One of the many, many things I struggle with as a storyteller is that I never let my characters dwell. I'll introduce an issue and set right to fixing it. I think it makes my stories feel too fast. So, in this chapter, we're letting things simmer and thicken, like a savoy pasta sauce.

B-POV

I frowned at the French Press on the counter, willing it faster. It was a gift from Esme. She surprised me with it when I voiced my desire for a cup of coffee one snowy afternoon. She pulled it out from a staggering number of unopened boxes containing kitchen supplies given to Carlisle from patients over the years. Most of the family watched in fascination as the coffee brewed in the clear glass.

It was simple, old, and functional—all the things I required in my household items. But it was painfully slow. It took eight minutes to make just one, decent-sized cup of coffee. Since I spent most of my nights awake with Edward—despite my promises that he wouldn't interfere with my sleeping pattern—it was seven minutes too slow.

"Good morning, Bells," Charlie greeted, the epitome of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. His sunshiny disposition was a stark contrast to the gray and gloom outside the window. Typically, I appreciated Charlie's bright moods, for they lifted my spirits, as well. That morning, I was too tired.

I did my best not to scowl. "Did you have a good weekend?"

"Wonderful! Billy brought me to another incredible fishing spot."

"Wow," I said, with genuine enthusiasm. "Fishing again? That has to be your fifth time."

"I suppose it was."

"It's nice. I don't think anything has held your interest for so long."

"You think?" He laughed, jutting his thumb to the corner of the kitchen, where the chairs remained upholstered, surrounded by broken antiques Charlie had every intention to fix.

I joined in with his laughter, holding a hand up to my brow, a bit ashamed.

"I've never felt as calm as when I am sitting in a boat on a lake. All my cares in the world reduced to the wiggle of a line. Even then, it's not that serious. Because I know I can pick up a pack of fish sticks at the store on the way home."

I smiled, delighted by my dad's obvious joy.

"How was your weekend?"

"It was nice and quiet. Edward and I stayed in for the most part." I chose not to speak of game night, or Jacob's appearance.

"Seems like you've founded a kindred soul, as well."

I looked down at the French Press, afraid for Charlie to look into my eyes and see how far I had fallen for Edward. He was my everything. "I have…"

"Look at us," Charlie elbowed me, playfully. "The Swans have finally found our mates! We will squawk and flap our wings no longer!"

I laughed, glad I never had to use a mating ritual to win Edward's heart.

After Charlie wrapped up his morning routine, he kissed my cheek and bid me farewell. "We should plan another dinner for the four of us."

I opened my mouth to wholeheartedly agree, until Charlie clarified, "Once you and Jacob have a chance to get to know each other, you kids are going to hit it off."

The thought brought a lump to my throat, rendering me speechless.

I had no idea what I was going to do about Charlie dating Billy. Obviously, I couldn't expect him to end the relationship. Billy grounded Charlie—managed to keep him still after a life of flitting about like a hummingbird. Billy was respectable and kind —the apple could not have fallen further from the tree.

Drumming my fingers on the edge of the counter, I considered my options. Suddenly, Edward burst through the front door, calling my name.

"I'm in here," I called, perplexed. Edward typically sat in the car and waited for me. I've never known him to be impatient in any way.

His expression softened as if he were relieved to see me alive and standing. "Are you alright?"

"Of course, I am."

"I half expected to find you sprawled on the ground, unconscious."

I placed a hand on my hip, offended. "I'm not nearly that helpless."

"Sweetheart, I've been waiting out there for twenty minutes."

I regarded the French Press with another frown. If as much time passed as Edward claimed, I would have left the water to brew for far too long. It would be undrinkable by now. We were already late, and there was no time to make another.

"Sorry," I muttered, as Edward drew me into his arms and kissed my forehead. "I guess I lost track of time."

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I pressed my hand to my forehead, already fighting a caffeine headache. "Let's go."

Edward clearly didn't believe me but didn't argue. Over the course of our two morning classes, I was able to convince myself I was fine. In fact, I was great. Charlie and Billy being together was a great deterrence for Jacob. And Charlie would always know his whereabouts via Billy, making him easy to avoid. If they got married, it would solve my issues for good. After all, Jacob couldn't romantically pursue his stepsister.

My confidence faltered the moment I saw Jacob sitting in my usual spot at lunch, smiling and laughing with my friends. As they greeted me, Jacob turned his head in the opposite direction, ignoring me completely. Rejection burned deep in the pit of my stomach, though his attention was the last thing I wanted.

