Author's Note: As promised, the next chapter. Please leave me some feed back...thank you!

-Lisa

Chapter Seven

Bella left work early on the following Friday afternoon. She wanted to make sure her apartment was spotless for Edward's visit. After she was satisfied with the time and job she had spent cleaning, she made her grocery list and headed out the door to Whole Foods.

She walked the aisles looking for the items on her list. She had to make sure she had the ingredients for Sheppard's pie and homemade mac and cheese. She was also going to pick up a few steaks and ingredients to make homemade dark chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. During their weekend together he had commented that his mother used to make it for him when he was a child. Everyone he knew thought it was a strange combination since no one he knew really liked cream cheese frosting. She figured she'd make the cake that evening and icing it in the morning before he came. She had plenty of time to complete the cake in the morning as well as make the Sheppard's pie to heat up for dinner Saturday night. Then she remembered she was going to make him brunch before Edward had to go back to New York. She was toying with the idea of inviting Alice and Jasper over with their children but was still uncertain. She didn't know if it would be too much meeting Alice and Jasper for the first time with their children. She still had to think about it.

After she finished gathering the ingredients for the recipes, Bella wondered over to the wine section. She chose four bottles of wine, two red and two white. She knew she was going overboard, but she didn't care. She just liked being prepared. She also thought on her way home she'd stop and get a variety pack of Sam Adams beer. She also remembered Edward's fridge in the hotel was stocked with Diet and regular Coke, so she grabbed a twelve pack of each. Bella didn't know Edward's preference when it came to drink choices so she was prepared for anything.

Once she had everything she needed she headed back home. The cake was in the oven and she was browning the hamburger at seven o'clock the phone rang.

"Hello." Bella answered.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Alice asked.

"I'm cooking. What are you doing?"

Alice laughed. "Are you preparing for Edward's visit?"

"Yes, who else would I be cooking for, you?"

"Ouch, that hurts. Would you want come company? Jasper said I need some time away from the kids. I could help you cook if you'd like."

"Fine, come on over but be useful. I'll keep the door unlocked." Bella told her as she shut off the burner.

"I'll be there in ten," Alice said as she hung up the phone.

By the time Alice had welcomed herself in, Bella had assembled the Sheppard's pie and took the cake out of the oven. She was boiling the macaroni and gathering ingredients for the cheese sauce.

"Geez Bella, don't go all out for his guy or anything," Alice joked as she looked around. "Your kitchen looks and smells like a restaurant. It smells great in here. "

"I just want him to be comfortable. I also made muffins for the morning. I made chocolate chip, coffee cake and blueberry. I hope he likes one of them."

"You are hopeless. Do you need a taste tester?"

Bella laughed. "You can have a muffin. Also, help yourself to whatever is in the fridge."

Alice grabbed a chocolate chip muffin from the counter and walked over to the fridge. "Bella, it looks like you are having a small gathering at any given time. I don't think I have ever seen this much food in your possession ever."

Bella sighed as she wiped her hands on her apron. "I told you, I want to make sure he is comfortable. Do you think I went over board?"

"Maybe a tad, but that's all right. You went overboard in a good way. You have been narcotic since I met you so this fits you well," Alice answered as she grabbed a bottle of water.

Alice watched Bella drain the pasta and then mix the cheese sauce over it. "This looks good."

"No sampling Alice."

"Fine. Hey, I'm going to ask you something."

"Sure."

"Have you heard from Jacob since you emailed him back?" Alice inquired.

Bella sighed as she poured the pasta into the casserole dish. "A few times a day. We've been emailing back and forth. I am almost positive that he is going to talk to Leah soon and not get married. He seems pretty sure that is what he wants. Also, he wants to move here, back to the Boston area."

"Wow. Is he still all hot for you?"

Bella rolled her eyes. "I don't think so. I think he just mentioned it in passing."

"And I think you are naive. I think he wants to move here to start a relationship with you."

Bella raised an eyebrow. "Really Allie, I think you have finally lost your marbles."

"Bella, you know I'm usually right about these things. How'd he take it when you told him you were seeing Edward?"

Biting down on her lip, Bella looked away from Alice as she placed the covered casserole pan into the refrigerator. "I haven't exactly told him yet."

"What? Why?" Alice asked in shock.

"I haven't said anything. It isn't a big deal. Plus Edward and I aren't exactly exclusive. What's the big deal?"

"As I said, I think Jacob likes you and wants you to be more than his friend."

"You are insane, really Allie."

