"They feel so odd, Bella." Luned turned around, stretched her legs out, tried to adjust to the clinging material of the jeans Bella had demanded she try on.

"They look great, though. And these days, that counts for a lot," Bella said, grinning broadly.

Luned frowned, her disbelief showing clearly on her face. "And this tunic! It shows more than it hides! I can not believe this is truly appropriate attire for your time." She tugged irritably at the hem of the light lacy camisole she had been given to try, the white making her brown skin seem browner, her teeth even brighter in her face.

"Luned, not only is it acceptable, you're quite overdressed to some people. I mean, you can't see any of your legs at all! And here," she tossed the Welshwoman a pair of sneakers. "You'll love these."

Luned frowned down at them, turning them over in her hands. "I can see they are for my feet, but what are the lacings for?"

Bella sniggered. "To tighten them, make sure they fit properly."

"If they do not fall off, is that not enough?"

"No. A good fit is important. I'm going to get you some more things, that's not going to do you five minutes."

"My l…Bella. I do not need any more. I have these and on the occasion I wash them, I have my gown."

Bella smiled. "Yes, but nowadays Luned, if you only wash once a month it's really frowned upon."

Luned huffed. "You have said that. I do not understand why, though. It is dangerous to bathe."

Bella laughed again and waved her hand dismissively. "Luned, just trust me. It won't go down well. I'll be back." And with that, Bella wandered off through the racks of clothes, touching fabrics and comparing colors.

Luned returned her gaze to the mirror, glaring at her reflection. Bella might believe she was covered, but the leggings, jeans she had called them, gave such a clear view of her legs, she was as near to naked as could be. "Totally unacceptable." She huffed to the image of herself. The reflection, of course, stared back at her with the same expression of irritation in its black eyes.

What would Jacob have made of this time? The thought was sudden, all the more painful for the unexpected nature of it. Would he have liked to see me in these jeans Bella seems to think so much of? She thought he would, although he would be far too chivalrous to say a word, to give her any conscious indication of his attraction. She smiled to herself, despite the pain of her memories. In fact, if it hadn't been for the way his chausses had shifted every time she had gifted him with a sideways glance from the corner of her eye, the way he treated her could have easily been construed as nothing more than common courtesy.

Her smile widened and her heart leapt a little, even through the pain. She nodded curtly to her reflection, acknowledging the feeling. Death was an unfortunate but common occurrence in her own time. She ached for Jacob with a vengeance, would forever have a small hole in her chest where memories of him would reside, but so she would always for all those she had loved and lost. Her parents, her sister, the brothers who had died in their infancy, as so many do. Resilience was an integral part of medieval society. Without the ability to grieve, harshly but quickly, one could not survive. Those rules were even more applicable now, now when she was more lost and fearful than ever before. She needed her wits if she was to thrive in this place of Bella's.

She needed, also, to come to terms with the ways of things. Such as the ridiculous outfits she was required to wear to fit in.

She returned to glaring at her reflection in the looking glass, gradually straightening her shoulders, lightening her expression. She had done worse to survive than look as she did; she had given of herself in order to exact her revenge.

Besides, she thought objectively, if every woman dresses this way, I will most likely not even be noticed. None will know that I am not a maid.

She nodded to herself again, then turned to the side slightly, peering over the clothes as any modern woman would do, testing to see whether they showed her figure to its best advantage.

* * * * *

"I think that may be going too far."

Bella sighed. Luned seemed to have come to terms with most aspects of a modern woman's wardrobe--all except the underwear of course.

"I am just as happy to wear nothing, my…"

"Bella." Bella corrected sternly. "Honestly, Luned, is it that hard to remember?"

"It is hard. It is a natural to me as breathing to call you lady…"

"Fine, fine. Just try a little harder. And trust me on the underwear—"

Luned's eyes tightened. "Nothing will do me."

Bella threw her hands in the air, but gave in. At least as far as anyone could tell, she would look like a regular person. And plenty of women went commando…just none that Bella knew personally.

Luned smiled, and continued to pull purchases out of the various shopping bags they had dragged in from the car.

"You are certain these are pleasant to sleep in?" Luned asked warily, holding a set of pajama top and pants.

