Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. I do, however, own this storyline, my OCs, and the Iron Man 3 disc set. Robert Downey Jr. -- sigh.

A/N: Music selection for this chapter is "Bella Notte," by Bill Hamlin. Think the spaghetti scene from "Lady and the Tramp." :) I wanted to get this out to you while I had the chance, so this hasn't been officially beta'ed, but the Fab 5 assures me it doesn't suck.

Reading selection for this update is Love and Obligation by ForeverYoung 82. This is one of those stories where I don't understand why it has such an embarrassingly low number of reviews. Well, actually, I do understand. It starts out as Edward/Rosalie, and we all know that's just...wrong. In this AU story, Edward makes Rosalie his mate after Carlisle changed her out of a sense of obligation. So what does he do when they move to Forks and he finds himself falling in love with Bella? This story is very well written and has a fascinating and believable plot (just skim past the E/R angry sex lemon in Chapter 12, she makes up for it later). If you find you are enjoying it, do her a favor, try and review every chapter...she deserves a little love. Oh, and Congrats to erinmyu -- Remains to be Seen, which I am proud to beta, just hit the 1k mark! You know where the links are...

Felix's POV

I rolled my eyes as the telephone interrupted my little soiree for the second time this evening. I'd already had to deal with Heidi calling and pitching a holy fit over Edward and Bella's little getaway. If it wasn't for the beautiful Lacie lying half naked in my nice new bed just waiting to break in my new silk sheets, I would have found it rather amusing, but at the moment I really couldn't be bothered.

"Ciao?"

"Felix, it's Edward."

"Yes, Edward. I know why you're calling. You owe Heidi a new pair of shoes, by the way. You're not going to make me buy a Ducati, are you?"

Edward chuckled. "No, I'm not. I was just calling to let you know that we will be back tomorrow. Bella isn't very comfortable addressing her human needs while there is a vampire lurking in the woods listening in. Plus it makes it difficult for us to spend any quality time together that way. Surely you can understand that?" I glanced at the gorgeous brunette with the silken skin and the hourglass figure and sighed. Being interrupted did tend to put a crimp in things.

"Yes, Edward. I can see where you're coming from. And for what it's worth, Heidi and I think it's a waste of time, too. We know you're not going anywhere. But when we return to Italy, the first thing Aro will do is shake our hands, capisca? Listen, why don't we meet up on campus before class tomorrow and see if we can't work out a mutually agreeable compromise?"

"Felix…I'm getting lonely in here all by myself…" my siren called.

"That better not be Kelly," Edward growled, and all I could do was laugh. He is engaged to a human, il suo cantante, no less, but he spends an inordinate amount of time worrying about the females in my presence. I have had many more years practicing my self control than he has. I can make mad love to any woman, or women, as the case may arise, and never bring them anything but pleasure. When I drink from them, I bring them pleasure even from their deaths. I am not a cruel man, I am a great lover of women. It is an art, and I am a master.

"No, Kelly will be tomorrow. This little fireball's name is Lacie, and don't tell me she's some long lost relative of yours, because there's no way I'm saying no to this one tonight."

"Just make sure she lives to tell about it in the morning," Edward said. Did he really think that if she was to be my dinner, I would bring her to my home? How absurd. I heard a quite crass American saying once, something to the effect of 'not shitting where you sleep.' Well, I do neither of those things, thank God, but it still seems somewhat appropriate here. Such things are simply not done by a civilized vampire, and I was not going to dignify his comment with a response.

"Arrivederci, Edward."

"Buona notte, Felix."

I hung up the phone and promptly turned it off. I'd already made my status report to Aro, and Heidi was sulking somewhere under strict orders to not come back until daybreak. Now I could turn my attention to the dark haired priestess with the blue grey eyes waiting impatiently for the opportunity to worship me and be worshipped in return.

