Disclaimer: All things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.

Just letting you know…this chapter has some discussion about Edward's ex-girlfriends.

-ooo0ooo-

Edward's favourite restaurant was a little Lebanese place called Cedars, only a ten minute drive away. It might have been even quicker if not for the rain, though the downpour had started to ease off.

As we walked through the door, Edward's arrival brought a cry of delight from a motherly woman whom he introduced as the restaurant owner, Lena. But the introduction got a little lost when she grabbed him in a hug that I thought might possibly break his ribs. Edward didn't seem to mind though. He hugged her right back, wrapping his arms round her too, and holding on tight.

This was seriously new to me. I was so used to him being politely aloof with humans, and the humans generally keeping their distance from him, that the interaction I was watching came as a shock. It took me a second to realise my mouth was hanging open.

Lena pulled back, frowning now.

"Where have you been?" she asked, smacking his chest. "You've been working too hard again, haven't you? Too many late nights over a computer."

When Edward gave a sheepish shrug, she shook her head. "And who's been feeding you, then? Ah, don't tell me you've been cooking for yourself."

"I'm actually not that bad," he chuckled.

"Hmm…" She looked him up and down, clearly unconvinced. "Bites of frozen pizza between emails is not eating," she scolded and I tried not to laugh as I thought of Edward's healthy human appetite and his groaning pantry shelves.

Then Lena turned to me, her smile back in place.

"Welcome, Bella, so lovely to meet you." She took my hand in hers, her expression so warm and genuine, it felt like I was being welcomed into her home.

"Table for two, then?" she asked Edward.

"Is the courtyard available?"

Lena's eyes widened, her smile became a grin and she shot a quick glance at me.

"Of course! For you, of course, yes. Just give me a minute." She patted his arm affectionately and then hurried towards the back of the restaurant, through a doorway hung with a beaded curtain, while barking orders to a waitress hovering nearby.

"The courtyard?" I asked, curious.

"Don't worry, it's enclosed, we won't get wet." Then he lowered his head, his words whispered close to my ear. "It's a more private space, people book it for romantic dinners. I thought it might be better, in case you wanted to talk some more."

"Ah, I see. But maybe I want a romantic dinner." I winked and he winked back before dusting some rain drops from my shoulders.

"I'm sure we could manage that," he murmured.

I felt his hand move from my shoulders, coasting slowly down my back, and coming to rest in the shallow curve down low. The warmth of his touch radiated through the layers of clothes to my skin beneath. When I sighed and leant against him, he slipped his arm around my waist, tucking me comfortably into his side.

"Lena seems lovely," I murmured. "Very welcoming."

"She is," Edward answered.

"You're a regular here?"

He smiled down at me. "You could say that."

"I think I can see why." I looked around, taking in my surroundings as we waited for our table.

Cedars had an eclectic sort of décor that really appealed to me. A mix of styles with lots of colour and art, it was moodily-lit with guitar music playing in the background. It really did feel like home and I just wanted to settle in and stay. And plenty of other people must have had the same idea, because the place was almost half full, despite the weather. Or maybe they were refugees from the blackout, like us. I quickly buried the niggling thought that suggested Edward had probably been here before on dates.

"Smells good, too." I inhaled, drawing the delicious aromas from the kitchen deep into my lungs.

"The food's fantastic," Edward said. "Lena's great, and the atmosphere's relaxed."

"A good combo."

"It brings me back again and again." He chuckled softly. "It's kind of like going to a friend's place for dinner."

"But you can turn up unannounced?"

"Yes, and they don't mind. Er, does that sound lonely and pathetic?"

"Just a bit," I chuckled. "No, not really. I get what you mean. And I'm sure you have other friends. Um, you do, don't you?" I added, teasing

"I do," he said, chuckling too. "Friends who invite me over, and who come to my place. Just like a real person."

His choice of words made me curious, even though he was joking around.

"You didn't always consider yourself a real person?" I whispered.

"No," he mouthed silently.

"Why? You were…"

Lena reappeared just then, so the rest of my question would have to wait.

We were ushered through the beaded curtain, and Lena told us she'd be back with some table water.

"What do you think?" Edward asked.

