APOV OUTTAKE

GIRL TIME

A/N—This is an outtake in Alice's POV relating to the dinner with Paige Sweeney and the events thereafter which take place between chapters 9 through 11 of HOW TO GET YOUR BALLS BACK. There are some hints as to what may be bothering Bella so if you don't want any spoiler type information of any kind, you may want to save to read later.

"Get her some chocolate brownies…get her some chocolate brownies..." Emmett is chanting so low, Bella can't hear. Edward is ignoring Emmett as he and Bella stare at each other, both too stubborn to back down.

Eleven more minutes and this will be over, I remind myself. Jasper quirks his eyebrow, no doubt wondering if the frustration I'm feeling is directed at him. It's not...really. I turn my attention back to the couple who have brought us all to this point. Bella and Edward. What a sister has to do to keep those two from falling apart. I hope they will one day fully appreciate what I do for them, and take me on a worldwide shopping trip to thank me.

The tension between these two has been building for awhile now. I mean you don't need to be clairvoyant to see what's going on. Bella's under some misguided delusion that she needs to constantly challenge Edward; as if giving an inch will lead to her being Edward's doormat again. At the same time, Edward thinks granting Bella's every wish and giving in to her every whim will make up for his leaving.

For two smart people studying to be lawyers, they sure have a problem talking...to each other, that is.

As the saying goes, "Something's gotta give."

Two strong minded and passionate people can't live together under these circumstances. I'd thought they were finally going to have it out in Miami, but Edward and his absurd self control prevailed.

I'd also hoped that Bella would have told Edward about her nightmare by now. She hasn't been enthusiastic about being changed since she had a very vivid nightmare several months ago.

I knew what was going to happen tonight. I knew everyone would be angry at everyone by evening's end. I could have stopped it as one word from me and Esme would have canceled the dinner entirely. But Bella and Edward have to be pushed to talk. Until they acknowledge they're mad at each other, they are never going to learn to communicate effectively with each other.

My beautiful blond husband kneels down before me, taking my hand and looks at me with intense and pleading eyes. "Darling, I promise that Paige will never go near my Civil War collection if that is what you want." I close my eyes and simply concentrate on how much love I have for this man. I hear his sigh of relief as he feels the love I am emitting.

I'm not mad at Jasper...much. Paige is one of those women whom men gravitate toward. She makes them feel special, and she does it without even trying. I shudder to think what kind of gift she would have if she were ever made immortal.

Of course, I didn't like seeing Jasper taken with her like that even if it was only temporary infatuation. I didn't like seeing Esme upset nor did I like seeing Bella and Edward fighting. But sometimes you have to let unpleasant things happen. I've learned that lesson the hard way.

"Bella, maybe we should wait until we're home to discuss this further," Edward says quietly, drawing my attention away from Jasper.

"As if we really have secrets from them? As if Alice has not already seen this?"

"It's a matter of showing some respect, Bella," Edward says through gritted teeth. I have to say it's a sight- seeing the Edward Cullen trademark control- starting to crack.

"Don't mind us," Emmett says from the couch. Rosalie slaps him upside the head.

"Oww. Great. Edward is fighting with his woman and I get hit." Emmett shakes his head in frustration. "This is ridiculous. If you had just given her some chocolate, this wouldn't be happening."

"For the love of all this is holy, will you shut up about the chocolate!" Edward shouts. "You sound utterly ridiculous!"

"What is this chocolate thing you're talking about?" Bella asks Emmett.

"Stay out of it, Emmett." Rosalie says. "Let Edward screw this up by himself."

Things are going downhill quickly. Jasper moves back and leans against the wall at the bottom of the stairwell, crossing his arms across his chest. I quirk my eyebrow- silently asking him why he isn't emitting calm over everyone. He shrugs his shoulders. "If you're not interfering, neither am I," he says softly.

"Bella, Edward? Why don't we give you some privacy?" Carlisle says diplomatically.

"Carlisle, I'm not going to run you out of your home," Bella states. "There is nothing to discuss. I'm going to continue working at my firm and on this case. And Edward is clearly going to keep working with Paige."Bella practically spits Paige's name in disgust.

"That's unbelievable. You just accused me of trying to control you. Yet, I've never suggested you not work where you want to work. This passive aggressive thing you have going on has to stop."

"What are you talking about, passive aggressive?"

"Your behavior is what I'm talking about Bella. I've been patient, but I am at the proverbial end of my rope."

