I still don't own Twilight. It all belongs to Stephenie.

Thank you to my friends for pre-reading and beta'ing this quickly for me.

And thank YOU for the amazing response. I don't have time to answer reviews, but we can talk in my group on FB. ;) See you there for pictures and answers of any question you might have.


On my last day of stay in Seattle, I spend it with Edward—locked in my hotel room.

He's surprised me a few days ago coming late at night to me saying he couldn't wait another minute to be around me without actually being with me.

I welcomed him in with open arms.

The first reunion was sweet and looked a lot like what our first time should have been.

But then…we christened every spot in my suite.

"Did you finish the last of the chicken wings?" he calls from the other room.

"Yeah, a few hours ago!" I call back, stretching on the bed.

Room service is awesome. We haven't left my room in three days. I did. Once. To finalize everything about my clip, but was back fast to my lover.

He wanders back to the bedroom with a chicken leg wrapped in tinfoil. "Ah, this is awesome!"

I grin, patting the spot next to me.

I'm trying very hard not to think of the plane I have to catch in seven hours.

"Come here. We need to make up for the time spent apart."

Chuckling he sprawls his long body on the bed, his head on my stomach. "What's going to happen now, Bella?"

"I promise to visit as often as I can." I stroke his hair.

"Have you thought of…moving back?"

"Now, yes."

"Will you?"

I shrug.

"At least consider this. Please. I can't live without you."

"You seem to have done a pretty good job all these years."

He sighs heavily. "Not now after I had you back for a whole month."

"I'll see what I can do. In the meantime…"

Edward disposes the bone, before going into our rapidly emptying box of condoms.

"Where?" He grins.

"How about the bed?" I suggest, laughing.

"Boooring, but it will do." He dives right between my legs, eating dessert.

I have no idea how I'll go on without him.

How did I make it through the days last time?

This round is more urgent for both of us, and when he lets go, the bedframe is bumping into the wall. I don't care.

I claw at his back as he moves faster and faster.

If possible, he's gotten better at this.

.

.

.

Because my departure will be under the paps' blitz, we have to say goodbye in my hotel room.

And we do, almost making me late.

Thankfully, Alice doesn't realize it.

Apparently she started her own complicated relationship with Jazz. It's still odd to see them together, but I'm getting used to it.

I shouldn't.

They'll be here, while we'll be in Los Angeles.

Edward gives me his baseball cap, stealing mine. This way we'll have something from the other.

Once at the airport, I stay close to Jimmy, head tucked in my chest as I walk to the check-in area.

They're not here.

I take calming breath after calming breath.

It's not working, and I'm close to punching one of these paparazzi, but Alice urges me to move faster. That's kinda difficult. Everything hurts—deliciously so, but hurts nonetheless.

.

.

.

Back in my house in LA feels like I'm going crazy.

I try to go back to my life, but I can't remember what I used to do before my trip to Seattle.

What did I do?

I've been living in a maddening routine—home-studio-meetings-home.

A month later, there's still the odd article about Edward. They still haven't figured about his name or gotten their hands on more information about him. And I sure as hell didn't tell them anything.

We've been talking almost every day, as much as my crazy schedule allowed me.

"I've got great news for you!" Alice exclaims on one morning in December.

I'm still nursing my coffee. "Yeah?" I yawn.

"Yes. You get to spend Christmas home, in Seattle!" She squeals. I'm not sure if she's happy for me, or for her since she'll tag along and see Jasper.

"There has to be a catch!" I mutter, trying not to let it out how ridiculously happy I am.

"You will have a few concerts. Here's the list."

Obviously.

A few means three—in the park, at a party and…

"Black Mustang?" I shout, nearly dropping my mug.

"Apparently there's been a special request from the owners," she says dead serious.

"Really?"

"Yes. Must be loaded—these guys."

"What's the catch?"

"Why don't you call your boyfriend and find out? Jazzy had no idea when I called him last night."

I frown. This is so unlike Edward. Why would he do this?

But…we're going home!

I'm going to see him.

I could cry of happiness.

~*~ ONE OF THE BOYS ~*~

"Last call, my man! You sure you don't wanna join us?" Edward asks Jazz.

"Positive. You two have fun!"

"You're not doing this just to give us some alone time, are you?" I check, slapping Edward's hands as he throws a couple t-shirts in his suitcase. "Fold them, you idiot!"

He scowls at me but does as I said…wrongly. So I take pity on him and finish packing for him.

"It's just for a week. I'll survive without you two."

"Ten days, Jazz," Edward reminds him.

"I can't believe you didn't finish packing!" I mutter, whacking Edward in the head with his boxers. "We're leaving in an hour!"

"Chillax, woman!"

"He's right, Bella. You're girl. You pack a week before you have to go somewhere."

"And unpack a hundred times in the meantime only to pack the same things. I've seen you so don't deny it," Edward quips.

"It's called being careful," I hiss.

"Oh, shit!" He lunges to the nightstand, nearly ripping the drawer. A box flies in the suitcase. "We don't want to forget them."

My eyes widen and my whole body bursts in flames. I'm suddenly hyperaware of Jasper.

To my horror, I feel a few tears sliding down my cheeks.

I've never been this embarrassed.

"Bella?" Edward asks confused, returning to my side. "Shit. You're crying? I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Thankfully, Jazz picks on my feelings and excuses himself to see if Esme is done with breakfast. We've spent the night here—all of us. We didn't get much sleep but we had a great time. I'll miss Jasper when we'll be gone.

"You're an asshole!" I slap Edward's shoulder lifelessly. "How could you do that?"

"What did I do?"

"You just rubbed it in his face that we'll…"

"Oh, ph-leaseee! That's why you're crying? You need to come with an instructions manual, Bella."

For that I whack him on the back with a magazine. "OW!"

"Stop being so insensitive," I sob.

"Jesus. Can you stop crying? I swear…look, I'll apologize to Jazz. He doesn't care, though."

"You told him about that time?" I squeak out, crying harder in my hands.

"Uh, he's my best friend. He told me about Maria."

"But I'm his friend too! Now I know why he didn't look me in eye for the past month! You're such an idiot, Edward."

"Alright, alright. Though, can you stop crying?" He pats my back awkwardly.

"No, I can't! You should have realized I'm a lot more sensitive around this time of month! But you don't care."

"'course I care. Wait. What time?"

"ARGH!" I stomp out of his room, brushing my tears away.

I stop right outside the kitchen, scrubbing at my eyes in the mirror. My nose is red and my eyes are blotchy. Awesome.

"Bella, sweetie! I prepared some sandwiches for the trip!" Esme tells me cheerfully.

My calm façade drops and I burst in a fresh round of tears. I don't even know why I'm crying anymore.

"What has my son done?" she inquires, rushing to my side.

"Do I have permission to kill him?" I try to joke.

"Seriously, I said sorry, Bella!" The devil appears in the kitchen.

"Edward Anthony! What have you done to the poor girl?"

"Don't say it!" I shout, turning to him. "It's between us, Mrs. Cullen," I explain quietly.

She understands what's going on. I hope she does.

Patting my cheek, she goes back to the counter to finish packing our food, battling Jasper when he wants to steal from our food.

"You kids really need this trip. Just talk about whatever needs to be talked. And Edward? You have to understand that Bella will always be your best friend—that means you can talk about anything with her."

I'm so hoping he grasped what his mother just said.


BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! I want to thank whoever nominated me for fic of the week on www. tehlemonadestand .net. (just the out the spaces) Now, I want you to go and vote! There are only two more days left. Thank you.