So, ForbiddenWords just went through surgery today. It went well and they will get the tissue samples back next week. Wish her a wonderful and speedy recovery!!!

The next day finally came, and Bella was learning her lines for the next performance. They were doing Romeo and Juliet. However, there was nobody to play Romeo. Jacob and Jasper were introducing people as she read her lines.

"Who do you suppose will show up?" Alice pondered as she lay on Bella's bed. Bella looked over and shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know. Maybe somebody rich." Bella said; that wasn't uncommon. A wealthy person usually acquired most of the good roles, whether they were skilled or not.

"D'you know that Jasper's rich?" Alice asked. Bella looked over and cocked her head to the side.

"You know that isn't what I meant, Alice. Jasper is different; something's tells me he has come from a troubled background."

"Actually, he hasn't."

"What?" Bella asked. Alice sat up, crossing her legs in an Indian style position.

"Jasper's family has always been rich. He's the youngest, and he was engaged once, but ... she died, he told me he never loved her, it was a marriage of convenience." Alice explained, her blue eyes wondering down to her lap. She must have been jealous.

"Oh, well he's not a twit about it; he's actually rather nice. I think he's just got a better grip of our world's situation." Bella said, her words all jumbled up. She didn't know what she had meant to say. She didn't even think what she said made any sense.

"Huh?" Alice asked. That confirmed it – Bella was not making any sense.

"I've no clue." she replied and began to giggle with Alice. Alice started to hold her stomach because of the pain of laughing caused her.

"Are you all right?" Bella asked. Alice nodded her head.

"Yeah, it's this dress Jasper insisted on buying me. He wanted me to wear it today, and the corset is very tight.." Alice said struggling to loosen it.

"You don't need a corset; your already as thin as a bean pole," Bella replied, helping her loosen it.

"Jasper likes me in them. I think it's the extra boost it gives my bust," Alice said, giggling as she looked down at her very perky breasts. Bella gave a laugh too; that was probably why.

"Ahh, men," Bella mused. Alice nodded her head in agreement, still giggling.

"What about men?" someone asked. Rosalie stood in the corner of the door way of Bella's room.

"They're so... men-ish." Alice said rolling her eyes, smiling like a big baboon.

"That they are. Where did you get that dress, Alice?" Rosalie asked, looking at her skeptically.

"Jasper."

"He's buying you all those things. I don't think it's right..." Rosalie said, thinking. Alice stood up.

"I told him not to, but anything I show an interest in, he buys." Alice explained. Rosalie's set face became a large smile and she clapped her hands, and in a girly fashion began to jump up and down.

"Rose?" Bella asked in a concerned voice.

"Oh my, don't you see, Alice, Jasper is in lovewith you!" Rosalie said. Alice's face became nothing more than a beacon of elation.

"He is? He is!!!" Alice began to hop like her mother was. Bella smiled.

"Oh my, Alice, what if he proposes?!" Bella said, which in turn made her jump up and down with the rest of them, suddenly a clear of the throat startled them all, and it was none other than Jasper Hale himself.

"What is it?" Jasper said, looking around, "is there a bug?" Those words caused a roar of laughter from the girls. Rosalie was the first to straighten up.

"No, no, just a bit of girl talk." Rosalie said, smiling, "there something you have to say, Mr. Hale?" Rosalie asked still smiling, probably picturing Jasper as her son-in-law.

"Just wanted to tell you ladies that there is a Romeo." Jasper said smiling; Bella looked over and so did Alice, pulling them out of their sudden elation.

"Who?" They asked in unison.

"Seth Clearwater." Jasper paused, "an old friend of Jacob's, and, I'm sorry Bella, but you wont be Juliet." Jasper added. Bella looked over in shock.

"Who will?" Bella asked politely, and out of curiosity.

"Alice." Jasper said smiling at Alice. Alice looked at him in shock, and smiled, a small blush becoming visible.

"Me?" Alice asked. Trying to be sure she heard him right.

"Yes, darlin', you." Jasper confirmed. Alice began to jump, managing to bounce right into Jasper's strong arms. "Are you pleased?" Jasper asked, "I didn't know if Bella would be all right with this..."

"I'm fine with it, Jasper. As long as I get to play her mother," Bella mused. Jasper nodded.

"Agreed. Alice, dear, are you happy?" Jasper asked, looking down at the small girl who still had her tiny frame wrapped in to his muscularly large one.

"You've no clue how happy you've made me, Jasper." Alice paused, kissing his cheek. "Thank you!" she said, and she kissed his check once more.

This became a shock to Jasper; never had Alice kissed him, never. She's hugged him plenty of times, and that had still come as a small shock to him when she'd wrap herself around him, but this, this was a bigger surprise.

