Well, hello there, people. It's been a while since I did a sad rec, but here I am.
Today, I'm going to recommend a beautiful one-shot. It's painful, horrible, awful, and at the same time so romantic and beautiful. The story I want to talk about is Devotion by ele05gs and Lehava.
In 'Devotion', Bella unknowingly saves Edward from his abusive father. They are only small children, but when she sees his bruises, she can't stop from asking him aloud about it. With it, the ball got rolling and Edward's father is sent to jail.
Over the years, Edward's admiration for the girl only grows. He lives across the street from her with the Cullens, who took him in at a young age. His room has an excellent view and he watches her all the time. He's completely enamored with her, but he doesn't think she could ever feel the same.
When her father is hospitalized, and Bella is nothing but a grieving mess, he starts writing her. With each letter, Bella falls harder for her mystery writer, and she starts writing back. One day, Edward can't take it anymore and he goes to the diner where she works. He even fixes some things in her house to be close to her.
Bella and Edward grow closer, and when she learns he's her mystery writer, she can't be happier.
Everything seems to go well, but will it stay that way? What happens when his father is released from jail?
When he came back, he was a twenty-four year old almost doctor, who could easily work with his dad in the hospital, and have any girl he wanted. On the other hand, Bella was the nineteen year old that stayed home for the first year of college, because her parents were hurt and she couldn't pay the tuition. That's how her life had been for now. Getting up, getting dressed, going to work, taking care of the house, taking care of herself. Waiting at the phone for news and visiting Charlie had become one of her daily routines. If she worked a year at The Grill, maybe she could pay for the first half year of college. Bella secretly hoped that by that time everything would be all right again.
While Bella pondered, it didn't occur to her that Edward had placed the camera before his eye and in one swift motion, took a picture of her. One of the many pictures he already had. In that moment, that precious moment, when he saw her walking away… he knew what he was going to do.
Edward had always been shy, and wouldn't let people in easily. Even if he wanted to, he simply couldn't. So if he couldn't speak to Bella personally, he'd write down everything he felt for her, because he was an exquisite writer and found his way with words easily. That night Bella received her first letter.
She sat in the old couch Charlie used to sit in. Sitting there made her feel safe, as if he were there to protect her. She turned and turned the manila envelope around, not knowing if she should open it. Her name was scribbled in a beautiful handwriting on the front. After a few minutes, sitting there and looking at it she made up her mind and tore it open.
Isabella,
I know it must be strange finding a letter in your mailbox, without knowing who it came from. I know you don't know me, but I know you and for now, that's enough.
I sense you are not happy, I can see it in every move of your body. I know this wasn't the life you had planned for yourself. I see you as someone with big dreams
and great adventures ahead of you, though some circumstances made you bury those dreams alive for the moment. One day, my Bella, I truly hope you can dig them up again,
for you deserve to have everything you desire. I'm writing to you, because it's the only way I can be close to you. You are the one thing, the one person I desire and
it breaks my heart to know that I shall never have this one thing.
She read the words over and over again, letting them float into her mind. The words danced before her eyes as she wondered who had sent this letter to her, who could write such graceful and loving words. Those words made her feel like she hadn't felt in a while; she had longed to read such comforting words for the longest time. Words that could make her smile and that made her feel special and loved.
I really loved this one-shot. It got underneath my skin and made my heart ache for Edward. The letters were truly beautiful, and even made me smile. It has everything for a beautiful romance, even if Edward is a little too obsessed with her and has more pictures of her than regular people have of theirselves.
When I thought it was going to have a beautiful ending, something did BAM! The drama came out of nowhere and I sat at the edge of my seat, hoping that everything would turn out alright.
'Devotion' is a masterpiece and you should all go read it. Do it!
Finally, life has managed to catch up with all of us. Therefore none of us managed to post in time. Instead of just posting a sexy story for 'Wicked Wednesday', I'm bringing you the story of the week.
This is the first time, we've ever done something like this and our standards are naturally high. The fic must meet all requirements and must fit in each category. I didn't even have to think about it, because there is one story that can make me laugh, go 'aw', pant and even cry. And that story is 'Once Bitten, Twice Shy' by lifelesslyndsey.
A bitter vampire, who can't let go of his past as an angel, moves into a cat-infested home. On his search for supplies, oddly enough, for the stray cats, he runs into Bella. She instantly recognizes him for what he is and verbally acknowledges him, not even caring whether or not he will kill her for the slip.
Bella isn't the shy girl we know from before. Life has hardened her and now, she is a won't-take-shit-from-no-one-so-cut-the-bullshit tough girl. That is, if she even cares. Because indifference is high on her list of characteristics as well. Sarcastic remarks are not uncommon, when it comes to her and to Peter, she is an enigma.
He has been alone for too long, and his social skills are limited to visiting the sick in order to convince them to freely offer themselves as his next meal. Noble, but to Peter it will never be enough. He was once a creature of God, an angel who served his Lord obediently and lived for centuries with the morals and knowledge, that now condemn him. Besides those limited human contacts, he talks to one special cat; a small, ugly, wrinkly thing that lovingly gets named Peen by Bella. Even though Peter originally named him Cat.
After that encounter at the grocery store, Peter becomes intrigued by the human that finds it necessary to put up surveillance around her house and obsessively scrubs her floors, while popping pills like candy. Of course, he doesn't stay undetected and when Bella invites him in, a strange friendship grows between the odd pair.
A road trip will only strengthen the bond that has already been formed. Although both scarred and troubled, they are complete opposites of each other. And in each other, they find their missing pieces. They find love.
But will they get their happy ever after?
