(A/N): This chappie was beta'd by the awesome RandomatGedz!

Disclaimer: Steph Meyer owns Twilight, Britishward however is ALL MINE :D


Living Royal

Chapter Eleven

It had been a long night for Bella Swan. While she had hoped that she'd be able to enjoy Edward's birthday ball with him by her side, she'd spent most of the night sitting alone with a few strangers at one of the tables set up around the ballroom. On top of that she had been on the receiving end of fearsome glares from every girl in the room. She just hoped the night would end soon.

After her dance with Edward was over he took her around the room, introducing her to some of the people he knew, but their time together had been cut short.

Edward had done his best to try and remain next to her, but whenever they had a moment to themselves, the king would descend and drag Edward away to speak with one person or another. He'd also made it his life's mission to introduce Edward to every young lady in the room. Bella started to feel like Cinderella at the ball, only she was starting to believe that she wouldn't have the happily ever after. The odds stacked against them were too much.

Bella knew that Edward's parents wouldn't be all for their relationship, but she didn't expect the King to be so much against it. He looked like he was seconds away from having her thrown out. At least the Queen had been courteous. She had even seemed happy to meet Bella. But at this point Bella didn't know what to believe.

Before long, it was time for the birthday cake. Bella smiled as Edward came forward with his parents to stand around the table where the cake was placed. Her smile fell however, when she noticed the strawberry blonde woman on his arm.

All around her people starting singing happy birthday, but all Bella could hear was the rushing of blood from her head downwards and her eyes started pricking with tears.

No, she wouldn't cry.

She wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

Bella grabbed her clutch and headed outside. She was able to escape without anyone noticing. Why would they notice anyone like her, after all? She was merely a commoner. Someone so far beneath them that she wasn't worth mentioning.

Bella allowed her tears to fall as soon as she was outside.

She ran blindly through the palace until she found herself outside in the gardens. She leaned onto one of the trees to try and gather herself together.

Who the hell was that? How could he do that to her when everyone there knew that she was his girlfriend?

Bella needed answers to those questions, but she wasn't sure that she was willing to stick around long enough to get them. She started walking back in, intending to go back to her room, collect her things and get the bloody hell out of there.

Her heart ached when she realized that by doing that she'd be cutting all ties with Edward off. But she had to do it.

Her phone started ringing right then. Bella fished it out of her clutch thinking it must be Alice calling to ask how things were going so far. She would be so disappointed.

She answered without looking at the screen, "Hello?"

"Bella? Bella, where are you?"

It was Edward. Bella was so tempted to hang up, but she realized she'd have to talk to him anyway, now that he realized that she was gone.

"I-uh needed some fresh air. I'm out in the gardens."

"Bella, I know what it looked like, but I swear to God I didn't even know Tanya was going to be there."

Oh, he's on first name basis with the bitch. That's just perfect.

"Honestly, Edward, I don't care anymore. I just want to go back to school."

"No, no. Bella, just let me explain first." His voice became a bit frantic, "I'm coming to where you are right now. Just wait, please."

Bella sighed. She might as well listen to what he had to say.

"Alright, I'm waiting."

They hung up and Bella tried to fix herself so she wouldn't look like she'd been crying.

"Bella?" She heard Edward calling a few minutes later.

"Over here," She said.

Edward came into view and he looked so relieved when he finally spotted her that Bella's heart softened a little it. But then she remembered the sight of him with that blonde on his arm. What Bella hated the most was being made a fool of and Edward had done just that.

"Thank God, I thought that by the time I got a hold of you, you would've already left." He said as he walked closer to her.

"Nope, I'm still here." Bella muttered, barely able to look at him.

"Listen, Bella I know how that looked and I promise I never intended for that to happen. I was set up, by my father no less. There are certain protocols that have to be maintained during functions like this one, I have to speak to certain people and be seen with them. And unfortunately Tanya happens to be one of those people."

"You really expect me to believe that?" Bella cut him off, "That you're not even allowed to be with your girlfriend on your birthday?"

"I know that I haven't explained well enough to you how things work around here and I'm sorry, Bella. I really am. But this is how my life is like. Rules are always followed no matter what."

Bella felt her heart break at that moment.

"Then why are you dating me?" She whispered, feeling drained all of a sudden.

Edward ran his fingers through his hair and pulled at it. That was what he did whenever he was nervous.

"Because," He trailed off.

"Because what?" Bella persisted.

"Because I'm in love with you!" Edward blurted out. Bella felt her heart stop, and then it started beating again a million miles a minute.

He loved her?

He loved her?

He loved her.

Bella gaped at Edward, "Y-you love me?"

He cautiously took a step closer, as if afraid she was about to bolt, and raised his hand to stroke her cheek.

"Yes, I do. I think I fell for you the moment you called me a narcissistic asshole." He grinned.

"What? I never called you that!"

"Yes, but you implied it and I thought you were the most beautiful girl I'd laid eyes on."

"Edward, I swear to God, if you're just saying this to make me feel better..." Edward cut her off as he cupped her face in his hands and stared deeply into her eyes.

"Bella, listen to me. I would never lie to you about something like that."

Bella smiled weakly, "Good, because I love you too."

"Really?"

"I wouldn't lie to you about something like that either, Edward."

Bella shrieked as Edward suddenly pulled her into his arms and started twirling her around the gardens.

"Edward…put…me…down." Bella said between bouts of laughter.

"No, never."

"Put me down or I won't be able to give you your gift."

Edward immediately put her down, "You got me a gift?" He said, looking excited.

"Well, it is your birthday." Bella joked.

"Okay, then let's see it."

Bella laughed at Edward's exuberance. He looked like a five year old on Christmas.

"Oh, I see how it is. You'll only do what I ask of you if I have a present?"

