"You've been drinking?" I asked.
"A bit, during the ride home," he shrugged and pointed to my wine glass. "Seems I'm not the only one."
True enough.
"We need to talk," I advised, "in the kitchen."
Edward nervously dragged his hand through his hair. "Bella, I want to apologize…"
"No," I stopped him by placing my fingers on his lips. "In the kitchen." I repeated.
There were two reasons I chose the kitchen. First: it would be a little more difficult for Edward to wrap his arms around me at the kitchen table and it was imperative that I say my piece without distraction. His arms were a major distraction, not to mention his hands, his lips, his smile…
Ugh…shut the fuck up and focus already.
The second reason was that we'd never had sex in the kitchen. If we had, the memory would completely neutralize my anger and I needed to hold onto that for a little while longer.
I started a pot of coffee while Edward, looking quite forlorn, took a seat at the table. It was the middle of the night, and I was certain he was exhausted, but I was taking my Dad's advice and not allowing us to go to bed angry.
You were already sleeping Bella…
That doesn't count. Edward wasn't home then…
I shook my head and chuckled lightly, realizing that I was arguing with myself.
Edward looked confused as I set a mug of coffee in front of him with a small smile. There was a long awkward moment between us before I broke the silence.
"If it's alright with you, I'd like to speak first," I began in a low voice.
He nodded.
I looked into his eyes. "Edward, first of all I need to tell you how much I regret my behavior from earlier today. I should have been honest with you in my message. I wasn't, and for that I am truly sorry." I looked away from him, fixing my gaze on the dark liquid in my cup. "I fooled myself into believing that the time I've been spending with Shane didn't bother you. I liked to think you trusted me, I've never given you reason not to, but deep down I knew that you were jealous."
"Bella.."
I held up my hand. "Please let me finish."
He nodded in acquiescence, albeit reluctantly.
"As much as we love each other, we can't deny that we've both been affected by our past experiences. I have been selfish and insensitive, doing what I wanted, without regard to how it might make you feel." I looked back up at him. "After what Meghan did to you in high school, I should have realized that my spending time with another man would bother you."
He sighed and shook his head, obviously wanting to argue with me.
I whispered. "I also considered how I would feel if the tables were turned and you were spending time alone with a beautiful female friend." I took a deep breath. "I had to admit that I didn't like the thought of that. It hurts enough when I have to watch your love scenes..."
"Bella…" he said in a pained voice.
I held up my hand again. "However, I won't apologize for my friendship with Shane, because that's all it is and all it will ever be. Edward, you are the only one I could ever love, the only man I want to have children with and spend forever with. You."
I reached over and placed my hand on the side of his face. He leaned into my hand and smiled, although his eyes remained troubled. As soon as I touched him, the anger I felt vanished, leaving only the hurt behind.
After a moment, I drew my hand away and placed it back on the table. "And just so you know, Shane has been a perfect gentleman. He has not made me feel uncomfortable in any way. He's a really nice guy, but I decided tonight that I will no longer spend time with him on my own. Even if it didn't bother you, it's the right decision if for no other reason than the paps. We don't need to continue to fuel that fire."
He nodded slowly, keeping his eyes trained on mine.
"There's one more thing I want to discuss, but I'd like to give you a chance to speak first."
He let out a gust of air. "Bella, I was so scared tonight. When I couldn't reach you and I knew you weren't with Lou, I panicked. I don't think I've been that frightened since the night the ranger took you…" He ran both hands through his hair, pulling at it in frustration. "I kept remembering you in that hospital bed bruised and unconscious. I couldn't handle it if something happened to you…" His voice broke and he swallowed hard before looking away. "Then when Rose told me where you were and that you were with Shane, I snapped. I'd imagined the worst, only to find out that you were off enjoying yourself with another man. I was relieved, but I was also angry and irrational, and I'm so sorry for yelling at you baby. There is no excuse for my behavior. Please, please say you'll forgive me."
He looked at me with pleading eyes as he pulled my hand into both of his.
I looked down again, sorry to have caused him so much anguish. "There's nothing to forgive. I deserved your anger Edward. As I explained..."
He shook his head vehemently. "How can you say that? Of course you didn't deserve that. No one deserves that, especially not you."
I drew in a breath and shook my head in response, "Stop doing that."
He looked confused.
"Stop giving me a pass when I screw up. You had every right to be angry with me, plain and simple. But from now on, I want you to be honest about your feelings Edward. Please don't hold back if something I'm doing bothers you. Okay?"
He nodded, looking a bit relieved.
"I tried to ignore the way I felt when you were with Shane. It didn't really bother me until you spent that afternoon with him in the coffee shop." He touched his fingertips lightly to my forearm as he spoke. "I do trust you Bella. I'm not sure that I trust him, but I'll always trust you. Please don't doubt that, no matter how much of an asshole I am."
I nodded and turned to face the table again.
I had yet to take a sip of my coffee. Needing the warmth, I wrapped my hands around the mug as I thought about what I needed to say next. "I was angry with you tonight as well." I spoke just above a whisper.
He frowned, his expression one of remorse.
"When you said that you missed the girl who was afraid of her own shadow, it gutted me Edward."
I heard his sharp intake of breath as he closed his eyes and tilted his head back. "Shit," he muttered through clenched teeth. As soon as he opened his eyes again, he reached for me. "Please Bella, I didn't mean it..."
I let him grasp my arm and looked into his eyes. His look was sad, pleading and filled with regret…
"Edward, I need you to understand that I have no intention of ever being that frightened little girl again. As long as nothing unforeseen happens, I don't think I could ever be that girl again," I explained as tears began to fill my eyes. I looked down at my lap, hoping he wouldn't notice. "You have no idea how much I hated being weak and broken; everyone feeling the need to constantly protect me." A couple of tears fell on my hands where I was wringing them in my lap. "Maybe that's why I rebel against having Lou with me every time I go out. That is selfish of me, and I'm sorry. I promise to keep him with me more often in the future." I sighed. "I just needed you to know how much your words hurt." I sniffled and Edward immediately pulled me from my chair onto his lap.
I buried my face in his shirt as I allowed a few tears to fall. He smelled of bourbon and coffee and Edward. I breathed him in and immediately felt myself begin to calm.
"Bella," his voice was a broken whisper. "I am so sorry. Please believe me. I didn't mean it. I could kick my own ass for being so heartless." He took a shuddering breath, his face nestled in my hair and his arms wrapped tightly around me. "I love my strong, beautiful girl. It was such a fucked up thing to say. You are everything to me baby."
