A/N: Muchas gracias to my pre-reader, afeistyginger, who makes me laugh on the regular. This one's for you, Starfish. Love to my beta, TwilightMundi, who beta'ed this after her well-deserved vacation.

All copyright and trademarked items mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. The remaining content is all mine. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without my express written authorization.

Sleep eluded me, so I spent a few hours researching things to do while we were there. We had tickets to see Zumanity, but I wanted to figure out a few restaurants to try and other things to do sprinkled in with our gambling. When I was exhausted, I set my laptop aside and turned toward Alice's sleeping body. I placed a soft kiss on her lips and slipped beneath her arm, snuggling my body into hers, and closed my eyes.

BPOV

I tried not to be a frantic taskmaster stress monkey in the morning, but failed. I was glad that Edward and Jasper were ready to go with plenty of time. On the drive to the airport, we grabbed coffee and the tension dissipated after that. Nothing was worse than a car full of tense under-caffeinated over-achievers on their way to an airport.

The flight was short and direct, and I laughed a little as I thought about the myriad ways I'd be thanking Alice for the first class seats. I couldn't help but give her a small kiss as the thought floated through my mind, and we shared a squeeze of our joined hands. In our other hands were adult beverages, getting our time away started properly.

For several days, I could let go of work and relax.

After we checked in to the hotel and dropped our bags off in our suite, Alice and I went straight for the blackjack tables. Edward and Jasper wandered away to their room and we didn't see them again for several hours, but I was glad Jasper looked a little less anxious when they came back.

None of us had eaten since breakfast, and that was a tiny pastry, so Alice and I wrapped up our gambling and we all went for dinner. Though the buffet had a place in our vacation, it wasn't that night. Instead, we opted for a fancy steakhouse and plenty of sumptuous red wine. My hand stayed on Alice's thigh for almost the entire meal. I was eternally grateful she'd worn a short, flimsy dress. Not only could I trace my fingers up and down her leg, but I had a delicious view of her cleavage all night.

She also took advantage of my shorts, her fingers sliding beneath the hem of the leg next to her. At one point, she curled her leg around mine, the soft, smooth skin of our legs tangling and reminding me of other moments between us.

Dinner was fun, but we were clearly ready to be alone, again. When we were back in the suite, I walked to the strawberries and champagne Alice had ordered when we checked in. I sat and popped the cork, then poured us a glass after dropping a strawberry in each flute.

I handed Alice her glass, then lifted mine to meet the edge of hers. "To us," I said.

"To us."

The small sound rang through the room as our eyes stayed connected, each of us tipping our glass to our mouths. The fuzzy tickle of the champagne in my mouth made me laugh a little as I swallowed, and I watched Alice as her eyes danced with mischief.

"More blackjack?" I asked, hoping she'd decline.

Alice laughed. "Are you fucking kidding?"

I didn't need to answer her; she knew. I was just trying to be polite and courteous. No other high could ever compare to what happened between us when we were alone.

To that end, I took a step closer to her. After I'd taken the champagne glass from her hand and set it down on the table, I laced our fingers together. My lips met hers and I stood, kissing her, for what felt like hours. When my legs went weak beneath me, brain fuzzy and clouded with alcohol and lust, I pulled her into the bedroom and over to the bed.

Before we laid down, though, I turned her and unzipped her dress. My fingers trailed down her skin just behind the zipper, lightly skimming the surface. When the zipper was lowered, resting comfortably between the dimples above her ass, I pushed the fabric off her shoulders and the dress fell to the floor.

Left before me in a matching black lace panty and bra set, Alice looked stunning. I began kissing her again, but traveled from her mouth to her throat, then over to her collarbones. My hands touched and teased her skin, readying it for my lips and mouth, and soon I was at her breasts. When I got to her stomach, I paused and kissed over a spot of silvery marks, scars from a life she lived before me, with reverence. I never imagined I could raise kids properly, but somehow Alice made it seem possible.