I didn't understand how Jacob could maintain such a strong hold over me. I had the arm of my loving, thoughtful boyfriend draped across my shoulder. Mere moments ago, his lips were pressed to my ear moments ago as he told me how pretty I looked. Yet, I'd never felt more undesirable.

Edward hugged me goodbye like he had every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for weeks. The hug felt final for some unknowable reason, like it was the last time he would ever hold me, though I knew it wasn't the case.

"Are you alright?" Edward asked for the thousandth time that morning. He must be worried that I lost my mind. I probably had.

"I'm fine," I whispered, unconvincingly.

Edward nodded, seemingly as reluctant to go as I was for him to leave. He only took one step before I snatched his sleeve and yanked his arm, "Please don't go."

I wasn't fine at all.

E-POV

I slumped over my piano. My forehead rested on the keys, causing the piano to groan rather than sing. Bella was with Esme and Alice in their studio, getting another sewing lesson from Alice. I sat at the grand piano in the living room, too nervous to stray too far from Bella. The three floors of separation between the studio and the piano in my room felt like too much.

Bella had spent the day in a haze. Started the morning late for class. She was quiet with her friends at lunch, after begging me to stay at her side. She almost walked straight into traffic. Had I not yanked her back, she would have been squashed by a van.

Despite all that, she continuously insisted she was fine.

So, I had no choice but to remain close and monitor the situation. I hoped that time with Alice and Esme would relax her. She adored them and the time they spent in that studio together. She usually left them with eyes bright from mirth and a laugh fading from her lips. But from what I could tell from Alice's thoughts, Bella sat quiet and stoic, unable to focus. I listened to Alice's internal grumblings as she rethreaded the sewing machine for Bella for the third time that afternoon.

In the back of my mind, I heard someone decide to seek me out. Moments I was thankful for my gift were few and far between, but I was pleased that I had the opportunity to sit up properly before Jasper stepped into the living room. Though, judging from his cautious thoughts, I knew he could taste my anxiety.

"So, you're not avoiding the family, just your responsibilities. That's good to know."

I swallowed my petulant response. Though Jasper's tone took on one of a father instead of a brother, he didn't deserve the backlash. I had ditched a prior obligation. Alice and I were supposed to spend our weekend looking for clues about the mysterious Hunter at the Bloated Toad. Plans were set until Bella asked me to stay the night. Which led to an entire weekend spent in her tiny room, the threat of the Hunter more or less forgotten.

"I'm sorry," I said in earnest. I stopped playing to push my hair off my forehead, only to have it tumble back down. "Bella had a bad night. She needed me."

"She'll have a worse night if you get tracked down and killed."

"No need to sugarcoat for my benefit."

Jasper was not amused. "You'll go tonight."

I restarted the song Jasper interrupted as if it could hide my emotions from him in the music. It was probably the worst time for me to leave. Thinking of the way Bella snatched my sleeve, unable to release me until I promised I would skip my class to stay with her at lunch, I knew she would not like my answer when she inevitably asked me to stay with her for another night.

Jasper sensed my reluctance with disapproval.

"How do you think I feel sending Alice out? But I know it's for the good of the coven for it to be you two going out. No one will slip past your notice, and Alice needs to familiarize herself with the area, in case she gets a vision. We all make sacrifices. So can you. So can Bella."

I wasn't sure if I could explain to my brother that my biggest concern wasn't a Hunter at all, but a harmless human from Bella's past. So, I kept my mouth shut and merely nodded. I would go for the sake of the family.

Jasper lingered in the living room, so I continued to play. Though I was annoyed with his despotic tone, I knew he was only doing what he thought was right, so I switched songs to one of his favorites.

Alice's thoughts burst into my mind, nearly knocking me off the bench. "Get ready!" she practically shouted. Then, she shouted out loud. Louder than I could ever expect from someone so small. "Jasper! Catch me!"

From Jasper's mind, I watched as he whirled towards the east entrance into the living room, prepared. His breath caught in his throat when she swung into the room. Her porcelain face, tiny, pointy features, and the spikey disarray of her hair still enchanted him after all their years together. He composed himself in time to catch his wife as she launched herself into the air. He held her up over his head by the waist. Alice stretched out above him, as elegantly poised as a ballerina. Except, unlike a ballerina, Alice giggled and kicked her feet.

I picked up the tempo of the song to something they could dance to.

