Eudaimonia (n.) Lit. "human flourishing"; a contented state of being happy, healthy and prosperous

November 11th 1989

Bern, Switzerland

6:15 pm

"I have a pretty dress Bella!" Eloise squealed, twisting back and forth in front of the large ornate mirror in Bella's bedroom. She wore a deep blue sparkly dress a few shades lighter than the one Bella would be wearing. "I look like a princess."

The past few days had been interesting. The Berlin wall fell on the night Bella and Edward sat talking beneath the stars. The next day, it was all everyone spoke about. Geoffrey, who she found out was originally from Germany, was uncharacteristically talkative. Bella felt like she was a part of history.

Bella looked down at the jubilant little child and couldn't help but think of how lucky she was to be in this new position in her life.

"Yes you do," Bella said, getting down to eye level with Eloise. "You are the prettiest princess I've ever seen."

"Really?" Eloise grinned. She reached out her tiny hand to play with a flyaway strand of Bella's hair, which was pulled up into an immaculate braided bun. "You're pretty too." Her eyes lit up as she got an idea. "You can be the queen and daddy will be the king and I am the princess," she declared, as if she made the world's best discovery. "Just like in my Princess movies."

"Well that would be…something." She didn't want to do too much to encourage this line of thinking. Although Eloise's intentions were innocent, she didn't want her to say the wrong thing and have Edward think she was a creepy woman, manipulating his child. "Come on you have to put your shoes on. Can you do it yourself?"

"Uh huh."

"Okay," Bella said, returning to the mirror, attempting to zip up her dress.

"I can help," Eloise said, scrambling up the bed.

"Thanks El," Bella turned her back to her.

"I sometimes help my mommy too," she said casually. This took Bella by surprise. This was the first time she heard either Edward or Eloise speak of her mother. She assumed the woman simply wasn't in their lives anymore and that it was a sore subject.

"That's very nice of you El," she said, trying to keep her voice even. There was so much she wanted to know, but she wouldn't feel right, questioning Eloise. It would feel like manipulation of the worst kind.

"Yeah, one time I went to a party with mommy and Papa and I got to wear a really pretty dress. Like a princess," she giggled, jumping off the bed and returning to her abandoned shoes. She stuck out her tongue in concentration as she fixed her shoe.

When they were finished, Bella gathered the overnight bag Edward instructed her to pack for herself and Eloise, and went downstairs to find him. He stood in the entranceway, turning around when he heard them enter. His mouth snapped open and Bella noticed how his eyes darkened.

"You look beautiful," he said, once she was near.

"Thank you," she said softly, feeling her cheeks heat. He was giving her that stare again.

Tiny hands came up, tugging on Edward's pant leg. "And you look absolutely beautiful as well my princess," he groaned, as he lifted Eloise into his arms. "It is my absolute pleasure to accompany you ladies to this dinner party," he said in an exaggerated formal tone, sounding like a snooty French aristocrat.

"I'm not a lady Papa," Eloise said with a soft giggle. "I'm too little. I am the princess, Bella is the queen and you're the king. Like in the princess stories."

Bella averted her gaze, feeling guilty even though she had no reason to.

She was surprised when she heard Edward reply, "I suppose you are right darling. How silly of me." He held out his arm for Bella. "Are you ready my queen? Your carriage awaits."

"Definitely," she said, linking her shaking hand with his. The three of them briskly stepped out into the Switzerland night, giddy with anticipation.

The party was held in a large hall at the beautiful and luxurious Bellevue Palace hotel. The ballroom was covered in red drapery and the walls adorned with ornate carvings and gold finishes. It boasted views of the Alps and the Old town below. There were many important business people there and even some children. Edward moved smoothly around the room, mingling with his fellow businessmen.

Bella felt like royalty once she was seated with Edward. The dinner was absolutely wonderful. She enjoyed the bernese platter à ma vue with rösti with brown butter and it was like nothing she tasted before. She could hardly wait for dessert.

She still was unsure as to what exactly the dinner was for. The typed-written agenda at her place setting was completely in German. She recognized some words and Edwards name but she only had a general gist of what was occurring around her.

Sometime during the dinner, a man stood up and approached the podium. He began speaking in a deep German voice. Bella only picked up that he was talking about businesses and something about politics. Two other people spoke after him and the second shocked Bella by introducing Edward as the representative for the Caron Group and their businesses in art, wine and aviation.

She was shocked. She knew the family was wealthy and Edward was obviously a successful man, but she didn't realize the extent. He got up to the podium and spoke in detail about the Caron family and investments. She wished she could understand everything he was saying. His command of languages never ceased to amaze her. Being multilingual had always been a goal of hers.

She wondered what other hidden talents Edward possessed.

When he was finished with his speech, he returned to their table, his hand lightly touching her shoulders as he passed and retook his seat next to her. She gave him an encouraging smile once he was seated. She felt extreme pride for him and his success.

"Enjoying the party?"

"Not what I was expecting, but I love it. This is wonderful," she answered. "Congratulations. From what I understood, you are quite the accomplished person. I can't believe you did all of that before thirty."

"I'm only as great as those who paved the way before me," he said. "Philippe and his father are the truly accomplished ones. I'm only continuing their legacy."

Other people approached the podium to speak and perform musical pieces and the room slipped into polite silence. At a certain point Edward turned to speak to her.

