(Twilight theme by Stephanie Meyer)

We arrived back at the apartment and Jasper and Quinn were hovering over some papers spread out along the table.

"Something wicked this way comes . . ." Quinn mumbled causing Jasper to chuckle.

Bella threw the package onto the table landing between the two of them. Quinn immediately began to dig through the package and pulled out some of the foxgloves.

"I was lucky enough to get the rest of the ingredients. Chow says hello by the way."

Jasper shook his head, "I wish you would stop going to him. He is not the kind of person you should associate with."

"Jazz, don't be so judgmental. I should not associate with most of the people I do and Chow is in the process of repenting for his sins. Plus, I think he is moving to the states. So I might not run into him for a while. Wishes granted all over."

"You took the rest of his memories didn't you?" He accused in an authoritative tone.

"Yeah, but I got three times my usual order for the ingredients like you dictated I should."

"Good Job Witch." He said beaming at her.

"Thanks Count Chocula." She retorted as she messed his hair.

Quinn ground up some of the foxglove and a couple more plants in a grinding bowl. "So you think the moonseed will fix the glitch?"

"It should; if not we can try something stronger."

"Well we will continue to work on this since you spent all of yesterday and this morning trying it out."

"Aww thanks big brother. You're awesome . . ." She teased. He smacked her playfully as she took my hand and led me out of the room. A chorus of oohs followed us into her room.

"You know about two weeks ago I was about this close to getting a puppy because I was lonely and now I have to go to my bedroom for any privacy. It is funny how things work out."

"I thought witches were all about cats?"

"A cat? No thank you, I would like to own a pet, not have the pet own me. Felines do make better familiars though. I figure I could handle a challenge if I found the right dog."

"Maybe you and I should go down to the animal shelter to see if maybe the right dog is there. Your birthday is coming up in a couple days isn't it?"

"You remember my birthday?"

"Of course I do."

"I haven't celebrated my birthday since I stopped aging."

"We should make an exception this year. I have never celebrated a birthday with you."

"On one condition."

"Which is?"

"You are not allowed to buy me a present. That includes a puppy."

"Are you sure? Watching me try to adopt a puppy might be fun . . ."

"I would rather get a puppy that is not traumatized, but thanks!"

She lay down on her bed and picked up a remote, she hit the play button and the room was filled with the intro to colorblind. She smiled and with her eyes shut she began singing along.

I am ready

I am ready

I am ready

I am fine

"Have I told you how much I missed you yet?" she asked after a moment.

"Briefly . . ." I said letting my internal smile seep out.

She turned over to look me in the eyes. "Edward, will you stay with me?"

I was silent. I wanted to scream yes at the top of my lungs, but the fact that she left me made me hesitant. She sat up as she picked up the silence and continued her request, "When I left the relationship it was selfish and necessary. We were so new and it was such bad timing, but the feelings were real. I was afraid and I am sorry. Do you still want me?"

I took an unnecessary breath and while still staring at the ceiling said. "Bella, don't apologize. You needed the time to make sure that this is what you wanted. After a while I really understood it and I love you enough that I was willing to stay away until you made your decision. If you still want me . . . I am yours." I was still on my back and I sat up so I could see her expression better.

She was smiling and awkwardly asked me, "Can I kiss you?"

I didn't answer I just pulled her to me. Our lips crashed together and it felt like I found the piece of my life that had been missing all these years. My mind was off and my senses took over. I ran my fingers through her hair and our kisses became gentle and we savored the sensation of each touch. I had her body pressed against mine and she straddled my lap. My lips left hers and traveled to her neck and I kissed until I reached her earlobe. "Je t'aime"

She whispered "It is wonderful to hear you say that in any language."

Her lips found mine again and our need grew. She unbuttoned my shirt and I pulled hers over her head. Her skin was hot compared to my cool temperature, but she did not pull away. I looked at her in the moonlight and noticed that her skin was flawless, no sign of my bite or his. Her history was wiped clean from her new body. I kissed where my bite had been and felt her blood pulsing under the thin skin. I shifted our bodies so she was on the bed and I let my lips wander down her chest and torso. Her back arched and a small moan escaped her lips. Her long fingers combed their way through my hair and gently pulled me back to her.

Her breaths became shallow and the amount of clothing we had dwindled to nothing. We took our time and let any reservations we might have had in the past fall away from us. I was lost in her scent and the way her lips felt against mine. I was finally letting Bella know exactly how I felt. This was the most important conversation the two of us would have. I told her how much I needed her with each brush of my fingertips against her soft warm skin. Telling her how much I missed her with each kiss. Exactly how much I loved her with every synchronized movement our bodies shared. She told me all the same things in each heavy breath. Each time she pulled me deeper. Each time . . . until we both released and collapsed into each other's welcoming embrace.

