Everything belongs to SM. Many thanks to Taylor'sgirl115 for editing it and to Twichild369 for looking over my silly mistakes.

DUM DUM DUM! The awaited chapter is here. I'll let you read, knowing you waited so long for it. Enjoy!

"Would you stop squirming? I'm not taking you somewhere to decapitate you!" Jasper groaned and pressed the acceleration.

"Feels like it." I muttered and focused on my breathing. The smell of leather made me dizzy, but distracted me of where we were headed. Alice had begged me to visit and today, she had sent Jasper to get me, seeing that I would agree. As if I could say no to Jasper when he played with my emotions. Like right now, for instance, he made me feel giddy and I was bouncing in my seat despite the nervousness that was deep buried inside me.

"You, stop it!" I yelled, making him turn to me, give me a white smile, and watch me with big golden, sincere eyes.

"I don't know what has got into you." He drawled and then focused back on the road, hiding a smirk.

"Jasper! I'll bounce out of the car or probably combust before we get there." I moaned.

"My apologizes, Ma'am."

We arrived to their house. It was located in the woods, but this time, it was longer than taller. It had only one floor and it was made of massive wood, it looked rustic and very homely. Esme could really work miracles. The full-wall windows were visible here and there, I started to believe it was their trademark.

Jasper led me to the front door and a new round of nerves came over me. He shot me a warning look and opened the door then frowned.

Someone or something blurred towards me and I was engulfed in an iron hug. My arms went numb from the squeeze and sudden coolness. It took me a moment to realize who was hugging me. I started, frozen, at the side of her blonde hair. Rosalie.

"Could you ever forgive me, Bella?" she whispered with remorse, a dry sob escaping her lips.

"You?" I asked bewildered. What had she done wrong?

"I've always been against your relationship. And in the end, he told me that I was right…but I've been inconsiderate. He had finally found someone, his mate, and I was angry and jealous that he had fallen for a human when…well, Carlisle had tried to make me his mate, in the very beginning. Can you understand me? I am so incredibly sorry for how stupid I was! I have dismembered the family! Edward left us, too."

We had ended up on a brown plush couch, alone. Jasper had left, probably too much crying around him. I couldn't control my sobs.

I was finally here, Edward was closer than ever…and Rosalie was talking to me.

"Bella, please, say something. How much do you hate me?"

"I can't hate any of you." I whispered and blew my nose in a tissue, watching my tears wetting my jeans. "I admire that you are sincere." I told her.

She gave me a weak smile and murmured, "I don't deserve your forgiveness."

I looked up at her, ready to say something else when I saw Esme in the doorway.

"Bella, my sweet child!" she wailed and I had time only to get up and raise my hands before she hugged me tightly. I decided to stop trying to get control over my tears.

"E-es-me!" I hiccupped. She took a step back and smiled apologetically.

"I haven't hunted in a while." I laughed at her little problem. Soon, Carlisle joined us.

"In one piece, I see." He teased me and gave a "warm" hug.

"Not even close." I chuckled and showed him my wrist.

"What did you do, now?" a new voice asked, somewhat exasperated, from behind me. I turned around to see Emmett grinning at me. I decided to go with the truth since I had no secrets towards them.

"Punched a werewolf in the face." I smirked.

Emmett boomed a loud laugh, the windows rattled. He scooped me up and twirled me around the room. "Charlie would be proud of you!" he goofed.

"Probably not, considering he liked him so much."

"Wasn't he your friend? The one Sarah told us about?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes. Could you put me down?" I tentatively asked Emmett who hadn't put me down yet.

"Of course. I don't want a punch." He laughed and dropped me unceremoniously on the couch, next to his wife.

"It would be a good time to explain what's going on." Alice said impatiently, entering the room with Jasper in toe.

I rounded my eyes over them, taking in their eager, anxious, nervous, excited faces. One person was missing and I felt a pang in my heart. He really didn't want me. I gulped a fresh round of tears and got a grip of myself, starting to explain everything.

Since they left, through how the wolves caught and killed Laurent and Victoria, how I came here and met Sarah then Robert -I explained a few things, reluctantly- then the holiday in Forks, my dream, coming back here until I got to last night.

"How did you break your hand?" Esme asked, worried.

"I told Jake that I'm coming here and he got angry, claiming that I can't and other stupid things so I punched him. My wrist isn't broken, just twisted." I explained.

