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All three heads turned towards me. Tanya was prettier than my worst imaginations, even with that shocked look on her face. She had strawberry blonde hair that dropped down in loose tendrils on her shoulders and chest, and amber eyes. She was tall and had a slim physique.

"Oh!" And then a knowing look came into her eye, she turned to Edward, "I didn't know you kept snacks here? This one's cute. Mind if you share?"

I felt a pang of nausea and unease when I realized what she meant.

And then Tanya turned towards me, crouched down and launched herself at me.

"NO!" Edward roared, and I barely acknowledged that, or Alice's furious snarls that were erupting from her.

For that split second, time seemed to be moving at an incredibly slow motion, and I was pinned to my spot as I watched with wide eyes as the blur of blonde gracefully hurled 'slowly' in the air towards me. I couldn't move my eyes to register completely what was happening in the background- Edward had sprung towards Tanya, and was now hurling gracefully in the air as well now.

Close your eyes, Bella, let it be quick, now. There's nothing you can do to stop it.

I tried to shut my eyes, but I couldn't.

And then suddenly, time seemed to speed up again, and the blur of blonde was no longer hurling towards me, but instead she- and Edward with his arms locked around her neck- were suddenly crashing into the back of the white sofa; which, from the force, pushed in the coffee table and into the parallel white sofa.

All of the thoughts that had run through my mind in the last two seconds had felt like thoughts that would run through two hours.

I flinched slightly- my first movement since Tanya had tried to attack me- at the deafening sounds that Edward, Tanya, the sofas and the coffee table made all slamming together, and I suddenly felt Alice's arm around my waist, pulling me slightly back.

Everything went completely silent now, and I was surprisingly calm after what had just happened.

Edward didn't unlock his grip on Tanya as he stood up, his eyes flitting towards me and then Alice. "Bella are you ok?" I didn't answer his question. I was watching Tanya.

Tanya looked suddenly confused, and all trace that she wanted to kill me was gone, "Bella? As in Bella Swan? As in, the girl you left?"

I felt Edward's anxious eyes on me for a split second as I winced, but then he was glaring at Tanya, his mouth in a hard line, "Tanya, you had no business in showing up here and assuming that Bella was a snack."

"Well, it's been a while, Edward, since you've kept human company!"

"What, did you honestly think that I had just turned against everything Carlisle had built up for the Cullens?" Edward seethed.

Tanya glared at Edward, and then her big, amber eyes were focused on mine. "My apologies, Swan, I didn't realize exactly who you were."

I didn't say anything. Tanya turned her eyes back to Edward awkwardly, because he still refused to let go of her.

"Edward." Alice said quietly, and there was a moment of silence as Edward and Alice's eyes joined, as they had a silent conversation. It wasn't hard to guess what Alice had been telling Edward as he loosened Tanya from his stone grip.

He flitted from Tanya and came in front of me, where he took a protective stance.

Tanya straightened up, and quickly fixed up the furniture, which fortunately hadn't broken, just was in the wrong positions and all up against the wall.

Then she turned back to us, and rolled her eyes at the way Edward was standing in front of me. I thought I noticed some jealousy there, too. "Come on, Edward, I won't hurt her, now that I know that she wasn't intended as a snack."

She turned her head to the side a bit so that she could look at me from behind Edward, and he instinctively stepped to block me from Tanya, but I could still see her eyes as she said "Don't worry. I won't bite." I detected a slight leer in her voice, as if she was speaking to a five year old.

Edward snarled quietly. "Tanya, you should leave. Go back home to your sisters."

Tanya looked honestly surprised, "Why? You haven't even had the chance to take me out on a proper date yet!"

I could see that Edward was having trouble keeping himself composed, his hands were clenched into fists, and his voice was slightly strained as he tried to keep a polite tone, which every so often would slip, and turn into anger. "You tried to kill one of the closest people to me, never mind your rubbish excuse of not knowing who Bella was because you still know my family's vegetarian ways; and you have crossed the line way too many times. Tanya, there are plenty of men out there who drool over you. I'm not actually sorry to say that I'm not one of them, so please don't act as if you're my girlfriend when you are not." Edward paused for a moment as he glanced back at me- I had no idea what my expression held- before turning to Tanya again and saying, not bothering now to hide the hardness in his voice, "Tanya, before I do something to you that will traumatize this innocent human being for life, go. Home. Now."