"Absolutely." Bella nodded. "Especially at home in Forks. It never stops raining."

"What does rain have to do with sleeping?"

"Rain has to do with cold," Bella said. "I have to call work, just give me a minute, okay?"

Luned nodded happily, dragging still more items out and laying them across Bella's bed, smoothing her hands over the material of each and smiling in delight.

Luned and Alice would get along great.

Alice held a dream to one day design clothes herself, but in the meantime she worked, as did Rosalie and Bella, in a typical office job, shuffling papers and dealing with irritating bosses five days a week, keeping up her dream by making her own costumes for various functions and events and occasionally offering her services to others.

Luned seemed to be finding the same delight in material and fashion as Alice had been born with.

Bella smiled, imagining the two of them getting together with a pile of designer clothes. It would be like children at a showground--out of control. Even though to Luned 'designer' would mean as much as 'five hundred dollars in cash' (the amount her clothes had cost)--nothing at all.

She shook her head, still smiling as she wandered through her small apartment into the lounge and picked the phone up out of its cradle.

She was a good worker; dedicated, hadn't taken a single day off in the five years she had worked there. Not to mention the fact that everyone in the office knew immediately (as coworkers do) that things with Mike had gone seriously downhill. She snorted to herself as she dialed. Mike. What a joke. What was most amusing was that she wondered how he had ever bothered her at all.

The laughter dimmed a little in her heart. It took something much worse to put things in perspective.

"Ventures. Erika speaking," a light, happy voice answered.

"Hey, it's Bella."

"Bells." The light tone shifted, took on a pity-laced sound. "How are you?"

"Fine, fine. I need a few days though." Bella took a deep breath. "You know what? Better make that a few weeks. I'm going to take my holidays."

She could almost hear the woman nodding sympathetically on the other end of the line. "Sure thing. I'll let them know. Things have been quiet around here anyway. You're not missing much."
"Thanks. See you later."

"Bye, Bells."

She lowered the phone back onto the receiver, sighing heavily. Home. She'd left right out of high school, deciding the small town was much less than what she wanted out of life, in much the same way her mother had left when Bella had been tiny--to find something more exciting.

When she had first come to the city it had seemed like everything she could possibly want; money, men, fashion, thrills. Only a year into her life here and the thrill of men was gone, and the dreams of riches had faded away as well. It had still held its thrill for her; in every nightclub, restaurant, bar she frequented with her friends.

Until the fair at least.

That small amount of time surrounded by green and a much simpler life had changed her thoughts on everything; on where she wanted to be, what she wanted most out of life. Before Edward she thought she wanted a career. Marriage one day, for sure, but babies? Never. Not a chance.

Now…now she felt lost, as all she ever thought she never wanted had been snatched away before she could truly enjoy them.

She had hoped, for the briefest moment, she might return from medieval England carrying Edward's child, and still have the joy of the life they might have had, even alone, but this morning five minutes in the toilet had dispelled all hope with crushing finality.

So now, home it was. At least she could recapture the green, even if it wasn't precisely the same as what she had left behind.

* * * * *

Luned gulped. Audibly. The monstrous thing in front of her was their way to Bella's true home?

Luned had sudden doubts as to whether she truly wanted to go there after all, despite the promises of lush green and rich, deep brown, like her homeland.

No more dreary grey, like a traitor's cell.

But…the metal transportation was huge, way bigger than car, which Luned was now finding quite an enjoyable way to travel. Unlike travel by horse, you never got wet, or cold, or cramped legs.

"What did you call it again?" She asked miserably, frowning.

"It's a plane, Luned."

"And it travels even faster than car?"

"I think you mean a car, Luned. And yes. Much faster."

"But would it not knock other vehicles off the road?"

Bella grimaced and shook her head, but did not elaborate. She could imagine the reaction if she told her it flew. She'd probably bolt right now. The tension coming off her in waves just due to its size was more than enough for one moment.

Luned nodded stiffly, squaring her shoulders. "Alright, then. I am sure it will be fine."

They boarded, Luned gazing around in astonishment.

"She's from the country." Bella explained to an amused air hostess.

