Disclaimer: I take no credit in the characters within this story, those are the sole work of Mrs. Stephenie Meyer. I do, however, take credit for the specific, new traits I gave them and am quite proud of them.

Note: Hope you are enjoying the story so far. I am working hard to continue editing these chapters and eliminating the need for the links that are no longer working on profile. Essentially, if the format of the chapter is like this one than I have probably already started-though not necessarily finished—editing it. Please read on, enjoy, and review

-BPOV

"Hello, Bella," he replied, the same old crooked smiling playing on his lips as he continued to stare at me. I felt like my heart stuttered at the sound of my name. "It's been too long."

"Yeah," I sighed, my eyes raking over his face, which had become even more handsome and well balanced over the years. His cheekbones were even more defined, his eyes brighter, his hair shinier in all of its normal messiness on his head. There was even the same exact lock still falling in front of his eye. I felt my heart speed up in a way that it hadn't in a long time, as if it were being jumpstarted by a car battery.

"I told you she would be shocked!" Alice sang from beside me, her hand touching my arm as she talked to Edward. "Look, she's speechless. Not that I blame her. It's been nearly three years since you've even spoken to each other."

His smile faltered, shame replacing it as he looked into my eyes again, "I know. I'm sorry, Bella. I haven't been trying to be out of touch"

That was when I smiled. Edward was here now, and everything was going to be alright. "Don't worry about it, Edward. Just come give me a hug."

His smile returned full force as he reached my porch and set the bags down before coming and wrapping his arms around me tightly. I laid my head against his chest for a moment, inhaling carefully and taking in his delicious scent. It had been one of the things that I had longed for after he left for college. I always loved the smell he carried around him, one that I could never connect with anything except for him. I gave him a tight squeeze, which he returned, before I leaned away. His eyes were glued to my face as I looked back up at him.

"You look great," he pointed out.

"That is a very meeting-your-ex-at-a-corner line, Edward." Alice teased, slipping her way back into the moment and my immediate attention.

I laughed as he shot her a look. Suddenly everything again felt completely natural. Edward and I were side by side, the siblings were bickering, and there were enough smiles to go around the oddly positioned circle. "No, I was just pointing out a fact. She's grown."

"I don't think so," I said, looking down at myself. I had been the same height for the past 4 years or so, since long before Edward and I had last had the opportunity to catch up.

Alice started laughing, and she wrapped an arm around mine and turned me toward my house. "Believe me, you have."

I gave her a questioning look but just went with it as she led me into my own house. Edward grabbed the bags he had set down and followed closely. She looked around my living room with a frown, looking very pointedly at the blank walls. "It's beautiful, but you haven't changed anything since the week you moved in."

"Well, I don't really need to. I have everything I need," I said, slowly, trying to avoid the argument that was to come.

"But it looks like a house, not a home," she said, shaking her head. "How you can live without decorations is beyond me, girl."

I said nothing, not wanting to already start arguing with her after she had just arrived. Especially not when she would win anyway. She led me around the house, and I could hear the footsteps reentering and then leaving the house again. I couldn't imagine what they had brought that would require Edward to make so many trips back out to the car. Then again, knowing Alice, she may not have been able to convince herself not to pack her entire room. When we came back to the living room, I stopped. "Oh god, I've to go make up another room."

They both gave me questioning looks. "For Edward. I figured you were bringing your boyfriend, Alice, so I only made up one. I'll be right back."

"Don't worry about it Bella," Edward said, stepping a little closer. "I can just sleep on a couch."

I glared at him. "What are you talking about? I have three guest rooms! I'm not letting you sleep on a couch when I have a bed that is plenty comfortable. I'm just gonna go change the sheets and maybe clear out a few drawers. It won't take long."

"Then it can wait," Alice said, a smile plastered on her face. "It's still early! He won't need his room until later."

"She makes a valid point," Edward replied, closing the door with his foot as he set down a hanger bag and a suitcase. I looked down at the pile of bags in front of him. There were at least ten different cases and two hanger bags.

"My god, Alice. You know, I do have a washer and dryer. Did you have to bring clothes for every day you're here?"

She laughed. "It's not all mine."

I glanced at Edward. "How many are yours?"