Afterwards I held her close to me and she drifted off to sleep taking me with her. . .

One moment we were in each other's arms in bed and the next we were on a beach in the middle of the afternoon. The water was lapping at my feet and it was cooler than my skin. I searched for Bella and I found her placing tiny flags on top of a grand sandcastle. A wave came and swept over the castle and it remained intact. Bella made a sound that was completely foreign to me. It sounded like a "Squee" as the cold water hit her legs. I laughed at the noise and she scooped the cold water from the moat that surrounded her castle and flung it at me. The cold drops hit my face and I ran after her along the beach. I tackled her and we hit the mattress of her bed instead of the warm sand.

"Bells, are you awake?" A voice called through the door.

I blinked my eyes groggily and Bella yawned and stretched beside me. The sun was high in the afternoon sky. Bella gave me a quick kiss and with a wave of her hand we were set back to rights and dressed. She skipped to the door and Jasper stood on the other side. He gave me a funny look as he noticed that I was under the covers of Bella's still messy bed.

Thank God. Emmett and I had a bet about when you would finally give it up. I mean it only took you a century . . .

I narrowed my eyes at him and he kept the comment to himself. Leave it Jasper to have reality slam back into me.

"Sorry to interrupt your nap, but you have a visitor."

"Who is it?"

"Alice . . ."

"Your Alice?" Bella said shocked and pulled Jasper into the room and closed the door.

"How many do you know?" He joked, unsuccessfully.

"I am just surprised . . . What is she doing here?"

"Ask your boyfriend, he is the mind reader . . ."

I was already searching when they turned to me for an answer.

What is Jasper doing here with her? I told her to stay away from him. James was supposed to fix this. Did he go into her bedroom?

"Jasper should not be in here . . ." I said flatly.

He jumped and practically ran to the common area outside. I went to the door to join him, I looked at Bella and she seemed hesitant to join us. I closed the door again. "What's wrong?"

"I really don't want to see her …"

"Why not? You used to be friends."

"We're not friends anymore."

"I gathered as much from her thoughts, but why?"

"Wow, where to begin? One, she cheated on my friend with my ex boyfriend. Two, she lied about you and kept me from contacting you. Three, she tried to damage my reputation. Four . . ."

I stopped her right there. "What did Alice tell you about me?"

"After Jasper went home Alice came back to see me. She accused me of having an affair with Jasper. I of course denied it and I told her I was in love with you and I wanted nothing more than friendship with him. She told me that you were in Alaska with a beautiful BLOND vampire and that I blew my chance of being with you. I honestly believed I lost you and I just stayed away. When I ran into Rosalie, she told me that you were still alone. I was so hurt by the fact that Alice lied to me and I didn't want to jump back into your lives until I had forgiven her."

I became more and more angry as her story went on. I didn't hurt Alice and she went out of her way to extend my loneliness for what? Unjustified vengeance? I started to open the door, but Bella waved her hand and stopped me. OK, the magic was getting annoying.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

"I need to talk to my sister."

"No, promise me you will help me try and end this amicably."

"What?"

"Jasper doesn't know about what she did to me. She is acting out of fear and frustration. I blocked her . . . she can't see me or anything around me. So she just assumes things about me."

"Why did you block her?"

"James was using Alice to get information on me. She was telling him where I was who I was with . . . So I blocked her and she freaked out. When Jasper and I found them she didn't see it coming and his future disappeared."

"That is not an excuse for what she did!" I was still fuming, but the door would not open.

"Edward, please calm down. For me?" She was playing dirty now, her eyelashes fluttered ever so subtly and a small smile was the knock-out punch. How could I refuse her after that? I immediately calmed down and hugged her. She hugged me back and we shared a passionate kiss before I heard the door click open.

I walked ahead of Bella to put Alice's mind at ease. She did seem to calm down as she saw us walk into the living room. Bella greeted Alice and I wrapped my arms around Bella's waist placing my claim.

"SO Alice, what brings you to my home, unannounced?"

Jasper looked uncomfortable. Upon seeing Alice all this latent hostility manifested and Jasper was trying to calm her.

"I came to pick up the package you promised to James."

"I thought you were on the east coast now. Why are you still acting as a go between?"

Alice narrowed her eyes at Bella and I whispered in her ear, "I thought you wanted to end this amicably?"

