Like, I promised, we won't drag their time spent apart.

Evading Edward hadn't been as difficult as Bella had thought.

He had called insistently only the first couple of days after Bella had decided to accept that they weren't meant to be. He hadn't tried contacting her after, or coming to the pub demanding an explanation.

It had been close to three weeks, and she wasn't feeling any better. In the short amount of time they'd spent together, Bella had fallen for him.

On the drive home from the local market, Bella thought of a song they had played at Eclipse the other night.

They say, "All good boys go to heaven"
But bad boys bring heaven to you

Truer words had never been spoken.

As Bella drove up, she noticed in front of her building stood a frightening-looking Alice. Bella thought briefly to keep driving, ignoring the fact that their eyes had met.

Picking up the grocery bags, Bella made her way to Alice. "Hi, Alice."

Alice huffed loudly, taking the keys from Bella. She led the way to her studio, unlocking the door. She placated Harley, ushering him to his bed, before joining Bella in the kitchen.

"Is this a social visit?" Bella asked curiously.

"It's an intervention," Alice hissed. "To help you pull your head out of your ass!"

"What?" Bella frowned.

"I don't know what happened between you and Edward, but he's hogging Jasper with endless conversations about how he ruins everything he touches." Alice folded her arms across her chest. "I eavesdropped on their conversations. I don't even care if Jasper is going to punish me for being here, but you need to hear this."

Bella tried to wrap her head around the fact that Alice risked punishment for being there to tell her that Edward was depressed.

"By the looks of it, you're not doing any better. So, care to tell me what the hell happened? You were so happy when you left our place that day."

Bella looked down, unable to meet Alice's eyes. "The next morning, Edward was in a hurry. He left me alone with Tanya…"

"Oh, fuck." Alice rummaged through her purse. She put her phone to her ear. "Jazz, you have to hear this." She cringed. "I'm at Bella's…It's a long story…Tanya got to her that morning…" Alice glared. "You should see her, Jazz." Alice's eyes scanned her, and Bella squirmed. She was aware of her unkempt appearance and that she had lost weight. "That's my plan." She grinned widely. "I know I'm a genius, babe. See you soon."

"You mean…" Bella started then stopped, unsure what she wanted to say.

"Tanya is a cunning bitch. Wait until Edward finds out she's behind this."

"No, you're wrong. She said I wasn't right for him, and that she didn't want to see him suffering."

"Damn, she's good," Alice scowled. "And you believed her? Edward hadn't convinced you how much he wanted you?"

"I couldn't see why he'd want me – I'd probably never be able to satisfy him the way he wants."

"Silly Bella." Alice took her hands. "Edward loves you the way you are."

"Loves me?" Bella scoffed.

"You love him, too, or you wouldn't be suffering." Alice gave her a pointed look. "Now, let's get you a shower and have you dress nicely. You're going to Edward."

Bella couldn't even argue.

It had been so easy to believe Tanya. Edward wanting Bella didn't make much sense.

When Bella smelled like her chocolate shower gel and had considerably less hair on her legs, Alice handed her a pair of jean shorts and a sleeveless shirt, along with her Chucks. Bella was grateful Alice hadn't gotten her some present like the last time.

Alice was waiting on the couch, her eyes on her phone's screen.

"I know the way to Edward's house," Bella said. "You don't have to…"

"Shhhh." She grinned at her phone. "You're right." Alice looked up, still smiling. "Don't worry about Harley. Jasper just agreed to take him to our house. You didn't meet our dogs when you visited, but I'm sure Harley will love to run around with them."

"He's an escape artist. Besides, I couldn't ask…"

"I offered. I have a feeling you're going to spend the next few days with Edward. Good thing Tanya's visiting her sister, or he'd have probably fired her. He needs some time to cool off."

Bella stared at Alice, not sure what else to say.

"You should pack some spare clothes. Do you have any fancy dresses?" Alice tapped her chin, walking to Bella's drawers.

"Not really. Why would I need a fancy dress?"

"Because this upcoming weekend, it's Edward's sister's wedding. You're going with him."

Such scary predictions made the hairs on Bella's neck stand at attention.

"You're a four," Alice gave her a once-over, "or maybe a six."

"My dresses are a six. I don't like them hugging my body," Bella explained.

Alice nodded seriously. "I'll drop by tomorrow. Try not to answer the door naked."

"Alice, I don't even know if Edward will forgive me…"

"Just go and find out for yourself how much alike you both are," she rolled her eyes, "and don't worry about Harley."

Bella went to pet her dog's head, and then she picked up her bag and left. If anyone other than Alice had told her Tanya had lied, she wouldn't have believed them.

.

.

.

Edward paced around the living room, rehashing the details for the important meeting Ben had to attend without him. Edward had figured taking some time off work to help Emmett and Rosalie with last minute shit would take his mind off Bella, but it turned out they didn't need extra help. This left him with copious amounts of time on his hands.

