March 10th, Evening

[themidnightson]

Leaving Bella in the hands of her father and the Black's was not the ending of the day Edward had been hoping for. His teeth clenched and he replayed the thoughts Billy had when they passed for the dozenth time while he pushed the Volvo far beyond the speed limit returning home.

His son's focus hadn't been much better, but at least they were a recording he heard from other males who passed Bella in a given day at school. Billy, on the other hand....

The Volvo came to a squealing halt in the driveway fourteen inches from the garage door -- one from Alice's knees.

Comments

[betagainstme]

Alice glances down at the fender of the car before raising her eyebrows at her brother. "One inch closer and you'd lose your precious car."

[themidnightson]

Edward opened the car door and slipped out of the car, out of the days habit of moving far slower than was necessary for the one person he didn't mind it as much for now.

"We can afford another one."

[betagainstme]

"We should buy me a car." Alice says wistfully, glancing at all of them in the garage. "Why don't I have a car? I keep having to borrow Rose's without her knowing."


Beat as she glances at the door carefully. "At least I hope she doesn't know."

[themidnightson]

Edward's darkened expression broke for the lift in one of his cheeks as the car door closed. "She won't care as long as she can keep driving it to school in the morning."

Rosalie Hale - even more revered and untouchable in her cold matchless beauty before the little people.

[betagainstme]

Alice's expression darkens as his brightens slightly, ready to approach the problem. "Are you going to take her there, Edward?"

[themidnightson]

And there it went.

Thanks, Alice.






"That's not going to happen." It's vehement. He's not sure he can live with thinking about if it might. Alice has been wrong before. She has to be wrong now.

[betagainstme]

It will one day. Alice glares at him.


"Just be careful." She says flatly, before choosing her next words carefully. "I'm...there are a lot of outcomes right now. Not all of them are bad. I have faith in your abilities, Edward, I just want you to be careful."

It's not that she doubts that he's able to take care of Bella and not hurt her. She's worried about extenuating circumstances. Bella could trip and fall and bleed and Edward could lose control. Anything could happen. It was tiring.

[themidnightson]

Edward glared back even as the idea of Bella's death -- any death, even one sixty years from now, on a bed surrounded by people she was beloved by -- twisted up his insides.

Then he gave a heavy forced exhale and turned, leaning against the hood of the car, putting the house behind him and leaving his sight on the forest which surrounded their little exile-sanctuary.

"As though I can be anything but careful with her, Alice."

He knows the phrasing is wrong. It's supposed to be a snap, but it has the edge of a dangerously despairing complaint when he thinks about the way she smiled and laughed and blushed today with him.

[betagainstme]

"I know." Alice says, her tone a touch harsher than Edward's was supposed to be. "I worry more about the other factors, not you. Her, mostly. She's so...damn clumsy."

She hesitates, looking out toward the forest as well. "You know it's not my fault I keep seeing the same outcome. I'm...not...trying to."

But it will be her fault, she feels, if (when) it happens.

[themidnightson]

"I know."

It's an even statement this time.

There are other listening; other opinions.

Ones that are not like Alice's -- not biased.






Edward shook his head, "Emmett is already taking bets on the outcome."

[betagainstme]

"I won't give him any insider information." Alice murmurs. "Anyway, I don't want him to win the betting pool. Betting is my thing."

[themidnightson]

"What will you win this time?"

It's an easy question. Too easy. Too like any hundred of other times it, or questions like it, have passed between them. Especially for how much he has believe she will win this part, how much he needs to feel someone else believe that he will.