"I feel the same way about you," I whispered.
We sat for a long time, neither of us speaking, as Edward rocked me in his arms.
I finally pulled away in order to look at his face. His eyes were red-rimmed, and he looked exhausted.
"Let's go to bed," I whispered.
Once we were upstairs, under the covers, I let him pull me into his arms. There we lay under the down comforter in our little cocoon of warmth. Eventually, I broke the silence, "I think we just had our first fight as a married couple," I announced in a whispered chuckle.
Edward let out a small laugh. "Maybe we are normal after all?"
"Yeah right," I giggled. "Dream on Mister Movie Star. I don't think we'll ever fit the definition of normal."I told him as we both started to laugh.
I leaned up on my elbow and looked at him as an idea came to me. "You do know what the best part about having a fight is, don't you?"
He quirked an eyebrow and smirked, "Please tell me you're going to say makeup sex?"
I grinned. "Yes, well, at least that's what I heard normal couples do…"
"Well… in our quest for normalcy, I think we should at least give it a try."
I shrugged, "I'm game if you are Mr. Cullen."
I laughed out loud when Edward rolled until he was hovering over me, grinning from ear to ear. He attacked my mouth with his in an urgent kiss. I pulled away to speak, "Wait, do we still have to be mad at each other?"
His eyebrows shot up, "I don't think so. Are you still mad?"
"No, I'm not. Are you?" I asked.
"No baby, of course not." He leaned down to kiss me again. "Well, maybe a little mad at myself, but I'll get over it."
"Hmm," I murmured into his lips. "Ditto…"
-V&V-
"You're going to be perfect," Alice was beaming as she put the finishing touches on my costume. At that very moment, Rosalie emerged from Carlisle and Esme's ensuite, looking every bit a Tudor queen. A very pregnant Tudor queen.
"Are you going to tell me who I'm supposed to be yet?" I asked.
Alice smirked, resembling her brother when she did. "I'm surprised you haven't figured that out yet Swan." I glanced at Esme and Rose who were trying to hide their amusement.
Everyone attending was supposed to base their costume loosely on a character from a movie or television show. Chris and Alice had coordinated the costumes for each couple. Alice and Jasper resembled Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Rose and Emmett were King Henry and Queen Jane, resembling more the characters from the Tudors, rather than the historical figures. Carlisle and Esme were Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood, his true love.
I looked at myself in the mirror and studied the burgundy and black dress. "I don't know who I am supposed to be," I said in a low voice.
"Here, these last two items may clue you in." Alice said before strapping a sword to my waist, and tucking a flintlock pistol into the sash of my dress.
"Okay, now I kind of look like a pirate, but I can't think of a female movie character that fits…"
"Think, Swan." Rose and Esme giggled.
There she goes, calling me by my maiden name again…
She's never done that before…
And then, suddenly it came to me. Swan. As in Elizabeth Swan.
As in, if I'm Elizabeth Swan then my fuckhot husband must be… must be….
"Edward is Captain Jack Sparrow," I said in an awed whisper.
All three women laughed out loud. "Let's just say that his clothing and hair may look like Captain Jack's, but the man is all Edward. I refused to overdo the makeup. It would be a sin to hide Edward's natural gorgeousness like that."
I giggled.
"Besides, in your sexy dream he was just a pirate not Captain Jack right?"
What the fuck?
I realized that I must have said those words out loud when Alice and Esme slapped their hands over their mouths to muffle their laughter.
I turned to glare at Rose who threw her hands up in defense. She had been the only person, outside of Edward who knew about my pirate dream in Barbados. "Hey, that dream was too good to keep to myself."
I crossed my arms over my chest and scowled.
"Oh Bella, smile. We're all letting our hair down and having some fun tonight." Esme soothed. "Believe me honey; I'd be worried if you weren't having sexy dreams about my son."
Could this be any more awkward?
Esme got a wistful look, "He is one beautiful male specimen, just like his father…"
Aw cripes…
"Uh," I paused, "wow, I'm all kinds of uncomfortable right now."
"Sorry Bella, Mom has had a little too much to drink." Alice informed while she and Rose laughed.
"Oh pshaw," Esme said before making her way across the room to her dresser. "I may have had a couple of shots to get into character," she said with a mischievous smile as she checked her reflection in the mirror. Alice moved closer to me and her voice dropped to a whisper, "If you think you're uncomfortable now, just wait until she starts talking about men-o-pause." Alice mouthed the last word, but Esme still caught it.
"Don't make light of something you will have to deal with yourself someday missy." Esme said with a frustrated sigh before taking another sip of her drink. "According to some of my friends, my symptoms aren't too bad. Except for the hot flashes, those are driving me crazy. They seem to be the worst at night." She set her glass down as she continued to talk to our reflections in the mirror. "So, I made it easy on myself and started sleeping naked. The hot flashes aren't much of an issue anymore." She shrugged. "Plus Carlisle's definitely not complaining," she giggled. "He's all about ease of accessibility..."
"Mother!" Alice gasped while Rose guffawed.
Esme laughed and turned to Rose, continuing the conversation in a loud whisper. "Although, he may not have been too keen the other night."
"Why, what happened?"
I reminded myself to smack Rose later for encouraging her.
Esme giggled. "I got up to go to the bathroom, completely disoriented and when I passed the mirror I startled him out of a deep sleep screaming that there was a naked woman in the house."
Rose and Esme both fell apart in laughter as Alice rolled her eyes.
"I think I'll go find Edward," I said, eager for a reason to escape.
Esme's remarks must not have bothered Alice too much, because before I'd set foot through the door she was shouting after me. "Bella, I know you two, you're not allowed to sneak off to Edward's bedroom before eleven o'clock or I'm coming after you."
I grimaced, knowing that with Alice it wasn't a threat, it was a promise.
Edward wasn't in his room as I'd hoped, so I decided to look for him on the main floor. As I rounded the corner of the dimly lit hallway, headed for the stairs, I almost bumped right into a woman with blonde hair walking toward me. "Oh excuse me," I muttered before stepping around her.
"Bella Mia, this costume must be better than I thought," the woman said in a very familiar voice.
"Chris?"
He chuckled. "Yes, it's me. Can you guess my movie character?"
I took a good look at him. Blonde wig, wool sweater, black skirt…
"How in the heck are you able to walk in those heels Christopher? I'd break my neck." I laughed.
