Jasper and Emmett settled down on the edge of the rocky outcropping overlooking the misty forest, feet dangling, and started counting the cash in their pockets.

"All I've got is 40. And a button," said Emmett.

"You're on," said Jasper. A pause and a slight grin. "You know he's not even trying, right?"

"Aw, that's cheating, man," Emmett complained, and flicked the button at Jasper's face. It pinged off and skittered away down the mountainside. "I won't pay if he throws it. ...and I still don't think she's faster."

"You're just mad that she's stronger."

Emmett snorted. "Not for long!"

* * * * *

Already miles away, Bella chewed her bottom lip in thought. She was skimming gracefully over the craggy rock piles at the edge of the trees, nostrils flared for any hint of the tangy, warm smell of mountain lion. It had taken her no time at all to forget how necessary it had once been for her to watch where she was putting her feet; as a result, she spent even more time lost in her thoughts now than when she'd been human. At the moment, her mind was still in Seattle at the Fish Market.

Somewhere, not far away, she could hear the faint whispering of Edward's feet racing along the rocks higher up on the mountain face, on the hunt to find his favorite prey before she did. He knew what Emmett had seen, and she wanted to get it out of him before they went back to the house. Emmett was the last person anyone would expect to try to hide anything, but she could tell something was wrong. And she wanted to be sure he was all right. Easygoing Emmett was a bright spot in her new family and easy to care about.

* * * * *

They sat quietly for a contented while, Jasper absolutely still as he stared up at the starless sky, Emmett picking thick, matted black strands of bear hair off his arms and dropping them into the air to watch them flutter down into the darkness among the rocks below.

"You're thinking about it again," Jasper finally murmured.

Emmett frowned. "You can't tell Rose. She won't understand."

"How do you think you're going to hide it from her, Emmett? You're not exactly the world's best at hiding your emotions. And I'm not just saying that as the emotion-reader."

"I know you helped me out there today, Jasper. And I appreciate it. ...if I tell you will you help me hide it from her, at least 'til I figure out how to explain it?"

Jasper smiled and nodded. He'd known his brother wouldn't last long. He should have bet on that instead.

* * * * *

Bella caught a whiff of what she'd been seeking and stopped with inhuman abruptness, eyes flying up and to her left toward the higher ground... where Edward was. Oh well, she should have known she wouldn't be able-- before she'd even finished relaxing her muscles in defeat, she heard the cat. And it was coming in her direction. Still alive! She flew to meet it, mouth open in silent laughter.

Three seconds later, Edward chuckled as he arrived to find her crouched over the still warm corpse. She smirked up at him, bright-eyed, then straightened. "I saved it for you, love," she said. "I still win, but I know how much you like the taste. There are some deer a couple of miles back for me."

He slowly grinned that crooked grin that made any sacrifice worthwhile in Bella's mind, then stepped over to wrap her in a tight embrace before he finally knelt to take his meal. How he was able to do it so spotlessly she still couldn't fathom, but she sure didn't mind watching as many times as it took to figure it out.

* * * * *

Emmett took a deep breath and the words all rushed out at vampire speed.

"It was Maria. She was right there in front of us. In the market. Buying fruit right in front of us only she was all old but it was still her. I wasn't wrong, Jasper. And I wanted to rush up and talk to her but when I tried to remember why, I realized I couldn't anyway 'cause I'm not all old and stuff like she was, and I was afraid she'd see me and freak out, 'cause I know she'd recognize me. She would. ...but what if she didn't? What if she totally forgot about me? That'd be great. I think. But I couldn't remember that fast, couldn't remember why seeing her made me feel bad, and why I wanted to rush up to her but wanted to hide all at the same time. It was so long ago! I mean, I've been thinking about it all day and I still only remember parts--"

He stopped and slapped his hands against the sides of his face as his own jumble of thoughts crashed headlong into the tangle of Jasper's confusion.

"Is that you, man? 'Cause I thought I was starting to figure it out."

"If that's figuring it out I'm surprised you didn't explode back at the market, Emmett," Jasper said, bemused horror writ large on his face. "Slow. Down. Who is Maria?"

"She's the old la--"

"I know that, Emmett. Who WAS she? Before she was... all old and stuff."

"Oh." Emmett chuckled. "Right. Sorry, man. Okay." He paused a moment to compose his thoughts, much to Jasper's relief, and not without a bit of a nudge.

* * * * *

Once Bella had fed, they walked hand-in-hand to meet Jasper and Emmett at a human pace, enjoying the feel of the forest floor under their bare feet.

"Edward?"

"Mm?"

"What was wrong with Emmett at the market today?"

Edward glanced over at her and smiled. "You don't miss much, do you?"

Bella shrugged. "It wasn't hard to see. I've never known Emmett to be nervous about anything. I can't believe Rose didn't notice. If we hadn't..." Her brows drew together. "Wait. That sudden rush to check out the bracelets at that one vendor wasn't because they were all that exciting a find, was it?"

Edward laughed. "Jasper. Not that Alice needs much nudging to drag you girls off for a shopping conquest. It is a pretty bracelet though." He brushed his lips across her wrist; she lifted her brows at him pointedly, and he sighed and looked more serious. "Emmett recognized somebody." Pause. "A woman. From before he was changed."

Bella stopped short in her tracks.