The days flew by on dragon's wings, until she woke up in the middle of the night - not that time had really held a lot of meaning for her here. It took her a moment, but she realized what was different, what had likely woken her up. She saw Carlisle standing on the balcony outside, moonlinght gently gleaming on every inch of his nude form, staring out to sea, and his face in profile was so beautiful it almost hurt to look at him. She knew he'd heard her wake, heard the sheet rustle as she stood and wrapped it around her, walking out quietly to join him. It was a long time before either of them spoke, and when the silence was broken his voice was shockingly unsteady.

"I'm a fool." She turned to him, not knowing what to say, what to do. He didn't look at her, though - he just kept staring out over the waves. Stepping a bit closer, Bella leaned her head against his arm, loving as always the contrast between her skin and his. He held himself still for a moment, and then it seemed almost as though he gave up whatever battle he'd been waging as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his chest and resting his chin on her head.

"We're leaving later today, and when we get home no one will expect any of this to have changed us. But I know it's changed me, at least." Their eyes met, his uncertainty making her feel horrible. She pressed a kiss to his chest. "In these last nine days...Bella, how can I let you go?" She smiled easily where she leaned against him.

"Who says you have to let go? I love Edward more than life itself...but I know now I can't stand the thought of losing you. It's more than the bond, though that's a part of it. You've managed to show me things about myself that I never knew existed. That I can be strong or weak, and it doesn't matter. That it's possible to love more than one person and not feel unfaithful. Tell me you haven't learned the same." She felt him shake his head, his lips pressing against her hair. "Nothing says we have to let go. Neither of us will ever be able to brush off this friendship...this connection. And we won't have to." He pulled away from her enough to lean down and capture her lips in a kiss that said more than words would ever portray - his relief that she understood, his happiness at being with her, his love, and she basked in it like a cat. When he began to kiss her throat, she decided then and there that she would always belong in part to this god among mortals, this wonderful vampire...this man. The thought made her happy.

"Carlisle?" He slowly pulled his lips from her neck, looking at her. "We're leaving later today, but we're still here right now. And it's just you and me." Swallowing with anticipation when his eyes darkened, she stepped back and let the sheet slowly drop to the ground. "We still haven't tested the railing, you know," she murmured, and then he was laughing and she was laughing and they were coming together in mind as well as body. And for Bella and Carlisle, the day began damn near perfectly.

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His excitement was palpable, his hesitance no less so. Esme watched Edward pace back and forth from livingroom to kitchen and back again. After about fifty minutes of that, she stepped in his path and put her hands on his chest.

"Please, no walking holes in my floor...I just varnished and waxed it last week, remember?"

"I can't read her mind, Esme. How will I know if she's really okay with everything, or if she's just saying that to placate me?" She rolled her eyes.

"Edward, you and I both know that when it's something serious, that girl can't lie to save her life. It's going to be fine." He didn't look convinced.

"What if she wants to break it off? Or if she just wants to be exclusive? Or if she suddenly decides that all of this is too overwhelming and leaves? Esme, I don't want to lose her!"

"You've finally almost conquered your fear of breaking her, and now you're worried about losing her? You, Edward, are the most perversely masochistic vampire I have ever met. Sit down." He did so, dropping into the huge armchair with grace. Whatever he was expecting her to say, however, was driven from his mind as she straddled him, his mind startled but his body reacting to the feel of her firm ass against his cock, and as he stared in shock at her, she smiled and arched against him.

"I am so going to enjoy you," she murmured almost to herself. "Now, listen to me, my beautiful, difficult one. If she's put up with you through all of this, through your mood swings and the way you've treated her, then it's not likely she's going to go running at realization that - while she's been halfway across the world being entertained by my wonderful husband - you've been making use of what Alice and Rosalie have so willingly given you. In fact, I think I'd be correct in assuming she's going to be absolutely thrilled at the idea, especially as I know you have plans to pin her to that beautiful bed you just built and finally give her what she's wanted since you two met." She glanced across the room to the clock, her voice taking on the matter-of-fact tone she usually reserved for things like chores. "Now, you've got about fifteen hours until she gets back, and if you want to make your first time together good for her, I'd suggest you spend a good portion of that time making use of one or both of the more-than-willing girls I know are currently enjoying themselves on the bed in your room. I, on the other hand, will be happy to keep Emmett and Jasper distracted so they don't interrupt." She shifted against the hard prick that had been getting steadily more erect as she spoke, standing up and walking out of the room without a backward glance. After three days of watching Edward with Alice and Rose, she was more than a little pent up herself, and she knew just how to take care of it.

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It had been almost painfully hard to leave the little villa, despite Caralla's assurances that they were welcome back at any time. Carlisle had been right - when the luscious raven-haired vampire met them at the air strip, she was carrying a basket full of food - "for the human," she'd said with a laugh and a wink - that included some of those little koulourakias she'd become so fond of. Bella walked over and hugged the woman, not having the words to thank her for everything, and knowing it didn't matter in the least. When they broke apart, Caralla stepped over to Carlisle.

"I had my doubts, I'll admit, when Alice asked that I put you two up here...but now I see that it was the best thing I have done in a long time. Don't ever forget what you've learned from one another. And make sure to come back again." A few seconds later, to Bella's amusement and Carlisle's utter shock, Caralla had wrapped her arms around his neck and her tongue was halfway down his throat. He seemed totally at a loss, and after a few minutes she stepped back with a grin, turning to Bella, who chuckled.

"What did I say? He tastes amazing, doesn't he?"

"Mmm-hmmm," Caralla moaned. "I always knew he would." Leaning down, she kissed Bella goodbye, then disappeared out of the hangar. Bella looked at Carlisle and could not help but laugh at the expression on his face.

"Was that..?"

