I confess, I chose Mary Sue because this is fan fiction.  But since you asked, I tried to think of a plausable way it could have happened.  To pass the reality litmus test, Edward didn't choose the name, Jasper did.  Jasper is the one who deals with Jenks, and when he found out about Bella's writing, he thought to tweak Edward's nose a bit.  Giving him a "perfect" mother named Mary Sue only seemed a small risk to Jasper, and he would get a laugh out of imagining Edward trying to explain it if it came up.  

Thanks for all of your encouragement.  Especially the second time around, it makes me feel good to know the story can hold readers.  

Thanks for the reviews!  I've fallen a bit behind in my responses, but I do still appreciate them.  

...oh, this is chapter one.  You found a way around that pesky one message per chapter issue.  

Slowing down a bit to break the chapters into something easier to manage.  Originally they were double or triple in size, and I'm trying to fix that.  

To her credit, Sam didn't volunteer the information, she caved during some heavy questioning.  

There were so many things in the original story that I had to include here.  I couldn't really have a Bella/Edward story without including the other Cullens.  But it made this a very long and involved story.  

Thanks so much.  I'm glad I only edited the chapter, instead of cutting it.  One of the differences between this story and the original, is in canon, Bella gets folded into Edward's world.  In this story, he joins her world.  She's the one with all the ties in this story, and she sort of entangles him in her life.  

I've been trying to cut anything that doesn't move the story.  I'd planned to do a summary of the day, maybe as Kaylee told her mom about it, and then keep Sam's discovery about Edward.  Some readers don't like "fluff" and the fair had a lot of fluff.  

I wonder how many proposals are low key questions, rather than big romantic gestures.  There's just something real about that private moment of declared intentions.  There's a lot to think about with her relationship with Edward.  The way it works in canon makes it a very tough choice, even if you can get past the idea of dying and needing blood to live.  That year away from everyone you love, plus keeping it a complete secret--I know I couldn't do it.  Then again, I'm also not convinced immortality would be all that great.  When living isn't a risk, and there's no time limit, a lot of motivation could be lost.  Watching the times change, as every one and everything you know passes away... a lot to think about.    

I've heard much the same thing from others outside my country.  Europeans have a different attitude about sex and relationships.  I'm told the attitude is more mature and accepting, yet more private.  Here the taboos and religious morality almost make it an all or nothing subject.  It's like you either need to be prim, proper, and buttoned up about it, or loud and proud.  It's like the titilation factor never goes away.  This group of women is also very forthright about their sexuality--not Bella's style at all.  

I had to look up Berlusconi.  In the US, we're often pretty ignorant about the rest of the world, sad to say.  Those kinds of scandals are nothing new to our country, even before Clinton.  Truly, the difference now is how the press reports it.  The "religious right" here tries so hard to make sure everyone in political office is righteous and upstanding in all aspects of their life, and the press is eager to find and exploit any indication that they're not.  It's pretty silly.      

My mom gave me terrible advice about boys.  I'd complain they were teasing me, and she'd say, "They like you."  No, they were just jerks.  I think there's a big temptation as a parent, to stick your head in the sand and pretend sex doesn't exist in the same world as your teen.  Bella sounds wise, because Sam listens.  Most kids don't want to hear their parents talk about sex.  I know my daughter would rather look up something online than ask me.  I'll talk to her about anything, but it hasn't been much of an issue yet.  My husband's made her almost boy proof.  He got her into all the geeky things that interest him--Star Wars, comic books, Dr. Who, Star Trek, Sherlock, D&D, computer games, and anime.  She doesn't have boyfriends, she has amigos.  I sort of fear she's waiting for college to sew her wild oats.  She turns 18 this month.      

Sam's had a few years to get used to the idea that her parents are never getting back together.  She's seen her dad date, and she really does want her mom to be happy.  Plus he's better than Eric, who is her boyfriend's dad.  They're lucky, Edward can hear her and know if she's waking up.  