Tanya stood there for a moment, stunned- we were all a bit stunned at Edward's long speech, her eyebrows raised. She was clearly trying to judge whether she should argue a bit longer, or just leave. Eventually she narrowed her eyes at Edward, and then briefly at me, "Fine, I'll leave, but this isn't over, Edward." She smiled a sick sweet smile at him, and then she glided gracefully out the door, glancing back once to wink at Edward before she was gone.

EPOV

I wanted to run after Tanya, and rip her head off.

To put things mildly.

But I couldn't. Even though she attacked Bella, and could have killed her; even though she could have killed the reason for my existence, my love, my Bella; even though she spoke rudely to Bella afterwards, and was thinking vile thoughts of Bella; I couldn't go after her.

For one, her shallow mind would get the wrong idea.

And then there was the fact that I was far too anxious- to put it mildly again- about Bella to leave her, even for a short while.

What would Bella be thinking now? Surely she was going to break down, be traumatized from yet another vampire, and yet again because of me. Would she want to leave? I couldn't possibly imagine that she would want to stay anywhere near me.

I also couldn't possibly imagine how to let her leave.

I loved Bella too much, and I was never making the foolish mistake of leaving her and hurting her again.

But what if she wanted to leave this time? Get some space, get away?

I had no right to stop her, but I was going to have to do my very best to fix things up, she couldn't be in the best state after what had just happened.

I turned around to face Bella, wary, and, to my utter surprise, I noticed that her face was relatively calm. I bit shaky and startled, but much calmer than I thought she would be.

And that was when I remembered something.

Apparently time had not changed things; Bella was still prone to having incredibly irrational reactions. If I wasn't so worried about her, I might have chuckled in bewilderment.

"Bella, I am so, so sorry for what happened. Are you ok?" I asked her anxiously. I wasn't going to just forget this, even if Bella wasn't freaking out.

I felt the urge to hug her, and I did. We were friends, surely friends could hug.

Bella was so warm and soft, I wanted to hold her in my arms forever, I thought as I waited for her to answer my question.

"I'm fine." She told me. Despite my earlier thoughts about her seeming calm, I didn't believe her. She blushed slightly- I wanted to stroke her cheek, but that was pushing my luck- and then said, "Really, I'm fine, it was just a little misunderstanding, right?" Her voice shook a little at the end, but she seemed determined to convince me otherwise.

A misunderstanding that could have gotten her killed.

I shook that thought away, and led her to the kitchen table where I sat her down and proceeded to make her a cup of tea. Alice sat down next to her.

BPOV

Apparently, there had been quite a few misunderstandings.

Tanya wasn't Edward's girlfriend, for one.

I couldn't help the swell of happiness and joy that rushed through me as I considered this. I knew that didn't heighten my chances at all of Edward being interested in me- if he wasn't interested in that beautiful blonde, then why would he be interested in me? - But I still felt a lot better.

And then… I remembered Edward's earlier words… '"You tried to kill one of the closest people to me…"'

I assumed that he had meant me. I was… one of the closest people to Edward…

I found that hard to wrap my mind around, after all this time.

It still made me unbelievably happy, though.

"Bella? Bella, how do you expect Edward to think you're fine like this?" Alice broke my reverie, and I realized that I was sitting at the breakfast table.

I looked up, and Alice was sitting on the chair next to mine, staring at me in amusement; while Edward was standing at the Island counter, watching at me with concern.

"I'm sorry… I was just, er, daydreaming," I blushed.

Alice rolled her eyes and smiled, "Yeah, figures. Edward wants to know if you take sugar with your tea."

"Oh, uhmm, yes please," I looked up at Edward, and tried to give him a reassuring smile that I wasn't mental, "One teaspoon please."

