Sunday, 3:06pm

"Hello?"

"No, that was my fault. I lost track of time…"

Bella listened closely to Edward's one-sided phone call while they walked side by side out of Central Park. As soon as they packed away everything from their spot in the park, Edward called Riley back. She held Hugsy in one arm, her other hand carrying the picnic blanket. Edward carried the cooler and Hugsy's pet carrier, plus the bag with Hugsy's things inside.

"Sure, see you in five," Edward said into the phone. "Thanks again, Riley."

"I didn't know you talked to Riley," Bella mentioned when he ended his call.

"I don't. Not really, anyway," Edward remarked with a shrug as they stopped at a set of traffic lights, waiting to cross the street. "But I needed a favor this morning – I had to take the rental to JFK to return it, but then realized I had all my stuff, which was too much to fit into a cab and also Hug in his pet carrier. So I called up Riley asking if he could pick me up, which he did. He even took me to my storage unit so I could drop off some of my stuff. He did this on a Sunday, too."

"Yeah, Riley's nice like that." Bella said in agreement and they walked two blocks before spotting Riley leaning against a Porsche SUV parked against the curb.

"Afternoon Isabella, Edward," Riley greeted once they reached him.

"Hi Riley," Bella responded. Edward made his way to the back of the car and Riley and Bella followed. "How are you?" she asked.

"Fine, thank you," Riley replied and then glanced at Husgy in Bella's arms. "That's a cute dog you've got there, Isabella."

"Isn't he?" she cooed, nuzzling the top of Hugsy's head and Edward started placing things in the trunk of the SUV. "This is Hugsy – he's my birthday present from Edward."

"Ah, Hugsy. Did you name him, Isabella?" Riley asked politely.

"Of course she did," Edward answered for her with a scoff and then gestured for the blanket she was holding. "That name has 'Bella Swan' all over it," Bella scowled, passing him the blanket and Edward placed it inside. "Okay," he closed the hood of the trunk and then nodded at the car for her to get in. "So here's the plan: before we go to the art gallery, we'll make a stop at your place because they're only two blocks away from each other, drop off Hug and all of his stuff and then go to the gallery from there."

"Oh...um," Bella remarked in hesitation, not moving from the sidewalk. "Do we have to?"

"What do you mean, do we have to?"

"Well, how far is the gallery from where we are now?" she asked and Edward told her. "That's only ten blocks from here. Can't we just walk there?"

Edward frowned. "You want to walk?"

"Sure. You know, get some fresh air and exercise."

"What? Bella, you don't exercise," Edward said bluntly, looking confused as Riley watched on in amusement.

"I do. Sometimes."

"You don't. Ever."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Alright, fine! I don't exercise," Bella snapped, irritated and Edward looked smug. She patted the puppy still tucked under her arm, her annoyance ebbing away. "I want to walk so then I'll be able to show Hugsy off."

"Who are you showing him off to?"

"I don't know," Bella shrugged. "New York?"

Edward stared at her. "You want to walk ten blocks just so random people can see that you have a dog?"

Bella lifted Hugsy up. "A very cute dog."

Edward cracked up laughing, as did Riley, and Edward opened up the trunk of the car again.

"Alright, we'll walk," Edward told her and then rummaged around in a bag for a moment before pulling out a leash. "Here."

"What's that for?"

"It's for you, obviously," Edward said sarcastically and pointed the leash at Hugsy. "It's Hug's leash."

"A leash?" Bella repeated with wide eyes, hugging the puppy closer to her. "I'm not putting him on a leash, the sidewalk is dirty. Plus, how are people supposed to see him if he's on the ground?"

"Alright, jeez. Carry him," Edward relented in exasperation and Bella grinned triumphantly. He put the leash into his back pocket and then pulled out a black collar from the bag. "Is it okay if you put this on him? Or do you want a bigger one so the astronauts up in space will be able to see it?"

