She sat upright in bed, a scream trapped behind her lips and her pulse scrambling like a caged animal. It took several long moments for her to realize she was awake, and even knowledge that it was just a nightmare didn't take away the gut-wrenching terror ricocheting off of every nerve. Neither did the fact that she couldn't remember a single detail besides the fear. Stumbling out the hall to the bathroom she ran cold water in the sink, splashing her face with it several times in the hopes that it would help her shake off the last vestiges of whatever horror gripped her. After a few moments Jess made her way back to her bedroom and flopped down on her stomach.

~I must've dozed after getting myself off,~ she thought, rolling over onto her side and watching her curtains flutter in the darkening evening breeze. From downstairs she could hear the television and knew that her folks were home. Suddenly seized with the need to not be alone, she pulled her robe on and wandered down the stairs. Her mother was sitting at the kitchen table with her checkbook and a pile of papers, but she looked up and smiled when Jessica entered.

"Hi, baby. Rough day?" Jess, hit by the dark humor of that statement, smiled wryly and nodded before pouring herself a glass of apple juice and sitting down across from her mom. "Want to talk about it?" Taking a drink of her juice, she shook her head slightly before answering.

"Nah. It's just the same stuff. I think I might be coming down with a cold or something, though. I'm really tired." Inwardly Jess cringed at the lie, but her desire for company from the moment before had faded only to be replaced by a burning desire for solitude. "I just wanted a drink."

"Well, why don't you grab yourself some chicken rice soup - it's on the stove. And then you can head back to bed. If you're still feeling icky in the morning we'll take you in to see the doctor." Jessica nearly blanched at her mom's casual statement, hiding her reaction by grabbing a bowl from the cupboard and dipping some soup out. She tried to keep her voice nonchalant as she spoke, keeping her face turned from her mother as she dug out a spoon.

"I'm sure it's nothing. I'll be fine after I get some sleep."

"Well, make sure you do. Your father's already in bed - he's got a long day tomorrow. And I'm heading to go visit Gramma and Aunt Sandy after work tomorrow. So just rest up and go to school, and then come back and relax." There was a pause, silence broken only by shuffling papers, a scratching pen, and Jess' spoon occasionally clinking against the bowl. She had just about finished when her mother's voice came again, softly and almost carelessly.

"Did you and Mike have a falling-out?" Jessica stopped dead. Regardless of how casual the question was phrased, she knew her mother, and knew she hadn't fooled her. ~Please let me keep this from her for a little while longer,~ she pleaded with whatever forces were out there.

"Kind of, yeah," she said finally. She didn't volunteer any further information, knowing her mom would ask, and every spare moment gave her a chance to come up with a plausible, believable answer without actually telling her the truth. Sure enough, a few minutes later Mrs. Stanley spoke again.

"I heard about a bit of a scuffle at school today. Did you want to talk about it?" This time, phrased so differently from the first asking, Jess knew it wasn't an invitation but a command. Gathering her shreds of willpower, she made herself sound unconcerned.

"Well, he was being a bit of an arrogant moron, so I went and had dinner with Bella and Edward and his family." She was pleased with herself for not letting her nerves creep into her tone, but her satisfaction was shaken in the next moment.

"I'd heard that Bella and Mike got into a fight." Jess took a deep breath and set about weaving a story.

"Yeah. He was being...well, like I said, he was being a moron. And he was trying to pick a fight with Edward and Jasper. I guess when Bella came up behind him she startled him, 'cause he pushed her, and it looked like just reflex that she hit him." She made it a point not to hold her breath. If her mother believed her, then that was it, but if she didn't, phones all over Forks would be ringing in the next ten minutes as she called around to get the real story. Once more Jess cursed her luck at being born and raised in a town the size of a thimble. Finally, after regarding Jess with a steady stare, the older woman settled back in her chair.

"So, I notice you referring to the Cullens by their first names now. That's new." Jessica could have wept in relief. This was an easier statement to field.

