The Way Back Home07/03/2009 15:22:00

Chapter 13 Alice's Moment (Edward POV)

After our game of miniature golf when Bella offered me half of our winnings, my mind started kicking into motion. In my mind I wanted to tell Bella that I never wanted her to worry about money. That I had more than enough money to leave my next 10 generations wealthy. Most of all I wanted to tell her that I wanted to take care of her and that whatever I had was hers.

I was filled with questions. Why did I feel so strongly for this woman? Why do I lose myself in her eyes? Why are all of my thoughts surrounding her?

Bella brought out things in me that I had never experienced before.

Old Edward would never have considered fingering a woman in public place. Old Edward did not even show public displays of affection. Old Edward did not smile as much, and he sure as hell did not laugh as much. Old Edward's heart never felt at a loss when he left a woman after an evening together. Old Edward never wanted to wake up in bed next to any woman.

What is happening to me?

I then came to a realization. I didn't want to stop feeling like this. I enjoyed knowing that someone wanted me, the way I wanted them.

It was Bella, all Bella.

I watched her as she walked ahead with my brother's. Throwing her head back laughing. She turned and looked at me and smiled. Her smile had such an effect on me. If I could inflate my heart, I would be floating. I want Bella, not just for now, forever. I definitely need to talk to Carlisle.

My mind continued to wander as I felt Bella's hand wrap around mine.

"What going on in that handsome head of yours? You have been quiet for a while now?" She asked.

What do I say, just that I am thinking that I want to spend the rest of my life with you! Yeah, like that would go over well.

"Just thinking about you." Way to edit Edward, just ask her to marry you now. I visualize kicking myself in the ass.

I look at her and she just smiles. She lets go of my hand and wraps her left arm around my waist as we walk. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and kiss her head. Her hair smells so good. As I am pondering the possible scent when I hear a scream from behind me.

"I want to go on the Ferris wheel!" Rosalie was pointing at the large Ferris wheel in front of us.

"Your wish is my command." Emmett picked Rosalie up and threw her over his shoulder and carried her towards the ride.

I looked at Bella and she laughed and shrugged her shoulders. "Why not." I pulled her in closer and whispered in her ear.

"Are you going to protect me, you know I kind of have this thing with heights?'"

She looked at me surprised. Then a sly smile came across her face and she grabbed my hand and walked forward saying.

"Oh, don't worry Edward, I will take good care of you."

We gave the attendant our tickets and waited for our carriage. Bella was excited as the man gestured for us to come forward.

He placed the long bar across our laps and winked at Bella.

"Have a fun ride." I felt the anger begin to rise when Bella bent over and kissed me on my cheek.

"Oh don't worry we will." Bella replied. The anger I was feeling completely vanished as I looked at her. It seemed that she always knew what to do to make me feel better.

The man gave me a quick glance and stepped off the platform.

We suddenly jerked forward and began to rise.

"How are you feeling Edward? Are you doing okay?" She asked.

I felt my nerves begin to frazzle as we began our descent. I grabbed Bella's hand and squeezed.

"Wow you really do have a thing with heights, don't you? Maybe I can do something to help."

I looked over the side and realized that we were pretty high.

Suddenly I felt Bella's hand rub against my thigh. I went to look at her and was met by her lips against mine.

As she kissed me her hand moved upward and undid the button on my shorts. She pulled down the zipper and moved her hands inside of my shorts. I felt her hand as she wrapped it around my shaft and began rubbing.

"Just relax Edward. I will take care of you." I did relax and my head fell back. When Bella touched me it felt so good. She then pulled it all the way out of my shorts and began using her thumb to circle around the head. I moaned deeply. Suddenly I felt Bella's soft wet lips wrap around me and I shuddered with delight.

I opened my eyes to see what she was doing and I immediately got harder. She was flicking her tongue against my head and it felt so good. Then she placed the whole head in her mouth sucking lightly. I almost lost it when she placed her hand around my shaft and was rubbing up and down while taking me into her mouth.

I felt my hips reacting to her motions. I placed my hand on her head and rubbed her hair. She quickened her pace and then she took me all the way into her mouth. Jeez I love this woman. It only took her doing that a few more times before I lost it. I felt it building up and I just couldn't hold it any longer.

"Bella, I'm going to cum, you better move" But she didn't move she took me in farther. I released and I felt her tongue against my shaft and I pulsed into her. She never backed away, and she took it all in. She then slowly released me from her mouth, but she started flicking her tongue across my head again. It felt good, too good. It was too much. I started laughing.