"I guess I forgot . . ." She whispered back. "Sorry, I am not being a good hostess. Would you like a true blood?"

"That would be lovely." Alice replied. Bella went to the kitchen and I stayed in the living room to talk to my siblings.

"So how are things in New York Alice?"

"What are you doing here Edward?"

"I am visiting my girlfriend . . . taking time away from Alaska . . ."

Her face was shocked and Jasper left to help Bella in the kitchen. They were whispering in the kitchen as Alice began to explain her side. I was not interested in hearing it. Not now.

"Edward, you don't understand …"

"Alice, I do understand. What are you doing? Who have you become?"

Jasper and Bella joined us with the drinks and we went to the living room. Alice was hurting and she refused to glance in my direction. Jasper was confused and had tried to get filled in by Bella in the kitchen.

"I am waiting for Quinn to get back with an ingredient for the package. As I told James I would be more than happy to bring it to California when it is completed."

"He asked me to check on your progress. He heard that you have been doing a lot of socializing and he was not sure about your commitment to the project."

Alice is lying . . . Where is this going?

"I think that he should stop listening to idle gossip and trust my word. I will be sure to let him know all this when I see him."

"I am offering to bring it for you." She was becoming desperate . . .

"No thanks. Why don't you want me to go there myself?" Bella must have sensed it too.

"Victoria found out."

"That sounds like a personal problem Alice. What does that have to do with me going to California?"

"He left her after coming to see you. He eluded that something you said helped him make his decision. This is the second time he has left her because of you."

"This time around it is not my fault he left her."

"Well it was the first time, so why would she think it is any different now?" Alice said in a snippy tone.

"I think you had a lot to do with it! You have told the wrong people ugly lies about me and that is why you are here. You think by picking up the package you can stop from feeling guilty if she comes after me. I can't believe you Alice! I trusted you, you were my friend!" Bella lost it. I had to restrain her from jumping up.

"Your reputation precedes you Bella. You can pretend you are innocent and a victim, but the fact is that you went after James. You made yourself look like this!" Alice spat at her.

"I was 15! By the time I found out about her; I thought I was in love. I can't see how that is worse than what you did. You should know better, how old are you? You were the one who was attached and you let him do the same thing to you. Despite that mistake I did not tell anyone about your indiscretion. You attempted to clear your guilt by placing it onto my reputation. You are a coward!" She began to tear up and I held her to my chest. I snuck a peak at Jasper and his expression was pained. His thoughts agreed with Bella, but his loyalty to Alice was tormenting him.

"Yes, I thought I could prevent her from finding you if I came to retrieve the package myself. I dislike you, but not to the point where I would let someone harm you. I have warned you and now I can live without guilt if something should happen."

"What is your problem Alice? Look at who you have become. She is family." I said in a flat tone.

"No Edward, if she was family things would be different. Our lives were perfect before she came into them. Now look at us, we are all divided."

"No your life was perfect, mine was empty. You know that. Your life would still be perfect, but your nostalgic journey changed everything. We have always been separate from the rest of our kind. You wanted to be a part of that world. Congratulations, now you are; and the rest of us are suffering for it."

I need to talk to Bella alone Edward. Please let her go; and stay with Alice.

I nodded as Jasper walked towards us and took Bella from me. They walked to the other side of the apartment and disappeared into his bedroom. No sound came from the room. No thoughts no words just silence.

"Where are they going?" she demanded.

"They needed to speak. They are very close and you should be ashamed of yourself for perverting their relationship because you are embarrassed with your conduct."

"Edward, I made one mistake. One day. She took him from me for four months! Doing God knows what. What am I supposed to think? He has not been the same since I brought him home. For a while I thought he was dead! She kept him from me in every way."

"You keep blaming her for your mistake. Alice you owe her an apology. You're better than this."

"I know . . . I just … well there is no excuse. I am so sorry. I didn't want her to poison you too. All the stories I heard then the Jasper thing. You were doing so much better after Rosalie helped you. I thought I was protecting you."

"You should have let me make that decision Alice. I forgive you, but you need to make this right with them." I nodded in the direction of the closed door. Her apology was brief, but sincere. I knew that holding a grudge would not help the situation. This was Alice; she was one of the most loving honest people I knew in this world. I would not think of her differently just because of what I am hoping is temporary insanity.

Now I just needed to talk to the other two and convince them of the same. Bella's feelings are hurt and Jasper is confused. I knocked on the door and it opened. I entered the room to find only Jasper. On the mirror written in lipstick were the words:

Not forever just for tonight 3 Bella

(A/N: Blah chapter . . . so sorry . . . Reviews always welcome)