"Can I take a look?" Carlisle offered.

"Yes, but it is well taken care of." I whispered, blushing. "Robert is in his last year at medicine."

"If you don't tell them, I will." Alice threatened me, growling lowly and narrowing her eyes at me.

"You don't have to explain it, Bella. We realize you are with this boy." Carlisle said kindly.

"Bella." Alice hissed.

"Ehh he… uhhh sort of," I glanced at Alice who quirked an eyebrow at me. "He looks like Edward." I blurted out, turning three shades of red.

"Sort of?" she screeched. "I honestly thought it was him for a second."

"Bella?" Their voices rang beautifully as they looked at me puzzled.

"Fine." I sighed. "Robert looks a lot like Edward." I admitted and delved in more explanations, about how they are relatives. When I finished, no one was breathing or moving. Had I scared my vampires? Was I that masochistic? Yes. Yes, I was.

I looked at each of their beautiful faces, wondering where was the one I mostly wanted to see… or not see. Maybe it was for the best. Alice had told me he was here, now… so where was he? I just wanted to see him, one more time, to twist the knife in the wound.

The front door opened with a loud bang and everyone's head turned in that direction. It was almost comical. If I hadn't known who was there… I would have laughed.

"Carlisle, you should go back. Barbara wanted to see you about the files you gave her." His voice flattered with ever word, his golden eyes widening with every word out. Didn't he know I was here? Couldn't he smell me? Or hear my heart?

There stood Edward in all his glory, as beautiful as ever. My memory hadn't done him or his voice justice. Something was different. The black under his eyes was more accentuated than ever, his lips were as pale as his face, his beautiful golden eyes were shadowed, showing his true age almost. Had he suffered as much as I had? Impossible. He is the one that left. He didn't want me.

I jumped, startled when I heard an engine roaring outside. Everyone had left the room, but Edward was still petrified in the doorway. Could vampires go in shock? He looked like he was in shock, right now.

I moved my eyes from his face and saw that he was wearing a white coat. Was he working at the hospital with Carlisle?

I wondered what he could be thinking now, I prayed he wouldn't run. I wanted to talk and I needed an explanation.

My phone rang and I felt my blush come back in full force. Robert had managed to cut the song "This Words" and put as my ring tone for him the part where Natasha Bedingfield sang, "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you; There's no other way; To better say; I love you, I love you". I answered and somehow, my eyes met Edward's. He gazed at me as he used to, making me forget my head.

"Hi, love!" Robert greeted. Edward's eyed widened further.

"Hey!" I whispered, surprised I could still talk. I tried to turn my gaze, but it was impossible.

"Are you coming with me to Chicago for the game away?"

His team had a game against Colombia College. I had promised. "We can stay at the hotel where the team would be staying or with my family."

I closed my eyes, knowing that if Edward still somehow felt something for me, I was hurting him.

"Home," I said forcibly. "You mean?" I wondered if he'd ever call it "home".

"That." He laughed.

"When is this again?" I asked, opening my eyes again, only to have them captured by Edward's intense gaze.

"Next weekend. So… Friday night, we're leaving."

"I'll think about it. I still have to work on my thesis. To start it." I said.

"Haven't you- Why can't you take your laptop with you?"

"Robert!" I sighed. "I'll think about it."

"If this is about leaving me alone with them, you don't have to worry. I'll spend plenty of time with my family. Please, Bella?" he pleaded. He knew I always caved for that.

"I'll tell you tomorrow. I ehh don't think I'm coming back tonight. I haven't seen Alice in some time."

"Sure." He agreed. "How's your hand?"

"Alright, thanks to my doctor." I teased, averting my eyes.

"Love you." Rob whispered softly.

I closed my eyes and repeated the words then hung up. Silence fell in the room and I knew that if he won't say a word, I will explode and maybe hurt myself further by trying to punch him.

I didn't see or hear him move, but Edward was in front of me, both hands on my face, taking in me as if not believing I was real.

"Bella." He said softly, his voice as velvety as ever, eyes never leaving mine. "Oh Bella!" His thumbs stroked my cheeks, catching my tears that were falling without my consent, from my eyes.

"Edward!" I choked out and raised my good hand to his cheek. It would have sounded stupid, but his cheek felt bony as if he had lost weight. Was that possible?

