A/N:Ok, so it's been forever since I updated. I really am sorry! This chapter is only short, and I apologise for that too! But good things come to those who wait – Bella and Edward will be together in the next chapter.

On a side note, I've done the whole JK Rowling thing and written the last chapter. My guess is there'll be 6 or 7 more chapters after this one before we get to the end.

And my Jasper story (which still doesn't have a title!) will hopefully go up a few days after the end of this one.

Happy reading!

Chapter 26

The next week passed in a blur. Work went back to normal, with a steady flow of patients for us to tend to. Dr Newton and Dr Mallory came back to work on Wednesday and were heavily supervised by the attendings when they were on the same shift.

Jasper and I were working a lot of the same shifts so we were having 'us' time again which was really nice. Alice dropped in when we were working nights, even surprising us with dinner one night. Thankfully she didn't cook but brought us Chinese take away. It was a fairly quiet night so we spent an hour eating and talking about Edward's upcoming move.

Jasper and I had taken a look at the apartment on his floor on Monday and I was really excited. It was a little bit bigger than Jasper's but the same basic layout. I took a couple of pictures with my phone and sent them through to Edward for a look, he called the agent and put in an application and was waiting to hear back.

And now it was Friday – the day before my trip. I'd not long arrived home from work to find Alice carefully wrapping a gift on the dining table. Her sewing machine was gone and there were five piles of blue and silver fabric on the table in its place.

"Come and sit down," she instructed me as I popped my head in to say hi.

"Can I shower first? Please?" I wheedled when she looked like I'd just run over her pet bunny.

"Five minutes then I'm coming and dragging you out!" she threatened with a grin.

I took a quick shower and was back in the dining room less than 10 minutes later.

"Very good," Alice said to me with a grin. "I've finished all your bits and pieces," she added with a grand sweep of her arm.

"Do I get to see, or is it just going to be piles for me to look at?" I teased.

"You get to look, you silly!" she giggled.

Alice moved to the first pile and held up a bra, a pair of bikini briefs, a g-string and a pair of boyshorts, all in the blue and silver material. "Yes?" she asked, seeing my grin.

"Yes," I replied. "They all look amazing!"

She carefully folded the garments and then moved to the second, much smaller pile. "Ta da!" she cried as she unfolded the camisole.

"It's gorgeous, Al!" I exclaimed.

"I know," she said with a wicked grin. "Make sure you pack jeans to wear it with – if you need it, that is…"

"I'm sure I'll find a use for it!" I told her.

"Next!" she announced, moving to the third, silver pile. She unfolded the silver satin nightgown I'd seen a week earlier in pieces and I nodded my approval. She then unfolded what I initially thought was a second gown. It wasn't.

"Oh Alice, it's beautiful!" I cried as she unfolded a robe to match everything else. It was the same silver satin as the nightgown, trimmed in the blue and silver fabric that my new underwear was made from.

Her smile grew even bigger as she folded them both carefully and moved to the fourth pile. I felt tears well in my eyes as she held up the most beautiful silver lace wrap, trimmed in silver satin. "You made this for me?" I asked as I moved over to take it in my hands.

"You're my best friend, Bella, and you inspired the range that's going to start my career. I wanted you to have something special to remember it by." Alice gently took the wrap from my grasp and turned it over, showing me a small row of deep blue embroidery.

I pulled it closer to my eyes and read, 'For Bella, my best friend and inspiration. Love Alice.'

The tears fell freely from my eyes then as I grabbed Alice into a fierce hug. I let her go after a couple of minutes to see tears on her cheeks as well. We laughed at each other as we wiped our eyes and then Alice smiled at me once again.

"If that made you cry, I don't know that I want to give you the last part…" she trailed off.

I looked at her, shocked. "There's more?"

She reached for the last pile on the table, unfolding a long, flowing dress made from the blue and silver she'd shown me on that first day. It had fine straps and a split running to what looked like just about knee-height up one side. I felt my jaw drop as Alice looked at me enquiringly.

"Do you like it?" she asked in a timid voice.

All I could do was nod.

She giggled and thrust it into my arms. "Go try it on – I want to make sure it's perfect."

I ran to my room and stripped off the pyjamas I'd put on after my shower. I slowly and carefully pulled the dress on and raised the zip. I took a quick peek at myself in the mirror before walking carefully back to the dining room.

When Alice saw me, she did the whole jump-up-and-down-and-clap-your-hands thing, accompanied by a high-pitched squeal. I felt my face mirror the grin spreading across hers, before she ordered me to take it off again so I didn't wreck it before my planned dinner with Edward on Sunday night.

I did as I was told and Alice walked into my bedroom a few minutes later with everything else neatly folded, and the small wrapped gift on top. "Get your suitcase out," she instructed.

I laid my old pink hard-shell suitcase on the bed and Alice and I spent the next fifteen minutes packing for my trip. All of my new things were carefully folded and packed, and Alice raced to her room when we were almost done and came back with a pair of strappy silver heels. "You have to wear these with that dress," she commanded, tucking them safely against the side of my suitcase.

I was about to thank her again for her help when my phone rang. Alice rolled her eyes as she headed for the door. "Tell lover boy I say hi," she teased as she closed the door behind her.

"Hi there!" I greeted him.

"Hi yourself! How was work today?" he replied.

"Same old, same old. I'm looking forward to a few days off," I told him, not giving anything away.

