By: Magie

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Chapter One
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This was not her day. They hardly were any more. Nothing ever got easier or less complicated, more so actually. A human is not meant to be a Leopard Queen, Lupa/Belvke or a Vampire's human servant. It was too much for any normal person to bare, much less a Necromancer.

Anita Blake tossed and turned, she never got a true night's sleep anymore. It was either the leopards, the wolves, or the office that needed her. She had taken a vacation not too long ago and couldn't take one now. Well, she could, but she needed something normal, or as normal as was possible for her. Zombie raising was a rare skill and being a necromancer was rarer still. She liked going to a 'normal' job, no matter how odd it was. She was not a leopard nor a wolf, and being a human servant was a bad choice, even if it was to save lives at the time. She wasn't Hercules for Christ's sake. She did not hold the heavens.

After much tossing and turning, she got up, no longer able to sleep, even if the house was empty now. Micah had taken the leopards to another house. He understood that she was human and couldn't always deal with things of leopard concern. Even Nathaniel was with Micah. She has learned to control the adure enough to feed from a distance - one of the many joys of being bound to an incubus.

After showering and dressing into her normal wear, black jeans, polo shirt, Nikes, and Browning, she went to make breakfast - a cup of coffee. She took it black, nothing to hid the harshness of reality today. She rinsed her cup and headed for her jeep. Time for work. Two meetings with clients then off to the fieldwork. She had just five raisings tonight. Larry had grown in skill much. He could do four or five in a night and not be too drained now. The thought made Anita smile, more time to her self. The smile faded. Was that a good thing or a bad thing?

Her first meeting was that pertaining to having a two-hundred-year-old ancestor raised for genealogical purposes, simple enough. The second wanted a small interview for a school news paper. No less Bert thought it would look good for the incorporation.

The boy that interviewed her was young and bright eyed. He couldn't have been more than seventeen or eighteen. "Not much younger than yourself," she thought.He was business like and very professional for one his age and not over zealous. He asked basic questions about her life and a few advanced about being an animator. What surprised her was his knowledge of her being a vampire hunter and intimacy with the furry society. He kept things basic, but the fact he may have more knowledge than he led on was, well, disturbing. She'll have to pick up a paper form his school when it was published. They shook hands when he finished and left promptly.

Anita checked her watch. She had thirty minutes to get to the grave yard. It'd take twenty with good traffic, but being a Friday night, she'd have to hurry.

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It was just before sunrise when she reached home. How she likes the summer time so much better. More sun and less night, no damned "Master" to bother her in the day, and the furry were kept away with little time to play.

As Anita pulled up to her house, she spotted a truck she didn't recognize in her drive way. "What now?" she groaned to herself. She drove around the block and parked behind the house. No need to be careless now.

Anita snaked her way up to the back door of her home with gun drawn. She let her barriers down just enough to see if what ever was at her house was human or not. Anita felt nothing, just a heavy weight to the air. You'd think with the sun coming up that it'd feel lighter, not heavier. What ever it was, it was human, but held a feeling of ominously to it. None the less, she had to get in her house; she wanted some sleep.

She opened the door quick, but quietly, she had just oiled the hinges last week. She scanned the room quickly, no one there. She moved towards the living room. There sat Edward innocent looking, or as innocent as he could get, on her white crouch. She holstered her gun, with a scowl flowing over her face. "What? Can’t you call or
something next time you show up?" she asked irritably.

Edward just raised an eyebrow. She raised her hands in a sort of surrender. "I don't care what it is, you'll tell me when you think I should know and not before. So unless you want to tell me why you're here, I'm showering and going to bed." Anita turned on her heel and went for the bed room.

Chicken blood is not something to want to wear to bed, no matter how tired you are. Anita gathered her night clothes, just an overly large shirt and some underwear and went for the bathroom. She heard the front door close before she reached the bath. Just to make sure, she went to check. Anita saw a black Chevy Silverado 2500 leave her drive. "That was different," she spoke to her self and went for a quick shower.

She started to lay down on the bed when the phone rang. "Damn, it's seven in the morning, what do people want of me?" she cried. She grabbed the phone any way.

"Hello?"

"Anita."