____
I had found that Bella was a Toucher with a capitol 'T'. She was one who touched as often as she wanted to, and loved to be touched in return like some sort of affection starved abandoned cat. And I would know, now wouldn't I? The first few weeks were rather disconcerting, so often did I find her suddenly in my expansive personal space. But she popped that fucking bubble in a heart beat. Soon, I was only all to fucking happy to obliged. It was nice touching something you weren't going to kill in a few minutes, I had to admit. She smiled, and leaned into my hand, and I forced myself to viscously stomp down the happy-growly feelings that that insisted on burning inappropriately inside me. Now was not the time. Never was the time to burn for Bella. Those were sins meant for mortal men alone, and not identity challenged Vampires Angel hybrids, who found themselves on the bad side of God by a series of unfortunate circumstances.
"I'm waiting for you to say 'May the power of Christ compel you!'" She giggled, looking up at me from around my wrist.
"What?" I blurted out, tearing my hand away."What? No. Uh...I brought your favorite." Well wasn't that smooth? Of course she wasn't talking in the literal fucking sense. I needed to get my shit together. She peeked up at that, "Karmel Sutra?"
I held up the ice cream, grimacing at the name. Humans. They were all heathens. I was, at this point, no better of course. Bella had done me a world of bad, and I couldn't find it in myself to regret it. As long as I kept on the right line of Mild Sexual Deviant, I could live with my new and inappropriate thoughts. "And the pickle chips you like, you weird little freak."
"Says the vampire to the human," She said in a sing song voice, turning the key and grabbing up her fallen purse. "Tuesdays suck harder then a well paid prostitute."
"You say that every Tuesday." I reminded her, chucking her food-crap on the breakfast bar. The kitchen smelled of bleach and Windex, and not a little blood."Did you cut yourself on something?"
Bella's shoulders tensed, the only tell in her occasional obliteration of the whole truth. I never got the feeling she was lying to me, more that she was omitting details. But I couldn't bring myself to pry. She'd tell me what she wanted to anyway. I was as happy with our situation as I was going to get, considering I spent a large portion of it in a constant fucking state of confusion. And hard-ons.
____
When she kissed me this time, it was different from the frantic kisses pressed to my face, or the kiss shared in her drive way a month ago. She kissed like she meant it, with passion and fury, and insinuating hands digging into my hair. I could feel her tears on my face as she kissed me harder, legs wrapping around my waist. I had never done this before, how had I never done this before? But I knew, had it been any other, any one besides Bella, it would not have been the same.
"Never, ever scare me like that again," She breathed, and I wiped away her tears with my finger tip. "Why are you crying?" I asked, because I really didn't know, and that scared me, and this scared me, her in my lap, and me in her bed, and the smell of blood and death, and Walter fucking Freedmont still heavy in the air. She clung to me harder.
"I'm crying?" She asked, touching her face, and a little smile turned up her lips, "I...I haven't cried in years." "Why now?" I whispered, because she whispered, even in the empty house, as if speaking out loud would ruin the strange kind of trance we had found ourselves in.
"I...I can't lose you too." She murmured, "Your suppose to be invincible, your not suppose to leave me. Don't leave me." "I won't," I promised, resting my chin on her head, "All this..."I began to say, but I didn't know what the fuck to say, so I stopped, but I had already spoken, already broke the string that bound us to the moment. "Oh," She blushed, attempting to scramble back and off my lap, but I held her anyways, and would continue to do so till I could no longer, "Um...I'm sorry...I know...it makes you uncomfortable." "I'm not uncomfortable," I assured her, "Confused...I don't...what does this mean? For us...this is...Very friendly."I finished lamely, but she seemed to understand. "This is-"
"I like you." She interrupted, looking me dead in the eye, "And I haven't liked anything in a very long time. I haven't been...capable of liking. Of hating. Of feeling anything. But I feel for you, even through all the pills and the...walls...I've built and last night was just to fucking scary to pretend that what I feel is purely...friendly. Thats why I was afraid of getting of the pills...if I like you now...but I'm mortal, I don't have forever, and I didn't want to lie to myself, and I'm sorry...I know that you don't-"
"I like you too." And hadn't I said as much to Cat just a month ago? "I've never liked anything. Anything at all. And your confusing, and your rude, and loud, and messy, and you have some serious OCD issues, and I like you, and I miss you more then I should when I go home...and..." I tapered off, suddenly uncomfortable by my verbal vomit of admittance.
She grinned against my mouth as she spoke, "We like each other." "Apparently," I murmured back, allowing the happy-growly feelings burn as hot as they wanted inside me, finding no need to viciously stomp them down into nothing, "A Vampire with an identity crisis, and a jaded, medicated human, each with a laundry list of idiosyncrasies." "What a pair we make," She smiled.
___
"You're not supposed to tuck in the shirt. You look like a band geek. A sexy hot band geek, but that's not the point. Only band geeks and IT people tuck dress shirts into jeans." Bella stepped forward, pressing against my back and unceremoniously shoving her hands into my pants, to pull my shirt loose.
There was no way on Gods green, over-populated, populated earth I was going to admit that the proceeding erection was in any way, shape or form, my fault. She was the one who shoved her hands in my pants.
And there it was in three point eight seconds, my freakishly hard dick, clearly visible in the tight jeans, reflected in eight fucking mirrors. I could feel Bella's mouth curl up into a smile as she pressed her face into my back, and damn that felt good. I could feel my wings shudder beneath the skin as Bella's hand slid slowly out of my pants, her palms hot against my stomach.
The words fell out of my mouth faster than I could fathom. I was fairly sure that I had said them before I had even thought them, but the point was, I had said them. They had been said. "Dressing room. Now."
She had my hand in hers, tugging me along before I could register that I had just propositioned Bella in public. And that she was down for it. As if she wouldn't be. It was Bella we were talking about.
