Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 11
In Which Alice Schemes

"Shit," Edward mumbled to himself realizing he'd been staring into a stranger's window for much longer than was socially acceptable. He quickly looked around to make sure no one had seen him or worse called the cops to report a peeping tom. He took one last look at the woman then continued on to his car.

Edward hastily unlocked the doors. He climbed inside and sat, immobile. "Shit," he muttered again stunned by this change of events. He knew where she was. A small smile began to form on his face. He knew how to find her. The smile widened to a full blown grin. He shook his head in disbelief at his luck. But then his smile dimmed. How in the hell do I approach her? I can't just knock on her door. What the hell would I say? "Hi my name is Edward and I'm sort of your stalker but it's ok because I'm pretty sure I fell in love with you at first sight." Jesus that's insane. Why worry about the neighbors, she'll call the cops! He groaned and thumped his head on the steering wheel. "Well shit," he muttered again.

*******

Edward stood in front of his aunt and uncle's door waiting for someone to answer. He wasn't really looking forward to this lunch. It's not that he didn't enjoy spending time with his family. Far from it, he usually jumped at the chance; but today, he was dreading it. Actually, to be specific, he dreaded seeing Alice. She had the uncanny ability to read him like a book and he was not looking forward to her review.

He'd hardly slept last night. Instead he spent most of his time trying to come up with a way to introduce himself to the beauty without coming across as a stalker. He'd ruled out knocking on her door. He didn't think he'd be able to accurately explain why he was there and he was a little afraid he'd scare her by professing love on the spot. He thought about just dropping by Al and Jazz's with the hope that he'd run into her. But that was so hit or miss that he could be stopping by unannounced for the next six months and still not see her. Not to mention the fact that Alice would know something was up and would nag him to death until he fessed up. He loved Alice like a sister, but she could be a bit annoying at times; especially since she had recently decided that he needed a woman in his life. No, that just wouldn't work. It was the same reason he couldn't just ask her to introduce him. She would be relentless.

After stewing on the problem until early in the morning, and cursing the name of fate for not making things easier, he finally decided he would find a way to casually bring up the new neighbor in conversation and pray that Alice wouldn't be suspicious. Not likely, but he didn't really see any other option. I'm such a loser, he thought, rolling his eyes at himself.

The front door opening effectively knocked Edward out of his self-loathing, at least for a little while.

"Edward!" cried his Aunt Celia wrapping her arms around his waist.

Celia and Alice were almost carbon copies of one another. They were both petit, lucky to be pushing five feet, with delicate almost pixie like features. They both wore their raven hair cropped short, although Celia's now had touches of grey weaving stylishly throughout. Celia was a bit more tame than her eldest daughter, but could still cut you to the quick with her wit and well timed phrases.

Edward chuckled as he attempted to extract himself from her strong embrace. "Hi Aunt CeCe. You missed me I take it?"

She took a step back and swatted him on the arm. "Of course I've missed my favorite nephew. How could I not?"

"I'm your only nephew CeCe."

"All the more reason for you to stop by every now and then. I'd even settle for a phone call. You do know what a phone is correct? I know Ed's your father but I assume some of the Brandon genes were passed on to you." She stated with a quirked eyebrow.

Edward rolled his eyes, but before he could respond a deep voice replied, "Of course he has Brandon genes! Are you blind? Do you not see how good looking he is? He get's that from me you know."

Celia shook her head at her husband. "I'm not even going to respond to that. You're ego is large enough as it is. Anymore and you won't be able to fit through the door."

"Well no one can fit through the door with you standing there. Get out of the way woman and let the man through!" he exclaimed with a wicked grin.

"Call me woman again and I'll lock you on the other side of that door."

Edward's shoulders shook with laughter as he listened to the playful banter of his aunt and uncle. It seemed of all the love languages, theirs was sarcasm and it fit them well.

"Edward my boy, are you going to help me out or are you going to stand there laughing at me," his uncle exclaimed.

Edward shook his head and held his hands up in surrender. "Oh no, I'm Switzerland on this. I'll let you dig your own grave."