"Yes, pretty much." He admitted, teasing her further.

"I'll keep that in mind then," She winked as she got his present out of her clutch and handed it to him. "It's nothing much. I just thought you might like it." She mumbled, suddenly feeling nervous.

Edward tore open the wrapping paper and opened the velvet square box to find the expensive watch she had bought him, but it was not the watch that really mattered.

"Flip it over, look on the inside." Bella instructed him.

Edward glanced at her curiously before doing as she said.

"With great power comes great responsibility…" He read quietly.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

To anyone else it might've seemed like a joke or that she was mocking him, but Edward knew exactly what she meant. He remembered the conversation they had not long ago when he was basically whining about the responsibilities he would have when he became king. She had given him a wakeup call then, by telling him all the things he'd be able to do, all the people he'd be able to help.

Edward looked at Bella and realized how lucky he was to have met someone like her. She was so brave, kind and completely selfless. And he loved her so much.

"Thank you, I-I'll never take this off. Ever." He said as he put the watch on.

He then lifted one of Bella's hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. He felt her shiver.

"Are you cold?" He asked, worried that they'd been out there too long.

"Um, no no, I'm fine." She shook her head, but Edward wasn't buying it. He took off his jacket and laid it on her shoulders. Then he rubbed his hands up and won her arms to warm her up quickly.

"Um, thank you." Bella blushed at the intimate gesture.

"No problem," He smiled softly at her.

"Uh, Edward, we still need to talk about what happened."

Edward's smiled dimmed a bit; he had hoped that she had forgotten about that by now.

"I know." He admitted nonetheless.

"Do you…Did you and Tanya ever…?"

"No, Bella. I've only ever had two girlfriends in my life before you, and neither of them were Tanya. I've never even liked her. All she's after is the money and the fame that dating a prince would grant her. My father seems to like her though; or rather he likes her family's status, so he keeps pushing us together whenever he can. Before, it was always easier if I let him have his way for the night and then I wouldn't have to see her again until the next occasion. I just never thought…"

"Never thought I'd be hurt? Really, Edward? It never crossed your mind that I'd be annoyed to see you prancing all over the place with her?" Bella yelled.

"Bella, I was about to brush her off of me when I noticed you leaving. I pulled away immediately and ran after you but I couldn't find you, that's when I decided to call you. I was so afraid that you'd already left… I'm so sorry, Bella, just tell me how to make it up to you and I will. I'll do anything."

A mischievous gleam suddenly appeared in Bella's eyes.

"Anything?" She asked.

"Anything."

"Then let's go back to the ball."

"Are you serious? You want to go back in there?" Edward was incredulous.

"Yes, I do. We need to show everyone in there that we're sticking together no matter what and that nothing they will do will matter."

Edward couldn't help but admire how brave she was. He needed to be sure of something else first, though.

"Are you sure, Bella? Because I need to know that you will not run away at the first sign of trouble. These people, they make look refined and sophisticated but they can be ruthless when it comes to something they really want. It might be too much to take and…I can't…I can't lose you." His voice broke at the very end.

Bella pulled him close for a hug, "You're not going to lose me, Edward. These people have no idea who they're dealing with." She said.

"I love it when you're feisty. It's very sexy." Edward whispered into her hair. Bell shivered again.

"Uhm, we should get back in there, Edward, before we get sidetracked."

"What, I don't even get a kiss?" He pouted.

Bella laughed, "Just one," She kissed him quickly then grabbed his hand and started dragging him back inside.

They walked into the ballroom hand in hand. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared again just like they did when they came in the first time.

Don't these people have anything better to do?

Apparently not.

Bella realized that she was still wearing Edward's jacket. Although she did not want to part with it, she suddenly had a great idea. She slowly took the jacket off and then handed it back to Edward, but not before kissing him on the cheek, then when he had it on, she wrapped his arm around his waist. He immediately wrapped his around her shoulder, pulling her close.

There, that implied they were not simply outside getting some fresh air.

Bella could feel several glares directed her way. One of them was Tanya. Bella smirked in satisfaction.

Yeah, take that. He's mine.

King Carlisle, of course, made a beeline for them as soon as he noticed them standing at the entrance. He tried to pull Edward away again, but Edward simply pulled Bella along. He wouldn't let go of her for the rest of the night.

By the time it was over, Bella realized she hadn't felt so exhausted in all her life. The mental exhaustion even more than the physical one.

"Come on," Edward pulled her gently by the hand when the last guest had finally left and his parents had retired for the night; King Carlisle grudgingly.

"Let's go up to our room. You look dead on your feet. Do you want me to carry you?"

Bella chuckled, "Although I love it when your knight in shining armour tendencies come to the surface, I'm not that tired. I think I can make it upstairs on my own two feet."

"Well, if you change your mind just let me know. It wouldn't be so hard you know," Edward grinned and started flexing his biceps.

Bella laughed, "Alright Mr Muscles let's go."

They went up to their room and took turns changing in the en suite bathroom. Then they both immediately collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep. But not before Edward had pulled Bella close to him and wrapped his arms around her.

Right before she fell asleep, Bella wondered when Edward and she would ever do anything beside make out. She had to admit that Edward was a great kisser, so much so that he made her melt every time their lips touched, but she longed for a deeper level of intimacy with him. She had been with Jacob before, but somehow she felt that with Edward it would be so much different.

She couldn't wait.


(A/N): Thanks so much for your reviews! They're honestly what keeps me going, aside from the fact that I adore Britishward :D:D

Tell me what you think? Bet you guys just LOVE Tanya right now, huh? ;)

And what do you think about Carlisle? Do you think he'll eventually be able to pull them apart?

Leave me a little review and let me know :)

Links to Edward's gift and his tuxedo are on my profile!