Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns everything you recognize! :-)
A/N: Oh my God, last chapter was by far the one with the MOST reviews yet! Every single one of you had me smiling, and some even made me laugh. You guys are the BEST! Last chapter had 1,552 hits total at the time I'm writing this, and a total of 82 reviews (the most from any chapter yet!) and the story has a total of 9,665 hits with 301 reviews. So thank you thank you thank you and keep it up!!! Yeah, sure, I'm confused as to how I can get so many hits yet barely a fraction of those in reviews but I'll take what I can get and be incredibly grateful for it! So thank you everyone!
Special thanks to "Missy Skywalker," "truelover," "theObSeSeDWoodWorm," "Calm Serene," and "Music 1s my s0ul" for their wonderful and ever-loyal reviews. This chapter is dedicated to them!
Someone mentioned that I never mentioned anything about what Bella had to say to Alice's question about when she wanted to date Edward. I'm sorry! I wrote it in in the beginning and then edited it out thinking I'd add it later in the chapter but I forgot to! :-\ I'll be sure to mention it this time though... HAHA Sorry, loves!
Bella's POV
2006. Seattle, WA
"Bella, are you okay?" I heard Edward ask me from the other end of the line.
"Yes, why? Is something wrong?" I became worried, did he know something Alice and I didn't?
"Where are you? Are you with Alice? Jasper and I are going crazy wondering where you two are."
I almost laughed, but settled for a smile. They were worried about us? Wait, why would Edward be worried about me?
"I'm at a mall in Seattle with her," I noticed Alice had stopped next to me and I assumed she was listening to the conversation between Edward and I, "Didn't Jasper try her cell phone?"
"Oh!" Alice exclaimed suddenly, "Oh I forgot it there at home!"
I could almost see Edward nodding in agreement, "Yes, we found her cell here at home. We nearly panicked, she never leaves without it. You two must've been in some hurry."
I groaned, "Not until she decided she wanted to go with me when I wanted to head out for a drive... Which I never got to really take."
"Jasper wants to talk to you, Bella, here." I could hear as the phone was shifted from his hand to my brother's.
Jasper's voice filled my ear, "Bella? Alice is with you?"
I laughed, "Yes, Jazz. She's right next to me, don't worry."
"Do you have any idea what went through my head when none of us could find you two?" I winced.
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you..." I trailed off, "But we're at a mall in Seattle, shopping."
My brother suddenly laughed, "Only Alice would run out in a hurry so she could shop. But please, Bells, let someone know where you're going when you leave. I just got you back, I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Jasper, what could possibly hurt me? Oh," I noticed Alice was motioning for the phone, "my sister-in-law wants to speak to you." I handed Alice the phone and she started reassuring him that the two of us were fine and neither he nor Edward needed to worry anymore.
I was struck by that comment but brushed it off, Edward was probably worried because I was Jasper's little sister. I shook my head, it's nice to pretend he's worried about me for me.
"I love you too, Jazzy," I heard Alice say. I suppose I had zoned out of their entire conversation, "Yes, I'll take care of her, send Edward her love."
I stopped. "What?! Send him my love?" I turned on Alice as she hung up the phone.
She raised her eyebrow at me, "You never did answer my question as to when you wanted to go out on a date with my brother." She smiled mischievously.
If a vampire could choke on something like their own venom, I would've right then and there, but instead I laughed, "Didn't me jumping out of the tree and ignoring you tell you my answer? Alice, you're out of your mind."
She shook her head, "No, I'm quite sane actually, thank you for your concern though. But my sanity isn't the matter at hand." She started to skip.
"Alice," I laughed, "Why would he and I go out on a date? What sort of date could we even go on?" I paused, "Assuming he does even like me enough in that way to even consider it?"
She tapped her temple and giggled a cute girlish bell-sounding sort of giggle, "Trust me," she said, "It's all good."
"What's all good? Alice, Edward doesn't like me like that."
"You're blind!" she sang suddenly. "I thought this would be easy. First he doesn't believe me and now you! You two are impossible." She huffed.
I stopped and stared at her. She had set her many bags down on the ground around her and I was reminded of a small very colorful mountain made of candy before my mind was brought back to the matter at hand. "You went to him telling him that I have feelings for him?!"
"Oh, so you admit it, finally! You know, Bella, the first step is admitting."
I waved her off, "Answer me, Alice. You went to him and told him I did?"
