Author's Note

Please forgive any spelling and/or grammar errors. I hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think!

Here is Alice's final chapter :)

Any dialogue you recognize is from Breaking Dawn. Most has changed at least a little, but there are a few bits from the book. PS I'm not Stephenie Meyer, so I don't own anything :(

Chapter 26 - Alice

It certainly wasn't planned. Alice had no intention of starting up with Seth the moment she arrived. But when she'd smelled him in the airport, she'd needed to see for herself that he was alive and unharmed. That need propelled her forward until she was launching herself at him.

He was ready for her, catching her to him easily. She clung, surrounding him with her tiny frame, never wanting to let go. He could have been the one that died. Not Embry, but Seth. And she'd have been too far away to even say goodbye. That could never happen again. She couldn't bear it.

Seth was hers, and she was his. Now that she'd accepted it, it was a done deal. Her vampire instincts had roared to life the moment she scented him, screaming, Mine!

She remembered Rosalie was explaining it'd been the same for her when she'd seen Emmett when he'd been mauled by the bear when she first saw him. Rose had shared more with her the night she'd told Bella her story. Once their human sister was asleep, Rose had confessed more to Alice and Esme, more than she ever had before. After her violent assault that ultimately lead to her turning, Rosalie had never wanted another man to touch her again. She'd truly believed she wouldn't be able to stomach any intimacy like that again. But then she'd seen Emmett, and it was like a switch flipped. Suddenly he was hers, so anything they shared together would be right.

Alice experienced that sudden shift now. Felt how it wasn't a decision she had to make to give him a chance like she'd been thinking these last months. No. It was an instinct that they belonged together. And it was guiding her now. Not that they didn't still have obstacles ahead of them, but hurdles could be jumped if you tried.

This time Alice initiated the kiss, not even waiting for him to react to her enthusiastic greeting. She felt how his lips curved when she sealed hers to his. He was thrilled. Quickly though, amusement vanished, replaced with hunger.

His mouth was sinfully delicious, promised decadence and pleasure. Luxurious as fur or new fleece brushing her skin. Hands slid down her back and over the full globes of her rear to squeeze her and bring her closer against him. The intimate caress made her gasp and moan breathily into his mouth. He nipped her bottom lip in response.

The others ceased to exist. The conversation and teasing ignored in favor of the man she was still reassuring herself was whole and hers.

Deeper. Alice sunk into the kiss, submerging herself in the sensation, relishing the heat and passion. He literally seemed to burn for her.

Her fingers threaded through his silky, soft hair hold him to her. Tentatively, she slipped her tongue past his lips to tangle with his. Then it was his turn to groan. He ripped his mouth away, resting his forehead against hers. Alice listened to the rough breathes he dragged in, suddenly grateful she didn't have to worry about breathing herself. Though it was gratifying to see him have such a visible reaction to her hello. After a few seconds, he captured her mouth again, not willing to wait any longer. Evidently Alice was preferable to oxygen.

When the others left, Alice detached her mouth long enough to say, "Let's run. We can talk on the way, and I'll wait at the border while you go to Embry's ceremony. Or do you want to spend tonight with your mom and Charlie?"

She slipped down the length of his body until her feet reached the floor, feeling how he reacted and hardened beneath the unintentional caress. Seth sucked in a sharp breath and met her eyes with his dark, expressive ones. Neither moved for a moment. Alice was still pressed fully against him. Then Seth stepped back, and took hold of her hand, leading her outside of the small Port Angeles airport so they could skirt through the edge of town before running in the woods.

"I spent last night with them," he said, answering her earlier question once he had his body back under control. "Are you sure you don't want to see your own family? You've been gone for months," Seth pointed out, always considerate of her desires.

His wholehearted goodness made her want to be with him even more. But now that they weren't kissing, she remembered the reasons she'd been trying to hold out in the first place.

"I have forever with them," Alice said, preferring to spend this time with him, so they could figure things out. She was interested in what he'd have to say about her concerns.

"So that… enthusiastic… greeting back there was… " he prodded.

"I'm glad you're alive, and let's figure out if we can make this work?" Alice tried, not openly declaring what her instinct was still insisting to be true. That they were already officially mated.

"Got it," Seth said, voice carefully controlled.

"Seth? I'm not saying maybe we won't, but I'm also not saying let's commit fully to one another this very second. There's a lot we still need to figure out," Alice tried to explain.

"What kind of things?"

"For starters, you still have your senior year of high school to finish, and we were planning on moving at the end of the summer," Alice said, beginning with the easiest issue.

"So I'll go with you and start in whatever grade you do or just do that year," Seth proclaimed, shrugging like it was no big deal. "That's what your family does, right?"

