8

"Babe, we gotta go," Edward hollered toward his wife as he stood next to the front door. They were supposed to be meeting Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, and Rose for dinner across town in twenty minutes, and it would take them at least that long to make their way through traffic. Especially on a Friday night. Edward wasn't looking forward this this meeting, however. He knew they had to confront everyone about their neglect of Alice, but he hated confrontation. Just the thought of it had his chest tightening and his hand lifted his chest out of reflex.

"Another episode?" Bella asked, and when Edward looked toward their bedroom, he found her standing in the doorway with her leather jacket draped over her arm. They'd found it at the same thrift store she had found her sweater. "That's what? Three today?"

"It's nothing," Edward lied. He didn't want it to be anything and hoped that it was just the stress of their upcoming dinner getting the best of him. "We're gonna be late."

"Not like they've never left us waiting." Bella pulled her jacket on and grabbed her purse off the back of the couch before stopping in front of Edward. She placed her hands on his chest, right over the scar that ran in the middle of his chest. "If you really don't think these episodes are anything to worry about, I'll let it go, but I'm concerned. You're having them more often, even when you're sleeping."

"I am?" he cringed, not realizing that he'd been waking her.

She nodded. "Just a couple, but I've noticed."

"If they keep up after tonight, I'll go see Dr. Davis."

"Thank you," she whimpered. "I know you think I'm silly."

"I don't." And he didn't. Edward understood her concerns, her fears. He had them all the time, but he was tired of always being the weak one in their relationship. "I think you're pretty amazing."

"Yeah, well, you're biased."

Edward laughed and opened the door for her. "Doesn't make me wrong."

Bella simply smiled as she led him down the hallway and out of their dorm. Carlisle had suggested meeting at their small apartment for dinner, but neither Bella nor Edward wanted that to happen. For one, their apartment wasn't very big. Secondly, their place was a dump and they didn't really want Emmett to know that there was chipped paint on the walls, ratty furniture, or a funky smell they couldn't quite find. He already made it clear that he didn't think they were ready to be on their own; they didn't need him judging their apartment. And finally, they needed to meet on neutral ground. Neither of them had ever had an 'intervention' with their siblings. There hadn't been a reason to before, but Alice needed help and Edward and Bella just weren't strong enough to do it alone.

"It's cold out here," Bella said, sliding her hand through Edward's arm as they walked to the car. "Think it might snow."

"Yeah?" he asked. "I always liked snow. Of course, I never really got to play in it."

"Your mom?"

Edward smiled and nodded as he unlocked the passenger door for her. "It was important to keep my bodily temperature as close to normal as possible. The patches worked longer that way, but I always wanted to be in the middle of a snowball fight, or build a snow man."

"Then, let's hope it snows six feet and they have to cancel class! We'll spend all day outside in the snow!" Bella laughed. "And all night keeping each other warm."

"Promise?" he asked, sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her flush against his body.

"With everything I am."

—WH—

Thirty minutes and dozens of red lights later, Bella and Edward finally arrived at the restaurant—a charming little pizza joint that reminded Edward of the places in Chicago. The urge to clutch his chest filled him, but he knew Bella was already worried. He didn't want to add fuel to the fire, so he resisted.

Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, and Rose were already seated at a large, circular table in the back with Jasper and Alice, who they hadn't expected to be there. Edward and Bella shared a look; this wasn't how they wanted to handle Alice. A part of Edward said to wait, to try another day, but there was a dangerous look in her eyes that told Edward they didn't have another day. She was tittering on the edge of madness and he had to save her — since nobody else was.

"Butterbean!" Emmett roared, rushing around the table and swooping his baby sister into his arms.

"Ugh, Em, you're crushing me," Bella laughed, but she returned the hug. Being away from her brother and sister had been harder than she wanted to admit. Edward had seen the look in her eyes every time they'd talk.

"Sorry," he snickered, but placed her back on her feet. "You're too thin. Ain't you been eating?"

