*Disclaimer - Sadly, I own nothing of Twilight with the exception of merchandise, bought and paid for. I do, however, own my love for borrowing the characters and playing with them however I choose to. I thank Stephenie Meyer for creating the TwiWorld and for allowing us to have our fun with it. She owns Twilight, the insanity it created in my mind is my own.

Thank you to my beta-reader, Shug. :)

Whatever Works

Sisterhood

The night stretched on. After Esme was finally asleep, the four of us sat around the kitchen table eating a pizza we'd had delivered and drinking beer. Edward gave Rosalie and Emmett the full run-down on what had transpired with Jessica. Emmett congratulated his friend on managing to hold his temper with Mike. I hadn't even thought about what a big step that was for him, but it was huge. Everything about how Edward was handling this seemed to be in contrast to his actions in the past. There was no denying that he was feeling it, but he was coping in a calm and methodical way that I knew was for his son's benefit.

Alice and Jasper had gone directly to JFK and had managed to book seats on the first plane out to London. They would be arriving before Esme even awoke. Ben arrived before the sun rose, having offered to be their ride from Heathrow. He brought with him a batch of warm cinnamon buns that Maggie had just finished baking. I was near tears once again, amazed by the communal effort of Edward's loved ones. If you were close to Edward at all, you were family.

I made coffee while Rosalie wrapped up the sweet buns and put them in the oven to keep them warm. The guys were having a quiet talk on their own.

"I see Edward didn't bother waiting," Rosalie said with amusement, tipping her head towards the chain hanging around my neck. "I knew he wouldn't."

"You helped him with this, right?" It made sense.

She smiled coyly. "I just picked up his purchase for him. It was his idea, and his selection. Do you like them?"

I beamed, feeling the heat rise through my cheeks and into my ears. "It's so sweet. The matching set. I wouldn't have pictured him wearing something like that."

"Yeah, yeah. Do you like the rings, I mean."

Unsure of what she was referring to, I lifted the tiny rings up for a closer look. I had only seen them in candlelight, and had been paying more attention to the significance of the gift rather than the appearance. Upon closer inspection, I noticed they weren't a perfect replica of each other. The white gold of the rings both had two corded bands etched, separating the hammered edges from the smooth center. And one of the rings had three tiny stones set into the smooth gold. I was in awe.

"So much detail! It's actually really beautiful! How did they do this on such a tiny charm?"

Rosalie laughed, giving me a quick hug. "My brother can get anything he wants done. He wanted this. I think Ben just pulled up. We should be with Edward."

She was right. Alice was hugging Edward so tightly he looked like he was struggling to breathe. Jasper eased her away and stood in front of him in her place. They eyed each other briefly before smiles erupted and they, too, embraced. Alice threw her arms around both men, momentarily giddy. When they separated, her face was all business.

"We're not going to let that bitch do this to you," she promised.

"We've got your back, man," Jasper agreed with a nod.

Emmett threw a wink our way and went to give his greetings. "Got the A-Team here! It's all under control."

~ 0 ~

Esme was elated to have her entire flock in the house at once when she woke. She broke down with Alice, and we all vamoosed to the kitchen to give them some privacy – and dive into Maggie's cinnamon buns. Emmett and Rose took a turn with her when Alice came back out. She went to her brother immediately, and I saw him tense up.

"Edward…" Alice grasped his arm as he reached to pour her a coffee. "Edward?" Her eyes filled with fresh tears, and she threw herself against him, arms clasped tightly around his waist. "I'm so sorry! I'm so, so sorry! I should have backed you… I should have been there for you from the beginning!"

"This is new," Jasper whispered to me at the table. A smirk appeared. "I don't think Alice has ever apologized to him for anything."

"Have you?" I whispered back without thinking. Immediately, I dropped my eyes, completely abashed at asking such a thing.

Jasper took my hand. "I have, darlin'. I have. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things right with all of us again. I love Alice, but I love Edward too, y'know? I love this family. They're like a disease – every one of them – they get under your skin before you even know it, and you're incapable of not loving them."

I smiled affectionately at him, recalling Emily saying practically the same thing so many months earlier. "I hear you on that one." We both turned to look at our mates – siblings, at long last, coming together.

