Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to SM. This is MINE.

A/N: Let's just get to it.

...

Chapter Eight: Warm

He came back.

The abandoner.

The son of a bitch came back.

He was in my house.

While I slept.

He came back the same way he left.

Me.

Unsuspecting.

Unaware.

Vulnerable.

Asleep.

Except this time his slithering wasn't soundless.

A single noise.

He sneezed.

Because I got a cat.

And he's allergic.

And I'm...

Pissed.

Because he's not welcome here anymore.

He had no right.

To come back.

After all this time.

After I stopped waiting.

Stopped hoping.

Stopped...

Living for him.

He had no right.

He knows that now.

I see it in his eyes.

The knowing.

And the not.

He doesn't know me anymore.

Doesn't recognize me.

The me that isn't his.

The me that stopped waiting.

The me that isn't alone anymore.

Me.

The me that's pissed.

That he knows.

Sees.

Understands.

Fears.

I see it in his eyes.

Wide.

Wild.

Afraid.

He woke me up with a sneeze.

In the middle of the night.

Like when he left, but different.

I don't sleep that soundly anymore.

It's his fault, really.

The sneezing intruder.

I jumped out of bed.

Grabbed the baseball bat from beneath it.

Hit him hard in the back with it...

As he ran.

Like the coward he is.

He fell to the ground.

Screamed "It's me!".

Like I didn't know.

Like it would matter to me.

Make it okay.

It didn't.

I hit him again.

Harder than the first time.

He screamed and started crying like a little bitch.

I told him to shut up or I'd crush his skull.

He believed me.

Stopped screaming.

The tears became silent.

Sort of.

He couldn't stop the sneezing.

He didn't like my cat.

I'm glad he didn't.

Figaro didn't like him either.

Arched his back.

Hissed.

His fur on end.

A warning.

A message...

You don't belong here.

He told me to keep that thing away from him.

Put it outside.

He shouldn't have done that.

It made me mad.

I hit him in the head with the bat.

Not hard enough to kill him...

But hard enough.

He didn't say another word.

Sneeze another sneeze.

I reached into his jacket pocket.

Found his tie.

Smelled a woman on him.

The one he left before he came here.

The one he fucked.

That's what I smelled.

It made me sick to my stomach.

The smell.

Him.

I pulled his hands behind his back.

Tied them together with his tie.

As tight as I could.

Once I'd put my gloves on.

I'd need to buy more tomorrow.

The third pair this week.

I was annoyed about that.

Pissed.

I decided he should pay.

For the gloves.

For a lot of things...

I pulled his wallet out of his pants.

Took out all the cash.

He always carried too much.

862 dollars.

Idiot.

It probably didn't even cover it...

All of the money I'd spent on disgusting toothgel and Vitamin D milk.

But it was something.

And he owes me.

And I'm going to take what I'm owed.

What I deserved.

Then.

I'm going to take it.

Now.

In this old abandoned house.

Where a family once lived.

Until a man left.

And his wife thought she couldn't live without him.

And so she didn't.

She ended her suffering while her kids were at school.

Ended hers.

Added to theirs.

He's tied to a chair in the middle of their living room.

A circle of gasoline waiting to wrap him in farewell flames.

I found it in the trunk of his car.

His car with the Oregon license plate.

Telling me where he's been.

So I figured I'd welcome him back.

And poured what was left over his head.

Soaked his clothes.

Replaced the reeking scent with a new one.

"Say goodbye, Paul."

"Bella, please... "

"Say. Goodbye."

"I'm sorry... please... don't do this... "

"SAY IT!"

"I can't. Don't you understand? It's why I didn't... I couldn't... I-"

"SAAAAAAY IIIIIIIIT!"

"No... please... I can't... "

"You can. You just won't. And this time I won't wait."

Not another second.

I slice the knife across his throat.

While he's watching me.

Because I wanted him to see.

The smile on my face as I did it.

Because I didn't need to hear it anymore.

I shove the knife into his chest.

Not his back.

Straight through his heart.

The heart that was selfish.

Greedy.

That beat only for himself.

And now beats for no one.

He'll never say the words.

Any words.

To anyone.

I step over the gasoline.

Take a few more steps back.

Strike a match.

Light a cigarette.

Then throw it.

The match.

Watch it ignite.

The gas.

Him.