He held up two fingers and then laughed, "And yet I had to carry them all in."

"I didn't mean that they were his, either. Two are yours."

"I hate to tell you Alice, but I do have clothes here, you know, in my house," I said, laughing a little as she glared at me.

"Yes, and I can only imagine what things you have in your closet. So, I grabbed some of the things that I bought you in college and high school that you refused to wear. And, of course, we're going shopping."

"Alice," I groaned. "Please no."

"Don't even bother. She was planning out the days to go in the car," Edward said, a smile playing on his lips as he picked up two identical black suitcases and backed away from the others. "Where am I putting these?"

I walked away, beckoning him to follow. I opened the first door in the hall, revealing a beautiful wood-finished room. It was my favorite, though not particularly big. I would have used that one rather than the master if it had a closet rather than the large armoire. He stepped around me, his eyes turning in his head, taking in the room from the polished walls to the wooden bed and bare feather mattress to the matching nightstand and dresser. "Wow."

"I know, right?" Alice said, walking in behind him. "I still can't believe you got this house, Bella. I mean, for the price that you did."

"Fully furnished and all." I shook my head. "And just off the river. I can't, either, Alice. I'm still afraid someone is gonna pop out and start laughing at me before kicking me out."

Edward set down the cases before turning back to us. "So do I get a tour of the house? This is my first time here."

"Why not?" I said, leading him out of his room and down to the end of the hall. I opened the door and pointed in. "This is guest bedroom number one where Alice is sleeping," I said, letting them step in and study the large white room. It always reminded me of a hotel room with its pastel walls and classic four post bed, but at the same time it was the largest in the house.

They followed me as I walked out and opened the door across the hall. "This is my room." They took equal interest in this one, which had muted blue walls and a large dresser with my TV on it. I saw Alice walk to the second door off the right wall (the closet) and glance in. When she looked at me, I could see the disapproval on her face but just walked away, not really wanting to listen her opinions about my wardrobe. Again they followed. I opened the next door. "The guest bathroom," I said, stepping in first and turning on the light. The tub in here was better and bigger than the one in my room but made the room seem small and cramped.

"Oh god, I forgot how much I missed that tub," Alice sighed, staring at it. She had stayed with me during the first week that I had moved in here and had taken a bath every day - two on her last.

"Just remember to share," I said, shaking my head as I wandered out of the room, squeezing past Edward, who took up the greater part of the doorway. "And if she doesn't, feel free to use mine."

He laughed and nodded. "I'll remember that."

I felt myself blush as I hurried away, pointing at his room. "Edward's room," I said, choking it out and trying to erase my blush. It didn't' work completely, I knew, but I could face them again once we were back in the living room. I led them through an open walkthrough and into the kitchen. "This is my favorite room, of course. The kitchen."

"Granite counter tops?" Edward asked, staring in awe at the room. It was beautiful, too, much like the rest of the house. It was why I bought the place. Huge and clean, it hummed with the energy that was flowing through my brand new, super cool matching fridge (never thought I'd say that), stove, and microwave that were built into one wall. The other wall had a stone façade that I just adored and that really set off the countertops. "This is better than the one at our house, Alice. Why didn't you buy this place?"

"Because I already had one. Otherwise you know that I would have jumped on it," she said matter-of-factly.

I pushed on with the tour, leading down another hall and beckoning them over to the door. "The other guest room."

"Oh, this is my favorite. Why didn't you put me in here?" Alice said, smiling as I pushed open the door.

"I figured it would be too small for two people. Besides, the other one is closer to your precious tub."

"Good point," she said as she walked into the room behind me and looked around the dark room. I had to admit it was beautiful, though it didn't come anywhere near the one that Edward was staying in. The walls were a deep burgundy, which, though it doesn't sound like a particularly good color for a comfortable room, set off the black comforter and metal bed frame. There was a computer with a 21" flat panel monitor sitting on a desk in the corner.

"Come in here whenever you need to use the computer," I said, pointing at the desk. "It's hooked up to the wireless. No password."

Then I led them back down the hall into the living room and pointed at the last door set into the far wall. "And that's my office. Nothing fascinating."

Edward smiled at me. "You have a beautiful house, Bella."

