BACK!!!!! :3

Okay, so I just saw the beginning of CSI: Miami, and this couple was falling off a bridge, screaming, but APPARENTLY were too stupid to open the door and jump out BEFORE it hit the water. .

ANYWAYS!!!!

My computer is being a butt, and I can hardly go on the internet cause it's really, REALLY slow, and it'll take like 20 minutes until I can even GET to Fan fiction. . Plus, the internet connection will only work for a few minutes every little while, so, it's gonna be, well now it WAS a real trick getting it on before the connection failed. I know, it sucks. So, I'm going scan and delete ALL of the viruses and get this out by Friday (hopefully) and I'm starting to write this on Wednesday, so…. Yeah.

Obviously can't see who reviewed, so no dedication. )':

BUT! The last time I checked I had 95 reviews. D:

I KNOW a lot of people read this, I had over 150 emails in my mailbox and a bunch of them were story alerts, author alerts, etc. That's only ONE time out of all of the times I checked. If all you readers that just click alert reviewed, I'd have at LEAST 300 reviews. What's stopping all of you from reviewing? You don't need to put much, just if the chapter was 'good', 'bad', or 'okay'. Just put those and it'll mean the world to me. :3

Okay? Just one word, is that too much to ask?

O-e whoa. That's a LONG Author's note. But hey, at least it's important right?

ENJOY!

[part one]

BPOV

Edward was able, much to my dismay, to return to work the next morning. I busied myself with plans of the dinner party. I had called Edward's family along with Tanya. As it turns out, only Emmett and Tanya could make it. Rosalie was with Alice, modeling Alice's clothesline in France, or somewhere like that. Carlisle was needed to do surgery on someone in the Senate, I believe, I couldn't quite hear. Esme was redoing an important CEO's home. Jasper, obviously couldn't leave the war.

So, that just left Emmett and Tanya. Emmett had nothing important, he was being drafted into the NFL, but he wouldn't start until next season. He was free just about every weekend until then. Tanya had already packed her bags, but was more than happy to come. Because of Edward, obviously. I grew jealous thinking of her and Edward together.

The party was tonight, only two days after Edward was in the accident. Angela and I washed the silver and fine china. I wanted this to be an event that Edward would have to remember me by after I wasn't at Redwood.

I was glad to have Emmett and Tanya over and see me at my best. The last meeting, I wish I had been more presentable. I wasn't sure that I wanted Tanya to see what she'd missed when she turned Edward down, and maybe having a chance at winning his heart a second time. But, it was too late for second thoughts, she was coming and I'd have to look moderately nice.

I didn't work in the warehouse all day, to prepare the house, and myself, for the dinner. I asked the kitchen staff if they were able to do the menu I usually served when I hosted formal dinners with my dad.

For an appetizer, we'd have caviar and a light soup. Dinner would be filet mignon, and chef's salad. Dessert would be a creamy chocolate mousse. Drinks that would be served with the meal would be all their favorite libations.

I didn't go shop for a dress until the morning of the dinner. I chose a one-strap, deep blue, silky dress. For accessories, I put on two wide gold bangles on my right wrist, and Edward's necklace. I put on silver flats, and put my hair up. (don't know how to describe it, just look at Bella's Dress on my profile, the entire outfit is on there. So, just put Bella/Kristin's face on and you got what she looks like.) While buying the dress, I didn't look at the tag, just like Edward said, but I was very guilty about giving the clerk the eight hundred dollars.

I put on a light foundation, lip gloss, and eggplant eyeliner that made my eyes pop, but that's it. If I put much else on, I'd probably mess it up and end up looking horrible. I was in my room when Edward came home, and I waited to see him until he had showered, changed, and went into his office to wait. I went to see him about ten minutes before six, when the guests were supposed to arrive. Edward was dressed in a tuxedo, one I haven't seen him wear before, and the vest underneath was pine green, as was his tie. I first saw his right side, and he looked amazingly handsome, but he turned his head, making his scars visible. He looked handsome still.

He took one look at me and his mouth dropped, making me blush. He walked around his desk as if he was in a trance, never taking his eyes off of me.

He stopped about a foot in front of me. He looked at me wide eyed.

"Do you like it?" I asked cautiously.

"You look like you stepped out of a fashion magazine. You're stunning." He said grinning.

I blushed again. "Well, thanks to you." I said, handing him just a few bills left. You could tell I'd left a dent in the pile he'd given me. Edward dropped it on his desk, without so much as a glance at it.

