DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me…they are all the creations of the wonderful Stephenie Meyer. All are human.

A Question

"We're going out tonight," I announced, staring at my brother and Bella, cuddled up on the loveseat.

"Who's we?" Edward asked.

"All six of us," I replied. "Who else?"

"Are you sure Emmett will want to?" Bella asked. She was still a little nervous after her brother's reaction from last night.

"Yes, Bella. I am one hundred percent positive," I assured her.

"Where are we going?" Edward asked, paying more attention to a strand of Bella's hair than to me. I wasn't offended. I had wanted this for him for a long time now.

"We are finally going to take Bella dancing," I chirped. "Rose and I found the perfect outfit for you, Bella! And I promise to keep Emmett away this time!"

"Like your little pixie self could manage that," Bella snorted.

"Actually," Edward chuckled, "she's quite fierce for such a little thing." Edward suddenly sat up, pulling Bella along with him. "Speaking of fierce … dear sister, were you ever going to mention your little run in at the hospital?" He smirked and Bella snickered.

"How did you find out about that?" I asked, wondering who had spilled the proverbial beans.

"Jessica told me," Edward shrugged.

"When the hell did you run into her?" I yelled. I was going to track that damn girl down and yank every hair out of her little pea-brain head!

"No need to be angry," Edward chuckled. "She saw me in front of the bookstore yesterday when I was speaking with you on the phone."

"What else did she have to say?" I asked.

"I don't really know. I wasn't paying much attention. I was enthralled with Bella's threats to give her a new nose," Edward laughed.

"Really?" I cried, jumping around on the sofa.

"It was nothing," Bella shrugged as she blushed.

"She's being modest," Edward said, hugging her tightly. "You would have been proud, Alice."

"I am proud!" I chuckled. "I'm surprised you let her!"

"I was too busy laughing to stop her!" Edward replied. "So what did you say to her, Ali?"

"No fair, Edward! You're cheating by using my most special name," I said, pointing a finger at him.

"I know," he chuckled. "Now tell me!"

"I just told her you and Bella were very happy together," I shrugged. I hoped he would let it drop. He wouldn't be happy with the specifics.

"From her tone, I'm sure it wasn't anything that sweet and innocent, but I don't care to get the truth out of you," Edward said with a smile.

"Bella, you should go up and shower now. By the time you get out, Rose should be here and we'll start on your hair and your make-up," I said.

"Alice!" Bella whined. "Isn't it enough to force me into the clothing?"

"No," I chuckled. "Now get upstairs!"

Bella poked her tongue out at me as she and Edward got up from the loveseat.

"Behave yourselves!" I laughed, watching them go up the stairs. There was no need to tell those two that. I was sure they hadn't progressed in their relationship yet.

I stretched out across the couch, waiting for Jasper and our friends to arrive. I thought about my parents' reaction to Edward's news. Our mother was elated and nearly burst into tears. She must have hugged them each twenty times before my dad stopped her.

My father put up a brave front, but he believed this was the first step toward Edward giving up on medical school. Our dad liked to pretend he had no idea just how uninterested my brother was in becoming a doctor. If we had hundreds of years and could have multiple careers, I could see sending Edward to medical school. Send him twice for all I care! But we only have this one life and he wanted to immerse himself in his music.

I might have been a little biased, but I was pretty sure no one could play like my brother did. He could make you feel the music deep within you, and that was just playing stuff dead guys wrote hundreds of years ago. When he played his own compositions, it was surreal.

Edward still thought I was clueless about that mysterious composition of his. Sure, he'd let Bella tell everyone the grade he got, but he still hadn't played it for her. I figured he was saving it for a special occasion with her. I was surprised he hadn't used it for Valentine's Day.

I chuckled to myself. Bella had no idea she'd actually heard it quite a lot. Edward hummed it to her every time she had a nightmare. It was the only thing that calmed her down even a little. I'd had to threaten him to finally get him to talk to her about her dreams and as far as I knew, she hadn't had any since their talk. I wondered if I would have to threaten him again, just so he would tell her about his composition.

The front door swung open. "Knock, knock!" Rose called as she came in with Emmett following close behind her.

"Well, hello!" I sang, going over to them and hugging them both. "Are we in a better mood today, Emmett?"

"Undecided," he muttered, as he made his way over to the television.

"What's with him?" I asked, taking Rose's coat from her.

"He's a little bent out of shape because I warned him about tonight's agenda and Bella's attire," Rose chuckled. "He really is such a bear sometimes!"

"I can hear you, you know," Emmett grumbled.

"You hear, but you don't listen," Rose said, rolling her eyes at him. We walked over to sit next to Emmett.

