A/N: I know, I know. It's been a long time and this time I have no excuse besides work. It's been crazy and u've been tired. Plus were moving in a month so that's been time consuming. I haven't even had time to write anything but finially sat down yesterday and finished this chapter. I hope it hasn't been to long and you enjoy it. And just because it's been so long I'll put a little excerpt of the last chapter just you can know where things left off. Here goes!

Last Chapter-

"Are you okay?" He asked. In the back of my mind I could hear Alice ordering her size and mine.

"No," I sighed. And snatched my arm away from her. I wasn't going to run because it would do nothing but tire me out. She would catch me and we'd do the whole thing over again.

"But she'll survive." Alice stated poking her head around me. I was actually really upset at her. She always did this. Always pushed me when she knew how much I didn't want to do something. It was like I had no choose in the matter. To her I probably didn't.

"Now shoo," She pushed him away.

"Okay, okay," He groaned. He gave me one last, 'I'm sorry, but I can't help you' glance. I shrugged. I knew that there was nothing he could do.

"Here," she dropped a pair of heavy boots in my arms and walked off. I let out a loud breathe before I took a deep one in and followed her.

Some how my mood had changed from the time I was dragged out of the car to now, where I sat on a bench lacing up the heavy tan skates. I enjoyed watching others skate, just as I enjoyed watching Esme and Carlisle circle the large ring as if they were champion gold medalist. I, personally had stayed away from it because I knew that I would never be good at it, and it would make me not only a danger to myself but to everyone around me. It was like handing a psycho killer a steel blade, except I wasn't a psycho or a killer. I sighed as I pulled the knot tightly and sat back. Alice had already pulled hers on and had forgotten all about me. In fact now would be the prefect time to slip way, return the skates and disappear for the rest of the night.

But I wanted to skate. I wanted to glide across the atleast try. Deep down, after watching my mother and Phil all these years, I realized that I wanted to do it too. Of course I wouldn't ask for the impossible. I completely understood what I would look like once I got to my feet and how sore my ass would be before I left here tonight but for some reason it wasn't enough to keep me seated. I stood and immediately losing my balance was back on my bottom before anyone realized I had even gotten to my feet. Thank god no one was pay any attention to me.

After clearing my mind,with more determination, my mother called it stubbornness I tired again this time able to keep for falling back. Still my ankle's buckled and bent in towards each other. I knew in order to make this work I would have to keep my ankles straight. So after pushing them apart I took one shaky step forward. This was harder than walking in five inch heels. However I continued to step forward until I fell against the wall that encircled the rink.

It was chilly out, definitely and I could see the small cloud of my breathe as I panted. I was in my own world, no one saw me and more importantly I saw no one. Ready to give it a try after resting for a few moments, still holding unto the waist high wall I stepped into the ice.

Chapter Twenty Four

I used my arms to help me keep my balance and surprisingly enough I wasn't flaring around yet though I was pretty confident that it was coming. I blocked out the laughing children as they zoomed past me, almost using the breeze to push my back and front. I managed to stay on my feet.

As I shuffled slowly along I found my self smiling. I was having more fun than I thought I'd have. I knew how pathetic I looked but I somehow I didn't really care. I was determined at least to stop wobbling with every step.

However, maybe I shouldn't have been so hasty because as soon as I found myself trying to move along faster, my ankles began to tremble and I leaned forward. Except naturally my body tried to balance itself out by throwing me back wards, right into some one.

"Wow, Bella," I heard. "Are you okay." It was Edward. He looked greatly amused. I wasn't surprised.

"Sorry," I stated holding unto the wall a little tighter trying to get my feet back under me. My skin burn even under all my lays where he touched me.

"Did Alice put you up to this," He asked finally letting my go. I was more relieved that he glided back a few feet.

"No, I'm just" At this point I wasn't sure what I was doing. Was I really hoping to teach myself to skate?

"trying to skate." I finished with a hesitant laugh.

"More like trying not to fall," He grinned. I flashed him a glare from beneath my bangs. He just laughed as he skated around me gracefully. I knew he was doing it to show off.

"You know if you want," He moved in a small circle as I moved slowly against the wall. "I could teach you, have you skating circles around these folks." He gestured to the natives flying by us. Carlisle and Esme passed us, too caught up in there own world to notice us though.

"No thanks," I stated. If I was going to look like a fool, I would rather do it on my own. I wanted to stay in my own world.

