Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
Hello! So, this chapter is pretty…fluffy. I think it's necessary to build up the relationships between some of the characters before the last bit of the plot comes through. I hope you like it!
One week later-
Bella smiled as she traced Edward's face with her trembling fingers. She still couldn't believe he was really here, with her, and unharmed.
Images and thoughts had slithered their way through her mind during the weeks she spent in the cabin. Of course there were the fears that she would die, but there were worse ones along side them. Dark images of Edward coming to rescue her, only to be murdered by her captors.
Her mind had played through so many frightful scenarios, she had convinced herself that there was no way they would survive.
But, as always, Edward defied the boundaries she had set for his hero-like tendencies. He never ceased to amaze her.
And now here he was next to her, curled up together on the couch like a normal couple their age. Bella's smile morphed into a jaw-cracking grin as she realized that now they really could be a normal couple. Free from the shackles Aro had imprisoned them with. They were in love and as free as a passing wind. Now they could just see where life would take them. Edward sighed softly, breathing in the strawberry scent of Bella's brown locks.
"I love you." he mumbled.
"I love you too." she murmured, running her fingers through his strangely colored hair.
"Bella? Edward?" Rosalie's chiming voice floated into the room.
"We're in here!" Bella called. Rosalie meandered in, leaning casually against the door fame. Her usual stone cold expression was erased, and a soft smile had taken its place.
"We're leaving tomorrow." Rosalie murmured, her chiming voice expanding thorough the room like a blossoming flower. Bella smiled.
"That's wonderful Rose. You deserve a normal life with Emmett. Just make sure to stay in touch, hmm?" Rosalie nodded.
"Of course. I was thinking maybe we can do something today, all of us together?" she asked.
"What did you have in mind?" Edward interjected. Rosalie rolled her eyes.
"Don't worry, nothing too "dangerous" for your precious Bella. I know her leg is still healing."
"Well...what?' Bella asked curiously. Rosalie suddenly looked embarrassed. She mumbled something under her breath. Edward raised his eyebrows.
"We didn't catch that." he stated. Rosalie sent him a glare.
"I said…I've been wanting to go swimming for awhile." Bella tilted her head to the side, biting her lip.
"Why are you embarrassed about that?"
Rosalie shrugged moodily, suddenly looking aggravated.
"I don't know how to swim." she muttered sourly. Bella kept chewing on her bottom lip, nodding.
"Me either." she admitted in a small voice. They both looked to Edward. He pursed his lips.
"I can't either. It's not like I had time to learn, with all of the illegal crap. Not to mention I lived in a city for my whole childhood and I wasn't really a popular target for getting invited to pool parties." he ranted bitterly.
"Same here." Bella replied.
"Yeah." Rosalie added airily. "Well, someone must know how." Bella nodded.
"Emmett!" Rosalie shouted through the doorway.
"Wutzuff?" he mumbled, ambling into the room with his mouth stuffed with food. He swallowed thickly.
"What's up?" he repeated more clearly.
"Do you know how to swim?" Bella asked sweetly. He shook his head, his curls flopping into his eyes.
"Nope. I grew up in the city too." he said.
"Darn it." Bella sighed.
"Jasper, stop it!" Alice's melodic voice rang out from the front porch. They heard the door slam shut amidst the sound of laughter. A deep gravelly chuckle and higher pitched giggles. Jasper busted through the door with Alice clinging to his back, her eyes wide.
"Put me down!" she pleaded, trying to keep her face serious, but her grin kept breaking through. Jasper shook his head, his shaggy hair in tangles.
"You're too adorable for your own good. I don't want to let you go." he chuckled, spinning in fast circles.
Alice gasped.
"Jasper." she whispered, noticing the amused faces of the occupants of the room for the first time. Jasper's laughter died out and he set Alice carefully on her feet, keeping their hands intertwined.
"Hello." he mumbled.
"Do you guys know how to swim?" Bella asked. Jasper shook his head while Alice nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course! I love to swim, but I haven't in so many years…" she trailed off, her excited voice evening out. Her eyes were wide and she clutched Jasper's hand tighter, hiding her face in his shirt.
"Sorry about that, I didn't mean to get worked up." she mumbled. Edward furrowed his eyebrows.
"Why are you sorry about that, Alice?" he asked her. She peeked out from behind Jasper.
"Sorry. This is going to take some getting used to. The doctors always got angry when I became too energized and animated, they said it wasn't good for helping the medicine work…" she trailed off with a shrug. Jasper leaned down to kiss her head.
"You can be yourself around them, sweet pea. They're good folks" he murmured into her short cropped hair. Alice smiled at them.
"So, why did you ask me if I could swim?" she asked shyly.