The doorbell rang and Edward sighed. "Why did we have to invite them? You're all the company I want, or need."

I laughed and shook my head. "You agreed to it, and I bought this dress for tonight under orders from you. Are you going back on your word, Edward Cullen?" I said, smirking.

He smiled that crooked grin I love and held out his arm for me, not saying a word.

Walking into the dining room, I noticed Tanya was in a beautiful dress. It was scarlet red, with a diamond belt, her hair was up in a twist. The neck was a little plunging, definitely not something I'd ever have the confidence to wear. Emmett was wearing a tuxedo with a red vest and tie.

Tanya eyed the contact between Edward and I, I felt my cheeks grow hotter under her gaze. She wasn't trying to be mean, she didn't realize that Edward and I are just friends and that nothing is going on between us. No matter how I felt about Edward.

I let go of Edward so he could properly greet his guests. He hugged Tanya, and she held on longer than appropriate.

"What, no hug for me?" Emmett said in his booming voice. He was only half-joking.

Edward shook his head, and moved on to greeting Emmett. He tried to just shake hands with is sibling, but Emmett had other plans. He picked up Edward and hugged him so hard I thought he'd pop Edward's head.

He set Edward down and they started chatting, so I went over to greet Tanya.

"Wow Tanya! You look amazing." I said. It would have been a lie if I had told her that she looked otherwise. I felt completely incompetent, even in my dress that had made me feel so beautiful a few minutes ago.

She turned and grinned at me. "Thanks Bella! You look amazing too!" I could tell that she was lying through her teeth. She hadn't even looked at what I was wearing besides the fact that it was just a blue dress I'm guessing.

Tanya and I didn't shake hands, we didn't hug. I had a feeling that she didn't want any skin contact with me if she could help it, and truth be told, I didn't really want to either. I was just about to say something, when my feet were no longer on the floor, and it wasn't of my own doing. The air rushed out of my lungs, and wouldn't come back in, no matter what. A grey haze began clouding my mind. Then air was rushing into my lungs, the fog started to clear. My feet hit the floor with a soft 'thud'. I was still dizzy, so I swayed and would have fallen, but strong arms wrapped around my waist, and pulled me close, in a way that it was like a hug.(Does that make sense? Basically, she's being hugged kay?)

"Emmett, at least give her some warning okay?" Edward said. He was the one holding me.

Then it hit me. I'd just experienced one of Emmett's famous bear hugs.

I'd gotten over most of my vertigo, but I wasn't about to admit to it. Honestly, being in Edward's arms was… comforting. It felt right.

Edward pulled me away from his body a few inches. "Are you alright Bella?" He said, searching my face with his intense eyes.

I nodded my head. "Yes, thank you." I said, quietly so only he could hear. "Just a little dizzy still."

"Alright." He said, pulling me into his side, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Emmett, say you're sorry."

Emmett looked down, scuffing the ground with his foot. "Sorry Bella." He said, reminding me so much of a little kindergartener that just got scolded.

I laughed. "It's okay Emmett. I just needed a little warning, that's all. You're forgiven."

His head snapped up, and he was smiling, and I just noticed that he had deep dimples.

I looked over at the clock. It was only 6:05. We had about thirty minutes left to kill.

"Dinner won't be ready for about another half-hour." I said.

Edward nodded, thinking, and then said, "Let's go into the drawing room."

Some snacks, cheese and crackers, were put on the table, and Emmett ate nearly the whole tray! Tanya looked pointedly at my portrait over the mantle, I couldn't help but blush and think that we should have sat in the less formal living room.

"That's a lovely portrait." Tanya said, not meaning it. "Who was the artist?"

"A student from Italy came to study here, and my dad paid him to paint my sisters and I the summer before last."

The conversation turned to less sensitive subjects after that. Soon, Angela announced that dinner was served. Where we would sit wasn't discussed, so Edward sat at the head of the table, Tanya to his left in full view of his scars, I was to his right and Emmett was opposite of Edward.

The food was served, and oh, it was absolutely amazing. After dinner, Emmett wanted to see the warehouse, so we all walked down to the warehouse to look at the rows of artifacts I'd made. acknowledged Edward's praise for my skill and hard work with a sinking heart. It was plain to everyone that my work at Redwood was almost complete, and I'd be returning to Kansas soon.

How was that? Almost 2,000 words! Anyways, I know, I know. At the beginning of the chapter, I said that most likely I'd get this out by Friday but, more often than not, the internet couldn't connect, so, SORRY!!!!

And please, DO review eh?

Til next time

Fatal