Many thanks as always to my dear friends for pre-reading and betaing this one.

I don't own the characters, but I like to play with them.

I know, I know. I'm horrible at updating. I got buried in too many projects (4-5 contests + FAGE). I will give my undivided attention to this story. I promise.

The visit to La Push was pleasant, if we didn't take in consideration the snide remarks Leah kept making. They were subtle, not like Charlie would have caught on them, but still.

She kept mocking or saying shit about Edward. He kept me calm with a hand on my knee.

The second we were done eating, I said I'd take him to the beach and left the house as fast as I could. I didn't want to kill Leah—she'd become my step sister if Dad got the nerve to ask Sue.

We walked along the shore, hand in hand, making plans for the time we were going to spend in Texas.

"And after?" I asked, tilting my head to look at him.

"After?"

"After," I confirmed.

"We'll see. I'm taking it day by day since I became human once again."

"I like that. Live in the moment." I grinned.

"Something like that. We can go wherever you want. You do realize I have money…I'm sure if I put my mind to it, I can build a house of money. Complete, with furniture too."

"As in buy a house or make it of the bills?" I laughed.

"Both." He leaned down, kissing my brow. "Anything you want. Anywhere you want. Just the two of us."

"How would you feel about returning to your hometown?"

"I always considered Forks home. Even before we met…the last time we'd been here…I don't know. It was like I knew grand things would happen in this little town."

I squeezed his hand, leaning into him. "I was thinking of Chicago," I whispered, gauging his reaction.

"Chicago?" His voice cracked.

"If it's okay with you. I really don't want to bring bad memories."

"I've been there only once after I became human… Carlisle took me to the cemetery. I didn't understand why he accompanied me. I usually went there alone and didn't leave the spot for days, weeks sometimes." He sighed. "It was different. All kinds of emotions crossed through me. It was the first time I truly cried in a century."

I hugged him tightly, wanting to take his pain away. "It must be difficult."

"It is, but if you want there, we can do it. I'd like to live there."

"Really?"

"Yes." He nodded, looking out toward the ocean, deep in thought. "But we have a long summer ahead until then."

"I really want to help Alice and Jasper. They were always nice with me."

"You might rethink that one, love."

I scowled, elbowing him in the ribs. "You realize it's your fault that mess actually happened?" I questioned him. His eyebrows knitted in the middle of his forehead. "I only cut my finger, but desperate to keep Jasper from attacking me, you pushed me away…where I managed to get a severe wound—clearing the room of my dear friends in a matter of seconds."

Edward snorted, but turned to face me, cupping my cheek. "I wasn't thinking rationally, because neither was Jazz. The second you cut your finger he thought of your sweet blood and imagined him licking it then Alice had a sudden vision of Jasper running through the forest with your limp body in his arms. I couldn't take that. I'm so terribly sorry, Bella."

"I never knew." I was surprised to hear that.

"I was already too upset with everything to talk to you about it. Of course, I failed to realize talking to each other is what makes a relationship stronger. I've been an ass, and decided to take the easiest way out. There could have been many other scenarios…"

"Like what?" I rose on my tiptoes and kissed him softly.

"Like…" He heaved a breath, resting his forehead on mine. "Jasper should have been gone away for college and Alice could have gone after him. School had just started. We could have found the perfect lie. I should have stayed. I should have never even thought of leaving."

"Hey, shh." I stroked his cheek. "I'd like to put this behind us."

"Alright. I'll try," Edward promised. "But I want you to know that I will always regret that decision. Forever."

I gave him a small smile, nodding. I understood him. I knew how he ticked so it would be futile to argue with him.

Our weekend in Forks turned out better than I anticipated. Any time Dad was alone with Edward he kept questioning him about different things, but they got along pretty well.

Sunday morning, right before we had to leave, while I picked some stuff from my old bedroom, they had a deep conversation in the kitchen. I could see Charlie was at peace when we were ready to go. He even shook Edward's hand and patted his back, exchanging pleasantries.

Weird.

All the way to Seattle I tried to find out what they talked about, but all I got from Edward was: "You'll see when the right time comes."

Now if that wasn't vague…

Once home, we spent a few more hours with Jake, Vanessa and Brady. The latter was extremely happy having gotten a call about a role he could play in some new blockbuster.

The catch? Apparently the movie was going to be filmed somewhere in Texas. He swore he wasn't stalking me, but it was too funny to mess with him.

.

.

.

Late at night we landed in San Antonio where we booked a motel room. Edward simply crashed on the bed, but I dragged my tired ass to a shower. I hated plane rides just for getting me sweaty and stinky.

Early the next morning Edward's phone started ringing loudly. He moaned, rolling around, squishing me under him. He nuzzled my neck, patting the nightstand for his phone.

"Your pants are on the floor," I reminded him.

"Crap," he muttered, rolling on his other side and snatching his pants from where he had thrown them last night. "What?" he hissed in the phone.

Apparently he answered too late because the caller had disconnected.

"Whatever. More sleep." Just as he threw himself back on the bed and burrowed his nose in my hair, inhaling, his phone started ringing.

"Hello?" Edward answered grumpily. "What, Jazz? ... Yes, it's way too damn early. … Oh, we're at the motel near the airport. … Yup. Okay. … Sure, bye."