"A collar is fine," Bella moved to stand next to him, placing Hugsy on top of the pet carrier in the trunk. "No, I want to do it!" she said loudly when Edward reached out to take off the ribbon around Hugsy's neck and she swiped the collar out of his hands.

"Are you sure you're thirty?" Edward asked her flatly, which Bella ignored him, cooing at Hugsy. Edward jabbed a thumb at her, glancing at Riley. "Is this what happens Riley? You turn thirty, but you actually act like a ten year old?"

"I couldn't tell you for sure Edward," Riley answered diplomatically, smiling from the sidewalk. "It's been a long time since I was thirty."

"Stop saying the number," Bella muttered and Edward chuckled. "By the way, who's stuff is that?" she added, nodding at the large duffel bag and suitcase that was also in the trunk.

"Mine," Edward answered. "I was going to ask if I could drop them off at your place while we dropped off Hugsy's stuff. I was planning on picking them up after the art gallery and go to Alice and Jasper's to spend the night at their place. But since you don't want to go back to your place anymore…" he trailed off, eyeing the bags dubiously.

"Riley could do it," Bella proclaimed, sliding the last fastening into place on Hugsy's collar. "You still have the key to my place, right?" she prompted Edward and he nodded. "Well, Riley could go to my place now, drop off all this stuff and leave my key on the kitchen counter. Right, Riley?" she prompted him.

Riley nodded. "I can do that, no problem."

"Are you sure, Riley?" Edward questioned, giving the squat, older man a once over with doubtful eyes.

Riley noticed and nodded firmly. "It may be have been a long time since I was thirty, but I'm sure I can handle carrying some bags up some stairs."

"He'll be fine," Bella assured Edward breezily and closed the hood of the trunk again, stepping back onto the sidewalk next to Riley. "He works for my mother and I've seen the kind of crap Renée buys. It's heavy."

"She does carry a lot of baggage," Riley remarked and Bella laughed. "Don't tell your mother I said that," he added sternly, moving past them toward the driver side.

"Thanks again Riley," Edward said and Riley nodded to him before getting in the car and merging into the traffic. "Nice upgrade, by the way," he added, referring to the SUV and they turned, making their way down the street. "Did your mom trade in the Lincoln?"

"It's not an upgrade," Bella told him, disgruntled. "The car's mine – my birthday present from Renée, but I'm letting Riley use it when he needs to."

"Your mom gave you a Porsche for your birthday? That's awesome."

Bella scoffed. "Yeah, it's so awesome. Apart from the fact that it's stick shift and that I don't have my drivers license. Awesome gift, thanks mom," she muttered, scratching Hugsy behind his ear.

"Will you let me drive it?"

"Yeah, sure."

Edward looked surprised at Bella's answer. "Really?"

Bella shrugged, laughing at his expression. "Yeah, really. It's just a car. Drive it as much as you want. I was planning on taking it with me to Palo Alto, but without a license, I'm not sure how that'll happen," she mused.

"Well, I could drive it."

Bella gave him an odd look as they continued to walk. "Yeah, I know. I just said you could."

"No, I mean, I could drive you to California," he declared, staring straight ahead.

Bella frowned, shifting Hugsy to her other arm. "You'd drive me all the way across the country?"

"Yes."

"And why would you do that?" Bella prompted mockingly.

"Because I'm moving there too," Edward said, mimicking her tone.

"…what?" Bella said sharply.

"Yeah," he nodded, laughing. "I got a job offer in California as well."

"What?" Bella snapped. She shoved his shoulder hard, causing Edward to stumble sideways a few steps in surprise before catching himself. "Why didn't youTELL ME?" she said loudly, glaring at him and Hugsy let out a sharp bark as well.

"I'm telling you right now!" Edward countered, indignant and rolled his shoulder. "And enough with the shoving!"

Bella let out a huff, calming herself before talking. "What's the job offer?"