I could feel myself begin to blush as I looked away, my eyes turning to the large window above the couch. "Thank you. I like it," was all I could manage to say.

"Okay, now that that's over and done with, we have to catch up, Bella," Alice said, getting excited as she flopped down onto the couch, her eyes lighting up. "All of us! We haven't been together for years."

I smiled at the way she accented her words with her face as well as her voice. "I suppose you're right. How about I get us all something to drink?"

"Sounds good." Alice nodded, making herself comfortable as she slid off her sandals and wiggled her toes in the plush carpet. I smiled as I went into the kitchen, knowing she was just the same old Alice. And yet I couldn't be happier that she was finally back here with me. I opened my fridge and pulled out a pitcher of lemonade. As I filled the glasses my mind wandered back again, remembering how things had been.

-(Flashback)-

As it turned out, I didn't have to wait for Biology to see him again. When the lunch bell rang, Jessica, the girl who had asked me to sit with her for lunch the day before, pulled me back to the cafeteria. As I got in line, I heard someone call my name. Alice was standing just a few people ahead, waving at me. I smiled and waved back.

She skipped back to me, giving up her place in line. "Would you like to sit with us today, Bella? You haven't met our other brother yet."

I glanced over at the table that I had seen them sitting at yesterday and, sure enough, the guys were already there, Edward again shrunken by the size of his brother. "Sure."

"Great!" Alice said, smiling at me again before glancing at Jessica. "I hope I'm not stealing her, Jessica."

From the look on her face, it didn't seem like she cared much about the answer to be honest, but I don't think Jessica caught on to that. "No, it's fine."

Alice smiled at me as we moved forward in line. I watched the excited girl closely, still questioning her motives. Why would someone that looked as gorgeous as any of the Cullen's want to befriend a girl with no extraordinary features whatsoever? But Alice seemed true enough, laughing as she spoke and smiling kindly at all times as we moved through the lines, getting our food without much thought. After we paid, Alice led us to the back table and I could feel eyes on me as I followed her. I ducked my head down a bit, letting my hair fall a little forward to hide me. I knew what they were thinking simply because it matched my own thoughts perfectly: "Why was Alice hanging out with Bella?"

"Hello, Bella," Edward said as I sat down in the seat beside Alice's, directly across from him.

"Hi, Edward." I said, giving him a little smile before looking at the other brother. He was studying me, his face holding a kind smile.

"Bella, this is our brother Emmett," Alice said with a laugh.

"The infamous Bella," he said, nodding and reaching out a hand, which I took. His fingers curled around mine, completely making my hand disappear. He laughed a little as he released it. "Just as tiny as the rest of them."

I met his eyes, seeing the tease lying there. I got the feeling, suddenly, that Emmett was a very fun guy, someone that would make you laugh on more than one occasion. Generally not what you expect him to be at first glance with his huge arms and tall figure.

"Is there something wrong with being small?" I asked, my own smile visible.

"Absolutely not. He just cherishes being the biggest," Edward replied, bumping his brothers arm with his elbow.

"What can I say? It's the one the thing I always win," he said, punching his brother gently. "So, Bella, how are you liking Forks?"

I smiled a little to myself. I found that since yesterday during Biology I was enjoying the town considerably more than I had been. "It's not too bad," I said, "you know, if it wasn't for the constant bad weather."

"You move to Forks when you don't like rain?" Emmett laughed again. "That's like buying a book when you don't like the genre!"

I smiled at that. "Yeah, well, sometimes you can be surprised by what you can bear. Sometimes you can even convince yourself to enjoy it. Quite shocking, really."

He smiled as he picked up a can of Coke and took sip, his eyes scanning the room. "Well, Bella, you certainly have turned some heads in our direction this afternoon."

I looked out with the other two siblings and saw that everywhere people were stealing glanced every few seconds. I felt myself blush a little before looking down at my tray. The pizza sitting there began to look rather unappetizing. "I don't know why."

Edward spoke to this. "I do," he said, making me look up at him. He was still scanning the room, but when he saw me staring at him expectantly, he laughed. "We are known solely for our coldness to others."

"Is that true?" I asked Alice.

"You could say that. We don't really focus on people outside of our family, usually. I mean, we aren't cold, but we aren't exactly welcoming either," she admitted with a sheepish look.

