Luned walked slowly through Bella's small room, her fingers drifting across various articles of furniture; Bella's bed, her dresser, her desk and computer. Always, just under her skin, was a slow fissure of shock with everything she did; the surprise and in ground fear of the unknown, and here, at this place, the things she had never even dreamed of.

To feel materials she could never have thought could exist in any time period, to know right down the stairs was her second chance at a happy life. The knowledge that if she were to have her second chance it would be centuries from her own home, from everything she had known since birth, away from the mountains and fogs of her beloved homeland. Generally, she felt as calm as could be expected, had dried her tears of the first night and decided to make the best of what was now, as she always had done, but beneath it all, fear rang out.

She breathed deeply, relieved again by the clean damp taste of the air here in Forks, much more bearable than the clogged, acrid taste of the city, and crossed to the drawers where Bella had insisted Luned place her clothing. She stopped before them, running her hand absently over the stiff material of the pants she wore. She shook her head fiercely, certain there was no possible way a man could find a woman even remotely attractive in men's clothing, and yanked open the drawer harshly, digging through the piles of clothes until she found what she was searching for.

Her sister's brown dress, clean and sweet smelling. She pulled it to her chest, smiling to herself. Bella was a pretty girl, but Luned was determined Jacob would have eyes for no one but her. Still smiling, she stripped off her modern clothing and slipped the dress over her head, her final and only concession to Bella's way of dressing was a touch of lip gloss.

* * * * *

"Laurent?"

The dark haired man smiled placidly. "I thought it was you. What are you doing in Port Angeles?"

"Ah, I live nearby. Well, I used to. I'm just visiting." Bella blushed, unexplicably nervous. All she could think of was the way Alice had acted when she had seen him out of Bella's apartment window.

"Bella?" Edward slid his arm around Bella's waist possessively. "Ready for the movie?"

"Sure," she answered quickly, smiling. "So, ah, I guess I'll see you around, Laurent."

"I am certain you will," he said softly.

Edward frowned as he tugged Bella along gently. "You know that guy?"

"Not really. He helped Luned find her way back to my place."

"Hmm."

"Do you know him?"

"No…at least I don't think so. He has one of those faces…anyway, blood and guts await."

They entered the darkened movie theatre and tok their seats. Within minutes Bella was cringing, hiding her face against Edward's shoulder, and he grinned broadly as he slipped his arm around her. Laurent was completely forgotten.

* * * * *

Luned stood at the top of the stairs listening to the ebb and flow of conversation below, singling out Jacob's husky voice for closer attention. He was speaking to Alice, saying something about long hours and not to worry too much. Luned closed her eyes, let the sound of his voice wash over her, let it warm her soul, the voice she had never thought to hear again.

Opening her eyes again, she took the stairs slowly, steadying her breathing, intent upon nothing but the man she wished to be with. She reached the lowest step and peered around the doorframe into the Swan's living room. Emmett was sprawled on the couch, staring at the box in the corner with the moving pictures, Rose was sitting near his feet, watching the same thing, but with considerably less interest, as though she were merely waiting for something.

Jacob was leaning on the inside of the doorframe and Alice was leaning against the edge of the armchair, speaking animatedly. The room was lit by the marvelous lighting they had in this age--'electrincity' Luned seemed to recall Alice calling it--much better for night time viewing than numerous candles and braziers that really cast very little light at all.

She stepped into the room and held her breath, watching Jacob out of the corner of her eye, judging his every movement for a positive reaction.

At first he did nothing, his eyes remained steadily on Alice. But as Alice's voice trailed away to nothing and she looked at Luned in surprise, Jacob turned his face in her direction.

His whole body jolted as though he'd been shocked, and his jaw dropped open.

Alice giggled. "Missing the fair, hey, Luned?"

Jacob stepped forward, unthinking. "If so, then we should run away to it, right now." His brown eyes glittered with an intense light. "And never come back," he finished in a murmur.

"Luned smiled shyly, ducking her head. She'd hoped he might smile at her, look at her in that way that said he wanted her, but this--this was far more than she had expected. He was looking at her as though there were no other woman in the world, and he was happy with things being that way.

"Jacob--" Alice said warningly, stunning him into stillness. He shook his head, still watching Luned with the same fervent expression on his face.

"She's not Leah, Jake." Alice continued softly, moving forward and resting her small hand on his muscled arm.

Luned started. Of course. He wasn't looking at her like that, he was seeing his betrothed. Tears welled in Luned's eyes, but she shook them awat quickly, and tilted her chin upwards.

"Why can he not believe what he wishes? If it is this Leah that he wants, then I can be she."

Jacob looked for a moment as though he wanted to agree, but Alice tightened her grip on his arm, and he sighed heavily, looking over his shoulder at her. "I know, you're right Alice. It's just…"

"See," Alice looked at Luned apologetically, "Leah was the one who got us all into medieval fairs in the beginning. She was totally obsessed with them, used to joke about how she wished she could click her fingers and go back in time…"

Luned looked down at her dress, the hem trailing on the floor and pooling at her feet, the lacings along the underside of her arms. "And my dress--" she said quietly.

Alice nodded swiftly. "Exactly."

The tears that had welled before returned with a vengeance, threatening to spill. Luned choked back a sob.

"All that aside, Luned," Jacob said gently in his husky voice. "Would you like to catch a movie with me sometime? In something other than that?" He finished with a slightly strangled laugh.