"Bella, what are you doing, ohhh, it feels so good, but it tickles at the same time."

She giggled, sucked my head one more time and placed me back into my underwear and zipped my shorts.

I looked at her and she was blushing. Was she embarrassed by what she just did?

I grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug. I held her for what seemed like hours until I heard someone clear their throat.

"Would you like to ride again, or are you going to get off now?"

I looked up at the same man from before. "We are done." I grabbed Bella's hand and guided her down the stairs.

"So Edward how was your first Ferris Wheel ride? Bella asked as she drank from her water bottle.

I picked her up and kissed her. "Bella, I think you have made me overcome my fear of heights, for good." She looked at me and laughed.

"Seriously Bella, that was well, the best, I mean ever and I don't know how to thank you." She blushed again and I grabbed her face in my hands.

"Bella, I don't know how I ever lived my life without you." I kissed her gently and she ran her hand across my cheek.

"Me either Edward"

"Hey, why was your carriage rocking back and forth Edward?" I looked up just as Rosalie was smacking Emmett on the back of his head. Jasper and Alice were laughing. Emmett rubbed the back of his head and laughed too.

"I guess I need to learn how to edit, huh Rosie." Emmett pretended to sulk his head and Rosalie kissed him on the cheek.

Alice walked up beside Emmett and said "if we are done talking about Bella and Edwards love life we need to head back to start getting ready for dinner tonight."

Jasper took a look at his watch and became nervous. "Yeah we better get going." We all headed back to the car.

We reached the girls house a little later. "Be back here at 6 sharp Jasper." Alice crooned. "Of course I will Ali."

I reluctantly let Bella go to get ready and she giggled. "Silly man, I will see you in about 2 hours." I shook my head.

For some reason 2 hours was too long.

(Bella POV)

I hated to let Edward leave. I knew that before Edward left tomorrow we would need to have a long conversation.

The pier was a lot of fun. Being with Edward made me do things that I would never even dream of doing before. I felt so at ease and comfortable with him.

I knew I said that it was only 2 hours, but why did it have to feel so long. Just being away from him for a short amount of time hurt.

I got out of the shower and opened my bathroom door. I looked at my bed and saw the most beautiful dress. It was white and had black lace trim that adorned the bottom. It had a black chiffon waist that gathered at the waist and was embroidered with sequins.

Along with the dress Alice had chosen beautiful lingerie. All white lace.

I ran to Alice's room and she was already ready. She was giving herself a once over in the mirror and smiling. She had a perfect little black Audrey Hepburn cocktail dress. It was simple and had a high neckline, but on Alice it was breathtaking.

"Alice you look stunning." She turned to look at me and smiled.

"Ready to get your makeover Bella?" I laughed. "As ready as I am going to be."

It took Alice all of 30 minutes to beautify me. She left my hair in long big curls the splayed across my shoulders. Alice had a way of making me look like someone else. Someone that was actually pretty.

She shooed me away and I ran to my room to get dressed.

I put on my lingerie and dress. Alice had chosen a dangerous pair of black heels for me to wear. "Great Alice, white and high heels, great combo for Bella the klutz." I put the heels on and looked in the mirror. Not to shabby.

I heard a knock at the door and opened it to find Rosalie. She had on a long black strapless silk dress that had white embroidery along a long slit on her left side. "Wow, Rosie you look great."

"Thanks Bells. You look pretty damn good yourself. The boys are here so come down OK?"

"Yeah, let me just grab my clutch."

I grabbed my matching clutch from the dresser and slowly made my way down the stairs, praying for balance.

When I reached the bottom stair I looked up and found Edward staring at me with his mouth agape. "Bella, you look so…"

"Fuckin hot!" Emmett blared. That one qualified for 2 head smacks from Rosalie. "Sorry Bella. I mean you look very nice."

I laughed and took Edward by his hand. "Bella, you are so beautiful. I just. Geez Bella, you look so nice."

I watched him as he fumbled with his words and smiled. I checked out his tuxedo and nodded. "Not too bad yourself Dr. Cullen." He laughed and led me outside. There was a huge limo waiting for us in front of the house.

"I have never been in a limo before Edward." He looked at me surprised then smiled. "Then it definitely wont be the last."