"Edward, have you decided to tell me why you're here now?" she asked annoyed that he'd call to tell her after showing up.

"I'm not in St. Louis," he stated.

"Then where are you? I saw you just a half hour ago." "Why is he toying with me?" she wondered.

"Anita, I haven't been in the St. Louis area for more than a month."

"You were here though. I saw you. You were on my white couch like always when you show up." "Who the hell was it if it wasn't Edward?" she questioned.

"I don't know who you saw, Anita, but it wasn't me. I called to tell you I'd be in town tomorrow and for now keep a good watch. Just like a little bit ago, things that can’t be explained yet are happening. Please, Anita, don't stay in your house tonight. Pack for a few days and go to a hotel. I'll be there as soon as I can." He hung up.

"Damn it Edward! What the hell is going on? Are you here or not? Fuck." she yelled into the dead phone. He sounded worried. Could there be two Edwards? No, not Edward, but a look-a-like? a clone? A clone?! If Edward has a clone...shit. And what was it doing here? Crap, think later, move-now.

Anita grabbed a duffel bag and stuffed a few days worth of clothes in it. Sigmund was in the middle with a few toys. She threw on some pants and shoes and was out the door, well almost. Something caught her attention on the coffee table. A yellow rose lay on the table with a note attached. She grabbed it and the rose before leaving. No sooner than when she was 100 feet from her home did it blow.

She hit the ground running. Anita could feel the heat rush over her like a rapid river. No time to look back, just run and breath, don't forget to breath. "Good thing the jeep was parked a ways away," she muttered bitterly. She threw her stuff in the passenger’s seat and just sat with her head on the wheel and the doors locked for a bit. "Damn it," she cursed. Tears flowed down her cheeks onto her hands.

"Can’t I ever have a month's break from this shit?" She turned her head to look our the passenger window. The rose lay on the seat next to the card. Wiping the tears away she reached for the card. It read:

"He had a job. His motto to always finish one, but not this one.
What did he see, to let things be?
Nothing more than a girl with an unusual talent and untrained hand.
Why didn't he finish it?
Open your eyes and see, this time it will be finished, but by me."

It wasn't signed, but it was hand written, lovely and flowing like time grown old. That stupid rose defiantly didn't symbolize friend ship. But wasn't yellow for something else way back when? She racked her brain. Ah, yes, jealously. Shit. But why? Time will tell, like always.

She stuffed the card and rose on top in the bag before driving off.

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Chapter Two
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Edward arived after a few hours at the hotel. Anita got a room off the first floor, not that it'd really help, it just made her feel better. Oh, and Donna, of all people, was with him. Donna would not let her "Ted" come alone this time. The kids were with neighbors while she and Ted took a mini-vacation.

Donna was the only thing that stopped Anita from hugging Edward right then. "Why didn't he leave her there in New Mexico?" Anith thought. Donna didn't stop Edward from giving some comfort to Anita though.

He kneeled down infront of her. She sat hunched over on the bed. His hands clasped, he tried to look get her to look at him. "Anita?" he inquired. She didn't even move, not even to blink. "Anita?" he tried again. Still no response. He turned to Donna who stood hovering over them. "Donna? Please, wait in our room." It was more statement than anything.

Stubbornness appeared on the new age's face. "Why?"

His southern draw slipped some. "Because Anita won't talk to me with you standing there." His cold glar chilled her to the bone. Donna left, feelings of being scared, confused, and astonishment swrilled together as she left. It did not place her in the best of moods.

He tried once more, "Anita?"

She glanced at him and the away.

He placed his hands on her arms. Worry emmited from them, he wasn't even trying to hide. She stared at him. At least he had her attentition now. "Anita, I need you to tell me what happened. Please?" The concearn was undertoned in his voice.

She nodded and collected herself enough to speak. And told him what she saw before she left. A long pause filled the air. "Oh," she said softly, "there was also a note." She shuffled through the bag a bit to get it. "Here."

He had let go of her so she could get it. His face was blanke when he read what it said. The paper crumpled in his hands. "But how? This soon?" and questions of such ran through Edward's head. He knew that it wasn't far off, but so soon? And of him? Shit. "Anita? We're going to stay here tonight. Will you be alright?" he questioned.