At the sound of Alice's delighted squeals, Carlisle emerged at the top of the staircase. He took over as Alice's dance partner, just as Esme emerged from the back room to be swept up in Jasper's embrace. Soon after, Rosalie and Emmett emerged to join. Rosalie might have avoided me at all costs, but she would never miss an opportunity to be fawned over. She was such a skilled dancer, she was sure to be showered with praise.

My eyes continuously flickered to the hallway towards the studio, where Bella now sat alone. I made up my mind to go back and get her when she finally crept into the room, three songs into the impromptu dance. She smiled shyly at me, but remained where she was. She leaned against the doorframe and watched my family, eyes wide with wonder. The couples swapped again as I began the fourth song. Emmett extended his hand toward Bella.

"No, no, no, no," she waved her hands and backed into the hall. She stumbled on the threshold, causing Emmett to break into riotous laughter. There were many things Emmett enjoyed about Bella, but her inability to remain upright was his favorite.

While Emmett was busy laughing, Carlisle offered his hand to Bella, as well. She politely declined. With an apologetic smile, she pointed at me and hurried to join me on the bench. She settled, facing out toward my family, with a deep sigh. I let her watch my family twirl around for another song before I switched on the record player, allowing it to take over the music on my behalf, so I wouldn't be tethered to the piano.

I turned to Bella on the bench and held out my hand. "Will you dance with me, my love?"

She shook her head, "Who will play the music?"

I gestured to the record player, already singing out one of my favorite songs, "Record players have been around for a very long time."

"You love the piano. Don't stop playing on my account."

"I love you more."

Finally, she looked down at her hands, folded on her lap. "I'm not very good at dancing."

I could have told her I didn't care or that I was good enough for both of us. Instead, I dropped the subject, wondering if she would have given the same response last week, before the return of her ex-boyfriend.

I waited for another song to finish before another futile attempt to cheer her up. "Bella..?"

"Yes?"

I tickled the keys behind her back. "Do you remember the last time we were together on this bench?"

"How could I forget? It was Valentine's Day."

"Do you remember what I said to you?"

"That you'll never need to dream, now that you've met me."

I chuckled at her stoic tone—as if she were reciting an essay in front of a classroom rather than my declaration of love. "You weren't very impressed then, either."

I almost got a smile out of her. The corners of her mouth twitched. "Well, I imagine almost every boyfriend said something similar to their girlfriend on Valentine's Day."

"Not like I did." I lowered my face towards hers, eager for the rest of that smile. "For there is no other boyfriend who lived alone with not even dreams to keep him company, only to discover they would have paled in comparison, anyway."

I pressed my lips to hers. Had we been alone in my room, that kiss would have granted me the smile I sought.

But we were in my living room.

With my family.

Who had zero regard for personal boundaries.

Bombarded with thoughts of intrigue, delight, and the curiosity one would give a roadside accident, I peeked into each one of their minds and saw myself as the focus. After years of ignoring their public displays of affection to the best of my ability, I couldn't believe all six of them had the gall to watch mine.

I broke the kiss on looked up. As if they rehearsed it, the family returned their attention back to their dance partners and continued their dance.

Only Emmett's met my seething glare to offer me a thumbs up.

"Don't mind us," Alice instructed with a shove of her hands in our direction.

Since I could only glean her thoughts and could not put them in her head, I threw her a look to ask if she was serious.

Insanely enough, she was.

I could only hope that Bella didn't notice the blatant invasion of privacy, but from the sound of the small gasp that escaped her lips, I knew it was a vain hope. Nothing slipped past my Bella. I reached over to place a comforting hand on her back, but she was already standing.

"I'll be right back," she whispered.

"Alright." I nodded, even though I knew it was a lie.

The second she slipped back into the hall that led to the studio, my family gave up on their ruse. I dropped my head into my hands. Carlisle placed a hand on my shoulder. "To kiss a human is a remarkable feat of strength," he commented. "One you should not be embarrassed to display."

I ran my hands up to my hair and pulled on the roots. My personal shame was the least of my concerns. Bella had not been herself all day because of the return of some guy and I had no clue what to do about it.

Jasper crept closer. He could feel what I felt and didn't understand the lack of pain or angst being too close to Bella's blood as I constantly am. I hadn't had issues with bloodlust in ages—not since I learned what caused the venom and how to deal with that minor issue. "Remarkable."

"Remarkable is right," Emmett's booming voice caused me to flinch. "Eddie is possibly the only person to sulk like that after kissing a pretty girl."

I lifted my head to glare at my brother, only to make him laugh harder. I wished I could be annoyed with my family, but they've lived without privacy because of me for so long, it's no longer the standard. Why should I expect what I could not offer?