I let her man handle me, bending to her every push and pull, till I found myself behind the dressing rooms locked doors, seated and mounted. Bella's mouth was on mine, hot fingers scrambling at my buttons. She toes off her ballet flats against my shins, knees hugging my thighs tightly. Her urgency was contagious, and I had to fight myself not to rip her shirt of her body, tugging up at the hem instead till she raised her arms. Her bra was the same midnight blue as the damned silk boxers. She reached around; one hand unclasping it as I slid it from her arms, dropping it to the floor.
It was frantic, the keen awareness that we could be caught, caught up in the electricity that always seemed to crackle between us. We grasped at each other, always touching like it was the first time and the last, like we hadn't just gotten off on our mouths and tongues and fingers hours before. She ground down on me, hips moving in torturous pulsing circles. The silk was maddening, combined with the heat of her body. My cock was still caught on my thigh, wrapped in sweet, delicious friction; I couldn't help but buck upwards as she pushed down.
It was a parody of sex, but damn it felt good. I wanted…fuck, I wasn't sure what I wanted, but the pressure and the heat it was too much and not enough. I could feel the dampness of her jeans against my own, and I felt myself shudder, hands grappling to pull her close. I couldn't touch enough of her, couldn't reach enough of her when it felt like she was tearing through my skin and crawling up into my soul, where all her kisses felt hotter, and her touch ripped through me like the sweetest kind of pain.
Bella pushed at the arms of my button-up, shoving it hastily from my shoulders. I worked a frantic hand between us, yanking the button and zipper loose and pulling my cock free of the silky confines of the boxers. I groaned at the sheer, instantaneous relief. Bella slid from my lap, half way to sinking to her knees, when I caught her at the hip, hands sliding around to cup her ass.
Oh fuck, I wanted... Wanted.
Never one for prolonged eye contact, I looked away as I slid the zipper of her worn-in jeans down, the sound screaming in my ears. Her hand was warm, wrapped around my wrist like a question mark at the end of a question that wasn't asked out loud. "I...want this."
____
If you are still not convinced, I don't know what will. All I can say is that you won't be able to get a grip on this story. Whenever you think you've got it figured out, something else happens to throw you off balance again. It will keep you interested, because of the way it is written and the well-timed surprises.
The story line is simply brilliant. The theme is original and interesting. The characters, although odd at first, will weasle their ways into your hearts and you will feel everything they do.
Not often has a story gripped me, like 'Once Bitten, Twice Shy' has done.
This story is a MUST-read! Go read it now!
That concludes this week's special. See you all on Monday.
New Moon AU. During Bella’s run-in with Laurent, what if the wolves hadn’t shown up when they did? What if they had shown up just a few minutes later? Those minutes change Bella's life forever, and she must learn to deal with the consequences.
"Hurry, Bella!” he pleaded with me, and I made my numb legs move faster and stretch further with each step. I was almost to him…
And then he was gone, the sunbeam empty just as I reached it. Before I could panic, I caught sight of him, twenty feet ahead again and waving me forward. The fire had reached my thighs now, and I couldn’t feel the pain in my left arm over the burning agony. I could feel the searing moving further through my veins with each heart beat; the hole in my chest throbbed in tempo with it.
A girl born into the world as a slave, after her mother was brutally raped by the Master's son. When you hear this, you automatically think about the South in a time where slavery was common and every prominent family had them breaking their backs day in and day out.
But what if this isn't something that happened ages ago, in a time when humans had different mentalities? What if this was something happening on this very day?
Isabella Marie Swan is that girl and she is born into this very modern time. Only something is different about her. She isn't born in the hospital, nor is she born in a comfortable home surrounded by midwives. Isabella Marie Swan is born to a slave and in midst of filth and desolation. She's born in a barn, like a common animal.
On her sixteenth birthday the most terrifying thing happens to her. She is being sold. Only what seems to be a bad thing, might actually be the chance she needs.
Carlisle Cullen, although he seems volatile at times, is not a cruel master. And he is nothing compared to Charles Swan, Isabella's previous owner and father.
Carlisle lives alone with his three sons; Jasper, Emmett and Edward. They confuse Isabella from the very first day, because they are nothing like her previous Master.
They even try to engage her in everyday activities, such as watching TV, going to football games and parties.
Isabella doesn't instantly respond well to these things. She is too traumatized and too frightened of crossing a certain line. The fear ingrained in her from what experience taught her so far, has left her meek and empty. She has completely closed herself off and the Cullens' attempts of engaging her into the family life are often ignored. Either that or she just participates out of fear, thinking she has to obey them.
They don't give up on her though and when feelings arise for the youngest Cullen son, Isabella finds herself more willing to let go of the things her former upbringing brought forth.
Edward is the son of Carlisle Cullen, which is a name feared by many. His bloodline offers him many advantages, because of his connections to the mafia. He has easy access to drugs, weapons, etc. And he doesn't lack any female company. He's a great quarterback, with only increases the amount of attention he gets and he loves every second of it.
Let's just say, he's the typical cocky, arrogant son of a bitch that no one really likes. He causes trouble constantly and doesn't care about anything but himself.
He is the famous 'Principe della mafia' and his only prospect in life is to follow in his father's footsteps.
Until Isabella, or 'La mia bella ragazza' takes a complete hold of his heart and turns his world upside down.
Secrets that have been buried for years start coming to light. And let me tell you, those mobsters have a whole lot of skeletons in their closet. Kill or be killed, betrayal from all sides and a whole lot of intrigue, accompanied with misery. You'll find it all in 'Emancipation Proclamation' by kharizzmatik.
Personally, I hate and love this story. It's an amazing fic and there are a lot of moments that will just take your breath away. The love story and entire setting is well thought out and fits perfectly with the storyline.
I loved how she added a lot of Italian into this story, making it more tangible. She even wrote some Russian and French lines. My hat off to kharizmatik for that.