"Lacie, my dulcet darling, where were we?" I glided onto the foot of the bed and she gave me that same innocent yet sultry look that had beckoned me to her earlier that day. The look that reminded me of Isabella, as did her scent, like wild strawberries. I could smell the sweet aroma, now heady and mixed with the scent of sex wafting in my direction like the bouquet of a fine wine. That was to be expected. But I wanted to take my time with this one. I kissed and nibbled her toes, tickling the underside of her foot as I did, drawing an adorable giggle from her. I don't know why, but I love it when they giggle. It is every bit as much an involuntary exclamation of pleasure as when they moan or scream, and I enjoy it almost as much.

I worked my way up her magnificent calf, so firm and tone. It was obvious that she took care of her body. The first moan came when I wrapped my lips around her kneecap, swirling my tongue over the sensitive skin on the outer rim of the knee joint, savoring her salty taste. I caressed her thighs as I slunk between them, removing her red tulle panties with a flick of my wrists. Humans love that little trick.

Shaved and looking as sweet as the day she was born. Perfection. I knelt down at her Delta and her hands went straight for my hair, as though she could hold me in place as her hips bucked her against my face. I devoured her with my lips and tongue, only nicking her once, but careful to seal the wound quickly. Well, after one quick sip. No harm done. The only thing sweeter than blood or a woman's love juices was the two combined. I groaned from the pleasure of it.

I had no sooner slid my cool fingers into her hot tunnel than she orgasmed, wildly thrashing and calling for Jesus. I briefly wondered, as I did often, if Jesus minded when women did that. I certainly would not. I once had audience with the Pope, and I asked him the same question. He did not find it amusing. Ah well.

I looked up at her and she looked sated and satisfied. "Ah, sweet Lacie, I hope I have not worn you out already," I murmured against her stomach as I kissed her soft skin, now covered in a delicious sheen of sweat.

She smiled sweetly at me, pulling me to her and wrapping her legs around my waist, pressing the heels of her feet into my buttocks urging me to take her. I sighed, almost disappointed. Few women today appreciate the slow seduction, the stamina and patience of a true lover. Ah well, who am I to deny the woman what she wants, though?

She gasped at the intrusion, not used to my size. Not many are, and she was tight with innocence. Not a virgin, but close enough. I was gentle with her, kissing and nuzzling and whispering sweet nothings in her ear until she was ready. When I felt she was close, I reached down to lightly pinch her clit and she screamed my name as she came. I allowed myself my own release then, only removing myself once the aftershocks had subsided.

"You were wonderful, Felix," she panted, her hand over her pounding heart. I kissed her forehead before I got up off the bed.

"As were you, il mio dolce. Rest if you like while I get my shower, and then I will drive you home."

"You mean I can't stay?"

I sighed and smiled my sweetest smile. "I'm sorry, my dear. I am not a sound sleeper, and I'm afraid you wouldn't get much rest if you were to stay here."

"Alright," she said, accepting. "When will I see you again?" I sat down on the bed next to her and took her hands in my own, kissing them.

"I'm afraid that would not be a good idea," I explained. "I am only here for a short time. I cannot offer you any kind of commitment, my dear. All I have to give is one night of love. But know that you will stay in my memory forever." Yes, my lines were well rehearsed, but that did not make them any less true. I returned her safely home and walking her to her door, bowing deeply and blowing her a kiss as I walked away, whistling as I went.

Adrian's POV

After sneaking out of the dorm and running to Bella and Edward's to pack them an overnight bag, we headed for the hotel. I was really looking forward to an evening with them. I missed them so much and stolen moments like this were all I was allowed. I was anxious to see if Tinker Bells really was as happy as Alice said she'd seen in her visions. Sure enough, Bells was relaxed and practically glowing. She was laughing easier than I'd ever seen before. I liked it. Edward seemed different, too. It was more than the newfound swagger; just the way he teased and joked with her, the way he was so comfortable in the way he touched her now. More than once I caught him casually sliding his thumb under her shirt to caress her side, or tickling her playfully. They reminded me of Ally-Angel and me. She really needed to brush her hair, though. Between the motorcycle ride and whatever else they were doing, she was taking the windswept look to a whole new level. She was still Bells and Whistles, but damn. Seriously.

