Variety is the Spice of Life!

Whether you’re relaxing into an airplane seat, a deckchair at the beach, or a cozy couch near a fireside Down Under, settling down to read is one of life’s great pleasures. Today on FanFiction Fridays, we have quite the mixture of entertaining fics for you: three complete fics, a one shot, a wondrous WIP, and a drabble, bringing not only romance, friendship, and the supernatural from both human and vampire worlds, but Edward/Bella, Alice/Jasper, and Edward/Emmett. 

We are also delighted and honoured to have the talented Raum and Camilla10 join us today.

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*Review by Raum and Camilla10*

The Brandons by jmolly

*Made by Raum using art by Alicexz on Deviantart*

The Brandons ~ Edward gives Alice the key to her past and future: a phone number for her sister. Companion fic to ‘I Hunger’, but stands alone easily. Vamps/humans, somewhat AU.

Rated: Fiction M – English – Family/Romance – Alice & Jasper – Chapters: 20 – Words: 98,369 – Reviews: 386 – Favs: 70 – Follows: 70 – Updated: 12-07-11 – Published: 05-29-10 – id: 6008317

In the Twilight Saga, the passage from human to vampire represents a very important theme — just think about Bella’s desire to become like Edward, or Edward’s views about his soul. But there’s another passage that is not less important: the one from vampire to human. In this case, the body or the physiology of an immortal creature aren’t going to change, but the vampire gets the possibility to discover some traits of his humanity again. It happens to Edward, through his love for Bella, and it happens to Alice in an amazing story by the talented Jmolly.

Jmolly is a very prolific author, and her stories feature our beloved vamps, with a bunch of very original and intriguing twists. She has a very fine ironic trait, but she can also make you cry in front of the screen (if you don’t trust me, go read “The Sad Story of Woof”). She can describe the characters’ feelings very well, and in her fics they often admit and talk about their most hidden fears and desires.

In “The Brandons” Jmolly focuses on Alice.

Alice’s human past was a mystery for herself and the Cullens, because the pain of the venom had erased all of her human memories during her transformation. It’s through Bella that Alice finally gets back something about the human, broken girl she once was: when Bella is attacked by James at the ballet studio, he tells her about Alice, who once escaped him.

In Jmolly’s fic, Edward gives Alice the key to her past and future: a phone number for her sister. Let’s read how the author describes this pivotal scene

“Alice? I have something for you.” Edward reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.

“What is it?” I wondered, nonplussed.

“You haven’t Seen?” he asked hesitantly. A very old, very tiny old lady,grinning and refusing to let go of my hand. Sticking out her other hand for Jazz to kiss.

I shook my head, confused, and waited for my brother to enlighten me. “Who is she?”

“Cynthia,” he informed me kindly. I shot to my feet, anxiety and something suspiciously like anger engulfed me. Both Edward and Jasper recoiled.

“It can’t be. It can’t be! I saw the gravestone. She’s been dead since 1945, Edward. I looked for her. She was the only Brandon I found in the records.”

“It’s her. She was thinking about your mother and wishing that her family’s birth and death notices were available. They’re planning a reunion. I guess there was a fire at the church and a lot of history was lost. That’s how I caught on. Your father had a sister named Cynthia, too. It was her grave you found. Her gravestone only lists the date of her death, because the records were lost and your parents had already passed on. Only your sister remained, and she didn’t know the date of birth, only death.”

I stood stiffly, trembling, and my breath huffed out in a whimper. “My sister’s not dead,” I said numbly.

“She’s not dead, and she wants to meet you.”

My eyes flew to Edward’s face. “How?”

Are you already curious to see how will Alice reconnect not only with her much alive sister but with a bunch of endearing “descendants”? All this while a hurricane threatens to sweep the new found family away. So they need to be rescued by human and non human means, but it is still necessary to keep the secret. You will laugh, you will bite your nails, and at the end of the journey you will be happy for them.

Jmolly’s story is complete, so you’ll get all your answers in a timely manner.Happy reading!

Camilla and Raum

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6008317/1/The-Brandons

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*Review by Raum*

The Decision by windchymes

*Made by Jaime Arkin*

The Decision ~ Edward made a decision after that second biology lesson. Two years later that decision is challenged.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 9 – Words: 96,613 – Reviews: 2,382 - Favs: 2,325 – Follows: 1,770 – Updated: 10-15-11 – Published: 03-05-11 – Status: Complete – id: 6797418

Don’t miss it because…

I could list many reasons why The Decision is one of my favorite fics. I’ve reread it several times, and every time I end up savoring each word and noticing new details. I’m going to give you just five reasons why you can’t miss this story; feel free to add yours!

1. Edward 

I know, Edward Cullen is always a good reason! This story features an amazing Vampward — sweet without being sappy, mature without being a controlling jerk. Vampires are supposed to be unchanging, but in Windchymes’ stories they do change. Edward is open to discussing his beliefs with Bella, and chapter by chapter his views on his soul–and on Bella’s choice to become a vampire–change. This takes us to the second reason…

2. Characters

The Decision features the Cullen coven, other canon vampires (we meet Tanya, and traditional vamps), but also a bunch of great original characters. Each of them is well developed. Forget the clichés. Forget a Bella who spends her time just taking care of her parents, or a brooding Edward. Both Edward and Bella make–or have already made–new experiences in this story. They talk about the places they’ve visited and the ones they’d like to discover, they have many interests and projects. Edward and Bella work wonderfully well together, but they’re capable of being apart as well. I absolutely love the way the author shows how the characters’ psychology change as the story progresses.In Chapter 2, we read:

Edward breathed in her scent and let his throat burn while his heart rejoiced. She was here.
Of course he had called for her, and as they’d set off from her front door he had wanted to offer her his arm. And if it had been 1918 he would have. But it wasn’t 1918.

So they walked side by side, talking about her new history assignment and his transfer, while they both balled their hands tightly in their pockets.
They sat on the grass by the lagoon and Edward showed off, skimming stones perfectly across the surface of the water, making them bounce and dance.

“Impressive,” Bella smirked and Edward smiled.

“There’s a lake in Switzerland, in the Bernese Alps, that’s perfectly still,” he said. “It has perfect reflection and they say if you skim stones across it, it looks like glass breaking.” Edward actually knew this because he’d done it.

Bella smiled. “That sounds beautiful,” she said. “I saw a lake like that in France. I tried skimming, but my stone just sank.”

It took a fraction of a second for Edward to realise what Bella had just said. “You’ve been to France?”

“Uh huh.”

“When?”

“Between graduation and starting college.” She had been sitting with her legs curled under her, but she stretched out now, leaning back on her hands. She tilted her head to look at the sky and extended her neck as she did so. She breathed deeply. And while part of Edward’s mind was still absorbing the fact she’d been to France, another part marvelled that she felt comfortable enough with him to expose herself that way. Even unwittingly.

She made another shift, changing her position and curling her legs beneath her again, the opposite way this time. Her movement broke Edward’s gaze. Now he stared at her profile, her eyes downcast as she plucked at the grass, and he focussed on what she’d just said.

He had questions, so many questions, and he didn’t know where to start. So he summed it up in two words.

“Tell me?”

3. Travels

I mentioned that Edward and Bella have many travel experiences to share in this story; it’s well researched, and the places where it’s set play a role in it. The main part of the story is set in Chicago, and you’ll be able to discover many of its important landmarks. Some European cities are mentioned, and the characters will become your guides, making you see those places through their eyes, sharing their emotions. A part of the story is set in Greece, and it makes it an ideal reading for the summer. But I can’t tell you more…

4. Writing

The writing is elegant, smooth, and captivating. Every word is like a gem, carefully chosen and with many facets to discover. I love the way the author describes objects that play a role in the story–a certain purple cashmere blanket, for example–and the way the characters voice their feelings. Windchymes’ words will stay with you.

5. Angst-free

This story has a good plot, and it’s very well told. There are moments when you’ll be worried for the characters, or when you’ll be afraid, but there’s no angst-for-angst’s-sake. This is another reason why I’m sure it will be a great fic for the holidays.

- Raum

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6797418/1/The-Decision

Windchymes is now a published original fiction author under name Suzanne Carroll, with her books, The Thunderstorm, and Over the Edge.  Congratulations to her!

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Thanks so much to Raum and Camilla for taking the time to share these favourite fics with us. MWAH!

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*Reviews by Cared*

Fill Me With Your Poison  by Nolebucgrl

*Made by Jaime Arkin*

Fill Me With Your Poison ~ Bella Swan’s intrigued by vampires. Edward Cullen’s bored and alone. What happens when they meet? AU, vampire. Rated M. Inspired by Katy Perry’s ET.

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Supernatural – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 2 – Words: 12,965 – Reviews: 526 – Favs: 838 – Follows: 665 – Updated: 05-27-13 – Published: 05-20-11 – id: 7007740

A/N from Nolebucgrl: Hi there! Here I am again with another story, something I just couldn’t get out of my head. From the first time I heard it, “E.T.” by Katy Perry screamed Edward and Bella to me. I love the song and I loved the image I had of the two of them to go with it, so I sought to put it on paper. This is different for me. Third person, not really humorous, but it’s exactly as I saw it. I hope you enjoy!

Nolebucgrl told no lie by saying this is different for her.  Roll over Brothers Grimm; there is a new storyteller in town!   Fill Me With Your Poison doesn’t start with “Once Upon A Time” and I don’t know if it will finish with “And they all lived happily ever after,” but somehow, I feel as though Nolebucgrl is recounting a fairy tale to me.  Not a children’s one mind you – given what Edward has in mind to do with Bella – no 107-year-old virgins exist in this story!  That thought sparked my interest, and so I looked up the definition of fairy tales to see if vampires have ever been included in the genre. I discovered “A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features folkloric fantasy characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants, mermaids, or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments.”  Pfffttt!  They are going to need to reconsider their definition to include vampires, and IMHO, the mating bond…magic doesn’t come any more wondrous than that.

The story opens with Bella and her friends Lauren and Jessica getting dolled up for a daring night-out in Venom – a vampire club!  I’m not talking fancy dress night-club here, I mean a place you could go to meet vampires in a social setting, perhaps even be changed upon agreement of both vampire and human.  Vampires have become tired of hiding their true existence; they want to live in public without hiding behind a façade, and so following negotiations with the human leaders, deals were struck that allow them to do just that.  This whole premise of the story is unique, and one of the lures that sucked me in. (Pardon the pun.) I was completely captivated, and a bit in awe of Nolebucgrl, actually; how she came up with the methods of these vampires entering and co-existing in peace in the human world.  The thought process and precision that Nolebucgrl  must have gone through to think this up and make it all work is astounding.

Edward Cullen is the owner of Venom, but it’s obvious his power and influence stretch way beyond those four walls, and I suspect he has his own agenda for how the power balance between vampire and human will eventually play out.  His brothers Jasper and Emmett turn humans for pleasure, but the only humans Edward has ever turned were poor unfortunates he used for practice.  Then the delectable Isabella Swan walked in the door…

It was then that Edward saw her. The girl that wasn’t sure she should be there. His red gaze turned black as his eyes moved over her perfect face. Her skin was so light that it was almost translucent. Edward immediately regretted the flashing lights of the club, for he wanted to see her luminous skin in white light and in total darkness. Anywhere, really. Her wide, frightened eyes captured him, and he felt his hand tighten around the table’s edge. He wanted to touch that skin, feel that softness between his fingertips, and take the fear off her face.

He watched as she bit her lip and looked around uncertainly. Her friends had already abandoned her for his brothers, and he could tell, even without focusing on her thoughts, that she was thinking of hightailing it out of the club. He could not have that. He stood abruptly and ran down the steps, past his bodyguard. Nobody was allowed onto the second level of the club without a special invitation from Edward, and he had yet to grant one, though he was thinking of rectifying that immediately for the gorgeous girl in blue.

He ignored the writhing bodies as he walked slowly through them. Though he was impatient to be near her, he savored the path to get to her. It felt to him like something momentous was happening, and he almost swore that he felt his dead heart pounding in his chest. Too soon, and not soon enough, he was in front of the girl, and she was even more glorious up close. His eyes moved over her hungrily.

Bella saw the man-no vampire-with the strange hair approaching. It was hard to tell, with the strobe lights going off everyplace, but she swore she could see a mix of brown, blond, and red there. His eyes were black, which frightened her, but something about the way he was looking at her told her that she had nothing to fear. She felt as if she were a priceless painting or something, the way he watched her. She held her breath as he approached, for she knew he was coming for her.

When he stopped directly in front of her, she gasped at the utter beauty of the man before her. The vampire at the front door had been handsome, and the two vampires that had absconded with her friends had been even better looking. But this vampire, right in front of her, looking at her like she was the only person in the room, was the most gorgeous thing she’d ever seen in her lifetime.

He’s beautiful. Edward smiled at her thoughts.

“Hello, my name is Edward Cullen.” …

And with that “Hello,” masterful, complex, enigmatic, sexy Edward has me; he has the uncharacteristically bold and daring Bella, too.  Instead of being frightened by Edward’s vampire nature, Bella is intrigued by him and surprisingly, even to herself, she feels safe.  Edward, for his part, is dazzled and aroused by the beautiful, shy human, but more importantly, she awakens feelings he didn’t know existed.  Ah, the emergence of the mate bond…a thing of beauty to behold!  Nolebucgrl says she plans to explore the mate bond; that is akin to a melodic vampire voice to my ears, as it’s the other aspect of this story that immediately ensnared me.  From what I’ve read so far, I gather that both the fathers, Aro – yes, I said Aro – and Charlie, will prove to be forces to be reckoned with in their own way; that’s yet another element of interest to this already absorbing story.

And then they all lived err… I don’t know…but I definitely want to find out.  So, why not set off on this fascinating and delightful journey with me, and we’ll explore it together.

ET by Katy Perry – the inspiration for Fill Me With Your Poison.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7007740/1/Fill-Me-with-Your-Poison

Nolebucgrl is also a published original fiction author.  Her first book is called Code Red and her pen-name is Amy Noelle.  I recently read this book and loved it. Congratulations and I look forward to many more!

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She’s Royal by halojones

She’s Royal ~ The Cullens are in Hawaii on holiday, but only Alice knows the reason why they are there-she’s had a premonition that Edward would finally meet his true love. But when their meeting is ruined by unforeseen circumstances, will Alice set things right again?

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Supernatural – Chapters: 20 – Words: 110,148 – Reviews: 2,663 – Favs: 2,202 – Follows: 1,214 – Updated: 03-27-09 – Published: 06-08-08 – Status: Complete – id: 4310111

Alice had a dream.  No sparkling vampires were harmed or even featured, and she didn’t make enough money to pay off her minivan loan.  What she actually did experience was a tantalizing glimpse of the perfect woman for Edward, and instead of the aforementioned good financial fortune – she maxed out Carlisle’s credit card in an effort to turn the dream into reality.

Alice’s Dream…

Edward was in a dark, crowded club. The music wasn’t the usual club music you hear in the states-it was a reggae/dancehall style. And among the sea of tanned, after beach clubbing, swaying bodies, Edward looked out of place. He was overdressed, undertanned, and standing alone. Then something caught his eye- a girl with her back to him was dancing gently to the music. Her thick, long, brunette hair swayed about a beat behind her moving hips. She was alone too, and Edward started closing the distance between them. In the background, a musical refrain could be hear loud and clear:

“she’s royal yeah, so royal,

and I need her in my life,

I never knew anyone, so one of a kind

until the night that I seen your eyes,”

Edward softly tapped her on the shoulder, smiling so widely and openly as she turned around to meet his gaze. I couldn’t see her profile as she turned, because a flower behind her ear blocked my view– but I heard Edward clearly say, “Finally.”

Sometimes in fanfic…okay… quite often in fanfic, Alice is portrayed as an annoying but likeable, interfering pixie with shopaholic tendencies.  IMHO, she is one of the hardest Twilight characters to portray somewhat canon, without turning her into a caricature.  In She’s Royal, Alice is indeed a vertically challenged, meddling, visionary, but she is perfectly balanced, and it didn’t take long for halojones to convince me to sign up for both Team Alice and her crazy plan.  Alice moves Heaven and Earth to persuade the Cullen Clan to travel en masse to Hawaii for a holiday, just so Edward can meet his mystery brunette – the woman she believes is his destiny.  Edward and Alice may be twins with a freaky special connection, but in this case, Edward is clueless and messes up – carefully laid plans of mice and Alice are trampled underfoot by him dancing with a cute girl who had…shoulder length blonde hair.  Men!  What a time for usually reserved Edward to come out of his shell!

Alice is very mindful of Edward being the loner among happy couples, and it concerns her; she insists on sharing accommodation with Rosalie so that Jasper and Emmett can bunk with Edward.  Needless to say, Jasper and Emmett are not keen on the sleeping arrangements and are determined to hook Edward up so they will be off the…err…hook IYKWIM.  Their meddling once again throws a spanner in the works, but fate is not one to give in easily; they say fate is a fickle mistress, but I say fate is stubborn as a toddler in the sweet aisle in the supermarket, – she wants her HEA for Edward and Bella and sets up another opportunity for them to meet.  Cliff diving no less…

They both laughed-knowing I was stalling. I didn’t care though-I needed a moment to get the urge up to jump. I watched the water until a new set of waves came in-the water was definitely not shallow now. And yet my feet were stuck to the rock.

“Excuse me, ” said a little boy about 10 years old. He hopped right in front of me, and leapt into the sea. Jasper and Emmett were cracking up below.

“You just got owned by a second grader, Edward,” Emmett called out.

I tried one more time to will my feet to jump-but they wouldn’t. The dread was evenly spread throughout my body now, and I seriously began to consider just walking back down the rock. I didn’t want to do it.

The light pressure of a hand was suddenly on my shoulder. “Are you okay? ” a soft voice asked gently.

“Uh, yeah.” I mumbled as I continued looking at the water-and the mocking faces of Jas and Emmett.

“Don’t look down like that. Whatever you do, don’t look down. You won’t jump if you keep staring at the water.”

I finally looked to my side to acknowledge the voice. A girl with long, brown hair was beside me, with a flower behind her ear. She had almond shaped, dark brown eyes that seemed to empathize with my situation.

“What a chicken shit you are,” Emmett cackled out from beneath.

The girl looked down to see where the voice was coming from and glared at Emmett. “Don’t listen to that idiot. People can be so rude sometimes.”

I let out a small laugh. “Actually, I sorta have to listen to that idiot. He’s my older brother.”

Her nose scrunched in disbelief. “Well, I’m sure he’s nice most of the time, but he’s not being very nice right now.”

“But that’s a big brother’s job, isn’t it? ” I countered with a smile, trying to keep the conversation going-which kept me on the rock that much longer.

“I don’t know what a big brother’s job is since I don’t have one. But if you want to jump, you need to not look down AND not listen to your big brother-doing his job apparently.”

I let out a small laugh, but I was only half listening. She bit her lip while looking at me-she looked like she was trying to figure out how to approach me.

“I came here for the first time yesterday, and I was frozen in this very place just like you. I just couldn’t get my feet to move. I was this close to just walking back down the rock and calling it a day.”

I tried to not look down and focus on her instead. “And did you get over being frozen?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Some nice boy came up beside me, told me to stop looking down, and offered to jump with me. He held my hand, and without giving me time to think, he leapt off with me.”

Before I could respond to her, she grabbed both my hands and said, “Your turn.” 

Edward and Bella develop a fascinating bond but even with supernatural intrigue weaving its way through to bind them tight, their relationship is not the without normal human misguided decisions and some heartache.  This mystical tale of romance is all human though, with enough of a supernatural twist  to bring us into the AU realm, and is a lovely short read – perfect for a lazy day.  Take Edward by the hand and jump!

And to get you in the mood…

halojones says if Bella’s lullaby was a reggae song, it would be this:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4310111/1/She-s-Royal

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Mo Chroí by SweetDulcinea

*Made by inside-the-disarray*

Mo Chroí ~ Summer of Smut Contest Judge’s Pick – Summer camp romance is put on hold when Edward returns home to Ireland & ended altogether after a misunderstanding. Will the next summer be torture for Bella, or will she be able to forgive & move forward? AH

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Friendship – Bella & Edward – Words: 10,495 – Reviews: 51 – Favs: 157 – Follows: 33 – Published: 08-21-09 – Status: Complete – id: 5319855

Mo Chroí was awarded a Judges’ Mention in the Summer Smut contest in 2009.

Mo Chroí is a very well-written one shot and contains a perfect blend of friendship, with a sprinkling of angst, and a bucket load of love.  Many of you ladies share my love of Irishward, but being Irish myself, I set the standard for them quite high, and believe me, this gorgeous example does not disappoint.  In fact, none of the characters do; even Garrett in the usual Jake role, made me warm to him and want to fix him up with a nice girl.

The story is set in an American summer camp where the usual suspects work as counselors.  It’s obvious from the opening scene, where Bella discovers that Edward is once again on staff for the season, that the previous year’s romance between Edward and Bella is in tatters…

June 2009

“Mary Alice Brandon, I can’t believe you,” I fumed at my best friend.

“Bella, I swear to Prada I didn’t know! Jasper told me that Edward wasn’t working this summer.”

I threw my last bag down on my bunk and glared at her. How on earth my little fashionista BFF ever came to work at a summer camp is beyond me. You would never believe someone like her could be interested in camping, wilderness, and water sports, but she somehow managed to last each summer in Tommy Hilfiger and Sperry’s. It was slightly less formal than her usual designer wardrobe, but for Alice, it was her version of camp wear. All my camp clothes came from Target.

Alice and I met at camp three summers ago when we were co-counselors in the same cabin. It was the last summer before we both started college and we bonded immediately. By midsummer, she changed her undergraduate plans and was enrolled at Texas A&M with me. That’s where she met her boyfriend Jasper, and the second summer, she dragged him to work at camp with us.

That second summer – last summer – is when I met him.

Edward and Emmett McCarty were the Irish born wonder brothers, sent by the devil himself to torture and tantalize every female staff member and camper to step foot onto the grounds of Camp Chautauqua Lake. In reality, their American mother had worked here when she was a teen, many years before meeting Edward and Emmett’s father and moving to Ireland. According to the guys, they attended a week of camp one summer when they were kids. Deciding to work there had been a last minute excuse to spend their summer in the States, and the camp director ate up the idea of having two “international” counselors on staff.

The thing you have to understand about working at a summer camp is that everything moves in fast forward, especially relationships. You spend twenty-four hours a day with a staff of less than fifty people for ten straight weeks. Every meal, every experience, and every night off are spent together. Friendships are formed quickly, and in such a small social circle, the bonds run deep and intense. In most cases, boyfriend-girlfriend relationships only take days to form from the point of initial flirtation to exclusivity.

That is exactly what happened with Edward and me.

While that is what happened the first year, this time around Edward needs to earn Bella’s forgiveness and win her back.  There is a lovely slow burn as he woos Bella.  *I’m pausing here to sigh as I let the romance of the story wash over me again.*  Their back-story is revealed as the story moves forward and we see how sweet and right they are together; beautifully passionate too.

Mo Chroí is Irish for My Heart – take five minutes to swoon over Irishward and discover why it’s the perfect title for this charming story.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5319855/1/Mo-Chroi

Author’s Blog can be found here.

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One Summer Night by  karenec 

*Made by Falling Stars*

One Summer Night ~ When Edward Masen gets stood up at his sister’s wedding, a surprising confession from his friend Emmett might just turn the whole night around. Edward/Emmett, AH. Slashy drabbles.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Friendship – Edward & Emmett – Chapters: 2 – Words: 803 – Reviews: 30 - Favs: 17 – Follows: 32 – Updated: 06-12-13 – Published: 06-10-13 – id: 9376336

The story opens with Emmett having witnessed Edward being stood-up by his date to his sister’s wedding…

“Besides, you should thank me. Now you’re not the only single guy at this shindig.” Edward winked.

Emmett hummed in agreement as the two men walked off the elevator. Part of him wanted Edward’s date to show; clearly, his friend’s feelings were slightly dented at being stood up on such an important evening. A darker, secret corner of Emmett’s heart was glad that Alec had gone AWOL, though; Emmett had always suspected that a jackass lurked under Alec’s handsome face. He felt a smug satisfaction that Alec had finally shown his true colors … until dejection flashed in Edward’s eyes.

~oOo~

Edward put on his game face. He pushed his disappointment with Alec away, covering it with an easy laugh.

He escorted Alice down the aisle, placing her hand in Jasper’s with a feeling of satisfaction. His throat ached as the couple said their vows, and afterward, he laughed when his baby sister threw her arms around his neck in a fierce hug.

At the reception, Edward paid attention to everyone as only he could, ensuring that champagne glasses were full, that his mother had a comfortable seat, and that Alice and Jasper had food to nibble; that everyone was content.

~oOo~

“Buy you a drink?” Emmett asked when Edward finally joined him at the bar.

Edward nodded gratefully, casting a glance over his shoulder at the party in full swing. He turned back when something cold brushed the back of his hand, and accepted a glass of beer from his friend.

“Relax, Ed. It’s a good party.”

Edward’s head snapped up at Emmett’s gentle tone. The affection in his friend’s expression warmed him. “Yeah, you’re right,” he agreed with surprise. “Mom’s happy. And Alice and Jasper love it. Everyone’s having a good time.”

“The real question is,” Emmett asked, “are you?”

We are all familiar with the scenario where Edward and Bella are best friends and one of them is secretly in love with the other.  There are a myriad of ways for awareness to dawn on the oblivious party and for the relationship to morph from purely friendship to more. I’m so looking forward to the different dynamics in this story, though – in case some of you haven’t guessed it, this time, the developing relationship will be between Edward and Emmett – making this story a completely different ball-game altogether. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist it.)

One Summer Night is really only starting out, and whilst I haven’t learnt too much about the characters yet, I know Emmett is a loyal and caring friend, that much is obvious, and Edward is a wonderful, loving brother and son; for some reason I suspect he is a sensitive soul. I wondered how else to describe them to entice you to read the story, then in a review reply to me karenec said,  ”Honestly, I have no idea how someone could not have feelings for Edward or Emmett — they’re way too easy to love.”  So, all of you dear readers who don’t normally read slash, I entreat you to take a chance on this couple. Why? Quite simply – these are two people who are easy to love.

I asked karenec to share her inspiration for One Summer Night ~ “ I got the idea for the story from a tumblr photo that I reblogged at some point – it is very simple, just two men in tuxes on a city sidewalk, but I thought there was a story there. When Les16′s birthday came around, I thought I’d write some drabbles as a gift. I liked the birthday offering enough to keep going into another two parts.

When I set out write something, I just go whatever pairing fits the story. The guys in the photo look like they could be Emmett and Edward to me, so that was that.” 

 

*Sweet Inspiration!*

*This story is in three parts, it is entirely prewritten, and karenec plans to post 3 times a week Mon-Wed-Fri.  Given that schedule, it will take about 8 weeks to post, start to finish.*

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9376336/1/One-Summer-Night

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Mmmmhhhh!  This is my vision of Summerward and below are three of my all time favourite summer fics.

Summer of Salt by lola-pops 

Summer of Salt ~ The heat wave lingers. Sweet, savory and slick. Jasper, Rose and I wade through the humid days, content in our relative isolation. We spend June through August at our family lake property, and this summer is like any other. Until it’s not.

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Angst – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 26 – Words: 88,646 – Reviews: 4,245 – Favs: 4,947 – Follows: 1,869 – Updated: 07-05-10 – Published: 12-18-09 – Status: Complete – id: 5589694

Read this for the carefree days of summer that LoloPops allows you to relive, for the strong Bella, and for a Douchbagward that you will love to hate – even while you love him.  There is no denying the heartache along the way, but it serves to make the ending that much sweeter.

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For the Summer by camoozle

*Made by MisforMarisa*

For the Summer ~ Every year Bella waits for the ‘Pay Checks’ to roll into her sleepy river town and every year Edward’s hers, just for the summer. AH, AU, OOC, B/E

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Drama – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 19 – Words: 176,780 – Reviews: 8,640 - Favs: 6,936 – Follows: 3,766 – Updated: 08-19-10 – Published: 04-30-10 – Status: Complete – id: 5934882

Another story that will take you back in such a delightful way to a simpler time, to friendship and first kiss, then all the way to first love and sad goodbyes.  For The Summer is just adorable and unforgettable; it’s full of longing and love – a story definitely not to be missed!

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Summer Nights by Jenny0719

Summer Nights ~ Bella Swan moves to Chicago with her son and Jacob Black. She then meets Edward Cullen and falls in love. But someone doesn’t want Bella and Edward to be together…

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Angst – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 47 – Words: 234,648 – Reviews: 2,748 – Favs: 2,325 – Follows: 874 – Updated: 04-26-10 – Published: 07-13-09 – Status: Complete – id: 5215869

Oh my!  This Edward is a former naval officer, a surgeon, drop-dead-gorgeous, and for me, the pièce de résistance… an IrishAmericanward!  This story is so much more than a simple romance between Edward and the wonderful woman that is Bella.  I don’t just mean the juicy lemons either – this story has as many twists and turns as the maze at Hogwarts.  Enjoy!

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So, ladies, Edward is waiting for you to take the plunge with him, but first, please dive right into the comments and tell us what you’ve been reading this week.

The FicSix

Countdown to Summer ~ Part 3

Welcome to Countdown to Summer ~ Part 3 on Fan Fiction Fridays . . . the final frontier of the FicSix’s reread/comfort fics. We have all shared so many wonderful, very memorable fics, both in our reviews and in the comments, the last couple weeks, and this week we’re going to share a few more and hopefully so will you, as we continue this exciting journey into our fanfiction pasts.

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*Reviews by Ilovealion*

Whether you’re soaking up some sun on a pristine beach or enjoying a lazy afternoon in a hammock under your favorite shade tree, there’s one thing that can make your preferred summer pastime even better: a great story. For those of us who are Twilight fans, we want that great story to be about Edward and Bella. Yep. We need a Twilight fix just like the Silly Rabbit needs Trix. Thankfully, we are blessed in this fandom to have authors who take the time to write praise-worthy fics of every genre and style. Some stories are so good that we are compelled to read them over and over. The FicSix have deemed these “comfort fics,” and I’ve chosen to highlight a couple of my beloveds in the hope that you will enjoy them, too.

If I were asked to pick one genre of story as my favorite, I would have to choose “suspense.” I was a mystery and suspense addict long before I fell in love with the romance of Twilight. Books by James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell, and Dean Koontz lined my shelves. When I was in my post-Twilight withdrawals and was searching for that Edward and Bella fix that I so desperately needed, I found my relief in IsaKassees’ Twific “This Is Not My Life.” I had found my nirvana. I mean, it doesn’t get any better than a suspense/thriller starring my favorite characters, right?