After a quick kiss over the lace hiding the spot I loved to worship, I continued down until I left a soft kiss at each of her feet. My hands tickled their way up the backs of her legs, then carefully pulled her panties down and off. Shifting my hands around to the front of her legs, I coaxed them just a bit wider, then sat up and placed the first of many wide, open-mouthed kisses right over her clit.

Alice threaded her hands through my hair, tight clenches of her fist causing me to moan against her slick skin. My tongue snaked out as my hands reached the apex of her thighs, spreading her wider and pulsing as deep inside of her as I could get. When my eyes shifted away from her in front of me and up to her eyes, she smiled widely.

Her hands directed me away from her and I gave her my best pout.

"You're going to make me fall over," she said with a laugh. "Just let me sit here. Or lay here."

As she sat, she wobbled, then fell over, lying with her knees bent over the edge. I shook my head; she'd clearly had more wine than me. I hooked my arms around her thighs and pulled her closer to the edge of the bed, closer to my mouth. I moved my hand underneath her legs, pushing my fingers inside of her. Watching as I fucked her made me squirm in place, my own legs pressing together with want.

I slowed my pace, listening to her every noise as I pleasured her. Each breathy moan and wanton plea from her spurred me on, but I never picked up my pace. Only when my fingers began to go numb from the angle and position did I give in and bring her to orgasm. My lips and tongue continued to slide over her clit quickly.

When she came, as usual, something inside of me soared. I didn't just feel pride though in that moment; I was so in love, so in lust, so everything with her.

My thighs burned with the effort of having kept myself in place for so long. I stood and stretched, watching her lazy smile as she recovered. Her eyes were closed, and I wondered briefly what kind of thoughts she was having. Were there potentials floating in front of her vision, or was she just soaking in the moment?

"C'mere," she said, eyes still closed and a blissed-out look on her face.

I crawled onto the bed, then into her open arms, resting my back against her chest.

"Shit. I forgot you were still dressed," she mumbled. "Up."

We stood and even though I could tell she was exhausted, she took her time taking my clothes off and worshipping me in a way similar to what I'd just done for her. When we were both undressed, her bra finally joining my clothes in the pile on the floor, we curled back into the bed together as we had been.

Alice softly hummed in my ear and the vibration and sound made me shiver. I loved hearing her talk, hearing her moan, hearing even the most mundane things come from her lips.

Her hand beneath my body wrapped up and around my curves, allowing my breast to fill her palm. "I love you," she whispered. Her other hand smoothed over the skin of my hip, dipping between my legs.

Fingers ghosted over the surface of my pussy, then slid between them. Alice's mouth was still at my ear, kissing my neck and whispering sometimes dirty, sometimes intimate things to me as she touched me. She pinched her fingers around my nipple and pulled slightly, bit my earlobe, and rubbed faster at the spot where I ached.

My body pressed against her hand harder, needing to come. I groaned as my arms and legs shook, her body around mine like a starfish, skin against skin everywhere it could be. Together, our bodies moved, curved together, rocking and climbing higher. My hands reached out to touch her where I could, one moving up to the side of her face, the other back behind me, resting on her hip. Her leg had curled up and over mine, exposing me to her further.

She pushed her fingers into me, thumb reaching up and stroking, and I wanted her harder. I thrust my hips against her, seeking more, and she gave.

"I love fucking you."

Incoherent replies were all I could provide in response, her words sending me so quickly over the precipice. My entire body halted movement, so focused on the waves of pleasure tearing through it. I was a panting mess when I finally returned to coherent thought, still wrapped up in Alice's arms and legs.

I couldn't speak or move in any substantial way, so drained from our love; I drifted to sleep with her surrounding me, and I was over the fucking moon happy about it.

When I woke up, we were on opposite sides of the bed. I watched Alice briefly, paying attention to her facial features. She was relaxed and happy, you could just tell. It made my heart beat faster that she could possibly feel for me a portion of what I felt about her.

