No beta…so pardon any mistakes. But it's only been a week so…

Chapter 10:

Bella stood before the mirror in her bedroom on Meyer Lane admiring the satin damask dress Alice had placed in her wardrobe. The dark blue material with ivory trim accentuated her fair skin and the few rosettes down the center seam were feminine without being too much so. The only issue she had with the entire outfit was how the skirt poofed out just above her knees and no matter how many times she tugged and pulled to get it to lay flat, it still billowed out.

"It was called a bowling pin skirt for a reason," Emmett said, appearing at the door behind her. He had a strange look on his face as he watched her give one last attempt at adjusting her skirts before she huffed in frustration.

"Never took you as one who knew fashion," she said with a smile.

"Mama had one a lot like that. She wore it to church meetings and dances. It was her best dress."

Emmett's voice carried a touch of wistfulness as it trailed off. It was almost the same as the tone Edward had when he occasionally mentioned wishing he could have met Bella during his time. Bella looked up into the mirror at Emmett with deep concern marring her features.

"I haven't thought about her in a long time, is all," he finally said, straightening up and pulling on his collar with a dimply grin.

"Edward's not much older than you, is he? Some of this is familiar?" Bella reached for a flat brimmed straw hat with a ribbon that matched her dress and carefully pinned it over her bun.

"As familiar as it can be. After that bear got ahold of me, I woke up to the eyes of an angel watching me and all else burned away."

He tugged further on the sleeves of his jacket that were just a touch too short before continuing. Alice knew the owner of the town's garage and stable would not have the same wardrobe a lawyer would have and planned accordingly.

"And the family of a Chicago lawyer is quite a world away from Gatlinburg railroad workers. But no worries. Edward's never made me feel small."

Bella snorted as she tried to hold back a laugh.

"I'm not sure The Rock could make you feel small, Em," she giggled before grabbing her reticule.

"The Rock only wishes he were me," he replied with an equally large smile, flexing his biceps. "Now let's go get you some courtin'. But no funny stuff. I'm here to ensure you two are ab-so-lutely proper."

"Now I am scared."

Emmett's face lit up like a Christmas tree as he waggled his brows before offering his arm and escorting the fair Miss Swan to the home of Elizabeth and Edward Masen.

"Alice gave me the 411 on how tonight's date is going to go down so don't you worry," Emmett said in a low voice as the two made their way through town.

"L's pregnant and unintentionally screws with Edward's mind. His mother gets brought back to life temporarily. Alice's ability to foretell the future is fubared while L is around, and you are my chaperone for a date with Edward, and I'm not supposed to worry?" Bella asked with one perfectly tapered brow raised.

"We gots it under controls!"

"I'm pretty sure that was not how people talked in 1918."

"Better than that 'pip pip cheerio' stuff we had to do for your experience. Queen's English my rump."

Bella nearly tripped over her own feet as she tried to hold back her laughter, earning a broad smile from Emmett.

A few minutes later, the two climbed the steps of the Masen home, completely composed.

Zafrina met them at the door with a quick roll of the eyes.

"Master Edward has been pacing for the last hour. I do believe Mrs. Masen is about ready to toss him across the room," she said before straightening up and silently offering to take their hats.

Emmett pulled out two calling cards and handed them to her but not before seeing a flurry of auburn as someone was tugged back into the parlor.

"Anxious much?" he murmured as Bella watched Zafrina place the cards on a small silver tray and enter the other room.

"I think it's kind of sweet," Bella whispered in reply, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Don't tell me you're turning all girly over this sensitive guy stuff."

"Every girl likes to be courted, Emmett."

"Thank God, Rosie isn't every girl."

"And what marriage are the two of you up to now?"

"Touché."

"Please follow me," Zafrina gently interrupted before guiding the two of them into the parlor.

Bella recognized the room from her prior visit but noticed a few pieces of furniture had been rearranged.

"Miss Swan," Elizabeth said warmly, rising from a red velvet armchair. She extended a hand in greeting. "So glad you could come this evening. And Mr. McCarty, so good to see you again."

As greetings were exchanged, Edward cautiously approached Bella. He was not sure how to act toward her. Decorum stated he should behave one way while a deep inner part of him wanted to do something much, much more.

"Mr. Masen," Bella said softly, a warm smile gracing her lips. She extended one hand in greeting.

"Miss Swan," he replied in much the same tone, taking her hand and gently bussing her fingertips.

The two stood in silence, staring at each other while Zafrina bustled out of the room and returned with a small serving tray and Elizabeth and Emmett talked about some happening down off the square. It was all background noise that the young couple paid little attention to, lost in their own world.

"Are you two going to stare at each other all night?" Emmett said suddenly, causing both Bella and Edward to jump and take a step back.

"Now, Mr. McCarty," Elizabeth said with a gentle scolding tone as she took a glass from the tray Zafrina offered. "I am sure you remember your own courting days. It is quite hard to get to know someone with so many eyes in the room."

Emmett made a short scoffing sound before taking a glass, eyeing it skeptically.

"I had Zafrina find us a special beverage to start our evening. Sang de lapin. I'm told it is quite a delicacy," Elizabeth said, motioning for the others to take a glass. "Edward, would you do us the honors?"

Everyone turned expectantly toward Edward who paused for a moment, unsure of what to say. He had heard his father give such eloquent, perfect toasts before friends and family but at that particular moment, none of the words came to him. His eyes landed on Bella who stood next to him, a sweet smile on her lips and he knew what he needed to say.