Flames rise.

Surround him.

Engulf him.

While I watch.

Laugh.

And turn and walk away.

Alive.

...

It's a long walk back to my house.

Dark.

Quiet.

Peaceful.

It gives me time to think.

Clear my senses.

Listen.

To the silence.

I wonder if it will stay...

The silence.

If the clawing will leave me now.

If it's satisfied.

With my offering.

My gift.

To it.

To myself.

I wonder...

If.

...

The hot water of the shower felt good.

The warmth of the fire feels better.

And Figaro on my chest.

Happy.

It's just us again.

The intruder gone.

Never to return.

We watch the flames like a movie.

A musical of sorts.

They dance.

Crackle.

A song.

It soothes.

Lulls.

He stretches out.

Shifts.

Curls into a ball.

Comfortable.

His head on my heart.

His eyes meet mine.

Then close.

He can sleep now.

And me.

With no fear of waking up afraid.

Or alone.

Or surprised.

I drift to sleep with flames dancing behind my eyelids.

Flames like the ones that warm me now...

But not.

Not these.

Not the same.

But still they warm me...

Somewhere...

Inside.

...

I read the headline Alice puts under my nose with a roll of my eyes.

Is Catwoman catnapping?

She giggles beside me and Jasper shakes his head. "Your amusement with this case is a little disturbing, babe. There are eight victims waiting for justice."

They already got their justice... and there were nine, actually. How did you not figure that one out? Don't ashes tell stories?

Paul's death made the news, though the connection has yet to be made to the other assholes that got what was coming to them. And Alice and Jasper are also yet to bring him up to me, if they ever will.

"Face it, Jasper, our little Alice is twisted."

"I'm starting to think so," he says with a wink, before his eyes turn serious, "And that she has no faith that her husband can solve this case."

"That is not true!" she gasps, "Of course you can, and you will."

God, I hope not. THAT would be awkward... "How is that going? Things have gotten quiet, it seems. Any promising leads?"

"Honestly, Bella... no. This woman, whoever she is, has us baffled." He runs his hands through his hair and leans back in his chair. "She leaves no evidence. Nothing. Not a hair, not a thread, nothing. It's as if she touches nothing, and they don't touch her... which doesn't make sense, since there seems to be a sexual element to each kill. And no one ever hears anything, or sees anything... and the clueless bastards certainly never see it coming...

"But yes, by some grace of God, things have gotten quiet. Whatever it is that was setting her off, hasn't been for a few weeks. I hope it stays that way. For your sake, too."

What? "For my sake?"

Alice throws a pillow at him from the couch, sticking her tongue out. "He's talking about me showing up at your door every time he gets a call and has to leave."

"Aaaah, that," I say with a playful shudder, earning me a punch in the arm from Alice. "Believe it or not, I really don't mind. I like cute little cuddly things. When they aren't hitting me, anyway."

I rub my arm with a pout and stand. "And now I'm going home, where another cute little cuddly thing is probably doing something not so cute and cuddly, like ripping my drapes to shreds. I'll see you guys later."

"But it's early! We haven't even eaten yet," Alice whines, "I promise to put my fists of fury away. Please stay? And not because I want you to cook. We can order a pizza or something."

"It is early, and you should take advantage of the quiet, and spend a nice evening alone with your cute and cuddly husband. I'll call you tomorrow, we'll go to lunch or something."

She frowns, but gives up with a hug, and follows me as I grab my jacket and head into the foyer, with Jasper right behind her. He takes the jacket from me and holds it up so I can slip my arms into it, and opens the door, following me outside to my car. Jasper Whitlock... always the gentleman.

"Are you alright, sweetie?"

"Yeah, I'm good, why?"

"Are you really, or is that just the easy answer these days? Or the one you think we want to hear?"

"It was always the one you wanted to hear, I didn't lie about it then."

"No, you didn't. You didn't say much at all. Not to me, anyway."

"I don't know, Jasper... I guess it was kind of humiliating to talk to you about it."

"Humiliating? Why would you say that?"

"Nevermind. It doesn't matter anymore."

"It matters to me."

"He's dead. Can we just leave it that way?"

"We can, but I'd really like to know how you could ever feel humiliated to talk to me about anything. It's me."

I shake my head with a sigh, "He left me like I was nothing. I didn't want to see the realization in your eyes that maybe that was what I'd become."

