All our pieces fall right into place. Get caught up in a moment, lipstick on your face. So it goes. I'm yours to keep, and I'm yours to lose. You know I'm not a bad girl, but I do bad things with you. ~ Taylor Swift, So It Goes…

…rep…

After the incident with Felix, Edward didn't want to stay on the island much longer. It wasn't safe, apparently. So, a few days later we went to Ireland. Edward found us an adorable little cottage that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. We were surrounded only by the gorgeous countryside.

We hadn't been the same since the night after Edward's birthday. Our bubble away from reality had popped and neither of us knew what to do about it. Things were tense and I hated it.

I would lie in bed and stare at the man next to me and feel weighed down by crushing guilt. Every day I would watch him sit at his computer to work and think about how I caused so much trouble between him and his family. It made my stomach churn. Sometimes I would purposefully fall asleep on the couch in the living room, just so I didn't have to face him.

I was pretty sure Edward thought I was quiet because of the Felix situation. I let him believe that for the time being because it was better than him knowing what was really going through my mind.

I was my mother.

Somehow, I had turned into everything that I hated. I brought unbelievable chaos into Edward's life. I made him choose between me and his family. I let him put his life on hold to run away with me because I needed time away. He never really had a chance to say no when I dragged him to the Vanity Fair after party. And I practically forced him to be okay with me making a movie about our life.

He should hate me. I hate me. He still whispers that he loves me every night though, before he goes off to sleep in the bedroom alone.

Tonight, though, he carried me from the couch and situated me on the bed. When he got in beside me, he wrapped me in his arms and placed the softest kiss on my forehead. His tenderness made me want to scream. To tell him to leave me because I didn't deserve him.

I just laid there and pretended to be asleep. After waiting until I could hear Edward's breath even out, I got up and went to take a shower. The shower had been my sanctuary ever since I was a kid, because in the shower no one could hear you cry.

So, I turned on the shower, stripped off my clothes, and let all of the guilt from the day wash over me so I could do it all again tomorrow. The spray trickled over me as I sat on the floor, my knees pulled to my chest, and cried for as long as the hot water lasted.

I stood up and turned the water off. When I pulled the curtain back to get out, Edward was leaning against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest.

"What are you doing?" I asked him. I tried to keep my voice strong, but I knew it was obvious I had just been crying from the way it cracked. Even the shower couldn't hide that.

"You come in here to cry a lot." He told me. His eyes were sad and tired. The happy, glowing Edward from the island was long gone. "I usually leave before you get out. I don't like you crying alone."

Fuck. Guilt crushed my chest. He was too good to me. He should hate me.

"What's wrong, Bella?" It was a simple question, but there were so many answers to it I didn't know where to begin.

I pulled on a thin, grey cotton robe and averted my eyes from Edward. I walked past him to the bedroom. I had every intention of going back to the couch to continue my avoidance of the issues, but Edward grabbed my arm before I could leave the bedroom.

"No. Talk to me, Bella. I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."

I could tell he was trying to be patient with me. He was trying to keep his voice calm but I knew he was frustrated. It wasn't hard to make him lose his temper, but I knew he always tried to keep a level head with me. Yet another reason I didn't deserve him.

Then the floodgates opened.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled. "I'm sorry I'm so selfish. You've done… everything for me. You abandoned your family. You left work behind for months. You put your life on the line for me, and what have I done for you?

"I forced you to be okay with a movie about your private life. I don't have the right to do that. I won't do that. I forced you to choose between your family and me. What kind of person does that?"

I pulled my arm out of Edward's, because I didn't deserve to feel the comfort of his skin on mine. "I don't know how you can even look at me and not be consumed with hate. Because you know what? I'm my fucking mother."

Throughout my whole rant, Edward just stood there. His expression was unreadable, the only emotion clear was concern. He probably thought I was insane. Which, I guessed, was pretty true.

"All my mother cared about growing up was her happiness. If she wanted to do something, we did it. If she wanted to go on vacation to California, my father made it happen.

"I just, I didn't even fucking realize it, Edward! How long have I been like this? How long have I been just as terrible as her? She's, shit, she was the reason I never wanted children before."

Some emotion finally broke through Edward's face. I had never told him I never wanted kids. His forehead creased and his mouth opened, probably to interrupt me but I never gave him the chance.

