AN: Okay, so, this is a little late. I don't know if I promised it by yesterday in my AN, but I definitely did in replies to some reviews. However, for once, I can say that this isn't my fault. :D I did come on here last night at around nine to make some final edits, add ANs, and upload. But when I tried to acess the Document manager I was told that it was temporarily down and to come back in a few minutes. Which I did. And then in an hour. And then this morning. But finally, it's working, so you get the next chapter. :D As always, thank you for the reviews, I'm glad you liked it!! And, this is a chapter I really like. I can't tell if it's sad or not anymore, because I know what comes next. :) So, read on!!


For the next day - just one day, I told myself - I let myself mope. I wasn't even sure why I needed to so badly. It wasn't just that I'd lost a very, very good friend, it felt like more than that. I knew now, I let myself admit it, that I'd wanted it to be more. Which, I was telling myself, was exactly why it was good that it was over.

After Charlie and Renée left - it was the second last week in August now, and she was going in to get her classroom ready - I picked up the stack of Edward's diaries and headed to his piano room. I'd already read them all, and was just flipping through them, wrapped in his handwriting, his familiar phrasing, this familiar room - all the things that held him , and allowing myself to grieve.

I hadn't looked through these since that first day with Casper, when we'd tried to figure out a plan, so, I'd somehow forgotten the photo that I'd stuck back into the front of the third journal. There was one for every year, all starting on his birthday, so this last one was very short. I read it through more carefully this time, knowing that, for many of the entries, I had been with him. Of course, this was the one thing that couldn't change, so the pages didn't reflect that, but still, I knew. I felt a slight shock when I turned a page and saw today's date, in 1918, of course, staring back at me. I stared at the entry, wondering if that really did reflect the day he was having, or if he was missing me at all, as I was missing him. I stared at that page, and the photo clutched in my hand, and I just wished. Wished I could get back there one more time, whether Casper would help me or not. One more chance to make it right.

And then, as I was sitting there, staring, and wishing, I could almost see the place I so wanted to be in front of me. It became cleared and clear by the second, until I could smell the flowers from Elisabeth's garden, hear the birds singing, and I could no longer feel the rough, dusty fabric of the window seat under me.

It wasn't until I saw the screen door of the white house open, and Edward step out, when I saw his face light up as he saw me there, that I realized, that, somehow, magically, I'd gotten my wish. Inside, I was screaming with joy, but I also told myself very severely Bella, you know why you're here. Don't screw this up.

"Isabella!" He called, striding towards me on his long legs, almost running. "I was worried about you! I haven't seen you for a week." When he reached me, he picked up my hand, as always, but instead of raising it to his lips, he held it in both of his. It felt wonderful, but I also knew that it shouldn't.

"I'm sorry," I started, "we had to go out of town for a few days, it was sudden."

"That's alright," he smiled, my favourite crooked smile. As we were talking, he was leading me up towards his house. "Would you like to sit with me for a bit?" he asked, gesturing to the porch swing in front of me. It really was a question, I realized, and I was free to refuse. But I needed to talk to him, I was going to take this chance to make things right.

"Yes, please," I agreed, gathering my long skirt under me and taking my place beside him on the seat.


After we had exchanged a few pleasantries, he turned to me with a very serious look in his eyes. "Isabella, can I tell you something?"

I was frozen in my seat. I had the feeling this wasn't where I had meant to take the conversation, but I was powerless to stop it. I couldn't find my voice, so I just nodded.

"Isabella," he started, looking me square in the eyes, his torso turned towards me. "Before this summer, I've never known anyone who I wanted to spend time with in a way other than my mother and father. I've never really even had a friend, someone my own age, that I've wanted to spend more time with than just the boys playing baseball, football. But this summer, Isabella. I feel like I could spend hours just talking to you. Before this summer, my biggest wish was to join the war. I love my mother and father, Isabella, but I was willing to leave them behind for that. But this summer, I found that there was maybe something I wouldn't sacrifice for that." It was coming, I would feel it, the words I both dreaded and dreamt of. "Isabella, I love you." He eyes burned into mine with the depth of his emotion. His politeness was too ingrained, though, and an inch away from my face, he stopped. He was holding both my hands in his now, and we were both turned toward each other, leaning in. "May I?"

Even if I'd wanted to, I was unable to refuse. "yes." I whispered. It was barely audible, but he heard it.

I'd read enough books to know what a kiss was supposed to feel like, fireworks and all that, but I'd never really believed it could be true, until I felt it. It truly was like fireworks as his lips, gentle, hesitant, met mine. For only a moment, and then he pulled away, holding my face between his hands, to look me in the eyes.

There are times when you know you should lie, but before you can think of one, because of the pressure of the situation, the truth slips out without your permission. Usually, in those situations, I'm trying to conceal something that would get me in trouble. This wasn't anything I'd done wrong, but I had the exact same feeling as this truth slipped out before I could even think to stop it. "I love you."


AN: Ahaha, sorry for the cliffie, you know I'm evil. :) So, as always, tell me what you think in a review, and thank you for reading!! (also, if you wanted to check out my other story, I'd greatly appreciate it :D)

Also, I'm asking for some opinions. This story's winding to a close, but would you guys like a sequel? I have ideas. And, would you be interested in a few chapters (going back) or EPOV to see what he was thinking?

Thanks (in advance) for reading, reviews, and feedback!! :D

SkySong