"You don't feel anything for him in that way do you?"

"No, I don't. That ship sailed long ago. It took me forever and a day to get over losing him when we graduated. Then he moved away and we lost contact. You know how long it took me to date, let alone find a boyfriend."

"You were a wee bit obsessed."

Bella nodded. "I thought I was in love."

"And you weren't?"

"No, it's what I thought love felt like." Bella paused and she looked at her friend and began to practically whisper. "What I feel for Edward feels stronger even though we don't know each other well yet. Alice, it's like there is a spark between us. It's like I never felt anything like this in my life before I met him. Does that even make sense?"

Alice nodded. "It does. I told you I think you are in love with Edward. Why wouldn't-" Alice explained to her friend as she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"You think Jasper got sick of being with the kids all by himself?" Bella asked taking off her apron. When Alice shook her head, Bella asked, "who else could that be?'

Alice walked closely behind Bella as she peeked out the window. "Oh my god!" She smiled.

"Who is it?" Alice inquired.

Before she answered, Bella opened the door and smiled. "Hi, I thought you were coming tomorrow?"

Edward wrapped his strong arms around Bella's waist and lifted her for a hug. "I thought I'd surprise you. I drove from New York."

"You what?" Bella asked surprised as she walked into her apartment. He followed her and closed the door behind him.

He nodded. "I couldn't wait until tomorrow. I got the go ahead to leave just before five, which is why I am here at nine. I literally left, packed my bag and rented a car and now I'm here. I don't know how I didn't hit any rush hour traffic between New York and here, but the GPS that is in the car is amazing." He paused before gazing into her brown eyes. He placed his hand on the side of her head and played with her hair. "I am so happy to see you. I…um, I really missed you."

Bella smiled as she hugged him again. "Me too. Come on in. Do you want something to drink?"

"Her fridge is totally stocked," Alice joked knowing that she was forgotten for a few moments.

Bella chuckled. "Edward, I don't know if you remember-"

"Alice, right?" Edward asked.

"Hey, you're pretty good. Nice to see you again Edward. I think I'll be heading home now."

"No, please don't leave on my account. Stay and finish your visit." Edward told Alice before turning to Bella. "If it is all right with you I'd like to take a shower and rest for a bit anyway."

Bella, still smiling like a child on Christmas morning, looked at him. "Oh yes, of course. Let me show you the bathroom."

Edward nodded as he looked up at Alice again. "It was nice to see you again Alice."

"You too Edward." Alice smiled as Bella ushered him away.

Edward followed Bella to her bedroom. "I have a guest room, but would you, um, do you want to stay in here…with me?" Bella asked nervously.

Edward smiled as he placed his arms around Bella's waist. "Of course I do." He leaned down and placed his lips on her and kissed her tenderly. His eyes met hers as he pulled away and grinned. "I told you missed you."

Bella hugged him for a few more moments before showing him where everything was in the shower. She also told him to make himself feel comfortable and if there was anything he needed to ask and it was his. He kissed her one more time before she left him alone in her room.

Bella rejoined Alice out in the living room. Alice smiled as she looked at her friend. "Um, wow. Surprised?"

Bella nodded. 'I guess you could say that. I can't believe he's here and in my shower as we speak."

"In your shower? Don't you have two bathrooms?"

Bella looked at her friend sheepishly. "Possibly and yes."

Alice laughed. "Well, look at you! I never knew you to be outgoing. Two months without Michael and you're a changed woman."

Bella motioned for Alice to follow her into the kitchen. They sat at the table as Bella beamed and spoke in a low voice. "Alice, I feel something with him. I did at the bar and the first night we met. It's hard to explain but I have never felt that way before about anyone. I know we are moving fast and such, but oh my god, there is something about him that makes me want him. I feel like I need him."

Alice shook her head and then giggled. "You are in love."

"No, it takes time to fall in love with."

Alice shook her head again and leaned on the table to talk to her friend. "Isabella, you are in love. Your heart is beating fast, your blushing and giggling. You are in love with him."

Bella smiled. She focused on the now cooled cake and the dirty dishes in the sink. She looked at Alice and scrunched her face. "Do you think it's too soon?" She asked as she walked over and turned on the water to begin doing the dishes.

"I think the heart wants what the heart wants." Alice paused. She looked at her friend and took the sponge from her hands. "I'll tell you what. I will help you make the frosting and help you frosting the cake tonight. Then I will help you with the dishes before I say good night as long as you promise to fill me in on everything this weekend!"

