Too tired to really put an A.N. up here =)

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, LJ Smith owns Vampire Diaries, and JezebelWhitlock owns the first Nine chapters. ^_^

Chapter 7

Alice

Two weeks earlier...

Since Jasper left, I've been having flashes of him. I've seen him take Carlisle's advice and go to Charlotte and Peter and I also saw his decision to stop in Forks.

"Anything new, Alice?" Esme asked.

I knew she was worried about him despite everything. I shook my head. "He's still in Forks."

"Doing what?" she wondered, sitting down beside me. "He's been sitting in front of the Swan house for a while."

"Just sitting there?"

I nodded, annoyed. I didn't want to talk about Jasper anymore. "I'm going to find Edward." I stood up and kissed her on the cheek so she wouldn't think I was blowing her off.

"When you find him, will you please tell him to come home? I miss my son."

"Sure Esme."

I jumped from the second story window and followed his scent to a little clearing within the woods. Edward was lying on the grass with his arms crossed behind his head.

"I don't want to talk, Alice." He said without sitting up.

"That's too bad because we're going to talk." I made my way to him and stretched out beside him. We sat out here for several long moments until I spoke. "You need to come home, Edward. Esme and Carlisle are worried about you."

"I'm sure they're faring better than I am." He grumbled.

"Edward, I understand what—"

"No you don't, Alice." He snapped, getting in my face. "You weren't there the night I left. You didn't see Bella's face crumble and knowing it was all your fault."

"Bella knew you were doing this to protect her, Edward." When he didn't reply, my hands clenched. "Didn't she?"

"I told her I didn't want her anymore." He whispered.

"What are you talking about?" I hissed.

"I lied to her, okay?" He shouted. "I wanted her to have a clean break. I didn't want her to hold on to the sliver of hope that we might come back."

"And us?" I demanded. "Did you lie to her about us as well?"

"No, Alice." He whispered.

"How dare you, Edward? Why would you do something like that? Bella must have believed we all left because we wanted to!" I snapped. "She believed none of us loved her when she died."

Edward winced and nodded, burying his face in his hands. "I know, Alice. I screwed up big time."

I shook my head. "She's gone, Edward." I said softly. "And we weren't there to stop it."

Edward nodded. "I know."

Jasper

I looked at the photograph. Bella was smiling into the camera, her eyes bright with excitement. Rose and Emmett weren't even looking at the camera and surprise, surprise; Rose's hand was practically on Emmett's crouch. Alice hanging from my back, her arms wrapped around my neck. Carlisle was staring straight at the camera with a smile on his face while Esme was smiling at Edward. Edward was smiling down at Bella with so much love in his eyes as he held her close.

I still couldn't believe that Bella was dead. How could someone so innocent die from such a thing as simple as a fire? A girl who survived a vampire attack couldn't survive something as mundane as a house fire. It didn't seem right.

I wish I could have apologized to her.

I folded the photo once more and shoved it into the back pocket of my jeans.

I had been here too long, it was time to move.

Stefan

A couple of weeks had passed since Bella came to live with me. It was amazing and strange how close we've gotten in such a short amount of time.

It probably had something to do with the fact that she slept in my bed every night because it "kept the dreams away" according to Bella.

Speaking of...

"Stefan?"

"Yes, Bella?"

"Can we go to the Grill tonight? I promised Bonnie I'd meet her there." She bit her lip nervously, as though she was worried I would say no. It was physically impossible to say no to this girl.

"Sure Bella," I chuckled. Bella smiled and kissed my cheek. She's been doing that a lot lately and the more she does it, the more I wish she'd actually kiss me and not tease me. She tripped as she turned around. "Careful there, Bella." I felt a jolt go through me hand and up my arm. It happened each time she touched me.

"Thanks." She whispered, staring up at me. She chewed her lip, resting her tiny hands on my chest. She pulled away and cleared her throat. "I'd better go get ready."

I nodded and watched her leave.

I really needed to talk to her about that.

XxX

Bella was in a strangely good mood. She skipped to the door and I followed with a laugh. "You're in a good mood." I said.

She nodded. "I'm finally moving on." She stopped and turned to face me. "I'm ready to love again, just like Edward wanted me to."

I was surprised she'd said his name. She didn't say it very often, simply because we didn't talk about it. "I'm glad you're doing better, Bella. It's nice to see you smile."

"Bella!" Bonnie called.

She turned around and walked over to her. "Hey Bonnie." She smiled. "You coming in, Stefan?" Bella called.

I chuckled and nodded, heading in their direction. Bella went in ahead of us. "You are looking better than usual, Stefan." Bonnie said. "Does Bella have something to do with that?" she asked slyly.

"Yes."

Bonnie stopped in surprise. I doubt she thought I would willingly admit it.

"Really?"

I nodded. "I really like her, Bonnie. It's strange how close we've got since she arrived."

"That's great!" she smiled enthusiastically. "Now, have you told her yet?"

"Uh... no,"

"Why not?"

