Edward

Bella ate and we paid the check and left. I walked with her, hand in hand, back to the hotel. Back in the room Bella went to the nightstand and pulled out a cell phone.

"I have to call Alice, "she explained. "Of course she already knows what is going on but if I don't call she gets upset."

She dialed the number and Alice picked it up after only one ring. I could hear Alice's trilling voice on the other line.

Bella! She said. You found him! I'm so glad! Jasper and I will be there in Denali when you get there Friday. I am so happy! Bella you are the best sister anyone could ever have! Thank you so much!

"Hello Alice," Bella said dryly. They were the first words she'd had a chance to say. "I'm happy too. And we will see you in Denali I guess." She laughed. "Tell Jasper I said hello. You know, I just realized I haven't seen him in over six months? I am going to have to come up with some Jasper and Bella stories to tell Charlie so he won't be suspicious. And since I know you won't be able to keep it a secret, tell Carlisle and Esme and everyone else that I said hello."

I will Bella. See you soon! Bye!

Bella closed the phone, shaking her head and laughing. "Alice."

I thought about something she had said.

"I thought Jasper and Alice both brought you here."

"No, Alice flew with me to the airport here, and then she got on a different plane to go meet Jasper in Santiago."

"Why didn't they travel together?" It seemed strange to me for them to take two different flights.

"I don't know. I wondered about it too but Alice just said that Jasper had gone on ahead to get things ready." She shrugged.

That excuse sounded flimsy to me and I thought I knew why Jasper would not want to travel with Bella. After the incident he had been very upset. He was mortified that he might have actually killed Bella and angry with himself for losing control. After we had left Forks he had worried that I would blame him for everything that had happened. I didn't and I had told him that but I could imagine that he did not want to see Bella right now and be reminded. I hoped that he would be able to get over it soon. I hated the thought of him suffering so much and Bella was going to be around more often. If he was torn up by guilt it would make things very uncomfortable for him.

"So according to Alice we are going to be in Denali on Friday." Bella said, pulling me from my reverie. "That gives us two more days before we have to leave."

"Yes, I plan on showing you some of the local culture before we go. I will call the airlines to see what flights they have open. Though I am willing to bet there is a flight out on Friday." I laughed. If Alice said we would see her on Friday then there was a flight, guaranteed.

"Alright," she said. "While you do that I will go ahead and take a shower." She kissed me on the cheek before retrieving her bag of toiletries and some pajamas from a drawer.

She closed the door of the bathroom and I pulled my phone out of my pocket. There was a call I wanted to make before I called the airlines. I dialed the number and he picked up on the second ring.

Edward, Carlisle said. I am glad to hear from you again, son. How are you?

"Better than I have been in a long time."
Yes, Alice called and told us. I am so happy for you Edward. And Bella too.

"Thanks Carlisle. You were right. Being apart only hurt the both of us. But we are together now and that is all that matters. According to Alice we are going to be there on Friday so we will see you then. Please give my love to Esme.

I will. And tell Bella that we look forward to seeing her again. She has brought you back to us and we can never repay her for that. We will see you soon. He hung up.

I called the airlines and arranged a flight out for Bella and me on Friday morning. I could hear the water being turned off in the shower and I sat down on the bed to wait. As I sat there, I contemplated what Carlisle had said. We all, myself included, owed Bella a huge debt of gratitude. If not for her strength I would still be wallowing in despair and still hurting my family with my absence. She had brought my family back together and I was very thankful.

Bella opened the door to the bathroom and steam came flowing out into the room. Her scent was magnified by the warm water but the ache in my throat was very dull. I did not crave her blood with the same madness I once had. I wondered why that was. I did not have much time to think about it though. Bella came out of the bathroom and when I looked at her all my thoughts were driven from my head.

She was wearing a silky camisole top and shorts set. It was in a beautiful shade of periwinkle blue. Her long dark hair was around her shoulders and her skin was slightly pink from the hot water. She was absolutely breathtaking. She caught me staring at her and blushed. The color of her skin was gorgeous. I had to clear my throat before I could speak.

"I don't think I have ever seen you wear that before." My voice sounded husky even to me. I cleared my throat again.

She blushed a brighter pink. "No, it is new. Alice stole all my clothes and replaced them with new ones."

I would have to find a way to thank Alice one day.

She pulled back the blanket on the bed and lay down next to me. By necessity we kept the blanket between us; my skin was so cold she would have been freezing otherwise. But I compensated by pulling her up against me. I stroked her damp hair from the top of her head to her waist. She laid her arm over my stomach and snuggled up to my chest.

"Were you able to find a flight out?" she asked.

"Yes, for Friday morning. I also talked to Carlisle and they are expecting us."

"I've missed him and Esme," she sighed. Then she yawned.

"Okay," I said, "time to sleep." I reached over and turned off the lamp beside the bed.

"Edward?"

"Yes, my love?"

"Will you kiss me goodnight?" How could I deny such a request?

"If I must," I pretended to sigh.

She lifted her head and I pressed my cold lips against her warm soft ones. I felt her heartbeat start to pick up and she reached up and traced the line of my jaw with her fingertips. I pulled her more tightly to me and kissed her more urgently. I reached into the soft mass of her still-damp hair and held her in my kiss. She felt so good against my body. Her fingers tunneled into my hair. I could feel my control starting to slip. I had been away from her too long and my self-control was hanging only by a few threads. I knew I had to stop this before either of us got too carried away. I could not live with myself if I ever hurt her. I gentled the kiss and disentangled her from my hair. She gave a soft groan of disappointment. I understood exactly how she felt.

"Alright, time for you to rest." She pouted at me and I had to laugh at her expression. "I know, my love, but I only have so much self control. Now get some sleep."

She sighed and lay back down next to me. I started to hum her lullaby to her and she soon her eyes began to drift closed. Her breath became more even and she was soon asleep.