A/N: SENDMEONMYWAY IS UPDATING? NO FREAKING WAY!

Yes freaking way. After a very long dispute with myself I decided that I would listen to my characters. The next couple of chapters (this one not included) scare the shit out of me but if you stay with me I promise you (hopefully) won't regret it. It's going to be interesting that's for sure.

I haven't been able to get a hold of my awesome beta yet so this chapter is not yet edited. If anyone is willing to help in the mean time while I try to find my darling I would greatly appreciate it.

Oh and the song for this chapter is Surround by Darlingside. Listen and love.

And without further ado I give you chapter 26!

Disclaimer: I do not own these Characters nor do I own anything else in this story accept the plot. The plot is mine. So back off bitches =P

Chapter 26: Surround

BPOV

"Seriously, Alice?" I whined for at least the fifth time in the last five minutes. "You are not putting my hair into pig tails. This is where I put my foot down."

"Seriously, Bella?" she mimicked. "It's like you don't trust me at all," she whined, a cross between mocking and pleading to let her do what she wants.

"Well….." I trailed off giving her a pointed look.

"Geez, one minor incident at an otherwise well planed party and suddenly I'm out of the circle of trust. That's cold, Bella. Really cold."

"I wouldn't exactly call it one minor incident, Alice. It was more like the second most horrifying moment of my life and that's putting it nicely. And you said it was going to go so well. 'Trust me, I'm Alice and I have visions and shit'. Last time I listen to the psychic," I teased, bumping her shoulder while she was grabbing make up out of her bag of torture.

Esme and Carlisle were coming home at the end of the next week so my time staying with Edward was coming to an end. I hadn't seen him much since the disaster known as my birthday party. He had had to go back to his job at the hospital last week; they now owned his soul again until his first year was up. Being an intern was such a thankless job, and because of his father, they expected so much more from him. Poor Edward came home exhausted and as much as he attempted to put on a smiling face for me, I could tell he was struggling to keep up with the harsh demands and the stress.

In the meantime, I had been spending most of my time with Alice looking for a new job and a new apartment. With Esme and Carlisle coming back I would need to man up and go back to my apartment to get my things and move into my own place like a big girl. It was time to grow up and quit playing house with my Edward. The only problem was money. I needed to get a job and quickly if I was going to be able to afford an apartment of my own.

"How about this one?" Alice mumbled out, pointing to the ad while holding the hairpin in between her teeth.

"Alice, I would kill myself if I had to change old people diapers all day. I love them but I hate their smell," I frowned, crossing the ad off with a pen.

"Well you are going to have to pick one, Silly Bella. You didn't honestly expect that the city would hold your job forever did you?"

"No, I didn't but at the time I was more worried about keeping myself together than keeping my job. That worked out well didn't it?" I sighed still scanning the ads.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. There is a reason why people are naturally adverse to change, Bella. Change is harder than any slogan makes it sound, but it's so necessary. You just have to be flexible enough to handle it and you are, Sweetie. Sure you've hit a few bumps along the way but look how strong they've made you and where they've brought you," she noted affectionately tugging my hair in a pointed way. "It's not so bad is it?"

"Ha-ha trick question, right?"

"You're such a brat. Now hush up while I fix this rats nest of yours," she demanded, reaching for something behind her.

Oh fuck no. "Alice what the Hell do you think you are doing with those?"

"Your ends are split. I'm just going to trim it a little," she shrugged nonchalantly.

"Back off, Edward Scissorhands. There is no way in Hell that I'm letting those scissors anywhere near my head!" I exclaimed jumping out of the seat in front of the vanity.

"Oh come on, Bella. I cut my hair all the time and look at how good in turns out," she laughed easily, pointed to the jagged edges of her short black hair.

I could feel all the blood rushing out of my face as I thought of my poor hair at the mercy of Alice and her snip happy hands. I backed up putting the bed between us as she continued to advance on me. "Don't look so horrified. I cut it like this on purpose, Bella. I promise I'll only trim it a little bit. Just the ends. Although you could use some layers in the back to make it look fuller, and I bet you would look really cute with bangs!" she squealed, snapping the scissors open and closed in excitement.

I backed up further, sneaking glances at the door, mentally calculating if I could make it there without her tiny freakishly fast frame intersecting my path. "Don't even think about it!" she taunted shifting her weight from one foot to the other, preparing to pursue me in whatever direction I decide to take.

"That's not fair. You can't use your gift against me. That's cheating."

"I did no such thing. You kept glancing at the door like a scared little doe. It wasn't hard to guess what you were thinking."

