One Shot of the Week: 2/13/12

A Lifetime in 10 Weeks by AgoodWITCH

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6214199/1/A_Lifetime_in_10_Weeks

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Angst
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: Formerly the fat kids at camp, Bella & Edward return having shed the extra weigh & are ready for what the summer holds. Will the pressure of new-found popularity be too much for them to take, or will love win out? Written for Camp Twilight Contest

New Fic of the Week: 2/13/12

The Veil by Belladonnacullen

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7784269/1/The_Veil

Review by Obsmama and FictionFreak95

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Hurt/Comfort
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: You always have the choice between life and death... until you don't. There is poetry at the beginning and end of our journey, but it's what you make of the interim that counts. BxE, rated M, canon parings.

So few words, so many emotions, this woman. Example numero uno...

 ~ excerpt from chapter 1 ~ 

Nighttime, in Edward's arms, his breath in my hair. "You are my life now," he whispers. 

I wrap my limbs tighter. I don't want space between us. I need his hands to make me come alive. I need him to light these dark times I have away. 

"I'll love you forever," he breathes as he rolls a nipple between rough finger pads. 

There is no forever. Not for me. 

"No forever tonight," I insist. 

He sighs. 

"Just now," I request climbing astride. There's no lingerie tonight. I want skin on skin, slipping against satin sheets. Men in this position don't often argue. Edward is no different. His hands grip my hips, pressing our bodies together where it counts. Forward, up, down, we both groan as he fits inside. 

 I slide; he pumps. I press thighs, he grabs my ass. 

"Come here," he demands. 

I fall forward and his lips catch mine. He sets the pace. His biceps flex as he rocks me forward. Faster, harder… I sweat, I tingle. He tugs my hair; I arch my back. 

His lips close over my breast. 

Eternity is just a kiss away. 

JO: Mama, goosebumps.

MAMA: Right?

JO: I love that she’s doing a vamp fic.

MAMA: This isn’t vamp.

JO: Um. Yes it is.

MAMA: What makes you think that?

JO:W ell, how about we just visit chapter 2, then, shall we?

 "Do you pray?" 

"Not in some time," Edward answers. I seek solace against his chest. Fresh air wafts through the window and I snuggle in. His chin rests atop my head. "My father did, though. He was a man of great faith… Do you?" 

 "I prayed today, with a patient." Edward's arms clutch tighter. I wriggle against him, reveling in the feel of his bare skin against mine. His long legs reach past my feet and his pale skin glimmers against brown satin. 

His mouth slides to my ear. "I would pray for you." 

"But you already have me." 

Edward chuckles. "Perhaps, but not in the way I'd prefer. Let me rephrase. I would pray with you – if you needed it." 

"I wouldn't know where to start." 

His hands slip through my arms until he's hugging my breasts. 

 "Pater noster, qui es in caelis," he whispers in my ear. My body trembles. 

"What's that?" 

"The way to start - The Lord's Prayer." 

"Do you know more?" 

His lips slip to my neck. "Sanctificetur nomen tuum," he hums, murmuring his way to my collarbone. 

I sigh. Thighs press together. 

"Adveniat regnum tuum." 

I roll to my side; a knee parts my legs. Hands clasp breasts; fingers find nipples. His mouth is occupied with my earlobe and the only sound is the scuttle of dry leaves against the downspouts. 

"Thy will be done?" I prompt, hoping for more. 

His breath baths my shoulder. 

"Sicut in caelo et in terra." The words ripple and roll over my skin. Edward presses my body against his and holds my top leg folded against my chest. He plunges and rocks, filling me completely. I'm lost in the lull of his voice and the rhythm of his cock. 

"Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, 

et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. 

Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, 

sed libera nos a malo. 

Amen." 

MAMA: Ok, maybe it's vamp.

JO: It’s totally vamp. OK, so tell me why you love this fic so much.

MAMA: I love it because even with dealing with something as hard as death Belladonnacullen breathes such life in to this story. I don’t feel like its a story about dying, I feel like its a story about living. The erotic nature of these characters has me in a tailspin, as well. What drew you in Jo?

JO: What draws me into any BDC fic? There is just something about the way she writes a story that makes it feel like poetry. And the mystery... she’s always pulling me in by not telling me a whole hell of a lot at first. Like Bella’s scars... ya know? And not to mention the ridiculous sexiness of these two is just... NNNNF. And the little tid bit hints of the secrecy behind him.

~ from chapter 3 ~ 

"But if I were you, I'd be talking about my hot new boyfriend instead of all the people dropping dead around me." 

"His hands weren't hot," Vivienne states. 

