I don't own Twilight. all Stephenie Meyer.

Flyaway With Me

"Come on, Bella. Just try them on. I promise you it'll make you feel better." Alice pushed me toward the dressing rooms. "If you don't like them then no harm done. If you do, well then they'll be on me."

I rolled my eyes. "What's the point, Alice? It's not like I'll be able to fit into them in a few weeks," I said with a sigh.

Alice sighed, fisting her hands on her hips in exasperation. "Listen, Bella, I know that you've had a difficult time moving on from Jake. The way he treated you was deplorable, but you can't keep moping around. If anything you should be showing him what he's missing." With that she stomped her foot, the sight hilarious coming from such a tiny person. "And you should start with this lingerie."

I wanted to continue arguing with her, but I knew that it was a lost cause. With a groan, I grabbed the pile of bras, panties, and assorted nightwear that Alice had picked out and trudged toward one of the empty dressing rooms.

"Don't just stand in there and not try anything on. I really want you to pick some stuff out, Bella. Trust me," Alice called from the other side of the door. She was only about 4'10" and had cute spiky black hair, but I would never want to be on her bad side.

"Fine, Alice."

I sighed and stared at the pile that I'd placed on the dressing room seat. Hopefully, she'd picked out some stuff that wasn't too embarrassing.

Alice and I had met in high school during an unfortunate incident in our school's theatre room. The elective class I had signed up for my junior year had been cancelled and one of the administrators thought it would be a good idea to put me in a makeup and costumes class.

The day Alice and I met happened to be around the time of the spring musical when everyone was rushing to get the costumes and sets finished in time. I had been struggling with one of the sewing machines as I finished the dress I was working on, and as a result, wasn't paying as close attention to what I was doing as I should have been. Somehow, and I still don't know how, I managed to sew the sleeve of my shirt to the dress and got the two entangled with the machine.

Fortunately, Alice had been nearby and decided to help me out. She managed to yank my arm free of the machine, but then I lost my balance due to the quick movement and we both fell in a heap on the floor. The classroom erupted into laughter and applause at my complete lack of coordination.

Amazingly though, Alice and I have been the best of friends ever since. We just seemed to get each other and always had a lot of fun together.

The present moment excluded, though.

I tried on most of what she'd picked out, only disregarding a few of the items that were mortifying to even look at on the hanger. In the end I picked out a few things that were really pretty and I wouldn't mind wearing.

"So?" Alice asked when I finally came back out.

"Okay, I'll admit it," I said with a sigh. "I actually do feel a little bit better."

Alice squealed. "I told you. Now, hand those over, this little outing is on me. And I made reservations for us at a nice restaurant down the street." She grabbed the few items from me.

"You really don't have to do this, Alice," I began.

"Nonsense. Wait for me out front. I'll only be a minute." She made her way to one of the cash registers without even looking back.

I just shook my head, smiling despite myself, and made my way out of the store.

After graduating college the year before we both moved to New York: Alice to pursue her dream of being a clothing designer, me to attend graduate school at New York University. We got an apartment together to cut down on the cost of rent and to help make the transition to New York easier.

There was just something so beautiful and magical about the city, I could never get used to it.

We started making our way down the street when Alice came out of the store and handed me the shopping bag with my new lingerie. "Do I even want to know how much the bill was?" I asked.

"Bella, it really wasn't that bad." She hooked her arm with mine. "I knew the guy at the checkout and he gave me a great discount. Now you have something to wear with your outfit tonight." Alice's energy was infectious, you just couldn't help but be excited right along with her.

"Oh, that's right. I completely forgot about Jasper's gallery show tonight." My mind seemed to be somewhere else completely for the most part. She'd mentioned the show to me weeks before, but I just couldn't seem to focus on much of anything.

Alice nodded, stopping in front of the doors of the restaurant. "Yes, and it would mean a great deal to me if you went." She had met Jasper about six months ago at a fashion show for up and coming designers and they hit it off instantly. She'd heard of his work as a photographer and he'd heard good things about her cutting edge fashion. They were a matched made in heaven.

I followed her inside, quietly telling her, "Of course, I'll go."

"Thank you." She hugged me before turning to the hostess stand. "Hi. A reservation for two under Brandon."

She checked her book and then grabbed two menus. "Right this way."

Large windows from floor to ceiling gave the restaurant a very open feeling while pillars were built into the corners of the walls. Beautiful statues and other pieces of art were carved into the pillars, smooth and intricate like marble. The tables and place settings were tastefully put together, along with candles for ambience in the evenings.

I could hardly believe my eyes.

"Here you are ladies. Your waiter will be right with you. Please enjoy your afternoon." The hostess handed us our menus before heading back to her post at the front.

I settled into my seat and perused the menu for a minute. "This place is amazing. How on earth did you find it?"

"One of Jazz's friends eats here regularly. He recommended the eggplant." A dreamy look crossed over face at the mention of Jasper. The two of them were so adorable together. I loved that she was happy, even if my own life had been shattered.