"Days off are always good – I'm looking forward to this weekend! I'm starting to pack, and I think the new tenant is going to move some of her stuff in," he said.

"She?" I queried. "And why is she moving in now?"

He laughed at me and for some reason it didn't make me feel any better. "She's not moving in, Bella, just bringing some of her stuff over. I contacted my realtor and he asked me to try and find someone to take over the lease. Tanya who works for me was looking for a bigger place because her sister is moving to Chicago so it all worked out really well."

"So she's not moving in?" I just had to clarify that point.

He laughed again and I started to feel more ok with the whole idea. "No sweetie, she's not moving in. She'll probably move in the weekend that I move out. There's only one woman in my life, and she's on the other end of the phone right now."

I blushed at his compliment, feeling more and more confident about my trip. Alice knocked on my door then and held up a sign reading, 'We need to finish packing so you can go on your dirty little weekend!'

I giggled and Edward asked, "What's so funny?"

"Just Alice," I replied. "She says hi, by the way."

"Crazy pixie," he chuckled. "Say hi back for me."

"I will," I said, faking a yawn so I could finish packing.

"You sound tired – what time do you work tomorrow?" I loved that he was all concerned.

"I start at 8 in the morning so I'll be up round half past six. I should probably go so I can do a few things before bed," I said, looking at the clock. It was just after 8pm but I knew Alice would take at least an hour packing my hair and makeup stuff.

"Ok. Well, you sleep tight and have sweet dreams, and if you need me you call me," he said softly.

"I will. You too. Be safe," I replied.

We hung up and I sat and grinned at my phone for a minute until Alice came charging in.

"Done? Good," she said, acting more like a military General than a pixie.

"Edward says you're a crazy pixie and to say hi," I reported.

"That's nice," she responded, still in General mode. "Let's get your makeup packed."

True to my prediction, it was well after 9pm by the time Alice decided I'd packed the perfect makeup and jewellery. We tucked my makeup case into my suitcase, closed the zip and snapped the locks.

"So," I started, turning to her. "Are you going to tell me what the wrapped present is?"

"Oh that!" she exclaimed, slapping herself on the forehead. "That's for Edward – boxers that match your nightgown. I thought you might like something to give him…other than yourself!"

"Alice!" I squealed, grabbing a pillow from my bed and hitting her with it.

"Kidding Bella, I know you guys are meant to be now," she soothed me. "Did you want me to come to the airport tomorrow night to bring the truck home?"

"I'm actually going from work. My flight is at seven thirty so Jazz offered to pick me up in the morning since we're on the same shift. I'll shower and change at work and he'll drop me out there." Seeing the crestfallen look on her face, I added, "You can always drive the truck to the hospital and come with us, and get Jasper to take you back past there after?"

"Yay!" she said, clapping her hands again. "How about I bring your suitcase down so you don't have to leave it at work all day?"

"Alice, the last time I left you alone with my suitcase I ended up with it being full of lingerie and bathing suits," I reminded her, thinking back to a trip we'd made in college. "I'll leave it in the trunk of Jasper's car."

"Spoil sport," she shot at me as she poked her tongue out and grinned. "I'll let you get your beauty sleep. See you in the morning!"

"Thanks Al. And thanks for the clothes and stuff – they really are amazing," I said sincerely as she walked out of my room.

I slid into bed and hugged Edward's t-shirt. I decided to take it back to him and swap if for a new one…this one was starting to smell more like my bed than like him.

I slept restlessly, waking just after 11 and again just after 3. I got up then and went to the bathroom, detouring for water in the kitchen on my way back to bed. I tossed and turned until 5:30 and then gave it up as a bad joke. I took a long, hot shower and dressed for work, taking the time to braid my hair. At 6am I was eating toast with peanut butter in the kitchen when I heard Alice shuffle in behind me.

"What are you doing up so early?" I asked her as she poured herself some coffee.

"Couldn't sleep – too excited for you, blah blah blah," she mumbled into her cup.

I knew she was being sincere, she was just tired. Alice has never been a morning person. I jumped up and pulled some bacon and a couple of eggs out of the fridge. When they were nearly done I toasted a couple of English muffins and served up breakfast.

We chatted some more about my trip while we ate and at 7am Jasper let himself in the front door. His eyes bugged out of his head when he saw Alice sitting at the counter, eating breakfast with me.

"Are you feeling ok?" he teased her as he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed the top of her messy head.

"Couldn't sleep," she informed him around a mouthful of muffin.

He grabbed himself a coffee and I gave them some alone time while I cleaned my teeth and got all my bits together for my flight. I hugged Alice on my way out the door, leaving her the key to my truck so she could meet us at the hospital.

I felt like I was stuck inside a faulty clock all day at work – the time seemed to fly, and then stop altogether.

"Bells? You with me?" Jasper teased as he snapped his fingers in front of my face.

"Huh? Oh, yeah." I shook my head to bring myself back to reality.

"It's five thirty – go have a shower and get yourself organized – I'll keep an eye on your crew," he said with a smile.

"You're the best, Jazz," I told him as I headed to the locker room.

At six on the dot we were on the way to the airport. Alice had arrived just before six and was waiting for us in the parking lot.

We arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare. Alice and Jasper came in with me while I checked in and then said goodbye as I headed for the gate. I watched the clock until the loudspeaker announced, "Attention all passengers. Flight 351 to Chicago is now boarding."