Author's Note: This oneshot was written for the lovely and generous bookjunkie1975, who bid on me for Fandom Gives Back: Eclipse. Kisses to you, girl! MWAH!

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"It tried my spirit to the utmost endurance, but I always believed the principle to be true, and felt that it was time we obey that sacred order. The Lord knew my heart and desires, and was with me to overcome the selfishness and jealousy of my nature."

- testimony of Mrs. Mary A. Freeze (1878)

As Edward and Alice smiled at each other lovingly, I felt the first twinges of nausea in the pit of my belly. I always knew it would be a challenge — to watch the man I love walk away from me to be with another woman…how can that ever be easy?

It felt wrong to be so upset, and I felt guilty for wishing anything but pure happiness for the two of them. After all, they were married…

But I wanted Edward in my bed.

I never expected the reality of my situation to sting as much as it did. I turned my head away from the sight of their retreating backs and fought the tears that burned my eyes as I tried to make myself look busy, wiping the kitchen counters that were dotted with stray splashes of marinara from dinner. Inside, I was screaming at myself to get my emotions under control.

I was hurting. Alice may have been Edward's beloved wife, but so was I.

This was not how a faithful wife, a sister wife, was supposed to act.

Women practicing the Principle of plural marriage were supposed to control their jealousies, internalize those emotions so their husband and fellow wives never had to bear the stresses of so many.

It's just that this was the very first night I would be away from my new husband.

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"Being territorial of our husband is another test that God places before you—the sin of jealousy, of pride—and that to be a godly woman, I needed to overcome it."

- the fourth wife of Joe Jessop, patriarch of Short Creek, a community of 6,000 polygamists in Hilldale, Utah (2010)

Edward and I had both been raised in the Community, a collection of polygamist homes in the small town of Lewiston, near the Utah/Idaho border. I had known of him growing up, because even in the larger settlement of 1,300, we were a tight-knit group. Edward's father was a man of great importance — our prophet — so I had only ever considered the Cullen men in awed reverence, and never looked at Edward or his brothers as husband material.

It came as a surprise when Edward requested a meeting with my father to seek permission to court me. The courting process was quick, and soon I was spending my days with Edward's family, learning their routines, getting to know their children, and trying to start a tentative friendship with them. None of Edward's other wives were from the Community, so I didn't know their families, and had really only seen them in passing before our courtship.

But the focus of our courtship, for me, was the time with Edward — as it should have been. In a community of families practicing the Principle, the men were the center of everything. They were to be respected and adored by all of their wives, and the rest of the familial relationships worked themselves out in accordance with religious decree.

My mother ingrained this in me my entire life, preparing me for the day when I would be sealed to a righteous man.

My mother was the second of my father's seven wives, and she was unapologetic in her traditional beliefs about a woman's role in plural marriage. We were to be helpful and friendly, yet aloof with our sister wives, so as not to cause conflict within the family and stress for our husband. Our primary life's ambition was to be cheerful baby machines for our husband. We should never display our insecurities or negative emotions to anyone. It was just our "burden as good women and wives." She had lectured me about these views for weeks before my marriage to Edward.

I had been sealed as Edward's fourth wife one week ago, the youngest of them all at 20 years old. It had been a blissful week since then, as I had Edward all to myself on our honeymoon. He surprised me with a week at a cabin on the shores of Great Salt Lake, and it had been an educational seven nights.

Edward was a very gentle lover, which I appreciated since I had been a virgin before our wedding night. I had been told horror stories by my mother about what intercourse might entail, and so I was fearful that first night. We took things slowly, and both of us had been surprised by my responsiveness. I had been surprised at how good it felt, because I'd never been told about orgasms. As a result, my confidence in our bed had risen, and I began to seek out the pleasure with him rather than wait for him to initiate it.

Edward teased me about my ardor, as I was reluctant to leave our warm little cocoon under the covers, even to eat. He was more than happy to oblige my burgeoning sexual awareness, and I was pleased to discover that he maintained remarkable stamina for a man of 34. But the hours passed, and too soon it was time to return to the Community.

As we had pulled up to the sprawling, modified home earlier this afternoon, Edward raised our clasped hands to his mouth and brushed his lips gently across my knuckles. I shivered in response, and the overworked area between my legs had throbbed in anticipation. That private moment was over quickly, however, when Rosalie burst out of the door to greet her husband, followed quickly behind by Alice and Leah. The children followed soon after.

Rosalie raced over to Edward's side of the S.U.V., wrenching open the door and practically wrapping herself around him while he was still reaching to unclasp his seatbelt. "Husband, I've missed you!" she exclaimed, her eyes on him alone. Alice was right behind her, vibrating with excitement at seeing Edward after so many days.