This Is Not My Life by IsaKassees

This Is Not My Life ~ Follow Bella as she tries to survive a madman’s abduction and keep a stranger’s child from succumbing to his wild fantasies, and follow Edward as he tries to stay sane searching for his daughter taken right before his eyes.

Rated: Fiction M – English – Angst/Hurt/Comfort – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 38 – Words: 315,889 – Reviews: 16,957 – Favs: 8,821 – Follows: 4,316 – Updated: 09-24-10 – Published: 11-27-09 – Status: Complete – id: 5540509

The story starts off with a bang.

EPOV

I walked to my cart to push it back over to them. As I reached it, I heard a sound that would haunt my memory for the rest of my life. I heard my Lily scream and then a gunshot rang out followed by complete silence. I whipped around to save my little girl from I don’t know fucking what, and what I saw made me freeze.

A man, with stringy blond hair, and cold gray eyes had a gun pointed at my baby girl and Bella.

I started to move forward to grab Lily and pull her behind me, but his eyes flashed up to me immediately halting me in my movements.

“Stay right fucking there or die motherfucker.”

He spoke without raising his voice, and he looked at me calmly as though if it was of no real consequence to him if he had to kill me or not.

He looked back down at Lily and Bella, who were still crouched together surrounded by apples, and asked, “Vicki, what are you doing at the store? You know you’re not supposed to leave the house without me.”

Vicki? Who the fuck is Vicki? Does she know this asshole? If she gets my daughter hurt I swear to god I’ll kill them both.

But Bella/Vicki looked completely confused, and absolutely fucking terrified.

“I-I’m sorry, but I think you have me m-m-mistaken for someone else. My name is-”

She was cut off by his backhand.

“DON’T YOU FUCKING TRY WITH ME VICTORIA! WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING TAKING OFF WITH ABIGAIL?!”

From this moment forward, it is an edge-of-your-seat, white knuckle thriller. The horrendous ordeal that IsaKassees describes is reminiscent of Dean Koontz’s book “Intensity.” I even found myself picturing John McGinley as James because of his most excellent portrayal of the psycho kidnapper in the movie version of Koontz’s book. (He plays crazy as good as any actor out there.)

Anyway… back to the story.

The first half of the story chronicles Bella’s and Lily’s captivity and subsequent rescue while the second half details their physical and mental recovery. The alternating Edward and Bella points of view depict Post Traumatic Stress Disorder accurately as IsaKassees is careful to describe not only Bella and Lily’s recovery, but also Edward’s.

Here’s a glimpse at Edward’s reaction and subsequent meltdown after a family therapy session.

“Is Daddy going to stay here?” Lily whispered brokenly.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, hoping I was doing the right thing. If Edward needed to break down, I didn’t think it was good for Lily to witness it. But if he was feeling even half of what I was, he needed to let it out since he clearly didn’t have a handle on it.

“Yes, he is, for a little while. I know both times you’ve talked to Siobhan you’ve had to talk about stuff that’s upset you, but it really can help to talk to someone when you’re feeling sad. And I think Daddy is feeling very sad right now because of everything that happened to us. He is not mad at you or at me.”

“Are you sure?” she begged.

“I’m positive. You remember when I talked about how our feelings are like a bottle of soda? Daddy’s feeling really shaken up over hearing about everything. He’s not mad at us,” I swore.

Though he might be at me once he realizes I’m taking you home without his permission.

“Will he be okay?” she whimpered.

“Yeah, sweetie. Even daddies need to cry sometimes.”

My phone buzzed with a text and I picked it up to see Carlisle was two minutes away.

“C’mon, sweetie. Let’s get up. Papaw’s almost here.”

She climbed off of me and helped me up, handing me my crutches. We made our way to the door as the shouting started up again.

“Stay behind me, okay?” I whispered, and I felt her move behind, clutching onto my leg for dear life.

I opened the door and froze. Edward looked like he was about to punch Jasper while Siobhan was watching helplessly. But he didn’t look like my Edward. This Edward’s face was red and spitting mad, his whole body shaking with violent, angry tremors. His eyes looked wild, like he wasn’t entirely present in the moment, and I realized I was doing the right thing taking us out of here. If he came home with us, he would just shove everything he was feeling away to try and take care of us instead of dealing with this.

Kind of like you’re doing right now?

Shut. Up.

Before he could hurt Jasper, I called out his name clearly.

“Edward.”

His eyes snapped to me immediately and I could see the remorse come over him in an instant. The strength it was taking me to support myself with Lily leaning on me and everything I’d just heard echoing in my mind had me hanging on by a very thin thread.

When he moved toward us, instinct made me move back automatically, and I held up my hand to keep him from speaking.

“Please don’t. Your dad is almost here to pick us up. That’ll give you time to calm down,” I said clearly, trying not to lose my resolve as I saw the pain pass over his face.

I watched him shake as he tried to make me believe he was alright, but I wouldn’t even let him finish. He needed this, to let it out before it poisoned him, and Lily did not need to see it.

“We’ll see you at home, Edward.”

If he had argued again, I didn’t know what I would have done, but his shoulders sank as he stepped back for us to leave. Everything in his posture and expression screamed that he thought he had failed us, and I couldn’t just leave without him knowing that this didn’t make him any less in my eyes.

I stopped in front of him, and we shared a brief moment where I tried to convey all the love I felt for him without breaking down and dragging him home with us.

I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but I’m sure you can guess that Edward and Bella have an uphill climb to their HEA. Oh, and did I mention that they were strangers in the beginning of the story? They had just met in the grocery store when the abduction took place. That puts a whole new light on things, doesn’t it?

If you haven’t read this phenomenal story, consider giving it a try this summer. I’m heading to the beach next week and I just might read it for a fourth time. Yep! It’s THAT GOOD!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5540509/28/This-Is-Not-My-Life
 

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The Tutor by ItzMegan73

The Tutor ~ New student Bella Swan needs to break out of her shy exterior and her guidance counselor has the answer: tutoring. And Bella is too new to know she shouldn’t want to tutor Edward Cullen.

Rated:Fiction M – English – Romance/Drama – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 35 – Words: 162,443 – Reviews: 6,376 – Favs: 8,754 – Follows: 2,721 – Updated: 12-25-10 – Published: 04-18-09 – Status: Complete – id: 5003930

My second comfort fic rec is The Tutor by ItzMegan73. It’s a classic high school fic that mirrors some aspects of the original Twilight story, but not all. Bella is the new girl in town and Edward is the “it” guy on campus. They meet in English-not biology-and are forced to spend time together as unwilling table partners. You soon find out that Edward is a very poor student and in desperate need for a tutor.

“I know. His father and I are at a loss as to what to do with him. And frankly, ” Esme looked embarrassed, “I don’t think not graduating is enough of a deterrent for Edward. He simply doesn’t care.”

Mr. Leary gave Esme a soothing glance. “You don’t think that’s abnormal, do you?” he asked. “Mrs. Cullen, I’d wager to guess that more than half of the young people on this campus feel the same way. The only thing that gets them here every day is the social element of high school. There’s a girl or a guy they want to see, or some clothing they want to be seen in. That’s about all it boils down to for many of these kids. That’s what makes our roles, yours and mine, so important. We have to guide these kids, because left to their own defenses, they don’t stand a chance.”

Esme nodded, encouraged by Mr. Leary’s words and more determined to set Edward straight. “So, what does he need to do to pass this year?”

“If he shows up, he’ll make a vast improvement. However, he has a lot of work to do in his English Literature class. His teacher, Miss Teale, told me that he’s unresponsive and disrespectful. Just today she told him she wanted to meet with him after class but as soon as the bell rang, he bolted out of class, ignoring her request. She wants him out of her class, but he has to have those credits to graduate.”

“Is Miss Teale kicking him out? Can we change her mind?” Esme asked with concern.

“She can’t kick him out, but she also doesn’t have to spend her time catching him up. He’s responsible for his own actions.”

“How about a tutor of some sort?”

“That’s what I was thinking. I’ll have to speak to a few students, but if that doesn’t work out, you may have to hire someone.”

“Of course.”

Can you guess who his tutor will be??

Even though this may seem like every other high school Twific out there, it’s not. There’s a twist that makes this story unique and truly touching. Of course, I’m not going to tell you what it is, but it’s something that makes this Edward even more endearing than the norm.

Esme and Carlisle smiled at each other from opposite ends of the dining table. In the three years that Edward had been a part of the Cullen family, Esme’s insistence of sharing the evening meal as a family had always been met with resistance from Edward. He always tried to get out of it, and when he wasn’t accommodated, he used rude humor and sarcastic jibes to make the meal as unpleasant as possible for the rest of the family.

But tonight was different. Occasionally, Edward would glance over at Bella and once he even went so far as to move the saltshaker within her reach. But other than that, Edward, in the presence of Bella Swan, was hardly a shadow of his usual self. His parents had no idea how long the effect Bella had on Edward would last, but for now they were basking in its peace.

And to the brown-haired beauty that sat to the right of Edward, they were truly grateful.

Bella definitely brings out the best in Edward, and she truly changes the course of his life. I can’t tell you exactly what she does, but let’s just say that Edward has a BIG secret and Bella is the only one who figures out what he’s hiding. Their struggle to trust in each other and overcome is heart-wrenching at times, but I think you’ll agree that the hurt is worth it.

Go read The Tutor. You’ll love it!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5003930/1/The-Tutor

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*Reviews by Midnight Cougar*

Reread and comfort fics . . . honestly, when I sat down and really started to think about this, I wasn’t sure where to start, lol, because I’ve read A LOT of fanfiction over the last several years. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I needed to ask myself two questions: “Why did I start reading Twifics in the first place? What DREW me into the fanfiction realm?” . . . and the answer simply lies in my desire to read more Edward and Bella. I wanted more of them, their special bond, their romance, their love, what brought them together in the first place, and their passion for each other and a life together. So, all that being said, I was immediately brought back to MY basics; the start of it all for me, the first fic I ever read, my real reason I started reading Twifics in the first place – my love for AU and vegetarian vampires . . . and that will be my first review, as it’s definitely one of my top “comfort fics.” Then, after more careful consideration, I’ve also included two other fics – an Actorward and a CEOward – that have owned me, and which I’ve read in their entirety and in snippets, numerous times already, and I’m sure I will again.

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The List by LauraACullen

The List ~ Four weeks before her wedding to Edward, Bella is frustrated. She knows there’s little-to-no chance of getting him to bend his rules and boundaries now, but there’s no harm in fantasizing about what could happen later. So she begins compiling a list…

Twilight – Rated: M – English – Romance/Fantasy – Chapters: 28 – Words: 195,361 – Reviews: 2833 – Updated: 3-18-10 – Published: 3-19-09 – Edward & Bella – Complete

I know I’ve talked before about The List by LauraACullen, being that it was the first fic I ever read, and how much I’ve always loved it. But, while rereading the first chapter to write this review, I realized why I keep coming back to it . . . I think – no, I know – it’s because it brings me back to the original “feeling” of Twilight; or actually, Post-Eclipse, in this case. The UST brought on by Bella’s yearnings and Edward’s attempts to “keep her safe,” the canon characterizations of not only Bella and Edward, but his whole family, and that excitement I got when I first read the series. This story gives me “more” of what I wanted in the Twilight series . . . you know, no “fade-to-black,” *wink* but also what I reveled in from the beginning . . . that all-consuming, undeniable, passionate E & B love story.

The List is set about one month before Edward and Bella’s wedding in Breaking Dawn, except in LauraACullen’s story, we follow our famous Twilight duo on their journey toward intimacy, before their wedding night. We learn through “The List” that Bella creates, just what she wants sexually from her relationship and marriage with Edward . . . and what said list does to him!

Excerpt from chapter 2:

I ran through the fantasies I had created last night. I kept coming back to the one of Edward taking me against the tree at our meadow. He would be rough, and commanding. He would hold my hands above my head against the tree with one hand, and hold my ass to him with the other so I could wrap my legs around him. He would just be urgent and needy and vocal about it all…

God. That’s hot.

Okay. We are so doing that. Hmm…the tree…maybe that would be something better left until I was a little more durable. In a fantasy, it sounds great. But wouldn’t a tree hurt my back? Maybe not if I left my shirt on…

God, there is truly something wrong with me.

Still, we’re doing that.

I turned back over. What else do I want to be sure to do?

Just then, an idea came to me and I slipped out of bed, rifled around on my desk until I found the small spiral notebook and a pen, and hopped back in bed. I kept this notebook on hand to write down story ideas that came to me. Sometimes I liked to write short stories, although I hadn’t made time to do so in a while.

I flipped to an empty page about one-third into the journal and smiled to myself as I wrote “TO DO” at the top. I underlined it for emphasis.

1. Against the tree by the meadow

I thought for a minute. Not everything had to be the actual act. There were so many things short of the act we hadn’t done and that I so desperately wanted to do.

2. Feel his full weight on top of me

3. French kiss

4. See him naked

I was somewhat less thrilled with the flip side of that, him seeing me naked. But it would be worth it if it meant he would be sans clothing too.

Okay. What else?

5. Shower together

6. Against the cold tiles in the shower

Oh yeah. That brought the full brunt of last night’s little experiment back to me full force.

7.

Wow. This is going to be a long list. Immortality is so going to be a good thing. I stifled a giggle. There is something wrong with me after all, since I, as a general rule, am not a giggler. But this whole scenario was giggle-worthy. I just couldn’t help myself.

7. In his car

8. On our lab table

He could get us in there, couldn’t he?

Just then, a noise at my window broke my train of thought. I shoved the notebook under my pillow. My heart was thundering in my chest.

He jumped lithely through the window and looked over at me, surprised to find me awake. A smile brightened his beautiful face and he took a step towards me and froze. A strange expression shadowed across his face.

“Hi.” I smiled up at him, wondering about his behavior. Does he know what I was…no…how could he?

“Hi,” he said, not breathing.

I pushed myself into a sitting position. “Are you okay?”

He nodded and his face softened. His mouth opened but then closed. He was starting to worry me. I pushed the covers off of me and sat up on my knees to get closer to him. “Edward, what happened? What’s wrong?” His eyes dilated and he seemed startled.

“Bella…um….” Before he finished his thought, he was on me. He wound one arm tightly around my waist, pulling my body hard against his. He threaded his other hand into my hair, allowing him to press his mouth against mine hungrily. I closed my eyes and while I still had brain function could easily imagine this as the kind of kiss that would land us urgent and panting against that tree.

I moaned into his mouth and, deciding it was going to end too soon whether I was cooperative or not, I fisted my hands into his hair and held his face to my own. My heart skipped two beats when he didn’t pull away. Instead, he ran open-mouthed kisses across my jaw to my ear, allowing me to catch my breath, and then down my neck to my collar bone. I scratched my nails across his scalp and down his neck and he moaned.

I didn’t hear that sound often, but when I did I thought I would die from the rawness and honesty of it.

I had no idea what had gotten into him, but I wanted more.

The List will give you all you loved in Twilight and more, so, if you’ve never read it, you need to, because it has, not only lots of smoking-hot sex, but it also explores a beautiful, romantic relationship between Edward and Bella before they get married. Now do you see why this has kept me coming back, time and time again?!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4934524/1/The-List

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Help Wanted by jaxon22

Help Wanted ~ Bella Swan applies for the job of PA to the rude, arrogant and distant Hollywood star Edward Cullen. Will she be able to do her job without letting feelings get in the way? A/H Lush Lemons Graphic and language.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 64 – Words: 607,440 – Reviews: 12,393 - Favs: 9,338 – Follows: 3,694 – Updated: 04-19-10 – Published: 04-03-09 – Status: Complete – id: 4966784

It’s no secret I am an Actorward fic hoor . . . and I can honestly say that jaxon22 has owned me for a long time with her compelling Actorward tale, Help Wanted; it was my first ever Actorward and one of my most memorable ones. There is something completely captivating about this A-List Edward Cullen that I’ve never been able to get enough of . . . even though I’ve read the story at least three times. He is complex and swoonworthy, with a complicated and tarnished past, and he allows all of that to keep him captive in his own world . . . that is, until the day a new PA arrives for him on the set.

When Isabella Swan enters his life, it is never the same for either of them. It takes Bella a while before she does break down the walls Edward has built around himself and his world, as the author says, “Edward has a lot of dirty laundry that has to be aired before that happens though…” But when she eventually does earn Edward’s trust, and they share so much with each other, we experience, in chapter 19, one of the most honest and forthright conversations between two characters I’ve ever read, and then we experience this amazing Hollywood love story as their relationship changes . . .

I opened my eyes to see him looking at me. His hands paused and we stared at one another for what seemed like forever.

“Edward,” I breathed just loud enough for him to hear and I ran my hand up to his forearm where his bruise and scratches sat angry and sore looking. I rubbed it gently as he had done to me. He exhaled quickly and blinked slowly before licking his lips.

“Does it hurt?” I whispered and he shook his head, his eyes once again on my lips.

Do it, I want you to do it…

He stared at my mouth and then my eyes then back to my mouth before he dropped his head slightly. “I’m so sorry, Bella,” he murmured, “so very fucking sorry.”

He looked up at me and his eyes were filled with a thousand apologies for a thousand different things.

“Don’t be,” I smiled gently, lifting my hand to his cheek again. “I’m not.”

He seemed to shiver under my touch and his hands gripped my thighs gently. He looked at my mouth again and moved towards me.

I held my breath as his hands moved up my legs, to my hips, to my waist, to my arms before they cupped my face, the water dripping down my shirt and running down my thighs. He moved his face closer and closer to me and my heart began doing laps of my chest.

His nose was next to mine when he stopped.

He looked at me and whispered, “I’m sorry, Bella,” before his lips touched mine.

The sparks of electricity that hurtled through my body from the sensation of his lips on mine took my breath away. His lips pressed against me gently and I couldn’t move.

At least not at first.

The hand that I had placed on his face, I moved slowly to his hair and I weaved my fingers through it, feeling the damp on my palm. As soon as my hand touched the back of his head he released the most erotic moan into my mouth opening his against mine.

I responded by opening my mouth to him and the kiss that had started as chaste and soft suddenly became harder and less controlled. His breath in my mouth was extraordinary, mixed with the taste of him and the chlorine on his skin, I found myself struggling to stay conscious as his lips moved with mine as if they had always belonged there.

His hands moved gradually from my face to my neck sliding with the water against my skin and I opened my legs so that he could move between them and get closer to me, which he did. I kissed him harder throwing my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist, desperate to show him how I felt, what he meant to me and how much I needed him.

He pushed against me and just as I thought my head was going to explode his tongue darted into my mouth and caressed mine. I groaned quietly into his mouth and let my tongue follow his lead.

I licked the tip of his tongue, sucked it, sucked his bottom lip, sucked his top lip and licked them both at the same time. I couldn’t get enough of his taste and I felt my body call out for more. In response I pressed my body against him, moving my hips to meet his and we moaned together at the contact. I could feel how hard he was through his thin shorts as he slowly rotated his groin against me.

I pulled back from his lips and took a deep breath.

“Edward,” I panted. “I…I…please, Edward.” . . .

His hands suddenly found my face again and he pulled away gently. He was as breathless as I was and his eyes were so dark with desire and lust they were almost black.

“Bella,” he breathed, putting his forehead to mine. “Are you sure?”

I nodded without hesitation.

“Please Edward,” I moaned, “please.”

I moved my head and kissed him on the lips. He kissed me back but pulled away again. I groaned at the loss of contact.

“Bella,” he whispered. “This will change everything.”

And it does! This is one of the most memorable scenes for me in this story, because it’s where Edward finally allows Bella completely into his world – heart, mind . . . and body; and it’s what comes after this that makes Help Wanted a long and captivating fic, full of romance, drama, and that fantastical E & B love story. It’s a great read . . . and reread, enjoy!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4966784/1/Help-Wanted

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Help Wanted Outtakes ~ Outtakes from the completed story Help Wanted. DO NOT read unless you have read that first. Language and lemons apply.

Twilight – Rated: M – English – Romance/Drama – Chapters: 5 – Words: 49,467 – Reviews: 905 – Updated: 3-28-10 – Published: 3-12-10 – Bella & Edward

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5810154/1/Help-Wanted-Outtakes

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Fridays at Noon by troublefollows1017

*Made by Kassiah*

Fridays at Noon ~ Edward Masen’s life intersects with Bella’s at the restaurant he dines at for lunch every Friday. He’s handsome, arrogant, and is used to avoiding love. She isn’t impressed by the things that usually have women falling at his feet.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Angst – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 32 – Words: 254,403 – Reviews: 17,105 - Favs: 11,750 – Follows: 6,336 – Updated: 05-20-11 – Published: 11-05-10 – Status: Complete – id: 6453369

There is no other CEOward who owns me more than Pennyward in Fridays at Noon by troublefollows1017. This excellent fic was also our 2011 Golden Onion Award winner, and most definitely an all-time reread winner of mine! Not only do I wholly appreciate the talents of the author, but this story brings with it so many wonderful memories . . . from the lovely friends I’ve made through reading and sharing it, to the certain, memorable lines and scenes that I’ve read so many times, I can actually quote them, and see them play out in my head; I love it all, and it will forever be on the top of my best-ever Twifics list.

My addiction to this story all begins with the things I vividly remember: I’ve never looked at another nickel, penny, Wal-Mart, or camping trip with a tent, ever the same! *wink* From the very beginning, Friday, June 18th at noon, the story sucked me in and held me captive. It all starts with the first unforgettable meeting of the rich, powerful and pompous Edward Masen, CEO of Masen Corporation, and the sweet, hard-working Isabella Swan, unemployed teacher and waitress at Eclipse – the high-end restaurant Mr. Masen dines at every Friday at noon. Isabella doesn’t normally serve lunch to Mr. Masen in the exclusive “Private Dining Room” on Fridays, but that one day it was her responsibility, and it’s in that task her entire world changes, drastically . . . she will never look at a nickel again the same way either, because after spilling wine on Mr. Masen’s very expensive suit, and being sent the bill for the dry cleaning, she takes matters (and a few nickels) into her own hands . . . *I am smiling just typing that! When you read it, you will be, too!*

Except from chapter 1:

Being allowed on the 54th floor wasn’t as easy as I thought it was going to be. Nevermind the strange contents of my bag when I got checked in at security or the fact that I was wearing a white dress shirt with a red silk tie, a black skirt, black nylons, and black Converse sneakers – I was a stranger in a strange land. Everyone in the lobby seemed to have a security badge and a fancy briefcase. I had to sign my life away and show my driver’s license to be allowed on the damn elevator. Once I made it to the floor that housed Masen Corporation, I was met with more obstacles. I should have thought about how difficult it would be to get to the head of a big organization.

“But do you have an appointment?” the man at the desk asked one more time.

“Not exactly, but Mr. Masen requested that I bring him something,” I replied, knowing I didn’t look like the type of person that usually brought Mr. Masen anything but maybe his coffee.

“Let me get his assistant,” the man said, obviously annoyed by me.

I sat down in the reception area, careful not to touch anything that the evil Mr. Masen could charge me for breaking. There were pretty vases and interesting art pieces. I wondered if they cost millions of dollars or if someone just picked up a bunch of things at an IKEA or something.

“Can I help you?” a nice woman asked a few minutes later. How many assistants did it take to assist an asshole? At least two, it appeared.

I stood up with some effort. My bag was so damn heavy and the contents clinked and clattered because of the movement, causing Assistant Lady to look at it like I might have a bomb in there.

“Um, I’m here to see Mr. Masen. My name is Bel- I mean, Isabella. Isabella Swan. I work at Eclipse where Mr. Masen dined today. I’m here to reimburse him for the cost of his dry cleaning bill. I accidentally spilled some wine on his pants, and I offered to pay. I wanted to come by and give him my tips for the day.”

The look on her face was priceless. It was nice to know that everyone else thought it was a little nuts that a billionaire would ask a waitress to pay for his dry cleaning.

She gave me one of those sweet motherly smiles, like I was a clueless child. “Dear, I’m sure Mr. Masen can cover the cost of his own dry cleaning. That really won’t be necessary.”

“Oh, but, Mr. Masen sent me the bill. He’s asking for it.”

Oh, he was asking for it that was for sure.

“Mr. Masen asked you to pay for his dry cleaning? He sent you the bill?” Nice Assisant Lady asked, looking completely dumbfounded.

“I have the bill right here,” I said, pulling it out of my pocket and handing it to her. There was his credit card info right there on the receipt.

She looked at it and then handed it back to me with her mouth slightly agape in confusion.

“Um, why don’t you give it to me dear, and I’ll see that he gets it.” She put out her hand like I was going to place fifty-seven dollars in it.

“Oh, I’d really like to give it to Mr. Masen personally. I’d like to apologize one more time,” I requested as sweetly as I could manage.

She deliberated for a moment and then motioned for me to follow her. She used a special keycard to get us through a door, and then we walked down a hallway into another office area. My nerves started to get the best of me, and I began chewing on my bottom lip until it hurt.

We turned down another hall, and then she pressed a button for an elevator. We got in, and she stuck her card in some slot and the doors closed. A moment later, they opened, and we were on the move again. On this floor, everything was very open and airy. The floors were marble and the walls were a deep blue color. There was a lot of intricate woodwork and moulding that I couldn’t help but notice. The art on the walls up here definitely did not come from IKEA.

“Wait right here,” nice Assistant Lady said to me before she slipped her card in another reader and went through a set of large, wooden double doors.

This place was incredible. I could see he was putting his billions of dollars to good use in the interior design department. I tried to slip my hand under the strap of my bag where it was digging into my shoulder painfully, hoping to provide some relief.

Assistant Lady did not come back out, but Alec the Assistant did.

He greeted me warmly. “Isabella, nice to see you again.” He offered his hand, and I shook it awkwardly.

“I wanted to repay Mr. Masen for his dry cleaning and apologize one more time,” I explained even though I knew he knew why I was here by the apologetic look he was once again giving me.

“You really shouldn’t have. Mr. Masen is having a bad day of sorts, and I know that when cooler heads prevail, he will feel terrible about taking your money.”

“It’s fine. Really. My parents taught me to pay my debts.”

“I can give it to him, if you’d like,” Alec said, extending his hand like Assistant Lady did.

“I’d really like to give to him personally.”

Alec sighed in defeat. He put his key card thing in the reader and opened the doors, holding it open for me to enter first. Assistant Lady was seated at a desk in this area and looked a tad bit nervous.

“Right this way,” Alec said, leading me to yet another door.

He knocked, and a voice shouted out, “Come in!”

Alec opened the door and announced me like I was being presented to royalty. Maiden Isabella Swan of Forks here to see King Edward Masen of Asshole.

“Miss Isabella Swan to see you, sir.”

Edward Masen looked up from the papers on his desk and sent my heart aflutter. All the confidence I had coming up here seemed to melt away at the very sight of him. A look of surprise took over his face for a moment, and then it shifted into one of perhaps amusement. His lips formed a somewhat crooked grin.

“Thank you, Alec,” he replied almost kindly.

With that, Alec the Assistant left me alone with him. I tried to focus on my breathing, so I didn’t pass out in front of him from the sheer anxiety of this confrontation. I thought I was big and brave, but I was suddenly feeling very small and stupid.

“I was not expecting you, Isabella. You surprise me, which does not happen very often.” He was still smiling lopsidedly. He really was a beautiful creature on the outside. It was hard to not be taken in by his good looks. There were not many people who looked like him. Models and movie stars, maybe. I had come here for a purpose however, and it was not to drool over his pretty face. I was here to remind him of his ugly insides.

“Well, I just wanted to apologize one more time.” I reached into my messenger bag and immediately his smile disappeared. Perhaps he didn’t trust that security had checked my bag thoroughly enough. Maybe he thought I was going to shoot him.

I pulled out a shiny nickel and placed it on his desk. “Sorry for spilling on your pants.” I reached in and pulled out another nickel. “Sorry for not meeting your standards today. Waitress school was a real bitch.” And another. “Sorry you are a pretentious ass, who for some reason thinks that he can yell at people and make them a jittery mess when all they’re trying to do is make a living because not everyone in this world can afford to buy eight thousand dollar suits or drink four thousand dollar bottles of wine. Some of us scrape by, having to watch every penny and nickel.”

I opened the flap on my bag and dumped the contents onto his desk. One thousand, one hundred and forty nickels to be exact. They spilled over the side of his desk and covered all the papers and folders that were sitting in front of him.

“Fifty-seven dollars. I believe that was what it cost you to clean your pants today. Consider us even.”

As I headed out his office door, I couldn’t help but smile. The look on his face was worth every nickel.

I couldn’t help but smile, too, Isabella, especially since Mr. Masen did say, “…if I had a fucking nickel for every time someone has told me they’re sorry today…” lol Such a fabulous scene! The fire and passion between this Isabella and Edward only continues to grow and entertain. Fridays at Noon has it all: from the dominant, controlling, fuck-hot Edward Masen, to one of the best, strongest, most patient Bella’s I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Their adventure, as they explore each other’s new and different worlds, is all surrounded by romance, angst, deception, drama, heartache, love, passion, and Tantra Sex Chair lemons *oh, yeah, baby!* . . . all of which eventually lead to a beautiful happily ever after in this poignant and all-consuming story!

*Runs off to reread . . . again!*

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6453369/1/Fridays_at_Noon

*Made by Raum*

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You must read the Outtakes, as well, especially Edward’s journal entries . . .

Fridays at Noon Outtake ~ EPOV outtakes of Fridays at Noon. Maybe there will be other POVs in the future. Can’t say for sure. Chapters will be in no particular order. Will post them in the order I write them.

Twilight – Rated: M – English – Romance/Angst – Chapters: 17 – Words: 71,260 – Reviews: 2825 – Updated: 1-1-13 – Published: 2-21-11 – Edward & Bella

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6764961/1/Fridays-at-Noon-Outtakes

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Even though many of my reread/comfort fics have been mentioned already, or are no longer on FF.net, and I store them as documents, I thought I’d be fun to give you a glimpse of the greatness I rediscovered while preparing for today’s post:

A Rough Start by ItzMegan73

Blood Lines by windchymes

Coming to Terms (reposting) by GinnyW 31

Deviant by planetblue *Manchu is the newest addition to my re-read list!*

Edward Cullen, Dick for Hire by FictionFreak95

Faking It by spanglemaker9

First and Ten by Nolebucgrl

Pure Revelations by georgialion

The Education of Professor Cullen by sheviking

The Man Who Can’t Be Moved by Jenny0719

The Rules of Hollywood by suzie55

This Is Who I Am by pattyrose

Wrenfield Hall by Wannabe Charlotte

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So there you have it ladies! The drama, romances, struggles and hopes of Edward and Bella that keep drawing The FicSix back time and again…there are so many more that we could include, with thousands upon thousands of great fics and so many talented authors in this fandom we really are spoiled for choice.

