I really wanted to thank you all for your reviews last chapter. They made me smile. I wanted to update sooner, but I was busy with school work and distracted with books.

Currently, I am scarfing down ice cream as my super secret midnight snack. xD Just thought you'd like to know.

Thanks Siob, for editing! She is super obsessed with Jace. Apparently, he's very funny. =P

Disclaimer: Nope, still not Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 9

EPOV

Monday came and went, nothing exciting happening at all. Bella and I were in our own high, so to speak. I'm sure the others noticed that we were acting differently- not so uptight about cleaning our mess, happier than usual. But if they had, they didn't mention it. I took the opportunity while Bella was in class to house hunt. We had been talking about what we wanted. Not too big, her main concern, not too small, my main concern. I wanted new construction, she wanted an old fixer-upper. She was stubborn about it not costing a lot. I tried to convince her price didn't matter. I had more than enough money for what I had in mind, let alone what she has in mind, but she wouldn't hear any it. My Bella was a stubborn girl, but I loved her all the while for it. Whatever she wanted, I would give her.

"We're in this together. I'm paying for part, and that's the end of it," she had said.

So, we had agreed to look at houses on the internet, visit open houses, and the like.

Nothing too big. Damn this was hard. All the nice looking homes had three bedrooms or more, but no, that was too big. I rolled my eyes, then scolded myself. Bella and I were in this together. Even if I wanted to give her more than she wanted, I abided by her wishes and set out to find a house that she would agree on. Two bedrooms wasn't too big, was it? I mean, we would need a guest room, right? I nodded, narrowing the search to two bedroom homes.

**

APOV

Something was... different. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what it was, but Bella and Edward were different. Bella would be home from class soon (baby free!). I'd be able to ask her what's up then.

I busied myself by washing dishes, sweeping the floor, and vacuuming the family room while I waited for Bella. Edward had locked himself in his room. I decided to use vacuuming as an excuse to go in there. I wanted to know what he was up to. He'd been on the computer a lot lately.

Unplugging the vacuum, I took it into their room and plugged it in. Edward heard me, minimized the window he was looking at, and flipped a notebook over.

"Hi Edward!" I said, chipper as always.

"Morning, Alice. You're... cleaning?" He sounded amused.

"I like a clean house," I shrugged. "Whatcha up to?"

"Nothing, really," he smiled like he was in on some joke that I wasn't.

"Didn't look like nothing. What is that?" I said, gesturing to the computer and the notebook.

"It is a computer. A laptop, actually. Maybe you've heard of them?"

I rolled my eyes. "Smart ass."

He stood up from the chair, so I slid into the chair quickly, thankful I was tiny. I slipped past him easily.

I looked at the tabs at the bottom. Untitled 1- Microsoft Word. Windows Live Messenger – no IM's, and Firefox... I turned around to look at him. "Century 21's website? You're looking at houses?"

"Uh, yeah. No. Maybe," he looked down at the floor.

"What are you not telling me?"

"Bella and I will tell you guys tonight. We agreed to tell you together."

"Oh my God. You're moving out?"

He didn't say anything for a minute. Finally, he took in a short breath, then said, "Not now."

'Not now' was a placeholder. Not a lie, but not the whole truth. Not now could be anything. It could mean 'not today but tomorrow' or 'not this month but next month'. I went over the conversation again in my head while I vacuumed the rest of the rooms. So, Bella and Edward are moving out. This was a big step. For them, for us. I had lived with Bella since freshman year in college. It would be hard to see her go.

**

BPOV

I stepped out of the truck, hopping down onto the cement of the driveway.

As I walked into what would only be my house for a little while longer, I called, "Family meeting!"

Edward came out of the bedroom first, laptop tucked under his arm. Jasper and Alice came out of their bedroom. Emmett was already in the family, Rosalie cuddling with him on the sofa. Edward set the laptop down on the coffee table and sat in the arm chair. He opened his arms for me to come sit on his lap. He laced his hand in mine, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"We have some... news for you," Edward started.

"But we'd like to take you to dinner, and tell you there," I finished.

"Do we get to know where we are going?" Alice asked.