After placing our orders and getting our drinks, Alice and I settled into a comfortable silence for a couple of minutes. She thankfully wasn't pushing me to talk, but I knew it wouldn't last too long. The whole reason she'd brought me out on a spur of the moment lingerie quest was because she felt I'd been holed up in our apartment for far too long.

Maybe she was right, but I had been taking advantage of the small amount of time I had left of the summer before classes started up again. Facing the world was just too much, in lieu of what happened. Forget the world, facing school and my thesis was just too much. I wasn't ready.

Jacob, my ex-boyfriend, had walked out on me, on everything we had. All of the promises he'd made, the kisses we'd shared, all of it was gone because he realized he wasn't ready for such a commitment. He wanted to experience more of life before he settled down.

I didn't know how to just move on from that.

"Bella?"

"Please. Can we not, right now?"

"Okay."

"I'm just not ready to talk about it yet."

"That's okay, Bella. I understand."

"Thank you."

Ooo~Ooo~Ooo~Ooo~Ooo

Cocktails before the gallery show that evening were set to be served at 6:30. Alice wanted to get there early to be there for Jasper, so I promised to meet her there. Being the meddlesome woman that she was, Alice also decided to pick out the clothes she wanted me to wear for the evening.

So, after I had showered I found a green and gold cocktail dress with a sweetheart neckline that reached about mid-thigh. The straps had knots where they met the bodice and were a thinner, more iridescent version of the fabric on the rest of the dress. Since a bra didn't really work with the dress I picked decided to go with one of the corsets I'd tried on that afternoon and a pair of lacey boy shorts.

Even though wearing heels was a disaster waiting to happen, I put on the open toed pumps Alice had also picked out. They were covered in lace with a cute lacey bow on the front to give them a flirty, playful look. I put on a little bit of makeup, managed to do something with my hair, and grabbed my purse before it was finally time to leave.

I took a cab across town to where the gallery was and walked as carefully as I could so that wouldn't fall. While the shoes I was wearing were beautiful, the tiny heel was still enough to make me feel unsteady and I couldn't afford to have any injuries.

Once I got inside, it took me a few minutes to find Alice. Everyone was still gathered in the front room until the show began at 7:00. I found her standing with Jasper, talking with a couple a little older than us. The man, even though he had slight laugh lines around his eyes and mouth, was very handsome. His hair was so blond it was almost impossible to tell that the roots along his ears were turning gray. The woman was just as beautiful, her caramel hair twisted up in an elegant do and her smile soft and genuine.

They didn't need to touch for me to know that they were married. There was just something in the way they looked at each other, the ease they exhibited at being around on another. I wondered if they were Jasper's parents, because he looked just like the man.

"Bella!" Alice motioned for me to come over.

I carefully made my way across the room and smiled when Alice hugged me quickly. I turned to Jasper when she released me and he pressed his cheek to mine quickly. "Congratulations, Jasper. This is a wonderful turnout so far. I can only imagine what it'll be like when the show is revealed."

He chuckled, a few strands of his honey colored hair falling in his eyes. "Thank you, Bella. I appreciate you coming." He was the perfect Southern gentleman.

Alice motioned to the couple they had been speaking with. "Bella, I'd like you to meet Dr. Carlisle Cullen and his wife Esme. This is my best friend, Isabella Swan."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." I reached my hand out to shake each of theirs.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, as well," Esme said kindly. "Alice has told us such wonderful things about you."

When Carlisle shook my hand, I found myself blushing. He was incredibly handsome.

"So, how do you all know each other?" I asked.

"Jasper and our son were roommates in college. We've gotten to know him quite well over the years," Esme explained. "They caused us quite a bit of grief, too."

"My Jazz? A trouble maker? No." Alice giggled, shaking her head emphatically.

Carlisle took a sip of his drink. "You'd be surprised, dear. Put them together with our eldest and I'm amazed we only had to bail them out of jail that one time."

I tuned them out after awhile, my eyes wandering over the room, taking everything in. The room was lit lowly, creating a warm glow. Everyone that had shown up was dressed elegantly. Waiters moved around the cramped space with trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres.

Soft music played in the background, a piano piece.

There wasn't really anyone there that I recognized, not that I expected to, but there was someone that caught my attention. A head of bronze hair stuck out a little higher than the rest, the locks seeming to take on a life of their own. I couldn't see his face, but I found myself wishing that he would turn around so that I could.

What was wrong with me? I didn't even know him.

Biting my lip, I turned my attention back to the people I was standing with and realized that the doors to the main part of the gallery had been opened. The guests were slowly making their way inside.

Jasper rubbed his hands anxiously. "It's divided into sections, but it's all a part of the same collection," he explained. He led the way into the room, talking a little but more about the pieces with Carlisle and Esme while Alice and I followed.

"You can join them, if you want. I don't mind going through this on my own." I knew that Alice really wanted to be by Jasper's side and I didn't want to hold her back.

"Are you sure?" she asked, her eyes already darting over to where he stood.

I nodded and gave her a gentle push toward him. "Go on. I'll meet up with you after."

She grinned. "You're the best."

The sections that Jasper had divided the pieces into had at least five or six photographs displayed. I found myself getting lost in the beauty and emotions each one depicted. He truly was a talented artist.

