A/N: Ok, I've been slack and haven't posted for a couple of days again. I'm sorry. I've used Google to reference a few bits and pieces around Chicago, so hopefully I'm accurate!

Happy reading!

Chapter 23

I hung up with Edward and danced around my room, smiling to myself. I heard the front door open, followed by Alice's tinkly laugh and Jasper's corny guffaw. My smile grew as I walked out to spend some time with my two best friends.

"Judging by that grin, I'd say you've been talking to Edward," Jasper teased with a smile.

"Yep," I told them. "He's coming for the fourth and he's staying till the ninth. He's going to sit the bar exam and look for somewhere to live."

"He's moving?" Alice squealed. She raced over and grabbed me in a hug, then held my hands and made me jump around in a circle with her.

Once I caught my breath we sat down in the living room and I filled them in on my conversation with Edward. "He wants to move regardless of whether he gets the job at the hospital or not. He has to pass the bar here so he can practice and it's being held next month, so he's going to visit for a bit and look for a place while he's here…" I trailed off with another stupid grin.

"I think it's great Bella," Jasper said honestly. "That apartment in my building is going to be available as of next Monday, I can get you the info to pass on if you like?"

"That would be great Jazz, thanks." He really is a great friend. While we were in med school we shared one of the small dorm apartments to save on costs. He and Alice had met then but she was with a guy named James and Jasper was too focused on his studies to be looking at girls. When we finished school and Alice and I decided to get a place together, I floated the idea of Jazz living with us but she wasn't sure about living with a guy. He ended up finding a place closer to the city than us, in the same building as Emmett and Rosalie.

"How big is it? Is it like yours?" Alice asked.

"Yep, my floor is all two bedroom, I think that one is a bit bigger though because it's on the end," Jasper told us. His apartment was nice and homey. The kitchen was fairly small but he had a couple of stools at the bench. There was a combined living and dining room where he had a small dining table pushed up against the wall. The main bedroom was fairly big with a walk-in wardrobe and a view of the street, and the second bedroom was a bit smaller. It was set up as a study but I knew Alice would take over with her sewing stuff pretty soon. The bathroom was a decent size with an over-bath shower and a small vanity. There was no laundry and Jasper had a phobia of using communal washing machines so he used ours. I didn't really mind – between the two of us we could do a full load of scrubs. And in return, he did most of our ironing for us – something Alice and I both avoided like the plague.

I tuned out their conversation for a few minutes while I pictured how Edward would set up his place. I was brought back to reality by Alice snapping her fingers in front of my face.

"Earth to Bella!" she giggled. "I was saying something in the kitchen smells good – is there enough for us?"

"My soup!" I jumped up and ran into the kitchen. My soup was still simmering away so I turned it down and quickly made some toast. I ladled soup into three bowls and called Alice and Jasper into the kitchen.

"Smells good Bells…what is it?" Jasper asked. He wasn't being rude, just curious.

"It's spicy Thai pumpkin…the one with the peppers in it," I told him as I took a taste.

"It's perfect Bella!" Alice told me. "Is there going to be enough for leftovers?"

"Isn't there always?" I teased her. "And there's still Thai food in the fridge from the other night…Shit!"

"What's wrong?" they asked together as I jumped up and ran into the living room where I'd left my bag.

I walked back into the kitchen with the container of leftovers I'd packed for lunch and not eaten. "I forgot I packed lunch this morning when I ate with you guys," I said to Alice. "I'm thinking it's not going to be real healthy any more!"

I quickly tipped it into the rubbish and rinsed the container before putting it in the dishwasher. I sat back down and kept eating my soup as Alice filled Jasper and me in on her plans for her business.

"I'm going to keep it simple, call it 'AC Design'. The stuff I was working on today is going to be my launch range and Rosalie is going to be my promo model. I won't be able to pay her much at first but she's going to keep working in other places, just not for underwear companies."

"Maybe Edward can draw you up some sort of contract?" Jasper suggested. Alice looked horrified so he quickly went on, "I know she's your friend, and you trust her, but I just want you to be careful."

"I don't think she'd object, Al. I mean, she's got a contract at Victoria's right? Which reminds me, how's she getting out of that?" I wondered aloud.

"Easy! She only signed on for six months initially, they've got no rights to her in exactly ten days!" Alice said gleefully. "And she's already spoken to Emmett about it, he's making enough that she doesn't need to be working, her money is just a bonus for them."

"So tell me about this range," Jasper prompted. "Will I get to test drive it?"

"Ew!" I yelped. "I don't wanna know!"

Alice giggled and then said, "No, Jazz, you don't get to test drive it…Edward does! Bella has inspired me!"

She gave Jasper the spiel she'd given Rose and I earlier in the day.

"So you're calling it 'Seduce' because Bella wants to seduce Edward? And you're calling the set 'Bella'? Don't you think it's a bit obvious?" He looked confused.

"Silly Jasper, Bella means beautiful!" Alice rolled her eyes. "At least, that's the marketing plan! Rosalie has asked for a red and black set too with some lace on it, so I'm calling that one 'Rose'."