"Oh, wow, this is…"

"Quirky?" He smiled as he held my chair.

"I was going to say beautiful. But quirky works, too."

It really was like a cobbled courtyard, with wall lamps and a real, working, fountain in the corner. The back wall was all glass doors looking out onto a garden where the trees were festooned with lanterns. In the intimate space there was only the one small round table laid with two menus; the courtyard was obviously meant just for a couple.

"I think they open the doors to the garden in warmer weather," Edward said.

I realised, as I looked around, that he seemed just as curious as me.

"You haven't been in here, before?"
"No," he said. "I usually come with friends and we sit in the main restaurant. Or sometimes I come alone."

"You eat alone here?"

"Sometimes. Or I come in to pick up a take-away."

"So that's why Lena seemed so surprised that you asked to sit here?"

The faintest of smirks graced his lips as he opened the menu in front of him. "Probably. She's been trying to marry me off for a while, now."

"Ma…marry you off?"

"Not seriously," he said quickly. "It's all in good humour. I'm a single man in my thirties and she wants to know why I'm not married yet. Every time I come in she asks."

"She didn't ask this time."

"I haven't been here with a date before."

I blinked, surprised. "You never brought one of your, er, girlfriends here?"
Edward frowned slightly, considering. "Actually, now that I think about it, no."

This pleased me very much.

"Why not?" I asked.

"None of them live around here."

"Water!" Lena came through the curtain with a tray with a jug and glasses and set it down. "It's so good to see you again Edward, and to meet you, Bella. You must come often."

"I hope to." I smiled at Edward and he grinned as he nudged my foot gently beneath the table.

"Good." Lena nodded approvingly at me as she poured us each a glass.

Edward asked after Lena's family and she waved away his question, rolling her eyes. "Rima's given up uni to go travelling. I asked her, 'How is that going to get you a job? Who will employ you if your only qualification is a selfie on top of the Eiffel Tower?' but apparently I know nothing." She sighed and shook her head. "But tell me, how's Ren?"

Edward stiffened ever so slightly.

"He, er…he was hit by a car. A couple of months ago. I lost him."

Lena's hand flew to her mouth.

"I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay."

I looked from Edward to Lena and back again, my stomach tightening. She put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered again and Edward nodded. "I'll be back soon to take your orders," she said softly before walking away.

Edward was unfolding his napkin, his face smooth. I wasn't sure what to say, this had come from nowhere. Then he sipped his water and gave me a quick smile.

"Ren was my dog," he said simply.

Surprise robbed me of speech for a moment as his words sunk in. He'd had a dog. And he'd lost him.

Edward seemed very busy studying the menu. I reached for his hand and squeezed. "I didn't know."

He squeezed back, then let go. "It's okay. Really."

"How long had you had him?"

"Five and a half years." He spoke casually, still staring down at the menu with a soft frown on his brow.

"A long time, then," I whispered.

"A while." Edward nodded, keeping his eyes down but I couldn't help but notice how his throat worked as he swallowed hard. "I'll tell you about him sometime."

And now obviously wasn't that time.

"I'd love to hear about him," I said, and took a sip of water, too. Then I opened my menu.

"Wow, it all looks so good. I'll have to get your recommendations."

Edward nodded again, but didn't answer. He kept his head bowed, seemingly fascinated by the many courses on offer to us. I took another drink from my glass.

"Oh, I should probably let Rachel know I won't be home tonight." I reached for my bag. "Unless the rain stops, of course. Then I can drive myself."

I was trying for distraction with that last comment. A change of subject and mood. It worked. Without looking up, Edward raised a single eyebrow. His lips twitched.

"With the roads still wet and flooded and street lights out all over the place? I don't think so, Bella. You're coming home with me."

He glanced up from beneath his lashes then, a smirk on his beautiful lips, now. I met his smirk with one of my own. Then as I checked my phone I saw that I had a couple of texts from Marc, sent a few hours ago.

"Oh no…"

"What?" Edward looked up sharply.

"My friend Marc…"

"The archaeologist bike rider?"

"Yeah. He had a meeting with the museum next week about a position there, but they've cancelled on him."