The subjects varied, but somehow seemed to go together. The farther I went through the gallery, the easier it was to see how they all fit. A couple of times, I even managed to sneak a peek at the bronzed haired man. He was just as good looking as Carlisle, if not a bit uptight. He caught me staring at him once, a smug grin lighting up his features.

I moved slowly through each section, really taking in each photograph and reading the descriptions underneath.

At one point, I had gotten so lost in the pictures that I didn't pay attention to where I was going and managed to bump right into someone. Warm hands reached out to steady me, even though I thankfully didn't fall over.

My cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry."

When there wasn't a response, I glanced up nervously to see who had become the latest victim of my clumsiness. I froze as soon as I realized who it was, tears prickling at my eyes.

His large hands- familiar russet toned hands- remained on my waist until I finally backed away. He let them lower to his sides and looked around nervously.

"What are you doing here, Jake?" I asked. My voice cracked as I spoke.

For a moment, he didn't say anything, he just continued to glance around the room anxiously until finally letting out a sigh. "I'm here with my, uh, my girlfriend. Nessie's a fan and wanted to come to the opening night."

Girlfriend.

My stomach dropped at his words. I could feel more tears well up in my eyes and nodded to keep him from seeing. "Right. Well, I'll let you get back to her," I said, backing away from him.

"Wait." He tried to stop me. When I didn't move, he shrugged his shoulders. "How are you, Bells?"

I laughed humorlessly. "Huh? How am I doing?" Isn't that the million dollar question, I though sarcastically. "I'm doing pretty lousy. I'm terrified and the one person that I thought was going to be there for me isn't."

He let his head hang down in shame for a moment. "What do you want me to say?"

"Nothing." I shook my head. "There really isn't anything you can say."

A few tears finally began to fall down my cheeks.

Jacob leaned forward, his hand lifted as though to wipe them away.

I flinched back, wiping them away myself.

"There you are. I'm sorry I got here so late, sweetheart," a warm velvety voice said.

Glancing up, I saw Mr. Bronze Hair standing beside me. He was even more breathtaking up close. My breathing caught as I looked up at him and I couldn't seem to form a coherent thought to save my life.

He placed his arm around my waist and pulled me against his side. I looked into his eyes and forgot to breathe altogether. His eyes were a deep emerald and held so many emotions in them, but I couldn't quite make them out.

I gasped softly when he pressed his lips to mine gently, taking me completely by surprise. It was only a few seconds, but in that time, I realized that he had the softest lips I'd ever felt. He tasted like whiskey and mint and left me breathless.

A throat cleared, breaking the spell the man had me under.

I turned toward the noise and realized that Jacob was still standing there.

"Bella, who the hell is this?" he growled, his expression livid.

"Edward Cullen."

Cullen? That name sounded familiar. Cullen. Cullen.

Oh! That had been Carlisle and Esme's last name. Edward must have been the son they had been talking about. I could definitely see a family resemblance.

Jacob straightened so that his full 6'7" height could be seen and puffed his chest out, glaring at Edward. "Jacob Black," he growled.

"Well, Jacob, thank you for keeping Bella company for me, but I'll be taking over from here." Edward gently squeezed my waist before leading me out of the sectioned off room we were in. "Enjoy the rest of the show," he called over his shoulder.

I wasn't sure what to say or how to react.

The last thing I'd expected was to run into Jacob. Galleries and symphonies and dinner parties weren't exactly his forte and the fact that he voluntarily showed up to one with his new girlfriend spoke volumes. Of all the nights for him to come back into my life, even for just moment, he had to pick that one.

Edward led us through the gallery until we were in a somewhat private area. He brought me over to a bench that was in the room and had me sit down. He stood awkwardly above me, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his slacks and then pulling them out again several times. "I'm sorry if I was out of line back there, but you seemed like you could use a way out," he finally said.

"No. You were fine." I sighed. I closed my eyes, trying desperately not to cry as a new wave threatened to spill over. "Thank you for your help."

"You're welcome."

I sniffled. It all came flooding back again.

He'd left me.

He had a new girlfriend. Nessie.

I was in the exact same position I had been in before. Only Jacob was denying it.

What was I supposed to do?

"Are you all right?" he asked, sounding a bit gruffer than before.

"Fine. I'm… fine"

Edward ignored what I said and sat on the bench next to me. "You are clearly not fine. Is there someone here that I can get for you? Perhaps one of the waiters with a glass of champagne?" He rubbed the back of his neck anxiously.

I fought back a small smile, biting my lip. "No, I'm really fine. I just need a minute."

We sat together in silence, Edward obviously uncomfortable with the situation. There was something about his awkwardness that I found adorable. He was completely clueless and uptight, but for some reason, he stayed. It was sort of endearing.

Once I finally managed to pull myself together, Edward helped me to my feet and we made our way back out to the gallery floor. He stopped in front of me when we reached the last section, opening his mouth as though he wanted to say something and closing it almost instantly.

"Bella, I was wondering what happened to you." Alice made her way over to where I was standing. "Oh." She had a knowing look on her face at the sight of Edward. "I see that you two have met. You were nice to my friend, weren't you?"