Alice frowned. "Are you sure, Jake? It won't bring her back."

Luned frowned at Alice, suddenly irritated. "Nor will it bring back my…"

"I know." Alice said quickly. "I meant--never mind what I meant."

Rose sighed from the couch, reminding her friends of her and Emmett's presence. "When you three are finished, they're back."

Alice bit her lip, concerned and unwilling to step away, but eventually curiosity got the better of her and, together with Rose, she crept to the window, giggling quietly to watch what was happening outside.

"You'll be caught." Emmett chuckled, not moving from his position on the couch.

Rose shushed him and waved her hand at him, not bothering to look back. He laughed again in response.

Jacob brushed his hand lightly against Luned's arm, making her shiver. "Is that a yes?" he asked earnestly.

"Of course," she breathed, thinking that the moment he left she might just burn her dress if he didn't wish to see her in it.

Jacob grinned. "I'm heading out now," he called to Alice and the others without moving his gaze from Luned. "I've got what I stayed for."

And with that, he left, sneaking out the back door so as not to ruin the moment for the couple out the front. Or the entertainment for the rest of the room.

* * * * *

"I had a wonderful time, Bella," Edward said as he opened her door and held out his hand to assist her from his car.

"Yeah." She blushed. "So did I. Except when that guy was killed…"

"Which one?"

Bella shuddered. "You know the one, I couldn't watch."

Edward grinned. "Fortunately for me, you couldn't watch most of it, it seemed." He stopped on Bella's doorstep and pulled her in close. She could smell the male scent of him, was completely delighted that the cologne he was wearing was extremely subtle and mixed well with him. Subtly, she took a slow deep breath, almost sighing out loud in happiness.

"I think next time something even scarier would be the way to go, then maybe you might even need to share my seat…" Edward reached up to brush an unruly strand of hair from Bella's cheek. "I hope tonight improved your opinion of me."

"Without a doubt," she whispered, her cheeks reddening at her thoughts.

Edward leant forward and brushed his lips slowly across hers, softly and with absolute minimal pressure, his hands lightly resting on her shoulders.

Bella sighed against his mouth and he moved his lips against hers again.

Tingling invaded her body from her toes to her scalp and without conscious thought she flung her arms around his neck, bowing her body to his and pressing herself into his kiss.

He moved his hands from her shoulders slowly down her back with infinite gentleness and placed them at her hips, massaging the bone with his thumbs.

Bella would have let things go further if it weren't for the incessant snickering that finally invaded her senses and made her pull away with a gasp, panting.

Edward looked completely unfazed as he tilted his head towards her living room window.

"Something tells me we have an audience," he said, amusement evident in his voice.

"Not for much longer," Bella said gruffly. "Although I hope my Dad doesn't mind a few bodies in the back yard."

Edward chuckled, then sobered. "Can I see you again? Soon?"

Bella nodded. "Absolutely."

He kissed her quickly and gently on the forehead. "Then with that promise, I had better leave. I'm sure your third degree will go better without me present."

"Huh. If they think I'm saying a word…"

Edward chuckled again. "I hope you do, because I will be asking Emmett to repeat every word for me later."

Bella's face flamed. "You wouldn't!"

"What I will do is leave." He said, flashing his crooked grin. "Until next time, my lady, sleep well."

He strode away quickly, and climbed into his car.

Bella watched until the silver Volvo disappeared around the corner before turning on her heel and staring at her front door.

As expected, she didn't even have to turn the handle herself. Alice flung open the door, wide eyed and curious, Rose standing at her shoulder with the same expression on her stunning face.

"So?" Alice asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "I want to hear everything!"

Bella rolled her eyes.

"Where'd you go for dinner?" Rose asked. "Somewhere nice?"

"McDonald's."

Alice looked horrified. "You're kidding, right? McDonald's?"

Bella heard Emmett's laughter from the lounge. "That's my boy!"

"That," Rose said irritably, "is not the sign of a promising future."

"It got better, right? I mean, you didn't spend all night at a fast food restaurant, did you?" Alice asked, seeming to plead with her friend for something better.

"If you actually let me in my own front door I might tell you the rest."

The other two women leapt back, so desperate for all the details they nearly fell over one another in their rush.

Bella entered slowly, determined to draw out their desire for gossip.

"Well?" Rose demanded.

Bella looked at her friends thoughtfully as she wandered into the living room and perched on the edge of the arm chair.

"We went to the movies," she said slowly.

"A romantic one, right?" Alice prodded, looking expectant.

"Nope. Zombies." Bella grinned.

"WHAT?" Alice slumped into the chair beside Bella. "What a disaster. McDonald's and a zombie movie? What are we, thirteen?"

Emmett chuckled again. "Do you always miss the bigger picture, Alice? A scary movie means darkened theater, frightened female…"

Rose grinned at Emmett. "And a shoulder to hide in."

"A perfect first date," Emmett concluded, gazing at his fiancé with undisguised adoration.

"I agree." Rose nodded, lost in her own memories.

Bella caught sight of Luned, standing near the living room entrance staring off into space.

"Oh! I almost forgot! I saw that guy that helped Luned there, Laurent."

The room went silent. Luned turned her head towards Bella, her expression distant and disinterested. Rose looked surprised, Emmett confused, and Alice--horrified.