Happy Reader Appreciation Day! This is the outtake from Chapter 7 from Edward's POV. The conversation between Jake and Edward. This was also my submission for MsKathy's Haiti compilation, so a few of you may have already read this.

"Mmm hmm - one pastitcio, an Althena Plaka combo, lamb kapama, Salad Caprese – wait, make that two, and two tzatziki with pita bread, and can you throw in a couple of desserts?" It seemed kind of stupid to order so much food – I knew she wouldn't want to eat, but I had to try. I practically had to force her to eat a banana this morning.

Bella's eyes looked haunted when she left for the hospital, and I wanted to be with her, but it wasn't my place. This was her family, a part of her world where I didn't belong. I would stay with her though. I'd stay with Bella for as long as she needed me… and not just because I needed her.

Alice said it was a dangerous game I was playing, and I was setting myself - and Bella – up for a big fall. Alice didn't understand. Bella had given me more than just a quick lay - she wasn't just the temporary distraction I had desired over the past few years. I knew it the moment I saw her again at the hotel.

The time I spent in Hawaii away from her had been torture. I thought about her every day, but especially every night. I needed to touch her supple skin and have the curves of her body close to mine. I needed to be inside her, to feel her warmth around me and have her tongue in my mouth. I needed to breathe her in.

What would she say if she knew? I wouldn't be able to bear her reaction. This was a part of my life where she didn't belong.

The morning prior I waited on the porch steps for Bella to arrive at my house, feeling both anxious to see her and worried she might think I was moving things along too quickly. The armoire was simply something I wanted her to have, and admittedly, if she didn't freak out about it and ask me to send it back, it would be a reminder of her during the time we weren't together.

When I heard the gravel crunch under the tires of her car as she drove down the driveway, my heart beat a little faster, and when she parked and climbed out of her car I had to force myself not to run to her. I wanted laugh at her sarcasm and to hear her call me 'Cullen,' but the overwhelming urge to touch her was unbearable.

My instincts and need took over, and I picked her up, her legs wrapping tightly around my waist, and she seemed as eager to see me as I was to see her, making the short moments until I would be inside her feel that much longer. My dick throbbed, pushing against my jeans almost painfully, while I sucked her plump bottom lip and tasted the sweetness of her tongue.

I couldn't get her into the house fast enough - any patience to climb the stairs and take her to my bed left me the moment I saw her. My knees shook; they actually trembled seeing her bare breasts and hard nipples after she tore off her shirt and bra. I loved the way goose bumps spread across her creamy skin when I sucked her nipples, and I loved the way her body arched against mine.

Finally, I was inside her. She was so fucking warm and wet. She always was; god, she felt good. I missed her. The way she moved her hips with mine and pulled my hair drove me insane. The sounds she made as she came were almost melodic. Her quivering legs and muscles tightening and clenching around my cock when she peaked was nothing less than pure ecstasy.

Sometimes I thought she was put on this earth just for me, or maybe it was just dumb luck. Either way I wasn't going to let her go.

I smiled to myself, thinking about being with her, happy the armoire and bracelet didn't send her running, as I unpacked the few bottles of wine I picked up that afternoon. The wine I knew she liked.

I didn't know what complications she had going on in her life for her to also not want a traditional 'get to know you' type of relationship, but now this thing with her mother – she didn't deserve this too.

As I was opening cabinets and drawers in her kitchen to find wine glasses and a corkscrew, there was a knock at the door. Bella called just a short while ago and wasn't due home for another half an hour or so, not that she would have knocked on her own door, but maybe Emmett had driven like a bat out of hell and she forgot her house key.

Emmett seemed like a nice guy. He struck me as the kind of brother that would kick anyone's ass who might hurt his little sister, which was good because Bella was too good of a person and wasn't deserving of any pain caused by anyone – me included. I promised her things would always be good between the two of us, and I meant it.

I drew in a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever state she might be in as I opened the door.

Judging by the guy's expression, he was as shocked to see me as I was to see him.

"Is Bella home?" he asked. His hands were shoved in his pockets.

"No, she's not. Can I help you with something?"

He glanced toward her car and then back at me, eyeing me suspiciously. "Who are you?"