"Come on, Em," I coaxed. "Bella is a young woman. You need to treat her like one."

"She's just moving too fast," Emmett muttered.

"You didn't think it was too fast last week or two weeks before that or even two days ago," I argued. "What's with you?"

"Emmett, you know Edward," Rose said softly. "You know he's not going to do anything to hurt Bella. You know he's not making false promises to her."

"You're being rather unfair to Bella. She didn't act this way when you asked Rose to marry you," I pointed out.

"Rose and I are twenty-five. We're adults. She's just a kid," Emmett argued.

"Do you consider Edward to be a kid?" I asked.

"No, but that's different," Emmett replied.

"How is it different? Is it because he's a guy and she's a woman? Or is it because she's your little sister?" Rose questioned.

"Well! Charlie and Renee would certainly be proud of your fatherly instincts with Bella!" I teased. "You better hope Rose and you don't have a little girl. You'll pull all of your hair out before she's a teenager."

"Don't mess around like that, Alice," Emmett said. "You know you have that freaky way of saying stuff and then it happens."

I wiggled my fingers at him. "Your first baby with Rose is going to be a girl!"

"Damn it, Alice!" Emmett roared. "I told you not to do that!"

"Relax, Emmett!" I laughed. "I can't really see the future, you big dummy!"

"You've been too right for my tastes so far. Jasper and you, Rose and me, and now Bella and Edward. You really can stop at anytime," Emmett grumbled.

"I have an eye for love, Emmett." I gave a dramatic sigh as I placed my hands over my heart. "Besides, my mother pushed Rose and you to date. I just thought you had a lot in common."

Someone knocked at the door. From the sound of it, I knew it was my absolute favorite someone! I squealed and danced over to the door, flinging it wide open.

I jumped right into his arms and kissed his cheek. "Hi, Jazzy!"

"Hello, Alice," Jasper chuckled. "Miss me?"

"Always," I sighed, leaning my head against his chest.

"I missed you, too. I actually wanted to talk to you about it if you have a moment," Jasper said.

"Sure," I replied, letting him go. "Let me get my jacket and we'll take a quick walk."

I grabbed my coat from the closet and threw a questioning glance at Rose. She shrugged her shoulders at me. I put my jacket on and met Jasper on the porch. We walked around the house and into the backyard.

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

"You know how much I love you, Alice."

"Of course, Jasper! I've know from the moment we met."

"With Emmett's proposal and Edward's promise, I was just wondering if you had any worries since I haven't officially asked you anything yet."

"Does it seem like I have any worries?" I asked with a smirk.

Jasper smiled sweetly at me. "It's been difficult to tell. You've certainly been giddy over the wedding planning and helping Edward put together his surprise. But I was wondering what you were feeling underneath your happiness for them."

"Jasper, I don't need you to ask me anything or put a ring on my finger for me to know you love me. I can see it in your eyes and feel it in your touch. Besides, you should know by now, if I had a problem with it, I'd just ask you that age-old question."

"I bet you would," Jasper chuckled, as he pulled me close for a hug. "Then I have just one more question."

"Ask away!" I laughed, looking up into his beautiful eyes.

"I've found a really nice condo much closer to my job. I was wondering if you would want to move in with me?"

"Wow!" I whistled. "Was not expecting that! Why are you even looking at a condo when you have a perfectly good house?"

"Rose needs the house. It makes her feel like our parents are still a part of her life. That's why she asked Emmett for them to live there together last night. And frankly, I don't ever want to hear the sounds they were making again."

I laughed, remembering that night clearly. "I can see how that would make you look for a condo."

"How about it, Alice?"

"You know the moment I move out, I'm expected to care for myself. No more credit card. I only get to keep the cell phone."

"It's time you finally made use of your degree and put your fashion knowledge to good use. You've been at that office job since you graduated and you know you're bored with it. Come on, Alice! We'll be living in the heart of the city! All that nightlife just waiting at your fingertips! All those fancy boutiques just itching to hire a talented woman like you!"

"Jasper, I … Edward." I dropped my eyes to the ground, not wanting to see any hurt in his eyes.

"Alice, if I was asking three months ago, I would completely understand your reluctance. But I'm asking you now. You know Edward is just fine."

He had a point. Edward was completely different now. And I was only the big sister. Our mother would still be here to look after him. Living everyday with Jasper …

Jasper lifted my chin so our eyes were locked together. "I love you, Alice. I miss you every time I walk out the door without you at my side. It feels like I'm missing some vital part of myself."

"Do I get to decorate?"

"Alice, the entire place is your pallet!"

