Hey, all of you! Thanks so much for all of your reviews, once again :D I've officially passed the 100 mark line xD woooo :D thanks so much, all of you!

Ok, well, I know that some writers have a certain pace at which they update, like once a week/month, etc. But to be quite honest I didn't really want to wait till Friday to update, so here you are :D

Disclaimer: I'm not SM, and don't own the oh-so-gorgeous Edward, or any of the other Twilight Saga characters, just perhaps PART of the plot. ;)

Chapter 10: Secrets?

"Edward, I don't know…"

"Bella, relax. Just breathe. It's going to be fine."

I sighed. "Do I really have to do this?" I asked, no real hope in my voice.

"Yes." Edward said firmly.

It was five to three that afternoon now, and we were sitting inside Edward's Volvo in the parking lot in front of the Relbix building, where The Seattle Journal offices were located. The Relbix had to be at least 65 floors high, and the modern building- which seemed to be mostly made of glass- towered over us.

Alice had spent the past couple of hours dressing me up while I mentally prepared myself for the interview. That had to be the shortest amount of time anyone had ever had to prepare themselves- excluding clothes, of course- but I wouldn't know since I hadn't had much experience with this.

I now wore a black suit-skirt, with a smart, cream top and matching black jacket. Alice had insisted on forcing me into black heels, however much I had protested that my clumsiness would not contribute towards my getting the job, although I didn't have high hopes for that either way. Alice also gave me a dark brown medium-sized handbag.

My heart sped at a frantic pace at the thought of the interview with Graham Bennett again, and Edward sighed. He turned in his seat to face me, and took my face in his hands, pressing his forehead to mine. "Bella, calm down. Your heart rate is flying off the charts- it isn't healthy. You're going to great, love, and I have plenty of confidence in you. Just be yourself, you're an amazing woman, Bella, don't ever doubt that. I'll see you later, ok? Just call me when you're done." Jasper had wanted to hunt, so Alice was going with him this afternoon, and so wouldn't see when I was done.

I gave in and nodded, and Edward kissed me quickly on my forehead before I got out of the car, and started making my way to the grand entrance of the building.

I could feel Edward's eyes watching me as I walked, and I felt self-conscious. As expected, I tripped a second later, but thankfully managed to steady myself. I flushed as I knew that Edward would probably be chuckling to himself at my blundering walking manner.

EPOV

A chuckle slid through my lips as I watched my beautiful girlfriend stumble for a moment, before managing to pick herself up, to my relief.

Mmm. My girlfriend.

I smiled at that thought, and as I pulled out of the Relbix parking lot, I let my mind roam and linger on the stunning miracle that was Bella.

So this was what Alice had been hiding.

Bella loved me.

Not a fraction as much as how I felt for her- so much emotion would surely crush her fragile, human body.

But she still miraculously did love me, and leaping in the air and shouting for joy wouldn't be enough to express all that it meant to me.

I don't know where I had gotten the insane impulse to kiss Bella out of the blue, but now, knowing that she had loved me all along too, that there was a possibility of her forgiveness for my leaving- however little I deserved - I was thankful that I had done it.

Because there were no words to describe the elated feelings that rushed through me every time I thought of my love, the reason for my existence, which was just about every two seconds.

As I weaved through the traffic towards Carlisle, Esme and the rest of my family's house- where I would spend the afternoon until Bella was ready for me to fetch her- I let my mind be captured my other things to speculate over- which were most-presumably related to Bella.

Alice was hiding something else, I was sure of it.

Even this morning, when she had practically attacked Bella with her excitement, and she had given in to the thoughts that she had been holding back- all of them being conversations with Bella that had revealed how Bella truly felt about me- I had sensed that there was still a wall that she wasn't letting down; and I was determined to find out what she was hiding, especially if it involved Bella.

And Bella was the only exception I could think of that would be the reason Alice would hide something from me. Why, I did not know.

I drove in silence, turning my thoughts over and over in my mind, as if to find a clue. Within minutes, though, I was driving over the familiar yet still new- to me- winding stone driveway, leading to my family's home.

As soon as I cut the engine in the garage, I heard Alice's urgent thought, Edward!

My heart stopped- so to speak- simply as to why Alice hadn't left to go hunting yet and had waited to talk to me, and I flitted out of the car and into the living room where I found Alice, Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme.

Alice had given in to her thoughts completely now, all the protecting walls of her mind were down.

As soon as I read her immediate thoughts, I was turning on my heel and heading back to my Volvo.

Alice had seen Bella's future disappearing.

Edward, wait!

However terrified and panicked Alice's previous thoughts had made me, and desperate to get back to Bella and protect her from what was going to make her future disappear, I stopped when Alice had asked me to, and listened to her thoughts instead, which she began to word aloud for Carlisle and Esme, who were visibly confused and worried about what was going on.