MAMA: Did you see how playful she made them in that last update? There is just such a great balance. She never lets you get caught up in the sadness that is Bella’s job. I can’t wait to see where shes taking this. Do you think we could get her to spill some secrets?

 ~ from Chapter 4 ~ 

I jumped across the couch in Edward's direction, spinning as I went. 

"Dude, have some fun!" 

"I do have fun." 

"Listening to jazz? Please." I resumed shouting along with Joe Elliot. 

Pour some sugar on me 

Ooh, in the name of love 

In the space of a breath Edward was standing in front of me on the couch, his hands planted against the wall on either side of my head. I stopped shouting, and moving and breathing, even as my body flashed to attention and came alive. 

"Don't tell me how I feel. I do have fun," he rumbled. 

JO: I KNOW! I could totally see Bella in my head jumping around like a maniac and Edward being all bored to death. So classic *coughs* vampire *coughs* … LOL but regarding her secrets... I’m gonna have to say, highly doubtful mama... unfortunately... you know how she likes to make us squirm.

MAMA: FINE. I guess I will just have to keep reading and I can’t wait to see if this is really a vamp and where she's taking us. I love it each and every chapter is more beautiful then the one before it. Thanks for reading with me Jo.

JO: You are so welcome mama... and I completely agree with you on this... with every chapter I open, it’s more and more sensual, more and more interesting and there are definitely more and more secrets to be revealed... and for the record, I am also in complete agreement with you about this fic being more about life... and how Bella is so torn because she truly loves this man, wants to spend eternity with him (because he’s a vamp) but really wants to keep her humanity... especially as we watch her watching patients hold on to hope, even as they die all around her.

~ from chapter 4 ~ 

I open the door and I'm bathed in candlelight. I smell roasting meat in the kitchen. 

I get it. 

"Hard day at the office?" he asks, sending shivers down my spine. 

This is my life. 

He greets with a kiss, and large, gentle hands slip around my waist. 

It is what it is. 

"I love you," I murmur. The words fall from my lips like they've been waiting my whole life to be spoken. 

 I still want to keep it. 

We can’t say enough about how beautifully told this story is. I have never seen the topics of love and death so well intermingled and it leaves you thinking when the chapter is over. The sensuality is breathtaking and relationships are so well developed. We would love for you to join in reading and discussing this story with us.

Completed Fic of the Week: 2/13/12

The Stench Wars by BookishQua

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7146068/1/The_Stench_Wars

Review by AnonymouslySufferingFromOCD

Rating: M
Genre: Humor/Romance
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: Edward returns from Italy to find Jacob Black has become Bella's BFF and is interfering with their relationship. Jacob Black is never going to know what has hit him. AU Eclipse Satire. ExB

This week’s completed fic of the week will have you laughing from beginning to end. Dubbed Romance/Humor it is the complete Eclipse Satire and it is completely funny.

The story is told by our favorite vampire Edward Cullen. We begin in Italy, and this Edward is a little out of character from how we normally expect him to be. In this version of Eclipse he lets us into not only his mind but the minds of those around him to give us a new perspective from our favorite characters.

Determined to put Jacob Black in his place, while still being the loving and supportive boyfriend/fiancé that Bella needs him to be, Edward garners help from the most unexpected parties, including Marcus and Aro from the Volturi, and even Gus and Douglas his friendly neighborhood gopher and squirrel.

Edward along with his family and friends decide to torture the wolves— in a totally non-violent and humorous way—practically from the minute they return from Italy. Edward convinces a few of them that not only is he a vampire that drinks animal blood but also a devil worshiper that sacrifices the animals that he kills. Thus beginning a beautiful friendship with the small rodents and wildlife in the area.

Perhaps I said a fervent prayer or two to the Dark Lord and wiped blood on my cheeks in the shape of runes in a grossing out grudge fest. My noise startled a gopher–I think it was– to pop out of his hole and do the animal equivalent of pointing at me and shrieking. He was on the edge of the wolves's hearing ability. 

I mouthed to him, "I'm totally faking this. Work with me and there's a bag of tulip bulbs in it for you." He blinked at me, grinned, and held up two claws. "Fine. Two it is." We fist bumped. Then, putting a paw to his forehead, he promptly let out a pathetic sounding wail, fake fainted and slid right back down to his underground tunnel. The pack thought I killed him with my knife-like breath of doom and flick of my fist. Aided by the snapping of a few twigs on my part. I let out a malevolent laugh right as a clap of thunder boomed. Am I awesome or what? 