"You'd never see that from me, Bella. You could never be nothing. I know better. Better than anyone, maybe. And that hasn't changed. You'll always be something. The most amazing something I've ever known."

I see the love he once felt for me in his eyes. Or feels...

He's where he belongs now, with Alice, but the years we spent together will always be there, inside, sweet memories of a young, untainted love.

"I'm okay. I promise. And thank you."

"I want you to be happy, Bella. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to be loved. Cherished. Again."

"I'm not sure that's in the cards for me, Jasper. Maybe some of us only get one shot... "

"I don't accept that. Not for you. It will happen... when you least expect it. Someone will come along and know... the moment they lay eyes on you... that you're something special. They'll want you... need you... and will fight to love you. Live to. I promise, it will happen. Again."

I glance up at the house, and see Alice in the window, watching us. She has that sad smile on her face that she gets sometimes. The one that says I'm sorry, but thank you all at the same time. I blow her a kiss, and plant another on Jasper's cheek, and reach for the door handle of my car. He opens it before I can, and I climb in and look up at him. "Your life is waiting in there. The one I fought for. Go live it. That will make me happy."

"The most amazing, selfless something I've ever known."

I don't say anything, only smile, and put my key in the ignition.

"I'll always be here, Bella. If you need me. Always."

"I know."

He nods his head and closes my door, and I drive away with one thought in my mind, as fear creeps into my heart for the first time. Fear that I may not always have their love.

Where I need you.

...

There's a U-Haul trailer in the driveway next door when I pull into mine. The only other driveway on my quiet, peaceful road. The quiet, peaceful road that I've had to myself for more than a year. I noticed about a week ago that the realtor's sign was gone from the yard, but since I hadn't seen anyone come or go, I didn't think much of it.

I get out of my car and unlock the front door, to let Figaro have a few minutes of fresh air. He runs out the second I open it, circles my feet once, and then runs straight next door to investigate.

Shit. I really hope my new neighbors don't hate cats.

"Figaro!" I call, crossing the yard, "Let's not be nosey neighbors. Come back here!"

The front door is open as I come around the U-haul and see Figaro scramble up the porch steps and circle around a pair of black Adidas before rubbing against a dark jean covered leg. The dark jean covered leg that has a voice...

"Well, hello, neighbor. Or... neighbors, I guess I should say."

A really great voice... that came out of an even greater mouth... Hello, sex on a stick! "Hi. Sorry... I guess he needs a lesson on personal space." Lucky little fucker...

"Oh, not at all," he says, reaching down and scooping him up, "I like cats. And it's a nice welcome."

Apparently cats like him, too... or at least mine does. A lot. He's in kitten heaven right now, getting his little head scratched. I don't blame him, I suppose, those long fingers look like they could do magical things...

"That's Figaro." The luckiest little cat on earth. "And I'm Bella, and welcome to our quiet little neighborhood."

"Well, I'm Edward, and thank you. And don't worry... I promise I'm not here to change that. Quiet is exactly why I chose this place." He glances towards my house and back to me with curious green eyes. "So, uh... are there any other neighbors I'll be meeting?"

"We're the only two houses on this road." Obviously, Mr. Beautiful-but-maybe-not-so-bright...

"Yeah... but no, I mean... uh... "

Oh... "Figaro and I are your only neighbors. It's just us here. If that's what you meant."

"It is. And good. Shit... I mean... "

"It is good." And you're fucking adorable. "So, will we be meeting any other new neighbors?"

"No. It's just me. And that's good, too."

I couldn't agree more...

Something more than a smile passes between us, and through me, and I'm just about to break the not-so-uncomfortable silence, when Figaro spots an apparently intriguing squirrel and leaps from Edward's arms. In what seems like the blink of an eye, my cat is high in the tree in my new - And on the 8th day, God created - neighbor's front yard.

"Wow, he's really up there. I've never seen him do that before."

"He's a natural."

"He's high. I don't suppose you're a fireman and have a truck with a really long ladder parked out back?"

"No, but I am a hell of a tree climber."

I watch, instantly mesmerized, as he starts up the tree before I can say another word. Strong, sure hands grip branches, as arms I'd like to feel around me, pull him up. Long, muscular legs flex under low-on-his-hips jeans, the black waistband of what I hope are boxer briefs taunting me with a game of peek-a-boo... and his ass... that I suddenly have an inexplicable desire to take a bite of...