I can't remember, but this might have originally been a cliffhanger, or I was going to do it and then backed out.  Edward has a habit of running when he feels he's in over his head.  He can't deal with an adult Bella the same way he would have when she was a teenager.  And of course she's got lots of doubts.  One of my favorite things to read, are stories where the characters act with maturity and consideration.  It doesn't happen often enough.  

Thanks for that encouragement.  It strikes me as funny that people are free to write violence, hate, and all manner of depravity, but a touching love scene between two consenting adults is considered inappropriate for someone sixteen and under.  I don't understand why, especially in this country, (US) we've got such a bias against sexuality.  Of all the things I worry about my kids seeing, (and reading,) expressions of love are not on the list.  I also believe that reading something is a lot different than seeing the same thing in video.   To me the ratings should be much more lenient, because reading takes a complicit mind.  If a child were able to read my love scenes, they wouldn't know what they were reading, but in video there would be less room for doubt.  The ratings are to protect the sites from liability, so I'll slap the NC-17 on it, even though it's pretty tame.  To be honest, the raunchiest stories I've read, were written by those who were too young to read them.  Makes me wonder who we're trying to protect.   

It seemed that once the issues of his age and being her student were removed, there was nothing to stop them.  Much more fun what two adults can get up to, without teenage issues.   

Yep, they get better.  To me, it made more sense for them to take getting close in small steps, rather than one, all out, bed-breaking, pillow-biting honeymoon.  Then again, they really didn't take that much time here.    

I've never liked her certainty that he wouldn't hurt her.  Here, she acknowledges the danger, but one slow step at a time, she works through it.  She still has a bit of recklessness in her, and she doesn't worry enough about her own safety.  It could be she knows he's more likely to run away than to hurt her.  

You're absolutely right; writing in installments is a different beast than writing a novel that will be read cover to cover.  I wrote an original story, and posted on fp.  Now that I'm editing it to e-publish, I'm having to get rid of the cliffhangers, and change the pace a bit.  It's not as critical that a chapter stand alone, and I don't have to keep reminding readers of what's gone before, since it will be fresher in their minds.  Concise is good.  If I could contain an idea better, I could write short stories and maybe publish in magazines.  But no... they all want to become epics.  I'm learning to prune the epic, but I probably need a machete instead of a scalpel.    

I think if someone takes the time to review, the least I can do is respond.  I've learned so much from reviews, especially the more critical ones.  But without those positive comments, I know I would have given up when I was just starting out.  This story took a long time to catch on, mostly because it's aimed at a specific audience.  I've been told by younger and older readers that they like the story too, but I've found that the younger readers get a bit more squcked when they imagine an older Bella with an immortal Edward.  It takes a bit more experience and understanding to get past the differences in how they look.  

Funny, but the older I get, the younger "older" people look to me.  I've seen some people in their eighties who are so active, I'm envious.  I've got a dear friend who's in her early seventies, and she's just not old.  I've seen grandma's raising grandkids and great-grandkids well into their senior years.  I'm not saying "age is just a number," but it's not the excuse to roll over and die either.  I see so many women in their forties, who are more beautiful and vibrant than they were in their twenties.  I see them in their fifties with empty nests, going out to travel and live their dreams.  Old isn't old anymore.  

I've started to write my original fiction, and I'm aiming for that older demographic.  I know for a fact that dreams, desires, and the need for love doesn't dim as we age.  I think there's an audience for stories with older characters--those who have been around the block a time or two, and have some baggage and scars.     

Aww, thank you so much!  I hope the story lives up to your loyalty.  

I had to decide what would have changed, and what would have stayed the same if Bella and Edward weren't a couple.  The wolves manifested because of the Cullens and the three in James' group passing through.  I think that would have happened no matter what.  Jake and Leah just seemed like a natural, without Bella there to fixate on.  

