A/N: SM owns it all. Thank you to all who are reading!

Chapter song: "By Your Side" by Sade/ "The Galway Girl" by Steve Earle


There's nothing like waking up at 3am to the sound of a blood curdling scream. Having just trounced my nightmares as a result of The Alley Clash, the scream did nothing good for my nerves. In fact, as I shot up in bed at a right angle, my hand moved to cover my furiously beating heart; but before it reached my chest, a crack ran down the large panel window in my room.

"Shit!" I hissed.

Then my bedroom door flung open and as my blood pumped faster, the crack in the window spread into the form of a cross. The shadowed form of Edward raced into my room, with his wide eyes staring intently at my face.

"Are you okay?"

I took me a moment to think about what he was asking me and I had almost forgotten what had woken me up in the first place.

Edward must have sensed my drowsy confusion because he formed his question differently this time. "Was that you that screamed?"

"No, that was Rosalie," I told him. "The woman has lungs like a Sumo Wrestler."

His eyes looked over me a few times, still panicked almost as if he thought I was lying. I turned my gaze to the cracks in the window and his eyes followed. Our eyes met again and he almost looked amused.

"Sorry," he said.

Then I noticed that he was in his underwear. It was hard to see, there were no lights on but the moon was full that night and it's white glow crept through my bedroom window like a spotlight on Edward's boxer briefs. They were black and my face turned bright red, a smile fighting at my face. Holy Mother of Heaven, he was gorgeous. How had I not realized how gorgeous he was?

He followed my gaze once again which was focused on said boxer briefs. I have no shame.

"Uh…" he stuttered.

Then another scream and we were brought back to the reality of the situation.

"What the hell?" I thumped out of bed with about as much grace as a walrus out of water. I made sure my tank top and flannel pants were on straight as I headed past Edward and toward the hall. "Do you think she's okay?"

Edward followed me down the hall; I could feel his body heat against my back as we crept in the dark toward Rose and Emmett's room. When we reached the door, I put my ear to it, listening for any signs of life. The light was on but there was no shadows of movement coming from beneath the door. I was sure Rosalie had to work the next morning, so there had to be something going on that woke her up.

"Maybe she had a bad dream," Edward whispered as he moved past me to the door.

"What going on?" Alice yawned, her feet thumping against the floor. She rubbed her eyes, and black mascara smudges surrounded them. "Was that Rosalie?"

"I think so," I whispered. "Do you think we should knock?"

Alice flipped the light switch on in the hallway, nonchalantly as if there were no chance that someone outside our circle had caused Rosalie to screech.

"Yeah, just knock on the damn door." She flicked her wrist at Edward, giving him the go-ahead. She looked down and her eyes widened a little, "Are you in your underwear?"

He didn't answer her; instead he knocked three times on the wooden door, the soft echo bouncing off the plaster walls of the silent hallway.

"Yeah?" Rosalie's voice was strained, and I didn't want to think about why. She was either being murdered or doing something pertaining to Emmett's penis. Either option was nauseating.

"Uh…are you okay? We heard you scream?" Edward asked through the door.

Edward was playing big man detective; meanwhile Alice was studying his rear.

She mouthed the words "Nice ass" to me as she pointed to it with two fingers, one from each hand. I waved her off, and returned her silent conversations with a "Stop it, Perv!" Apparently, my message either wasn't clear or Alice didn't care because she proceeded to pretend to slap it, dirty cowgirl style.

Something fierce swept through my body; a tense anger that gave the compulsion to tackle Alice. At first, I thought the feeling was pure justice: It wasn't right for her to do things like that without Edward's awareness, however I remembered doing something similar to Jasper when the three of us stood in line at the grocery store. The fierce emotion, causing my hands to shake and my teeth to grind, was unfamiliar but recognizable. Protectiveness, jealousy, possessiveness were all wrapped up into one gut-wrenching reaction. I was falling for Edward Masen.

For safety measures, I placed a hand on Edward's bare back so that things couldn't get ugly. I grabbed at her hands and quietly hissed, "Stop it!"

