A/N: Anyone still here? Sorry I'm super late with the update, but I hope it'll be worth the wait. One more regular chapter after this and then an epilogue to go.

Also, please make sure you've read the last post on this story it's a compilation of teasers and an author's note to let you know the reason behind it.

Now, without further ado, read on!

Chapter-9: Home

Three months later, O'Hare International Airport, Chicago.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We're ready for our descend in O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, where the temperature is ..." I tuned out the announcement coming through the loudspeakers as I looked out of the tiny airplane window beside me.

The twinkling lights from way down below seemed to beckon me home. But was it home? No, not really. Chicago hadn't been a home to me for a long time now. For seven years to be exact. In fact, I hadn't called a place home since she left me.

Bella.

As the lights dimmed around me for the plane's landing, I remembered another day in the dim light of dawn. I remembered a body entwined with my own … smooth, silky skin caressing me … learning me once more. Most of all, I remember a pair of chocolate brown eyes shining with unshed tears looking into mine and a whispered promise, I'll be waiting for you.

For a moment, my subconscious mind wondered if she'd truly be there for me. But then the cabin around me lit up and I shook myself out of my reverie.

After shuffling through immigration, I went to baggage claim to get my duffle bag. I planned on heading off to a nearby hotel and then find Bella's number in New York.

"Where are you off to, Sir?" Corporal Clearwater asked from next to me.

"I have family around here," I answered vaguely. "What about you guys?"

Clearwater smiled shyly. "I have a fiancée waiting for me in Chicago. I'll take her home to Washington and tie the knot there."

"Good for you, marine," I said with a grin. "Congratulations."

"Thanks, sir."

From a behind him came the sound of wolf-whistling which only meant Corporal Black was here too. "Woohoo! Check out that hot number in red," he said loudly, slapping a hand on Clearwater's shoulder.

"Jake," Clearwater sighed. "Have you forgotten about Leah? Your wife will have your balls cut off if you go around gawking at other girl."

Not being interested in Black's pre-pubescent, and frankly, a little disturbing antics, I turned to find my bags in the conveyor system. I could hear Black speculating who the "hot number in red" might have come for.

Just as I was reaching for my duffel, I heard Black swear, "Oh shit! Look, she's coming over here." He stopped to wolf-whistle once more before continuing in a sage-like voice, "You see, Seth, the uniform has a charm, my friend. You should watch and learn."

I decided to tune out his inane dialogue and started to plan where to go next. I could get a hotel room in the Renaissance Hotel and get mom to meet me somewhere outside, I thought, feeling like the confrontation with my dad could wait … maybe even for a lifetime. As my thoughts turned into the reasons behind my sudden leaving home, she came into my mind as always.

Should I go to New York to find her? I wondered. Would she want me to?

It's the sudden silence around me that clued me in that something was wrong. Black's constant babble had stopped, and looking at him, I found him gaping at me. "What?" I asked, feeling a little weirded out by his attitude.

Both men pointed to something behind me in silence. It's like something has dumbfounded my marines!

"What is it, men? You're being weirder than usual ..." I was saying as I turned around before the words got stuck in my throat, rendering me speechless, not unlike my men.

There, standing before me … wearing a red wrap-around dress and smiling through her tears was none other than the reason for my living—my Bella.

One moment.

One long moment passed as we merely took each other in.

And then we reached for each other at the same time, meeting in the middle in a tight embrace. I could feel her fingers digging into my back at the force with which she clung to me and that was my reminder that I had made it back to her.

"Ms. Swan and you?"

It's Black's voice that finally made me remember that we had an audience. Pulling away from her, I kept an arm firmly wrapped around her waist, not ready to part from my girl yet, and turned to face my men. "Marines, I think you know my girlfriend, Isabella?" I said with a grin.

When they both nodded, blinking rather stupidly, Bella smiled and then kissed my jaw. "Welcome home, Sergeant. Shall we get out of here?"

She didn't have to tell me twice before I had shouldered my dufflebag and was leading her toward the exit.

About an hour later, I found myself staring at the same wrought iron gates I had known all my life. Frowning at it, I turned to the beautiful woman sitting next to me. "Bella, what is it?" I asked.

"You need to go in there, Edward," she answered softly.

"No," I replied quickly. "I really don't. This place stopped being home to me a long time ago." I leaned forward to kiss the spot where my dogtags rested against her skin and then said, "You are my home now."

Her eyes looked like two shiny pools of chocolate at my declaration. She turned off her car and leaned in to kiss me sweetly before whispering, "I always will be your home, baby. Just like you're mine. But they're your parents and they love you."

I scoffed at that, but she wasn't having any of that. Taking my face in between her hands, she kissed me again, deeper and harder this time before pulling away. "They do love you, Edward. And I love you. I don't want you to lose one love for the other. You deserve all the love in the world. Please come with me?"

When I looked into her eyes, shining with unshed tears, I knew my stubbornness had lost because no matter what the cost, I'd bring hell and earth together just to stop those teardrops from spilling over. "You'll be there with me?" I asked.

She squeezed my hand and replied, "Always."

A/N: So … share your thoughts with me and leave a review.

Please consider donating to the fight against domestic violence cause if you want the first look at the first eight chapters of my new story, Escape My Love. The teasers and other information can be found in the previous chapter.

See you soon.

Thanks for reading.

Love,

Ann