DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING! Except Chrissy, Nat and Jace ;)

I just can't stop writing! I'm so excited about this fic and the fantastic reception I get from you guys! I know this fic has taken a huge turn – there is still so much to be answered and I swear I won't leave you guy without the answers.

A couple of people were wondering how long it's been since the incident with the guns… it's been about 4 years. Bella was "17" when it all happened and now she's "21". Edward, Jacob, Rosalie etc are all 22 now, as they were 18 when it started.

Once again, please check out Stripped by punkfarie! It's not complete with Epilogue and it is just FANTASTIC!

Let me know what you think ;)


"It's gorgeous," I breathed as we pulled up to the inn. The front walls were made almost entirely of glass – you could see inside to the living, lounge and dining rooms. There was a grand staircase leading to what I guessed were the rooms and bathrooms. You could see the archway into the kitchen just past the dining room. It was open and light and warm. It felt so familiar – like home.

"What an amazing place," Chrissy sighed, detaching her seatbelt.

"Pity you can't walk around naked," Jason joked.

"It is definitely my friend," Natalie grinned.

"It's my friend more," I insisted, stepping out onto the gravel and gazing up at the building. Inside, I saw a woman coming to the door to greet us. She was talking over her shoulder to someone as she opened the door. I moved around to help Jason with the bags – I was stronger than him, anyway. "Thanks for bringing me," I said, bumping his hip with mine and pulling out our suitcases.

"Oh you can thank me later," he winked, doing the sleazy finger point again. It was our thing. We pretended to be desperately attracted to each other and joked about sex a lot but the truth was that I'd never ever looked at him in that way. He was one of my best friends and as long as I'd known him, he and Nat had been so happy together that I couldn't imagine them with anyone else but each other. Least of all with me.

"You bet I will, lover," I crooned, trying to be sultry.

"You will what?" Nat asked, grabbing the last bag out.

"Satisfy your man in a way that only I can," I told her matter-of-factly.

"Oh thank fuck. She's finally going to get laid," Chrissy laughed. She always liked to make fun of my 'virginal' lifestyle. I didn't actually know if I was a virgin or not, but we pretended that I was because I couldn't remember ever having sex and as long as I could remember, I didn't simply because I hadn't been attracted enough to anyone to even consider it.

"Yeah, laugh it up. Bella's a virgin," I grumbled, rolling my eyes. "For all we know I could've been the biggest whore in town before I came to Phoenix."

"I'd like to see you workin' the streets," Chrissy giggled as we headed up to the front porch.

"Hey baby, lookin' for a date?"

Chrissy and I giggled the rest of the way up and almost ran right into Jason and Natalie, who had abruptly stopped in front of us. I peered around their shoulders to see what the hold up was. The lady from inside was staring at me. She had caramel hair just past her shoulders and rosy cheeks. She looked like a perfect mother from a fairytale, and from what I'd heard she must've been exactly that.

"Hello!" Natalie greeted, a little too loudly. The lady gave a start and focussed on her, looking apologetic.

"Hello! Welcome," she smiled warmly, gesturing inside. "Please come in. I take it you are Natalie and Jason."

"Yes, we are. And this is Chrissy, and Bella," Natalie replied with an easy smile. The lady looked me over again, as if waiting for something.

"Chrissy and of course, Bella. My name is Esme Cullen. Myself and some of my family will be looking after you. If you have any queries or requests please don't hesitate to ask any one of us for help. I'll introduce you," she started, ushering us inside. She called out to the others, though I didn't catch their names because I was looking around. From all around the place, people came in. "This is Jasper and Rosalie Hale," Esme said, gesturing to two stunning blondes – they looked like twins, and had that same homely, familiar-looking face as Esme even though they didn't look anything like her at all. The girl, Rosalie was looking us all over critically – actually, more at my friends than at me. She seemed to be avoiding looking at me, to be honest. Jasper kept his eyes on the floor, but he looked spooked out. Chrissy and I exchanged a quick glance, and I wondered if she felt like this was as creepy as I did.

"Dibs," she whispered. She clearly didn't feel creeped out by the blondes.