"I was thinking Olive Garden. Is Italian okay with everyone?" Edward asked.

"Fine with me. Bella, Rose. Meet me in my room, please?"

Bella Barbie. Oh, the joy.

"Sure thing, Alice," I said.

Emmett clapped his hands together. "Okay, break!" he said.

Edward chuckled. "This isn't football, Em."

Rosalie just shook her head. Just before I got up, Edward whispered in my ear. "Alice knows."

I couldn't ask for an explanation. I just nodded and kissed his cheek, got up and went to Alice's room.

"Put this on," Alice ordered, handing me a black dress.

"No way, Alice. It's a fairly casual restaurant. I am not wearing a dress."

"The word ' fairly' being the key word there." She pushed the dress towards me again.

"No," I said stubbornly.

"Compromise?"

"Depends."

Rosalie sat on Alice's bed, laughing at us.

"A nice shirt and dark wash jeans," Alice proposed.

"Fine," I sighed.

She handed me a dark blue, v-neck shirt and the jeans.

"Change then we'll do your hair and make-up. I sighed again.

After changing into the shirt, which I admit, looked amazing on me, and slipping into the jeans I sat down in the chair Alice put in the middle of her room.

Rosalie curled my hair just enough to give me soft waves and Alice gave me a natural look with my make-up. They then proceeded to do their own hair and make-up. I looked at what they were wearing.

Both were in jeans, but they had different tops than I did. Rosalie had on a yellow shirt that was more of a dress, the neckline cut in a v-shape. She paired it with skinny jeans and a pair of brown sandals.

Alice had a green swoop-neck shirt with sleeves that went to her elbows and black flats. She handed me a pair of sandals with silver straps.

"Thanks," I said.

"Not a problem!" she said cheerfully. I didn't know if the cheer was faked or genuine. She was good at hiding things. I felt bad, knowing that things would be changing soon. We wouldn't be able to do this as often.

We went out to find the guys ready to go, watching TV. They looked similar. Button-down shirts and jeans.

"Well don't you look handsome," Alice said.

Jasper smiled.

"Edward and I will take the Volvo. You four can take Emmett's jeep. I don't feel like being squished tonight," I said.

They nodded. I knew they knew something was up, they just didn't know what. Minus Alice, apparently.

**

Edward and I had been silent in the car. Our hands were interlaced between us, as usual. He drove fast, so we got there seconds before Emmett parked next to us.

"Table for six, non-smoking." I wasn't sure who said it. I wasn't really paying attention.

"The wait will be 15-20 minutes. Name please?" the waiter asked.

"Put it under Edward, I suppose," Edward told the guy.

He nodded. There was only one bench open, so the guys sat down and we sat on their laps waiting for them to tell us there was a table available. Edward buried his face in my hair. I leaned my head into the crook of his neck.

"Such a cute couple," I heard a voice say. I glanced up to see an older woman and man watching us from a where they were standing.

"Ah, young love," the man said.

She lightly tapped his arm. "Shoosh."

I smiled, looking down at Edward's arms around me.

After what seemed like ages, they said our table was ready.

"So, I'm sure you're wondering what we have to tell you," I said.

They nodded.

"We have decided that it's time to.. to-" Edward started.

"To get our own place," I finished. "Somewhere close by. But, well, we want more space, more privacy."

Edward nodded in agreement.

"So, you-" Emmett said, looking at us, "-are moving out so that you can have more privacy? We all know what that means."

We nodded together. I'm sure I was blushing at his innuendo.

"Well, we call their room! Bella's is bigger than mine," he said.

I laughed. "Are you okay with this?" I asked the others.

"Why wouldn't we be? We all knew it would happen eventually. I mean, we can't all be together forever," Rosalie said.

"Yeah, it's not like we won't still be family," Jasper said.

I realized he was right. We would always be a family. We may not be blood related, but sometimes blood relatives aren't close like we are. No matter where we lived we would always be family. As close as a circle of friends could get.

Alice pulled me from my thoughts. "Can I help decorate?"

"Of course," I told her.

It wasn't quite the reaction I had expected, but for that I was glad. I didn't want a big blow up. I smiled.

Now all that was left was to find a home. Our home.

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