The story is well-written and you get really lost in it. Once you start you won't be able to stop. Trust me, I know because I tried to stop several times. Every time they seem to have found their happiness, something else happens and it all falls apart. It pissed me off more than once. But still, I couldn't stop reading.
The story has an amazingly strong plot and all the details fit perfectly. You can tell a lot of research and work went into it.
If you have a strong heart and love those truly heartfelt stories, you MUST read this one.
I came upon this one-shot quite accidentally. Someone nominated this story for our very own 'Annual Glosp Awards' and by validating it, I came to love it. It's completely unexpected tragedy and throughout the entire story, I thought of several things that could happen. But never once, did I imagine something as terrible would happen.
In 'My Life, My Love, My Heart' by the brilliant FL95, Bella is an overworked mother. We all know how it goes; you need to be somewhere, and just then your children decide to fight you every step of the way.
Everthing becomes a struggle for control, from getting dressed to getting out at the car, when you finally reached the destination. Every scream, tear, pout and kick pushes you further in your madness. And even though you try to remain calm, the nerves and urgency makes you behave more savagely than you should.
That's exactly what's going on here. Bella has to get to the office on time or her entire day will take a turn for the worse. Hannah, her daughter refuses to cooperate and keeps coming up with new things to complain about. There's a lot of yelling and threatening going, but nothing seems to work. In meantime, her husband Edward is blissfully unaware. He worked late and is still sleeping.
Angry and annoyed, Bella practically drags her daughter into the day care center. She leaves her there, ignoring Hannah's tears, knowing that they'll disappear as soon as she's out of sight. She never expected what would happen next, nor could she have foreseen such a thing.
Come….ON.
I'm ready, I've been ready, and now I'm closing my eyes to try and remain the adult in this situation.
Not likely.
"Hannah, please get your shoes and socks on, we're going to be late."
As usual.
I check my watch and roll my eyes as she makes a face.
"But mommy I don't want to wear those shoes, I want my sparkly shoes." Her voice jumps an octave when she says sparkly. She loves sparkly things, if she could wear a sparkly shirt and sparkly skirts with sparkly shoes and have sparkly hair every day of her life, she would and she would be one happy little girl for it.
"And those socks don't match me."
It would make me laugh if I wasn't in such a rush to get my boss's report done for him before noon.
But right now, she's loud, and Edward is sleeping because he worked late again and I cannot take the sound of her voice.
"Shhhhh, Hannah, daddy's asleep, honey…please just get your shoes on."
"I want the sparkly ones, mommay."
Annnnnnd she's louder now. Good job.
My eyebrows curl slightly. "Oh, you mean the ones you jumped into the pool with them still on your feet yesterday? Those sparkly shoes? "
She nods, excitedly.
"They're. Still. Wet. Hannah. You can't wear them yet."
That's reasonable, right?
But reasonable is one thing, sarcasm and four year olds just do not mix.
Now she's got that look.
Three…
Trembling lip.
Two…
Waterworks building in the baby sized eyeballs.
One.
And the crying, it makes me annoyed. She does this every time some little thing doesn't go her way, and it makes me completely insane.
How did I get such an overly sensitive child?
"Hannah."
"I don't want to wear those shoes," she points, "I hate those shoes!"
I sigh.
It's heavy and tired and I cannot take this morning any more…or this week for that matter.
Someone shoot me. Now, please.
"You picked those shoes out, Hannah, you're wearing them." I'm handing her the socks and she refuses to take them.
"I hate those shoes!" she screams and now she's running up the stairs.
Loudly.
I put my keys and my purse down and chase her up there, I pick her up and bring her back down while she's screaming, hoping to get her far enough away from the bedrooms that she won't wake Edward.
It's funny to me. odd things wake him up.
Crickets, but not a screaming baby.
The dog's nails against the tile floor, but not a cry in the night over a bad dream.
Go figure.
"Hannah, if you don't put those shoes on, you're not getting desert later."
"Mommy, noooooooooo!"
Bad idea, threatening with the ice cream.
She's not the only one that never learns.
I set her down as the buzzer for the dryer goes off.
"Will you help me?" she asks, and my sweetness is back.
"I can't right now, Hannah, getting the laundry, hurry please." I throw the laundry into a basket and set it on the couch to fold when I'm done with my report later, probably over my lunch hour.
"Mommy, pleeeeaaaaaaasse help me?"
"Hannah, you're almost five years old, you know how to put your own shoes on."
"MOMMY!"
Jesus fucking Christ.
I sigh again.
Heavier than before and I let it linger as long as I can before I need to breathe again.
"I don't have time for this Hannah," I sing. "PLEASE get your SHOES on before I LOSE my TEMPER with YOU."
Like's it's not already lost.
And now I'm the one that's getting louder.
First of all, I just wanted to say, "Wow". All mothers can identify themselves with Bella in this story. Our children can really get on our last nerves, but we still love them more than life itself. Although, the story is short and simple, it only enforces the content. It's a really powerful one-shot and the ending had me in tears.
I didn't expect anything different from FL95 though. She has a rather direct style of writing, very crude at times, but I love her stories. They are filled with real emotions and thoughts, and leaves out all the exagerated and over-the-top descriptions many authors write. I think it's fair to say that her stories are like unpolished diamonds, rough around the edges, but true gems in its whole.
Oriana de la Rose is an author, who is not afraid of the public opinion. It's a quality I greatly admire in her. Not only has she written about abuse, rape and other topics, which are not meant for the sensitive reader, her story 'Dark Whispers' is the one I could never forget.
In 'Dark Whispers' Bella and Jasper are victims of physical abuse. Growing up in a home without a mother, where a father takes out his anger on his children, the siblings grow dangerously close.