"Jasper will take your bags up to your rooms, and Rosalie would be more than happy to describe what our small town has to offer for travellers such as yourselves. Have you come far?"

"From Phoenix," Jason answered. "The forestry outside looks amazing. Are there any clearings or anything that I could set up my film equipment?" he asked Rosalie. She looked lost for a second, but another voice chimed from behind us.

"I'll be happy to show you," said a small girl with dark brown hair. She had a face like a pixie. Something was definitely in the water – everyone was so beautiful. "I know my way around the landscape b-" she stopped mid-sentence, having caught sight of me. I looked myself over quickly, wondering why they all reacted to me in strange ways but found nothing out of the ordinary. Even my friends thought it was weird, I could tell. "Uh, so yeah I can show you," she finished, taking Jasper's hand. I heard Chrissy sigh beside me. "I'm Alice, by the way."

"Thanks, Alice," Natalie grinned.

"You're welcome. Natalie, was it?"

"Yeah."

"And Jason, and Chrissy."

"Yep."

"That's me."

"And Bella?"

"Yes," I answered, feeling like I wanted to hide.

"Esme! I need to grab that strobe from the shed!" another voice sounded. I felt a warm breeze as a tall, buff guy brushed past me, clearly in a rush.

"Aren't you gonna call dibs?" I joked in a whisper to Chrissy. She clicked her tongue and leaned closer to answer me quietly.

"His face doesn't suit his body. He looks like a kid."

"You say I'm picky. I think he's a pretty good catch."

"Then you call dibs. A nice, buff guy would do you good." I giggled loudly, unable to hold it in. The guy stopped and whirled around, looking right at me. He frowned, unsure of himself, but came closer. My breath hitched – had he heard our joke?

"What's your name?" he asked me, looking a little emotional about the entire situation and standing so close that I thought for a second he was going to yell at me… I was deeply embarrassed that these people were being like this – maybe Renee had been right all along.

"B-Bella," I stuttered. "Bella Swan." The guy looked as if his heart was breaking. Maybe he thought I was someone else. "What's yours?" I asked, trying to deflect and make him feel better.

"I'm Jacob Black," he replied. I nodded. It sounded so right and natural. Jacob Black.

"You look like a Jacob,' I smiled, exuding friendly but not flirty. The poor guy looked like he was about to have a heart attack.

"Jacob, the key for the shed is in its usual place. You'd better hurry," Esme said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. She seemed to understand his feelings so I guessed this was something he did kind of often – maybe he was 'special'.

"Right. The strobe. Right," he muttered, turning away and quickly marching off. I watched him as he whipped his phone out of his pocket and began frantically dialling. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Esme rush over and snatch the phone from him chastising him in a harsh whisper that I couldn't make out.

***

"I don't really like clubs," Jason complained, earning him glares from all three of us girls. He would be fine for just one night – the rest of his crew were arriving tomorrow and he wouldn't have to put up with our girl-stuff anymore. Just one night of fun for my birthday is all I was asking. I reminded him of that and he quickly acquiesced because Jason and I were buddies – we would do almost anything for each other. "I'm not driving," he announced. I was the only other one who knew how to drive a stick so I glared at him with full force glariness. "What?" he asked, oblivious to the fact that his not driving meant me having to be designated driver on my own birthday.

"Jason she's not driving on her birthday!" Natalie squeaked, slapping him with the tie she'd just been about to put on him – when Jason went out, he liked to look suave. It suited him. Chrissy rolled her eyes as they argued and we backed out to finish getting ourselves ready.

"Hey," Chrissy called before I could go into my room. I turned to face her. "Come get your birthday present," she grinned.

"I don't want girl sex for my birthday, Chrissy," I joked as Natalie joined us. Jason was bustling downstairs. Just in time, a few of his crew had arrived, thus getting him out of going to the bar under the pretence of work.

"You can help me ambush Bella," Chrissy stated, taking Natalie's hand and taking her into the room. I stayed put and waited until they emerged a few seconds later, each holding something behind their back. "Happy Birthday!"

They held out my gifts, a gorgeous but kind of scandalous black dress and a pair of glittery heels to go with them.

