Title: The Edge
Author: Janine
Fandom: Twilight
Pairing: Alice/Bella
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All characters are owned by Stephanie Meyer. I’m just borrowing them.
Summary: Christmas with the Cullen's.
Previous chapters here
---
Eight Months Later
Bella closed her eyes as a blast of cold wind rushed past her face as they walked through the swinging doors of the department store and onto the city street. She used to hate that sensation before, but now that there was no danger of her catching a cold, or the cold air causing her nose to run, she actually enjoyed the cool, crisp sensation.
“It’s snowing!” Alice declared happily bounding onto the sidewalk, and twirling in an adorably cheesy way that made Bella grin. Alice looked like she had just stepped out of a made for TV movie about the magic of Christmas time. Bella kind of wanted to give her a floppy green hat and some pointy shoes with bells on the toes.
She smiled at the thought. Maybe she would give Alice an outfit like that, but she’d save it until they were alone in their room, and didn’t have anything to do for a good ten hours or so.
“What are you smiling about?” Alice asked curiously, the words coming out somewhat muddled since she had her tongue sticking out to catch snowflakes on it when she spoke.
Bella laughed, and just barely resisted the urge to sweep Alice into her arms and kiss her into oblivion. She was in love with the most adorable person in the world, she was certain of it, and she couldn’t have been happier.
“You tell me,” Bella said wiggling her eyebrows a little as she slipped her hand into Alice’s and continued walking to their next destination.
Alice frowned at her for a second and then closed her eyes and began to concentrate, knowing that Bella would stop her from bumping into anyone or anything while she tried to force a vision.
A few seconds later Alice began to laugh, her head tilting back as the wind ruffled her hair gently.
“Hey,” Bella said a bit indignantly frowning over at her lover. “I didn’t laugh when you wanted me to dress up like …”
Alice shook her head cutting off Bella’s words, and then quickly turned to the side and angled her head up to press her lips against Bella’s cheek.
“It’s not that,” she said softly, still laughing a little as she squeezed Bella’s hand. “It’s just … I kind of already have an outfit like that … minus the hat and bells.”
Bella looked over at her curiously, her eyes widening a little.
“Really?” she drawled arching a questioning eyebrow at Alice.
“You know I love it when your minds in the gutter, but it wasn’t like that,” Alice said smiling, her hand shooting out to the side to deposit some bills in a Salvation Army box as they continued to walk. “I played Peter Pan in a school production in …” Alice’s voice drifted away as she thought, “’56,” Alice continued a second later smiling fondly at the memory. “All of the boys were too heavy for the pulley and I was the only girl at the school with short hair, so the part naturally fell to me. After the play, I wasn’t supposed to keep the costume, but …” Alice said trailing off, her eyes dancing as she held Bella’s gaze.
“Peter Pan,” Bella breathed out, her pace slowing a little as she stared at Alice.
“Uh huh,” Alice responded, nodding as she spoke.
“I bet you looked adorable,” Bella sighed softly, her lips curving up fondly as she continued to gaze at her lover. “I wish I could have seen you.”
“You can,” Alice said stroking the back of Bella’s hand with her thumb. “I told you I still have the costume,” she continued winking at the chestnut haired beauty.
“It’s not exactly the same,” Bella responded finally looking away from Alice’s eyes.
“I know,” Alice said, knowing that Bella wished she could have seen her up on stage singing and dancing, sword fighting and flying through the air. “You’ll have plenty of opportunities to see me being adorable in the future though,” she continued, smiling winsomely in an attempt to make Bella feel better. “It’s kind of my thing.”
Bella looked back over at Alice and stared at her for a second before she broke out into a grin.
“You’re so conceited,” Bella drawled, sounding absolutely charmed.
“It’s not being conceited if it’s true,” Alice responded in the haughtiest tone she could summon.
Bella shook her head at Alice, but the smile that was still on her face took away from the chastising effect.
“Nothing to say to that?” Alice asked surprised.
“Nope,” Bella replied happily. “I happen to agree with you. I think you’re wonderful.”
Alice stopped walking, causing Bella to come to a stop as well.
