A/N:To my dear sweet readers…life has been crazy. A lot has happened and to be honest I've been super overwhelmed. I'm good, please don't take this as a sign that an illness or anything major has happened, it hasn't. It's just every day normal life, work, kids, husband and other obligations. It all had kinda sucked the will to write out of me for the last few months.
Good news is that I'm itching to write and post now, so life might return to somewhat normal – 'whatever the hell that is' to coin Eternally Addicted.
Part of my return to writing, I've looked over what I had open and unfinished. When I got to Fade Into Me I realized that this small epi is the last chapter, it is really the end of it all. I don't have any more notes or plot points written out so I'm marking it complete at this point. It's unbeta'd so it's all my mistakes and errors. I just feel like you all deserve the finality that I've been promising for so long.
Chapter 7
Three years later
"Come on, babe, we're gonna be late." Edward shouted from downstairs. I gathered the last few toiletry items and shoved them in my bag and rushed off. I didn't want to be late. This was Edward's job after all.
The ride to the airport was quiet and we were both excited. Edward and I headed to Paris to cover the Olympics. I had several different magazines that wanted me to write some freelance articles for them and Edward was there to document it in pictures.
Edward had been there before, but I had not. We had three weeks absolutely full of things to do, we were able to schedule a few days of rest, but the rest were absolutely full. I couldn't wait. The city of love, romance and I had three whole weeks to spend there with Edward.
Security was a bitch, but I guess I understood because there were a lot of extra people flowing in and out of the city right now, all the athletes, judges, coaches, and dignitaries that wanted to cheer on their teams. Not to mention the regular people that wanted to watch as well. I tried my best to be patient and tough it out. It was much easier when Edward wrapped his arms around me and laid gentle kisses across my forehead. All the anxiety, weariness and displeasure went south and I suddenly felt fine, even more so when our line started to move.
Faster than humanly possible we were out of there and into a cab on the way to our apartment. The magazine Edward worked for figured it would be cheaper and easier for the two of us to stay in an apartment instead of a hotel. I agreed and was happy with the change, more like our real life. I would cook and clean up for us as we enjoyed the city. Edward didn't care either way.
He pointed out so many of the sights we had on our list to see as we drove away from the airport. I commented on his enthusiasm. "It's like seeing it for the first time with you, experiencing the city of love with the one I love, there are no words." I blushed and ducked my head.
Everything with Edward was like I was doing it for the first time, we both knew not to take a single day for granted after his near death a few years ago. Carpe diem was more than words to us know.
The first week was super busy, we were too tired at night to even go and see the sights for ourselves, we saw what we needed to write or photograph and that was it, so to say we were excited for our five days off was an understatement. We ate at a café around the corner from our apartment and then headed off to see the Lourve, Edward and I both had several different items we wanted to see, My super planner that he was, had mapped out our exact route to take so that each of us got to see the paintings that were important to us.
Next we walked over the bridge to the Musee d'Orsay to see some of the impressionist stuff that Edward raved about. I had to admit the more he talked the more I wanted to see the paintings that moved him so. It really was a who's who and boasted works by Manet, Van Gogh and Delacroix.
We had lunch at another stereotypical café and made our way to the metro. We wanted to stop at Sacre Coeur. It has a fantastic terrace and since it was a perfectly clear day, we wanted to be able to look out across Paris.
On our way back to the apartment we shopped for a few souvenirs for our family. I made a light dinner and we fell asleep in front of the open patio doors with a view of The Eiffel Tower as it was lit up in support of the Olympics.
We decided to see Pere Lachaise Cemetery today. I wanted to see the French playwright Moliere, but Edward was more interested in Jim Morrison's grave. There were plenty for us to see since Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf and Richard Wright were there as well.
After we were done there at the Cemetery, we decided to see the Eifel Tower up close. Then we headed down the Seine River in a boat tour. The tour would let us off at Notre Dame so we could look around there.
We spent the rest of the day at Notre Dame. We walked through the dramatic towers and spires. The stained glass and statuaries took my breath away. It was so amazing to realized the age and how many people had walked through these places out of breath at the beauty just like I had. It made me feel small and yet so large at the same time. The entire day I held Edward's hand, I was so thankful that we were here together.
So, thankful in fact that I began to think about our future and how we would spend it. When Edward first came home, our only intention was to help him heal and making sure he was going to be alright. Then we focused on making sure that every single second of every day was filled with memories of us together. Now I guess I can look forward to the future, with Edward by my side. I went so far as to think that now would be a great time to get married since we were in the City of Love. Now, how do I convince Edward of this?
I was so lost in thought as we left Notre Dame that I had no realized it was getting dark, and that Edward had lagged behind. When I turned to question him I realized he was down on one knee.
"Bella, will you marry me?"
E/N: I'm sure that's going to upset or disappoint some of you and I'm sorry. It was not my intention, I swear. I just feel like these two are at a happy point and why force something that isn't there to begin with.
Chloe Masen, I'm sorry. I know you love this story and I thank you for your encouragement to get the last chapter finished, I needed the kick in the pants to get it done!
I wanna promise so many things but at this point in time I think you need to see chapters and not promises from me so I won't say a word, I'll just get busy getting the other left open stories finished up, okay?
Till next time…