"Yes, I have, and did you just use the word 'ain't?' You're a teacher. An English teacher at that."

"Not tonight. I'm just boring old Emmett Swan tonight."

"Oh, okay." Bella laughed and turned to Esme, who was patiently waiting for her chance for a hug.

A hand came to rest on Edward's shoulder and he smiled as he turned and faced his brother. Carlisle had changed a lot in the five weeks since they'd left Forks. His face was fuller, he shaved more often, and he looked happy. All of these made it harder for Edward to lay into him about neglecting Alice.

"Hey, you look good," Carlisle said, bringing his other hand up to Edward's face. "You feel okay?"

"Never better." Edward wasn't sure he was lying. He did feel good, but the tightness in his chest had him scared. He wasn't sure he could handle anymore surgeries. "We should sit before people think we're a bunch of fruitcakes."

Carlisle laughed, and a few minutes later, they were seated around the table. Edward and Bella were seated next to each other with Carlisle to Edward's left and Emmett to Bella's right. Rose, Esme, Jasper, and Alice filled in the rest of the table. Their server came by and wrote down their drink order and while she was there, they ordered a couple extra-large pizzas — one with pepperoni and one with sausage — then a large supreme for Rose, Esme, and Bella.

Once they had their drinks, everyone's attention shifted to Edward and Bella—everyone's but Jasper and Alice. They knew the reason they hadn't been invited to dinner. Edward could see the truth in their eyes. Where Jasper appeared relieved, Alice wasn't pleased. She wouldn't make this easy, not that there was any way she could.

"So, tell us about college life?" Emmett asked, his eagerness not unnoticed. "Been to any keggers?"

"No?" Bella scoffed. "What makes you think we'd go to one?"

He shrugged and leaned back I his chair, draping his arm around Rose's arm. "It's what you're supposed to do when you go to college, isn't it?"

"I guess." Bella shifted in her chair. "We really haven't had much time. We're either working or studying."

"Yeah," Alice said, drawing the attention to her. "And conspiring behind my back, right?"

"Pix," Edward muttered when everyone looked from her to him and back. "That's not what this is."

"Bullshit, Edward," she spat, placing one of her hands on the table. There was orange paint between her fingers and under her nails. "You think I don't know that he told you? He can't keep anything from me and neither can you."

"What are you talking about, Pix?" Carlisle asked before turning to Edward. "Tell you about what?"

Edward sighed.

"Go ahead, Edward, tell him. You know you want to," Alice snarled. "Or maybe you're waiting for her to do it."

"This isn't about Bella," Edward groused, placing his hand on top of Bella's. "We're just worried about you, Pix."

Alice threw her head back and laughed. "Worried about me? That's hilarious. You haven't been worried about me in years. Everything's always about you and Bella. You and her. What if she gets sick? What if your heart fails? Edward and Bella! Nobody thought about Alice. I suffered through months of hell, too, but it never compared to what you went through."

"That's not true," Bella insisted.

"Oh, don't you tell me what's true or not, you stupid little bitch!" Alice nearly screamed, drawing the attention of everyone in the diner.

"Pix, calm down," Carlisle ordered and stood up.

"Is everything okay here?" their waitress asked, looking around at everyone. "We can't have you yelling and screaming obscenities."

"We're sorry," Carlisle insisted. "We'll keep it down."

"Okay."

Edward knew she wasn't convinced as she turned and walked away.

"What the hell is going on here?" Carlisle hissed, drawing everyone's attention to him, everyone but Alice, who was glaring at Edward like all of this had been his fault.

Esme and Rose looked scared, while Emmett appeared confused, or nervous. Maybe it's because they'd never seen this side of Alice. Normally, she was quiet and shy, demure almost. But at the moment she was almost feral.

"You have to tell them," Bella whispered, leaning toward Edward.

"Tell us what?" Esme asked. "What is going on?"

Edward sighed and leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. "Pix needs help."

"Help with what?" Carlisle asked, looking from him to their younger sister.