He'd been so excited, the disappointment would be crushing.

"Does he know why?" Edward asked.

"No, just that…oh wait, hang on." I scrolled through the second message. "Actually, I think he's just being a bit dramatic. The person he was meeting with doesn't work there anymore, so they've had to reschedule with someone else. It's a week later, now."

"Not so bad then." Edward smiled.

"No." Although that second text had me curious. "He was supposed to meet the curator who showed me through the Viking exhibit, Marion Tinsley. Seems a bit unprofessional to arrange a meeting with someone if she knew she was leaving."

"Maybe she didn't know." Edward picked up his glass and swirled it gently, letting the wine slide slowly up and down the sides.

"You think she was fired?"

"Not necessarily." He took a long sip, his face thoughtful. "There are lots of reasons why someone leaves a job unexpectedly." He shrugged and rattled off a list that included everything from a lottery win to family crisis. "Or, she might have found a new job somewhere else and resigned."

"You're probably right. At least they've rescheduled him." I typed a quick, appropriately positive response to Marc, and then a message to Rachel, before slipping my phone away again. "Did you ever meet her? Marion Tinsley, I mean?"

Edward shook his head. "My meetings were mostly at government level, but Charlotte and Nick from my team met with the curators early on in the project." He considered a moment. "The name's familiar though. If it's who I'm thinking of, Charlotte said she was jumpy, scared of her own shadow."

"That's her!" I said. "So it wasn't just me, then."

"Just you?"

I waved Edward's comment away. "It's nothing. She commented on my scar when we shook hands, and then nearly died of embarrassment because she thought she'd upset me. After that she was awkward with me for the rest of the time."

Edward's gaze fell to my wrist. He reached for me, taking my hand in his and tracing his thumb gently over the silver crescent on my skin.

"What did you say when she asked?"

"Dog bite," I answered brightly. "It's my standard answer whenever someone asks. Sometimes I embellish and describe the dog. It's usually a Rottweiler. Or occasionally an angry Poodle."

Edward cracked a smile, and I smiled back.

"I once told someone the scar on my arm was a shark bite," he said wryly before letting my hand go.

I wasn't too surprised that he'd say such a thing. It was very Edward.

"I bet they believed you, too."

"The way I told it, yes."

I'd seen Edward's bare arms a few times. Once when he was wearing nothing but a sheet round his hips, and a couple of occasions in a t-shirt. None of those times had I noticed a scar, and now I wondered.

"I don't remember seeing it."

He shrugged out of his jacket and leant his arm on the table. He pushed up the sleeve of his t-shirt just a little. "Look closely," he said.

It was there, high on his bicep. The table wasn't large, it was easy to extend my hand and lean across, tracing carefully over the jagged curve that was maybe half a shade paler than his skin.

"You did this when you saved the hiker?"

He nodded, withdrawing his arm as I withdrew my hand.

"Why does it look so much paler than mine?" I asked.

Edward lowered his voice, whispering his answer as he let his sleeve drop back down.

"I'm not sure, maybe because I was a vampire when I did it. The venom might have already started healing it before the effect of the human blood kicked in. The one on my neck from Carlisle, that's more like yours but it's still not very noticeable."

"It's faded because it's old?"

"I think it's more likely something to do with the transition back to human. Like when you make a copy of a copy, the image becomes less defined."

And then, as if he knew what I was thinking, he turned and cocked his head to the side.

"It's a way back," he murmured and I leant across the table again.

Almost hidden out of sight, beneath his ear towards the back of his neck, was a whitish crescent, smaller and neater than the scar on my wrist, or Edward's arm. I realised, as I studied it, that this was, effectively, the scar that brought him to me, and I smiled softly as I grazed my fingers over its curve. It was porcelain-smooth, and cooler than the rest of his skin. I closed my eyes and fell into the past, imagining for a moment it was the vampire beneath my caress.

It hit me then, that the boy I'd loved, who'd stolen my heart when I was seventeen, was truly gone. He wasn't attending class in some cloud-covered city or hunting mountain lions beneath a full moon. He wasn't driving a fast car on a night road with the headlights off, or hitting home runs that sounded like the crack of thunder and sent baseballs soaring for miles.