Edward broke apart from their embrace first, wiping at his own eyes and then his sister's cheeks. He kissed her forehead and led her over to join us at the table.

Jasper threw her a wink before turning to Edward. "What do you need us to do?"

Edward frowned briefly before laughing softly. "I don't even know! It was just instinct to call you. Um…"

"Alice is done for the semester. I've taken a leave from work. We plan to stay through the holidays, but we can stay just as long as you want us to. Or just fuck off, if we're in the way." Everyone chuckled at his light-hearted statement.

"I could actually really use a break from Mum right now," Edward said quietly. He glanced at Alice for a reaction. "I'm really trying not to be pissy with her. It's quite difficult at the moment."

Releasing her hands from Jasper's, she turned to her brother. "She told me everything. I think it's everything. I can't believe –"

Edward cut her off with a shake of his head. "Don't you take on my anger, pipsqueak. She needs support. She's still mourning for Dad. I have matured enough to see that… and the last thing I want is to hurt her even more. The problem is I'm in an entirely new phase in my life, and I haven't figured out how to move forward as I'd like to and still manage Mum. This…" Edward squeezed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I can deal with all the deception. I will deal with it and get over it. It's what Dad would have wanted me to do. What's killing me right now is that she went ahead and did the one thing I specifically asked her not to – she involved Bella in our mess. My priority this moment is to make a life with her and Evan."

"Edward, I'm fine!" I insisted. "No damage done to me, really –"

He shook his head again, more firmly. "She never should have confided those things to you. It's not that I don't want you to know – it's that you shouldn't have had to keep that in. I want us sharing everything. No secrets. Ever. I've had enough of that shit to last a lifetime."

"Five lifetimes," Jasper interjected.

"No," Alice disagreed. "Just one really fucked up one. Edward, Jazz and I can take Mum to the old house, if that would help. She can manage there now, right?" Alice directed that question at me.

"I can't honestly say. I haven't seen the house."

Alice shot her brother a look. "Don't you take her anywhere? How can you not have shown her where we grew up? What is wrong with you?"

Edward took my hand as he shrugged in response. "It's your house, Al."

Rolling her eyes dramatically, she swatted him. "It's our house."

"Noooo," Edward enunciated carefully. "It's yours, Alice. We covered this. It's not part of Dad's estate. It's all yours."

I watched Jasper quietly watching Alice. He then leaned in to speak softly to her. "Don't you think it's time to clear the air, darlin'?"

Her head was bowed, and for a moment it appeared that she wasn't going to respond. When she looked up, her eyes were tearful and huge. "I never meant for it to cost you anything, Edward. I just wished you had spoken to me before you put the house on the market."

"It's fine," Edward replied, stoic. "As you've pointed out numerous times, I have more than enough."

A tiny sob escaped, and Alice covered her face. Emmett shifted uncomfortably in his seat next to Rose, who simply stared at her, as if trying to determine an ulterior motive. Jasper wrapped an arm around her in support.

"We didn't know that you were the one paying for Alice's tuition. Not until Esme told us when we visited you. We always thought it was Carlisle."

Edward nodded at his friend. "As was intended. Look, I'm not going to sit here and act like every fucked up thing between us over these past years is your and Alice's fault. I was a stubborn asshole, too. I hated the whole thing. And I hated myself for the way I handled it. But know this – I would never see either of you destitute. Jazz, you deserve just as much as I got out of Shadowplay –"

"Oh, hell no! Don't curse me with your life, mate!"

Everyone let out a chuckle, including Alice, who squeaked out a tiny, "Thank you."

"This should have all been said back in LA, but Alice was concerned it would ruin what you and I had going," Jasper continued on her behalf. "She loves that you bought the house for her, but honestly, she'd rather have Evan benefit. That was why she didn't do her typical Alice jumping act when you handed her the papers."

"I know I've been horrible to you, Edward. I know I've been a complete bitch and a spoilt little brat. I was jealous that you had those last years close to Dad –"

"Al –" Edward reached for her, but she held up her hand.

"No, let me finish. I felt like I was exiled. Jazz and I have talked a lot since we stayed with you… I see that it was our own decision. You didn't make us move across the country. I also know that I put a lot of pressure on you, and I was wrong to do that."