"Yeah. Bella's finally convinced them to open up a little. They're really nice. I guess moving around so much made them kind of reclusive." She was filling things in with her own observations, but the more she spoke the more it made sense to her. She decided to tell her mother about dinner - well, a bit about it. "After I decided I didn't want to deal with Mike today, given his attitude, they invited me over to eat and hang out. Their house is so beautiful! And Dr and Mrs Cullen are such sweet people. It was great." After another moment, her mother smiled.

"I'm so glad. I've often wondered how hard it must be on all of the kids when Dr Cullen has to transfer as often as he does." Jess just nodded and scraped the last of the chicken rice out of the bottom of her bowl. Standing, she rinsed it and put it in the dishwasher, then walked back over to her mom.

"Well, I'm going to head back to bed and rest. I'll see you after you get back tomorrow evening. Tell Gramma and Aunt Sandy I love them." The two Stanley women shared a hug.

"I will. Night, baby. Sleep well." Jess turned and made her way back to her bedroom, waiting until after her door was closed to collapse on the bed in relief.

~That...was difficult,~ she thought wearily, curling onto her side and staring out the window at the shifting clouds, noticing the rain easing a bit. Still, as emotionally and physically drained as she was, she wasn't so eager to go back to sleep. She was afraid of what she might find behind her closed eyelids. Instead, she decided let her mind wander over more pleasant things.

~Like the man in the playground,~ she mused, then giggled. Rolling onto her back, she just sighed and stared at the ceiling, letting her mind ebb and flow as it would.

Bella knew if she'd been trying to hold herself in her current position she likely would have broken something. But as it was, being suspended four feet in the air in the arms of two insanely strong vampires while the third spread warm oil on her bare skin was very, very pleasant and comfortable. And arousing. Edward's arms supported her head and shoulders while Emmett effortlessly held her legs, keeping them spread just enough that the occasional icy raindrop would find its way along her swollen tissues, making her shiver. Jasper's fingers alternated between dripping the scented concoction onto her breasts and stomach and rubbing it in, taking time to squeeze and rub her nipples while he massaged the oil into her. Occasionally he'd reach an oil-slick hand between her legs and stroke her clit, teasing and tormenting while she begged for more, but mostly he kept his touches just firm enough to not tickle. He'd already worked her close to the edge of orgasm countless times, and she was going absolutely insane with need. She'd have been happy to beg for release were it not for the fact that her beloved Edward had gagged her with one of the scarves, instructing her to 'keep quiet and behave' - an admonition that drove her nuts in itself. As it was, she could only make muffled sounds, and those weren't very loud at all.

"Beautiful," Jasper whispered, pouring another dollop of oil from the thin glass bottle, rubbing it over her ribs and around her sides, working it down her skin slowly, slowly...there was that teasing touch again, slick fingers spreading her lower folds to rub against the pearl nestled there, making her writhe ineffectually in her captors' grips. They'd been tormenting her like this for what felt like years, priming her but never letting her have what she wanted. She arched upwards against Jasper's questing fingers, whimpering as he took pity on her and slipped one deep inside her. However, the pity was short lived as he took it out again quickly, returning to stroking her collarbone and neck.

"Aw, Jazz, I think she wants something," Emmett laughed. Bella just nodded frantically, but the three vampires ignored her.

"I'd say she does," chimed in Edward. "I think she might be ready." Jasper looked at his brothers, then turned his gaze on their captive.

"I don't know," he murmured, dark promises saturating his words. "Perhaps she is." Keeping his eyes on hers, he reached up and tugged her nipples once, twice, a third time, and she whimpered and moaned. Nodding as though coming to a decision, he abruptly turned and took a seat on the sturdy porch lounge. She watched as he leaned back slightly, wrapping one hand around his shaft and stroking slowly, base to tip and back again, the oil making his pole gleam in the yellow light from the torches Carlisle had unobtrusively lit.