"I don't think that's a good idea," Alice admitted, hating that she wanted that, but knowing it wasn't the right move. She'd seen enough of Bella and Charlie's reunion before Mae arrived and it went blank to know how important time with family was. Seth had already lost his dad. He shouldn't lose his mom any sooner than necessary.

Alice suddenly had a new appreciation for Edward wanting to keep Bella human just a little longer all those months ago.

"Why not?" Seth demanded, interrupting her thoughts.

"If you really are planning to continue shifting - "

"I am," he declared. That was his choice, and Alice respected the fact. Was relieved to hear it, truthfully.

"Then you should take advantage of this time with your mom. She won't be around forever. You don't have to leave everything behind the way our kind typically does," Alice said. Recommending, "Make as many memories with her as you can that you can keep with you always. Of course you'll stay in touch after we move, but it won't be the same."

"All right," Seth agreed instantly, surprising her. But Seth was good at recognizing the wisdom in other's advice. It was part of what made him mature beyond his years. He was willing to learn and listen to others when they had more experience. Alice also suspected he hadn't considered that issue himself, and actually liked the idea. "Then what if you stayed with me instead when your family moves? It's only a year," he added.

"And what? I hide out like the bat in the belfry while you're at school since I'm supposed to be away at college, and no one can know I'm here? I'll go crazy spending most of my time alone," Alice said, knowing it was true. And also knowing that if she stayed, Seth would end up spending all of his time with her instead of his mom - defeating the purpose of staying.

"So we're talking long distance for the first year. Other people do it all the time," Seth said, nodding.

"You'd do that?" Alice whispered, not daring to hope. But then, hadn't he just spent nearly a year proving he would?

"I want to be with you, pixie. If you're really willing to be with me, then yes," Seth said easily, stopping them to lean down and kiss her gently. It was soft, a silent promise.

"Okay then. Long distance. With lots of visits - Bella and Mae will want to visit Charlie too," Alice agreed, grinning excitedly at him and tugging him forward once more. He had someplace he needed to be, but they could celebrate more later.

"What else?"

"Hmm?" Alice hummed, focused on planning out what they'd do during her first visit. Maybe dinner and a movie like a human couple would?

"You said things, plural, meaning you have other issues. Keep 'em coming - I'll find a solution for each," he vowed, then hesitated. Finally, he asked, "Is it still the age thing?"

"A little, though less than before. I just don't really like huge commitments when people are so young. A lot can change with new experiences," Alice explained. Repeating high school over and over meant she'd witnessed it countless times.

"You supported Bella's decision when she wanted to be one of you," Seth countered, confusion in his tone.

"Because I saw that it was her fate. But you'll notice, I didn't help it happen sooner than necessary - even after I promised her I would. Things change. I think her relationship, relationships, actually serve as proof to support my stance more than yours," Alice replied.

She'd been all for Edward changing Bella or letting the venom spread when James bit her because Alice had seen the end result, but each time when it didn't happen, the future changed. And she could still remember Bella asking her if Alice still saw Bella becoming one of them after the newborn attack. There'd been a chance Bella had changed her mind, and wanted a different future for herself. Even steady, constant Bella had changed to want a different future. It happened all the time.

There was also the fact Alice was a divorcee, and Seth had never even had a girlfriend before. Though after a year of convincing Alice that he only wanted her, Alice truly did believe he would be happy with her forever - no matter how many other women he met.

"There isn't really much I can say or do here. That's just one you're going to have to let me prove with time," Seth said after a long pause. He didn't seem upset, just resigned and willing to accept the challenge.

"Yes. And before you mention it, I'm not worried you'd leave me for your imprint. I was, but our time in South America put that to rest," Alice informed him.

"Really? What did it?"

"The way you took care of me and valued my needs. You'd never let me down or hurt me by choosing another just because of a mystical bond. That's just not the kind of guy you are," Alice said with conviction.

"Glad you finally noticed," Seth teased, but he was nearly glowing at how she'd described him. Alice could tell it would always be like that for them, each looking out and caring for the other. "Any other reasons? Cause by the time I graduate and join you, I'll be a legal adult off the rez, and that argument will be gone." Alice chuckled at the qualification of off the reservation since the voting age on it was twenty-one. Even Sam wasn't considered an adult yet. Though he would be very soon if she remembered correctly.

Her humor dwindled though as she prepared herself to share her biggest concern. The only one that actually was giving her pause. "My venom. I'm literally toxic to you. I'm worried that if we tried to be intimate, I could accidentally kill you."

"I've been thinking about that too," Seth said quietly.

"You have?" Alice inquired, shocked.

"I'm a teenage boy incredibly attracted to you. Of course I've been thinking about having sex with you," Seth muttered like it should have been obvious to her.