"Practice darling, practice."
I pursed my lips as I studied him again. "Are you Ed Wood?"
"Bingo. I'm actually Ed Wood from Glen or Glenda."
I nodded and smiled. "I remember the Johnny Depp movie…"
"Oh honey, no offense to Johnny, but you have to admit that I rock this angora sweater a lot better than he did." We both laughed.
"Have you seen Edward?"
Chris gave me a sly wink. "Why yes I have, and he is hot."
I felt my stomach flutter with excitement at his words, and hoped the day would never come when the thought of Edward wouldn't elicit that response from me.
"Come on Bella, let's go find your man," Chris said as he looped his arm through mine.
We found him with the rest of the men, downstairs having a drink. As soon as I took in what he was wearing, I stopped dead in my tracks.
It was the image from my dream come to life.
Hair to his shoulders,
White ruffled shirt opened just enough to expose the upper part of his chest.
A captain's coat, tight trousers…
Oh my…
The fact that he liked my costume was evident on his face as he made his way over to where I stood in the doorway.
"Like what you see Mrs. Cullen?"
I nodded, still looking at him with wide eyes. "You look just like my dream." I whispered.
He chuckled and pulled me against him before frowning and looking down. "What is that?" He asked as he searched the sash around my waist with his hand, eventually pulling out the pistol from its hiding place.
He swallowed hard. "Wow. You have a gun?" He rasped.
"And a sword," I told him with a grin before pointing to my scabbard.
He replaced the gun and pulled me close again. "Do you have any idea how sexy that is, and how much I want to take you upstairs right now?"
I nodded. "But Alice will kill us."
He grimaced. "I'm aware."
We both sighed. "All right, let's get something to drink, the guests will start to arrive shortly," he said in a reluctant tone.
Most of the guests were around our age, when I asked Edward why that was, he explained that his parents' Halloween parties had actually always been for he and Alice to invite their friends. The tradition had continued even after they moved away. Edward barely invited anyone, but Alice more than made up for it with her long list of friends.
The party was in full swing, and we were laughing and chatting with Chris when his attention was suddenly drawn to the doorway. I looked up to see Shane, in full cowboy regalia, standing there smiling.
"Hold the phone!" Chris exclaimed. "I thought I knew every one of Alice's friends in Seattle." Shane was walking directly toward us, and before I could stop him, Chris blocked his path while offering a hand to shake. "Well hello there handsome. I'm Alice's best friend Christopher Miles, but she's never mentioned you before. The bitch. What's your name so I can doodle it in my journal while I think dirty, dirty thoughts of us together?"
Shane burst into laughter, as did Edward and I. I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that Shane was a good sport, and not offended by Chris being Chris.
"I'm sorry Christopher but I don't know Alice, although Bella and Edward have spoken of her." He shook Chris's hand. "I'm Shane Benedict."
Chris's other hand flew to his throat. "Even his name sounds manly." He leaned in closer to Shane. "Uh, no need to mention what I said about Alice to anyone. Not only is she my best friend, but we also work together. If she finds out that I referred to her as a bitch, well, it could get ugly. Girlfriend can be scary when she's pissed. Not Lindsey Lohan scary, more like the White Witch from Narnia scary..."
We were all shaking with laughter when we heard the tinkling of a familiar soprano behind us. "Oh Christopher, if you are saying rude things about me, you will be watching the next episode of Glee alone."
Chris looked horrified. "But you always watch it with me sweet cheeks."
Alice narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms across her chest.
Chris's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Very well, I'm sorry. It was all a terrible misunderstanding. I thought you'd been holding out on me with Shane here, but come to find out he's Bella and Edward's friend, not yours. And for the record, most of the joy I derive from Glee night springs from the fact that I spend it with you. The entire exercise would be pointless otherwise."
Alice's lips twitched as she tried not to smile before turning to Shane. "I'm Edward's sister Alice, and this is my husband Jasper. Sorry if Christopher said anything inappropriate. We've been working on his tendency to blurt."
As they stood there talking, I pulled Edward down in order to whisper in his ear. "Who invited Shane?"
Edward smiled brightly. "I did. I felt like an absolute dick for my jealousy and I hate the fact that you've been avoiding him because of me. I've spent some time with him on set this week and have learned firsthand that he's a great guy. I can understand why you like him so much."
I smiled back at him.
"He told me that one of his brothers lives in New Orleans, he's hoping to introduce us while we're there." Edward wrapped his arms tighter around me. "You were right, he's lonely. He mentioned that he's usually very slow to make a friend, that's why he is amazed at how quickly he hit it off with you. But I believe now that he's not interested in being more than friends with you."
I hugged Edward and whispered, "Thank you for inviting him."
"My pleasure my love."
Gah, he makes one fuckhot pirate!
Who am I kidding? He makes a fuckhot anything…
"So Shane, great costume," Edward remarked once we rejoined the conversation.
Shane laughed. "Edward, I'm from Oklahoma. I already had all this stuff. Came in handy though, I must admit." He said with a wink as he took a sip of his beer.
After a few more minutes of Chris openly flirting with Shane, Alice was able to drag him away.
"Christopher honey, I'm going to need you to come with me now." Alice coaxed as she gently tugged on his arm. "I want you there when I have to say hello to Deirdre."
"Alice," he hissed. "I don't understand how you remain friends with that woman, she's a horrible gossip, she misses her lips every time she attempts to apply lipstick and don't even get me started on that creepy husband of hers, not only does he have that awful comb over, but he leers at you." Chris continued to babble in a whisper. Alice flashed us a brilliant smile as she led him away.
Jasper had been standing with us eyeing the entire exchange with an amused smile.
"Aren't you going with them Jasper?" I asked.
"When they're like that, I've found that it's best that I stay far away," he answered with a grimace.
"Wow," Shane laughed then. "That Chris is something else."
Edward nodded. "Yeah, he's a good friend. I hope he didn't bother you."
"No, not at all." Shane said, still smiling.
Not knowing any of Alice's friends, I was grateful that Edward stayed by my side for the entire evening. When some of the guests found out that Shane was the author of Enemy Combatant, he was immediately pulled into a group of fans eager to chat with him. I noticed that a couple of the women used the opportunity to flirt.
I chuckled as we drifted away from the crowd and Edward pulled me into his arms.
"What are you smiling about?" He practically purred in my ear.
