I don't own anything Twilight. Everything belongs to Stephenie Meyers. No copyright infringement intended. I'm just playing around with her creation.

Previously: Carlisle starts to learn more about Bella's amnesia. Bella is unintentionally set off by the piano and remembers that Edward left her. Edward decides he needs to fix things. Jake tells Charlie he hasn't found anything but he's not giving up and leaves to look for her.

Chapter 8: An All Around Tease

Bella's Point of View

This had been an interesting month with the Cullens around. Carlisle was busy thinking of ideas to restore my lost memories and watching me from the sidelines. Alice had attempted to drag me to Anchorage for shopping but I refused repeatedly. Jasper had challenged me to several chess rematches and the score was eight wins for me three wins for him. With me still being a newborn, Emmett had challenged me to wrestle with him, test my strength he had claimed. Esme was content to hold me in her arms just telling me how much she missed me. Rosalie didn't say much but when she would look at me, she was pained, like we shared in a common unknown link. Then there was Edward.

Frequently I caught him looking at me as I went about my normal days. His eyes were a mixture of longing, regret and hope. I was astonished by my desire to walk over and ravish him silly. I would catch myself watching him constantly. It was like there was a magnet between us, pulling us towards each other.

At the moment, Edward was frantically running around the house and he wasn't being very quiet about it either.

"What in the world is he doing?" I asked Alice while she brushing my hair calmly and I watched Edward rush back up the stairs.

Alice merely shrugged her shoulders with a knowing grin and continued to run the brush through my hair.

"Uh huh, I don't believe you," I glared at her as she put on a hurt face.

"Ouch, that hurt. Don't you remember you're not supposed to bet against me?" she pressed a palm to her chest and noticeably winched.

"Yeah, play it up. But I wasn't betting against you, I was calling you a liar." I chided her and smirked.

I was stunned when Edward came down the stairs with a very satisfied smile, sat down on the couch and started reading my book - Wuthering Heights. I tilted my head and stared at him curiously.

"Would you like me to braid your hair?" Alice leaned her chin on my shoulder as she asked.

"Sure, I'll go up and get a hair tie," I smiled at Alice then sprinted up the stairs.

I burst through my door and was assaulted by the aroma of roses. My room was covered in the dainty flowers. Dozens of vases lined my dresser and shelves in reds, whites, pinks, oranges, yellows and purples. There were petals scattered all over the floor, the bed and every available surface. I was amazed.

I almost missed the note that rested among the petals on my bed. I quickly retrieved it and opened the flap. The words written in an elegant scroll penmanship flabbergasted me.

I know I've done some really stupid things.

I can't expect you to forgive me when I can't forgive myself.

I'll do everything in my power to make everything up to you.

I want you to know that I love you and I'll love you forever.

Forever yours, E

It was so heartfelt and sweet I could have sworn I felt a tear fall but I knew that wasn't possible, not now. What kind of stupid things was he talking about? How is he planning on making up for them? I glanced around my bepetaled room and I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear.

I ran over to my dresser and rummaged around in the top drawer for a hair tie. I slipped it around my wrist and ran downstairs. I found Edward sitting in the same seat I last saw him. My body moved on its own accord. I silently walked toward Edward and leaned over the back of the couch then softly pressed my lips to his cheek.

Edward froze, he didn't even breath. "Thank you for what you did, that was very sweet."

I saw a crooked smile inch its way across his face and I knew he was pleased. I trotted back over to Alice and handed her the hair tie, she simply smiled at me, having already seen what my room looked like in a vision.

Alice finished my hair and I stood back up. "Okay, who wants to hunt? I'm starving," chuckles sounded throughout the house.

"I'll go with you. Edward why don't you come with us as well, your eyes are looking kind of dark." Alice stated and grabbed Edward's wrist and mine and pulled us out the back door.

We ran into the dark forest to look for our meals. I was surprised when I left my hunting companions in my dust – I didn't expect to be faster than them - considering I had been told Edward was the fastest amongst the Cullens.

I veered right suddenly when the meaty, woodsy scent hit my nose. My speed picked up a fraction and the yummy aroma closed in. I leapt onto a large branch just overhead of the stalking cat. It was getting ready to pounce on a moose and I was getting ready to pounce on the large feline.

I tiptoed down the branch, getting closer to my prey. I smirked as a thought hit me: the hunter is now the hunted. I leapt off the limb and sprang on the cougar effortlessly, instantly sinking my razor sharp teeth through its warm flesh at its neck. The cat didn't even have a chance to fight back let alone realize what had happened.

I drained the animal and leaned back relaxed and satisfied. I enjoyed the cool night air against my skin and there was the hoot of an owl somewhere far away. The last thing I expected to hear in the desolate forest was clapping.

My eyes immediately shot to the one that intruded on my solitude. I glanced over to see Edward walking away from a moose toward me. That was the same moose my cougar was stalking. So basically, I had taken down the cat and he went for the moose at the same time. I stood up startled, I didn't want him to see me like this; clothing askew, hair messed up, at least I didn't make a mess with the blood.