“You shouldn’t say things like that while we’re on a crowded city street surrounded by innocent bystanders,” Alice said, her voice a low purr that wouldn’t have been heard by any of the people walking by them. “It makes me want to do things to you. Children would be scared for life, parents would be scandalized, police officers would be called … and I’m still tempted.”
Bella shivered, the movement having nothing to do with the chill of the afternoon.
Her eyes drifted to the side. They were one block away from the store that was next on their list. All they had to do was go to that last store and they would accomplish everything they had set out to do that day. It would take 20 minutes, maybe 30 tops.
“Let’s go home,” Bella said softly. They could go shopping again the next day.
“Crowded,” Alice breathed out. Everyone was at home and if they raced back only to disappear up to their room for hours, not only was it likely that Rose and Emmett would listen in, but they would then be teased endlessly for the rest of the Christmas break about it.
“Dorms?” Bella speculated realizing that Alice was right. At night they all minded their own business, but racing home for quickie would have made them fair game. She could picture Rose and Emmett taking turns knocking on the door bothering them, asking them if they wanted to come down for a game of Jenga, or freaking her out by saying that Charlie had arrived a day early.
“Closed,” Alice responded regretfully, wracking her own mind for a place where they could have some privacy.
A Cheshire smile spread across Alice’s lips a few seconds later and Bella shivered a little knowing that nudity and very pleasurable sensations always accompanied that expression.
“Well,” Bella prompted a little breathlessly.
“There’s the car,” Alice purred, “and a veritable plethora of wooded clearings on the route home.”
Bella was silent for a second. Alice’s Porsche didn’t have the most room, but they were both pretty tiny. It would be cramped, but it was doable. She knew that from experience.
“Let’s go,” Bella said grinning, turning on her heel to head back to the parking lot.
“Yes ma’am,” Alice drawled giggling, gamely allowing Bella to drag her by their joined hands.
---
The Cullen Home – The Next Day
Bella walked up the stairs slowly, her fingers gliding along the railing as she moved. A small smile was playing at the corner of her lips, and she felt content – deeply content – in a way she hadn’t in a long time. She had been carrying around a lot of guilt with her since Edward had left, terrible aching guilt that ate away at her gut like acid when she concentrated on it too much. She had gotten used to sensation after he had left, it had become part of her, no different from her legs, or fingers, or hair; it was just one of the many elements that she was composed of.
By now, for the first time in over a year, the gnawing guilt was gone.
Bella smiled more widely and quickened her step, hastening towards her bedroom and Alice.
She had been apprehensive to say the least when Edward had suddenly shown up the night before. None of them had seen him since he had left, though they wrote (and received letters) from him regularly, and talked to him on the phone occasionally. They were all completely dumbfounded at his arrival, and everyone had stood in silence for a moment staring at him before Esme squealed in delight and quickly walked over to him wrapping him in a hug. That seemed to cure everyone of their temporary paralysis, and the next ten minutes were filled with constant chatter and hugs, and laughs and more hugs as everyone greeted him and expressed their happiness that he was there.
“He asked me not to tell,” Alice had said softly, looking over at Bella as the rest of the family greeted Edward. “In the vision, he knew I’d see a decision like this and asked me to keep it a secret. I had to,” the petite vampire continued, her eyes locked on Bella’s, silently asking for her understanding in the matter.
Bella had nodded and taken Alice’s hand, squeezing it comfortingly. She would have preferred to have had some warning that Edward was coming, to gather her mental and emotional strength, but she did understand why Alice agreed to his request and not said anything. Alice carried around the same guilt she did, and in some ways Bella thought that it ate at her lover even more than it did at her – and it was quite painful for her. Alice would do anything in her power to try and mend things between herself and Edward, and Bella would not stand in the way of what little Alice could do to show him that she still cared.
A few moments after that, Alice had disengaged herself from Bella, and under the watchful eyes of the entire room, she made her way over to Edward. They stood in front of each other for a few seconds, silently staring at each other, which had confused Bella for a few moments before she realized that they were communicating telepathically. It had been so long since she had seen them do it that she had almost forgotten what it looked like. And then, what seemed a great time later, Alice stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Edward, hugging him tightly, as his arms wrapped around her, and they stood tightly pressed together like that, Edward’s head resting against the top of Alice’s for a long time before they finally pulled away from each other.
