A/N: Et voila! Sorry it's a little later than I said – I was so tired last night and the time difference meant that I couldn't post it until the next day so I am sorry for that.

Thanks again to Parama for her beta skills.

Hope you enjoy the next chapter!

The relocation to Seattle was a lot harder on Edward than he had originally anticipated. Leaving his home town, even just for a week, was almost painful. However, it wasn't just the fact that he was leaving Forks – he was leaving her with it.

He had spent most of Sunday trying desperately to find someone locally to look after his daughter for the week whilst he was in Seattle at his office. Despite there being many women who were keen to offer him their services, he finally admitted to himself that he didn't want to leave Honey anyway. It would have pained him to know that his daughter was in a town extremely far from any of her parents. So, the decision was made to take Honey to work with him.

Luckily, his personal assistant Lauren was more than enough help when it came to looking after Honey. Edward was able to make his own coffee and let Lauren stay in his apartment in the day and he forwarded his dictation to his apartment's computer so that Lauren was able to still keep up during Honey's sleeping hours. Plus, he was still paying her for her PA duties so it was no financial hardship on her and after all, she had two grown up kids herself so she was perfectly able in the care department.

However, despite sorting out something for Honey, Edward was left with an empty feeling inside of his stomach for the rest of the week. He wasn't quite sure what it was exactly but he guessed some emotions that might have been the cause running through his head for the most part of the week: worry, regret, guilt, and longing.

The part of the night which he spent with Isabella had been more than he could have ever imagined. How he could feel that way about a seventeen year old was far beyond him. Ever since he had set his eyes on her in the bakery, his mind and his body reacted positively to everything she did – and it frightened him. Even as a grown man of thirty-two, he had never felt so scared in his entire life.

That's when he made the regrettable decision of leaving her in Forks. He had so much baggage – the fucked up marriage, the child, the stressful job – she was just a young, wise, and beautiful girl who had her whole life ahead of her and for her sake at least, he didn't want to burden her with all his old man shit. He was falling for her more than he had let on and he was freaking out about it, to say the least. It was almost impossible not to email her or do something to just remember how she made him feel. The way he wanted to drop everything just to spend time with her was more than unusual and he had to stop it before he fell in too deep.

On the other hand, part of his subconscious left him a channel of contact between the two. They still had each other's email address even though Edward had tried to force himself to delete hers. After thinking about her became too much, he remembered that he hadn't even paid her for when she had baby-sat for Honey. He also remembered that she had told him that she didn't have a phone and then, he had a miraculous idea.

The BlackBerry was perfect. It was like a computer (which he knew Bella was used to so that it would be easier for her to use), it was something that showed that he thought her help was more than just appreciated and it also left him with some form of communication; it left him with some hope. In his mind, this let him feel like it wasn't completely over.

He didn't expect her to contact him even though he had left his number on the device. He had left her with no word about what he was doing even though the time they had spent together the night before obviously meant something to her similar to what it meant to him. He knew that if she had done the same thing, he would be almost as devastated as he was to leave her in the first place. However, his psyche told him that it was for the better that they were apart now – she needed to live her life without an old broken man like him.

That was until he received her email. Her contact was like water in a drought to him as he logged onto his email account on the morning of what he knew to be her graduation day. He knew she must have received his letter and his gift and maybe she would tell him to piss off or maybe – he had wistfully hoped – that she missed him in the way that he missed her.

To Edward's utter dismay, there was nothing. The email contained no subject and no written message – just blank. For some reason, it worried him beyond belief. His reaction bothered him even more as he realized how much he was really obsessing over her welfare and her potential safety. Was she trying to get his attention? Was it an accident? Did she need him?

He decided that whatever it was, he would do his best to help her in every way that he could. The week had been torture without speaking to her or knowing that she was okay. Even though he still had one working day left in the week, he knew that he couldn't go one more day without seeing her and making sure that she was okay. It was pure torture knowing that she had tried to contact him and he couldn't see what she was trying to convey. He was going to her graduation.

As he was driving in his car all the way back to Forks, his foot a little harder on the gas and only one thing on his mind, his phone began to buzz violently. Tentatively, he took a quick glance at the caller ID and almost swerved into the curb when he saw who it was. It was her: Isabella Swan, the caller ID told him. He answered the phone as carefully as he could whilst trying to keep his eye on the road.

"Isabella?" He answered.

"Hi," she said back to him, with worry in her voice. His hands tensed as he was frustrated he couldn't be there for her.

"Are you okay?" He asked, eager for the answer.