"That was very impressive...and incredibly sexy." His voice was soft and rough at the same time and had a seductive quality I recognized when Eleazar spoke to Carmen some times.

"Um, thank you, I think," I stared at him oddly.

Was he trying to seduce me? We just barely met, well, sort of. I watched him intently as he stalked directly up to me and stopped a few inches from me then leaned over my shoulder and sniffed my neck. I stood absolutely still as I felt his breath faintly on my neck and a shiver ran down my spine and my breathing became ragged.

He inhaled again and leaned back with a 'cat ate the canary' like grin. "Well it's good to know I still affect you the same way I did when you were human." I stared at him with shocked and wondering eyes. "Your arousal is very pungent to me."

My arousal?! Holy shit! He deliberately turned me on. I stormed up to him and started poking him in the chest. "So you used to do this to me when I was human? You did that for what purpose – to tease me, to humiliate me, to prove to yourself that you're attractive?"

The look on his face was a combination of confusion, astonishment and bewilderment. "Um, no actually it's because I loved seeing you blush. In fact you blushed so much, even about the little things I'm surprised you didn't come through the change with a permanent tint to your cheeks."

I glared at him for his snide comment and I flipped around to leave. Before I could break out into a run Edward's arms enclosed around my waist and he rested his chin on my shoulder. This closeness to him felt incredibly good and there was an ache in my chest telling me this was something I missed.

"I'm sorry if you took offense to anything I said. But you should know that smelling your skin, your hair, your arousal, any scent off of you is like an addictive drug to me, worse than heroin even." He whispered in to my ear temptingly.

I had never been told that a vampire could be dazzled and caused to swoon. And at this very moment I felt like melting into him. If we had been like this when I was human, how could he have left me? This feeling of love and connection is exquisite.

I leaned my back against his chest, enjoying the feeling of his muscles stiffening behind me. Just feeling the tight hold he had around my waist, his breath on my neck and his whispered words in my ear was sending me spiraling into a fabulous euphoria.

"Bella, I want you to know that I stand by what I wrote in the note. I'm sorry and I will fix this. I loved you as a human and I love you even more as a vampire and I will always love you." I felt his chin scoot closer to my neck as his words grew softer and softer.

I wrenched myself out of his arms and glanced over my shoulder to him. "We'll see how you manage to fix things..." I winked at him then sped off toward the house.

Edward's Point of View

'We'll see how you manage to fix things...'

What did she mean by that? First the kiss on the cheek and now the wink, was she trying to torture me? I knew she didn't know the reactions my body was having to her proximity but for her to do those things, it was like being burned alive - a glorious, delicious death by fire.

Earlier, when I had followed silently behind her toward her target, I was surprised to find out that she was actually faster than I was. I shuddered internally when I saw her leap onto a branch above a mountain lion, I feared for the girl I remembered as being clumsy. She was never one for climbing trees let alone strolling out on the branch as if she owned it.

Her body was the definition of grace and beauty as she pounced on the unsuspecting animal. The second her teeth were buried into the warm neck the scent of blood hit me and I quickly moved into action and took down the moose that the cat was intending on making its dinner. Once the animal lay drained and lifeless, I stood up to see Bella finishing her meal. I couldn't help myself, the poise, nimbleness she exuded drew my attention to her like a kitten to milk, and I applauded her change in agility.

When I called her sexy she stared at me blankly, like I had just told a joke and she was waiting for the punch-line. I walked toward her sensuously and she watched every muscle of my body move. I stopped a few inches from her and on impulse I leaned in and inhaled her scent from her neck. She still smelled of strawberries but now there was the aroma of honey and roses, probably due to the shampoo they used here.

She was absolutely still and her breathing became labored when I exhaled next to her neck. I was greatly pleased when she noticeably shuttered and her aroused scent assaulted me, human or vampire I still affected the primal side of her.

When I brought up the way she responded to me she went berserk. She started pulling on strings to learn the answer for why I had done that to her. She was poking me in the chest with her dainty yet strong finger. The fury held in her honey colored eyes stunned and invigorated me, I wanted so badly to shove her to the ground and break all the barriers I had built concerning her.

What was I thinking? She a newborn, mind you a very comfortable one. We need to work on her memories before we can delve into things that are more pleasurable. When she did get her memories back, what if she decided she doesn't want me anymore?

I explained about my fascination with her blushing and she glared at me then turned quickly to leave. I couldn't let her go off angry with me. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pressed my chin on her shoulder. She seemed to melt into me when I called her my drug.

I was shocked when after I had informed her that what I wrote in the note was true she suddenly spun out of my arms, stared at me, and practically dared me to fix things. I was rendered speechless when she winked at me than ran off into the trees toward the house.

So Bella wanted me to fix everything. Now the question was how I planned to do that. I quickly took chase after my returned angel. I rapidly sprang into the house and found Bella sitting innocently in a recliner reading her book, a very small smirk on her lips as she attempted to not look at me.