Now, you’ve had a couple of weeks to think about this, so, tell us…which fics would tempt you back if you had the time? Or do you ever just revisit passages, certain chapters or precious moments and find yourself getting lost once again in the magical words…or maybe just the lemons?

Whichever story is stuck in glorious technicolour in your memory, do share!

The FicSix

Countdown to Summer – Part 2

Happy FanFiction Friday, Ladies!

Ever have one if those days when you need to embrace familiarity…get home, pop on your favourite yoga pants and softest sweater? Or maybe you’re in a reminiscing mood, recapturing little moments that made you smile, so you make your most comforting drink, grab the yummiest chocolate and flip through pictures of a happy day…or catching up with a girlfriend you haven’t seen in aaaaaages, and as soon as they say ‘hi!’ you just pick right up where you left off, like you’ve never been apart? You know what I mean, right? Yeah…thought so! It feels so good!

Well, the FicSix are having a few moments like that, revisiting fics that give us the warm fuzzies or butterflies of excitement…some stories you just pick up and sink into like an old friend…guaranteed to conjure up THAT exact emotion that you need, that never let us down and always hit the right spot.

So, here are our secret, guilty pleasures…we’ll show you ours if you show us yours!

Come on ladies, let us know which fics you sneak back to when you need a little pick-me-up!

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*Reviews by WiltshireGlo*

The Gravity Series by Drotuno

*made by Barburella*

Blood & Glory

The definition of a mercenary is a soldier for hire. His crew are trained fighting machines. Hers are smart PIs. What happens when they need each other to survive? Canon couples. AH/AU. Rated M for lots of reasons, including violence and lemons.

Twilight, M, English, Hurt/Comfort & Romance, chapters: 33, words: 302k+, favs: 2k+, follows: 1k+, updated: 6/25/11 published: 2/18/11, Edward Bella

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6755101/1/Blood-Glory

Sin & Innocence

The sequel to Blood & Glory: Gravity’s business is booming, but what happens when a ghost from the past shows up, taking the only thing that matters? Can the team work together to fix it, or will they rip apart at the seams? Rated M E/B

Twilight, M, English, Adventure & Romance, chapters: 27, words: 264k+, favs: 1k+, follows: 654, updated: 11/18/11 published: 6/26/11, Edward Bella

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7119225/1/Sin-Innocence

Smoke & Mirrors

Third in the Gravity Series. Carlisle brings a client to Gravity for protection, but there is more to this famous female singer than meets the eye. Bella, Edward, and crew not only will have to keep her safe but figure out who is threatening her. AH/Sequel

Twilight, M, English, Romance & Adventure, chapters: 26, words: 255k+, favs: 1k+, follows: 636, updated: 2/26/12 published: 11/23/11, Edward Bella

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7574955/1/Smoke-Mirrors

The Gravity Series by Drotuno

Confession time, ladies… MercWard is one of my top Edwards EVAH! Why is he called MercWard? He’s a mercenary. His crew is for hire, they do the jobs no one else wants or can touch. Bella is a Private Investigator and their teams need to work together and combine their skills. The story begins with Bella in trouble,  both teams unite and the investigating -and computer hacking-techniques- of her girls complement the military know-how of the guys to solve not only who’s behind the danger and the reasons behind it, but eliminate it completely. Maybe…

Drotuno really captured my imagination with the whole series. Yes, the stories stand alone-you don’t necessarily need to read them all- but the characters develop, their lives move on and the reading experience becomes deeper and richer with each subsequent story. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that Edward also becomes one of my top DilfWards in the sequels!

I can’t pick out one of the series as my favourite.  There’s so much going on throughout all of them, the tension, fear and suspense get to me in each one, so my re-read story is all of them…all three. It’s a commitment worth making!

With so many new fics springing up daily-and so many brilliant fics amongst them- why would I choose such a mammoth read to indulge in time and again, I hear you ask. Well, ladies, there are lots of reasons…maybe it’s the complexity of Edward. He is strong, ruthless, intelligent and focussed, yet he is gentle, kind, thoughtful and loving…not to mention compassionate …and good with his hands in more ways than one IYKWIM! Perhaps it’s strong, intelligent Bella; brave, courageous, and loving, a girl we’d all like to befriend, she’s likeable and funny but vulnerable and real. Or could it be the their friends and family? Quirky, loyal, tough but full of love and quick to laugh. Actually, as an ensemble cast, this is definitely my A team. There again, it could be the stories, not just the continuing and developing thread of their relationships running throughout the series, but the situations that arise to unite the team, the crimes and mysteries that need to be solved and the bad guys that need to be taken down.

Maybe it’s all of those things, combined with Drotuno’s gripping writing, her amazing storytelling-chasing breathtaking drama with some of the most tender moments you could read. I really care about the whole team, not just Bella and Edward, who are equally well written, but every last one of the extended family matters to me. Now, that is quite a feat to achieve!

How to select an extract to give you just a taste of how good this series is? Although this is a small spoiler, I think we all know that Bella and Edward need to meet, so, here is the moment they meet each other as adults, with Edward helping Bella out of a nasty situation.

She started getting frantic, and I finally stopped her. “Easy, Bella,” I said, trying to sound as calm as I could for her sake because I know she had to be freaking out about what was going on and who was in the room with her.

Bella stopped struggling, but she sobbed, her whole body going limp with exhaustion.

…………….

“Shh. It’s okay, it’s okay,” I soothed her, my fingers working as quickly as they could to free her……

…………….

Her arms shot out, grabbing at my jacket and T-shirt. “Don’t leave me!” She was stronger than I’d expected, practically pulling me over. “Please!” She was barely able to speak clearly.

“Okay, I won’t, I swear,” I vowed, thinking if my father didn’t get a hold of this guy, then I would spend my last days hunting his ass. No one should be treated the way Bella had.

The only thing I could think of was my jacket, so I shrugged out of it and wrapped it around her as best I could with her fingers still clutching my T-shirt.

“Can you hold on?” I asked her softly, and she nodded.

I wrapped her arms around my neck, lifting her by her back and underneath her legs. She was lighter than I’d expected, and she clung to me fiercely, her tears never stopping.

Once her head hit my shoulder, she quieted almost instantly, and I climbed the stairs back up into the kitchen.

“I got her…she’s alive,” I told my dad over the headset.

“I lost him,” he growled back. “Meet me at the car.”

“Yes, sir.”

I took the most direct path I could back to where my car was parked on the side of the road. My father emerged from the woods just about the same time I did, but he sped up to get to me and the precious cargo I was carrying.

“Bella,” he breathed, pushing her hair from her face. “Sweetheart, can you look at me?”

“Carlisle?” she muttered groggily. “Did Alice…”

“Yes, she was brilliant, Bella. We’re going to take you someplace safe, okay?”

“‘Kay.” She nodded slowly, finally looking up at me, her very sad and tired eyes locking with mine and closing back again, like she couldn’t keep them open.

“Bella, do you remember Edward?” he asked her, opening her eyelids, but they were dilated.

“I know those eyes,” she muttered.

I can’t even count the times I’ve read the whole series. Sometimes I’ve dipped into favourite chapters, occasionally I’ve read one story or another, but mostly I’ve started right at the beginning and kept on going to the end. Each time I’ve fallen in love with Edward, cried for and cheered on Bella, laughed along with the gang and enjoyed every word.

http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1966130/

http://www.drotuno.blogspot.co.uk/

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Branching Inward by LifeInTheSnow

 

Branching Inward ~ He’s a brilliant, sensual, tactile artist with a huge personality and love for life…at least, he used to be. She’s a shrewd historian, content to observe from a distance…until now. At Newcoven College in Clearwater, OH, no secret is safe. All Human.

Twilight, M, English, Romance & Drama, chapters: 28, words: 165k+, favs: 3k+, follows: 2k+, updated: 6/30/11 published: 10/3/10, Bella Edward Complete

Sometimes stories just stick with you…haunt you…make you think and ponder. Branching Inward did this to me. It’s a story filled with layers upon layers-mystery, intrigue, love and passion, and strong, memorable characters. LifeInTheSnow engaged me straight away and even now there are times when my fingers scroll through libraries of fics and nothing is quite hitting the spot and I’m drawn to her intelligent, thoughtful words.

I do love a tortured, passionate Edward…I just can’t resist the brooding passion and moody moments and Branching Inward’s Edward is this and more. He’s a charismatic artist, lecturing and inspiring. He may also be incredibly sexy…  In the Prologue we see Bella just as she makes the decision to join the staff at Newhaven and glances out of the window, spotting a rather unusual man…

Gradually, my attention was drawn to a lone figure, a man, moving slowly on long legs across the quad toward the edge of the clearing just below my window. He was dressed in rugged boots and outerwear, a dark woolen hat pulled over his ears and a grey scarf masking most of his face. Others rushed past him without so much as a nod, as if he wasn’t even there, and he seemed equally indifferent to them. His  pace was so unhurried as he strolled the path, his posture upright and his gait purposeful rather than hunched and frenzied like everyone else. A mountain lion among scampering squirrels. It intrigued me. What was he doing?

He surprised me by stepping off the path, leaving oval impressions in the ankle-deep powder as he stalked toward the snow-laden branches of the round oak. Without its leaves, frosted all over with a white fringe, the tree reminded me of a dandelion, spherical and spindly- but huge, probably hundreds of years old.

Effortlessly, this person hauled himself up onto a low branch and scrambled up a bit. The tree was stronger than I thought, barely moving under his weight. He was suddenly closer to me—if he climbed much further we would be at eye level.

Inexplicably, I felt like a voyeur, blushing a little as he removed a glove, shoving it into a pocket, and reached out his hand toward a nearby branch. Steamy vapor rose from his pink skin. His hands moved within the tree, clipping or pruning. He shoved something into the deep cargo pockets of his heavy work pants. I guessed that he might be a landscaper or building-and-grounds engineer. From what I could see of his face, he was handsome, with a strong jaw and pale, creamy skin, a little bit flushed from the cold.

The intensity of his concentration stirred something in me. He turned his gaze to the sidewalk below and, in a sort of offhanded way, began jostling the low-hanging branch with his foot, just enough so that the heaviest snow deposits and ice chunks tumbled to the ground below and the branch was made lighter. I saw that it no longer obstructed the path. A pair of bicyclists meandered by, deep in conversation as they pedaled, both of them clearing the branches easily.

……………

Now my mystery man lingered in his perch, elbows braced against a leafless tree limb. I stayed totally still, transfixed by the character in the tree, not wanting the show to end and really hoping it wouldn’t end with him startled by yours truly and pitching into thin air. He just gazed at his surroundings with an inscrutable expression. He looked pained, cautious—conflicted somehow. Steam puffed out from his lips and the recess between his neck and his scarf.

As he turned his face a few degrees-away from the tree, toward the sun-I gasped to see a shock of brilliant color refracted in his eyes. I could see even from this distance that his eyes were green like soft moss. His one gloved hand rose to remove the woolly hat and shake ice chunks loose, revealing a mop of unruly bronze hair. His other hand, bare and wet with crystals of clean snow, raked across his forehead and through his hair, and he visibly relaxed. Small lines of worry disappeared from his face.

He palmed some fresh snow and scraped it along the back of his neck and up along his temples.

I gulped, blinking slowly.

If I thought he was handsome before, he was utterly transcendent at this moment. Peaceful and exposed, neither suffering through the cold nor immune to it, but absorbing it with an uncritical openness that shocked me. The sun danced in his eyes and he seemed to take a moment to bask in the cold, bright light.

Then, just as quickly, his expression clouded over once again. He squinted and looked down, hopping lightly to the ground and walking back in the direction he came.

As LifeInTheSnow allows the story to gently unfold, we learn of past sadness, and watch as both Bella and Edward learn to trust each other and piece together small, but significant clues, which help to lift dark clouds hanging over Edward and his family. Their connection is beautiful, the story captivating, the writing exquisite.

I devour this from beginning to end every time I pick it up. The words are like poetry, the imagery so vivid, I feel like I’m visiting another world when I read it. Sharing my feelings with you today makes me want to read it again!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6372008/1/Branching-Inward

http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2350671/LifeInTheSnow

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*Reviews by Gingerandgreen*

I’m not much of a fic re-reader. I tend to turn to Austen when I need the comfort of a well worn story, and this eccentricity made me nervous that my comfort fic would not be your comfort fic. But when we all wanted to review Secrets and Lies and I drew the lucky straw, my insecurities eased up a bit. In the end, we all take comfort in a damn good love story, don’t we?

Secrets and Lies by BellaScotia

*Made by Melee03*

Secrets and Lies ~ Bella once told a lie. A lie that cost her everything she ever wanted. 10 years later she returns to her hometown to an ailing father, an angry best friend, and the man from whom she has kept a secret that threatens to unravel her existence. M AU AH OOC Rated M for language and lemons

Rated: Fiction M - English – Hurt/Comfort/Romance – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 38 – Words: 283,910 – Reviews: 673 - Favs: 452 – Follows: 265 – Updated: 02-25-13 – Published: 02-16-13 – Status: Complete – id: 9016564

SaL does not start off sounding like a love story. It has one of those intensely emotional beginnings that you can’t imagine could ever possibly, in any universe, become the sweetness we crave. Adult Bella comes home to visit Charlie, and is shocked to find him dying of cancer:

“So, you’ll let us come?”

He nods, and then hauls me into his arms. I feel his bony cheek pressed to the top of my head, as I fight against the sob bubbling in my throat. I revel in the feel of his arms around me and know that I really want these last few months with him. I couldn’t go back to Florida knowing he is here, going through this alone.

He pulls back and gently brushes away my tears with his thumb. “What about the Cullens?”

I stiffen slightly even though I knew he’d ask this. “I don’t care about the Cullens anymore.”

A cynical smile touches his lips. “You cared enough to hide from them for ten years.”

At one time I would have argued with him about that. I would have denied that I’d been hiding, but it was the truth. It seemed such a waste now, all those years of staying away, of missing out on time with Charlie.

“I can handle the Cullens,” I insist, with greater conviction than I’m feeling.

Coming back here and avoiding them for a few days is one thing, but actually living here, and knowing I will have to face them soon is a whole different ball game. But Charlie needs me, and I’m not about to let them get in the way of that.

“I don’t doubt that,” he sighs. “But Edward’s–”

“Dad, I don’t want to talk about Edward Cullen.”

It has always been an unspoken agreement between Charlie and I that we don’t talk about the Cullens. He tried once, a few months after I left, but I made it clear then that I would never want to know anything about Edward’s life. It hurt too much.

The secrets and lies in this story are huge, life-altering things. They are shocking, but in a completely believable, even relatable way. BellaScotia doesn’t hide from the appalling choices perfectly ordinary people can make. Neither Bella nor Edward is a hero, except to the people who love them unconditionally. For Bella, this includes her son, Jacob – one of the most adorable and believable little monsters in Twific. I love my girls, but Jacob makes me long for a little boy!

Edward’s not actually introduced to us until chapter eight, and when he is, boy, is he mad. But he’s Edward, and captivating as always:

The heat of his hand seeps into mine, and in the confines of the car I’m suddenly all too aware of him. His eyes are harder than they used to be; he has a few faint lines around them, and his hair is no longer wild but cut and styled immaculately.

My heart starts to beat a little faster as unwanted memories start to push to the fore. My memory hasn’t done him justice, I’d almost forgotten how goddamned beautiful he is. He opens his mouth to speak and my eyes dart to his soft, full lips, which are framed by a day’s growth of golden brown stubble.

No matter how badly these two have messed up, they are drawn back to one another with all the heat and passion of fated love:

I’m not strong enough to withstand the sheer force of the ride, and my head falls back against Edward’s shoulder. Jacob is giggling beside me, his hands flailing in the air, but there is no sound coming from Edward. I’m practically nestled in the crook of his arm, which feels entirely too intimate to me.

Gripping the hand rail, I pull myself forward in an effort to gain some much needed distance, but I can’t fight the gravitational force that keeps pulling me towards Edward.

“If you sit back, this would be a lot less painful,” he half yells above the music, his voice shaking in time with the rattling of the carriage.

There are other stories out there with similar plot lines, but none of them treat the subject matter with the grit and realism that BellaScotia does. For a small Scottish woman, she has an enormous heart, and the reason this is a comfort fic is the utter believability of it all. It could easily have happened to people you went to school with. Although, people you went to school with are not usually written about with the heat and intimacy that this Edward and Bella share! Whew!

*Made by Melee03*

SaL is a repost, so you may have missed out on it if you are relatively new to the fandom. This story comes highly recommended with the FicSix stamp of approval – give it a try.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9016564/1/Secrets-and-Lies

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The Diva Diaries by KiyaRaven

*Made by Vican*

The Diva Diaries ~Dear Diary, When he left, I became numb. Safe in a bubble of denial and bitterness. Now, he’s back, and I’ve agreed to be his co-star in a new Broadway play. Obviously, if there were a Nation of Stupid People, I would be their Queen. A/H

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Angst – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 36 – Words: 327,261 – Reviews: 12,480 - Favs: 6,157 – Follows: 5,508 – Updated: 10-04-12 – Published: 02-28-10 – Status: Complete – id: 5782299

If SaL is comforting for being realistic and wild, the Diva Diaries is a completely different cup of tea. It is grandiose and stunning, and far, far outside of my realm of experience. Its comfort comes from the fantasy, and from the beautiful words – some of which are Shakespeare’s – constructed in such an absorbing way, it’s unputdownable.

KiyaRaven’s Actorward is intense; moody; difficult; brooding; sizzling hot; passionate; broken; delicious. He is the ultimate bad boyfriend you can’t stay away from:

My open hand connects with the side of his face with a satisfying ‘whack’. He rubs his cheek as his expression morphs from shock, to hurt, to an awed smile.

“It’s wrong that I’ve missed you hitting me, isn’t it?” he asks, his voice low. “But you have to admit, that was one hell of a kiss.”

“You’re an asshole,” I snap, my hand itching to slap the other side of his irritatingly handsome face. “Why was I stupid enough to think this could possibly work?”

I hate that my voice hitches when I say it, and it only makes me glare harder.

“Isabella? Is there a problem?” Our director, Aro, comes over as I attempt to incinerate the smirking asshole in front of me into a pile of dust using only the force of my gaze.

“Yes, Aro, as a matter of fact there is a problem,” I say, surprisingly calm considering I want to beat a man to death with the large script I’m holding. “Apparently Mr. Cullen doesn’t know the difference between a stage-kiss and giving me a tonsillectomy with his tongue.”

The asshole levels me with a serious gaze, all fake-hurt and furrowed brows. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”

Oh yeah, Bella, methinks so too!

 DD is written from Bella’s POV in two different timeframes. There is the past, when they were naive and lustful and virginal (well, Bella, anyway; for a while); and the present, when they are bitter, desperate and in denial (well, Bella, anyway; for a while). You might think that’s confusing, but it keeps the mystery of what happened to the pair going for much longer, and it is so much more satisfying when it’s resolved. 

This story is in my top five all time best, and it’s not just for the UST, which is at the top of the scale!

The partnerships are switched around. I get Cullen, Edward and he doesn’t look happy about it.

He sits next to me, and I watch his jaw clench and unclench. It’s fascinating. He turns and catches me staring. His eyes are mixture between dark green and I’m-going-to-kill-you-now-and-remove-all-your-skin.

Jeez, what the heck is his problem?

I turn away and wonder what I’ve done to piss him off so royally.

Wow, we are so going to suck as partners.

Irina paces in front of the group and addresses us all.

“For this last session, everyone will be given the same task. Your scenario is ‘Mirror-Image’.”

Sounds easy.

“It won’t be easy.”

Dammit.

“This exercise is about trust, openness, and making a connection with the other person. You need to be completely available to them. No self-consciousness. No artifice. Just raw, pure energy. If you don’t relax into it, you’ll fail, and if you fail to make a connection with the other person, I’ll know it. Neither of you leads, neither of you follows. You have to sense each other’s movement. Make it interesting and original. Move around the space. Got it?”

We all nod mutely.

I have no flipping clue what she’s talking about. Cullen is rubbing his eyes with his fingers and making a quiet groaning sound. I figure he doesn’t either. 

“You move; he moves.” Sounds familiar?

I could wax lyrical about what a masterpiece this story is, but nothing I say will do the magic justice. Instead, I’m going to do what I never do – give you another long excerpt. Read the extraordinary juxtaposition of The Bard’s words with Kiya’s, and if it doesn’t melt you in your seat, I don’t know what will:

I exhale and look over at him. He’s ready, and he takes a steadying breath as he walks toward me. I turn to him, seething. His eyes are full of regret but it doesn’t change what he’s done.

“Juliet…”

And with that one word, he’s my Romeo and every word I utter is absolutely and completely true.

“O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face,” I whisper, feeling bitterness flow through my veins. “Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?”

“Please…” he begs, reaching out his hand to me. I slap it away.

“Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical! Dove-feather’d raven! Wolvish-ravening lamb!”

He steps forward and tries to put his arms around me, but he can’t expect to touch me. I shove his arms and slap at his chest. He doesn’t stop me.

“Despised substance of divinest show! Just opposite to what thou justly seem’st: a damned saint! An honorable villain!”

“Juliet…please.”

I look into his eyes and see nothing but regret.

He steps forward, tentatively, reaching for my hands. I push him away.

“He killed Mercutio,” he whispers, his voice shaky and unsure. “I don’t…I didn’t mean to. Please…I…I need you.”

A ball of stone falls into my stomach.

There it is. The one reason that circumvents all others.

He needs me.

As much as I hate to admit it, I need him to.

I walk to him, unable to stay away any longer. He gazes at me, his eyes full of remorse, begging forgiveness.

“Juliet…”

I reach up slowly and rest my hands on his chest.

I don’t forgive him, but I also can’t hate him.

I think he understands because he sighs and wraps me in his arms, drawing me into him. I wind my arms around his neck and bury my head in the warm skin beneath his jaw.

He smells so good.

He hugs me tighter, his nose pressing into my collarbone as his whole body melts into mine, every muscles relaxing as he wraps me in a silent apology.

I whisper, “O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell when thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend in moral paradise of such sweet flesh?”

He pulls back and takes my face in his hands, murmuring words of regret as he kisses my cheek, my jaw, my neck.

I look up at him and my breath catches. His eyes are full of such sorrow and longing. I cup his cheek, and he closes his eyes, swallowing hard.

“Was ever a book containing such vile matter so fairly bound?”

I trail my fingers down his neck. His skin is so warm. He leans down, his mouth just above mine. He wants to kiss me, to reassure himself that everything is okay between us.

He leans down further but I hold my lips just out of his reach, breathing his air as his eyes become clouded and heavy.

God, look at him. So, so beautiful.

He pulls my body flush against his and suddenly nothing matters but him. I groan, my weakness sickening me.

“O that deceit should dwell in such a gorgeous palace.”

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5782299/1/The-Diva-Diaries

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And now for something completely different:

Stigmata Tomato by BellaFlan

*Made by FL95*

Stigmata Tomato ~ Alert the Darwin Awards! Bella Swan, depressed and demented, nearly dies trying to kill herself & is shipped to Forks WA. Watch her update her facebook status and fall in love. WARNING: MA, very dark comedy. OOC w/ nod to canon , E/B some Jake , AH

Rated: Fiction M - English – Humor/Angst – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 41 – Words: 102,923 – Reviews: 3,159 - Favs: 1,336 – Follows: 1,215 – Updated: 08-08-12 – Published: 07-03-10 – Status: Complete – id: 6107100

Warning: there are triggers ahead. Well, not in this review, but most certainly in this story. There’s not much comforting about it in all honesty, because it is a deeply dark and unsettling tale. Except that it is told with such loving irreverence, it makes everything better rather than worse, and therein lies its comfort. If we can’t laugh in the face of tragedy, we may as well not be human. If anyone can make you laugh about the very worst things life has to offer, its BellaFlan:

To state the obvious: I was fucking depressed. It was beyond anything I could articulate on my sad little blog (ironically called “Sylvia Plath is Dead,” but I digress). I was shrouded in a hackneyed darkness of epic proportions that I couldn’t see any logical way out of. Intellectually, I understood that I was young, only eighteen, and likely my perspective would change given enough time and opportunity, but who the fuck took the time to check in with the left side of the brain when contemplating offing oneself?

So after some well thought out tweeting with my childhood friend, Jake, I made a twitter poll list entitled “Best Ways for Bella Swan to End her Pathetic Existence.” In hindsight, not exactly the smartest plan, but I loved making lists. Taking random information and formulating a workable plan out of it was like mapping the stars; finding order in the seemingly chaotic universe. The Devil is not, in fact, in the details; God is.

Faced with the bitter reality that my plan didn’t work, I forced myself to admit defeat. My fingers were prunes, and my fucking wrists were sore. Man, I should have known I’d fail. Why did I bother pulling a towel out of the linen closet if I was supposed to bleed out in the tub? Renee would have been pissed if I stained the good Ralph Lauren towels. Actually, that in itself made it almost worth shedding a few drops of blood onto the white terry cloth.

The water sloshed over the side of the tub as I heaved my body out. It didn’t matter that I soaked the floor. It didn’t matter that mould would now grow under the shaggy bathmat, and everyone would inhale spores and die of the lethal biohazard that water and natural fibres breed. Apathy is part of the human condition. It was a cold comfort that maybe I would die and no one would care.

That’s when I slipped and cracked my head open on the faucet. Hm, best laid plans, and all that…

My last thought before my vision darkened was: I’m one of those assholes they write about in chain emails. I’m a Darwin Award recipient.

So Bella is a suicidal wreck and a compulsive comedian. She’s one hot mess, and just to warn you, her language is about as vulgar as I’ve come across in Twific. It’s appropriate for her character, believe me.

 As for Edward, he’s a sex-haired enigma with problems of his own:

“Thank you, Ms. Swan. I should warn you of some of the side effects of-”

“You’re Sex-hair’s father!” I screamed.

“Pardon me?”

“Sex-hair! You know, Abercrombie swagger, bronze fuck-me hair and gorgeous as all fuck…what’s his name?”

Dr. Cullen appeared positively flummoxed, his eyes narrowing in concentration. “Er…Emmett?”

“Edward,” Sex-hair corrected, smirking at me from the doorway.

Dr. Cullen turned away from me, and deposited his penlight into his coat pocket. “Son, what are you doing here?”

“I saw the ambulance pass by the Swan house and I was worried,” he explained, looking at me with genuine concern, not just morbid curiosity.

“Who let you into the ER intake?”

“A nurse,” he shrugged.

“Which nurse?”

“I don’t kiss and tell.”

Oh my God, he was such a slut!

“I didn’t realize that you were friends with Bella.”

“Yeah, well…we bumped into each other once.”

My mouth went completely dry, and it occurred to me that I needed to say something profoundly perfect. However, what the fuck could I say to fix this situation? I mean, he heard me refer to him as “Sex-hair.”

“They gave me Ativan,” I explained, “and now I have discharge.”

So much for second impressions…

This story is the only one I can think of that’s made me laugh out loud and cry real tears at the same time. It’s confusing and messy, honest and poignant. BellaFlan has a way with words that cut deep without you even noticing. All the way through, on a first read, it’s like hearing a constant refrain of “Wait, what??” in your head. On second reading, the dark genius shows through. The words, the language, the wit – none of it gets old, no matter how many times you read it. So yes, this is one of my comfort fics. Maybe it’ll be one of yours too?

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6107100/1/Stigmata-Tomato

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We Come To Life Beneath The Stars by LillyBellis

*Made by famouslyso*

We Come To Life Beneath The Stars ~ As Bella Swan starts over with hopes of finding her future, Edward Cullen is hanging on desperately to his past. She’s treading water, and he’s a corporate golden boy. They share an office, but few words…until one night changes everything.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Drama – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 19 – Words: 168,711 – Reviews: 4,815 - Favs: 5,247 – Follows: 3,541 – Updated: 05-19-11 – Published: 06-16-10 – Status: Complete – id: 6058476

There are two reasons this story made it to my comfort fic list. The first is the finely-wrought exploration of complicated family relationships – the kind of love that leaves you aching as often as it fulfills you:

Sometimes, when my mother talks to me, I sit and watch her mouth. Her full, light pink lips move up and down, opening and closing endlessly and with such rhythmic frequency that she looks like a brown-haired, blue-eyed goldfish. She swims around her small town Washington fishbowl every day, all day, circling the same old scenery no matter which direction she turns in. So, I can’t really begrudge her the excitement she feels when she gets a glimpse of life beyond her tiny, monotonous world.

That’s why on nights like these, when my brother and I are home, we all sit at the dining room table and listen to her ask endless questions about my job, or Emmett’s girlfriend, or why neither one of us loves her enough to visit more often. We answer her dutifully, sprinkling little bits of our lives on the surface of the water for her to devour, and she eats them up with abandon, always waiting impatiently for more. 

The second reason is the other kind of love. Oh, the love that Lillybellis can write! She weaves magic with her words. She takes you into another dimension entirely:

And with my lips close to his so he can feel what I say, I tell him, “No one loves me like you do.”

I’m not just talking about the way he always makes my stomach flip, or my knees feel like jelly. I know how special it is to find someone who grounds you and makes you fly, someone who pushes you and catches you, someone who calms your heart and unravels your body.

He is that someone for me.

Edward’s lips find mine with slow, wonderful brushes and licks, and his fingers slide down my arms, giving me goosebumps as they tickle, making promises to my skin. His breaths are low and shallow, small puffs of air against my cheek, and I wonder if every bit of him feels as alive as I do. I gently tug the hair at the nape of his neck because I know that drives him crazy, and the tips of his fingers trace little circles on the small of my back, because…god, he knows all the little combinations that unlock me and open me up.

Like SaL, this story is incredibly relatable to real life. The things that have happened to Edward and Bella individually are things that happen everywhere, every day. The emotions they experience are the same ones we all go through, all the time. If only we were all as articulate as the author! I’ve said elsewhere, true love isn’t a fairy tale. It’s a commonplace, normal occurrence. The tragedy is in not being able to recognise it, or not learning how to communicate it. Reading stories like this one can only help us learn to recognise love and use it for all its worth. And we are all romantic saps, so we get to love the journey as we read it. What I mean to say is, we are so very lucky to have writers like Lillybellis in our midst!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6058476/1/We-Come-to-Life-Beneath-the-Stars

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Thank you, Twific authors, for putting your amazing talents to such generous use. You give us so many permutations of the Edward and Bella tale to keep us cozy and warm, tuck us up in our beds at night (sometimes keeping us up all hours!) and lighting us up in many different ways, IYKWIM (!). And thanks to Rob Attack FFF readers, for providing us the opportunity to celebrate and support our favourite authors. Keep telling us about what you love in the comments section below, and join us next week for our final countdown to summer.

The FicSix

Countdown to Summer – Part 1

Happy Fanfiction Friday, ladies!!

