Hi.

Thanks again for coming back to this story!

Exams and school are now over until October, and I've even caught up at work, so I hope I'll be able to get back into a more regular posting schedule for you all.

Sorry this one took a little longer. For some reason the site really didn't want me uploading it.

"I don't believe you."

Edward sighed and rolled his eyes. Why had he decided to call his mother again?

"What's not to believe? I left my charger at home. I now have a new one, with a European adapter, that I can bring with me next year too. I called as soon as I could."

Esme hummed down the line and Edward prayed she'd brought his lie. There was no way he was going to let his mother know what had truly happened over the weekend. It would be front-page news by the time he'd finished showering.

"So, when are you coming home? We miss you."

"Soon, Mom. I just want to see some of Europe first and then I'll be on the first flight back to Dallas. I promise."

"Good. Call when you know and I'll have your room ready and waiting for you."

"I will do, Mom." Edward's phone beeped in his hand and he was thankful for the distraction. He knew his mother could get tearful when they had been apart for a while. "I have to go, Mom, I'm getting another call. But I promise I'll be home soon."

"Okay, stay safe, Sweetheart. We love you." Esme sniffled slightly before she ended the call to her son.

Edward's heart felt a little heavier at the sound. He knew that his mother missed him a great deal, what with his busy filming schedule. She always tried hard not to show it. But he also knew she would never hold him back from his dreams. Acting was something Edward knew he was born to do. And working on the show was a whole new level of amazing for him. The fans were so dedicated and he loved them for it. The weekend may have been his first convention, but Edward knew it wouldn't be his last.

The vibration of the phone in his hand drew his attention back to the device. He looked down, fully expecting to see Jasper's name on the screen. He may have stared a little too hard when instead, he saw;

Isabella - HRH The Princess Of Wales

Edward shook himself a little, and then scrambled to answer the call before it was sent to voicemail. He still couldn't quite believe she was calling him again.

"Hi." He could think of nothing else to say.

"Hi." Apparently, neither could Bella.

"I didn't think I'd ever hear from you again." Edward had to pinch his thigh to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

"You asked me to let you know when our flight had landed. I waited until I was in my room but I wanted you to know. That I'd landed. Safely."

Edward would have snorted if he hadn't been shell-shocked. He never heard Bella sound so unsure of herself before.

"Thank you. I really appreciate that." Edward took a moment to sit down on his own hotel bed. "I'm in Paris now. I left shortly after you did. Haven't left my hotel yet, though."

"Oh you should. France is such a beautiful country. There are many places you should visit." Edward loved the veiled excitement he heard in Bella's voice.

"Okay, where should I start?" he asked, settling back against the headboard.

"You asked to see me, Sir?" Emmett approached slowly. Charles may be his best friend's father, but he was also his employer and the King. He more than deserved Emmett's respect, even if he never asked for it.

"Yes, Emmett. Thank you for making yourself available so quickly. Take a seat. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? When was the last time you ate?"

Emmett chuckled softly before taking the offered seat. "I'm fine thank you, Sir. How can I help you?"

"Well, this is a little awkward." Charles stopped to take a sip from his own steaming cup of tea before continuing. "I've spoken with the chief of security over your weekend in Birmingham and he suggested I speak with you. I know you're close with Bella. And I also know you would never betray her trust. But I know my daughter. I know when something is wrong with her. She seemed a little off on the flight here. So, without putting you into a difficult position, I just want to know, is my daughter okay? Did something happen while you were at the event that I should know of?"

Emmett took a moment to carefully think before he spoke. The last thing he wanted to do was betray Bella's trust. And it sounded like her father didn't want that either. So, instead, he went with a half-truth.

"Something did happen while we were away, Sir." He saw Charles's head whip up in shock and rushed to reassure him, "but it was nothing bad. I believe Bella was given a few things to consider about the way she has led her life since the death of her mother. And, I also believe that this is something good. Something she needs in her life."

The relief Emmett could feel coming from the man in front of him was overwhelming.

"Thank you, Emmett. You will let me know if it becomes something I should be concerned about, right?"

"Of course, Sir." Emmett stood at the nod of Charles' head. "I shall retire for the evening now, unless you require anything else?"

"Nothing else, Emmett. I will see you tomorrow."

"Yes, Sir."

Bella flopped back onto her bed over two hours after she'd first entered the room. She'd only intended to text Edward and let him know she'd arrived safely. She didn't know what possessed her to press the call button instead. And yet, once he was on the phone, talking with her about the places in Europe he'd like to visit, she couldn't bring herself to hang up. There was just something about his voice that was so comforting. So she had settled back and suggested places throughout Europe that Edward should work into his visit, while reminiscing on her own memories.

She had probably told him more during the last two hours than she'd told anyone in the last decade. Edward had some kind of way of pulling information from her and while it had worried her at first, she'd found it nice to be able to truly open up to someone other than Emmett. It wasn't that she didn't love Emmett and the friendship he gave her, but Bella would be lying if she said that there weren't times when she'd found herself feeling lonely.

A quick glance at the alarm clock on her bedside table showed that it was approaching midday in Sydney. Bella knew that she should try and get some rest, before her busy schedule began the next day, but her brain was just not ready to switch off. Edward had practically fallen asleep on the phone with her. The poor guy was suffering with terrible jetlag.

So, instead, she opened up her laptop and pulled up the case file James had sent her. Work had always been a good distraction in the past and she was hoping it would work again for her now.

Edward woke to the sound of his phone vibrating on the side table. He had no idea how long he'd been asleep but it was still dark outside the window, where he'd forgotten to close the drapes.

The phone continued to buzz insistently and he pulled it to his ear, hitting answer without bothering to check who was calling.

"This had better be important. I was sleeping," he groaned, rubbing his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. I'll hang up."

"NO. Don't do that," he rushed out, while pulling the phone from his ear to check the display. He wasn't dreaming. It definitely said;

Isabella - HRH The Princess Of Wales.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, trying to do the math in his head and work out what time it would be in Australia.

"No."

The word hung between them for a while. Edward was too stunned to actually speak to her. With one little word Bella had told him so much.

"It will be, though. I don't know why I called," she admitted quietly.

"I'm glad you did."

Although Edward couldn't see it, he could almost hear the smile in her next words. "I'm glad. Will you tell me about your family?" she asked.

"Of course." Normally Edward would have been annoyed to be woken at such an early hour, and then asked to make small talk.

But he knew.

He knew that Bella was hiding something and that right now, she needed his small talk more than he needed his sleep.

So Edward talked.

He talked until he heard her breath soften and her exhales even out over the phone.

He talked until he knew she'd fallen back to sleep.

Thanks again to Dooba and Duckie who help keep me on track.

And thank you all for reading.