I was tempted to wake her up and drag her into the shower, but I threw on my comfy yoga pants and went into the adjoining room to stretch. Alice reminded me like nothing else that I wasn't in my early twenties anymore, and a night of cat-like poses and positions after a bottle of wine between the two of us had left me slightly depleted, energy-wise, and sore.

Going through the motions of several poses, I felt my body stretch and relax. The places I'd been sore seemed to ease just a bit, and I laughed at the thought that I'd either need to take regular yoga classes or we'd have to start fucking in less strenuous ways.

After I'd spent a good twenty minutes at it, I moved to the couch and uncapped a bottle of water. I managed to chug about half the bottle, watching the news as I lounged, before I felt a little better. Once I was hydrated, I walked to the bathroom and turned the shower on. Stripping my clothes off, I piled them in the corner and stepped under the warm spray.

I turned to grab my shampoo and giggled at Alice's things in the corner nook of the shower. She'd insisted that we not just use the same products, saying she liked the way I smelled too much, and she wanted it to stay my scent, not hers. I stood beneath the water, steam surrounding me, and heard the door to the shower open and close quickly.

Anticipating her slipping into the water behind me made it feel like even longer than the few seconds it probably took. Alice's fingers slid around my waist, almost immediately drifting up to my breasts.

"You have great tits," she muttered against the skin of my shoulder.

I laughed. "Well, good morning to you too, sunshine." Frankly, I hated my tits. But the way they felt in her hands as she loved them? I'd never hate that.

My head lolled back and rested on her shoulder, her mouth nipping at the side of my neck.

"Sorry," I said. "Did I wake you?"

"No, I don't think so. It's fine if you did, I wouldn't want to miss this."

I turned and we shared a smile, then kissed briefly. I helped her wash her hair, and she soaped up my entire body, laughing when I commented at how clean I'd be. We talked about how eager we both were to get back on the floor, so we agreed to grab breakfast on the way down. After we dried off and got dressed, I almost pouted at her capris instead of a skirt. Alice's legs were long and amazing, perfect dancer's legs, and I hated when she covered them up. I finally decided it was probably best for my concentration, though.

We texted Jasper and Edward on our way downstairs to try and get them to join us, but they had plans to be tourists. I just rolled my eyes. Who came to Vegas to see the sights, I wondered. Sure, there would be fun dinner plans and maybe a little walking around, but I wanted to gamble and drink and indulge in my girl.

Our day started at the slot machines, a mindless occupation of our time until we were fully awake. The caffeine kicked in and we made our way over to the familiar blackjack tables. Alice sat at first base, not wanting to take the heat of any decisions she made that might have affected the outcome for the whole table. I took third base, because fuck that shit. I played by the book and if anyone had a problem with it, I'd take the heat. Besides, I could look right at Alice from where I was, and aside from the cards in front of me, she was all I wanted to see.

What we hadn't anticipated, though, were the people sitting at our table. Because it was a holiday weekend, the crowds were insane, especially as the day went on. Drunk college guys took the three spots between us and immediately began flirting with Alice. Instead of wanting to strangle them with their own nutsacs, I sat back and giggled as they tried their hardest.

Most of them tried to flatter her – at least their praise was genuine. They would tell her she had pretty eyes, or comment on how nice she smelled. Of course, I wanted to blurt out loud they had no idea how she really smelled.

When an older gentleman sat to my right and struck up a conversation with me, I could see Alice practically throwing daggers from her eyes. I winked at her and that seemed to dissipate the tension somewhat, but at least this guy wasn't out-and-out trying to pick me up – we were genuinely just talking.

There were a few moments we were alone at the table, and I loved sitting with her as the game sped up, each of us confident in our hands and moves. It was sexy to see her hit, fold, or double down, certain of what the right play was.