"And I don't want to seduce Edward," I muttered under my breath.

"Sure you do!" Alice corrected me. "That's why I'm going to have your set finished by the time you go to Chicago next weekend!"

"You're going to Chicago? Does Edward know?" Jasper sounded surprised.

"I want to surprise him," I said, my cheeks going red. "I have to work next Saturday so I've booked a late flight, I fly out of here at eight o'clock. Then I'm flying back late on the Wednesday so I can work on the Thursday."

"And then Edward arrives on the Friday!" Alice finished for me. "It's all just too perfect."

"Have you found somewhere to stay on the Saturday night, or are you going to turn up to Edward's late?" Jasper asked the question I hadn't even answered to myself.

"I think I'll book a hotel, at least for the Saturday night," I decided out loud. "Then I can surprise him on Sunday, and if he doesn't want me to stay with him I'll just book a room for the rest of my stay."

Jasper stood and collected our now-empty bowls, rinsed them and placed them in the dishwasher. "You should have a look for places tonight Bella, a lot of places don't take short bookings for a late check-in," he advised.

"Good plan, and we'll find somewhere for you to take him to dinner too!" Alice chirped.

"I guess that's my cue to leave," Jasper teased. "Thanks for dinner Bella!"

"Wait a sec, you guys went out for dinner! That's what you said when you met us at Victoria's!" So why had they both just eaten soup?

Alice blushed and looked at her feet. Wait, Alice never blushed. What's going on? I asked myself.

"Well, we kind of went back to Jasper's…and didn't make it to dinner," she mumbled.

"Too much information!" I blurted loudly. "I'm going to go find a place to stay in Chicago. Night Jazz!"

I went into my bedroom and turned on my laptop, sitting on the floor with my back against Edward's side of the bed. I loaded Google and typed in 'accommodation Chicago' just as Alice came in.

"Find somewhere nice?" she asked as she sat next to me.

"Not yet." We looked at the different hotels and I eventually settled on the Intercontinental. "What?" I asked as Alice's eyes bugged out of her head.

"It's expensive, is what," she retorted.

"Hopefully I'll only be there one night, and I haven't spoiled myself in ages," I told her. "Maybe I'll book two nights, and Edward can join me there Sunday night after dinner in one of the restaurants?"

"That sounds perfect Bella!" Alice was suddenly swayed. "You should get a room with an in-room spa."

I smiled at that and made the booking, charging it to my seldom-used credit card. "Done!"

"Ooh! I just had a thought…I should make Edward a pair of boxers to sleep in that match your range!" I could almost see the lightbulb go on over Alice's head. "I'll have to call mum and find out what size underwear she bought him at Christmas last year…that'll give me something to go by…"

"You're crazy, but I think it's a great idea," I told her as she bounced up off the floor. She offered me her hand and pulled me to my feet. I put my laptop on the bed and followed Alice out to the living room, where she pulled her prototypes out of her bag.

"Stay here," she commanded me as she raced to her bedroom.

She was back in a flash with a bolt of the blue and silver fabric she'd picked for me, along with a bag full of bits and pieces. "Can I set up my sewing machine on the dining table?" she asked.

"I don't see why not," I replied.

Ten minutes later the machine was set up and Alice was cutting out what looked like the camisole pieces. "Bella, in that bag there's another bag with some silver lacy material in it, can you get it for me please?"

I dug around in the bag and found the smaller bag. The silver lace was beautiful. I handed it over and Alice expertly pinned it to the front of the camisole she'd pinned together. "Come here for a sec, I want to see if it's the right size."

I walked over to her and stood still while she held it up. It was amazing how she worked – so quickly but so precisely. "I'm going to go and sew this together, then you're going to try it on so I can hem it properly. Don't go anywhere!" she warned.

I sat down and shot a glance at the clock. It was almost 10pm but I didn't mind. I didn't have to work until late the following evening so I'd sit up with Alice while she tinkered, then get up early and then have a nap before work the next day.

Ten minutes later Alice came back in and threw the almost-complete camisole to me. "Go try it on, wear a t-shirt bra under it so I can see if I need to pad yours or not."

I did as I was told and loved the way it felt on my skin. Alice had sewn a thin satin lining into it so it didn't cling to my skin, but moved with me when I walked.

"It's perfect!" she squeaked as I walked back into the living room. "Turn around."

I did a little turn on the spot and ended up facing her with a big smile on my face. "I love it!" I told her.

"Stand still," Alice directed as she came at me with a mouthful of pins. She quickly hemmed it so it rested just above my jeans. "Ok, take it off, be careful not to stab yourself!"

I quickly changed again and took it to her. She was on the floor in the living room again, working on the nightgown. The silver satin was beautiful – it looked like it was almost liquid, the way it flowed over the floor. I sat on the couch as watched while Alice worked. Not realising it myself, I let out a yawn.

"Go to bed Bella, I'll leave you a surprise for in the morning," Alice laughed as she jumped up with a pinned-together nightgown in her hands.

"Yes mother," I teased as I gave her a quick hug before heading to my room. I feel asleep to the humming of Alice's sewing machine to dreams of Edward in silver satin boxers.