Several fantasticly greasy slices of definitely not-meal-plan-approved pizza and one wicked game of Scrabble later (note to self: don't play Scrabble with vampires who have the entire dictionary memorized), Alice and Bella kicked Edward and I out of the hotel room for some 'girl time.' Well, Alice kicked us out while Bells looked both very apologetic and slightly scared. Edward tried to intervene for her, but Bells assured him she could handle it, so he kissed her on the cheek and off we went.

Edward and I headed down to the lounge to hang out. I just got a coke. "Hey, while I've got the chance, thanks for making all the arrangements for this England trip, I appreciate it. I can't believe there was another room available at the same bed and breakfast you and Bella are going to. Bella said it only had a few rooms to start with."

"There wasn't another room available. I gave the other guests a small token of my appreciation in return for their kind gesture of finding other lodging," Edward replied nonchalantly. "We have the building to ourselves."

I snorted at that. I didn't exactly grow up poor, but they put a whole new spin on the term 'privileged.' It never ceased to amaze me the lengths they go to. "I see. Should've guessed. So the plan is that Alice thinks she is spending the week with Bella and they will take the first flight. You and I will follow on the second flight. Since I'm involved, she won't be able to see us. She should be totally surprised. Do you think she'll like it? The wedding I have planned is nothing like the one she's planning for you."

Edward rolled his eyes. "Somehow the fact that it is a fake wedding has only given her more room to make it even more extravagant than she normally would, I'm afraid. But to answer your question, yes, I think she will love it." Edward stared at a stain on the tablecloth.

"What's up, man?" For someone who has had the past couple of days that I heard he's had, he sure as hell didn't look as happy as he should.

"I just…well, I just wish it weren't a fake wedding." Should've guessed this, too.

"Whoa! You just got Bella back officially, what, less than 24 hours ago? I don't think either one of you are ready for that yet. How far are you in the Guide?"

"Umm…shortly before we started back to school for her senior year," Edward replied hesitantly. He was thinking the same thing I was. No way was I letting him off that easy.

"I'm guessing you're not reading it as much as you were before, and the fact that you have been otherwise occupied with Sexy Bells has nothing to do with it." Edward glanced up at me, but didn't reply. "Just as I thought. You don't want to get to her birthday party. You don't want to read about the months where you turned her into Vegeta-Bells. And you really don't want to read about how after she saved your ass, you became a possessive dick who still wouldn't give her what she deserved. Well, if you want my opinion, you need to read it before you even think about asking Bella to marry you for real."

"I suppose you're right. I'll finish reading it. But I have learned a lot already, haven't I? I think I've changed for the better. It's not an easy thing for our kind, you know." He looked at me imploringly.

"I know that. That's why I feel it's worth your time to finish reading. And it's also why my opinion about you has changed enough to support you. And enough to ask you to be the best man at my wedding."

Edward looked stunned. "I would be honored. I just assumed…"

"What? That I would ask Jasper? Even before you and Bella got back together, I'm not sure I would have been comfortable having my soon-to-be wife's ex-husband standing at the altar with us. I mean, I love him like a brother and all, but there's a limit, you know?" Edward laughed at that. "Come on, let's go rescue Tinker Bells from the evil pixie."

Jasper's POV

I was just settling in for what I was certain would be another solitary evening at home when I smelled her. Heidi. I opened the door just as she was about to knock, and the breeze from the speed I used opening it caused another concentrated gust of her scent to overtake me.

Heidi seemed a little uncomfortable, too, although whether it was because she was going through the same thing or because I was blocking the doorway, leaving her standing on the porch, I wasn't sure. I apologized as I stepped aside and let her in. Wildflowers. It was so intoxicating, it reminded me of that scene in The Wizard of Oz where they all lay down in the poppy field. It didn't matter the spell they were falling under. The flowers smelled so good they didn't care.

