Hello all! Read this A/N!

I am updating 2 chapters at once, aren't you lucky lol! But, this chapter is just an extra because; One- The previous chapter was depressing and I wanted to write something nice/sad/comforting haha. And two- Because xtwilightx4xlyfx wanted to know what happened with Alice and Michal in the forest, so this chapter is dedicated to you.

This chapter is from Alice's POV, and it happens during the chapters Hide and Seek and First Light. I'm not going to do any other chapters from other people's POV, because it's simply too hard to try and write from more than one persons mind lol!

So this is just a chapter to explain why they were nervous around each other. Please review this one as well as the subsequent chapter. Your feedback will help me determine what to do with their relationship.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight

Chapter 32/33 equivalent: Healing

(Alice POV)

"Jasper and I will catch up soon. We're headed to Kenai National wildlife refuge, we'll follow your scent when we get there… just get to know Michal -I mean with the wild life!"

"Okay…" I replied softly, a mixture of excitement and nervousness coloring my tone. I hadn't yet been alone with Michal and suddenly the opportunity seemed frightening and somewhat awkward.

Michal, however, seemed not bothered in the slightest. He smiled widely at me, extending a large hand and wiggling his fingers playfully. I linked my fingers threw his quickly, muttering my goodbyes to the others and running through the back door.

I didn't release Michal's hand while we were running, but instead, clung tighter to it as I watched him glide lithely through the night. His eyes were closed slightly and he cavorted through the dark forest gracefully, his hair whipping past his face in godlike waves. I let Michal lead, even though I had no idea where we were going. He kept changing direction, or spinning in opposite ways as if trying to avoid something. I didn't even realize I was staring at him until he popped one eye open and gazed at me humorously.

"Something on my face?" He asked laughing and leaping fluidly over a large crevasse.

I stared down, embarrassed, and Michal came to a sudden halt just beside me.

This wasn't like me at all… I was usually so sincere and upfront about everything. Why was I suddenly acting like a cutesy freshman, afraid to talk to the boy?

"You okay?" Michal asked earnestly, lifting my chin to look me in the eyes.

He does have beautiful eyes, my mind added quickly, making note of the deep color and liquid pattern.

"I'm great!" I replied, smiling and bouncing slightly on the spot in an attempt to reconnect with my quirky nature.

The falseness of the words must have been evident in my eyes, because he stared down intently into them as if analyzing my very soul.

"No your not.." He whispered simply, releasing my chin and taking my hand once more. "You want to talk about it?"

"There's nothing to talk about," I replied softly, mustering as much conviction as I could.

Michal said nothing further, but stared down disbelievingly at me.

"Okay…" He said slowly, "So you didn't just hear your husband and his lover screaming to the heavens in ecstasy?"

The wounds that I had been trying so desperately to ignore ripped open, surging through my body in a direct route of pain. I whimpered softly and held back the sobs that were threatening to release themselves.

"Alice…"

Michal's eyes held such a deepness to them that I felt like he was looking into my core, witnessing my emotions and attempting to heal them.

I stumbled back from his open arms. I didn't want to do this. I had cried all there was to cry out. Bella and Jasper were in love, it was something that I had to accept. I didn't want them feeling worse than they already did, I just wanted to push the feelings away and deal with them some other time. I couldn't cry in front of Michal, I wouldn't.

Well, that was the plan anyway. I took one look into his eyes and I fell forward into his open arms. He swung me into his lap and slumped against a thick pine tree, holding me against him tightly.

Why did he have to be so nice? Why couldn't he just let me be stubborn and forget all this!?

"Shhhh…." He whispered soothingly into my hair, running patterns with his fingers over my back.

I hadn't even realized that I was softly sobbing into his shoulder. Why was it that I seemed to lose all conscious awareness around him?

Even when my shaking stopped, Michal still held me against him, rocking us back and forth on the spot. This was a place I never wanted to leave. I felt whole and healed here in his arms, but how could that be? Was I not still crying over my lost love for Jasper?

A thought occurred to me then. Perhaps I was crying, not because of present sadness, but because I had suppressed so much that it had broken out at the seams, engulfing me in a pit of my own emotions.

I was suddenly very grateful that Michal had forced me to open up. Who knew how much longer I would have kept this wallowing up. If it had continued for much longer, I could have exploded in some fit of anger or jealousy, hurting my friends and family. A shiver ran up my spine at this revelation and Michal grasped me closer to him.

"Thank you.." I whispered out hoarsely, rubbing my face on his shoulder.

He chuckled lightly, leaning out to face me.

"I'm glad you finally opened up.."

I smiled gratefully and jumped off his lap, intent on starting anew.

"Come on," I said smiling, "There's something I want to show you.."

His expression changed to curiosity and he jumped up eagerly, ready for the next adventure.

I laughed at his child like spirit and couldn't help but notice that his shirt had ridden up, revealing a dazzling stomach and all too tempting hip bones.

"So, where to?" Michal asked excitedly, breaking me from my stupor of ogling.