"Yeah, well you aren't getting anywhere near me with those scissors. Don't believe me? Go ahead and consult your visions." We were somewhere between playfully teasing jabs and an undertone of completely true statements. No way in hell was I letting her cut my hair. And conversely there was no way in hell she was going to let me out of here until she got her way. We were at a deadly impasse.

She looked suddenly alarmed before her eyes glazed over. I knew this might be my only chance to bust out of there with my hair, my dignity, and my friendship with Alice intact. I rounded the bed and just as I reached for the doorknob, the door swung open. I caught about two seconds of confused surprise on Edward's face before I catapulted myself into his arms sending the both of us stumbling back into the hallway.

"Well it's nice to see you too, Beautiful." Edward teased holding me bridal style in his arms.

I was tempted to melt into a little puddle at the sexy sprinkling of scruff on his chin and the spark of amusement in his tired eyes, but I was forced to compose myself given the dire situation in concerns to the health of his sister; she would be a dead woman if she even went near my hair with scissors again.

I gave him a quick peck on the lips before making my plea. "Please. Dear God. Save me from the crazy woman with the scissors," I stage whispered, nodding my head in the direction that the crazy was in.

I jumped in surprise when I heard her high pitched plea. "Edward that's not fair! I almost had her until you had to decide to come home early and steal her away! I was suppose to have another whole hour," Alice complained, waving said weapon of mass destruction to emphasize her frustration.

"Speak of the Devil….." I mumbled under my breath.

"Can I not even trust you two alone for a couple of hours? Alice, put the damn scissors down you're scaring Bella," Edward sighed in frustration, setting me down on my feet slightly behind him as if to protect me from Alice. "And all I suggested was that you help Bella get ready for tonight. I did not say you should torture her for the sake of your own amusement," Edward admonished, sounding more like her father than her brother.

"I was helping her get ready, but she didn't like any of my suggestions did you, Bella?" she turned toward me accusingly.

"Alice, you know I have no problem with you helping me get ready but when you try to make me look like a twelve-year-old, I draw the line."

"But it would be so cute, Bella. You could definitely pull it off. Don't you think it's perfect for tonight, Edward?" Alice gushed, turning the evil power of the little sister pout on full force while pulling my hair into pigtails. She was a dead woman.

I lightly smacked her hands away in warning which was only answered by a snipping of the scissors much too close to my face for comfort. This argument was going nowhere. The only way out of this stand still would be to switch tactics. "Speaking of which, Edward, where are we going?" I asked cocking my head to the side in an accusatory manner.

Edward had the day off today, and had promised me earlier in the week we could spend it together. I had been trying to get the location and the activity out of him every day since then but to no avail. I even tried to get it out of him while we were having sex. But the man didn't even waver. In fact he actually got me to admit that it would be better to have it as surprise. Stupid fucking confident prick. I swear if I wasn't so damn in love with the man I would hate his smug perfection. Although, I'd have to say the last straw was really when I found out he had even told that evil little menace about it. I was the only one out of the loop. Smug bad secret keeping asshole.

"You'll see when we get there," he promised trying to pull me in for a kiss but I put my hand up between our lips just as they were about to touch.

"Aw, you're not mad at me and you know it." He tried to pry my hand away from my mouth but I wasn't giving in to him that easy.

" A hint." I ordered, but the authoritative tone I was going for was completely ruined by the muffling effect of my hand. Fail.

"A kiss," he replied flippantly.

I shook my head defiantly which was about the equivalent to smacking him in the face with my best glove. The gauntlet was thrown. And for you still to stuck in this century I'll translate: Shit was about to go down.

"Alright well as comfortable as it would be for me to watch your awkwardly adorable foreplay any longer I'm going to get home to my man. Bella, I left your outfit for the evening in the closet. Call me later sweetie." Alice announced, snipping the scissors in my direction one last time before chuckling her ass out the door.

"Bitch!" I mumbled past my hands, still staring Edward down.

"Now that's not very nice Bella. What have a told you about playing well with others?" Edward asked with that glint of mischief in his eye that went straight to my damn libido.

'It's like I have no control over you anymore!' I mentally berated my girly parts.

Yeah, all this time cooped up with the psycho-psychic definitely hasn't made me crazy or anything. Nope. Completely normal to talk to your…

"Hello? Anyone in there?" Edward chuckled, wrapping his arm around the wrist of the hand that separated our lips and shaking it.

"Yes, now what is it that you want Dr Cullen?" I asked keeping one hand firmly between our still too close lips and putting more weight onto his forehead where ours touched, challenging his assumed authority….and I might have also wagged my eyebrows suggestively. I was in no mood to fight fair.