"I'm happy that none of the women here have openly flirted with you."
Edward grunted out a laugh. "Believe me; they're very subtle, they don't want Alice to kick their asses."
I was shocked. "You mean someone has flirted with you?"
"Two someones," he whispered.
I frowned.
"Bella, it's something I deal with on a daily basis. I pay no attention, believe me. I have noticed that when you're with me they give up a lot sooner. I think seeing firsthand how madly in love I am with you can be quite intimidating." He gave me a beautiful crooked smile.
"Now you're teasing me."
"No, I'm not. You're beautiful and sexy and I am completely smitten Mrs. Cullen."
"Is it eleven o'clock yet?"
"Almost," he breathed as he held me. "Believe me; I'm watching the clock like a hawk. We have some bedroom defiling to accomplish if I remember correctly."
"I'm really glad that your Mom insisted we stay the night."
Edward smiled.
"Well, it would seem that you never can believe what you read in the gossip rags," a male voice sounded from behind us. "Every other week, they announce that you two are breaking up."
Edward turned with a smile. "Hello Stuart."
"Hey Edward, how's it going."
I turned to see a man with a pleasant face smiling at us. Edward made the introductions, and explained that Stuart was a friend to both he and Alice.
We chatted about the usual for a few minutes until Stuart said something that got my attention. "Edward, has anyone mentioned getting phone calls from a reporter asking about you?"
I felt Edward's body go rigid. "No, have you?"
Stuart shook his head. "Not me, but a couple of people from your class in high school have. I ran into Blake Thomson the other day, he said he'd gotten a phone call asking about you and so did Denny Taylor."
Edward was quiet for a minute.
"Sorry man, maybe I shouldn't have said anything."
"No, no, I'm glad you told me. I'll have someone check into it. Thanks Stuart."
"No problem."
Fortunately, Edward didn't have time to dwell on this information because our attention was drawn away at that very moment by a familiar tune:
It's astounding;
Time is fleeting;
Madness takes its toll.
But listen closely...
Not for very much longer.
We turned to watch as Esme, Emmett and Rose began leading the rest of the guests in a flawless performance of 'Let's Do The Time Warp'.
I've got to keep control.
I remember doing the time-warp
Drinking those moments when
The Blackness would hit me
And the void would be calling...
Let's do the time-warp again.
Let's do the time-warp again.
It's just a jump to the left.
And then a step to the right.
We laughed as the guests lined up and danced like 'Transylvanians'.
"Edward," I whispered.
"It's almost eleven."
It's so dreamy, oh fantasy free me.
So you can't see me, no, not at all.
In another dimension, with
voyeuristic intention,
Well secluded, I see all.
With a bit of a mind flip
You're into the time slip.
And nothing can ever be the same.
You're spaced out on sensation.
Like you're under sedation.
"Let's go," Edward leaned down to whisper.
Let's do the time-warp again.
Let's do the time-warp again.
Then, similar to Brad and Janet in the movie, Edward and I walked backwards to the doorway. Thankfully there was no Dr. Frank-n-Furter lurking around the corner waiting to surprise us, so we were able to make it to Edward's room without incident.
I was fairly tipsy and a little giddy as I watched him walk over to the bed and turn on the side light. After that, he walked back over and reached behind me, shutting off the overhead light and locking the door.
He's way sexier than Johnny in that costume.
"Thank you for the compliment Mrs. Cullen and, for the record, I think you're much sexier that Keira Knightley."
"Uh…I guess I said that out loud."
Damn it. I've got to stop doing that.
He laughed. "Yes, you did." he said as he came up behind me and began to run his hands across the bare skin of my arms.
I walked casually away from his touch and made of show of seeming to tour the room. As I walked past his dresser, skimming my fingertips along the top, I spoke. "Hmm, let's go back a few years and pretend all the awful stuff never happened. If you'd met me in high school, I wonder what you would have thought of me."
I quirked my head to the side as I waited for a response.
He smiled crookedly. "Baby, if I'd have met you in high school, Charlie probably would have shot me because I would have become your stalker."
"Really?"
"Without a doubt. If I had asked you out, and you had turned me down, I don't think I would have ever recovered." He said theatrically with his hand over his heart. "But I would have haunted your every waking moment."
I laughed. "I thought you had a girlfriend."
He smirked. "Sorry to admit this, but I'd have dropped Meaghan in a New York minute once I met you. I like to think I'd have been a gentleman about it but…probably not." He grinned mischievously.
Gah, why do I love that he just said that?
"I know what I feel, what I have felt since the moment I met you. It was and is all-consuming Bella." As he spoke, he moved closer until I could feel his warm breath on my face. "Thankfully, I'm a grown man and was able to keep my urges somewhat in check, but my hormonal teenage self probably would have acted on impulse, hence the real possibility of getting shot by your father."
I laughed again. "So tell me more about this hormonal teen age boy," I asked as I traced the bare skin of his chest with my finger.
Edward blew out a gust of air.
"I suppose he was like most normal teenagers." Edward whispered into my ear before taking the lobe gently between his teeth."
"Mmm, there's that word again."
"Hmm?"
"Normal."
He chuckled.
"So tell me, did you have posters of your female obsessions all over your walls?"
He shook his head. "Nope. Mom removed them, the only posters gracing my walls were from Fight Club, and one of Kim Basinger from 9 1/2 Weeks that was kind of sexy."
As he talked, he pulled the pistol from my waistband and removed the sword, setting it aside. "Kim Basinger huh?"
"Actually, I was a Mickey Rourke fan."
"Sure you were."
"I was," he defended as he threw his wig on the floor and removed his jacket.
I pursed my lips and looked around the room. "Where'd you hide your porn?"
Why the hell did I just ask that?
Edward blurted out a laugh. "You are so unexpected Isabella."
"Don't try to tell me you didn't own any porn Edward, because I…"
He cut me off. "I didn't say that I didn't have any, I just didn't expect the question." He tilted his head toward the closet. "I kept that kind of stuff in the back of my closet."
"Hidden?"
He shrugged. "Not necessarily. My Mom wasn't a big snooper. If she ever suspected I was on drugs or anything like that, I'm sure she would have morphed into a bloodhound, but porn? Eh, I don't think she cared."
The whole time he was speaking, his fingers were working to remove my costume, until I was standing there in nothing but a black corset and panties.
"Holy Mother of…" Edward's eyes opened wide as he took me in.