He shook his head and turned his attention to Alice. Amusement and annoyance crossed over his features. "I don't know what you're talking about, Alice," he said, sounding a little more like the uptight man he appeared to be. "Forgive me, but I should be leaving. I've got an early day tomorrow. Please let Jasper know I'll see him later this week." Edward nodded his head to me, "Good evening, Bella."

I watched him head out, completely confused and emotionally exhausted.

"What was that all about?" Alice asked me.

With a sigh, I shrugged my shoulders. "It's a long story."

Two Weeks Later…

One of the great things about New York City, even though there are literally millions of people living there, is that you can always find a place to be alone. And more than anything, I needed time to myself to just… think.

Everything was changing so quickly, I didn't know what I was going to do.

Alice and Jasper would be moving to Paris in less than two weeks. She'd gotten a highly coveted internship with a famous fashion designer and would be gone for at least six months. There was no way that she and Jasper could be apart for that long, so he decided to join her and work with a few friends.

I was so happy for Alice. She deserved the opportunity to study and live in Paris.

The only problem was that her father had been paying for our apartment and with her out of the country, it didn't seem right to let him continue paying for it. So, I had to find a new place before she left and a better job.

With classes starting up again, that didn't leave very many options though.

So, after walking around for a while, I found myself standing on the Balcony Bridge in Central Park, overlooking a beautiful lake and surrounded by trees. The perfect place to just be.

I leaned over the stone arch of the bridge and let the cool breeze blow around me.

What was I going to do?

Biting my lip, I felt tears burning at my eyes. There was so much uncertainty in my life and I was afraid. Jacob had promised me so many things, and foolishly, I believed him. I didn't even know where to begin.

I pushed back from the wall and was about to walk a little more when I slammed into someone. The impact nearly knocked me over and I braced myself for a fall.

The story of my life.

Strong arms reached out to balance me and a familiar scent assaulted my senses. I shyly glanced up to find a pair of emerald eyes staring down at me. What were the chances of me running into him on this bridge, literally? My cheeks flamed with embarrassment and I wanted to melt into the ground.

"Bella," he said, a hint of amusement in the smooth lilt of his voice.

"Oh." I felt another wave of tears ready to fall. "I'm so sorry."

Edward shook his head at me. "Hey. There's no need for tears. It was my fault for standing right behind you." He tried to smile. "Come." He loosened his hold around me and turned to lead me further down the bridge.

I walked with him, wiping away the few tears that had fallen down my cheeks. We stopped by a row of benches and Edward motioned for me to sit with him. It felt strange. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but being near him in that moment made me feel even more anxious than I had earlier. He made me feel unhinged.

And apparently I made Edward nervous, too. He sat beside me, bouncing his knee and rubbing the back of his neck. The only sound he made was to clear his throat.

When it finally felt like the silence was going to be too much, Edward turned toward me, his arm resting against the back of the bench. "Jasper told me that you're in graduate school."

I nodded my headed. "Yeah. Um, for English."

"Is this your final year?" he asked.

Again I nodded. "My thesis professor has to approve my proposal. If he does, then I should graduate on time." Why was he asking me this?

Edward sighed, his eyes never leaving me. He watched me carefully, as though I was glass about to shatter into a million pieces.

Silence. I nervously bit my lip and tucked some lose strands of hair behind my ear.

"Bella?" He waited until I looked up at him to continue. "I don't tend to worry about others affairs. It is none of my concern. If they want to tell me, then that's something different." The way he spoke was very strange to me. So proper and direct. "But this is the second time we have run into each other, and the second time I have found you crying. I can't help being slightly concerned."

What was I supposed to say to him? Discussing my feelings wasn't something I'd ever done, thanks to my father, and I hardly knew Edward. I couldn't tell him why I'd become so emotional.

He sat patiently beside me, watching me carefully.

"It's nothing. Really." I sighed.

Edward visibly tensed at my words, his jaw set and his eyes narrowed. "Miss Swan, I am not a patient man and I am most definitely not a stupid man. Please do not insult my intelligence by lying to me again." It seemed to take a great amount of effort for him to keep his voice under control.

"How… How did you know my last name?"

"From Jasper," he said in a clipped tone.

I chewed on my lip, afraid of bursting into tears again. When I felt composed enough to speak I said, "Do you really want to know why I've been upset?"

He nodded.

"I'm eight weeks pregnant, and when Jacob found out he freaked out and left me. The idea of being tied down with a wife and child was just too much for him." I sighed. "That was about a month ago. And with Alice and Jasper moving to Paris, I have to figure out where I'm going to live. I can't just go with the bare minimum because of the baby. Jacob refuses to acknowledge that he has a responsibility and I am hanging on by a thread."

We sat in silence again as I finished my rant.

Edward leaned back, resting his arm across the back of the bench. "Why are you unable to stay in the apartment that you have now?"

"Because, I won't let Alice's father pay for me to stay there when she's gone. It's not right." I shook my head.

"And your course load will make it difficult for you to maintain a decent job, correct?" he asked.

I nodded.

