Hello everyone :) So I've kinda broken a rule by updating without finishing the current chapter I'm on :S But it's all good, I'm just about halfway through it so don't panic! Plus I'm currently writing chapter 12/13 so there's no fear of not having any material to post yet. Tomorrow is my final law school exam so some reviews would be a great treat to come home to ;)

Disclaimer: Stephenie's creation, my artistic licence ;)

Jasper and I were having a great time in Chicago; Emmett and Rosalie kept their promise by showing us around the 'Windy City'. We oohed and aahed at the array of tropical fish at the Shedd Aquarium, took in the spectacular views from the observatory of the Sears Tower Skydeck, and watched the water show at Buckingham Fountain. We were having lunch at a diner on the Navy Pier when Jasper returned from a phone call.

'That was Edward,' he said as he sat back next to me in the booth. 'He's got some news and he's inviting us all to dinner tonight at his place.'

'Wow, I didn't know Edward knew how to cook,' I said, surprised. Emmett snickered.

'He doesn't. The last time he tried to cook anything, he had to move apartments. He'll probably order takeout or get my mom to drop something by.'

Yeah, that sounded more like Edward. Liz was a fantastic cook but Edward didn't have the patience to sit and watch while she taught me the tricks of the trade.

'What's the news?' asked Rosalie.

'He didn't give any clues,' Jasper replied. 'Just that he needed to tell us before tomorrow. I just don't know how I'm going to fit dinner in after eating a hamburger the size of my face,' he remarked, pointing to the remnants of his meal.

I spent the rest of lunch pondering over what the news might be. The last thing Edward needed after bad news was more bad news to follow it.

'Hey guys, welcome to my place!' greeted Edward as he let us into his apartment that evening. He looked gorgeous as ever in khaki pants and an emerald button down that brought out the colour of his eyes.

Edward's apartment didn't look much different from my memory of his bedroom back in Forks. Everything was crisp, modern and organized, the left wall of his sitting area fitted with shelves to host his amazing book and CD collection. The colour scheme was monochrome with different shades of grey, and much of the furniture was made from glass apart from the couch, of course.

'Nice place Edward,' I said in compliment. 'Did you decorate it?'

'Oh no, that was Esme. She used to work for an interior design company. I gave her a picture of my old bedroom back in Forks and she created a theme for this place. Suits me really well, don't you think?'

'Definitely,' I agreed, admiring the black and white photography that decorated one of the walls. 'I will have to ask her to come and decorate my apartment too.'

'You don't want to give my mom anymore projects, trust me,' warned Emmett. 'She'll drive you crazy with them.'

'Sounds a lot like my sister in law,' I joked, nudging Jasper.

'I got us all Chinese tonight, hope that's okay,' Edward announced. Emmett and I exchanged a sly look; he was right about the takeout.

Once the dining table was laden with chow mein, sweet and sour chicken and beef in black bean sauce, Edward decided to break the news to us.

'So, you're probably wondering why you're all here.'

'Funnily enough, yes we are,' Rosalie replied sarcastically. 'Care to enlighten us?'

'Well, I asked Jenks, one of the guys from the probate department at the firm, if he would be the executor for Mom's will. I was originally named as the executor but I didn't really feel up to dealing with it.'

'That's understandable,' Emmett agreed. 'So, you want us to be there for moral support, right?'

'Well, there's that…and apparently you've all been mentioned in the will too,' Edward continued.

'Whoa! We've hit the jackpot, babe!' Emmett exclaimed. Rosalie responded with a slap to the arm.

'So when's the reading, Edward?' questioned Jasper.

'It's tomorrow, actually.'

'Well, looks like we'll have to change our plans for a different day, before you guys head on back to Seattle,' mused Rosalie.

'How comes you haven't joined us Edward? I'm sure you can drag yourself away from the office for one day and play tour guide,' said Jasper.

'Edward and time off are not two words you would use in a sentence,' teased Emmett. 'He practically spends all his time on his deadlines. I'm surprised he's not a district judge yet! Not to mention it's affecting his dating potential.'

'Really? I wouldn't think Edward would have trouble getting dates,' I snorted.

Edward looked at me curiously. 'What makes you say that, Bella?'

'Oh come on, you must know how you dazzle people.'

'Dazzle people?' Edward asked in amusement. 'That's a new one.'

'Trust me, Bella,' Emmett said, with his arm around Edward. 'Edward is way too much of a social pariah to 'dazzle' people. He needs to get laid!'

Everyone laughed while I blushed.

After dinner, the boys went to choose a film to watch while Rosalie and I washed the dishes in silence. I was in deep thought about Liz's will reading tomorrow.

'Penny for your thoughts?' asked Rosalie, as though she could read my mind.

'It's just the will reading tomorrow. I don't know why Liz mentioned me in her will.'

'Why not? You two were very close when she was ill the first time, weren't you? If anything, I don't know why Emmett and I are mentioned either.'