"I didn't want to fuck up a kid like she fucked me up. I thought I could never do that to someone else but here I am, doing it to you."

Edward tried to approach me, but I backed away. I bumped into the wall behind me and let myself slide down, resting my arms on my knees.

"I can't even look at you anymore because I just get crushed with guilt. I'm just – I'm so sorry, Edward." I leaned my head on my arms and squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn't look at the disappointment in his eyes.

A had was on my cheek, lifting my head up, but I fought it. "Look at me, Bella." Edward said. I didn't move. "Damnit Bella, look at me."

I winced at is harsh tone, but lifted my head up and opened my eyes to look at him. My heart skipped a beat seeing his face so close to mine, it always did. But now it was always followed by crippling sadness.

"You are not your mother. Everything you do is to make other people happy. Those movies and songs, they're not just for you. You write them so other kids going through what you did don't feel alone."

I shook my head at him and started to drop it again, but Edward cupped his hand under my chin and forced me to keep eye contact with him.

"No, listen. You're career driven, it's one of the things I love about you. You want to have a long, prosperous career and there is nothing wrong with that. It doesn't make you selfish, it makes you passionate. If the movie still bothered me, I would let you know.

"Don't ever think you haven't done anything for me, Bella. Before I met you, I was on a… bad path. I was getting cocky and thought I was invincible. I didn't care about the consequences of what I was doing and I didn't care who I hurt in the process. I did some stupid shit, but that all stopped the second I found you.

"I had a goal, an end game I needed to play out. And I couldn't get there if I kept going in the direction I was.

"You didn't make me choose between you and my family, they're still waiting for me back home."

Edward cupped my face with both of his hands and wiped the tears off of my cheeks. "I'm no relationship expert, but I'm pretty sure they're about give and take. I hold you up when you need help, and you do the same for me."

"You don't… you don't hate me?"

"I could never hate you. When I look at you I see a woman who has worked non-stop since she was seventeen, a woman filled with kindness and compassion. Please, don't ever think I hate you."

Edward pulled me into his arms and switched our spots so he was sitting against the wall with me in his lap. I didn't know how long we sat there, but eventually I fell into the most peaceful sleep I had in weeks.

The next morning, I woke up alone. I vaguely remembered Edward lifting us off of the ground and putting both of us in bed, but that was it.

I tightened my robe around my waist and got up to search for Edward. I followed the scent of freshly made coffee out to the small deck, and there he was. His back was to me, and he had a cup of coffee sitting on the old wooden banister.

I looked at him for a minute, just stared at him while he looked across the countryside. He seemed very deep in thought, and I hated to interrupt. But, eventually I walked over and hooked my arm with his and rested my head on his shoulder.

"I need to go back to Chicago."

Oh. Oh. I finally drove him off. Edward must have seen the look of despair on my face, because he continued, "I'd like you to come with me."

"Is there a reason why you have to go back?"

"Just some work that needs to be taken care of, nothing for you to worry about." Edward dropped a quick kiss to the top of my head. "So, will you come with me? At least for a while, before you start back up with work again?"

"Of course. I don't really know what I'm doing next. I'll have Heidi send me some –"

"You're making your movie. Our movie," Edward said very matter-of-factly.

"No, I'm not."

I was not going to do that to him. He would lose what little privacy he had left after word got out we were together.

"Yes, you are. You've done amazing work on it, Bella. It should be shared with the world."

"I can't ask you to share all of your private business with the world. I signed up for that, you didn't. People send me twenty roles a day, I'll be fine."

Edward pulled me to him, sandwiching me between the banister and his body. His arms rested on the banister on either side of me, and his smirking face looked down at me. "Bella, you were nearly killed because of my job. You making a film about us is hardly equivalent to that. Do you hold the shooting against me?"

"No, of course not."

"So, you're going to do your job and I'm going to be right next to you, supporting you in any way that I can, because I know you'll do the same for me."

I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head on his chest. I matched my breathing with his heartbeat. "Vacation has made you very wise."

Later that afternoon, things were starting to get back to normal between the two of us. I sat on the couch next to Edward reading a book on my iPad while Edward made our travel arrangements to go back to the states.