Oh I see how she is, tease me then look completely blameless. I stalked toward her as if she was an unsuspecting deer and I was the hungry lion, which I was. As soon as I was in front of her, I leaned down and gripped the arms of her seat on either side of her. She was startled by my actions and looked up at me sweetly and pursed her lips minutely. God I wanted to indulge myself in those juicy red lips so badly.

"Yes?" she uttered sweetly. She is really playing up the innocent act.

I leaned my face closer to hers so my nose would just barely graze hers. "You're such a tease and you don't even know it." I pulled back slightly to look at her expression. Her eyes were wide with shock and they flashed solid ebony for a split second. I smiled crookedly at her response to me and I dropped my head once more.

My eyes closed instinctively as my face drew closer to Bella's. I was stunned when there was no jolt of electricity between us when my lips pressed upon the unmoving silkiness.

Wait, to another vampire the skin is pliable – her lips should be moving, unless she didn't want to kiss me back. My eyes popped open at the instant hurt flooding my system. There was a leather object right in front of my eyes, abstracting my line of sight.

I pulled away to see an old leather bound book between Bella and myself. It was raised to block my face from meeting hers – she didn't want me to kiss her. DAMN IT!

I was completely dumbfounded when I heard a soft giggle ring from behind the copy of Wuthering Heights. She thought this was funny?

"Why you little minx?" I reached for her book at the same time she sprang over the back of the chair and sprinted up the stairs, laughing the whole way.

A loud eruption of laughter boomed from behind me. I turned and glared at Alice and Rosalie who were clutching their stomachs from their fit of massive giggles.

'Is that what you called whipped?' Rosalie pretended to wipe a tear from her cheek as she let out a loud relieved sigh.

I continued to glare at her as Alice's thoughts hit me next – at least she was a little more composed than Rosalie was.

'At least she's smiling, it could be worse you know,' she gave me a half-hearted smile that quickly morphed into a full out grin of excitement. "That's a brilliant idea Rose, let's do that tomorrow."

I was suddenly gifted with Alice's vision of the three of them going shopping. Bella looked slightly bored as Rosalie and Alice conversed about fashion and something about an almost missed special day. I looked over to Rose who looked confused for all of two seconds then it dawned on her what Alice was referring to.

"Let's go tell our plans to Bella," Alice grabbed Rose by the wrist and pulled her up the stairs after her.

I watched my sisters retreating forms and immediately felt envious. They would get all day together with Bella and I was only graced with an hour here or there, how could I rectify that annoying problem?

Hearing the hushed, whispered voices of my sisters and Bella irked me. What was their need to be quiet? Were they planning something? Should I be scared? I heard several giggles erupt in three different tones, a shiver ran down my spine and I couldn't help but be worried for my safety.

'You have something to do tomorrow while we're in town.' A dusty image of boxes in the attic danced around in her mind. Oh great, now I was being put to work. However, if I was going to be getting dirty I would put Alice's vision to good use.

Charlie's Point of View

After almost six months, my life hadn't really gone back to normal. The police hadn't found anything, Jake and his friends hadn't found anything, nobody found anything. My only child had completely disappeared.

In a sense, she was already gone once that boy left her. Was he trying to cut himself off from her completely? No address, no phone number, no email, no contact whatsoever. How could someone be so cruel? I thought when Renee left me eighteen years ago with Bella that had been cruel but at least we kept in touch. Edward Cullen vanished from Bella's life altogether and she wasn't taking it very well.

I knew she had really liked him but I was totally unaware of how much she cared for him till he wasn't in the picture anymore. For months, she merely existed for the sake of the people around her and pretended to laugh and smile and live.

My department had exhausted all our possible leads and none came up with even the slightest good news. We had even tried to contact the Cullens in hope that they would know something, or the very least inform Edward of Bella's disappearance. To this day no one can find them, as Bella had said, they couldn't be in LA.

When she had mentioned moving to Forks I was beside myself with excitement, the precinct was relieved when Bella had finally shown up and I calmed down. Who would have thought that in less than a year she would fall in love, have her heart broken, and then vanish? It was the stuff you read about in books or watch on a movie, no one ever expects it really happen, especially to them.

I currently sat behind my desk staring out the window at the solid white landscape. It had snowed early this year; it was a white Halloween even. I'm not sure what I would prefer more, the rain or the snow. Rain was common here so people knew how to handle the wet roads but the wetness was always dreary and depressing. The snow on the other hand has beautiful and enchanting and people loved to play in it but there were always more accidents when the roads were white.

The weather reminded me of Bella's circumstances now. Did I want the dreary depressed Bella to be home where it was safe or did I hope she was somewhere beautiful and fun where her life might be in danger?

I scoffed at my inner question. Whom was I kidding? She risked her life if she got out of bed in the morning. All I could really do know was hope that she was indeed all right living somewhere beautiful, she was having fun, and she was happy again.

Chapter End Notes:

Poor Charlie, will he ever get some peace of mind.

Dang, who is more of tease, Edward or Bella? What's the almost missed special day Alice was thinking about? Anyone willing to do the math to figure it out? Moreover, what is Edward supposed to get from the attic that he'll put to good use?