He would never do any of those things again.

And I wouldn't quietly wonder, when I was old and grey, about the beautiful young man with the amber eyes who was out there in the world somewhere.

The pang of grief was sudden and surprising.

My eyes were already closed, but I squeezed them tighter, letting the realisation wash over me. He'd told me in that clearing back in Forks that I'd never see him again, and he'd been right. I never would.

I felt him turn his head.

"Bella? Are you alright?"

His voice wasn't like velvet or music, but it was deep and warm.

His concern was familiar, though. I'd heard that question, that same gentle, caring, tone, many times before. Even if he was very different now, the Edward I'd loved was still here, I realised, along with the man I was getting to know.

I opened my eyes and smiled.

"Your hair covers some of it," I murmured, sitting back again. I let my memories go, focused on the human man opposite me and liked what I saw. "So, is that one from a shark attack, too?"

"Racoon bite."

I gasped a laugh. "You're not serious. People don't believe you, do they?"

"Yep. You'd be surprised." He grinned.

"I'll keep that in mind next time I'm asked. Or I'll tell people it was a vicious koala attack. I wonder what Marion's expression would have been if I'd told her that?"

Or if I'd told her the truth. And that thought brought another with it, and a shiver ran through me. "Um, Edward, you don't think Marion's reaction means anything, do you?" The possibility that it might, hadn't occurred to me before.

"I doubt it," Edward said casually. "From what Charlotte said, it just sounds like her normal character. But I'll check it out anyway."

The beaded curtain rattled and Lena arrived with notepad and pen.

"Are we ready to order?" She smiled at us both, then spoke conspiratorially to me. "You know, he eats half the menu whenever he's here."

"I'm not surprised," I stage-whispered. "I've seen what he can do."

Edward muttered something beneath his breath before suggesting the banquet for two. Lena declared it an excellent choice, and with our order set, I asked where the bathrooms were and stood up to follow Lena out of the courtyard.

"Don't start without me," I teased as I left.

I was only gone for a moment, and as I made my way back to the courtyard, the door of the restaurant opened and I heard a familiar laugh, like a donkey braying.

"Oh, shit."

Amongst a small group of new arrivals was a guy I'd dated twice, three months before. A guy whose name was Karl, though I preferred to think of him as Mr Octopus.

I put my head down and hoped he didn't notice me as I hurried back to the courtyard and took my seat.

"We've got bread for starters, and I ordered wine." Edward indicated the plate and bottle and glasses. "Would you like…is something wrong?"

"No, all good. I'd love a wine, though."

He reached for the bottle and poured us each a glass, then looked beyond me to the main dining area.

"You seem on edge."

"It's nothing."

And it really was nothing, but I obviously wasn't good at hiding my distaste for the guy with the donkey laugh and wandering hands. I sighed and lifted my glass to my lips.

"Like I said, it's nothing, there's just a guy in the restaurant, we went out a couple of times, it didn't go well."

Edward looked beyond me to the main part of the restaurant. "Did he upset you?" he asked, voice low.

"No, no, he didn't even see me."

"And you don't want him to."

"Not really. Wasn't my type. I declined his offer for a third date." I gave a rough sort of laugh. "It's funny, I thought it would be your exes we'd run into somewhere along the line. Not mine. Not that he's an ex," I amended quickly, shuddering at the thought. "Just a bad date."

Edward nodded, frowning slightly as he turned his glass round and round slowly. He seemed deep in thought, and Karl was forgotten as I began to wonder.

"Are we likely to run into you one of your exes?" I asked.

"Not around here, it's unlikely," he said.

"They didn't live nearby?"
"No."

While he lifted his glass and sipped, my mind followed that thought. He'd told me in the vineyard that he wouldn't give away anyone's privacy, and I respected that. I respected him for it. I wouldn't want Alex or Sam discussing details or how soon in the relationship I'd shared their beds and I couldn't believe I'd basically asked Edward that very question. But I was pretty sure he wouldn't mind answering other questions. If I could bring myself to ask. It seemed, though, that Edward had read my mind, because a moment later he put down his glass and smiled shyly.