"Similar with the housing and construction I was doing before, but an office job," Edward explained. "It's permanent, in Palo Alto with Carlisle's construction company at their head office. Carlisle offered it to me when we finished at Maymay Platt's and I told him I'd take it."

"Edward, that's great!" Bella said sincerely and raised her hand, making him flinch, eyeing her hand warily. She rolled her eyes and made her hand into a fist. Edward relaxed and they fist bumped. "And hey! Palo Alto is near Stanford," she added and then looked amused. "I just had an idea. You know what we should do?"

"No. What?"

"Find a place in between Palo Alto and Stanford and then move in together."

"We should totally do that," Edward emphasized mockingly, laughing.

"Right? Right!" Bella remarked in amusement. "Maybe we could get one of those beach houses –"

"Or a house near the beach," he corrected firmly. "Do not want sand everywhere."

"Fine. Get a house near the beach," Bella amended drolly and Edward nodded emphatically. "With a big yard for Hugsy to run around in!" she brought the puppy close to her face, hugging him.

"And a house that comes with an outdoor barbeque –"

"And one that has high end windows and ceilings –"

"With a living room big enough to fit a gigantic flat screen –"

"And a bedroom with a big, big walk in closet –"

"With a front porch –"

"Oh, I've always wanted a house with a porch!" Bella remarked longingly. "Like those houses you see on TV with the potted plants and the outdoor furniture –"

"And a porch swing," Edward chimed in.

"Yea – whoa, no," Bella said heavily, catching herself and shook her head. "A porch swing? No, no, no."

"What's wrong with a porch swing?" Edward questioned with wide eyes.

"What are you, eighty?" Bella scoffed and Edward looked miffed. "Who uses a porch swing anymore?"

"People still use porch swings," Edward insisted defensively. "I'd use a porch swing."

"To do what? Guard your trash cans against local teenage hooligans?" she teased. "Watch the neighborhood kids skip rope in the street?"

"Alright, first of all, teenage hooligans? And I'm the eighty year old?" Edward said pointedly. "And second, kids still skip rope."

"Edward, nobody's skipped rope since 1950."

"Too far."

"Oh, I'm sorry, old man. Did I offend you?"

"No, we've walked too far," Edward said, glancing around him and they doubled back a few paces before stopping in front of a brown building. Edward opened the door and they walked through. They stepped into the foyer of the building and down the hallway, Bella could see people milling around a large open area.

"In here," Edward nodded to a door on the far left of the foyer. Bella followed him inside to what looked like a small storage area, filled with cartons and crates.

"Have you been here before?" Bella asked, noticing Edward pocket a set of keys and watched him move with familiarity, shifting things around.

"Yeah. I was here this morning to help set up," he answered and then straightened up, waving his hand to a small space he had just cleared. "You can leave Hug here."

"Are you sure?" Bella glanced apprehensively around the small room.

"Its fine, no one will come in here," Edward told her and she put Hugsy down reluctantly in the small space. "We won't be that long anyway. Ten minutes, tops," he added as he pulled out Hugsy's leash from his pocket and clipped it to his collar, and then tied it to a radiator behind him. "Good boy," he said to the dog, patting him before standing up and moving out of the room.

Bella pouted, looking over her shoulder at Hugsy as she followed Edward out and then sighed when he closed the door.

"Let's get this over and done with," she muttered, walking down the hallway.

"You make it sound like this is painful for you," Edward remarked dryly.

"That because it is," Bella said, glancing around her when they reached the open space. They were in what looked like a small, abandoned warehouse with large, canvas photographs hanging up on the grey walls. People milled around holding drinks and stood in front of the artwork, talking in low voices. "We watch B–grade zombie movies in my bedroom while stuffing ourselves with Cheez Whiz and Doriotos. That's what we do. We don't goto art galleries. Ever."

"It's more of an exhibition, actually," Edward noted and grinned at the flat look she gave him. "Come on, the piece I want to show you is on the other side."

"What's this piece about, anyway?" she asked curiously as she let Edward lead the way.