"Edward, I don't see Bella's future disappearing now, I see her fine for the next couple of days- I think she's going to get the job, by the way- but the timing is still fuzzy. It's not like I see something bad happening to her Edward, her future just disappears completely, from one minute to the next." Alice stressed.

Everyone was quiet for a moment, and I listened to their thoughts, debating.

And then I read something in Alice's mind. "What… I…This isn't the first time it's happened?!" I said a bit too loudly.

"Edward," Esme cautioned me.

"No, Esme, it's ok," Alice sighed, before turning to me, "No, it isn't Edward. It started happening a few months after we left Forks," we all winced slightly at that, "I know you told me not to look out for Bella's future, but sometimes I can't help these things, it just comes. Don't be angry Edward, but one day, I just… I missed her so much, so I started looking at some of the things she was doing. And then I… I saw her buy a motorcycle, Edward, and just after, that was the first time her future disappeared. I got really scared, I thought she had killed herself or something, and then just as I was about to tell Jazz, Bella reappeared in a vision again, just like that.

"The same thing happened the next day, and the day after," Alice continued, "And each time, I saw her again a couple of hours later, eating dinner with Charlie, or something like that. It started happening so many times that, even though it didn't fail to worry me, I didn't think I should tell you. Her future would disappear at least once every day, for about one year. And then I saw her going to college, and not long later did Jazz suggest my fashion project to me, so when I turned to my work, I stopped watching out for Bella's future as much, because I knew you didn't want me to, and when I did, her future never seemed to disappear again. Today is the first time it's happened in about five or six years, except for the one or two times in between."

I wasn't quite sure what to say to that, to be frank. I was left speechless from all the different thoughts striking me in the same millisecond.

Alice had been watching Bella?!

I tried to block away my slight annoyance at that, knowing that in the end I was truly thankful, I might have been angry if I hadn't been back with Bella, but now that I was, it was a different story.

In the back of my mind, some part of my conscious was screaming MOTORCYCLE?! But I would deal with that later, right now I was stressing over why Bella's future was disappearing at no regular pattern, completely randomly.

"I need to see Bella," I muttered, even though I knew what Alice was already thinking before she said it.

"Edward, I told you, Bella is fine at the moment. Just remember that this has happened countless times, just not in the recent past. You and Bella need to talk- later- because I'm pretty sure you two have a fair bit to talk about."

I sighed and nodded once, Alice was right, of course.

My mind began to dwell again on one thought that made my heart lurch into my throat. Bella on a motorbike. What had she been doing buying and- most presumably- riding motorcycles?!

I had to find out, but I didn't know how. She would undoubtedly be suspicious if I suddenly asked her why she had been riding motorbikes six, seven years ago.

I also, more importantly, had to find out what she had been doing over the years that had made her future disappear and come back, in swift moments, judging from Alice's thoughts. I knew that it would be painful, in the least, to discuss the darkest time of my existence, when I hadn't been with Bella, but I knew that we had to talk about that sooner or later anyway.

I decided that when Bella got the job- and I was sure that she would- I wouldn't spoil the moment, by letting on that I was suspicious of certain hobbies of hers in the past.

I grimaced as I thought again about the motorcycles, it was one thing being a magnet for danger, but Bella had walked directly into it, head first!

I had to smile, slightly sadly, as I thought that this wasn't the first time she had done that.

But still.

Alice seemed to know what I was thinking my facial expressions, and chuckled quietly. "Yeah, I am quite interested to find out the results of Bella on a motorcycle, even as clear as that might me." Her tone turned sour then, "I would have already known, but something is blocking my vision at random intervals!" I had to laugh at her annoyed expression, before she sighed and took Jasper's hand, "Yeah, anyway. I think Jazz and I better go hunting now, we won't go too far."

She kissed me on the cheek, said her farewell to Carlisle and Esme, and then she and Jasper were gone.

I stood there for a moment, before I noticed for the first time that Carlisle and Esme were both staring at me questioningly.

"What?" I asked, as I read their thoughts.

And then I realized that they didn't know about the recent developments.

I sighed, smiling. "Yes, yes, Bella and I… we're working things out, but we're together now." I couldn't help grinning as Esme's smile that indicated a burst of joy spread across her face, and she gave me a tight hug.

"Edward, honey I'm so happy for you. Don't worry, Bella knows you were just trying to do the right thing. You'll work things out," She whispered into my ear, and her tone at the end changed into that mother-hen confidence.

"Thanks, mom," I chuckled.

Carlisle hugged me a quick hug to express his words, and then he said, "By the way, Emmett and Rosalie flying home as we speak. Emmett doesn't know that his favorite human sister his here, and we thought it would be a nice surprise for him."

I raised my eyebrows, and chuckled slightly- Carlisle was right. Emmett would be over the moon to see Bella.

Nowhere near as over the moon as I was. I was over the sun. Ithought wryly.

"Yes, I think Bella probably missed her big brother too," I agreed.

