Ideals

A/N- alright… so I know it has been forever! Sorry about the long wait but I had a hard time trying to decide where exactly I wanted this story to go and I got a bit distracted by a few of my other stories. I have a clear idea of where this is going now, so expect to see updates again!

On the title front there are three titles currently tied (I'm not going to say which ones but I'm kind of rooting for two of them!)… I've set it up so that you can go in and vote AGAIN (for those of you who already have voted once)… for those of you who haven't voted… GO VOTE! I'm hoping to have the title chosen for the next chapter… and hey you could be the deciding vote (yes they are that close.) Link is still posted in my profile!

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They sat together on the swing, letting the comfortable silence hang between them.

"Do you ever contemplate the future?" Bella asked her head resting against his shoulder.

He smiled a cute crooked smile that made him look slightly cocky. He chuckled softly as he pulled her body closer to him, gently rubbing his hand along her arm trying to ward off the chill.

Their eyes met and he couldn't help but chuckle again at the blush that now lined her face.

"Well…" Bella questioned hesitantly.

"Of course love," he replied "I think about it more than I probably should."

She nodded her head silently in acquiescence.

"Ideally," Edward whispered "I would like to stay somewhere semi-close to family and friends." He angled his head towards the patio door before smiling. "They may be a thorn in my side at times but they are always there for me and they really do care about what happens to me."

Bella smiled in understanding.

"They are like my family in a way. I mean Alice is family, but I try not to claim her unless I have to." He chuckled softly at his joke before looking up at the stars and becoming serious again. "I know what it's like to lose those that I love, having lost my parents so young. There was always this part of me that felt like it was missing."

"Don't get me wrong because I love Carlisle and Esme as if they were my own parents. But I can't help but have this part of me that wonders what it would have been like being raised by my own mom and dad."

He shook his head seemingly clearing the cobwebs of his thoughts.

"I'm sorry," Edward stated frowning softly "I didn't mean to be so depressing."

Bella took his hand softly in hers and squeezed it. "You have nothing to apologize for, you're being open and honest with me and I appreciate that."

"I have no idea of the monumental loss that their death must be in your life," she frowned softly "I do know something about feeling like a part of you is missing though. I was constantly shuffled around between my mother and father. I have never really felt like I had a place that was actually home for me."

"That must have been hard." Edward replied "Did you ever wish your mother and father would get back together?"

"When I was younger I would entertain the idea," she shrugged "but I realize now how completely unlikely the scenarios that my child-like mind thought up were."

He smiled in understanding.

"I don't know if it's all the books I have read, or just a girlish notion," Bella blushed as she spoke "but I have this notion that everyone should have their happily ever after."

"I can relate to the hope," Edward replied shrugging "everyone wants to be happy. To have those that they love be happy. It's only normal. I don't necessarily think it is just a girlish notion."

"What is your ideal future?" Edward asked his hand playing with strands of her hair as he spoke.

"I could see myself writing a book or maybe teaching English or literature to high school students. I want to be happy, obviously. I wouldn't mind a gorgeous, doting husband." She winked at him as she continued. "I would love to have a comfortable home base, to call my own, children, maybe even a dog."

Edward sighed loudly smirking at her. "Is that all?"

She tapped her finger against her chin for a moment playing along with his antics. "For the moment anyways, it could always change."

He laughed lightheartedly his fingers still gently twirling strands of her hair.

"What about you," Bella questioned softly "What is your ideal future?"

"I used to have this notion that everything had to be perfect, but that has changed somewhat as I have grown up. My notions always seemed so distant and unattainable." He ran his hand through his hair for a moment as if embarrassed by his admittance.

"I had a hard time believing that I could have that happiness. That someone would be able to love me and be as passionate about me as I was about them. I was always worried that that piece of me that felt like it was missing would make it hard for others to love me."

"I want a lot of the same things you do, Bella. I want to have a job that makes me happy, to have a family that I love unconditionally. But I think that is only part of it, you know? I want someone who understands and loves me, who can fill that missing piece of me."

Bella nodded in understanding, silently agreeing with him.

"Lately, though, the thought of the future doesn't seem so far away and unattainable."

"What brought this on?" Bella asked curiously.

"You." He stated in conviction his eyes meeting hers. Her face blushed for a moment before a smile broke out on her face and she reached up tangling her fingers in his hair.

She pulled him softly to her, their lips pressing together. He could feel her gently tug on his bottom lip and his hands playing with her hair tangled into it, pulling her closer.

Bella pulled back after a moment smiling softly at him before turning and looking at the window and chuckling softly. His gaze followed hers and he rolled his eyes.

"Like I said," Edward stated looking at his sister and friends cheering them on through the window "I only claim them when I have to."

Dedications!

This chapter is dedicated to all of you who waited patiently and *gently* reminded me that I was neglecting this story… Also to my fabulous Beta- Ashlyn13 (Thanks for the support!)

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