Since summer is just around the corner, we decided to do a series of posts to celebrate “comfort fics.” You know, we all have a few stories that we’ve read more than once or even twice. Stories that are so familiar, that we can just open them up on any chapter and start reading because we know them so well.

Just as summer is easy and laid back, so is reading a comfort fic. There’s no rush to get to the end. Every word can be savored. Every lemon can be Tasted more than once. Even the angst and UST can be cherished because the reader already knows the outcome.

So, let’s start off a glorious summer by showcasing some of our favorite “go to” stories.

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*Reviews by Cared*

OME, I have to confess my TBR list is as long as the list of women worldwide who are in love with Edward, yet, there are some fics that I’ve read more than once.  Please, don’t judge me when I tell you there are fics I’ve read more than twice, in fact, there are fics I’ve read…err…I’ll leave it at that before I embarrass myself any further.

As I looked though my list of my comfort stories to decide which to share today, something struck me about my choices and consequently about myself.  I must surely be a hopeful romantic as all of my chosen fics have a special Edward and Bella connection – you know the one that makes your toes curl and if I’m being completely honest with you – makes me want to be that Bella.

Stay by Crimsonmarie

Stay ~ As an actor, Edward Cullen is surrounded by people that he couldn’t really care less about. What happens when he buys a house in the middle of nowhere and meets his new neighbors? AH, AU, ExB, rated M for future chapters and language.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Drama – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 38 – Words: 276,486 – Reviews: 5,413 - Favs: 7,544 – Follows: 2,756 – Updated: 06-27-09 – Published: 12-30-08 – Status: Complete – id: 4756566

I read Stay in 2009, it was the first of many, many Actorwards for me, and you know what they say about never forgetting your first. *Wink* TBH, even if Stay was the 101^st Actorward I read, it would still carry the status of a comfort fic as it ticks all my requisite boxes.

Edward is a famous actor who buys a bolthole in Upstate New York’s Lake George.  Bella is the girl next door…all right…to be precise, she is literally the girl across the road, but she is the girl next door in the metaphorical sense.  Bella and her boyfriend Jake do the neighbourly thing and befriend the new kid in town.

The shy, timid girl with vivid brown eyes and flowing brown hair had been the first to approach me when I’d bought this place. I’d been slightly apprehensive about strange girls just waltzing up the porch steps – it hadn’t been the first time that an over obsessed fan had found out where I lived and tried to get into my good graces – and had hesitated to open the door when she’d knocked. Instead of flinging the door open like I should’ve, I mashed my face against the peephole and eyed her.

She was attractive. At least, as much as the skewed vision of the peephole allowed her to be. She’d had a twelve pack of Heineken gripped tightly in one hand as she nervously stole glances across the street and bit her bottom lip. She didn’t have a purse with her and when I lurched up on my toes to get a better glimpse at the small woman waiting for me to answer the door I was pressed against, I saw that she was barefoot.

The last two things were very important factors to me. They meant that she probably lived close by and although she might’ve been a fan of some sort, she obviously wasn’t going to attack me with a camera or demand an autograph.

Plus, she had beer. And I had nothing but a loaf of bread and a few bottles of water from the Cumberland Farms convenient store down the road in my refrigerator.

So I’d opened the door and she quickly introduced herself as Bella Swan, fumbling over her words as she jerkily handed the beer to me, her face beginning to redden.

I invited her in and she refused, which made me grin like an ass at her as her cheeks positively flamed red.

This was the first woman I’d met in the past year and a half that hadn’t wanted to come inside my home to see what it was like, or if I’d make a move on her, or to see what she could stuff in her pocket while I wasn’t looking to either keep for herself or sell on eBay.

I thanked her for the beer, promising to pay her back. She shook her head, her face even redder – if possible – as she crossed her hands in front of her and shyly looked down at her feet as she made an excuse about a ‘Welcome to the Neighborhood’ gift.

So I ended up thanking her again and she darted off the porch after a stuttered response and possibly some excuse about leaving, almost tripping over her own feet as she ran across the road and disappeared into the cabin across the street.

I’d repaid her in kind a few days later by finding a bottle of red wine in the small and cramped local liquor store and marching my ass over to her place to give it to her.

She was slightly more comfortable when it was me standing on her porch, and had invited me in, her smile bright and open as she moved out of the way so that I could step in.

A man fifteen times bigger than she was was sprawled across the long blue couch in the living room I stepped in to, immediately jumping up to introduce himself as her boyfriend, Jacob Black.

They both insisted that I stay over for dinner and the thought of eating one more peanut butter sandwich as one more meal made it easy to accept their offer.

Bella barbequed out in their large backyard and we sat at a round white picnic table, getting acquainted and laughing over beer and perfectly grilled steak.

Neither of them ever mentioned anything about my career or even knowing who the hell I might’ve been. And when the meal was over, I watched almost gleefully as Bella and Jacob stuck my plates and theirs in the dishwasher, turning it on when it was full.

There had been a few fans that had kept the silverware I’d eaten with, so watching as Bella slammed the dishwasher door and turned the knob to start it was one of the most relieving things that had happened to me in a long while.

And by the end of the night, I was strutting across their yard and back to my own with a mile wide smile on my face.

It had been a very long time since I’d been able to have dinner – or any meal, for that matter – with people that either didn’t know or didn’t care that I was a famous actor. It was glorious.

At first, the three of them are friends, providing Edward with a rare taste of normality, but that leads to Edward and Bella falling in love, and eventually accepting they have fallen, and fallen fast.  Don’t worry, there is no cheating involved, and tbh, by then Jake was on my shizz list, and I just wanted him out of the picture.  There is the familiar Averagella falls for Famousward, she thinks she is not enough for him, while he thinks he is selfish to drag her into his world, but it’s realistic and not unnecessarily prolonged.  Add in their protective friends and loving, interfering families, crazy-ass employees, some obsessed fans, a douche of an ex, paparazzi and you have a dramatic and entertaining story.  The most important element, the one that speaks to me, is despite Edward and Bella having vastly different lifestyles and living in different states, they both recognise the rarity of true love and are willing to fight for it.  They put their love first and foremost, thereby making Stay a sweet tale of old fashioned romance.  Sigh!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4756566/1/Stay 

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Every Day We Fall In Love by Lalina

Every Day We Fall In Love ~ We wake up every morning as strangers and go to bed as lovers. A story of the survival of love. Even if the mind forgets, the heart will always remember AH

Rated: Fiction T – English – Romance/Drama – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 2 – Words: 10,281 – Reviews: 176 – Favs: 208 – Follows: 78 – Published: 03-26-12 – Status: Complete – id: 7962078

Every Day We Fall In Love could quite correctly be given in a dictionary as a meaning beside the word Poignant.  This story is unbelievably touching, and what makes it particularly so, is Edward’s irrevocable and unconditional love for his Bella.  If you have seen The Notebook, The Vow or even 50 First Dates, you will have an inkling of the premise of this story.  I don’t want to give too much of the plot away, suffice to say this is a true love story or maybe that should be a story of true love.  Either way, this wonderful one shot showcases Edward’s unwavering love, and a love between two people so powerful that it cannot be forgotten, even when so many other things tragically are…

The sun was shining on my face, warmth spreading along my forehead, nose and cheeks. The color orange was all pervasive, and I decided that sunshine seen through closed lids while I basked in its warmth was my favorite color in the world. A smile flitted along my face for the briefest of seconds before it was replaced with a frown when I realized I couldn’t remember what my favorite color had been before this very moment.

The thought stayed with me as I rolled onto my side, eyes opening slowly against the brilliance in the room. The first thing I saw shocked me to full wakefulness. It was a man. In my bed. Then the next revelation…this wasn’t my bed. It wasn’t even my room. After a quick scan of our surroundings my eyes darted back to the person sharing my personal space, and I was dumbfounded.

The sun was shining on his hair, a shock of bronze. A shade I’d never seen before on any human being. It was thick and lustrous, and tousled. I followed the slope of his brow, down a slim nose, which lead to a mouth that was full yet firm looking. His eyes were closed, lashes the same color as his hair fanned along his upper cheeks, and even as long as his eyelashes were, they weren’t able to mask the slight discoloration underneath. The skin looked fragile, almost dark enough to be mistaken for bruised, but not quite.

Had we been up late last night was my errant thought. And why couldn’t I remember whatever had happened between this stranger and myself?

In fact, why couldn’t I remember anything leading up to this moment? No recollection of getting ready to go out, of meeting with friends for drinks, of dancing. Nothing.

Before a sense of fear could engulf me, his eyes opened. A verdant green, lit up from the rays of the sun shining behind me. A smile touched the corners of his mouth, hesitant, yet there, and those same vibrant eyes roved over my face. He showed no surprise to find me there, looked pleased at my presence. I also noted that he didn’t seem hung over. And then realized, neither did I.

“Good morning, Bella,” he said softly, his voice gravelly from misuse during our hours spent sleeping. “Do you know who I am?”

Lalina, author of Let’s Get Physical among other great fics, is an amazing storyteller.  The proof of that statement is in every one of the 10,000 plus words of Every Day We Fall In Love.  This is one of those stories that stayed with me long after reading it the first time, and has called me back again and again.  I’m not ashamed to tell you I was deeply touched by the emotions this beautiful and bittersweet tale displayed and evoked, and I want you to be also.  Go on – share in my wonderful experience – read Every Day We Fall In Love… today!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7962078/1/Every-Day-We-Fall-In-Love

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The Art Teacher by spanglemaker9

*Made by TallulahBelle*

The Art Teacher ~ He gave me art and words and passion and life, but all I wanted was him.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Drama – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 16 – Words: 97,635 – Reviews: 6,962 - Favs: 4,679 – Follows: 3,204 – Updated: 08-01-11 – Published: 11-07-10 – Status: Complete – id: 6460434

While love is strongly evident in my other two story choices above, and love is indeed a major component of this fic, passion is what springs to my mind at the mere mention of this story.  The Art Teacher is quite short being complete at 15 chapters, but it is strongly written by spanglemaker9, the author of The Wedding Party, Dog Star, Faking It and many more fabulous fics. It is so immediately enticing that I step right inside from the first chapter every time.

Down to earth Bella Swan is reincarnated as lonely Isabella Dwyer when she is forced by circumstance to live with her mother and stepfather, and then to attend an elite private school in NYC.  Renee, “…a little nobody from the sticks…” now has a stick up her arse, her nose stuck in the air, with delusions of grandeur to match her lofty expectations for her pawn of a daughter.

Renee enrolls eighteen-year-old Isabella in a ten week Art Appreciation class, purely for the sake of appearance and to further her own selfish ends. From chapter 1 it’s painfully obvious, and honestly, it is actually sad, to see what a failure as a mother, Renee is; it’s quite ironic that Renee’s ploy to fit in with the right people is what ultimately leads Isabella to want to break away from them.  Isabella’s seemingly innocuous first look at her art teacher became a life altering moment…

I feel my face flush just looking at him, and something funny happens in my chest. Jane told me he was hot, but that doesn’t even begin to describe him. He is young; not that much older than us. Actually, he can’t be very far out of college—early twenties. He’s tall and a little bit lanky, but well-built. Nice shoulders. Long legs. He has his head down as he comes in. He’s nearly late and he looks preoccupied and a little distracted. Plus he’s carrying a lot of stuff; books and folders full of paper. At first, all I notice is his body and the hair— thick and almost too long; somewhere between auburn and brown and all messy. Not artfully messy, like the boys I go to school with, every angle carefully and expensively razored. Messy, messy. Like he hasn’t had a haircut in too long and he doesn’t own a brush.

He spends a second setting all his stuff down on the desk and I notice all the girls around me have stopped talking and turned to look at him. The boys are still murmuring, but I can hear the dismissive scoffs starting. They’re jealous already, and they should be. The poser rich boys at Spencer can’t hold a candle to this guy, and it’s obvious. Even with all their money, they can’t touch what he has; this natural magnetism that radiates off his skin.

He finally looks up at us with a polite smile already on his face. I can’t breathe for a second. He’s sort of pale, but it looks good on him. And he’s got these crazy cheekbones. His face would almost be pretty, if not for the strong jawline and his thick eyebrows. His eyes are a tiny bit angled; a little exotic. He is, without a doubt, the most amazing man I’ve ever laid eyes on in real life.

“Are you Mr. Cullen?” Jane is, predictably, the first one to speak. She’s leaning forward on her elbows, and if I could see the front of her, I’m sure I’d see that she’s popped open an additional button on her shirt to show off her cleavage.

His polite smile grows wider and genuine. I catch my breath at how it transforms his face. His eyes crinkle up in the corners and his angular face becomes warm and glowing, almost boyish. He lays a hand across his chest in mock-pain.”Please…” he says. “Not Mr. Cullen. I can’t take it. It’s Edward.”

And I’m undone. By all of it. His voice…low and vibrating at a frequency that I can feel in my fingertips; his artless demeanor; his name…Edward. I don’t want to swoon. I can feel every girl in the room already doing it. But I can’t help it. He’s remarkable and every nerve in my body is reaching out towards him.

There is a low, nervous laugh from the girls in the room in response to his words. I’m silent. I can’t laugh. I can’t move. I curl my fingers around the edge of my desk and press my knees together, unable to do more than stare at him and record every tiny detail.

As Bella analyses her reaction to Art and Life, a book distributed by Edward, she considers, “None of it would have meant much to me at all just an hour ago, but Edward holds the keys to this undiscovered world.”   She has no idea of how true that statement will turn out to be.  Her life, her career, her love, her passion…all unlocked in that moment.

When Edward’s work is displayed in an exhibition a couple of weeks later, he asks Bella of what does his painting make her think…“Um,” I take a second to consider my words. “It doesn’t actually make me think anything. It makes me feel.” …and there you have it ladies.  The nub of this story – the beauty of it, if you will – is how this story makes me feel.  Passion and love for art, each other, and life; angst and heartache over the impossibility of the situation, bad decisions and egotistical, self-serving characters; emptiness and happiness – I feel it all every single time I read The Art Teacher.

Read this passionate story and allow spanglemaker9 to reveal what a master artist she is.  Feel her perfect brushstrokes uncover Edward and Bella’s souls while simultaneously covering the canvass to make up the big picture, and remember, don’t just stand back and admire the painting – lose yourself in it!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6460434/1/The-Art-Teacher

Fabulous video of “The Art Teacher” by Rufus Wainwright here

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*Reviews by AllyVera*

Living in the Southern Hemisphere gives me a different view on our re-read stories.  As the weather here is getting colder, it is the perfect time to snuggle up with one of my most loved stories.

If We Ever Meet Again by pattyrose

banner by piper-lane

If We Ever Meet Again ~ High School for geeky Edward was a nightmare of mistakes, missed opportunities & insecurity issues. Six years later when fate hands him a second chance, will he know how to take it? Or will the insecure boy inside rear his head again? AH, E&B, Canon pairs

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Angst – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 29 – Words: 164,048 – Reviews: 3,297 – Favs: 3,078 – Follows: 1,790 – Updated: 07-10-12 – Published: 04-20-11 – Status: Complete – id: 6922461

I am not ashamed to admit I don’t actually know how many times I have read “If We Ever Meet Again” but it’s a lot… but if I was going to take a stab at the number I reckon it’s around six. Let me explain why this one is so special to me…

First of all, it’s written by pattyrose, and I adore all of her stories, but this one is my personal favourite (although “The Cullen Legacy” is giving it a run for it’s money!).  Secondly, I love how Edward is not perfect (looks-wise) when we meet him and that Bella sees past that and into his soul.  Thirdly… unrequited love.. who doesn’t love a bit of that? 

We meet a very insecure, but oh-so smart and talented Edward in high school.  High school for Edward is torture, being a social pariah – but along comes the lovely Bella who sees him.  Unfortunately, even though it is quite clear to us (the readers) that Bella is as keen on Edward as he is on her, he doesn’t see it and he runs away leaving Forks and Bella behind.

Six and a half years later, neither has forgotten the other – but their lives have changed dramatically. Gone is the awkward teenage boy, Edward has transformed into a stunningly gorgeous businessman who has a bit of a reputation for being an asshole – but never fear readers the asshole has never forgotten the “pretty girl with the long brown hair”.

Here is Edward when he first comes across Bella, all those years later…

“”…sorry to waste…won’t take up…see myself out…”

My heart stopped. All the air left my lungs in one breath.

That voice.

I’d recognize that voice anywhere.

Through the thickest doors.

Under water.

Through the loudest cacophony of blaring music and drunk voices.

Bella Swan.

I froze. Just like the last time I’d seen her, or heard her melodic voice, over six years ago. I couldn’t move one muscle, even as I heard the door to my office open, and the sound of Victoria sharply directing her how to get out of the building, and – oh Jesus – there went her voice again, once more thanking Victoria for her time.

Bella.”

If We Ever Meet again is told entirely in EPOV (apart from a couple of BPOV outtakes at the end). However, even though this story is really Edward’s you fall in love with Bella too.  (Mind you, I think this is commonplace for a pattyrose story, she really does “do” Bella so well!)

These two have a few obstacles to navigate, sadness to overcome, and their true selves to discover – but when it all finally comes together … *sigh* it is so beautiful. A little piece of pattyrose magic!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6922461/1/If-We-Ever-Meet-Again

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Realize by Goo82

Realize by Goo82

Realize ~ Edward is a hot up and coming actor and Bella is his ever faithful best friend and personal assistant. Bella’s feeling for Edward have changed, but he is oblivious to her feelings. With the help of her friends, will she get the courage to tell him…

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Friendship – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 21 – Words: 101,506 – Reviews: 5,306 – Favs: 7,323 – Follows: 2,020 – Updated: 02-19-09 – Published: 07-05-08 – Status: Complete – id: 4372344

It isn’t a coincidence that both Cared and I have Actorwards on our re-read list, seeing as they are one of our favourite ‘Wards. When done well, they are SO good!

Realize is probably an unusual choice for a re-read, not because it is an Actorward, but because Goo82 rips your heart out and stomps on it – yes, my lovelies – this story is tagged as romance/friendship, but it should be categorized angst.

Bella is in love with her best friend, up-and-coming actor Edward. They have known each other forever, but Edward is oblivious to Bella’s romantic feelings for him, and therein lies the problem.

As you can surmise, things come to a head after a very big clusterfuck of epic proportions takes place – and coincidentally is also around the time your heart is in serious danger of those stomping boots!

One of the things I admire most about this story is how Bella deals with the fallout. She doesn’t hide under a rock, or drink herself into a stupor (which is what I would probably do if I lost Edward, let’s be honest.. LOL) but she becomes a better person – her own person.

A little glimpse of B x E’s relationship from Chapter One…

““We had been through everything in our lives up until now together. Through the death of our grandparents, to school and dances. We shared every detail of our lives with each other and we were the only ones who truly knew the other one inside and out.

He watched me go on many dates that left me without anyone that interested me. He would tell me, “Don’t worry Bella, your prince charming is out there. Just you wait and see.”

Too bad I had already found that man. Unfortunately, Edward was wrong because this man didn’t notice I was alive.

Well, not true. He knew I was alive, alright. I just happened to be alive in his eyes as his dorky, best friend/personal assistant.””

You know that old saying “Only the one that hurts you can take away the pain?” Well, no truer words were spoken, particularly when it relates to this story, and I can guarantee you will be smiling by the end!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4372344/1/Realize

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Hit by Destiny by ocdmess

Hit by Destiny by ocdmess

Hit by Destiny ~ Bella wants to die, and almost gets her wish fulfilled when she gets hit by a shiny Volvo. She is left with serious injuries, and the only thing keeping her from dying is the person who hit her. All Human, Rated M for language, dark themes & violence.

Rated: Fiction M – English – Angst/Hurt/Comfort – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 59 – Words: 463,685 – Reviews: 19,537 – Favs: 10,641 – Follows: 6,681 – Updated: 11-29-12 – Published: 10-24-09 – Status: Complete – id: 5463682

I mentioned earlier that Actorward is one of my favourite genres – but my favourite genre of all?  Redemptionward!

Quite possibly the best Redemptionward story is Hit by Destiny.  This story had me very concerned as for quite a while I believed it just wasn’t possible for HbD’s Edward to be redeemed.  He is without a doubt the King of the Jerks.

You are probably wondering now  – “WTH Ally? Why would you re-read this story?” – well the answer is simple, dear readers, because the complete one-eighty this Edward makes is nothing short of miraculous.  He changes his life, but he also saves Bella’s life too – all by hitting her with his car!

One of the other reasons I hold HbD in such high regard is it’s unique premise – the plot is honestly like nothing I would have ever imagined in even my strangest dreams.  When we meet Bella we have no idea of the horrors she has had to endure, and when her whole story comes to light, you can’t help but sympathise with her – she really has been given the crappy end of the stick.  A pyscho mother, an emotionally absent father and quite frankly disturbing Jacob and Billy.

On top of all that Bella is an outcast at her school, cruelly taunted and treated badly, but her treatment at the hands of Edward will make you cringe…

From chapter 10 (BPOV)

“”I’m… I’m sorry,” I stuttered, “I was lost in thought.”

He stood up, groaning as he looked down at the mud caking on his clothes. He tried to dust it off with his hands, but instead he ended up smearing it even more. He clenched his fists, and his breathing was deep and labored, like he was fighting some inner demon. Then ever so slowly, he turned his glare down at me. He was even more terrifying while standing up, since he was now towering over me like a giant – even if he was only a head taller than me. His emerald eyes were shooting fire and I felt my breath hitch. His eyes are beautiful.

“Yeah, obviously,” he spat. “Were you musing over how pathetic you are? And how tragic it is that you have no fucking friends and that a guy would never even touch you with a fucking stick? And that you will most likely die a painful death… alone?”

“Ed, c’mon… it’s not like she meant to push you,” Emmett said, trying to calm his brother down.

“Are you fucking kidding me? These jeans were brand fucking new!” Edward yelled, infuriated.

“I’m sorry! I’ll pay for the dry cleaning, I swear!” I said quickly, feeling my throat close up.

Please, no tears in front of Edward. Please. Please. Please.

“Dry cleaning?” he snorted. “No dry cleaning in the world could get this shit out from these pants. And like you could ever afford it anyway,” he shook his head. “These pants are worth ten times more than what your car was worth when it was new!”

“C’mon, Ed,” Emmett sighed and gave Edward a tired look.

But Edward didn’t listen; instead he took a step towards me, now standing so close that I could feel his hot breath in my face. It smelled like a mixture of smoke, mint and… something simply mouthwatering. Not the time, Bella, so not the time for this…

“You’re fucking dead, Goose,” he hissed at me. “I will kill you. Trust me when I fucking say that I will destroy every little part of your pathetic little existence.””

Oh dear – he spoke too soon.  Little does he know, but in a few short hours he very nearly keeps his promise. Then so begins the story of Edward and his Sparrow.

Hit by Destiny is one of the most difficult stories to read, but one of the most worthwhile.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5463682/1/Hit-By-Destiny

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I will confess to being a prolific re-reader of stories.  Sometimes after one of *those* days (you know the ones..  we all have them) all I want is something much loved and familiar like slipping into that favourite much loved piece of clothing (Stolli shirt anyone?).  I just wanted to share a couple more of my faves with you that I (or one of the other FicSix ladies) have previously reviewed on FFF ~ AV (here goes – in no particular order…)

Unplanned Perfection by littlecat358 ~ previous rec here

Last Tango in Forks by AwesomeSauce76 ~ previous rec here

Perfectly Imperfect by lindsay520 ~ previous rec here

Bella Swan: Kidnapper by Kambria Rain ~ previous rec here

Proud: Fictionista Witfit Prompts Winter 2011:2012 by jennde ~ previous rec here

Ride by Kris Salvador ~ previous rec here

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Come on now ladies, we cannot be the only ones who read their favourite fics more than once.  It’s confession time, we are in no position to judge, so please spill your secrets in the comments.

The FicSix

May’s Ménage à Fics

Welcome to another exciting week of Fan Fiction Fridays with The FicSix. Today we have a Ménage à Fics *grins* for you to enjoy, including a recap of some previous recs that are now complete, and several new stories that we’ve been enjoying recently. So let’s get to it!

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The Other Side of the Fence by Edward’s Eternal

*banner made by CullensTwiMistress*

The Other Side of the Fence ~ He hides to protect those he loves, she hides because that is all she knows. Isolation is a way of life for both of them. Two neighbours. All that separates them is a fence. Who knows what waits on the other side? Can they be strong enough to find out?

Rated: Fiction M - English – Hurt/Comfort/Romance – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 37 – Words: 134,132 – Reviews: 7,424 - Favs: 2,090 – Follows: 2,142 – Updated: 04-13-13 – Published: 11-27-12 – Status: Complete – id: 8743349

Link to previous review here.

Gingerandgreen ~ This wonderful story ended with some of the most moving and exciting epilogues I’ve ever read. I will always have a soft spot for Fenceward, because he’s such a tease and has the best dialogue, so the fact that he got the HEA he did is immensely satisfying. If you haven’t read it yet, you should climb straight over that fence and do it now.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8743349/1/The-Other-Side-of-the-Fence

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I remain, Yours by Momatu

*banner made by Readergoof*

I remain, Yours by Momatu ~ Bella is unexpectedly given an antique desk that once belonged to Edward, and in it she finds a letter he wrote to his cousin in 1918. She responds and sets them off on a journey neither could ever have expected. Perhaps there are some things we aren’t meant to understand, just accept… Will eventually contain character death – NOT Edward or Bella.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Drama – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 50 – Words: 456,107 – Reviews: 3,882 - Favs: 1,342 – Follows: 1,390 – Updated: 03-09-13 – Published: 03-15-12 – Status: Complete – id: 7928270

Link to previous review here.

Cared ~ The unusual and interesting premise brought me to this story, but it was the beautiful, unconditional and irrevocable bond formed between Bella and Edward that made me fall in love with them, and their story.  

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7928270/1/I_remain_Yours

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Shattered Hearts by Greye Granger

Shattered Hearts  ~ Bella knows what it’s like to be alone, and when the only person she’s ever really loved commits the ultimate betrayal, she turns to the man who’s wife has stolen her husband. E/B. RATED M. TATTWARD. BPOV.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Angst – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 16 – Words: 42,667 – Reviews: 1,565 - Favs: 971 – Follows: 1,485 – Updated: 04-23-13 – Published: 02-06-13 – Status: Complete – id: 8984313

Link to previous review here.

Midnight Cougar ~ Shattered Hearts was one of my ‘drop all to read fics’ from the captivating beginning to the healing end; a heart-wrenching and sweet story all rolled into one. It dealt with a sensitive subject: infidelity; Edward and Bella’s spouses – Tanya and Jacob – cheating with each other on Bella and Edward. Yes, it was an intense and heartbreaking read, but oh so good for Edward and Bella, in the end! 

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8984313/1/Shattered-Hearts

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Heart of Stone by coldplaywhore

Heart of Stone ~ Edward, in an effort to make use of his ability to read minds, uses his gifts to rid the truly evil people in the world and protect the innocent. Unfortunately, he never expected her to come along and change his life so drastically. Nothing will be the same. AU Vampward. Rated M

Rated: Fiction M - English – Drama/Romance – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 17 – Words: 26,454 – Reviews: 1,398 - Favs: 387 – Follows: 590 – Updated: 05-08-13 – Published: 01-04-13 – id: 8874407

Link to previous review here.

Cared ~ While the story is not marked as complete, it is not going to be continued.  It has been included here regardless, as it makes a very enjoyable read and IMHO it has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion.  Go on, take a chance on Vigilanteward and Pregnantella – not a combination you find every day!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8874407/1/Heart-of-Stone

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The Workings of Fate by RosieRathbone

*Made by RosieRathbone*

The Workings of Fate ~ 10 years ago, Edward was hopelessly in love with someone he couldn’t have – out-of-reach, classmate, Bella. But when his 7yr old son is the reason they meet again, will Fate help this single father and give him a second chance?

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Family – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 27 – Words: 75,444 – Reviews: 1,526 - Favs: 717 – Follows: 1,084 – Updated: 05-10-13 – Published: 01-09-13 – Status: Complete – id: 8893171

Link to previous review here.

Cared ~ This story has a sweet Bella I would happily befriend, and a gorgeous, shy Nerdward I would happily corrupt, but the icing on the cake is the utterly adorable Cooper.  Cut yourself a little slice of happiness and read this lovely fic.  I’m thrilled that there is a sequel, which started posting yesterday, as I’m not ready to let this gorgeous family go just yet.  If like me, you have already enjoyed the story, be sure to read Because of Hope.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8893171/1/The-Workings-of-Fate

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Accidentally in Love by Missus T

*banner made by time_lights*

Accidentally in Love ~ A personal ad for a fake fiancée leads to something they never expected. Two lonely souls discover that faking it might be the best thing that ever happened to them. ExB AH

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Humor – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 31 – Words: 128,675 – Reviews: 3,702 - Favs: 2,650 – Follows: 3,941 – Updated: 05-10-13 – Published: 01-27-12 – id: 7778961 *complete except for futuretake*

Link to previous review here.

Midnight Cougar ~ Sadly, all that’s left to complete this delightful, romantic story, is a futuretake to post in the next couple weeks. I say sadly because, I absolutely adored this story: the romance, the humour, the intriguing start of how Edward and Bella – Docward and Teacherella – met through Craigslist, and just the overall love and emotion overflowing from the story and its sweet characters. A beautiful love story for your reading pleasure. *le sigh* 

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7778961/1/Accidentally-in-Love

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Let it Be Me by ChantieMaya

Made by forthelongestday

Let It Be Me ~ A new guest at Bella’s hotel turns out to be a ghost from her past. He doesn’t seem to remember what happened between them, while she is being plagued by bad memories. Edward feels a deep connection to that beautiful, angry girl, but she seems to shy away from any male attention.

WARNING: under age drinking, drug use, assault, dark themes.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Angst/Romance – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 67 – Words: 94,156 – Reviews: 1,031 - Favs: 344 – Follows: 516 – Updated: 04-30-13 – Published: 12-17-12 – Status: Complete – id: 8803917

Link to previous review here.

Wiltshire Glo ~ With just an epilogue to be posted very soon, Chantie has marked Let It Be Me as complete. It was beautiful to see Edward and Bella reconnect, exorcise the ghosts of their memories past, and go on to build their lives on new foundations. A beautifully written tale of forgiveness and redemption…I’m glad I’ve still got the epilogue to look forward to! 

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8803917/1/Let-It-Be-Me

http://letitbeme2.wordpress.com/

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You Own Me by BeeCute82

Banner made by Ellen 

You Own Me ~ At the roll of the dice, Edward wins what he has been dreaming of for the last two years. A night with his mob boss’s son’s girlfriend, sexy pole dancer Isabella Swan. What will happen in one night full of passion and lust? What dangers will follow after their one wild night?

