Team Anything Goes: First Person, Present by AccioBourbon

The Team Anything Goes Pick is...

Title: First Person, Present
Author: AccioBourbon
Chapters: 12
Words: 55,211
Reviews: 265
Summary: Peter and Bella prepare to leave for college, but the most important lessons about life aren't taught in a classroom. A story about getting out from under the expectations of others and learning to rescue *yourself.* An FGB story for Team Peterella.

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Teal - These characters originated in AccioBourbon’s collection of prompts from The Twilight Twenty-Five, titled Jumping into the Deep End. You can find the development of Peter and Bella’s relationship in chapters 7-10, 12, 14-15, 17, and 21.

Peter was so easy to fall in love with that a group of us banded together in Fandom Gives Back: Eclipse to bid for more. The result was First Person Present, which is now complete.

If you’d like to enjoy even more of this sweet Peter, AccioBourbon didn’t stop there. Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful is a fun Christmas side-shot from the Who’s Under Your Tree? Contest. The Past, Discounted gives a glimpse of Peter’s first run in with Bella’s ex. Last but not least, Chelsea Morning is a glimpse at the story behind Peter’s graduation gift to Bella.

Now, let’s talk about why we love this story so much!

First of all, it should be obvious: Peter. I just love him. I love that AccioBourbon imagines him with the same pretty face and gorgeous blue eyes that I do because, really, it’s hard not to fall for that kind of hottness! Add in a confident, creative, fun personality, and he’s a dreamboat. Yeah, I said dreamboat. Read this fic and try to tell me otherwise! What’s so special about Peter is the way being with Bella brings out the best parts of him, making him even better than he was before they met.

The last year had been the best one of my life. When I got back to Forks after sophomore year, I found a bartending job that paid well enough to feed me and keep a roof over my head. It left me plenty of time to write, and I even got back into surfing again. The idea for a story came to me one day while I was driving out to La Push with Jasper. I almost killed myself in the surf, distracted by images and pieces of dialogue. I rushed back to my apartment, opened my laptop, and the words poured out of me. It was a heady rush, like hitting an oil pocket, your whole body suddenly dripping with that elusive stuff you're always terrified you'll never find again.

I wrote for eight hours straight. The output of a well-fed soul, Bella said.

Bella. Somehow, having her in my life now, and they way I feel about her - it's all become tied up in the writing and the direction in which my life seems to be turning. She hated being called my muse, and truthfully, that's not what she's been for me. She's more like my touchstone, a counterweight for my tendency to sink too far into my own head. And when I get a little lost, she's Polaris.

While these two have a very sweet, romantic relationship developing, it’s not all cutesie rainbows and puppy dogs. Like any good Peter, he has an irresistible magnetism.

Peter and I exchange a long look when I get up to leave. When he tilts his head down slightly and gives me that focused, intense stare, with just the barest hint of a dirty smile, it goes straight to that area just south of my lower belly. I want to cross my legs and squeeze my thighs together in an effort to contain all of that attraction I still feel for him. It's every bit as strong as the night I met him, the night I handed him the shards of my heart and said "Here, make me feel again."

I feel you there, Bella!

Of course, let’s not forget that this boy has a naughty side. (Prepare to get a little hot here!)

Bella's face colors, but she leans down for a soft kiss, leaving her fingers against my lips. "I love you, and every single thing that comes out of that mouth of yours, you ridiculous, romantic fool."

"Yeah? What about this," I ask, pulling her forward on her knees as I slide down until my head is between them. I hold her hips in place as she leans on the headboard for balance.

"Oh, god, that too," she says, all breathy sighs as I trail my lips across the inside of her thigh.

I recall the mirror on the headboard. "Can you see yourself right now, baby?"
"Yes."

"I'm jealous. Watch for both of us, then."

/ded

You and I both know we would be helpless against that kind of dirty, sexy charm, so we can’t really blame Bella for falling in love with this one, now can we?

Of course, no story is without obstacles (at least not a good story), and as head-over-heels as Peter and Bella are in love, their easygoing relationship is faced with changes. Namely, Peter’s one year sabbatical from college ends just as Bella prepares to embark on her brand new college career. Though they won’t be struggling through a cross-continental long distance torture, Chicago to Philadelphia isn’t much better, a fact that becomes quite evident immediately. Ups and downs occur, both in their schools lives and their relationships, but I love that they always realize when they’re building walls between each other and take the opportunity to remember how much they love on another. And when it really matters, the desperation and need in their intimate moments reveals their hearts.

I have him now, exactly where I needed him: between my thighs, under me, surrounding me. I bear down on him, my weight on my knees, and we go on from there – moving faster, gasping breaths, little cries into each other's mouths: curses, pleas, declarations of love.

Every single word of this fic is gorgeous. Filled with love, progress, growing up and finding their own, and falling even more in love, this is a story for the romantics out there. If you’ve never read a Peter/Bella story, I promise you that this is the perfect place to start.

Guest Reviewer Kassiah - If you know me at all, you know that I pretty much only ever ship EdwardxBella. But there’s something about this Peter that gets me hot and bothered in a way that I never expected to. He makes me swoon. A lot.

I was pretty much hooked from the first moment that I discovered him in AccioBourbon’s
Twilight Twenty-Five, where Peter meets Bella at a party and they get. it. on. First Person, Present picks up at Bella’s graduation, where he’s thinking about the questions her mom might ask him:

Is it serious?

Oh, yes. Very.

Are you having sex with my daughter?

Affirmative. Mind-blowing, life-changing, all-consuming…sex with your daughter.

Will you break her heart like Edward Cullen did?

I'd sooner die.

Yep, that’s right, ladies. Kass--wussperv extraordinaire--read and loved a fic in which Edward broke Bella’s heart.

Peter is so grown-up while still being vulnerable. Bella is his perfect match, and I love the way they compliment each other. They have issues, but they work through them (or get around them) together:

Peter leans on the bar with an elbow and crooks his finger at me, as if to pull me in and share a secret. Into my ear he says, "What time does Charlie leave in the morning for his shift?"

His low tone makes me shiver, and I close my eyes. "About quarter to seven," I answer. I really want to grab his hair and yank his mouth to mine but half the bar is probably watching us.

"Leave the front door unlocked," he says, and all I can do is nod now, because I'm not breathing anymore.

He presses his lips to my ear again. "Goodnight."

It's just one word, but it Peter says it like it means other things, too. I want you. And I'll show you how much.

Gah. I just can’t explain what it is exactly about these two. I just love them. This story is complete, and amazing. And I hope you’ll read it right away.

Jen - I’d never really thought about pairing Bella and Peter until I read AccioBourbon’s Twilight 25 entry about Bella meeting Peter at a party. She wrote several Twi 25 entries about this Peter and Bella, a few one-shots, and then for a team of FGB: Eclipse bidders she wrote more of their future in First Person, Present.

This Peter might just be my very favorite fic guy ever. I’m swooning just reminiscing about reading First Person, Present. He’s handsome, romantic, excellent with the parents, and so, so sweet with words. As they say about Mary Poppins- he’s practically perfect in every way. I have a feeling this post will break all records for the number of occurrences of the word swoon and its derivatives, all because of Peter.

One of the things I love most about AccioBourbon’s writing is that her characters are real. Real people in realistic situations. (This is me begrudgingly admitting that Peter might actually have a flaw or two.) Bella’s mature, if not yet truly a grown-up, as you’d expect for a college freshman. She’s bright, responsible, and introspective enough to learn from her past yet not enough to become a neurotic mess. Some girls with an older boyfriend might cede some or all decision making to the boy. Bella does not, and I think that having an older boyfriend suits her personality. It’s a very equal relationship, although of course they have some struggles. Instead of being hemmed in by having a long-distance boyfriend, I think it elevates Bella. She seems more driven to get the most out of her college experience. She’s not hiding away until they can be together again and she’s not necessarily following the path Peter might suggest she take. She’s just out there and giving it her all, opening herself up to new experiences and even perhaps failure.

Together, they’re just adorable. Peter is awed by her in many ways and his adoration is clear. They have wonderful banter, and Peter really does say the most beautiful, sweet things. After her awful break up with Edward, Peter’s been a real boost to her confidence, and I love that this Bella owns her developing sexuality.

"I'm a lucky girl, you know." I grind against him, holding onto his shoulders.

"Why's that?"

"Because my boyfriend likes me on top."

One side of his mouth curves up. "No, your boyfriend loves you on top," he says. "As well as underneath, up against the wall, and bent over the back of the sofa, and…Jesus, Bella, that feels incredible. Please, before you kill me…"

I lift up slightly and reach for him, taking his hardness into my hand to guide him inside. His hands settle again on my hips and he lowers me down onto him slowly. "God, you feel good," he groans, and I do the same.

