A/N: So I think I'm going to change the rating. There's reasons for this, but honestly, there are some things that are going to be getting a little more mature. I promised no lemons, and I'm going to stick to that of course, but since the climax is nearing, things are going to start getting a little ugly. Like not horrible, but ugly. I'll think about it and try not to have to change it, but I really think it is needed. So here is chapter ten, and I hope everyone enjoys it, because I know I did. J
Edward POV
Chapter Ten: What Happens Next?
My next few weeks with Bella were amazing. I went to her house, she came to mine. The days that I could not spend with her were complete agony. My parents loved her and eventually she let me talk her into introducing me to her father.
It had been a long day for her, and I learned that I usually got what I wanted on days like this when I rubbed her back and sweet-talked her as she fell asleep. Begging and overusing the magic word always worked well, too, though those were barely needed.
Just like I could not refuse her anything, she could not say no to me.
I snuck to her house as I had done so many nights since I met her. It became the usual, and was no big deal anymore. Truthfully, being twenty-one with a nineteen-year-old girlfriend did not require sneaking around these days, but Bella was still scared of what her father would think of her if he found a man he had never met in bed with his daughter.
So I followed her wishes because I am whipped and having her mad at me just wasn't going to happen. But really, this was getting a little ridiculous. I needed a place of my own. The idea of living with Bella made me smile. I could wake up with her instead of having to hide in her closet until her dad left. She could make us breakfast in a little flowery apron and I could go back to school and get a decent job. She could stay home and watch our five kids and be happy. Of course Bella wouldn't want that, though. I knew my sweet Bella, and I knew she would never want to be a stay at home mom and never work a day in her life even if she could. It would probably drive her crazy. The thought was still nice. I knew my Bella more than she knew herself sometimes, and I knew that she wouldn't like being married with children until it already happened. She didn't like change, and that was fine with me…for now. Eventually I would ask her to live with me. And eventually she would have to tell her father about me.
The window was open, as usual, and I climbed the familiar tree to her room. The lights were off--it was around eleven, thirty minutes after Charlie's bedtime. It was a little weird knowing that someone was sleeping in the same house as you but never having met the person properly.
Bella was in the shower. I could hear the water and wished that I could be in there with her to see her fully and appreciate the image. It was still too early in our relationship, and I would never even think about acting on my fantasies, but the idea was still appealing. I was so happy to find out that Bella had not shared her beautiful body with anyone, and I was hoping that someday we could experience the ultimate passion and get married and run away into the wilderness and live happily ever after.
I never told her this in fear that she would question my sanity after only four weeks together.
I sat on her bed quietly. The roses that I had gotten for her were gone. Bella and Alice had become very close, just as Alice said they would. The two of them took the flowers before they could rot and gave one to everyone in town. Alice said she felt like Lorelai and Rory from the Gilmore Girls, whatever that meant.
Bella came out of her room in only a towel, blushing at the sight of me sitting on her bed. I had seen her in only a bathing suit already, but still, Bella was self-conscious. She looked amazing. Her beautiful smell of freesias was magnified tenfold from the heat and she had water dripping down her neck and collarbone into her towel. I wanted to follow the droplets with my fingers and feel her soft creamy skin.
"I'm sorry…I didn't realize what time it was. Let me just…grab something," she said, blushing furiously and rushing toward her drawers. She grabbed pajamas and a purple underwear, blushing more than ever.
"Purple?" I teased her. She threw me a look and raced back to the bathroom. Most of the time when I came to her room, she was already in bed. Sometimes, though, she came in a little late, and I was rewarded with seeing her in her cute little blue nurse outfit that was too big for her and hung off her shoulders a little, showing just enough of her pretty collarbone. She always looked exhausted, especially when she had to work at Newton's for the night. Tonight it had been Newton's, and I knew it had been a long day.
She came back in her room with a huge smile and I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her perfect lips and then her forehead, lifting her and laying her on the bed.
"I missed you today," I said, tracing her arm and grinning when I saw the goosebumps that had erupted there from my touch.
"You miss me every day," she said, bringing her fingers to my hair and making it more messy. I loved it when she did that.