"Oh my god!" I exclaimed, staring dumbfounded at them. They were just so beautiful, but there were two problems – one was that I could never wear that dress in public, and the other was that the shoes looked far too expensive for me to accept them as a gift. "Chrissy, I can't-"

"Yes you can!" she insisted. "21 is a milestone. You let Nat and Jace take you on a holiday, you can take a stinking outfit from me!"

"Bum bum if I could pull off a dress like that I'd wear it myself…" Nat said, addressing my remaining problem. Could I leave the house in that gorgeous, tiny, slinky thing? They both stood there nodding at my silent question, looking encouraging.

"That is stunning!" said the little pixie girl, Alice, who had come up behind us. "I hear you're off to The Grizzly," she smiled.

"Where else is there to go?" Chrissy asked, genuinely confused and wondering if Alice had any insider information about underground nightclubs.

"Nowhere," Alice tittered. We joined in, finding the idea of a one-bar town strange and fascinating at the same time. At least I found Forks fascinating – I didn't really know about the others. They certainly agreed with me that the Cullens were acting very strange towards me. "Bella, you have to let me do your makeup," she told me. Chrissy and Natalie glanced at each other as Alice stared pleadingly at me.

"Okay," I agreed before I knew what I was doing.

"Great!" she squealed. "Go put on your dress and meet me in the bathroom. I'm doing your hair, too!

"Okay," I agreed again, stunned by my willingness to oblige to this perfect stranger, who was happily skipping off to gather beauty products.

"She's friendly," Nat commented, looking a little wary.

"Go get your sexy LBD on," Chrissy chuckled, shoving me into my room, which I'd never actually been in until now.

Or had I?

For a moment all I could do was stare. Everything in the room was as if I'd picked it. From the covers on the bed to the colours on the walls, to the pretty little dresser next to the ensuite door – it was if I had personally chosen every little thing. I'd never been in a more perfectly decorated room. My own room back home wasn't even this perfect, because Renee had insisted on a number of things that I hadn't really liked all that much. They were nice, just not my pick. But here… this room… was my room.

"What are you staring at?" Nat asked with a small laugh. She found my awe amusing.

"This room is so totally my friend," I mumbled, looking around some more. No other room in the inn looked like this, either, so it wasn't as if their design style suited my own personal taste – it was like they'd made this room especially for me.

"It's better than my room. Mine looks like a guy's room."

"So does ours," Natalie laughed.

"Maybe you're their god," Chrissy joked in a whisper, looking around as though expecting one of them to pop up at any minute. Funnily enough, Alice popped up behind her, making her jump right out of her skin.

"You're not dressed yet!" she chided, putting her hands on her hips. "You guys are distracting her! Let the girl get into her birthday dress!"

At that, I raised my eyebrow.

"How did you know it's my birthday?"

"I heard the girls tell you Happy Birthday. And you're 21, right?"

"Yeah."

"Congrats! Now get dressed!" she commanded, shutting the door on me, leaving me with my perfect room and my little black dress.

***

EPOV

The perky skanks of Forks were grinding away to some Britney song about giving people more or… something. I fucking hated this shithouse music. Jacob had been avoiding me all night and as much as I didn't want to seem like a whiny girlfriend I wondered why he chose tonight of all nights to ignore me and I wanted to confront him about it before the turn in shifts. The bar was hopping tonight, though, and it didn't look like I was going to be able to get away at any point because the new guy was fucking up left, right and centre and I was having to go around cleaning up after him constantly. Idiot.

"Dude, what the fuck?" I asked, snatching a bottle of Midori from him. "She said Malibu!"

"I got mixed up!"

"Midori is fucking green!"

"I know!"

"The Malibu bottle is white!"

"I know!"

I shook my head and thrust the right bottle in his hand, moving to the next customer while sliding a glass over to Kate. Her tip jar was already overflowing. I grinned at her as she winked at the young guy she was serving. He tipped her five bucks.

"… and a vodka, lemon, lime and bitters," the next customer yelled at her over the music. "I think! Wait! Bella! The usual?! Yeah, the vodka, lemon, lime and bitters as well thanks!"

At the sound of the name, I instinctively looked up. I always looked around when I heard that name, just in case.