"I'm not sure what you want to know, or how much," he said. "But if you have questions…"

"I think I do."
He nodded, his frown returning, creasing his brow softly as he leant forward. He folded his arms on the table, just like that night in Port Angeles when we'd sat across from each other and he'd revealed his secrets in answer to my questions.

"Ask me," he said softly.

And now I wasn't sure where to start. How much did I want to know? The mood had suddenly become awkward, a little tense, even. Then for some reason, I started to giggle. Edward's eyebrows shot up, but he smiled, too.

"This is weird," I mumbled. "Awkward."

"I know."

"Is there anything you want to ask me?" I said, going for diversion. "About exes?"

I thought I already knew the answer to that. In my experience, men didn't seem to want to know much about their partner's romantic past. A second later, Edward proved me right when he shook his head.

"I don't think so. But it's not because I don't care." He traced circles on the tablecloth with a long finger. "If that's even the right word. It's more that, I don't need to know. But I understand that you might." He looked back at me, still frowning, puzzling something out, it seemed.

"But that doesn't mean…I don't want you to think…" he paused, and took a slow breath. "It doesn't mean I don't want you to talk about them, I don't mean that at all. They were part of your life, an important part, and I'm not going to pretend they don't exist. I don't want you to feel you can't talk about places you've been or things you've done, because it was with someone else."

His declaration surprised me. I whispered a hesitant "okay", and wasn't sure if I could be as generous.

Edward took another deep breath, and a swig from his wine glass. "Go ahead," he said. His jaw was set, his face determined, and for some reason it made me giggle again.

"I know, it's not funny," I said. "But you look like you're preparing for battle."

He blinked at me, then his face relaxed a little. "Maybe I am."

"Oh? It's not that bad, is it?"
"I don't think so," he sighed. "But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't anxious about this conversation."

I exhaled, and took a drink of water. "Um, so I'll just ask you something?"

He nodded. "Or I could just tell you things, but I don't know what you want to know specifically."

"No, I think it's better if I ask questions and you answer." I pushed my glass back and forth. "That seems a bit clinical though, doesn't it? Like an interview."

"Maybe clinical is a good thing."

He had a point there, I thought. Maybe it was a good thing for this conversation. So I took a breath and began.

"Okay, um, so how long were your relationships?"

"A year, then three months, and then six months. In that order." He answered immediately, without hesitation, clearly willing to tell me whatever I needed to know.

I turned his response over in my mind. Six months wasn't that long, I thought. And three months was pretty short; I wondered what went wrong there.

"When did you arrive in Australia?"
"January, 2009."

I quickly did the maths. He'd been here five years and ten months.

"How soon was your first relationship after you got here?"
"A little over a year." He reached for a piece of bread. "I started dating Fiona in February 2010."

Fiona. She had a name and I had a knot in my stomach.

"And she was your…first?"

Edward nodded slowly, his eyes wary. "Yes."

I reached for my wineglass and nearly knocked it over.

"Bella…"
"It's okay," I said, and took a gulp. "I'm a big girl. Um, so what about the others?"

"You'd like a timeline?"

"Er, yeah, I think so. If you don't mind?"

"I don't mind," he said, but he was still eyeing me cautiously. "Fiona and I broke up in March 2011. I started seeing Jenn later that year, in October, but it didn't last very long. We ended it just before New Year's. Then I dated Elise from November 2012 to May 2013."

And now it was October 2014.

Fiona, Jenn, and Elise.

"Bella?"

"Huh?"

I'd been staring into my glass, and now I looked up into Edward's vivid, green, eyes. Eyes full of concern, but deep with sincerity and love.

"Is there anything else…" he trailed off, voice soft.

"No," I said. "Not right now, anyway."

Maybe he'd been right with the whole not needing to know, thing. I sighed and took a sip of my wine. Did the knowing make a difference to anything? Not really.

"Actually, one more," I said as I set down my glass. "Did you live with any of them?"

"No," Edward answered. "Did…you?"

Oh! So he did want to know something.

"Yes," I said. "Sam and I had a flat in London, we lived together about a year. We were together for nearly two. He was English."