A small blush crept up on Jasper's face. "You're certainly welcome," Jasper said, touching where she had kissed him, a small smile forming on his face.

"Uhm, Jasper, would you like to stay for dinner?" Rosalie asked, it was almost a quarter 'til five.

"I'd love to, thank you." Jasper said. Rosalie nodded and walked out of the room. There stood Bella, reading her lines, and Jasper, staring at Alice, and Alice staring at Jasper.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -After Dinner- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Bella, can you believe Jasper, he's amazing. Daddy loves him, Ma loves him. You love him, Bella, he's perfect!" Alice said smiling. Bella smiled too and stopped at her door.

"Yes, he is absolutely perfect for you, Alice," Bella agreed, smiling at her overjoyed friend. Alice's smile fell, and she looked at Bella with concerned eyes.

"Are you all right, Bella?" Alice asked. Bella nodded her head and sighed.

"Just tired, I'm going to retire early tonight. Much earlier than you wanted, I'm sorry Alice." Bella murmured. Alice nodded her head in understanding.

"It's okay, Bella, I'll see you tomorrow. We start practicing tomorrow. I bet Jacob will ask you out." Alice wiggled her eye brows at her friend. Bella blushed and shrugged.

"He might."Bella said, as she closed her door she sighed a large sigh. "Angel, Edward, I need you," Bella muttered. She found it hard to be away from him for more than a few hours. It was painful.

"Yes, love?" Edward said, as he appeared on her bed. His hands lay folded at his abdomen and he had his legs crossed at the knees. A smile played at his lips, and he looked at Bella endearingly.

"I missed you." Bella stated. She started to cuddle up to her cold Edward. "You're always so cold." Bella said, and Edward began to move away, "I like it." Bella said quietly, trying not to upset him.

"Do you want to come to your palace today?" Edward asked. Bella looked up at him and shrugged.

"Not now, I'm tired," Bella answered, cuddling up to him as far as she could. "I wanted to ask you something." She looked into Edward's orchard eyes. He nodded in agreement.

"What is it, love?" Edward asked. His arm snaked its way around Bella, holding her firmly in his arms.

"You are perfect, like Alice's Jasper..." Bella began, "will we get married?"

"I am not sure..." Edward said quietly. He had never expected to marry Bella, but to make her his own, which was almost the same thing. "Do you want to be married?"

"I want what you want, Edward." Bella stated. Edward looked into her eyes and wanted to tell her everything, tell her that he is a bloodsucking Vampire, to tell her that he is really a monster, a monster who was helplessly in love with her, a monster who could never show Bella his face... Never.

"Sleep, that is what I want Bella. I want you to sleep – you are exhausted, and I hear that your best friend has the leading role. You'll have to help her. You need rest for that." Edward said, Bella smiled and nodded.

"Good night, Edward. I love you." Bella said as she closed her eyes. He smiled down at his love.

"I love you, too, Bella."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Two Weeks Later- - Romeo and Juliet Performance- - - - - - - - - - - - -

"For you have slain Marcutio, and for that Tibalt, you must die!" Seth bellowed as he ran after the other boy, Sam.

The audience sat awestruck at the new lead male, and they watched as the woe-full tale of Romeo and Juliet played out in front of them – all of the violence, all of the romance, all of the death. Bella couldn't help but put that into play with her real life. All the death, violence, but then again, there was Edward, there was hope, romance.

Love.

Then, there was Jacob, somebody who she loved but was not sure if she could love again. And why should she try? There was Edward, there was love, there was passion. Edward could carry a tune, Jacob, she was sure, could not. Edward had everything that she needed. Everything she wanted. Jacob was everything proper, everything that would be expected of her. Edward was not.

Before Bella's very eyes the show had ended so quickly, and Alice raced up to her still in the gown of Juliet.

"Did I do well?" Alice asked. Bella smiled at her friend and hugged her tightly.

"You did." Bella said smiling.

"I am so excited! Jasper says we are going to go gown shopping tomorrow!" Alice said smiling. Bella wore a bewildered look.

"For what?"

"The Spring Ball, Bella. It's next week." Alice said. Bella looked at Alice with worried eyes.

"I've nothing to wear," she said hopelessly.

"Good thing Jacob insists on buying you something again, huh?" Alice said, taking her friends hand and leading her to their dressing room.

"He does?"

"Yes, you are going with him, aren't you?" Alice asked in a worried tone, Bella nodded her head and smiled.

"Yes, I am." Bella said smiling, but in the back of her mind, she wanted it to be Edward. Edward, she wanted, the one that would take her away, marry her, and love her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -The Next Day - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Bella!" Alice shrieked happily just after breakfast. "C'mon, it's time."