And now that he'd said he was thinking about them having sex, Alice was too. She just knew it would be different with him. The knowledge made her nervous and anxious. It would be like the first time all over again, only now without having to deal with vision interruptions.

Jasper had been a skilled lover. Extraordinary skilled, Alice knew. His ability to sense his partner's emotions meant he knew what they did and didn't like without needing to be told or steered. He had a built in roadmap. But all that skill had gone to waste with her. She was never present enough to appreciate it. How could she when she'd see Carlisle deciding to use a different suture pattern to close the abscess he'd just drained to make it less likely to rupture again. Or Edward deciding to buy two CDs instead of one when he went into town. Not exactly turn ons.

The worst part about it all, however, was Jasper's lack of annoyance. Not once - not ever - had Jasper felt anything other than concern for her and acceptance. He never minded how many times her passion fizzled out to the point they'd stop part way through, each denied a release. Even when it happened ninety-five percent of the time, and even when she ignored the visions, they continued playing through her head preventing her from fully enjoying his attention. It infuriated her that he'd not been as annoyed and frustrated as her. Instead, he'd unfailingly been a gentleman about it all, offering understanding without a trace of bitterness or discontent.

They'd both been so blind. Who wanted to spend eternity with a partner you could never enjoy sex with?

That was her fear now. If they weren't compatible in that sense, Alice couldn't do it again. No matter how much she'd fallen for Seth. She couldn't take it if he was understanding too. Or worse, if he grew to resent her for it.

"I meant the venom," Alice clarified, checking her thoughts.

"Definitely worth the risk," Seth said, turning his head to eye her.

"Seth! Be serious, please," Alice cried, coming to a stop. He did too, facing her with a grin. He was still thinking about sex, she could tell. Typical. "What if I accidentally bit you? Or, you know, just being inside me poisoned you," she huffed. His eyes darkened before he closed them.

"Great. I'm about to go to a funeral, and now there's evidence that all I can think about is being inside you," Seth muttered, clenching his fists and taking a couple deep breaths.

It didn't help.

He wanted her that much? Enough to overshadow the pain of Embry's death and trump the fear of dying?

Alice jumped on him, kissing him quickly.

For several minutes they stayed locked together, enjoying the heady taste of each other, and working through the tiniest fraction of the sexual tension they'd repressed so far. Only the knowledge that he needed to get to La Push soon, and they were still about five minutes from the border, made her release him.

"Not that I've been thinking about this or anything, because gross, but Edward and Bella were together while she was human. It didn't initiate her transformation, so I don't think your kinds' sexual secretions are venomous," Seth said, trying to sound detached and clinical, but not quite pulling it off completely.

It wasn't something Alice had considered, but he was correct. "Fair point. I want Carlisle to run tests though. It's not worth risking your life."

"I can wait," Seth said seriously. "There's no rush. Well, maybe we can ask him to rush a little."

"That was my last concern," Alice announced happily, chuckling at his comment and pulling him forward again. They really needed to get going.

"I'm surprised you didn't bring up missing out on kids," Seth remarked idly.

"You already told me you couldn't have any. Besides, we have Mae. And eventually her k -"

Alice broke off, wondering if Carlisle had run any tests on Mae yet. Nahuel didn't have any kids, and neither did any of his sisters. What did that mean? Had they just not tried? Did it matter who they tried with? Or was it even possible at all?

"Did you just realize she might not be able to have any?" Seth asked quietly, unsurprised. Unlike her.

"You already thought about that?" Alice realized.

"Let's just say Jake and Sam had a pretty massive fight, and that was one of many barbs thrown," Seth muttered, his disgust for whatever else Sam had said unmistakable. He looked over at Alice as they ran, and she saw the twisted grimace he wore. "Sam was way out of line, and went a lot of places he shouldn't have. Honestly, I don't think they'll ever come back after all that was said and implied. I know I can't forgive him for some of it, and I wasn't even the one he said it about or to."

Alice was flabbergasted. Was that what had been bothering Jake in Chile? He'd never mentioned anything, but he'd been overly distant and formal with Mae, and Alice had simply chalked it up to worry for the battle, then grief over Embry afterwards. But had it actually been about something else entirely? The conversation she'd overheard between Jake and Mae on the plane a couple hours ago suddenly took on a whole other light in the wake of Seth's revelation.

Jacob had become a friend to her and her family this last year. She didn't want to see him hurt.

The border came into view just then, she could smell where the wolves had paced to mark it, and they slowed to a stop.

"Go on," Alice urged when he hesitated. "I'll be waiting right here."

Seth nodded sadly, then took off. It was time to say goodbye to his pack brother.

The knock on the door had Alice squealing and bounding over to open it. The rest of the family watched her antics with a mixture of exasperation and affection.