"Thank you, Dark Master for my new familiar!" I cried waving a bloody fist towards the sky. "Our souls are bound together for eternity! Mwa-hah-hah!" How DID the hollywood actors do that laugh and not completely crack up? I could hear the ground hog cheeping with guffaws down below and stomped on the earth just hard enough to tell him to keep it down without bringing his roof crashing on his head. He was ruining my performance. And I had to bite my cheek to keep from laughing thanks to him. He chortled harder. Fortunately that sounded like animals squealing, so the wolves thought I was killing more of them with my mighty feet of Doom. 

This parody has so much humor I can’t even begin to cover it. I know that once you’ve read it you will be ROTFLYAO, much like I was. Seriously the looks I got from my kids while reading this story were a little worrisome. If you are in the mood for a laugh and some out of character humor from our favorite Edward Cullen, and some much needed torture for the toddler (aka Jacob Black) give this one a whirl. BookishQua does a good job and keeping it light.

WIP of the Week: 2/13/12

Fox Fire by WoodLily

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5661822/1/Fox_Fire

Review by Honorella

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Supernatural
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: "Bella Swan had become beautiful to me. The pain of that realization stung worse than venom ever could." Nominated for an Eternity Award: Edward's Twilight, but not Midnight Sun. AU detours/missing moments. The slow burn begins with the flight to Alaska.

Are you a canon lover who wishes that that Twilight was, well, better? Are you kind of annoyed at how Edward is sidelined as the saga progresses? Then Fox Fire by Woodlily is for you. The Edward of Midnight Sun is redrawn and a bright light is shone on every detail of the early days of his bloodlust turned ardent love for Bella, as all of the key chapters of the first Twilight story are faithfully retold.

 Edward’s fascination with Bella bewilders him. His life is turned upside down and we’re reminded that despite a century of existence, there is so much of regular experience that is plain confusing. “I was the seventeen year old boy whose body I still inhabited, and I had no idea what to say next”. There are moments of loveliness where the reader aches for this lost boy “I sat in the flickering darkness, hugging my long limbs to myself — gangly, scarecrow limbs that never did fill out. Scarecrow's limbs and spider's fingers: who would welcome their touch?”.

It is not only desire which is new to him, but more simple emotions such as loneliness. He suddenly realises what his life is missing. Yet all of these new, overwhelming feelings raise dark questions which Edward struggles to contain.

But for me, normality existed on the surface only. Carlisle was right that I had experienced a great change. For want of a better metaphor, I felt like a cheap snow globe that had been shaken up and thrown across the room. I had been lucky to land right side up, but the pieces on the inside were not falling back into place. 

I would have been all right. I could have kept up the façade, had Bella not rapidly wormed her way under my skin. To put it bluntly, my battle against her was lost before it had even begun.

Woodlily’s skill is in effectively slowing down the action of Twilight and forcing the reader to focus on Edward and his terrible situation, without the distraction of Bella’s voice:

For I had fallen in love with my natural prey. Alone, in the dark, there could be no more denial. I had loved her for weeks. I loved her . . . despite the basest instincts of my nature. Though it appalled the cynic in me, I felt there must be some truth to the notion of love at first sight. 

How else had I found the strength to leave her alive that first day? 

Something had changed in me that moment we met. I had been irrevocably altered, and fighting it ever since. I'd believed that pride and curiosity had drawn me back from Alaska, but it was her allure that tipped the balance. Her eyes, her voice had never left me, nor had they since.

 His anxiety about Bella’s safety and need for control, so often parodied, is borne out of experience. His memories, particularly of Rosalie’s changing by Carlisle are foregrounded to illustrate this and also to remind the reader that he truly sees himself as The Monster, beyond redemption.

Bella is also given a depth and detail missing in canon. She is fascinating to him - starting with her scent and her unwitting refusal to give up her thoughts, through her fearlessness and intelligence. She is a worthy mate.

She was… intriguing. Her responses to my questions had been cautious – that wasn't surprising, given my behaviour last week. But their measured thoughtfulness revealed a maturity beyond her years that I had not expected. I had never come across another seventeen year old like her in all my years. 

And, she was perceptive, too. She had pointed out some of the little markers that made me different, which no other human here had ever done. Without a doubt, she would have noticed them in the others, too. For instance, had she seen that we never seemed to eat? What else had she picked up on? No wonder she made Rosalie uncomfortable.

 As the story progresses, the tension grows as Edward gradually overcomes his fears.

 Softer, sweeter-tasting than I'd dreamed, her lips were twin pillows of flame against mine. I was prepared for that. It was bearable—it was more than bearable—it was good. I was prepared for the rising blood haze. I knew how to keep myself in check. 