I never ever expected to see her sitting at the opposite end of my bar, just absently bopping to the shit music and gazing around curiously. I dropped the bottle of gin I was holding. Emmett looked up at the noise and then over at Bella. I started towards her at the same time as him, unable to stop myself. Her hold on me was stronger than ever with her presence in the very same room as me for the first time in four years. Suddenly Emmett lunged at me, throwing me inside his office and locking the door behind him, an evil chuckle sounding from his stomach. I could hear him telling Kate to hold the bar down for a minute as I yelled for him to let me out. I needed to hold her, just for a second. I wouldn't even kiss her. I just needed to touch her, just once. I needed to know she was real – that she was really here. This wasn't the time for his racing games.

With a sudden stroke of inspiration I started for the window, but as soon as I was there, so was Emmett. Locking it. Locking me in. Keeping me away from my Bella. "EMMETT!" I cried. He dangled the keys at me with a grin and strode away. The asshole was going to get to her before I could. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!" I roared, kicking the desk and very nearly pulling my hair out. I paced for a good few minutes, seething and waiting but it soon became obvious that I was not prepared to wait as long as he wanted me to.

So I threw his paper weight at the window and climbed out.

***

BPOV

"Did you see that guy?" Chrissy asked in my ear, nodding towards the bar. Not guy caught my attention aside from the big brawny one rushing out the front door. "I'm calling a big fat DIBS on him."

"That guy?" I asked when he walked back in. She could have him. I wasn't attracted to him at all, even though I could totally understand why she would be. He was good-looking, definitely – with his blue eyes and curly brown hair and impish smile teamed with what looked like would be a great body, he certainly caught the eye of most of the women the bar… He just reminded me more of a bigger brother than anything else. He looked like someone who could be my brother and protect me and teach me all sorts of inappropriate stuff like dirty jokes and how to make realistic fart noises.

"No, the other one. DIBS!" she repeated, grinning ear to ear.

"He must've been something really special," I said, impressed.

"Why?"

"You're breaking dibs rules for him," Natalie pointed out, draining her drink.

"I am not!"

"You can't call dibs unless we've all seen him."

"Well you're taken and Bella never calls dibs, so…" she trailed off with a shrug, obviously feeling like her rule-breaking was well justified.

"What if I feel like calling dibs on my birthday?" I challenged.

"Did you just play the birthday card?"

"I think you know I did," I replied with a smirk, pushing my nose in the air.

"Fine if you want to call dibs on him, I'll let you have him okay?"

"That's all I ask on my birthday."

Chrissy scowled playfully just as Nat began screeching into her phone.

"Jason if I get back home and you-" She stopped to gasp theatrically into the phone. "Oh I'm never doing you again! Well I'll just do myself! No, no, you are jacking off forever! THAT IS NOT MY FRIEND AND YOU ARE NOT MY FRIEND JAY-SON!"

"You've made her really mad now!" Chrissy called into the phone before joining in the play fight with Jason, not even knowing what he was saying on the other end – just helping Nat yell. I leaned over and added in my bit.

"I WILL TURN THIS CAR AROUND RIGHT NOW!" I yelled into the phone.

"YEAH, NO ICE-CREAM FOR ANYONE!" Chrissy added with a wink. "Oh he is my friend," she marvelled, nodding in the direction of the brawny bartender, who had just slid back in behind the bar. "Something very sexy is in the water here."

"DOUCHE!" Was Nat's very last hurled insult at Jason before she slipped her phone back in her pocket and turned her attention to us with a grin. We all burst into hysterical laughter.

"Can I get you anything, ladies?" the bartender asked. For some reason, Chrissy couldn't answer and Nat was texting a love message to Jason so I spoke for us all.

"Yes, we'd like a Malibu and coke, a screwdriver and a vodka, lemon, lime and bitters," I ordered. The bartender grinned mischievously, as though he was about to do something very wrong.

"You're the bitters, right?" he clarified. I frowned, nodding. How did he know? "You look like the bitters type," he smirked, starting our drinks.

"What about the other girls then? Which one is having the Malibu?"