She'd spent all day getting ready, trying on every outfit she owned, because it was impossible to predict how Seth would react when he saw her. In the end, Rosalie had come in, telling her to wear a white, spaghetti strap dress with a floral design that tied in the back and had a skirt that flared around her knees. She'd paired it with strappy sandals - heels really didn't help with the height difference anyway - and a long gold necklace.

It was her and Seth's first official date, and she wanted everything to go perfectly. Yet, for once, she couldn't help things along to that end. She just had to trust that it would happen naturally, and live in the moment since she couldn't see the outcome.

When she opened the door, Seth was standing there holding two bouquets. One of gerber daisies, the other sunflowers - Alice's favorite. So that's why Bella asked her yesterday! He wore a nice dark blue button down shirt that stretched tightly over his chest and shoulders, and was tucked into a pair of khaki slacks. Alice had never seen him so neat and fancy. Honestly, she half expected him to show up in cut-off sweats. She'd already mentally prepared to hide her disappointment if he did. But here he was, doing the very opposite of her expectations. Somehow he always managed to do that.

"Hello, pixie. Are your parents home?" Seth said formally, straightening even more and tilting his chin up a notch.

"Yes… why?" Alice could hear them coming up behind her, curious to see what Seth wanted. Esme touched Alice's shoulder lightly when she caught sight of Seth.

"Bella may have mentioned your obsession with recreating cliche human moments. I wanted to make a good first impression on them, and assure your father I'd have you home at a decent hour," he said, winking at her. Smiling, he handed the daisies to Esme, saying, "These are for you, ma'am. And these are for you, pixie." The sunflowers were offered, but a peel of laughter burst from Alice's lips, and she started jumping up and down, too excited to actually take them.

"They're lovely, Seth. Thank you. Alice, I'll put them in water for you," Esme said fondly, taking her flowers for her and disappearing into the kitchen.

"You're perfect," Alice exclaimed, making Seth smile even wider, so all of his pearly white teeth showed.

"I try. Dr. Cullen? I swear I'll have her home by midnight," Seth said, trying to be serious and failing as the words betrayed his humor.

"I think that should be acceptable, but let's say one since it's not a school night," Carlisle replied, playing along, "But no drugs or alcohol."

The jest made both Alice and Seth laugh. Carlisle hugged her, then Seth was ushering her to the Volvo. Edward had lent it to Seth to use until he got back from Italy, and Seth was saving to buy his own vehicle in the meantime.

"Where are you taking me?" Alice asked as they headed away from Foks.

"Port Angeles," Seth said evasively, reaching over to take her hand where it rested on the console. Gigginess welled up inside her.

"Are we going to dinner?" she asked, determined to find out more.

"No, not much point with you," he teased.

"Very funny. Then where?" she demanded, desperate to find out where he was taking her. The suspense was eating her up.

"So impatient. Would you let it go if I said it was a surprise?" he asked, though he'd already guessed her answer.

"No. Not a chance," she stated flatly.

"The beach. I thought we could take a stroll as the sun sets - it should already be twilight when we get there, then we can catch a late movie," Seth revealed. It was the most cliche, romantic evening she'd ever heard of.

"You're perfect," Alice repeated, making Seth smile broadly. He pulled her hand up to place a warm kiss on the back. Shivers ran through her at the contact.

"This is the only first date I will ever have. I wanted it to be epic for both of us."

"It is," Alice vowed. Not revealing that it was her first date too. Somehow her and Jazz had never actually gone on a real date. Just outings and nights spending time together. She'd tell him later. This was about them, not her past with another.

As they walked along the beach, they talked about everything. Alice shared her plans to try her hand at designing a fashion line. Seth had made the suggestion months before, but it had stuck with her. This seemed like the perfect time. Alice would need something to occupy her while Seth completed his senior year.

Seth admitted that it felt like he'd just had an epic summer vacation since there'd been no school, and they'd been living in a jungle. It was weird to be home now, and actually have a whole summer ahead. Particularly since there weren't any threats hanging over them this time.

They even discussed how Seth was dealing in the wake of Embry's death. At first he baulked at sharing, not wanting to ruin their evening with such a heavy and depressing topic, but eventually he opened up. Alice was there for him to lean on. And he admitted how difficult it was to shift and not encounter Embry's thoughts anymore. Especially since Jake had taken off as well and only shifted about once a week and never for longer than a couple minutes at a time.

Jake had shut the rest of them out, totally closed himself off, and seemed intent to forget anything and everything from his former life. Alice's heart went out to him. Between Sam and Embry, Jake was in a bad way. She wished he'd let his friends help him, or at least Mae, but he had to find his own way to move forward.

