I've enjoyed your story so much, that it's inspiring a second read-through and my first ever fanfiction review. Your story and your storytelling voice resonated long after I finished reading the first time three weeks ago. Here are the things that I particularly like so far:

Your premise is novel and the original storylines around Brady and Carole are wonderfully in character for Jacob and Bella. It all feels very much like it could have happened in the Twilight universe - so yours is a true alternate rather than a parallel universe. All the Cullens are absolutely in character in their words and actions. The varying POVs ring true and provide complementary pieces rather than simply being "she said, he said" rehashes with the pronouns exchanged.

The writing is full of vivid visuals and short asides that set the scene and put me there (like the bus ride, snowball fights and "helpfully" misdirected freshman in Chapter 1), adding rather than detracting from the main story. You have a nice varied rhythm of short and long sentences and mix of internal exposition and dialog that keeps the writing interesting. Basically, you have a good handle on the craft skills that keeps the writing in the background, working magic for the characters and the storyline.

You've not only commented on but actually demonstrated a bit of what the point of Bella staying human might be. Your six year older Bella may be broken and unhappy after being left by Edward, but she has also moved ahead, changed, matured and gathered not just new experiences but also new perspectives. She's not frozen. As a teacher she has found authority that comes not from her position, but from her competence and enthusiasm. While you show she still suffers from low self-esteem (only reinforced by Edwards desertion), you also show that she knows that she is a good teacher and is willing to stand up for that. It's nice to experience some evidence of what Edward is fighting so adamantly to protect, even against her own convictions - Bella's humanity and the ability that it gives her to change and progress. As Rosalie so nicely put it, she's grown a backbone since Forks. (By the way, her cool exit on the motorbike in Chapter 7 put a big grin on my face.)

Speaking of backbone, Bella's tirade with Edward in Chapter 10ii was exactly what really, really needed to be said before there can be any reconciliation. He did leave her, lie to her, seriously misjudge the situation in which he was leaving her and to top it all, think he knew best and had the right to decide things for her for her own good (a rationale that doesn't even go over all that well when I use it with my four-year-old). Such things do tend to undermine the trust, security and mutual respect required in a healthy relationship. It always seemed to me, that Edward got off too lightly on these points. Sure he had the best of intentions and plenty of remorse, but it was fantastic of you to let Bella have her say! (I didn't grin, it was too painful for that, but I cheered.) It's also good to have the other Cullens acknowledging that they made mistakes and may have supported the wrong "sibling" by leaving Forks and adhering to Edward's restrictions. The chewing out Edward got from Emmett and Jasper in Chapter 6 for lying to Bella about not loving her was vicariously satisfying.

Don't get me wrong. I do adore Edward. After all, who can argue with the combined appeal of the bad boy and the gentleman packaged in a body like the Barberini Faun? However, it is refreshing to have him coming to grips with his own fallibility without just wallowing in self-hate. I hope he's not too frozen to get a grip on the self-flagellation; the "mea culpas" are fully justified but keep him in the same stupid pattern. An ability to forgive himself and get over it coupled with the realization that Bella isn't a precious object on a pedestal and that she has a equal say in things could actually provide them with potential for a future.

It is terribly frustrating, that coincidences, misunderstandings and general pig-headedness continually keep Bella and Edward from hashing things out and realizing that they both desperately want the same thing: to be together and that the rest is all just mess to be worked through. But again jumping to conclusions and pig-headedness is very much in character for both of them. And the fact that misunderstandings can distract from the essentials, well that's just like real life. So I guess I can live with that ...

... as long as there's some resolution on the way? Neither Bella nor Edward is exactly light-hearted, but they need to find a way back to some of the tenderness, wit, teasing, fun, joy and wonder that was in the Twilight relationship or what's the point? That's a pretty tall order since it really is difficult to argue with the point already made so often in this fiction that it's impossible for Edward to atone for his mistake - what's broken is broken; even if you can glue it back together again, it's not the same. And things here are so broken, the pieces might as well be microscopic. Another obstacle to a happy ending is the whole question of changing into a vampire vs. staying human. Changing Bella now would freeze her in a pretty bad place and we're definitely no longer talking about an eternity in the throes of intoxicating first love. As to keeping her human ... well, she's already moved past a teenaged Edward in some ways and that's hardly going to get better (it's not like they are going to grow old together). I'd guess that's what might be behind your partial dissatisfaction with Chapter 14 (which as a chapter in itself is great). If your aim was to move beyond the fully justified, well-written Edward-bashing to some hint of light at the end of Bella's long dark tunnel, this chapter hasn't helped turn that corner yet.

Sorry about the long review - I'll be more than happy to go chapter-by-chapter and keep it short as you update again (hint, hint, please do!).