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Crime – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 54 – Words: 215,408 – Reviews: 3,301 – Favs: 1,452 – Follows: 1,875 – Updated: 04-25-13 – Published: 08-06-12 – Status: Complete – id: 8400917

Link to previous review here.

AllyVera ~ You Own Me was a wild ride, and one that I enjoyed very second of.  This story has a bit of everything, action, drama, intrigue and lots of very heated moments with our beloved Edward and Bella.  Perfect for all you Mobward lovers out there. The great news?  The sequel has just started posting recently.  You will find it here: 
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9256768/1/We-Own-the-Night

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8400917/1/You-Own-Me

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Yosemite Decimal by MagTwi78

*made by MagTwi78*

Yosemite Decimal  ~ Bella has nailed her dream job as Seattle Times’ newest Outdoors writer. She’s found new friends and is settling into life in her new city. Things are coming together for her, but an arrogant stranger sends her reeling at every turn. Will her new life be as comfortable as she’d hoped, or is she set for a rocky ride? AH B&E M COMPLETE

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Humor – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 23 – Words: 129,560 – Reviews: 1,417 – Favs: 1,099 – Follows: 1,306 – Updated: 04-01-13 – Published: 09-17-12 – Status: Complete – id: 8534317

Link to previous review here.

Wiltshire Glo ~ Yosemite Decimal taught me to lots of climbing terms and gave me a real admiration for climbers! Both Edward and Bella are part of the climbing community – Bella uses it to free her mind from turmoil, but for Edward, it has become a source of anxiety. Mag lets the story unfold with humour and some sadness, however the warmth of Bella and Edward shines through to a sigh-worthy conclusion.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8534317/1/Yosemite-Decimal

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*Reviews by Cared*

A Dove’s Cry by karenec

*Made by karenec*

A Dove’s Cry ~ Bella’s innocence was taken from her at a young age; the secret has dominated her life ever since. When she meets a reluctant vampire, Bella decides to ask his help in seeking revenge. Warning: This story contains sensitive and graphic material. BxE, AU Vampfic

Rated: Fiction M – English – Hurt/Comfort/Suspense – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 35 – Words: 176,424 – Reviews: 896 – Favs: 389 – Follows: 594 – Updated: 05-04-13 – Published: 12-13-11 – id: 7633333

Warning: This story contains sensitive and graphic material, including descriptions of violence and sexual assault.

This story is refreshingly different while still being somewhat canon, a surprising yet delightful mix to really capture your attention and keep it throughout the story.  Yes, Edward is a vampire pretending to be a high-school student; yes, Bella is an introverted girl living with her Chief of Police father; yes, the Cullens are a loving family and vegetarian; and yes, of course, it rains in Forks.  Having said all that, A Dove’s Cry’s unique qualities are displayed not only in the heart-wrenching back stories of Edward and Bella that are gradually and painfully revealed, but also in the almost bizarre way and reason their relationship develops, and in so much more, including their first meeting…

I fled Garrett’s Music like a man on fire. Which, in a way, I was. I wasn’t sure what had passed between the girl in the shop and myself, but it startled me. My hand still tingled with the aftereffects of the… charge that had sprung between us when our fingers touched.

What the hell had just happened? My brain demanded answers, but I had none.

I had seen her petite figure while parking my car, but she was gone by the time I locked my door. The sky was overcast, making the afternoon a bit dark, but the girl’s face had jumped out at me through the gloom as if lit from within. The fatigue and stress in her expression struck me, and made me wonder why she looked so terribly sad.

I pocketed my keys and crossed the street toward the music shop, frowning as I walked. A strange feeling came over me, as if someone was calling my name.

A flash of blue caught my eye when I entered the shop, and I felt a jolt of excitement. The girl with the dark hair was less than ten feet away, browsing through the CDs.

I made pleasant conversation with the shop’s proprietor while I kept an eye on the girl. I hoped she would turn around and let me get a better look at her face. And then I was seized by curiosity; I wanted to know what she was thinking.

I sharpened my attention immediately and listened closely to… nothing. The proprietor’s internal monologue was perfectly distinct, if overeager to make a sale. I could hear the thoughts of humans in the surrounding buildings and streets as well. But there was nothing from the girl with the dark hair.

Frowning, I focused my attention more intently, just as she began slowly turning in my direction. I saw a smudge of dark eyes in a white face before I was distracted by the clatter of plastic CD cases hitting the floor.

The girl threw herself to her knees and I moved at once, bending down to help gather the scattered cases. “Let me help you.”

Her eyes rose to meet mine and the rest of the shop faded around me. I saw the proprietor hovering nearby, unsure whether to help. I heard the old Dinah Washington recordings playing over the sound system. But my attention was drawn almost totally to the girl’s face. For the first time I really looked at her.

Her heart shaped face was fair and quite pretty, with petite features and a light dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Her lips were plump and tempting. Long, brown hair tumbled over her shoulders in rich waves.

But her dark eyes were truly arresting. In them I saw surprise and embarrassment mixing with the haunted expression I had glimpsed earlier outside. That fear and exhaustion surprised me all over again.

The girl’s cheeks grew rosy with self-consciousness as she reached to take the CD cases from my outstretched hand. She stammered her thanks, and I felt myself begin to smile. She was lovely. I shifted forward slightly to speak to her and noticed just how very enticing she smelled.

Her scent was heady, like freesia and orange blossoms, and incredibly rich. I inhaled slowly, letting her scent roll over my tongue, and I felt my body respond in ways that I hadn’t felt in since my days as a human. My chest tightened and my breath hitched in my throat. I felt myself grow hard. Jesus. I bit back a groan.

A very different smile began to take hold of my lips, my vision changing and sharpening as my pupils dilated. Take her, a voice in my mind whispered. It will be easy to get her outside. Get her in your car and she’ll be yours.

But a saner part of me realized something shocking. In spite of the compulsion I felt to take the girl kneeling in front of me, my venom and bloodlust were in check. It was longing I felt, and not hunger. I felt an intense desire for the girl in front of me – my hunter’s instinct was already plotting ways to take her.

The Summary tells us that Bella asks a vampire to help her pursue revenge on someone who wronged and damaged her in the worst way.  I’m not giving too much away by telling you that the vampire in question is indeed Edward.  That plea is merely a hint at the complexity of both the story and the fledging relationship, as Edward struggles to help Bella in his own way.  The friendship between Bella and Alice forms from their mutual understanding of living through something they should never have been forced to endure.  This story carries a warning for “sensitive and graphic material” for a reason, but, IMHO, the authors deal sensitively with the issues that are an integral part of the storyline and in no way gratuitous.

The tantalisingly written suspense, with its unexpected twists, kept me on the edge of my seat, and I found myself reading faster and faster towards the resolution. As the story progressed, one of the elements I enjoyed most is how A Dove’s Cry shows the strength of the human spirit…even when that spirit lives in the body of a vampire.  That is something I love to find in an AU fic.  While some elements of A Dove’s Cry made my heart hurt, the many lighter moments entangled with romance, friendship, and loving family bonds brought a real smile to my face.

There is only one chapter left to post before this fic will be marked Complete.  Initially, karenec wrote the EPOV and transitory07 wrote the BPOV, but following transitory07’s exit from the fandom, karenec continued the story, writing both points of view.  I want to commend karenec for doing so, and for doing it with such skill and precision.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7633333/1/A-Dove-s-Cry

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Show Me Something More by karenec and Discordia81

*Made by RoseArcadia*

Show Me Something More ~ For ten years, Edward Cullen has had a secret desire. Isabella Swan is in the business of making fantasies come true. Together, they’ll discover more than they ever expected. 1st place winner for Public Vote and Judge’s Choice in the LDA anonymous contest. 

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Drama – Bella & Edward -  - Chapters: 2 – Words: 14,625 – Reviews: 90 - Favs: 112 – Follows: 202 - Updated: 05-15-13 – Published: 05-08-13 – id: 9276046

WARNING: Warning: This story explores F/M pegging. “You can Google it.”

Both separately and together, the talented karnenec and Discordia81 have proven they can successfully write any genre they fancy. It came as no surprise to me, therefore, that their brilliant entry won 1^st place in the Public Vote and Judge’s Choice in the Let’s Do Anal contest.

So, what’s this hot one shot all about?  Simply put, Edward has a secret desire, and Isabella makes fantasies a reality. The thing is, the chosen setting is a hotel, not an island; the only man wearing a white suit is probably the chef in the kitchen; thankfully there is no sign of Tattoo rushing around shouting about planes or indeed Edward’s secret fantasy…

“I’ve had this fantasy for years,” he explains. “For a while, I thought maybe I was gay. I went out on a few dates with guys, kissed them, even fooled around a bit. It was nice, but I wasn’t attracted to men. My sexuality had nothing to do with it. I was still attracted to women; I just wanted one to fuck my ass.”

You know how in ‘Fantasy Island’, Mr. Roarke usually commented that the person’s fantasy would not turn out as they expected?  Well, for Edward it did, but I was left with the feeling that it will also turn out to be something more – much more.  While I loved the sweet ending of the one shot, my imagination ran wild with ‘the morning after the night before’ scenarios for Assward and Tartella, and then way beyond.

*Made by Discordia81*

I may or may not have squealed in delight with the news that the authors are going to share a 3 chapter continuation, and, even better; it’s going to post weekly! The first new chapter has now posted and I’m glad to report that it surpassed my expectations. The palpable tension and the intensity of Edward and Bella’s longing is beautiful to feel, and indeed, beautiful to read. It’s written using third-person narrative which is simply perfect for this tale.

My dear readers! On behalf of karenec and Discordia81, your writers. Welcome… to Edward’s fantasy.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9276046/1/Show-Me-Something-More

You can find all the other LDA contest entries here.

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*Review by Midnight Cougar*

Break in the Clouds by AnotherPen

Break in the Clouds ~ Bella’s husband’s office might as well be labeled “home” on his cell phone. Edward’s wife has magical headaches that appear nightly.

Fiction M - English – Hurt/Comfort/Drama – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 6 – Words: 7,474 – Reviews: 120 – Favs: 76 – Follows: 211 – Updated: 05-16-13 - Published: 05-08-13 – id: 9275867

I have a new WIP rec for you today, written by a mysterious Twilight fanfiction author . . . she says on her profile, “Hi. I’m Pen. Sometimes. Usually someone else in the Twilight fandom.” I wonder who she might be? *wink* Well, regardless of who this new author is . . . her story – with 6 chapters posted to date – is well worth reading, and it’s called Break in the Clouds by AnotherPen. The plot thickens, too, because at the end of each chapter it says, “Fanfiction written by AnotherPen, beta’d by InFlight75, pre-read by LAchick85 – we usually go by other names in the fandom.” Do I have your attention now? Good, let me give you a synopsis of what we have so far . . .

What first caught my attention about the story was the short, vague but unusual summary – those cryptic two lines invited me to read between them, making it intriguing in itself, because it implied, to me, that Edward and Bella might not be husband and wife; that they might be married to other people . . . So then, I wanted to read to find out exactly what was going on. I learned that I was right. Bella is married to Carlisle Cullen – Edward’s estranged cousin, and Edward is married to Lauren, but . . . are they happy marriages? Um, I would have to say: a big resounding NO! Where will this lead? Oh, I get the feeling to something very interesting!

What I also discovered, though, is that the story is set in a world of its own, or that’s how I kind of perceived it. Grove Mall: it’s where many of the main characters work and where we learn many of the facets of their lives; it’s also where we have the whole Twilight gang plus some, all seemingly connected to the unique setting is some way, shape or form. The characters are every day workers: we have a “mellow – all working class – and down to earth” Edward; I really like that. And a relatable Bella, who is struggling with a variety of issues in her life, one being her weight and “full curves.” There also seems to be a lot of unrest amongst the other “normal” characters in the story, as they “resent life” . . . and this seems to be a recurring focal point for the storyline surrounding and interwoven through Grove Mall. There’s a divorced-father Jasper who runs the music story; Lauren, Edward’s wife, works at the nail salon; Edward is a security guard, along with Emmett McCarty; Bella is the management’s – Carlisle Cullen – wife and works at the smoothie shop, with Rose and Angela . . . Like I said, it’s like a world of its own, this Grove Mall; it’s kind of a cool and interesting setting. I think this excerpt from chapter 2 sums up, not only the state of Bella and Rose’s lives, but many of the central characters, as well . . .

When lunch rolled around, Rose returned after a quick trip to the food court to buy lunch. It was always pretty quiet at Grove Mall until school was out for the day, so they sat uninterrupted behind the counter with their chicken salads and iPhones ready to try this new app.

While they waited, they made small talk, but they didn’t have a lot in common. Rose was the forty-four-year-old closeted alcoholic who’d had her heart broken one time too many, which had turned her into a shell with dry humor and vacant eyes. Bella was the twenty-six-year-old disappointment who’d fallen for a man on a business trip simply because he wanted her. There had been no question; when Carlisle’s business trip was over and he had asked her to move with him, she said yes. Because he wanted her. Of all people.

Perhaps an unfulfilled life was what she had in common with Rose.

I know it may sound a bit depressing, but I get the feeling, after reading the last couple chapters, that these characters have a story to tell us; one that I think I am going to want to hear, and one, I have a feeling I am going to want to continue to read. I can tell there is animosity between Edward’s family and his estranged cousin, Carlisle’s, but we don’t know what, really, or why . . . and ooh, I have to wonder what that story is all about because Carlisle is a real piece of work in this story. He may love his “trophy wife,” but he sure has awful ways of showing it, which is reflected in Bella’s sad inner monologue, and I wonder what she’ll do to get her “Break in the Clouds,” or who she may turn to *cough Edward? cough* to fulfill all that’s lacking in her life . . . and in her heart.

Want a wicked, new story to read, one where you don’t know anything about the author and where this may go? Wanna take a reading risk with me? *grins excitedly* Then read on . . . because I’m actually pretty stoked about this story – the unknowns – and I sure as hell am ready for something new, and willing to take this uncertain literary ride! And don’t forget . . . this is rated M and I have a good feeling it’s going to earn that rating! *wink*

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9275867/1/Break-in-the-Clouds

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*Review by AllyVera*

The Art of Getting Fluffed by ChocolateSparrow 

The Art of Getting Fluffed ~ Like every professional, Edward Cullen needs the right tools for the job. But what happens when they just don’t work anymore? Cue Bella Swan, an expert at being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The adventures of Bunny and Fluff. Short funny chapters rated M for a reason.

Rated: Fiction M – English – Humor/Romance – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 19 – Words: 33,328 – Reviews: 2,212 – Favs: 867 – Follows: 1,711 – Updated: 05-09-13 – Published: 03-17-13 – id: 9109151

Erectile dysfunctions, men with ‘quiffs’, Justin Bieber bedspreads, revolving beds on fire, hot tub shenanigans, sculpture classes, Batman suits and Twister.  Oh yes, The Art of Getting Fluffed has all this and more, dear readers!

I don’t find myself reading humour stories very often, sad to say, but am SO glad I stumbled upon this brilliant story written by ChocolateSparrow (a collaboration of the talented authors SparrowNotes24 and Chocaholic123).  I became addicted from the start, I love both the snarky banter and the characters that are amazingly over the top and unusual yet so believable at the same time (how do they do that??).

I am not divulging any plot secrets when I advise you that Edward is a Porn Star – not just any old Porn Star either – you could say he is ‘big’ in the industry *snigger*.   However, when we meet our fearless star, he is having some issues with his…err… moneymaker not rising to the occasion.  He tells his good friend and director Jasper, that he needs a “fluffer” – aka someone to…err…keep him at attention.

This is kinda where Bella comes into the story.  You see, she is the exact vision of the girl who Edward wants as his fluffer. She does end up in his dressing room, but, what Edward doesn’t know is that Bella is there by accident on an errand for her friend and roommate, Alice.  After visually assaulting poor Bella with his now fully-functioning equipment, a very interesting relationship is born. Honestly, that is probably the largest understatement I have ever made! (I said largest!) Please forgive me for acting like a 12-year-old boy – it’s all Pornward’s fault.  Or maybe you could blame the authors. LOL

Extract from chapter two in BPOV – First Sight…

“I’m stunned into silence at the scene in front of me. The reality of the situation slowly dawns, and I scream and cover my eyes. “What the fuck!”

I scramble for the door handle, squeezing my eyes shut, but the image flashes in my memory. The most jaw droppingly attractive man I’ve ever laid eyes on is lounging naked on a leather couch. Dark, perfectly tousled hair, a face straight out of GQ, marble chiseled abs, and the cherry on top, his long, perfectly straight cock is cradled in his hand.

“This needs to be quick. Come over here with those pretty lips and suc-”

“What the actual fuck is happening right now?” I turn the handle, tugging on the sticking door.

“Keep saying fuck.” His low honeyed voice drifts across the room.

I drop my hands and glare at the pervert draped on the couch, forcing my gaze level with his lust-lidded eyes, flickering between my chest and bare legs. “Are you serious? Stop doing that you absolute fucking weirdo!”

His reaction is to throw his head back, a gutteral moan pouring from this throat as he palms his now fully erect cock from top to bottom. He stands at the end of the caress and stalks over to me.

“I knew Jasper would find me a winner. You’re fucking perfect,” he whispers, holding his wood like he’s going to pole vault with it, as he walks out the door.

I open and close my mouth, wondering what fucked up fantasy I’ve walked into now. Was I still asleep? I pinch my arm and it hurts like a bitch. No such luck.

“What the hell, Alice.” I say to the empty room.

I can feel the burning flush on my cheeks, but it’s not from embarrassment.

It’s from shock-cock shock.”

The Art of Being Fluffed is currently at 20 hilarious chapters, most of which I proudly admit I have been so desperate to read, I have made all sorts of excuses at work to disappear for periods of time to devour. Chapters sneakily stolen at work are the best!  If you’d love a good giggle at the same time as enjoying great unique characters, I’m sure you’ll join the ranks of devotees to Fluff and Bunny!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9109151/1/The-Art-of-Getting-Fluffed

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Please share with us what you’ve been reading this week.

The FicSix

Let’s Play With Sportsward!

Let’s face it ladies; Originalward was no athlete. Yeah, he defeated James and Victoria in battle and played a game of baseball here and there, but he wasn’t a sports freak by any means. Even though we ALL love the pale, sparkling, sleepless music-lover, sometimes a girl just wants–dare I say NEEDS–a good jock.

Thankfully, our fandom is blessed with a plethora of authors who are willing to improve on perfection and give Originalward that extra little something to whet the sports-lover in all of us.

Grab some beers, settle into your favorite recliner, put your feet up, and prepare to enjoy the wide world of Sportswards. You  might wanna grab a drool towel, too, because tight-fitting track pants and bulging biceps abound in this our latest installment of Fanfiction Fridays.

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*Reviews by Cared*

Shifting Gears by ChocolateSparrow

*Made by sparrownotes24*

Shifting Gears ~ A race. A cyclist. A physio. He wants to win the Tour de France at any cost. She just wants to make it through without getting burned. A birthday gift for the lovely Erron.

Twilight – Rated: M – English – Romance – Chapters: 5 – Words: 11,746 – Reviews: 145 – Updated: 4-21-13 – Published: 3-18-13 – Bella & Edward

ChocolateSparrow are fast becoming the Ant and Dec of the fic world.  If that analogy is lost on you, think Tina Fey and Steve Carrell, if you will.  It appears the highly entertaining duo that unleashed the hilarious The Art of Getting Fluffed on an unsuspecting world, can successfully turn their pens to any Ward from Pornward to Sportsward.

SparrowNotes24 shared how this fic came about. “We were supposed to be writing a Rugbyward for our friend Erron, but got distracted by those pictures of Rob cycling in Australia and our husbands helped with this!  We are both cycling widows.”

*nods head in understanding about the inspirational cycling pictures*

I was planning to tell you that I was attracted to this fic in the hope I would learn more about the behind the scenes world of the Tour de France.  You know, interesting crap facts pertaining to the world’s most prestigious cycle race: stages, nutrition, training, lifestyle, physio, team spirit and so on.  Like I said, I was planning to, but, I realised you discerning readers would not fall for that.  I have to be honest and admit, while I did inadvertently glean some of the information listed above, the visual of Cocky Cycleward Cullen in his skintight spandex and oiled up thighs *takes sip of water – turns on fan* was a major draw.

The competition is underway before Bella joins as replacement physiotherapist and is assigned to Edward.  The story is marked Romance but it’s a slow burn as it develops in stages, just like the tour itself.  Bella may be a physiotherapist, but she is still a woman, and while she is not immune to his charms, she is determined to remain professional – especially while massaging his groin injury.  Lycroward has no such qualms about mixing business with pleasure when it comes to Bella, but at 5 chapters in, he is still facing an uphill struggle.  Good thing he is so fit!

The touch of her hands on my thigh made me shiver. The way she massaged me felt different to Alice-softer, more feminine-despite the pressure that she was putting on my legs. I closed my eyes and bit my lip, willing my body to ignore its natural response to her touch, because getting a hard-on while lying on the physio table was amateur and embarrassing.

“Is this okay?” She moved higher now, her fingers finding the strained muscle just below my groin, and the pain that I felt as she pushed down was welcome-anything to take my mind off the pleasure of her touch. But I still responded, and I was dreading the moment she asked me to turn over and notice that my dick was sticking straight up to the sky.

Like a teenaged boy with an inappropriate erection, I started to go through all the things that disgusted me. I recalled my grandmother and the way she used to put her teeth in a glass by the side of her bed. I thought of Jasper and how he always used to fart when we shared bedrooms as junior cyclists. I remembered the nausea I felt last summer when I saw the Olympic Gold Medal hanging around Riley Swan’s neck.

I could feel myself soften as I lay on my front. Moving my head to the side, I caught Bella’s eye and saw her staring straight at me, the deep hazel darkened by her widening pupils. As much as I wanted to move my head and look away, I found myself captured by her gaze. Suddenly, my heart was pounding faster than when I was sprinting down the final fifty yards, and I could feel the rapid drum beat it made against my ribcage.

Shifting Gears is a really cute chick-fic.  Actually, it’s a ficlet as it should complete at around 8 chapters and an epi.  It’s light and fun with an unexpected element of mystery running through it.  The protagonists are very likeable and I’m waving the flag for Team Edward & Bella and cheering them on.  Oh, did I mention that Edward wears Lycra? LOL

On your bike!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9113467/1/Shifting-Gears

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Negative Twenty and Falling by katinki

*Made by katinki*

Negative Twenty and Falling ~ COMPLETE O/S. Two weeks, a few cups of cocoa, a mountain of snow, a pair of mittens, and one Mr. Perfect-Gorgeous. I present to you: Skiward. Just a little bit of wintery fluff so that you don’t think I’m always so doom and gloom. AH.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 2 – Words: 20,666 – Reviews: 296- Favs: 781 – Follows: 216 – Published: 12-13-11 – Status: Complete – id: 7632850

Negative Twenty and Falling opens with Bella listening to a weather report; the destination she is intent on travelling to is minus twenty degrees and falling – hence the title.  Our Bella likes to keep warm and is a little shocked at the forecast.

Mother. Fucker. 

Okay, fine, I think to myself as I test the thickness of my one and only (and new) parka. That’s in Celsius – damned Canadians – but I remember high school science. That’s still below zero in Fahrenheit. It’s negative four to be exact. And that’s… really freaking cold. Like deathly cold. Like my blood will freeze in my veins and I better not lick metal objects (not that I go around doing that) cold. Yeah so… cold.

See, for pretty much… forever, I’ve lived in the desert of Arizona – Phoenix actually – where there are only two possible forecasts: (very) hot and dry and pretty warm and dry. Like year round, too. Not snowing and negative twenty. Or negative four. Whatever. I wear shorts and tank tops at Christmas, not long johns and battery operated socks.

Damn that Alice.

As I shove pants and turtlenecks and a scarf I’ve never worn in the biggest suitcase I have, for the hundredth time, I curse myself for saying yes to her. Sure, she’s my best friend and I love her like a sister, but I should be going with our other roommates to Cabo for New Years’, not to Banff. Where it’s negative twenty. Did I mention that already?

I sigh as I pull the tags off a pair of chunky black mittens (that look remarkably like my oven mitts) before finally stuffing them into the side pocket. I don’t know how you do anything in mittens – like write, or drive, or eat French fries – but if I want to keep my fingers, I have a feeling I’ll need them. And maybe a portable space heater with backpack straps. Do they make those? 

Considering my aversion to less than balmy weather, I honestly have no idea why I said yes when Alice asked if I’d please, please, please go with her to the mountains of Alberta in the middle of winter.

Okay, that’s a lie.

I know exactly why.

If I reveal to you that Alice has a brother named Edward, a brother named Edward who will also be staying at the cabin in the snow, will you know exactly why too?  Believe me, once you have met this charming Skiward, or as Bella thinks of him Mr. Perfect-Gorgeous, you will not be surprised at her willingness to brave the elements.  After all, they can always warm up in the hot tub. *wink*

This story is romance pure and simple. For those of you worried, if you are familiar with katinki’s usual fare, she assures us “this is an angst-free zone”.  At over 20,000 words, it’s long for a one shot, but every word is warranted.  While it’s delightfully told in Bella’s POV, katinki’s voice, complete with tongue-in-cheek, shines through.  Put your thermals on ladies and cozy up to Skiward.  I know you’ll be toasty warm.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7632850/1/Negative-Twenty-and-Falling

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*Review by FluffyLiz*

Offside by Savage7289

*Made by Rose Arcadia*

Offside ~ Edward’s the star keeper for the Forks High School soccer team, and is already being scouted by leagues overseas. Bella’s just moved from Phoenix and interferes with his…focus. Soccerward lives! Rated M for the good stuff, of course.

English – Angst/Drama – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 125 – Words: 170,098 – Reviews: 32,661 – Updated: 08‑30‑11 – Published: 05-30-11 – Status: Complete

When Cared asked me if I would review Offside by Savage7289, I have to admit I jumped at the chance.  The reason?  Well, apart from the fact that it’s a brilliant fic by the amazing Shay Savage, it’s also directly responsible for me becoming a TwiFic writer – about which, more later.

Offside is the story of a hot young High School Senior who is also the star goalie of his school soccer team.  His father, Carlisle Cullen, is a doctor and the ambitious Mayor of Forks, and has high hopes for Edward to win a professional contract after graduation.  He sees it as his ticket out of a one-horse town, and is single-minded in pushing his son to achieve fame and fortune via his sporting talent.  The fact that Edward is more captivated by Shakespeare than penalty shoot-outs is an annoyance to his father, so much so that Edward has long since stopped risking his ire, keeping his academic yearnings to himself.

“I’m counting on you,” Dad said. He put his hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. I flinched a little and stopped breathing again. Even though I knew I was too built up now for him to really do anything to me, old habits die hard. “You know the plan, now you just have to focus, Edward. Don’t lose your focus. Classes okay so far? I don’t want anything distracting you.”

“They’re okay,” I told him. I shrugged a little, hoping it would get his hand off me. It worked, and I took a deep breath. “It’s only the first week of school, but they’re all okay so far.”

“I never should have let you sign up for those AP classes,” he grumbled.

I really, really didn’t want to have this fight again.

“And no girls,” Dad added. “If you want pussy, I fucking buy you some pussy.”

“Geez, Dad,” I turned my head away, cringing. “Not a problem, okay? Seriously, I need to get to sleep soon.”

“Running tomorrow? Six AM?”

“Yep.”

“Good.”

So, as you can see, Edward is ruled by his bullying father’s ambition, and he seeks relief in sketching – something else his father has no time for.  As for girls, well they’re just a means to an end, and his treatment of them is very much informed by his father’s vile misogyny.  But then, along comes soccer playing Bella, and everything changes.

Long, thick brown hair covering most of her back and shoulders, pale skin, athletically built, and deep brown eyes. She looked up at me, her teeth sank into her bottom lip, and I knew immediately who she was. It was the girl I slammed into after I was kicked out of the game on Friday, and she was sitting at my lab table.  I dropped down next to her and looked at her out of the corner of my eye. She tilted her head down, which made her hair drop over her shoulder and hide her face. It kind of pissed me off, actually, though I wasn’t sure why. I reached over and pushed her hair away from her face and back over her shoulder. She looked up at me, her deep brown eyes wide.

“Hey,” I said as I smiled at her.

“Um…hi,” she replied. She pulled back a little, and her hair dropped away from my fingers. At least it wasn’t hiding her from me anymore.

“I’m Edward,” I told her.

“So I’ve heard,” she said. Her eyes flashed up to Mister Banner, who was beginning his lecture on cellular anatomy.

“Have you now?” I smirked. I wondered just what she had heard, and from whom. “You got a name?”

“Yes.” She turned to look up at the front of the classroom. I had to laugh.

“Want to tell me what it is?” I asked. “Or do we get to play Rumplestiltskin?”

A few other games I could play with her flashed through my mind.

I glanced back over to the girl next to me, and saw the corners of her mouth turn up a little, like she was holding in a laugh. I shifted my lab stool, moving a little closer to her. She looked up at me, and then quickly looked away.

I didn’t touch her, though it was a little tempting. I kept my leg just about three inches away from hers, shifting when she moved away a bit to keep the constant distance. She had long, slender legs, but I could tell they had some muscle to them as well. I resisted the urge to run my hand over her thigh. No need to move too quickly on a chick that was obviously new.  Maybe even a challenge.

Predictably, a relationship is formed, but Carlisle is not happy about it.  He’s such a complete dick, in fact, that Savage felt compelled to ask readers to come up with novel ways to knock him off in her ‘Die, Daddy C, Die’ contest.  I tried my hand at this, submitting my first ever piece of fiction, and thus caught the writing bug.  So, thanks, Shay!  BTW, you should check these out, as some of them are absolutely inspired and very imaginative!

This is inevitably a story of star-crossed lovers, but, as ever with Savage, there’s much more to it than that – there’s heat, there’s angst, and there’s even a little intrigue.  Topped off with a very satisfying denouement, this is yet another high quality and brilliantly told story from one of the fandom’s most talented authors.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7036128/1/Offside

Die, Daddy C, Die Community here.