"I want you to remove your hand so I can have my way with you before whisking you off to an undisclosed destination for a date after which I plan on having my way with you multiple times," he whispered all this in that sexy tone that dripped with lust and promise.

Fuck if I wasn't ruining the panties I had insisted Alice let me wear for comforts' sake. Looks like I would have to go with the stupid wedgie inducing piece of string attached to a bigger piece of string she had picked out. And now I know why she let me win…

He started pulling at my hand and in my lust induced haze I let him. 'No, focus Bella. You can do this.' He slowly sank closer and closer into my embrace until our lips were almost touching. I could feel my eyes drooping in submission. I was a terrible excuse for a female. The whole race should just dismiss me now for my lack of girl power and all that. The Spice girls would not approve…

And just as I thought all was lost, he smirked that smug grin of victory. He was celebrating before his win, a fatal rookie mistake. Silly boy.

"Your awful confident about this little plan of yours, aren't you Mister Cullen?" I whispered tilting my head up so my nose would brush his and nudge his lips farther away from my lips' personal space bubble.

"Yeah, I guess you could say I'm feeling pretty cocky," he whispered right back, shifting his hips a bit so I could feel his cock on my stomach.

"Touché, Edward but unfortunately you're all scruffy, you and I are not properly dressed, and I am owed a date. I think your cock is going to have to wait till later. I'm just not in the mood right now," I easily lied, walking him backward while still keeping our physical and our eye contact. "I'm just too anxious to go on this date, I simply can't think of anything else."

The shock on his face said it all. He clearly was not expecting such a blatant lie to cross my lips because I was able to push him all the way into the hall, shut and lock the door before he recovered enough to challenge me. It would be much easier to snub his advances, for now, if there was a door between us. Yes, I was cock blocking Edward. Alice would be so proud.

"Bella," Edward groaned pounding half heartedly on the door. "You're such a bad liar. Always have been, always will be."

"I know I am so I'm sure you'll be able to see that I am telling the truth when I say you are keeping dickward away from my girly bits until after this date, Edward Cullen." I admonished, raising my tone so it sounded final and more powerful than I felt.

"Why must you tease me so?" he whined. I heard the rustling of his scrubs against the wood as his body slid down the door, a light bang followed as I imagine he leaned his head back against the door. Hopefully a sign of submission.

I followed suit using the door to slid down till my butt made contact with the soft carpeting of the floor. I let out a sigh and some of my tension before responding in a tired voice I barely recognized as my own. "Edward, you've been working yourself into exhaustion with these ridiculous hours and I admire you for your dedication but the only time we've had together is all spent up with sex. And while I could spend the next 6 months happily locked away with you in our bedroom, I need to see you. I know it sounds silly as sex is as intimate as it gets but I miss just being us you know? And I haven't been on a real date besides the dinner we went out to in forever. Being with Jacob I feel like I missed a lot of that you know? It's silly really….." I rambled on wishing I could tell myself to just shut up already.

"No it's not, Bella." Edward's voice came breezing through the little crack where the door met it's jam.

"Whether it is or it isn't I want to experience this more than anything. And the only way to get this authentic is if we don't do that just right now." I added suddenly nervous about his reaction to my sudden realization borne from a mindless ramble turned epiphany.

"Of course, Bella. I'll never not want you in that way, but if this is what you need I can handle it. I love that part of our relationship but that's not our whole relationship."

"Really?" I asked, stupidly. I hadn't expected this to be so easy. It shouldn't have been so easy. Maybe he really didn't want me in that way at all. Maybe I was doing him a favor.

Or maybe you're a fucked up girl with trust issues.

Am I? Is that what this all leads back to? Edward has never given me any reason to doubt him even when I have done and said stupid things like that time I tried to leave him cause Charlie asked. I even put my crazy family before him. If anyone should be lacking trust with the other it would be him but yet here he was once again ready to put everything on hold because I was still too insecure to think he could want me for anything other than sex.

"Really," he promised turning the door handle. "Can I come in please?"

"No."

"No?" he asked incredulous.

"No."

"May I ask why?"

"Because I'm coming out there," I replied opening the door and jumping into his arms for a second time that night, attacking his mouth with mine in the same movement.

"Wow, not that I'm not a fan of that or anything but what was that for?" he asked smiling my favorite crooked smile.

"Just because I love you," I smiled leaning into him for another quick peck on the lips.

When I tried to deepen it he growled in warning. I gave him one more quick peck before pulling back to look at his frustrated face questioningly. "Bella, I think you should go back in there and get changed so we can go now."

