I woke up on the Cullens couch. Esme was sitting on the armchair next to me, curled up with a book. She looked at me when I stirred, and smiled.

"Esme," I said.

"Hello Juniper." she smiled again warmly.

"Are we-"

"Yes, we're back in Forks. You're safe."

"Bella..."

"Is safe as well."

"No, but did she, wasn't she going to-"

Esme shook her head.

"Edward saved her. He sucked the venom out."

My mouth opened in shock.

"But that must have been so hard for him." I said.

Esme nodded. "Almost impossible. But he could do it, for the one he loves." There was pride in her voice.

I opened my mouth to ask more questions, but a new voice interrupted me.

"Juniper!"

I knew that voice. I sat up hurriedly- too hurriedly, my head pounded- but it was worth it to see his face.

"Andy!" I said.

He ran across the room to me, wrapped his arms around me and pressed his lips against mine. I kissed him passionately back.

"Careful, she's in recovery." Esme said, but there was no real reprimand in her voice.

"This makes me feel much better." I said, grinning.

He grinned back.

"I'm sorry," I said. I knew that he had been angry that I left him.

His face grew serious.

"Never do that again," he said. "You have no idea how worried I was about you."

I hung my head.

"I'm sorry." I said again. I didn't know what else to say.

His face softened. "So long as you're safe." he said, pulling me in. I buried my face in his chest.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you." I whispered back.

"Hey, she's awake!" Emmett's booming voice filled the room.

I looked up and grinned as him, Jasper and Rose all emerged.

"How's it going?" Emmett asked me, sitting down on the other couch.

I moved down the couch and made room for Andy to sit down. The others squashed onto the one couch.

"I feel fine." I said truthfully. The pain in my back was gone, and my head barely ached. "So what happened?" I asked them.

I directed my question at Jasper and Emmett.

"Well, Edward sucked the venom out of Bella. She blacked out. You were already out. Carried you out of there and drove you back here." Emmett said.

"Bella's in the hospital," Jasper said. "We didn't put you in there because..."

I nodded. "Thanks."

They'd guessed that human doctors would have a little trouble fixing me.

There was a pause. I looked at Andy, so glad to be back with him. Then I had an idea.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" I asked Andy.

He looked confused. "Are you well enough?"

I nodded sincerely.

"Okay then." he said.

"Rose," I said, "Could we borrow a few things?"

Now Rose looked confused.

"Like what?"

I shrugged. "Do you have, like, a picnic rug or something?"

Rose's eye widened.

'Are you going to...' she mouthed. I nodded.

Her mouth dropped open, then she said,

"Yeah, we'll have a picnic rug somewhere. I'll go and find one."

She got up, staring at me excitedly as she left the room.

"Why do you want a picnic rug?" Emmett asked me.

I glanced at Andy.

"To lie on." I said.

Andy's eyes widened as he understood.

"Oh," he said.

Emmett suddenly cottoned on as well.

"Oh! I get it," he said. "Nice work."

I blushed and Andy did too, then we laughed at each others red faces.

Rose returned with a backpack.

"I put the rug in here," she said, "And a couple of other... things."

I raised my eyebrows.

"Thanks Rose. See you later everyone."

"Are you sure you're well enough for that sort of... exertion?" Esme asked worriedly.

"Trust me, this is the best method of recovery I can think of." I said, grinning.

Then we left.

We walked to the edge of the forest.

"Ready?" I asked.

"No dropping me in mud this time." Andy said.

I laughed and put my iPod in. A moment later we were soaring through the trees.

I looked around for the perfect spot, careful to keep my hands moving. Then I saw it. I dropped us down to the ground and led the way to a large tree. A rocky outcrop was next to the tree, and under the rock overhang was a roundish patch of grass.

I opened the backpack. The picnic rug was on top. I pulled it out and lay it flat on the grass. The grass was slightly damp, despite the thin rays on sun peering through the clouds. The rug was dry though when I sat down on it.

"Let's see what else Rose packed for us," I said, tipping the back pack upside down.

A bottle of champagne and two glasses fell out, followed by a can of whipped cream and some extremely lacy lingerie. I laughed, holding it up against me.