"That should also mean that your parents don't leave nearby and are unable to offer help at the present time." It wasn't a question and I felt no need to answer him. Edward ran a hand through his hair as he continued to think, the movement smooth and easy.

"Then, perhaps, until you can get on your feet… you could stay at my place," he finally managed to say. "There's more than enough room."

For a moment, I just sat there, hoping I'd heard him wrong. But as he continued to stare at me, obviously waiting for a response, I realized I hadn't. "That's very kind of you, Edward. But I couldn't possibly accept."

"Why not?"

"It wouldn't be right. I can't just sponge off you with no way to pay you back. And since I'm pregnant it'd be double." Shaking my head, I stood up and tried desperately to pull myself together. "Thank you for being so kind to me. I have to go."

Before he could say another word, I darted off as quickly, and carefully, as I could.

Ooo~Ooo~Ooo~Ooo~Ooo

Alice and I spent the majority of that Saturday packing up her things. She and Jasper were going to have their furniture shipped to their apartment in Paris before their arrival so everything would already be there. They were leaving in only a matter of days. We hardly got any work done for the better part of the morning since Alice insisted on listening to music, dancing and singing along with it too.

We finally took a break late that afternoon. Alice insisted that I rest while she ordered dinner. I just laughed to myself out how protective she was and curled up on the couch. I was only two and a half months along. It was sweet, nonetheless. A few minutes later Alice came back out into the living room, a bounce in her step and a bright smile on her face.

I chuckled. "What's got you in such a happy mood?"

"Jazz is coming over." She sighed happily. "I told him that we were ready to eat and he offered to pick up some food for us. He and Edward should be here in about twenty minutes."

Edward? Did she just say Edward?

"Apparently, he's been in a bit of a funk for the past few days and Jasper wants to cheer him up." Alice flittered about the room, moving the boxes we had packed against the wall so that they were out of the way. "That's okay with you, right?"

"Oh, um." I shook my head to clear my thoughts. "Sure. Of course, it's okay."

She finished pushing the boxes up against the wall before finally sitting next to me on the couch. Even when she was dressed down she still looked ready to walk down the runway for a fashion show. Her normally spiked her was pinned back so that it was out of her face and her clothes were cute and comfortable.

I, on the other hand, felt like a hobo wearing an old pair of sweats that Jake had left behind and with my hair haphazardly piled on top of my head. Morning sickness had reared its ugly head.

"Bella?"

"Yes?"

She rested her temple against the heel of her hand, facing me on the couch. "Are you sure you're okay with me going to Paris? I mean, when I'd first applied for the internship things were different. And now with the baby…"

"Don't be ridiculous, Alice." I shook my head. "Going to Paris is such an amazing opportunity for you. I mean, you've talked about nothing else since you found out that you got the internship."

Alice sighed. "But, Bella… how can I not be here? You're going to have a baby."

I forced myself to smile. "I'll be fine. Besides, you'll be back before the baby's born and I promise to fill your email with updates and pictures as often as I can. Trust me, you'll be sick of hearing about it."

She giggled and pulled me into a hug. "Don't let anyone throw you a shower until I'm here, either. That's my right as best friend."

"Of course," I assured her.

The truth was, it hadn't really sunk in for me that Alice was leaving. We'd been inseparable since we met in high school and I couldn't imagine not having her around. But I wouldn't tell her that.

When we let go of each other, Alice let out a small sigh and wiped under her eyes to make sure her makeup hadn't smudged. The two of us went to the kitchen to get some glasses and plates when the front door to our apartment opened.

Jasper came in first, his gait relaxed and confident. His smile widened when he saw Alice and he set two large bags down on the counter before greeting her. The rest of the world melted away when they saw each other.

My heart twisted as I watched them, longing for that type of love.

Edward came in right behind Jasper. He made his way across the room to set two bottles of wine on the counter next to the bags. He nodded to me in acknowledgement, glancing around the room awkwardly for a moment. Finally, he had enough and shoved Jasper's shoulder, disrupting the embrace he'd been sharing with Alice. "Perhaps the two of you could save that for another time. I'm rather fond of my eyes and would like to not have to gouge them out."

I giggled softly at his comment.

"You know, Edward, it might do you some good to find a girlfriend of your own," Alice huffed. "Maybe you wouldn't be such a grouch." She leaned over the counter, smirking.

His lips quirked up in a lopsided grin and a hint of amusement lit up his eyes. "As wonderful as that sounds, I think that I am just fine on my own." Edward reached out and patted the top of Alice's head and she smacked his hand away.

Jasper just shook his head. "I don't know about the two of you, but I'm hungry." He began pulling containers out of the bags. We all gathered around and picked what looked good to us and then went to eat in the living room. The guys were sweet enough to lay down pillows to make the floor a bit more comfortable for me and Alice.

Wine glasses were passed out and each of the guys filled them with one of the bottles Edward had brought in. After filling my glass, Edward whispered in my ear, "Yours is sparkling cider." My cheeks flamed slightly that he had remembered and I nodded my thanks.

I ate quietly and listened to the others as they talked. Edward and Jasper had obviously known each other for years and were comfortable around each other. But even he and Alice had a good rapport, teasing and laughing with another like siblings.

