The Edge

Sharttered

Summary: The events of Bella's party set a series of events in motion that will change Bella's life as she knows it.

The Party

Bella closed her eyes, allowing the happiness and contentment she was feeling to wash over her in pleasant, all consuming waves. She hadn't really wanted a birthday party, and she still didn't want to be celebrating getting a year older, but she couldn't deny that she was moved by the love and consideration being shown to her by the Cullen's. And, learning that Alice was responsible for organizing it, and that it was Alice who had decorated and cooked for her, made Bella feel especially warm inside.

She had seen more of Alice after their talk on the beach, but things between them hadn't quite gone back to how it had been before they had given into their attraction to each other in her room the week before.

They still held hands, and she still rested her head on Alice's shoulder as Alice wrapped her arm around her waist, but their actions were self-consciousness in a way they hadn't been there before. They were tentative with each other, cautious in a way that they hadn't been in the past. They were constantly vigilant around each other, trying to guard against any slip ups like the ones that had happened in her room and on the beach. They were chronically afraid that they would say something or touch the other in a way that would ruin everything.

Over the past few days, Bella had begun to fear that things would stay awkward between them, however, the party, the way Alice had hugged her so warmly when she arrived, and the way their eyes would sometimes catch and Alice would wink at her, gave Bella hope that things would return to normal between her and Alice one day. And, that while it was difficult now, that there would be a time when they would again be able to look at each other, and hold each other without the painful, desperate longing for more that inundated their current interactions.

"Open mine and Edward's next!"

Bella opened her eyes, a smile automatically coming to her face as she looked into Alice's eyes. Alice's voice was an excited, high-pitched trill, and she held a medium sized square box in her hand. She was practically jittering and as Bella began to approach her, Alice's excitement made Bella smile even more brightly.

"You promised," Bella said, though she couldn't quite force a whine into her voice as she came to a stop in front of Alice. "You both did," she added turning to look at Edward as she reached out to take the present from Alice's delicate hands.

"I promised not to buy you a present," Alice said, her voice twinkling with mirth. "And I didn't buy you anything. I kept my promise, I don't know about him," she continued jerking her thumb in Edward's direction before turning to grin at him.

"It's as Alice says," Edward responded smiling serenely. "I didn't buy you a thing."

"Oh, aren't you two clever," Bella murmured sarcastically, eyeing them wearily as she weighed the box in her hands. However, despite her words, a smile edged up at the corner of her lips and displayed her true feelings on the subject.

"That's what mother says," Alice piped up smiling over at Esme winsomely as Edward chuckled beside her.

"And I think she means it about as much as Bella did," Edward responded, looking over at Alice with a smile.

"Maybe when they're talking about you," Alice retorted grinning. "I'm brilliant," she added smugly, smiling even wider as Edward rolled his eyes at her.

"Children, please," Esme interjected, a lovely smile on her face as she looked between Edward and Alice, her eyes caressing them adoringly. "You're both absolutely perfect. Now let's give Bella a chance to open her present."