After that it had been Bella’s turn to great her ex-boyfriend, and as she had expected it was the most awkward of all of the reunion scenes. She had walked over to him, and smiled shyly, and he had returned the smile in kind. Then Bella had kind of extended her hand as if to shake his, before realizing that that was probably too formal and withdrew it, which caused Edward to quickly withdraw his hand which he had started to reach out with to. They had stared at each other for a moment after that, and then moved together and embraced awkwardly, muttering “nice to see you’s” and “you look well’s” before they separated and looked around the room, silently begging the others to do something and end the discomfort.
Coming to the rescue as always, Esme had ushered them all into the living room and bade them sit, and had started to ask Edward questions about where he had been, and what he had been up to, and how could he not have called and told them he was coming, and his room was in shambles after the move and she hadn’t had time to tidy it up for him, and by the time the string of questions had stopped flowing from her mouth, all of them had been laughing, including Esme, and they had settled into a pleasant night of catching up.
Bella reached the landing and slowed her pace once again, her thoughts drifting away with her. Alice was in their room and not going anywhere so she wasn’t in a particular rush to get there, and allowed herself to enjoy the leisurely pace she had fallen into.
She had just finished speaking – alone – with Edward. It was the first meaningful contact they had had together since he arrived, and it had been a surprisingly pleasant and cathartic conversation. Edward had changed since he had been on his own. She wasn’t quite sure how to characterize the change, but she thought that maybe he seemed more humble, and more open. The streak of patronization that had chaffed her so much in past had receded greatly, and it allowed for their talk to go much more smoothly than it could have.
They talked, really talked about what had happened between them for the first time. Bella apologized again, she told him how she hadn’t wanted to hurt him, and how agonizing it had been for her when she realized that her feelings for Alice had changed. She said that she knew that she had wronged him, and hurt him terribly and that she hoped that one day he could forgive her. Edward had listened patiently to everything she had to say, letting her get it out, and then he had turned to her and taken her hands and told her very sincerely that he did forgive her. He said that it took him a long time to be able to see past him own pain, to be able to consider what had happened with something that approached objectivity, but that he was finally able to get to that place. He said that all he ever wanted for was for Bella to be safe and happy, and finally he was able to recognize that she was, with Alice, and he determined to be happy for them as well. And, he had continued, a few months after making that decision he actually was happy for them.
---
Alice tilted her head to the side lazily, watching as Bella entered the room and smiled happily at her. Without thought, she found herself returning the smile and automatically extended her hand in Bella’s direction, encouraging her lover to join her.
She was lying stretched on the window seat, and while it wasn’t particularly wide, they’d had plenty of practice snuggling together on it and were experts at arranging themselves now.
“You look happy,” Alice commented lightly, as Bella took her hand and then began to climb onto the seat, pushing Alice’s legs apart so that she could settle herself between them.
“I’m always happy when I’m with you,” Bella sighed, resting her head against Alice’s chest, enjoying the feel of it rising and lowering slowly.
Alice smiled down at her and kissed her forehead. “I’m glad,” Alice said softly, her fingers releasing the piece of paper they had been holding for the past hour so that they could move to rest on Bella’s stomach. “But I don’t think that I’m the cause of this particular bout of giddiness.”
Bella tilted her head back to look up at Alice’s face, and then lifted her hand to stroke her lover’s cheek before she guided Alice’s head down to meet her lips, sighing contently into Alice’s mouth as they kissed.
When they separated she snuggled against Alice’s front once more and said, “I talked to Edward. I think everything is going to be alright.”
“I think so too,” Alice murmured her tone such that Bella knew that Alice more than ‘thought’ so.
“What’s this?” Bella asked, her fingers running across the piece of paper Alice had been holding when she first arrived.
“A letter,” Alice breathed out, angling her head down so that she was looking at the piece of paper again, “from Jazz. It was in the mail this morning.”
Alice had volunteered to go pick up the mail in the morning which was something she almost never did, but the action made sense to Bella now. Alice must have known the letter was coming, and she had wanted some time to read it and process whatever feelings it brought up before revealing the fact that he had written to the rest of the family.
“How is he?” Bella asked curiously. Alice was relatively relaxed, which was unusual. Usually whenever the subject of Jasper came up she was fidgety and tense and distracted for up to an hour or sometimes more.