Her blue eyes widened at my intensity and then the smallest smile melted onto her mouth. That's when I knew that she knew what I was feeling in that moment. I shook my head but it was too late…the bitch had me.

The door to their room was flung open and shut quickly behind Rose, who was wearing some hot pink silk robe thing with fur cuffs. Edward backed away, and Alice and I froze, caught in the middle of a cat fight. One of my hands was wrapped around Alice's wrist and the other was in mid-air where Edward's bare back had been.

"What the hell, guys? Can't a girl have a private moment with her fiancé without all of you…"

Alice didn't let her finish because she started squealing like a stuck pig. Her hands fanning her face, trying to keep tears from pooling. Both of us hugged Rose quickly, and shouted our well wishes through the door to Emmett. He replied with a grunt and a shout to Rose to "hurry the fuck up".

Rose hugged Alice again, and turned to me with raised eyebrows.

"Cold, Bella?"

I was slow on the intake from the lack of sleep and overindulgence of the past ten minutes' excitement because I actually thought she was concerned about my comfort.

"Not really," I said with confusion on my face.

She leaned in, the side of her mouth curling into a wicked grin. "Well, then you must be really fucking horny."

Before that information could be processed, Rose slammed the door in my face and Edward was stomping off to his room, muttering curse words. I looked down and the girls were at full attention, and I swear my left nipple was pointing in the direction where Edward just stood. Damn! Was he offended? Guys don't get offended over nipples, right? No, they get….oh!

Alice slapped my ass with a "WHACK!"; I spun around but she was already halfway down the hallway, skipping to her room.

Ten minutes, a drink of water and a rather long pee later I was back in bed, tossing and turning. I was thinking of Rose and Emmett, and the long road that lay ahead of them. Disapproving parents and the rather sudden turn in direction that Emmett's career had taken would prove a difficult path but I had faith in them. Their relationship was odd, but fruitful. It wasn't based on how many dozens of flowers that Rose had received or how many meals she cooked for Emmett a week. It was about give and take, love and acceptance. Neither of them were perfect but they were perfect for each other.

I sighed, wondering when I became so philosophical when it came to love. Probably because suddenly I was feeling the high of crushing on someone who I just happened to be temporarily living with. I didn't have any experience with relationships, especially if you discount Mike Newton. It wasn't because I didn't want to or that I didn't have hormonal urges because I did; just ask my shower head. I thought about naming it and buying it chocolates for Valentines day. I just never met anyone who I knew would accept me and my gift. Also, I had never met anyone who I felt would be worth it…until now.

But this…this new and wonderful and refreshing emotion was addictive. I could feel myself becoming obsessed with it, reveling in the tingling in my tummy and the unnatural impulse to giggle at absolutely nothing. It was so obvious to me, so clear that I couldn't imagine living this close to him without feeling it; but I had done it for four weeks. Four weeks of conversation, four weeks of seeing him shirtless and sweaty on the beaches of Miami, and one moment of him selflessly risking his neck to save mine. This man was unbelievable, and I didn't really see him until tonight.

I rose in my bed, the anxiety tripled in my system. Those phone calls. Who was it that he was so worried about? Who was it that he sent his love to when speaking to this Carlisle man. I gasped out loud when a thought struck me like a knife in the heart.

What if he's married?

Maybe Carlisle is a marriage counselor and he is in Miami for some space. Of course. Why in the hell would a man like Edward be single? I asked him on the beach if he was talking to his girlfriend on the phone and he said "I wish". Maybe, he's wishing himself back to those days before he was married, before the marital troubles.

I lay back down, trying to replay the conversation he had on the phone earlier that day but it was useless. All I could picture was my gross sock lint and the way his knuckles whitened around his guitar.

I sighed. His guitar. I bet his voice is killer. Like sex riding on vocal chords. I sighed again at the thought of sex. The one time I had experienced it, unpleasant was an understatement. Not only the conversation afterward but the pain and discomfort during it as well; not to mention the things my brain broke. It could only get better, right?