"You mention religion a lot during sex."

"That's because I'm so close to heaven when you're on top of me like this," he shoots back, still a fast draw with the words. "Plus, my hands are free to do this." He works one of my nipples between his fingers. "And this…" he adds, as he uses his other hand to pull my head down, so he can bury his tongue in my mouth.

"Now move," he whispers, and I do. As I work faster over him, I feel myself take an early lead. The sensations, the pressure against my clit as I come back down on him pushes me to want more, always more. But when I look back for Peter, to find where he is, I slow my pace.

He smiles, his eyes half closed. "I'm praying right now, as a matter of fact."

"About what?" I manage to ask, before giving way to a low moan from the intense sensation.

"About how unbelievably sexy you look up there. And how much I love you."

Aside from the fact that Bella and Edward never had sex, this is not what sex between Edward and Bella would have been like. I think Peter showed Bella the possibility of who she could be, and I don’t just mean that sexually. His utter faith in her helps her take flight.

Here’s a gorgeous exchange from the same chapter.

"Why pearls? I mean, I love them, and I wish I didn't ever have to take them off, but I am curious."

Peter rests his warm palm against my throat. "I think they're classic, and understated, and I thought they would look perfect around this gorgeous neck."

I thank him again with another kiss.

"And I think it's fascinating," he continues, "the way that pearls are made: hidden away, forming slowly over time, until someone opens the shell and there it is, beautiful and completely unique."

I work my arms under his shoulders and hold him to me tightly, my throat suddenly too closed to speak.

How will I ever make it, being apart from this man who has the heart and soul of a poet, and the mouth and hands of a magician?

Every word AccioBourbon writes is wonderful--if you haven’t read her Emmett/Rosalie story, Inconceivable, you really need to. First Person, Present is so special, because, imo, she owns this pairing. There’s so much gorgeousness and richness to this story, I really hope you’ll give it a read.

Jess - I am officially in love with Peterella. Like epic, swoony, sweep me off my feet in love with Peterella. Before I started First Person, Present, I read through all the Twilight Twenty-Five entries (see exact chapters above) that pertained to Peter and Bella. I’m glad I did, although they aren’t necessary to understanding or reading this story. They provide just enough back story to seriously hook you, and that made reading First Person, Present all the more amazing... which then led to me devouring EVERYTHING AccioBourbon had written about them. I think my love in this epically long intro is pretty clear. So, why? Why the love for these two?!

First, Bella. At eighteen, she is just on the heels of a crappy break up with Edward and is slowly trying to figure out how to be herself. It’s rough and ends... or should I say begins with a chance run-in with Peter. One thing leads to another and they hook up at a party. And I say it begins with Peter, because it’s not just some random hook up. It’s SO much more. The scene where that all goes down pretty much sealed the deal for me.

Together, these two work through Bella’s heartbreak, become dear friends, lovers, and learn to navigate through the choppy waters of past baggage and a long distance relationship. It sounds angsty, but it really wasn’t. It was real, and AccioBourbon doesn’t minimize the very real challenges that a first year college student and an older boyfriend, also away at college, have to face. This level of reality and depth was absolutely perfect and really made this story zing for me.

Bella is mature, a trait I don’t often feel comes across in most stories. When things finally come to a head, I love that Bella chooses the difficult but right path for her... and that means the right path for them.

Second, Peter, as Jen mentioned is practically perfect in every way. Not literally, of course, but he is just so, so good. He’s sexy as hell - black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a cute little chin dimple. Seriously, I’m swooning all over again.

Peter is an only child, just like Bella, and is burdened by the heavy weight of parental expectations. Stuck in a major he hates, trapped in the snare of his father’s control, and desperately seeking a way to be himself and the writer he really wants to be, he loses himself in Bella. He throws himself into loving her, and in doing so, finds himself. That journey doesn’t come without cost, as he - they - stumble along the way, but it’s in the day to day that their love flourishes.

At one point, after a very heavy first semester apart and rough couple of interactions - both with Bella and his father - Peter makes the long trek from Philly to Chicago and surprises Bella. That moment - the entire weekend, really - left me breathless. Full of revelations that are often left unstated with distance, they spill everything that has come between them. It’s so cathartic, and you can literally feel the distance between them closing.

Straightening, I shrug out of my coat and toss it on the bed. Before I take the other chair next to her, I lean in very close, until I can see my reflection in her brown eyes. "I just really, really need to do something first," I whisper.

"You'd better," she answers. There's a smile at one corner of her mouth, so that's where I begin. I kiss her there, and then move to the other corner, and then trap her bottom lip before sliding into home. She had orange spice tea while I was gone. It's a fascinating contradiction, kissing her: thrilling and always new, yet still as familiar as the house you grew up in.

I’m squealing inside just thinking about that scene. And of course, with all that swoon, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give you just a taste - a teeny tiny taste - of them loving each other. It’s fun and hot and intense and perfect. It’s just... them!

And then I groan out loud because there are... No. Panties. Underneath. "All day, like this?" I ask, my voice cracking.

"Yep. You're out walking around the city, and I'm sitting here waiting, commando."

I shake my head at the unbearable sadness. So much wasted time.

Better make up for it.

Pulling her to a sitting position, I order: "Off with that," and she lifts her tee shirt over her head with exaggerated slowness, and there, underneath - fuck yes - is that strapless satin bra. "God," I breathe, "I love your little sentimental streak."

I caress the satin cups with my fingers, drag my thumbs along the band, making her squirm. "Well, are you going to, or should I – "

"Shush." I open the front clasp and the satin falls away, leaving ivory satin-skin underneath. "Oh, hello, girls. I've missed you so. Come to Peter."

Trust me girls, when I say there is plenty more where that came from. If you aren’t sure about Peterella, promise me you’ll read this. If you aren’t swooning by the end... well, I have no doubt you will. I mean... seriously, aren’t you already?

And to AccioBourbon, sweet girl, what is it going to take to get just a wee look at these two in the future? I’m like an addict for these two, and I’m desperate for another fix. Love. Love. Love.

Chele - I admit it freely: I’m a bit of a slut for Peter. While other girls swoon for Jasper and his emotive-soldier characterization, deep down, I know, that without Peter taking a stand against Maria’s practice with the newborns to save his love and forcing Jasper to look deeper into what he had become, the Jasper we all know and love would not exist. Further, without Peter coming back to pull him from the army and show him the promise of a new life, Jasper wouldn’t have allowed himself to exist at all. Peter is a hero.

I must also admit, however, that before I read AccioBourbon’s original Jumping into the Deep End, which introduced me to Peter as this smooth, forthright, dirty talking, red-hot piece of man, I had never really considered him much at all. That’s right, this Peter is the one that launched my love for Peters everywhere. He’s that good.

What I find brilliant, is that the things that I have come to love about Peter in canon, are all here in this AU world. He is loyal but selfish enough to break from the pressure of his peers when he feels something is important. He’s not afraid to do what he feels is right, especially when it comes to the girl that he loves.

First Person, Present captures that time of life at the precipice of adulthood and responsibility when anything is possible, but that possibility is all so overwhelming that it’s hard to see what a carefree time it should have been until you’re through it. It explores the idea of finding “the one” before really knowing any others, and the difficulty of keeping that faith in the face of separation and adversity.

It’s so very real, and the characters are only made more perfect by their flaws and willingness to keep finding their ways to each other, despite them. Reading this fic is like hearing a love story about your hot best friend and her amazingly sexy husband. You feel intimately close to them, and invested in what happens to them. If you love a good romance, which is as heavy on the erotic romance as it is on the plot, you need to be reading this now.

Team Angst: Echoes of Love by Pavarti

Team Angst is a constantly changing team, depending on who can handle the angst levels of the Team Angst pick. Only the bravest (or craziest) Pervs tackle the tears and pain to bring you the best angst and heartfail that fan fic has to offer. Non-canon pairings? No problem. Cheating and Break-ups? No sweat. Character death? Bring it! It’s all in a days work for Team Angst. So if you think you’re tough enough put on your big girl pants, take a seat and join us for the Team Angst Pick.

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The Team Angst Pick is...

Title: Echoes of Love
Author: Pavarti
Chapters: 9
Words: 31,534
Reviews: 132
Summary: J/B The Morning After...AH

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Jess - It has taken a long time for me to find a special place in my heart for Jacob. It’s not that I didn’t like him in Twilight. I did. In fact, he was actually the perfect opposite to Edward and with that comes lots of really warm, special characteristics. With that said, however, I still find myself shying away from most Bella/Jacob stories. There’s really no good reason for it, so, when Jen mentioned this story, I decided it was time to give something new a try. I’m so glad I did.