"Smart boy," quipped Celia. "Now Ethan, move out of the way already and let the boy in!" Ethan smiled at his wife and stepped back.

"Yes wife," he replied with a kiss on her cheek. "As you wish." Celia stood on her toes and placed a chaste kiss on his lips before flitting into the house.

Edward laughed as he embraced his uncle. "Hi Uncle E. How've you been?"

"Can't complain, can't complain. Never a dull moment around here." Ethan said as he closed the door.

Ethan and Celia lived in a spacious townhouse in the heart of Chicago. They'd lived in Joliet, just south of the City, until the younger of their two daughters, Vivien, graduated from high school. Tempted by a shorter, less stressful, commute, they'd relocated about 6 years ago. Since then their house had become the stage for most family gatherings.

Edward and Ethan joined the rest of the family in the living room. A beautiful woman with Edward's hair and eyes spotted him the second he entered the room.

"Teddy!" she cried as she ran across the room nearly body checking him into a hug.

A gust of air escaped his lungs as her head connected with his chest. "Good grief mother," he mumbled.

"Oh shut up," she said looking up at him. "I haven't seen you in a month. So stop your whining and give your poor neglected mother a hug." Edward did as requested.

"Neglected my foot," said his father as he approached the two. "As if she would let that happen." He smiled as he too hugged his son. "How have you been Ted?"

He grimaced at the nickname. Edward and his father shared a name, so he had been called Teddy when he was younger. That was until his twelfth birthday when the only thing he requested was to be called Edward. "I don't have fur and I'm not filled with stuffing," he had said by way of explanation. It had taken time but eventually he was able to convince everyone to call him Edward. Everyone except his parents of course. To them, he would always be Teddy Masen.

"I've been good," he said while nodding his head. "Putting in a lot of hours lately. The flu's got us short staffed down at the hospital." He said, leaving out the fact that he had volunteered for the extra hours.

"Well at least you're getting some extra time saved up for leave," his father responded consolingly."

"Let's hope so."

Edward caught up with his parents for a few minutes. It really had been a while since he'd last seen them. It was quite pathetic really; they lived in the same city after all. But they were all so busy with their careers and lives that sometimes they seemed to put each other on the back burner. Ok, well maybe he was more to blame for that. That really needs to change, he thought.

A small body slowly approached the chatting family and firmly attached itself to Edward's leg. Edward looked down to see two obsidian eyes peering back at him. A large smile instantly took over his face. The little girl grinned in return. Edward bent down and scooped her up.

"Lily!" he exclaimed while tickling her belly. She giggled and squirmed in his arms. "You are getting too big! Are you supposed to grow that fast?" he asked feigning concern.

She continued to giggle. "Yes I am. That's why mama makes me drink milk. It makes me grow big," she said with a grin.

"That's right, I forgot. I'm glad I have you to remind me."

"Will you play with me today?" she asked her eyelashes fluttering, her lips forming a pout. Edward looked over at his Uncle Carlisle who was watching the exchange, his light blue eyes sparkling with amusement. Both men clearly remembered Carlisle complaining about his little girl's ability to get what she wants.

"Of course I will, a little later," said Edward.

"Yay!" she exclaimed then jumped from his arms and ran to join her sister. Her long twin jet black braids flapping behind her. Her sister looked up as she approached and saw Edward.

"Hi Edward," said the eight year old with a wave

"Hey Vi," he greeted before Violet turned back to the puzzle she was working on.

Their conversation officially interrupted, Edward and his parents joined the Carlisle and his wife Esme who were seated on the love seat.

"Edward, you're looking well," said his mother's younger sister. Edward placed a kiss on her cheek before answering.

"You too Aunt Esme, looking lovely as always." He grinned as she blushed lightly.

"You Masen men, always so smooth," she teased.