"I should probably visit my parents. I promised my dad I would when we got back." I mentioned to him. I could feel the tension thicken up the room.

"I'll go with you. We can stop there before we head to Chicago."

"You don't have to. I'll only stay a day or two."

"I don't want you there alone."

…rep…

Edward drove the large Range Rover through the forests of Washington with ease. I looked over at him and couldn't help but feel incredibly thankful. Despite all of my freak outs, and all of the baggage he knows comes with me, he's still here. He's still happily here.

"Thank you."

Edward gave me a quick glance before turning his eyes back on the road. "For what?"

"For never giving up on me."

Edward pulled my hand up to his lips and gave my knuckles a soft kiss. There had been so many bumps in our relationship lately. The movie, the man in the bar, my meltdown in Ireland… and then the fact that my father was a former cop and could recognize Edward for his less than legal business dealings.

We talked about it on the flight, and Edward told me there was a very good chance Charlie would have heard of him. Even though Charlie retired early about two years ago, he still kept in touch with his cop buddies.

Edward said they were just rumors to most people, though. If anyone had definitive proof of their dealings they would all be in prison.

That wasn't as comforting and I think he meant it to be.

I had called Charlie before we left Ireland and he was excited to see me for a couple days. When I told him that I was bringing a boyfriend he seemed to tense up a little, but seemed glad either way.

I had never brought a boy home before. Ever.

This was entirely new territory for all of us. Especially Edward. He had never met a girls' parents either. Apparently, he was always the boy girls would hide from their parents.

Edward also convinced me I should probably tell my parents about the complications I had during my surgery. I knew he was right, it was wrong of me to keep something so big from them, but I needed time to come to terms with it on my own before I told them.

I hadn't fully come to terms with it myself, but I was getting there. Kind of.

It was late when we arrived, nearing midnight. International flights were a bitch on the internal clock, so neither of us were tired at all. I was hoping to make quick conversation with my parents and then fake tiredness and head to bed. I thought small doses of my parents would be a good way to ease Edward into them, especially my mother.

I didn't know if I would be quick enough to stop him from shooting her if she said something stupid. I knew he always had a weapon on him… somewhere.

"It's a lovely house," Edward said as he grabbed our luggage out of the car.

"Thank you," I replied automatically. He gave me an odd look so I explained, "I bought it."

"You bought your parents a house?"

"I bought them a new place and paid off all of their debt, including my sister's collage loans," I shrugged.

Before Edward could say anything else Charlie came out to greet us. "Bells!"

Charlie gave me an out of character, enthusiastic hug. I didn't question it though, I just hugged him just as tight.

"Dad, this is my boyfriend, Edward Cullen."

I watched Charlie's reaction when I said Edward's name, but he didn't give any indication that he knew who he was.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Swan," Edward said, holding his hand out for Charlie.

"You taking care of my little girl?" Charlie asked, his eyes narrowed on Edward.

"As best I can," Edward said sincerely. His answer must have been enough for Charlie, because he gripped Edward's hand in a firm shake.

"Let's get you two inside, you must be exhausted." Charlie helped Edward bring in the luggage.

"Where's mom?" I asked when we got inside.

"She fell asleep a while ago. She'll be excited to see you in the morning, Bells."

Figures.

"I think we're just going to head to bed. Thanks for waiting up, dad," I gave him another hug and started to trek up the stairs. I didn't bother trying to be quiet.

I turned into the room I usually stayed in and waited for Edward to follow me.

"Well, uh, goodnight," Charlie said, shuffling off to his bedroom.

"Should I sleep –"

"You should sleep here. I bought the house, they're hardly in a position to say you can't sleep in my room. Which, isn't technically 'my room.' My mother loves to call it the guest room."

I tossed my shoes in the corner and collapsed on the bed. The days of traveling to get here were starting to take their toll, but I also knew I needed a shower before I could get a good night of sleep.

"I need a shower," I grumbled, but burrowed further into the bed. So comfy.

Edward lifted me off of the bed and threw me over his shoulder. It left me with a wonderful view of his ass. He carried me into the adjoining bathroom and set me on the counter.

He stood between my legs and looked at me. I could feel myself blush at his stare, and distracted myself by lifting his t-shirt over his head. Our clothing was shed one piece at a time and it wasn't long before we were standing under the hot spray of the shower.

