A/N: Anything Twilight related belongs to SM.

Safe Harbour

Chapter 4: Loving Meddler

Thursday

The drive from Seattle to Forks was long yet relaxing and somewhat therapeutic.

The dinner goes well. Mum and dad, Esme and Carlisle Cullen, are well and seem happy. While we eat and talk lightly, I notice their worried glances at me but I smile to reassure them. I don't think it works. As soon as we finish eating though, Ali and Rose take me up to my old room and we talk for an hour about what had caused my lack of communication and what had been going on. Since I worked with Jasper, Alice knew I hadn't been at work, but thankfully she hadn't told mum or dad.

I tell them about Demitri. About the embarrassing realisation that I wanted and needed to feel loved, instead of being in a simply physical, secretive… nope, it wasn't even a relationship. Fuck knows what to call what we had. Point is, I didn't want to be a…secretive…fuck buddy any longer.

I repeat what was said and done almost two weeks ago. Alice curses him and her cute angry face makes me smile. Rose looks like she actually wants to kill him. I'm not quite sure if I'd stop her.

When I'm finished and Rose says she has no other news since she'd spoken all about her baby and the pregnancy at dinner, Ali starts to tell me that she met a guy about a month ago. I interrupt to tell her Jazz won't be too happy about that. She laughs and punches my arm. "No you idiot, he's in one of my classes at U-dub. Anyway…Jazz has nothing to worry about…since the guy is gay. But, well you know…if you wanted I could set you guys up?"

I gave her a dubious look.

"Okay, so maybe right now you're not ready, but down the track…you never know. But I personally think you'd be great together! He's exactly you're type," she smiled. "Totally handsome, well-built, huge really, yet has a teddy bear quality going on, especially with those dimples! Oh and he's so funny and charming! One day I am going to introduce you two."

I chuckled quietly, although he sounded perfect, I knew I wasn't quite ready to meet someone.

That night I stayed in my room in my old king-sized bed, kept here in case I ever visited for a few nights. Rose slept silently behind me, our backs leaning against each other. It was the best sleep I'd had in over two weeks.

A month later…

Unlocking and opening the front door of my apartment back in Seattle, I race to get inside as I drop my briefcase and jog to my home phone, just in time to pick it up.

"Hello?" I answer, slightly panting. My phone had started ringing just as I exited the elevator on my floor.

"Edward? Are you alright?" Ali asked, curious and amused.

I chuckle, "I'm fine, just heard the phone ringing and had to rush inside to answer it. Just got home."

"Oh, right sorry. Yeah, I didn't know if you'd be home yet but since Jazzy has been home for an hour I figured you should he might have mentioned that you've been working longer hours…"

I forced myself not to sigh, "Yeah well, keeping busy I guess. Plus I've finished more cases ahead of time this way, though the boss has forced me to take some time off again. Says he doesn't want me in next week but that I'll still be paid."

I smile as she congratulates me on my good work.

"Well, that's very good timing…" she murmurs.

"Really, how?" I ask curious. Making my way to my bed, I lift my feet up on to the opposite knee, one after the other, to remove my shoes and socks.

"Well starting now we have a study break for the next two weeks. And I was thinking about spending the first one in Forks with mum and dad. I also planned it with Rose and, since she's on her maternity leave now, we organised to go together. You wanna come to?" she asked excitedly.

I chuckle quietly.

"Please! Oh come on, it will be fun. We'll make a road trip out of it!"

Her excitement has influenced me and I can't think of a good reason why not to go. What else would I do anyway?

"Sure Ali, sounds like fun," I smile.

"Yay! Well I was going to call mum now anyway so I'll let her know you're coming too!"

"Okay. Do you want to plan for you and Rose to come to mine on Monday morning and then I'll drive us?"

"Yeah sounds good, we'll get either Jazz or Jacob to drop us off…about eight?"

Jacob was Rosalie's husband.

"Yeah, okay eight o'clock on the dot. See ya then munchkin."

"Awesome! K bye!"

I haven't smiled as much in the last month, as I did during our five minute conversation. But that's just how it is with Ali, just being around her makes you happy and excited.

Wednesday

Today was our third day in Forks. And I was actually having fun.

Rose, Ali and I hadn't spent so much time together in a few years. And I hadn't seen either of them since I came over for dinner a month earlier. Every time I saw my sisters again though, I was reminded of how much I love and care for them, and vice versa. Mum and dad were really glad I came to visit them as well, they missed me as much as I missed them.

Ali was still harping on about this 'perfect, handsome guy' in her class as we continued our little stroll in Port Angeles. We'd just seen Hangover II at the little cinema and wanted to get a bite to eat for dinner before heading back.

"Well I like the sound of him, maybe you could just have him over at mum's sometime this week? And coincidentally, Edward and I can be there and meet him?" Rosalie asks.

"Wait, hold the phone. Why would he come here?" I question. Certainly he wouldn't come all the way from Seattle just for a day's visit?

Ali sighs, "Duh silly, haven't you been listening to me? I told you, his family lives here. And he's staying here for the study break."

I narrow my eyes at her, "You planned this you little pipsqueak! You made me come here just so that I could meet him, didn't you?"

She smiles, seemingly innocently, but I know her better than that. "Look I only found out he was here a couple of days ago. Not before I planned to come here and not before I invited you to join us. Okay? I knew his family lives here, but I didn't know what he was doing for study break."

"Right," I mutter.

Devious. Meddling. Sister.

A/N:

Ever had someone meddle or set you up with something/someone?

Unfortunately no. Think I need an Alice in my life to help me!

Thanks for reading.