"Don't leave me Edward. I don't want to be left alone. I don't know why I'm like this, maybe it's the shock of such a close call, or all my things being gone, not that there was a lot any ways, but... I think mostly if I lose site of you right now, I won't know if it's the real you or not. Do you have any idea how scary it is to think there is more than one Edward? And one that really wants to kill me for some job? It scares me, Edward."

She fell into him. He was completely caught off guard and thus fell on his ass with her clinging to him. "Well I never!" Came the voice of a woman. Edward and Anita stared coldly at the intrusive woman. It didn't stop her this time though. She kept coming with each step louder than the next. Anita raised her head just enough to watch, but it was a mistake. The slap came from no where and she was gone.

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Chapter Three
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She was too shocked and numb to really register what had just happened, but that did stop him. He was well aware of what just happened, but he didn't follow. He wouldn't leave Anita's sight right now.
He wiggled out from under her and gently swooped her into his arms. She didn't so much as respond. She was shook. Anita hated to be helpless in any way. He laid her on the one bed in the room and crawled in next to her. He was hesitant as to what to do. Only she could make him as such. Only her.
Her back found its way to Edward's chest. It felt as if she was looking for her security blanket - which, normally, was her Browning, but not right now. She watched him slowly bring his arms around. It was too slow; she needed something-someone to hold her now. She clutched his strong, cut arms to her. So different than the other set or sets of those have held her. It'd be cliché to say it felt right and was different from the rest, but being in Edward's arms made her feel safe and it wasn't an illusion. She was safe with him.


She woke slowly, snuggling back into - nothing. She bolted straight up, where was he? Her eyes wide she searched the small room frantically. Over looking him once, she locked her eyes on him the second time. Edward sat at the small table the hotel provided; his face careful.
Anita's eyes settled back to a normal size, before she asked him what he was doing. "Just covering your ass," was the reply he gave.
She looked startled, caught off her guard. "Oh," she thought, "the house." "Shit," she muttered. Out loud she said, "What did you tell the cops, Edward?"
"I knew they'd be sending out requests for people to call if anyone knew your whereabouts, so I called the station - Dolph spoke with me - and told them that I asked you to come to a hotel to review a case with me that I wanted your opinion on. I've got a case to back it up. I told them I wanted you to fly back with me to Santa Fe with me as backup. So, I took you home to get a few days worth of clothes - that covers why you have a bag of clothing - and because it was late you stayed so we could catch the flight to Santa Fe this evening without back tracking.
It all falls into place. I've tickets for two to New Mexico for this evening, and I did bring the files to that case I mentioned. Anita, you'll have to come to New Mexico with me tonight. I don't care what you tell your monsters, but you are coming."
Anita nodded. It was a good plan. "But what case?" she wondered. "Was he already working on this 'problem' and found some hint as to my danger? Hell if I know," she thought to she self. "When do I need to be at the station?" she inquired.
"In about an hour." he went back to the files on the table, and Anita went to shower and dress.

 

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Chapter Four

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Edward and Anita arrived in New Mexico that night. Anita wasn’t up to talking about anything, and Edward, being Edward, let it be – for now. Anita holed her self in the same room she stayed in when she was last at Edward’s house. Edward busied himself with finding his double.

In her room Anita unpacked. She was going to be here for a while. There really was no reason to go back to St. Louis. Well, there were the leopards – but Micah was taking care of them, and the wolves – if Richard couldn’t cope, Sylvie’d take care of them, but then there are the vampires. There was no doubt in her mind that Jean-Claude could handle it, but Damian, what would happen to him? Once this, this thing with Edward was settled, she’d see to Damian.

All that thinking of things back in St. Louis exhausted Anita. She hadn’t slept a wink on the plane ride (mainly her fear of heights) and now was so tired she couldn’t sleep. "Damnit," she mummered rolling on to her stomach, face in the pillow. Maybe if I just close my eyes and lay really still…

Edward was in his study researching. He was trying to hack into a database via the Internet. What a useful innovation; it makes gathering information so much more convenient - less of a risk to oneself. "Finally," he sighed. Edward just broke through the first layer of security. "I see Van Cleef has upped his protection since I’ve last paid them a visit," he mused to himself. "This will take more time than I had thought." Edward plodded his way through the rest.

