AN: Sup folks? Last Edward POV today, at least for a while. On an unrelated note - I have definitely mentally planned this at least to Eclipse, so we'll see if I can keep all of your attention that long. I'm super excited for my version of things. :D Also - as always - if you have any requests about activities, or scenes that you'd like me to try and work in, I'm always open to suggestions.

"Whatever you were just remembering, I like that part. That feeling, such… glee. It's a rare feeling." Jasper sighed happily as we jogged home. I smiled, and admitted my thoughts.

"I was reminiscing about the day I first spied on Bella."

"Ewwwwww." Emmett chimed. Just kidding bro.

"I know it sounds strange, but when she fell asleep… she said my name."

"And that's all it takes to get you happy?" Emmett laughed. "No wonder you don't like hugs."

Jasper hit him for me. "It takes a lot for Edward to open up, and you're gonna run your mouth off?"

Emmett was unfazed. "Eh, if I did change anything I think he'd be more worried. If I started being the concerned about feelings brother like you, he'd never have any fun."

Jasper rolled his eyes this time.

As the three of us got closer to the house I noticed two things. First of all, Alice was screaming at me mentally to stop us in our tracks, and second of all, Carlisle was not within my range. It meant that he wasn't at the house. I raised my hand in a military 'halt' motion and the others stopped instantly, concerned.

What's wrong Edward?

Sup?

"I'm not sure." I muttered quietly. "Alice is shouting at me to stay put. She'll be along in a moment." I searched the other's thoughts for danger, but Rosalie was working on her car, and Esme was looking out the window, also waiting for our arrival. Alice was focused on narrowing down where we would be, so her thoughts were of little help. The three of us waited, and Alice appeared, smiling anxiously. She lithely bounded over to Jasper, holding his hand firmly.

"Both of you have to follow me exactly, okay? There's blood in the air, and you're both at risk of killing each other over it if you get downwind." She was looking pointedly at me, and Jasper.

"What about me?" Emmett asked, wounded that he wasn't considered a threat, to whatever human it was.

"It's just a few scrapes, so you'd be okay to go straight home if you like, but I'd like you here as manpower in case the wind changes."

"And why am I considered a threat Alice?" I asked, slightly confused.

"Because it's Bella who's scraped up." She calmly explained. Even at the words my mouth began to fill with venom. My mind began to whirl with questions and concern. Alice began leading us back East, and we followed her path carefully. Jasper's thoughts were forlorn and embarrassed.

"Jasper, please don't eviscerate yourself over this. Apparently I would have been worse in this instance. Alice is here to stop me first and foremost."

"Oh yeah. You can't imagine how grumpy he would get if he killed her. Ugh. It'd be like the sixties all over again." Alice shook her head, only half joking. "Before you ask Edward, she's fine. She went running, and took a couple of tumbles I guess. Very mild scrapes. Carlisle is with her now. I sent him to divert her from running any closer to our house."

"She was running out here?" This was miles from her house.

"Pretty close to it yeah. And with the wind we have today her scent wafts straight into the path you were taking home. I'm just taking precautions dragging you all the long way around."

The four of us walked peacefully through the trees, while Alice chimed on about weather patterns being both easy and hard to spot, when she suddenly looked at me.

Shoot. Sorry I didn't see it sooner. "It'll be sunny on Seattle day."

"Seattle day?" Emmett asked. "Oh – when you were going to let Bella DRIVE?"

I sighed, thinking back to that conversation.

It had started in the morning. I had been making sure that she heard every word I had said, making sure to face her, and space my words. We had exchanged some quips, some apologies, and then she had suddenly let down all of her defenses. In that one vulnerable second she had admitted that she was scared. Not of being in a car with me, but of letting me drive. She had said no, only on that condition. My juvenile self was smirking at Mike Newton in my head. She hadn't rejected my offer. But driving. I didn't let anyone else drive. I wasn't the best passenger. I hated it, and knew that with my built-in radar detector, I was the best choice for speed, and stealth. And yet my mouth had answered her, reassuringly without my head telling it to.

"I…" would let you drive, despite having infinitely superior reflexes? Not a good start, "wouldn't be entirely opposed to you driving us." I tried to smile at her, while also limiting my breathing. Her scent had been battering me like a ram. "Honestly."

She had seen straight through my ruse, and amusement had flickered in her face.

"You'd absolutely hate it wouldn't you?" She had asked, toyingly.