We took turns washing each other, but nothing ever turned sexual. It hadn't since the island. Things were just… wrong between us then. I knew my parents' house wasn't the place to resume those kinds of activities, but it felt nice to be close to Edward again.

"I love you," I told him as he leaned my head back under the spray to rinse out my hair.

"I love you," he replied, giving me a slow, passionate kiss that said more than any words ever could.

I sat on the bed the next morning and waited for Edward to get dressed. I threw on a pair of yoga pants and a cream sweater. Edward was rolling up the sleeves of a dark blue button down when he laughed at me.

"What?"

"You shouldn't be so nervous in your own home."

I shrugged. "It's not really mine."

We walked downstairs hand in hand. My parents were in the kitchen, cooking from the sounds of it.

"Hey, you two. You sleep okay?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, thank you," Edward replied.

"Mom, this is my boyfriend, Edward," I told her.

She looked up from the eggs she was cooking and gave Edward a pleasant smile. "It's nice to meet you, Edward." She said.

Huh. Odd response, but I supposed it could have been worse.

We all sat down at the table as they finished breakfast. I folded my napkin in my lap and Edward squeezed my thigh comfortingly.

"So, where did you guys travel?" Charlie asked.

"We spent a lot of time on a private island. It was beautiful," I told him. We got into an easy conversation with Charlie about the places we had been. He and Edward talked a lot about Ireland, and Edward told him about his family's tradition of going there for St. Patrick's Day every year. I guess they went without him this time.

I couldn't understand my mother. She was never silent like this, she always had something to say about everything. Why had she chosen now to show a little respect?

After breakfast Edward and I went for a walk around town. Nobody here cared about who I was, I had known most of them since I was a kid, so it was nice to be out and not have to worry about prying eyes.

I walked him past where I went to high school, even though I hated every minute there. I showed him where we would always have dinner at The Lodge. It was nice to just talk and not worry about anything else.

We got back home late in the afternoon, and Edward and Charlie bonded over some game on television. I helped my mother in the kitchen, and she was just as quiet as she was earlier.

It was driving me crazy by the time we sat down to dinner. I knew I should enjoy it, but I couldn't. What was her issue?

"What are you doing when you get back to Los Angeles, Bells?" Charlie asked me.

"I'm actually going to Chicago with Edward for a while."

My mother huffed. Here we go.

"What?" I asked her.

"It just took you finding a man to quit. I would've thought nearly dying would have done it."

"She's not quitting." Edward said, his voice firm. "She's working on another project, similar to Badlands."

"That's great," Charlie tried to cut in, hoping to dissolve some of the tension I'm sure.

"Oh, please. You've always been desperate for attention, Bella. That's why you picked up this whole acting thing. Now you have a rich boyfriend to give you attention, so you're quitting."

My stomach dropped. I couldn't believe this woman was my mother. I couldn't believe I survived seventeen years living under her care.

"You know what? Yeah, maybe part of the reason I love my job is because people pay attention to me. Lord knows I never received any from you growing up."

"You had a lovely childhood, Bella. Don't throw that in my face."

"Lovely? I had no one! You and Jane were always off together while Charlie was at work and I was all alone."

"It was better than what it could have been! You should be grateful we took you in!" Renee shouted at me.

Took me in? That didn't make any sense.

"Renee! That's enough." Charlie snapped.

"No, what does she mean? Took me in?" I looked to my father, desperate for answers. I knew he was the only one who would give them to me.

Charlie looked so sad. His mustache was practically frowning. "When I was patrolling one night, I found you. You were just a few hours old and someone had just – they left you in a trash can in the park.

"We never found your parents. We agreed to foster you for a while, but I couldn't let you get tossed in the system. I knew what happened to kids there."

I was frozen. My mind was moving too fast for me to understand any of my thoughts. My heart was beating too fast and my ears were ringing so loud I couldn't hear anything else.

"You're… not my parents."

Charlie looked like I had just slapped him across the face. "Biologically, no."