Echoes of Love is uniquely written, in that it’s in second person present tense. I can’t say I’ve read many, and this perspective made me feel like I was deeply inside Bella’s mind. It was like I was with her as she was walking around living through the very sad and messed up situation in which she finds herself.

To be honest, it’s hard to say a lot about this story without giving it away. In short, Bella lives with one man (someone whom we’ll leave unnamed at this point, because I was somewhat shocked when it finally came out. I liked that about it.) and is having an affair with Jacob. It sounds simple right? Except it’s not, because there is A LOT of history between Bella and Jacob... and from chapter one, you will be DYING to know what it is.

I won’t comment on whether Edward is or is not and what role he may or may not play in this story, but suffice it to say, it will leave you questioning and wondering how our pasts can really shape and define who we are and how we behave.

I mentioned above how intense it was being in Bella’s mind. Here’s just a little excerpt to give you a taste:

I breathe you in, the smell in your small room filled with last night's passion. I know as surely as my heart beats that I should go, but I don't know if I can take it. How then do I expect this to end? I don't know if I can mask my feelings enough from you...from him...from myself.

Here you are, open and alive, the past forgotten or washed away with the landslide of time and I am sliced in half. I should tell you all of the things I have done since we last spoke. I should tell you of the life I've led, but when you asked last night, I merely smiled and told you truths that did not convey the whole story. I never lied to you. I never will.

Always there was a shadow across my heart that was shaped like you. Always there was a voice in the back of my mind calling to me that sounded like you.

This first look comes right at the beginning of chapter one and immediately sets the tone for how this story will go. You can hear and feel the anguish in her thoughts as she struggles with whatever heavy burden she bears. It’s heart breaking to watch Bella navigate through some very self-deprecating thoughts. Over and over we hear her refer to her just having to live with her choices, to bear the consequences of some event that literally has defined her entire life and the nature of every relationship she has. The full story is just now beginning to come out, and it’s truly heartbreaking.

Things between Jacob and Bella - I’m not even gonna lie - are straight up hot and intense. Their little trysts - really they’re more than that, but for simplicity I’m going with it - occur when she is teaching week long classes in Seattle (she lives in LA). I love how tender and sweet, despite the situation in which they find themselves, they can be with each other.

I remove my bra as you watch. The first time I came here our passion was desperate and frantic. My clothes had been scattered all over your room and our moment had been stolen. We hadn't spoken about love or what any of this meant in the silent hours we had together. When it was over, my heart grew cold and I couldn't bear another moment of my disgrace.

Tonight, though, I remember loving you; I remember feeling alive. As I unbutton my jeans, I open my heart to you and while it hurts me to share the depth of my confusion, I reach out to you. Your lips kiss the girl I wish I was. I wind my arms under your arms and up your back. Slowly you kiss me, your tongue dancing with mine to the rhythm of a song unsung.

I have convinced myself that I'll never find real love, but locked in my heart is a hope that rips me apart and breaks me down. We walk to the bed, the perfectly made bed with hospital corners and taunt sheets. You lower me down, hovering over my body. You lean on one arm and allow your hand to roam over my body. Slowly you graze your fingers over my skin while your kisses make promises you can never keep.

I sink back into the pillows, watching your face as you look over my body. Your eyes leave waves of heat on my skin, bringing my temperature to a boil. Your fingers linger on my hip before your hand relaxes against my skin. The feeling of your palm flat against my stomach makes me quiver. My jeans are still on and I move myself up higher on the bed, wishing your hand would move lower.

Instead you bring your face down to mine and you kiss me softly. The sweetness of the moment makes me swell and rise to you. I pull on your body to bring my skin to yours. Your chest against my breasts is warm. Pulling you down with me I try to bring you against my body.

I love this, because it really shows the depth of emotion and love between these two. There is SO much going on, so much history and time apart and terrible life choices that have brought them to this point, but even through all that, there is still the deep, all-consuming love.

At the same time, however, that same love is needy, intense, and demanding. There are many times where it feels like they are devouring each other - the language choices and the way the scenes are constructed go a long way giving it this feel, and it’s really phenomenal. This next scene takes place on one of their dates. They’ve been out with Bella’s coworkers and had to remain a respectable distance from each other. Let the frantic neediness ensue.

No matter what may be waiting for me at home or what the consequences are, I don't want this to end...

"Bells," you smile against my lips, "we're still on the street."

My smile is one I never knew I was capable of and I take your hand and pull you into the alley next to the restaurant. It is narrow and dark, the moonlight not reaching between the buildings. I can't see you but I still have your hand in mine. I walk until I reach the loading door of the building, the metal gate is down and as I lean against it I can feel the sharp edges dig into my flesh.

This is the punishment I deserve.

If you could see my face you'd know how I wanted you. Instead I pull you roughly against me, the grime of the metal staining my clothes as your erection grinds against me. Having your lips on me is a high I pray will never end. We kiss as I claw at you, you push against me hard, controlling what I can and cannot touch of you. Your lips move from mine to my neck making me sigh.

One thing you’ll probably note in the previous two excerpts is the darkness to Bella’s thoughts - how she doesn’t feel like she deserves him, how she made her bed now she needs to lie in it, how things with Jacob can never be more than what they are. I found myself wanting to scream at her and say “YES THEY CAN!” but of course, things are never that easy, especially when you’re dealing with past hurt and the heart. We women often, and Bella, specifically in this case, have made a profession of believing we aren’t good enough and that we are limited in our choices. I long for Bella to finally open her eyes and wake up to see that she DOES have choices, that she can choose Jacob if she wants to, that she’s NOT stuck or forced to live this miserable half life.

This story is about past regrets, trying to live in the present when hurt and grief are your constant companions, and figuring out how to make a new life when so much damage has been done. As Jacob said early on: “I only have so many one more chances in me.” We are at the part in the story where my heart has literally been ripped out of my chest, stomped into the ground, and then kicked again for good measure. The pain Bella dished out... she’s getting back in spades, and it is absolutely excruciating. Three men are competing for Bella’s heart, and as of right now, no one is winning - least of all Bella.

Echoes of Love captured me from the first chapter and had me riveted through to what is currently posted. If you want a bit of mystery, can handle some heart-smashing angst, then DEFINITELY give this story a go. Make sure you leave Pavarti a little love. Tell her the Pervs sent you!

Jen - The summary for Echoes of Love may be short and simple, however, the story is anything but. It begins with a one-night-stand of sorts, between a Bella and Jake who have a long and complicated history. Pavarti writes a story that is full of both the most cutting angst and supremely erotic moments.

What can I say about this story? This is not a sweet love story. Parts of this story are incredibly raw and downright ugly. Some readers may find it unpalatable. In fic-land we tend to believe there’s always some way to salvage true love--but I’m not so sure that Jake and Bella can be together without destroying one another. Their love seems to walk a very fine line between love and hate, or at least deep hurt and anger that looks a lot like hate.

Bella is hardly a likable character. We still don’t know her whole story, but I find myself wanting to yell at her for her role in the wreckage that is her life. Her pain is visceral, but as much as Pavarti makes me feel her hurt, I don’t feel sad for her. She’s constantly berating herself for ruining the lives of several men who have loved her, and believing that she doesn’t deserve happiness or love. I keep wanting to shout at her that it didn’t have to be this way, that she could have had what she dreams of with Jake.

I don’t think Bella’s necessarily acting selfishly; there’s something in her past that has irrevocably damaged her. She seems to have an inability to make decisions, and her actions cause repeated pain to the men who love her. The whole story is BPOV, but we see very clearly how much Bella’s actions have hurt Jake. He’s been seemingly willing to take whatever she can give him, but she may have waited too long to take the steps to be with him permanently.

No matter how you may feel about Bella, the sexual chemistry she and Jake have is undeniable. It’s frantic, intense, raw sex. Their bodies communicate with ease; It’s when they try to communicate with words that things fall apart.

The lemons are utterly sexy, yet there’s a dangerous edge to them.

You come at me then with no pretense. Your hands are hard and fast as you lift me up against the gate. I use my hands to grab onto the grating and lift myself higher. You pull my underwear to the side and without pause slam up into me hard.

The pain of you is so perfect. I am split in two and made whole again in one swift movement. I feel myself shaking, so close to cumming already. You are breathing deeply, your eyes closed and I know that you are holding on to the moment. Slowly, I lift myself with my arms and lean back, pulling on you with the muscles deep inside of me.