"They're here?" I asked, turning into him, yawning.

"Only Jasper."

"Let's go then. We have a long drive to their town."

"Which makes me wonder what ungodly hour he left to be here at… Oh, shit! It's noon."

I laughed, pecking his cheek. "We were tired, Edward. The drive from Forks to Seattle, then the plane ride here. I'm not surprised we slept in."

"Yeah, neither I am. I usually wake around this hour anyway."

"Making up for the century you missed," I joked.

"You know it."

Fifteen minutes later, we walked out the motel and found Jasper near a truck. It looked like it had seen better days, but not as horrible as my beloved, deceased truck.

The boys loaded the suitcases in the bed as I climbed in. Once they joined me, it got a little crammed but Edward solved that problem by taking me on his lap. I was afraid we'd get pulled over by the cops, but Jasper dismissed my worries.

Sometime during the drive, Jasper started complaining about Alice being annoying that morning thus him leaving before the break of dawn.

"She's stressed, man." Edward tried to calm his friend.

"So am I, but you don't see me throwing a hissy fit about the goddamn coffee. If she wanted just one teaspoon of sugar she should have told me nicely not scream at me, threatening my life with the spatula she used for flipping pancakes. Which I didn't get—not one—in case you were wondering or anything."

I'd never been close to Jasper, but always saw him as a laid back guy and friendly. Apparently only Alice could make him spit fire.

We didn't say anything as he kept muttering about Alice and her insanities.

"But I love her, you know? Crazy and all that shit. She's my little kitty."

"Duude!" I found myself whining. A blush raised on my neck and cheeks.

"That's his pet name to her, nothing vulgar," Edward whispered in my ear.

Oh.

Jasper threw us a look. "Like you don't have something special you call each other!"

"In case you forgot…we just got back together. Officially for only two weeks," I told him stiffly.

He laughed, amused. "Not even before? Really?" His question was mostly addressed to Edward.

I squirmed in his lap. I didn't like the topic.

"Well, I call her love, but…"

I made an odd sound at the back of my throat.

"Sorry, Bella. I'm just curious," Jasper apologized. "As you can see, I can still pick on your emotions," he explained when I frowned at him.

"We didn't exactly have time to discuss pet names or find one. If you remember correctly, just when we got together back then in Forks, the whole James thing happened. Then in the summer…" I glanced at Edward and he smiled at me. "It was amazing. The best summer ever."

He hugged me tightly, nudging my nose and kissing my lips.

"For example, Alice calls me Honey Bunny. And I'll bust you face if you ever call me that. Anyway, you need to find good pet names. It's great. GUYS! Can you stop kissing? It's getting awkward."

Edward chuckled, separating from me, but only with his lips. "Sorry, Jazz. I just can't get enough of Bella."

"I can pull over and move all your stuff in the truck…you two into the bed and don't make me a witness to your baby making process."

"Don't be an ass! Consider this payback for all the times I had to endure all of you going at it while I tried to think of anything else!"

"You could have left. We usually warned you."

"Yeah, because that always made me feel great. Why don't you make yourself scarce, I need some alone time with my respective half?" Edward mocked him.

It was fun to be around them. I never thought of them being this close.

For the rest of the ride, I learned a lot about their past. I always thought Edward was closer to Emmett, but apparently his best friend was Jasper. They bonded better over a lot of things.

Of course, except music.

We were about fifty miles away from Marfa when after hours of listening to whatever I chose, Jazz changed to a playlist he liked—only country music. Edward threatened him that he'll throw himself out of the car. To my surprise, Jasper pulled over and begged him to simply get out and hitchhike to the ranch. He didn't want to get involved in any accidents.

It was the wrong thing to joke about because a vein twitched on Edward's temple, but I made a joke about "you jump, I jump" that lit the mood, and we continued our ride to Jasper and Alice's place in peace.

The second we arrived, the tornado also known as Alice rushed out of the house and jumped in Jasper's arms, apologizing for their argument that morning. Meanwhile, we took our bags out of the truck.

"Bella!" She was onto me like a bullet. "Gosh, I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, Alice." I hugged her back.

"Let me show you around." She took my hand and snatched me away, almost ripping my arm.

"Hi, Edward! Nice to see you again," Edward shouted after us.

"Hi, Edward!" Alice yelled over her shoulder.

She took me to the stables. There were three horses, a cow and at the back of the barn there was a special place for five rabbits.

Of course I couldn't help myself and spent a long time petting the fur balls. Alice introduced all the animals to me, promising to teach me how to ride. It was something I always wanted to try, but it scared me giving up my control.

"We're thinking of dogs, too," she told me. She was just as chatty as I knew her. "But once we're done with the house. It looks horrible on the inside."

"We'll make it pretty," I promised. "But this place?" I waved around. "It's perfect. I love it, Alice. I'm so happy for you." I hugged her.

"Have you thought of settling somewhere? Maybe you can become our neighbors?"

"We're still talking about that, but I guess Chicago is a top option."

"Really?"

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Good to hear that. Welcome to your home for the next few weeks…months…or however long it will take!" She opened the screen door, gesturing for me to step inside.

Update: maybe next week? We'll see. Chapter 13 is mostly written but I need to finish it and figure out what to write next.