"Only with beautiful women," replied his father as he kissed his mother's cheek. Esme settled back into the love seat, Carlisle slipped his arm around her shoulders gently brushing her lovely caramel colored locks out of the way

Esme was only ten years older than Edward. She'd been a bit of a surprise to her parents when they found out they were expecting. Because of the closeness in age she and Carlisle were more like older siblings to Edward and Alice. They'd always had a special bond, one that Edward had come to cherish over the years

Edward looked around the room but didn't see his pixie cousin. "Where's Ali?" he asked.

"Late as usual," replied Celia as she walked in from the kitchen, drying her hands on an apron that was tied around her waist.

"Why am I not surprised," he grumbled. He glanced at his watch. 12:25. She'd told him to be there at noon. That was just so Alice.

"I don't know why you'd expect her to be on time. That girl'll be late for her own funeral," she said attempting to be annoyed but the smile in her voice gave her away.

"I'm fashionably late," said Alice dancing into the room. "Everyone knows that if something is in fashion, then it is 'in'. If something is 'in' it cannot be late. That would be an oxymoron. And I am clearly not a moron," she said saucily.

Celia shook her head at her daughter and gave her a hug. "You're so full of it. How do you put up with her Jasper?"

"Same way E, puts up with you I suppose," he said with a smirk. Two sets of grey eyes flashed at him. His smirk fell slightly and he awkwardly tugged at the neck of his shirt. "I'm going to get a drink. Anyone else want anything? No?" he said and fled the room before anyone could respond.

The room was quiet for a beat before Celia and Alice broke into simultaneous fits of laughter. "You've got him well trained," Celia said with a nod of her head.

"Well of course" her daughter replied as she threw her arm around her mother's shoulder. "I learned from the best."

"I think I should take offense to that," said Ethan with a chuckle and a sigh, "But it's true."

Celia sidled up to her husband and wrapped an arm around his waist. "Of course it is" she said before placing a kiss on his lips.

Jasper joined the rest of the family a moment later with a beer in hand. Edward looked around the room. A twinge of longing flooded his heart as he saw the love between the couples. This was what he had always wanted. Someone to lovingly banter with like Ethan and Celia; someone to support him like Carlisle and Esme were to one another when they adopted the girls; someone like Jasper was to Alice, the perfect balance; someone with whom he could share an undying devotion, like his parents. He wanted it all.

The family chatted for a bit longer before settling at the table to enjoy another meal together. Edward spent most of the meal slightly preoccupied, trying to think of the best time to ask Alice and Jasper about their neighbor. The moment finally presented itself shortly before everyone headed for home.

Celia and E, and his parents were still in the dinning room enjoying a final cup of coffee. Carlisle and Esme were helping the girls clean up the toys they'd drug out. And Alice, Jasper and Edward were seated in the living room talking about nothing important. During a lull in the conversation, Edward took his chance.

"So, have you met your new neighbors yet?" he asked with as much nonchalance as he could muster.

"Um, yea a little," said Alice slightly confused by the question.

"Yea? Are they nice?" he prodded.

"She, and yes she seems nice. I haven't really talked to her much," she said, sounding a bit defeated. Edward looked at Alice a little perplexed by her sudden change in mood.

"Bella seems a bit shy," answered Jasper. "Alice has been trying to find a way to talk to her since she moved in but hasn't had much luck."

Bella, he breathed internally. The beauty's name is Bella. Perfect.

"I say 'Hi' every time I see her, and I brought her cookies when she first moved in. She's always very sweet and polite, but I don't know," she shrugged. "Guess she's not looking for new friends."

"Maybe that's because you baked her cookies," he said with a smirk attempting to act natural.

"Oh shut up," she said giving him the stink eye. "Jasper helped." She sighed. "I'm just about out of ideas."

Edward hummed noncommittally. Alice wasn't going to be much help after all. He'd have to come up with another idea. A sad melancholy began to fill him.

Alice watched as a look flitted across his face. He'd worn that same look a few weeks ago when they'd had lunch. She couldn't place it then, she couldn't place it now. But it made her suspicious.

She stared at him for a moment, as if trying to coax an answer from him. "Why are you asking?" she finally asked.

Edward startled, but recovered quickly "No reason really. I just noticed that someone was living there." He shrugged. "It's been empty for a long time."