He caught my wrist and peppered kissed there. Then suddenly, he dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to my stomach. "Words cannot express how I feel right now. I don't expect you to want to talk or see me, but please, just today." What was he talking about? "I am selfish and we both know that. Please just let me be here. Today. I would never bother you again. I see you moved on, what I wanted." He said sorrowfully.

"Why? Why, Edward?" I whispered, desperate for the answer I had waited for years to have. My hand moved to his hair and he pressed his cheek to my stomach, gazing up at me through his long, black lashes.

"I am a deplorable creature. I understand that you hate me now."

"I could never hate you!" I shouted and fell next to him. "Just… I need to know, why? Had it all been an act? All those months?" I asked, as tears seemed to never stop falling.

Edward watched me for a long minute then shook his head. "I've told you countless times how I feel." He started.

"Feel?" The question fell from my lips before I could stop it.

"Yes, feel. Present time. Forever is forever, mates are for life. Although, my selfishness knows no bounds. Bella, understand that in the forest… I was scared for your safety. After Jasper… I knew that I had to leave. You were constantly in danger when I was around."

"Such a gentleman." I snorted.

"At that time, I thought I did the right thing, although a big part of me remained with you, there. I had left my heart with you."

I couldn't believe my ears. What was he telling me? Had he lied?

"Yes, Bella. I lied. The most degrading thing I could have done. It broke me to see you like that, but I wanted you safe above everything. I never knew what I'd left behind."

"How do you know? You weren't here when I told them!" I gasped, surprised.

He gave me his beautiful smile. "Have you forgotten about my ability? They bombarded me with the news."

"You're a doctor?"

"Intern." he whispered. "Don't change the subject."

"I am so angry! I want to hit you, but I know that I'd end up hurt. You are so stupid for someone who claims to know everything and have so many years in background! You've hurt me so much… I don't know… I still want… I missed you so much!" I cried and threw my arms around his neck.

Edward murmured something that sounded close to "Sweetheart," but I didn't move. I was in his arms again. I was safe. I felt alive, more than ever.

"What's this?" he asked softly, his finger tracing my neck. "How did you hurt yourself, here?"

I blushed and wished he hadn't seen the hickey. I had discovered it this morning. That's why Robert had been so cheery when he left last night.

"Bella?" he looked at me curiously. "What happened? Why are you blushing?" he coaxed.

"It's a… bite." I said barely audible. His eyes widened in shock. "It's not what you think." I tried to laugh, but a weird sound escaped me.

He was still looking confused at my neck. "Robert… bit me. It's… ehhh… you know… a hickey?" I managed to sputter out and made it sound like a question.

Comprehension drowned on his face. "Is it true? What I saw in Alice's head?"

"Yes."

"And here I thought that I was the masochist!" he laughed and the sound was so beautiful, it warmed me and reminded me how easy it was to just be with Edward. He took a solemn look and eyed me carefully. "Do you love him? Are you in love with him?"

What do I answer? I had never managed to love Rob as much as I have loved and still love Edward. My heartbeat quickened. I knew the answer, but I was afraid to admit it. Someone was going to end up hurt. I never intended for that to happen, because Edward was supposed to have never existed!

"Listen to your heart fly. Bella, I can take it. I can see it in your eyes. You love him."

"At the beginning, it was… more the idea of him being related to you, being so similar yet so different. But as time passed, I fell in love. It's nothing compared to what I feel for you. I can't love anyone as much or as blindly. Don't you know that I am unconditionally and irrevocably in love with you?"

"Still? After everything I've put you through?" he asked slowly, surprised.

"Yes, I don't know how to not love you." I admitted, stroking his hair.

"You will hurt your friend." He murmured and stroked my cheek. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

"You may not, but…" I stopped, biting my lip. He took a resigned posture, expecting the worst. "I am nearly as old as Carlisle."

"Oh Bella! Stop this nonsense! If you want the truth, you don't look a day older than how I remember you and trust me, I thought of you a lot."

"You look changed."

"I'm getting better since I came back." He started, gauging my expression. He wasn't making sense. "I hadn't fed in some time. Only when I felt too weak to move." I couldn't imagine him like that. "I tried to find a way to… kill myself, but nothing worked. I became disgusted with what I had done, but I had promised myself to never interfere with your life."