Edward huffed in agreement. Rosalie and I exchanged a smile, happy that a bit of his old self was coming through.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that… I dunno… I think I somehow lost 'you.' I somehow forgot that, underneath all the stupid things you do and the fucked up life you lead, you're still you. You're still the big brother who takes care of me, no matter what. I'm sorry that I didn't see that you'd do that for Evan. And make things right with Maggie in your own way. I lost my best friend out of that ordeal, too." She paused, squeezing her eyes closed. "Sorry. We should be done with any bitterness about that now. We should move forward. I doubted you, and I had no right. No reason. I'm so sorry, Edward. So sorry."

The siblings embraced as Alice broke down. I wished Esme could see them. I hated her deception with Edward, but just thinking of how much this would mean to her made my heart ache.

"Seems like we've both done some growing up," Edward teased as he held her.

"It's what Dad would have wanted," she whispered. "He was proud of you, you know? Do you know that, Edward? And he would be so proud of you now."

Emmett cleared his throat, abruptly standing. "I think we've had enough to drink. We'll all be fucking bawling if this keeps up. Tea?"

Laughing and wiping at our own tears, Rosalie and I got up to help him with the tea.

~ 0 ~

Although Edward was reluctant to have me tend to Esme at this point, I insisted. We had all made mistakes, and it wasn't my place to judge. I doubted that our entire relationship had been an act, and I had grown to love the woman I knew her to be before all her confessions. She was still in a fragile state, and I didn't want this to set her back. She quietly accepted my help with bathing and my company while she picked at one of Maggie's cinnamon buns.

When I left to take her dishes to the kitchen, Alice pounced.

"I spoke to Edward, but he said I should ask you."

I lifted an eyebrow in apprehensive interest. "Ask me what?"

"I'm going to the old house. To get things ready. I'd really like it if you would come with me. You could tell me how to take care of Mum. Show me what we'd need to change for her. It would help a lot. If you don't feel comfortable with that, I'll understand."

She appeared meek and sincere. I softened my gaze into a tight smile. "I'll go."

"What if the three of us went?" Rose spoke from the doorway. "Give the guys some time to themselves while Esme's napping, and we can have girl time."

~ 0 ~

"Edward asked you to come with us, didn't he?" I whispered to Rose after Alice had given us the grand tour. She was occupied with her memories in her dad's study, so Rosalie and I were on our own in the kitchen.

She winked at me. "I would have offered anyway. I think the pipsqueak is for real, but I'm not leaving you on your own with her. Edward's my little brother, and it's my job to look out for him."

I smiled in appreciation. "How well do you know Alice? Did you spend a lot of time with her before the Jasper thing?"

"Nah. We've only met a few times. I don't think she cared for me much in the beginning. She wasn't around when I'd visit with Esme and Carlisle in LA. And she was too wrapped up in her own grief to even notice I was at the funeral." Rose shrugged like she couldn't give a shit what Alice thought of her. I'd have to figure out how to do that. Honestly, I still cared. I wanted both of Edward's sisters to like me.

We were busy cleaning when Alice re-joined us. "Look what I found! I think you'll both get a kick out of these." She was grinning from ear to ear when she produced a couple of framed photos.

"Is that Edward?" Rosalie gushed as she took one. "Oh my god! He looks so much like Evan!"

I stood at her side to take a look. Minus Evan's red hair, he did. "Wow. His hair isn't messy!"

Alice snickered. "Dad used to chase him with a comb. I remember that. But this was taken before I was even born. He had the same hair in this one though – Dad's work." She held out a school photo of an older Edward, probably nine or ten.

"Awwwww!" Rosalie and I both cooed over this one. He was in a school uniform.

"Look at the little shorts!"

"He had knobby knees!"

"And a scowl. He hated that haircut!"

Sharing a laugh with the girls felt great. It made me relax enough to leave Rosalie's side and the promise of her protection. My guard was completely left down when Alice approached me as I made the bed in a lower level room for Esme.

"She'll be all right in here, you think?"

I nodded with certainty. "She'll be fine. She's much more independent than you probably realize. Today, she's dealing with a lot emotionally. Your mother's a very strong woman."