For about half an hour longer, I stayed at the house and chatted to Carlisle and Esme, overanxiously and eagerly waiting for Bella's phone call.

BPOV

The wind was sharp against my skin as I made my way down the steps, outside of the sophisticated, heated Relbix building, and pulled my phone out of my handbag with shaking fingers.

It took me a couple of attempts before I managed to dial in Edwards number- I really needed to figure out how to put him on speed dial on this thing- and I brought the phone to my ear.

He answered on the first ring, "Hello, beautiful. How did it go?" His velvet voice made my heart flutter more than it was already.

"Edward," My voice shook, and rung with excitement, "Edward I got-- I got the job! On the-- the freaking spot!"

My voice went up at the end, and passing people gave me strange looks, but I ignored them.

"Sweetheart, that's fantastic, I knew that they would adore you! I'm so pleased for you." Edward told me, and I laughed at his slightly smug I-told-you-so tone, but is undoubted, obvious elation for me rung, almost as much as mine.

Almost.

"I presume that you're ready for me to fetch you?" He asked, and I chuckled under my breath at his eagerness, I could already hear the Volvo purring to life in the background.

"Yep, please."

"Alright, I'm on my way. I'll be there as fast as I can-well, in this car," He teased, and I rolled my eyes, understanding what he meant.

"Thanks." We hung up, and I sighed happily, seating myself on a bench as I watched the road for the silver Volvo. I smiled happily, thinking of the interview.

I had been so nervous to the point of shaking, and Graham Bennett's tall, muscled features with dark hair and deep brown eyes didn't honestly help much. But he had been a friendly man- very businesslike, but all my fears had somewhat instinctively slipped away the moment we were done with our greetings, and I plunged into the interview with confidence.

I could hardly believe what I was hearing when we stood up, and I heard him say, "Well, Bella, your qualifications and marks are outstanding; you are a charming and smart, well-rounded woman. You're going to need to work a lot into the experience area, but I think I can safely offer the job to you right this second. What do you say?"

After I had managed to stutter out an almost incorrigible 'yes' and 'thank you', he had let me know that he would get hold of me in a couple of days to discuss when I started, and times and such.

I couldn't believe that I was finally going to be a writer!

I let myself linger on random thoughts, and a few moments later Edward pulled into the parking lot, and I made my way towards his car, but he got out first, a breathtaking grin on his face, and he hurried over to me and pulled me into a hug- lifting me a couple of feet up in the process, too. "Congratulations sweetheart," Edward whispered, and his cool breath blew into my ear, making me shiver slightly.

Edward out me down, as I grinned, "Thanks."

He grinned back, letting all the smugness show- which I knew would be tripled on Alice's expression later- and he said, "Aren't you glad I organized an appointment for you, now?"

I sighed, rolling my eyes slightly, "Yes, I am. Thanks Edward, really."

He smiled genuinely, please, "You're welcome." And he leaned down to kiss me, for the second time in less than 24 hours.

I immediately forgot my surroundings, and latched my arms around his neck, melting into his cool chest. Edward seemed perfectly happy to deepen his kiss as he tightened his arms around my waist, and every line of my body was touching every line of his. I refused to break away for breath this time, and instead continued to move my lips against his cool, marble, sweet ones, all too eager to be close to him.

I had completely lost track of the time and place, but at some point I was pulled back to reality with an annoying halt, as I heard a whiny boy from nearby shout, "Oi! Get a room!"

I tried to cling on to Edward, but he chuckled, a deep, velvet chuckle against my lips before he pulled me away gently but firm, and instead slipping his hand into mine. I turned to glare in the direction of where the boy's call had come from, but he seemed to have disappeared off already.

Edward laughed quietly besides me, and I looked up to see him staring at me with an amused and loving expression at the same time, his gold eyes liquid. "Come on," He said, tugging on my hand gently, towards the Volvo, "Let's go, and you can tell me all about your interview with this famous Graham Bennett." He teased, and I let him pull me towards the Volvo.

As soon as we were in the car and speeding away along the highway, I sighed back happily in my seat.

Everything is perfect. I couldn't help but think.

But then I thought of Jack, and was reminded that I still had a lot to deal with.

And, almost at the same time as I thought of him, I felt my phone buzz in my handbag, indicating that someone was phoning me.

It took me a moment to scratch around and find it, but eventually I pulled it out.

And my heart gave an enormous lurch as I looked at the caller ID.

Jacob.

Ahahahaaa ;) Well, yeah. And then there was another twist ;D

Bella and Edward still do need to talk, not just about Jacob, and that will probably come in the next chapter. I had been planning on doing it this chapter, but in the end I thought, well it's kind of the first day back together for B and E, so I thought to give them a short while before they come out with the talk of the past ;)

I also want you to know that I've started Beta-ing now. Well, my month-thing is over now, so I can ;D

Pleeease R&R! I love your reviews, they're inspiration and motivation to write more :D

xxx