"I thought of you constantly! I have no idea how I managed to finish high school. And don't say such things… as suicide. Please, Edward." I pleaded.

"Promise me, you won't say anything to my next words." I nodded, dazzled by his penetrating gaze. "I love you."

I froze, his eyes softened as his fingers traced my lips. I didn't say the words back, but my body took initiative and before either of us realized what happened, I was on his lap, kissing him. He froze for a second then the softest moan escaped his lips and his hands buried in my hair, kissing me back with just as much passion and love I had for him.

After about a minute, he separated our lips and opened his eyes. He searched my eyes for something then sighed, surrounding me in his heady scent then claimed my lips for another kiss.

"I missed you. So much. Oh Bella." He murmured between kisses.

I stroked his hair and kissed every spot on his face. "You're so thin because you didn't feed properly?" I asked, softly.

"I've heard enough of that from Esme. Please, don't say anything." He pleaded me and squeezed me closer. "I don't think I'll give you back." He sounded serious.

I sighed heavily. I had no idea what I wanted anymore. "I never intended for this to happen. I don't want to hurt him."

"I can wait another few months until you finish college. You can say something… invent something."

"Edward, I'm not going to lie to Robert. I will tell him the truth. I just… need some time to think about what to say, how to say it."

"I will wait, as I said."

"I appreciate it. It's not like me to… do this." I whispered and put my head on his shoulder. "I don't think I would have survived the next six months if you wanted to keep us a secret."

"As soon as you finish, I am yours. That's only if you'd want me." He said solemnly.

"I will always want you, Edward. Haven't we established that?"

He smiled and pressed his lips to my forehead. "Can we just be? For today?"

Now, I understood his previous question. "Yes."

He sprang on his feet, with me in his arms. "Hungry?" He was vibrating.

"We're not leaving the house."

"Of course, not. I'll cook for you." He said seriously and carried me to the kitchen. I was deposited on the counter and after he kissed me once more, he turned to the fridge. "What would it be?"

"Since when do you cook?" I asked surprised.

"I watched Food Network and unfortunately it registered to my mind. Now, I'm happy I watched it." he chuckled and took a pan from a cupboard. It still surprised me how they had the kitchen stored.

"Surprise me."

"That means you'd have to go and watch TV or… find a movie you'd like to watch."

"I'll choose a movie. Where do you keep them?" I asked, hopping off the counter.

"Walk the corridor to your right and you'd find my name on the door." He instructed.

"I see how you're gonna be this time." I teased. He turned to me and frowned. "Last time, you were nervous when you showed me your room then you got all playful, nearly eating me."

"Alice and Jasper were under the impression that I was eating you when I was merely showing you how dangerous I am." He chuckled and took my hand. "Do you want an encore?"

"I may get lost on the way to your room." I told him, blushing. His hand felt so good there, holding mine, protecting me again.

We walked in silence until we reached his room. He opened the door and stepped aside.

"Umm this is my room." He whispered, a lone chuckle escaping his lips.

My eyes widened as I took in the room. The books, CDs, DVDs, audio system, the TV… everything was there with one big addition. A huge bed in the middle of the room. It looked out of place as if it didn't belong there.

"A bed?" I asked surprised.

"Uhh yeah. Alice's fabulous idea." He explained.

"I'll look for a movie." I decided, taking my eyes off the bed. "Go and surprise me with the food."

Edward turned me to him and gave another kiss then disappeared to the kitchen. Somewhere deep inside me, I felt like I was cheating, which I probably was, but I couldn't think clearly now. I wasn't even carrying about where the rest of the Cullens were. I was alone with Edward and we were talking and I couldn't care about anything else. The world could come to an end and I'd die happy.

I went to his movies and looked through them. I picked Killing Me Softly. I hadn't seen it yet, but heard it was good. It was nice to have from where to choose.

I put the DVD case aside and followed the delicious smell that was coming from the kitchen. The door was closed and when I tried to open it, it wouldn't open.

"It's a surprise so you will have to wait a few more minutes!" Edward's voice rang from the other side.

I huffed and went to the living room. I haven't even looked around earlier. The house was more like a big cottage with everything was made of wood. On the floor, near the piano was a huge black bear's fur with the head still attached to it, on a wall were two deer or more exactly a deer and a stag's heads. On the mantle of the fireplace were a few photos, which surprised me. Last time, I hadn't seen a photo in their house. Maybe only in Alice's room.