I turned away as Edward released my hand, finding it hard to watch their reunions, and exited the vehicle. I was surprised to find myself face-to-face with Leah, who regarded me with compassion in her eyes, understanding my fresh unease.

Leah was the third wife, having only been sealed to Edward eight months earlier. She had once told me that the two of us would be great allies in our group of four sister wives, because we were both so new. Alice had been married to Edward for 12 years and Rosalie for nine. Alice had blessed Edward with three children so far, and Rosalie was swollen with her fourth, due in two months. So far, Leah had not been blessed with a pregnancy.

"We've missed you, Bella," Leah said warmly, enveloping me in a genuine hug. I needed the affection, and returned her embrace. I heard Edward speaking in a low tone to his other wives and soon they also came around the car to greet me.

"Sister!" Alice exclaimed with her usual enthusiasm, giving me a half hug. "We're so excited you're finally here in our home!"

Rosalie offered me a tired smile, one hand rubbing her lower back. "I hope you don't mind, but we went ahead and had the moving company set up your bedroom and put the rest of your furniture in the second room. I'm sure you'll want to move some of the furniture around, but we wanted to help."

"No…I appreciate it," I said, shyly, as if I hadn't spent the last four months courting Edward and spending extended time with all of them. The reality of my situation covered me like a stifling blanket, and I had to pause to take a deep, gasping breath. These women were my family, and I was a mother to their children.

Leah's arm snaked around my waist. "Come on, let's get you settled." She guided me through the front door as Edward began unloading the car. "We didn't know what you wanted to do with the second bedroom of your apartment, if you wanted to make it a sitting room or leave it empty. And who knows…it could be a nursery soon!" I smiled at her, feeling our natural kinship.

The Cullen home was typical of many of the middle-class homes in the Community. It was a large two-story residence with a full basement, designed by a polygamist architect and built with the help of the men of the Community. The sections of the house were divided into separate apartments, and there was a large detached garage along with the two-car attached one. Alice and her children lived in the apartment off of the communal living room, kitchen and dining room on the main floor of the house, in three bedrooms. Rosalie and her brood took up three bedrooms on the upper level, where Edward's office was also located. Leah and I shared the basement, which contained four bedrooms and a large communal recreation room. Each wife had at least one full bathroom — only Rosalie had two on the upper floor. There was also a half bath on the main floor. The home was set on two fenced-in acres.

Upon entering the home, I was thankful for the high-energy atmosphere the children provided. It kept all of the eyes off of me as I eased into the first few hours of my new life.

Alice's children were the oldest of the family: Peter was eleven, Charlotte was ten and Kate was eight. Rosalie had been pregnant for much of the last five years. Her offspring were five year-old Marcus, four year-old Felix, and two year-old Alec. She was expecting her first daughter, whom Edward had already named Jane. Charlotte and Kate were ecstatic that they would have a sister this time around.

I laughed and played with the little ones happily, but I was exhausted from the trip. Leah caught me yawning and insisted I lay down in my room for a while, and that she and Alice would make dinner for us all. Rosalie had already retired for a much-needed nap, and Edward had disappeared into his office soon after we had arrived home. I protested like a dutiful sister wife should, but she insisted, and I was happy to relent.

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"It seems like a pretty good idea for professional women, who can proceed with their careers and have someone at home they can trust to watch their children. It solves the day care problem. This isn't blatant support for polygamy...but maybe it can work for some people, and maybe it can make raising children easier for those trying to juggle careers and motherhood."

- Luci Malin and Ellen George, representatives of the Utah National Organization of Women (1997)

I woke up when I felt someone sit down next to where I lay on my bed. Fluttering my eyes open, I looked up to see Leah watching me, a half grin on her lips. "Dinner's ready," she said softly.

I nodded and rose slowly, shaking off the fatigue from my nap. She grabbed my wrist as I sat on the edge of the bed collecting myself, and when our eyes met she murmured, "I know how overwhelming this all can be, but you know you can always talk to any of us. You can talk to me." Her face was serene with her smile. "We love you too, you know."

Her words stirred something in me that I couldn't identify. "I know, and I feel the same. I didn't just want Edward…I wanted to marry the whole family. I knew what I wanted…what I was getting into." I took a deep breath. "But now that it's all right HERE…you're right, it's a lot to take in all at once."

Leah studied me with her dark brown eyes. "Well, for now, how about we go upstairs, have some spaghetti, and then we can help Alice and Rosalie with getting the younger kids to bed? Then you and I can talk some more. That doesn't sound too overwhelming, right?"