Edward added the sugar, and then came to place the mug in front of me, and then sat opposite Alice.

I had a few sips of the tea immediately, it tasted so good, and it wasn't too hot or too cold. After a few moments, I put the cup down and then looked up; I found that Alice and Edward were both staring at me with mixed expressions on their faces. It made me feel self-conscious.

I cleared my throat, and tried to divert their attention, "What's wrong, guys?"

"Bella, are you sure you're okay?" Edward asked, and he looked truly worried. As much as it pleased me that he cared about me, I didn't want to constantly be reminded of Tanya attacking me.

I sighed, and decided to set both of them straight, "Edward. Alice." I looked at both of them in turn, and then continued, "I. am. Fine. Really. Yes, I got a bit of a shock when Tanya attacked me, and nearly got me, but nothing happened in the end. I got a fright, but I'm fine now. And you two constantly asking me if I'm fine isn't going to help me feel fine. Are we clear?"

Edward and Alice contemplated what I had just said for a moment, before chuckling, and Edward saluted and said, "Yes ma'am." He grinned and I rolled my eyes.

The afternoon went by quickly after that, Edward played some piano for Alice and I, then later that evening after dinner- which Edward had insisted on making again- Alice and Edward- but more Alice- somehow managed convinced me to play Investigator* with them, which I lost pathetically at, even with the 'advantage' of Edward not being able to read my mind. It was fun, though, in the end the game was more between Alice and Edward, they seemed to be matched evenly with the foreseeing moves and reading minds, it was hilarious to watch.

At some point I got up and phoned Carole to check on my children, I spoke to both of them and promised that I would visit them the next morning.

After I hung up, I went back to sit beside Alice and watch her and Edward, they were still playing; both of them refused to give up. This was getting old. They were both so stubborn; I couldn't not chuckle at them, though.

"In case you two were two absorbed in winning and didn't hear; I'm going to go over to Carole tomorrow to see Jenny and Ben."

"Ok." They both said.

I sighed and gave up trying to get them to stop playing, and instead I flopped down on the couch and watched, bored. There wasn't much to see.

A little while later I noticed Alice's eyes unfocused- she was seeing something- and I tensed for a moment at this déjà vu, but then relaxed when neither of them looked too bothered.

A few moments later Alice turned to me and asked, "Bella, after you've seen your kids tomorrow, would you like to come spend some time with Carlisle and Esme and the family?"

"Don't feel pressured though, you don't have to if you don't want to," Edward added hastily when I paused.

I smiled widely, "I've course, I'd love to see your family again!" I exclaimed, but I hesitated and turned to Alice, "But… I don't want to… Is Jasper…?"

Alice seemed to understand what I was asking, "Jasper has been doing much better over the years Bells, and he doesn't blame you one bit for what happened." She stopped there; she probably sensed that I didn't want to go back to those memories.

I smiled and nodded, and we closed the subject; I went to bed shortly after that, Alice's shopping and Tanya's almost-attack had worn me out.

**********

The next morning I was up at 9, after a certain insisting Alice had jumped onto me in the cocoon of duvet that I was wrapped in, and demanded that I get out bed now, apparently she was bored and I had slept enough. Apparently. I hadn't felt like it as I dragged myself out of the bed and into the shower.

We were out the house and in Alice's Porsche, speeding down the highway with Edward in his Volvo behind us- He had been determined to drive in his beloved car- at ten 'o'clock.

Alice and Edward had raced for a little bit on the way, and eventually Alice had given up and let Edward take over, his crooked grin plastered on his face as he sped past us and out of sight. He was going straight to the Cullens while Alice would drop me off at Carole and then come fetch me an hour later.

"So." Alice began, and something about her oh-so-casual tone made me uneasy. I wondered if this was why she had let Edward win.

"Yes?" I asked cautiously.

"You and Edward are getting on well."

Oh no. Not this.

"Alice…" I began to groan.

"Hey, I'm just stating a fact," She said defensively.