"Time for what?" Bella asked, laughing a little.

"Did you forget already? Gown shopping, of course!" The pixie-like girl grinned merrily and a tinkling laugh drifted from her throat. "Oh, I am so excited."

"Oh, yes. Gown shopping," Bella said. "How silly of me to forget." Alice's laughter was infectious and soon Bella was smiling just as brightly as her friend.

"Jasper!" Alice called. The tall, blonde man walked around the corner, smiling amusedly. "Time to leave."

"As you wish, love," he replied.

As Bella, Alice, and Jasper left the Opera House to select their gowns for the Spring Ball that was only a week away, Jacob was occupied with other matters – sealing off the tunnels that led to Bella's bedroom.

He had hired four exceptionally built workers for the job. They weren't afraid of getting dirty and would get the job done quickly and successfully. Jacob led them into the basement of the Opera House and towards where he saw an opening just large enough for a full grown man.

Why hadn't he seen that before this?

"I want this to be completely sealed off. Fill the entire passageway with brick and mortar, tightly packed," he ordered. The workers nodded, used to the curt instructions. "I don't want anything to get through there. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," they answered simultaneously.

"Good, now get to work."

Jacob left them, ascending the stairs and back into the warmer, more normal parts of the Opera House. It unnerved him to be in the dark, cavernous basement. Just like all other parts of the large building that he lived in, everything about it was oversized, and the basement was no exceptions. Although it lay under only half of the Opera House, it was still large. The catacombs filled the other half. And why was it always so god dammed cold down there?

The workers began to prepare the mortar and lay the first bricks. "Damn, cocky bastard," one muttered. "I'm getting tired of being spoken to like a boy. Do I look like a boy?"

Even though it was a rhetorical question, the largest worker answered. "That's what Stephanie said." He smirked. The other worker froze and glared at him.

"That was one time. And she's never getting anywhere near me with my pants down again. Sick little bitch."

Then a deep, commanding voice interrupted their light argument. "I would appreciate it if you gentlemen would stop your work on this tunnel. It is essential to this Opera House. So if you would kindly remove yourselves..."

The four workers whirled around to see who had spoken. The hair on the back of their necks rose in a kind of superstitious fear. They were met with a sight that turned their blood cold in their veins.

In the shadows of the basement, there stood a tall man. His eyes were dark gold, almost bronze, and they stared hard at the four workers.

"I'm getting paid for this job," one spoken, the smallest. "Go tend your own business, mister before I make you." The man turned back to his job placing the mortar down and stacking a brick on top of it.

"Yeah, get lost," the biggest one shot back, emboldened by the other's brazen nature.

"I will only ask you four gentlemen one more time," the dark figure said patiently through gritted teeth. "Step away from the tunnel and leave."

"No, asshole."

Edward bent into a fighter's crouch and let out a warning growl, watching the men's eyes widen with fright. He launched himself towards them.

"Oh, shit!" one hissed in both awe and shock.

"I said leave!" Edward hissed, shooting daggers at them with deadly eyes. He was in no mood for games. These stupid humans had tried his patience for the day. These stupid, insignificant mortals had pressed his buttons and they were going to pay for the filthy names they had called him.

The men struggled to leave the basement, scrambling up the steps. Edward went after them. He made sure that he was still in control of the thirst that ruled his existence. He didn't give himself completely over to that instinct to hunt. Holding back just enough that he was still coherent and sentient.

The men ran for their lives, a Vampire just behind them.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Women's Dress Shop - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Oh, Bella, that is beautiful," Alice breathed in awe.

Bella had just come out of the dressing room. It had taken her ten minutes to try the dress on. It was fit for a king's ball. It was made of dark green silk that seemed almost black in places from the way it rippled. The bodice was embroidered with black pearls and lace. The hem has decorated with the ebony pearls also. It had thick straps and a sweetheart neckline.

"It is, isn't it?" Bella whispered. Could that be her? The gown seemed only fit for a queen or duchess. Some type of royalty, not her. She was only a ballet dancer, nothing more.

But a ballerina that had Jacob Black paying for her gown.

Jake had insisted on buying whatever dress she chose. He had even sent money with Jasper since he couldn't be with Bella when she chose it. She felt slightly bad for picking out such an ornate dress.

"Bella, please tell me you're getting that," Alice said, looking seriously at her best friend. "You look absolutely phenomenal in it."

Again, ForbiddenWords just went through surgery so it would be wonderful if you could wish her a speedy recovery!! :D

And it would be wonderful if you reviewed. Thank you.

~ForbiddenWords & Oriana~