I matched her smile. "No, it doesn't.

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"Having a sister-wife, it's like having the same relationship with your husband, but it's just two women, or three women or four, instead of a man and a woman. I love these girls. … and I couldn't live without them. I really couldn't."

- Zelpha Chatwin, 11th wife of Winston Blackmore

I was grateful when Leah saw my emotional struggle and took the dishcloth out of my hand. She gave me a quick hug as Alice and Edward's bedroom door closed with a low click. I clung to her for a second, wondering who had comforted her the first night Edward went to bed with one of his other wives.

My answer came when Rosalie joined our little huddle.

"Hang in there, sister," Rosalie said quietly. "It gets easier." Then to Leah, she murmured, "Are you going to talk to her?"

"Right now, actually," Leah replied as our group broke apart. Calling a good night to Peter and Charlotte, who were working on homework, and Kate and Marcus, who were building a puzzle on the dining room floor, Leah began to lead me toward the door to the basement.

I stopped and turned to Rosalie. "Thank you, Rose," I said, brushing my hand against the swell of her midsection in a silent goodnight to the little girl who would soon be my daughter as well. Rosalie regarded me with tenderness and mouthed "good night."

On our way down the stairs, Leah's hand remained wrapped in mine, warm and welcome. My concerns were dimming in the glow of sisterly affection and understanding. I only hoped that someday I could be as unaffected by sharing my beloved husband as Alice, Rosalie and Leah seemed to be.

When we had reached my room, Leah entered with me and perched on the edge of the bed, eyeing me in a way that said that we had a lot to discuss.

Instead of diving right into what I knew she was itching to say, Leah instead inquired, "How are you holding up?"

"I'm okay," I said, the slight tremble in my voice betraying my words. "My heart shouldn't be so selfish, since I've had him all to myself for a week, but…it's harder than I thought." I turned away from Leah, my tears shameful and self-centered.

I was surprised when Leah's warm hand cupped my chin and turned my head back to face her. "Don't hide your tears, Bella," she said softly. "You can't internalize your struggles. We're in this together, to help one another. How can we help if you hide this inside?"

"But…but it's not how it's supposed to be," I insisted. "I should confront my jealousies and defeat them. I don't want you all to worry about me. It might affect how you are with Edward, and he deserves all four of us at 100%. My mother…" I drifted off.

"Your mother is part of a suffering generation, who is out of touch with how today's sister wife lives," Leah finished for me. "This is 2010, Bella. Our roles in living out the Principle have to evolve as we evolve as people. Women have more rights now than they did when your mother was sealed to your father. We're stronger, and have a louder voice in issues. Edward is a very modern husband compared to the others around here…"

"Is he really?" I asked. I had always been surprised by many of the ways the Cullen family lived when I was being courted, but Mother kept telling me that Edward was just putting his best foot forward so I would accept him. She was adamant that once we were sealed I'd have to assume the traditional sister wife role — bowed head, quiet disposition, coiled braid on my head, long skirt covering my legs, a baby on one hip and another growing in my womb.

Leah looked at me sympathetically. "Of course he is. He has four strong, opinionated, wonderful wives, and he appreciates that. He lets us make decisions. There aren't many men in this community who would allow their wives to work, but Alice has her job at the local supermarket and I am still teaching kindergarten. Don't you want to work?"

I was stunned. "I…never really thought about it." A vision of me working at the town library sprang into my head before I could stop it, and I broke out into a wide grin, which Leah returned.

"This life is a blessing, not a curse," Leah said. "We're a team." She took my hands where they were clasped on my lap. "You're never going to be lonely. You'll always have someone on your side."

"I'd…I'd like that."

We smiled at each other, and I noticed her eyes flick to my mouth and back up to meet my gaze. Her expression darkened.

"I'm on your side, Bella" she whispered, cocking her head to one side and regarding me closely. "I know it can seem lonely on nights when you can't lay next to your husband…but it doesn't have to be. The other girls and I…we mean it when we say we love you. You didn't just marry Edward, you know."

"Oh, I know that. And I love you too…I fell in love with your family just as much as I did with Edward. And I'm so lucky to have such amazing partners in you, Alice, and Rose. I even have your precious children to keep me company."

"There are different kinds of company, you know."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"The company of children is very different from the company of your husband."

I blushed. "Well, yes…that's true."

Leah reached up with one hand to stroke my brown hair behind my ear. "And the company of your sister wives is different from all of that. We are responsible for ensuring each others' happiness in Edward's absence."

Leah's thumb rubbed over the top of my hand and I felt a reaction similar to what had happened in the car with Edward earlier. It confused me and my brows lowered. Leah was watching my expressions closely, her eyes hooded and locked on me.

