The Edge

The Honeymooners

Three Hours Later

"Europe or South America?" Alice asked, her fingers trailing through Bella's hair lightly as Bella's head rested comfortably in her lap.

"Europe," Bella said without a moment of hesitation, her mind filling up with images of museums, vineyards, paintings, ancient streets and churches, and dozens of other picturesque destinations that she had seen in textbooks and movies over the years.

"Hmm, interesting," Alice hummed tapping her index finger against her chin in a scholarly fashion.

"Is it?" Bella asked laughing a little. "Did my answer unintentionally reveal something fascinating about my psyche to you?" she continued smiling. "Have I unconsciously revealed that I used to be a bed wetter, or that I have a strange aversion to squash and alpacas?"

Alice laugher tinkled through the room. "Well," Alice began thoughtfully, "if you were a bed wetter, it would explain the aversion to squash and alpacas."

Bella stared at her. "It would?" she asked dubiously, wondering how the three things could possibly be connected.

"No," Alice said shaking her head sadly, laughing a second later and then ducking to the side when Bella reached up to slap at her.

"My turn," Bella said, mock glaring at Alice after all of her attempts to hit Alice had been thwarted by the raven-haired beauties vampire speed. "Dog or cat?"

"Cat," Alice replied, eyes narrowing at Bella when the younger woman smiled up at her smugly. "What?"

"I knew you were going to say that," Bella said, reaching up to trace her fingertip across Alice's cool cheek. "You're like a cat," she murmured softly, her tone reflective as her fingers drifting down Alice's delicate, yet powerful arms.

"Is this your gentle way of telling me that I should lick myself less, and stop clawing at the houseplants?" Alice asked, her eyes wide with faux concern, her expression causing Bella to laugh. "Because I'm just being hygienic ... and, they're springy and fun to play with."

Bella stared at Alice for a second, and then a huge grin broke out across her face before she shook her head from side to side. "You're not funny," she mumbled, but her eyes were still dancing with laughter and exactly the opposite sentiment was transmitted to Alice.

"I think I may be," Alice responded, taking in Bella's smile with happy eyes. "Just a little bit," she continued holding her thumb and index finger minutely apart, as she smiled herself.

"Funny looking," Bella responded automatically, making a funny face at Alice.

Alice sighed deeply and murmured, "Now you're just being mean," before her features rearranging themselves into a comically tragic mask of hurt and despair.

"Meanly wonderful," Bella retorted, smiling as she recalled the conversation in her room months before that had led to their first kiss.

"Oh, we're back to that are we?" Alice asked smiling delightedly. "Ah, fuzzy memories," she sighed, bending down to press her lips against Bella's forehead.

"Fuzzily wonderful," Bella breathed out contently, her hand drifting behind Alice's neck, pulling her down for another, slightly longer kiss.

"Wonderfully wonderful," Alice murmured against Bella's lips, kissing her one more time before pulling back.

"I hope you're pleased with yourself," Bella said softly as Alice settled against the back of the couch once more.

"I usually am," Alice responded seemingly unconcerned with the randomness of Bella's comment. "Why?"