Hours passed, I imagined, and at some point our drinks went from coffee and Diet Coke to Jack and Diet Coke and fruity sex-name-based drinks. The laughter increased, and when a smoker sat next to me, there was a pang of wanting to smoke. Something about gambling and drinking went hand-in-hand with smoking in my brain, but I knew how Alice felt, and there was no way I'd risk not having her lips on me later. Instead, I distracted myself playing a reel of stored memories from our time together, and when it became too much, joined with my stomach growling with need, I stepped away from the table.

Somehow, the entire fucking day was gone, and our reservation for dinner was less than an hour away. I slid behind Alice, chips in my hand, and whispered to her that we needed to get going. It didn't take any convincing, thankfully, unlike when I left a casino. She pushed her chips to the center to color up and we were on our way. We texted Jasper and Edward on the way to our room. I let Jasper know what time I wanted them to be ready and that we'd meet them at their room. He knew there was absolutely no getting out of this dinner – I needed him there for moral support when I asked Alice to move in with me.

I watched Alice change as I did the same, and for a brief moment considered just skipping dinner. My stomach disagreed, though, since we were both famished. We could have ordered room service, but I wanted to see Jasper and Edward, too. Finally, one last time, I checked my purse for the wrapped gift, linked my hand with Alice's and we made our way to the boy's suite. I giggled when she'd told me she upgraded them; she was adorably sweet when it came to giving to others, especially her brother.

When we were in front of Jasper and Edward's room, I knocked, impatient for our fancy dinner. This is why I hadn't wanted to meet them in the lobby, I thought as I realized they clearly weren't ready to go. Huffing a sigh, I knocked again, louder.

Edward answered and looked disheveled, to say the least. I noticed the look on his face immediately, or I'd have thought they were late because they were fucking, but no, something was clearly wrong – and Edward was clearly dressed for dinner. Had they fought?

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He looked like he had no idea where to even begin. It made my panic ratchet up several notches. He was always so calm and collected.

"Jasper?"

Edward nodded, opening the door wider, and I ran inside. Alice held my hand even tighter until we got to the rumpled mess of Jasper on the floor, and then let go of me. I slid down to wrap around Jasper, who was pulled in on himself, curled into a tight ball.

"Jasper, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Stephan killed himself, Bella," he whispered. He turned his head up to look at me, and I could see his eyes were wet and red-rimmed, skin pale as a ghost. "I wasn't there for him."

Stephan was the kid Jasper had been worried about in the facility he worked at. I wanted to remind Jasper that professional ethics required him to maintain a distance. It wasn't like he hadn't done everything he could for this kid – he had. It wasn't the time for that, though. I knew there was no talking logic into him. He needed to be consoled and he'd eventually realize he wasn't at fault.

"Shh," I whispered. "I've got you. It's going to be okay."

My hand smoothed over his hair, a soothing maternal action I'd seen in countless movies. I could only hope it would work.

Edward moved to the other side of Jasper, and I watched as the two of them reached out to each other, Jasper's body shifting slightly away from mine and into his. The sting was immediate, but also began to fade almost immediately. It didn't go away, mind you, watching them so close and knowing Jasper needed Edward more than me... it hurt.

Alice sat next to me with her hand on my arm. I wasn't sure what to do. I felt almost useless. Replaceable? That wasn't right though, and I knew it. I was being petulant when what he needed the most was a friend. I took a deep breath and steeled my nerves. Jasper needed me.

Turning to Alice, I thought about what I could do to be useful, instead. "Let's go order some dinner?"

She nodded and stood, holding her hand out to me. Once she helped me up, I couldn't help the extra long look I gave Edward and Jasper, still tangled. I could see Edward's lips moving but couldn't hear what he whispered. I was grateful they had each other, even if it meant I wasn't the first priority in Jasper's life anymore.

The truth was, he couldn't be my first priority anymore, either. And I realized I didn't want him to be.

Following Alice, we went into the attached room. I sat at the desk and she sat on my lap sideways, wrapping her arms around my neck.

"I'm sorry about what's going on with Jasper," she whispered. "Is there anything I can do?"

