The Writer and the Witch

Chapter 15

And then, there was one...

Summary: Bella, along with Alice and Rosalie, have moved from their home town of Salem, MA to Houston Texas, have bought a new home, and are starting new businesses - both for money and for fun. Edward Cullen, the Writer, was raised in the house the trio of sisters have purchased. Wonder what mischief they can manage to get themselves into?

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer started it all for us. What the characters do here, is all mine.

~o0o~

Chapter 15

And Then, There Was One...

Previously:

"If you want me to do a more in depth reading I could. Maybe it would give indication of just who this soul mate of yours is," Rose stated.

"No, I think I know without any more indications," Jasper stated.

"If that is what you want. Shall we join the others?" Rose asked as she retrieved the rest of the cards from within the box wrapping them all once again in the black silk cloth, and placing all back into the sandalwood box.

She then rose and walked around the table and Jasper and headed to the front of the store. Jasper followed on her heels.

~o0o~

One month after the grand opening of their shop, the Swan sisters were having their morning coffee before they left for work. "Alice, I'm going to need some new plants growing for harvest in the next couple of days," Bella said as she stood taking her cup to rinse it out in the sink before putting it in the dishwasher.

"Sure," Alice replied absently. She was examining the content of her cup and not looking at Bella.

Alarmed, Rosalie asked, "What's wrong Alice?"

Looking up quickly, Alice's eyes briefly met Rose's.

Fear. There was fear in Alice's eyes.

Quickly Rosalie's hand found her sister's. "What's wrong Alice?"

Bella sat down again at the table and found Alice's other hand with her own. "Alice, Baby Girl, what's wrong. What are you frightened for?" Bella asked quietly.

Alice's eyes were brimming over with tears now. With a small shaky voice, "I've lost it," Then Alice was in full tears...wailing in fact. Sorrowful, pitiful wailing.

"What have you lost Baby Girl?" Bella had stood at once and was pulling Alice into her arms. She was not the eldest, but she was always the sister who was in charge and looked after the other two.

Rosalie by this point had joined in the sister hug. She was afraid she understood, but wanted to hear it from Alice, first hand. Rose had suspected for a couple of weeks now but didn't say anything because part of her wanted to be wrong, but another part of her wanted to be right.

"Alice, please. Tell us. What have you lost?" Bella asked.

"My MAGIC!" Alice cried out.

~o0o~

It took Bella and Rosalie the next half hour, and two cups of Chamomile tea, to get Alice calmed down enough to get the whole story from her.

"I think I'm in love," Alice whispered. "I think I've broken my part of the Curse because I can't makes plants grow anymore," she continued. Then in a louder, terrified voice, "What if Jasper doesn't love me back? I'll have lost my sisters and I'll be alone in the world!" Once again Alice dissolved into hysterics.

When Alice's tears were reduced into sniffles Bella asked, "How do you know you've lost your Magic?"

After a small hiccup, Alice answered. "I've suspected since I met Jasper. There was a strange feeling building within me that was frightening me. I even tested myself last week with trying to get a plant to grow," Alice paused. Her eyes meeting those of her worried sisters. "It worked, a little. Just not as fast as It had in the past," Alice started chewing on her fingernails now. She did this when she was really upset about something.

Bella's hand reached out automatically and pulled the finger Alice was worrying away from her mouth. "Stop that Alice," was a command Bella sighed out.

"I'm sorry," Alice all but whispered.

"And?" Bella wanted more proof from Alice.

"And yesterday I tried again and again to make something, anything, to grow rapidly as I've been able to do since forever. I couldn't! I couldn't!" Now Alice was in full emotional meltdown again.

Rosalie let out a big sigh, "I was afraid of that."

"What?" Bella asked incredulously. "Explain."

"Last month, after the boys helped us move into our store, I did that card reading for Jasper," Alice and Bella both were looking at Rose now with questions in their eyes.

"And?" Bella demanded as did Alice a breath after Bella.

"And his reading said he'd found his Soul Mate," Rose said flatly, but after seeing the hope spring into Alice's eyes, Rose continued in a kind voice, "I don't think you have to worry about Jasper not feeling the same way you do Alice. It's in his cards."

"Ok. Wait. I want to see for myself Alice," Bella said as she stood. She held out her hand to Alice as invitation, "Come on. Let's go out into the greenhouse for a test."

Alice joined her hand to Bella's they turned and left the kitchen with Rose on their heels.

Another hour later, both Bella and Rosalie knew that Alice was right. She no longer possessed the growing Magic.

~o0o~

Bella was on her way to the storefront when her cell phone rang. She let it go to voicemail because she knew it was Edward calling, and she just didn't have the energy to talk to him at the moment.

"Hey Bella, it's Edward. I was wondering if you'd like to go to a movie and dinner tonight. Call me when you get this and let me know. I'm looking forward to seeing you again. It's been a week, and I've really missed you. But then you know that," That ended the message.

It was true that Bella had missed Edward too, but she didn't think Alice needed to be alone tonight as Rosalie had already made plans to go dancing with Emmett. Those two have sure gotten close in the last weeks, Bella thought. I suppose that Rose will be next, and I'll be the one left alone...came her petulant thought.

Bella didn't stay more than a couple of minutes in the shop, just long enough to change the small sign that they hung in the door to say, "Please forgive the inconvenience but there has been a family emergency. We will open again soon. Thank you," and she was back in her truck heading back to the house and her sisters.

When she'd pulled into the drive and parked her truck in the four car garage they'd built on to the house, Rose met her at the door leading into the house. "Wait up Bella. You and I need to talk before you see Alice again."

They exited into the back yard through another door set at the back of the garage, and walked to the greenhouse. In front of it and to the side of the entrance proper there was a slightly raised area set with tiled decking. Above the decking, white lattice roof covered it. Sitting on it were four green painted wicker chairs and a small table.

Both Bella and Rosalie sat down. Bella looked expectantly at Rosalie waiting.

"I finally got her to drink another cup of Chamomile tea and back into her comfy clothes and her room. I think she's asleep now. But, Bella, she's terrified."

With a soft laugh and sigh Bella spoke. "I can well understand what she's feeling. I just didn't think it would ever happen to one of us."

"Not just one Bella," Rosalie stated.

"Oh," was the only thing Bella said.

The two sisters sat there looking at each other.

"Really?" Bella asked. "You too?"

"Yes," was Rosalie's answer.

"Emmett?"

"Yes," With that, Rosalie stood, turned and walked back to the house leaving Bella alone with her thoughts.

I'm the one who's going to be left alone...was Bella's only thought.

~o0o~

A/N: My undying thanks and love to my Beta JoanOfArt; buggins74, AnakinsRealMom, and Gabby1017 who pre-read for me, wouldn't be able to do this without you! I have a great team helping me bring this weirdness.