“Oh, he’s fine,” Alice said tightening her arms around Bella’s body, pressing her nose into the luxurious chestnut hair before her. “He’s in Denali now. He was on his way there when he wrote the letter, but he must have arrived a few days ago,” she continued, her fingers drifting to twine with Bella’s. “He says he may stop by for New Years.”
Bella waited for Alice to continue, but after her last sentence the raven-haired beauty stopped talking and seemed more than happy to occupy herself playing with Bella’s fingers.
“It looks like a pretty long letter,” Bella commented, hating herself for being nosy and insecure but unable to help it. She knew that Alice loved her, and that Alice had chosen to be with her, but emotions weren’t logical, they didn’t always make sense, and despite the fact that she was wrapped up in Alice’s arms, and went to bed with her every night, when Jasper’s name was mentioned her old insecurities and worries about her place in Alice’s heart would rise again.
Alice laughed softly at the question, knowing that Bella was curious what the other ninety-five percent of the letter.
“Not really,” Alice said lightly, stroking Bella’s arm. “Only the first page was for me. The other three are for the whole family. The rest of this,” Alice continued, her thumb stroking the first page which Bella assumed was the one meant for Alice alone, “just talks about a few places in particular he visited, places from his past … from our past together.”
Her voice was soft and thoughtful and Bella squeezed her hand, encouraging her to go on.
“He was at the diner where we met for the first time a few weeks ago. He’s been visiting the places because … he said something about how while we must constantly trudge forward in life, that to understand who we are and where we’re headed that sometimes we have to go back to our pasts. That sometimes we have to relive our lives in reverse before we can continue forwards,” she finished, her eyebrows scrunched together slightly in an absolutely adorable expression.
A moment after that, Alice sighed and shook her head. “Philosophy majors,” she murmured sounding perplexed and a little exasperated which made Bella giggle.
“Oh,” Alice added, brightening up a little now that she wasn’t trying to recall Jasper’s ruminations on trajectory of a human life, “he also thanked me for the letters.”
Over the months, she’d had visions of where he was going to be at certain times, and she had been able to write to him. At first she had just updated him on how the family was doing, leaving out anything about her personal life, but he had eventually asked her about how things were going with Bella, and so she had started to write to him about that too.
“You can read it if you want,” Alice continued, offering the letter to Bella.
“No, that’s okay,” Bella said shaking her head lightly. She appreciated the offer, but knew that the letter is something personal and that it would be a big breach of privacy to read it.
“There’s something else though,” Bella said softly, knowing instinctively that there was something else on Alice’s mind.
“Nothing that’s happened yet,” Alice responded a bit cagily.
Bella shifted in Alice’s arms so that she could see her face, a curious expression upon her own. “What is it?” she asked softly, stroking Alice’s cheek lightly.
“Kate’s a lot like Jasper,” Alice said cryptically, her voice soft. “Not as gentlemanly, but she struggles … like he does. They’ve always had talks throughout the years, when things were getting very difficult for one of them,” she paused for a second and then smiled. “They’ll be good for each other.”
Bella was silent for a second. “You mean…” she began to say.
Alice looked down at her, holding her eyes and smiled widely. “Eventually,” she breathed out. “The odds look very good that he’s going to bring her at New Years,” she continued still smiling.
Bella smiled back, and then Alice leaned forward, kissing her lightly before she hugged Bella tightly.
“Do you think anyone will notice if we’re gone for another half hour?” Alice asked, sniffing Bella’s hair.
“Why?” Bella asked slowly though she was fairly certain she knew what Alice was going to say.
“You smell really good,” Alice purred, her nose nuzzling Bella’s neck as she spoke.
“Oh, yeah?” Bella asked laughing, as she shifted even more giving Alice better access to her lips.
“Yeah,” Alice responded smirking, before she leaned forward and captured Bella’s lips, kissing her in a way that made Bella’s head spin.
Bella knew that a large chunk of Alice’s sudden ardor was coming from a place of relief. Even though Alice hadn’t been brooding over what had happened between herself and Jasper over the past year like she had immediately after Jasper’s departure, Bella knew that she still felt awful about being so happy while he was alone. Knowing that Jasper was on the cusp of discovering a new love released Alice from some of the guilt she had been carrying around, and it was that sudden rush of relief that was making her so touch-happy.