"No, I don't think there's anything any of us can do," I said. "But you're completely amazing for asking. You know that, right? And for being understanding about our night. Now, let's see what kind of comfort junk food we can order. I'm starving."

We flipped through the pages, way over-ordering food. While we waited, we curled up on the couch together. I found myself in need of comfort, much like Jasper, and I sought it in her arms. The food arrived and after I tipped and thanked the delivery person, we began to uncover the dishes. Everything spanned across several tables, appetizers, main dishes, and dessert enough for eight people.

Alice and I picked a few things and shared a plate, taking our places on the couch again. A few minutes later, Jasper and Edward came from the bedroom, changed into their comfy pajamas.

"We ordered some food," I said, lamely. Of course they knew that; they could probably see and smell it.

"Good thinking," Edward said, giving me a half-smile.

Jasper looked even worse than he had when I arrived. His eyes were puffy and swollen, a look I was intimately familiar with on my own face, but which jarred me on his.

I wanted to pop off the couch and hug him, but I didn't, at the same time. I hated feeling that way, so uncertain and unsure of myself.

"Thanks, Bella," Jasper said, sitting in a chair next to the couch.

Edward arranged a plate of food and much like Alice and I had, they sat next to each other, sharing and talking quietly. A few times, Jasper's eyes caught mine, and I tried to convey the depth of my sadness for him. I think I did a reasonable job, but I just ached at my friend and his sorrow.

"I'm sorry I ruined your night," Jasper said quietly.

"You didn't ruin my night, Jas," I replied. "You could never. I have everything I need right here." I looked around and smiled at three of the four most important people to me in the world – we were just missing Rose. "Just because we aren't in a fancy restaurant doesn't mean it's ruined."

When I was done speaking, I mouthed later to him. He seemed to be nudging his head toward Alice, a silent request if I had asked her to move in with me or not. His small smile felt like a huge victory for me.

The next few hours passed quietly. Jasper and Edward moved to a larger chair, sitting next to each other with their ankles hooked and I almost had to laugh at how cute they looked. Jasper had always loved our sleepover and snuggle nights. Alice's fingertips had been slowly running up and down my thigh and I was starting to get exhausted. I wasn't sure if it was the lack of sleep several days in a row or a carb and sugar coma, but I needed to find a bed.

Standing, I pulled Alice with me. "Bedtime, boys," I said.

They both stood and I hugged Edward first, the longest a hug of ours had ever been. I hoped he knew just how much I appreciated him. When it was Jasper's turn, I squeezed him hard, something we'd done to each other from time to time when one of us was going through something rough. I knew he'd come out the other side okay, but I also knew there would be ups and downs, and this wasn't something he'd get over in a weekend.

Jasper kissed my cheek, whispering another thank you to me.

"I love you," I said to him. "I'm here if you need me. Always."

"I know."

A tear leaked out and I quickly wiped it away before anyone could see. I walked out of the suite with Alice, back to our sanctuary, without another look behind me.

Alice started undressing first, clearly as tired as I'd been. Instead of putting on her pajamas, she crawled into bed nude, so I did the same. In the safe darkness of the room, once we were nestled in together, we talked about life. We mused where we might have been if we'd met earlier in our lives; would it even have worked, or was timing an important factor in finding each other and both at a spot where it could be something of significance between us.

I decided I could give her the gift I had some other time. It wasn't something super important, just a token of support for her studio, and of appreciation for her presence in my life. Tomorrow, I thought, would be a great day to give her the iPod loaded with music I'd purchased and synced onto it for her.

"Hey, Alice," I said, nerves warring with everything in my body. "Do you think you'd like to maybe move in with me? I mean, I know you haven't found a place yet," I rambled. "But maybe it would work? You'd be farther from Edward, but closer to me. And maybe that would be good, I don't know..."

It was dark and I couldn't really see her, but I felt as she moved above me, her body pressing into and covering mine.

"I'd love to live with you, baby."