"So, Edward, did you want to join in on this one? Or would you rather see it in person rather than just through Emmett's memories?" Bella, still mesmerized by the sight of a very naked Jasper pumping his hand over his prick, was amazed to feel her boyfriend's hands tremble a bit before his grip firmed. ~Wow,~ she thought in her haze, ~Edward wants to watch?~

"I think I'd like to see this one with my own eyes," he said hoarsely. Jasper, already having read the answer from Edward's emotions, simply nodded.

"Well, Emmett, looks like we're on. Give your girl to your brother, Edward, and take a seat." Without a word Emmett picked Bella up fully and carried her over, arranging her so that she was standing on her own shaky feet, straddling Jasper's ready cock. Looking into the Southern vampire's eyes she was treated to a very wicked grin.

"Your show now, kitten. The quicker you slide that hungry pussy down here, the quicker Emmett can mount your tight little ass and we can show your man how his girl likes to be taken." Her nerves were jam and her will was nonexistent as she dropped herself down onto his throbbing dick, the gag still in her mouth making it impossible for her to do more than moan. She leaned forward, trusting Jasper to support her as Emmett lined himself up behind her, and in less than ninety seconds she was stuffed full and helpless as they began to move. As though her own ready libido wasn't enough, Jasper let her feel a combination of his and Emmett's desire as he picked up the pace, and soon she was screaming behind the silk as they took their pleasure. There was no hesitation this time, not gentle queries as to her well being. No, they knew her limits and planned to take her to them. Emmett reached around and pulled her back against his chest, using his powerful legs to move them both, the action effectively forcing his cock balls-deep in her ass and working her up and down on Jasper's pulsing wood. From the corner of her eye she could see Edward leaning against the railing watching, a dark, desperate look in his eyes as he no doubt poured through every thought in the others' heads while they fucked her. And not far away she could also see Carlisle, golden eyes tracing every inch of her as she was pulled and tugged and stretched and filled. The combination of everything was almost too much but she fought to stay conscious, to keep her eyes open. Ages passed and she came again and again, the pleasure intensifying and waning as they alternately sped up or slowed down, and she'd completely given up on keeping track of time - of anything, really.

"I think she'd like to get something besides fabric between those pretty lips," Emmett muttered, motioning Edward over. She watched her man approach slowly, felt his strong fingers untie the soft silk, felt those same fingers slip into her hair as he kissed her passionately. The two vampires still embedded in her depths slowed, letting Edward have his moment of dominating her mouth, and then he pulled back.

"Suck me, Bella," he whispered, groaning as she eagerly took his length and began working her tongue and lips against his skin. She could taste the salty tang and knew he was close, knew as well that she wanted them all to finish together. She moved her mouth long enough to gasp, her words strained and raspy with lack of speech.

"Come with me, guys...fuck me harder..." Diving back down on Edward's dick she sucked hard, feeling his hips twitch as her lips pulled at his swollen knob, with Jasper and Emmett pounding harder and more erratically. Thrust...again...she was so close...with a shudder she came, clamping down on the massive cocks in her depths and slurping hard on the one in her mouth. As the waves crashed over her, she felt reality begin to spin away, crying out as first Edward, then Jasper and Emmett found their own completion. Swallowing frantically she gasped and felt her eyes flutter shut...she forced them open but it was too much, too...much...

The last thing she heard was Carlisle's honeyed voice first in her ears, then her mind.

"Five hours and seven minutes, boys. Bella wins."

~Congratulations, love, you were amazing - I can't wait to have you to myself this weekend.~

Author's note: Go Bella! So now she's got her own little Edward and Emmett to play with for a weekend. Just not this weekend. This weekend, she's going to have her...erm...hands full, so to speak. I wonder what exactly Carlisle's got on the agenda for her first days in training?

Thanks to everyone who has been so very patient in waiting for updates. Thus ends this particular Book. Expect to see Ages of Conflict: Book 5 - Learning, chapter one coming to FF Net in the next day or so. :-D