"I treasure all three of you…you're valuable friends and partners."

"That's not what I mean, Bella," she murmured. "Your sisters…we pay special attention to each other on those nights. It really helps to relieve the jealousy and…the other tensions we might have." She shifted closer to me, our hips touching where we sat on the bed.

I welcomed the affection from her. "And I really appreciate that, Leah. I mean, just sitting here with you makes me feel better."

"Bella," her voice was so low I had to bend forward to hear her. "I can make you feel even better if you'd let me…"

Her voice lowered to a deep, quiet moan as she closed the distance between us and gently pressed her lips against mine. I gasped, my eyes wide as I jolted backward, startled at her actions and equally surprised at the warm feeling that spread in my stomach to the juncture between my legs.

"Leah!" I expected my voice to be shocked, but I was surprised at its wavering, husky tone.

She followed my retreat with her lips, brushing them against me again. "I know you're missing Edward," she breathed. "Let me ease that pain."

For a moment I wished I could abandon my reservations and kiss her back, but I was terrified. I stood up quickly, pacing away from her.

"What if Rose came down? What would she think? This is wrong, Leah!"

Leah remained calm, her gaze roving my body as I walked back and forth. "Rose came to me on my first night alone. I was similarly surprised, but now I'm so grateful for the companionship. She can't be with you right now because of her pregnancy, but she wishes she could. Alice and Rose are wonderful women, and I love them very much."

I was speechless, and Leah continued.

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to, but we know what it can be like to wait days for your night with your husband. And now that's he's taken on a fourth, those moments are even more spaced out." She reached out to me. "Please, Bella…let us love you, too."

I crossed my arms in front of myself, shaking my head as I tried to work out this new development in my mind. Mother had never mentioned anything like this!

"But it's not right…I can't lay with another as I do my husband!"

"Bella, this isn't like laying with Edward. Rosalie, Alice and I do not have the instruments necessary for mating. We cannot make you with child. This is just a way we show our affections for each other, and a way we can address those urges we feel when our husband is not available."

I allowed myself to look at Leah in a new way, testing myself to see if I could regard her as anything other than my friend and my husband's third wife. She remained perched on the bed, leaning back slightly on her arms. Her black hair spilled unbound down her back, curving around her shoulder. It looked soft and fragrant. I imagined burrowing my nose in its glossy softness, inhaling.

The large curves of her breasts pressed against her shirt, and was surprised at how easily I could imagine their naked form, as her nipples were already pressing out against the fabric.

I remembered the sensation of Edward's fingers and tongue on the sensitive nubs of my own breasts, and how I had explored them myself in the shower the other day…along with another area of my body.

An area that now began to ache slightly from the sexual thoughts running through my head.

"You're thinking about it, I can tell," Leah said softly, shifting until she was standing in front of me. "Your nipples are hard."

I looked down, surprised, and as I did, Leah's hands came up and gently rubbed against the straining pebbles. I inhaled sharply and felt the results of her touches stabbing my center with aching precision. I watched her hands, stunned and mesmerized, as she brushed back and forth past my nipples softly, and I couldn't stop my legs from pressing together from the sensation.

"Does that feel good, Bella?" Her voice was a croon, a seductive melody. "Am I making you wet?"

"I…I think so."

"Do you want to touch me?"

Did I want to touch her? I certainly enjoyed what she was doing to me, and I realized I wanted to make her feel equally good.

"Yes."

Before I could lift my hands, Leah stepped away. I didn't know whether to protest the loss of her fingers on my breasts or to be relieved that I wouldn't be pushing any boundaries. But she wasn't done with me, and pulled her shirt over her head before I knew what was happening.

Leah had beautiful breasts…breasts I would have loved to have myself. They were full, their soft curves spilling over the white lace bra she wore. Next to her, I felt like a teenager with my B cup.

But apparently, Leah wanted to see that B cup, because she began tugging on the bottom of my shirt and, numb with desire and surprise, I let her peel it over my head.

I didn't know if I should touch her yet, so I waited to see what her next move would be. "You take your bra off, and I'll take mine," she whispered.

I obliged like a good agreeable girl should, and our undergarments fell at our feet at almost the same time.

Leah hissed softly as she looked at me. "Bella, you have beautiful breasts."

I almost didn't hear her, because I was too busy admiring her body. Leah's skin was dusky, her nipples a slightly darker tan. Her breasts were heavy, and they bobbed slightly as she stepped toward me.

This time, I met her lips in a reciprocated kiss, my head swimming with lust as I felt her soft skin press against my own pale nakedness. Leah opened her mouth and quickly darted her tongue against my lips. I enjoyed kissing Edward like that, so I opened my mouth eagerly and tasted her.