"Well, we don't know how. But we want to learn, do you think you could teach us?" Bella asked her softly,
"Of course!" Alice exclaimed, her elfin face exploding into an expression of pure anticipation.
"Is there a pond around here? I wonder what the easiest way to learn is…start out with floating or arm and leg movements?" Alice mumbled to herself excitedly, pacing the floor. Jasper chuckled and went to flop onto the couch, his eyes amused as they followed Alice's frenzied pacing.
"There's a pond a few miles away. I saw it on the way here. But first, we need to find some bathing suits, girls." Rosalie said, darting out of the room. She came back with a bag of clothes.
"These will work."
Bella stood slowly, her injured leg still unsteady. Edward wrapped his arm around her waist and they began a stroll toward the pickup truck. They shared a quick private conversation that ended with Bella grinning and Edward glowering. He glumly trudged to the passenger side as Bella climbed into the drivers seat. She patted the dashboard affectionately.
"Is this your truck?" Alice asked curiously, taking a brief interlude from her eager whispered conversation with Jasper. Bella grinned.
"Yup. His name is Lenny." Alice laughed. Edward groaned.
"I can't believe you went as far as to name it. It's bad enough you love it more then you love me." he huffed. Bella rolled her eyes.
"You know that's not true. I love you both equal." she said with a wink toward Rosalie. Edward sulked.
They drove out of the murky city and onto the winding country roads, bickering with one another all the way, but Alice could tell they were just joking.
She was mystified.
It was spooky to see how drastically their personalities became friendly and sweet after they were no longer cooped up in Carlisle's apartment. They were like a whirlwind. Especially Edward.
Alice had witnessed him change twice over a matter of weeks. She had seen him morph from a dangerous, unbalanced criminal to a love struck young man in a few hours. Plus, every few minutes he seemed to change from brooding to joking banter.
Alice shook her head, snapping out of her thoughts. She decided to leave Edward's emotions to Jasper…that was his area of expertise. She sent him a glance, silently asking him. He shrugged and sent her an expression that clearly stated "I've lived around him for years and still can't explain it." Alice patted his knee and leaned into his side, impatiently waiting for them to arrive at the pond.
After a few more minutes her leg started quivering, and pretty soon her whole tiny body was bouncing with excitement. Jasper was clenching his teeth to keep the eruption of excitement from making him bounce right along side her. He didn't succeed.
Finally they pulled up along a steep bank and got out of the overcrowded truck. They followed a hiking trail and came upon the pond. Except it was more like a river. There was a steep waterfall blasting down into foaming waters below, and sheer rocks jutted out in many places.
Alice quickly peeled off her green dress to reveal a purple bathing suit that had been Esme's when she was ten years old. Alice was small enough to fit into it easily. She turned to find Emmett watching her with an evil glint in his eye. She gulped. He sauntered forward casually. Alice looked to Jasper for reassurance. He shrugged. She took that to mean she wasn't in any danger. Emmett scooped her up and walked precariously close to the river.
"No Emmett! It's probably really cold!" she screeched. He chuckled and dumped her into the water. Her protests were reduced to bubbles as she went under. Jasper glared at him. Alice jumped up with a look promising violence etched across her small features.
"You're a dead man." she snarled. He laughed at her angry expression.
"Your hair looks like a wet poodle!" he roared. She gave Emmett a wounded look and hung her head, sniffling. Emmett's laughter died out.
"I'm sorry Alice." he murmured, striding back to the river. He reached out to pull her out, but she pulled him in instead. He made a much bigger splash.
"Now we're even." she stated airily, climbing back onto land. Emmett looked dumbfounded. Jasper chuckled, pulling her close.
"Good job, sweet pea." he whispered. Alice spent the next hour teaching them to swim. Rosalie, Edward and Jasper were fast learners. Emmett and Bella on the other hand, were not.
It took awhile.
Alice sighed, leaning back into the smooth rippled water and floating peacefully.
"Cannon ball contest!" Emmett roared. He scooped up Rosalie and sprinted up onto one of the highest outcrops, diving into the water. Alice giggled.
"I'll go next!" she yelled, scrambling up the rocks. Jasper watched with amusement from below. She scampered to the edge and waved to him. He waved back and watched her take a deep breath, leaning toward the edge.
Then her eyes glazed over, her expression blank.
A vision.
"Alice!" he screamed, sprinting up the rocks.
But he was too late.
Alice teetered forward on her toes, the pebbles giving out.
She plunged into the dark water below.
A/N: Sorry about the cliff hanger (in sort of a literal way too…) . Anyways, please review and have an awesome Thanksgiving!(if you celebrate it)