Edward took another piece of bread, nodding as he did so. He smiled softly as he chewed.

"London," he said. "Did you like it?"

"Er, yeah. I did. A lot." I took some bread, too. "We had a flat in Hammersmith. Tiny place, above an Indian restaurant."

"Sounds fun."

"Yeah, you'd have loved it, living over a restaurant."

Edward chuckled. "Go on," he said. "Tell me more."

So for the next little while I talked about London, and wandering through its amazing markets and galleries, and weekends spent in historic pubs in the countryside. Edward joined in, recalling a business trip two years before when he'd spent an evening by the fire in a 900 year old pub, listening to live music and trying Guinness for the first time, instead of attending a boring conference dinner like he was supposed to. I teased him about 'skipping school', and he laughed and told me the fireside experience was worth the disapproval from his two Sydney colleagues the next day.

"They were just annoyed that they hadn't thought of doing it," he said, chuckling. "The next night all three of us skipped the dinner and went to the pub together. But I interrupted you, sorry, go on. You were headed to the Salisbury Plain."

I realised, halfway through a tale of Stonehenge and a dodgy hire car, how easy this felt. Even more relaxed than lunch in the vineyard when we'd sat on the rug and talked about scuba diving.

Edward cocked his head. "Were you working as a marine biologist in London?"

I nodded, and told him about the fantastic job I'd landed with the marine conservation organisation.

"I would've stayed longer if I could have but the contract, and my visa, expired. Actually, I think those two years have been the best of my career. So far, anyway. Although I'm loving my work here in Sydney." I smiled wryly. "Let's just hope I haven't peaked too soon."

"Let's hope." Edward smiled.

Conversation stopped, London faded from my thoughts, as Lena and the young waitress came in with our food. Rather than fill the small table with food, leaving us little room to move, they'd brought a trolley laden with bowls and plates.

"We'll leave this here for you," Lena said, then lowered her voice in Edward's direction. "This way you can still hold hands across the table. If that's something you might want to do." Then she stood back and smiled. "Eat up and enjoy," she said before disappearing back through the curtain.

The food looked amazing and smelt even better and I didn't know where to start.

"Here, try the kofta." Edward skewered a meatball with his fork and held it out to me. It was barely a stretch for me to lean across the table and take food he offered between my lips. There was a flash of something in Edward's eyes.

"Good?" he asked.

"Mm…" I nodded emphatically, and Edward smiled before taking a meatball for himself.

For the next few minutes we were lost in a smorgasbord of tastes and aromas. There were flavours I'd never experienced, and others that were familiar but so much better than I'd had before, and our conversation became a string of satisfied moans, broken only by the occasional "try this" or "that's incredible".

"You know what's nice?" I said, sitting back.

"What?"

"Having dinner together. Sharing a meal with you. I mean, properly sharing a meal. I like it."

"Me too." He smiled, then sat back, too. His expression changed. "Bella?"

"Yes, Edward? You're looking very serious now."

He smiled again and shook his head. "I don't mean to."

"Good. What's up?"

"Well, I know you have a list of questions for me."

I tried not to remember the embarrassing spreadsheet that had tumbled from my bag at the vineyard. "Mm…?"

"I have a list of my own. For you." Edward smiled shyly and tapped his temple. "It's all in here. We've talked about London, but there's so much more I want to know. Would you mind if I asked…"

"Of course not!"

I put down my glass, only realising now that, since we'd met, most of our conversations had been me quizzing him while he'd patiently answered. He'd obviously kept his own questions on hold while I'd been satisfying my need to know all about him.

"You could have asked before."

Edward shrugged a shoulder. "I didn't feel I had the right to ask anything of you. Not when I was the one who walked away."

I narrowed my eyes, not wanting to go down that path anymore.

"Just ask me, Edward. What do you want to know?"

"Everything." He grinned, a cheeky, crooked, grin. "I want to know, how was high school graduation? Do you still have your red truck? What did you do between graduation and starting college? Where was college? What music…"

"Hang on, hang on," I said, laughing and holding up my hand to stop him. "Slow down, give me a chance?"

"Sorry." That grin, combined with his eagerness, made my heart flutter a little before I launched into a brief history of Bella Swan.