The atmosphere in our place was light and fun. It felt like home.

My thoughts drifted to evenings I'd spent with Jacob, curled up on the couch. He would work quietly on plans for his bar and I would do research for my classes. At one point, he'd wrap his arm around me and pull me back to lean against him. I always felt so safe and warm in his arms.

He had been comfortable, familiar; something that reminded me of home.

But I needed to let him go. I couldn't keep holding on, hoping he'd change his mind. It wasn't fair to me, and it wasn't fair to him. Though it stung that he'd done it so quickly, Jacob had moved on and I needed to try and do the same. If not for me, then for my baby.

I was pulled from my thoughts by Alice's trilling laughter.

She caught my eyes, seeming to ask silently if I was all right.

With a nod, I turned my attention to the conversation happening around me.

"Do you have a date for your parent's charity auction next month?" Jasper asked.

Edward shook his head. "No. I decided to go alone."

Alice shook her head. "But you can't go to something like that alone, especially since it's something that your parents are hosting. You need a date," she stated matter-of-factly.

He took a sip from his glass before answering. "Honestly, Alice, I doubt anyone would even notice. There will be much more going on to keep them all occupied."

I bit my lip to keep from smiling.

"That's not the point, Edward. It's about how you present yourself, and showing up without a date would not be favorable for you." Alice huffed. The wheels were already beginning to turn in her head. She had a plan.

"I actually think it's brave to go alone," I blurted out. All of their eyes turned to me and I could feel the immediate blush in my cheeks. "Most people would never do that. It would take someone sure of themselves and confident in who they are to go out alone and not care what others think about it." Alice's glare told me that she didn't appreciate my comment.

Jasper rubbed Alice's back. "Exactly. Honey, just let him do what he wants."

Edward didn't say anything in response, but I could feel his eyes still on me. When I glanced up, he was watching me with a look of amazement.

"Besides, don't you want to know what he's wearing that night? Maybe you could pick something out for him," I suggested, surprisingly shocked at teasing him that way.

He narrowed his eyes at me.

Alice clapped her hands excitedly. "That's a good idea. I know just the thing, too."

"You know, perhaps I was too hasty in deciding to go without a date. After all, it is my parent's event and I want everything to go well." Edward's lips formed into his lopsided grin as he watched my reaction. "Bella, would you care to join me? Then Alice could pick out something for both us."

I nearly gasped in surprise. "No, no. I couldn't possibly."

Edward's grin widened in response. "Of course, you can. What do you say, Bella? Will you be my date?"

My face was hot with flushed embarrassment. Oh, he was good, and he knew exactly what he was doing. I couldn't think of a good excuse to turn him down, so with a sigh I said, "Yes. I'll go with you." Turning to Alice, I tried to stop the shopping plans that were no doubted already brewing in her mind. "And you don't need to go to too much trouble, Alice. I'm sure I have something that will work."

"Oh, don't be silly, Bella." Alice waved me off. "This will be fun," she said, jumping to her feet and rushing off to her room. Jasper rose to follow her and mouthed an apology to me as he left.

I quietly began to gather the glasses and containers and brought them to the kitchen to begin cleaning up. Edward came in after me, carrying the rest of containers and glasses. We cleaned up quietly at first, moving around each other without a word until I finally stopped. I couldn't stand it anymore.

"What the hell was that?" I blurted out.

Edward stopped what he was doing. He leaned against the counter top, his hands spread out in front of him. He didn't look angry, but his voice came out agitated and gruff as he answered me.

"I don't know," he finally said, not meeting my eyes.

The wine glasses still sat on the sink, freshly washed and dried, so I put them in the cabinet. "You don't need to take care of me. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself and I'll be just fine on my own." When the last glass was put up, I closed the cabinet door and jumped when I felt Edward so close behind me.

"Who are you trying to convince? Me or you?" His warm breath blew against my ear as he spoke, sending a shiver down my spine. When I didn't answer, he moved a little closer, his chest pressed right against my back. "Have you ever considered that I don't think you aren't capable, but rather, you shouldn't have to struggle? You are strong, Bella, but that doesn't mean you always have to be."

I trembled at his words, unsure of what to say or do.

"All I want to do is help."

Three Weeks later…

Even though I hadn't been back in classes for very long, we'd already been assigned a pretty hefty project. As usual, I waited until the last possible minute to finish it and ended up staying up until 2:00 in the morning to get it done. I was exhausted by the time I got into bed and was asleep before my head even touched the pillow.

But I wasn't asleep for long. A few hours later, I woke up with my stomach rolling and barely made it to the bathroom before emptying its contents. Blasted morning sickness.

I moaned as I rested against the toilet bowl, feeling no relief whatsoever. When a bright light filled the room, blinding me, I moaned again and tried to turn my head away. Another wave of nausea rolled through me and I did my best to keep it together.

A warm hand gently rubbed my back.

"Ugh."

The person rubbing my back chuckled and I realized who it was. He gently pulled my hair back as he continued to soothe me. "Are you feeling a bit better?" he asked.

I tried to answer, but all that came out was, "Ugh."