"Caralla, molesting your mouth with her own? Yep." She began to walk towards the plane, not even glancing backward. "I would really love to see you fuck her sometime." There was a strangled exclamation from behind her, and then she was being held very tightly against his chest as he headed swiftly up to the plane, climbing the stairs with ease.

"You are a vixen, you know that?"

"Absolutely. Now, there is one other thing I promised myself..." By this time they were inside the plane and she was standing on her own feet again. He looked at her, a question in his eyes, as she set the basket of food down and took a few steps backward.

"These seats are so soft, they got my attention when we first boarded back home. I swore then that I would get you naked on one of these benches and have my way with you." She began to slowly unbutton her shirt, loving the way his eyes widened at her forwardness. "So, I think it's time you close the door and take your clothes off, 'cause you've got about two minutes before I'll be all but naked and starting without you." Thirty seconds later the hatch was closed, he was completely naked, and his fingers were making short work of her skirt.

"God, I love seeing you in a garter. You'd better keep wearing those for me when we get home." She grinned.

"On your back, Carlisle, and eyes closed. I'm gonna ride you 'til you blow." He was more than happy to comply, and a few moments later he felt the unmistakable sensation of her hot, tight pussy sliding down on his throbbing dick. They'd made love earlier that day, several times, long and languorous and slow and incredibly fulfilling, but though this wasn't without emotion, Bella was less concerned with taking it slow than she was with getting him as deep inside her as possible. She pressed down, twisting her hips a little to feel him rub every sensitive spot. She was still sore, but she'd decided two days ago that she was addicted to that feeling, to the ache as she walked, the tightness of muscles that had been well-used. She looked down as she worked him, her eyes running over his body. ~God, he's so hot like this,~ she thought. She leaned forward, rubbing her nipples against his chest while she shifted her hips. The next thing she knew she was on her back, her ankles braced on his shoulders, and he was drilling her into the seat with every thrust. She loved this, the hard, almost frantic pounding, the feeling of his thick member claiming her.

It wasn't long before she was crying out his name, before he was moaning against her mouth, and then they were simply lying there together, wrapped in each others' arms and - at least in her case - feeling her breathing and pulse return to normal. ~He really is beautiful, not just attractive," she thought.

"So, my insatiable little vixen, now that you've had your fun, are you ready to go home?" His eyes held the same mixture of ~yes, no, I don't know~ that she knew hers did, but she kissed him anyway.

"Sure. I miss rain." He laughed, holding her for a moment longer.

"You really are something, you know that? My sexy little hellkitten. How I keep up with you I don't know."

"Yeah, whatever. This coming from the man who has the stamina of...oh, I don't know, something with a lot of stamina."

"A vampire?" he queried innocently. She threw her bra at him.

"Get to thine seat, pilot, and let's set this metal bird free."

"Your wish, m'lady," he said, bowing cheekily before heading into the cockpit. After a few moments to put her clothes back on and gather her rampant thoughts and confusing emotions, she followed. They were going home.

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The ride back to the house was silent, almost pensive. About halfway there, Carlisle slowed, then stopped, pulling the shiny Mercedes off the side of the road. He turned to her, questions unasked brewing in his eyes, his hand coming to rest against her cheek.

"I do love you, Bella. Never doubt that." She sighed, leaning her head into his palm.

"And I love you, Carlisle, so very much." They kissed slowly, gently, each of them feeling an echo of the other in their mind. Finally he pulled back out on the road.

"We'd best be getting back before they think we decided to stay in Greece." She just smiled at him and watched the trees fly by.

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"Two minutes!" Alice flew through the house, her happy voice reaching to everyone there. One by one they left what they were doing and congregated in the foyer, Alice all but bouncing with joy. She came to a halt just in front of Edward.

"Don't doubt her, Ed. Just let your heart tell you the truth. It knows, even if your mind sometimes has trouble." He just sighed. Her enigmatic statements were nothing new. He would have replied, but just then the sound of a car pulling up caught all of their attention. Esme was first out the door, followed by Edward, the rest coming after at a slightly less swift pace. His eyes lit on the Mercedes, his non-beating heart stilling anyway as Carlisle walked around and opened her door for her. The look they shared was so intense, so meaningful that it brought him to a complete standstill, his hand on the small of her back as she leaned back into the car to pull out a wicker basket saying volumes about how close they'd gotten. He was beginning to feel the first stirrings of apprehension, feelings that only deepened when she stretched up on tiptoe to press her lips lightly to Carlisle's before turning to the group. Impulse had him wanting to run, to avoid seeing her so loving with someone else, but he held his ground as she came towards him. She wasn't meeting his gaze. After a moment she came to a stop in front of him, and regardless of all his family standing near, he felt very much like they were alone.

"I missed you," she whispered.

"I missed you too," he replied, not realizing he was going to say anything until he'd actually spoken. He stood there, unsure and confused and totally at a loss, but then Alice's words came back to him.

"Don't doubt her, Ed. Just let your heart tell you the truth. It knows, even if your mind sometimes has trouble."

And then she looked up at him and his world stopped. Her eyes, those beautiful milk chocolate eyes, were burning with need and fear and incomparable love and all of the things he was feeling as well, and then he had her in his arms again and her lips were as sweet as he remembered, and nothing else mattered.

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Author's note: What a journey. What a damned journey. I have my EPBs to thank, as well as all of you for coming with me for this epic-length Book...somehow I think I missed my ten-chapter idea by...oh, hell, a whole lot. LOL There is one more Book left in this series, and it will be coming as soon as possible - Bella and Edward still need to get their act together, so to speak. :)

Once more, I can't express how happy I am that so many of you have found my poor words entertaining, or how flattered I've been by your constant comments and questions. If I had an ego it would be too big to fit through doors right now, but instead all I am is dazed and humbled. Thank you all so very much!