We all got into the limo and started off towards the restaurant. Emmett opened a bottle of champagne and poured all of us a glass.

We all talked and laughed while drank and all too soon we arrived at the restaurant.

I was the last to step out of the limo and saw the small entrance. It was a small 2 story converted brownstone with gray brick. There were 2 large glass block bay windows on each floor. There was no name on the building and I thought that perhaps we had gotten the wrong address.

I turned to look at Edward. "Are you sure this is it?"

Jasper responded. "Oh yes, its small, but the food is first class and the service is personalized. Shall we go inside?"

He led Alice by her elbow inside. I was pleasantly surprised by the interior. It was very modern. All of the tables were dark wood and the walls were all bright and welcoming.

We were guided by a tall woman up a long flight of stairs to a large dining area. It had a long dark wood table adorned with white and lime green dishes and napkins. One whole side of the table was backed up to a long leather sofa and the other with 4 lime green stuffed chairs. There were rice lamps all over the room that gave it a warm ambiance.

Emmett, Rosalie, Edward and I were seated on the long couch, and Alice and Jasper were seated in the chairs.

I began to wonder how Jasper was going to pop the question.

Edward looked at me and smiled and grabbed my hand into his own. He rested them on my thigh.

We heard a door open and we all looked up. Carlisle, Esme and a man dressed in chef's clothing entered the room.

"Ah, I see all of my children have arrived. Esme please have a seat. Everyone I would like you to meet Chef Achatz, head chef and owner of Alinea. He will be preparing our meals tonight. We will be having the Tasting menu tonight."

Carlisle introduced all of us and when he introduced Jasper he gave him a quick wink.

Carlisle sat down and we began explaining our day. Carlisle laughed when we explained that Emmett was initially scared to go on the swings, and how Edward mysteriously overcame his fear of heights to go on the Ferris wheel.

I knew I blushed bright red then and Edward squeezed my hand.

A short brunette woman came out and stated that she would be our waitress for the evening.

Slowly small plates of food were brought out.

The first dish was a hot potato soup that I just about inhaled.

The second dish was cauliflower marinated in a tasty sauce along with Chilean sea bass.

The third dish was surf and turf. Lobster and pork of some kind. I liked it so much I stole a bite from Edward's plate. Funny thing was, he didn't even try to stop me.

The remainder of the meal was terrific. I had never tasted food with so many flavors before.

We had all just finished the final dish and were relaxing when Chef Achatz came out and sat at the end of the couch.

"So how was the meal?" We all responded by saying how great the food was. Emmett took it one step further and walked up to him and gave him a chest bump, shaking his head up and down before sitting back down.

We all got quiet for a moment and then erupted in laughter. Even Chef Achatz was tearing up. "Thank you for your compliments, all of you. I wanted to let you know that tonight we will be having cherries jubilee, which is a flaming dessert.

I had never had a "flaming dessert so this was going to be interesting.

(Jasper POV)

I knew that the ring was going to come out with the Cherries Jubilee.

Alice loved cherries.

I was so nervous. How would she respond? Would she say yes?

The waitress brought out everyone's dessert and began to place them on fire as she sat them in front of everyone.

Everyone received a dessert except for Alice.

The waitress noticed Alice looking around the table and quickly responded.

"Don't worry, your dessert will be right out." She ran out the door and into the kitchen."

Alice looked at me and smiled. She wasn't even upset. This was the woman that I loved. Other women would have been complaining and yelling at the waitress.

The waitress came out quickly and had Alice's dessert covered with a silver lid.

She placed the dessert in front of Alice and smiled. "Please enjoy your dessert, and I apologize for the delay."

Alice lifted the lid and dropped it on the table. She looked at the box that was laid on top of her dessert and was speechless.

I had to act. I got down on one knee and began to recite the poem I had found by E.E. Cummings

"Alice,

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in

my heart)

I am never without it (anywhere

I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)

I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

And this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)"

She turned to face me and I saw the tears well in her eyes.

"Alice, I carry you in my heart, always. You are my breath, you are my heart, you are my soul, and I want you with me always. Will you marry me?"

She was quiet, too quiet and I hung my head in defeat.

"Of course I will marry you Jasper. I thought you would never ask."

My head jerked up and I looked at her. She was crying and smiling. I embraced her and we both cried.

My family erupted in cheers and they all hugged us. We stood there, all of us just holding each other.

But all I saw, in that moment, was Alice.