Graduation, the sad demise of my truck, Mexico, Florida State. Edward kept his eyes on me, interrupting to ask questions here and there. His list was long. Our conversation reminded me of those early days in Forks when he'd practically interrogated me about everything from books to music to my favourite colour. I shared that thought, and he nodded, flashing me a sheepish smile.

"I know what you mean," he said. "Sorry."

"No, it's okay. But it feels different this time. Gentler. Even if you are firing questions at me," I added with a smile.

"It feels less intense," he said. "No, not less, different. A different intensity. Back in Forks I was trying to puzzle you out, find a way inside your mind and discover why I felt about you the way I did. But now, I understand my feelings, I'm not afraid." His smile was slow and sweet. "Forks was like going through an encyclopaedia, trying to find answers to things I didn't understand. This, now, is like slowly unwrapping a gift."

"I'm a gift?"

"Bella, you have no idea."

His words were beautiful, but his eyes told the full story and at that moment I felt myself getting lost in his gaze, swept away by the love I saw there.

He rose, and held out his hand. "Dance with me?"

I realised then that the music had changed. The guitars had given way to an instrumental version of a classic song. I took Edward's hand and stood, smiling at the surprise in his face.

"No arguments?" he said.

"None at all. But I am curious as to why we're dancing?"

He pulled me into his arms, into him, and whispered in my ear.

"Because you were too far away on the other side of the table."

I rested my head against his chest. I closed my eyes and breathed him in, feeling warm and safe and happy. We weren't really dancing, more like swaying where we stood.

"Bella?"
"Mm?"

"Next weekend, I'm going to Queensland for Hannah's birthday, and I was wondering, would you like to come with me? See Rosalie and Emmett and meet the kids?"

I lifted my head. "Meet your family?"

His lips twitched with a smirk. "You've already met most of them, but you can put it that way if you like."

I grinned up at him, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves at seeing Rosalie and Emmett again. "I'd like that," I said. "I'd love to come."

Edward's answering grin lit us his whole face. "We'll go up Friday night, come back Sunday afternoon. Does that work for you?"
I did a quick mental check of my diary. I did have a couple of vague plans for next weekend, but nothing that couldn't wait.

"Yep, that works."

Edward's smile became impossibly brighter, and he lowered his face, his lips grazing mine, brushing slowly back and forth, making my skin tingle with pleasure and sweet anticipation.

"Dessert!"

Lena came bustling through the curtain with a trolley.

"I hope you've left plenty of room…oh…"

She stopped suddenly as we stepped apart, still holding hands.

"I'll just leave the trolley for you," she said as she turned to leave.

"Actually, I think we might skip dessert." Edward turned to look at me. "If that's alright with you, Bella?"

I nodded agreement, feeling my cheeks heat.

There was surprise in Lena's eyes, followed by a knowing smile. "Why don't I pack some up for you to take home?" She took the trolley and went back out through the curtain. Edward stepped close again, pressing his forehead to mine.

"I think I'd like to be alone with you," he said. "Properly alone."

"Me too."

He pressed a soft kiss to my lips. "I'll go and settle the bill." He kissed me again and then disappeared into the main restaurant.

I walked over to the fountain, still feeling his touch on my skin, smiling as my body hummed. I reached out, letting the water trickle and splash over my fingers. As I watched the lantern light catch in the water drops, I heard the curtain rattle.

"That was quick," I said.

"Bella? It is you."

I spun around and saw Karl.

"I thought I saw you earlier," he said, smiling. "But I wasn't sure." He stopped right in front of me. Right in my space. "So, how have you been?"

I really didn't want to make polite conversation, but I fixed a vague sort of smile on my face, and answered.

"I'm fine. And you?"

"Yeah, good."

I nodded. "Well, it's nice to see you, but I'm actually on my way home." I stepped around him and headed back to the table to get my bag and jacket. His voice followed me.

"Do you want to catch up again some time?"

"No, I don't think so, Karl." I shrugged into my jacket.

"You didn't return my calls after we went to dinner."

"I told you I didn't want to see you again. I don't know why you thought I'd return your calls."