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*Review by Midnight Cougar*

Quarterback Rush by musegirl

*Made by perfacidadeliberada*

Quarterback Rush ~ Bella has a chance meeting with college co-ed Edward and is immediately smitten. But how will she handle finding out Edward is a star football player? Will she be his good luck charm or a curse? AU/AH. Fluff, fun, and lemons. Rated M for a reason.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Humor – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 20 – Words: 111,589 – Reviews: 1,591 - Favs: 2,526 – Follows: 1,592 - Updated: 01-27-12 – Published: 11-10-10 – Status: Complete – id: 6467809

I have to admit, I’ve read a fair amount of Sportsward over the last several years – Baseballward, Soccerward, Swimward, Hockeyward … I seem to be pretty partial to any jock Edward, bulked up, cocky and in some type of sports uniform! *sighs dreamily* But I think my favourite has to a QBward. There is something about Edward Cullen all fit, fast, furious and decked out in a tight football uniform that really does it for me! *fans self*

One of the first QBwards I read was Quarterback Rush by musegirl. Now, it has been quite some time since I read it, but it was definitely memorable. What I remember the most was that I absolutely loved the romance of this story. I read the whole thing in just a few days. The story is set in a Texas college, Edward is the star Quarterback; he is intelligent, a bit cocky, but also adorable, and Bella has no idea who he is as she has no interest in sports. She is an all-around great Bella, though: studious, beautiful, nice; she is so real and down-to-earth. I really enjoyed them both – from their first encounter where their witty banter immediately takes hold, we see their sweet chemistry…

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a guy smirking at me. Glancing at him, my breath caught. Damn, he was hot. Really, really hot. Panty-wetting hot. Fuckhot. Brown-ish, red-ish…bronze-ish…crazy sex-hair with the most beautiful green eyes I’d ever seen, like fresh-cut grass. A perfectly straight nose and jaw that were a sculptor’s dream and his perfect, totally kissable lips formed that smirk that made my lady parts sit up and take notice.

He lifted an eyebrow to go with his smirk and I quickly looked down, blushing. Fuck, I’d been caught staring. I bit my lip, immediately regretting pulling my hair up so I couldn’t hide behind it. I climbed onto the bus in front of him and headed for the back. The bus was only half full so I took an empty seat in the back corner. Looking out the window, I reached up and released my hair and ran my fingers through it. I peeked through the strands and saw Smirkhot-Sex-Hair Guy chatting with someone before making his way further back. I hastily looked away to avoid getting caught staring again. I heard someone rather noisily take a seat in the row in front of me and I turned my head. Smirkhot-Sex-Hair Guy was sprawled across the row of seats and smirking once again at me. Now I became defensive, “What?”

He chuckled lowly and a shiver danced down my spine. His smirk deepened and he asked, “So, going to the game on Saturday?” Oh dear God in heaven, that voice! That smooth, deep, velvet voice. Just that one sentence had my stomach, amongst other things, quivering. What the hell was wrong with me? I’d never reacted like this to any guy before. I was practically panting over him like a cat in heat.

I mentally shook myself and pulled out my trusty friend, sarcasm. “Oh, yeah. I dream of nothing else.” I rolled my eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re going to lecture me on the wonders of football too? I get enough of that from my father. He thinks I’m un-American.”

Smirkhot-Sex-Hair Guy laughed again and smiled, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” He cocked his head to the side, “You’re an interesting girl. You don’t like football, so I’m guessing you’re not much of a tomboy. But you don’t like shopping either, so you’re not a princess. I can’t quite figure out what kind of girl you are.”

Ah, well, Edward, that is for her to know and you to find out! And since it looks like our Bella, while “quivering” on the inside, can hold her own on the outside, he may just have to work for it. *nods head and smiles*

As you can already see, she did make quite an impression, greatly intriguing our “Smirkhot-Sex-Hair Guy” QBward; and his interest only grows during the first few chapters as they continue to enjoy each other’s company during bus rides home. But it’s after Edward visits her sorority that Bella learns who Edward really is: starting Quarterback Cullen, number 17. Not only does Bella feel she is way out of Edward’s league, being as she is, “…plain as you could get. Brown hair, brown eyes, with that wholesome girl next door look. Not exactly the kind of girl guys would beat down a door to get to,” but she also thinks it’s all a game to him: for the popular jock to romance the quiet, book nerd. But our smooth QBward would disagree wholeheartedly, and his romance knows no bounds, as he pulls out ALL the stops to prove to her he is sincere and to win over his “beautiful girl”…

I was doodling on my notepad when the doorbell rang downstairs. I sighed; the meeting would come to a halt until whoever was at the door left. Jessica ran downstairs to answer the door when singing drifted up to the chapter room. She came racing back upstairs, almost tripping and yelling for us to get downstairs. Half of the girls followed her down and the other half ran to the front balcony. I stayed upstairs, not all that excited. I assumed it was one of the frats ‘serenading’ us. I’d heard Charlotte had met a guy named Peter at one of the parties over the weekend and figured it was his fraternity out there.

I stood in the back, laughing over the song choice, ‘You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling.’ The scene from Top Gun where the guys all serenade their teacher was always one of my favorites. I yelped when Alice grabbed my arm and yanked me to the front of the group. Completely startled, I looked down to see Edward out in front on one knee with a large group of football players behind him as backup. They were all wearing their jerseys and smiling and totally hamming up the performance.

I covered my mouth with one hand, laughing at the sight in front of me. Edward looked up and spotted me. He smiled and, still singing, crooked his finger at me. Eyes wide and blushing, I shook my head. Edward winked at me and nodded, crooking his finger again. Alice dug her nails into my arm in warning and I hastily retreated to the stairs. I walked down them, taking deep breaths to cool my cheeks and calm my pounding heart.

Making my way through the girls gathered at the door, I stepped out in front of them. Edward’s smile was blinding. I took a few more steps forward and he took my hand as they finished the song. I ducked my head causing my hair to fall in a curtain around my face, shielding it from view. I knew my face was bright red still, but I couldn’t bring myself to care when Edward was smiling at me like that. The song ended and Edward rose, grabbing my waist with one hand and supporting my head with the other as he dipped me low to kiss me. I clung to his neck, partly to help keep myself from falling, but also to hold him to me. Even though the kiss was nowhere near as deep as the one we’d shared in my bedroom, I still felt it all the way to my toes.

The girls and guys all cheered when Edward lifted me upright again and I hid my face and grin in his chest.

Now THAT is how a football jock, who’s smitten, wins over his girl and scores his own touchdown! You now see why I found this story so memorable? But this only brings us into chapter 3 and there are 20 chapters, so you have lots more to read about Bella and Edward’s lovely, budding relationship in QR. It was a pleasure for me to read; it’s filled with romance and humour, with a little drama and some lemony goodness thrown in to keep things interesting, as Bella learns all about her “tight end.” *wink*

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6467809/1/Quarterback-Rush

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*Review by AllyVera*

Major Misconduct by m7707

banner by m7707

Coincidental Major by m7707

banner by m7707

Major Misconduct ~Edward Cullen – hot high school hockey player. Bella Swan – shy high school student. They’ve admired each other from afar, so what happens when they finally meet? Will they be strong enough to handle a threat from his past? No good deed goes unpunished…

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 36 – Words: 160,515 – Reviews: 4,686 - Favs: 5,101 – Follows: 2,345 – Updated: 07-17-10 – Published: 03-16-10 – Status: Complete – id: 5821543

Coincidental Major ~ A tale about a hockey-playing boy who loves his girl. This is Edward’s story from Major Misconduct.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 35 – Words: 193,272 – Reviews: 2,917 - Favs: 1,883 – Follows: 1,176 – Updated: 07-05-11 – Published: 02-02-11 – Status: Complete – id: 6709135

It is no secret that I have an unabashed passion for Hockeywards – hell, my Favourite Edward EVER is the original Hockeyward from HunterHunting’s brilliant The Misapprehension of Bella Swan *Ally goes all glassy-eyed thinking about him* Oh sorry, I got sidetracked…  What I do keep under wraps however, is that I am secretly a High School Fic hOOr.  I love them – so when MC and Cared told me about Sportsward, there was only one choice for me – Major Misconduct and its EPOV companion story Coincidental Major written by the wonderful m7707.

Of course, in MM, Bella is a very smart girl for her age and has crushed on the gorgeous Edward Cullen since first laying eyes on him as a freshman.  Being very shy and unsure of herself, she never acts on her crush, and doesn’t actually officially meet Edward until the beginning of junior year when her best friend Alice starts dating Jasper, Edward’s best friend.  What Bella doesn’t know is that Edward has crushed on her for probably the same amount of time… *sigh* These two!  All that wasted time!!

What I adored most about MM and CM are the characters that m7707 has created. Bella is shy and doesn’t run with the popular crowd, but there is a side to her that is fierce, passionate, glorious, and she has a wicked sense of humour.  Edward is not your typical jock, he’s intelligent, focused and very driven and you will adore the way he loves his Bella.

Here is a glimpse of Bella getting a dash anxious waiting for Edward to turn up for their first date – I laughed myself silly when I read this (from chapter 8)…

“At 7:25 I ran down the stairs. Edward seemed like the on-time type. I pulled the curtains in the front window back to peer out into the dark, and jerked back as headlights flashed across the front of the house. Oh God, I hoped he hadn’t seen me looking out and waiting for him like some overeager loser. I spun around, and saw that Charlie was watching me incredulously.

“What?” I demanded. “He’s here. I think. I think that’s him. It’s probably him. Should I get the door? No, you probably should. Will you get it? No! Wait!” I flung my hands out at him as he started to rise from his chair, and he froze. “I’ll get it. I’m sure he doesn’t want to see Dad the Police Chief first thing, give him a second to adjust. Right? Don’t you think?” The doorbell rang, and I jumped as if I’d been goosed. “I’ll get it. Dad! Be nice,” I reminded him, and dashed down the hall to the front door.

“Ooo-kay,” I heard Charlie mumble, and realized I was acting like a lunatic. I paused before the door and took a deep breath, shaking my hands to loosen them. Calm down, Swan.

I pulled the door open, and there he was—Edward Cullen, standing on my front door step—tall, gorgeous, smelling fantastic, and smiling down at me. I just stared at him, leaning against the door for support. “

No wonder Bella got all worked up! She might be shy, but she’s got spunk and is so funny! She’s also a perv (it’s always the quiet ones), and her slight obsession with Edward’s compression pants is hilarious and well-founded. m7707 delighted in her AN’s with YouTube visuals to help those of us who had no idea what compression pants were.  Well, suffice to say, I am an expert now! (Below is the video that m7707 shared with us…  just pretend it’s Edward… although Sidney Crosby does fill out those compression pants pretty well!)

If you are wondering which story to read first, Major Misconduct was written first, and then Coincidental Major.  I read MM first completely and then I read CM as a WIP.  Personally, I would advise to read MM first, and then delve into Edward’s POV afterwards in CM – but you could read them in tandem if you wanted to, but I think it takes away some of the mystery when you know what Edward is thinking – if you know what I mean!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5821543/1/Major-Misconduct

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6709135/1/Coincidental-Major

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Sportsward Reading List

Another League by CaraNo

Chasing Victory by mpg   Previous review here.

Comp Sem 101 by bornonhalloween 

Evening the Score by DH78

First & Ten by Nolebucgrl  Previous review here.

Foul Territory » by rinabina

Game, Set, Match by MandyLeigh87

Going Under by sparklnfade

He Shoots, She Scores by WitchyVampireGirl  Previous review here.

Lucky Strike by Twiddler83

Melt With You by Jenny0719

Off Piste by landdownunder

Penalty Shot by Edward’s Eternal

Quarterback Sneak by jayhawkbb

Shadowboxer by nobloodnofoul

Sideline Collision by Nolebucgrl   Previous review here.

Stealing Home by Nolebucgrl 

Take The Ice  by bellamarie117

Taking a Shot by TwoTwiMoms

The Purple Banana Hammock by TheFicChick  Previous review here.

Try by shellshock81

Up to Speed by ericastwilight  Previous review here.

Yosemite Decimal by MagTwi78  Previous review here.

We would like to say a big thank you to FluffyLiz for joining us today on Fan Fiction Fridays.  She didn’t include the link to her entry into the Die, Daddy C, Die contest, What Goes Around Cums Around, *snicker* but we just did.

The FicSix

The FicSix Picx

Happy Fan Fiction Fridays and welcome to The FicSix Picx! This week we’re going random rec’ing on you! lol We’ve all been enjoying some of the same fics, but some different ones, as well, so this week we thought we’d share a number of those with you. We have fics filled with sweet romance, great humour, exciting drama, and three wonderful TwiHEAcontest one shots, plus a versatile FicSix reading list!

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*Reviews by Midnight Cougar*

Today I am going to warm your heart with some sweet Romance. I have one WIP and a TwiHEAcontest one shot winner for your reading enjoyment. I thought I’d be nice to rec something completely light and easy to read, filled with romance, love and HEA, because I don’t know about you…but I’ve been reading a lot of angst and serious drama fics lately, and I know you will enjoy both these charming stories.

The Man in the Moon by CullensTwiMistress

*Made by CullensTwiMistress*

The Man in the Moon ~ Her Nana had always told her she’d find the peanut butter to her jelly. But she never did find the one, and now she’s 29 and still looking for that perfect one—the man that doesn’t exist. He’s like the man in the moon; a simple fairy tale that will never be real. AH; BxE; Romance.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 2 – Words: 4,909 – Reviews: 138 - Favs: 139 – Follows: 283 - Updated: 04-25-13 – Published: 04-21-13 – id: 9224221

The Man in the Moon is a brand new WIP written by my dear friend CullensTwiMistress. I also have the pleasure of being her beta for this lovely, romantic story. If you are looking for some romance and like Sweetward, then this is the fic for you!

There are many longstanding traditional thoughts about the Man in the Moon, along with being a soothing bedtime story, it was also the inspiration for this fic, and because I thought the premise was unique for a story, I asked Missy if she’d like to share her thoughts on how this wonderful tale came to life:

“I was in a place where I missed my grandma … I had a dream … then I wrote the summary and had a very basic plot months before I even started writing it … it’s been going on in my head for over a year. It’s about the journey of these two individuals who, at first glance, don’t seem to know each other, but once they see one another, are able to re-connect and find something within each other that neither thought they’d ever have.

Bella is a strong woman who can’t seem to get it right when it comes to love … she’s had a lot of hardships; has lost a lot, which seems to be in the forefront of her mind. She doesn’t want to end up alone, yet she doesn’t really want to settle. Edward is as sweet as they come. He’s a momma’s boy through and through. The moment he spots Bella, his world gets turned upside down and all he sees is her.” ~ CullensTwiMistress

You may not believe me when I say how lovely this story truly is, when you read the first chapter, because it is rather sad as Bella wallows in her misery. She talks to her late Nana Swan, while sitting in her childhood bedroom, staring at the moon. She is searching for advice, while also searching for something she hasn’t found yet in her life, her … ‘man in the moon’. As Missy explained, Bella’s had a rough go of it lately: her past relationships have all not been “enough”. But all is not lost because she has now taken on a new lease in life – she has ended her engagement with Mike, reclaimed her apartment as her own, and has even trained as a florist in her endeavor to take over a small town business of Forks’ Flowers. And in this unlikely place, is it possible she just might find her ‘man in the moon’?

The bell over the door rung loudly throughout the store at exactly twelve fifteen, alerting the two women that there was a customer out front.

“That would be Mr. Cullen; how about you get it, dear?” Mrs. Cope waved Bella off as she went in the back storage room to gather some ribbons for their next order.

Bella shrugged as she practically skipped to the front of her soon-to-be store. She was happy for the first time in forever and her attitude definitely showed it. She’d served customers throughout the past three days and knew how the cash register worked, but finally doing it without Mrs. Cope clapping and talking non-stop to the customers, was a blessing.

Bella stopped dead in her tracks as she eyed the young man on the other side of the counter. He was tall, with broad shoulders, both attributes accentuated perfectly by a dark grey Henley and low slung jeans. He also worked a panty-melting, crooked grin that was surely meant to make Mrs. Cope have a heart attack in her old age.

Squinting and tilting her head to the side, she eyed him speculatively. “Edward?”

Mr. Cullen smiled at the lovely girl behind the counter. He hadn’t seen her in years and wouldn’t have recognized her if it weren’t for her eyes, which had remained the same soft shade of chocolate brown as they’d been when they were in fifth grade together. “Isabella?”

“Everyone calls me Bella now, actually. Oh, my goodness, I haven’t seen you in years; how are you?” Bella remembered how Edward’s father had passed, and then his mother had taken him and moved away when he was only ten years old. When her own mother died, she’d thought of him and his pain, and how she’d wished he was still around to talk to.

Edward stepped closer to the counter and inspected the flowers in Bella’s hands. “I’m good, thanks. I moved back not too long ago to be closer to my parents.”

“Oh, and how is your mom?” Bella remembered how kind and giving Esme Masen was to everyone. Edward Sr.’s death had been devastating for her.

“She’s … okay. She’s stable now. My father takes care of her at home.” Bella frowned and Edward understood suddenly that Bella was not aware of his familial circumstances. “Oh, she got remarried, ages ago. He adopted me, Dr. Cullen; he works at the hospital.”

“Oh, oh yeah,” Bella responded, remembering her last visit to the ER with a broken toe when she’d stubbed it on the coffee table. “He’s such a nice man.”

Edward smiled kindly. “Yes, he is. He’s been … very good. Mom, on the other hand, has been sick. She had a stroke a while back and her left leg is pretty much useless.”

Bella swallowed and brought both hands to her mouth; her eyes wide and watery as she processed Edward’s sad news. These people were always so good, yet all those bad things kept happening to them. “I’m so sorry, Edward.”

He shrugged and balanced himself on his heels nervously. Bella had always been that girl for him. The one he thought as the pretty one in class. The one whose braids he pulled.

Aw, and yes, he is a swoonworthy Edward! As you can see Edward and Bella knew each other years ago, they were actually treasured, childhood friends, who got separated at the age of ten, but now almost twenty years later, they have been reunited. As you read the story you will discover how this leads to bigger and better things for both of them.

We only have two chapters posted so far, but I can tell you first hand, because I’ve read all that has been written so far, that the story is a heartfelt love story you will thoroughly enjoy. And because the story is told in third person narrative you get to experience both Bella and Edward’s lives individually and together; you will feel the beautiful flow of this story through this medium. It’s so smooth and gentle to read, and the characters will all make your heart warm and put a smile on your face. ❤

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9224221/1/The-Man-in-the-Moon

http://cullenstwimistress.blogspot.ca/

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Superheroes and Second Chances by anhanninen and kr2009

*Winning banner made by Evilnat*

Host’s Choice – @MagTwi78: Superheroes and Second Chances by anhanninen & kr2009

Superheroes and Second Chances  ~ HEA Contest story/entry link

Edward moved across the country, leaving behind his high school sweetheart and all the memories they’d made. As times get tough on the east coast, he decides to move back home to Forks with his three year old son for a fresh start. He never realized exactly what he left behind and how it could be his perfect future. Entry for the Happily Ever After Twific Contest

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Family – Bella & Edward – Words: 14,238 – Reviews: 56 - Favs: 129 – Follows: 173 – Published: 04-16-13 – Status: Complete – id: 9209619

This was one of my favourite entries from the HEA contest, it was also a winner as the Host’s Choice – MagTwi78, and it is definitely a winner in my books! It’s a sweet Daddyward story, which I am very partial to, told from EPOV, about a young father, twenty-five-year old Edward, who moves from New York back to his childhood hometown of Forks, Washington. He has a specific goal in mind…to give himself and his four-year-old son, Aiden, a fresh start and maybe, hopefully, a second chance at love, happiness and family.

What I really loved about this one shot was how I connected with the three main characters – Edward, Aiden and Bella; they made me smile, sigh, as they all had loving, caring personalities, which were beautifully portrayed. The story also felt like a complete story in one, as it depicts a man starting over, realizing what he has, what he left behind when he moved to New York, and what he could have. As the plot develops and flows effortlessly, we see these three share lots of fun and great learning adventures. And because I want to give you a little taste of the sweetness of how this selfless Daddyward and his adorable Aiden try to build a new life in their HEA quest; here is an adorable excerpt from this heartwarming story…

Three days after Bella made the offer, Aiden and I took her up on it and had a chance to look through the small, two bedroom apartment. It’s not much, but it’s something. Much more than I could have expected. It needs some work before we can move in, though, so Aiden and I make plans to go to the hardware store today.

“I gonna wear my cape, Daddy,” Aiden says as I tie his shoes. “You’re gonna wear yours, too.”

It doesn’t sound like I have a choice in the matter, so I just chuckle and nod, deciding to indulge him. Sure, walking around town in a cape isn’t something I usually do, but for Aiden, I’d do anything — even look like a fool in public. Scratch that, especially look like a fool in public. As long as he’s happy, I couldn’t care less what people think.

“Well, don’t you two look adorable.” Mom laughs as we make our way into the kitchen. Aiden grins before running toward her, helping his cape flap behind him.

The kid is cute. No one can ever deny that.

“We’re superheroes today, aren’t we, bub?” I ask, snagging a cookie off the pan Mom’s cooling. She gives me a pointed look, and I try to replicate Aiden’s grin, which usually gets him out of trouble.

“Not even close, sweetheart,” she says, patting my cheek. “Where are you two going today?”

“Hardware store,” I say after swallowing the last of the cookie. Luckily, Aiden’s too busy flying around the house to notice I snuck one. “We need paint and some tools for the apartment. I’m hoping we can move in next week because Bella said it was ours when we wanted it.” …

As we walk through the small hardware store in town, Aiden makes the most out of our capes. I have to pretend to fly through the store with him — enduring strange looks from some of the other customers. I don’t care, though, because Aiden laughs and it’s the most beautiful sound in the world.

Aren’t they the sweetest?! I am smiling wide just rereading this again, and I know you will be too when you enjoy these two ‘Superheroes’ as they leap over tall buildings in search of their ‘second chance’. And remember to put this little gem on alert because the authors have said they may do a second part. I am anxiously waiting for that day!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9209619/1/Superheroes-and-Second-Chances
 - as posted on kr2009‘s profile.

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*Reviews by Cared*

Step Right Up by FoxxyJ

*Made by ms. ambrosia*

Step Right Up ~ Quiet Bella Swan ends up the newest member of The Volturi Bros Circus. Friendships unfold as she discovers herself. Edward Cullen has never had to keep his hands to himself, until now. Will the charming trapeze artist control his desires? EXB OOC AH

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Friendship – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 19 – Words: 122,684 – Reviews: 526 – Favs: 646 – Follows: 352 – Updated: 06-24-11 – Published: 08-25-10 – Status: Complete – id: 6269531

FoxxyJ came up with the idea for this story while looking at pictures of Robert Pattinson on the set of Water For Elephants.  She thought Rob plus circus equals HOT!  Foxxyj will get no argument from me on that point.

Step Right Up made me want to run away with the circus. Honestly, it’s that good! It has an interesting blend of canon features presented in a refreshing manner and setting.  IMHO, Renee is a poor excuse for a mother, just as I consider canon Renee to be. James gave me the willies from day one, but, on a positive note, the Cullen family is simply lovely and Alice is a wonderful friend. As for Jake, he is a real sweetheart – he cares deeply for Bella without any of the clichéd complications.

Edward is known as Magic to the good folk of the circus.  It would be logical to immediately visualise Edwardo The Magician pulling a rabbit from his top hat. Logical, but oh so wrong!  Magic has tricks of his own…talent for pulling the ladies…magic at…well, you can imagine, I’m sure.  Edward is a trapeze artist, but I’m not going to be graphic in my description of his powerful and toned body encased in tights – I don’t want your eyes to glaze over rendering you unable to read any further. *stop with the swinging from the light-fitting fantasy ladies – focus* LOL

Bella is a reluctant new addition to the backroom of the circus. It appears she has lived behind the scenes of her own life up to this point. She is sweet and gentle and the change in her as she gradually moves into her own spotlight is a pleasure to behold.  Naturally, Bella falls under Edward’s spell quicker than you can say “Abracadabra”.  She is innocent and confused but not stupid; she tries to fight the attraction and the resultant UST could fill the Big Top. Luckily Bella has someone to confide in about her feelings and her developing relationship with Edward, someone who listens to her, loves her unconditionally and doesn’t judge.  Someone who made me fall in love with him too…

Winston was dozing in the sun when Bella collapsed in the straw next to him. She’d never seen him sleeping before and was torn between needing her therapy and simply watching the great beast. His face was so sweet in slumber. His rubbery top lip vibrated as he exhaled a deep breath, making Bella giggle. She wondered if camels snored. His long dark eyelashes fluttered opened at the sound of her laughter.

The sleepy camel moved his great head and placed it in her lap. He was like a baby waking from a nap, his eyes heavy, torn between fighting the desire to open them and continue sleeping at the same time. She gently stroked between his ears and down his long neck. He moaned softly as she allowed him to slowly wake, yawning and stretching like any human.

“Winny, so much has happened. I don’t know where to begin. Gummi Bear?” She offered her open hand to him with several bears in the middle. His lips gently plucked each candy from her, the velvet tickling her palm.

“I’m a nervous wreck, and I can’t control myself when I’m near him. It’s so humiliating. You’d be embarrassed if you saw me.” She moved around and settled her back against his shoulder while she continued to tell him of the events that had taken place between Edward and her. As usual, Winston listened and moaned or bellowed where needed. Together they worked through her fears until she felt she had yet another “Edward plan.”

“Okay, quick summary.” She squared her shoulders and looked into his brown eyes. “So what if I’m inexperienced? Right? If that’s a problem, then he can go back to Tanya. I am not going to be ashamed of myself anymore. I know I’m stupid for even thinking about him, but I’m sick to death of just existing. I want to have some fun. Since I’m almost twenty-one, my mom can stick it if she doesn’t like him. I don’t care. She doesn’t have to like him. If he really likes me, then my inexperience won’t matter, and if he doesn’t like me like that, then it won’t matter either way,” she chanted, hoping to make the statements true by saying them aloud.

“High five,” she said in triumph, and Winston bumped his nose against her raised palm.

In the summary above FoxxyJ asks the question, “Will the charming trapeze artist control his desires?”  My question is, “Will Bella want him to?”

Leotardward or the lovable show-stealing Winston may entice you to buy a ticket, but it’s the vivid and colourful world the talented FoxxyJ commands as Ring Master, that will keep you entertained and riveted to your seat for the entire performance.

Step Right Up!

*Made by FoxxyJ*

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6269531/1/Step-Right-Up

http://www.twilighted.net/viewstory.php?sid=13004

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I get a kick out of reading the all kinds of everything that can found as entries in an anonymous twific contest.  While I love to discover that a favourite author has written a fic I enjoyed reading, the real treat is finding out that a new to me author has written one of my favourite entries.  I can’t tell you how many amazing authors have come to my attention that way.

The recent TwiHEA contest featured readers I’m currently reading, thimbles, Hoodfabulous, karenec and Discordia81 among them, and I was lucky enough to discover new authors including Maplestyle.

These two fics, Maybe Next Time He’ll Think by Maplestyle, and (Un)Dressing Edward Cullen by Discordia81, are the perfect examples of the fabulous randomness and diversity of genre, content and style to be found in one contest.

Maybe Next Time He’ll Think by Maplestyle

*Winning banner made by evilnat*

Maybe Next Time He’ll Think ~ When Bella catches her boyfriend cheating will a handsome stranger help her forget him? *Winner Swooniest Male – Edward in the TwiHEAContest

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance – Bella & Edward – Words: 7,456 – Reviews: 109 – Favs: 123 – Follows: 56 – Published: 04-16-13 – Status: Complete – id: 9209407

*Handing the floor to Bella*

Most ‘they lived happily ever afters’ begin with ‘once upon a time’. They contain a heroine, usually some naïve girl that some evil villain is trying to exterminate and her hero who swoops in at the last minute to save the day and ride them off into the sunset. The villain gets their comeuppance and all is right in the world.

My happily ever after doesn’t begin with once upon a time, though I played the part of naïve very well. My happily ever after begins with a betrayal, a man, a piece of damaged property and two charges of lewd behavior in public.

I am Bella Swan and this is my story.

And what a roller coaster ride of a story it is too.

It is obvious from the extract that Maybe Next Time He’ll Think is told from this dynamic Bella’s POV, and believe me, she does such a wonderful job of relating her own fascinating story, that I’m not really sure how much I should reveal to you.  It’s one of those fics where you are best reading it blind…err…you know what I mean – without knowing the plot.

Mmmh, what will I tell you to make sure that you read this not-to-be  missed fic?  There is betrayal along with the requisite slime bag and biotch for you to hate, and – this is where you realise I am a bad person – there is sweet, sweet revenge for you to enjoy.  If that is not enough to make you want to read this enthralling tale, I’m going to throw in the tease of a healthy dose of lust and hot sex.  Oh, and a HEA, what more can you ask for?  Start reading now!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9209407/1/Maybe-Next-Time-He-ll-Think

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(Un)Dressing Edward Cullen by Discordia81

*Made by Discordia81* 

(Un)Dressing Edward Cullen ~ Edward Cullen is an A-list actor with horrific taste in clothing. Bella Swan is his long-suffering stylist who wants to strangle him one minute and kiss him the next. When Edward crashes her date, Bella has to choose between dressing her client and undressing the man she loves.  *2nd Place Public Winner for the Happily Ever After Twific Contest!

Rated: Fiction M – English – Humor/Romance – Bella & Edward – Words: 11,706 – Reviews: 64 – Favs: 162 – Follows: 84 – Published: 04-22-13 – Status: Complete – id: 9227119

If you can truthfully answer ‘Yes’ to any of the following questions, this story is for you. Here goes ladies – remember be honest now!

*Clears throat*

Are you familiar with any of the following items and would you give a week’s wages to know where they disappeared to, and/or have them under your pillow, and/or sleep in them?  A rather holey Stoli t-shirt, a faded red horse t-shirt, or a brown bubble jacket?

Are you familiar with the terms sexpenders and/or sex boots, and/or shiteous Nikes?

Have you almost come to blows with a cyber friend while arguing the virtues or lack of same pertaining to a certain paisley shirt?

Do the words, ‘bottle green hounds tooth check suit’, immediately conjure up an image of a certain well-known actor who coincidentally bears an uncanny striking resemblance to our beloved Edward?

If you answered ‘Yes’ to one or more – please read on.  Not one ‘Yes’? You have obviously been living in outer space for the past five years and are in the wrong place! Please move along quietly.

Bella, a Hollywood stylist, spots Edward on a red carpet, he had on a baggy, red velvet blazer, an oversized white shirt, and black leather pants with boots, (no laughing ladies), she is so appalled by his attire that she tracks him down and demands to dress him. Yes, I said dress him, not undress him.  While there is no denying that when left to his own devices the man has style – it’s just that his style is rather…how do I put this nicely? Creative! That’s the word!

I don’t want to start a fight, but would you agree with me or not?

“Edward Anthony Cullen,” I bellowed as I came in the door of his house. “What in the hell makes you think you are qualified to dress yourself?”

He peered sheepishly around the corner of the hallway. “Well, I am a grown man.”

“That’s debatable,” I muttered. The man was twenty-seven years old, but sometimes I questioned just how grown-up he was. And he certainly couldn’t dress himself. He had style, of sorts, but it wasn’t good style. It was daring; I’d give him that. When he followed my advice, he was stunning. But left to his own devices, he tended to go for things that were completely unflattering—downright hideous, even.