She shook her head, "I didn't tell him you did, I told him you would. I even showed him the visions!"
I grabbed her arm, my other arm taking hold of all of her bags she had set down and pulled her along the hallway of the mall towards the parking garage where my car was parked. I opened the trunk, stuffed the bags in there and the backseat (since there wasn't enough room in the trunk alone), and started the car. Alice slid in the passenger seat.
I began to drive and an odd mix of emotions came over me. She had visions of Edward and I? Together? I wanted to hope, but I didn't want to hope at the same time.
"You've been having visions?" I asked quietly.
She nodded, taking my hand. "Of the two of you, together. Look, Bella, I know it's a little--" she seemed to reach for the word she was looking for, "fast, I suppose, but you two are made for each other. Even I can see he's really starting to like you."
I shook my head, "Alice, as much as part of me wants to believe it, I don't." I sighed, "Don't you go showing him this conversation, by the way. But look, I don't know how I feel about him. I know how he makes me feel when I'm around him. My emotions go sort of haywire." I stopped for a second and gasped.
"Alice! Oh, God, Jasper can feel my emotions can't he? Oh my word..." I knew my southern accent was coming back quickly as I began losing some of my composure.
Alice's little laugh tinkled around me, "He mentioned something odd about you and Edward, but I'm sure he hasn't caught on yet. Or at least, until you and I seemed to disappear from the two of them. I think Edward went a bit berserk."
I moaned, "He's caught on to something then, if that's true."
Alice shook her head, "No, not yet. But, look, between you and me, sister to sister, you should figure out where you stand with your emotions about Edward." She winked, "Otherwise, you're going to have to hide from Jasper, and I'm telling you, that will be hard. Especially once you realize you and Edward are meant to be!"
I looked at her, exasperated, "Give it a rest Alice. It's not like that."
She shrugged, "Suit yourself." She was quiet for a moment before sitting up suddenly, "Oh! Stop there! I want that dress!"
Edward's POV.
2006, Forks, WA.
Jasper handed my phone back to me with an odd look on his face, I listened to his thoughts.
Send Edward Bella's love? What? He looked at me suddenly, "Is there something going on I should know about, Edward?"
I put up my hands, "What do you mean? Did Alice tell you to say that?" I referred to his thoughts.
He nodded. Apparently my wife has neglected to tell me something.
I thought back to when Alice had cornered me in my room a few days previous telling me that Bella had a thing for me and that she knew I had a thing for Jasper's little sister. I had immediately waved her off telling her that she was being absurd but she showed me various visions she had had.
Needless to say, I was confused.
Jasper cut into my thoughts, "Well? Should I know something?" He didn't seem mad about anything, just curious.
I sighed, "Your wife has been having some visions." I said simply, going to sit down in my room. He followed me.
He raised a blonde eyebrow at me, "Care to elaborate? I'm the empath, not the mind reader."
I inwardly cringed, I had thought about that. Jasper was sure to have felt the panic that rose within me when we couldn't find Alice or Bella. I winced, "I'm sure you can figure it out based on that comment from Alice."
Jasper became serious, "Is there something going on between you and my little sister?"
Jasper had never seemed so intimidating to me before. Ever. I wasn't afraid, however, I was cautious. He seemed to read my emotions and process them in his thoughts.
"Do you have any," he seemed lost for words for a moment, he had never really had to do this for her before, "intentions towards Bella?"
I shrugged, "I'm not even sure yet, Jasper." I said honestly, "Alice just jumped in with these visions of Bella and I and it threw me for a loop. Right now, I'm not sure. I'm confused."
He nodded, "I can feel that, but I can also feel something else..."
He seemed frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair. I thought about how I felt when she was around me, how it felt to me when she looked at me, smiled, laughed. I was captivated by her, enamored by her character.
"I'm captivated by her." I admitted suddenly.
He looked up at me curiously, evaluating me. Suddenly he smiled, "Does she know this yet?"
I shook my head, "No. I'm sure my feelings are one-sided however."
He suddenly laughed, surprising me, "I can assure you that her feelings mirror yours for the most part. But she is much more confused."
My hopes soared suddenly and Jasper, feeling my emotions, cracked a small smile before turning serious again, "Edward, don't make her do anything she doesn't want to. She'll run."
I sobered up quickly, "I would never do that, you know it."
Jasper sat back, "Look, I know you're a good man, and sure, it makes me slightly angry that someone looks at her the way you do, but I know you're good for her. But, she's obviously thrown off a lot of come-on's. You saw how she handled Mike Newton."