Now frustrated with myself, I left my brothers, father, and piano behind to check on Bella in the studio. Alice and Esme were already inside. Bella sat on the bench in front of the window, attempting to look busy with hand stitches, but she wasn't making progress. Esme was in the chair beside her, drawing yet another picture of the greenhouse. Alice was chattering away as if she could dispel all the discomfort with the sound of her voice.

I joined Bella on the bench, concerned that she didn't instinctively lean over for a kiss to the temple like she usually did.

"Why don't we go dancing?" Alice concluded, "We should really go dancing."

"That's a great idea, Pet," Esme agreed, without looking up from the drawing in her lap.

"That way, you'll be forced to join us, Isabella Marie Swan." Alice poked her finger into Bella's arm—the pestering little sister, through and through.

Bella gave the same excuse she gave me, "I'm not a very good dancer."

"Nonsense. You don't need to be good—Edward will do all the work for you. You just need to show up at look pretty."

Bella gave my sister a face that said she doubted she could even do that, which was obviously impossible. All Bella ever did was show up to places looking pretty.

Esme set her drawing down to look out the window, wistfully. "Remember all the nights we went out dancing?" she asked me.

"You and Edward?" Bella asked, engaged in the conversation for the first time that day.

"We used to go out to the clubs on nights when he had a hard day. Carlisle was at work, the others were together. I refused to let him sit alone and sulk."

"Good," Bella said like I wasn't sitting between them. "Because he loves to sit alone and sulk."

Esme's chair was close enough to the bench that she could brush back the hair along my ears. "It always helped to leave the thoughts behind to the beat of the music and the movement of his feet."

Had Bella not expressed interest in the subject, I would have stopped the conversation with a roll of my eyes. But there was finally color in her cheeks and a sparkle in her eye. If an intrusive conversation with my mother was the thing that would finally pull her out of her mood, I would allow it to continue forever.

"Is Edward a good dancer?"

"Rosalie and Edward are the best dancers," Alice said, "but they both refuse to dance with one another. It's a travesty. Because if they did, it would be a work of art. They could win a vampire dance competition show. Obviously, they could win a human dance competition show, too, but they can't compete because they'll immediately be famous."

"And morals," I added.

"Whatever," Alice shrugged, "It doesn't matter. Soon, you'll be as graceful as any of us."

Bella regarded her skeptically, "Because you're going to make a deal with the devil?'

"No, silly!" Alice giggled, giving Bella a playful shove. "When you become a vampire!"

The air was sucked out of the room. The color drained from Bella's face.

"Did you not discuss this, yet?" Esme asked, as if Bella's pallid face wasn't the answer to her question.

"Not quite," I said between clenched teeth.

As I watched Bella shrink back, my mind reeled for something to say, some way to fix this. More than anything, I wished to soothe Bella out of her frozen state, but I worried my touch would do more harm than good. Just when I decided the best course of action would be to throw Bella over my shoulder and haul her out of this house, a quiet voice beside me murmured, "Does it hurt?"

Alice and I immediately made eye contact. She answered the question burning in my eyes. "Asking questions is a good sign."

Esme was the one to answer Bella. "Yes," she said honestly.

"How much?"

"Have you ever burned yourself by accident?"

Bella quirked a brow in Esme's direction, as if to ask, who do you think you're talking to? Despite herself, Esme laughed. Avid cook and klutz Isabella Swan undoubtedly burned herself.

"If you can, imagine that pain. Then, imagine that pain inflicted on your entire body. Then, imagine that pain lasting for three whole days."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, wondering if it was really for the best to go into such detail. I had known the process of the change for years—experienced myself. Somehow, the entire thing sounded more horrifying when it was described to Bella.

Bella leaned into me. "Oh my god."

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to," I assured her with a few gentle pats.

With wide and curious eyes, Bella asked, "How does it begin? Do I drink Edward's blood?"

Alice bared her teeth.

"From our bite," Esme explained.

Realization dawned on Bella's face. "You're venomous." She said it like a recollection, like she already knew she kissed a venomous monster every day.

"So, Edward bites me and poisons me." I winced at the concept, but I supposed it was the best way to put it. "After three days I wake up a vampire."

"That's right."

"Only if you want to," I clarified again, hoping she understood that turning into a vampire was entirely optional and nothing I was forcing her into.

"I know," she said, giving my knee an absentminded squeeze. "Then what happens?"