It took me a few minutes to gather my thoughts from scenarios involving oils and lotions, but when I did, I made a quick note of our surroundings before dashing off heading east.

"Come on!" I said laughing and gesturing for him to follow.

Those two words were the only motivation he needed. He ran quickly towards me, dashing through the air with more poise than I had ever seen a newborn use.

He linked his arm through mine and we ran off towards a place I had visited only once before. It was a beautiful place and a strong part of me felt compelled to share it with Michal. I had discovered it on one of my first hunts around the area and I hadn't had the time to return to it since. I had, however, made note of the surroundings and bearings, so that I could find it again. I had intended to come here with Jasp-

I stopped that thought before I could take it any further. Why cause myself unnecessary pain?

We reached the location quicker than I had anticipated and I realized that I spent a lot of my time thinking when I was around Michal. It was odd.

I knew that we were there when I heard Michal take a huge gasp of air in, then release it slowly in a long awe.

There it was, a little patch of paradise. It was a small river that ran perpendicular to a cliff face before cascading down as a water fall. It was clear and luminous, and seemed to reflect the moonlight across thousands of little ripples, making the river appear to glow.

"You like it?" I asked nervously and shuffling my feet around on the spot.

"…A… ah.. I mean…"

I laughed at his apparent lack of words and bent down to splash a little of the water on him.

He smiled menacingly before sighing softly and smiling.

"This place is beautiful…" He whispered out in wonderment. "I mean, I thought the house was beautiful, but gosh! The house has got nothing on this place!"

"It's breathtaking.." I agreed happily. I was glad that I had shared this place with Michal. I suddenly felt compelled to show Jasper and Bella too. Maybe this could be a place of healing. A place where we could come just to relax and be us, without the complications, without the fear and hate.

"You're thinking on something hard," Michal interrupted me laughing, "May I ask-"

He stopped talking then and I understood exactly why. There was a herd of moose grazing nearby and a gust of wind had alerted us of their scent.

I watched as Michal noticeably stiffened and he closed his eyes, concentrating on the invigorating smell that was busy working through both his and my bodies.

I moved to creep closer to the herd and Michal did the same. He hunched down on all fours and crept forward slowly, like a lion ready to corner his prey.

They were grazing close to the river, some of them drinking to regain strength. I almost felt sorry for them, completely unaware of what was about to happen, but the predator inside me saw this as an opportunity and was ready to surround and slaughter them.

"Michal…" I hissed softly, gesturing for his to take the left side. He nodded appreciatively and stealthily shuffled over to the left, giving me room to the right.

I exchanged a fevered glance with Michal and counted to three, soft enough so that only we could hear the exchange of words.

"One… two… three!"

On three, we both leapt like animals from the shadows, landing at the foot of the river and snapping the beast's necks swiftly. I sunk my teeth to their throats roughly, devouring their life source rapidly, before moving on to another.

After I had successfully drained four of them, I leant back against the side of the stony river, satisfied.

Michal did not.

I watched him move from moose to moose, draining them quickly and yet somehow, not spilling a drop of blood. He moved with such precision and force that I found myself mesmerized by the skill and beauty of his actions.

The last of the heard let out a muffled groan as Michal sliced his teeth across its throat and drunk deeply.

Okay, stop staring at him! My mind chided harshly, It's a little weird that you find this whole thing such a turn on! I laughed to myself and skimmed my hand over the edge of the water, waiting for Michal to finish. He moved so quietly, that I didn't even realize he had moved until I saw his reflection standing over me in the river.

"Don't do that!" I squirmed anxiously, "You can't just creep up on people!"

He laughed and moved to sit down next to me. I noticed that both his and my hands were covered in fur and specks of blood, so I grabbed his with mine and leant down to wash them in the river.

The blood washed away elegantly, running down the warm stream like thin, wispy, red streamers in the wind. It was sort of beautiful, even if it was the blood of our victims.

"Thanks…" Michal whispered out faintly, bringing his hands out of the warm water and moving a stray hair behind my ear.

His hands were slightly warmer from the river, so I leaned into the touch, closing my eyes slightly.

I heard his breath hitch in his throat and I opened my eyes to find him staring intently at my lips.

I felt my own breath hitch then, as I involuntarily moistened my lips. He did the same, and I watched as his soft, pink tongue darted out to lick his lips, tempting me to kiss him.

Is this what I really wanted? It sure seemed like it as I leant down carefully, allowing my eyelids to flutter closed.

It felt like we were the only two people in the world. There was just me. There was just him.

"AAAAHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

And apparently, there was just Bella.

My eyes flew open and my eyes searched the forest ahead where I had heard Bella's scream of fear. I watched as Michal did the same, jumping up from our close proximity and searching the forest paths.

Dammit! My mind cried inwardly, so close!

So I guess I did want it then. This realization sent a shock of happiness through my body. I wanted to be kissed. I wanted to be kissed by Michal.

Stupid Bella! My mind added softly.

But it didn't matter that Bella had interrupted anything before it could happen. All that mattered was that I had wanted to do it. I had wanted to kiss Michal.

I smiled blissfully to myself.

I was healing.

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