Anita had finally fallen asleep when Edward came to check on her. He hadn’t heard any sort of movement since she had unpacked. He rapped on the door lightly, not sure if she had finally gotten some sleep or not. "Anita?" he called.

Anita, having just fallen asleep, was not in a deep enough state to not hear the knock or his voice. Reluctantly she turned her head towards the door. "What?" she called somewhat irritably.

Edward opened the door a bit. A light band of light fell over Anita’s eyes. Anita wined, scrunched her eyes and muttered, "Come in and close the damn door." It may not have been as easy to understand as that, but Edward got the picture. He stepped into the room and shut the door.

Edward knelt down in front of her. "How are you, Anita?" he asked.

Anita opened her eyes and found two gray slates stare back. "Besides having finally gotten to sleep and you waking me up?"

He didn’t say anything.

Anita continued, "Peachy." She rolled her face back into the pillow.

Edward didn’t move. He sat, just watching, waiting for her to fall into a deeper sleep. When she did, he was still sitting there. After ten minutes or so he got up and left her. He couldn’t very well just sit there and do nothing with a double out there trying to kill Anita.

Was it such a good idea to take her out of St. Louis? He pondered the thought. Yes, yes it was. It got her away from the monsters and let her worry about saving herself and not one of those monsters. He went to finish the hack of Van Cleef’s database.

It was hours later when Anita finally awoke. The sun was out and judging by how much light crept in under the curtains, she hazard a guess it was afternoon. Anita stumbled out of bed. She didn’t even have to look in the mirror to know she looked like shit. A change of clothes, a shower, and some coffee would make it all better – well, not quite in that order. She grabbed a change of clothes: navy blue polo shirt, black jeans, jogging socks, bra and undies, and headed for the bathroom to shower.

"Shit," she said once in the shower cover with water. "Why am I so careless?" she wondered to no one. She had left her gun in the bedroom. "Fuck." The door was unlocked too. I really don’t want to get out…this is Edward’s house… "Screw it." It was a statement. If she wasn’t safe at Edward’s, where was she safe?

Edward stopped what he was doing when he heard the squeak of the floorboards. A little later the water turned on. So she’s finally gotten up. He had slept a few hours and recently gotten up. After breaking the last of the security, Edward had a mouthful and more of information on what he was looking for. When fighting something/someone go straight to the source. He had thought last night. When Anita came out and had had her first cup of coffee, he’d tell her what he’d found. He couldn’t keep things from her this time. Edward finished with the coffee and started on his breakfast: eggs, toast, bacon, and a nice cold glass of milk.

Anita stepped into the kitchen, looking somewhat better than she did last night, as Edward was seating himself at the table. He did look up at her as she entered; he let her get her coffee and sit when she was ready – there wasn’t a need that large to push her.

She sat down, not long after she entered, avoiding looking at him. Halfway through his meal, he looked at her – just a simple glance, but it was all she needed. "Edward?"

His mouth full of egg and toast, he did his best to give a small answer, "hmm?" He didn’t look at her.

Anita looked around the room noticing the finer points as she answered, "Have you found anything out?"

He nodded, but didn’t say anything.

Sipping her coffee of cream and sugar, Anita waited and let the silence grow. It wasn’t as uncomfortable as she thought it might have been. If he didn’t want to tell her right now, fine. Anita didn’t care anymore. It’d come out one way or another, but she’d find out.

Anita got up and went to fill her coffee. Edward ate his food, waiting for her to come back. Anita was tired of his games. She’d look around the house for what ever it was she was looking for.

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Chapter Five

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Anita found her way to Edward’s study. There she saw the computer. "I bet that’s what he’s been on last night. I heard the Internet has everything on it these days," she mused. Sitting at the computer, Anita fumbled with how to find anything.

What’s this button do? She wondered. Anita clicked on Start. "Oh, let’s see…" She looked through her options. She clicked on search. Maybe she’d be able to find what she was looking for this way? "Hey, this computer stuff isn’t that bad. Just read the instructions." Anita smiled. She clicked on ‘search all compute files.’ "Now, what to search for?" Twin? Double? Van Cleef? Me? What does he know about me? She began to type in her name, "ANITA BLAKE." She erased what she wrote. Later, right now I need to know what we’re up against. I can pick bones with Edward when this is done. Anita typed in, "TWIN, DOUBLE, VAN CLEEF, CLONE." That would give her a start.

