(A/N): Okay, I think I really should stop procrastinating on this story. I'll tell you the sad news that I may not have much time to continue this story once school starts in mid-August. I have the last chapter written (or nearly written), so if it gets to the point, I will post up the ending and leave my writing be until the spring of 2008, but I will now try to update faster to get this story done.

Now, onto another topic. There are three 'interludes' in the entire story that sets up my upcoming main conflict. The first part of this chapter is the first of the three. I'll be sorry to say that the ever-so-infamous James and Victoria are most likely not going to be in this story...but I'll inform you guys if I suddenly find a good role for them. Right now, I don't have one

Chapter 6 – Interlude 1 and Glorious Library

Forks, a city of livelihood, laughter, and jolliness, was now in despair. Crimes raged within the city limits like nothing before. From a bustling and hustling town with market at the bazaar once a week and cheerful taverns, it dwindled to a shadowy place that no one even comes out to. Children were no longer seen playing and laughing in the streets. Only robbers and killers played there now. The place always seemed deathly quiet.

All this happened because the police chief was eerily quiet and ill. There was no better person as chief than Charlie, but he was never quite the same since his daughter 'mysteriously' disappeared several months ago. He mourned for her greatly; in fact, the entire town mourned for her cheerful demeanor and shining aura. Her eyes always twinkled to bring laughter, and the children liked her to read for them, for her voice was rich and melodic.

Ever since her loss though, the chief let so many crimes go unpunished, no one knew what to do anymore. He went to the hollow and dim taverns, got drunk, and then fell asleep back home, only to repeat the process over and over again. There was no other word for it: their beloved chief had become an alcoholic to escape his miseries.

And even as crime rates increased dramatically, the chief simply closed an eye and let everything go. People tried to console the chief, but he threw them a tantrum and booted them all out, literally, after telling them that they didn't understand.

Jacob Black and Mike Newton were also sad as well. Infatuated as they were with girls, especially Bella, the new look of town made them unable to be the "womanizers" their reputation holds. It shocked them to no end that there was no 'decent' woman to swoon at their feet several times a day.

The point was, the town of forks was in despair. As the old wise men say, "Only time would tell how all this will turn out."

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Bella woke up early the next morning, realizing that the sun had finally showed its face. The bright yellow-orange ball of light arduously climbed its way above the horizon, its rays spreading into the countryside like the blooming of a flower. Majestic and full of dignity, the sun slowly rose.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" a soft voice behind her said. Bella twirled around to see Edward leaning lazily on the doorframe, just out of the sun's reach.

"Yes," she murmured. Silence followed as they watched the sunrise, saw how the scattered clouds lit up yellow, orange and red as torches held high in greeting for the new day. Until, reluctantly, the two turned away from the beauty.

"Come for breakfast," Edward said, awkwardly breaking the silence. Bella nodded quietly, gesturing him to wait, before half walking, half running into the bathroom.

Moments later, Bella came out dressed in only a silken dress robe, her hair totally soaked through, and humming lightly to herself. Unsure how to make of this, Edward turned politely away and coughed, although his mind was reeling and spinning. She gasped in surprise, as if suddenly realizing that there was another person in the room. Blushing from head to toe, she practically sprinted into the large walk-in closet, where it seemed as if she had ran into a padded wall. There were muffled sounds of soft cursing before she emerged wearing a light sundress, still blushing furiously and avoiding his gaze at all costs.

Breakfast was set when the pair arrived at the kitchens. The food was filling – hot sausages, muffins and milk, though the air was awkwardly quiet. Neither looked at the other, though both could feel the 'sneaky' glances they received.

It was only when Alice arrived banging a wooden spoon on a metal pot had the silence been shattered with an explosion of sound. A moment of shocked silence ensued, followed immediately by Rosalie's screech. "ALLLLLLICCCCCCE!" she hissed, storming into the room. The sound of Rosalie's distress brought Emmett charging in. Alice, who was now making a pile of her pots and pans, was knocked into her meticulously made tower. The loud noise and Alice's indignant shout brought Jasper charging at Emmett. Thus started a wrestling match on the kitchen floor.

In the midst of the mess, Edward and Bella were standing; watching everything with amusement. Small smiles curled their lips, but when their eyes suddenly locked, both broke into a fit of giggles and chuckles that soon turned into full-fledged laughter. Their cheerful mirth suddenly stopped the fighting. Jasper's paw was inches from slapping Emmett's snout. The sudden silence was deafening.

The animals looked at each other for a moment, grinning devilishly at each other. Bella's eyes went wide as she caught on. A stunned moment passed. Edward and Bella took one last look at each other and shouted, "Run!" just as they others screamed, "Charge!"

And that they did. Edward dragged Bella along the dark corridors, zipping through them and always making sharp cuts when he could; Bella following along to the best of her ability. A stampede was following them…how could they not run for their lives? Up this staircase, down the other one, a left at that hallway, full sprint down this one. Always laughing, always running…until Edward pulled Bella into two consecutive sharp cuts to the right and into a closed room with only a small window at the far end.

Edward leaned on the closed door, hardly winded while Bella gasped, taking in big gulps of the blessed air.