'Well, I never kept in touch with her,' I admitted. 'You and Emmett were there in her final moments, and that's why she remembered you. But me…'

'Bella, believe me when I say that before I met you, I felt like I knew you already,' Rosalie reassured me. 'Liz had so many good things to say about you, and from the few days we've spent together, I can see that they were all true. Don't beat yourself up, alright?'

I gave a small smile to assure that I felt better but deep down I was still uneasy about it all.

The other thought on my mind that I didn't want to share was why Edward didn't have a girlfriend. The king of Forks High dateless – who would have thought? Even if he spent more time in the office than anything else, weren't there any women at work that caught his eye? I could set him up on a date with one of Jacob's sisters or even Jessica, our receptionist back in Seattle. No, scratch that; the thought of Edward kissing Jessica goodnight made me retch.

But wasn't I being a tiny bit selfish. I didn't have a claim on Edward after all. Hell, someone currently had a claim on me, and who's to say that I would even see Edward again once Jasper and I went back home?

I spent that night dreaming of green eyes and broken promises.

The next day, Emmett and Rosalie picked us up to go to Volterra & Sons, the law firm where Emmett and Edward worked. We were meeting Edward at his office before heading to Mrs. Jenks in probate, where the will would be read.

We stepped into the main reception and approached a large marble desk, where a brunette receptionist was busy filing her nails.

'Hey Gianna, do you know where Edward is?' asked Emmett.

'Do you even have to ask?' Gianna replied, never looking up from her nails. 'He's in his office as usual.'

We took the elevator to the 12th floor, where Edward worked in the mergers and acquisitions department. The corridor was lined with offices and cubicles complete with panicked clients and frustrated employees. Edward's office was the last one on the right.

When we entered, Edward was sat at his desk, his head resting on the surface.

'Edward, you okay dude? 'Jasper called.

'Oh…hey everyone,' Edward said as he looked up. His hair was a mess and his eyes were red and glassy, with huge bags underneath them. I wondered if he slept at all last night.

'You ready?' Emmett asked softly. Edward nodded. As we walked out of the office and down the corridor again, I grabbed Edward's hand and squeezed it to comfort him without words. He looked to me and managed a solemn smile. We didn't let go of each other's hands as we walked into the elevator and up to Mr Jenks' office.

Mr Jenks was a short and chubby man with glasses too small for his face and a tendency to sweat – a lot. He continuously wiped his brow as he began to pull out the various documents while we all sat around his desk to hear Liz's will.

'This is the will and testament of Elizabeth Masen, born February 18th 1962, residing in Forks, Washington. This will states my desire regarding the execution of my estate and other wishes,' read Mr Jenks.

'To Edward Masen Jr., my only son, I leave the remains of my estate including my four bedroom house in Forks, Washington and the remainder of my life savings to the sum of $20,000.'

'Wow man, your mom kept that one quiet!' joked Emmett, poking Edward in the ribs.

Edward shrugged. 'My father was a lawyer so it's probably a combination of his savings as well.'

Savings or no savings, I would be glad to get $20,000 to shrug about.

'To Emmett and Rosalie Cullen,' Mr Jenks continued, 'I leave my 1973 MGB GT for them to 'tinker around with'.'

Emmett leapt out of his seat with a celebratory fist pump.

'Yes! Rose, that car is a beauty! Thank you Aunt Liz!'

'Sit down, you're embarrassing me!' Rosalie hissed.

'Sorry babe, but that is a nice car.'

Emmett sat with a permanent grin for the rest of the reading.

'To Jasper Whitlock, I leave my great-grandmother's memorabilia of the Civil War, to contribute to his love of American history.'

'That's sweet,' Jasper said. I couldn't help but smile – Liz knew him well.

I felt a small flood of panic when I realised that I was next. Edward noticed me tense up and reached out for my hand to comfort me. I gave him a small smile in thanks.

'To Isabella Swan, I leave my engagement ring, passed down to me by my own mother.' Mr Jenks opened one of his desk drawers and took out a small box which he handed to me. I opened it to reveal a large oval ring set in tiny diamonds and framed in white gold. It was beautiful, too beautiful in fact.

'I can't accept this.'

'No Bella,' Edward argued. 'My mom obviously wanted you to have it. It's only right that you keep it. You can just put it on your dresser since you already have one,' he said, his head nodding towards the ring Jacob bought me. I blushed. To be honest, I had forgotten about that one.

'This is different,' Mr Jenks said, interrupting us. 'It seems that Isabella has also been asked to fulfil a request as well.'

'A request?'

'Indeed.' Mr Jenks brought the document closer to his face, as though he couldn't believe what he had just read. I gulped in fear.

'Well, this is probably the first time in all my years practising law that I have ever come across this,' Mr Jenks began, 'but it says here that it is Elizabeth's request for you to marry Edward.'

I mean, what sort of request would –

WHAT?!

'W-w-what did you just say?' Edward stammered.

'It says here that it is your mother's wish for you to marry Isabella Swan.'

This was either a nightmare or a really bad horror film.