"I do. That could be because you have class and two jobs, and I have none." I didn't need a job right now, plus I couldn't do anything with my arm. But thankfully, the cast could come off in one more week. I was seriously debating just ripping it off already. I had tried once, but Esme caught me and told Carlisle. The scissor was out of my hand in about thirty seconds, and I was still trying to figure out where they had hid them from me.
"Edward, we've talked about this. I'm not quitting my jobs. I love you and I love spending time with you, but I need to pay for college." I loved her stubbornness sometimes…she made the cutest face.
"Bella, you don't need two jobs. Just quit one, then, if it makes you happy to work. How about you quit at Newton's…then Mike could leave you alone and I wouldn't have the urge to rip his head off every time you come home looking angry," I said. I finally met the stupid boy and wasn't pleased with him. He stared at Bella the whole time and I could practically read his thoughts…and they weren't pleasant.
Bella just laughed. "He's harmless. A little freaky, but nothing to worry about."
I sighed. Time to convince her of the other thing. Her eyes started to droop, fighting sleep. I started to rub circles in her back.
"Mmmm. You want something," she stated.
"Yes, I do."
"Is it still about work?"
"No. I'm not going to argue with you."
"Good. What is it about then?" she asked smiling with her eyes still closed.
"I want to meet your father." Her eyes popped open in shock. "What?" I asked.
"Charlie has a gun, you know."
"I've been shot before, you know," I said, wiggling my cast from hell. "And I doubt your dad would shoot me. I think he would like me," I continued, puffing out my chest in pride. She giggled.
"Okay, Mister I'm Not Scared of Anything. What makes you so sure of yourself?"
"Well, I've never been arrested. I had great grades in school. I was on the basketball team. I am what most fathers wish for their daughters. And I'm irrevocably in love with you. Once your father sees how much you love me and how happy I could make you, he'll be begging you to marry me." I didn't want to sound like a pompous ass, but she had to know.
"Uh-huh, Buddy, you're on your own."
"Please, Bella, I want to meet him." I was being cruel now, pushing out my bottom lip and batting my eyelashes. I would have felt so gay if it wasn't for the fact that it always worked.
She knew she was fighting a losing battle. She sighed in defeat and tried to change the subject by mashing her mouth to mine.
"Fine. Tomorrow. And I think you should wear your army outfit and your helmet…You're going to need it." I smiled in triumph.
"Bella, you don't really think your father will shoot me, do you?" I asked, admittedly a little nervous. I hoped she was joking about the suit; even if I would wear it, it wasn't exactly bulletproof.
"No. I just want to see how sexy you look in camouflage."
****
The next day went on without a problem. I was not shot, though I swear Charlie was thinking about it. He seemed indifferent to me. It wasn't that he didn't care, I just thought he'd rather not know. What was the saying? What he doesn't know can't hurt him. That was Charlie Swan. I could see where Bella got her eyes and her curly hair from. He asked me a few things about the war, and I answered as best I could until Bella made something up about going somewhere and started pulling me out the door.
We got in my car and headed to my house, no real plans in particular. I was just happy that Bella was finally off for a day. I noticed that she stopped complaining about my fast driving and when I asked her about it, she said that she just got used to it. It was one of the things that I loved about her. She just accepted things about me, like nothing really bothered her.
When we got home, I led Bella inside and let everyone hug and talk about their day, just like we did almost every day. However, I noticed Carlisle was looking a little nervous. He kept throwing me glances and looking away when I caught him staring. After a while, I got frustrated. Something was wrong, and he was going to tell me what the hell was going on. I walked up to him and stood next to him side by side so that I could whisper in his ear.
"What's wrong?" I asked, hoping Bella and my mom wouldn't hear. He looked up at me, worry in his eyes.
"I'll tell you later…when Bella leaves should be a better time," he said, his eyes averting mine again.
"Carlisle, just tell me what's wrong now. Please. Is it bad?" I asked.
"It's not technically bad. I just don't know what it could possibly mean. It was so confusing," he whispered back. It was apparent that he had not told Esme, otherwise she would seem worried, too.