"No I –" but then she was cut off after he heard a male mutter something and then the line went dead. Edward's fingers clenched with more force on the wheel and his foot pressed harder on the gas pedal as he edged closer and closer to Forks.

~*~

After everything was over and the entire crowd dispersed and the green eyes vanished, Bella rushed down from the stage and tried desperately to find any glimmer of green. Suddenly, she was interrupted by her father with open arms.

"Well done. I'm so proud of you," he whispered as he embraced her. Was he crying?

"Thanks Dad," she replied and smiled in relief as she realized everything was finally over. As she hugged her father, she kept her eye out for Edward. She really hoped it hadn't been her imagination because the hole in her chest was attempting to close and her stomach was throbbing with want.

Suddenly, as people moved from the field, her stomach seized as she saw him waiting there, his arms crossed and concern etched across his face. She immediately broke away from her father's hug and couldn't stop staring at Edward. He was dressed in his work clothes and Bella wondered whether he could ever be more attractive. She then came to the conclusion that no, that wasn't even humanly possible.

As her father muttered to her about how he didn't think she was going to throw her hat up in the end, Edward signalled to her that he was going to leave the field and then wait for her outside. Obviously, Charlie might have had something to say or get worked up about if Edward had come to her graduation. She also feared Mike or Jessica's reaction if they noticed that he was here, too. What if they told their parents and then they told Charlie? She instantly became fidgety again.

Charlie took her by the shoulders; attempting to shake her out of her apparent reverie. "Bella," he asked. "Are you listening to me?"

"Yes, Dad," she replied. "I didn't think I was going to throw my hat, either."

"Well, it's done now – it's finally over. I have to get back to the station now; do you want me to drop you off home on the way?" He asked her.

She looked over to the field where she could see him just disappearing. "No, it's okay Dad – I can walk home. Now it's over I think I need to clear my head a little."

"Okay, love. Just so you know, I think she would be really proud of you," he whispered, pride swelling inside of him.

Bella felt her emotions running high again and she forced a smile at her father. "I know," she replied.

As Charlie walked off across the field, Bella sat down on one of the benches to calm herself down. However, she found that she almost felt serene knowing that Edward was almost in her presence. The football field was now empty except for the used bunting that was flowing in the wind and the feeling of the sky becoming overcast as the weather was becoming more fervent: storms were not unusual in this town.

"Isabella," she heard a voice say and she turned around instantaneously.

She froze before she spoke. She had missed Edward so much in even a space of just a week that it almost hurt her to see him again. "Hi," she managed to stammer before he sat down on the bench next to her.

There was an awkward silence that filled the air as he sat almost half a foot away from her, knowing how much his body would react if there was any contact. Words escaped him as he realized how utterly stupid he was to leave this girl behind. Although their time spent together hadn't exactly been copious, he knew that she needed him and in reality, he needed her.

"So," he began with hesitancy. "How are you doing?"

She looked at him with her large brown eyes and then smiled nervously. "I'm a bit overwhelmed, actually." Then she furrowed her brow and pursed her lips before she spoke again. "Did you just come from Seattle?"

He smiled at her realizing the intensity of his rush to get to Forks – just so that he could see her again. "Yes, I did. It was a little reckless of me to leave my office on such impulsive needs but… you sounded so hurt on the phone. I thought you needed me, Isabella."

She looked down to the ground, crossed her hands in her lap and frowned. "I'm sorry, I couldn't…I didn't know what to do when… I don't know… I feel so lost, Edward."

His heart broke for her as he could read her pain even from where he was sitting. He leaned in to take her chin gracefully in his hand. She didn't even shiver at his slight touches anymore – she craved them. "I'm so sorry I left, Isabella. Things were… difficult – with Honey, with Rose, with my job…with you."

"I thought you'd left me for good," she replied, sorrow tainting her voice.

"I tried," he said. "I thought it was for the best."

She looked up at him and tears began to glisten in her eyes. "Do you still?" She asked.

He laughed and then draped his arm around her shoulders and she couldn't help but lean in, still nervously checking that no one else was on the field to see it. Thankfully, everyone was already on their way to Jess' 'After Grad' party by now and the teachers had left for their annual post graduation lunch before they came back to clear everything up.

"No," he replied. "That's why I'm back."

She leaned into him even more, rested her head in the crook of his armpit and failed to suppress a small sniffle. He rubbed her shoulder delicately and pulled her in even closer. He noticed how she was no longer as apprehensive and warmed to his touch rather than trying to shy away from it. They stayed in that position for a while and then he noticed a tear fall from her face.