"But why would I do that when I can stay out here with you?" I pouted.

"Because you are confusing me with someone with a lot more restraint. I'm trying to honor your wishes but fuck if you aren't making it damn hard with that fucking pout of yours," he growled, determination clear in his eyes.

"I'm making it hard am I?" I teased backing out of his arms.

"Bella…." He warned.

"I know I'm going." I promised closing the door to get changed. I clicked the lock shut before making my final jab at him," I'm glad Alice left this blue thong. I can't believe I soaked straight through these underwear."

I heard the door handle jiggled roughly before Edward gave up grunting in frustration as he made his way down the hall to get ready for our date.

"You can't be serious….." I trailed off once he had uncovered my eyes.

I thought it might be fun, a little blast from the past is all," he explained nervously rocking his weight back and forth with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders shrugged looking everything like that awkward teen date I never had.

"I've never been to the fair," I admitted, blushing.

"Never?" he clarified.

"No, Renee was more of a beach and picnic kind of mom and by the time I got to Forks between Charlie and –Jake," I forced out. "The closet thing I got to a carnival ride was off-roading and cliff diving." I admitted, feeling my cheeks color with embarrassment.

"Let me get this straight. You've been experimenting in extreme sports but you've never been to a fair?"

"Yes." I shrugged, unsure of what he was expecting me to say.

"Hm…" he pondered thoughtfully. "What a deprived childhood you've had," he mused wrapping his arm around my shoulder and guiding me up to the ticket booth.

"You have no idea." I muttered as an afterthought under my breath.

"What was that?" he asked, pulling me closer to him and leaning his head down to hear me better.

"I said I can't wait to try out that beast!" I exclaimed, pointing to the monster of a ride located at the front of the park. It wasn't a totally lie, but it was only partially true.

He smiled brightly leaning down to kiss my forehead before stepping forward to pay for our tickets.

"You-I-can't breathe," Edward stuttered out through laughter.

"Yeah, laugh it up funny guy. We'll see whose laughing later when you're ass is snuggling with himself on the living room couch for the night." I huffed, moving out of his arms.

"Oh come on Baby, don't be like that. I'll make it up to you I promise. But, Love, you're face was just priceless!" he full belly laughed half-heartedly reaching for me.

"That was not funny!" I admonished, slapping his hand away.

"I still don't understand how a girl that can cliff dive can be afraid of Ferris Wheels?" he asked, sweetly trying to smooth things over with me.

"Well, when you cliff dive you have the water to break your fall. When you are on a Ferris wheel the only thing breaking your fall is the hard ass ground and I do mean BREAK!" I exclaimed verging on hysterics.

"But you didn't have to take it out on the….what was it that you called him?" he teased, grabbing my hand and pulling me close. "Oh yes the evil Ferris wheel man on the Ferris Wheel O' Death." He deadpanned before busting out hysterically.

"He was asking for it…" I mumbled embarrassed and still pissed off. "Here have some guilt cotton candy." I offered shoving it in his mouth to shut him up.

We had just got off the Pirate Ship when Edward spotted the evil contraption of death.

"Come on Bella, let's go on the Ferris Wheel." Edward suggested, pulling me in to the line with all the enthusiasm of a little boy at his first baseball game.

"I don't know, Edward…" I trailed off, planting my feet.

"What's wrong?" he asked, once he noticed my dead weight.

"I….I don't really like Ferris Wheels."

"Have you ever been on one?" he asked looking confused.

"Well…no. But it's just scary. Being trapped in a little carriage and hoisted into the air in circles." I cringed. "Just doesn't seem like fun to me."

"But, Love, the Ferris Wheel is a very important experience. You have to at least give it a shot. I'll be right there with you the whole time. I won't let anything happen to you." He promised, pulling me close.

I looked at his face to see if he really meant it. His eyes always gave him away. They were a window into his thoughts and right now they were full of promise. He would keep me safe. I could do this. For sure.

"Alright. Yeah, let's do this." I smiled, this time pulling him toward the line.

The man at the booth turned toward us, "Tee-ket?" he asked, holding out his hand.

Edward handed him both our tickets and the man pressed the button to find us an empty carriage. I watched the rotation of the wheel and the smiling couples all laughing and giggling as they went around. I can do this. Yes, I can. Okay, just breathe.

As the first empty carriage arrived I felt my resolve slipping. But I felt a squeeze on my hand and looked up to find Edward's smiling face looking encouragingly down at me. There was no way I could back out now. Not after I had already doubted him so many times before.