"It gets a bit tricky when you first wake up," Esme admitted. "You're going to be insatiably thirsty and emotionally unstable."

"But between all of us, you'll never have the chance to get out of hand," Alice promised. "And you're going to wake up strong and graceful and beautiful."

"And a part of our family," Esme added.

Bella's attention was locked on Alice. "It makes you beautiful?"

Alice giggled. "Didn't you brag about all the vampire research you did before coming into this?"

Bella blushed. "Well, it's hard to tell what's true and what's not from the internet. No website or book told me I would have to worry about the lack of personal space with vampires." She said, making Alice laugh. "How does vampire venom make you beautiful?"

Alice shrugged, "Carlisle never really understood the science of it, but the venom will turn you into the perfect version of yourself. So, if someone had an unsightly mole it would go away. Or if their feet were proportionally too big, it would make them smaller."

"The perfect version of yourself," she murmured, almost to herself.

"You're already perfect," I reminded her.

"You'll still be you," Alice continued. "Like, the venom might have sharpened Edward's jaw enough to cut glass, but he still dresses like his mother laid his clothes on his bed every morning."

"It didn't make you taller," I countered.

Alice crossed her arms and held her chin in the air, haughtily. "That's because I am the perfect height."

Bella settled back into silence, once more. It was different than the state of shock and horror she had been in for most of the day. For one, she leaned into me, and allowed me to place my arm around her. While Esme, Alice, and I discussed the science of vampirism, Bella gnawed on her lower lip, considering. She would interject with a random question occasionally.

Is there a chance the change could fail? No.

If I were careful, I would never have to drink human blood? It's possible. Neither Rosalie nor Carlisle has tasted human blood.

She remained thoughtful until it was time for me to take her home for dinner.

"I'm sorry about the family," I said, when we were far enough away for them to hear. "It's all my fault."

"It's fine," she sighed. My jaw clenched—I was beginning to loathe that word. "I can't promise Charlie wouldn't do the exact same thing if he were in their place."

"Regardless, our relationship isn't for their entertainment."

"They're happy for you." She was sweet to defend them. Too sweet. "They want to watch you be happy."

"Tell me something." The request slid from my tongue, unbidden. I meant to continue our conversation, rather than abruptly switch the subject.

"Anything."

"What was going through your mind when Alice said…"

"Oh," she interrupted, before I could get the word out. I wondered if she did it on purpose, so she wouldn't have to hear vampire again. She shifted in her seat. "It wasn't good."

"I would still like to know."

She waited a beat or two, without grabbing my hand or reaching for my thigh—the usual things she did while she sought comfort. It set me on edge. "I thought that it was going to be the perfect way to get away from Jacob."

For a long moment, I truly considered cheating on my vegetarian diet. Only for one meal.

The boy had only been back for a single weekend, yet he was already the center of my girlfriend's every thought. There was nothing I could do about it. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't dispel the fog he placed her under. Nothing I said to her would negate his words. Hell, I couldn't stop her from turning into a vampire because of him. If Bella wished to change as a means of escaping her current life rather than starting a new life with me, that was her prerogative.

When I pulled into her driveway, it was empty once again. Charlie must have been with Billy. Bella frowned at the dark, empty house, as if it were the last place she wanted to be. It hurt my heart to open the passenger door, ushering her into somewhere she didn't want to go. She looked up at me, blankly, for a moment. Then, got out, without reaching for my hand like she usually did. When she realized I wasn't following her up to the front door, she asked, "Are you going to stay with me tonight?"

"I'm sorry, Sweetheart. I can't. Not tonight."

Just as I knew she would, Bella deflated. She would spend her entire night alone and sulking. I cursed the presence of that Hunter, unknowingly taking me from where I needed to be most.

"It's that Hunter," I explained. "Alice and I have to make sure there isn't a threat to the family. Nothing less than a dire situation could take me from you, Bella."

"I understand," she muttered. She turned for the door and I couldn't bear to watch her leave. Not like that.

"We'll do something fun this weekend," I proposed. I hoped giving her something to look forward to would help, even a little. "And I won't leave your side."

She agreed, albeit reluctantly.

"I love you," I reminded her, though it no longer seemed like enough.

"I love you, too."

Though I did not doubt her, it seemed that her love was overshadowed by another, darker emotion. Driving away, I couldn't help but imagine Jacob as the Hunter I was about to track down, to give me a justified reason to break his face.

Before we get upset with Bella, I'd just like to remind you that the only time she was truly happy on her gloomy day was when she was learning about Edward.