But I was not prepared for her response. She gasped wildly and her fingers were in my hair again, twining, pulling, knotting themselves in. Had I been human, it might have hurt a little. She clutched me to her; her breasts pressed and moved against my chest. I found myself grasping the collar of her shirt; my knuckles rasped her collarbone. 

With a soft moan her lips parted, and I breathed in the scent of chocolate and flowers and blood.”

Life is about to intrude on the two lovers, as this story is 26 chapters in. If your fancy is for (not quite) AU, go back to basics and spend some time with Edward again. Fox Fire will not disappoint.

One Shot of the Week: 2/6/12

Unexpected Explanations by SammieLynnsMom

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6403046/1/Unexpected_Explanations

Rating: M
Genre: Angst/Hurt/Comfort
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: Bella was forced out of LA when she was 12. Now back nearly a decade later helping her uncle make sense of clerical issues in his office, Bella meets someone who catches her attention. What happens when the reason she left comes back to haunt her?

New Fic of the Week: 2/6/12

Crash & Burn by TwiStarJunkie

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7642507/1/Crash_Burn

Review by Dragonfly336

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Angst
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: When Bella Swan moves to Forks and runs into the Cullens, she finally feels like she's home, but the absence of one proves to trouble her. Edward, now the black sheep of the family, lives life plagued by drug addiction. Could Bella be his saving grace?

I am a sucker for a good story about addiction. So when I read the summary to Crash & Burn by TwiStarJunkie, I had to give it a go. At six chapters in, I haven’t regretted it since.

We first meet Bella when she is about to leave her and Charlie’s home in Lake Arthur, Louisiana to go back to Forks, where they lived until she was thirteen. Bella and Alice were best friends growing up and she was close to the rest of the Cullen’s as well. She recently reconnected with Alice via Facebook and she decided she needed a fresh start, because of the demons of her past, she decides Forks is the place to go. Bella notices that Alice never speaks of Edward and wonders what happened to him. She confronts Alice about it many times, but she gives Bella no answers. When she finally gets to Forks, she is reunited with all the Cullen’s, except for Edward. She overhears Emmett on the phone and learns what has become of Edward.

When the line went dead, I pocketed my phone and turned back to see Emmett talking heatedly into his phone. I had hid around the side of the house so I was out of his sight. 

"I told you, don't you dare fucking show up here! Do you really want her friend to see that? Christ, Edward, you can't even manage to button your damn clothes correctly, much less walk in a straight fucking line. Do you really think that I'm going to tell you to get in a car, knowing you're fucking high as a kite right now? Mark my words; if I see you pull up, I'm calling the fucking cops." With that, Emmett ended the call and slid the phone into his back pocket. 

My stomach plummeted. Was I strong enough to do this? Edward was a drug addict. That thought made me uneasy, but in the end, I decided that there was no way I could live in the same city as him and not go by to at least say hi. I needed to see him for myself. 

I quietly walked up beside Emmett. "You still aren't ready to feed me?" I asked as my stomach gurgled. 

"Almost. I take it that you overheard some of that?" he asked with a sigh. 

"Some, but it's all right. It's not my business. Do you have any advice for me since I'm staying with Alice and Jasper until the house is done?" 

"You'll need pillows to sleep on, and then an extra to smother your face with." 

Bella does find out about Edward’s past through Emmett later that night. She gets upset by the attitude that Emmett has that his brother has always been completely in the wrong and wants to get the other side of the story. She decides to pay Edward a visit earlier than she intended to.

"I'm sorry, but…who the hell are you?" he asked hoarsely. Even with the hoarseness, his voice was still velvet smooth as it washed over me. This was not fucking good for me. Having such a strong reaction to someone I'd always thought of as a brother…yet, I was feeling everything but sisterly right now. 

"You don't recognize me?" I asked him softly. 

He took a step back, his eyes raking over me. After a moment, he scratched at his head and took a drag off of his cigarette. "Am I supposed to know you or something?" 

"Well I would hope so," I answered, placing my hands on my hips and arching a brow at him. 

"I'm drawing a blank, doll. I think you've got the wrong guy." With that he turned and began to head back inside the house. 

"You didn't say goodbye to me when I left fifteen years ago, Edward Cullen, so I'll be damned if I let you turn me away now without so much as a fucking hello," I barked. 

I watched as he stopped and whipped around suddenly, eyes narrowed as he puffed at his cigarette. He seemed to be trying to think back, which didn't take long because seconds later, his eyes widened and the cigarette fell to the ground beside him. 

"Bella?" 

