Again, sorry it took so long to update!! I've been mucho busy. Anyways, enjoy! I probably won't update for a while (as you may have noticed, I don't update, like, every single day).

-- xLxPx

Edward's POV

Bella could see spirits?! Of the dead?! What the hell was this? She didn't exactly talk to dead people in her human life -- that I knew of -- and Carlisle said our strongest traits come with us to the next life...

I didn't know what I was going to do! What if she started conversing with my parents? That would be just... weird. I would have to get into Carlisle's head to see what he was thinking about this; maybe he would help me calm down. However, his thoughts fell a little short of non-nervewrecking:

Bella can see spirits, Bella can see spirits! This is unlike anything I've ever heard of! If I could just borrow Edward's power for five minutes, I would be in her head, get this new study of mine, and out before she even knew it! Oh, how I wish miracles like that were possible. Oh, well, I guess I could just study her from the outside. After all, this is the greatest discovery I've ever made! There has to be something I can do with it!

I let out a little -- but fierocious -- snarl that sent Carlisle's thoughts into hypermode, apologizing about how he didn't know I was listening, blah blah blah. But he was planning to use Bella as a science experiment! Some father he was to be to her.

I walked gracefully over to Bells, where she sat quivering slightly on an old chair in the kitchen. She looked up as soon as she sensed I was coming, which was probably long before I entered the room. That was going to take some getting used to. I was so used to her being human.

"Hey," she said softly, in a dejected sort of tone. I slipped my finger under her chin to lift her head up, so that she was looking at me.

"Hey, Mrs. Somber," I replied, teasing a little. "Want to tell me why you are so sad?"

She started to shake her head, then seemed to think better of it. "It just doesn't feel right! Talking to dead people." She shivered, even though I knew a vampire couldn't get cold.

All of a sudden, I got choked up, if that's possible. I wanted to cry, sort of. It felt so good associating the word "vampire" in the same sentence as refering to Bella. I needed to get it together, though, or Bells was going to see and think I was insane.

So I settled for a half-smile in her direction. "It's okay, love. We don't know anything yet. It could turn out for the better, you never know. Especially with you," I joked, pushing her a little bit. I pushed harder than I would have thought, though, and started going through the motions of expecting her to fall on the floor. But she didn't. She smiled a little bit at my antics, but otherwise stayed upright. "That's going to take some getting used to," I said to her, laughing at myself.

She laughed along with me, for the first time that day. "Yes, it is." She sounded proud, for some reason I couldn't imagine; triumphant, even. And then I knew why.

"You're proud to be one of us, finally, aren't you?" I asked her curiously, but expecting her answer.

"Of course! What, did you think I went through nearly three years of my life just to turn into a vamp girl and be done with it?" She gave me the most incredulous look she had ever managed. I chuckled a little big. Then she cracked a grin, and started to pummel me. I started screaming playfully, and before you know it, we were rolling on the ground, fighting each other, vampire style -- with the whole family in the room.

We stopped just as soon as we caught sight of them -- which was quite a while for a vampire, I'll admit -- only to have them erupt in laughter so great, they were rolling on the floor, too. My love and I couldn't help but join in.

Jasper's POV

We heard a bang from the other side of the door, and then the table fall over. The others went into panic mode, pushing and shoving to get in the door and see what all the hullabaloo was about, but I knew what was going on. There was playful banter coming from the other side of the door, and I was the last one to follow through the door.

"My goodness, what are you doing?" I heard Esme breathe, shocked. The whole room suddenly felt lively and funny, and I heard laughter. I joined in, just because it was so contagious. Then Edward and Bella hopped off the floor and came running through the living room, Edward playing the "airplane" and Bella riding on his back. They were acting like two five-year-olds come over for a sleep over. I started laughing uncontrollably again.

---

The moment Edward and Bella went up to their room for the night, I rushed upstairs to feel the door, to see what they were doing. After such a lively afternoon, you never know what they might be doing in there.

Alice intercepted me on the stairs. She stood in front of me, arms crossed, hip cocked to one side. Crap! I'd forgotten about her for a second -- which was kind of impossible for me to believe, since she was in nearly every thought I had.

"Miss me?" she asked sweetly. Her smile was too nice; patronizing. I glared at her. She laughed.

"No, sweetheart. For once I did not. Now, if you will be a kind miss, I must get by," I told her politely through clenched teeth, attempting to duck under her arm.

Like I said, attempting. I was stopped as soon as I'd moved an inch.

"Jasper," she said in her "warning tone." "The only thing you'll accomplish by going up there is getting yourself in trouble."

"I'll take the risk," I told her, again attempting to duck. She stopped me quicker than the last time. I thought they said 'second time's the charm'!

"No, you won't. Follow me," she said, placing firm hand on my shoulder and guiding me down the stairs and out the door.

"Where are we going?" I asked her suspiciously.

"As far away from temptation as possible," she replied. "We are going into the middle of the woods to see what we can find."

"I'm not thirst, though!" I shouted like a little baby whining. She gave me The Look. "Fine," I grumbled.

I heard a "Thank you, Alice!" from deep within the house. I assumed it was Edward.

"You're welcome, Eddie!" Alice shouted back. But I knew that face. From the look in her eyes, I knew she was thinking to Edward, You owe me one.

A/N: I hope you liked it!!! I know, it's not exactly what some people were hoping for, but hey, I'm kinda tired tonight. I'll try to update sooner, promise. And remember, the little purple button is your bestest buddy!!!

--xLxPx ;)