"Fine. Yes we are." I said firmly, but I knew even before Alice continued that it wasn't finished.

"You seemed really touched yesterday by his playing your lullaby."

I sighed. This was starting to explain the smug grin on her face just before entering the apartment when Edward had been playing.

"Yes." I might as well just get her annoying questions out of the way. I tried best as I could to ignore her suggestive tones as she spoke.

"You seem quite please that he cares about you." Jeez. I hadn't realized how much she observed things, but I shouldn't have been surprised. This is Alice.

"Yes. It's nice to know my friends care about me." I tried not to put special emphasis on the word 'friends', but judging by Alice's grin that she was trying to hide, she had guessed just about everything and was going exactly where I didn't want her to go.

"And you're fine with being just friends?"

"Yes." I answered too quickly. Damn it. I felt my cheeks going red.

Although Alice was driving, she turned the full force of her stare on me, and I didn't know what else to do but stare back. I knew there was no point in telling her to watch the road; the car was driving along the road as if she were watching.

"Bella." Her eyes had turned soft now. "Tell me the truth."

I groaned, and I turned my head away from her. I knew she wouldn't think about this around Edward, put it felt so much more real speaking it aloud. I felt my eyes prick up, just a little bit.

"Ok, Alice, I know you probably won't, but you don't mention this to anyone, and don't you dare think about this around Edward." Alice nodded seriously, and I continued, "I'm trying really hard to accept the fact that Edward and I are just friends, because that's the only way I get to stay around him. It really doesn't help with you suggesting otherwise to me, it just makes it a lot harder so please stop. I do care about Edward, but I don't intend for him to know that I care about him more than just a friend. Clear?"

When I dared a glance at Alice, she was staring out at the road and nodded. She had a small, sweet smile on her face, and I didn't know what to make of that.

We were quiet for the next couple of minutes before Alice said, "We're here." And she pulled into the driveway leading up to Carole's house. It had white walls and a black tiled roof; there were four windows on the front wall and a black door. There were plant creepers growing up the front wall, as well as roses growing out of them, too. It was pretty much the picture from a fairytale.

"Cute house," Alice commented.

"Yeah. Thanks Alice, I won't be too long, you'll see when I'm ready for you to fetch me." I grinned at her.

She grinned back, "Take your time. I'll see you later."

After she pulled out and drove away, I walked up the porch steps and knocked on the door.

Jenny answered it, "MOMMMYYYYY!!!"

She threw herself at me and I picked her up, hugging her tightly. "Hey Jenny! Mommy's so happy to see you!" I felt bad that I hadn't visited earlier, but Jenny seemed to be very content to be staying with Carole. I stepped inside, still holding Jenny as I kissed her forehead, and was soon greeted by Ben who squealed in delight for about 5 minutes straight when he saw me. I put Jenny down and picked Ben up and gave him a big hug. I had been a bit worried about Ben, we was a lot shyer around Carole's kids than Jenny was, she was naturally outgoing. But Ben seemed relatively happy here too, but I sensed that he had missed my presence in a different way that Jenny had.

Carole came down the spiral stairs as I was asking my children what they had done, and they were giving me a full list of all the activities they had done with Dana and Embry, Carole's children.

Carole gave me a quick hug, and we went into the neat and organized lounge. I wondered how she had two young children and managed to still keep the house immaculate all the time, and now with four! It was something I was beyond knowing, let alone achieving.

We sat down on the deep blue sofa, and Jenny and Ben went back upstairs to watch a movie with Dana and Embry.

"Have the children been okay?" I asked Carole.

"Oh yes, they've been fine. Ben missed you quite a lot, but he's been perky enough. Same for Jenny." Carole told me.

"That's good to know." I sighed.

We chatted for about half an hour longer, the kids coming in and out a few times to sit on my lap, and then Carole brought something else up.

"Oh! I forgot to tell you, but I have something to give you for now, if you want," Carole said, smiling, "The people who have been renting out our apartment that we have are leaving, and if you want you can stay in it, as long as you like. I'm not kicking your children out, you know I love them, but it's just a thought. The apartment is furnished; it's about a fifteen minute drive there from here. Gorgeous view."