Luned took her seat; Bella loaded their hand luggage in the overhead compartment and sat down next to her, helping buckle the Welshwoman's seatbelt. "You can get to Wales like this," she said, hoping that would help Luned feel better once they were airborne.

"I can return to my home?" she asked, eyes glittering with hope. "You would allow me?"

"Luned, women in this time do not have to ask permission. At least, not from friends. And bosses tend to be far more relaxed than lords and ladies."

Luned settled back into the chair, her spine so rigid against its back, Bella snickered. "Luned. Relax. You look like you're about to jump out of your chair."

The other woman's shoulders slumped. "Better?"

Bella giggled again. "Much. You're picking up language well."

"Mmm. I have been around you for so long now…"

Luned looked out the window. Bella's breath caught and she leant over, slammed the shade down.

"My…Bella. What did you do that for? It looks so nice out there."

"I'm saving the surprise for later." Like when we're in the air and it's too late.

"What surprise?" Luned demanded. "Nothing has changed outside from before we entered. It just looks a little—foggier."

"Through the glass, yeah. But there will be a surprise and you have to wait for it."

Luned shrugged, fiddled instead with the tray in front of her.

Bella whispered out of the corner of her mouth to Luned as the hostesses showed the exits, and what to do in case of accident.

"Fasten your seatbelts for take off."

Bella leant back in her chair, watching Luned out of the corner of her eye, fiddling with her seatbelt.

"Luned, leave it. I swear, you're worse than a kid."

"How can I be worse than a goat?"

"Child then. Just leave it, it's fine."

"But, they said…"

"It's fine."

The plane began its taxi down the runway.

"It does feel faster."

"Mmm hmm."

Bella gripped the chairs armrests tightly as the nose came up. The worst part of flying was take off and set down. She hated it.

"What…Bella, is it usual to move in such a way?"

"Yes."

The whole plane was rising now, feeling as though it was pointing almost completely straight up.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes, Luned."

Bella waited until the plane had leveled before she dared let her grip loosen, and she looked at Luned. She chewed nervously on her bottom lip, worried about how this would go down.

It'll be fine. She finally decided. She took pretty well to cars.

"Luned, I'm going to show you something, but it's fine, okay?"

Luned gazed at her, uncomprehending but curious.

Bella leaned across her friend, rested her hand on the lip of the window shade. "Here's your surprise," she said brightly, forcing a smile as she flipped it up.

Luned flicked her gaze to the window, then back at Bella. It took a moment for what she was seeing to register.

"Those are…trees, are they not?"

"Uh-huh."

Luned's voice rose in pitch slightly. "And roads?"

"Yep."

The Welshwoman's voice crept another octave higher. "Why are they so small? And we are over them?"

"We're flying, Luned."

The maid screamed, and all the hostesses came running.

* * * * *

"I'm so sorry," Bella apologized again, her cheeks flaming red. "I thought it would be a nice surprise, having never seen one before, let alone been in one."

The hostess frowned slightly, trying to hold a pleasant look on her face. "If you had warned us, there would have been much less panic. We would have been prepared."

"I know, I really am sorry."

Luned's screaming had terrified the other passengers who had feared the plane might be crashing. It had taken a lot of explaining on their part, and persuasion of Luned on Bella's before they had everyone in their seats, except the maid who had been rushed tearfully to the toilet, where she had been locked in for the past hour.

"Anyway, she'll have to come out soon. We can't begin descent with a passenger in the toilet." The pretty blonde woman walked away, shaking her head slightly.

"Luned," Bella murmured through the door. "You have to come out now. We need to start going down."

"Down?" Came the muffled screech.

"You won't die, Luned. It needs to land, just like a bird."

Silence.

"Please?"

"Do you promise we will be safe?"

"Yes, Luned. The pilots know what they're doing. People have been flying for years."

"Well, then…" The door unlocked and Luned tiptoed out, too terrified to risk taking her hand off the wall.

Bella sighed and gripped the younger woman under the arm. "Come on."

She began leading her back down the aisle when something caught her eye.

Something she could never miss, not for the remaining years of her life.

A shiny bronze head.