"I have reserved a suite for the night. It has two bedrooms," he said, looking down at Eloise. "You and Eloise can head up now. This party will be a while and it is about time the children leave and the men drink and have a few smokes." He stood up, reaching into his pocket for the key to the suite. He instructed her as to where to find the suite and kissed Eloise Goodnight.

Bella and Eloise entered the Presidential Suite, which was fit for royalty. Edward spoke about getting Bella her own room, but she declined since she didn't mind sharing. The suite was immaculate and classically furnished and exquisitely decorated with the finest fabrics. There were two expansive bedrooms, a conference room, a living room and a kitchen. There was also a balcony with a wonderful view of the Alps. It was like the living quarters of a Palace. Eloise and Bella settled in one of the rooms and changed into pajamas.

Edward spoke about getting Bella her own room, but she declined.

Eloise let out an adorable yawn. "It's past your bedtime El," Bella giggled as she brushed the wild tresses on the little girl's head.

"Come on." She placed Eloise under the covers settling next to her.

"Goodnight Bella."

"Goodnight El."

"Love you," the little girl said sleepily.

Bella's breath caught in her throat. This came as a surprise for her. "Love you too, Eloise."

They both drifted off to sleep. Bella awoke sometime later to a muffled thud coming from the living area. She sat up in bed, looking around the luxurious suite and remembering where she was. Bella carefully slipped out of the bed, not wanting to wake Eloise, who was now sprawled out diagonally on the bed.

She slipped out of the room, almost bumping into Edward in the dark.

"Miss Swan," he said in surprise.

"How was the rest of the party?"

"It was splendid." He ran his hand through his hair, taking a step back. "There was music and lots of dancing. Regretfully, I did not have a partner." He turned heading into the living room. Bella followed slowly after him.

"What kind of music do you like?" He was fiddling with a music player. The room filled with a melodious instrumental song.

"All kinds," she said, sitting on the spacious divan. "I really like Madonna."

He chuckled, taking off his coat and dropping it on the divan. "Would you care to dance?" He held out his hand for her. "To make up for my lack of partner."

Bella felt the heat stirring within her. She stood up, slowly making her way toward him. "Thank you," he murmured, taking her hand and wrapping his arm gently around her waist. They glided around the room slowly.

"You are a very good dancer," she observed.

"I'm good at a lot of things."

Bella's cheeks heated at the connotations, she heard in his words. Her mind went to dirty places when she was around him.

"May I…" He was looking deep into her eyes with that intense gaze. The gaze that had began to make her lose herself in him. "I feel an inexplicable draw to you. I don't understand it." He wore an expression on his face that she cannot quite place.

Bella was surprised by his words. She felt precisely the same, but to hear it out loud left her feeling overwhelmed. There was a heat within her that made her want to do things. Wild, inappropriate, but satisfying things. She let out an involuntary whimper.

Edward raked his eyes from hers, now focusing on her lips. "I don't mean to be forward, but…" he leaned forward slowly.

Bella knew she was falling for him. She supposed that had been the case for quite some time. She had to all but stop herself from leaping forward and connecting her lips with any part of his face that she could reach. A forceful darkness overtook his eyes. It almost scared her.

He pulled her closer and she let herself be pulled as his hips met hers. She pressed her lips softly against his, cupping his smooth statuesque face. Their mouths moved slowly together as they breathed each other in with frantic urgency. The tip of his tongue slid against hers slowly, causing her stomach to flip with longing and anticipation.

Edward fisted her hair in one hand as the other slid slowly down her back, his hand pressing against her soft skin though the thin material of her nightwear. They swayed slowly to the sensual music as his hands moved lower, lightly cupping her rear. He sucked on her bottom lip, pressing his teeth into the soft plump flesh. She whimpered in response and soon she felt herself falling back onto the divan.

He covered her body with his as his mouth moved against hers. His fingers dug into her hips almost painfully. It felt as if he was trying to consume her very being. He lazily dragged his hands up her sides underneath her top, stopping just below her chest. A muffled moan escaped her and she closed her eyes, reveling in her extreme feelings of desire. Her heart sped and she felt as if she would surely burst open from the burning fire within her.

All too soon, she felt him pulling away. "I'm sorry." He sat back on his heels, before hoisting himself off of the divan. "I shouldn't have done that."

"Don't be." She sat up, righting her top. She ran her tongue over her now slightly swollen lips. "I wanted you to."

He stepped away from the divan turning toward a window. Her ran a hand through his wild bronze locks. "It was inappropriate."

Bella's heart fell. She didn't care about appropriateness in that moment. The feelings she had were too intense to ignore. They seemed to have increased tenfold now that she experienced kissing him.

"I don't care," she said, feeling uncharacteristically bold. His kiss set off a fire within her. She hoisted herself up from the divan, approaching him slowly.

She reached her hand out slowly, resting it on his broad shoulder. "I feel that same as you." He spun around so quickly that she would have fallen over if it were not for his strong arms wrapping tightly around her waist. His lips were on hers again, hungry with desire and passion.

That is all for now. See you next chapter. It is already written.

Review please!

Thanks for all the wonderful reviews of chapter 8. I believe I replied to them all.

To Kat: Yes, you are correct that French kids are given wine (diluted with water). They will eventually do the same with Eloise. She is still quite young. I was about 10 when I had it like that. Thanks for reviewing!