Edward shrugged. "Nothing really. I don't think there's a theme. It's just a work of Maymay Platt's."

"Is she famous?"

"No. At least, I don't think she is," Edward replied thoughtfully. "She has photographer friends in New York that take photos on the streets, they give her the shots they've taken and then she creates something with them. She only does one major piece a year and showcases it here, in the city."

"Ah. Okay," Bella said. She still felt somewhat confused as to why Edward was so keen on showing her this artwork, but decided to go along with it anyway.

"I'm being vague, I know," Edward mentioned. "But once you see the piece, you'll get it. Okay, here," They both stopped at far end of the warehouse, away from all the other art work, where a large picture hung from the wall with a two seater bench sitting four feet in front of it. "You've got to sit on the bench to view the piece properly."

Bella sat down on the beach with Edward next to her. "Is this the part where you tell me to stare at the photo with my eyes crossed and then glance at the white wall to see an image of an iPod?" she mocked.

"You do need to stare at the photo for a few seconds, but no, you won't see any iPods. Sorry."

"An iPad then?"

"Just look at the photo, Bella."

She shrugged and complied, facing the front to stare at the photo. Bella sized it to about eight by ten feet in size and what could only be described as 'busy.' It looked like a big jungle of images and illustrations with various photographic filters and textures over lapping them all. There was a layer of grime all over the picture as well, but it only seemed to add to the overall effect. The more time that Bella spent focusing on the piece, the more she felt like she was looking into some other reality entirely. It was rough and strange and bright. She tilted her head, feeling some sort recognition with the piece, but she ignored it.

"Wow," she stated dumbly, still staring. "Once you look at it, it's actually kind of…" she trailed off, frowning when she made out two figures. "Oh my God," she blurted out in realization.

"Don't freak out," Edward interjected and Bella glanced quickly at him to see that he was regarding her cautiously then back at the photo.

"Edward, that's…" she spluttered in disbelief, leaning forward.

"I know."

"Edward, that's us!" Bella finally managed to say, still shocked. "It's a photo of us!"

"I know," Edward echoed calmly and he looked amused.

"It's a photo of us kissing!" Bella said loudly, her voice shrill. The jungle of images and illustrations actually made up one huge picture of Edward and Bella in a tight embrace. Their faces were distorted enough through the textures and filters, but Bella could tell it was them from her hair and the clothes Edward was wearing.

"Shhh!" he said, laughing quietly and scooted closer to her on the bench. "Not so loud. People are staring."

Bella sat back on the bench slowly, gaping at the photograph in a daze. "Why is there a photo of us kissing – in an art gallery – in New York?"

"Remember, when I said that Maymay Platt gets her photos from photographers in New York?" Edward prompted her, keeping his voice low and Bella nodded slowly. "When we kissed that night last year, there must've been a photographer around who took a photo of us."

Bella frowned, thinking back. "I vaguely remember seeing some random taking photos of things around us. Vaguely," she added and then went back to regarding the photography piece. "So, did Maymay Platt use a photo of us because she recognized you or…"

Edward shook his head. "No, I recognized us actually. When I was at her house and Maymay Platt was showing me around, I saw her workspace and there was a photo of us sitting on her workbench. I asked her about it, and she explained what she does with the photos," he gestured to the photography piece. "And I told her that that was us, in the photo. She, Esme and Carlisle were surprised, to say the least. I think Esme said something about Maymay Platt using the photo with me in it, working for Carlisle, and then finding the family as 'fate and destiny.'"

"Destiny? Really?" Bella said skeptically.

"Yeah, I don't know," he remarked with a shrug, facing the photography piece again. "I think it's more coincidence than anything."

Bella followed his actions, turning to the front and sighed. "I can't believe there's photographic proof of me making out with Edward Masen."

"Ten foot high photographic proof," he corrected teasingly and nudged her arm.