The smile in Edward's voice was evident when he spoke. "Do you think you're okay to get back into bed?" When I didn't respond one way or the other, Edward carefully scooped me up into his arms. He held me close to his chest and carried me back to my room, his scent surprisingly relaxing. A combination of fresh rain and something uniquely him.

I chewed on my lip and breathed him in slowly. "You smell good."

Edward's chest rumbled as he laughed quietly. "Thank you."

He set me down on my bed and I curled up on my side. "Please, don't leave."

At first I thought he hadn't heard me and left, but after a minute the bed dipped and Edward laid down next to me. His arm wrapped around my waist and I buried my face in his chest. "Go back to sleep," he whispered.

The next thing I knew, the alarm on my cell phone was going off and Edward was no longer next to me. I picked up my phone to turn the alarm off and saw that it was 9:30. Too early.

My stomach had settled since earlier that morning, but I still felt a low grade nausea that just didn't want to go away. I managed to climb out of bed and headed out into the hall.

The smell of coffee came from the kitchen and I found Edward with a full cup and the newspaper. He nodded when he saw me. "Good morning."

I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and sipped it slowly. "Morning."

When I looked at him again, I realized that he was wearing a suit. He was usually gone by the time I woke up in the mornings. "Oh, Edward, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you late."

"You didn't. One of the perks of being the boss is that you can set your own hours," he assured me as he drank his coffee. "But I will have to send the car for you tonight instead of us riding together."

I nodded.

"Does 6:30 sound all right?" He turned the page of the paper.

"That should be fine." There was an awkward silence until I finally glanced up at the clock and saw that I needed to get ready. "Well, um, I guess I'll see you tonight," I said, heading out of the kitchen.

"Have a good day, Bella," Edward called after me.

Part of me wanted to stop and scream. His moods could change at the drop of a hat and I was no closer to understanding him than I had been before. One minute, he could be sweet and caring as he had been earlier that morning, and then, he'd be aloof and cold. I didn't get it.

I'd gone against my better instincts and moved in to his place when he'd offered to help me again. He'd seemed so sincere, I couldn't say no. But ever since then, he'd been weird and stand-offish.

With a sigh, I made my way down the hall to my bedroom to get ready for the day. I had a couple of classes on campus and then a meeting with my thesis professor to discuss my final project. So, after showering and dressing, I headed to the campus.

The day ended up feeling longer than it had originally seemed.

For whatever reason, I couldn't focus on my assignments. My thoughts kept drifting off and I didn't like where they were headed. Edward was just a friend, and barely even that most of the time. I needed to focus on myself and the baby; starting a life for the both of us. Edward only saw me as a girl who needed help.

I let those thoughts run through my head all day and knew that they were true. But even then I didn't like the twinge in my heart at the knowledge of that.

Ooo~Ooo~Ooo~Ooo~Ooo

Before Alice and Jasper left for Paris, she took me and Edward shopping. I tried to just go along with it, but when she took us to some of the most expensive stores in the city, I had to say something.

Edward didn't seem all that surprised by the price tags, either. And when Alice finally approved both of our outfits, he charged them to his account.

My jaw had nearly fallen to the floor, until he requested to have them delivered to his apartment. I couldn't form any words. His world made no sense to me.

I couldn't help staring at the dress as I got ready for that evening. It was simple and elegant, but felt like so much more. The green and gold fabric sparkled in the light, definitely not something I would normally wear.

When my hair and makeup were finished, I took a picture with my cell phone and sent it to Alice. She called me within a matter of seconds, squealing excitedly. She loved what I had done and encouraged me to take pictures throughout the night. I promised that I would.

It was almost 6:30, so I ended the call and slipped into the dress.

My reflections in the mirror showed a beautifully made up woman. Her hair was carefully pulled back with a few wisps of curls framing her face and her makeup flawlessly applied. She looked nothing like me, and yet, exactly like me.

I gave myself one final glance over before grabbing my purse and wrap to head out. A small, almost imperceptible, bump had formed on my stomach. The first and only physical sign that I was indeed pregnant.

A smile spread across my lips.

There really was a baby.

I had known there was, but seeing a sign that the baby was growing filled me with ease.

When I got outside, an expensive looking car was parked right in front of the building and the driver stepped toward me.

He pulled his hat off. "Are you Miss Swan?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"Mr. Cullen asked me to pick you up. I am his driver. This way, please." He led me over to the car and helped me into the back seat.

I had no idea what kind of car it was, but from what I could tell, it was very expensive.

The drive took us further into the Upper East Side, an area of the city I hadn't really seen since moving to New York.

It was breathtaking.

When the driver finally pulled to a stop, we were in front of a building with columns and twinkle lights leading up the path. The garden was blooming with flowers, the last of the season, and fountains. And the inside was exquisitely decorated.

No expense had been spared. Waiters moved about the room with trays of champagne and caviar, a five-piece orchestra was set up in the main dining room, and a list of the items up for bid was displayed for the patrons to see.

I felt completely out of place as I took it all in.

Just as I was about to turn and leave, Edward came up to me.