"Tell him, Pix," Edward said. "Tell him about the nightmares, about how you don't eat, about how you're skipping class all the time because you're too afraid to leave your apartment."

Alice pressed her lips together, her nostrils flaring in anger, but she never said a word.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." Edward shifted his attention to Carlisle. "And how about how you haven't made any effort to check on her?"

"Me?" Carlisle's eyes widened. "What'd I do?"

"It's more of what you didn't do," Bella said, looking from him to Esme, Emmett, and Rose. "Ever since Edward and I left, you've called non-stop. How's class, did we find a job, are we taking our meds. When was the last time you called and checked on Alice and Jasper?"

"Yesterday," Esme said.

"And before then?" Jasper asked. He had his hand on the back of Alice's neck. "It's been a month since we last heard from you."

"No, it hasn't," Emmett denied, but the look on his face told Edward that he wasn't as confident. "Has it?"

Jasper nodded. "I've left messages, texted each of you to call, practically begged, but nothing. Edward and Bella were the only ones who tried to stay in touch with us."

"I . . ." Carlisle stammered and shook his head. "I called you, Pix. Didn't I?"

Alice shook her head. "Not in five weeks, three days, and sixteen hours, Car. Not one damn time. Bet you can't say the same about Edward, though."

"No, no, I must have called you," Carlisle muttered, dragging his phone out of his pocket. "I remember the conversation. We talked about school and you were telling me about that coffee shop around the corner from your apartment."

"That was the day after we left, Car!" Alice cried, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. "You said I'd have to take you there when you came to visit, but you never came. Never!"

"I . . . I . . ." Carlisle dragged his hand through his hair, tugging at the ends. "I'm sorry, Pix. I . . . I thought I'd called."

"Yeah, well, you didn't," she quipped. "Nobody did because we're not important."

"That's not true," Rose insisted, reaching across the table for Jasper, who gave his sister his hand. "I'm sorry, Jas. I never meant to ignore your calls. I've been working extra shifts because we're short staffed in the E.R. Not that that's an excuse. I'm sorry."

"We needed you," Jasper whimpered, his lips trembling. "We've tried to be strong, but . . . but we can't do this by ourselves. Alice needs more than just me."

Alice frowned. "Have I really been that bad?"

"Today's the first day in a week that you've left our apartment. You haven't slept in almost three days and the last time you did sleep, you woke up screaming so loud our landlady came up to check on us." Jasper paused and looked at Edward before saying, "You're painting the fire again."

Alice inhaled a sharp breath as she tensed.

"Pix?" Edward asked.

"I . . . I can't stop thinking about it. It's . . . it's consuming me."

"You can't let it," Edward said, reaching for her, but pulling back when she flinched. "I think you need to talk to someone."

"Like a shrink?" she whimpered. "You think I need therapy?"

"I think you can't keep living like this. Mom and Dad wouldn't want you to."

"Mom and Dad are dead, Edward," Alice snarled as she threw her chair back and stood up. "Dead because of you and your stupid, broken heart!"

Edward fell back in his chair as everyone around them gasped. A look of remorse filled Alice's eyes, but instead of apologizing, she turned and ran out of the restaurant. Jasper didn't say anything as he followed. Edward sat stunned. Never in the years since their parents died, since his mother's heart was placed in his chest, had his sister placed the blame on his shoulders. Until now.

"She didn't mean it," Carlisle said, ending the silence that had enveloped them.

"Maybe not," Edward murmured, trying to keep from sobbing in front of everyone. "But she's not wrong."

"Edward —"

Pushing his chair from the table, Edward stopped whatever lame advice his brother was about to give. "It doesn't matter, Car. Pix needs help. Get off your ass and help take care of her or the next time we meet, it'll be at her funeral."

And taking Bella's hand in his, Edward led his wife out of the pizza joint, out into the cold. His heart ached, tears burned his eyes, and his soul had been torn apart. As they drove back to their apartment in silence, snow began to fall from the heavens.