“You hired me to dress you. You pay me for this. Although, at this point, I’m starting to think it’s more of a service to humanity. What on earth prompted you to go for that God-awful shirt?”

This morning, I had glanced at a magazine, expecting to see Edward in a stylish outfit and looking good enough to eat, and had been horrified to realize that he looked terrible. I’d been at the dentist the day of the interview and photo shoot—getting emergency repair done on a cracked tooth—and had left his P.A. in charge. Why Alice had failed to rein him in was beyond me; the woman was no pushover. Fate had conspired to let Edward Cullen have free rein over his own fashion choices and he had ended up doing a photo shoot for a major magazine looking hideous. I was annoyed, but unfortunately, there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it now.

He shrugged and flopped down on the couch, giving me his best puppy dog eyes. “You didn’t like it?”

“I’ve been your stylist for five years now. In what world did you think I would approve of that repulsive paisley? Plus, you didn’t even shave. You looked like a goddamn hobo. Or a hippie. I can’t decide which!” I ranted. “Maybe a goddamn hobo hippie! Did you even wash your hair?”

“Calm down, Bella, you’re going to give yourself an aneurism. Then who is going to dress me? I’ll show up at your funeral in an orange plaid leisure suit,” he warned. “You know I will.”

“I will haunt you until your dying day if you ever think of that. Don’t think I won’t turn into a ghost just to fuck with you, Edward,” I warned him, throwing my purse onto the couch and standing in front of him, hands on my hips.

He chuckled and relaxed. “I look forward to it.”

The outer layer – the over-coat if you like – if full of fun and banter. What lies hidden beneath –  the underwear of the story – is UST, longing, insecurity, friendship, and best of all…love and a HEA – but who with?

*Winning banner made by Betti Gehecht*

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9227119/1/ 

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*Review by WiltshireGlo*

Fortune Favours the Bold by capricapra

Fortune Favours the Bold ~ Inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion. At 18, Bella’s respected family prevent her from running away with poor orphan Edward. Years later and their fortunes have reversed. Edward is a rich music producer. Bella is an impovershed writer living with her sister, a single mother. But Edward and Bella’s paths are about to cross again…

Twilight, M, English, Romance & Drama, chapters: 14, words: 67k+, favs: 350, follows: 574, updated: 4/15/13 published: 2/3/13, Bella Edward WiP

Fortune Favours the Bold by capricapra You may have guessed from the British spelling in the title that we have an Englishward! Yaaaay! I love it when authors write what they know – it gives the story so much depth and authenticity – and Capricapra doesn’t disappoint!

We’re introduced to Bella and Rosalie, sisters living with Rosalie’s twin children, sharing the care of the kids, their income and expenses, struggling to make ends meet -Bella taking bar work to supplement their earnings. They’re intelligent and classy…nice girls. The sort who do what’s expected of them and work hard. Their love for each other is clear, but they’re both haunted with regret by Rose’s decision to ‘out’ Bella’s secret relationship with her high school sweetheart.

Rosalie appraised Bella in her thick navy pyjamas, still wrapped in the tartan blanket. Although it was clear from their similar heart-shaped faces and mannerisms that they were sisters, Rosalie had always been described as beautiful, tall, blonde and striking, while Bella was girl-next-door pretty. She had thick dark brown hair and chocolate brown eyes with a wide smile, and under the shapeless clothes she usually wore, Bella possessed a petite, curvaceous body, still perky and tight, words Rosalie would not use to describe her own anymore, having given birth to two children. It didn’t surprise her that the thugs that frequented The Stag gave her money, hoping to get into her pants. But Rosalie knew that no man would ever get in there. Bella’s heart still belonged to her first love. Her first, lost love. The one that got away.

Rosalie swallowed the feelings of guilt and shame that overcame her whenever she thought of the sacrifices Bella had made for their family. Her younger sister’s independence was curbed when she moved into Rosalie’s house to help raise Gemma and George after Rose’s asshole ex-husband Royce King ran off with all the Swan family money, leaving her a single mother. Bella’s hopes of doing a prestigious creative writing course and being a writer full-time were eschewed in favour of getting a steady job and contributing to the now meagre household income.

Most of all, Rosalie reflected, Bella’s first sacrifice had been the biggest. For the reputation of the Swan family, after much persuasion, Bella had sacrificed her heart. But even nearly twelve years later, at the age of thirty, it still belonged to her first love, Edward. Bella hadn’t so much as looked at another man since Rosalie, her mother Renee and her father Charlie, stopped her from travelling around the world with him and they had broken up.

Gradually, through flashbacks, we’re given beautiful glimpses of the younger Bella and Edward, their connection, their love. It’s all perfect, until other people get involved. We learn exactly what Edward went through, how he quickly had to grow up, how he travelled alone but never lost himself, stayed true and followed his heart in doing what he loved. The most striking thing for me is his compassionate heart; he’s a really lovely guy. His friendship with Jasper had me sobbing. I can’t even begin to tell you why! Capricapra handled some difficult moments so well, and in doing so, made me fall even more in love with Edward.

Now, fifteen chapters in and twelve years on, both Edward and Bella have to face their past daily. Edward finally returns to Warwickshire and the connections of their shared past-and future-hit him at every turn. It seems Bella can’t escape the painful memories either, although she has to put on a brave face for the greater good.

Fortune Favours the Bold has great backstory beautifully intertwined with current issues. Our knowledge of the family and friends around them really adds an understanding of the situation; it’s easy to empathise with the characters for the mistakes of the past, hard to condemn them for their misguided interfering. That’s a difficult balance to strike!

When you’re reading this, savour the taste of England that Capricapra gives; Fortune Favours the Bold is set in an area I know well – it’s close to my heart -and I am so pleased that she really does it justice.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8974679/1/Fortune-Favours-the-Bold

http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2964520/capricapra

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The FicSix Picx ~ What We’re Reading

Accidentally in Love by MissusT

Boundaries Undefined by Mylisssa

Changing My Course by twilover76

Compass by SparklingWand

Dancing in the Dark by jaxon22

Deadly Obsession by WitchyVampireGirl

Deviant by Planetblu

Dirty South Drug Wars by Hoodfabulous

Down Home by MrsSpaceCowboy

FanFiction, Sex God, & Single Girls by Bannerday

Fix You by chocaholic123

From Geek To Chic by MrsK81

Glycerine by Livie79

How to Date a Movie Star by Redtini

Infinite Visibility by TheFicChick

Life In The Balance by Mizzdee

Penalty Shot by Edward’s Eternal

Polaroid by RockRaven244

Rm w a Vu by AngelGoddess1981

Slapshot by prettykittyff

Snare by Raum

Stolen by Rochelle Allison

Tailspil by ruinedbyrob

The Agreement by GemGirl65

The Art of Getting Fluffed by ChocolateSparrow

The Cullen Legacy by PattyRose

The Workings of Fate by RosieRathbone

There’s a Word for It by eiluned price

Unexpected by Lolo84

Where Roads Converge by FluffyLiz

*On a side note…if you know us at all, you will know that this list, while it might seem HHP long to some, is nowhere near all the fics we are reading/following!* LOL

Have a lovely week, and please share what’s been tickling your literary Twific fancy!

The FicSix

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Possessiveward – You belong to US!

The dictionary defines possessive as:

1. of or relating to possession or ownership

2. having or showing an excessive desire to possess, control, or dominate   …  ooh, sounds familiar!!

Possessiveness is one of the traits of canon Edward that comes across so well in FanFic.  Most of our Edwards from the “FanFic Hall of Fame” have tended to err on the side of Possessiveness i.e.: Fifty, Domward from TaraSueMe’s trilogy, Beautiful Bastard from The Office, Tattward from Clipped Wings and Inked Armor, Our Mafia Prince from Emancipation Proclamation… the list goes on.  Today we would love to share a few more Possessivewards with you and we would LOVE to hear about your favourites, so please share in the comments below! ~ The FicSix

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Banner made by Mykstich

We have a special guest this week in PlanetBlue, the fabulous author of one of our favourite stories here at Fan Fiction Fridays, Deviant.  For those of you who haven’t read Deviant yet, PlanetBlue shares a rec from her “Archive of Awesome Fic List” with every chapter, so AllyVera decided to stalk.. um, I mean ask her if she would share her favourite Possessivewards with us. In our little chats back and forth, PlanetBlue noted that “It’s a fine line between Possessive and Obsessive.”  We couldn’t agree more, and probably that is where Deviant’s Edward (better known as Manchu) sits – more on the Obsessive side.

PlanetBlue’s Favourite Possessive/Obsessive Edwards

Fridays at Noon by troublefollows1017 
Hide and Drink by Savage7289 
The Elusive Mr. Cullen by Dariachenowith
Osa Bella by Myg

On a personal note, I would like to thank PlanetBlue for single-handedly curing me of my fear of men with mustaches. I seriously owe her one! ~ AllyVera 

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*Review by AllyVera*

The Blessing and The Curse by The Black Arrow

Made by Captivated

The Blessing and the Curse ~ By pretending she is falling for Edward, Bella is fulfilling Esme’s dying wish. But sexy, possessive Edward can read her mind. Will she ever get into his? Can Bella forget the pain of her teenage years, and can she resist his relentless seduction? AH.

Rated: Fiction M – English – Angst/Romance – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 22 – Words: 140,448 - Reviews: 13,861 – Favs: 13,876 – Follows: 7,964 – Updated: 09-10-10 – Published: 05-31-09 - Status: Complete – id: 5100876

Right at this very moment, you are probably wondering why I am reviewing a story that probably most in the fandom have read, but I don’t think we could have a Possessiveward list and NOT include this story. Back when I was a FanFic innocent in 2010, the girls over at Random Acts of Rob were all talking about this WIP story called The Blessing and The Curse. The chatter about it would get so intense, I knew I had to dive in. TB&TC was my third ever WIP story and I was sucked in instantly by the beautiful, sometimes dark, writing of the talented author, The Black Arrow.

The story begins as Bella is travelling back to Forks where her Godmother, Esme, is dying. Bella hasn’t seen Edward since a disastrous New Year’s Eve six years prior (and if I had to live through seeing what Bella had to, I would have avoided him for another six years, if I am honest). Bella is understandably anxious at seeing Edward again, but she has gained perspective in her time away from him, and also a fiancée in Mike (oh, and Edward is not happy about that, let me tell you!)

This dark, deeply possessive Edward will haunt you – his power over Bella is palpable, and it feels like Bella is fighting a losing battle against him. She fights valiantly, but there is no doubt – these two are destined for each other.

Extract from chapter one

“…But fate does not intend an easy path for all. Sometimes, death interferes. Sometimes the world conspires to keep soul mates apart.

But sometimes, the bitterest pill to take is the soul mate that has been there all of your life. The soul mate who wants to consume you, to own you, to drink your strength. The soul mate that is tied to you, and you are shackled to them.

Fate dealt a cruel card to Bella Swan. This was one instance where it may have been better if the souls had never found each other, but, as always, they had been dragged together like black magnets.

On one side of the coin, it was a blessing, because Bella had her soul mate by her side since the moment she first opened her eyes on this world.
But on the flipside, the blessing was her curse: her wicked soul mate could hear her thoughts, read her like a book and use what he wished.

It took her most of her life to realize she was being conquered, and years to escape his tyranny.”

I won’t lie, Edward in TB&TC is hard to love at first, but there is no question he is absolutely mesmerizing from the get go and it is not long before you are totally Team Edward. There is a reason this story is a Twilight Fan Fiction Legend – the story and the characters are completely captivating.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5100876/1/The-Blessing-and-the-Curse

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*Review by Wiltshire Glo*

Last Tango in Forks by AwesomeSauce76

Made by AwesomeSauce76

Last Tango in Forks ~ Bella Swan has spent a lifetime putting everyone else’s needs before her own. Could a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger begin to change all of that? AU/AH

Rated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Angst – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 33 – Words: 189,639 – Reviews: 15,833 – Favs: 8,121 – Follows: 5,558 – Updated: 01-12-13 – Published: 04-23-10 – Status: Complete – id: 5918985

With almost sixteen thousand reviews, I’m not sure that there’s anyone left in the fandom who hasn’t read Last Tango in Forks…so maybe you’d like to reminisce with me…remember the heady days of the sexy, demanding, mystery man, the romance of their neediness or the OH MYYYYYY! moments and blushing every time you saw a slab of butter! I think you know what I mean! *winks*

Or maybe you found fan fic after AwesomeSauce76 completed Last Tango in Forks and haven’t heard too much about it, in which case, I’m jealous. You get to savour it for the first time. Lock your doors, close the curtains, ignore the world and prepare for a treat.

So, how did it all begin? The stunning opening will be stuck in my memory forever… Lovely, warm, sweet people-pleasing Bella works as a nurse in an Ob/Gyn unit; she cares for a demanding Charlie while he’s recuperating from a gun shot wound; she is drifting closer to a self-sacrificing, boring marriage…and generally puts herself last. Her one release is the gym next to Mrs Cope’s dance studio, where she sees an ad for an apartment for rent. Responding to that ad is a catalyst for big changes…you know, life changing changes…mysterious-stranger-life-changing-changes because when she views the apartment, someone is already there. A sad, broken, crying man.

Bella crossed the room and propped herself on the window ledge. “Listen… I’m sure you’d love for me to get the hell out of here. Even if you don’t want the place, it’s obvious that you need some privacy.” He grimaced in response to her words but maintained eye contact. “Are you alright?” After what felt like minutes he shook his head slowly. “It’s just that… I would feel terrible if I left here and didn’t at least try to help.” She tried to smile but it felt odd under his scrutiny. After a long pause she took a deep breath and bit the bullet. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Yes,” he choked out. Although his voice sounded raw to Bella as if he’d been screaming, she wasn’t surprised to hear the musical perfection behind it.

“What can I do?” She didn’t notice that she had stopped breathing until she needed to speak.

He moved then, slowly walking towards her like a wildcat stalking its prey. The closer he got to her, the more she could feel something growing and tingling, as if an electric current was shooting between their bodies. He didn’t stop until he was right in front of her with his arms on each side of the window, effectively caging her in. He even smells beautiful.

He looked deep into her eyes for almost a minute, allowing the electricity to build between them to a breaking point.

“You can let me fuck you,” he whispered.

But my memories of LTiF aren’t just about the hot, steamy lemons with her possessive, beautiful stranger, but the love story, his history, his art, the connections they unknowingly share, his tortured soul, and her quiet, unwavering strength. The depth of their love…and the tears I cried are permanently etched in my mind, too.  Such a beautiful, heart-wrenching story.

Obviously, it’s a fanfiction classic. AwesomeSauce76 is a gifted storyteller who weaves magic with her words, and her gift to us is still available on FF.net three years after it completed – in fact three years next week! If you haven’t yet read all of the classics, pull this up high on your list – and if, like me, you read it as a WIP, now is the perfect time to remind yourself just what all the fuss was about.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5918985/1/Last-Tango-in-Forks

http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1891110/

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*Review by AllyVera*

Breakaway Bella by Hoodfabulous

Breakaway Bella ~ Sparks fly and tempers flare when Memphis bartender Bella Swan meets crime boss Edward Cullen. All she wants to do is run. He’ll chase her to the ends of the Earth. She thinks he’s an arrogant jerk. He thinks she’s hiding something. He’s right. Rated M for ‘streaking Emmett’, Bella’s kooky BFF’s and general ridiculousness. A Dirty South Fanfic. Humor/drama/AH/OOC/Lemons/Language

Twilight – Rated: M – English – Crime/Romance – Chapters: 35 – Words: 190,089 – Reviews: 1799 – Updated: 1-31-13 – Published: 10-10-12 – Bella & Edward – Complete

Just a few weeks ago, our lovely Wiltshire Glo reviewed a fic called “Dirty South Drug Wars” and she and Cared told me I just had to read it … well last week I realised that I had the author’s completed fic Breakaway Bella on my TBR list, and I made a snap decision to read that one first… Can I just say, sometimes my snap decisions are brilliant! *pats self on the back*

From chapter one, I was captivated. I will say with quiet confidence, you won’t have come across a Bella quite like this one before – she is amazing. Strong, resilient and courageous, but strangely fragile at the same time: a true Southern gal if I am not mistaken. She fascinated me from the start and I loved her more and more as the story progressed.

From the first sight of Edward, I found him as fascinating as I did Bella. His possessive nature shows up very early on, and he and Bella share an intense chemistry at their first meeting. He is powerful in this story, not only with his wealth and family connections, but in his persona, as well. Did I mention he is gorgeous? I loved how Hoodfabulous describes his most interesting physical feature as his “vivid Mississippi pine-colored eyes”. It made me long to go to Mississippi and check out these pine trees for myself!

Breakaway Bella is a love story, but it is so much more than that – the rich tapestry that Hoodfabulous weaves is nothing short of amazing. I love the mystery that she sets up from the first chapter that has you wondering what demons in her past Bella is running from. As the story unfolded in front of me, I was literally stuck to my chair reading – I just couldn’t put it down – I believe I said to Hoodfabulous in a review that there was “never a dull moment” but that was an understatement!

It bears mentioning that even though I am an Edward girl through and through, Jasper in this story is EPIC. I would go as far to say he is the best Jasper I have read in FanFic. He is sexy, dangerous, loyal and positively lethal. Emmett is hilarious, fun and his love for Bella is a sight to behold, actually the way they all love Bella is awe-inspiring. These Southern boys captured my heart! *Swoon*

A little glimpse of the story…

“”Why do you keep pushing me away? What the fuck!” he hissed, before letting me go, scowling as he pushed himself from the counter. He grabbed his hair nervously, his eyes darting around the room frantically, avoiding my eyes as tears streamed down my face.

“I can’t be that person, Edward,” I whispered, choking on my own words. “I can’t be that person for you. I’m…damaged goods. Besides, the two of us, we’re like fire and gasoline.”

“You don’t want me,” he said, his voice eerily calm, crossing his arms across his chest. His face was void of emotion as he stared blankly into my troubled eyes.

“Of course I want you,” I whispered, my lip trembling. “I’ve never wanted something so bad.”

He dropped his arms from his chest, the blank look turning into something darker, something more sinister. Edward took two steps, placing his hands on my face, wiping the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. “Then be with me,” he whispered, making me sob harder. I nodded mutely and that’s when Edward Cullen’s lips met mine for the first time.”

I do need to mention that Breakaway Bella deals with some very heavy issues – Bella has had a horrific past that she is still running from and Edward is a Crime Boss. Hoodfabulous deals with these things so well, she gives us just enough information so you can process it in your own head without it becoming a visual onslaught – the perfect balance!

I found myself not wanting Breakaway Bella to end, I will miss these characters so much. But I don’t feel sad, I have Dirty South Drug Wars to read now. Woot!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8597943/1/Breakaway-Bella

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*Review by AllyVera* WIP

You Own Me by BeeCute82

Banner made by Ellen

You Own Me ~ At the roll of the dice, Edward wins what he has been dreaming of for the last two years. A night with his mob boss’s son’s girlfriend, sexy pole dancer Isabella Swan. What will happen in one night full of passion and lust? What dangers will follow after their one wild night?

Follow/FavoriteRated: Fiction M – English – Romance/Crime – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 51 – Words: 202,528 – Reviews: 3,026 – Favs: 1,181 – Follows: 1,743 – Updated: 04-15-13 – Published: 08-06-12 – id: 8400917

Mobwards and possessiveness seem to go hand in hand at times, and none more so than the exciting ride that is “You Own Me”. Originating from a One Shot written by Bee1982, this story was expanded and is co-written by Bee1982 (EPOV) and toocute24 (BPOV).

Edward covets the beautiful Isabella from afar. The reason for the distance? She is the girlfriend of his boss’ son, Alec. Edward’s desire for Isabella is not a secret, and Alec torments him about it relentlessly (which pisses Edward off to no end!). All his “rubbing it in” backfires on Alec spectacularly, though, as when he screws up badly on the job and Edward saves his life, Alec’s father decides to punish him by giving Edward the chance that he has been dreaming of – a night with Isabella – and oh what a night it is!

I know you are probably thinking right at this moment… does Isabella get a say in this? Well, here is a little glimpse from Isabella’s POV after their One Wild Night…

(Extract from chapter 4 on FFn):
“Why did I feel like I left a piece of my soul behind when the car pulled away from the curb? It was just one night. One night of the best sex I’d ever had. Edward Cullen definitely knew how to fuck.

I knew he had a fuck-hot body; I’d been fantasizing about him for two years, after all. Never in my wildest dreams though, did I ever think he could live up to my expectations, and I would gladly admit to being wrong about that. Not only did he live up to every single one of them, he eclipsed them.”

Things start to get really interesting (and complicated for our BxE) from there, and this story has a little bit of everything – drama, action, humour and a really HOT Edward.

You Own Me is a passionate story on so many levels and reading it as a WIP has been such fun. For those of you who read completed fics, this one is very close to the end – the final chapter will be posted on 25 April.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8400917/1/You-Own-Me

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Come. Read. You know you want to…

Captive by Totteacher 
Creature of Habit by EZRocksAngel 
Dark Games & Twisted Minds by katinki 
Eternally Damned by twiXlite 
Fridays at Noon by troublefollows1017 
Grasping Darkness by KiyaRaven 
Hide and Drink by Savage7289 
Midnight Desire by Twilightzoner
Night Must Fall by katinki 
No Ordinary Proposal by twilover76 
Offside by Savage7289 
Ride by kris salvador
Shadowboxer by nobloodnofoul 
Sideline Collision by Nolebucgrl 
Stockholm Syndrome by smmiskimen 
The Diva Diaries by KiyaRaven
Unexpected Circumstances by Savage7289
Work of Art by abstractway
You Found Me by brighteyes87

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Thank you so much for joining us and Possessiveward this week, have a lovely weekend and happy reading! The FicSix

GUEST AUTHOR REVIEW WEEK

Welcome to a special authors’ review week of Fan Fiction Fridays, where today we ~ The FicSix ~ are thrilled to have joining us three talented fan fiction authors who are going to share with you a fic rec of their own!

Please welcome Thimbles, Missus T, and Livie79!

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*Review by Thimbles*

Something True by BelieveItOrNot

Something True ~ With too many secrets and a haunting past she’d love to forget, at seventeen, Bella is sure love doesn’t exist. College dropout Edward Cullen can’t seem to keep hold of love, or his music. A cottage, a lake, a tree, a muse, wrong choices, and heartache. How will these two cope with life and keep afloat? A daily word-prompt WitFit. Alternates between past and present. AH E/B

Rated: Fiction M - English – Angst/Romance – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 20 – Words: 37,557 – Reviews: 1,271 - Favs: 349 – Follows: 597 – Updated: 04-11-13 – Published: 03-15-13 – id: 9103200

Disclaimer: Not only do BelieveItOrNot and I write together on occasion, but she’s also one of my dearest friends—the 10000 miles between us be damned.

As the title implies, Something True is an exploration of truth and falsehood, secrets, rumours, gossip, what things are and what they seem to be. And more than that, it’s the story a young Bella seeking the answer to the question all of us must ask ourselves at some point—who am I? Am I more than the things I’ve done? Am I more than my mistakes and bad choices?

As a little girl, Bella understood secrets. Not the kind learned from others through whispers in ears as she promised not to tell a soul, but the kind that were somehow discovered, that became a true and unwanted part of her—shouts inside her heart that could never be let out. She knew how one secret could grow, stacking itself like a staircase in her mind. And she knew that the longer it went untold, the tighter it had to be locked up, and that if it was released, it would cause devastation and destruction.

Letting a secret like hers out could be like detonating a bomb.

Nobody taught her these things. She just knew. Like knowing if you open your mouth to talk your voice will come out; like knowing if you move one foot in front of the other, you’re walking.

Something True skips back and forward in time, moving between the past and the present with each chapter. Right from the first few chapters, the differences in Bella as we see her “now” and “then” are striking. We see her last winter, as a giggling Junior, holding her own with her friends. This summer, we meet a quiet, withdrawn Senior who is being shunned by almost everyone as taunts fly and rumours abound.

Because of the shift back and forth each chapter, we unravel the mystery of what has happened to change Bella so drastically piece by piece. In the “then” chapters, we watch Bella struggle to come to terms with her mother’s continuing affair. Her English teacher, Mr. Biers, gains her trust with his compliments and kindness, providing a shoulder to cry on and building her sense of self-worth as he ropes her in to grading papers and assisting other students. Vulnerable and somewhat disillusioned, let down by the adults in her life, Bella’s admiration quickly morphs into a crush. Riley—as he allows her to call him—doesn’t discourage her, and it doesn’t take very much before they tumble straight past the line of an acceptable teacher-student relationship.

This can’t end well. And it won’t.

We know from the outset that something will happen to leave present-day Bella a shell of herself, bitter and listless, counting down the days until she can escape from high school. Exactly what it was that’s happened, we can guess, though at this point in the story, we’re not quite sure.

It’s in these present day chapters that we really get to know Edward, too. In his own words, “Some people can be a lot of different things, you know? Maybe that’s why some people have a hard time deciding what to do, because they have a lot of choices. But that’s not me. I’m one thing. A composer. Not a student, not anything else.”

When we meet him, Edward is nursing a broken heart and a dying tree. He’s dropped out of college and is looking for inspiration—for his muse. Through the “now” chapters, we watch Bella and Edward’s friendship grow, their secrets slowly unburdened.

At the time I’m writing this—with eighteen of approximately twenty-five chapters posted—we’re seeing a beautiful, inspiring friendship developing as these two find solace in each other’s company. There’s a peacefulness between them, a sense of trust that allows them to express themselves in each other’s company. As Edward tells Bella early on, “I like your quiet.”

Something True is a witfit (that means BelieveItOrNot gets a prompt each morning, writes her chapter around it and posts the same day), which I think makes the depths this story explores quite remarkable.

I’ll be honest. Personally, I’m generally not interested in reading student-teacher relationships. (Not even, or perhaps especially not, when he’s named Edward.) I’m married to a high school teacher, and I can’t tolerate the romanticizing of these kind of relationships—“age is just a number,” or “it’s different for us.”

But there are some writers I will trust with absolutely any subject, and BelieveItOrNot is one of these writers. There is a grace and sensitivity in the way she approaches difficult subjects that never ceases to amaze me. She has the ability to see beyond the surface of things and to draw out the nuances and complexities that govern the way people interact with each other, and within themselves.

In her writing, we meet characters who are flawed and authentic—real people who make real mistakes. There are no caricatures or melodrama, there is no romanticizing or gratuitous angst—these people and the situations they find themselves in are explored with a deft touch and startling insight.

And of course, I can’t tell you about one of BelieveItOrNot’s stories without mentioning the exquisite craftsmanship that goes into them. The intensity with which she makes you feel, and with such economy of words – it’s steal-your-breath-away stunning. There are a lot of brilliant writers in this fandom, and Believey is among the best of them.

… I’m off to obsessively refresh my email inbox until today’s update lands.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9103200/1/Something-True

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*Review by Missus T*

What If by twihart21

*Made by HeatherDawn*

What If ~ Edward is a successful defense attorney living in LA. He lives a lonely, predictable life. But one day, he wakes up in an unfamiliar house, in an unfamiliar room with Bella laying next to him. Will he ever want to wake up from this dream? AH EPOV

Twilight – Rated: M – English – Drama/Romance – Chapters: 31 – Words: 211,785 – Reviews: 2457 – Updated: 7-17-11 – Published: 1-25-10 – Edward & Bella

*Fic is not “complete” in that the final chapter is up, but the epilogue was never posted.

I rec’d What If  by twihart21 in a recent update of my own fic, and Cared asked if I’d be interested in reviewing it for the blog. I’m all kinds of flattered and nervous, so bear with me.

I found twihart21’s story while reading Firefly in Summer as a work in progress. I’ve always had a thing for time travel and parallel universe stories, and FiS left me wanting more – not because the fic was lacking, it’s clearly not – but because I needed something to read between updates. A search of the Twibrary brought me to What If, and I’m so glad it did.

The summary doesn’t quite do this fic justice, although I’m not sure how to explain it all myself. If you say too much it’s spoilery but if you don’t say enough…You just can’t describe it. I’ll give it my best, though. LOL

Los Angeles based attorney Edward Cullen is driven, career focused and lonely. He misses his family and is sick of his predictable life. One night out with friends and family, he’s introduced to a woman, Bella, who makes him wonder if things could be different. Then he wakes up the next morning and everything has changed. He’s in a strange bed with the woman he just met. There’s a picture of the two of them on the wall and as the background picture on his cell phone. He’s inwardly freaking out but she’s entirely comfortable with him.

He sneaks downstairs to investigate while she’s in the shower. He’s never seen the house before, but his friends are all there acting as if everything is normal. He finds mail on the table addressed to himself – but not the self he knows – it’s for Dr. Edward Cullen. In Seattle.

His first reaction to everything is panic. He tries to go home, to find someone who knows him, the Edward he was before he woke up, but it’s as if he’s been erased.

(Edward)

“Hello, sir. Can I help you?” the doorman greeted me. I really wished I could remember people’s names.

“I just have a quick question,” I said, stepping closer to him.

“Okay.”

I leaned towards him and studied him carefully. Still the same doorman, still the same building. What had changed?

“Do I look familiar?”

The expression on his friendly face changed and his eyebrows gathered together in the center of his forehead.

“I mean, the slightest bit? Do you think that there is the slightest possibility that we have met before?”

I stepped even closer, never breaking our eye contact. I wanted to make sure that he stared at me long enough to know without a doubt the answer to my question.

So, I waited. I could tell that he was taking his time, like the solution to this was not easy.

It was as if he knew how important his answer to my question was.

Suddenly, his faced relaxed, and he sighed.

“I’m sorry, sir. But I’m positive we’ve never met.”

I ran my hand through my hair and groaned slightly under my breath. “Thanks anyway. Sorry to bother you.”

Without waiting for his reply, I stalked out of the building and back to the cab. I told the driver to take me back to LAX International Airport.

I wasn’t sure where else to go. I had nothing. I owned nothing. No job. No home. No identity. No life. And for the first time in a long time, I felt completely alone.

As if she heard my thoughts, my phone buzzed in my pocket. A text.

“Come home to me. – B”

I thought for a moment about if I should respond or not. I felt sorry for her. She was waiting on someone. Someone who wasn’t me.

With no home to go back to, Edward has no choice. He jumps into his life in Seattle despite feeling like a fish out of water. He doesn’t know or do things his friends and Bella expect him to, but he’s able to play most of it off. He starts to get a handle on things and recognizes that he likes being this other Edward. He’d rather be this Edward. He loves Bella, and he’s terrified of waking up to find it all gone. Eventually, he can’t fight his feelings and lets himself hope for a future with her.