"She's had to be," Alice acknowledged as she fussed over a pillow sham. Her fidgeting started to make me nervous. "Bella, I wanted to talk to you. I hope you'll hear me out, even though I don't expect you to understand."

I took a seat on the edge of the bed and waited. I'd hear her out. Whatever it was she had to say. But I did wonder if Rosalie was nearby in case she had to rescue me.

"I suppose it's best if we all come completely clean. Get it all out now so we can move on however we're going to." She stood awkwardly on the other side of the bed. "I feel really horrible about this, but I'm the one who suggested to Maggie that she pay Edward a visit."

I let out a sigh. That, I could deal with. I knew Alice wanted her brother to be with Maggie and Evan. It made sense.

"I know that hurt you. It caused problems that you and Edward never should have had. I didn't know he was serious about you. I thought he was pulling another stunt like he did with Maggie… you know, use whoever's close by." She buried her face momentarily, cringing when she finally looked over at me. "She told me what happened… afterwards. She didn't really think I was serious about her and Edward belonging together. She loves Ben. She only went to Edward to discuss Evan, but it looked really bad. I know that. Now. I'm sorry, Bella. Maggie told me that he'd been talking about you with her. That's when I knew you weren't another plaything. It's just a messy situation – Mum needed you."

"I know," I said in quiet shame. "I never meant to fall in love with Edward. I was there for your mother."

"She thinks the world of you, Bella. I was really looking forward to meeting you, and getting to know you. When I saw my brother flirting with you all I saw was Maggie. I didn't want you to end up getting hurt the same way."

I wished Rose and her intense way of discriminating honesty was in the room. "Honestly, it was the secrecy that did the damage. I understand why Edward kept Evan from me – he had to be certain about me… about us – before he could let me into Evan's life. But I don't completely understand how the people who knew everything, and loved Edward, could do so many deceitful things behind his back." There. It was out.

Alice nodded her understanding, her eyes turned downward. "I can blame some of my actions on immaturity. The rest was simply being a jealous cow."

"Do I hear moo-ing?" My blonde heroine appeared out of nowhere.

Alice smirked at her. "Moo."

I held my hand out for Rose to come join me on the bed. Alice took a seat, as well, on the other side.

"I've always been jealous of anyone who captured my brother's attention. As much as I say I was looking out for my friend who got hurt, I was jealous of Maggie, too. He preferred spending time with her when we visited that spring break. I wanted him for myself, but he wanted her. It pissed me off when I found out it was for sex. He could have had anyone. Anytime. I was only there for a month. I missed him so much." She looked at us sheepishly. "Hooking up with his best friend was a very childish ploy to get back at him for ignoring me. I had no idea I'd actually fall in love with Jasper."

"That, I think we can both understand," Rosalie said with a grin as I nodded.

"It came back when I saw how close he was with you, Bella. I didn't know if he was acting for me, using you, or… what. Whatever it was, I only saw that someone else had his attention, and it appeared his affection as well. And you –" Alice turned her big eyes on Rosalie. "God, I hated you in the beginning. I mean, who the hell were you to step in and claim Edward? I was his sister. Suddenly, you were more important to him. That hurt like hell."

I froze, waiting for Rose to unleash her wrath. Instead, she surprised the hell out of me and scampered across the bed to sit in front of Alice. She held both of her tiny hands in her own as she addressed her. "Honey, no one – I mean, no one – could ever take the place of you in Edward's heart. He adores you. He would turn his back on his best friend for you… wait, he did that!" She snickered at her own joke as she tilted Alice's chin up. "He adores you. You're his baby sister. Always. I will never tread on that. You own that spot. But you don't have exclusive rights to love him. I love my brother, too. The same way he looks out for you, I'll look out for him. And for what it's worth, I envy you, too. You've had two terrific parents and you had Edward. I share an asshole of a parent with him, and my mom spent years trying to keep said asshole around rather than making a good life for the two of us without him. My life would have been all the better if I'd had Edward with me growing up. Someone who gave a shit."

Alice nodded with fresh tears flowing down her cheeks. "I see that. You've been the sister he's needed all these years while I was being a stupid cow."

"Moo."

I swatted Rosalie playfully as she taunted her. Rose winked at me as she embraced Alice.

"I thought he was a fan when he showed up at my door," Rosalie told us with a snicker. "'Cause I'm that egotistical."