"It's not a prob.."

"It's okay really,"

"Oh come on," he smiled at me, his head tilted slightly to the side. He took my breathe away and dazzled me at the same time. "What do you say?" There was no way I could say no so I nodded my head. His grin expanded and he moved to me, taking my hand to pulled me.

"WHA- What are you doing?" I voiced, using my free hand to latch onto the wall.

"Teaching you how to skate." He continued to pull, and I felt my hand slipping. I knew what was coming next because I felt the tension in my body like the tension of a rubber band being stretched beyond it's limit.

"Come on, Bella," He laughed.

"Stop pulling." I whined. He only laughed. But soon enough I was smiling too as he pulled me along slowly.

"Don't let me fall," I begged. He stopped abruptly, so much so that I slid straight into him. He was a lot sturdier than I remembered. I turned my head up.

"I would never let you fall," I wasn't sure why I believed him so much, maybe it because of the deep conviction I heard in his voice and the truth behind his clear green eyes. I knew that I could trust him. I nodded silently, taking the hand that he offered. The problem though was could I trust myself.

Alice's POV( Yeah I know, never had one of these. It's a gift for being patient.)

I stood back and watched them. If only they knew how hard I had worked to get them to this point. The sleepless, not to mention the sex less nights I had endured to make sure this happened. I deserved many thanks when this was all over and I planned to receive them all. Still it was oddly more satisfying seeing them now. I smiled to myself as I pictured the future I had laid out for them.

"Honestly you scare me sometimes," Jasper stated from beside me. His words didn't hurt me, nor were they foreign to me. Sometimes I scared myself. Actually I had, when I first met Bella. I knew somehow that we would be great friends as we were and that the simple yet greatly complex women Bella was would be prefect for my lonely brother. I began to plan then. I planned everything, with the help of a few very well-paid people, from Bella's missed Interview up until tonight and beyond. Getting Bella a job and having her meet Edward was indeed killing two birds with one stone. And it turned out to be the greatest idea that I had ever had. I saw myself as a genius after that.

I perked up then. Oh how I loved it when my excellent arrangements worked out better than planned.

"I know," I answered getting to my feet. I had been watching since Bella had decided to go off on her own. The little liar truly thought she could fool me into thinking that she honestly didn't want to skate. The thing was that she couldn't. But that was where my brother and my planning came in.

"But I'm not done yet," I stated more to myself than anything. Jasper didn't understand my vision the way I did.

"Alice I think they can handle it from here," he inserted. I glanced up at him. See, he just didn't get it. Of course they could but it wasn't about that. It was about me providing the opportunity for Bella to see Edward as more than her just her Boss and as my brother and to have Edward finally be happy. I was more than aware of how Edward felt about my friend. It was written all over his face. In the way he looked at her, like she was his to protect. Now if only Bella could get pass herself and allow herself to be 'worthy' of him. I turned back to the couple. They really did look great together and it warmed my heart, not an easy thing to do, when I looked at them.

"I'm sure you're right," I smirked.

"You're not going to let this go, are you?" He sighed giving up all hope.

I thought about it for a moment, letting the thought of letting the two continue this without my help run through my mind. It didn't last long.

"Nope," I popped the 'P'. I chuckled to him as I pushed off into the ring, pulling him behind me.

*Alice's POV Over*

My eyes opened. It was dark in the room, except for the faint bluish grey light coming in between the shades. I had woken up from another dream. My dreams had always been rather vivid and usually woke me, but this dream wasn't necessarily a bad one, just confusing. It wasn't the first time I had dreamt of Edward but I was noticing that my dreams of him were becoming more frequent. I got out of bed and opened my door. The entire house was quiet so I figured it was quite late. I needed a drink of water, so I was heading to the kitchen when I heard the low sound of a piano. The melody was beautiful yet sad in some way. Nothing I had heard before. I wasn't exactly dressed correctly to be wondering around the house, in a tank and shorts but I couldn't help myself as I followed the soft sound to a door that was slightly open. I peeked into the room and realized that it was the music room Edward had shown me earlier. Pushing open the door a little more I saw the piano where the melody was coming from and Edward seated at the instrument. It was then I realized that it was Edward who was playing.

With out understanding fully I closed the door behind me. The sound caused Edward to look up at me.

"Bella," he stopped playing.