I approached it and saw that a few photos were of them as… humans. I blinked and looked closer. I had seen right. Only Esme, Rosalie, Edward and Emmett had photos as humans, but I was still shocked. Rosalie was on an ottoman, reading near a window, her head turned to the camera, her face a mask of surprise. Edward's photo seemed familiar and I realized that I've seen it before. In Robert's house. It was the photo of Edward and the cat. Emmett's photo was taken in the woods where he had a gun and was concentrating on shooting something unseen to me. Esme's photo was in a large country yard, her arms around a doctor, who was mostly supporting her since she had her leg in sort of a cast. She was not older than eighteen.

"I was wondering where you disappeared." Edward's voice startled me. He was behind me, breathing on my neck. "I think I've told you about Esme, haven't I?" I nodded. "Then you must recognize the person next to her."

I looked better and everything came back. Carlisle was next to her. "Carlisle?" I asked surprised.

"Yes."

"What were you doing to that cat?" I asked amused.

"I don't remember, but I seem to be teasing her." He chuckled and wrapped his arms around me. "Let's go, feed you."

He took my hand and we went back to his room where he had put my plate on the bed. It looked like pasta and bacon.

"What is it?" I asked, eyeing my plate.

"It's pasta with broccoli and I fried some bacon. I hope I had it right."

"There's only one way to find out." I said, grinning and taking a forkful of the food. It tasted amazing. I would have never thought of this combination. "Hmm" I hummed and settled better on the bed, taking another bite of the food.

I should have read more on the DVD's case, because this movie… was a wrong choice. I had no idea exactly how explicit it could be. I decided to save myself from the embarrassment by going to wash the plate.

"You cooked." I insisted when Edward offered to get my plate in the kitchen.

"I'll put the movie on pause."

"No, really. It's okay. I won't miss much." I said hurriedly, praying that the blush that threatened to explode would stay hidden.

I washed my plate and I was on my way back when something big and green appeared in front of me. The scream that escaped me was involuntary. The dewlap of the animal filled with air and he emitted a weird sound.

"Edward?" I squeaked and took a step back. How did this animal get here?

He came out of his room and chuckled when he saw my impediment. "You met Marty."

"Marty?" My voice seemed to be a permanent squeak.

"Yes. Marty, the green iguana, is Emmett's pet." He explained, rolling his eyes. "Don't panic, he's inoffensive."

"Should I expect other things?" I asked, still shaken.

He shook his head then took a serious look. Oh no! Since when do they keep pets? Edward eyed me carefully. "Are you scared of small rodents?"

"A mouse?" I half yelled.

"Not really. Rose and Alice found her some time ago. Alice told me about the first meeting, it's boring. She is cute."

"Edward, what are you talking about?" Had they all gone mad?

"Come." He took my hand and dragged me to a room on my left. I dodged the iguana that was minding her own business, in the middle of the hallway.

On a big desk was a cage almost as big as it. Something small and white was moving around. It stopped when it heard us come in and came to the bars.

"Is it a rat?" It didn't look like one.

"I'm sure you just would her ego. It's a Chinchilla, Bella."

"You mean the one that has expensive fur?"

"Precisely."

"Since when do you keep pets?"

"I wouldn't know. It was as much of a shock for me as it is for you. Alice wasn't very original about naming the poor animal, but the name stuck. She's Sweets."

I couldn't believe this. I waited for him to say this is just a joke or… just to wake up from this dream and be back in my room, on campus.

"Shall we finish the movie?"

I nodded dumbly. I left the room first and nearly stepped on Marty. He filled his dewlap with air and emitted the same weird sound, moving his tail.

Edward took him in his arms and turned to me. I took a step back. "It won't be a good idea to bring him so close to me." I rushed out.

He laughed. "Could you open Emmett's door? It's in front of you." He nodded to the door and I happily did so. He put the iguana on the floor and closed the door. "He won't hurt you, I promise."

"Let's not test that on my outstanding luck." I muttered.

Edward laughed again and I caught a twinkle in his eyes before the floor disappeared from under my feet.

Was it worth the waiting? Review and tell me what you think of it.

For those of you that started reading my new story, Lives Crashed Together, I put the banners on my website. Go check it out!

PS: Marty will be on my website soon.