"Mmmhmm," she hummed. "She's lived there for six months and you've never asked about her before," she stated accusingly

Jesus, six months! How many times have I been within feet of her? All that time.

Edward shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Alice continued to stare at him. She was onto him, he could tell. He needed to leave, now, before she really started in on him. "Really? I never noticed," he said not meeting her eyes. He glanced at his watch. "Wow, it's getting late I really should be going," he said as he stood from his seat and fled to the dining room to make his goodbyes.

Alice quirked an eyebrow as she watched him scamper about before he flew out the door. Yes, his behavior was definitely strange. "Hmmm," she hummed to herself. Jasper looked at his wife. He'd seen that look before, she was scheming. This could be interesting.

"Alice, what did you do to that boy?" asked her mother as she came into the room. "He ran out of here like a bat outta' hell."

Alice looked at her mother aghast, "Why do you think I had something to do with it?"

Her mother gave her a calculating look. "Because you always have something to do with it."

Alice just grinned.

*******

"You're not planning to attack the poor woman are you?" Jasper asked as he watched his wife walk to the front window for the sixth time in the last ten minutes.

She shot him a look. "Of course not Jasper."

"Then what exactly are you planning?"

"I'm not planning anything," she innocently replied.

He raised an eyebrow at her obvious lie. "Yes. You are."

She huffed and rolled her eyes. "Fine, maybe I am. But it's nothing bad I swear," she said holding up both of her hands as if to prove that they were clean. "I'm just going to push a little harder than I normally do."

"Six months of trying and now all of a sudden…" he trailed.

She glanced out the window again. "Yes all of a sudden."

Jasper watched as his wife glanced at the clock…again. "This has something to do with Edward," he said astutely.

Alice stopped her latest journey to the window and turned to face him.

"What makes you say that?" she asked with a puckered brow.

"Because yesterday he was asking about her and today you're 'pushing harder'." His eyebrow quirked waiting for her reply. She remained silent. "You're not fixing them up are you? You remember what happened last time."

Her hands flew up in the air and her stance became combative. "That was not my fault!" she shrieked. "How was I to know he planned a surprise trip to a peanut factory for their first date? Who does that?! Besides I didn't even know she was allergic to peanuts! If he had listened to me that never would have happened!"

"You vowed to give up matchmaking after that," he replied calmly.

Her shoulders slumped and a pout formed on her face. "I know. I'm not setting them up."

"Then what are you doing?"

She turned to look out the window one more time. A sly smile spread across her face and her eyes took on a mischievous glint. "I'm making a new friend," she said happily before grabbing a measuring cup and skipping out the door.

Bella dropped her briefcase by the door and kicked off her heels. "Dinner will be ready soon!" she called as Katie took off in search of Max. "Ok" came the muffled reply from the floor above. Bella removed her blazer and hung it over the back of a kitchen chair. She rubber her tired neck as she made her way to the fridge. It had been a long day with nothing going right at work. Then she was late picking Katie up from daycare and didn't have the cash to pay for the late fee. Thankfully Mrs. Grandy agreed to take a check.

She opened the fridge and looked through the leftovers. Time to clean this out again, she mused with a crinkled nose. The doorbell chimed as she was pulling ground beef from the freezer. Bell froze in confusion. No one ever rang her doorbell. Before she could respond she heard the patter of little feet and Katie calling "I'll get it!"

"No!" shouted Bella as she raced to the door, arriving just as Katie reached for the handle. "You're not allowed to answer the door without me," she admonished.

Katie pouted as Bella looked at the silhouetted figure through the frosted glass of the front door. She unlocked the door and cautiously opened it to find her neighbor on the doorstep with a measuring cup and a radiant smile.

"Hi!" she chirped.

"Um, Hi Alice," Bella replied haltingly. Katie pushed her way around Bella to get a look at the stranger.

"Hi!"

Alice glanced down and saw the little girl, "Hi, I'm Alice," she not very surprised. She'd seen the little girl with Bella for the past few weeks. She glanced at Bella silently asking permission, as she asked, "What's your name?" Bella smiled in reply looking down at the little girl.

