Rule Fifteen: To err is human, to forgive is divine.

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Edward pulled open his sliding glass door before staring out over the expansive forest below. He tried desperately to block out the voices (both mental and aloud) of his mother, sister, and the shifter who seemed to be hell bent on ruining his life by throwing everything he had once thought and believed in into question.

The kiss, though he didn't want to admit it, still weighed heavily on his mind. It had been an eye-opening experience. Never before had he kissed Bella like that. With her there had always been some underlying control that he was so afraid of losing for even a moment least he harm Bella in the heat of the moment.

But with Jacob things had been so different. So shockingly different. He never knew that kissing a human could be like that. Being what he was, made Jacob perfect for lapses in control. It was like he was built to love a vampire just as much as he was made to destroy one. During the kiss, Edward had found his tightly held control being whittled away by the insistent young shifter.

It wasn't something that could easily be put out of his mind, the kiss, even now his mind raced with the memory of it. Though he was careful to ignore the longing welling up in his chest, instead choosing to drown himself in the guilt he felt for returning the kiss in the first place.

He wasn't responsible for the kiss, but he did respond to it. What was worse was when he had the chance to push Jacob away he didn't, instead he pulled him closer and even went as far as kissing him back. It wasn't his fault, but damnit if some small part of him didn't want to feel the younger's lips against his own again.

He clenched his eyes closed as shame flooded into his system. He wanted to kiss Jacob again, but he was with Bella. He was suppose to be in love with her, not lusting after some other's lips against his own. Bella was his world. His beginning and his end. He loved her with all of his heart and soul. But if that were true, why did he respond so readily to Jacob's kiss, and why in the hell did he want more?

The vampire shook his head to throw off the conflicting thoughts, and then he leapt from his opened door and landed on the forest floor below. He started towards his girlfriend's house at a hurried pace. Perhaps confessing to what had occurred in the bathroom would ease some of the building guilt and remind him that his life revolved around Bella and Bella alone.

xxx

Bella had finally resigned herself to the fact that Edward wasn't coming and was getting ready for bed when her vampire boyfriend appeared on the windowsill, startling her. "Oh!" she gasped, plopping down on her bed, her chest heaving in her surprise. Really, she should've been used to these random vampire appearances by now. "I didn't think you were coming tonight."

Edward was silent, like he always was, as he entered her bedroom and crossed the floor to drop a kiss on her forehead. Always careful not to make any noise that might wake up her sleeping father. Tonight, though, luck was on her side, because the Chief had to pull an all-nighter.

"I got a little held up," Edward replied apologetically as he took a seat on her bed just to the left of her, giving her a small sheepish smile.

By the tone of his voice Bella could tell that he was hiding something from her. It was unnerving. She didn't like to be out of the loop and now it was even worse with Jacob having imprinted on him. What if something had happened? What if it was something that involved Edward leaving her?

Her heart clenched at the thought and she turned to her boyfriend. "What held you up?" she asked, frowning in thought and by the look on Edward's face, she expected the worse.

And the worse was what she got as Edward turned to her and reached for her hand. Her heard thudded heavily in her chest and the silence was painful as she waited for Edward to speak.

"Something happened tonight..." he said and his voice was soft as he looked at her.

"Something...happened?" Bella repeated slowly before heaving a great sigh. Her eyes left Edward's for the shortest of seconds as she pulled her hand from his. "Something with Jacob?" she asked, her voice edged with suspicion as her gaze returned to her boyfriend's.

Edward's silence was more than enough to answer her question and sneaking suspicion. Whatever had happened had involved Jacob. And whatever it was, it wasn't good. "I'm sorry, Bella," he replied softly and Bella tried to pretend she didn't feel the burn of tears in her eyes.

"Sorry...? Sorry?!" Bella said as she stood from her bed, walking across the room to distance herself from Edward. She turned to face him. Her eyes were narrowed and the hurt clearly showed through. "That's all you can say to me? Sorry? How about telling me what you did?"

The vampire gave her a pleading look, but she wouldn't fall for it. She wanted to know. She needed to know. He was her boyfriend, damnit! He owed it to her to come clean about what had happened between him and her best friend. "Bella...I don't think..." he started, but did not finish. He only sighed. "He kissed me..."

"He kissed you...?" Bella repeated for clarification. She'd fucking kill him. She'd tear Jacob to pieces!

Edward looked away. "I kissed him back too, Bella," he added in a small voice.

Alice Cullen heaved a soft sigh as she stood in front o f Edward's bedroom door. Her hands clasped in front of her as she nervously chewed on her bottom lip. She knew that Edward knew she was standing outside of his door. And she knew that he'd let her in. Eventually.

She'd given her brother nearly the entire night to cool down (though, she doubted that was long enough after what she did). It was nearing dawn and she had just returned from dropping Jacob off at the treaty line and had decided she wouldn't put off her apology any longer.

She understood that what she had done, though funny, was wrong. And she was sorry that she had caused Edward any sort of pain or discomfort because of her trick. She sighed again and raised her hand, knocking swiftly and softly at the door. "Edward? May I come in?" she asked. "I'd like to talk to you. If that's alright."

For the longest time there was no answer. But Alice would not budge. She knew Edward would speak with her. She just had to be patient and wait. Then finally, just as the sunlight crept down the hall in which she stood, she heard her brother's soft reply. "It doesn't seem to matter what I want anymore, does it?" came his surly reply.

Alice frowned at that, her hand wrapping around the door handle before she twisted and pushed it open. She saw her brother laying against his sofa, his hands behind his head as he gazed up at the ceiling. "Did you see Bella?" she asked as she took in the vampire's appearance. He looked sad, disappointed, and distressed. She knew she was the cause of it.

Edward's eyes flickered to her and they narrowed slightly. "Did you see me telling her about the bathroom? Did you see her reaction? She was heartbroken, Alice." he replied, the anger and contempt showing through his tone.

Alice's eyes were downcast and her hands were still clasped in front of her in a show of shame. "I've seen it. Weeks ago Edward. You saw as well as I did," she reminded him softly.

Edward didn't reply. He stood up from his sofa and crossed the room, staring out through his window across the expanse of the forest. The early morning light made the dew drops shine in the light, only dimming when a cloud passed over the sun. Silence filled the room. A thick, contemplative silence that was broken when Edward turned back to her. "Why'd you do it?"

"Why do you think I did it?" Alice replied softly with a frown as she stepped further into the room, taking a seat on the recently vacated sofa. "I had to give Jacob his chance. You wouldn't have allowed him even that."

The vampire's body tensed as he glared at his sister. "Because I'm with Bella! I love Bella!" he said through gritted teeth before he let out a heavy sigh. "This isn't a game Alice...you can't just play around with us like that. This is hurting everyone, Bella the most of all."

"You just don't get it, Edward, do you?" Alice said, frowning deeply as she watched her brother. "Even after tonight you can't see how much your rejection is hurting Jacob?" This wasn't about Bella. It never was. She was just a bystander on the road of fate. And Alice was convinced that Edward's fate no longer included her.

"Bella is a part of my life! She is my life! Nothing will ever change that!" But even Alice could hear how her brother's voice lacked the conviction and certainty it once had.

Again she sighed. "If that's true then why did you break up?" Alice asked, giving the other vampire a meaningful look. "I know what happened Edward. I saw it. You may not believe me, but you will wind up with Jacob."