She's getting closer.  But even if he means something, she's not crossing that line unless she knows he's not her student, and he's not seventeen.  

I had heard that sugar in a gas tank would ruin the engine.  But I did some research and found out it doesn't do anything.  The research mentioned that bleach in the gas tank will corrode the whole system.  Maybe I should have put a warning in that chapter.  

Eric is such a good guy.  I just couldn't drag Jacob into this and have him still pining for her after all this time.  But she's prety hot for an older mom, and someone was bound to notice.  I'm not sure if all animals could smell and react to vampire, but I figured that pup would.  

I thought the puppy was a bad idea too.  But Bella would absolutely pick the most inappropriate animal she could find.  I had to get a wolf in here somehow.  Getting a dog is sort of like having another child.  We've had cats before, and they're pretty low maintenance.  I'm looking at getting a dog myself--after my youngest heads off to college.  Maybe I'll be ready by then.  

I'm not a character killer.  Much more fun to torture them.  Actually, I think it's sort of a cheap shot for a writer to kill off characters on a whim.  It turns them from characters into plot devices, and I don't think it's fair to the readers.  I look at reading and writing as a dance, and if the reader doesn't trust the writer, then they're always going to hold back and not get invested in the story.  I'm not saying that death should be off the table, but if that's all you've got to keep the reader's attention, then maybe you're missing something.  

Then again, Martin wrote a fantasy story with a huge cast of characters, and I'm writing romance.  Big difference.  

Aw, thanks!  I loved writing it.  

I know a few teachers, and it seems they have to do a lot of over and above work.  One I know brings her homework grading to choir practice.  I don't know if they get paid for those extra hours, but I'm pretty sure once you're salaried, the extra time is unpaid.  Then again I'm in the state with the lowest teacher pay, so maybe I'm missing something.  

Hehe, it's fun to write when the character is ignorant of what the readers and I know.  I've had to keep in mind that Bella is living in the "real world" where vampires don't exist.  The thought wouldn't even enter her mind, even if one came up and bit her.  

I didn't like how passive it seemed Bella was in the canon story.  She wasn't, but since she couldn't really do much against such greater strength, it seemed she was weak.  I figured the daughter of the police chief would know a little self-defense.  

Unfortunately, in Bella's mind, Edward is a seventeen year-old student, and absolutely off limits.  When I wrote this, I had two goals, make sure she didn't cross any lines, and make sure he was the one pursuing her.  I think those barriers between teachers and students, and adults and children should never be crossed.  I didn't want to write a story where Bella was a cougar, stalking her young student.  I've been accused of this, but those folks never read the story.  

Welcome to my other story!  This premise struck me as a way to write a story for so many readers who weren't teenagers.  I know I read the books when my daughter read them; she moved on, and I got into fan fiction.  I hope you enjoy what I've written; this story is huge!

I like presenting a bit of reality in my fiction.  They've got some serious issues they need to work through.  

I've heard that Martin likes to kill off his characters.  I've watched one season, but then we cancelled cable and I didn't get to see what happens after that.  Personally, I'm not a fan of killing off characters.  I'm a believer that anything can happen in a story, but if a writer can kill any character at any time, it sort of ruins the trust I have in them.  If I can't trust the writer, I won't invest in the characters.  I am enjoying the books so far.  I like how the sex isn't so gratuitious as it is in the TV version.    

I'm starting to see readers are realizing what a marathon story this is.  I've been editing like crazy, but there's just enough plot woven through the excess, I'm having difficulty cutting.  I do think there are some sacrifices to be made ahead.  I'm also trying to consider how to make two books out of this--wrapping one up and making the other self-sufficient.  Thanks for being so faithful.  

Yeah... it was a bit gratuitious for a while, but they have a lot of time to make up for.  Still can't believe chapter 26 got it ejected from ffnet.  I do like that the rules are specific here.  Still, it feels like once you slap the NC-17 label on it, you can pretty much do anything.  