"Yeah," Bella muttered and then glanced down at his arm. They were sitting directly side by side, his arm up against hers. She turned her head partially in Edward's direction, with him still staring ahead at their photo and like before at the park, Bella found herself oddly distracted by him. The way his new haircut revealed his ears a bit more, the way his sweater stretched across his chest, the cuff of his watch around his wrist…everything highlighted something unbearably wonderful.

And, suddenly, Bella wanted to touch him.

Not just a push or a shove, or even a friendly hug either. She wanted to grab Edward by the face and make out with him.

"I think our ten minutes is up," Edward said, glancing at his watch and his movements startled Bella out of her thoughts. He didn't seem to notice, and stood up from the bench. "You ready to go?"

"Yup yeah sure let's go," Bella responded rapidly, nodding and shot up from the bench.

Edward gave her an odd look as they walked past the other artwork, back toward the foyer. "Yup yeah?"

Bella felt her face go warm and exhaled a forced laugh to pass it off as a joke. When they made it back to the storage room to retrieve Hugsy, Edward started talking but Bella stayed quiet, standing in the doorway, not paying him or her puppy any attention.

"Hey boy, hey Hug. You ready to go? Good dog, lets go."

Bella remained silent because she was thinking. She was trying to think of a reason as to why she was having attractive thoughts about Edward and began listing some possibilities.

"Okay. She's not paying attention and isn't begging to carry you, so we can use your leash like a proper dog."

Bella thought back to the start, the day they first met–both of them sprawled out on the sidewalk and her getting angry with him for groping her.

"Hey, can we go pick up my stuff from your place…."

Bella thought perhaps her attraction could be similar to that of some sort of delayed preprogrammed biological cave woman reaction to a caveman (Edward) saving her from a saber–toothed tiger (the bus.)

"And then I can go to Alice and Jasper's from there. Though, as soon as I get to your place, I'm changing out of these pants."

Then, Bella thought about him being away and the phrase 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' popped into her head. While it was true that when Edward was in California, she did miss him during the eight months he was gone. Particularly when she received a voice recording from him in an email. When Edward talked about his day, she felt like she was there and there was always something in his conversation, just for her, to make her laugh.

" …I don't even know why I wore these pants in the first place. I should've just worn my Levi's…anyway–"

Then, Bella thought back to a day two months ago when she visited Kate, who was bouncing off the walls in excitement because of what Edward had sent her from when he was in Los Angeles. It was an autograph from the actress that played iCarly on the TV show because she had been in the same store that Edward had been in. Bella remembered thinking how sweet it was for him to remember that Kate was a fan of the show and to also ask for an autograph from a tween TV star for an eight year old girl who was neither his own kid or related to him in any way.

"You're kinda quiet. I don't think you've heard anything of what I've just said, right?"

Then Bella thought back to earlier in the week, to her birthday. She had received a lot of flowers that day from nearly everyone she knew: both of her parents, her friends, Angela, Riley. They were all very lovely and colorful bouquets, but when Edward's arrangement arrived, it was by far the best one. It wasn't the biggest or the most expensive looking, but when Bella placed Edward's bouquet next to the plain and stock standard ones from her family and friends, it was clear that he had put some time and actual effort into choosing the flowers.

"Yeah, didn't think so. Alright, I'll just stand here and wait for you to talk. Or maybe I'll just walk away…"

Bella summed up her thoughts and came to the conclusion that along with being attracted to him in the physical sense, she also found him to be funny, kind and thoughtful. Then, she tried to think about what she was like with Edward and could only come up with the feeling of being happy. She felt happy, all the time, and with that simple thought, Bella finally figured it out.

"Okay, I'm not gonna walk away. That would be mean. But could you please say something because now you've got me thinking that I've pissed you off with showing you the photograph …"

Somewhere between all their laughs, long talks, stupid little fights, and all their jokes, she fell in love with him.

"…so say something Bella, anything. Even if it's just 'I don't think we can be friends anymore, I hate you and –"

"Holy shit, I love you."