"You like?" I asked as I did a little twirl.
He pulled me against him. "I think it would be safe to say that, yes."
I was feeling bold, so I reached down and felt his erection through front of his trousers. "Ohh it seems the Captain approves as well."
Edward smirked. "Captain?"
"I think that's appropriate when you're dressed as a pirate." I said as I gave him a little squeeze.
"Oh God Bella, you are going to be the death of me." He groaned as he attached his lips to my neck.
In the end, we decided to defile the ensuite first with a round of bathtub sex. After that, and a little recovery time, we defiled Edward's old bed.
As we lay in each other's' arms drifting off to sleep, Edward turned and kissed my forehead and chuckled low in his throat. "Whasso funny?" I asked, half-asleep already.
"Thanks for the new memories Mrs. Cullen. Before you, the only action these four walls witnessed were my teenage rounds of 'self-love'."
That woke me up. "Edward! You dirty boy." I giggled. "What's with you and your Mom? You're both on a roll with the 'over sharing' tonight."
Edward groaned. "What's she said now? Wait, on second thought, I don't want to know."
I shook my head. "Trust me, you don't." I whispered as I felt myself relaxing into sleep once again. I lay there for a while before feeling the urge to speak again, "Edward…"
"Hmm?"
"Have you ever known your Mom to sleepwalk?" I slurred out.
"No, not that I remember."
"That's good," I breathed. "But just in case, you may not want to venture out of this room until daylight…" I said before yawning loudly.
"Bella?"
"Huh?"
"Promise me that if I ever ask why you said that, you won't tell me."
"Okay."
-V&V—
"Baby, I cannot wait to experience New Orleans with you." Edward told me on the plane. "I think you're going to love it."
I hoped.
Edward's schedule for New Orleans wasn't grueling. There were specific shoot locations reserved for very specific times. This meant that we'd be able to spend almost every evening together.
Our suite at the Hotel Monteleone was beautiful. The best part was that it was located in the French Quarter, so while Edward worked, I used that time to explore.
The sights and even the smells, which I'll admit were sometimes suspect, brought about a flurry of creativity, and I found myself writing for at least a couple of hours every afternoon. Sometimes I would wake up in the wee hours of the morning with a story line in my head, and have to write it down immediately, and so it was that Edward found me more times than not, typing away on my laptop in our sitting room.
We went out to dinner each evening, but we were rarely alone. Instead, we would dine with other members of the cast and crew. One evening during the first week there, we went out with Shane and got to meet his brother Ethan, who lived in New Orleans.
Ethan and Shane had similar features, but Ethan was a bear of a man, built more like my brother than Shane who was on the lanky side. Their personalities were also very different. Ethan was outgoing whereas Shane was quiet and contemplative.
After dinner, we decided to go to a club because neither Edward nor Shane had to be on set the next day. I watched in fascination as woman after woman approached our table asking Ethan to dance. He never turned them down. Not once.
Shane laughed as we watched him. "This happens any time I go out with him. He's always been a very approachable guy."
"I'm just thankful they're asking him and not Edward." I admitted.
Edward grinned and kissed the side of my head. "As if I'd dance with anyone other than you my love."
Shane grinned at us and shook his head.
The next day, we did something you can only really enjoy in a place like New Orleans. We went on a cemetery tour.
"Is it weird that we have visited a lot of cemeteries together?"
L.A., Forks, Oxford, now New Orleans….
"I can see where some might view that as strange, yes." Edward was grinning. "But honestly there have always been specific reasons for our visits."
I shrugged. "I guess."
The cemeteries in New Orleans were beyond fascinating. I knew my jaw dropped more than once at the extravagance and craftsmanship that went into some of the mausoleums.
After I creeped myself out thinking about what kind of gravestone I wanted, I informed Edward that I'd had enough. Instead of going back to our room however, I coaxed him into visiting a wax museum.
"You love these places don't you?"
I grinned. "I guess I do. Maybe the thrill is that I find them a bit frightening. The five year old girl inside me is always just a little apprehensive, convinced that the figures will come to life." I giggled.
Edward pulled me close as we watched the history of New Orleans unfold in wax. "Don't worry, I'll protect you baby." He chuckled.
And somehow, I knew he always would.
The next day I visited Edward on set. When it looked as if he wouldn't get a lunch break for quite a while, he virtually twisted my arm to go have a bite with Shane. Since arriving in New Orleans, we'd discussed again my friendship with Shane, and Edward had insisted that he was no longer jealous.
I acquiesced to having lunch, but made sure we ate in the catering tent rather than somewhere off set.
The paps were everywhere, and I had no desire to give them their 'money shot' this week.
"Oh my God, this is delicious," I muttered as I dug into my jambalaya.
Shane nodded. "I try not to eat on set too often. I'm certain I'd gain weight if I did."
We ate in comfortable silence after that, until Shane began to speak. "Bella, can I ask you something?"
I nodded.
"What's your friend Chris's story?"
"Well…" I gave him a confused look. "I'm not sure what you mean."
Shane frowned. "I realize he was flirting with me, but I couldn't tell if he was serious. Is he in a relationship?"
"Ah…" I hesitated and stared at Shane. Then the pieces began to fit together. Shane had no girlfriend. He'd had a mysterious 'falling out' with his family, he'd never been married. I didn't know why it had never occurred to me before…
"Um, Shane?"
"Yes?"
"If I ask you a question, will you give me an honest answer, knowing that I will keep the information to myself? I mean, I won't even tell Edward if you don't want me to…"
He smiled, amused. "What is it Bella?"
"Are you gay?" I whispered.
Shane burst out laughing. "You think that's why I'm asking about Chris?"
I nodded, and he laughed again.
"I'm sorry Bella. I probably should have told you this story a long time ago, but I didn't want to do so without my brother's permission."
I shot him another confused look.
"I need to fill you in on some of the missing pieces of my past. It will hopefully explain a lot."
His tone became so serious in an instant, that I stopped eating and gave him my full attention. "Ethan has always been the star of the family. My older brother Cole and I were the quiet, studious ones, whereas Ethan was, well you met him, he just naturally draws people to him. Always has."
"He is kind, thoughtful and good to the core. Even if he wasn't my brother, I would be fortunate to have him as a friend. I think people can't help but to like him." Shane chuckled. "You should have seen how the girls chased him in high school. He always had a group of them following him around, wanting to be 'the one'."