Without warning, my hand skidded along my belly and slid underneath the elastic of my pants. My legs spread and one knee bent, allowing myself easy access to the promised land. I moaned, picturing Edward's jaw, Edward's lips, Edward's…

"Bella?" It was just a whisper, and for a moment I thought my imagination had went into overdrive but then he knocked softly, three times.

My eyes flew open and my fingers stilled, hesitant to answer him but physically unable to resist.

"You can come in," I said softly.

He opened the door and peeked in; the moonlight accenting his sharp jaw line and disorderly head of hair. The door moaned as he opened it and shut it behind him, and he crept slowly to the side of my bed. I frowned at the white t-shirt and pajama pants that covered the black boxer briefs that I had just been picturing in my head.

Take your hand off your pussy, Bella!

I whipped my hand out of my pants quickly and sat up in bed flustered and breathing a little funny. Edward sat on the edge of my bed, and watched me until I grew self-conscious.

"What?" I asked.

I couldn't make out the exact expression on his face but he shifted his weight, and the bed squeaked. A small amount of panic flushed through me, wondering if he somehow knew what I had been doing before he opened the door. Was I making any noise? God, I hope not. Perhaps a stray moan traveled through the thin wooden door that separated us. In spite of the lack of proof that I had been caught in the act, I felt my face heat up in a blush.

"You're beautiful, you know that?"

It wasn't a question but a statement, however I felt it was necessary to answer him with a bark of laughter. I even threw my head back, and considered slapping my knee for effect. My insides, though, oh, my insides were exploding with this new information but I cautioned myself; too mistrustful of any man who utters those words. I'd heard them before, and it didn't end well. I trusted Edward, but there was always the little voice in the back of my brain. I had to figure out if it was the angel or devil shouting the admonition.

"You don't believe me?"

"What would you say to that, Edward? What would you say if I told you the same thing?" I replied.

"If I were you, hearing it from me or if you said that to me, and I was myself?"

It was too late…or early…whatever for my brain to make any sense of that statement so I just blinked at him.

"If you said that to me?" he asked and I nodded once. He paused before answering, "I'd say, 'Why, thank you, Bella. I do believe that compliment earns you some sort of prize. Say, perhaps, a date'."

Some strangled sound came from somewhere in the room. It sounded a little like the psycho girl from those "Ring" movies and I half expected to see her climb out of the television in my room, all hairy and twitchy. I was two seconds away from jumping on Edward's lap, and clinging to him like a monkey when I realized that horrible noise was coming from me.

Edward's panic was obvious, even in the moonlight. I was sure that psychotic noise wasn't a good sign from his perspective, little did he know that was just me…mulling it over.

"Uh…I didn't…I mean…" He rubbed his palms on his thighs, creating sparks of static electricity on the flannel pants he was wearing. "I didn't mean for that to…I didn't want to ask you like that but the situation just sort of…presented itself."

"So, you're really asking me out? On a date?"

"That depends," he breathed.

"On?"

"Your answer."

The smile that grew on my lips was not forced, in fact I had to control the measure of it a great deal.

"Yes, my answer is yes." My smile turned into a frown as soon as my thoughts from earlier re-entered my brain. "Unless…erm…unless you're already involved with someone."

I could make out the immediate ascension of his eyebrows as I posed the question.

"No, I'm not but what would make you ask? I'm not that kind of guy, Bella."

Great. He was offended.

"It's just those phone calls that you get, especially the one on the beach when I was sitting with you. Here, come lie down with me." I scooted over and patted the mattress beside me. His hesitation spoke volumes about the current subject matter but eventually he climbed into bed, both of us on our backs and our sides touching. I let my arm graze his bare forearm just to torture myself.

When we were settled, both of us stared up at the popcorn ceiling similar to what we had done that night in his room. The room was so silent, our out-of-synch breathing was eerily similar to an orchestra complete with the rumbling of my stomach grumbling into the darkness.

"You don't have to tell me," I told him, "who you are talking to or what it's about. I just need to know that you are not attached to someone in Chicago."

He sighed, his reply mirrored his exhaustion. "Not in that way, Bella."

