II. With a Lighter Soul

Edward had lied.

He wasn't prepared to return home. Not until he flushed the red from his eyes.

It felt inappropriate, reappearing while still wearing the stain of his crime. Carlisle and Esme didn't deserve such contempt. Fortunately, it was the first and the last time he'd consumed human blood, and it only took a few weeks to retain his natural, gold eye color.

In that time, he began to court Alice.

At first, she didn't understand―didn't comprehend human customs. That's when he learned that she knew nothing of her human past. She didn't even have memories of the excruciating transformation.

They learned a lot of things about each other, as they grew closer. Most of it without uttering a word.

It was both overwhelming and exhilarating.

He'd imagine holding her hand, and her fingers would already become entangled in his. He'd turn to ask her a question, and her thoughts would reflect an answer. He'd think of kissing her, and her lips would already be pressed and moving against his own.

(Sometimes, they did more than kiss, all without even touching.)

Their intrusive gifts were a flawless parallel. He knew her every thought. She knew his every choice.

Edward never imagined he'd find such a perfect equal.

Alice loved the city, her curiosity of humankind never once abating. And so, every morning, as soon as the shops opened, Alice insisted on purchasing a new outfit for the both of them to swap into, before taking their day-old clothes to one of the local churches to donate. Edward found the arrangement slightly frivolous, but he could hardly complain when she found so much joy in the activity.

After all, it was due to Alice that they had the funds available for it. The little money Edward had been carrying in his wallet the day he'd left home, had swiftly multiplied under Alice's charge. A carefully placed bet every now and then ensured that they were never lacking.

As was the norm in Rochester, clouds hung densely above them, filtering the sunlight into something dim and gray. They lounged on a park bench near the fountain. It was Saturday, and the park was teeming with life―children accompanied by harried mothers, couples strolling through the walkways, teenagers darting about, along with the occasional food vendor.

Edward leaned back, eyes following the sway of the tree branches above them, arm thrown casually across the back of the bench. Beside him, Alice sat properly, a sketchpad on her lap and a pencil in hand as she drew graceful strokes across the page. Similar to previous sketches, Alice was designing another dress. But this time, Edward realized she had something more specific in mind for herself―a wedding dress.

His heart swelled with a surge of affection that threatened to overwhelm him.

If they were alone, he would've pulled her into an intimate embrace. Unfortunately, they were in public. Not only would it be improper, but they didn't even have a visible chaperone within their vicinity.

Edward couldn't wait for the day she would don that dress.

In the end, he settled for making the choice, without acting upon it.

With how closely in tune she was to him, the vision came to life in Alice's mind almost immediately. Without pausing in her sketch, she smirked and mentally demonstrated her own response.

Edward's shoulders shook with silent laughter. "Don't tempt me, love. You're already unbearably enticing as is."

Alice's expression became momentarily startled. She did that sometimes―whenever he made an impulsive comment, and she'd hear his voice. She liked his voice.

"If you'd prefer," Edward suggested, echoing the words from her next vision, "I could simply repeat myself."

Alice grinned. No need to waste your words, darling. Besides, I like surprises.

Edward chuckled and simply shot her a wink in response.

As soon as Alice returned to her sketch, Edward continued to peruse his previous line of thought. The move to Rochester was fairly recent―so much so that Edward hadn't properly settled into his room before he'd made his departure. Originally, the plan had been to enroll into school. As a human, he'd never completed his education, and he'd meant to pick it back up after his newborn years. But then, Esme joined the family, and her poor control had caused them to move several times over.

Nine years later, Edward had been looking forward to branching out on his own.

But now that Alice had found him, he wasn't sure if that was what he wanted anymore. With marital bliss at his fingertips, the choice seemed clear. And if Alice was already designing her wedding gown, it was likely she'd be of a similar opinion.

In Alice's mind, the future began to take shape, until it was shattered by her next thought, No. I want to attend school with you first.

Edward arched an eyebrow, his response forming in her mind, You don't have to do this on my account.

I'm really not, she assured him, setting her pencil down and smiling sweetly at him. I'm very curious about what blending in with other humans is like. Plus, if we got married now, we wouldn't be able to stay with Carlisle and Esme. We're physically too young to pass off as a newly wedded couple for very long.

