Forget about forgiving and just accept

"Erm, Tom, Anna, Mark, this is Edward. Cu... Mason.. We went to school together, back in Washington. We..erm did biology together! He moved away in senior year.... We haven't seen each other for what...six, no wait, almost seven years....He moved..." Izzy started repeating herself. Edward Mason stood patiently and beamed at all of them with a glorious smile. Anna blushed and was clearly swooning and both Mark and Tom tried not to feel inadequate.

"Hi, Tom....Anna....Mark...it's so lovely to meet you. Yeah, it's so great to see Be.. Izzy after such a long time. And in London of all places! " Wow, what a voice. Tom was a bit dazzled himself. 'Friend, yeah right!'

"Would you like to join us for the after party? It's at the Groucho Club in Soho." Edward asked eagerly. A private club that was very popular with the rich and famous. And certainly not easily accessible to poor PhD students and their friends. 'Would we? Of course!" Tom thought excitedly, but tried to respond with a little less enthusiasm.

"Erm, yeah, that would be cool if Izzy's up for it?" Tom looked at her.

"Yeah, well only if we're not imposing, you know...erm, I'm sure you'll be busy...erm, but yeah, that would be great..." Izzy stuttered her way through the sentence. 'Oh, totally more than friends!' Tom thought again. They were clearly all in. Edward beamed at them and was already arranging transport.

"Do you guys mind going with the band? I've only got room for one in my car, and it would be great to catch up with Be...Izzy on the way...?" He didn't so much ask as stated. Once again, Tom looked over at Izzy, she seemed OK with that so it was settled. Before they all knew what was happening, Edward introduced them to John, Vince and Charlie and they were whisked away into the band's van and to the Groucho Club in the heart of London. Izzy disappeared with Edward Mason.

*************

The car stopped. They didn't get very far from Camden. Edward parked just off Marylebone Road and turned off the engine. He was looking at her intently.

Bella was intrigued by this new situation she found herself in. After comfortable months in supernatural-free London and fairly boring student existence, she was now

(a) Sitting in a ridiculously flash and clearly very fast car (even for a vampire!)

(b) Faced by the man who crushed her heart, but instead of feeling angry...

(c) ...Feeling smug about the fact that Edward clearly desired her. Or at least her blood as his topaz eyes had gone dark with hunger ('Personal brand of heroin...I guess the addiction doesn't go away that easily')

(d) Slightly freaked out by the fact Edward had not changed one single bit. Not a single hair on his head.... and

(e) Clearly still very attracted to him....

But she wasn't going to allow herself to be seduced without a fight and A LOT of explanations from him.

She wasn't sure how long they kept staring at each other and then he finally spoke.

"What are you thinking?" He asked her eagerly.

Bella started laughing uncontrollably. Edward looked utterly confused. She finally managed to stop laughing enough to respond.

"OK, fair enough..., I'll tell you what's on my mind....." she paused to inhale very briefly and words burst out of her.

"Why are you using your old name? Where are the rest of the Cullens? Are they OK? Is Alice OK?....How did you end up in a band? You're famous? How does that work with being a vampire? I thought you had to lay low? How do you feed on tour? Was that you at the blood bank yesterday?...." Bella looked down and stopped for a moment only to continue even more quickly.

"Did you know I was in London? Did you ever come back to Forks? Do you know anything that happened to me over the last 6 years? About Jake?" Edward's face flinched at the mention of Jacob's name. She continued.

"Are all of those lyrics about me? About US? Then why the HELL did you leave me in the first place? YOU better start giving ME some answers Edward Cullen!.....There! That's what I'm thinking. How's that sound?"

She finished breathlessly. 'OK, I guess, I am a LITTLE bit angry...'

Edward stared at her and took it all in. He continued staring at her and then instead of saying anything, he kissed her.

With fierce passion.

No inhibitions.

No control.

Bella was stunned by this, but her body responded immediately breaking all of the barriers she built against Edward over the years. And she was no longer a little confused girl of years ago and this time she knew what to do. She pulled of his shirt and he pulled of hers and they were on route to where Edward's caution never let them get to before....

'Whoa! WHOA! WAIT Bella!' Bella pulled herself together and stopped. She pushed Edward away from her. His eyes were almost black with desire and he was breathing heavily.

"Ooooo. Kkkay. Not what I thought would happen here." Bella looked at her feet and composed herself. "Edward, I can't do this. Not like this. We need to talk. I need to know so many things! And you need to learn about me, about who I am now" She spoke softly.

Edward composed himself. He touched her face with the back of his hand, like he used to tracing it along her cheeks.

"I know. I promise, I'll tell you everything. Anything you want to know..." he smiled at her tenderly. "But, erm...you can't even begin to imagine how happy I am to have found you again. Safe, sound and grown up! Amazing! It's all I ever wanted for you..."

He looked at the car clock and started the car. "This will have to wait though, I need to at least make an appearance at this party..." Bella looked at the clock. It was past midnight.