"What does that even mean, Edward? You're attached to someone but you're not…what? Screwing them? Married to them? What?"

I looked at him to gauge his reaction, his body remarkably relaxed in spite of the subject matter. He looked defeated.

"I really don't want to talk about this tonight." He was practically whining, and I immediately felt regretful that I had pressed him about it.

"I'm sorry; it's just that I'm scared. I trust you, I do; but how do I know that what you want is the same thing that I want. How do I…"

He shifted on the bed, and I anticipated his retreat: Running for the hills. Instead, he faced me and gently cupped my face in his palm. I could see his eyes, intense and doing that "searching my soul" thing. I let out a stuttered breath as his thumb grazed over the soft skin under my eye and over my cheek bone. There was so much going on in my brain and through my body that I expected some kind of explosion or consequence.

The next few moments were sort of a blur. One second, he's soul searching and the next, his lips were on mine. I froze, unable to get the neurons in my brain to fire at a realistic speed and he slowly pulled away from me.

The loss of something I never really had made something inside me click. The primitive beast within me had taken over. I moved my hand into his hair, and tugged him back toward me sending his lips crashing into mine in an aggressive manner. His hand moved from my cheek to the back of my head, ending it's journey on the nape of my neck. He pulled me to him gently, his lips pulling and tugging at mine. He tasted like mint and he smelled like ocean and man and something earthy. Oh my. Oh Lord. Sweet Mother of…

I moaned as his tongue swept across my upper lip, and then he tugged on my bottom lip with his teeth. I scraped my nails against his scalp and he mother fucking groaned. I recorded that groan for future reference because it was the sexiest noise I had ever heard. When I threw my leg over his hip, my lack of shame and self respect diminishing as I fought to control this foreign carnal longing that took over any rational thoughts still floating through my shell-shocked brain.

It was hot. I thought that I was sweating but instead a shiver ran up my body as his lips continued to fight and tug and dance with mine. It was like he was made to kiss. Whether it was a natural talent or he had serious practice, I didn't care nor did I think on it too long. I should have been embarrassed; the noises that I was making, the way I dug my heel into the back of his thigh to bring his body closer to mine but I couldn't resist. Luckily, I was able to control the gyrating that my hips were twitching for. For now, anyways.

A flood of emotions ran through me; a sob was building in my throat and giggles in my belly. I thought for a moment that I had died, my spirit surrendering it's capsule and ascending toward the heavens. It was the only explanation for this lovely and incredible feeling. Surely, it wasn't like this every time Edward kissed someone and it definitely wasn't like this with anyone I had kissed. This was intense and liberating. A religious experience.

He pulled away slowly, leaving me with one last soft kiss. I couldn't move. He couldn't really expect me to move. I could sleep like this. I could live like this.

"Bella…"

Reluctantly, I opened my eyes to see him looking at me, looking into me almost as if I didn't have to speak. He detached his hand from my hair and gingerly laid it on the knee that hitched over his hip. I scowled internally at my long flannel pants, wishing a fiery death upon them. His hand on my bare knee…my hips jerked a millimeter at the thought.

"Oh, sorry…" I stuttered, but when I tried to move my leg, I felt the resistance of his hand.

"It's okay…you don't have to move. In fact, I find that I like the feeling of one of your legs wrapped around me," he smirked.

I let out a laugh/moan, and released my own grasp from his hair. We spent the next few minutes catching our breath and grinning at each other like fools.

"We should get some sleep," he yawned.

I replied by digging my heel into the back of his thigh just a little. He chuckled and his hand moved from my knee to my hip. His fingers curled into me, pulling me closer.

"Sleep is overrated," he sighed, closing his eyes and nuzzling into my pillow. I followed suit and dreams came soon after.