I threw my head back and laughed, remembering to the other day in school where that vile Newton had made a grab for her. She, being a girl from the Civil war era was incredibly offended and told him off for it. "The best part was when she said she wasn't some hussy like that Lauren Mallory and reminded him that you, Emmett and I would gladly take him down a few notches if he tried it again."
Jasper nodded, "I was furious with him."
"As was I," I reminded him, "But you knew that. Emmett thought it was hysterical."
We sat in silence for a few moments after we had calmed. Jasper pulled me from my thoughts when he stood and looked at me, "Don't mess with her," He said, "I know you won't, you're a good man, Edward, but I just feel that as her older brother, I have to."
I nodded solemnly, "So, no scattering my ashes around the United States?" I gave him a smirk.
He shook his head, "No, I like you as a brother." With that he left my room.
I lay back on my couch in thought. I smiled as I thought about what he said when he described her feelings when she was around me. I know that he wouldn't lie to me about something like that and I was glad for that. I sat back up, it was time for me to start making her fall for me like I was for her, I would go at her pace, slowly letting her know that I was falling for her. It was time for me to make my plans, starting with my piano.
I stood and walked downstairs to my piano, where I began to play a melody that had been forming in my head since I met the pale beauty that was quickly becoming my life.
I smiled as I heard Emmett whisper to Jasper, "Dude, he's got it bad for your sister" before I went into my world of music, playing the melody.
Bella's POV.
2006. Forks, WA.
It had been just over a month since Alice and I had gone shopping and she tried to get me to admit my feelings about Edward. I had been trying to hide my emotions from my brother but I knew it wasn't working, especially when he gave me a knowing look then glanced at Edward then back to me before he went back to whatever he was doing. I had spent nearly all of my free time with Edward and in that small amount of time I had known him, become enamored with him. I've never felt this way about any other man in my existence and I had to admit that I thought I was falling for him.
I had tried to not be too forward with him, especially when I learned from Emmett that Edward hadn't ever had a significant other that anyone had known of either. I didn't want to scare him away, nor did I want to make him think ill of me, but I couldn't help but notice the look of disappointment that crossed his face whenever I would pull my face back from his when I had come close to kissing him. That would be too forward, I thought.
I sighed as I put my book I was reading away on the shelf in my room. My mind wandered to Edward as I looked out of the window that overlooked the backyard. I smiled brightly when I saw that he, my brother, and Emmett were playing football with Rosalie, Carlisle, and Alice playing with them. My Edward had a large smile on his face-- I stopped myself quickly, my Edward? Certainly not. I might have considered myself his already, which was an incredibly large step for me, but he hadn't given himself to me yet as far as I knew.
But, I thought to myself, even I have noticed the little looks, touches, and smile that he saves only for me.
I felt a small smile find its way across my face as I watched my family play. Esme was tending to her garden between her laughs at her family. There was a large crash and my eyes settled on Edward who had been tackled by Emmett for his quest to get the football and laughed loudly.
Edward perked up and looked through my window at me and my breath nearly caught. He smiled that crooked smile that made me melt, shoved Emmett off of him and motioned for me to come out and join the family.
Emmett, noticing who Edward was gesturing too let his loud, booming voice carry up to me (even though he could have whispered and I would've heard him), "HEY BELLA! COME DOWN AND PLAY WITH US!"
I laughed and, after changing my shirt in a flash, ran down to join them only to be immediately tackled by Alice.
"Alice!" I heard Rosalie screech, "We're not playing yet! Why did you tackle her already?!"
"I missed her." Alice said simply before jumping up and running towards everyone else.
"Do you know how to play football?" Jasper asked me, throwing his arm over my shoulder.
I raised an eyebrow and looked up at him, "Yes?"
He, in turn, raised an eyebrow at me too and looked down at me, "Really?" His tone was disbelieving.
We stood staring at each other, fighting not to laugh when suddenly Alice screamed in laughter, followed by Emmett and Edward. The expression on my face turned to confusion, nearly identical to Jasper's, as we turned in unison to stare at them and their laughter increased.
I looked at my brother in confusion, "What is wrong with them?"
Jasper shrugged, "I have no idea."
"Do you have any idea how similar you two are?" Esme's sweet voice floated over to us.
Emmett's laughter subsided just a bit and he walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder, "You and Jazz were damn near identical with your expressions! It was hysterical!" He guffawed again and Rosalie threw a rock at his head, "Hey, babe! What was that for?!"