Great way to take up the thread of the story and carry on the momentum! You found your way back in to a very consistent and convincing BPOV. The more mature, compassionate and insightful Bella is back after the emotional tidal wave finally swept over her and she acted out on her motorcycle with the nasty, road burn consequences.

The opening paragraphs are a fantastic recap for us as readers and a powerful image of Bella trying to find first back to herself and then back to consciousness. The dreams and images show how lost she is in so many ways and the language is lyrical and beautiful (" ... written in the key of guilt.")

It feels right and fulfilling that you pick up by bringing closure to Jacob's intervention. It rounds off the JPOV we had in the last chapters.  (I loved the idea of a perfume called "emotional mind-fuck." The observation is so snarky and so Jacob!) Also, I can imagine that like Bella, you as a writer could use the conversation with Jacob as a warm-up for the discussion to come with Edward.

I appreciated Bella's few thoughts on Edward. "No, it still didn't make sense. It was still the stupidest thing I'd ever heard."  She's so right! But, you also show that by dealing first with Jacob, Bella wants and needs to get beyond re-enacting her argument with Edward in the snow when she finally gets around to him.

Edward still hasn't quite gotten it yet, as Jacob points out when Edward says he's not going to "let Bella" go back to Forks. But that let's Bella spell it out clearly one more time. I absolutely love the Virgo standing up for herself - my favorite moment in a chapter which, despite being all talk, is full of great moments.

The heart-to-heart with Jacob shows how close Bella and Jacob are and how willing and able they are to accept each other's flaws. It's a perfect mix of internal and spoken dialog. Bella's discovery of bluntness and honesty in dealing with Jacob bodes well for her talk with Edward.  As does her willingness to swallow her anger to help Jacob stop hurting with her acceptance of him as he is and of things as they are with Brady.

Ah the coming conversation with Edward ...  I've been thinking a lot about the ends of my own two most important relationships. The first, I ended. The second, he ended. So I've been on both sides when it comes to someone taking away the power to control your own future. In both cases, ending the relationship was a mistake. But neither of us went back and admitted as much to the other and asked for forgiveness. I guess we thought we wouldn't get forgiveness or if we did, we wouldn't be able to fix what we had broken.  My point is we never even tried to ask for forgiveness. And I think I would have forgiven him if he had asked. I know I wish he had given me that chance and in so doing, given me my power to control my future back.  Edward can never atone for his mistake in leaving Bella and his reasons were, well, just plain stupid and offer no exoneration whatsoever. But he could ask and Bella could forgive him. Because in the end, the point is that you want to be with him - that it just feels right. And you shouldn't let anything get in the way of that, not even yourself.

Well, so much for the promise to write short reviews if I get to do it chapter by chapter!  Thanks for updating - hope your real life issues turned out OK. I look forward to the next chapter , whenever it comes.

It seems superfluous to review a fanfiction with over 3500 reviews.

It seems ungrateful not to review a fanfiction I'm enjoying so much.

And then you go and say in your AN that you actually read all your reviews. Well that seals it. So, here goes:

This story resonates. I catch myself thinking about it at odd moments (driving to a client, mowing the lawn, feeding the kids, sidling up to my husband in the kitchen ...) Why?

Really original plot-twists. The whole back-story on Volterra is just one huge teaser/cliffie that I can't wait to get to the bottom of.  Hiding from the Godfather by pretending to be the fiancée, all with a healthy dose of Cinderella. Jettisoning virginity to trigger Murphy's Law and escape death. Bella's quest for justice and doing the right thing coupled with her resignation to death are nicely in character, but a full notch up in drama from moving to Forks so that Renee can be happy.

New, endearing dimensions to the full cast of characters. I even like Rosalie in this, and that doesn't happen often. They all show up in character, but so wonderfully integrated in this new setting. Rosalie as a loyal, sexy, scary, feisty mom. Jessica and Tanya as tarts in designer robes. Jacob as the gardener??! (hello Lady Chatterley!) I adore Bella becoming brave and Edward becoming flexible. I care about them getting to their happily ever after.

It reads like you're having fun writing it. You make it look easy. And you write with love for your characters and with humor - a proverbial constant twinkle in your eye. Your light touch allows you to write some real sweetness without it threatening to turn to goo. Best example is the wonderful, unexpected declaration of love at the end of Chapter 18, not in the throes of passion, but over a newborn.

Oh. And the lemons. Very nice citrus moments in there!

Same Bella and Edward - new setting!  I'm still loving your unique combination of hot, romantic and funny. It's a treat to witness a writer take on the transition from B&E falling madly in love to making that love work every day in a version of RL.

I had almost given up hope on a update since there was so much resolution and closure in the previous chapter (26. Decisions) Great surprise to get the alert on this one and nice to know the next one will follow shortly!