"That sounds like a deal." Bella answered as she began to dry the dishes Alice washed. When they were almost done, Bella looked at Alice. "Hey what are you and Jazz doing Sunday morning?"

"My mom is coming over to watch the kids so we can go out for brunch, why?"

Bella sighed and looked at her best friend. "Well, I was wondering if you and Jazz wanted to come over for brunch around noon on Sunday."

"Are you seriously going to share?" Alice asked as Bella shot her a look. "You're time. I ment you are going to share your time with him with us?"

Bella bit down on her lip again. "I guess I am. With all kidding aside, you and Jasper are two of my best friends and it would mean a lot to me."

"Well then Bella, you better make those Belgium waffles you make. Those are Jasper's favorites."

Bella didn't have time for a comment. The ringing of her phone interrupted the conversation. She dried her hands and walked over and picked her phone up. "Oh no, this isn't good."

"Who is it?"

"Jacob."

"Answer it, talk to him and if Edward comes out here, I'll entertain him for a few minutes. This is your opportunity to tell him."

Bella nodded as she answered the phone and headed to the sliding door to the deck

"Hello."

"Bells?"

"Yes, hi Jacob."

"Oh Bella, I think I did something bad."

Bella sat in the darkness as she looked inside her home. Alice was putting the newly cleaned dishes away as Edward entered the kitchen. She could see the two of them chit chatting. Her focus went back to her friend on the phone. "What happened?"

Jacob took a deep breath. On the other end of the phone could hear the horns beeping in traffic. "Remember how I told you I thought Leah might have been after my money? I asked her to sign a prenup and she threw a nutty."

"What happened?"

"Well, I asked her while we were getting ready to go out for dinner with friends. I brought it up causally. I expected a look of hurt, but instead she had this look of rage in her eyes." Jacob paused as tears formed in his eyes. "I guess I upset Leah because started throwing everything at me, her hair brush, the dog's toys, the alarm clock, the crystal vase, dishes in the kitchen, which met my head and I had to go to the hospital. I have seven stitches on my forehead."

Bella felt sad for her friend. "I guess she didn't go with you to the hospital?"

Jacob sadly chuckled. "No, I guess not. I feel bad that I made her so upset, but I think my assumptions were right and she was just using me."

"I'm really sorry Jake, I really am. What are you going to do now?"

Wiping the tears from his eyes, he answered honestly. "I'm going to stay in at a hotel for the evening. Tomorrow I'm going to talk to her about ending the engagement and ask her to leave my apartment in ample time."

"I am really sorry Jake, but think about if this happened a year or two into your marriage. Think of things this way, it's better to have found out now rather than down the road when you are married and possibly have a child."

Jacob took a deep breath. "I guess you're right." He paused for a moment before continuing. "I'm sorry I interrupted your Friday night. You probably had something fun planned."

Bella smiled softly. "I was just cooking for the weekend, no big deal. I have a few friends over," she replied as she looked at Alice listening to whatever Edward was saying. Alice was in hysterics laughing hard. Edward's brilliant smile soon appeared as he spoke to her. He was drinking the Same Adam's Cherry Wheat beer.

"Not to change the lovely subject, but I wanted to ask you, do you still keep in touch with Alice Brandon and that guy, he was friends with her. Why can't I remember his name?"

"Jasper?"

"Yes! Jasper. Thank you for jogging my memory."

"No problem. Allie and Jazz are actually very good friends of mine. They are married now and have two young children."

"Really? Good for them. Do you see them a lot?"

"Yes. Alice is actually over here now. Jazz made her take a break from her mom duties."

"Are they happy?"

Bella stopped and starred at her best friend again. She then thought of Jasper. Even though Jacob couldn't see her on the phone, she nodded her head as she answered. "Two of the happiest people I think ever breathed."

"Lucky bastards." Jacob paused before continuing. "I'm sorry I took up so much of your time on a Friday night. I'll let you go."

"Are you sure? I mean are you okay?"

"Better now that I have talked about it. I just pulled into the hotel anyway. Could I call you tomorrow?"

Bella's eyes again reflected on Edward. He was still engrossed in a conversation with Alice. Bella not only saw the laughter in the room, but she could almost feel it. "You can, but I have these plans during the day. I'm playing tour guide tomorrow for a new, um, friend."

"Bells, you always tended to act like the kind good Samaritan."

Bella took a deep breath. She knew this wasn't the time to discuss her new relationship with Edward. "Well, I'm showing a new friend around the amazing Boston. We talked about going to the museums so my phone might be turned off, but if you call, I'll call you back as soon as I can."