Edward conceded with a small nod of his head. Alice was right. If they attended school, they could blend in for a longer period of time. And once they graduated, they could even stay long enough to get married, before departing and starting again somewhere new.

Mentally, Edward berated himself for the small stab of dismay. Despite his eagerness to be with Alice, they had only recently met. And truly, they had eternity ahead of them. The few years they'd have to wait to claim each other as husband and wife would be over in the blink of an eye.

As he settled more into this path, the future reshaped, and Edward saw himself and Alice sitting inside a library, dressed in a set of pristine uniforms, studying and doing homework side by side.

Edward couldn't stop the smile that broke out across his face as Alice continued to map out their future, the two always remaining in sync with one another.

It was then that his gift, which remained primarily focused on Alice, unexpectedly picked up another pair of voices so very familiar to him. In the eyes around them, Carlisle and Esme appeared to be a divinely beautiful couple taking a lovely stroll through the park. But their thoughts conveyed an entirely different story.

Edward was grieved to find both of their minds centered around him. They imagined where he might've gone, what he might be doing, while holding on to the hope that he would return soon. All the while, Edward was left blindsided, knowing just how unworthy of their love he was, recalling with perfect detail the last time he'd spoken with them.

Two new threads formed in Alice's mind. In one, they swiftly made their departure at his insistence. In another, Alice persuaded him to stay, and Carlisle and Esme engulfed him in an earnest embrace.

Edward held onto that vision for a second longer, until it became the only outcome.

How are my eyes? he meant to ask.

Alice reached up and pressed a palm against his cheek, thumb caressing the skin just below his left eye. The perfect shade of honey gold. But you already knew that.

Edward had. But he insisted on gorging himself with animal blood, as though that would somehow scrape the rapturous memory of human blood off his tongue.

Go on, Alice encouraged him. I'll be waiting right here.

Edward briefly pressed his lips against her temple, before flitting to his feet and strolling around the fountain. He continued following the walkway, hands tucked into his pockets, eyes scouring the flocks of people wandering by.

And then he saw them.

Despite the facade of a happy couple, Edward noted the strain around Carlisle's eyes, the tenseness in Esme's shoulders, and he felt all the more wretched for it.

He stepped to the side so that he wouldn't obstruct the walkway, and waited for them.

It didn't take long. A cool breeze ruffled his hair, sending a wave of his scent right into their path.

Eyes locked on him, they hurried, careful not to jostle the crowds around them, until their hands were grasping him and pulling him into an embrace.

An exact replica of Alice's vision.

Edward, you've returned! Esme sobbed tearlessly.

We've missed you, Carlisle gripped him tighter.

And although the sight of him had them overflowing with thoughts of relief and elation, they were both pleasantly surprised by the color of his irises. Edward immediately put a halt to those thoughts. "It isn't like that. I did kill one man. That was as far as I got, before Alice put a stop to it." After all, he had never delayed his return with the intention of fooling them. Because while he regretted drinking that monster's blood, he never once bemoaned his death.

Their thoughts didn't linger very long on his confession, as they began asking about Alice.

Said girl was too impatient to wait on the bench like she'd promised, and now stood behind him. "Hello," she chirped. The sound of her voice shocked Edward. He'd nearly forgotten how pleasant it was to listen to.

Carlisle and Esme reluctantly pulled back and made room for Alice to step up beside him.

"This is Alice," he introduced her, gently pressing a hand to the small of her back. "Alice, these are my parents, Carlisle and Esme."

"Hello dear, it's a pleasure to meet you," Esme eagerly grasped her hands, eyes glittering with delight. My son has found someone at last! she thought, voice swelling with pride.

"Alice, we are in your debt. Thank you for bringing our son home," Carlisle expressed his gratitude as he took her hand.

Alice shook her head. "Edward made that decision on his own. I merely showed him his choices, and where they would lead him."

Carlisle and Esme exchanged a glance, wondering about Alice's peculiar explanation.

As they strolled through the park, Alice became the center of their attention while she described her unique gift.

Slipping back into the role of son was distinctly easy, and the addition of Alice only made his world that much more radiant.

Feeling light enough to float away, he fell into step between Alice and Esme, meeting Carlisle's eyes above their heads.

Welcome home, son.

A/N: Because I have no impulse control, I wrote more. So, I guess this is now a two-shot. :3