"Oh you wanna play a game, huh?" he laughed. "Alright, little girl, we'll play a game. How about this – if I guess your name, you pay double for these drinks," he proposed, presenting our cocktails. Nat and Chrissy eyed me, wondering both what I would do and whether or not I was flirting. The truth was that I felt comfortable with the bear-like man before us. Almost like I already knew him.

"You're on!" I grinned. "But lets make it more interesting."

"How?"

"If I guess your name, I get them for free," I suggested. Natalie squeaked incredulously next to me and I saw Chrissy hit her lightly out of the corner of my eye.

"No deal. You could've asked anyone in this bar what my name is. But you've never been here before."

"Name and…" I trailed off, trying to think of something else that would be easy enough to guess about this guy. I already had a fair idea about his name – it was a long shot but I was confident that I'd heard it before. Somewhere. Out of nowhere, I saw him on the lounge at the inn with me. We curled up together, but it wasn't romantic or anything – we were just comfortable with each other. I felt safe. He laughed at the screen and I turned to see a very familiar scene. "Favourite movie," I amended, taking my weird vision as a sign.

"What?" Natalie snorted. "No way!"

"No, no… you're so on," the bartender laughed. "Bella," he grinned. All our mouths dropped open in shock.

"You're gonna cost us a fortune, bumhead! No more deals!"

"I haven't had my turn yet!" I reminded her. She opened her mouth to say something, but decided not to at Chrissy's harsh look. The freaky bartender raised an eyebrow, daring me to make my guess. He didn't believe I could do it.

"Your name I Emmett," I stated confidently. He frowned.

"Why would you guess a name like that?" he asked. I sighed – I had been so sure. "I mean, its so random and old-fashioned!"

"Just a feeling," I shrugged, reaching for my purse. He stopped me.

"Well, Bella. Nice to meet you. My name is Emmett," he grinned. The girls and I burst into surprised laughter and for a second I thought he was lying to let me win, but the new guy called his name to let him know he was going on a break, so I must've really been right. "But what's my favourite movie?"

I considered him for a moment, trying to suss him out. He definitely looked like the action-movie type, which explained why I kept thinking of Bruce Willis, but the one image I kept going back to was from my own favourite movie. He reminded me of the main character, Korben Dallas. I must've watched that movie a million times. But did he love it as much as me? My instinct said yes, so naturally I went with it.

"I'm thinking action," I told him. He nodded. "And science fiction." Another nod.

"But I need a title for free drinks, Bells," he chuckled.

"How do you know her nickname?" Natalie asked, not concealing her suspicion at all. Come to think of it, he was pretty creepy as well. Just not as much as that Jacob guy.

"I just made it up," he shrugged. He was lying, we could all tell, but I didn't care for more information at that point. I'd drained my rink and wanted to know if I'd have to pay double for it or not at all.

"The Fifth Element," I guessed. He frowned at me once more, looking contemplative.

"You're right," he smiled, wiping the bar absently with his cloth. He actually looked a little sad. Maybe I would pay for them anyway, if the money meant that much to him. "That is my all-time favourite movie. I knew a girl once who reminded me of Leeloo."

"You remind me of Korben," I confessed. "That's why I guessed it," I added, hoping to make him feel a little better. "Here, I'll pay for-"

"Hey," he interrupted, pushing my closed hand back towards me. "A deal's a deal," he winked.

***

EPOV

Frantic, I forced my way back inside. Jacob tried to stop me at the door but I pushed past him, cursing at him under my breath. I couldn't believe Emmett had just raced me to her. I looked around, searching for her, but I couldn't see her anywhere. My heart sank down to my knees and I almost cried. But then I saw Emmett at the bar, grinning to himself as he kept pouring drinks like it was any other night. Like he hadn't just spoken to the love of my life – the only reason for my existence – a few short minutes ago. It made me blind with fury. All I wanted to do was rip his fucking head off for costing me what could have been my only chance to see her again, but at the same time I couldn't kill him because if I did I'd never be able to hear how she was.

