!" Beverly ran over to him and threw her arms around his shoulders. "I am so proud of you." She said, shaking him.

"Thanks, Bella has been a big help." He kept his head down but looked up at her through his lashes.

"Aw, Edward." Bella slid her hand across the bar, ghosting her fingers over his. They locked eyes for a moment, then she quickly pulled her hand back and tucked it into her pocket.

Bella turned back to a shocked look on Beverly's face. "I thought we were playing pool." She said more aggressively than she intended, then slapped the bar. "Be prepared to have your ass kicked, Masen."

"I don't know, Bella. I am a pretty good pool player." Edward said, giving her mock attitude right back. Clearly, whatever moment they had shared was gone, and it was time to relax and let it go. He could ruminate on it later. Right now, he had a chance to get to know Beverly and Jimmy better. He was still finding his place with Bella's friends, and he hoped that one day he could be part of the family. "In fact, I might kick your ass." His face flushed again.

"Damn, Edward." Bella laughed. "Finish your dinner, and let's just see who the better pool player is!" Bella leaned onto the bar and hopped her butt up on it, then swinging her legs over, she hopped off the other side, landing on her feet. Beverly and Edward clapped sarcastically. She took a deep bow and went to rack the balls.

After two hours, Beverly, Bella, and Jimmy all owed Edward money. He was a good pool player. The power had come back on as they wrapped their final game.

"Well, girls, this was fun. Edward, I will have twenty dollars for you once I cash out the drawer." Jimmy said. Edward shook his head. He could not take Jimmy's money after all the free food he had eaten.

"Bella, you start cleaning up out here, and I can start in the kitchen helping Jimmy, and we can meet in the middle and stock the bar. Sound like a plan?" Beverly said with a mischievous look in her eye. The flirting between Edward and Bella was not lost on her.

"I can clean up out here. Just tell me what I need to do." Edward spoke up.

"No, Edward, you sit down. We can get it." Bella eyed his hip.

"I can use a broom, Bella, and I want to help." He shuffled his feet, barely glancing at her.

"Let the man sweep. My feet are killing me." Beverly whined with a grin on her face.

"Alright, all you need to do is sweep the floor and wipe the tables down. I'll stock the bar." Bella told him.

Edward nodded and went to the cleaning closet to get out the supplies. Beverly grabbed Bella by the arm and dragged her into the kitchen.

Once the doors were closed and Jimmy was taking the trash out, Beverly cornered Bella. "Spill it, sister. I saw that little hand thing you did when Edward told us he was sober, and the two of you were flirting all night. Did something happen?"

"Nothing has happened because nothing can happen."

"But Bella—"

"No, Bev, I am trying so hard every day to fight how I feel about him. Please don't make it any harder." Bella said, her voice wavered with emotion.

The girls stood staring at each other. Beverly could see the pain in Bella's eyes. She was such a good person. She deserved someone like Edward. "I think he loves you too. Whatever has happened to you in the past, whatever you might have done, Bella, he would still love you. I am sure of that."

"Don't make this any harder, I beg you, Bev. Please, my heart can't take it."

The back door swinging open startled them both. "What the fuck happened?" Jimmy said, eyeing them both. Beverly was crying, and Bella looked like she was about to faint. "Did Edward do something?" He asked with his eyes narrowed.

"No!" The girls said in unison, but Edward had done something. He had made Bella fall in love with him.

"Anything else you need me to do? I swept and wiped down tables and the bar. I'm happy to restock. Just tell me where the supplies are." Edward called through the window pass.

Beverly wiped her tears and gave Bella a soft touch on the shoulder before taking a step back so she could see Edward, "Thanks, hon. We got most of the bar stuff done earlier, and I will finish it when I get in tomorrow. You were a huge help, Edward." She walked over to the time clock to leave her apron and grab her purse, "Bella, take him home, tell him how you feel. I think you will feel better." Then she pushed open the back door, "Good night, Jimmy!" She said right before the heavy door slammed shut.

"She's right, ya know."

"What?"

"Bev, she's right. Talk to him, Bella. He's a good guy; hell, he quit drinking, but he's here every night for you. You smile more when he's around. You seem at peace." Jimmy shrugged his shoulders. "I know, I know. 'Shut up, Jimmy, mind your own business, Jimmy.' I just wanted you to know I agree with Bev for once. He's out there waiting for you." Jimmy said as he pushed Bella toward the saloon doors.

She wished they all understood. Edward was all she wanted. "Ready to go?" She asked him more cheerily than she felt.

He shook his head, stood up, and followed her to the front door. Opening it, he held the door, and when they were both through, he stood behind her until she locked the bar. He wondered if she knew he had heard everything happening in the kitchen.

The ride to Edward's apartment was quiet. Bella pulled up in front of his building, and they sat quietly for several minutes. Edward turned to Bella, mustering the courage to tell her how he felt.

He reached to unbuckle the seatbelt. Since he was not great with words, he was going to let his kiss tell her everything in his heart. His hands shook as he leaned into her, and she met him halfway. He watched her beautiful brown eyes flutter closed. Their lips almost touched when she jerked against her seatbelt. A startling growl ripped from her throat. It was the sound of a predatory animal about to take its down prey.

"Get the fuck out of my car Edward." She snarled.

"Bella, I'm sorry I thought—"

"Get the fuck away from me, Edward! Now! Now!" She screeched.

He wrenched the door open and spilled out onto the sidewalk, trying to stand on very unsteady legs. Bella peeled out, leaving thrown gravel and smoke in her wake.

Bella sped around the corner, taking her Impala up on two wheels. As soon as she was several blocks from Edward's, she pulled over and began violently beating the steering wheel and shrieking. If it had not been for her seatbelt keeping her pulled back, she would have ripped his throat out. Being around humans was not usually a problem if she kept herself fed, which she always did. The fact that Edward was going to kiss her and that she wanted to kiss him back made her lose all control. She hit the steering wheel one more time. Her stomach roiled. She was going to be sick, so she undid her seatbelt and opened the car door just in time to vomit venom all over the street. She retched several times before she felt like the episode was over. She situated herself back in her seat and started the car. She drove home slowly, trying to avoid the inevitable. It was time to leave Forks.

Edward stood stunned on the sidewalk. He ran his hands through his hair, trying to figure out what he had done wrong. It took everything in him not to walk down to Dolly's and beat on the door until Joe opened it, but Roger's words came back to him: booze is nothing more than a band-aid on an open artery. He took a deep breath and slowly walked into the building and up to his apartment.

By the time he made it to his door, tears were streaming down his face. He unlocked and pushed against the door, falling through the doorway and onto the floor. He kicked the door shut. He lay in the entryway, his body wracked with sobs.

Several hours passed, and when he thought he could stand, he got to his knees, using the wall to steady him. He was mentally and physically wrung out, and his hip was on fire. He walked to the bathroom and took two aspirin. Then he went to the kitchen and drank a full glass of water. He grabbed his cigarettes off the kitchen table and limped to his recliner. He spent the rest of the night chain-smoking and trying to understand where everything went wrong.