"He would go out on dates, but never had what we'd label a 'serious' girlfriend. Soon after he graduated from college a couple of years ago, he sat down with my parents and confided in them that he was gay." Shane rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. "To be honest, I'd suspected for a couple of years, but assumed he'd tell me when he was ready. A few days before he told our parents, he confided in me and Cole. We held out hope that our parents would see beyond their prejudices and remember that this was their son; the boy they loved with all their hearts."
Shane looked down at the table. "They didn't," he said in a forced whisper.
"I'm so sorry," I told him.
He nodded, still looking down as he continued. "All my worst fears were realized that day. My father said things to Ethan that I wouldn't have said to my worst enemy Bella. My mother just sat there crying, I know she didn't agree with Dad, but she refused to go against him."
"Cole and I just want Ethan to be happy. Cole has a wife and kids and lives near our parents, so he refuses to break with them over this. I don't look at it quite the same way. Maybe it's because I've always been protective of my little brother," he chuckled. "When you look at the size of him, that's hard to imagine, but I couldn't let Ethan go through that alone. I told Mom and Dad that I'd be back as soon as they welcomed Ethan back. I'm still waiting. I haven't set foot in their house since."
"Wow," it was a pitiful response, but all I could muster at that moment.
Shane sighed. "There's more," he said in a pained voice. "I had a girlfriend at the time. Lizzie."
"We had dated for a couple of years before moving in together. I had plans to propose, I even had the ring; I was just waiting for the right moment. As it turned out, that moment never arrived." He shook his head as if he still couldn't believe what he was about to confide. "You think you know someone…."
He looked up from the table and into my eyes. "It turned out that I didn't know Lizzie at all. Before all of this happened, she had adored Ethan and the rest of my family, as they adored her, but after Ethan's admission, she changed. She never came out and said that she agreed with my parents, but she made it clear that she didn't think I should break with them over it. She pressured me subtly for weeks to make amends. When I refused, she became angry. I still loved her, so I decided to give her some time to make her peace with my decision."
"At Christmas that year Ethan, who was living about two hours away from St. Louis, was supposed to drive up to spend the holiday with us. A couple of days before however, Lizzie informed me that Ethan phoned to cancel because he was going skiing with some friends. I was surprised, but part of me was glad. You see he'd been in a pretty severe depression since the incident with my parents, and I saw the ski trip as a step in the right direction."
Shane chuckled bitterly. "When I arrived home from work the next evening, Lizzie had our suitcases packed, insisting that we use this opportunity to drive to Oklahoma and patch things up with my parents. When I refused, she became livid. That's when I found out that Ethan hadn't gone anywhere. She had phoned him to cancel, telling him that we were going to spend Christmas with my parents. After that, everything she'd been thinking and feeling for the previous few months began to spill out of her. Yes, she had loved Ethan as a brother, but his homosexuality was an 'embarrassment' and she was terrified that he would bring other 'gays' around our friends and her family. She didn't want to be humiliated or have to explain his lifestyle to them, so she thought it better to disassociate ourselves from him as soon as possible."
"I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I argued with her, calling her heartless and informing her that she obviously didn't know my brother at all. I tried to call Ethan immediately, but he wouldn't pick up. The thing I couldn't wrap my head around was why Lizzie would purposely make him believe I'd abandoned him when she knew very well how fragile he was. I asked her as much, and she said that he was obviously sick and in need of professional help, and if he attempted something drastic, that would merely serve to prove her point."
"Bella, I have never wanted to hit a woman before, but I wanted to hit her that day."
"Oh Shane." My heart was breaking for my friend, and even though I'd met Ethan and knew he was fine, I needed to hear the rest of the story.
"I grabbed my suitcase and drove straight to Ethan's, phoning him the entire way. He was in a pitiful state when I arrived, not having eaten for a couple of days, but he'd been drinking quite heavily. I got him cleaned up and forced him to eat." Shane rubbed his hands over his face. "Needless to say, that was the end of my relationship with Lizzie."
"It's been almost two years since our breakup, which to some probably seems like a long time, but not to me. I recently heard from a mutual friend that Lizzie's engaged." He shook his head in disgust.
"About a year ago, Ethan's company transferred him to New Orleans. Currently, I'm on a leave of absence because of the film, but I've been seriously considering quitting my job and moving here to be closer to him, especially now that the publishers want me to turn Enemy Combatant into a series."
"Oh wow." I said. "I wonder if it that means a series of films as well."
"That will depend on how profitable the first one is." Edward replied.
I turned in surprise to find him standing near our table, a sandwich and drink in his hands. "Sorry Shane and Bella, I couldn't help but overhear the last part of your conversation. It wasn't intentional, I assure you." He said as he took a seat beside me and gave me a chaste kiss.
"That's alright Edward. How much did you hear?"
"Um, enough to say that I've been where you are Shane. Hurt, damaged, and mistrusting of the world. Just don't give up. Not all women are like Lizzie. The day I met Bella changed my entire perspective and the rest of my life."
"For the better I hope." I said with a cheeky grin.
"For the better," he smiled back, "Absolutely."
-V&V—
"As it turns out, Shane has this really handsome younger brother and…"
"Bella, why are you noticing other men?" Alice scolded as we drank our champagne, earning a laugh from our husbands.
Edward and I had flown up to Chicago that morning for his cousin Claire's wedding, and were now spending time with Edward's family before flying back to New Orleans the next day.
"Just shut up and listen," I snapped. "I need to find a way for him to meet Chris."
"Oh," she paused. "Ohhhh!"
"Now you understand?"
"A huh. So how do we get them to meet?"
"I don't know. I want to invite Shane and Ethan to Seattle for Christmas."
"Okay. Hmm. I know Shane is a nice and all, but you know how important Christopher is to me. I'll not willingly be the cause of him getting hurt again. What do you really think of this Ethan person?"
"Alice, you know we love Chris and want to see him happy. Believe me, if Ethan were anything short of wonderful, I'd never consider playing matchmaker. But he is wonderful. He's kind and considerate, but also a lot of fun. Most importantly, he's single. What he's gone through at the hands of his parents because of his orientation is heartbreaking."
"Oh no," she whispered. "I've always told Chris that he is lucky to have the family he does."
"At least Ethan has Shane. He refused to abandon him and neither of them have contact with their parents now."
Alice sighed. "What is wrong with people? I guess Shane's parents are like so many others who are only capable of loving their child as long as they fit into a certain mold. It's awful." She sighed. "Well, if nothing else, we'll all make a new friend right?"