"Oh, thank God," Edward let out a dramatic exhale, looking relieved, then promptly walked away.

Bella stayed rooted at the spot, too shocked to move. She couldn't tell whether she was more shocked at his indifferent reaction to her declaration or the fact that they had walked out of the gallery without her realizing it and were now outside on the street.

Edward noticed that Bella wasn't following him and glanced back, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk.

"What now?" he called out impatiently.

Bella came back to her senses and stomped toward him. "Didn't you hear what I said?" she questioned, indignant.

"Yeah, you said 'I love you,'" Edward answered with a casual shrug. He moved Hugsy's leash from one hand to the other and Bella glanced down to see the dog sitting patiently at their feet. Edward nudged her upper arm and grinned. "Love you too, Bella."

He laughed and walked away, again. Bella realized that he had said it back because he thought she was saying 'I love you' in a 'ha-ha, funny/friendly' kind of way.

That was definitely not the way Bella had meant it.

Bella caught up with Edward, grabbing his arm to stop him. "No, Edward, I'm in love with you. I love you. A lot."

Now that Bella knew she was in love with Edward, she had to tell him. Later, when she thought back to it, Bella realized she should've given him more time to adjust, but she had a feeling of urgency spreading through her that made the words tumble out of her mouth without anything to stop them.

"Bella, you –" Edward started to say but Bella didn't let him finish.

"I love it when you half smile whenever I say something funny, and the days when we just sit in my room and eat junk food like we're seventeen and watch stupid movies. I love that. And when Alice goes into one of her rants or says something lame, you seek me out to exchange an eye roll, I love that too."

"Okay, that's –"

"And I love that you're nice." she blurted out, still going. "I don't mean that in a condescending way either. You're actually a genuinely nice person. To everyone!"

"Can I just –"

"I love your hair and the fact that you cut it yourself!" Now on a roll, Bella barreled on, her words coming out nonsensical and crazed. "I don't care what Alice says. I think it looks really good!"

"Maybe I should –"

"And I love your boyish laugh and – and that your shirts are always, always wrinkled not matter what." She finished her rant with a dramatic flourish, her voice lifting in pitch. "and I love your hands, your hair, and I love your large green eyes so much I could die!"

"You already mentioned my hair."

"Yeah, well, I meant it." Bella's hand was still clutching his arm and she let go, dropping her hand to her side.

For almost ten seconds, Edward did nothing but stare. Then his mouth was gently pressing against hers, eyes open as if waiting to see if she would push him away. When his lips met hers, he felt her physically start, but Bella didn't pull away either. Instead, she raised herself onto her toes, closed her eyes and leaned into him. She was kissing Edward. Properly kissing, with no hesitation.

Her whole body suddenly felt warm as Edward deepened the kiss, holding her more tightly to him. She could feel that he was bending down as far as he could that she could set her heels back down on the ground and not totter. He was supporting her so they could kiss even harder and she was digging her fingers into his back to bring him closer.

This was a real and proper kiss, the kind that actually makes you feel like your body is going completely gelatinous and you like it.

"You love my large green eyes so much you could die?" Edward murmured against her lips.

"I don't know what that means. It just sort of came out," Bella murmured back, kissing him again.

Edward drew back, his breath warm on her cheek. "You love me?"

"A little, yeah," Bella replied and Edward kissed her jaw.

"You said 'a lot.'"

"Okay, a lot," Bella amended and his tongue touched her skin just as he pulled his lips away. Bella reached up and put her forehead to his forehead and held him there with the back of his hair. "You kissed me."

"A little, yeah," he echoed, smiling, eyes glittering and kissed her again, slowly and thoroughly this time. Then, he moved on to her neck; after, the spot behind her ear, followed by the place where her neck becomes her shoulder. Exploring, little kisses that made Bella's shoulders shake.