I squealed and threw my arms around his neck. He hugged me tightly, lifting me off the ground and kissing my lips.

"We're moving in together, Jazzy! Let's go tell Rose!"

"I'm surprised you don't want to tell Edward first," Jasper said. He put me down and then we walked back to the front of the house.

"That will be a difficult conversation. I would rather save it for later." I ran up the steps and into the house. I jumped onto the sofa, narrowly avoiding Rose's feet.

"What the hell, Alice!" Rose screamed, backing away from me.

I grinned wickedly at her. "Rose! I have exciting news!"

"Is that why you nearly landed on top of me?" Rose asked, pretending to be annoyed.

Jasper put his hand on my shoulder and I calmed down a little. It always amazed me that he could do that with just a touch.

"Jasper and I have exciting news. He found a condo and we're going to live there together!" I squealed.

"Jasper?" Rose questioned, looking up at her brother. "You're going to move out on me?"

"Only so Emmett can move in," Jasper replied. "You did ask him to do that last night."

"But there's plenty of room!" Rose argued. "You don't have to move out."

Jasper sat next to Rose and took her hand in his. "Rosalie, you know you are as much a part of me as I am of you. I'll never be far. But you and Emmett are getting married in June. I know you. You won't wait long to start a family. You've always wanted a husband and children, ever since you were a little girl. And I know how much the house means to you. So as my wedding gift to you, I give you the entire house. Just a few months early and without a bow!" Jasper winked and Rosalie started laughing as she wiped her moist eyes.

"I guess we're all starting to realize we're grown-ups and not little kids anymore," Rose said.

"Seems that way!" I chirped.

"Esme and Carlisle!" Rose sighed. "What are they going to do with this big, empty house?"

"It won't be empty," I replied. "Edward and Bella will be here. Mom will make sure they stay until they finish college. And it's not like we won't ever be over here visiting and sleeping over."

"Oh, Alice!" Rose said, grabbing my hand. "What are you going to say to Edward?"

"Well, he's always said he wouldn't miss me," I said with a small smile.

"You know he's never really meant it," Jasper said, rubbing my shoulders.

"Of course I know," I chuckled. "That's just something he says to pretend he doesn't benefit from my unique personality!"

"Where is he?" Rose asked.

"He and Bella went upstairs to start getting ready for tonight," I replied. "Bella should be down shortly for us to start on her hair."

"I'm right here," Bella said from the top of the stairs. "Let's get this over with."

"Oh, Bella!" Rose chuckled as she got up and headed for the stairs. "Don't make it sound so horrible! You know you liked what we did last time."

"I did," Bella agreed. "Right up until brother bear squished me!"

"Sorry, Squirt!" Emmett chuckled, looking up at her.

"Be on your best behavior," I warned Emmett as I leaned down close to him. "And if I were you, I wouldn't wait too long to talk to Bella about your intentions to move."

He nodded his head at me.

I ran up the stairs and joined Rose and Bella in my bathroom. "I'm thinking big loose curls tonight, Rose. What do you think?"

"That will be perfect for the shirt. But you should pull the front back with a clip so her shoulders will be showing," Rose replied.

"Not too much make-up, please," Bella begged.

"Not much at all," Rose assured her. "Just some smoky eyes and a little bit of blush to help hide when you go all red later on."

Bella blushed and the three of us laughed together. We had become good friends over the past few months and there was absolutely no one I'd rather see my brother with than Bella. I was thrilled she had opened her heart to him and accepted his promise.

I was moving out! I was going to be living with the man I loved. I was also giving up my credit card, but it was a really small price to pay.

Edward … my little brother. I chuckled to myself. Emmett wasn't the only one having trouble letting go. But Jasper was right. Edward had changed a lot in the last couple of months, all thanks to Bella. They would only grow closer as they helped each other deal with Emmett and me moving. They were a good match! I had seen it that first night.

Years ago, my mother had told me to watch out for him. I'd spent everyday of my life doing that in some way. This was more than me moving in with the man I loved … this was me leaving the brother I cherished. He would be fine … I would be fine. The condo wouldn't be that far away …

If it was this hard for me to leave Edward, I couldn't imagine what Rose and Bella were going to go through. Jasper and Emmett weren't the type to view this kind of change as a loss in anyway. But for the sisters who loved them and felt protective of them … We would just have to stick together and be here for each other.

I smiled, thinking of all the telephone calls this would create! It was right to make light of this and find reasons to smile. This was a good change for all of us. Some of the easiest choices in life have the biggest consequences. But the six of us had each other … We would all grow and benefit from these changes. I could definitely see that.