"Katie Belle!" she exclaimed, sticking out a little hand for her to shake.

Alice smiled in amusement as she grasped the offered hand. "It's nice to meet you Katie Belle. I live right there." She said pointing to her house. Katie's eyes followed her finger before returning to Alice's face.

She pointed her thumb over her shoulder. "I live here. In Shiago, with Bewie."

Alice giggled at the mispronunciation. "That's neat. I bet its cool living with Bellie." She smiled at the nick name as she glanced at Bella.

"Yep, and Max."

Alice's brow's furrowed in confusion. She'd never seen a man around. "Who's Max?"

"Bewie's cat. I'll get him!" she said as she disappeared back into the house. Alice quietly sighed in relief.

"Katie?" Bella called once before looking at Alice and shrugging her shoulder. "Guess you get to meet Max now," she laughed nervously.

Alice laughed with her hoping to ease the tension. "She's a beautiful little girl," Alice complimented.

Bella smiled proudly. "Thanks. She really is. She's a joy to have a round." A desperate look overcame her face. "She hasn't been too loud has she?" she asked as she thought of their shared wall.

"Oh no, not at all. We never hear anything. You're the perfect neighbors!" she chirped with another radiant smile.

Bella blushed and shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well I don't know about that, but thanks for the compliment." Bella paused for a moment. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Oh!" exclaimed Alice thumping herself on the forehead. "Sugar. I'm baking and I'm all out. You wouldn't happen to have any I could borrow would you?"

Bella smiled, "I don't have any you could borrow, but I have some you can keep!"

Alice giggled rolling her eyes. "Yea, I guess that would be better."

Bella opened the door fully. "Come on in." she offered. "Have you ever been in here before?" she asked leading Alice into the house.

Alice looked around and gasped. "Yea but it didn't look like this!"

Bella chuckled. "No it definitely did not. The bank foreclosed on the previous owners. They stripped this place bare before they left. There wasn't a single lighting fixture or light switch in the entire house. The appliances were all trashed and the wood floors looked like someone had taken a Brillo Pad to them."

"I remember. Jasper and I toured when it was for sale." She glanced at Bella sheepishly. "We were curious."

Bella laughed. "I would have done the same thing!"

"You've done a lot of work!" she exclaimed looking around again. The wood floors had all been stripped and sanded. The walls were painted a calming shade of taupe that was pulled from the grain of wood in the built in shelves that flanked the brick fire place. The room was furnished comfortably with overstuffed furniture and a charming rug. This wasn't a house, it was a home.

"You have no idea. It took a lot of blood sweat and tears to get it to look like this." Bella said as she led the way to a cheerful yellow kitchen.

"Oh now this is gorgeous."

"Thanks," she said proudly. "This is my favorite room. Everything had been pretty much stripped before I bought it. The knobs were missing from the doors and most of the cabinets were barely hanging from the walls. There wasn't much to save so I just decided to start fresh." She walked across the slate tile floor that perfectly matched the yellow walls and cherry cabinetry. The counters were granite and the appliances all professional grade. It was a chef's wet dream. "I love to cook. Our apartment in Seattle had a tiny kitchen. I hated it. I swore when I bought this place that I'd make it just the way I wanted, and I did!" she happily replied.

"Well kudos! I should get your help when I decide to remodel our kitchen," Alice replied still looking around. Bella paused as she grabbed the sugar canister. A smile forming on her lips at the idea.

"How much do you need?" she asked holding up the sugar as an offering.

"Just a cup."

"What are you baking?"

"Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. I'll bring some over as a thank you when they're done."

"Oh that's not necessary," Bella protested.

"Sure it is. I'm sure Katie will love them."

Bella smiled nodding her acquiescence

Alice reclaimed her measuring cup, "You know Bella, I think we are going to be great friends." Bella was taken aback, but smiled at the idea.

"Yea?" she asked rather shyly.