****************

Tom Fowler was in a state of mild hysteria while standing with a glass of champagne in the Groucho Club talking with John and Vince from the band. They were discussing something or other, he wasn't really sure as he was trying not to grin like a complete idiot. He tried to look like he belonged there, scanning the room and vaguely recognising several models, presenters and musicians. Then he spotted Izzy walking towards him smiling and holding Edward Mason's hand.

'HA! I knew it!!!' Tom thought and smiled a little wickedly at Izzy. She pulled a face. Edward smiled at Tom, gently dropped Izzy's hand and instead placed it gently on Izzy's shoulder as they walked towards them. Every girl in the room looked annoyed at this while Izzy looked awkward being caught up in the centre of attention. She quickly walked over to Tom and gave him an awkward smile. Edward was dragged away by John and the rest of the band, but not before he gave Tom, Anna and Izzy a quick wave and glorious smile.

"Hey Fowler, having fun?" Izzy asked.

"Yup, great time. Blending in easily with the IT crowd...You too by the looks of things...." he said, giving her a significant look. She pinched his arm and hissed at him.

"Oh shut up Fowler! It's not what you think..." Tom sniggered and looked over at Anna, who was clearly in agreement with him.

"Izzy! You. Dark. Horse. You are SO going to tell me everything tonight....Or tomorrow morning as the case may be... " Anna winked at Tom and Izzy just blushed and started actively ignoring them.

'Is it that obvious?' Bella thought getting increasingly annoyed with her friends and more so as she could see on Edward's face that he was up to his old tricks of listening into her conversations through other people's minds....He glanced over and smiled at her and then just as quickly continued his interview. She glanced around the room and felt completely out of place.

"Hey Izzy! Let's dance!" Anna called her and dragged her to the other room. 'Good idea!' Bella thought and they were off. The music was incredibly cool and very new and Bella really enjoyed it. After the first two songs, Bella started feeling normal again all but forgetting the excitements of the evening. She closed her eyes and just danced.

She felt the icy touch of Edward's hand on her arm and a surge of excitement went through her. He was standing next to her with John. John smiled gently to Bella and for the first time she actually looked at him. His ebony skin glowed in the dim light. He was beautiful. She smiled back and let them join. The music was too loud for talking. So they just continued to dance.

The crowd was getting bigger and their circle was getting smaller and more intimate. Edward stood behind Bella and his body was pressed to her back. They danced closely together and his sweet scent penetrated her nostrils and she felt happy. Relaxed and complete. A couple of times, Edward stroked her neck and his touch burned her skin just as it did all those years ago.

***********

It was 3 am and the club was closing. It was home time, but everyone was still up for more. And Bella just wanted to talk to Edward. And sleep. This turned out to be one emotionally confusing evening and she needed some answers.

Luckily, the guys from the band wanted to continue on, so once again Bella and Edward were left alone, while Tom and Anna went on to another party, though not before shooting several mischievous, meaningful glances in Bella's direction.

'Keep your head Izzy!' they both shouted laughing and giggling.

************

"So, here we are! Again..." Bella said awkwardly. "Now what?"

They were sitting in Edward's car in front of Bella's apartment. She was nervous, anxious, happy, hopeful and annoyed all at once.

"Well, you could invite me up, we can talk, you could sleep....We...could kiss?" Edward responded mischievously and touched her face.

'Ha! Funny, I guess he has changed a bit...I don't remember his naughty side.,..' Bella thought.

"I'm not entirely sure I am prepared to let you back into my life like that. Or for you to spy on my while I sleep just like nothing ever happened...." Bella said sternly. Edward clearly took it really seriously and she could see that he was going to give up on the idea as the gentleman she knew he was. And she didn't want him to.

"Of course Bella, I would never do anything...." Edward started responding and she kissed him gently to shut him up.

"You know what! Whatever! Let's just forgive and forget. I want you to come up and we'll just take it easy. Let's go! I must warn you, my apartment is ancient, small and very messy!"

*****

She looks so peaceful.

Edward was lying next to Bella who was holding on to him tightly and breathing steadily.

Her beautiful brown hair covering her sweet face.

And that SCENT! The burning...God...I really missed this.

He stroked her hair gently. Bella stirred.

She's different. Mature, all grown up...just what I wanted for her. She says it's been 7 years. I guess it has. For her.

Edward stiffened as a flood of unpleasant memories welled up in his mind.

I thought she was dead. Alice saw her drowning! And then seeing her kiss that DOG in her house! How happy she looked and how they twirled. I wanted to RIP HIM APPART!

With the last thoughts, a searing pain went right through his heart. The memory was still just as painful as it was when he saw Bella kissing Jacob on the day of some funeral which he thought was hers...

She was happy, she moved on. Exactly what I wanted. To make her happy and safe. Letting her go then was the best decision I could have made...

He tried to push the thought away and took another deep breath of her intoxicating scent and his throat started to burn again and he could taste the venom in his mouth. And that felt good.

It was getting lighter and as the sun was ready to rise. Bella stirred and murmured his name just as she used to. A burst of love and affection surged through Edward and he was reminded just how much she meant to him.

"I don't think I want to stay away from you ever again!" he whispered very softly and quickly, which to human ears would have sounded as a sigh, had she been awake.