During the movie, Alice barely paid any attention, cuddling against Seth instead, and relishing the chance to feel like a normal person for once. He'd given her this opportunity, taken pains to make tonight perfect. Like something out of a movie.

Once, months ago, she'd scoffed at him for being sappy with her, but things were different now after all they'd shared. It wasn't an empty gesture. Now it felt like he was giving her something precious. He was helping return all of the human experiences she'd either forgotten or been robbed of because of being locked up in that asylum.

"We still have a few minutes - cause I actually did promise Charlie and mom I wouldn't be out all night," Seth said quietly when he parked in front of her house. The look he gave her said everything else.

"Are we going to make out in the car until Carlisle flicks the porch light to tell me it's time to come in?" Alice asked loudly, knowing her father would hear. The sound of several people laughing inside told her they had.

"Yes, pixie, that's exactly how I planned to end this evening," Seth said, bending uncomfortably over the console to kiss her. He didn't utter a word about the way it dug painfully into his side, just kissed her until he was breathless.

And until Emmett appeared on the porch, flicking the lights and tapping his watch. Oh, she would make him pay for that in a minute.

"She took my call today." The happy words rang through the phone, quick and rich with emotion.

"She did? Edward, that's great," Alice said, feigning surprise. Bella had come running over when Mae had wordlessly accepted the phone today for the first time when Edward called. That had been a couple hours ago. So either the call went well - which it did from the tone of her brother's voice - or he'd been busy and only just now been able to call.

Every day Edward called, and every day Mae refused to speak to him. Looks like that was finally coming to an end. About time.

It was funny. Edward never used to call when he was separated from the family. Now, almost like clockwork, he'd call someone every eight hours or so. He rotated through who he spoke to, with Mae being the only person he called daily, aside from Leah, but he made a point to speak to each of them regularly. A year later, and he still hadn't let up. Esme was over the moon with the change.

"Renesmee even said she was looking forward to telling me about her trip to visit Billy tomorrow," Edward gushed.

Jacob may have nearly vanished from their lives, but Billy hadn't. Bella and Jazz took Mae to see Sue, Charlie, and Billy for a weekend every month. Alice suspected that lately, Mae talked to Billy more often than she did the wolf. It made her sad how things had turned out, but it wasn't her place to intervene. Plus, Seth had specifically asked her to stay out of it.

Of course, that was after Alice had called Jake and screamed at him for skipping coming home for Seth's graduation and going away party so he could pick up an extra shift at work instead. Funny how there was always an extra shift available when it was time for him to visit. Any excuse for Jake to avoid returning to La Push.

"I was just thinking about how much better you are at remembering to call us," Alice said, diverting her mind away from the problem of Jacob Black.

"Leah set reminders on my phone before I left," Edward admitted, surprising her. "She said checking in would help me be less self-involved," he added, and she could picture him rolling his eyes.

"So you still talk to her too?" Alice prodded, already knowing the answer. Maybe now he'd finally own up to what was happening there.

"Yes," Edward said simply.

"Are you ever going to tell me what's going on there?"

"I don't know myself," he said slowly, reluctantly. "She's beautiful, strong - can certainly take care of herself," he breathed. That would be a draw for him after the issues around his compulsive need to protect Bella. Leah was the opposite end of the scale in that regard. Alice supposed that was one way to avoid making the same mistakes twice.

"You're learning to respect that strength," Alice acknowledged, hoping to steer him into opening up more. It worked.

"Bella reminded me of the girls when I was human. They depended on a man to take care of them. That's how I was raised, and what I expected from myself. Leah's teaching me to change and adjust my way of thinking when the circumstances change," he explained.

"Is that all it is then? She's helping you?"

"I care about her, and I think she needs me in a different way. I've been in her head, so I know she's developed feelings for me too, but she has no intention of phasing forever. One day soon, when she's fully recovered from Sam's betrayal, she'll want to stop so she can age and have a normal human life again. I already know I can't be with a human again, and she won't want to be with a vampire after she stops phasing."

It was a revelation to Alice. Seth had never mentioned that his sister planned to stop phasing. Did he know? She didn't want him to one day have to deal with losing her. But if she stopped phasing, that was her fate.

"Are you willing to try? To love her even if it's only temporary?" Alice asked, returning to Edward. One problem at a time.

"Carlisle and Tanya have both said it would be good for me," Edward admitted, revealing that he'd sought council on the matter already. He was usually so secretive about his feelings. This boded well as evidence he really was maturing and growing up.

"But is it what you want?" she asked, concerned for him. He shouldn't do something just because others said he needed it.

"I'd settle for a handful of years of happiness over hundreds without," he finally said, seeming to make the decision right then.

"I think she'll help you be in a better place for when the right one comes along. Then you'll have forever," Alice said, trying to offer him hope and a light at the end of his journey.