"Yea, I have a feeling about these sorts of things." She started to head toward the front door, but stopped and turned back. "I'm having a couple of friends over on Friday. Nothing formal, just dinner. It would be great if you'd join us. It would give us a chance to get to know each other better!"

"Oh." Bella wasn't quite sure how to respond. "Well I have Katie and don't feel comfortable leaving her with a sitter," she said apologetically.

Alice's eyes widened. "Oh no, you misunderstood. The invitation is for Katie too. There won't be any other kids there. Well I guess technically there will, Rose is pregnant. But the house is child friendly, I watch my little cousins a lot and we have some toys for Katie to play with. Besides you haven't met Emmett yet. Oddly enough he's a first grade teacher; you'll understand when you meet him." She said conspiratorially. "With Emmett it's like having an eight year old around all the time! Katie'll fit right in!"

Katie, who had over heard the conversation, made her presence known then. "Yes!" she exclaimed jumping up and down holding a disgruntled looking Max. "Can we Bewie?!" Max let out a desperate mew. Bella reached over and freed him from her clutches. Katie didn't notice.

"Well," said Bella biting her lip, uncertain.

"Please," begged Katie with an adorable pout. Bella sighed, she couldn't say no to that.

"Sure. What time?"

Alice smiled wider than ever before. "Does 6:30 work?" Bella nodded. "Great! We'll see you then." She turned to Katie sticking out her hand. "It was very nice to meet you Katie. I'll see you on Friday!" Katie grinned and shook her hand with vigor.

Bella led Alice out while Katie scampered off in search of Max again. With a final goodbye she closed the door and collapsed against it. What did I just agree to?

Bella was effectively distracted for the rest of the week. The butterflies that had laid eggs in her stomach when the invitation was accepted were slowly beginning to hatch and flutter about. She wasn't sure the last time she'd been this nervous.

Bella had always been a little shy when meeting new people. She considered herself to be an "introverted extrovert". She'd open up eventually, but it usually took sometime and she was nearly always uncomfortable until then. That was the main reason she hadn't formed many friends, and not just in Chicago, in general. All of the friends she had now were the same ones she'd first made in elementary school. It was just easier to stick close to those she knew than to branch out. You never really knew what to expect from someone new, and that was scary.

Bella sighed as she slipped on her black flats. This is what Angela was always talking about, she was too afraid to put herself out there. She stood and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked sophisticatedly casual. Not too made up, not too shabby either. First impressions count right? She asked her reflection. Well duh, you can never have another one. She rolled her eyes at herself. It was bad enough talking to yourself, but to answer yourself? Was that a sign of a mental disorder? "Just what I need to night," she muttered.

"I'm ready!" Katie exclaimed as she came flouncing into the room. Bella looked over to where she stood in the bathroom doorway and tried to contain her giggle.

"Are you sure?" she asked patiently.

Katie looked down at herself smoothing out her brown corduroy skirt. "Yep!" She was wearing the skirt and pink shirt Bella had set out for her, but she had decided to accessorize on her own. Her feet were adorned in her green frog galoshes. On her head was a plastic 'diamond' tiara and bracelets covered much of the skin on both wrists up to her elbows. She looked comically adorable.

"You don't think it's a bit much?" she asked.

Katie looked at her self again. "No," she declared. "Alice will like it. She's a princess too!"

"She is?"

"Yup," Katie answered with no further explanation.

"Well alrighty then, if you are ready it's time to get going."

Bella gathered their sweaters and switched off the lights as they walked to the front door. Katie skipped down the steps and waited for Bella on the sidewalk. Bella grasped her hand as they walked next door.

The door seemed to loom ominously above Bella. She gripped Katie's hand tighter as the butterflies went crazy.

"Bewie?" Katie asked as Bella proceeded to stand motionless. "Bewie!" she said again with a tug of her hand.

Bella looked down and gave her a tremulous smile. "Ok," she said as she reached up and rang the door bell. She could hear voices on the other side a moment before the knob turned and the door was pulled open.

Two hearts stopped and then started again in a rush, two sets of lungs inhaled greedily, and two sets of eyes widened as brown met green.