"Exactly."
"Bella let me see what I can arrange, and you work on having Shane and his brother commit to Seattle for Christmas."
"Will do." We smiled and tapped our glasses together in triumph before draining them.
Edward and Jasper simply smiled and shook their heads. I could tell that they weren't thrilled by our matchmaking.
"Stop judging," I told Edward.
"I didn't say a word," he defended. "I simply hope you keep in mind that Chris is still hurting and it sounds as if Ethan's not in the greatest shape either. Not to mention the fact that they live in different parts of the country…"
"Hey," I held my hands up defensively. "I'm not doing anything other than inviting a couple of friends to spend Christmas in Seattle. If one friend happens to meet another friend while there and they hit it off….well I would say that was meant to be, wouldn't you?" I grinned.
"Edward, I think you and I are out of our element here. The best thing to do is stand back and let the professionals handle this." Jasper added with a chuckle.
"Smart boy," Alice said before kissing him lightly.
-V&V—
'I know for a fact that Edward never laid a hand on her. She told him that she wasn't ready to have a physical relationship. Being the decent guy he was, he respected that. We found out later that the entire time she was supposedly dating Edward, *beep* was seeing some older guy behind his back.'
My eyes were glued to the screen, taking in the bits and pieces of the interview which was certain to send our lives into chaos.
Rose had phoned a short time before, alerting me to the fact that Victor James had tracked down a couple of Edward's old classmates and done a 'no holds barred' interview with them. He'd discovered the details of Edward's false arrest and was planning to air an hour-long special the next week. It seemed that even Jessica had gotten in the act, volunteering all of the information she'd gathered while researching Edward's past.
My stomach churned as I worried how my husband would react.
He was obviously too busy to phone me, but I did get a text which gave me a little insight to his current state of mind.
B-
The attorneys are already on it. Wish you were here. Really fucking need you
-E
Those words were enough to send me into action. I contacted Lou before grabbing my purse and jacket. He met me just outside the door to my suite.
I knew they were filming in Jackson Square, so Lou escorted me to Edward's trailer about a block away from the set. I shot a quick text to Alec and was informed that they were almost done with the first scene, so Edward was due for a break soon.
When he first entered the trailer, Edward's face was a blank, it was the expression he wore quite often, the one behind which he hid all emotion. I knew he'd just run the gauntlet of reporters, eager to get a sound byte, but they would remain disappointed because my husband was not going to yield.
As soon as he saw me, the façade cracked and everything he was feeling inside bubbled to the surface and flashed across that perfect face.
Sorrow, anger, worry, vulnerability…
I pulled him to me without a word and wrapped my arms around him. He buried his face in my hair and breathed deeply before he spoke. "How do you do that?"
"What?"
"I was so fucking angry Bella, but then I saw you. With one touch, you were able to calm me."
"You need to be calm and rational Edward. It's the only way to get through this. Victor James would like nothing more than for you to lose your temper in public."
He nodded before pulling back and giving me a hard look. "Are you okay?"
"Of course." I said softly. "However, I am worried about you. I know you never wanted any of this made public."
He nodded.
"But knowing you as I do, that part probably doesn't bother you as much as having to relive the hell you went through." I stroked his cheek with my hand.
"Yeah, I don't give a shit who knows what happened. I'm innocent of any wrongdoing, and if James tries to imply otherwise I'll haul his ass to court."
"The past is over and done, and I'm happy now. I just want to be free to turn on the damned television and not have to hear a painful incident from my past discussed as if they were rehashing the football scores from the night before." He said bitterly. "Bella, I hate the fact that there are people like Victor James out there; people with boundless ambition, but no heart or soul to go along with it. He will not be satisfied until he has exposed every secret, every misstep and every embarrassment from my past. If the record of my arrest is made public, there will be some who will believe the worst."
"Edward, those people were the ones who never liked you in the first place. Don't you see? Mark my words; this will backfire on Victor James. The public will be on your side. You were a seventeen year old victim of a deceitful girl and an inept police department."
-V&V—
"Better?"
I asked as I rocked against Edward where we sat, wrapped around each other in our bed at the Monteleone. Edward leaned his forehead against mine and stroked my nose with his as our breathing calmed.
"Much. Let's stay in bed all day tomorrow," he whispered.
The added stress of the paps and their relentless questions regarding Edward's false arrest had made the last few days of our stay in New Orleans rather difficult.
I thought about his suggestion. "Um, I'm pretty sure that Clint would send someone after you. You have to be on set rather early if I remember correctly."
The Victor James special was due to air in two days' time. The previews he had released had prompted a couple of legitimate news organizations to do some investigating of their own, and the truth of what they discovered was fast becoming public knowledge.
We'd received nothing but support from the general public, which aided in improving Edward's mood considerably.
-V&V—
"All I can say is that you and Edward have the strangest luck," Rose sounded over the phone. "The same day that a scandalous report is due to air about Edward's past, the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton is announced." She laughed.
I smiled at the surprising turn of events.
"So you think this will affect the amount of coverage Victor's report will receive?"
"He never stood a very good chance of turning anyone against Edward, now his chances will be even less." She said. "Every legitimate network is scrambling to find out about the 'royal fiancée', they won't be paying attention to this story for a while, but I predict that when they do, Victor James and his motives will be seriously called into question."
"Relax Bella, this is good news."
It turned out that Rosalie was right. Once the public got over the initial shock of finding out the details of Edward's tragic arrest and suicide attempt, it only served to make people love him more.
Our story was dissected by television psychologists who explained that our mutual tragic pasts would have fueled a deep understanding of one another. That understanding, coupled with the love we felt, formed the basis for an incredibly strong union.
Duh.
Tell me something I don't already know
Although we had the public's support, this was still an exceptionally difficult time for Edward. The constant barrage of questions from reporters every time we ventured out was taking its toll. Even the words of encouragement from well-wishers seemed to grate on his nerves. There were days that I could tell he was holding onto his sanity by the thinnest of threads.
I did whatever I could to help. When he wasn't working, and made it clear that he wanted to hide in the privacy of our hotel suite, I didn't try to change his mind. I stayed close to him, letting him know with both my words and my actions that we were in this together. I gave him whatever part of me he needed at the moment, whether it was a friend, a lover, or simply the person willing to provide a swift kick in the butt when he was wallowing in self-pity.