Nonetheless, I charged over to him, wanting to at least rough him up a little. Behind me, I heard something drop but I was so mad I didn't even care to check what it was. It could have been my wallet, my keys, I didn't give a fuck. I just wanted to corner Emmett and kick his ass, then drag him into the office and interrogate him. When I reached him, I grabbed him by the arm.

"Where is she?" I growled through clenched teeth. He didn't have time to answer because I felt the softest little touch on my wrist.

"Excuse me?" said the sweetest voice that had ever graced my ears. I didn't even have to turn around to know it was her. "You dropped something."

My grip on Emmett loosened and my heart sped up. Emmett gave me an encouraging look, but I still didn't know what to expect. I had seen her just before, but only briefly. All I knew was that she had looked spectacularly beautiful.

"Thanks, Bella," Emmett smiled at her. "Edward, this is Bella. She's new to the bar tonight. Bella, this is my brother Edward."

"Edward?" she repeated and the sound of my name on her lips almost killed me. Her voice was the same but so different – more grown-up. "Nice to meet you." I had to turn around now. I couldn't ever be rude to her.

***

BPOV

He was breathtaking.

He was amazing.

He was perfection.

Edward.

Just like Emmett, Jacob, Alice and all the others, he suited his name to the letter. If anyone had ever asked me to sketch the man of my dreams, I would have coloured his eyes that exact shade of green. I would have picked a pencil in that exact tone of bronze to stroke out the messy locks of his hair. I would have kept his skin alabaster pale, his lips that freshly-bitten pink all pulled up in that heartbreakingly charming yet innately devilish smile. I would have drawn him, and I would have called him Edward.

Silently, I thanked whoever was responsible for this meeting. If there was such a thing as love at first sight, this would have been it for me – just looking at him made my pulse race, and my heart felt like it was going to burst out of its chest. It would have been embarrassing to stand here staring at anyone else, but he was staring right back at me with an expression that I can only guess mirrored my own. From what I could see, he didn't know whether to kiss me or cry. I didn't know why, but I felt the same. On one hand, I wanted to yank him over and kiss him like a maniac. On the other, I wanted to fall into him and cry my eyes out. Either way, I wanted to be closer. I needed to be closer.

We stepped towards each other at exactly the same time. My hands tightened around the packets in my hands, one held out to him and one tucked securely behind my back. The rustle of the plastic brought me back to reality.

"It's nice to meet you, Bella," he greeted. His voice was warm and velvety. It sounded like home. Emmett spoke again and his jade eyes moved away. I didn't listen. I turned to Chrissy and mouthed my dibs on Edward. No fucking way anyone else was getting this guy. Even if he already had someone. He was mine. Chrissy's head fell to the bar in defeat – this had obviously been the guy she'd promised to concede to me if I wanted him. I laughed a little and turned back to Edward. He was smiling, having heard my laughter. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," I lied, shrugging. "You gonna take your gummi bears back or shall I take them home? Yellow ones are my second favourite, you know."

"Is that a fact?" he chuckled, taking the pack from me. He slipped them into his back pocket and frowned, patting a little. "Did you see another packet on the floor?" he asked. I prayed I wouldn't flush red as my fist clenched a little harder behind my back.

"No," I answered a little too quickly. He noticed and raised an eyebrow at me. "That was all I saw, honest," I said, smiling and trying to look as sweet and innocent as possible.

"That's a shame. I hate to sacrifice the red ones."

"You lost red ones?" I echoed, hoping I sounded appropriately horrified. "Those are my favourite ever."

"I would've shared them, but now I only have half of my gummi stash so…" Edward shook his head in mock sadness. I think we both knew I had them hiding behind my back, but for some reason he let it slide.

At that moment, the sound of glass smashing behind the bar caught our attention. I cursed the new guy who had managed to trip over just as he returned from break. Edward excused himself and rushed off. I went back to my friends and sat down. Natalie was the first to speak.

"Bumhead, you look like you've seen a ghost!"

"I just fell in love with a bartender from Forks," I droned, still in a daze.

"Bella, you just jizzed in your pants, didn't you?" Chrissy laughed, passing me yet another drink.

"Did you steal his gummi bears?" Natalie asked, holding them up in front of me looking stern and amused at the same time. I grinned and opened them, guzzling from my straw then popping a few into my mouth. Next to us, Chrissy gasped.