Now it was mine and Jasper's turns to laugh before Carlisle interrupted us, "Okay, okay children. Let's play some more football!"
And so, we did.
I was laughing as I ran with the ball towards the end zone, I was so about to score a touchdown for my team and Emmett and Alice let me know it with their loud yells of, "GO BELLA, GO!" and "FASTER! GO!" I sensed someone running right behind me, right on my heels and I was suddenly tackled, literally right next to the end zone.
"Fourth and goal," a musical voice chuckled in my ear. I smiled as I shifted my body around to look at Edward, who had gotten off of me and was now sitting on the ground next to me.
"Well, daggone!" I laughed, "I was sure I was going to get a touchdown that time too..." I snapped my fingers for good measure and Edward threw his head back and laughed.
"You look adorable with dirt smudged on your cheek," he said quietly. My breath hitched and I noticed distantly when Alice ushered everyone inside, calling it a game, telling them to shower or something.
I shook my head, "I have dirt on my cheek?" I started to rub both of my cheeks frantically.
Edward chuckled and took my hands from my face and stared at me, but before I could get lost in his topaz eyes, he stood up, taking me with him.
"Come on, let's go to the meadow." He turned, still holding one of my hands, and started for the tree line. I followed eagerly.
Edward and I lay side by side in the grass of the meadow. He was humming something that I had never heard before and I was curious as to what it was.
"Did you write that, too?" I asked.
He nodded and turned towards me, bringing one arm up to hold his head in place as he looked at me.
"Does it have a name?" I asked as I mirrored his position in the grass.
He nodded again, his crooked smile becoming more pronounced. My lips parted as I looked at him waiting for an answer and forgetting what I asked at the same time.
Finally, he opened his mouth. "It's called Bella's Lullaby. I wrote it for you."
I started, "You-- you wrote that for me?" Edward wrote me a song? He wrote a song for me?
He nodded, this time looking slightly unsure of himself, "Do you like it?" He asked.
I nodded frantically, "I love it. It's beautiful. I can't wait to hear it played." I admitted, "But why would you write me a song? Am I special? Do you write songs for all of your family?"
He shook his head and reached over and brushed some hair from my face, "No, Esme's Favorite wasn't even actually written for Esme, it was simply named from her as her favorite. You are the only one I have actually written for. And, yes, you are wonderfully special Isabella."
If I were human, I would've been blushing my brains out, I knew it. But I was slightly shocked, "What?"
He leaned closer, we were only inches away and when he spoke, his fresh, cool breath ran over my face and I breathed it in, "I said, you are wonderfully special. I can't explain how you make me feel, Bella. It's confusing, wonderful, stressful, beautiful, and splendidly enthralling all in one, plus many more emotions. I don't know how to explain it." He trailed off.
My expression softened, I wanted to tell him then and there, right then and there, that I had fallen for him, but I stopped myself. I wasn't exactly sure of myself, nor was I sure of his feelings for me, even though he had literally just explained almost word-for-word exactly how I felt about him. The only thing missing was 'love.'
I opened my mouth and it all suddenly rushed from my mouth, "I feel the same way, Edward. I can't explain it." I looked away from him and stared at a tree. I knew I would never get this out if I stared into his eyes, "It's exquisite, how you make me feel. The things you make me think and feel and do when you're around me is so off for me. I know Jasper has caught on, he's my brother and I can't keep something like that from him, even if he wasn't an empath. I-- I think I've--" I cut myself off.
"Yes?" he leaned even closer. If he were any other man I would've been so incredibly uncomfortable with his close proximity, but I was wonderfully comfortable with him, his hand on my cheek, mine laying softly on his bicep. I looked into his eyes and the intensity and smoldering heat that those golden orbs held let me know that right then I could tell him. Right then I felt sure that he reciprocated my feelings and emotions.
"I've fallen for you, Edward. You're the only man who has ever made me feel this way," I smiled softly, "I love you."
I closed the gap between our lips.
His hand was suddenly in my hair, massaging my skull, as his other hand pulled me closer to him. I threw my arms around him, letting my own hand to venture into his bronze hair and allowing him to lean over me as I lay back into the soft ground as we kissed. It started slow and progressed into a sweet dance of our tongues and moans.
He suddenly pulled back, the smile on his face was intoxicating, "I love you too."