I squeeze you, pulling you deeper inside of me with the strength of my need. Your eyes open and you gaze deeply inside of me. Your soul reaches out to mine and drags me out of the shadow of my misery by my heart.

I feel my own release building as I clutch at you, your hands kneading my ass, moving me on your cock slowly.

"I want you to feel me when you go home tomorrow," you growl as you pull out of me, your strong arms holding me in place before you slam up into me with such force the gate behind me rattles in its hold. I scream out as I feel the beginnings of my love for you overflow.

"I want you to feel me when you walk."

You pound into me, your speed increasing, I hold onto the grating and feel the metal ripping into the back of my arms and shoulders. The pain so sweet against the bliss of your body. My body convulses around you, pulling us higher and higher.

"Tell me you need me," you demand, your eyes boring into me.

"I need you," I pant.

"You want me."

"I want you, fuck!" I scream, I need you to touch me, lick at me, suck me. I need you on my lips, my breasts, my clit, my cunt. I need you and I have you.

"You love me."

"I love you Jake, fuck, I love you."

You bend your knees and lift one of my legs higher, pushing me against the gate roughly you hold my body with one hand and grab the gate above my head. I am pinned between you and the gate and you use your body to slam into me again and again. The metal shakes and bucks from your pounding and my screams reach out into the night, making promises I don't know if I can ever keep.

You fuck me and our pain melts away, you fuck me with heat and fire, need and passion and it is the most loved I have ever felt.

How did they get to this point? How do two people who love each other like they say they do end up hurting each other deeply, again and again? Is there any way that they can find happiness together? These are the questions that will keep you reading Echoes of Love.

Turn Me On: Disc Jockeys by casket4mytears

We want to know what turns you on, ladies! Which fics are rocking your world and are must reads for us Pervs? We want you to tell us what you like, what turns you on about this fic. Let’s talk about it over a glass of wine and get everyone reading it.

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Title: Disc Jockeys
Author: casket4mytears
Status: Complete
Chapters: 27
Word Count: 127,882
Summary: AU, AH, spoof of the film Empire Records. A day in the life of Velvet Records as the gang battles shoplifters and threats of corporate buyouts, and torments the customers. Oh yes, and romance. Canon pairings apply; E/B focus. Meyer/Heikkinen own all

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Stefanni - Let me start by telling you up front that I am not a writer, at all, but I read A LOT. That being said, I have so much respect for the people out there who not only can write, but share their work with the rest of us.

When I read that Trin’s Winter Wish was for a Twilight/Empire Records crossover, I immediately thought of Disc Jockeys by casket4mytears. It might not be exactly what she asked for, as far as character assignments, but its close.

Disc Jockeys is one of the funniest stories that I have ever read. casket4mytears does an incredible job of injecting the usual cast of characters into the world of “Empire Records,” the movie that made me want to work in a record store the first time I saw it. She also adds a dash of “Clerks” and “Clerks 2,” so what’s not to love about this fic?

I love the fact that the even though the female character assignments are pretty straight forward: Bella as Corey, Alice as Deb, Rosalie as Gina, and Esme as Jane. The male characters are more of a blend of characters: Edward as Lucas and AJ, Jasper as Berko, AJ, and Randal from “Clerks”, Emmett as Mark with a little bit of AJ, Jacob as Warren, and Carlisle as Joe and Dante, also from “Clerks.”

By the way, an Edward/Lucas hybrid is my definition of the perfect man.

The story starts with Edward closing up at Velvet Records. He finds out that his friends’ beloved place of employment is in danger of becoming another Virgin Megastore thanks to “that son of a bitch James, the bastard owner who wouldn't know good music if it bitch slapped him.” This forces Edward to do what any rational, level-headed employee would do. He steals the nightly deposit and heads for a casino to win enough money to save Velvet Records. He, of course, fails. Now he has to tell Carlisle what he’s done on top of telling Bella that he loves her by 1:37 exactly.

Emmett is trying to figure out if Rosalie’s feelings toward him are as strong as his are for her, and after smoking joint on the roof, how he got on TV with Gwar. Rosalie has her own demons to work on, namely her mother and an ex-boyfriend’s actions, while she teases Emmett. Jasper wants to find a name for the kitten he found (he votes for Annoying Customer or AC for short) and wants to know what happened to Alice. Alice has been distancing herself from the others for a few weeks now. Bella is trying not to trip on her own two feet, and seduce away her virginity to her celebrity crush, who just happens to be coming into Velvet that day, all while dealing with an addiction to speed. Jacob tries to shoplift some, in Edward’s opinion, poor-tasting CDs and comes back to the store shooting a gun, all because he wants a job. Just don’t call him an apple (this is offensive to Native Americans, even if Emmett says he’s “taking
it back”).

Apple is so not a slur!" Emmett protested, "Squaw, papoose, buck, redskin, nitchee, gin - those are slurs against Native Americans. Apple is not. Apple is the retarded name for a singing British wanker's child with an untalented actress.

I was outright laughing at all the ridiculous names Jasper picks out for his no name cat that he wants to call Annoying Customer. (That one gets my vote too!) Actually, there were several times that I would be laughing so loudly, that the people around me started looking at me like I was nuts.

In perhaps the most ingenious casting ever, the role of Rex Manning- the aging, has-been of a pop star, goes to none other than Rick Astley.

After being “Rick Rolled” as many times as I have, it gave me a sick sort of a thrill to see someone poking fun at him, even fictionally. casket4mytears must have some love for him though. The kinky Brit is one of the only characters getting any in the first 20 or so chapters.

She found herself bent over the storage room table, her skirt hiked to her waist, black silk panties stuffed into her mouth. She could see nothing, her eyes blindfolded in a rather ingenious way with her black bra, which she'd deftly removed without budging her blouse. Behind her stood Rick, whom she'd last seen dressed only in black Calvin Klein boxer briefs, his throbbing member twitching against the smooth cotton, begging for release. She'd knelt before him, never breaking eye contact as she'd slowly enveloped the head of his shaft through the underwear, one of her favorite ways to tease men. Blowing softly, her hot breath seeped through the woven cotton, eliciting a groan of excitement from Rick's soft pale lips.

However, poor Carlisle has it the worst. He simultaneously tries to fix the problems of all his employees, find nine thousand dollars to replace what the deposit Edward lost, keep James from finding out about said deposit, keep Rick happy, and deal with the hipsters in cheap white fedoras.

Bloody hipsters. Only one step above the Britney Spears crowd.

Sheep, the lot of them

All this, and he’s “not even supposed to be here today.” I giggle every time he mutters this to
himself. He does, however, find some help in the form of Rick’s lovely assistant, Esme. So many fics have Carlisle and Esme married, so it’s refreshing to read one they have just met and are dating.

The hilarity just doesn’t stop. The dialog is intelligent and witty. The characters aren’t just two-
dimensional parodies, but feel more like real people with some real issues. They are, of course, resolved in hilarious ways.

Edward and Bella finally get together (come on, we all knew it would happen) and the result is a very sweet, very tender, Erotic thrill.

Edward never let go of her hand, holding it tightly as he plunged deep inside her, again and again, his eyes rolling back into his head, his bronze hair messy and damp, his mouth
a silent gasp that echoed the overwhelming sensations coursing through Bella, so strong she
was sure she'd faint, sure she couldn't handle so much joy, so much… love, not all at once.

{snip}...

A tear slid down her cheek and she sighed happily, utterly spent, utterly in love.

casket4mytears is almost lyrical in the way she describes their union, but goes right back to the funny soon after.

Bella giggled, "Is this feeling where that whole 'screwed your brains out'
from?

"Harvard will not be pleased. I'd better screw them back in," Edward joked.

In the end, all the conflicts are resolved just like they would be in real life, with one hellacious street party to save Velvet Records from “The Man.”

The humor and wittiness alone would be enough to recommend this story, however the music that the author mentions throughout is equally as fabulous. You can tell that casket4mytears is incredibly knowledgeable of music from the way her characters discuss it. I highly recommend looking into some of the artists and songs she mentions, or check out her blog, Open Til Midnight: Musings of A Music-Obsessed Mind. I found a new appreciation for several new bands after reading this fic.

I have to recommend Disc Jockeys to anyone looking for something a little lighter and full of laughs without being too campy. It’s perfect.

Trin - In the words of Edward (Lucas in Empire Records) "The time to hesitate is through," and you should all read Disc Jockeys because it is such a sweet and funny story.

Last winter we all made some Winter Wishes and I instantly knew what I wanted... a Twilight/Empire Records crossover. Well I couldn't believe it when Stefanni sent an email letting us know this already existed. As I read this complete (YES, I said COMPLETE) story I was so excited that it still held that magic Empire Records held for me over 15 years ago as I watched the movie nearly constantly over the summer of my freshman year of high school.

