hmmm, I'm 50/50 on whether James was really there IMHO, she definitely has PTSD, and would cause her  jumpiness and nightmares.  As for seeing him....while the fucker would salute her with his coffee, it might not have been him - could he have gotten away so quickly, and taken all his stuff with him I wish they'd asked a waitress!  And he could have been hiding in the potty at the pharmacy....I think that maybe this time, she didn't really see him. But maybe...oi! tell us already. :)

FYI, if James DOES cross state lines for the purpose of committing domestic violence, it's a big ol' felony here in the US of A. So, let him get to crossing so we can pop a cap in his ass! >:>   I find your James particularly hateful.  How the hell did Bella wind up with them - were they her foster parents?  And did he sexually assuult her, too?? :(

Now I'm out of chapters and sad. and cranky. and hungry! I need to crunch on something and pretend it's James' bones. haha!!

:)

Author's Response:

Wow! Your reviews made ma laugh so much! Thanks for taking the time to comment so often!

First thing, in the prolgue, she's not there because the Cullens have abandoned her. I didn't realize that the prolgue gave that impression but worry not, the Cullens do NOT abandon her. She is taken, though I can't tell you the circumstances under which that happens ;)

As for the whole Edward and Jasper animosity...let's just say that it's gonna get worse before it gets better ;)

Oh, and THANK YOU for telling me about the whole crossing state lines for the purpose of committing domestic violence! I didn't know that (being from Canada and all) and definitely WILL be crossing state lines... if he hasn't already ;)

As for your theory on James...we'll have to wait and see, eh? ;)

Thanks for all of your reviews, they definitely made my night!

Here's your teaser:

JPOV
Reaching the passenger door of the car, I had a sudden urge to prolong our time together. It wasn’t like we often got the chance to act like a real couple, after all. We couldn’t exactly waltz around Forks holding hands and kissing. So instead of opening the car door for Bella, I took her tea from her and set it down on the hood of the car with my half finished coffee. She looked at me curiously and opened her mouth, probably to ask me what the hell I was doing, but before she could get the words out I covered her lips with mine.

She froze for half a second before melting into my body. I groaned as her arms snaked around my neck; it had been so god damn long since I could hold her and kiss her like this. Our interactions in the past month and a half had been little kisses and sly touches but since nearly being caught by Emmett we had toned down the intimacy factor. Now I could pull her close to my body, hold her tightly against me and kiss her with abandon. I did exactly that.

And it was fucking glorious.

so....will Edward be the gracious sloser, or will their be fisticuffs???? :0

p.s.  OK, I just re-read the prologue. Did James kidnap her, and they think that she went willingly? or did she go willingly, to protect them from James?? and now, did he dump her body near their house as a calling card???

gah!!! this is KILLLLLLING MEEEEEEEEEEE!! (I'm the impatient sort.)

So...do you believe in HEAs????????

oh MY, this is surely a sticky wicket you're creating for these kids! talk about drama in the making! TWO adopted sibilngs lusting for their quasi-sibling??  ooh, girl, you're baaaaaaaaaaad!! Esme's gonna pop a nut if they start bed hopping! Pretty is gonna be pissed at Jazz for bumping up on Bella..wonder what she's gonna think about Jazz's woody?????  dun dun DUN!!!  And is Crankward ever gonna let Bella know he's hot for her too??  At least Emmett just treats her like a brother...more then a menage would just be ridiculous!!! lol.

 

I think that maybe she is seeing James.  I think he could be that sneaky.  Hopefully the therapist will help her though.

Author's Response:

Well the therapist is up next, so we shall see, eh?

Thanks for reading and reviewing! Here's your teaser:

JPOV
Reaching the passenger door of the car, I had a sudden urge to prolong our time together. It wasn’t like we often got the chance to act like a real couple, after all. We couldn’t exactly waltz around Forks holding hands and kissing. So instead of opening the car door for Bella, I took her tea from her and set it down on the hood of the car with my half finished coffee. She looked at me curiously and opened her mouth, probably to ask me what the hell I was doing, but before she could get the words out I covered her lips with mine.

She froze for half a second before melting into my body. I groaned as her arms snaked around my neck; it had been so god damn long since I could hold her and kiss her like this. Our interactions in the past month and a half had been little kisses and sly touches but since nearly being caught by Emmett we had toned down the intimacy factor. Now I could pull her close to my body, hold her tightly against me and kiss her with abandon. I did exactly that.

And it was fucking glorious.

Hmm, the evidence seems to be pointing to "James" being another hallucination, given what she's just confessed. But, something tells me it's not as simple as that. She saw him with a cup and a paper; but just because he had those things and was sitting on the cafe's patio doesn't mean he bought them there. If he got them somewhere else but sat there to taunt Bella, that would explain why no one remembered him. As for the pharmacy, well that could have been a trick of her mind, given her state. Then again, James could have ducked in and then out again without being noticed.

Edward's really beginning to get on my nerves! But then again, that's canon behaviour for him! And I loved how Emmett was the voice of reason. But that stands to reason, in a way. He doesn't have the extra feelings for her that Jazz or Edward does.

Can't wait to read more!

Author's Response:

You're very right about Emmett, he loves Bella, but not that way, so he doesn't feel like he has to compete the way that Edward and Jasper do. Unfortunately, it's going to get worse before it gets better between the two of them (Jazz and Edward).