And he kissed me again. I had never, ever, been so happy in my entire existence. I had finally found my soul mate, admitted my love for him, and found out that he loved me too.
We did nothing more than kiss and touch, but I was completely fine with that. I had only just admitted to him that I loved him, neither of us were ready for anything else.
I've never been so happy and I let him know it with a moan as he kissed along my jawline saying, "I love you, Bella," in between kisses.
"And I, you." I whispered back.
When we arrived back at the house, hand in hand, we were greeted by Alice and Esme who hugged us both. Alice looked smug as she looked from me to Edward before opening her mouth to say what I suspected to be "I told you so" but she was interrupted by Emmett slapping Edward on the back with a loud boom.
"I never thought you had it in you, Eddie-boy," he laughed.
He didn't laugh too long because Edward was suddenly tackling him to the ground in a playful fight, "Don't call me Eddie OR Eddie-boy Emmett!"
Esme, Alice, and I left the two of them to it. Jasper was sitting casually in the living room with a history book. He looked up at me, "About time," was all he said before winking at me and returning to his book.
I smiled, glad that there was no awkwardness between the two of us. I sat down next to him, laying my head on his shoulder, and read with him.
My big brother was fine with me loving someone. That was priceless to me.
Nearly half a year had passed since Edward and I professed our love to one another and we were getting along splendidly. As I had enrolled as a Junior in Forks High School towards the end of the school year, I was preparing to enter my Senior year along with Alice and Edward. Our other siblings had graduated and things were peaceful.
Emmett and Rosalie were planning another honeymoon in Africa and were set to depart in a few weeks. Alice and Jasper too were planning on going on their own small trip until school started and were also set to depart around the same time as Emmet and Rosalie. Of course, Carlisle and Esme were planning on staying in Olympia for the time being as he had his job at the hospital.
Right now, however, we were playing a game of baseball as there was one heck of a storm brewing over our heads. It had yet to rain, as Alice had predicted, but the thunder was loud and rumbling, which was fantastic as we mad a rather large amount of noise as we played.
Currently it was Edward who was up to bat, Alice pitching, Rosalie and Emmett were in the outfield, I was on deck, and Jasper was standing close to third base, Carlisle stood next to me, and Esme was behind home plate as catcher and umpire.
Alice whipped her arm around and threw the ball toward Edward, who in turn swung his bat and with a thundering CRACK hit the ball. Rosalie tore off after it to the cheers of Emmett shouting at her to get it. I cheered my Edward on as he ran top speed through the bases and into home.
"YES!" I cheered as I ran to him and kissed him, "Wonderful job, honey."
He smiled at me and was about to say something when suddenly Alice shrieked. We looked to her and watched as she looked towards the tree line. Edward tensed and growled suddenly.
"Edward, what is it?" Carlisle asked. Jasper had gone to Alice and had an arm around her shoulders and on occasion he would look back towards me to ensure I was wrapped in Edward's arms.
Alice answered for him, "We have company."
We all waited, watching the tree line. "Where's Rose?" I asked suddenly.
It seemed that Emmett was wondering the same thing as he took a step forward but Edward's voice stopped him, "She's fine, Emmett. She's on her way back. There are three visitors and they're walking with her. It seems that they simply heard our game and got curious." That seemed to relax Emmett slightly and I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders, Edward's hold on me loosened slightly and I took a step away from him, still holding his hand.
Rosalie's gorgeous blond head was suddenly visible as she strode from the forest. She was being followed by three other vampires.
I didn't recognize the wildly red haired female, nor did I know the dark colored male that seemed to be the leader of the three.
But I did recognize the tall, lean blond one. Our eyes locked and a smirk suddenly found it's way onto his face.
Fear gripped my heart. I knew this one. He had pursued me in the past and I had turned him down, much to his dislike and it had enraged him. It took nearly everything I had to run from him all those years ago.
"James." I gasped. Oh, God, no. This is not good at all.
A/N: Well! There you have it! 4,864 words! God, I write A LOT don't I? I want reviews!! I got a large amount for the last chapter and I'm looking for more feedback! Sorry for the cliffy, but hey, how else am I going to get you guys wanting more? Hehe! :-P
Let me know what you think! I really really appreciate it when you review so please please do! It helps me when I'm writing and for a perfect example of how it helps, read my A/N in the beginning about the person who mentioned I forgot to add something. It helps!!
So, please REVIEW!!! And thank you so much for being loyal and wonderful people!
