Chapter 9

Title: Only Human (9/27)

Author: Amethyst Jackson

Rating: M/NC-17

Category: Drama, Angst, Romance

Pairing: Edward/Bella

Summary: A wish sends Bella back in time to Chicago, 1918, and to a human Edward.

Disclaimer: All this genius belongs to Stephanie Meyer. I’m just having a little fun.

The Benedicts’ home was even lovelier inside than it was on the outside, although everything –
from the crystal chandeliers to the thick carpets – screamed of money. Some parts were beautiful;
others were merely ostentatious.
“What are you thinking?” Edward murmured low in my ear as I clung to his arm and we walked
through the foyer.

I swallowed. “I’m thinking I’m going to embarrass myself very badly during the course of the
evening, knowing me.”

Edward laughed. “Don’t worry so much, Bella. I’ll keep you upright.”

“Good luck,” I snorted, but internally I was pleased. With Edward at my side, I did feel more sure
of myself…I always had.

The smile stayed on his face as he led me to a large doorway which opened to a long gallery – a
giant parlor, really, already full of people. An elegantly dressed couple stood at the doorway, smiles
plastered on their faces. The hosts, I realized. She wore a pure white gown, sparkling with silver
beads. He wore standard black and white. Had they not both been slightly aged, both with dark
hair and eyes, they would have looked like a catalogue add

“Edward!” the woman cried, stepping forward to kiss him exuberantly on the cheek. I could
imagine where the daughter got her “overzealousness” from. “Oh, I’m delighted you decided to
come after all. And who is this delightful young lady?”

I was surprised to see nothing but friendliness as she turned to me expectantly. Truly, I’d expected
the sort of mother who thought her daughter deserved whatever she wanted and would do anything
to obtain it for her. Evidently, she either knew better or was oblivious to her daughter’s wants. Or
Edward had been exaggerating, but I doubted that. He was too gentlemanly to critique a woman’s
behavior unless it was honestly deplorable.

“This is Bella Swan. She’s with us for the summer,” Edward said. The disappointment that
weighed on me was a surprise. Had I expected him to declare his undying love for me? I didn’t
know what we were yet…of course he wouldn’t introduce me as anything other than a houseguest.
“Bella,” he continued, “allow me to introduce John and Claire Benedict.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you,” I said, trying to sound enthusiastic. They seemed perfectly nice – he
quietly humoring his wife, she offering a welcoming smile – but my nerves still controlled me.

“And you as well,” Claire said. “Edward, be sure to introduce her to Rebecca. She’s already run off
with her friends, but she’ll be so glad to see you.”

Slyly, I glanced at Edward as we walked away. His face looked a little tight.

“Let me guess,” I said, unsuccessfully fighting a smile. “She’s the one I need to be warding off with
a stick?”

Edward sighed. “Sadly, yes. But hopefully we can avoid – oh, damn. Never mind.”

I’d never heard this Edward swear in the slightest, so I was prepared for it to be bad when I
followed his eyes to the young woman approaching us. And it was bad. Of course, she was
gorgeous – rich dark hair and eyes turned up just enough to give them an exotic look. I sighed. If
only it had been a blonde – I could handle blondes. But I wasn’t used to competition among
brunettes.

“Edward, you came!” she cried, completely ignoring me. Instinctively I clutched his arm tighter.
Even still, she latched herself onto his other arm, forming an awkward tug of war between us.

Edward shot me a glance, his gaze oddly calculating, before he turned back to her. “Yes, I thought
Bella might enjoy it.” He chose to punctuate my name by placing his hand over mine as he spoke
it. Rebecca’s eyes narrowed as they zoned in on our hands, and I decided to put the final nail in
the coffin, so to speak.

“Yes, he was afraid I would be getting bored – my Edward is so considerate, isn’t he?” I gushed
with false innocence, relishing the shock in her eyes. My Edward…he was my Edward, even though
I’d been thinking of the vampire version of Edward with that title…he was mine in any incarnation,
I realized, because beneath the subtle changes he was essentially the same. Just Edward.

“Oh, yes, how nice of him,” Rebecca said flatly, unable to infuse the right amount of politeness in
her voice. She shot me another dark look before looking at Edward from under her lashes. What
a dirty trick that was – one I was very familiar with.

“Will you at least save a dance for me, Edward?” she asked. I glanced over her shoulder to see a
group of girls watching us curiously – her friends, I supposed.

“I’m afraid I haven’t any to spare,” he replied, unfailingly polite, but I heard the warning edge in
his tone. I recognized that tone well – the tone he’d use with me when I crossed the line of his
delicate control…so he’d always been that bossy…

“Oh, well…” a hint of a blush grazed her cheeks, and I felt a little sorry for her. Being rejected by
Edward had to be absolutely devastating. But she forced a smile and pressed on. “Would you like
to join us for a game of cards? We were just about to start.”

“No, thank you. There are a few more people I’d like Bella to meet,” Edward said. It sounded like
his patience was wearing thin; I squeezed his arm in an attempt to calm him.

“Well, enjoy yourselves, then. I’ll see you later.”

And finally, she was gone. Her friends took her in like a bird returning to a flock and they
immediately started tittering away.

“Are there really more people you want me to meet?” I asked a little apprehensively, though I had
my suspicions.

“No,” he admitted, grinning. “I just didn’t want to play cards. Brilliantly handled, by the way. I
think I’ll make you the full-time custodian of your Edward’s virtue.”
I blushed, trying to read his eyes. He seemed to like the possessive pronoun, so I didn’t shy away
from it. “I think that’s a job I’d like to take. What are the wages?”