"I've spent my whole life trying to be good enough for you." I looked at the woman at the table across from me. "I bought you this goddamn house, paid off all of your debt, I deposit $300,000 into your bank accounts every year. But, no matter what I did, you always hated me. I fucked up your perfect little family, huh? A literal piece of trash you had to bring in and take care of."

Charlie reached across the table and tried to grab my hand. "Bella – "

"Don't fucking touch me." I stood up from the table. My head was dizzy but I managed to stay on my feet. "We need to go." I told Edward.

He quickly got up and kept a hand around my waist as we went upstairs. I started tossing things into bags, I don't know what I took or where I put it, but I needed out of here.

My hands started shaking uncontrollably and my breath began to come in pants. Edward walked over to me and pulled me into him. He cupped the back of my head and held me to his chest. "Just a few more minutes. Just keep it together for a few more minutes and then were gone."

Edward grabbed our bags and took them downstairs, and I followed closely behind. They were standing in the foyer in front of the door. She looked happy. Relieved, probably. He looked sad, ashamed. I didn't care though.

"Move," Edward said. His voice was cold and demanding. It wasn't a voice you disobeyed.

They got out of his way, and I followed as closely behind him as I could.

I held it together better than I would have thought I was able to. Tears fell as Edward drove us out of the town I once thought was my home, but it wasn't a complete breakdown. I was too numb for that.

Edward held my hand in his while he drove to Seattle. He called and made a hotel reservation, I think, but that was it.

The hours we spent in the car on the way to Seattle were spent going over every interaction I could remember with my parents, looking for any signs I could find that might have clued me into this sooner. Was I so naïve that I couldn't even tell my parents weren't my parents?

Edward checked us into the hotel and I waited in the car. It was one, almost two in the morning. I wasn't as tired as I should have been though. I was defeated. Alone.

I had no one left.

Edward led me up to the suite he booked for us. It was a luxurious suite, because I noticed a Four Seasons logo as we walked up, but it wasn't like the one we had in New York City. This one was more simple, smaller.

I sat on the edge of the bed and just stared at the wall in front of me.

Edward approached me slowly, and kneeled in front of me. His hands rubbed gently at my thighs, trying to comfort me in any way he could.

"I don't have anyone." I said, my voice cracking slightly.

"You've got me. You'll always have me." Edward told me.

It made me want to cry, but I didn't think I had any tears left. Edward and I, forever. That was all that mattered.

I leaned down and kissed him. It was a desperate kiss, full of need; need to be wanted, need to be someone's priority, need be loved. I slid off of the bed and into Edward's lap, never breaking our kiss.

"Bella, we should talk –"

"No, please. We can talk later. Right now, I just, I need to know you love me." I was getting dangerously close to losing it again, and I needed Edward to keep me grounded. I needed to know I had him no matter what.

Edward spent the rest of the night doing exactly that. His body melted with mine over and over again, and the feeling of his skin pressed against mine was the only thing that held me together.

It was hours later when we finally wore our bodies out. We were a mass of tangled limbs and I didn't really know where Edward stopped and I began. Our kisses were languid, our bodies too tired to turn them into much more than gentle nips and tugs.

"I don't… I don't know what I'm supposed to do now." I admitted to Edward.

Edward's hand wove through my hair, pushing it out of my face. "You'll come with me to Chicago. You'll finish your movie. You'll live your life for you, not for the approval of Renee or Charlie."

It didn't go unnoticed by me that he didn't call them my parents. Because they weren't. I didn't have parents anymore.

…rep…

Alice, Jasper, and Emmett were at Edward's penthouse when we arrived. We had dinner and talked about our vacation. It was a similar conversation to the one we had with Charlie and Renee just two days ago, but this one didn't end with my life being turned upside down.

"So, what are you doing next, Bella?" Alice asked.

I looked over at Edward and he gave me a nod and a smirk. Okay, then. "I'm actually going to make another visual album, like Badlands."

"Wow, really?" Jasper asked, his interest piqued. It made me smile.

"Oh, about you and Edward?" Alice asked and I nodded. "How romantic! Oh, am I in it? Who should play me? Let's see…"

"Slow down, Alice. I still need to get a lot of things in order to even see if I can make it happen. I need to meet with Netflix, because this time they'll actually have to pay me."

We had an odd agreement last time, because I had to fund everything myself. After the success of Welcome to the Badlands they did pretty much tell me that if I ever wanted to do another one they were in, but I still needed to get a deal going.