By the time we returned home to Seattle for Thanksgiving, his mood had leveled out, and he wasn't as prone to fly off the handle at the mere mention of Victor James's name.
-V&V—
"Happy birthday brother bear," I practically sang into the phone line.
"Thanks Sissy," Emmett responded with a laugh. "Are you on your way home?"
"We're actually in Denver at the moment. We've got over an hour layover here and should arrive in Seattle about nine o'clock tonight."
"It'll be good to see you again."
"I've missed everyone. Are you going out to celebrate tonight?"
"Nah. I want Rose to rest. She's been working so hard at the new job that I've been making her take it easy when she comes home. Can you believe we only have another month?"
I grinned. "Oh Emmett, isn't it exciting?"
"Yes, and pretty scary too Bells. I hope I don't screw up the whole parenthood thing."
"You'll be a great Dad."
"You really think so?"
"I know so. Besides, you had a great role model. Dad's the best."
"Can't argue with that," I could hear the smile in his voice.
I sighed. "Sorry I'm not there to have birthday cake with you."
"That's okay Sissy. I'll see you soon. Love you."
"Love you too Em."
-V&V—
Esme and Carlisle were kind enough to invite all of us, including Charlie and Suzanne, to their home for Thanksgiving dinner.
As I gazed around the table at my family, I felt a deep sense of peace and belonging which I'd only ever felt with Dad, Rose and Emmett.
Thanksgiving.
"What are you thinking about sweetheart?" Edward whispered; his lips against my temple.
"Of the many reasons I have to be thankful."
-V&V-
I found my Dad sitting quietly after dinner while the rest of the men were playing pool. "You don't want to play?"
He shook his head. "You're not helping with the clean up?"
"I was, but Esme told me I'd done enough and kicked me out," I replied with a smile. It was true enough. Esme and I had cooked almost the entire dinner, so she felt it only fair that I not have to clean up as well.
I hesitated where I stood, thinking that maybe Dad wanted to be alone, when he gestured to the space beside him on the sofa. "Have a seat Bells."
Dad had been unusually quiet during dinner, and I knew something was on his mind. "Dad what's going on?" I always found that the direct approach was best when dealing with Charlie.
He laughed. "You are so much like me that it's scary."
I grinned back. "I know you've got something on your mind Dad, so spill."
He sighed and grasped his chin with his hand. "You like Suzanne don't you?"
"I think she's great." I answered honestly. "She's exactly right for you."
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Yeah, I kind of thought that too. But…"
I frowned. "But?"
He blew out a breath. "I really care for her, more than care for her." He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "But Suzanne, well, she's looking for something permanent." He looked directly into my eyes when he said the word, no doubt waiting for a reaction.
I shrugged. "Okay; so propose already."
He looked surprised. "You're okay with that?"
"Dad, I married Edward less than eight months after we'd met." I scooted close to him and looped my arm through his. "When it's right, you just know."
He frowned again. "I'd like something permanent with her, but after what happened with you mother, I can't help but worry…"
"Dad, Suzanne's not Mom."
"I know."
I took a deep breath, resolving to tell my Dad what he needed to hear. "Dad, I never told you about the day Mom died."
I felt his body go rigid beside me. "Bells, you don't need to tell me about that honey…"
I cut him off. "No, not about her death, about the time we spent together earlier that day." I looked into his eyes, they were sad but accepting. "It's almost as if we knew it would be our last day together," I whispered. "Mom talked about her childhood, her sisters, her parents. She confided that her greatest accomplishments were Emmett and me."
Charlie gave me a wistful smile.
I hugged his arm tighter. "Then she began to cry, saying how sorry she was for ever leaving you. She called it the worst mistake of her life." I looked away from my Dad, unable to look at his face. "She admitted that she loved Phil, but she said she'd always regret what she did to our family."
Charlie sniffled, and I didn't dare look up at his face. I could handle a lot of things, but if I saw my father cry, I was sure to fall apart on the spot.
"Thanks Bells," he whispered before kissing the top of my head.
-V&V—
Two days after Thanksgiving, we were on a plane again, this time bound for D.C. Edward would be filming there for a few days before going to New York for more filming and to attend the first premiere of The Harvest of Avarice.
After that, his calendar was packed with interviews and premieres taking us almost all the way until Christmas.
"Alice and Jasper are going to join us in New York," I told Rose as Lou and I rode to the set. Ever since the story of Edward's past had surfaced, I'd kept Lou close. The paps were relentless, always hoping that Edward or I would crack and respond to their questions.
"Your schedule is crazy Bells, please stay safe. I hope you make it back in time for the baby's arrival."
"Rosalie, I hereby forbid you from going into labor until I'm back in Seattle. If you do go early, promise you'll call me so I can be on the first flight back." I said in a pleading tone.
Rose chuckled. "I will. I promise."
"Rose, I gotta go, we're almost to the set. Love you."
"Love you Bells."
As we neared the security line set up around the film location, the paps that were stationed on the perimeter saw us and rushed straight for Lou and me, their movements a little more frantic than usual.
'Bella, when were you notified that Edward was hurt?'
'Is that why you're here?'
What?
'Bella, how badly is Edward injured?'
My heart clenched as all the breath left my body at once. I turned to Lou, bewildered and afraid. He frowned as he shook his head and shrugged, obviously not knowing any more than I did at that moment.
'Is Edward conscious? Have you spoken with him?'
Oh God.
I felt Lou pull me hard against his side and push through the crowd of reporters. Once on set, I never felt my feet touch the ground as we made our way past countless crew members, each one glancing my way with sympathetic eyes.
Even though I was aware that we were moving swiftly toward the center of the commotion, it seemed to take an eternity. My mind reeled with the possibility of what I would find once I got there…
Edward hurt…
No, I can't...
Possibly unconscious…
Please God, no…
Bleeding…
An involuntary sob escaped my throat as I raised my eyes above the crowd ahead and saw the flashing lights of the ambulance shining like a beacon in the distance. The world around me went into slow motion as I staggered toward it, and all I could see before my mind's eye was the look on Edward's face as he kissed me goodbye that morning and told me that he loved me.
*****A/N****
A/N So, one more chap and this story is done. Not to worry, a sequel is in the works.
A lot of important events were covered in this chapter. I also managed to move the story forward more than I am usually capable of doing. LRM will contain a lot of scenes that weren't included in this ….we have to let Edward have SOME of the fun (and lemons).
No comments:
Post a Comment