The Twi characters are a little differently cast then what I had originally imagined, but casket4mytears creates such a perfect hybrid of Edward/Lucas/A.J. that I can't imagine I had never thought of it that way. We keep the sincerity we are used to from Edward, the intensity and passion of A.J. And the quirkiness of Lucas. As Stefanni said the rest of the characters are pretty straightforward.

After a misguided attempt of gambling the daily sales away on a game of craps to save Velvet Records from being turned into a Virgin Megastore Edward puts in motion a series of events that help the employees find themselves and true love. I nearly busted a gut laughing when I learned that Rex Manning was now Rick Astley!!!! Happy Rick Astley Day. How perfect is that? Bella has a school girl crush on Rick and has decided that she wants to give him her virginity since he's visiting the store.

Bella nodded, twirling a strand of her flowing wavy locks about her finger absently, "It's a go. Today..." Bella paused, reaching down between her feet and bringing up her album, "Today, I will offer myself to Rick Astley."

"All right! Trust me, Bella, it's so much easier losing your virginity when there's no danger of wrecking a relationship."

Bella's mind drifted away from Rosalie's slightly grating voice, lost in the dreamy eyes of the man who'd sung her to sleep each night in junior high, lifting the record to plant a kiss on the cover, "I love you..."

Rosalie suddenly snatched the cover away, ignoring Bella's protests as she licked the cover, "No Bella, kiss him like you mean it. Like this!"

Bella burst out laughing, snatching at the LP, "Hey! Cut it out! Get your tongue off my record!"

This story isn't totally fluff but it is a light incredibly funny read that has you flying through the chapters. In another genius casting move making Jacob as shoplifting Wesley/Warren I couldn't stop giggling imaging our muscleman idea of Jacob as the shrimp Warren from Empire Records. The relationship between Bella and Alice adds another interesting level to this fic that makes this story totally fresh.

Alice had been her best friend from grade school forward, sharing every secret, every life event... at least, until three months ago. Alice had suddenly withdrawn, refusing to talk to anyone, refusing to take phone calls or visits at her house. Even Jasper was finding it hard to reach her, and Bella knew in her heart that he was Alice's soul mate. Complicating matters was the fact they all worked together at Velvet, creating friction during shifts that Carlisle noticed, although he was too polite to blatantly call the staff on it. Bella had spoken with Carlisle privately about the change in Alice, with him concerned that perhaps she needed serious help with something she felt she couldn't share with her friends - no, her family, for friendship was too weak of a term. But Bella had hesitated, remembering vague comments Alice had made about her mother's temper. Aggravating the situation was the vicious loathing Alice and Rosalie held for each other, which Bella feared was feeding into Alice's cold shoulder treatment.

Of course as much as we love to see all the relationships blossom watching Edward and Bella admit to one another is the most rewarding. They are both so clueless and adorable and sincere in their feelings that it gives you one of those sappy grins. And well...they are pretty damn HOT too.

Edward bent forward, his face buried between her thighs, his tongue rolling over the swelling between her labia, her body jolting as a wave of intense pleasure slammed through her limbs, leaving her breathless with anticipation. Her hand reached down towards him, fingers tangling in his hair as he continued to lick and gently suck, the wetness becoming a flood as her body tightened, her mind overloading with his every touch. Her eyes closed, rolling back into her head as she concentrated on the feel of him: the tiniest bumps along his tongue, his smooth lips, the heat of his breath against her thigh. His weight shifted, his mouth abandoning her, and Bella forced her eyes open, witnessing as his now naked and engorged shaft was swiftly enveloped in the sheath of latex, Edward's hand slipping between her thighs, two long fingers slipping easily into her wetness, her body shuddering at the intense wave of pleasure triggered within. He moved over her, leaning forward to press his lips to her forehead, his eyes warm as his fingers withdrew, his other hand finding hers and interlacing his fingers with her own. Bella nodded slightly, encouraging him. I'm ready for this. It's okay.

This story is just so much fun and lovely that it really was a wish come true to read.

Jen - I’m so glad I was home alone over Labor Day weekend, because it allowed me to read Disc Jockeys straight through, uninterrupted. Mind you, if my children and husband had been around, I would have ignored them just so I could finish reading this gem of a story--way too much fun to have to stop reading for pesky things like meals and such. I am forever thankful for Stefanni for turning us on to this story.

casket4mytears does such a great job creating the atmosphere of this fic. You can totally see the store in your mind. While Edward and Bella are the main pairing, it’s truly an ensemble fic, with all of the canon couples getting their stories told. I absolutely fell in love with each and every one of them, though I think fell especially hard for this Carlisle. He’s like everyone’s super fun, favorite almost uncle, though he can be authoritative when he needs to be.

Edward and Bella are earnest, yet clueless, close friends who are actually in love with one another. They’re both so self-effacing that neither one imagines it possible that the other one is attracted to them in that way.

Bella blushed, running a hand through her messy locks. With a strange grin, she suddenly pounced on Edward, nearly knocking him to the ground as she kissed him deeply, her body crushed against his. Edward sunk into the kiss, allowing his hands to trace her back, the waist of her skirt, drifting up her sides and down again. So many times he'd held her - consoling her on bad days, dancing at clubs, carrying her into the ER countless times. He'd even had to help dress her one night after a long drinking binge, he and Alice struggling to put her into her pajamas so Charlie wouldn't find her asleep in a strapless evening gown and bust her for being drunk at 16. All the same, it felt new to touch her, to hold her this way.

To his surprise, he felt Bella's hands roving down his back and slipping into the back pockets of his jeans, grabbing his ass and pulling him against her, which he took as an invitation to explore her curves. His left hand worked its way between them, cupping her breast gently, her soft moan sending a shudder through his body. The kissing grew more fiery as he continued to caress and lightly squeeze her breast, Bella's hands now finding their way into his hair, pressing him against her until he struggled away, laughing and gasping for air.

"Bella, you'll be the death of me!"

Bella pouted, "Well, fine then. I can't help it if you make me want you. If you don't want me to kiss you-"

"Don't you even dare suggest it," Edward growled, scooping her up and cradling her against his chest as she laughed, burying her face against his neck.

They’re just too adorable for words, but they’re definitely hot when they get into bed together.

This fic is kinda like life: funny, angsty, messy and complicated; full of mystery, love, and loyalty. It’s all of those things without being contrived or feeling like it’s more than one story all smooshed together. It absolutely deserves to have way more than 135 reviews. Go give Disc Jockeys a read and leave
casket4mytears some love.

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Team Anything Goes: Immunity by Belladonna1472

The Team Anything Goes pick is...



Title: Immunity
Author: belladonna1472
Chapters: 3
Words: 19,980
Reviews: 36
Summary: In a post-pandemic world, misery and paranoia are strife. When immunologist Jacob Black is sent to a refugee settlement, he encounters a young woman named Rosalie Hale. Does she have what he's looking for? A Jake/Rose story in 3 parts. AH, set in 2051.

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Jess - So, in the interest of full disclosure, I had the opportunity to preread this story, and in the process, absolutely fell in love with it. Set well into the future (2051) in a post-pandemic world, Immunity is raw and gritty.

Our characters - Rosalie and Jacob - are fierce. They are survivors who have been shaped by a very tumultuous world around them, from the beginning we see through Jacob’s eye how intense Rosalie is.

The scowl on her face was particularly ugly, a look that conveyed years of hardship and resentment. She was feistier than I ever would have expected.

But he doesn’t begrudge her this. He knows of the world - squalor and poverty - in which she lives. Remember I said she was fierce? In fact, as I was reading, I felt like in some ways this, along with her raw magnetisim and intellectual aptitude, not to mention her persistence and drive, it was the very thing that drew Jake to her.

My growing affinity for her was threatening to cloud my judgment. I had only just met her, yet I was already so concerned for her, so affected by her plight. I told myself to be more rational about the situation and to get what I came for. I needed to take the journal, not share its contents.

"Want to talk about it?" she asked, patting the space next to her.

"Maybe."

"Get over here. And no, I don't bite. Not unless you're into that sort of thing."

Now I was picturing her in compromising positions. "You're killing me here," I lamented.

Jake, like Rose, is focused, and he, too, bears a heavy burden. He carries around the knowledge of more bad pandemic news, and he is powerless to do anything about it. One of the things I like about him is how almost proper he seems. Despite people’s expectation that he could take Rosalie as his own, for his own purposes, he is loathe to do that. He tries to maintain a proper distance, and more importantly, tries to make Rosalie (and her mother) see that he isn’t like all those other guys. But before you get all melty inside, let me say this - Immunity is not what I would call a nice little romance in the midst of darkness. There is love, but it’s rough and raw.