"Carlisle, Edward, what's wrong?" Esme asked. Crap. She noticed our conversation, breaking off her talk with Bella. I looked at my father, expecting him to explain, since I didn't know what was going on either. He looked back at me and ran a hand through his hair nervously.
"Well, it's not exactly bad, but I doubt that it's good. When I got home earlier, you were at the store, Esme, and I checked our house phone for voicemails," Carlisle said nervously. I raised my eyebrows at him, beckoning him to continue. He sighed and continued. "There was a man that called about you, Edward. He said he was from the military and that he wanted you to call him back."
His words played in my head over and over. What could they possibly want? Was something wrong?
"Was that all he said?" I asked.
"Yes. He said his phone number and I wrote it down."
"You deleted the message?" I wanted to hear this person's voice to see if I would recognize it. Maybe I was just overreacting. It was probably one of the guys from my group who came home and called to check on me.
"Yes, I got rid of it. But you can call him later," Carlisle said.
I looked at Bella. Now was really not the time for me to call. It was probably no big deal, but the fact that it could be was eating at me. She looked concerned. Maybe I could call and make sure now so that she wouldn't have to worry. I didn't like the fear in her eyes.
"I think I should call him now," I said. Carlisle sighed again and handed me the phone and a piece of paper with the number on it. The number was local, so I figured it couldn't be bad. I sat on the couch and Bella sat next to me while Esme sat on my other side. My mother looked scared, too. Carlisle just stayed standing. I dialed the number.
On the third ring a man finally picked up.
"Hello?" he said. I did not recognize his voice. It was deep and unfamiliar.
"Yes, this is Edward Cullen. I received a call from you earlier and the voicemail said to call back," I said cautiously. The man laughed on the other end. It was friendly and I relaxed by a fraction.
"Ah, yes, Edward. My name is Laurent and I was trying to get a hold of you for my friend James. You know, James Hurley? He said you worked for him in the force," the man said. Oh. Admiral James Hurley. Of course I knew him. I was under his command the whole time I was there.
"Yes, I remember him. Why is he tying to get a hold of me?" I tried to say it patiently and without anger, but I failed. I did not want to remember any of that. Admiral Hurley was certainly not my friend. Why would he want to get in touch with me? He was a dick. I didn't really expect him to treat me with kindness but he certainly seemed to hate everyone who was in a lower ranking than him.
"Well, he's in town and he's back for a month, and he wanted to have a little get-together with everyone he worked with. So I'm calling everyone who is also back and your name is on the list," Laurent said.
"Wait…he's having a party?" I asked. Why the hell would he have a party for us? He hated us all and it was his fault Jasper nearly had his leg blown off.
"Well, yes. If you'd like to RSVP, I'll tell you when and where. He just wants to see how everyone is doing," Laurent said. So that's it? He wanted to have a little "get together." Well, I certainly wasn't going. The man made my life hell for months. In no way shape or form did I want to visit that cocky bastard. I just wanted to get over everything I did and live a happy life with my Bella.
"You're allowed to bring a friend," Laurent added.
"What is it, Edward?" Esme put a hand on my shoulder, concerned at my blank expression.
"Can you hold on a second?" I told Laurent. He agreed and I told them about the party that my officer was throwing and that I was allowed to bring someone. They all relaxed and I looked at Bella. I did not really want to go, but I would have liked to show her off to the men that I had worked with. Besides, she might like to go.
"Do you want to go, Bella. I'll take you if you want," I said to her. Her face lit up and she nodded. I guess we would go then. With a half-smile-half-grimace at her I turned back to the phone.
"Laurent? I'll go. Just tell me when and where," I said. He was delighted that I decided to go and gave me directions. It was a week from now and it was at the Seattle Center. We hung up and I turned to Bella.
"Are you sure you want to go?" I asked her. I was still having second thoughts but I knew that it would be fine as long as she was with me.
"Yeah, I want to meet all the guys you worked with. It should be fun, right?" she said.
"Yeah, but the man who is throwing the thing isn't someone I ever wanted to see again. We should just stay away from him. I think it will be nice to know how everyone's doing, though. I hope no one I know has died since I left," I said with a frown. Bella shrugged, not really having an answer.