But this wouldn’t be twific if things went easily, if they rode off into the sunset. Nope. Edward wakes up one morning and he’s back in his cold, sleek Los Angeles condo. I found myself sobbing as I read how Edward reacted to returning to his former life. It was gut wrenching. I couldn’t even imagine his devastation – to finally accept the second chance he felt he’d been given, only to have the rug pulled out from under him.

From there, Edward has one hell of a climb if he wants to get back the life he briefly knew. He has to start over – again. He has to pull himself up, relocate, and convince a girl who hardly knows him that they are in love with each other. It’s no longer a question of what if for him. It’s about what he knows can be.

While I was rooting for Edward and Bella to get back together, I loved that their reunion wasn’t quick and easy. It wasn’t angst ridden I-want-to-eat-Ben-and-Jerry’s-‘til-I-die, but it was real. Because no one lives in a bubble. Life doesn’t always go as planned, and sometimes people get hurt while others are trying to get happy.

I thought Twihart21 did a great job of weaving the different versions of Edward’s life together. There were twists I never saw coming that I felt in my heart because she set them up so perfectly. Little details she dropped in that came back later to fit perfectly in the puzzle. She created an compelling original character in Blake. I liked him a lot, and then I felt awful for him, even during the point of the fic when I wanted to hate him.

This story has humor, some great lemons, some E/B arguments that made me cringe for them, and sweet bits that made me sigh. Pretty much, it had all the feels.

(Edward)

I tip-toed away, thinking about what I had heard.

One broken heart is better than two.

Was it? Possibly.

But I couldn’t help that little feeling inside of me. The one that felt so elated… so overjoyed to know that she felt something for me whether it be a feeling she wasn’t quite sure about. Still. She felt something. And right now, something was better than nothing.

Plus, she thought I was pretty.

Walking into the kitchen, I could feel myself smiling. Bella Swan liked me. She didn’t say it, but I knew that’s what she meant. She liked me. She thought I was pretty. A fluttering in my stomach gave way to the emptiness it had been feeling for so long, and for the first time in a long time there was a new emotion taking over me.

Hope.

And that’s what this fic was about since the beginning. Hope.

The final chapter was posted in July of 2011, and Twihart21 hasn’t published anything new on FFnet since then. I have no idea what happened in her RL or where she’s at, but I’d love to thank her for her words. While I’d still really like to read the epilogue, What If ends at a satisfying place. If you’ve skipped over this story because it’s not marked complete, you should give it a try. If you love the idea of time travel and parallel lives, you should definitely check it out.

*Made by Rose Arcadia*

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5694977/1/What-If

The Twibrary can be found here:  
http://twibrary.blogspot.com/

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*Review by Livie79*

Adore, Adore by ooza

*Made by ooza*

Adore, Adore ~ Bella is in a bit of a financial pinch. Can one night with Edward solve all her problems? “What do you want to do to me?” she asked. “Everything.” One-shot written for SFFR, now expanded! BxE, AH, Rated MA for dirty citrus

Rated: Fiction M - English – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 6 – Words: 37,973 – Reviews: 1,749 - Favs: 2,857 – Follows: 4,149 - Updated: 10-13-12 – Published: 01-19-11 – id: 6667983

Summary: Bella is in a bit of a financial pinch. Can one night with Edward solve all her problems? “What do you want to do to me?” she asked. “Everything.”

When we meet Bella, we learn she’s a struggling waitress who just can’t seem to make ends meet. She’s in a pitfall of financial woes with no end in sight.

Enter Edward.

He’s recently taken over the financial responsibilities for the building Bella lives in. This translates to collecting the rent. He sets out to track down Bella, one of his most delinquent residents, but things take an interesting turn when he offers her an alternate solution to clear her debt.

“Look, I don’t want to evict you, okay?”

“So don’t.”

He ran his hand down his face and sighed again. His eyes scanned my apartment, finally settling on the large stack of mail on the table. “Bills?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Ooh, feisty. I like it.”

I scoffed loudly.

“Bella—”

“Miss Swan,” I corrected through my teeth.

“Miss Swan.” Edward smirked. “Would you be open to coming to an . . . alternate agreement?”

“Like what, a payment plan? It’s not necessary. I’ll give you the money when I get it. I promise.”

“No, not like a payment plan.”

No, not like a payment plan. Edward has something a little more…physical in mind.  When he shares his idea, Bella immediately rejects his offer. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, Bella’s mediocre paycheck won’t cover her rent and she realizes she’s out of options. After a tense phone conversation with Edward, Bella agrees to his terms: sex for rent.

When she shows up at his apartment, Edward takes complete control. At first she’s hesitant, but Edward’s confidence and cocky attitude quickly break her resolve.

I whimpered in frustration as he removed his fingers. He dragged them higher, grazing the sensitive skin between my cheeks. I inhaled sharply as he applied more pressure and began caressing the area.

“What are you doing?” I choked out.

“You know what I’m doing,” Edward teased, applying more pressure. “Are you going to tell me no again?”

“No.”

Never has a sweeter word been spoken. Because when Bella lets go, the readers are swept away by a tidal wave of lust and left in a puddle of goo. But contrary to what Ooza says, this story isn’t just about smut. She’s created two very complex characters who will send you on an emotional rollercoaster.

Bella struggles to come to terms with what she did but can’t deny how much it helped her financial situation. When rent comes due the following month, Edward offers her the same deal. And even though Bella has the money to cover it, she finds herself accepting. Thus begins their arrangement and subsequently where things get tricky.

Edward is a conundrum. In a relationship that’s supposed to be based purely on sex, he blurs the line time and time again. And his hot and cold behavior leaves Bella’s head spinning.

“You should stay.” His voice was authoritative and didn’t leave much room for argument. I really wasn’t in the mood.

“Look, Edward,” I said sternly. “I’m a big girl, okay? I understand the nature of our . . . arrangement. We’re adults. It’s just sex.” I glanced around the room for my clothes before remembering they were in the entryway. I didn’t want to look for my underwear; he could add them to his collection. “I don’t need to spend the night or cuddle with you to be okay with that.” I turned toward the door, but his next words stopped me in my tracks.

“Maybe I do.”

I looked at him, trying to figure out if he was just trying to manipulate me to get his way, but I could see nothing other than sincerity in his eyes.

“It would make me feel better if you spent the night. Please,” he added quietly.

Apparently my inability to deny him extended beyond sex, because I found myself walking back to the bed.

“Okay,” I agreed. “I’ll stay.”

And then you think, oh wow, he has feelings for her. It makes you smile and feel all warm and fuzzy. That is, until he does something like this:

As I reached the sixth floor, I heard Edward’s low murmuring. I smiled, glad he was home and that I’d get to see him. My excitement came to an abrupt end when his voice was followed by a feminine laugh. I turned the corner, coming face to face with Edward and a very tall, very beautiful woman with silver blonde hair.

I froze. Edward’s eyes widened as he looked at me with an expression that could only be described as panic.

“Hello,” the woman said pleasantly. She smiled, showing off unnaturally white teeth. Her voice seemed to pull Edward from his trance.

“Miss Swan,” he said formally. “What a surprise to see you. Is there a problem with your apartment?”

His words slammed into me with the force of a freight train. I stood there, holding his Tupperware to my chest like an idiot, shocked and unable to come up with a proper response.

So this was how I rated. He could fuck me, he could call me his friend, but the minute he had a hot date, I was nothing but a tenant.

“No,” I answered dumbly.

“Excellent.” Edward wrapped his fingers around the woman’s arm and gently tugged her toward the elevators. “Have a nice evening,” he called over his shoulder.

Ouch. Jerk. Or is he?

Edward has a story. That much is obvious. But since we’re experiencing Bella’s POV, we’re left guessing. It’s one of the many things that make this story so addictive. One minute he’s abrasive and blunt. The next he’s sweet and caring. There’s one thing about him that never changes though: he’s hot as fuck in the bedroom.

The lemons? Oh, my God, the lemons. Hats off to Ooza for some of the hottest sex scenes ever written. But is that enough to make up for his bullshit? I’ve found myself on more than one occasion screaming, “What is his deal?!” And better yet, will Bella bother sticking around to find out? Will he give her a choice?

Edward pressed me against the wall, pinning me with his hands and his body. “You agreed to be mine, remember? Mine.”

Oh…my.

As the story develops and the layers are peeled away you can’t help but fall in love with both characters. When they laugh, you’ll laugh. And when they hurt…so will you. Adore, Adore is an excellent story that is well written and contains all the pieces to make for one hell of an exciting journey. If you’re not already reading Adore, Adore, you’re only cheating yourself. Go! Now!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6667983/1/Adore-Adore

Visit ooza’s blog for stories, author’s notes, updates, teasers, banners, downloads, etc.: www.gardenofsin.net.

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A quick reminder that the voting in the fabulicious TwiHEA Contest closes 13th April.  With 34 one-shots to choose from, you are sure to find a favourite.

TwiHEA Contest
http://www.fanfiction.net/u/4523690/

Blog twiHEAcontest.blogspot.com

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We’d like to plug the daring Let’s Do Anal Anonymous TwiFic Contest.  Sorry – we couldn’t resist!

Blog 
http://letsdoanal.blogspot.ie/

The back door will remain unlocked and open for entries until April 19, 2013 (midnight CST).

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We would like to say a special Thank You to our lovely guests, Thimbles, Missus T, and Livie79; it was a real honour to have them accept our invitations to review for us, and we are so excited about the stories they have shared! Thank you, ladies!

Have a lovely week!
The FicSix

Ballsy Bella!

Welcome to Ballsy Bella! on Fan Fiction Fridays as The FicSix review for you some stories that we feel portray a strong, confident, intelligent and “Ballsy Bella.” One who can hold her own, kick some ass, has overcome some of life’s harsh realities, and who, we also feel, deserves some serious respect!

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*Review by Midnight Cougar*

Kimberley Diamond by Gingerandgreen

*Made by Cared*

Kimberley Diamond ~ Historical fiction, but not what you expect. In Kimberley, a diamond mining town in the Northern Cape, South Africa, 1872, a frontier bride meets her very certain destiny. An award winner in the Mine to Mark contest 2013, this is PossessiveWard my style.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 2 – Words: 11,504 – Reviews: 200 - Favs: 142 – Follows: 224 – Updated: 03-24-13 – Published: 01-31-13 – id: 8965166

My rec today, Kimberley Diamond, is very near and dear to me as it is written by one of our very own FicSix, the lovely Gingerandgreen, who also penned the historical fic Plight Thee My Troth – our 2012 Rob Attack Golden Onion Award winner.

Kimberley Diamond is a winner on so many levels, not only is it a superb historical read, but also a four-time award winner in the 2013 Mine To Mark Contest: Public Vote Honorable Mention, 3^rd Place Judges Vote, Most Original Judges Vote and Judges Pick Soapy Mayhem.

The attention to detail in the characters and setting is one of the aspects that set this story apart for me. It fills my mind with such vivid imagery; it’s like I can see the landscape, the characters’ actions and can even reach out to touch them. The story is set in South Africa in the 1870′s and portrays not only the Cullen clan of father Carlisle, and sons, Emmett, Jasper and a gentle, caring, dominant Edward, but also a strong and resilient English Bella who survives some of life’s worst realities of her time, as she tells Mr. Carlisle Cullen, her “sponsor,” on her way to his home…

I am not a big talker. Any of my acquaintances back in England will tell you how I keep my own counsel, and they would be most surprised at the running barrage I subject my sponsor to on the hour long cart ride to his farm house.

I tell him about the disparate group of women who answered his advertisement for frontier wives back in the English spring. How Mr Felix selected the successful applicants based on their looks alone, and he assures me kindly this admission does not make me vain.

I tell him about how the five of us, Lauren Mallory, Jessica Stanley, Angela Webber, Beth Morecomb and myself, made friends and prepared ourselves for the journey to Africa together. How Mr Felix encouraged us, and helped us, and how deeply we came to trust the man with our very lives.

I tell him how nervous and excited we all were as we boarded ship, and how well Mr Felix ensured we were settled into our little cabin. I describe our anxiety when he left to oversee the stowing of our treasured belongings below decks, and did not return. I explain our speculation as to whether he jumped ship with our possessions or whether he was jumped upon himself, never able to return. And how shocked we were when the ship left port, leaving us on board with nothing but the few clothes we’d brought in as cabin baggage.

Mr Cullen looks sorrowful when I tell him that was only the beginning of our troubles. We were robbed twice, leaving us with so little money for food we were forced to beg for work and kindness. The officer we reported our loss to played us for the innocent fools we were, and Beth and Angela were the first of us to find ourselves horribly compromised. Mr Cullen looks stricken at this, but I do not stop there.

I tell him how quick the other passengers were to shun us all, given our reputation due to the rumours surrounding Miss Morecomb and Miss Webber. Then I tell him how fast they were to change their minds when the dysentery struck, and willing nurses were required.

Mr Cullen looks positively sick when I tell of little Jessica Stanley succumbing to the illness so very quickly, and how callous the sailors were when they tossed her remains overboard. How Angela gave up hope after that, and all the light left her soul. She was the next to follow Miss Stanley, and the three of us remaining made a pact to fight together to survive, no matter what.

As you can already discern, Bella is courageous, a survivor, and now as she embarks on her new life in a foreign country, she hopes to become betrothed to one of the Cullen men; one who can provide her with a better life. When she meets Edward, the passion and intense emotions are immediately present between them; Possessiveward says, “‘She’s mine.’” and Carlisle says, “Such a slip of a girl, but so bold. They are well suited.”  For me, she is a fantastic Bella; so strong and very representative of the times, and being able to portray a woman this way is a forte of Gingerandgreen’s.

To our great reading pleasure, the story has now been continued and delves deeper into the lives of this interesting Cullen family. In chapter two we see Edward and Bella together, with marital life starting to move forward for them, as Jasper so teasingly shares…

Jasper

At first I think Pa’s agitation has to do with the way Edward and Bella behaved all night.

They reluctantly join us at the table. My brother acts gentleman-like and pulls a chair out for his wife, who sits down upon it very gingerly. I catch his eye and wink at him, watching for the flush in his cheeks before he hides them behind his large hand. I am not disappointed.

“How are you this morning, Ma’am? Sleep well?”

Bella flushes scarlet. “I am most refreshed, Mr Jasper. Thank you for asking. I trust you rested well also?”

I have to admire the girl; it’s clear she will take no nonsense from the rabble. My brother is one hell of a lucky man.

“Oh no, I can’t say I did. Something kept me up all night, it was too hard to sleep,” I tease.

Em and Riley burst into laughter, but Pa actually cuffs me around the back of my head.

We also see the emergence of some OOC characters, like Alice who, “…is relatively light-skinned, of mixed blood – part Hottentot, part Xhosa, part who knows quite what – and could almost pass for Chinese, if it weren’t for her African-black hair, which she plaits into tight, elaborate patterns every now and then.”  Oh, and I like Carlisle, too, he is definitely in a class of his own with his “stiff prick” and “dirty old man” thoughts. lol  Don’t forget this is an M Rated fic, ladies. *wink*

Kimberley Diamond is told from multiple POVs, in both chapters, bringing forth lots of pertinent information about the unusual storyline, eclectic mix of characters and the fascinating times in which we experience the story.  As well, IMHO, Gingerandgreen is also ballsy for her unique portrayal of some of the characters and the original plotline… I admire this in an author, and have thoroughly enjoyed reading every word of this tale and look forward to more! ❤

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8965166/1/Kimberley-Diamond

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*Joint Review between Cared and AllyVera*

The Cullen Legacy by pattyrose

*Made by Cared*

The Cullen Legacy ~ Legacy – A gift; sometimes unknowingly bestowed. Bella met Edward in a London pub, never imagining where each would be 7 years later: he a Congressman fueled by ever-growing political ambition, she the woman with an explosive secret that can end all his dreams. But Bella might soon find that revenge isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and that Edward may harbor his own dark secrets.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Hurt/Comfort – Bella & Edward – Chapters: 9 – Words: 42,328 – Reviews: 2,097 - Favs: 927 – Follows: 1,424 – Updated: 04-02-13 – Published: 03-04-13 – id: 9069478

Ally Vera ~ I swooped on the first chapter of “The Cullen Legacy” when I saw the new story alert in my email (and I may or may not have nicked away from my desk and read it on work time) – and halfway through that intriguing chapter, I just knew that pattyrose had another story that was going to capture my heart and soul.

Cared ~ That’s just disgraceful behaviour! I’ve never done anything like that no matter how beloved the author or story. *wink*

The Cullen Legacy is the perfect example of why so many of us love reading stories as works-in-progress.  Each chapter is like a jigsaw piece, a small but vital part of the puzzle that will eventually reveal the complete picture. There is something about reading a story a chapter at a time that makes your emotions run high and you just burn for that next piece of the puzzle.  Nothing like a bit of delayed gratification!

It’s impossible not to be enthralled by Bella and intrigued by the back-story straight from the opening chapter.  She appears strong but not aggressive, feisty yet feminine, incredibly intelligent and determined.  She also doesn’t mind showing us her more vulnerable side and you know immediately that there is more to this stunning woman than meets the eye; underneath, in her truth of truths, there is another story.  Bella is an excellent example of the oxymoron that is a modern woman and we would be proud to call her a friend. She’s not perfect, but that makes her all the more perfect, if you know what I mean! There is no surprise there, though, as pattyrose’s Bellas have to be some of the best we’ve had the pleasure of reading.

Seeing Edward through Bella’s eyes (even when you know not all is right as they obviously have a heavy past) is still a treat (from Chapter One)… “He’s let his hair grow longer; the reddish brown mane explodes in various unruly directions. His green eyes are as hypnotizing as ever; even from here they stand out like two glowing emeralds. He rests his weight casually over one hip; his tall frame still lean, still exuding power and confidence. His self-assurance hasn’t diminished one iota. I can tell by that cocky grin of his that he seems to have only grown cockier. He still has that rich, deep laugh that automatically raises the spirits of everyone within hearing range. Bloody handsome as ever, he is – more so if I must be honest. Thirty-one suits him brilliantly.”

When we meet Congressman Cullen, there is no denying he is pretty darn impressive, but it’s Sergeant Edward Anthony Cullen from seven years earlier who made us fall in love with him right along side Bella. He is protective, charming, a gentleman and completely delicious. Edward has some pretty remarkable powers of persuasion! We could tell you about them, but that would be a spoiler alert. *winks* Congressman Cullen is on course for the Senate and then the White House. It seems that Edward is fulfilling his duty to “The Cullen Legacy” which he explains to Bella when they first meet (From Chapter Four):

“So your dad is a politician, then?”

He nods. “And his dad before him, and his dad before him, etcetera, etcetera. It’s the Cullen Legacy.”

“The Cullen Legacy? So you’re a politician too?”

“Not yet.”

“But you will be.”

Again, he nods. “My tour of duty will be over in six months. Then I return to New York and attend law school, take the Bar, practice law for a year or so, then my dad will retire, and I’ll run for his seat in Congress and then…”

“And then…?” I prompt with a grin, because his plans amuse me. He’s quite confident of them, and they are so bloody exact. I can barely decide what color knickers to wear from one day to the next – and some days whether to wear them at all.

“And then…we’ll see,” he answers, much more vaguely than before. He reaches out and wraps a few strands of my hair round his finger, watching his own actions as he twirls the hair round and round.”

Between us we have read more WIPs than we can shake a stick at, but there have only been a handful that evoked extremely strong emotions while reading them – and The Cullen Legacy is one of them.

Once chapter 8 posted there was some interesting dissection of The Cullen Legacy going on between Ireland (Cared) and Australia (AllyVera). We agreed on quite a few things: Mike seems slimy and we are wondering what the hell Bella is doing there, the flashbacks work amazingly well, and Bella is brilliantly written. While her motives with Edward in the present day are concerning, we can see where she is coming from, we understand her bitterness and feel her pain.

The one thing we didn’t agree on was Edward. Oh, young Sergeant Cullen, what have you done?

Ally ~ What is really concerning me at this stage (after reading chapter 8 and 9) is that he just used her and I don’t want to believe that. He took her most precious gift – surely that had to mean something to him?

I truly believe he fell in love with her as much as she did with him. So why? Why didn’t he move Heaven and Earth to find her – was The Cullen Legacy so vital that it was of more importance than her? Was he pulling a “New Moon”? I also can’t understand why he chose to drop a bombshell on Bella when he did – why not tell her upfront? I commend him for being honest (eventually), but *knock knock on Edward’s head* Is there anyone in there? Bloody hell.  All that being said, though, I trust pattyrose like no other author – her ability to deliver the “goods” is unquestioned in my eyes.

Cared ~ I’m with Ally insofar as I also believe Edward fell in love with Bella. The essential difference is, while Ally wants to believe the best of Edward, I already do. I empathise with him as much as I do with Bella, even though she appears to be the wronged party. IMHO he was genuine in his promise to Bella but he allowed his circumstances and not his heart to dictate his actions. I just cannot believe him to be deliberately cruel or careless – a little foolish and defeatist maybe, and I suspect, or is that hope, that he finally came to his senses, albeit too late.

These brilliantly written characters make me so passionate I want to lock them in a room and stand guard outside until their issues are resolved. Then again, I’d be denying myself the torturous pleasure of Pattyrose weaving her magic as she slowly teases out their lives, so I’ll just have to be patient.

Don’t worry, we won’t fall out over it – we may in fact be making bets on who is nearer the mark. Now that this couple is face to face once more, we are on tenterhooks as we witness the truth slowly emerge.

Ally ~ He better have a REALLY good excuse LOL…and I am sure he will, pattyrose has never let me down! Of course these are all theories and notions and Cared and I have a fabulous time discussing this fic. I can’t remember itching for updates on a story so badly since MOTU, F@N and UoEM!

The Cullen Legacy – it’s quite possible Sergeant Cullen both viewed it as a curse and cursed it; with the unexpected return of Bella in his life, will it become a welcome blessing for Congressman Cullen?

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9069478/1/The-Cullen-Legacy

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*Reviews by Wiltshire Glo*

Where Roads Converge by FluffyLiz

*Made by Cared*

Where Roads Converge ~ Where Roads Converge » A homeless boy, hitch-hiking in the snow, a woman on her own, running from an abusive relationship. Is she crazy to stop, or are their paths destined to cross? Can this mismatched pair find succour and salvation together, or will their pasts intrude and drive them apart?

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance/Hurt/Comfort – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 5 – Words: 21,882 – Reviews: 447 - Favs: 279 – Follows: 489 – Updated: 03-30-13 – Published: 03-02-13 – id: 9061275 WiP

Oh heck! I’m so nervous writing this! Why? Because it means so much to me. I want to rave about how well FluffyLiz depicts not only my home country, but also my neck of the woods! Where Roads Converge is set in a village not too far from where I live, it may be fictional, but it’s very real to me – as are Bella and Edward.

From the first chapter I wanted to call Bella and tell her how proud I am that she had enough feist and backbone to gather her wits and all her belongings and walk away from an abusive relationship. She must have been subconsciously biding her time because she protected her independence, and she has a ready-made bolthole to run to. So, on a dark night, in the freezing winter -despite haste being of the essence-she makes her cool, calm escape. The girl has balls!

Depositing everything by the front door, she went to the double garage below the house, and drove her pride and joy onto the road, parking out front. It was the first big thing she’d bought with the money she’d earned from her illustrations and the book advance, and she was doubly pleased with it because she had defied Jake to buy it—he had insisted she didn’t need a car, that he could drive her where she needed to go or she could get cabs. But she had stuck to her guns and bought the behemoth of a vehicle. Not for her, the cachet of expensive and impractical sports cars—no, she had set her heart on the Land Rover Sport, and she loved its size and how safe it made her feel.

And now, she loved how it had got her away from that house. She had no doubt that Jake was capable of putting her in hospital—if not worse—and she had every intention of getting as far from him as possible.

So, here she was, sitting in a motorway service station at one o’clock in the morning, with a sore body, a nicely developing black eye and what felt like all her worldly possessions packed into the back of her car, heading for a house which she wasn’t even sure she’d be able to heat.

She sighed and rubbed her forehead, wincing when her fingers drifted over the swelling under her eye and across her cheek. Taking another mouthful of the rapidly cooling coffee, she glanced up for a moment as a young man entered her peripheral vision. He seemed to be going from occupied table to occupied table, speaking briefly to whoever was sitting there.

Despite her pain and underlying tiredness, Bella’s interest was immediately piqued, as she watched the boy speak softly to each person, then meekly accept their obvious rejection with a polite nod and a ‘thank you’ before moving on to the next one. There were slim pickings at this time of night, and he was quickly running out of options. She found herself fascinated by the mini soap opera playing out before her, knowing she needed to move before he got to her, but seemingly incapable of doing anything but wait for the inevitable.

If you’re wondering if that polite young man is Edward, the answer is yes! Here again we see Bella’s bravery – and her kindness – because despite living through violence and fear herself, she is compelled to help Edward.

We’re not yet privy to what has happened to cause Edward to be in such an unfortunate predicament, but suffice it to say that it’s quite obvious already that he’s a beautiful soul…his quiet gratitude melts my heart and his gentle nature shines through. There’s quite an age gap between them – ten years – Edward is still nineteen, yet has a solemnity and wiseness beyond his years. An old soul, if you will. As much as I think Bella sees an opportunity to help him, and is driven by something he ignites deep in her to take it, I have a strong feeling that he could help her just as much!

I may as well admit it, I don’t always immediately warm to Bellas. They can sometimes frustrate me…but not this one. She doesn’t let a difficult situation compromise who she is. She’s strong, intelligent and wonderfully kind-hearted, and consciously never patronising. I may have a slight girl-crush! It’s easy to see why Edward could fall for her (I’ve got my fingers crossed!), and why the way their life experiences have shaped them means so much more than their age difference.

I want you all to read it NOW…to join in the joy and fear of reading a WiP – we’re only 5 chapters in. For those of you who say that you’re worried that updates will slow or stop, rest assured that Where Roads Converge will update every Saturday- FluffyLiz has pre-written prior to posting. It’s become a regular date for me.

There are many varieties of Brit, but if you want a real flavour of British life, read this…oh, and I haven’t even begun to tell you what a joy it is to read Liz’s beautiful writing!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9061275/1/Where-Roads-Converge

http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1981806/FluffyLiz

http://www.fluffyliz.com

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Deviant by planetblue

*Made by Mkystich*

Deviant ~ He pissed me off and then he turned me on. Spectacularly.

Rated: Fiction M - English – Romance – Edward & Bella – Chapters: 10 – Words: 37,369 – Reviews: 2,129 - Favs: 1,015 – Follows: 1,791 – Updated: 04-04-13 – Published: 03-04-13 – id: 9069505

When I found out that the writer of Barefoot in Texas was posting a new story, I was excited…I knew it would be good…and I was not disappointed! Planetblue really shows her writing diversity, because this Bella is very different. She truly earns her Ballsy Bella title – in fact, I think it’s an honour she’d wear with pride!  

Leading something of a double life, Isabella is a professor by day and a wild, sexy and mouthy bartender at her brother Emmett’s bar on a Friday night. She shows no fear and faces down the rowdy crowd with style, wit and a certain charm!

“Who wants another mother fucking shot!” I raise the bottle of whiskey over my head, high above the sweaty and raucous crowd below me. My black boots scuff the top of the copper covered bar, leaving thick rubbery streaks behind.

I lean over and empty the contents of my bottle into open mouths, not bothering to lift it between pours, making a sloshy line across my patron’s cheeks.

I slap the big guy on the end across the top of his head and tell him to move the fuck on, an order which he smartly obeys. The crowd loves it.

“Iz! Iz! Iz!” They chant over the loud music, trying to get my attention and the free liquor I have possession of. One guy gets handsy, so I flatten that hand with my foot and move on back down the bar.

Emmett reaches out to help me down and I jump to the floor. “Jesus Iz, you really worked them up tonight!” My brother wraps his arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze. He tosses me a big grin and returns to his post at the end of the bar, protecting Angie and I from the crowd.

Angie hands me a shot and we clink, downing the whiskey to more shouting from the crowd that loves us. We know how to put on a show here at The Steel Horse. The tips are phenomenal.

Also doesn’t hurt that we’re practically naked. The few parts that are covered are encased in black leather.

The subject she teaches also gives off the impression of a woman in charge of her own destiny, comfortable with her sexuality and in control at all times. But she meets her match. Oh boy, does she meet her match. Yep. Oh yeah. Phew! And maybe a WOW as well! Heart-stoppingly infuriating, highly irritating but seriously HOT. Honestly, he really is an Edward to behold..and I would definitely love to behold him.

“You don’t like men behind you?” His mouth has moved closer to the top of my head and for a brief moment I think he’s about to kiss my hair.

“Not you.” My hand betrays me by twitching, which gives the appearance I’ve squeezed him. I swear it was a twitch.

“I think you liked it just fine last week.” His voice lowers and I feel his hand ghost over my hip. “Tell me, did you ever get to touch yourself? I know I interrupted you.” His breath is hot on my scalp and I can’t help it when I feel myself nodding.

He moans and places his lips on my hair. “I wish I could’ve seen that. I bet you have the prettiest little pussy.” My knees threaten to buckle and I squeeze, causing him to push himself against my hand.

Against my better judgment and despite my dislike for this man, I let out a lust filled moan. “Did you..?” I trail off breathlessly, and his cock twitches in my palm.

“Oh yeah. I thought of fucking you in a car. I came very, very hard.”

Their banter, wit and attraction is fierce and smouldering. He quickly recognises what she’s hiding, what she wants – and needs. He knows how to turn her on, and how to satisfy her darkest fantasies and cravings….and he doesn’t disappoint. But maybe he’s not quite who he appears to be either.

Both have preconceptions about the other…and it’s fun to watch them trying to maintain an emotional distance.  All the while the readers from their vantage point can see that resistance is futile. There’s certainly more to both of them than meets the eye and despite the hot sex and superficial banter there’s so much we have yet to discover.

There’s probably a bit of Isabella in all of us…who wouldn’t want the chance to break out from our sensible lives and walk on the wild side from time to time? Is Manchu her perfect match? I think so, he’s delicious and such a memorable Edward. I think I may love Manchu!

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9069505/1/Deviant

http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1886305/planetblue

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Random list of Ballsy Bella fics:

A Pound of Flesh by jaxon22

Bella Voce by Morgan Locklear

Diapers, diplomas, and deadbeat dads by mathisson

Edward Cullen, Dick for Hire by FictionFreak95

Girl with a Red Umbrella by Spanglemaker

Hot Commodity by blueeyedcherry

Indecent Proposal by pattyrose

O’ Holy Christmas by CaraNo

Sexy Silk by jlho

Sideline Collision by Nolebucgrl

The Education of Professor Cullen by sheviking

This Is Who I Am by pattyrose

Until I Saw You by reyes139

We Could Run by CaraNo

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So, now that we’ve brought you Ballsy Bella, with bells on, please bring us yours!

The FicSix