"What's that you're eating, Bella?" Edward smirked, leaning over the bar and plucking the offending pack of red gummi bears out of my hands. "Where on earth did you get these?"

"Oh didn't I tell you? I always carry red gummi bears with me," I smiled.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "Seeing as you lost yours, I'll share some."

"Okay," he chuckled. "To be fair, I'll share some of mine too," he winked, putting his yellow packet on the bar. "It's about time for my break anyway."

"HI, I'M EMMA!" screamed a voice right in between mine and Natalie's faces. I watched Chrissy's hand fly up to her heart as she mouthed curse words at the hyperactive young woman. Her face remained close, toothy and bright and slightly crazed. Natalie jumped, looking stunned and quite frankly a little frightened. Edward was unphased, rolling his eyes as he mixed some more drinks for impatient patrons.

"Whoa, hi," I replied, sounding more confused than anything else.

And just as fast as she was there, she was gone.

"That was stranger than anything else we've seen since we got here," Nat commented, staring after the young lady. "She's really something… special."

"She has a tendency to do that," Edward smirked. Chrissy grabbed my leg under the bar. I'm pretty sure she'd jizzed in her pants.

"Oh," Natalie laughed, frowning and shaking her head, still stunned. I reached over and took a yellow gummi bear.

"Guys, this is Edward Cullen. Edward, this is Nat and Chrissy."

"How do you know my last name?" he asked me, lifting our gummi bears momentarily to wipe the counter beneath them. As he worked, I noticed two inked gummi bears on his bare forearm.

"Do you have gummi bears tattooed on your arm?" I asked, tilting my head to get a better look. He twisted his arm to show me better, a small smile playing on his lips.

"That's dedication for you," Chrissy mused.

"Red and yellow just belong together," Edward shrugged.

"That's what Bella always says," Nat grinned, taking two gummi bears herself and munching on them. Edward mixed more drinks.

***

EPOV

"You on your break?" asked a husky voice. I nodded, grinning to myself as I dropped a red gummi bear into Bella's waiting palm before sliding her drink over. She took it gratefully as her friends excused themselves strategically to take on the dance floor. I liked them. They were fun and kooky, just like Bella.

I glanced up at Jacob, who was sliding into a seat next to my Bella and we gave each other a look. It was a look that clearly communicated our shared elation. Sure, she couldn't remember us, but she was here and there were little signs that she might one day completely return to us. Her continued love of gummi bears, for example.

"Hello Jacob Black," Bella said, nudging him gently. She had already met him. That explained why he had been avoiding me all night – he must have met her back home. Why hadn't anyone told me that she was here?

"Hello baby Bells," he replied, slipping into his nickname for her. She sifted through the red gummis, trying to pick a juicy one like she always used to. Out of nowhere, her nose crinkled in disgust. Then her face lit up like she had an idea. She looked just like the Bella I remembered. Except dead fucking sexy in that short black dress. Did she even know what she was doing to the poor saps in this bar? They were going to go home thinking about her while they got off in a cold shower. I didn't blame them.

"You want a gummi bear, Jake?" she asked, holding one out. To my awe and amusement, it was green.

"Green are my favourite," he chirped, taking it from her.

"You can have any I find, then. Edward obviously sucks at sorting his gummi bears."

"I thought you said those were yours!" I gasped with mock incredulity. She flushed red, blushing down at the counter.

"They're yours," she confessed.

"You thieving little hussy! I'll have to warn Esme!" Jacob cried. She giggled at his antics as he straightened up and pretended to look for her. Bubbles and chimes filled my ears for the first time in years.

"Fuck I missed that," I whispered to myself, sighing and running a hand through my hair. Ever the perceptive one, Bella heard.

"What did you say?" she asked. Maybe she hadn't heard as much as I thought. Her curiosity lingered even as her friends reappeared by her side.

"I said do you need a lift back to the inn?" I amended. Chrissy's eyes widened to the size of golf balls.

"Can my friends come?" she asked, blushing again. Thank god they couldn't.

"I'll take them back," Jacob volunteered, but Nat shook her head vehemently.