"Why are you still sad, Isabella?" He asked her.

"I'm not," she retorted. "I'm happy."

As Edward looked up from her face, awashed with relief that he had made it back to her and that she didn't hate him, he noticed a figure standing at the end of the field and he jumped back from Bella reflexively. She bounced back from him as he made her jump and she turned around to see the person who had so graciously joined them.

"Mike," she whispered.

"I'll tell him not to say anything," Edward said as he stood up from the bench, his hands clenched into fists.

"No, please don't," Bella subtly begged. She thought quickly and apprehensively and then stood up, too. "I'll talk to him," she said, although it was more in a way of trying to convince herself.

"Are you sure, Isabella?" he said, eyeing the boy up and down like a predator to a prey. Bella had never seen him like this and it shocked her that she felt even more attracted to him this way. Edward, on the other hand, was seething. He was mostly outraged that someone had walked in on his clandestine obsession.

Bella walked over to Mike and she was shaking a little, probably aided by the wind that was now blowing ferociously. The hole in her chest was closing, but she was still feeling terribly nervous about speaking to this boy. She knew that he knew about Edward's number on the phone and now she was about to insist that nothing was going on. Plus, it pained her to walk away from Edward.

"Hey," he said to her as she approached him.

"Hi," she said back, not really knowing when to begin.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to come to Jess's party with a group of us – we're just leaving now," he stated, looking back at Edward on the pitch.

"Um, thanks but I'm gonna head on home now," she replied, smiling gently at him.

"Listen Bella," he said as he moved in closer. Bella instinctively moved back. "Are you sure you're okay? I know we don't speak that much but… I know when someone's upset." He looked over at Edward and then frowned.

"I'm fine, thank you. I babysit for the Cullen's and I forgot that I was supposed to be doing it tonight. I panicked, that's all," Bella said, trying to explain. She knew it didn't sound completely suited to what her actions were suggesting but it was all she could come up with. It would have to suffice, for now.

"Oh, okay," he replied. "Well, it's a shame you can't come. I hope everything goes well for you. You know, in life."

She smiled at him with surprised confidence. "Thank you, I hope you have a good time in college, wherever you're going."

He laughed. "Unfortunately I am only attending the community college in Forks, so I won't be too far away. See you around, Bella."

"Okay, Mike."

As Mike walked off, she watched him and then felt a sturdy pair of hands fall onto her shoulders and she smiled. Edward kissed her nape and although she did shudder, it was out of rapture rather than fear. "Let's get you home," he whispered. "You've had a long day."

During the drive back, neither of them felt as precarious as they did on their way to school. Most people were out having graduation celebrations so they weren't around to see them together. Bella was silent in the car but she still noticed Edward watching her from time to time. She couldn't help but grin to herself; she was so happy that he had come back for her.

As he turned into her driveway, she froze in horror as she noticed that someone was parked there. It was a large red Chevy truck that looked rusty in a sort of worn-in and homely way. She had never seen a truck quite like it – but she liked it.

"Is someone in?" Edward asked her, ready to pull out of the driveway and perform a speedy U-Turn.

"I don't know," she said fretfully. "If you wait here I will check and see if any of Dad's friends are over. It could just be Mr. Clearwater from the Rez."

"Okay, I'll be waiting here for you," he replied and her heart soared at those words. How was it possible that everything in the world she craved had fallen into this one being?

Of course, he felt exactly the same. It had been a mistake trying to hope that things would mend themselves and that if he ignored his problems they would just go away. He should have been there for her in one of the most important weeks of her life – but he wasn't. For that, he would never forgive himself.

He watched Bella as she walked up to the Chevy. He was instantly reminded of how much of an effect she really had on him. The way even her simple faded blue jeans clung to her every mouth-watering curve and her simple white t-shirt just worshipped her body in the way that he so badly wished he could. Her luscious brown hair fell delicately in loose waves down her back and he had to stop all of his impure thoughts before they got him into serious trouble.

As she moved over to the other side of the truck, he heard her gasp in horror. He immediately got out of the car with haste and moved around the side of the truck to see what was wrong. Then, he saw a large bow tied around the wing mirror, and a piece of paper that Bella was reading with a smile from ear to ear.

She turned to him. "It's my graduation present!"

A/N: I have written quite a bit of the next chapter already so the update MAY be before next Thursday. I'll keep you all updated on Twitter under bondgirrl.

And a review would really make me smile :)