Bella didn’t mind though. She liked Alice when she was touch-happy.
“I feel like you’re planning to do terrible and naughty things to me,” Bella said breathily, excitement trickling through her, making her shiver.
“I am,” Alice responded smiling, the look in her eyes full of promise.
“In that case … no, I don’t think anyone will notice,” Bella purred, sharp teeth ensnaring her bottom lip a moment later when Alice smirked at her.
And then, Alice pressed her lips against Bella’s cheek and kissed her softly before she allowed her lips to meet Bella’s in a slow, languorous kiss that left both of their bodies thrumming in anticipation of more.
Alice stared down at Bella, her lips slightly parted as her coal black eyes regarded Bella hotly. Bella growled softly, and then pushed up on to her hands, raising her body so that she could capture Alice’s lips, her right hand moving behind Alice’s head tangling in her short dark hair, and Bella’s teeth nipped at her lips, until the coppery tang of fresh blood filled both of their mouths.
Alice moaned deeply, and then they were in motion. They fell onto the mattress of their bed a few seconds later, Alice ripping her mouth away from Bella’s as they did. Alice’s hands then immediately moved to the brunette’s shoulders and pressed down on them, forcing Bella back down onto the mattress.
“So it’s gonna be like that, is it?” Alice asked licking her lip, her voice a low rasp as she stared down at Bella, her body shaking faintly with effort as she tried to stay still.
“If you’re woman enough to handle it,” Bella sassed, jerking her hips up into Alice’s body challengingly as she spoke.
“Ooh, thems fightin’ words,” Alice drawled, smiling slowly at Bella as her nostrils flared slightly in excitement.
“I was hoping you’d use another ‘f’ word,” Bella teased, running her hands up Alice’s thighs.
“Mm,” Alice groaned, leaning down to press her lips against Bella’s anxiously. “They’re definitely gonna miss us,” she moaned knowing instinctively that she and Bella were going to be in their room for much more than half an hour.
“Let them,” Bella said dismissively, tossing Alice’s shirt carelessly to the side.
Alice smiled and leaned back, allowing Bella to begin working at her belt.
She couldn’t have said it better herself.
To be continued ...
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fembuck
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no subject
Date: 2009-04-24 10:10 pm (UTC)Love Alice so much it's probably not healthy. And this is so good - I'm glad they're all getting back on track :)
(Did you get my message, btw?)
no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 01:08 am (UTC)Me too.
As for the fic, LOVE IT. Like, seriously, this is probably the single longest fic I've ever read/been religiously following. I don't know if I'd be able to find it in myself to go so far with just a fic :P
no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 01:10 am (UTC)You Rock!!!!
Date: 2009-04-24 10:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-24 10:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-24 11:22 pm (UTC)Review
Date: 2009-04-25 01:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 02:14 am (UTC)I, however, still despise Edward and cringed to read he was back :p hahaha jk- I'm good with everything being good with them (but the guy still gives me the creeps *shudder*)
and HELLZ YA! ALICE WOULD BE THE BEST PETER PAN EVER! :P
and why oh why did you have to end it where you did? WHY?! It wouldve been oh so good!!!
anyway i'm done whinning now!:D looking forward to more!
no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 05:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 05:55 am (UTC)I had a feeling this epic story would be ending soon but it still kind of breaks my heart a bit to know that there's only 2 chapters left. But anyways, I love that Jasper is going to find someone new and Alice will hopefully be guilt-free. You even redeemed Edward a bit, which was nice.
Can't wait for the next one!
no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 10:02 am (UTC)Also, are we going to find out what Bella's power is?
no subject
Date: 2009-04-25 01:58 pm (UTC)I don't know why I keep saying that to you, but every time I try to write some enlightened comment about how much I love this story, that's all that comes out!
I am going to cry large tears when this is over...
no subject
Date: 2009-04-26 05:25 am (UTC)there. i melted right there. i can't believe how much i love your chapters and i absolutely cannot get over how cute alice and bella are! i just want them for myself. or maybe just alice ^^
btw, 34/36. that makes me pout...
update
Date: 2009-05-17 08:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-21 02:25 am (UTC)