"So, I guess that means you won't be here for long then, huh?" Emmett asked. He had come along to dinner, thankfully, because I didn't have the energy to deal with Rosalie. He said she was at some spa, I think.

"I have to record the album first, and there are plenty of places to do that here. I just need to convince my producers to take a little vacation to Chicago."

Things started to move very fast after that night. I got the green light to make the album from Peter and the label. Some of my favorite producers from before flew in and helped me get started. I spent twelve hours a day for a solid month in the studio, perfecting everything.

Edward and I had a routine. We would both get up around five, he would shower for work and I would attempt to make us something for breakfast. Edward would leave for work after breakfast and then I would get ready and go to the studio. I would get home around seven, and Edward usually not long after me. He always had food delivered for us.

We had our own little happy life here, and I loved it. Finishing the album let me keep my mind off of other not-so-pleasant things, and Edward did a good job of distracting me when I wasn't working.

I had video conferences whenever I had meetings in Los Angeles, because I couldn't handle going back there yet. I had signed on the dotted line with Netflix, and the movie was officially in pre-production. Everything was different this time, because I didn't have to do so much of it myself to save costs.

I had a team location scouting, I had more set designers and a high end wardrobe team. I had everything I needed.

Alice actually helped me with casting. We spent a lot of nights watching clips of movies online, looking for the perfect people. I didn't want a cast full of big names, I wanted to help younger, newer actors get their chance.

I got to see Jasper and Emmett a lot, too. They were often over late with Edward, discussing things I didn't want to know about, but they were quickly becoming brothers to me. Emmett had taken to finding old photoshoot shots of me and sticking them up in random spots around the apartment. It was frustrating as hell, but I think it was his way of welcoming me into the family. He was the prankster of the bunch, and it was his way of accepting me.

Jasper often asked me about the processes behind making a movie. He seemed genuinely interested in it, and we would spend a long time discussing films and certain scenes and how they were created.

I hadn't seen Carlisle, Esme, or Rosalie since we had been back. I didn't mind, though. I was sure Carlisle had turned Esme against me, and I didn't really feel like dealing with their judgement.

It was early August by the time I had a finished album in my hands. We were going to start shooting the movie next week. I had as much scheduled to shoot in Chicago as I could, there were some great old warehouses that were easily converted into stages where we could build our own sets. I would have to go to Los Angeles for a few weeks eventually though.

I got finished early and met Ben at the car around noon. He had been driving me wherever I needed to go. I knew his job was to protect me, but I felt better about just seeing him as a friend driving me wherever I needed.

"Can you take me to Edward's office?" I asked him. I had never been to his actual office. I saw it on skype a few times while I was on tour, but that was it. I was too excited, too hopped up on adrenaline at holding the finished music in my hands to go home alone.

"Of course," Ben said, and we were off.

It didn't take long for him to park right in front of a giant, shiny skyscraper right in the middle of the city. Wow. Ben walked with me into the building, and we rode the elevator to the thirtieth floor.

Everything was pristine. The walls were dark blue, and the desks a stark white. There were people everywhere, frantically working, but I wouldn't have expected anything less. Edward liked perfection.

Ben and I walked up to what appeared to be a reception desk, and I took a quick look at myself. I was completely underdressed to be here. The women around me were in smart business attire, and I was in a pair of ripped jeans and a flowy white tank top. The woman behind the front desk didn't even look up as we approached.

"I'm here to see Edward Cullen." I told her.

"Do you have an appointment?" She asked, still not bothering to look up from her computer.

"No, I -"

"Then you can't see him."

"Jessica! I told you I needed that information two hours ago. Where the fuck –"

Edward emerged from his office to yell at the poor girl who seemed to be his secretary. She looked absolutely terrified, and I felt for her. He stopped his yelling when he saw me standing at the front desk.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, a surprised smile on his face. He looked at the girl he was just yelling at, "Thirty minutes and then I need those files." He told her.

She looked at me as soon as he had walked past her and mouthed 'thank you' at me. It made me smile.

"I came to see you, I hope you don't mind. I don't have an appointment…"

"She doesn't need one." Edward scolded the receptionist.