I gaped at Carole, and was overwhelmed my emotion, "Carole, I... I can't."

"Of course you can, silly, we're sisters. And don't give me any crap about you paying rent," She added sternly.

I laughed, and then smiled widely, "Thank you so much, Carole." I hugged her tightly.

"No worries, Bells." She pulled back and asked, "The apartment has enough space for Jenny and Ben, but I would understand if you wanted them to stay here while you got things sorted…"

"Oh no! Thank you, but I think I had better take my kids with me now, I miss them too much!" I told her.

Carole gave me the address of the apartment, which I recognized vaguely, but couldn't finger exactly where it was. She gave me the key, and information about heating and such. We then organized for me to come and fetch Jenny and Ben in a couple of hours, after I had visited the Cullen's.

I 'phoned' Alice to let her know to come and fetch me, just so Carole wouldn't winder how Alice had arrived just on time.

I kissed my kids and Carole goodbye, and then headed out the door and into Alice's Porsche.

"Good time?" Alice asked as we drove away.

"Yeah." I decided that, if Alice hadn't seen me moving in another apartment yet, then I would tell Edward before I told her that I had found a place, for now.

We arrived at the Cullen's house quickly; it was just as beautiful as their one had been in Forks. There was a long winding stone driveway, leading up to a big, two story, house with white slanted planks on the walls and a deep brown wooden roof. There was a big porch on the front, and a line of bushes with beautiful blue flowers sticking out, just in front. Edward was waiting in the garage as we parked.

He opened my door before I could reach for it, and grinned cheekily me. I had to smile back. "Hello. How are your kids?" He asked me as I got out.

"Hi. They're fine, thanks. Edward, Carole found me a place to stay," I blurted out, and then blushed.

Edward chuckled, "That's good, where is it?"

I went even redder, as I searched for the paper that Carole had written the address on in my bag. "I don't know, I recognize the name, but I don't know where it is." I found the paper and handed it to Edward.

Edward looked at the paper, and seemed to find something very amusing as he handed it back to me.

"What?" I demanded.

"Nothing. I know where it is, I'll take you there after here. Come on inside, Esme is dying to see you." Edward gave a gentle tug on my arm, but he was still trying to stifle quiet laugh.

I stared at him suspiciously for a moment before shrugging and letting him pull me into the back door of the house.

The inside of the house was similar to the inside of the Cullen's old home in Forks, the furniture was mainly white, and was simple, but still very beautiful.

We walked into a large, spacious room, where huge windows with black paneling were spread across the walls, revealing a gorgeous lake outside, followed by an expansion of land with very thin, very tall trees appearing here and there. The room reminded me of Edward's apartment, with the big white sofas and coffee table in the middle of the room. In the corner of the room, there was one, big glass spiral bookshelf, and in the other corner was a piano the same as Edward's, but it was white.

"Bella."I heard a female voice call me, and then I saw Esme coming out of another room, with Carlisle just behind her. She looked as lovely as ever, with her caramel curls tumbling on her shoulders, and her warm, amber eyes on me as she walked forward. I felt a swell of warmth and happiness to see her, and I began to walk forward to hug her. Unfortunately, in my eagerness to reach her, I tripped on my own two feet, and began to fall forward. I closed my eyes, waiting for the impact of my head hitting the floor, but it never came.

Instead, I felt my favorite pair of cool arms wrap around me and catch me from the back, and pulling me back up onto my feet.

I turned around and blushed as I quickly thanked Edward, and suddenly everyone in the room was laughing a bit at my near-fall.

"Hello, Bella." Esme was now in front of me, smiling at me.

"Hi Esme!" I returned her tight hug, and then gave Carlisle a hug, and then Jasper, who had been standing on the side; a more awkward and quick hug. I quickly remembered that Rosalie and Emmett were in New York doing something, so I wouldn't be seeing them today.

It made me self-conscious when I saw how they hadn't changed at all, how they were all still so beautiful and graceful, and I was… well, me.