"No, my boyfriend is coming to get us really soon," she insisted, and I was grateful that she was being cautiously responsible. I had a feeling that if Bella has been left in the hands of the other friend she may have ended up a little worse for wear. Or maybe not – maybe I was underestimating Bella because I'd only ever known her as an easily influenced child.

"I'd really like to get to know you," I went on, addressing Bella alone. When our eyes met, something in me lit up. It was like I was waking up from a very long sleep, completely refreshed and ready for anything. I would do anything for her, I would do everything for her. I would walk through fire, I would endure another bullet… anything.

"I'd like to get to know you, too," she blushed.

"We have to go, Bella," Natalie reminded her gently, taking her arm and steering her out.

"I'll drop by the inn!" I called after her, elated when she turned to flash me that dazzling puppy-at-Christmas smile.

"I'm counting on it!" she called back, giggling as Chrissy slapped her on the ass on the way out.

***

BPOV

"Why must you ruin my life?" Chrissy asked, fainting dramatically into my arms. I lifted her easily, carrying her drunk ass bridal-style over to Jason's waiting car.

"I'm not ruining your life. It would have never worked between you," I informed her.

"I can tell just by looking at him that he's a freak in the sack. I would have had the best fuck of my life," she argued.

"It wouldn't have worked, Chrissy. He wouldn't have gone home with you," I insisted.

"Why is that?" she challenged as I set her down on the pavement.

"Because he's single," I shrugged, as if that explained everything. To me, it did.

"I don't get it."

"Well he's either looking for a quick fuck or looking for a long-term relationship. If he wanted a quick fuck he could've gone home with any of the whorebags in the bar. Including you," I teased. She grinned, knowing it was true. "But he didn't."

"What if he wants a challenge?" she asked, trying to blow my theory. I gestured for her to come closer, like I was going to tell her a secret. The fresh air had amplified the effects of the several vodkas I'd had that night, and I was feeling… a little intoxicated to say the very least.

"If he'd offered, I would have gone in the back room and fucked his brains out," I whispered drunkenly. We both burst into giggles at that, slapping each other a sloppy high-five while stumbling the rest of the way over. Nat was standing with her hands on her hips, looking seriously cranky and worried.

"Seriously, bub! Can't you count to five?!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. It was really adorable when she was angry.

"I didn't realise!" Jason defended, looking truly apologetic. How could she stay mad at him?

"Well someone's going to have to stay behind and wait so that we can all get home safely. I can't believe you brought both of them! You know we drove here with four people in the car!"

"Well we can squeeze everyone in. Bella's tiny, she only really counts for half a person," Jason tried, smiling hopefully. Nat wasn't having it.

"This is a small town with probably like 3 cops patrolling the streets at this time of night to catch out idiots like you who want to break the law!"

"I can take Bella back."

It was that warm, smooth velvety voice again. He'd obviously come out to see what the yelling was about. I felt my face light up as I whirled around to face him.

"Thanks!" I chirped, skipping over.

"No, no, no, Bella is coming with us," Jason insisted, looking completely intimidated by the gorgeous man standing next to me.

"It's okay, guys," I laughed, rolling my eyes. "I can take care of myself." To my surprise, when my friends chuckled at that comment, so did Edward. I turned to glare at him momentarily. He was going to ruin my chances of being alone with him.

"You know what? Why don't you lead the way back to the inn, Edward?" Natalie suggested, being diplomatic and safe at the same time. Gotta love Nat for her great thinking skills.

"That sounds like a great idea," Edward smiled, taking my hand and leading me down the road ever so slightly. "Here, catch," he said, throwing a helmet and jacket at me. We were standing next to a motorcycle. "Think they can keep up?" he asked after I'd climbed on behind him.

"I hope not," I mumbled, wrapping my arms around his stomach. My heart fluttered when he secured my arms around him tighter. He leaned back so that my lips were almost touching his ear.

"Ready?"

"Definitely."

The engine roared to life, and I felt safe with my cheek resting against his back as we were speeding our way towards home.

Ooooh sexy motorcycle Edward! Thanks once again for all your support and encouragement, guys! I really appreciate it :)