I really like this Bella. She is a little hardened by her past, but she has learned to be upfront with people and has a take-no-bullshit attitude. This story also has the dynamic of Edward’s family wanting absolutely nothing to do with him, which is a nice twist from the supportive Cullen clan that we are used to. TwiStarJunkie seamlessly weaves some humor into the heavy also. I can’t wait to find out how this story plays out! So, come and join me! You won’t regret it!

Completed Fic of the Week: 2/6/12

Speaking in Code by mamabean

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7399839/1/Speaking_in_Code

Review by AnonymouslySufferingFromOCD

Rating: M
Genre: Romance/Humor
Characters: Edward & Bella

Summary: Edward Cullen's trash is his neighbors' torture, and now his house is in violation of Chapter 36 of the Seattle Municipal Code. When Inspector Swan shows up to issue a citation, sparks will fly! ExB, AH

Imagine if you will a spoiled rich kid that has no need to actually hold down a job so he fills his spare time with torturing his neighbors and suing the city for miscellaneous wrongs he feels they have committed against him. That explains our fair Edward in this week’s completed fic.

Edward has recently lost his father and gained a whole lot of money. He has decided to sit back and relax with his friend and roommate Jasper, while redecorating their uppity neighborhood with other people’s trash. In comes Bella Swan, Seattle’s newest building inspector to force Mr. Cullen to clean up his act and boy does that pay off big.

Our illustrious Bella, who struggled to find a job as an architect after college, is offered a building inspector position from a friend of her family, Jacob Black. No worries there, I promise, he really is just a family friend that has Bella’s best interest at heart. Being in a career dominated by men Bella has to take a lot of crap. This includes being handed off the job of inspecting Edward Cullen’s home, when the other inspector’s know that he will be nothing but difficult. Fortunately, our Bella takes it all in stride and stands her ground where Mr. Cullen is concerned.

"Well, we can't put it inside, it might have bedbugs and germs and shit, right? And no one could see it in the backyard, so it has to be in the front. Don't look at me, I didn't make up the rules." He paused to consider. "Well, maybe I did make up the rules, but I might have been slightly inebriated at the time so… there you go." He smiled and nodded at me like that explanation made perfect sense, and I should turn around and leave him to his craziness. 

I cleared my throat and tried to regain my sense of reality. "Actually, Mr. Cullen, having all this garbage in your front yard is a violation of the City's municipal code. Section 21, Chapter 36 prohibits the accumulation of solid waste like this. I'm afraid you'll have to clean it up." I said matter-of-factly. 

"Well of course, then. Your wish is my command," he said, sarcasm hanging heavily from his words. "Um… no. Sorry, but I can't do that, Inspector. It would pretty much break Jasper's heart. Plus we'll just go find more tomorrow, so what's the point?" He shrugged and looked at me innocently. 

"This may come as a shock to you, Mr. Cullen, but the City of Seattle doesn't care about Jasper's heart, or the rules of your silly game." I smiled smugly. Damn it, when did I get smug? I hated smugness - it reminded me of the senior inspectors that I was so happy to be free of. Stupid, handsome Edward Cullen was flustering me and bringing out my smug side. I had to put a stop to this. 

Edward learns that it may be time to grow up when he finds himself flustered by Inspector Swan. Now this version of Edward is a cocky one, but not without reason. His dad has recently died and he wasn’t much of a dad to Edward, who has had to practically raise himself. To top it all off, his father left behind a harpy of a fiancée that thinks that it would be a good idea to tell Edward that she is pregnant with his father’s child 3 months after he passed away. All of this drama has Edward acting much like a child and Inspector Swan is just what he needs to force him to grow up.

When I finally stopped talking, Emmett looked perplexed. "So what have you done to fix it?" he asked. 

"Fix it? What do you mean?" 

"Well, if you really like this girl, can't you take back your appeal and clean up the shit in your front yard? And those other clients… you convinced them to appeal, now can't you convince them to drop their cases?" Emmett stated simply. 

I felt foolish as I thought about his suggestion - it seemed so obvious. However, despite how much I wanted Bella to like me, my whole being rebelled at the thought of just rolling over and giving in to my pushy neighbors and the city court. Also, I had a duty to the people I had signed up as my clients – I had to represent their cases to the best of my ability. 

"I don't know if it's that simple, Em," I said. "But maybe there's something I can do…" 

Speaking in Code gives us an Edward that we don’t see very often, a fun loving, irresponsible guy that quickly realizes that there may be more important things in life than screwing around. If you need a well written, funny, and short story, this one will really make your day. I hope you will give it a try!