"Any ideas about how much longer I'll be needed here, rather than be there with her?"

"All the muscle has been replaced. Dacian even has that ability to detect where trouble involving our kind will happen. Aro must be thrilled with him since it's such a useful gift for law enforcement. Now you just need to find one more talented individual to round things out. I haven't seen anything, but I'd say another month or two," Alice predicted.

Already it was July. Edward had been with the Volturi for just over a year.

In that time he'd even managed to warn the ancients after Vladamir and Stefan inspire one of the southern covens to attack the Volturi in retaliation for destroying their newborn army. The two Romanians used the southern coven to test the Volturi strength and see if it had indeed been weakened enough for them to attack.

But between Edward's forewarning, and the three new guards he'd helped secure, the coup was short-lived. And the new allegiance between the Cullens and Volturi was stronger than ever.

"It can't go quick enough," he muttered.

"Is it that bad?"

"More annoying than anything. Jane and Alec are furious, but Aro forbade them from lashing out or doing anything. The rest… their thoughts are obnoxiously centered around pleasing their 'masters'," he relayed with disgust. She could well imagine.

Edward was on a doorstep, knocking on the chocolate brown door. It opened to reveal Tanya's sad face. Though she smiled at Edward, reaching down to take his bag from him and usher him inside.

"Why are you moving back in with Tanya instead of us?" Alice demanded, unable to mask her hurt.

"To be with Leah. And I don't think Renesmee has forgiven me that much yet. Maybe in another year or two," he said stiffly.

"I'm sorry, Edward," Alice said softly, wishing she could hug her favorite brother.

"I understand where she's coming from. At least she invited me to visit Nahuel with her, Bella, and Jasper next summer. I'd like to meet him," Edward said with forced casualness. Finally! Alice sensed she'd finally have an ally. Another person that wasn't instantly taken with Nahuel.

Mae talked about the hybrid a lot. Strange considering how long it'd been since they met, and how brief the visit had been. Everything was Nahuel this or Nahuel that though. It was enough to make her pull her hair out.

"Overprotective father wants to read the mind of the guy his daughter has her first crush on," Alice teased.

"She hasn't met enough guys to know any better. And she's only one. She's too young for a crush," Edward denied immediately. "Isn't she?" he added, uncertainty showing through. After being in teenage girls' heads for so long, he seemed to just realize what exactly he was in store for with his own daughter.

"She's nearly two and she's actually closer to fifteen. It's what teenage girls do," Alice said easily. Oh, he would learn. She couldn't wait to see what Mae put him through. It would provide enough amusement to last a few decades. At least.

Seth was at the registrar's office filling out the last of the transfer papers. He would be finishing his last year of school at the University of Wyoming, then continuing onto medical school there. Carlisle was ecstatic. Particularly since Bella really hadn't been able to drum up any enthusiasm for the subject. Mae would be starting college there in the fall too, and everyone was moving to Laramie next week so they'd have the summer to get settled in. Seth had moved in with them three years earlier when he'd graduated high school.

Alice genuinely believed that it wasn't possible for her to be happier than she currently was. The same was true for her entire family.

Most of the house was packed up. Alice was helping Esme with the last of the kitchen while Bella and Jasper played a game of chess at the table rather than helping themselves. Mostly, they were just waiting for Mae to get home from spending the day with Edward.

The father and daughter were finally on good terms, though he'd not be moving with them to Wyoming. Edward was actually the one that suggested Mae move into the dorms and have a real college experience, at least for her first go around. Bella had panicked, not wanting her baby to be that grown yet. Mae had sensed the difficulty in her mother and decided to continue living with her and Jasper for at least a few more years.

Edward, not wanting to smother Renesmee with his ability to read every thought she had when she was ready to start dating, had decided to stay in Alaska with Leah and the other Denalis. Alice was proud of her brother for respecting his daughter so much. He'd finally stopped trying to control everyone around him. And Mae had vowed to visit often and even trusted Edward when he'd said he'd visit at least once a month as well.

"Alice, dear… have you and Seth considered getting your own place this time," Esme asked carefully, wrapping a crystal plate in a green foam covering.

"No. I think Seth wants to be able to contribute to the cost," Alice said, pausing to roll her eyes fondly at his foolishness, "and right now he's just focused on finishing school and studying for his MCAT." Alice tapped the box while Esme held it closed.

"You were thinking of staying with us another year or two then?" Esme asked, face showing her dismay.

"Is that a problem?"

Esme's hands fluttered. Then her face smoothed as if she'd braced herself to deliver unwelcome news. "The two of you are too noisy. I can't take another two years of Emmett's comments," she said bluntly. "It's time for you to get your own place until your exuberance for one another is a bit more under control."