“Hmm.” His eyes danced in response to my flirtation, which in turn made butterflies erupt in my
stomach. I hadn’t felt so giddy since…since my wedding night. The thought was sobering, but I
tried to hide it. “I think the wages are negotiable. Why don’t we start with my undying affection
and go from there?”

“I don’t know…” I pretended to contemplate. “I think I’m going to need your undying affection
and your eternal devotion.”

“Done,” he smiled, and the underlying seriousness in his eyes made me shiver. I knew he meant it,
and it scared and thrilled me at the same time. Certainly, I had already fallen for this Edward…but
falling in deeper only seemed cause for more pain when I left him…

As I avoided his eyes, I came to the abrupt realization that we’d been standing in the same spot for
several long moments while the party continued around us – groups of people surrounded the
room, talking, laughing, smoking, being young and happy. I tried to pull my mind back into the
moment, away from the husband that might be missing me and worrying over me right now.

“So,” I said, forcing a smile, “What do we do now?”

He had caught my change in mood; I saw his face fall. I didn’t know how to explain that it wasn’t
his fault, so I didn’t try.

“Well, dinner will be served shortly, and after that, the dancing will start.”

I worked to look cheerful. “And are we going to keep standing here until then?”

“No, as much as I’d like that, we should probably make the rounds,” he sighed, eying the people
around us. “This is the part I’d rather skip.”

“I feel the same way, but I don’t think I should encourage you to shirk from your social
obligations,” I said.

Edward smiled. “Well, then, brace yourself.”

I did, and he led me around the room, introducing me to people whose names I would never
remember. The majority were his parents’ friends and acquaintances, older people who gushed
over Edward and shot quizzical looks at me. I tried to make a good impression, to prove myself
worthy of Edward and his family, but most of the people retained their bemused expressions as we
walked away.

Everything was going normally when Edward suddenly stopped and then dragged me away – away
from a group of boys at the fireplace, I realized, all smoking and laughing. Whatever he was trying
to avoid, he wasn’t fast enough – a boy with dirty blonde hair and grey eyes saw us and called out
Edward’s name. The boy’s smile wasn’t quite a grin, wasn’t quite friendly – it was almost…feral.
Obviously, he was what Edward was trying to avoid.

“Edward, introduce us to your friend,” the boy said, letting out a puff of smoke from his cigarette.
The others eyed us, clearly speculating.

Edward frowned. “This is Bella,” was all he said.

The boy smirked. “Come now, Eddie, don’t be so rude. I’m Norman Bouchard,” he said to me,
holding out his hand. Sensing Edward’s discomfort, I didn’t take it.

“Nice to meet you,” I said conventionally, leaving my left hand on Edward’s arm and clutching the
right in my dress.

Norman smirked, as though he sensed my uneasiness. “Edward and I attend the same school. We
had the pleasure of boarding together last year.”

“Fascinating,” I murmured, guessing that the arrangement hadn’t worked out so well. Edward,
scowling, finally opened his mouth to speak.

“I hate to end the reunion, but we have a few more introductions to make. See you later.”

And with that brisk excuse, Edward tugged me away.

“What was that all about?” I asked, watching his profile – his jaw was rigid with tension. Such a
familiar expression.

“Norman Bouchard is…not a gentleman,” Edward said through gritted teeth. “In fact, he delights
in seducing women and boasting about it later.”

I couldn’t help smiling as I realized what Edward was so upset about. “Aww, Edward – don’t worry.
I’m too smart to fall for his tricks.”

Edward turned to face me, struggling to keep a frown, but a smile was breaking free at the corners
of his mouth. “Yes, I can see you doing a lot of damage to him first. But that doesn’t mean I have
to stand there and watch him ogle you.”

The scowl deepened as he contemplated that thought. My grin was impossible to prevent. “Oh,
Edward. You’re adorable when you get possessive and jealous.”

“I’m not possessive. Or jealous,” he said defensively.

“Of course you are,” I teased. “But I really don’t mind – I think it’s sweet.”

But Edward was still frowning. I stopped walking, forcing him to stop and face me. “What’s the
matter, Edward?”
He heaved a very uncharacteristic sigh and his eyes pierced right through me. “I don’t know
exactly what to make of you, Bella. There are moments like these when I think you might feel as
much as I do – and then other times it’s as though you’re miles away, like you’re dreaming of
someone else…”

I felt horrible. How could I have given this Edward reason to doubt me, too? With my own sigh, I
stepped closer, shocked as always by the feel of his body heat in this close proximity. “Edward, I
promise, every part of me is with you.”

“Every part?” His voice was calm, but his eyes were hopeful.

“Every part,” I repeated. “Of course, it’s not easy to let go of the past completely – but with
you…that’s where I want to be.” It wasn’t a lie, but only half-true – I wanted to be with Edward. But
my heart couldn’t decide which Edward that was – nor could it mesh the two together, like it ought
to.

“You really mean it?” he pressed. “You’re not just saying it –“

“I wouldn’t lie about this,” I interrupted. My heart fluttered at his smile – I would never tire of
seeing that grin, the dimple in his left cheek and the way his eyes crinkled at the corners. The same
smile he would give for an eternity.

A clock chime broke the spell between us, and Edward’s smile dropped slightly. “Time for the
meal. Are you ready?”

I did feel more ready – not only for the rest of the night, but for my time here. “Yes. Let’s go.”