We walked up the platform and into the carriage, still holding hands as the bar lowered down over us. I smiled at Edward as the Ferris Wheel guy made sure our bar was secure. "I hope this go well. I don really know how to work dis' thing. I just got dis job. Oh well. Have a nice time." The Ferris Wheel guy said before walking over to his podium.

I looked over at Edward, my eyes the size of saucers, squeezing the shit out of his hand. "Relax, Love. I'm sure he was just kidding."

I looked back over as the Ferris Wheel man was looking over the buttons on the control panel quizzically. He looked back up at me and smiled viciously before pressing the green button causing the Ferris wheel to jerk backwards.

I let out a squeak of surprise and held onto Edward's hand for dear life. The Ferris Wheel continued it's upward path and the ground got further and further away. I could feel my palms begin to sweat as the people on the ground got smaller and smaller until we were at the very top of the wheel.

"See this isn't so bad is it?" Edward asked, smiling encouragingly.

Before I could answer, the Ferris Wheel jerked to a stop. I looked down to see the Ferris Wheel man laughing at me as he went to let the people at the bottom out of their carriage. "You've got to be kidding me?" I yelled.

"What?" Edward asked.

"He's doing this on purpose!" I yelled glaring down at his chuckling form.

"Doing what?"

"Freaking me out!"

"Bella, he's just letting these people off. It's not a big deal, Love. Isn't the view beautiful." He added trying to redirect me.

"No, he's screwing with me. That jerk!" I got out before the Ferris wheel jerked forward again. We made it to the bottom and he stopped it quickly, making me think he was going to let us off, before he started it up again.

"Oh come on!" I exclaimed once we began to ascend to the top once more. When we reached the top he stopped again. "You've got to be kidding me! You have to see he's doing this on purpose right?" I asked pointedly towards Edward.

"Okay so maybe he is doing it on purpose," he chuckled.

"This isn't funny!" I fumed toward Edward before turning my anger towards the Ferris Wheel man. "I'M ONTO YOU, YOU EVIL FERRIS WHEEL MAN! I CAN SEE WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO HERE AND IT'S NOT WORKING. JUST LET ME OFF THIS FERRIS WHEEL O' DEATH YOU BIG STUPID JERK FACE!" I exclaimed, which only caused both him and Edward to crack up.

"Edward, whose side are you on?" I fumed.

"Yours—" he choked out before laughing harder.

The Ferris Wheel started back up but this time he stopped it when we were halfway down letting out two more couples. When it came to us he once again stopped it, even pretending to walk all the way over to our carriage only to turn around and start the ride again. I almost cried.

"Edward. You are a dead man." I promised, pulling my hand out of his and scooting all the over to the far side of the carriage.

Finally the Evil Ferris Wheel Man let us off. "Senorita, have a wonderful night." He chuckled as he helped me off the carriage. I lunged for his tiny little Mexican frame, but Edward grabbed my shoulders just in time to stop me from shoving a sombrero up his ass.

"Let's go get some cotton candy!" he suggested, guiding me toward the food stand.

"This isn't over Evil Ferris Wheel Man!" I yelled over my shoulder as Edward practically carried my tiny pissed-off frame away.

"You're ridiculous." He teased through a mouthful of cotton candy.

"You love me anyway?" I asked, tucking myself into his side.

"Of course." He promised kissing the top of my head sweetly.

"What do you say we blow this popsicle stand?" I asked, maneuvering his arm off my shoulder so I could pull him toward the parking lot by the hand.

"Only if you promise to blow something else instead." He shot back facetiously.

"Oh Edward it has been a very long week. You're about to see just how much I am into extreme sports," I winked swaying my hips all the way to the car, leaving a slack jawed Edward behind me.

Okay so you know how people talk about the calm before a storm? This chapter didn't take me long to write at all. This one was actually a lot of fun. It's nice to let the character's just enjoy each other's company ever once and a while. We all love fluff. Next chapter and the chapter after that really open up the conflict at the heart of this story. Don't worry I'm not going to break up our precious B and E and it has nothing to do with Jacob…..well kinda but not really. Anyway I just want to warn you it's going to get intense and I hope you stay around to see what happens on the other side of this.

As I have promised before I am all for the HEA.

Please review and let me know if you liked the fluff. And also if any of you have a phobia of Ferris Wheels and or Evil Ferris Wheel men as I do. Remember if you do you get a sneak into the next chapter before I post (and before it goes to my lovely beta.) And as extra incentive the next chapter is already written (for once) =P

Xoxo- Sendmeonmyway