"Yes. But I want to prove to you, that I'm… " Trustworthy? I wasn't. Not a monster? I was. "Well that I'm not the awful person I've made myself out to be." That had seemed to be the best compromise. I had looked carefully at Alice, waiting for me at the other end of the cafeteria. She was watching, to keep us both safe. "I'm tired of trying to stay away from you Bella. And if that means I have to endure your truck for a few hours, I can deal with it." And your scent – I had wanted to say. It was driving me mad and we were feet apart in an open area. But the words were true. I looked at her, willing her to understand the sincerity behind my words. She had looked surprised, and happily up at me. "Okay."

That one little word would have sent Jasper smiling with the intensity of relief and happiness that flowed out of me. I had thought to myself that I needed to rein it in. It was, after all, a causal and friendly encounter. It wasn't like I'd asked her to be my life partner. But somehow it had felt that way.

"Good. See you in class." And I had turned away to breathe the fresh air.

Alice had quietly reminded me between classes that we had blood-typing in biology. I had realised I would have to speak to her again beforehand, as it was unlikely I could smoothly bail from class, and I didn't want Bella to think I'd reverted to ignoring her.

Most of my siblings by that morning had been thinking almost non-stop about how insane I was to be trying to spend more time with the largest temptation I had ever faced. Only Alice had understood, and for two reasons. One – she had seen the snippets of Bella involved in meaningless tasks in my every day, and trusted in her visions. The other was that she and I had a very deep understanding of each other. We were so used to being intruders on other's lives, being the outcasts, and we finally had each other to confide in, and rarely kept things from each other. So when she had finally caught a glimpse of my happiness, the kind that she and Jasper shared, she had grasped onto it with every shred of her sanity.

On that day I had walked straight past my siblings at our normal lunch table. I had received a wave of confidence from Jasper, and a wink from Alice. Emmett and Rosalie were skeptical, and Rose had managed to swing in the jealous twinge and hate-filled thoughts too. I had made sure to ignore her, and sat, waiting for Bella. Once I had gotten her to my table we had bantered as naturally as Jasper and Emmett did.

"Are you having second thoughts about letting me drive us to Seattle?"

WHAT? Emmett had roared mentally. Did she just say she was driving, Edward?

"Anyone else hear that?" Emmett had whispered at the others. Nobody had answered him. But they had all been equally surprised.

"No. Your driving doesn't particularly thrill me, but I can manage, and as for the new seating arrangements, I decided that as long as I was going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly."

I had watched her face flicker with confusion. "I don't know if you noticed, but I tend to get a little lost in conversations anyway, so if you could try to avoid the riddle-speak I'd appreciate it."

I had ducked my head down guiltily, as Alice had laughed heartily at my expense.

She is quick witted.

"You're right. I'm sorry. That was rude of me. I know I should try to be clear and simple, but my tongue and words seem to run wild when I'm with you."

She had scowled at me, and I wasn't sure if was my speech had been not heard or not liked. So I diverted us. She had made a few observant quips, and I had diverted as best I could. I kept catching her attention before speaking with her, and she had suddenly gotten extremely angry at me. That I had figured out her disability. I half wanted to explain that she had almost fooled me. Without the supernatural influence and discussion, it would have probably taken me time to figure out. Her face had been thunderously dark and pained, as if this was something she would have rather I'd been the last person to discover. I tried to skip over that part of the memory as much as possible, or I'd annoy Jasper with my worry, and returned to the funnier half of the conversation.

"I'll have to ask Angela if we can trade vehicles for the day, since you seem to despise the tank that I drive so much."

I had looked at her slightly irritated expression, and made a gut-wrenching decision. "You don't need to worry about endangering Angela's life with your 'tank' as you call it. You can drive us in the Volvo,"

Are you fuckin kidding me? I'm not allowed to drive that thing! Emmett.

No way did he just volunteer his car. Rosalie.

He seriously just GAVE UP driving rights to the VOLVO to a HUMAN? Jasper.

Awww. That was sweet brother dearest. Alice.

The Jasper in my present looked curiously at me. You're certainly more vivid since you met her, you know that? More emotional display than in all the years I've known you combined. Whatever memories you keep falling back on, are making you feel more than I've ever been able to read.

"It's her Jasper. Always her." I mumbled. Emmett and Alice didn't bother trying to catch up, clearly realising that I was discussing Bella. "I'm not sure how I feel about the whole scenario, to be honest. Half of me wants to go back, and uncomplicated both of our lives."

"But the other half contains the emotional spectrum I prefer."

"Yeah – you're less of a dick." Emmett chimed, earning a disapproving swat from Alice.

"I see your futures so clearly entwined Edward. With each interaction, more pop up, and it's honestly delightful."

Delightful? It was sick, masochistic and perverted. She was decades younger than me, fragile, frail and breakable. I was more likely to accidentally kill her while trying to refrain from drinking from her. It was twisted, and my interest in her could cause chaos for our family. Especially if this didn't end well.