"Edward… I'm a friend of Bella's. You are?" Obviously, he wasn't family because he would have been at the hospital with her, or at the very least he would have known where she was.

"Jake. I'm Bella's hus-… ex-husband. I heard about her mom and wanted to check on her."

Ex-husband?

It didn't surprise me she'd had a serious relationship prior to the two of us meeting, but I never really thought about her being that committed to anyone else.

I hoped he wasn't the complication in her life – that she still had feelings for him. Nausea rolled through my stomach at the thought.

"She's still at the hospital. I'll tell her you stopped by." I had a tight grip on the door, waiting for him to walk away.

"Any idea how long she'll be?" he asked and pulled a cell phone from his pocket, glancing at the screen.

Part of me wanted to lie and tell the ex I had no idea, but I didn't. "Fifteen, twenty minutes, I guess."

"Mind if I wait?" He raised his eyebrows and squared his shoulders. It was as if he was challenging me. Fucking tool.

"If you don't think Bella would mind, I suppose it wouldn't be a problem," I snickered. "She really needs all the positive support she can get right now." Jake brushed by me and sat a little too comfortably on her couch. I didn't like it. I sat in a chair across from him.

Would she mind? I had no idea – I didn't even know about this guy. Maybe she would be happy to see him, but selfishly I hoped she wouldn't.

"So, Edward, is it?" I nodded. Jackass. "How do you know Bella?"

"We've been seeing each other for a couple of months now." I leaned back in the chair, resting my ankle over my knee.

"Really? She never mentioned you."

No shit, asshole.

"She never mentioned you either, Jake." The tool rolled his eyes. I expected him to stand at any moment and piss on her furniture, marking his territory.

"Yeah, well… Bella and I go way back."

And here we go. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of playing his game of one-upping the other.

"Great."

"Since high school." The possessive bastard wasn't going to relent.

"Then I'm sure you can understand how upset she might be when she walks through that door," I warned.

"That's why I'm here, man." He rested his elbow on the back of the couch, drumming his fingers on the cushion.

I was sure he had good intentions, but he seemed a little thick-headed and could probably use a little help shelving his need to claim Bella.

"I'm sure she'll appreciate your concern, Jake, but she's been a wreck over the past twenty-four hours – trust me, I've been with her the entire time. I'd suggest when she does come home," I looked at my watch and leaned forward, "which should be anytime now, you don't act like an ass just because I'm here."

"Excuse me?" He moved to the edge of the couch, and all I wanted to do was take him out back and break his jaw. "You don't know anything about me. I've loved Bella since the first time I saw her, and there's nothing in this world I wouldn't do for her. I was with her a hell of a lot longer than you've been. Things might not have worked out between us, but we're still very good friends."

I wondered if they were really such good friends, why he was just showing up now.

"I know Bella. She's a good person," he continued, "she's the kind of person that needs help along the way."

What the hell did that mean?

"Help along what way?" My brow creased – he was beginning to give me a headache.

"You know, decisions, things like that."

"You're talking in circles, Jake."

"Look, I know Bella better than anyone, and she doesn't always know what's best for her, so she's going to need help going through this thing with her mom. I'll be here to help her."

"How long were you two married?" I asked. He clearly didn't know Bella, and now I wanted to break his entire face.

"About ten years." He shrugged. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Because the woman you just described is not the same one I know and care about. She's witty, not afraid to try things, and she's brave. She's an intelligent woman, Jake. Give her a little credit."

Both of us turned toward the door at the sound of car doors being slammed shut.

He pissed me off, and I couldn't help but stoop to his level. I looked at him directly in the eye, and in a calm voice I clarified my intentions. "I don't give a fuck how long the two of you were together. I'm with her now, and I'll help her through this. If she does want you around, fine - I'll support whatever she needs, but do not upset her. Are we clear?"

"Fuck you, Edward."

Bella walked through the door; Emmett followed behind her. She looked worn out, but her eyes were wide as she glanced between Jake and me. I watched her closely as Jake darted over to her and hugged her.

The overprotective brother in Emmett was apparent as he peered at me, then Jake.

The grimace on her face told me everything I wanted to know as she squirmed out of his arms, and I took my rightful place behind her after shaking Emmett's hand.

And when she took hold of my hand as she told Jake she didn't need anything from him, I knew she was mine.