Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyers owns all characters. I'm just filling some gaps...

BPOV:

Spending so much time with vampires was turning me into an insomniac. OK. Spending so much time with a particular vampire was turning me into an insomniac. I had never hated sleeping before, but this particular human need nearly drove me mad—in a bad way.

It was always more difficult to sleep when Edward was away hunting. More so now that our wedding loomed very near on the horizon. Fortunately, I had nothing to do with the arrangements. Alice, Renée, and Esme were taking care of everything. My only job was to stay safe.

Safe in Forks. You'd think that would be easy. My dad Charlie was Police Chief Swan to everyone else; he could protect me from human things. No, it was the decidedly non-human element in and surrounding Forks that I seemed to draw and be drawn to.

Abandoning all idea of sleep tonight, I slid out of my small bed in Charlie's house and walked quietly to my open window. I knew Edward was miles away and wouldn't be by tonight, but I couldn't bear to close it, even against the chill.

A distant rumble of thunder reminded me that the Olympic Peninsula was rarely without rain. Suddenly, I wanted to be out in it. Maybe the downpour would clear my thoughts, or maybe, drown them. It was worth a try.

I at least remembered to grab a raincoat on my way out the door. Catching pneumonia weeks before my… wedding… would be a very Bella-like thing to do.

Safe in Forks. My only job.

"Isabella Swan! What do you think you're doing?" came an indignant, bell-like soprano voice.

Alice! Of course someone would be watching.

"Enjoying the rain?" I knew better than to try and lie to her.

She half-growled and opened an umbrella over me although my raincoat was adequate.

"Get back inside."

"No."

"Go inside, Bella. It's nearly 3 a.m. You're going to give Charlie a heart attack. He'll be awake in five minutes."

I was inside in a heartbeat.

I put some water on to boil for hot chocolate, then sat at Charlie's small kitchen table to wait for him and Alice.

"Bella?" Charlie's voice came from my room. "Bella!"

"I'm here, Dad!" I called, moving from my seat to find him.

He came downstairs, bleary-eyed and faintly upset.

"You should be sleeping, Bells. It's 3:00."

"Thanks, Dad," I said dryly as the water began to boil.

"Don't worry, Charlie," Alice said soothingly, appearing out of nowhere. "I'll keep an eye on her."

"Oh! Hi, Alice! OK. Fine."

"I may take her to my place. Is that OK?"

"Sure," Charlie murmured, yawning. "Just make sure she's safe."

Right. Safe in Forks. My only job.

Alice grinned. "Come on Bella. Maybe you'll sleep better in Edward's room."

Not likely. But I loved being around the Cullens whenever I could. Then it hit me.

"Oh, Alice! Jasper's gone, too."

"Of course," she pouted. "I'm just as lonely as you."

Right.

"Come on. Or do I have to ask again?"

No, she didn't.

It pained me to realize, as we drove in, that the Cullen home felt more like home to me than Charlie's house did. I hadn't noticed that before.

"Bella?" Alice asked quietly as we walked to the house from the garage.

"Hmm?"

"You can change your mind."

We entered the spacious front entry and I turned a slow circle to take it all in.

"No, Alice. I can't."

She smiled and nodded once.

"Well, you know your way around. I would recommend a hot shower and straight to bed with you."

"Um, Alice…" I bit my lip.

"Relax, Bella. I already have things set out for you. Trust me."

I did. So much that I didn't notice what she had chosen for my pajamas until I had to put them on—one of Edward's pale gray t-shirts. It was plenty long—well past my knees—but… Alice! I ground my teeth together and all but stalked to Edward's room.

I frowned at the king-sized bed, far too large for a single occupant, and pulled off the gold coverlet on my way to the black leather sofa. Even that was too much for me. I ended up curling up on the thick, golden carpet nearest the window.

Maybe this time I would see him coming.

***

EPOV:

Alice had left us a message saying Bella was at our house instead of Charlie's, so Jasper and I didn't hurry too much on our hunt. He could tell I was anxious, though, and we left as soon as he announced that he was full.

It was late morning, 11:33 to be precise, when we reached home. I glanced up at my room, reflexively smiling as I thought of Bella waiting for me.

"What's wrong, Edward?" Jasper asked, feeling my sudden tension.

Hmm. I must be frowning. Bella was not in the bed.

"It's nothing, Jazz. Go see Alice."

He grinned and loped away. I flitted up to my room and opened the door silently.

Bella was on the floor—of all places!—swathed in the gold bedspread from my—our—bed. It looked like she hadn't been asleep long. At least the daylight was muted by the almost omnipresent cloud cover of Forks.

I took a deep breath, registering her scent, always potent, and smiled widely. She moved slightly, her left hand sliding out of the covers to rest over her heart. My mother's ring glinted in the diffuse sunlight.

"Edward…." Bella murmured.

I was going to miss that.

"Edward…" she sighed again.

I could resist no longer. I walked to her noiselessly and scooped her up in my arms, careful to cocoon her in the bedspread against my chill.

"Bella," I murmured, hoping to influence her dream.

"You came back," she sighed, burrowing into my chest.

I looked down, unsure if she was still sleeping. Her eyes were tightly shut, a faint smile spread across her lips. Yes, still sleeping.

I climbed carefully into the bed, idly wondering if I needed to demonstrate its benefits again after Bella woke. Then I decided "needed" didn't make a difference; I would anyway.

I settled in to wait for Bella to wake.