Bella went cliff diving, but it didn't turn out so well. She broke her back. A decade later, Edward reappears in her life on the same night she loses her best friend and husband to a freak accident. Now a graduate student in Women's Studies, Bella isn't thrilled to see him. But when the Cullens re-enter Bella's life, they bring change, hope, and a new joint project that will require all their expertises.

Also, you can find a SPANISH version here:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4829851/1/En_un_parpadeo

AND you can find images for various things like Esme's house, Edward's piano, Bella's wheelchair and Rose's car on my ff.net profile page:

http://www.fanfiction.net/~thatwritr

OR in my LJ gallery:

http://pics.livejournal.com/that_writr/gallery/000010z2

Special Update:

For personal reasons (a ridiculously full teaching schedule and being recently put in charge of a bi-annual local conference and ongoing project), I am no longer able to reply to reviews and questions. But that said, I wanted to give a BIG THANK YOU to EVERYBODY for the wonderful feedback and kind words that have been sent my way since the completion of this story in August 2009. I do still check my messages about once every 1-2 weeks and read *every* review. I just have too many to reply to anymore, but I didn’t want anyone to think I was ignoring her/him in particular, or didn’t appreciate readers taking time to leave a review. Writing this story was tons of fun and I’m thrilled readers seem to enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed the chance to write it. I can’t tell you how flattering that is!!! As I used to reply to all reviews, I feel a little badly about this decision, but work has been requiring virtually all of my time since the new (academic) year began.

Best to all of you in 2010 and beyond!

So, can men and women really be friends?  Edward Masen thinks so, and he's determined to prove it to the new woman in his life.  Edward Masen is a professor at the University of Oklahoma who is dedicated to his work and his family.  His niece, little Lilly Whitlock, is a first grader with a particularly pretty teacher named Isabella Swan.  Edward then struggles to keep his relationship with Isabella strictly on the friendship level, which proves to be difficult the more they get to know each other.

Edward,Bella, and Jacob are childhood friends who are now college roommates.  Edward, who only seems to care about one-night stands and his band with Emmett and Jasper, and Bella, who has always been studious and responsible, are constantly at odds with each other.  But everything is not always as it seems...

Banner by alicecullentwin

 Bella Swan is accident prone and always in need of rescuing. Sexy neighbour Edward Masen is an EMT and more than willing to handle the job.

THANKS TO FALCONCRANELOVE FOR THE WONDERFUL BANNERS!

'There may often be a great deal more suffered than a stander-by can judge'. Edward and Bella, both with pasts that haunt them, meet at the worst possible setting. Will they ever see the other clearly? AH Canon pairings. No cutting- 2 scenes mimc the act but it is NOT self harming.

Bella is devastated by the loss of her mother and is forced to go live with Charlie, her Mom's best friend, when there is no one else to take her in. She gives up on living, too lost in her own anger to let anyone close to her. Enter Edward, the handsome teenage vampire, and the beginning of a complicated love-hate relationship. Neither can deny the connection between them, but can their love survive the fear that rules her and the secret he hides from her? AU and OOC, Rated NC-17 for language and sexual content.

Reclusive computer prodigy Edward Cullen needs a personal assistant and single mom Bella Swan needs a job. What happens when their worlds collide? Will Bella learn to trust the shy genius and will he be willing to open up to her as well?

Thank you to Shug for my beautiful banner!!!!!