I dreamt that I was walking in the woods, surrounded by large Oak trees and gorgeous green ivy. Flowers were blooming, birds were singing and butterflies danced through the air above me. It was beautiful but I could sense the impending danger that lie beneath the splendor. Things that appear peaceful rear their ugly heads in due time. As I walked, the sun grew hotter on my back and I looked down only to see that I was naked. The sound of laughter filled the air and the trees had turned into a faceless crowd. I turned to run, vulnerable and ashamed, but the strong green ivy, that I had just been grinning at moments before, wound around my ankles. I fell with a thud and twisted onto my back, fighting with the growing ivy that had now wrapped onto my legs.

Before long I was trapped to the ground, my body bound to the earth. Naked and susceptible, the crowd gathered around me. Indistinct murmurs and continuous guffaws replaced the song of the chirping birds.

Then the ivy became increasingly warm, groaning as it embraced my torso. It sighed my name, it's voice smooth and tender, soothing me.

My eyes flew open and my mind extracted itself from the dream but the ivy was still snuggly wrapped around me. However, the green had turned into a soft brown and the vines were in the form of a leg and wonderfully shaped arm. I looked over at him and he was still sleeping, a small smile on his lips. I couldn't help but feel a little smug, wondering if the body he was holding onto had anything to do with the expression.

I could have stayed like that forever if it weren't for my bladder. I have great skill in the art of pee-holding but when there's a leg lying atop your bladder, all skill flies out the window. After some wiggling and some nice "pull the tablecloth out from underneath the dishes" moves, I pee-danced to the bathroom. After I took care of business, I quietly opened the door to find him sitting on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his hair. Please, Lord, don't let that be a sign of regret.

"Hey," I croaked.

"Hey," he grinned. "Sorry I…I hope that was okay." He gestured toward the bed.

My eyes grew a little wider and I fought to control the crazy laughter that bubbled in my belly. He was afraid that I was upset that he was still here, in my bed, smothering me with his body.

"It's…great." I cringed at my response. Coffee was a necessity for early morning conversation that involved any sort of thought processing.

He rose and his hand went through his hair again. It was awkward, and awkward was bad, especially between Edward and I who had been awkward-free until last night. Until we kissed…oh, the kiss. I could still feel those lips, that hand on my neck pulling me nearer, the hand on my…

His voice snapped me out of my reverie.

"So, I guess I'll just be.." he trailed off, pointing toward the door.

I stopped him with a jolt, a hand on his arm. I closed my eyes momentarily to let his magic, the healing, wash through me. When I opened them, he was watching me curiously. I pulled him to me; my hand fisted into his white t-shirt so he had no choice but to kiss me. His arm snaked around my waist, and drew me against him. My breasts pressed into his torso, and I could feel his chest moving with his erratic and unsteady breath.

When I pulled away, he watched my tongue as it traveled over my lips. His mouth pulled up into a smirk, and he cocked an eyebrow.

"So about that date," he grinned.

Half an hour later, I was fresh out of the shower and unable to make the excitable grin on my face fade away. I padded down the steps and was met with Emmett's booming voice as I walked into the kitchen. Edward was standing by the counter, pouring coffee into two cups.

"Hey, Sunshine! You look well rested!" Emmett yelled at me.

I smiled in response and Edward handed me a mug of coffee.

"Cream, no sugar, right?"

Dear God, he knew how I took my coffee. My heart swelled and my smile grew as I nodded. He ran his finger tips across my forehead as he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. I sucked in a slow breath and Edward grinned down at me. We had forgotten that we weren't alone in the kitchen.

"Huh." Emmett was watching us with amusement on his face and his arms crossed over his chest.

"About fucking time," he quipped. "I thought it would take forever to get Bella laid."

Just like that, the moment was shattered. I groaned in embarrassment and Edward called Emmett a slur of colorful names, ending with "fucking asshat."

"So, where is the future Mrs. McCarty?" I asked, digging into my cereal.

"Work," he said, matter-of-factly.

I raised my brows and looked at him. "I figured she'd call in sick."

"You know Rose, Bella, there's no way she'd wait until tomorrow to spill the beans; especially when there's jewelry involved. Plus, who wouldn't be excited to spread the news that you're going to be my future wife?"

He scratched his chest with both hands and let out a loud belch.

"Indeed, Emmett, indeed," I mumbled.

