I stared in shock as he called our names informally, as if we were old friends dropping in for an unexpected visit.

He turned to our hulking escort. "Felix, be a dear and tell my brothers about our company. I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss this."

"Yes, Master." Felix nodded and disappeared back the way we had come.

"You see, Edward?" The strange vampire turned and smiled at Edward like a fond but scolding grandfather. "What did I tell you? Aren't you glad that I didn't give you what you wanted yesterday?"

"Yeah...but I would be even better if I didn't have to be there," Edward said.

"Yes, Aro, I am," he agreed, tightening his arm around my waist.

"I love a happy ending." Aro sighed. "They are so rare. But I want the whole story. How did this happen? Alice?" He turned to gaze at Alice with curious, misty eyes. "Your brother seemed to think you infallible, but apparently there was some mistake."

"Oh, I'm far from infallible." She flashed a dazzling smile. She looked perfectly at ease, except that her hands were balled into tight little fists.

"Yeah, well I'm a lot better at controlling my anger than this idiot," Alice smirked toward Edward.

"As you can see today, I cause problems as often as I cure them."

"That's not true," Jasper frowned. "Though that might be true here..."

"Might?" Edward snapped.

"You said it yourself – if it works out here, then you'll be happy," Jasper reminded him. "And stop acting like a fool and stay with Bella." He smiled and turned to Alice. "Other than this incident, your visions have always been an advantage to us," he concluded.

"You're too modest," Aro chided. "I've seen some of your more amazing exploits, and I must admit I've never observed anything like your talent. Wonderful!"

Alice flickered a glance at Edward. Aro did not miss it.

"That's sloppy of you," Jasper shook his head.

"He knows how we react to things," Edward shrugged.

"And what's Bella's excuse," Jasper smirked.

"She's Bella, we already know that she notices too much," Edward shrugged again.

"I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced properly at all, have we? It's just that I feel like I know you already, and I tend get ahead of myself. Your brother introduced us yesterday, in a peculiar way. You see, I share some of your brother's talent, only I am limited in a way that he is not." Aro shook his head; his tone was envious.

"Yes, he would be," Carlisle sighed.

"And also exponentially more powerful," Edward added dryly. He looked at Alice as he swiftly explained. "Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts, but he hears much more than I do. You know I can only hear what's passing through your head in the moment. Aro hears every thought your mind has ever had."

Alice raised her delicate eyebrows, and Edward inclined his head.

Aro didn't miss that either.

"And neither did Bella," Jasper smirked.

"It looks like we might have to work on that when Bella gets here," Alice said. "Don't want her noticing all our conversations."

"But to be able to hear from a distance…" Aro sighed, gesturing toward the two of them, and the exchange that had just taken place. "That would be so convenient."

Aro looked over our shoulders. All the other heads turned in the same direction, including Jane, Alec, and Demetri, who stood silently beside us.