"I'm sorry to barge in on you two like this, it's just that I was supposed to be watching Edward and Bella tonight and now I don't have to, but Felix has a girl at our house, so I didn't really have any place to go." Suddenly noticing her appearance, I realized she was rather disheveled, although no less lovely.

"It's no problem. The girl that Felix is with isn't Kelly, is it?" Heidi shook her head and I didn't even attempt to hide my relief. "Alice isn't here, though. She's hunting tonight," for a muscular human who frequently wears the number 23, I chuckled to myself.

"Oh," Heidi looked crestfallen. "I should leave, then. I wouldn't want her to be upset that I was here alone with you."

"Don't be silly. Why would she be? What happened, though? No offense, darlin', but you're a mess." Heidi ran her fingers through her knotted hair and shrugged her shoulders.

"I was supposed to be watching Edward and Bella tonight, but they took off on the motorcycle and once they hit town, I couldn't exactly follow them. Felix told me not to worry about it, which is fine, I don't suppose they're going to disappear on us. But still, we have to report to the Volturi nightly. If they start to get the idea that we're laying down on the job for any reason, life is going to get a lot more difficult for all of us. The less I have to lie about, the better."

I tried not to think about Edward and Bella on the bike that I bought her, or wonder about where they were and what they were doing. I shook my head to clear it of the images of us at the park, her bent over my bike... Luckily for me, Heidi's scent made it easy to forget everything else, even if only for a little while. Instead, I thought about what Heidi said about the Volturi. I suddenly found myself feeling sorry for Felix and Heidi. They were caught in this tangled web of deceptions just as much as the rest of us, simply for other reasons.

"I'm sorry. Don't worry, they'll be back tomorrow, I'm sure." Heidi turned to me and nodded and I noticed she didn't have her contacts in. Her eyes were still red, but they were starting to get golden flecks in them.

"How are you adjusting to the new diet?"

"It's not as hard as I thought. I'm used to being around humans from my work for the Volturi. Plus, I think my disgust for the whole concept has become such a driving force that the fact that animal blood tastes a little funny in comparison is a small price to pay." She smiled and I could see the pride in her face.

"I'm proud of you. Really. It took me a long time for me to gain the self control I needed to live this way comfortably." It took Bella believing in me.

Heidi took a deep breath and sighed, leaning back against the couch. "Hey, has anyone ever told you that you smell really good?" I laughed. Part of me wished I could tell her Alice's singer theory, but then again, it was better this way. The whole idea was ridiculous, anyway.

"Yeah, I may have heard that somewhere before," I replied. "You smell very good as well. Do you want to watch a movie or something?"

"Only if you're sure Alice won't mind me being here."

"I'm sure. What do you want to watch? I think Alice has 'Roman Holiday' around here somewhere," I teased.

"No! Anything but that!" Heidi laughed. I put in Iron Man, figuring that was something everyone could enjoy, and sprawled out on the couch, while Heidi took the loveseat. We laid so that our heads were closest to one another, and I noticed that we were both breathing deeply, trying to get used to the all encompassing feelings that our scents brought about in one another. We watched the movie in companionable silence, only occasionally making a comment here or there about the movie. Just two friends hanging out. It was actually very soothing. And much better than being alone.

A/N: The NCBs are heading to Great Britian...where should they stop? I realize that this had a little filler-y flavor to it, but it was necessary. I am very sad about the drop in reviews from the last chapter. I know I got a lot of PMs from people saying FF was being uncooperative, but still. I think some Team Jaspers gave up on me...maybe the Team Edwards can pick up the slack and make me feel better? Next chapter will be Halloween and E/B reading the birthday party entry in her journal.

Oh, and I get a lot of PMs asking me questions and I haven't had a chance to answer them all, but I think I have a solution. If you could "Ask Lillie" any question -- about the story, me, writing, relationship advice, you name it, what would it be? Let me know in your review and hopefully next chapter update I'll have some answers for you! I will answer one now, though -- NO BABIES IN THIS STORY! ;)