Alice was mortified as she blinked the vision away. The feelings were pronounced enough that Jasper looked over at her from his chest game, a single eyebrow raised in silent question.

Alice glared at him, equally silent as she commanded him to mind his own business.

It had only been about three years since Alice and Seth had been able to progress to a sexual relationship. Carlisle had taken countless samples from each of them, endlessly testing them to ensure that she'd not unintentionally kill Seth if they tried to have sex. Carlisle had been unfailingly professional the entire time, but she found herself relating to Bella and how she'd felt having Carlisle constantly examining her while she'd been pregnant. No girl wanted her father thinking about her sex life.

When Carlisle had finally given her the go ahead, it was just before Seth's spring break. She'd surprised him, and the two had spent the entire week locked up in the old Cullen house in Forks. Just the two of them.

Perfect. Magical. Romantic. Exciting. There really weren't words to sum up the true significance of that week or how it permanently altered their relationship. So much so, that Alice had agreed to stick around for the last couple weeks while Seth finished school. Parting after that hadn't really been an option.

"Esme? Seth and I are getting our own place in Laramie," Alice announced.

"That's a wonderful idea, dear. I was thinking of suggesting it myself," Esme said, smiling knowingly. After all, she knew exactly how Alice's gift worked, and now she didn't actually have to have the awkward conversation. Alice rolled her eyes.

Jasper laughed knowingly, and Alice glared at him again. He was one to cast stones. Esme still wasn't letting him and Bella live in the main house. Bella was deliberately studying the chess board, feigning ignorance. At least Edward was with Leah and not here to witness her humiliation as well.

"Yes. I know you were," Alice muttered.

Alice flat out refused to live on the opposite side of the city from the rest of her family. Jasper, Bella, and Mae already purchased the house Alice would have liked to get. It was a quaint little cabin, hardly big enough for three, but precisely Bella's taste. The best part, it was only a mile from the house Esme, Carlisle, Emmett, Rosalie, and occasionally Edward and Leah would be sharing. Just because Alice and Seth had to move out, didn't mean she wanted to go far.

But proximity resulted in a lack of choices. There were only two places available that weren't ridiculously large, an aspect she knew would make Seth uncomfortable, and for that reason alone meant the others weren't options. She planned to slowly ease him into more extravagant and luxurious homes over the next century or two. Subtly, so he wouldn't even notice it happening. Alice had never denied she possessed a devious streak.

Seth had talked her into sneaking in to one their first night in Laramie so they could check it out without the realtor blathering on about this or that.

"I'm not sure," Alice hedged. The other one had a better bathroom and a finished basement, but she did prefer this kitchen.

The granite countertops were light with chunks of grey and little flecks of black. The cabinets, oven and fridge formed an L-shape, with the sink and bar across from them to form an almost triangular open space, and angled so it overlooked the living room.

"About which part?" Seth asked, lining himself up against her back and planting his hands on the counter on either side of her. His heat made her light headed, and she could feel his arousal pressed insistently against her.

"This layout is better, but the other is more updated," she replied, spinning to face him. Desire etched itself into his face, darkening his hooded eyes completely to black, and making his pulse point beat rapidly in his neck. She watched it ticking away, jumping frantically.

His hands went to her hips, lifting her to perch on the edge of the counter. Once there, his hands caught the edge of her shirt, tugging it up. Seth bent to kiss her stomach. Alice glanced around, taking in the unfamiliar house and weighing the risk of getting caught here doing this.

Totally worth it.

She pulled her shirt the rest of the way off, grateful it had a built in bra and that she was already completely bared to him. His lips blazed a path up to her small breasts, though Seth swore they were perfect. His hand covered one while his lips, tongue and teeth feasted on the other. The beaded tip of one nipple disappeared between his lips and into the inferno of his mouth.

"Hmm, yes. More please," Alice begged. The answering tug when he captured the bud with his teeth had her back arching, bowing impossibly high towards him.

His lips released the suction around her pebbled nipple with a tiny pop!

Seth urged her to lean back as his mouth moved south, kissing a ring around her belly button while he tugged her leather legging off. Alice braced herself against the counter to lift her hips enough to help him rid her of the clothing.

He pulled away just long enough to yank his own t-shirt off, then he was back, wedging himself between her spread thighs and kissing the crease between her hip and thigh.

"You're as sweet as honey," he murmured, continuing his exploration of her, lapping at her with the pad of his flaming hot tongue.

He'd said the same many times before. The first time he had, she'd said, "It's too bad you're not a bear shifter." He'd laughed so hard it was several minutes before he'd stopped long enough for them to continue enjoying one another.