A low chuckle snaps me out of my trance, and I realize I've been caught, as I look up to eyes trained down on my face and a cocked brow.

"Sorry," I say, clearing my throat, "I'm not usually the ogling sort, I swear I'm not... and I swear you don't have a crazy stalker cat lady for a neighbor, but fuck, if you aren't the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

Did I just say that out loud?

"Wow. And such a compliment on a day that I spent most of behind the wheel before the last two hours I spent unloading boxes... not to mention my current position up a tree trying to rescue your kitten...

"To say I'm flattered would be an understatement of epic proportions. And I believe you about not being a crazy stalker, or cat lady, since you only have one, but I think you may be wrong about the the most beautiful thing you've ever seen part. Surely you have a mirror?"

"I do. And a bullshit detector, too."

"Well, if it's going off, then it's broken, because I'm definitely not bullshitting you, Bella. You're a stunningly beautiful woman, and frankly, I'd really like Figaro to cooperate so I could look at you from down there instead of up here."

As if on cue, the furry little tree climbing cockblocker climbs higher instead of lower and I can't help but laugh, though I'm starting to get really nervous for both of them as Edward follows him up.

"Please be careful," I call up to him, "Stunningly beautiful woman getting scared down here."

Well, look at me... concerned for a man's well-being. Maybe there's still some sweet in there after all. Of course, this isn't just any man... this is 8th day, sex on a stick man...

"Did you say something?" he calls down to me.

"Be careful?"

"No... after that."

"That I'm getting scared?"

"After that, too. And stunningly beautiful."

"Uh... no. Not out loud."

"Are you sure about that?"

I think so... "You don't read minds, do you?"

"I suppose not. Not technically."

"Not technically? What does that mean?"

"Got him!"

I hold my breath as he begins to climb down the tree, now one-armed, since he has a squirming Figaro tucked firmly in the other.

"And what that means," he says as he reaches the bottom and ruffles a biting Figaro's fur before handing him to me, "is that it's my job to get inside people's minds."

You've got to be kidding me... "You're a shrink?"

"No. Definitely not."

"A tree climbing psychic? Oh God, let me guess... the leaves speak to you?"

"No," he laughs, "And you're getting colder."

"Okay... Oh! You work for the telephone company? And you just think it's your job to tap into people's conversations, which is cheating on that whole 'getting inside people's minds' thing. And which would be illegal, just so you know."

"No," he laughs again and takes a step closer. "Is that ice forming on the tip of your nose?"

"No. It's not."

"Are you sure?" he asks, stepping even closer. "Because being observant is part of my job, too."

"Yes. And it looks like Figaro isn't the only one that needs a lesson on personal space."

"Hmmm..." He's so close now that I can feel his breath on my face. "Am I making you warm, Bella?"

"I refuse to answer that on the grounds that it may incriminate me."

"Now you are getting a little warmer. Sort of. And are you sure you don't want to answer?"

I'm not sure who's squirming more, Figaro in my arms, or me... "I should get him inside... "

"I suppose I should let you. And get back to my boxes... "

Or... "Or you could let me be a hospitable neighbor and invite you in for a drink or something. To welcome you to our neighborhood. And thank you for rescuing my kitten... "

"I'd like that. Invite away."

"Would you like to-"

"Yes."

I smile and gesture toward my front door. He follows behind me as I start walking.

"I think I like it here," he says in a low voice.

I glance over my shoulder and find his eyes on my ass. "Good. I'm glad." We reach my porch steps and I open the door. "So, are you going to tell me what you do for a living? That requires you to be observant and get inside people's minds?

"Sure," he says, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "I'm a special agent with the FBI. A criminal profiler... "

Fuck.

Now I'm warm.

xx

Well, damn...

But... HE'S HERE!

Aaaaand... this baby finally has an amazing fucking banner, made by the even more amazing FrozenSoldier. I'll get it up on my profile soon, but check my tumblr if you don't want to wait. Or my fb. If you want. Chloe Masen, of course.

And, last but not least, THANK YOU shadowed by passion. For last night. You saved my ass, babe. Kisses.

For the rest of you... thanks for reading. AFTER you review... go read her stories.

In the words of Tigger... ta ta for now!