"Don't stop," I asked. His lips pulled up to one side to show me my favorite smile as he began to play again.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" he asked. I shook my head before walking over to him. He moved over so that I could sit next to him.

"I didn't know you played the piano?" I spoke honestly.

"Not many people do," He answered. I was glad that I was getting to know him, the way that others didn't. I was seeing the Edward that not many people saw. I watched and listened in amazement as his hands trailed over the keys. The level was his skills was higher than anyone I knew, even my mother who wasn't bad too begin with. I believed it was because he a natural and was prefect at anything he did.

I felt at peace as I watched him, yet at the same time felt like I was going to burst out of my skin. The lights were dim in the room, as if that only litlle came from a single candle though there was none. I listened to him play a few songs, each more beautiful than the last. Pure genius I thought.

In my mind I didn't quite understand how I'd gotten here. How was it that I was seated next to, not just Edward Cullen but such an amazing person? And what I understood even less was why this felt so natural. Like right now, here was were I was suppose to be. Like I had always been here and we'd always been this way.

His hands began to slow and the piece was coming a close. I had to admit it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever heard. The composer mist have been greatly inspired to write it.

"So what do you think," Edward asked his voice low and slightly more husky than usual. It was sexy yet pure. If only the world could see this side of Edward.

"I like it," I stated. "I like it a lot," I admitted. I could still hear the low melody of the song in my head.

"Did you compose it?" I asked just out of curiosity but wasn't surprised when he smiled and nodded. He began to play a few estranged chords, not a complete piece more like one in the making.

Unconsciously I lifted my hands and pressed them lightly to a few keys. It was like seeing Dejavu, hearing the sound from my childhood piano lessons. I'd taken them for a few weeks but shortly there after decided the piano wasn't for me. It apparently still wasn't.

Now that I sat here and thought about how it was that I had gotten here, there had always been something that I'd wanted to ask Edward. I'd asked him before but the answer he'd given had never satisfied me. Shuffling through my childhood memories I tried to find what little I remembered of the grand instrument.

"Why did you hire me?" I asked. I hoped it wouldn't ruin the mood so instead of glancing over at him, I concentrated on the white and black keys.

"I mean, I had very little experience and absolutely no corporate know how." It was true. Even though I caught unto my job pretty quickly, no one would have known that it would have turned out so. So why did he choose me?

"Do you really want to know why," He asked. I nodded without looking at him.

"The truth is I have no idea. It didn't take me long to make the decision. All I can remember is wanting to see how it would turn out. You've fascinated me from beginning. I don't know what it is about you," I listened silently as I felt like my chest was going to burst into pieces. When I asked for an answer, this was most certainly not what I thought I had coming. Something more of the lines like, "You were the best I could find" or "No one else applied." With those answers things would have made sense however I couldn't make meaning of what he meant by me fascinating him. I was less fascinating person I knew.

He continued. "You didn't fit at all. I knew that the moment I saw you but I couldn't stop thinking about you, mainly because you were the first person to kick a stapler at my head," he chuckled and I shuddered at the memory.

"When I saw you the next day I knew I'd made the right choice."

Somehow in that very moment I felt something spark between us and as I listened and watched his hands move gracefully over the keys I began to fall in love with him.

We left the Cullen's home the following evening and after Edward dropped me off at my place, things returned to normal. I had twenty six messages on my answering system and I was pretty confident that most, if not all of them would be from my mother. I skipped the task, heading straight for the showers. I had work in the morning and I was tired. The skating had worn my out, not to mention I had finally slipped back into the guestroom only moments before the sun rose over the mountain peak. But it had been worth it.

Early Monday morning I rose excited to get to work. Well excited to see Edward. I knew I shouldn't have been, after all nothing had really changed but I just had to see him. Just to assure myself that this weekend had happened. That it hadn't all been a crazy dream. I planned for a simple day, black suit, grey satin top with matching pumps. I evenpulled my bangs to one side and pulled a messy bun to other, something I had seen in one of Alice's magazines' over the weekend. Surprisingly it worked for me. And every thing had be going great until I stepped off the elevator and Jessica was standing there. She didn't look happy, not that she ever did to see me. Except for the short time that Mike wasn't speaking to me. I took a breath and decided to ignore her as much as possible. There could only be reason why she was here. She opened her mouth to say something as I walked around her to the back side of my desk, but cat caught her tongue for some reason.