"Why?" I asked, looking between the three of them. None met my eyes as they thought about it.

"I just really don't think we need much else," Edward said. "I mean, most people here aren't exactly our type of friends."

I felt myself blush. Should I take that as a compliment or as a turndown? My eyes carried over to Alice who smiled at me. "But I couldn't help but automatically like you, Bella."

That was good. "Thanks, Alice."

The rest of lunch we didn't bring that up again, just talked about various things; classes, food, weather, etc.

-(End Flashback)-

"Would you like some help?" Edward's musical voice asked from behind me.

I turned and looked at him, my eyes meeting his. I smiled shakily and handed him a glass with a sugared lemon on the rim. He took it and waited, his eyes following me as I wrapped the rest of the lemon I had cut and placed it into the fridge along with the pitcher containing the remainder of the juice, before grabbing the other glasses. We headed back out to the living room where Alice was still sitting on the couch, her legs curled under her. I handed her a glass before sitting down on the other side of the coffee table, setting my own glass on the top.

"So, what have you been doing, Edward?" I asked, glancing at him as I lifted my glass and took a sip. He was sitting languidly on the couch, taking a small sip out of his own glass.

"Just working and then sleeping and then working and then sleeping. This summer I couldn't take it and needed a break, so I went to surprise Alice, only to find that she was packing to come here," he said with a smile. "Really though, in the past few years I haven't done anything but throw myself into school. No time for anything else."

I shook my head. "Well, that's boring. We'll have to get you out while you're here. Make you have so much fun you won't want anymore by the time you leave."

Alice nodded in agreement. "Of course, if you remember correctly, he never had much of a social life in high school, either."

"Thank you, Alice," he said, his eyes flicking to hers with a warning.

"Well, it's true," I pointed out.

He sighed. "This is how it's going to be the entire time, isn't it? Both of you ganging up on me?"

"Has it ever been any other way?" I asked, barely containing my smile.

It went on like that for hours as we reminisced about school and went over our college lives, Alice and I switching back and forth telling stories about various things that happened in our dorm room, only some of which had to do with us. Edward was absolutely in stitches as I told him, much to Alice's embarrassment, about the time she had stumbled in after a night of partying only to fall onto the floor. While she had been asleep she had a bad dream and crawled under MY bed, scaring the shit out of me when she screamed after waking up with no idea where she was. She, in return, told him about the time that I had pulled two all-nighters to prepare for a test which I fell asleep during, subsequently failing with a zero.

"I was crushed," I said, shaking my head. "Not to mention, embarrassed. Do you know what its like to turn in a paper that was blank with the exception of a drool stain?"

Edward just kept laughing, his head back. I watched his throat muscles expand, and he tried to calm himself only to start laughing again. I must admit that he was by far one of the sexiest men I had ever laid my eyes on, especially when he was laughing. I could feel my heart start to pound again as I let my eyes roam over his body like they used to—his broad shoulders and chest, well formed hips and legs, all that I could see in my mind as if he were in his swim trunks even now. I loved pool parties, that was for damn sure.

It was nearly three when we finally couldn't take any more laughing, our sides all aching as we remembered various high school people and how ruthless they were. I'm pretty sure one of Alice's favorite was probably Mike Newton, who had shamelessly flirted with me throughout my entire time there. I felt my blush creep back as Edward told her about one time, when it had been just him and me at lunch (Alice had been in the restroom and Emmett and been playing hooky), and the boy had come over, sat down next to me, and begged me to go to the dance with him. Seriously, begged. He even got down on his knees at one point.

"Oh god, Edward. You promised you would never tell anyone about that," I said, mortified as I remembered the scene. The two were just doubled over laughing, tears rolling down Alice's face.

When she could finally breathe, she looked Edward straight in the eyes and said, "You know why she wouldn't go out with him, right?"

I felt my cheeks color as I stared at her, praying she was not about to do what I thought she was. I knew why. I had been desperately in love with Edward. Did he know? Did she? I had never said it straight out, but Alice had definitely hinted at her knowledge of the fact. My eyes closed for a second. Then I flicked them over to the guy in question, who was sitting on the couch, shaking his head, eyeing his sister.

"Why?" he asked.

"Well…." Alice began.