"Where's Alice?" Edward asked, taking a bite of toast.

"Running," Emmett answered.

"Shit!" I spit out a fruit loop as I said it and it landed in front of Emmett. "I should be with her!"

"Actually, she knew you'd say that so she practically snuck out of the house. She was like a little Ninja, crouching around corners and tip-toeing out the door." He laughed at the memory, and let out another belch, this one being silent. "You must be a slow ass runner if she went through all that trouble to keep you from tagging along."

I flipped him off even though it was true.

"How long has she been gone?"

"An hour or so." Emmett looked confused as he watched me hold in my panic. No one else was aware of Alice's issues, that I knew of. "You can run down on my treadmill if you're worried about running outside by yourself. I'd run with you but I got myself a job interview this morning."

He puffed out his chest and smiled proudly.

"Where at?" Edward looked at Emmett hopefully, knowing the heavy load that his friend carried on his shoulders.

"Westland High School is looking for a football coach."

"Nice! You'd be perfect for that!" I said, excitedly.

"I wouldn't be making millions a year but I think it would be fun," he grinned.

Edward waved his hand at him and grinned. "Who needs millions, right?"

"That's right, dude." Emmett's smile didn't reach his eyes and something told me that he was thinking of his fiance. Rosalie was a down to earth girl but she had never struggled in the financial department. His concern for her comfort was understandable, but Rosalie was full of surprises.

"Does Jasper know about the big news? You two will be brothers, now." Edward grinned.

"Yeah," Emmett laughed, "I actually asked Jasper for his blessing since going to her actual Father was out of the question." He smirked at me, since he had done the same thing with Alice and I.

"That's so sad," Edward said, shaking his head. "What do you think they'll say when they find out?"

Emmett sighed, and his shoulders slumped dramatically. "The usual crap. She's heard it a million times but…this is different. I don't know if she'll be able to brush them off this time."

It made me afraid for Alice, even though I knew Jasper's parents cared a lot more about who Rosalie was involved with than Jasper. As long as Jasper's wife could pop out children to carry on the Hale name, it didn't matter. Rose was their perfect trophy daughter who was their hope of merging the Hale gene with something just as "superior". If it were up to them, they'd auction off Rosalie's future to the bachelor with the wealthiest family, complete with a dowry and bottle of Dom Perignon. They may accept the fact that Alice may be with Jasper, but they sure as hell wouldn't make it easy on her. Luckily, she had only been in contact with them a handful of times and it was for short periods of time. That was fine for now, but in time, I had a feeling Mrs. Hale will be getting a little more than curious about Jasper's girlfriend.

Speaking of said girlfriend, Alice huffed into the kitchen red faced and perspiring.

"Thanks for waiting for me, Alice." With the lack of sleep and dream-like state my brain was in, a morning run probably would have killed me but I would have went.

She stuck her tongue out at me. "I actually needed a workout today, Bella."

"Ouch."

"Jasper will be home tomorrow, right, Alice?" Emmett asked, getting off his stool and stretching his arms over his head.

Alice beamed and nodded excitably. "I can't wait."

"Want some fruit loops, Alice?" I shook the colorful box in front of her.

She considered it for a moment, her lips pressed together. "Nah, but I will have a bagel."

I smiled at her, showing her all my teeth. That's my girl.

That night, it was Emmett's turn to cook and Rosalie's turn to pick the movie. It had become a tradition during the summer that every Tuesday was movie night. So, pizza was ordered and romantically overdosed Rosalie popped in "The Titanic".

I filled my belly with cheese, pepperoni and grease and dozed off an hour into the movie with my head on Edward's shoulder. He didn't seem to mind, even though I'm sure it earned him a few inquiring looks from Rose and Alice. Emmett had already made up his mind what we were doing.

The sound of Alice's phone ringing roused me from my nap. I cringed at the tiny pool of drool that had soaked into Edward's thin t-shirt and I rubbed at it with my fingers as if that would make it disappear. It didn't work.