"It's complicated, Bonnie."

"You only think it's complicated because everything about you is complicated."

"That's a lie and you know it."

"Keep telling yourself that." She shook her head and went to find Bella, who was standing at the bar, drinking a soda. She was talking to Matt, who finally moved up from being a bus boy to the bartender.

"Better go get her before Matt tries to steal your girl."

"She's not—"

"Go!" she pushed me towards her.

I went to Bella's side. Matt straightened up when he saw me approach. "Hey Stefan," he said. "What are you doing here?"

"Bella and I are here to see Bonnie." I said.

"You know Bella?" Matt said, looking between the two of us. Bella had subconsciously moved closer to me, sending a thrill of pleasure through me.

"Sure, she's been living with me for a couple of weeks." I said.

Matt raised an eyebrow. "You're finally over Elena?"

I didn't even wince. "I'm simply glad Elena is happy."

Bella was looking between the two of us and shook her head, leaving without another word. "Come on, Stefan. Let's dance." She pulled me away from the bar and led me to a table.

"I thought you wanted to dance."

"No." She said. "I just wanted to get you two away from each other. The testosterone was killing me." She said dramatically.

I laughed. "That's very funny, Bella." I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her against me. Her gasped in surprise and I could feel her heart speed up against me.

With the teasing over, Bella and I looked at each other. She bit her lip nervously as she peered up at me. I leaned down, and brushed my lips gently against—

"Stefan!"

Bella and I jumped apart. I sighed in frustration. Of course we would be interrupted just as we were about to kiss.

I turned around, keeping one arm around Bella's waist. Mrs. Lockwood was standing there, smiling. "Hello, Stefan. It's been a while. How's Damon? Has he come home yet?"

"No, Mrs. Lockwood, he hasn't."

"Who's your little friend?" she asked, staring at Bella with little interest.

"She's a friend of mine." I said.

"Can she speak?"

"Of course I can." Bella snapped. "My name is Bella."

I squeezed her hip, warning her to shut up.

"Where are you from, Bella?"

"Washington."

"DC?"

"No."

Mrs. Lockwood looked at her with distaste. "How long are you staying?"

"Depends on how long Stefan is willing to let me stay."

Both women looked at me, and I shrugged. "Bella can stay as long as she likes."

Mrs. Lockwood made a face and walked away without another word. I shook my head. Mrs. Lockwood was a terrible flirt. She especially had it bad for Damon while he was still in town.

I caught Bella looking at me. "What?"

"Care to explain why that woman is so territorial?"

"Mrs. Lockwood is the Mayor's wife. She flirts with any attractive man."

"I pity the woman's husband."

So would I if I didn't hate him so much. Because of him, I was nearly run out of town. Bella was looking around. "What happened to Bonnie?"

I looked as well. "I don't know."

"Do you think she's okay?"

I nodded. "Bonnie can take care of herself." It was beginning to get dark. "Would you like to go for a walk with me?"

Bella blushed and nodded. "Sure." She took my hand and together we left. We walked in comfortable silence and I couldn't help but wonder about her past. In the weeks that Bella has been living with me, I haven't learned much about her past. All I know about her is that her father is dead, she lived in Forks and her ex-boyfriend was a douchebag.

"Stefan?" Bella said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah?"

"Do you believe that there are... beings out there, different than us?"

I stiffened. "What do you mean?"

"Like... supernatural beings."

Supernatural.

Vampires.

Great.

"I don't know..." I lied. "Why?"

"I was just curious."

I couldn't help but wonder if this question had anything to do with her reluctance to tell me her past.

"Bella," I stopped and faced her.

She looked at me with her doe eyes, her plump lips parted and I couldn't take it anymore. I pulled her to me and finally—finally—kissed her.

Bella had stiffened in surprise. It didn't take long until she wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her warm body against mine.

I moaned into her mouth. She tasted incredible.

Pulling away to breath, Bella whispered, "Finally"

I chuckled. "My thoughts exactly,"

We looked at each other before she burst into giggles. I leaned my forehead against hers and breathed in her amazing scent.

"You don't know how long I've waited for that." Bella said, biting her lip.

"Oh, I think I can imagine."

I brushed my lips against her again, sighing in pleasure as Bella's tongue peeked out and traced my bottom lip, asking for entrance. I let her in willingly, our tongues massaging the other, neither fighting for dominance.

Bella's hands slipped under my shirt and I groaned at the feeling of her soft hands touching my bare skin.

"Bella," I breathed, kissing her down her neck and along her collarbone.

"Mmm, Stefan, as much as I would love to continue this—and I would—we can't do this in the middle of the sidewalk."

I pulled away with a sigh. She was right but that didn't mean I had to like it. "Come on, Bella." I pulled her hand and led her to the car.

Bella's face was flushed and she was oozing happiness. It was the first time since she got here that I've seen her, this happy.

I smiled and went back to the house.

Awww, things seem to be getting a little heated, huh? =)

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~Cori