A/N: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. I just borrow the characters. I promise to give them back. :)

Thanks to everyone who has read/reviewed my story. Your encouragements mean a lot!

Sorry, everyone! Busy, busy fall!

Another short one, but we get answers from Katie! enjoy.

Chapter 11 – Doesn't Alice always win?

BPOV

Edward cupped my cheek with his hand and brought our faces closer together. "I only have eyes for you, Bella. Always have, always will."

I held my breath as he inched closer. When his lips were mere millimeters from mine, he chuckled and whispered, "Breathe, Bella," before crushing his lips to mine.

I was instantly brought back to that day in the clearing when I was sixteen. My first kiss, the sloppy, slightly uncomfortable kiss of two inexperience sixteen year olds.

This was nothing like that.

Of course Edward became more experienced during our two years together. The eighteen year old Edward's kiss was still the best I've ever had, including the few guys I dated briefly in New York.

But this was something else.

This was "I've missed you, I need you, I want you," Passionate, gentle, loving.

I cupped the back of Edward's neck as he broke our kiss and rested his forehead against mine. We looked into each other's eyes as little smiles touched our lips.

"I've missed you, Bell." He whispered hoarsely.

I shifted to wrap my arms around his neck and hug him closer. "I've missed you too, Edward, so much. There were days when I had a bad class, when my professor was giving me crap, when my mom was driving me crazy, or when Matt was acting out that I just wanted to pick up the phone and call you even though I thought you hated me." I played with the small hairs at the base of his skull as my nose nudged his. "Because you always knew what to say to make me feel better, you still do."

One of Edward's arms wrapped my waist, tugging me closer, while his free hand knotted in my hair. "I'm never letting you go again, Bella. You and Matt are my life now."

I inched closer and softly pressed my lips to his.

Once we finally disentangled ourselves from each other, we stood from the porch swing and walked hand-in-hand back inside. Everyone looked up at us as we paused in the doorway to the living room. The room erupted in sound.

"Damn it!"

"Yes, I win!"

"Shit!"

"I knew it!"

"Hey!" I called and the room fell silent. "What's going on here?"

Emmett crossed his arms over his chest. "We all owe Alice twenty bucks, that's what's going on here." He grumbled.

"What?" Edward asked, astonished.

"We all took bets on when you guys would get back together, Alice won. She said today, family brunch." Jasper said with a smirk.

"I think I'm slightly offended." I murmured.

Emmett, Rose, Jasper, Carlisle, Esme, and even Katie stood and handed Alice a twenty dollar bill. Alice giggled and eagerly counted her new windfall. "Thanks guys," she sang. "Now I can buy that purse I had my eye on!"

I rolled my eyes. "Does anyone need anything from the kitchen?" I asked.

Everyone shook their heads. I squeezed Edward's hand one last time before dropping it and walking back into the kitchen.

I opened the cabinet above the dishwasher for a glass. Reaching for the filtered water pitcher, I heard someone else walk into the kitchen.

"Bella?" I turned to see Katie standing just inside the doorway. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

I now knew that she wasn't Edward's girlfriend, but I was still weary of her. I didn't know if she wanted to be. "Sure," I nodded.

She walked over and grabbed her own glass and filled it with water. "I'd like to apologize."

"Apologize?" I asked. "What for?"

Katie smiled softly and took a sip of her water. "For not explaining myself sooner."

I raised my eyebrow at her, asking her to continue.

"Well, believe me when I say that I'm definitely not interested in Edward." She chuckled. "Believe me! He's like my little brother. I'm a really touchy-feely person and I'm sorry if I confused you with my behavior with Edward before."

I took a sip of water, stalling so I could think of what to say. "Uhm, that's okay, Katie. Edward and I talked it out and were okay now."

Katie smiled. "Good. You know, I've listened to Edward talk about you for years and I've always thought you sounded like a nice girl. And now that I've met you, I hope we can put this behind us and become friends."

Still taken aback, I nodded. "Uh, yeah. Sure, I'd like that."

"Good, we should have lunch sometime," She finished her glass and looked at her watch. "Shoot. I should get home to Irina. She wanted to try out a new recipe tonight."

"Irina?" I asked.

"My partner," she smiled. "We've been together for five years."

My eyes must have nearly fallen out of my head. Katie is gay? Well, that's an interesting development.

I guess she really isn't interested in Edward. At all.

I think Katie and I will be alright.

Awhile later, after Katie left and some fairly innocent touches from Edward sitting beside me on the couch, Matt started leaning against me. I looked down to see his eyes nearly closed.

"Alright, bed time." I announced.

Edward, Matt, and I were kissed and hugged goodbye by the family as we made our way out to the car, a sleepy Matt cradled in Edward's arms.

We finally got Matt buckled in his booster seat, after insisted promises from Esme and Rose to see each other soon, and were on our way back to my house. Edward held my hand the entire way home.

Angela had already left for her shift at the hospital by the time we got home so all of the windows were dark as we pulled into the driveway. Matt continued to sleep peacefully as Edward lifted him out of the backseat of the car and followed me up the front path to the door. I led the way up the stairs to Matt's room and watched from the doorway as Edward put him in bed and tucked him in.

Edward and I silently made our way back down the stairs to the kitchen, flipping on lights on the way. I grabbed us two beers from the fridge before following Edward to the living room. He grabbed my free hand when I tried to sit at the other end of the couch and pulled me down next to him, practically on his lap. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. I rested my head on his shoulder and took a sip from my bottle.

"It was really good to see everyone again." I said quietly. "I think I missed them more than I thought."

"I know we all missed you so much, Bells." he murmured.

I leaned up and pressed a soft kiss the side of his neck. "I'm sorry," I whispered against his skin.

He leaned over and set both of our beers on the coffee table before gently grabbing my knees and swinging my legs around so I was sitting sideways across his lap. "I know, sweetheart, and we all forgave you."

I nestled my head against his shoulder, reveling in the closeness, and looked up at him. "You really want to do this? Be together? Build up this relationship again while you build a relationship with Matt?"

"Absolutely," he answered without hesitation. "Bella, I can't keep pretending I can live without you."

"Good," I answered simply and snuggled deeper into his chest.

Not five minutes later, were both fast asleep, snuggled deep in each other's embrace.

A/N: Thanks SO much for reading! PLEASE leave me a review let me know what you think! Love it? Hate it? Just okay?

Soooo . . . Katie's a lesbian! No threat there! Any thoughts out there...?

UP NEXT: Edward and Bella tell Matt about their new relationship. Plus Edward and Matt's first solo outing! How's that going to go?

Thanks again!

- Nikki