"Of course, sir."

Edward wrapped his arm around my waist and tugged me back toward his office. Ben took a seat in the waiting area.

"What are you doing here?" Edward asked again once we were in the privacy of his office. I was too distracted to answer.

His office was stunning. Crisp, white walls and a big dark wooden desk took up most of the space. But there was also a sitting area with a couch and coffee table there too. It was bigger than the room I grew up in.

"Wow, this is beautiful," I told him, walking over to run my hands along his desk.

Edward came up and pinned me between the desk and his body. His lips attached themselves to my neck and it took everything in me not to moan.

"This isn't… I didn't come here for this." I breathed out as one of his hands started to travel toward my shorts.

Edward sighed, but smiled down at me.

I pulled the jewel case out of my purse and handed it to him. "I finished. I wanted you to be the first to listen. You don't have to do it now, I know you're busy. I just wanted you to have it." My words started coming out too fast. I didn't realize how nervous I would be to have Edward listen to the album. All of these songs were about us. How we met… how we fell in love. It was terrifying.

Edward carefully took the case from my hands and studied the track list written on the back. He looked at me with a mischievous smile. "Let's go."

"What?"

Edward grabbed a few things off of his desk and pulled me to the door. "Let's go."

"Where are we going?" I asked him. He just tugged me out of his office.

"I'll be back tomorrow morning." He told his secretary as we passed. She looked incredibly relieved.

I got an odd glare from the receptionist before the elevator doors closed around us. "Are you going to tell me where we're going now? I didn't mean to take you from work, I just wanted to tell you –"

Edward interrupted me with a firery but quick kiss. We reached the underground garage and he pulled me toward his black car. I immediately started to go to the passenger side, but Edward led me to the other side of the car. "You drive."

"Me?"

"I'll need to focus on this. I'll tell you where to go, just get in."

I unlocked the car and got myself situated in the tiny space. I had driven sports cars before, but I knew this car was expensive as hell. I didn't want to get a scratch on it, so I spent a while figuring out how everything worked.

Edward laughed at my nervousness. "You'll be fine. Drive."

So, I did. I drove Edward and I out of the city, and Edward navigated us to some deserted back roads. We only passed a car or two out here. It was very peaceful. Once we were out of the city Edward put the CD in and turned the volume up practically as high as it would go.

I wanted to watch his face as he listened, but I had to focus on the road in front of me. Every time I peeked over, he had his head resting back and his eyes closed, a soft smile on his lips.

We had been driving through deserted roads for about an hour before the album was over. Once the last song ended, Edward told me to pull over.

Edward moved his seat back as far as it could go, which wasn't very far. He pulled my arm and I knew what he wanted. It took me some maneuvering, but I managed to get myself situated in his lap.

"That was… fucking amazing, Bella. Shit, I lived through it and you just… made it sound like it felt."

"Are you sure you're okay with this? Just say the word and I won't…"

"I'm fine. I'm very proud of you." He told me with his voice, and his eyes. He looked at me like I was the most magnificent thing, the most extravagant treasure.

…rep…

Filming was going almost too smoothly. It felt good to get back to what I truly loved. There was nothing like the thrill of hearing action and completely transforming into someone else. Although, there wasn't much transforming for this one for me. It was still a high, though.

Even though we were both busy, Edward and I were as solid as ever. Flowers would be waiting for me nearly once a week in my dressing room. We were good about making sure we still had time to see each other, even if that just meant collapsing into bed and talking for thirty minutes before we fell asleep.

I had never felt as connected with someone. I knew, one hundred percent, that I could rely on Edward for anything. I could go to him and tell him I murdered someone and he would help me clean up my mess. Of course, that was kind of his job I think, but still.

We would do anything for each other. It was an amazing feeling, knowing I had that kind of companionship in my life.

Today was my birthday, but I decided to treat it like any other day. I didn't think my birth was much to celebrate. My actual parents, whoever they may be, weren't excited about it. The woman who was supposed to be my mother was never excited about it. Charlie tried his hardest, but who knew if any of that was real?

I told Edward I didn't want to do anything. I just hoped he listened.

I was already in a bad mood when I woke up. I had a four am call time, so I was awake before Edward for once. I got ready as quietly as possible, but when I exited the bathroom Edward was sitting up in bed.