Feelings have grown to a point where they are considered unhealthy, but in a world where you have only each other, one can not be blamed for needing someone, even if that someone is your sibling. When a night goes incredibly sour and their father dies at Jasper's hand, they run.
It was an accident, but fear drives them away. Because, if no one believes them, then Jasper will end up in jail. As they run and are forced to rely on solely each other, their feelings won't be denied much longer.
Situations keep arising every step of the way and as their lives are being destroyed completely because of events they have no control over, their love is the only power that keeps them going.
Even if their love is forbidden.
"Please don't hate us," I whispered as I looked at him through pathetic tears. "Everyone else hates us. They don't understand . . ."
He gently took my hand in his as a father would a child, a true father. "I could never hate you or Jasper. You two have been through things children should never have to endure. Your Father was wrong to hurt you both as he did. I understand, Bella, and I so wish that none of this had happened." He sighed and looked down at our joined hands. "Do you truly care for your brother as a man?"
I knew what he asking – had Jasper and I made love. I noticed how he carefully kept his eyes averted and I knew he thought it was wrong.
For years I had wondered if what I felt for Jasper was wrong. I knew that he was unconcerned about morality and didn't believe our bond was sinful, yet I had doubts. I had so many doubts.
When Adam and Eve were sent forth to populate the Earth, their children had to create incestuous unions in order for that to happen. It was the only way. But that was the Biblical story and this was now. Things were different and incest was a sin. Father had told us that often enough.
"Yes, I do," I finally answered.
Emmett slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I suppose it only makes sense. You spent all those years with a Father who abused you. Amidst the fear and pain, you turned to the only one who really loved you, who understood everything." He lifted his eyes to mine. "But, Bella, it isn't right. You must distance yourself from Jasper; learn to survive on your own."
"I can't!" Fear sparked through me. "Please don't separate us. They've already done that. Jasper is the only thing I have! He's the only one that has ever cared for me and loved me. No one can possibly know what we went through. No one." A hard lump formed in my throat. Like a ball of rubber bands shoved into a sock, the lump should have been visible. But it wasn't. Only I knew it was lodged there. An engorged tear dropped down my face.
"I know, Bella, I know," he murmured, trying to soothe me.
"No you don't! You don't know." Abruptly I dissolved into quiet sobs. Emmett gently pulled me into the backseat, cradling me against his hard chest. His callused hand smoothed back my hair as I cried for the first time since Jasper and I left home.
There was no way to stop the train of events we had set in motion. I wanted to scream and hit something. Life was so utterly unfair. Had we deserved what was happening now? But regardless of whether we deserved this, there was nothing I could do to stop it. And eventually the tracks would run out and the train would crash to its death.
For a half hour, the tears came. Jasper, exhausted, still slept. Soon, however, the sobs were less frequent and I found that my supply of salt water was spent.
"Blow your nose," Emmett prompted gently, holding out a handkerchief from his pocket. I hadn't known men still carried them. Obeying, I blew my snotty nose, embarrassed at my bedraggled appearance. I hastily smoothed my hair and wiped at my face, knowing it wouldn't help. "Stop, Bella." He stilled my hands with his, his dark eyes staring deeply into mine. "You are lovely."
His words were like a balm over a wound, and I found that I wasn't uncomfortable although I didn't believe him. "How old are you, Emmett?" I asked.
He hesitated. "Twenty-eight."
My eyes roamed over his features, from the brown eyes, his straight nose, to his full lips. I had never touched anyone other than Jasper and I wondered if it would be any different when the man wasn't my brother. Emmett had acted more as a parent to me than a lover and I wished I could tell him how much that meant to me. But I couldn't find the words. I wanted to know if all kisses ignited my body with fire and if Emmett's mouth could possibly be as soft as Jasper's.
"Kiss me, Emmett," I whispered, looking straight into his eyes. In that moment, I simply wanted to forget everything, to have a distraction from Hell.
His hand brushed a lock of hair back from my face. Emmett's large hands cupped my face softly and pulled
his mouth to mine. Our lips touched with the lightest of pressure. This kiss was nothing like the one I had shared with Jasper so long ago. It was simply the joining of two mouths, as simple as a pen to paper. I felt strangely cheated, as if I had expected to feel the heat and butterflies I experienced when Jasper's lips had pressed to mine that one time. Then he pulled away and smiled slightly.
"No fireworks, huh?"
Despite myself, I smiled back. Emmett had a healing presence that set my soul at ease. I felt nothing more for him than the deepest of gratitude for understanding and the wish that he was our father. "No fireworks," I agreed.
"You better get back in the front seat before Jasper wakes up," he said, moving away.
I nodded and climbed into the passenger's side front seat.
"I'm glad he's getting some sleep," Emmett said, gesturing to Jasper. "I know why he's so distrustful of me. He's terrified that I will somehow separate you two." He paused. "Jasper's only reason for existence is you. Although he is more skilled at keeping his thoughts from his face, he doesn't take as much care with his emotions. If you were to be killed, Bella, he would find someway to take his own life." Emmett's eyes turned up to mine. "I cannot believe that any love this strong can be wrong."
"Thank you," I whispered, looking over at my brother. Emmett politely averted his eyes as I crawled over the middle console and into Jasper's lap.
"You two need some kind of protection," Emmett murmured then and I ignored his comment. "And I don't mean condoms."
As if it was the simplest of gestures, Jasper's arms went softly around me. Here was the reassuring warmth I had known my entire life, here was where I wanted to be when breath left my body for the last time. I stared up into Jasper's face, serene in sleep, and touched my lips to his chest.