Esme speaks up. "Perhaps you both need to take a break before something is said you may regret. Edward, why don't you take a walk with your brothers?"

She puts her arm around Bella. "Come with me, dear. Let's get you some dessert and maybe things will be better after Edward returns."

Jasper moves and leans down toward me. He kisses my cheek and whispers goodbye before he stands to join Edward.

"Why don't you join the boys?" Esme directs to Carlisle. He nods quickly in agreement.

I squeal in excitement because I love girl time.

A few minutes later, we are lounging comfortably on my bed. Bella's eating a brownie topped with vanilla ice cream while I paint her toenails. Rosalie and Esme are still giving Paige hell.

"The thought of Edward working with that "man trap" makes me ill," Esme says with a shudder.

Rosalie speaks. "And how dare Edward accuse Bella of being passive aggressive? He's the one planning to withhold sex instead of telling her he's upset about something. That sounds mighty passive aggressive to me!"

The statement gets Bella's attention as she looks up from her food. "What?" she asks.

"What?" Esme echoes, and then clutches her chest in shock.

I speak up following Rosalie's reveal of Edward's intention. "Bella, he's worried about his control. Since Miami, he's afraid he may have a lapse and hurt you."

"What happened in Miami?" Rosalie asks.

Bella blushes. For having changed a great deal, she is still so much like that shy girl Edward brought home so many years ago in Forks.

"Edward and I fought, and then stopped to make love in the middle of the fight," Bella says while staring at her dessert.

"Oh," Rosalie says knowingly.

"He didn't hurt me, but I had some bruises. It was really no big deal. I've had worse." Bella shrugs and resumes eating her dessert.

"Fighting? Bruises? Angry sex? I bet he freaked the fuck out!" Rosalie says.

"You know, that's just it. He calmed down a little too quickly. I should have known he wasn't over it and that he was secretly over-reacting and plotting. It's such an Edward thing to do."

"But he's changed," Esme defends. "I just can't believe he would decide something like this without even discussing it with you. What was he thinking? He has to know a woman needs more than her vibrator."

Bella's eyes widen slightly at Esme's cavalier reference to sex toys. I've become accustomed to it. Esme believes a sexually satisfied woman is a happy woman. Luckily, the women in our home have never had a problem in that department. She's not happy to find out her newest daughter may be having some troubles in that department.

"I had to get rid of my vibrator. Edward doesn't like me using one," Bella says shyly, as she shoves a big bite of brownie into her mouth.

"The one with a hand crank? That's really too bad, dear. It looked like a keeper." Esme says, rubbing Bella's free arm reassuringly. "Maybe you won't need it. Just talk to him Bella. I think Edward will change his mind after he really thinks this through."

"No, he won't," I say, putting the finishing touches on Bella's pedicure. "He's going to avoid sex until he is convinced he will not lose control again. Personally, I think it's his way of punishing himself for getting carried away last time. You two are going to have to work out these issues or Edward will just keep obsessing about it."

I don't even need the assistance of my visions to know that. Edward and Bella are having problems, and his coping mechanism is to fall back into his oldest habit—over-reaction.

Rosalie huffs. "If Emmett ever tried to use sex to control me, I don't know what I would do. But it wouldn't involve a lot of talking, I can tell you that."

"C'mon Rose. Like you don't use sex to control Emmett sometimes," I point out.

Rosalie shrugs. "Well, I'm a woman. We're supposed to do that."

A look of inspiration crosses Rosalie's face.

"Bella! That's it. You should beat Edward to the punch. You should be the one to declare no sex until he gets his head out of his ass."

Bella gives her a doubtful look.

"Believe me. Nothing straightens Emmett out quicker than a sex embargo."

Esme giggles. "Oh, you girls. I'll never understand you withholding sex from your mate. Isn't that hurting yourself just as much as your mate?"

Rosalie smiles wickedly. "Well, that's where your vibrator comes in to play. Besides, it never lasts long. They give in quickly."

Bella speaks up. "I think Rosalie has a good point. Edward is so quick to cut off sex when he is the one controlling the situation. Let's see how much he likes that plan when it's me that says no. Maybe he will finally understand how it feels to be rejected like that."

My visions suddenly shift as Bella has made her decision. Oh, this is going to be good. This is going to be very good…

E/N-Eviekinz, thank you for beta'ing this outtake. Congrats on your new addition! You're my hero.

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