"Hey," I whispered. Something about it being three in the morning made me feel like I needed to whisper.

"I know you don't want to –"

"I don't."

Edward sighed. I knew he loved giving me presents, but I didn't want anything to celebrate this day. He got up from bed and kissed me gently. "Have a good day."

I didn't. Everything that could go wrong, did. Nothing felt right. Everything seemed forced and unnatural and I hated every take we did. It wasn't just me, everyone seemed off. Maybe it was just because I was in such a bad mood.

I got home around six and all I wanted was some greasy food and Edward. I threw my bag on the front table. "Edward?" I shouted.

There was no answer. Figured.

When I went to the kitchen for a glass of water, a note was popped up on the center of the island.

Clothes are waiting for you in our room. Ben will bring you to me at seven.

Edward's elegant script was printed across the paper. I wanted to be upset with him, but I couldn't. He just wanted me to have a special day, so I did what the note said.

The dress waiting for me was deep maroon. The front stopped around my knees, and gradually flowed to the ground as it wrapped around my legs. The layers of fabric flowed easily. Once I was dressed I slipped on a pair of nude heels that wrapped up my ankle. I fastened the bracelet that Edward got me for my birthday last year around my wrist and went to wait for Ben.

He was on time, of course, and we were quickly off to our unknown destination. I was starting to really learn my way around the city, but we weren't going anywhere that I recognized.

The car stopped and Ben helped me out. I still had no clue where I was. A fancy hotel was in front of me. Did he get us another suite? I could go for trashing another suite. It might help my mood.

Ben led me through the front door and the lobby was surprisingly empty. There wasn't even anyone at the front desk. Weird.

Ben stopped at a pair of double doors and held it open for me. I gave him a questioning look, but he just shrugged. No clues for me, then.

I walked into a large ballroom. It seemed vaguely familiar. There was a single table sitting in the middle of the room, and the marble floor was covered in what had to be thousands of deep red rose petals.

Assuming my spot was one of the two chairs at the empty table, I made my way over to it. My heels echoed loudly in the empty room.

I sat at the table and looked around. I felt like I was missing some kind of clue. The doors opened again and Edward was there. He was in an impeccable black suit. God, he's gorgeous.

He walked over to me, his eyes never leaving mine once. As he approached I had a flash of him doing this exact same thing, but the room was more crowded and Emmett was by his side. This was where the police benefit was. This was where we met.

Edward sat in the chair next to me gracefully. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you for the dress," I told him, playing with the hem.

He grabbed my nervous hands and wrapped them in his. "I'd give you anything you could ever want."

I smiled at him, because I knew it was true.

Edward took a deep breath before he started speaking. "I knew you wouldn't like your birthday. I know your upbringing wasn't great, and I know it's even harder to think about now. But, to me, today is the most important day of the year. I couldn't let it go by without celebrating."

Oh, please don't let people pop out and shout surprise.

"I was hoping I could erase all of the bad memories, and maybe make a few better ones."

Edward pushed his chair back and kneeled at my feet.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

My eyes got wide, and could swear Edward could hear my heart pounding in my chest.

"I love you. I love your drive and passion, and I love the way your nose scrunches up when you laugh. I could list a thousand things I love about you, but I know you'd hate it. Just know that no one has ever loved anyone as completely as I love you, Bella Swan."

Edward reached into his coat pocket. He pulled out a shiny black box and my heart stopped.

"Will you marry me?"

I think he opened the box, but my eyes were glued to his face. He looked adorably nervous. But the sincerity of his words was evident on his face. There was no way I would ever refuse him.

"Yes."

His smile was blinding, and I was sure I had a matching one on my face. He was on his feet and had me wrapped in his arms within a second. I was going to have his arms wrapped around me for the rest of my life.

I was going to be Mrs. Edward Cullen.

A/N: I was really impressed with some of your reviews on the last chapter – a lot of you caught on to some of Bella's underlying issues, a lot of which are now out in the open.

This turned out to be a monster of a chapter, but I hated to split it up. Things just got kinda crazy and I went with it! Sorry it took a little longer to get it posted.

As always, thank you for the reviews and all of the follows/favorites. I hope you like this one – see you next time!