He looked incredible in the tuxedo that Alice had picked out for him. His usually unkempt bronze hair was somewhat tamed down and his green eyes were bright with excitement. Resting his hand on the small of my back, he pulled me a little closer to his body and pressed a kiss to my check. "Bella."

At first, I couldn't think as his scent surrounded me and I got lost in his eyes. He was so frustrating and moody, but whenever he was near me, none of that seemed to matter. Without realizing what was happening, my knees buckled and I nearly fell to the floor.

Edward steadied me with his arm around my waist and whispered in my ear, "Breathe, Bella."

I took in a gasping breath, feeling my cheeks flame slightly.

He chuckled softly. "You look lovely this evening."

"Thank you. So do you. Or, um, handsome. You look handsome." I ducked my head down from his gaze, blushing even more so. Of course, that evening would be the night that my mouth would lose its filter.

Edward tucked his finger under my chin and lifted it so that our eyes met. "Thank you." He fought back a smile as he responded, his eyes dancing and his lips trembling slightly with the effort.

I felt myself growing angry at him and tried to pull away from his embrace. That only made him tighten his arms a bit more and bring closer to his body.

"Why are you leaving? Is something the matter?" he asked. When I didn't answer, Edward growled under his breath. "Bella, you have no idea how frustrating it is when you do that."

"Me?" I finally managed to get out. "You think I'm frustrating? Edward, I never know what to expect with you. One minute, you're moody and grouchy, the next you're tender and sweet. It's like I'm walking on pins and needles all the time just to keep up with you." I was surprised that I was able to get that out with him so close.

He tossed his head back in laughter, his entire body shaking.

I wasn't entirely sure how to respond, so I just waited until he was finished, glaring at him the entire time. Before I knew what was happening, Edward took one of my hands in his led me further into the room. He waited until we were in spot out of the other guests hearing range to face me again.

The smile on his face was as bright as earlier. He moved until I was pressed back against the wall and there was no space between us. I didn't understand what was going on. Edward placed his hands on my sides as he looked down at me. In that moment, the auction was forgotten.

"Bella," he said, his voice gruffer than I'd ever heard it. "I have been feeling the exact same thing around you. I never know what's going on in that beautiful head of yours." He sighed. "You keep everything so bottled up. At work I know exactly what to expect and how to proceed, but with you, I'm at a complete loss."

I bit my lip, trying desperately to understand what he was trying to say.

"A part of me knows that you are on the mend, that you need to heal and try to put your life together with this new reality." He leaned forward and pressed his lips to my forehead in a gentle kiss. "But there's another part of me, a selfish part, that wants to somehow have more. Even if it's just for a little while," he said.

"Edward, I… I'm not sure I understand." I'd heard his words, but I didn't want to dare hope that he was saying what I thought he was.

The pressure of his hands on my sides was firm and warm. He stared down at me for a long moment before answering, carefully deciding how to respond. "Bella, the last time I was in a relationship… it ended very badly. And I don't ever want to go through that again." He stopped for a moment, running his tongue across his lip before continuing. "There's just something about you, though, that I can't seem to stay away from anymore. I don't know what to do."

Without realizing it, I had brought my hands up to rest on Edward's chest and was playing with the buttons of his shirt. How was I supposed to respond to that? He felt drawn to me, but didn't want a relationship with me? Did I even want another relationship after the way things ended with Jacob?

My entire body shivered with him so close.

"Bella," he groaned, laying his forehead against mine. "Tell me what to do. I don't want to hurt you or promise something that I can't give. But…"

I could feel tears building up in my eyes. "Edward, I don't know what to do, either. Jacob nearly broke me when he left. And I can't just jump in with my eyes closed. There's so much more at stake for me this time."

Edward nodded against me, but didn't release his hold.

Neither of us spoke for quite some time, reveling in something we could never really be. Just being near him felt right and safe, but I couldn't ask him to give me something that I wasn't even sure I was ready for and that he couldn't give. If we had met at a different time, things might have been different. We could have had something, but we couldn't focus on what might have been.

Taking in a deep breath, I moved to pull out of his embrace when Edward's arms tightened around me again. His green eyes poured into mine, so deep and heartbreaking.

"Perhaps there is something we can do," he said, rough and deep.

"How?" I didn't want to get my hopes up. I couldn't take it.

Edward brought one hand up to cup my cheek, rubbing his thumb lightly over my skin. The twinge I'd felt earlier at the thought of him being just my friend was nothing compared to how I felt after his confession. Being so close, and yet so far away, was ripping me apart.

"An arrangement," he whispered.

"What?" I wasn't sure I heard him right.

"Maybe we can come to some sort of arrangement, to benefit us both."

First off, I want to give a huge thank you to my beta and partner in crime kyla713, she edited this for me quickly and gave me the assurance that I needed to send this off for the Texas Wildfire Compilation.

Next, I want to thank all of you for reading this and I hope that you enjoyed it. This was a new idea for me and I had a lot of fun writing it. Before anyone asks in reviews, yes there is more and I am working on it. I won't be leaving this here, that's just mean and I wouldn't do that to you guys.

Anyways, thank you again for reading this and please let me know what you think!