Edward finished eating and, wondering where Anita had gone to, went on a search for her. Where could she have gone? She’s not in the living room, her bedroom, the kitchen, or anywhere else I’ve looked so far… Edward stopped moving. He had looked everywhere in the house but one place. "Shit," he muttered and ran for the study.

"Wow," Anita said in awe at all the files that she found. She clicked on one and read through it. "He found this all last night?" she questioned. Edward had found so much information. Anita read though the development of the cloning, the training of the clone, and the various missions he had been sent on to prepare him for her. "Good God," she whispered in disbelief. "Did Edward go through all this?" she wondered.

"Did I go through all what?" asked a voice.

Anita spun to see Edward in the doorway. Her eyes went wide before she could stop them. She regained her composure. "Did you go though some of the same things as your clone?" she hazarded the question of him.

Weather or not Edward knew it, he lost a little face when she asked. He knew she’d find out one day, but now? Well, it had been near six years since she first met him and he did know so much about her. It was only a fair trade – not that he wanted to make it.

Edward was quite. Should he tell her? What the hell. She’s always trusted me at her back before. "Yes," he said monotonically.

Anita took a deep breath before asking, "Have you been given the same mission?"

He didn’t answer. He didn’t have too. He knew she knew he had.

"Edward?" she inquired hesitantly.

He looked at her and in a tone she didn’t understand he told her, "You know my motto was ‘always finish a job,’ well, that was one job I didn’t finish. That’s why we’re in this predicament now. He wanted to test me… and I failed…" He trailed off.

Anita wasn’t sure if she should hug him (not that she was the hugging sort), yell at him, or what. She opted for the first. Leaving the chair, she walked over to him. She stood before him and looked up at him.

Edward looked down at her; not sure what he expected to see (for once). He didn’t expect the hug she gave him or what she said, "Thank you, Edward." Startled, he pushed her back. "For what?" he demanded.

Her eyes became wide as she stumbled a few steps back. What had she done? "Edward," she reached a hand to his arm and he shied back hardly noticeable, she let the hand fall. "If you hadn’t failed, I wouldn’t be alive. You may not be alive. Remember Nickolaos? We damn near didn’t make it. Had you killed me before, do you think you could have killed her; on your own?" She looked into his eyes. He was avoiding her gaze. "Edward, would you have known I was your soul mate?" she asked him.

He turned from her. Anita grabbed his right arm just above the elbow. "The Edward I know has never walked away from a problem. Are you going to walk away from me now, with this problem, when I have no one else to turn to?" she demanded, pleaded.

He stopped and shrugged her off. "Go to one of your monsters, Anita, they’ll want to keep you safe." He walked off.

Anita ran to the door. "They’ll do their best to keep me safe, but fighting a clone of you? How the hell are they going to know? I left St. Louis without telling anyone. Edward, without you I’d have been dead so many times over by now…Edward, without you now, I will die!" She screamed at him rising her voice until the end.

He stopped again halfway down the hall. "What do you want form me, Anita?" his voice wasn’t raised – not yet. He turned to her. "If I had killed you then, or any other time, maybe I’d still be engaged. Maybe I’d still have a family to look forward to. Maybe my life would be simple. Maybe you wouldn’t be so deep in the monsters. Maybe Van Cleef wouldn’t still have a slight hold on me if I had killed you!" His voice had rose and nearly broke with the last few parts.

"Edward…I…" Words failed Anita. She had no idea any of this was in him. "Why…why did you tell me anything before?" she asked.

"Would you have believed me? Would I have believe it myself?" he retorted, asking more of himself than of her. He walked back towards her until they were standing toe to toe. "Would you?" he asked in a subdued tone.

Would I have believed him? Does the Edward I know want a wife and kids? Does the Edward I know want a normal life? Do I want a normal life? How normal can I get? I have to raise the dead. It’s born in me. How normal is that? Do I want a family and kids? A family yes, kids…I’ll see. Would others believe it of me? With my life? No, no they wouldn’t have. "I…I don’t believe I would have. Why didn’t you try to change your life?"