Jacob gave a half laugh. "That sounds fair enough. Thank you Bella, for everything."

"What do you mean?

"For listening. I appreciate it."

Bella swallowed. "We're friends Jake, that's what friends do."

"I appreciate it. I will let you go now, but tell Alice and Jasper I said hello, will you?"

"I promise. Good night Jacob," Bella said hanging up the phone."

She stared at her phone for a moment before she picked it up and went inside. Alice and Edward were no longer in the kitchen. She followed the voices to the living room. As she got closer the voices turned back into laughter.

"That was entertaining Edward! I can't believe you did that!" Alice laughed sipping her water. "Bella, you have returned. I was about to sent a search party out for you."

"Sorry, involved conversation. Allie, Jacob says hi by the way." Bella said sadly.

"Jacob?" Alice asked playing coy.

Edward nonchalantly looked at Bella as she continued. "Things went kind of bad between he and his fiancée. They had an argument and she threw a bunch of stuff at him and he had to go to the hospital to get stitches."

Edward scoffed. "What did he do?"

"He thought she was using him for his money. He asked about signing a prenup and she went all animal like on him. I guess his suspicions were right. He was pretty upset about it." She looked at Edward. "I feel horrible for Jake, I really do, however I felt worse that I couldn't wait to get off the phone to see you."

As he blushed slightly, a smile crept its way back to Edward's face. Before words could be verbalized, Alice stood up. "Well kids, this has been fun, but I have to get going. I have real kids to get up with early. Edward, you are hysterical."

"Thank you Alice. Thank you for keeping me company."

"It's the least I could do while she was preoccupied. Good night Edward." Alice teased. Bella stood up to walked Alice out.

"Good night," he told her as he shook her hand.

"I'll be right back. I'm going to walk her outside." Bella said walking with Alice to the outside.

"So I take it you didn't tell Jacob." Alice sighed.

"I couldn't. The conversation right then and there wasn't about me. I'll tell him Allie, sooner than later. Thank you so much for everything. Thanks for talking to Edward while I talked to Jake."

Alice rolled her eyes and spoke in a very sarcastic tone. "Really, you left me alone in a room with a hot movie star to entertain and talk to? It was a tough job but I guess someone had to do it. Bella, really, he is great. I had fun talking to him. I think Jazz is going to get along well with him on Sunday."

Bella hugged her friend. "I hope you're right. Have a good night Allie."

"You too and Bella?"

"Yes."

"Go inside and please do something I would do!"

Bella shook her head. "Good night."

She jogged back to the door and locked it. Edward was reading the day's Boston Globe. His eyes looked up when he saw her. "Well, hello there."

She sat across from him and smiled. "Hello." She pointed to the paper. "Am I interrupting something interesting?"

He shook his head as he took his last sip of beer. "Nope, although someone interesting just entered the room." He stood up sat next to her. He placed his arm around her. Bella snuggled in close to him as he began to talk. "Alice is very nice."

Bella laughed. "Alice is, well, Alice. I've never met anyone like her before." She paused and looked at him. He beamed with her in his arms, but he looked tired. "When did you wake up this morning?"

"Um, I guess about four, why?"

"It's almost mid night! You have been up for almost twenty four hours!"

"So?"

"So, off to bed with you boy! You've been up so long and once again, we have a lot of walking to do tomorrow."

"Are you sending me to bed?"

"Yes I am mister. Good night!" She said as she went to get up. Edward pulled her back into him and wrapped his arms around her.

"Okay, I'll go to bed on one condition."

"What's that?"

"You join me?"

I never thought you'd ask. "I guess. Come on."

Bella lead him into her bedroom. They took turns washing their faces and brushing their teeth. Bella was lying in bed when she remembered something. "I'll be right back." She said running down the hall to the guest bedroom. She grabbed the gift bag and ran back to her bedroom. Edward was lying down and looked like he was going to pass out.

"I have something for you, but you can open it tomorrow if you'd like."

Edward sat up and reached his hands for the gift. "No, I'm fine, I'll open it now." He moved the tissue paper and pulled it out. It made him laugh. "I didn't think you were serious about this."

"I told you I was going to get you one."

Edward placed the blue and red Boston Red Sox hat on his head and laughed. "How do I look?"

Bella smiled as she kissed him. "I think Boston is going to be good for you."

He gave her a kiss. "Thank you for this and I think you are right. I am really looking forward to getting to know Boston."