As for your theories on James... dun dun dunnn! We'll have to wait and see ;)

Thanks for reading and reviewing, as always! Here's your teaser:

JPOV
Reaching the passenger door of the car, I had a sudden urge to prolong our time together. It wasn’t like we often got the chance to act like a real couple, after all. We couldn’t exactly waltz around Forks holding hands and kissing. So instead of opening the car door for Bella, I took her tea from her and set it down on the hood of the car with my half finished coffee. She looked at me curiously and opened her mouth, probably to ask me what the hell I was doing, but before she could get the words out I covered her lips with mine.

She froze for half a second before melting into my body. I groaned as her arms snaked around my neck; it had been so god damn long since I could hold her and kiss her like this. Our interactions in the past month and a half had been little kisses and sly touches but since nearly being caught by Emmett we had toned down the intimacy factor. Now I could pull her close to my body, hold her tightly against me and kiss her with abandon. I did exactly that.

And it was fucking glorious.

dun dun dun........

Well, whatever the bastard James did to Bella, I have a feeling that these three brothers are going to give him memories to torture him, too.  At least....I hope so.

Poor Bella!

Author's Response:

Indeed!

Thank you for reading and reviewing!

Here's your teaser:

JPOV
Reaching the passenger door of the car, I had a sudden urge to prolong our time together. It wasn’t like we often got the chance to act like a real couple, after all. We couldn’t exactly waltz around Forks holding hands and kissing. So instead of opening the car door for Bella, I took her tea from her and set it down on the hood of the car with my half finished coffee. She looked at me curiously and opened her mouth, probably to ask me what the hell I was doing, but before she could get the words out I covered her lips with mine.

She froze for half a second before melting into my body. I groaned as her arms snaked around my neck; it had been so god damn long since I could hold her and kiss her like this. Our interactions in the past month and a half had been little kisses and sly touches but since nearly being caught by Emmett we had toned down the intimacy factor. Now I could pull her close to my body, hold her tightly against me and kiss her with abandon. I did exactly that.

And it was fucking glorious.

Damn.....he has some green eyes!!!  I have read jealous, but that is purely GREEN!!!

Author's Response:

Haha, very true. Let's just say that it's about to get worse before it gets better!

Thanks for your review!

Here's your teaser:

JPOV
Reaching the passenger door of the car, I had a sudden urge to prolong our time together. It wasn’t like we often got the chance to act like a real couple, after all. We couldn’t exactly waltz around Forks holding hands and kissing. So instead of opening the car door for Bella, I took her tea from her and set it down on the hood of the car with my half finished coffee. She looked at me curiously and opened her mouth, probably to ask me what the hell I was doing, but before she could get the words out I covered her lips with mine.

She froze for half a second before melting into my body. I groaned as her arms snaked around my neck; it had been so god damn long since I could hold her and kiss her like this. Our interactions in the past month and a half had been little kisses and sly touches but since nearly being caught by Emmett we had toned down the intimacy factor. Now I could pull her close to my body, hold her tightly against me and kiss her with abandon. I did exactly that.

And it was fucking glorious.

Edward is just so suspicious.  Why can't he just leave them alone?  And why in the heck does she keep seeing James?  I can't wait to find out.

Author's Response:

Edward can't leave them alone because he's got a little green monster of envy inside. He wants to be with Bella and he's jealous that she's closer to Jasper than she is to him. As to why she keeps seeing James...can't answer that one yet!!! lol

Thanks for reading and reviewing! Here's your teaser:

BPOV
Later I would have no idea how long we stood there, probably making quite the scene, as Jasper attempted to sooth and I trembled steadily. Later I would barely remember Edward and Emmett coming out of the pharmacy and telling us that there had been no sign of a man fitting James’ description in the pharmacy and that none of the staff had recognized such a description either. Later I would only remember the feeling of the panic swelling up through my stomach, making me feel nauseous, and clawing at my throat as it suffocated me. Later I would only remember Jasper’s arms and his sweet scent.

Cinnamon. Old Spice. Leather.

*LMAO* @ the 'Banshee'. That kitten is seriously mad and you described the scene so vividly of Edward & Emmett cowering away from the little fluffball, that I kept giggling all morning over the mental images I had.

Dear Edward, Green does not suit you. Always, AussieECfan :P

Author's Response:

Hahahahaha, "green does not suit you". Excellent. I'm going to try to work that into the story :) OOOOHH I just got an idea, I know exactly how I'll do it. *evil giggles*

I'm glad that the whole cat scene made you laugh, that's what I was going for! Needed a little tension breaker in this story!

Thanks for reading and reviewing! Here's your teaser:

BPOV
Later I would have no idea how long we stood there, probably making quite the scene, as Jasper attempted to sooth and I trembled steadily. Later I would barely remember Edward and Emmett coming out of the pharmacy and telling us that there had been no sign of a man fitting James’ description in the pharmacy and that none of the staff had recognized such a description either. Later I would only remember the feeling of the panic swelling up through my stomach, making me feel nauseous, and clawing at my throat as it suffocated me. Later I would only remember Jasper’s arms and his sweet scent.

Cinnamon. Old Spice. Leather.

I love the French Toast moment. It's terribly cute. When I make French Toast from now on, I will think about this moment and smile.