"It's Jasper," Alice grinned. "Hello? Hey baby, we were just…"

Her face fell as she rose from the couch, and walked into the kitchen. I could hear her muffled voice, the words incoherent but the tone behind them was pretty clear. Sad. Upset. Devastated. Jasper would not be coming back as planned.

We sat in silence, Emmett whispering into Rosalie's ear, Edward staring at the paused television. Of course, Rose Dawson in the buff. Emmett must have the remote.

After a few minutes, Alice walked back into the living room with watery eyes. Her arms were clutched around her torso as if she was holding herself in, keeping herself from breaking.

"I'm going to go to bed," she said to no one in particular, "Night, guys."

"Alice, wait…" Rose said softly but Alice was already halfway up the staircase, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

I followed her quietly, and I could hear Rose two steps behind me. After knocking twice on Alice's door and no response, I buffaloed my way in. She was face down on her bed, her face molded into her pillow. She yelled out a muffled "Go away!". Rose shut the door behind me and gave me a apprehensive glance, and I smiled at her. I knew Alice well, and this wasn't a time to leave her to her thoughts. As much as she would deny it, Alice was incredibly dependent on Jasper's presence. It was unhealthy but everyone had their vices, right?

We collapsed in her bed, one of us on each side of her. I rubbed circles on her back and Rosalie stroked her hair.

"When is Jasper coming back, Al?" I asked.

"I'm so pathetic," she grumbled into her pillow. "I'm a pathetic whiny little girl who can't go a few weeks without her boyfriend without falling apart."

"He's not coming back?" Rose tried to keep her tone gentle, but it came out like an angry snake.

Alice shook her head and flipped over onto her back.

"He said that things were too hectic at New Moon and that he was sorry but…but he won't be able to come back before I come home. I should be okay, you know? I'm just so…" she trailed off, having already gone down the "pathetic whiny little girl" route.

"Alice, it's normal to be bummed out," I told her.

"Yeah, but look at me! I just ruined everyone's night!"

Rose scoffed and rolled her eyes. "This is far more interesting than seeing Kate Winslet's tits and a dead Leonardo." Alice smiled, and let out a whimpering snicker. "Seriously, Alice, you didn't ruin anything. We love you and it's our duty as your best friends to take care of you."

I had to admit, I was impressed with Rosalie's nurturing skills. She could be brutally honest when the situation called for it, and in some people's minds this could be one of those situations.

"We'll have fun, Alice. Maybe, we'll go shopping tomorrow or we'll get a pedicure. You know I've always wanted to get a pedicure," I told her. Never in my life have I mentioned a desire to get a pedicure. Alice smiled at the thought of Bella at the Spa.

"But you have Edward, and Rose, you have Emmett. I'll be like…the fifth wheel." She rolled her eyes and pulled at her hair. "See? See how pathetic I am?"

I curled my arm around Alice and squeezed her tiny frame. "You're not pathetic. I know what will make you feel better."

"What?" she blubbered.

"I think you need a Bella Ballad."

Her lips slowly formed into a smile.

"You would?"

I nodded. "I just have to get Edward's guitar."

"You're going to sing?" Rose's eyes were big and filled with excitement. "Can I stay?"

"Of course, Rose but…"

"Bella is going to sing?" Emmett's voice came through the door.

"Christ, Emmett! Have you been there the whole time?" Rose yelled.

Her question was met with silence.

I opened the door to Emmett and Edward looking at me like I had caught their hands in the cookie jar.

"Edward, can I…"

He cut me off. "It's in my room. I'll get it for you."

Crap. I had never played or sang for anyone other than Alice. Rose, I could handle but Emmett and Edward? My hands were already shaking when Edward handed me his guitar in the hallway. Emmett had already joined Alice and Rose on the bed as I was worrying about my audience.

"I can…do you want me to drag Emmett back downstairs?" He could sense my apprehension. I could still make out the drool spot on his shoulder and for unknown reasons, it eased my nerves just enough to accept the crowded room.

"No, it's okay. We'll just…see how it goes," I smiled.

I sat down, on the wicker chair next to the bed and glanced up. Everyone was looking at me expectantly, waiting for the show to begin.