It still made me really happy to be around the people who I had once, and still did, considered my second family.

We all sat down on the white sofas, and Esme offered me something to drink. I accepted, and then we all began to talk about what everyone had been up to.

It didn't feel as sad this time, as it had when Edward had been telling me the first time, because this time I knew that I could be around Edward and his family, as Edward's friend.

"So Bella, what about you?" Esme asked. She had hesitated at first, I understood why, but, although it stung a little bit to talk about what I did after they had left, I felt alright.

I answered Esme, "I went to University at Stanford, I majored in Writing and Journalism, and graduated four years later." I hesitated then, not knowing how to bring in my children and non- job without bringing in my abusing husband.

"Stanford? Wow." Carlisle approved. I had a growing feeling that everyone here was in on my crumbling marriage, even Alice and Jasper. I flushed slightly at that thought.

And then I blushed again at Carlisle's words.

Everyone chuckled, could I not stop blushing? Apparently not.

Esme had made me lunch- Ceaser salad- and I felt awkward being the only one eating around there, but nobody seemed to notice, as we continued to chat easily.

Two hours went by quickly, and I suddenly looked at my watch and realized that I had to fetch Jenny and Ben then.

Edward offered to take me there, and then to show me my new apartment, which still caused a chuckle to slip from his lips when I mentioned it. How strange. Alice seemed to be in on the joke, and promised to be at Edward's apartment, and that she would visit soon.

I hugged everyone goodbye, and then Edward drove me to Carole's place. The sun was out that day, but we managed to avoid it in the car by driving in the shade next to trees, and then parking in a shady spot on Carole's driveway.

As I saw Jenny and Ben bouncing out the door, with Carole behind them, I realized that this would be the first time that they would properly meet Edward.

Edward and I got out of the car, Edward waited in the shade while I went to greet my kids again, enveloping them in quick hugs, before bringing them towards Edward. "Jenny, Ben, I want you to meet my friend, Edward."

Jenny grinned at Edward and said hello, and Ben strode forward and stuck out his hand, which looked minute in comparison to Edward's.

I laughed in surprise, and Edward's eyes warmed as he shook Ben's had lightly.

I don't know how, but just the way Ben looked at Edward, I thought that they were going to like each other very much.

"You got your bag?" I asked my children, and they both nodded and pointed to their mini duffel bags, which looked very cute over their small shoulders.

Edward took both bags from them with ease, and put them in the boot, while I strapped Jenny and Ben into the back seats, I tightened the belts extra hard for Ben, because there wasn't a toddler chair for him.

Then Edward and I got in the front seats, and Edward began driving towards the address of Carole's apartment.

I didn't pay much attention to where we were going, I was mostly speaking to Jenny and Ben in the back, they were having a ball telling me about how Dana and Embry switched the sugar and salt, and Sam put sugar on his steak that night. I myself was having fun imagining Sam's face, and I had to chuckle. Carole's children were young, but that didn't seem to affect their naughtiness factor. I noticed that Edward was smiling too, at Jenny and Ben's fit of giggles. I was glad that he seemed to like my children.

A little while later, Edward said, "We're here."

I looked out the window, and was confused.

We were in an apartment parking lot.

Edward's apartment parking lot.

And then it clicked.

I turned to Edward, and he was grinning cheekily at me. A slow smile was spreading across my face. And then I giggled, like a little girl.

"You could have said so!" I accused him lightly as we took the mini duffel bags out of the back, and began walking with the kids up the steps to the entrance.

"Well what would have been the fun in that?" Edward asked in mock horror.

I had to laugh, and I felt Edward's arm go around my shoulder as he gave me a hug.

I smiled up at him.

I don't know why, but the idea of living in the same apartment building as Edward pleased me a lot.

Okay, I do know why.

Naww :)

Hehe, i know i ask everytime, but please review and let me know what you think!

Okay, I know a lot of you want Bella and Edward to just get together already, but dont worry, its coming. I hope u can see that from the building up in their relationship in this chapter :)

xxxxxxx