"I need to call Jasper…see if they got a hold of him," I said, pulling out my cell phone. He was with Alice today. She dragged him shopping and he agreed. That showed how much he liked her. He picked up on the first ring.
"Hey, Edward," he said.
"Hey, Jasper. My sister annoying you yet?" I asked. There was a 'hmpf' in the background that I recognized to be Alice and he chuckled.
"Nah, I'm okay. I'm just glad that my leg is in a cast, otherwise she would have made me try on everything from here to China by now," he said. I laughed.
"Listen, Jasper, I got a call from this guy named Laurent. He said that he was friends with Admiral James Hurley, the guy who worked with us and that he was throwing a party. Did they call you yet?"
"Yeah, they called me yesterday. I told them that I would think about it and call them later with an answer. I don't really want to go, but if you go, I'll go. I guess it would be nice to see the guys again. I'm just scared that Alice will bring me on another shopping spree just for the party," he said. I heard Alice scream "WHAT!" in the background.
"I told him I would go. I want to bring Bella. You gonna bring Alice?" I asked.
"Sure. It'll be fine. We're done with all that."
"Okay, man. Talk to you later," I said.
"Bye." I hung up and looked at my parents and Bella. Bella smiled at me, making all my worries disappear.
After Bella left I finally persuaded Carlisle to take my cast off. He wanted to wait until tomorrow so that he could get the right scissors for it but I channeled my inner teenager and threw a fit until I got my way. It felt soooooo nice. Once the air hit my bare arm I felt free and kept doing things with it that I couldn't do before. I had a scar from the bullet wound in the middle of my forearm that looked badass. Esme almost cried when she saw it and I kept telling her it didn't hurt and my laughing just made her cry more until I left to park my car in Emmett's drive, as usual, to get to Bella's.
Bella's eyes widened when she saw that I had no cast and kissed my scar after I assured her it didn't hurt. I ran my fingers through her wet hair.
"I love you," I whispered.
"Love you more," she said.
"No, you don't." I argued. She cocked an eyebrow. I loved it when she did that.
"Wanna bet?" she fired back. I laughed. Sometimes I truly wondered if she felt the same way as me. I knew there was no way she could possibly love me more than I loved her, but I still wanted to know what was the extent of her love. I needed to know.
"Can I ask you something, Love?" I asked. She nodded. I hesitated, afraid of her answer. I really needed to know, though.
"Do you ever think about us? Like you and me having a possible future?" I asked, unable to meet her eyes, fearing what I would see in them. She hesitated, too. What did that mean? Did she not ever consider being with me for years to come? It was all I ever thought about. We had been together for over a month and a half, but I knew that she was the girl that I wanted to spend my life with. I always thought that once you met the person you were going to fall in love with, you just knew…like there was a light that went off in your head or a sign that told you this was it. I had that sign the first day I saw her. She was my destiny. I finally looked back at her. She was deep in thought. I did not want her to say that she didn't want me forever. It sounded pathetic, but I knew if those words left her mouth, it would surely break me.
"Actually I think about it a lot, Edward. Sometimes I think about it too much and I'm scared," she finally said. What was she afraid of? Commitment? I furrowed my eyebrows, wanting her to explain more.
"I don't like to hope for things. I know that if I hope for something, what I want won't happen…just because I wanted it. I want you forever. So I try not to hope for it."
Wait. Whaaaaaaaat?
I thought over her explanation over and over again until I finally understood.
She wanted me forever! Just like I wanted her. But she thought it wasn't going to happen.
"Bella, I want everything with you. My whole future. You don't have anything to worry about," I said, trying to assure her. I didn't want her to worry about anything that had to do with us. If she wanted to be with me forever, then that's what she was going to get. She smiled sweetly and let me hold her as we fell asleep.
Next week we would be faced with my past, and I hoped that none of it scared her away.
A/N: This chapter was supposed to be longer, but it got too long and I had to transfer some of it to the next chapter. Wooo so I'm so sick of writing fluff, but it was necessary in this chapter…can anyone say foreshadowing? Any ideas on what's going to happen next chapter? It's the party…and we're going to meet James!! Anyway, please review. I spent all night doing this and if you read it and like it, make me happy please please please!