In fact, the first glimpse of Jake giving in to his more carnal desires comes on the heels of Rosalie pushing, taunting, almost preying on his needs.

I bucked at her touch, immediately needing more than just her fingers on my cock. "I'm serious. Look, I care about you. But sex is..."

The fifteen seconds were up. My needs made it much more difficult to think straight.

"Bed?" she teased while tugging on me.

I was so hard for her. Something primal in me snapped, and I found myself being much more forward than anticipated. "What's wrong with right here?"

"Nothing," she answered. "How do you want me?"

"Get down on all fours," I ordered, my cock straining against my jeans. "Now. Before I change my mind."

From there... well, you’ll have to read the rest for yourself. What belladonna1472 does in the three short chapters of Immunity will blow your mind and leave you begging for more.

Jeanne - Yeah, I was a prereader for this story too, and I am so thankful I was. I have never read anything like this, in published or fan fiction. belladonna1472 captures a frightening future that often left me chilled and shaken. You can feel the hopelessness and grief in Jacob’s narrative. How he mourns for the world as it once was, and fears for the possible future. Even Rosalie’s beauty seems to sadden him, or rather that she has to live in squalor because of politics and the fears of the rest of the world. The realism to this world is indescribably intense. This is not kiddie ride, make sure to have your big girl pants securely in place before you start reading.

Despite the bleak setting Jacob and Rose shine. Jacob’s intensity and hope won my heart. While this is an older, jaded doctor Jacob I had no problem seeing all the qualities I love in the canon character present and accounted for. Dr. Black is loyal, dedicated and compassionate to a fault. It is drive and determination that brings him to the refugee camp in the first place. Though it is his mistake that eventually leads him to Rose. Oh Rose, fuck do I love her. She has a strength that shines through despite her age; she is younger than Jake. She has an unapologetic confidence that would seem abnormal in a young woman in our times, but makes perfect sense for a girl that has had to survive on her wits.

Put these two intense individuals together, both working toward their own goals that at times conflict and watch the fireworks or rather the mind blowing UST. I’m not exaggerating. There were times it was so tense my jaw ached from clenching. These two want each other, almost from the first time they meet, but circumstances (and Jake’s sense of decorum) hinders there attraction...for a little while at least. When the two of them finally give in to their desires the raw sexuality of their sex was not romantic, but it had a visceral quality that left me breathless.

Yet their emotions and intelligence ground them. These aren’t children in a fairy story. They are adults, standing on the edge of the world with only each other to cling to, and yet they still find love together. Now I guess when I think about it, that is pretty fucking romantic.

Chele - This fic warms my apocalyptic sci-fi nerd heart. And my pants, because holy fuck this is both completely scary and wickedly “ let’s fuck-like it’s the end of the world” hot.

In belladonna1472’s first A/N she states that she mentioned at Comic-Con that she thought this pairing would be interesting to write. What she doesn’t mention is that the audience went wild at the idea.... okay. *I* went wild at the idea, everyone else went o.O.

I’ve always found Jake and Rosalie’s canon friendship disguised as animosity to be a fertile ground for plot bunny breeding, so I was thrilled at the hope that such a talented author would be willing to put these two together. Never in my wildest imaginings could I have dreamed that this scenario would be the result of that, nor that it could be pulled off so brilliantly.

The character’s canon strengths and vulnerabilities are all present, but on this stage they open up a whole new possibility. Rosalie has all of the damage and strength we’ve grown accustomed to, but is able to showcase it in determination and perseverance instead of arctic frigidity. Jacob Black’s fierce intelligence and drive to understand complexity is channeled into medicine instead of auto repair. They’re dropped into a world with no promise of future, and their intensity draws them to one another like magnets. The smut does not get hotter than this. It’s erotic, deperate, and a little dirty.

Belladonna1472 is brave to stray so far from the Twi genre with these characters, but the risk pays off with an intense, character-driven story. If you have even a little bit of love for the post-apocalypse and a penchant for smut, you MUST read Immunity.

Jen - Immunity is such a treat. In just three chapters belladonna1472 gives us a smartly written story: an amazing dystopian universe, a bit of suspense and intrigue, and the undeniable attraction between Jake and Rosalie.

I love this grown-up, thoughtful Jacob. He very much wants to do the right thing. An American turned naturalized British citizen, he’s caught between the people he works for and the refugees from his homeland. He knows that whatever he says can be misconstrued by Rosalie. Although he’s attracted to her, he tries not to show it or allow himself to give in to the feelings because of the great disparity in their statuses.

As much as he finds Rosalie physically beautiful, he’s completely taken with her intelligence and spirit. Rather than weaken his resolve, this makes him even more determined not to have a quick sexual relationship with her. Rosalie’s whip smart, and despite the differences in their circumstances, she’s not afraid to go toe to toe with him. She’s strong and bold, but also shows great vulnerability.

Rose is forthright about wanting to have sex with him, and has even proposed that he marry her and take her to the mainland. Although he’d turned her down and even stopped her from kissing him before, she is Rose, so she’s going to try and try again. She doesn’t mind resorting to trickery to convince him.

"I have the robe on now, so you can look up."

I looked up.

She lied. She was still naked, the robe in her hand.

"You are unbelievable, you know that?" I argued.

I was losing my willpower, and she knew it.

"Yeah, I do know that," she replied, sounding so sure of herself.

I raised my hands in front of me as she approached. It was no good. She dropped the robe on the floor and threw her arms around my neck, kissing me before I could think of doing anything. While her body was dry, her hair was still wet, her locks dripping water on my shirt as she pressed herself against mine.

I was a goner. I kissed her back passionately, slipping my tongue into her mouth and grabbing the back of her neck with one hand. There was no denying it – I definitely wanted her. I groaned as the kiss deepened, telling myself this wasn't the time to be concerned about the outside world. I was here with her now. I grabbed her ass with my other hand and pushed her into my groin. She moaned in approval, sucking on my bottom lip before teasing my tongue with hers.

"Unbelievable, right?" she teased, running a hand down my chest and down to the waistband of my jeans.

Unf! This was just a kiss. The push/pull between them is amazing. They’re physically compatible, intellectually compatible, and they complement each other so well in their ability to both be strong and still show vulnerability. They could definitely be a formidable couple, and no matter what is going on in their very much messed up world, you know they’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

I can’t recommend Immunity enough. It’s not like any other story you’ve read. It will turn you on, it will have you at the edge of your seat, and it will definitely have you wondering what might happen next in this future.

Teal - I’ve never been one for movies about pandemics and post-apocalyptic worlds, yet I find books and fanfics with a similar theme incredibly fascinating. The beginning of this short story drops us at a somewhat unknown time and place. We have no idea why Jacob is in a seemingly abandoned library, how he got there, or what he wants. We also know nothing of the beautiful girl also in search of some unknown book. That all quickly changes.

In this isolated, regressed world, Dr. Jacob Black is an important player, and though only a common young woman, Rosalie is smart and determined. A fire ignites between them almost immediately - both physically and intellectually - but motives are always in question.

Soon enough, though, Jacob can’t hold back from his desire for her. She has no shame in tempting him, but she also challenges him intellectually, and he cannot deny the connection he feels to her. In a world where they have practically nothing, not even the promise of another day in good health, you can clearly see how they need to just feel something.

Though there is romance in a much less traditional way than we normally see it, I wouldn’t call this a love story. The real story, to me, is Jacob’s never ending, ever present struggle between responsibility and helplessness. He knows what so many do not, and while Rosalie fights in hopes of freedom, she has no idea Jacob is actually trying to protect her, even if it might mean they won’t be together. Regardless, the relationship develops and grows swiftly in a time of unrealized peril.

Don’t expect Jacob and Rosalie to band together and save the world in three chapters, but you will see an exciting and captivating fraction of their journey together, and I don’t think you’ll be able to tear yourself away from it until the end.

Team WussPerv: Off the Beaten Path by rpgirl27

Team Wussperv, this team is made up of myself, Emmy aka Pippapear, Jess aka Jessypt, Kim aka Kimpy0464, & Trin aka TFX or NaughtySparkle. Plus we might every so often have one of our other pervs crash our party, as the fluffy goodness appeals to them too much!

I'm sure you're wondering what the fuck a wussperv is, right? A wussperv is someone that is...
A) Tragically canon
B) Loathes angst (when in massive doses)
C) Loves smut
D) Needs a Happy-Ever-After

We love to read new fluffy recc’s. :) Please let us know your favourite WussPerv friendly fic. It might be Team WussPervs next recc!