Only once did I look back on Emmett. He was asleep on the backseat, yet he could have slipped out any time after that one glance. I didn't want to turn my eyes from Jasper. Somehow, I felt that there was something terrible looming on the horizon, something that neither of us could postpone. There was only so much time that we had with each other until it happened – that tragedy that was approaching
And it was advancing fast
Besides the lemons, which are many, this is my favorite part. Emmett is understanding and truly compassionate, a trait Bella hadn't seen in others before. It was a small fleck of light in this sad tale. This tragedy might not make you cry with every chapter as other stories do, but it is a powerful story. How easily things go bad and how one mistake leads to many other misfortunes in life, is so well depicted. I know a lot of you won't even read the story, because of the sexual relationship between Bella and Jasper Whitlock, and that's a shame really. This story shows us the hardships people less fortunate than us are faced with, which is something we often forget. Even when things are bad, they could always be worse. That's what I learned from this story.
Also their love, which I believe is the purest of loves since there are no alterior motives but to love each other, is a beacon of light in the darkness they live in.
This story reminded me of one of my favorite book series, 'the Dollanganger series' by Virginia Andrews. There the love between siblings is also an essential part of the story. They too, fall in love because of the cruel and inhumane circumstances they are forced to live in.
When in trouble, when in need, do we need to cling to the first person available? So why point fingers if that person happened to be your sibling?
Of course, I have no personal experience in the matter, since I am an only child. But I can understand. And that's what matters.
Oriana de la Rosa, you have done a wonderful job with this story and I admire you as a writer. I hope you will continue to write, for you truly have a great talent.
To everyone else, I hope you'll enjoy reading this and I'll catch you all next week.
9/11. It's a date no one will ever forget. I wanted to make sure my recommendation was about this important date in American history. I had to look for a while, because it is a touchy subject many do not dare to touch.
It starts out as a seemingly normal day, except for the early morning fight. Bella tries to tell Edward something, but he blows her off. Even though he has plenty of time, he just wants to go on to work.A big fight ensues about his values. Bella feels as if he takes his job into higher consideration than his own family. He tries to refute it, but in the end he just dejectedly leaves for the office.
Bella brings the kids to school like a good mother, before deciding to have lunch with Edward. She needs to discuss what's going on so they can put it behind them. That's exactly what she tells Alice when she calls to set up a lunch date. The pixie tries to guilt Bella into meeting Edward the next day, but all conversation instantly stops with Bella's screams.
From her apartment, she can see the Towers where Edward works and she has seen it happen. Running towards them, she ignores everything else. Her only thoughts and prayers are with Edward.
A phone call offers her relief. He had been lower in the building, because of some mix-up and might get out of there alive. At least that's what she thinks, until the Southern Tower is hit and the sounds of an explosion and screams is all she hears, before the call is disconnected.
I made my way out onto the balcony, knowing that Edward would be at work now. I sighed gently, looking out at the tallest buildings in my view.
The World Trade Centre.
Honestly, they were an incredible thing to see. It was amazing to think how much effort and work had been put into their construction and even after the attack on the North Tower in 1993. I was sure that no one would find them safe after that, but thousands of people still continued to travel in and out of them each and every single day.
And Edward was one of them.
I loved the Towers and all, but I wished they'd relinquish my husband sometimes. I missed him.
I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket and pulled it out to see Alice calling. "Hello?" I answered, sipping my coffee.
"Heya, Bellsie." She chirped, too chipper for . . . I glanced at my watch again . . . eight forty-five in the morning. I swear, people should not be allowed to be that happy at this time in the morning. "I was wondering if you wanted to meet for lunch."
"Actually, I was going to meet Edward." I bit my lip, knowing she would whine at me for not being available. Sorry, Pix, but my husband and our little issues come first. We would probably go to Windows of the World in the North Tower where he worked, but I didn't mind. The food was incredible and the view was spectacular.
"Oh, Bells, I haven't seen you in forever. Can't you meet with him for lunch tomorrow? I want to see my favourite sis-"
"Alice, hang on a second."
There was a low rushing sound, like the sound of an airplane when it first leaves the airport. I leaned over the side, not seeing anything. I blinked as I noticed a shadow pass over me and I looked in the direction it had travelled in.
It was as though everything had slowed down, you know, like they do in the movies, or Baywatch?
The only thing I saw was a plane heading across New York City, flying extremely low. Too low. The next thing I registered was the fireball exploding from the North Tower in front of me, smoke immediately billowing from the gaping wound in the side of the building.
I could hear someone screaming, but didn't register that it was me until the coffee cup in my hand smashed on the balcony floor.
"Bella?" Alice was screaming in my ear and it was only then that I realised I was still on the phone to her. "What was that? What's the matter?"
"Plane . . . Twin . . . World Trade Cen . . . North Tower . . ." I tried to make a sentence, but couldn't due to the fact that there was a good chance my husband was dead.
And I hadn't even told him I loved him this morning
This one-shot was very hard for me to read. Even though, I am not an American and I can not even begin to understand how it must be for them, I was still greatly affected by it. Knowing that this happened to so many people that day, just breaks my heart. The fear, the anguish of not knowing, the sense of loss and the despair they must have gone through, makes me cry just thinking about it. I'm not a fan of disaster movies or stories that are based on true facts. Hell, I'll even avoid them if I can. Because, I always end up crying even before it happens. The knowledge of what will happen, the severity of what it does to the moral of others, the tremendous loss a lot of people suffered and the actual demises of people just like you and me, is something that's hard to swallow.
You might think, I don't understand. But it is a fear that lives everywhere. I, myself, I live in Belgium. It's a tiny country and who would wish to attack it? A lot of people, I'm sure. Our capital, Brussels, is also the capital of Europe. There have been threats before, where we all lived with the fear of not knowing we might live another day. But thankfully, it never resulted into something major.
So do know, that everywhere around the world, people understand. And what happened, although devastating and tragic, has been an eye-opener for many.
That's why I read this and made sure to do a piece on something involving this day. Because we need to commemorate this day, the day that woke the world up from their perfect little dream.