But it made sense that she'd taste sweet. That's how she smelled. Alice just wished she could taste him as thoroughly, and see if he was as earthy. It wasn't something they'd risked yet, even after three years. Such thin skin that close to her razor sharp teeth and venom was something they were working up to. Soon though. Soon she thought she could try without risking his life - knowing the deadly consequences if the experiment failed, typically put a damper on the moment.

Already they'd managed some licking. He liked when she teased the tip with little flicks of her cool tongue. It reminded her of the way rosemary and thyme smelled. Seth usually got too excited, and would yank her up, burying himself inside her only seconds after she started.

"Don't stop," Alice commanded when his tongue swirled around her clit. "Right there, please. Seth!"

Alice's hands threaded through her hair, feeling like she had to squeeze her skull to keep it from flying apart as her release built. All the while, Seth's tongue lapped at her sex, circling and teasing her entrance.

His teeth moved up to nip the little bud, hard enough to be painful for a human, but just right for vampire flesh.

"Seth!" Alice screamed as she came, her peak hitting her fast. Starbursts of light flashed behind her closed eyelids, and waves of ecstasy crashed through her, spreading from her center all the way to the tips of her fingers and toes.

He'd shucked his pants while pleasuring her, so he stood, entering her while her body was still shaking with pleasure, sinking into her fully before she'd had a chance to recover. The sudden presence of extreme heat and fullness within her had her gasping, "Oh, god! Yes!"

He pulled the boneless shell of her limp stone torso up, wrapping his arms tight around her. She could do nothing more than cling to him. Maybe Esme was right, and she was a little loud when she was with Seth. She just couldn't believe what she'd been missing out on for the last century!

One of her legs circled his waist, her heel digging into his butt to spur him on. The other braced itself against the cabinet to keep from sliding over the smooth surface.

"Alice, you feel so good," Seth moaned, his head falling back as he rocked into her, slowly at first, then faster.

"More," Alice demanded, leaning down to lick the tip of his nipple. The cold caress made him shutter, jerking irregularly within her.

Once, Seth had admitted to masterbating using icy hot when he'd first developed feelings for her. He'd admitted that being with her was surprisingly similar, only so much more. The gel had tingled in much the same way, starting cold, then heating as the friction increased.

The temperature changes made for a more intense experience than what he saw in Quil's mind when he was with his wife, Kyra, or even what Jake felt with his longtime girlfriend, Natalie. Alice didn't like that Seth shared the details of their sex life, but she supposed it was no different from her family actually hearing it as it happened.

She'd asked if she could watch him masterbate sometime, and he'd reluctantly agreed, saying only, "I'd just rather be with you now that I finally can. I'm sure one day it'll be easier to resist, but right now I don't think I'd be able to keep my hands off you if you were in the room watching me with those hunger eyes of yours."

His admittance to being unable to resist her had made her jump him right then, tearing off his clothes and riding him like a pony, or a wolf in this case.

"Alice, pixie, ease up... or your foot... is going to go... right... through... the wood," Seth panted, words coming only as he withdrew to warn her. She heard the groaning sound of wood close to splintering then.

"Oops," she breathed, rising to meet his thrust, using the countertop as leverage instead. "Mmm, good."

He chuckled at her reaction, speeding up even as he did.

"I'm close," Seth warned, knowing that's all she'd need.

The heat of his climax as it flooded her sent her over the edge, following him milliseconds later - a you jump, I jump situation. It always happened that way. Like a trigger.

The rush of pleasure consumed her, encasing Alice completely. She was lost to the world as she cried out unintelligibly. The words a series of garbled sounds, but the feelings were too overwhelming not to expel something.

Seth's arms were steel bands around her, keeping her close as they floated down from the epic cloud they'd flown to.

"Well that's one room christened," Seth said, puffs of his rapid breaths fanning onto her neck from his position with their cheeks pressed together. "Ready for the next?"

"Next? Again - already?" Alice breathed, amazed at his never ending stamina. She'd thought only vampires could recover so quickly.

"I'm always ready for you. I'll never get enough," Seth vowed, kissing her deeply.

"So we're picking this house?" Alice asked, savoring the anticipation of Seth claiming her so thoroughly in every room of the house. There was a railing in the loft she could picture him bending her over. Would it be strong enough to hold them?

"I thought we could christen all the rooms in both places then decide based on which one we had more fun in," Seth said, running his nose down the column of her neck, and kissing the hollow at the base. "Plus if it's updates you want, I can always do the remodeling myself. What'd you say?"

Their first house was going to be based on an adventure. Oh, the memories. And did hallways count as a room? Or the yards? She would definitely not resist if he decided they did.

"I'm in," Alice breathed, wrapping herself around him even as he lifted her up and carried her towards what could end up as their bedroom.