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The Team WussPerv Pick is...

Title: Off The Beaten Path
Author: RPGirl27
Chapters: 16
Words: 75,000
Reviews: 1,168
Summary: Bella is on a mission to change her life. Will a tiny school in a small mountain town offer her a new beginning? And why does every one want her to stay out of the woods? Set in the 1920s/30s. AH ExB MountainmanWard Rated M for violence/language/sex.

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Emmy - I have eternal thanks for our beloved Jen for reccing this fic to us WussPervs! What a find!! An abso treat! I LOVE THIS STORY!
To me this is quite a unique story. I have not read another ff quite like it! Either in story or in characterizations! I think not only do I love this Edward SO so so so so much, but this might be my favourite Jasper. Yep you heard me. Me who is not J’s biggest fan is in love with this Jasper! A wonderful characterization that I feel really brings him to life. Maybe just not in the way you might imagine?

This Bella is a single-minded and strong-willed young woman. She has her own mind and owns it! Despite what the world around her might dictate or expect from her, she forges her own way and often forges on ahead. (What is quite funny to me is that when I first started reading this fic, I didn’t realize it was a historical fic - I thought it was a current day fic. SO even though the fic was set in a different time period, the initial bit that I had read, I didn’t think that the fic read weird or that Bella didn’t sound modern enough!) Yet although she is ballsey and head strong, she is still also a product of her times and the weight of expectations that pressed down on a lady of that era. Especially a lady without status. Bella is a breath of fresh air to the small mining community, pretty much owned and most definitely controlled by one (horrid!!!!) Mr Carlisle Cullen..... Bella’s fresh, objective and unbiased approach to teaching her school room certainly catches the attention of one Edward Masen. But you certainly couldn't call it love or lust at first sight. Fascination? Infuriation? Perhaps.

Raising my fist to rap on it, I saw the door spring open before I could make contact with the weathered wood. A male figure filled the entrance. A male figure toting a very large gun.

I tried to scream, but as it so often happens in dreams, the only sound I made was a strangled shriek as I stumbled back, nearly falling off the porch.

He pressed forward, and I stumbled back until my feet hit the dirt of the yard. I was just about to turn and run, when the evening sun glinted off his hair, a shade of red so unusual, I knew it could only belong to one man. All the anger, hurt, and fear from Saturday bubbled up inside of me, and I found my feet planting themselves firmly, and my finger pointing at him, temporarily forgetting the enormous old rifle he gripped in his hands.

"You!" I shouted accusatorily. "You're the…the…the man who chased me out of the woods!"
He looked between the tip of the gun and me, and shrugged.

"What of it? These are my woods, and you were an intruder. I have every right to run you off, and since it seems you didn't get the message the first time, this is me, inviting you to leave. Now."

Edward pulled the hammer back and the gun made an ominous click, but I had found my voice, and I wasn't leaving until I had given him a piece of my mind.

"You won't scare me off again," I insisted, stamping my foot.

Edward smirked, stifled a laugh that made my cheeks blaze with indignation, and leaned his face down to line up the shot, calling my bluff.

"No?" He stepped closer, the bare skin of his chest and arms becoming more visible the further he came from the shadowy porch. "You must think I'm putting you on, that I won't shoot you, nosey woman with no business wandering around on my land. Who sent you? Cullen? Maybe you came from the devil himself."

"No one sent me; I sent myself. And yes, I believe you would try to shoot me, but that gun is so ancient you'd more than likely blow a hole through your own arm." I may not have looked it, but being a policeman's daughter, I did know something about guns.

His grip on the gun loosened as heBella, she is quite feisty and it's interesting to see how she navigates tared at me in shock. His nose crinkled up, and he looked at me like I was the biggest idiot he had ever met, while I made every effort to not be distracted by his shirtlessness and the soft, laid-back timbre of his voice.

"Now, put that ridiculous thing down and at least let me say what I came to say."

"I ain't interested in anything you have to say, so save your breath and march your pompous little ass back down the mountain where you belong."

My cheeks colored again at his description of me, and his use of profanity in my presence. It wasn't very often that I heard such words used in conversation.

Just as I was about to express my outrage, a little face peeped out of the door behind him, and I quickly closed my mouth, lest my own language be unsuitable for small ears. Clearing my throat, I noticeably shifted my gaze to the small child and smiled at her.

Edward saw the change in my demeanor and glanced over his shoulder. Shaking his head in annoyance, he barked, "Rosie! I told you to stay in the house!"

She smiled back at me around her thumb, which was firmly rooted in her mouth, her other hand coming up to give me a tiny wave.

"In the house, Rosalie Masen. Get in the house!"

She walked up behind him, latched her free arm around his leg and stared up at him. Popping her thumb out, she pointed at me and giggled. "Pretty lady," I heard her say.

Edward rolled his eyes and sighed. He propped the gun against the porch railing and lifted Rosalie up, placing her on his hip. He looked down at her messy blonde curls with a sudden sadness in his eyes, before shifting his stance and redirecting his attention to me.

"Look, lady. Whoever you are and whatever you want, it isn't going to work here," he said in a voice so low I almost didn't hear it. "You keep to your business, and we'll keep to ours. Don't interfere. You don't belong up here."

"I just…I just…" I was tongue-tied by his quiet forcefulness.

"You just what? Want to help?" he snorted. "We don't need your charity, nor do we need the Cullen kind of schoolin,' or his brand of Jesus. Everything Rosie and Jasper need to know, I can tell them my own self. Get off my land, lady, and forget you ever saw us."

He turned around and walked back inside the house, Rosie waving mournfully from her perch on his hip. The door slammed resolutely behind them.

So what about Edward? Jesus Christ - this just might be my favouritist favourite Edward. I can’t say too much about him - as I do NOT want to give away this wonderful plot. But seriously he makes me swoon, squirm and squeee. We start off as seeing him as a total unreasonable grump-a-lump. He appears hot-headed, ignorant and restrictive of his family. But its through Bella’s determination, first at trying to get his family an education and then at trying to get to know Edward that we see the real Edward. Perhaps it is also Edwards determination to see the real Bella that we see Edward. And who is the real Edward? Well you need to read the fic to find out for yourself. But he is a real man, rough, rugged and rawly sexy. But with a molten chocolate pudding [see British definition of pudding not American!) for a heart. The care he takes for all those he considers kin. The protection and protectiveness of those he loves. The things he does for Bella, just because he wants to do right by her. The tenderness contained within. Gah. All of it - its almost too much. (No its not! Its perfect! He’s wonderful!).

I adore the burgeoning relationship between Bella and Edward. I love what they cannot fight. How well suited they are for one another, and how Edward’s world was made for Bella, even if neither of them can necessarily see that at first. So I know you lot want to know about the dirrrrty stuff! Well this fic has the perfect, achey slow build! This represents the setting of the story, the characters circumstances but also the love that builds between the two. Edward wants to do right by Bella. Well he most certainly does her right!!

I don’t want to spoil the goodies for you, so here is a tiny teasey taste!

"But–" I only eeked out one word before he silenced me with a kiss. I could hear the hoots and hollers above the music, but Edward had a way of drowning out the crowd until I only felt him. My fingers gripped the swirl of hair at the nape of his neck, and my tongue inched into his mouth until it tangled with his.

"Take it out back, or at least up in the hayloft, would ya?" Garrett's voice broke through our bubble, and Edward stopped the kiss to snort and laugh.

"I don't need to hide nothin'," Edward shouted back. He raised me up, kissing me with my feet dangling like he seemed to like.

Edward has his own special brand of charm. He’s physically a grafter, and therefore is extremely fit and hardy. I still unffff over the bath scenes, or the scene at the water hole.....

I am not going to spoil this fic for you - you have to devour the very quick and easy read for yourself, for the story to unfold and have you gripped (like Bella in one of Edward’s possessive holds), right to the very end. The story has a few smaller parts - such as The Cullens, and a lovely little sub-story with Jasper. I seriously cannot fault this fic. Except for that it is complete (barring the 2nd and final part of the epilogue!) God I want more of it! An outtake or futuretake? God I ruddy hope so - maybe for FGB? I want everything and anything I can get of these two. As I adore them and this story so! Thank you RPGirl27. I cannot recc this story enough. This story has so much going for it. Its got everything I would want and then some. You MUST read it! Please?


Jen - When I saw grrlinterrupted tweet in excitement about a new Mountainward chapter, I immediately had to ask for the link. I mean, Edward, rugged, mountain. What’s not to like? As it turns out, Off The Beaten Path surpassed any expectation I held. RPGirl27 has given us something completely different in the world of AH fics.