"To friends, new and old. More precious than life, more valuable than gold. To friends and hopefully more."

Had she been able, Bella would have blushed at the inflection of his words as he raised his glass specifically toward her. It was quite obvious that even though in his mind they had just met, Edward certainly wanted to build more of a relationship. Quickly.

"Sap," Emmett muttered, quickly draining his glass.

Bella took Edward's now empty glass and walked across the room to return them to the silver tray, taking a step out of the way toward her chaperone. She smiled broadly as he winced when she, hidden from the view of the others, pinched Emmett. Hard.

After the group had enjoyed their aperitif, Zafrina whispered something into Elizabeth's ear, earning a nod of understanding. She set aside her full glass before clearing her throat.

"The meal is taking a bit longer to prepare than anticipated," she said gently before turning toward her son. "Perhaps you and Miss Swan would like to take a promenade around the block until it is ready?"

"How does that sound?" Edward asked, leaving the decision entirely to Bella, though he secretly wished she would accept.

"It is a lovely evening out."

Zafrina appeared in the doorway with both of their hats and attended them as they prepared for their walk.

Elizabeth caught Emmett by the arm as he prepared to follow them.

"I do think that with the number of people out and about this evening, they would be fine unsupervised, don't you, Mr. McCarty?" she asked, a hint of mischief glinting in her eyes.

Emmett harrumphed a bit and pointed to his eyes and then toward Edward's, earning a confused look back.

"I'm going to know if you try anything."

"Emmett," Bella said with a frustrated sigh, shaking her head.

"Just being a proper chaperone, Bells," he murmured under his breath.

"Tone it down just a touch," she replied in as equally low a voice. "Or next time I'll have two words for you. Purple. Nurple."

"Miss Swan?" Edward interrupted, offering his arm which she happily took.

The couple slowly walked down the broad sidewalk of North Paulina Street. Bella enjoyed the peace and quiet. Something about this enchantment had calmed her vampire senses once L had left Evermore. She could still hear exceptionally well but the sounds were muffled ever so slightly, making her feel more human. She could still feel the world around her a million times more vibrantly than she had but whether it was the enchantment or the fact she was getting used to it, she did not know but being beside Edward as a human felt right.

Edward greeted a gentleman as they walked past and as soon as they were out of earshot, leaned down to tell Bella that it was a co-worker.

"He seems very sad," Bella observed as they continued to walk as the night began to take over the day.

"His wife left him around the same time my father passed. She wanted him to run for office and when he said he had no aspirations of doing so, she decided to go home to her mother and father."

"That's terrible."

"I'm not sure he will ever recover. He was quite taken with her and that kind of wound takes a long time to heal."

"That was not very long ago, was it?" Bella asked quietly, tightening her hold on his arm and smiling back at the grin she received.

"At times it feels as if it were just yesterday. And then other times, it feels so long ago." Edward shrugged before laying one hand over hers. "I cannot imagine willingly leaving someone you pledged your heart and soul to. He swears he will never be with anyone else."

"Time is a very powerful thing."

"I have been searching a long, long time, Miss Swan. When I find that someone, I will never let go. She will be my pearl of great price, and I will cherish her forever."

"Is that so, Mr. Masen?"

"Oh, yes, Miss Swan."

"And just how many lovely ladies have you wooed with that line?"

Edward paused as if to think before quietly answering, "One."

"Just one?"

"Just one."

"Then I am quite honored to be the one."

"As am I."

As the two rounded the corner to get back to the Masen home, enjoyed just being together in amicable silence.

"I wish I could tell what you were thinking," Edward said quietly.

"Am I so hard to read?"

"Yes. To be honest."

Bella laughed and sounded so carefree that Edward could not help but smile back.

"In all seriousness, I am quite good at reading what is on someone's mind. But yours is completely blank to me."

"That's not always a bad thing."

"Not always. But there are times I would love to know what is on your mind."

Bella stopped and looked up at Edward, making her mind completely blank.

"What am I thinking right now?" she asked.

Edward paused for a moment, studying her face.

"Yes, no, to get to the other side, 1.77245..."

"You think I really am thinking of the square root of Pi?"

"You knew that?"

"Eidetic memory," she smiled tapping her temple with one finger.

"You are certainly full of surprises, Miss Swan."

Edward turned to face her, taking both of her hands in his.

"That's not a bad thing, is it?" she asked quietly.

"Absolu…"

The squeal of car tires rounding a corner at too quickly broke the peaceful night air. Bella's eyes widened as she saw Mr. Tyler wrestle with the steering wheel as the vehicle rapidly skidded toward them. The next thing she knew, she was crouched on the ground, Edward wrapped around her, his hand raised and the car, complete with a huge dent in the side, stopped a few inches away from her.

Edward, mouth agape in astonishment, looked rapidly back and forth between the car and Bella.

"Pretend to pass out," came a hushed whisper that Bella knew to be Alice.

And in her best melodramatic way, Bella did just that.

~BE~

Not quite as long of a chapter but not quite as long of a wait, either, right?

Speaking of waits…I'm not sure how the next week will go. I'm taking my first standardized test since 1992 next Thursday in order to be certified as a Media Specialist so well wishes would be greatly appreciated!

Hope you enjoyed! Let me know either way…I'd love to get review alerts while I'm at the Braves game tonight. =)