Leah's hands returned to my breasts and I squeaked slightly as she carefully pinched my nipples. Tentatively, I ran my own hands up her sides and covered her breasts with my hands, squeezing them gently, but not quite knowing what to do. Leah responded anyway, moaning against my mouth and moving her own hands more frantically against my sensitive skin.

She broke away, affixing her gaze down to where her hands were busy. "I want to lick these," she said, a moment before bending down to do just that. I cried out in surprise at her boldness, relishing her warm tongue lapping against me. I was almost wild with pent-up desire, rubbing my thighs together frantically, wanting to touch myself but not wanting to pull my hands away from the soft curve of Leah's breasts.

Leah seemed to anticipate what I needed and was quick to respond before I changed my mind. With her mouth licking and nibbling on me, she moved her hands down to pull up my prairie skirt. When she moved aside all of the material and came to the waistband of my underwear, she pulled her mouth away to meet my eyes.

"I wonder how wet you are, my fellow wife," she moaned. Her hand slowly rubbed down across the span of my curls and dipped into the slit between my lower lips. I gasped and she grinned. "Oh my, you are soaked, Bella." One of her hands reappeared from under my skirt and my eyes widened as she tasted my moisture on her fingers. "So wet and so sweet…I think you like what we're doing."

"I do," I groaned, lost to reality.

"Do you want me to make you come?"

I nodded my head, about to sob with deliriousness if I didn't get some relief.

"Lay back," she instructed, pushing me backwards until the back of my thighs hit the edge of my bed. "Relax…I want to ease your tension. I want to make you feel good."

I threw my head back and waited to feel her fingers return to my private area. Instead, I was astounded to feel something warm and wet tickling against me. Involuntarily, my hips bucked against what I realized was her face. Edward had never done anything like this with me!

Before I could stammer a reluctant halt, I felt her suck the most sensitive part of my folds between her lips and was lost in a rising tide of pleasure. I couldn't have told her to stop even if I really wanted to. It felt amazing, and too soon I was crying out my release softly into the quiet room. Leah continued to lick at me gently until every tremor from my center ceased, and finally she crawled up to lay next to me on the bed.

I looked away, unable to meet her gaze. My face was bright red from my release and from my immediate realization of what we had done. As she had done before, she cupped my chin and turned me to face her.

"Don't look away," she said. "This is a beautiful thing. You let me demonstrate my love for you, and I was able to give you what you needed. There's nothing to be embarrassed about." Leah leaned forward and kissed me gently. I could taste a tang on her mouth that I knew was my own flavor.

I sat up. "I can't believe that happened."

Leah sat up next to me. "What are you thinking right now?"

"I'm…not…sure," I said uncertainly.

"Would you be against doing that again sometime?"

I thought about the sensation of Leah's naked breasts pressing against mine, and incredibly, my body responded again.

"I don't think so…" I tried to calm down so I could articulate rationally. "But I'm not sure how I'd feel doing that with Alice or Rose. I mean…"

She smiled a genuine smile, and I tried to ignore the glistening of my lubrications on her upper lip. "You wouldn't want to neglect your sisters, would you? They love you just as much as I do."

"I know that, it's just…really new. And unexpected…"

Leah's face showed understanding. "Well, tomorrow is Rose's night with Edward, so if you'd like, I can spend more time with you then. And if you're comfortable, Alice can be here to watch…" I began to balk, but Leah continued. "She'd watch…that's it. Unless you decided you wanted her to participate."

"I guess that would be okay," I said, even though the area between my legs was already warming from the suggestion.

Leah leaned forward and met my lips in a final kiss. "We're so happy you're our sister wife, Bella. I think you'll be happy with us."

"I think so too," I responded, finally allowing myself to relax. "Except…"

"Except what?"

"Now I need to control my jealousies when someone is with any of you, too."

"Those two women lived together as much as possible. Although Father conducted two homes, two separate places, yet, those two women spent the greatest part of their time together. No greater love ever existed between two women than between those two. When they were asked if they had a chance to live their lives over again how would they live, they both said, 'If we had known what we had to go through we would not have it any other way, because we know there is no other way than the way we have lived.'"

- a testimony of the relationship between sister wives in a plural marriage (1872)

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End Note: Wow, okay, so this was way different than anything I've ever written. My first femmeslash (thanks for challenging me, bookjunkie1975!), and my first foray into something a bit more…controversial. I'd appreciate your feedback through reviews and Twitter. You can find me EllaB_

I think this could be expanded in the future…in case you enjoyed and might want to put it on Alert.