"I think it's too big."

Andy lowered my hands, and pushed the champagne and cream to one side.

"We don't need any of this," he said. "I just want you, exactly how you are."

I smiled, and kissed him.

It was just like the night we got back together. His touch made my body burn and spasm, but it felt so good. He pulled of his coat and his t-shirt. I pulled of my own t-shirt, and undid my bra. He pulled me in, kissing my mouth, my face, my breasts. My fingers went for his jeans and undid them. He wiggled out of them, his lips not breaking contact with my skin. His fingers went to my jeans and I let him undo them and slide them off me. The cold air stung my bare legs for a moment, but then Andy was on top of me and the whole world was on fire.

"One minute," he said. We broke apart and I watched him take off his boxers and put on a condom from a packet in his pocket. I wondered how he'd known to bring them. Maybe he'd been carrying them around since I'd promised him he would have me.

I lay on the rug, smiling in anticipation. When he was ready, he came over me and smiled. I grabbed his neck and pulled him in to kiss him. His whole body came down on top of mine. And then he entered me.

I had nothing to compare it with, but I couldn't imagine anyone or anything being better than Andy. I half groaned, half screamed involuntarily, my neck arching backwards. My eyelids fluttered, wanting to close so I could simply feel it, but wanting to stay open to watch him.

I don't know how long we went for. It felt like a long time. Eventually he rolled off me, and we lay side by side on the rug, breathing more heavily than normal.

And then we went again.

It was getting dark by the time we started searching for our clothes, thrown aside into the forest, and packed up the picnic rug and Rose's utensils. Neither of us could stop smiling as I flew us back to the edge of the Cullens lawns.

Alice was waiting for us.

"Oh my god, I can't believe you!" she said. "You have to tell me everything."

Andy looked awkward and so I said, "Um, Alice? Not now."

She rolled her eyes.

"Fine, whatever. But don't think I'm not getting this out of you." she said.

We went inside.

"Have fun?" Emmett asked, smiling suggestively.

"Yes, thank you." I said innocently.

"Thought so. Your t-shirts inside out."

I glanced down and blushed. He was right.

"Anyway," I said, hurriedly changing the subject while Emmett and Jasper laughed on the couch. "How's Bella doing?"

"She's fine. She woke up a couple of hours ago. Edward's still in there with her." Esme said.

I nodded, relieved.

"And what happened with the... other vampires?"

The Cullen's faces darkened.

"The female was helping the tracker. She's gone, most likely." Jasper said, "The other male, we don't know. He probably left the area as well."

I nodded. "Good."

Forks was safe once again. Or, as safe as it could be, being home to seven vampires.

Andy and I visited Bella in hospital a few times. She was very grateful that I had come to try and save her, and very apologetic about almost breaking my spine. I forgave her of course- I didn't hod grudges. Even though my sore back had seriously limited my dancing skilld. Bella recovered quickly and went home, her leg in a cast.

I threw all my energy into the shop. Now that everything was seemingly back to normal, I knew I had to start making some money again. Andy was a frequent visitor, as was Kathy. Kathy was lovely- she told her whole book club about Forks Fashion Boutique, and they were all very good customers. I gave Kathy a 10% discount in thanks.

When I wasn't working, I spent most of my time with Andy. We went down to La Push a bit, and sat on the beach. Sometimes we did more than just sitting.

And, of course, I spent many nights playing Performation with the Cullens. Andy watched of course- even my best methods of persuasion couldn't make Andy sing in front of people. I let him judge anyway, because he always gave me fives. Now that Emmett and Jasper were more into the game, they were very competitive. I'd seen them get less agro over arm wrestling.

The prom was coming up. All my human friends were very excited about it, as were most of the people at Forks High. To my delight, Alice and Rose had convinced Jazz and Emmett to go. Edward and Bella were going too, although how Bella was going to dance with her leg in a cast, I had no idea.

Andy and I were going, naturally. I wasn't one to miss a party, especially when all my friends were going to be there. I had made myself a beautiful dress. After the prom, I was going back to Andy's house. I had a feeling it was going to be the perfect night.

I had a feeling that from now on, everything was going to be perfect.

THE END