TwiXlite did an excellent job on this one-shot. It was well-written that you could feel everything Bella was feeling. TwiXlite, my hat off to you. You wrote about a subject, others would cower away from. I think you are courageous and strong for pulling this off. I also admire your talent. Do not stop writing. Good luck with your future stories.
Well, I really should stop whining, so sniffles out and see you all on Saturday. Sarah, Aly and I will be joining forces to bring you a special. On what? We're not telling you yet.
This video is amazing and although there is already one included in Thursday's feature, I just had to post this one too.
Another video inspired by Wide Awake.
One of the true diamonds in Twi - fandom, 'Wide Awake' by Angstgoddess003. I"m aware that most of you have probably read and loved this story already, but I just couldn't skip this one. So here we are. *smiles*
In Wide Awake, we see a reclused Bella who's not only an insomniac, but also a traumatized young girl, who can not bear to be touched. She lives with her aunt and niece, where she tries to keep up the façade. Spending her nights baking, she refuses to give in to the need to sleep, knowing that slumber is where a world of nightmares awaits.
Edward is the typical troubled young man, hiding behind a mask of indifference. Or isn't he?
He too struggles to escape the nightly terrors that visit him in his dreams - or rather nightmares - and finds his solice in drawing and spending his nights in the gazebo.
One night, these two tortured souls meet and although they don't communicate much at first, a bond is being forged. Slowly they open up to each other and share the details of their damaging pasts. As they grow closer, their discovery of each other takes on a more physical nature. Especially, after learning that Edward is the only exception to Bella's rule. He's the only one that can touch her.
Screams. Fucking god awful shrieks and sobs resonating around the gym and right out the door. And I’d know those fucking sobs and screams anywhere. My girl.
As I darted into the gym, I could see them. A whole fucking crowd of people in the middle of the shiny gym floor. Some were students, still dressed out in their gym uniforms, and some were faculty, wearing frantic expressions at the sounds of Bella’s agonized screams and sobs. And all of them were gathered around the source of the awful noises.
I cringed and shuttered with each sound as I ran across the gym floor, nearly slipping as my wet boots contacted the shiny wood. But I didn’t fucking stop, I kept going until I reached the crowd. But I couldn’t see past them. So I just started fucking shoving them all out of my way furiously, desperate to see her. Ms. Cope grasped my leather jacket as I passed her, shouting at me, but I wasn’t fucking listening to anything but those blood curdling screams, so I pushed her off of me angrily. I could hear in her voice, she had been screaming for a long while. I was wondering how long ago all this shit happened as I shoved Stanley aside using extra unnecessary force to do so. And with one last shove of Mr. Berty, I could finally see her.
And the sight of her nearly brought me to my fucking knees. She was lying on the wooden floor in a fetal position, with her little knees tucked up to her forehead, still wearing her gym uniform and hoodie. And she was fucking shaking and shuddering and trembling and just fucking vibrating the whole room with the hoarse screams that were ripping violently from her chest. This was no ordinary Weird Random Emotional Breakdown. This was fucking chaotic and violent, and just ripping her apart at her fucking seams.
Esme was standing over her with the most heartbreaking and helpless expression on her tear stained face. She reached a trembling hand down to stroke her hooded head. And she really fucking shouldn’t have. Because it made the screaming and the shaking and the sobbing impossibly worse. Esme snapped her hand back as the look of hopelessness grew on her face into complete panic. She reached into her bag to fish something out and came out with a cell phone and began talking on it.
But I couldn’t fucking hear anything going on around me except for my girl, and all her fucking misery and agony. Poor Brandon was hunched over beside her, fucking crying along with her, and looking just as hopeless as her mother. Jazz broke through the crowd then and went to her.
But my attention was on the shaking form in front of me. And even more importantly, the dark blood that was smeared on the wooden floor around her head. I was fucking frantically searching her to find where the bleeding was coming from, but her face was covered by her hair, and her head was covered by that goddamn hood.
I began breathing deeply, trying to think straight against all the shrieks that were making me cringe and shudder, and almost making me fucking sob as I gripped my hair and clenched my eyes closed. And then I just fucking knew what I had to do. She wouldn’t even let her aunt or cousin touch her. But I was betting that I could. To hell with any secret. I would have given my fucking life to snap her out of her that.
I opened my eyes, and darted them to Jazz, who was staring right back at me with a very fucking knowing look as he held Brandon against his chest and rocked her on the floor next to Bella. And for once I was so grateful he was so fucking knowing. Because I was going to be met with much resistance.
With a determined breath, I began making my way to the center of the circle. And as I stepped forward, Mr. Berty grabbed the back of my jacket and pulled me back. And I fucking shoved him off angrily. No one was going to stop me from getting to my girl. I pressed on as everyone in the crowd began yelling for me to stop. I blocked them all out. None of them fucking mattered to me. I began creeping slower as I approached her; worried that Alice would jump me. I shot another glance at Jazz who was holding her face against his chest. Thank fucking god.
I regretfully wasn’t prepared for Esme however. She stood over Bella with the phone to her ear, glaring at me and screaming something that I wasn’t fucking listening to. I stepped closer to my girl and all her fucking shrieks and blood and sobs that were just tearing me the fuck apart. As I got closer to her curled and trembling body, Esme took a protective stance over Bella, standing over her with her caramel hair flowing down her shoulders in her light business suit. I darted my eyes up to meet her gaze.
And she was fucking beautiful.
A brilliant inferno lighting her eyes and transforming her into a glorious angel of fury. A mother protecting her young. The raw maternal instinct and wrath towards the one who would bring their child harm made her majestic in a way that absolutely fucking demanded compliance. The sight of her magnificence made me gasp. That is what a real mother looks like.