I reached for my bag. He put his hand on my arm and I jerked out of his grasp, quickly.

"Hey, no need to…oh, shit…"

Karl was staring beyond me towards the doorway. I turned and saw Edward standing there, glaring.

"Bella?" He came to stand beside me and somehow he seemed even taller than his six feet four. He slipped his arm around my waist as he stared Karl down. "Is everything alright?"

"Fine. It's all good. Karl wanted to say hello and now he's leaving."

Karl puffed out his chest, clearly not happy with being put in his place, or Edward's sudden appearance.

"You're wasting your time with this one, mate," he said. "As cold as they come."

I wasn't even going to dignify that with a response. I squeezed Edward's hand and turned to go, leaving Karl behind us, alone and ignored. But he didn't like being ignored.

"Frigid bitch," he muttered. "Maybe I'll catch you alone again sometime."

I knew it was just words, and I was planning to just keep going, but Edward had different ideas.

He stopped and turned back.

His human face was smooth, unreadable, but his past was suddenly there, in his eyes. The vampire, the violence committed, the lives taken, it was all there beyond the green. The air of menace that surrounded him now was palpable, and an icy chill ran through me.

Karl's face paled and I could see how he shivered.

"I'm sorry," he said, taking a quick step back and holding up his hands. "I didn't mean that. I really didn't, I'm sorry."

Edward took a slow step towards him, and though it was a simple move, there was nothing human about the way he tilted his head. The threat in his voice was real.

"Never talk to her again. Never contact her. Don't even think about her. If you see her in the street you turn and walk the other way. Do you understand?"

Karl was nodding desperately, stumbling and falling over his own feet as he backed away.

"I understand. Yes. Yes." Then he was out the door and gone.

I looked at Edward. Perhaps the vampire wasn't gone, after all.

"Edward?" He opened his arms to me and I stepped into him. "You okay?"

"I was about to ask you that," he said. "He had his hand on you."

"For barely a second. I'm fine. He's all talk." I stroked my hand over the back of his neck. "You seemed pretty intense for a moment there."

"I'm sorry," he murmured, nuzzling his head against my shoulder. "Did I scare you?"

"No. But you scared him. I don't think he will even think about me again."

"That was the plan."

"Thank you."

He lifted his head. "Would it be strange to say it was my pleasure?"

I chuckled softly. "Nah. Not strange. The guy's just a jerk with a nasty mouth, but he deserved a good scare." I touched Edward's cheek. He seemed just like his normal, human, self again. But he'd lived a certain way for nearly a hundred years – it was bound to leave its mark. "You, um, you kind of went vamp on him."

He shrugged. "Did I? When I saw him there, with you…his hand on you…"

"I don't want him to spoil our evening."

Edward blinked, considering my words it seemed. Then the corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. "He won't," he said. "I promise."

"Doggy bags!" Lena was back, holding high a couple of plastic carriers. "I've got a bit of everything for you," she said.

There was something so real and warm about Lena, and her beaming smile brought some new perspective, and a new mood. Edward and I both relaxed as she talked brightly about the dessert treats that lay in store for us. Edward teased her about trying to get him fat and she smacked him in the stomach and told him he could do with a few more pounds on him. Then she hugged us both, told us to come back again soon, and ushered us out the door of the, now, nearly empty restaurant.

The rain had stopped. The moon was making a faint appearance through the clouds. Edward sighed, a happy sounding sigh, and kissed me as we stood on the footpath that glistened in the streetlights.

"Ah, Bella," he said. "I am so ready to get you home."

-ooo0ooo-

A/N: I can't say enough Thank You's for all the wonderful reviews! xx I'm trying to respond to everyone but if I haven't replied to you yet, please know that I read them all and appreciate them so much : ) I'm glad so many of you are enjoying the story, and thank you also for your patience when the time between chapters is sometimes long. I try to get them out as quickly as I can.

There will be more mention of Edward's girlfriends in the next chapter, just letting you know.

This chapter is unbeta'd, and it's late on a Friday night, so any mistakes are mine, mine, mine! I've gone through several times, but if I've missed something and you notice, please feel free to let me know so I can fix it : )

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Next chapter is underway : )

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