"That was close," he said, trying to figure out where they were.

"Yes," Bella agreed between gasps. "Where are we now?"

"I think we're in the second floor servants' quarters." He paused. "Would you like a personalized tour of the castle as we try to escape ambush?"

"Don't see why not," she answered, giggling.

Always keeping quiet in case of unexpected surprise attacks, Edward led her throughout the castle, taking his secret shortcuts and paths when they reached one. They traveled across the inconspicuous sky-bridge that arched over the grand ballroom, through a skinny hidden staircase that led from a small back-kitchen all the way to just in front of the 'King Suite' of the castle, down another corridor that somehow ended up directly in front of Edward's room, and into a long never-ending hallway that seemed to circle around the perimeter of the entire castle.

By the end, Bella was a little dizzy from all the secret paths that Edward showed her, but very wise, indeed, on how many different 'secret' ways the castle held. An hour later, and Edward was still not done.

"Just a little farther," he urged a tired Bella along, tugging gently on her sleeve like a playful little child.

Bella sighed, appeasing. "Oh, alright," she mumbled.

Her efforts were not un-awarded. For, at the end of a long stretch of a door-less hallway was a giant double-door. When Edward threw the door open, blinding light flooded inside. When her eyes readjusted, she gasped at the sight. Behind the enormous doors lie an enormous ancient library, filled to the brim with books. Categories were labeled – fantasy, myths, records, information, and so on. Giant stained-glass windows shed multi-colored sunlight while five enormous fireplaces at the sides gave warmth and light for nighttime readings. Candle holders were placed at strategic points so that, when lit, the library would look like an enchanted citadel at night while still providing enough light to read the titles of every single book.

The shelves themselves were amazing. Ceiling-high shelves lined the walls, and they progressed gradually lower and lower until only knee-high in the middle. Walkways and clearings were placed near the windows and the fireplace to spread light and warmth throughout. The library was circular in shape, most likely occupying an entire tall tower. From the doorway, wide steps led to the middle of the room where comfy chairs and pillows lie in a heap directly in the sun's rays. From above, the large room would look like a miniature amphitheater.

In the very middle of the domed ceiling hung one crystalline chandelier where it seemed that thousands of candles hung. Right above the center 'comfy zone', it was meant to provide extra light should anyone need it, though how it was going to light up was still a mystery.

She walked through the aisles between bookshelves, fingering volumes here and there, enchanted by both the layout and the sheer size of the library. Finally, she arrived in the center where the sun shined. She looked back to where Edward was, still in the shadows of the doorway.

"Come here," she called softly, still awed. And slowly, but surely, Edward walked down the wide steps, making his way to the circle of light in the center, stopping just short of the sun's direct reaches, his skin giving of a faint glow.

"Do you promise not to run?" he asked, nervous and unsure. Bella cocked an eyebrow in confusion, but gave her promise. He took a deep breath and stepped in the path of the sun.

If Bella thought the library was beautiful before, now it was heavenly. Edward's skin sparkled like a thousand diamonds in the sun. His luminosity reflected to the hidden crystalline structures within the bookshelves, bringing the entire library alight with sparkling glory. Yet, the library's newfound glory was lost upon Bella as she stared at him. He slowly laid down on one of the couches, the sun forever shining upon him. Bella sat in a pile of pillows beside him, fingering his veins and arteries, tracing them with a slight tremor in her hands as if she was afraid that he would disappear.

"Aren't you afraid?" Bella shook her head in reply.

"Shocked and amazed, more like," she replied quietly, staring into his melted golden eyes. Then, as if warning him, she slowly leaned down until her head was placed right above his still heart. There was no sound other than his deep breathing. "You're technically not alive."

"No…more like frozen in time while everything else speeds around me until my curse is broken…at least, that's what I hope will happen," he said, his chest vibrating with his voice.

"And, have you learned your lesson?"

"Yes," he answered, his voice barely a whisper carried like a soft feather in the still air.

Neither was sure how long they stayed in that position, snuggled together as the sun made its journey across the sky. By night though, Bella's stomach complained about not being fed for the entire day, growling quite frequently, much to her embarrassment. Edward just chuckled at her expense and led her to the kitchens where the two prepared a simple dinner from chicken stew and various noodles.

Outside, unbeknownst to the couple inside, Esme and Carlisle sat watching in the shadows.

"It's quite amazing how much fun a young pair can have while cooking," said Carlisle with much amusement, watching a particular food fight that ended with Edward having long white noodle-hair and Bella getting noodle-highlights. Beside him, Esme agreed.

"Our boy is growing up!" she cried in a mock-tearful voice. She grinned, resting her head on Carlisle's neck. "There may be something there that wasn't there before," she whispered into the air as inside the kitchen, Edward suddenly pulled Bella into a sloppy, yet gentle kiss.

Yay for kisses and sweetness! So yes, another sweet chapter. I believe that the next chapter would have a little more action to it and the chapter after that would most likely include another interlude. I'm guessing perhaps another...let's see...about 7 or so chapters. Oh, and I never really planned for the 'meadow' scene to suddenly be set in the library...that was very unplanned, but I kind of like the results of it. Anyways, review!

--Cathy