I was afraid. And I was in awe of her and all her splendor as she towered over my girl radiantly. But, goddamn it, I fucking loved her too. So I kept going. Nothing was going to hold me back. Not even all her motherly glory. And the closer I got, the more furious and glorious she became as I held her gaze. And the escalation of her fury and beauty made me want to worship her more with every step I took.
And thankfully, the closer I got to my girl, the more of my electricity she could feel. She grew minutely quieter with my proximity. And not many people could actually fucking register the change in the pitch of her shrieks. But I could. And so could Esme. Her maternal bond made her as in tune with Bella as I was. The brilliant inferno remained in her gaze as I crouched down, never moving my eyes from hers.
Bella grew minutely quieter once more as I was only just three feet away from her trembling body. Esme noticed again, but refused to back down from her protective stance on her young. So I pushed on, lowering my palms to the floor and slowly crawling the rest of the way to my girl. I never took my eyes off of Esme. I was so fucking mesmerized by her defiant posture, that it nearly made me want to back down first.
But I had to fucking show her why I was doing it. Make her fucking see that I was the answer. I was trying to show her with my eyes that I could fucking handle this shit.
I reached a hand up and extended it towards Bella’s leg. She was wearing gym shorts, and I needed the skin to skin contact to make the quickest and biggest impact so that Esme wouldn’t fucking kill me before I got a chance. Esme’s eyes grew impossibly more furious at my movements. And I knew I had to do it swiftly and quickly to make it work. So I just fucking lunged at my girl and grabbed her leg tightly with both hands.
Esme made to pull me off her by my leather jacket, but immediately froze as Bella began to still. I rubbed her leg soothingly with my shaking hands, moving over her against Esme’s grip. The blood was pooled around her face and hair, but I couldn’t see her face. She was still sobbing loudly and shaking, though my touch had lessened it significantly. Esme finally let my jacket go, almost making me fucking fall onto my girl as I crouched over her.
After I had steadied myself, I leaned back on my heels, and put my arms under her to lift her into my lap. Once I had her full weight in my arms, I folded my legs Indian style in front of me and lowered her onto my legs. She was still fucking crying and shaking, but I knew that she could get through her breakdown. So I focused on the more urgent matter and began moving the hair from her face with one hand while I cradled the back of her head in the other. It was wet with fucking sweat and tears and blood. Once I had her face clear of all her hair, I could see it. Her eye was swollen and bruised. And all of the blood was coming from her nose, which was probably broken. And I didn’t give a shit if it was an accident. I wanted to find the motherfucker responsible and bash his fucking head into the gym floor.
I caressed her cheek softly, willing her to open her eyes since they were clenched shut. She stilled more with my… loving… caress, and finally opened her eyes. They were clouded with tears as her jaw trembled against the sobs, but she could see me. So I gazed into her eyes with all of the fucking love that I had for her, and willed her still more. And she fucking did. And because I only knew of very few ways to convey that love I felt, I leaned down and gently kissed her sweaty forehead with my lips.
She let out a deep breath, still sort of fucking gasping from the event, but able to breath nonetheless. She gazed back into my eyes as I sat back up and stroked her cheek. I could see her coming out of it more and more with each second that I held her and stroked her and finally fucking showed her all my love. I didn’t know what was going on around me, or who the fuck was close by, because I kept my gaze firmly on her eyes, willing her to come back to me and out of her flashes and visions and fucking terrible memories.
And moments later she did. She lifted her arms heavily and brought them around my neck, lifting her body up and hugging onto my neck with all the strength she had left in her. Which really wasn’t much. She was still panting as she rested her cheek gingerly on my shoulder. I rubbed her back up and down slowly and soothingly, slightly rocking her back and forth, just like I did the last time she experienced one of these things.
She seemed to relax more and more, until eventually she was entirely fucking limp in my arms.
I held her waist tightly and lifted us up off the bloody gym floor. She was just fucking dangling from my grip, too exhausted to hold on. So I held onto her firmly and turned around.
And fucking everybody in that gym was staring at me like I had just sacrificed a virgin or some shit.
Everybody except for four people. Esme and Brandon looked relieved and awestruck, and a little fucking confused. Jasper just looked knowing as he stood by Brandon’s side. He was always fucking knowing. Prick.
And I was shocked to see Daddy C. on the fringe of the crowd next to Esme. It was then that the realization hit me that she had called him. He was the one she was speaking to on her cell phone. And I was glad because my girl definitely needed a little medical attention. Carlisle looked a little confused and relieved too. But there was another emotion in his eyes that almost made me want to smile despite the fucked up situation. Pride.
This story made me laugh, cry and grow angry so many times. It's a constant emotional rollercoaster, but I wouldn't want it any other way. Because the reality of this fic is stunning. From the very first moment, until the very last line, you will be sucked into the story and you will experience things just like the main characters do. The step by step progress in Edward and Bella's relationship is beautiful and once more realistic. Some authors want to write about traumatic events and skip over many steps of the healing process. I'm glad to see Angstgoddess003 didn't. Because it adds so much value to her story.
Even though their traumas are a big part of the tale, there is still romance as well.
Bella's innocence was both amusing as touching as they slowly discover and push boundaries. And Edward...Oh God! Let me just tell you, I will never take the words 'My Girl' lightly again.
Those two simple words hold so much meaning in this story, it almost feels like an extra character.
His loyalty and devotion to her is so moving, I still cry whenever I think of him.
Lovelies, I could go on and on about this story, and I would never be able to do it justice. Just know that as soon as you read this, no other will ever come close to it again. It's pure brilliancy of the mind, and pure reality rolled into one. I have to go track down some several boxes of tissues, before reading it again. To Angstgoddess003, you are truly amazing. Don't ever stop writing. To all the others, sniffles out and see you next week.