He grabbed her arms. "Because of you, Anita. Had I killed you, I’d have been free to cut all ties and go my way, but now, when I’ve come so close, it’s because of you again. If I had just killed you then…" He pulled his gun, stepped back from her and aimed between her eyes.

Her eyes went large. "Edward…"

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Chapter Six

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Her eyes went large. "Edward…" She was quite for a moment then, "could you really kill the other half of your soul?" she whispered.

His aim didn’t weaver.

Anita stepped closer. When he didn’t say anything, she lowered the gun and wrapped around him. "Edward, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Do you really think you could have kept up the façade twenty-four/seven? Edward, that doesn’t work for people like us – even the best at hiding." She hugged him close. "I’m so sorry," she whispered.

There and a click and then a thud as Edward’s gun dropped to the floor. He hugged her fiercely before letting her just hold him. "Com’on, Edward," Anita said before making her way, holding Edward, down to her room. She still didn’t know where his room was.

***

"Is it done?" he asked as Anita returned.

She sighed and in an almost wistful voice said, "Yeah, it’s done."

"Good," he replied, then upon seeing her face added, "Are you okay, Anita?"

She sat down on the bed next to him and placed her head on his shoulder. "I think so," she told him truthfully.

Edward’s arm crept around her and he placed his head on hers. "I think you did the right thing."

She leaned in a bit to him. "So do I. It’s just…" she shrugged.

Edward nodded. "That you’re really leaving everything behind this time, huh?"

Anita nodded and a tear escaped down her cheek, just a single tear. She was leaving every thing and everyone this time. She couldn’t go back. Her ties were too close and she was a free-fire zone. Maybe that’s why her friends became monsters over the years, they were a little harder to kill, but always seemed to be in a life or death situation more. Her human friends had been cannon fodder for any creepy that she happened to piss off.

With the happenings now, she was being offered a new life, if she survived this trial that is. Edward was – is – the only human she knew that could survive in the world she called hers. He’d saved her ass there too. How many other humans did she know that could do that and now get them selves killed in the process? None. Well, maybe Olaf and Bernado, but they didn’t count. She’d only worked with them once and one was going to come after her some day.

***

She didn’t remember falling asleep, but it must have happened for her to become awake. Anita was in her room of Edward’s house. Her eyes flickered open. Sitting up, Anita noticed a few things, 1) she could haven been asleep too long, there was hardly any light in the room, and 2) she was still fully clothed and alone in the room. She shook her head, as if trying to rid her of thoughts hidden. Anita got up and shambled her way down stairs; she wasn’t going to get back to sleep any time soon.

Anita headed to the kitchen. She wasn’t looking for Edward, she only wanted a little something to eat; she couldn’t recall the last time she ate something in the last few days.

"What are you doing?" asked a voice.

Anita didn’t bother looking up. "Raiding your fridge." She rummaged a bit before asking, "Got any beagles? Cream cheese too?"

Edward moved her out of the way and grabbed what she wanted.

"Thanks," she said taking the offering from him. She went to the counter and took out two beagles, sliced them, and put the halves in the toaster before adding the cream cheese. Edward just leaned against the opposite counter and watched. Anita didn’t spare a glance for him; she wanted food. She grabbed herself a glass of water and sat on the counter, facing Edward, before she began to eat.

She was just starting on her second beagle when Edward spoke, "We need to get you some clothes, Anita."

In mid-bite Anita’s face scrunched up. She hated shopping. As she chewed, she smoothed her face over. With an audible gulp, she replied, "You noticed that…" and trailed off. She so did not want to shop. But, then, what would shopping with Edward be like? Hopefully nothing like Jean-Claude’s since.

Edward watched her think it over as she finished her cream cheese smothered beagle. She was looking at her food. Oh, he knew she didn’t like to shop, but that did change anything, she’d run out of clothes soon enough. Better get it done sooner than later. He watched her eyebrow raise slightly and a twinkle come to her eye. What’s that about? He wondered.

Anita finished her last bite and with a near small, but almost comical grimace said, "Okay, let’s go shopping."

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