I love this feisty, determined Bella. She’s traveled across the country, alone, to take a job as a teacher in a small West Virginia town. She has no qualms about marching up the mountain to confront a rather curmudgeonly Edward-whom she knows nothing about-for the purpose of getting him to send his young brother and sister to school. Despite being frightened of him, she seems to have no problem defying her employer’s rules. Carlisle Cullen, who hired Bella as the town’s teacher, is a first-class asshole. I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever despised Carlisle.

Like I said, Edward is a curmudgeon. You get the feeling he’d be a hermit were it not for the fact that he has to care for his two young half-siblings, Rosie and Jasper. There’s a long-standing family feud with Carlisle, and Edward is extremely protective of his siblings, their home, and the land left to them by their father. When you first meet Edward you might think you’ve just met another cocky and obnoxious Edward, but that’s not the case. Inside, he’s a total sweetie; it just takes Bella’s persistence before we get to see it.

Edward and Bella’s first few meetings do not go well, to put it mildly, although there are times I’m sure Bella had whiplash from a few instances of Edward being sweet. But as is often the case with characters who appear to make each other crazy, these two make each other crazy in a good way. The UST is heavy, and their spats definitely toe the line between an outright argument and their own brand of foreplay.

He reached over suddenly, tracing the length of my nose with his fingertip, and looking at me seriously. "You're very pretty." He snorted. "When you're quiet."

A moment went by before I realized what he had said. Furious, I pushed him backward and straddled him, slapping his chest and yelling, "You are a complete and utter…donkey's ass!"

He laughed loudly. "Such language! And from a teacher, no less!" He pretended to be shocked, grabbing at my hands and pulling me down, trapping my arms against his body. The harder I struggled, the more he laughed, and the more I wanted to laugh, too.

Within seconds, we were both laughing so hard we could barely breath. And then the time came when we realized how close we were, and how much closer we'd like to be.

"You really are an ass," I whispered against his lips.

"I'd have to agree," he whispered back before running his tongue along my bottom lip and sucking it into his mouth. However, he didn't stay there long. I felt his lips on my chin, my throat, and my collarbones. It was then that I remembered I only wore a summer nightgown, and I could feel his warm hands fanning out across my back, pushing me closer.

I love it! And it only gets thicker (twss) and more intense as the story continues. I adore how RPGirl27 balances comedy with UST and a plot with a lot of action and adventure. Edward is sexy as hell and Bella’s spine makes you root for her like mad. I haven’t even mentioned the cuteness of Rosie and the way that Jasper looks up to and emulates his big brother. Go on and discover the joys of Mountainward for yourself!


Jess - I have a soft spot for historical fiction; there’s something magical about being transported to another era and immersed in a different time. So, when I heard the girls raving about “Mountainword,” I knew this story was for me. Off the Beaten Path, as Jen so nicely described, is the story of a young, fierce, independent woman who sets out with conviction to start a new life. As a woman, there’s something very compelling about Bella’s story, and as you read, it immediately pulls you in. She starts off with this:

Twenty-four years old, never married, and no family to speak of, I had decided to make myself over, to start again.

The situation from which Bella leaves is one none of us want to experience, and yet many of us have. Through it all, she handles every challenge with dignity, confidence, and passion.

Edward is equally fiery and passionate. He is a man of humble means, working the land that’s been in his family’s possession, and very much a loner. Above all, he is fiercely protective of his home, his land, and his family - Jasper and Rose. We see time and again how this plays out, but none more clearly than the children’s first day of school.

My fingers were finally able to work Rosalie's hair loose, and as soon as she was free, I bolted out of the door after Jasper and Mr. Cullen. I got no further than the doorway, when I spied the next disaster about to befall the day.

Edward was striding down the road, gun thrown over his shoulder, his expression warring between two emotions, determination and absolute furiousness. I flew toward Mr. Cullen, my hands yanking on his arm, trying to get it away from Jasper's throat. He attempted to shrug me off, but I hung on him, pulling with all my weight and strength, at the same time, shouting that Jasper wasn't to blame for the incident.

The schoolyard quieted, but I kept shouting, until I heard a booming, though always melodious, voice call out to me.

"Bella Swan! Get out of the way!"

Edward had reached the schoolyard, stopping just short of the gate. Instead of his gun being slung over his shoulder, he had whipped it around, snapped the barrel open, loaded and readied it to fire with the ominous clicking sound I recognized from when I had formerly been his target.

But that level of protection doesn’t just stop there. As Bella forces her way into their lives it extends to her. And it’s in the warring that goes on between these two, that we see love and friendship and companionship and new feelings grow and abound.

Like the girls have said, there are so many amazing things about this story, but perhaps the thing I love most is the way Bella doesn’t seem to adhere to all the natural conventions of the time. It’s clear she values the “rules,” but she doesn’t let them stand in the way of her growing feelings or what she feels is right. When they finally quit denying their feelings and give in, it just feels so... them.

I couldn't remember the last time I was tickled.

As it had earlier in the night, our innocent games turned not so innocent when he started kissing the bare flesh he found at my throat. My back arched, still trying to wiggle away from his tickling fingers, but they swept up my ribs and settled on my chest, his palms rubbing against my breasts for barely a second before traveling up and cupping my face. Our eager mouths were joined once more, his kisses even more fervent than before.

My skin was hot, and so was his. I clutched at the bareness of his arms, digging my nails in. Our heavy breaths filled the night air, until it was all I heard, and all I wanted to hear.

Wantonly, I swung my legs over his hips, craving his touch in ways that I had never imagined. The movement seemed to snap him out of the web of lust we had caught ourselves in, and he stilled, panting and groaning in my ear.

"We must stop this, or I'll be showing you how babies get here. From a not so scientific standpoint."

Beyond all this, the secondary characters - Alice, Jasper, Rose, and even Carlisle - have unique voices and play very important roles in this story. RPGirl27 does an excellent job using them to help tell and move this story along in a well-written, well-paced, and well-balanced way.

Ladies, if you are looking for a story that is different, has UST (gah!) galore, then look no farther. Make sure you leave RPGirl27 some love along the way, and tell her the Pervs sent you.

Trin - Oh sweet mercy this story is just superb.

Teal - Wait a minute... *looks around* ...what am I doing in a Team WussPerv rec? Well, my little pervlings, the fact of the matter is that this fic is just that good. If you don’t already believe it after all the amazing reviews my friends have given you here, let me just drive it home.


From the very beginning, I was taken with this fic because it’s just plain different. The plot is unique, dabbling in historical fiction, which gave it a refreshing spin on the usual All Human stories. The times were quite different, of course, and we had to see how Bella of this era would handle sexual inequality and being alone in the world with no family. It’s clear by her cross country move from Washington to West Virginia that she’s brave, a fact that she proves over and over (and over) again throughout the entirety of the fic. I also loved that the setting for this was so unique. Variety is always nice, but mountainous West Virginia opened doors to a completely different culture and lifestyle.

Now darlings, heed a few warnings: Carlisle is not likeable. At all. Jasper is a born charmer...but he’s only fourteen. But do I still think it’s worth the effort, even when you’ll be so sad about our favorite Father of the Year cast as the bad guy? Oh, fuck yeah.

There is such wonderful UST in this story, and it doesn’t come without explanation or reason. Edward is immediately inclined to dislike Bella because she is trying to pull his siblings into what he believes is the Cullen’s world. Family feuds cut deep, and grudges are held. However, his attempts to scare her off don’t work. Bella is bull-headed, and her meddling persistence is actually part of what keeps Edward interested. Her genuine interest in the well-being and education of Jasper and Rosalie doesn’t hurt much either. And Edward...oh *swoon*. He’s definitely a little rough around the edges at times, yet inexplicably refined at times. Though he lacks formal education, he holds a wealth of knowledge. His worth ethic is fierce. Of course, he’s pretty, too =) Beard-y Edward playing the banjo? Uh, yes please!

There’s just so much to these characters. They annoy and piss each other off at many times, always struggling to be the one in control and the one who knows best, but that’s part of what makes them so perfect together. They do whatever it takes to be together, sacrifice everything, and never give up. Now, if that isn’t true love, then I don’t know what is. The intensity of their relationship is what makes each love scene so sexy. It’s as though each moment they have is filled with desperation and need. They know they want forever, but life keeps working against them, so they take each moment as if it’s the last they have.

I’m seriously in love, friends. By far one of the most unique fics out there right now, and I’m sure that once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop!

[Emmy - ETA: Teal is a big fluff E/B loving whore! Don’t believe otherwise! ;) lol]