There's a strange dichotomy at work with his feelings of Sam.  On one hand, she's the biggest impediment to Bella being wiith him, and she's the daughter of his rival.  On the other hand, she's clearly Bella's daughter, Bella loves her dearly, and in some ways he comes to think of her as the child he might have had, if his circumstances were different.  But reality is a big factor in this story.  

I never did understand why they call love scenes "lemons."  Although I've seen some that can put a sour look on my face--I've written some that were even worse.  Glad to know I didn't go sour here.   

Thanks so much.  This story taught me how to write love scenes.  Up to this point I'd copied everyone else, but since I was trying to keep it M rated, I learne that the hottest part happened above the neck.  Actually, the hottest part is between the readers' ears.  My job is to make sure I don't jar you out of what you envision.  

This is the one I was waiting for.  I just knew you'd go crazy when this happened.  This Edward may be over a hundred years old, but he's got the libido of a seventeen year-old boy.  Deadly combination.  

I have a plan, don't worry.  This was only the first domino.      

Thanks.  I like to prove it can be done without base terms or euphemisms.  But those have their place too.

Thanks so much; I'm delighted it was worth the effort.  I would love to swing dance, but my partner chooses not to dance--ever.  Sometimes I wonder if I've turned Edward into my fantasy man, first with the cooking, and now dancing.  Heh, maybe romance is an escape for the writer as well as the reader.

It's a good thing you weren't reading this story when it was first posted.  I did my best to have an update every week, and this time of year I was unavailable.  You can relax and know it's finished, and it got exactly where it needed to go.  I guess you might consider chapter 26 a Christmas present--that's all I'm saying.  

Poor Denise...seeing this makes me smile.  Not because I've got it in for Denise, but because she's an OC, and she connects with readers.  One of the things I pride myself on, is being able to fold in original characters with canon, and they fit.  

When they have sex, I'm sure you'll be pleased with the timing.  Sorry it does seem to take its sweet time, but I have a lot planned for these two.  A little whine will go well with the cheese of chapter 25.  

Aww, thanks.  Every now and then I write something into a story, and wonder how it got there.  At least you haven't accused me of writing themes, (grin.)  Of all the benefits of being a vampire, losing humanity is often downplayed, but I can imagine it would be huge if they were real.  Losing everyone you love, saying goodbye to friends, stepping out of the progress of time, and leaving behind your identity, would be a pretty heafty trade-off.  

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing.  I intentionally stayed off the Critics forum when I heard they were burning my book.  I've always known my story skirted the line between M and MA, but I thought I was on the side of M, and I worked hard to keep it that way.  I still feel this way, since it took so many reports to get it removed.  I believe FFnet doesn't have a clear set of guidlines, and they allow reader reports to guide them.  It saddens me that they allow mob mentality to rule.  Most of those who reported my story, never would have looked at it if not for the one who ran it up their flagpole.  This user didn't give a flip about the story; she was out to get me.  It had nothing to do with May December being M or MA, it was her cowardly way of sticking it to me, for a forum comment she didn't like.  The critics forum was her puppet, and they let themselves be used.  This is the kind of thing that happens when people concern themselves too much with the letter of the law, rather than the spirit of the law.  My story was read and enjoyed by hundreds, if not thousands, but one yappy puppy got it tossed.  FFnet's loss is TWCS's gain.  

I've felt nicely welcomed here; the admins are responsive to questions and the readers are kind with their comments.  I've already begun adding some of my other stories here.  I've got about three years of writing to add here, so it should be fun.      

Just a little bit of a lime.  Originally I slipped that one in under a T rating, but that's before the prudes found the story.  

It's pretty obvious there's sex ahead.  But as to other spoilers... if there was a PM feature here, I'd share.  But as it is... there's still a lot of story to tell.  

Considering there are only a handful who would recognize Edward as her student, there's really not as much risk as it might seem.  Plus, he's switched out of her class.  I have more plans for this situation.