I sat down and placed my purse on the desk.

"Is it true," she finally voiced. I bent over to booth my computer.

"Is what true," I acting as nonchantly as I could.

"That you went to Edwards house for Thanksgiving," She snapped very unpleased that I was hardly paying her any mind.

Serves her right because what I did or where I went this weekend was of none of her concern.

I sighed as I sat up. "Does it matter?" To be honest this little game of ours was getting old. I couldn't be seen walking in the same hall as Edward before one of them, Lauren or Jessica were at my throat. I got it. Edward way to good for the likes of me.

"Yes!" She slammed against my desk, and I jerked back.

"How is it that you were at Edwards house this weekend? And since when did you become so close. Are sleeping with him?" Jessica growled. I gasped.

Had those word just come out of her mouth? The look on her face told me that they had. I knew that what's they thought but I never expected her to confront me about it. It was totally ridiculous that they even thought that. Funny almost. I brust out into a fit of chuckles from the sheer stupidity of her claim. This made her even angryier.

"What's so funny? I know you're sleeping with him. Why else would he have taken you with him?" She crossed her arms over her chest and stared down her pointy nose at me as if she'd made some remarkable descovery. I couldn't help but laugh at her allegation. Jessica was a pretty girl but she could she hear herself. If only she know how far from the truth she really was then maybe she'd find it funny too.

She was still glaring pins and needles when my laughter finally died down and I sighed. "I'm not sleeping with him, okay." I stood. "And if that's what you think is going on then you know nothing about Mr. Cullen." I picked up a stack of paper that were waiting to be filed and straightened them. " And certainly nothing about me," I voiced. She eyed me for a moment, her eyes narrow with hate.

"They why else were you at his house this weekend?"

"She was invited," we both turned to the voice and found Edward standing there. I couldn't help but smile. I shouldn't have been so happy to see him with so many rumors going around but I couldn't stop myself. I noticed he wasn't wearing his usual suit and tie, but a regular white botton up shirt that wasn't buttoned all the way and black slacks. Pretty casual if you asked me but he owned the place so he could dress however he wanted. My heart did a couple flips when his gaze caught mine and he smiled. That shouldn't have happened either. Then he turned back to Jessica, who was blushing from head to toe having been caught questioning me over such a matter. She was all green and her jealously was showing.

"The truth of the matter, not that I believe Bella owes you any explanation is that my sister happens to be a friend of Bella's. It was her who invited Bella to our home this weekend. Does that make it clear to you,"

Jessica couldn't even make eye contact but who could blame her even though I was strongly fighting the urge to laugh for my seat.

"If you have any problem with that, then take it up with my sister. I'm sure she'll be estatic to meet you." Jessica only nodded and quickly made her escape. I had a sigh of relief and turned back to Edward.

"What a way to start the morning," He mummbled before his eyes met mine. "Good morning," he stated with another smile.

"Good Morning Mr. Cullen." I returned his smile.

"If I had known it would have cause this amount of trouble I was would have never let you come with us," I didn't want to hear that.

"It's nothing besides I'm really happy that I got to meet your family." It was then I glanced at the clock. I hadn't even realized how early it was. I hadn't even gotten around to getting his coffee together.

"By the way why are you here so early?" I asked getting to my feet, following him to his office. He dropped his things on his desk. I made my way the kitchenette area to get his morning pick me up started.

"Because I wasn't allowed to make so much as a busniess call this weekend, much less get any work done so I have a lot of things to catch up on." He stated. I could hear him booting his computer as I began heating the water. Yeah I understood what he meant. There was a nice little stack of documents that needed to be reviewed. I concentrated on making him his wake up call, as he shuffled around his office. I smiled as I looked back on the memory of him standing in his kitchen wearing his night clothes.

"Do you enjoy making my coffee that much," he stated looking pleased as I set the hot cup down in front of him. I hadn't even realized I'd crossed the room.

I couldn't even answer, because my face was already red. I just exited as fast as I could. I told myself that it was because I had so much work to do but I heard Edward laugh to himself as I closed the door behind me.

"Hello," I heard and I literally jumped out of my skin as I turned and caught sight of Angela standing at my desk with an enormous grin on her face. Breathing heavily against Mr. Cullen's door, hand over my heart as if to protect it, I knew that her smile could only mean one thing.

"Okay, Tell me everything!"

THE END...OF CH 24! Hope you liked it.