"Okay, nobody look at me," I said, waving my hand in front of my face.

Everyone blinked at me.

"Seriously, look…somewhere else. You're making me nervous. Everyone except Alice," I said, "because, technically, this is for her."

Alice smiled smugly as Edward, Emmett and Rosalie tried to focus their eyes on something that wasn't me and didn't make them appear insane. Emmett sat in a different wicker chair and Rosalie flopped down in his lap, their eyes on each other. Edward closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. Watching them do this made me realize I had raised my freak flag just a little higher in the sky.

I strummed the guitar, getting re-accustomed to the feel of my fingers on the strings. After taking a deep breath, I started playing the first song I ever learned to play.

"You think I'd leave your side, baby? You know me better than that. You think I'd leave you down when your down on your knees? I wouldn't do that…"

My voice cracked as I sang, and I focused my eyes on my best friend, my sister, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, swaying to the song. There had been many times when I had to belt out Sade for Alice's benefit because for some strange reason, it made her feel better.

The foreign presence of the other three was still heavy on my mind, and my pitch went too high then too low as I lost all concentration when Edward shifted on his feet in my peripheral. I closed my eyes, trying desperately to imagine myself in my own bedroom in Seattle, singing as if I had nothing to lose.

"When you're on the outside baby and you can`t get in, I will show you you're so much better than you know. When you're lost and you're alone and you cant get back again, I will find you, darling, and I will bring you home…"

The sound of movement broke me from my trance, and I opened my eyes. I smiled at Emmett and Rose, who had transformed the bedroom into a dance floor with a single shove of a footrest. He swayed with her in his arms, whispering something in her ear and she buried her face in his neck. Edward held a hand out to Alice, and she took it obligingly. He turned her in a circle before pulling her close to him, dancing to the music that I was creating.

When I was finished, there was a round of applause and I stood up and offered them a bow.

Alice hugged me, thanked me for the song and assured me that she felt ten times better. She knew that had been difficult for me and I knew what she was facing with Jasper was difficult for her. There was always an easy understanding between myself and Alice. The only question was, which one of us would fall apart first. Our friendship was a teeter totter, Alice on one end and myself on the other. One shift and one of us would plummet to the ground, ass first. It was always the job of the other one to lean in the right direction or get off entirely to dust the other one off to start all over again. Everyone needs an Alice in their life.

"That was amazing," Edward said and I handed him back his guitar.

I waved a hand at him. "Thank you, but…hey, I think it's your turn."

"Yeah, your turn, man!" Emmett still had his arms around Rosalie, dancing to an unvoiced song.

Edward shrugged and pulled the guitar up to his chest. He strummed his long fingers over the strings, testing the sound. After taking a few moments to consider the song, he then nodded to himself and smirked. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pick, and started playing. I backed up and sat down on the bed, next to Alice. I admired his comfort with the action, the way his hands moved on the strings fluidly.

When he started singing, my mouth fell open a little at the sound of his voice. It wasn't perfect but it was raw and unique, and I watched his Adam's Apple bob up and down as the words left his mouth. I could feel my heart beating in my throat, like it was dancing to the beat of the song.

"Well, I took a stroll on the old long walk of a day-iay-iay, met a lil' girl and we stopped to talk on a fine soft day-iay and I ask you friend…what's a fella to do? Cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue, and I knew right then that I'd be taken a whirl 'round the Salthill Prom with a Galway Girl…"

He looked right at Alice when he sang,. It was his own version of comfort even though he probably wasn't even sure why she needed soothing. As I watched him sing, putting his own twang to the tone of 'The Galway Girl', my insides did a funny thing. The anxiety was still there, gripping me in a way that I had grown accustomed but it didn't seem detrimental to my well-being. It was there but it didn't define me. Instead, there was something else that filled me, made me feel whole for the first time in my life. It could have been the sense of closeness that I felt with the people around me or the music in itself that injected this liberation into my soul.

I smiled as I thought of the other possible cause for my spirit to suddenly plant it's feet and spread it's wings. Edward.