"You totally sound like Edward!" Alice laughed, and I had to agree.

"I know. I stole that from him. No, really, I didn't know who the hell he was, or why my mother would direct him to me. But then he's standing there with this shy grin-half-smirk and says, 'Your mom told me you always wanted a brother. I'm Edward. Here I am.' Best fucking day of my life, besides the day Em told me he loves me. But see? Even that's a result of Edward coming to me. I never would have met Emmett. I never would have met Bella. Or you, or Esme. I'd never have known Carlisle. Or Emily… Sue… Jake… it goes on. I thank God every day for sending me a brother. But he's been thankful for you your entire life, Alice. It's hurt him, being apart from you."

I felt like an intruder. But I also felt like squeezing the heck out of Rosalie. These were all things Alice needed to hear. She had been a cow, but Edward still loved her. All of it seemed to be sinking in.

"Can I tell you something else?" Rose asked tentatively.

"Please!" Alice nodded with a loud sniffle. "I just want my family back!"

"What you did when you met Evan – going straight to Edward, I mean – it meant the world to him. How much more time would he have lost with his son if you hadn't told him? He may not be right for Maggie, but he loves that little boy with all his heart. And the thing with Edward is, his heart is expandable. He didn't love you less when we found each other. He's given Bella his heart too, but that hasn't taken anything away from any of us. You've never lost him, Alice. But you do have to share him."

"I may still moo on occasion, just saying." Alice gave a shy smile at Rosalie. "But I'm so glad you told me all of this. I wish I hadn't been so stupid all these years."

Rosalie waved her off. "Can't change the past, sweetums. Don't stress. Did you see the bling our brother gifted?"

Alice released her grip on Rosalie, curling her legs up so we sat in a circle facing each other on the bed. She reached immediately to examine my necklace. With a little shriek, she grinned at Rose. "I didn't get a close enough look at Edward's! Is this what I think it is?"

Rosalie nodded, giggling along with Alice. I felt totally left out of the sisterhood.

"What?" I asked bluntly. "What am I missing?"

The two girls looked at each other with a smirk.

"God, he hasn't shown you anything, has he?" Alice bounded off the bed, and I heard her footsteps pounding up the stairs. She returned with a small book.

I grinned, taking the copy of Shadowplay that she held in her hand. My fingers traced over the author's name: Edward A. Cullen. "Yes! I've been wanting to read this! But what does it have to do with my necklace?"

Beaming, Alice flipped the book over in my hands. The drawing on the back cover was two shadowed hands, a male and female hand. My eyes were drawn to the slim bands on their ring fingers, and I gasped, drawing my tiny replicas up to compare them.

The girls giggled as my evident shock grew. "Is this… are these…?"

They nodded.

"Edward took a picture of the cover, enlarged it and sent it to me to see if I thought they could be replicated. I found a jeweller in Germany who did amazing freestyle carvings and took Edward to him."

"Oh my god! You're his Shadow, Bella!" Alice squealed with delight.

Rosalie nodded at me with a huge grin. "He knew that when you never held him back from Ev. Even before you knew he existed, you supported Edward with what he had to do. You're his Shadow."

"What…? I don't understand…"

"Bella, Edward's saying that you're The One. In his story, his Shadow – the one only he could see – was his soul mate. She existed for him, and afterwards, he couldn't exist without her."

I chuckled nervously. "It was just a story, Alice. He even said it was rubbish –"

Her eyes were so wide they appeared to take up half her face as she shook her head in denial. "No. You can tell it was his true feelings. He brushes it off because he's a stupid boy."

"Romantic shit. Ugh!" Rosalie laughed. "You are The One, baby! He's finally embracing his romantic side."

For the first time in years, I squealed and giggled with girlfriends. Not since Dad had been shot had I had close friends to share joys or losses with. I could feel something with these girls. It was all open and raw and so very real to me. And, like Rosalie, I had Edward to thank for this. I felt united and empowered. And above all, I felt like we were all going to get Edward safely through this. All of us protecting his son.

A/N ~ Last chapter is coming next. I'm nervous. I dislike saying goodbye. :( But I do like knowing your reactions. :) Thanks for reading. XX ~ SR