I frowned suspiciously. "Or . . . Is this something else altogether? Some vampires-and-werewolves-are-always-enemies nonsense? Is this just a testosterone-fueled -"

His eyes blazed. "This is only about you. All I care is that you're safe."

The black fire in his eyes was impossible to doubt.

"Okay," I sighed. "I believe that. But I want you to know something - when it comes to all this enemies nonsense, I'm out. I am a neutral country. I am Switzerland. I refuse to be affected by territorial disputes between mythical creatures. Jacob is family.

"Hmph," Edward huffed.

You are . . . well, not exactly the love of my life, because I expect to love you for much longer than that. The love of my existence. I don't care who's a werewolf and who's a vampire.

"Love of your existence trumps family any day," Jasper said.

"You mean you don't care about us?" Emmett tried to pout, but ruined it with his laughter.

"Obviously not," Jasper smirked at him.

If Angela turns out to be a witch, she can join the party, too."

"That would be interesting if she were," Emmett laughed. "It would also explain why Bella is able to be so close to her."

He stared at me silently through narrowed eyes.

"Switzerland," I repeated again for emphasis.

He frowned at me, and then sighed. "Bella . . . ," he began, but he paused, and his nose wrinkled in disgust.

"What now?"

"Well . . . don't be offended, but you smell like a dog," he told me.

"Ah, poor Eddy," Emmett laughed. "There's another reason why it was good that she stopped at the witch's house..."

"She's not a witch," Edward groaned, rolling his eyes.

"Whatever," Emmett said, still laughing, "she was at least able to dilute the wolf's stench a bit."

And then he smiled crookedly, so I knew the fight was over. For now.

Edward had to make up for the missed hunting trip, and so he was leaving Friday night with Jasper, Emmett, and Carlisle to hit some reserve in Northern California with a mountain lion problem.

We'd come to no agreement on the werewolf issue, but I didn't feel guilty calling Jake - during my brief window of opportunity when Edward took the Volvo home before climbing back in through my window - to let him know I'd be coming over on Saturday again. It wasn't sneaking around. Edward knew how I felt. And if he broke my truck again, then I'd have Jacob pick me up. Forks was neutral, just like Switzerland - just like me.

"You know, it might be better if they did meet in Forks...and stayed there," Edward said. "I wouldn't have to worry so much."

"I doubt the pup would want that though," Alice said. "He would be too worried that you were listening in."

"And if he wasn't, he really should be," Emmett said. "There is no way you would leave the two of them alone."

"No, I probably won't," Edward said.

So when I got off work Thursday and it was Alice rather than Edward waiting for me in the Volvo, I was not suspicious at first. The passenger door was open, and music I didn't recognize was shaking the frame when the bass played.

"Hey, Alice," I shouted over the wailing as I climbed in. "Where's your brother?"

She was singing along to the song, her voice an octave higher than the melody, weaving through it with a complicated harmony. She nodded at me, ignoring my question as she concentrated on the music.