Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight. New belongs to Bella. Mine.

A/N: It's coming. I promise it is. As for this... it's HER day. This is how she wanted to spend it.

Chapter Two: In with the New

What can two femme-forces-of-nature accomplish when they feel inspired?

A fucking shit-ton.

What is it they say... Rome wasn't built in a day?

I beg to differ.

Rome didn't have Alice Brandon-Whitlock.

Or me.

But I do.

I have a great friend.

The best a girl could ask for.

And I have me.

Because I took her back.

I took ME back.

But not just me...

Rediscovered.

But different.

Better.

Whole.

No longer divided.

No longer shared.

Offered.

Or abandoned.

I.

AM.

MINE.

And so is this house... de-Pauled, de-purpled, DECLARED.

Mine again.

Only better.

All of his shit- gone.

Purple- replaced.

Pain- DISMISSED.

Whoosh... Whoosh... WHOOSH!

Onward...

My party- productive. Positive.

Without pity.

For me.

For myself.

We talked, we laughed, we planned.

We wasted no time putting that plan into action. Motion.

We threw out the old and brought in the new.

A lot of new.

Clothes- edgier.

Shoes- with heels. High ones.

The abandoner wasn't very tall. Didn't like me to wear heels. They intimidated him. Made him feel like less of a man.

Like other things did...

Things he wouldn't allow.

Things he took away.

Things I replaced when he left.

I didn't deprive myself of that...

And today, I added to my collection.

My arsenal.

I splurged.

Gifts to myself on my day.

That give instead of take.

Provide instead of demand.

That stay, strong and firm, as long as I need them to. Until I'm provided for. Longer.

That hum instead of snore. Like music to my ears. Softer.

Gifts, with an 's'... I couldn't decide on just one. I don't have to.

I have choices.

I made many...

Couch and chairs- overstuffed. Chocolate. Leather. Sumptuous.

Pillows. Lots of them. Red. Chocolate. Cream. Everywhere...

On the couch. On the chairs. On the floor.

Because he hated them.

No...

Because I LOVE THEM.

Drapes- long. Touch the floor in pools of red.

Sheets- satin. Black. I can't wait to feel them against my bare skin.

Pillows- feather. Decadent. Angel's wings to carry my dreams.

Duvet- down. Luxurious. A heavenly shield from the cold.

Feathers. They'll surround me.

Feathers galore...

The abandoner was allergic.

I'm not.

I like them.

I missed them.

So I bought them.

And a new bed to put them on.

For me.

Mastercard fell in love with me today. Deeply.

Then I made it love me more.

It dropped to its knees.

And my hair that was nearly to mine...

Because the abandoner wouldn't let me...

CUT.

The weight lifted.

Dismissed, like the pain.

The hypnotic sh sh sh of the scissors setting me free...

Whoosh...

Gone.

But not thrown out...

I'm going to donate it.

Share my new freedom.

Make someone else happy.

Make someone else smile.

Like I'm smiling now...

At my new kitten.

I got a cat.

I've always wanted a cat.

My mother was allergic.

To cats. And to me, apparently.

Because she left.

Disappeared in the night while I slept.

Like him.

The abandoner was allergic, too.

To both, apparently.

Like her.

And they can both burn in hell.

While I play with my cat.

My kitten...

He's adorable.

Black.

Except for his paws.

White.

And the fur that starts at his little neck and covers his belly like a dress shirt in a tuxedo jacket.

And his whiskers and kitten brows... white and wild.

He has bright green eyes.

Full of life.

Full of intent.

Determination.

He has a plan...

A strategy...

To charge.

To conquer...

A shopping bag.

To retreat, run around the chair, and charge again.

Infiltrate.

Seize.

Claim.

He got a new home today.

I think he's happy.

And so am I.

Happy he's here.

A new friend.

And happy for the old ones that just left.

I was wrong about the birthday wishes.

Alice's wasn't the only one.

And she wasn't the only one that wanted to rush right over and see the new me.

Help her start fresh.

Join the party where there would be no tears.

They came.

Once we settled in from our shopping spree.

It was no formal affair.

This was a working party.

They came dressed and ready with smiles on their faces.

They jumped right in to our plan.

Furniture to move.

Walls to paint.

Old to haul away.

New to welcome.

They were happy to do it.

Thrilled, like Alice.

To help me take my life back.

We worked.

We laughed.

We drank.

A lot.

There were tears, but not the sad kind...

They were the kind that come from laughing so hard that it bubbles up and over and out your eyes.

I think this was the best birthday I've ever had.

But I'm not done celebrating.

I stub out my cigarette and get up from the chair.

Close the window to the cool night air.

My new red drapes left open, so my new furry friend can play by the moonlight.

I flip the lights and bid him goodnight, just as he climbs said new red drapes.

I suppose I should be mad, but I laugh instead.

Tomorrow we'll cut his nails.

But tonight we have no rules.

We do what we want.

We explore.

We conquer.

We enjoy our new home.

We live.

"Good night, Figaro," I say again, as I free him from the drapes and set him on his feet.

He wiggles his little kitten butt and lunges for the bag again.

He could care less at the moment about the toys I bought him.

I, on the other hand, am looking forward to mine.

I head to the bathroom with a smile on my face.

A smile that gets bigger as I turn on the light and see the toothPASTE waiting for me on the counter, still in it's box and topped with a big red bow.

After Figaro, my favorite gift to myself.

Maybe...

For now.

Ask me in an hour.

Or two.

...

Now that she's all settled in new, what do you suppose she'll find to do? Cue creepy tune...