It hadn't taken Edward much to understand that he'd managed to somehow scare Bella off. He wasn't that pathetic to seek her out and beg her to take him back.

He had been too intense, too commanding.

Maybe Angela's clothes still in his closet had been a wake-up call for her that he was far more messed up than she expected. He'd cleaned the closet out by the end of that week.

Tanya had relayed Bella's message, and Edward had noticed how worried Tanya looked when he had frozen in shock. She had tried telling him that it could have been an apology for how Bella had behaved that morning, but Edward knew better.

That was until Jasper's phone call, right before Ben interrupted with his own call.

Now that Edward had hung up with Ben, he could focus on the news Jasper had told him. Tanya had told Bella they wouldn't be a good match. And Bella had believed her, because she already had her doubts.

Edward cursed loudly.

He'd been an idiot himself for not fighting harder.

Tanya should be so happy she was visiting her sister, or she'd be jobless right now. Edward knew that by the time Tanya returned on Sunday, he'd have cooled off.

The sound of a car approaching made him pivot on his heel to glare out the window. If it was Emmett, coming to complain about the bachelor party, Edward was going for the jugular.

But it wasn't his future brother-in-law. It was Bella's Nova.

Edward ran out of the house, stopping in front of her car just as she stepped out. She watched him nervously.

"Goddammit!" He enveloped her in his arms, and she sagged into his embrace. He pressed his face into her hair, inhaling her scent.

"I'm so sorry, Edward," she sobbed into his shoulder.

"Why did you believe a lie?"

"Because it made sense," she mumbled, pulling away to look into his eyes. "But I can see that we've both been idiots."

He chuckled, keeping his arms around her waist, lifting her up until she wrapped her legs around his hips. "Silly Bella. I must've been doing something wrong that night for you not to see what you mean to me."

"Care for an encore?" she breathed into his ear.

"As many as you wish." He claimed her lips in a deep kiss.

He walked her into his bedroom, getting reacquainted with her body. He promised himself to always show her what she meant to him, so she'd never doubt his feelings again.

It was late that night when they left his room in search of food.

Bella had on another shirt she had borrowed from him and her panties, while Edward hadn't bothered with more than boxers.

"Oh," Bella exclaimed, stopping abruptly, as the kitchen came in sight.

Edward looked up to see Felix there, surrounded by take-out boxes. Edward squeezed Bella's hand, pulling her toward the island counter.

"What do you have there?" he asked casually.

Felix glanced at them, not surprised to see Bella. He'd probably seen the car up front.

"Various pasta dishes."

"Well, unless you plan to eat them all alone, let's divide them onto three plates." Edward didn't wait for an answer, going to get said plates.

Bella took over the task of piling food on each plate when she saw Felix picking forkfuls from the boxes then dumping them on the plates.

"So, we're still on for tomorrow night?" Felix asked, keeping his eyes on the fork in his hand.

Edward groaned. "It was never my idea, but I guess every guy deserves a bachelor party. Did you hear back from the club?"

"That's the thing." Felix rubbed his palm over his short hair. "They cancelled earlier."

"And when were you going to tell me?"

"Now?" Felix grinned, meeting his eyes.

"Fuck. Never mind. We can hold the party here. Tanya deserves to scrub the whole house on her knees after what she's done."

Bella gasped. "She was just looking out for you," she whispered.

"Don't worry. I'm still mad at her, and she knows it. No wonder she's been extra nice to me ever since you left." Edward rolled his eyes, pulling one of the plates in front of him.

"So, you need a place to hold a bachelor party?" Bella asked after some time. "I'm sure Gary won't mind helping you host it at Eclipse…if it's not too trashy."

"That's not a bad idea," Felix said through a mouthful of pasta.

"We're six people?" Edward glanced at Felix, who nodded. "I don't need the whole pub. Does it have a private area?"

"Not really, but it can be arranged. We've held bachelor and birthday parties in there before," Bella smiled. "Just let me call Gary and talk to him about this. When do you need it?"

"Tomorrow."

Bella frowned. "It can be arranged. I mean, Emmett is my friend. He even invited me to the wedding, but I told him I had no place there."

"Now, you do." Edward touched her hand, smiling. He noticed Felix staring at them and threw him a nasty look.

Felix used to be more discreet, but that had been years ago, before they became friends. Edward guessed they crossed the boss/employee line when Felix had to pick him up from his own vomit and take him to bed back in March, or maybe it had been during those times when he'd joined Edward shooting hoops in the backyard the previous year.

Tanya knew better, or so Edward had believed, until he found out she'd betrayed him in the worst way. He understood she was only looking out for him, but he was an adult, and he could choose for himself who he wanted to fuck without her approval.

While Bella talked to Garrett, Felix helped Edward load the dishwasher.

See you all on Saturday!

Happy Holidays! :)