Bella pressed herself against him as hard as she could, considering they were in standing on the sidewalk, out in public. They kissed again and again, Bella unable to get enough of him. Edward seemed to feel the same way, because he drew back so he can look her in the eye and Bella had a hard time focusing her eyes on him.

"Can we go back to your place?"

For the first time in a long time, Bella doesn't pause to take a moment and analyze Edward's question or what they would be doing at her place or what they wouldn't be doing. "Okay," she told him, heart pounding but she wants to and because she's going to.

Edward stood up straight and pulled Bella through the crowded sidewalk so fast she got the giggles. She glanced down at Hugsy trotting alongside them at their feet and that made her catch sight of her legs. Her legs that were covered in black tights because they were unshaven after the busy week she had just had. And then Bella remembered that in the morning she was feeling particularly frumpy and had put on Spanx under her dress to make herself feel better.

Bella's legs were unshaven, she was wearing Spanx and she had just agreed to go back to her place with Edward.

"Stop!" she blurted out, stricken and tugged on Edward's hand. "Edward, stop," they stopped, people moving around them on the sidewalk and Edward turned to face her. "We can't go back to my place."

A little frown formed between Edward's eyes and Bella felt his hand loosen its hold but she gripped it tighter.

"No, I mean, we can," Bella added hurriedly, stepping toward him. "Just not together. I need to go home before I – before we do –" she let out a huff, too flustered and embarrassed to tell him why. "Just, before you."

"Before me," Edward repeated flatly and ran a hand through his hair. "Um…okay?"

"Thirty minutes," Bella stated, her tone slightly desperate. "Give me a thirty minute head start and then you can come to my place."

Edward gave her an odd look, as if waiting for her to continue. "This would be the part where you tell me why you need a thirty minute head start."

Bella shrugged and shifted, feeling antsy as well as stupid for not being bothered to shave her legs that morning. "I just – I just do, okay?"

"Not really," Edward muttered, his frown deepening. "Is there something at your place you need to get rid of that you don't want me to see?"

"No, there isn't any –"

"Someone then?"

"What? No. No, there's no one," Bella said, shaking her head and Edward pursed his lips slightly. She let go of his hand, moving both her arms around his neck so she could press herself against him to prove how badly she wanted him. "There isn't anything or anyone at my place that I need a head start to get rid of. I promise."

Bella stood on her tiptoes to kiss him, then pulled back slightly so that their lips stayed close. She put the palm of her hand against his jaw, memorizing the shape of his face, the way his bones felt and the slight bit of beard that was scratching her cheeks.

"Thirty minutes. Please?"

Edward blinked. She felt his eyelashes on her eyelids. "Alright. Thirty minutes."

"Okay," Bella exhaled in relief, smiling. "Thank you."

"This isn't one of those things is it?" Edward asked as he pulled back and Bella bent down to scoop Hugsy up from the ground. "Where you need thirty minutes to, you know, pick apart what just happened, like you do with everything thing else?"

"No, it isn't," Bella replied, shifting Hugsy to her other arm. "At least not right now. I can do it tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow," Bella leaned forward, kissing him again and Edward reached down to interlock his fingers with hers. Like before when she agreed to have Edward come back to her place, she knows she's making the right choice in just having and wanting her moment with him. With Edward, it's different. "Okay, I'm going."

Edward nodded, squeezing her hand but she stayed put, not moving. For a moment, they just stared, frozen like that.

Hugsy squirmed against Bella's arm, breaking their moment. Bella dropped Edward's hand, taking a step away from him.

"Okay, now I'm really going," Bella stated decisively.

"Right," Edward bent down and kissed her again. The kiss was simple; they stood still except for Edward's pressure on her lips. But inside, every cell in Bella's body turned a back flip to blind.

Bella broke the kiss and he started to follow, but stood straight when she backed up a few paces. "Soyeahyseeyoulaterbye," she croaked, struggling to talk and then turned around, walking away quickly.

She heard Edward laugh again, louder this time but resisted the urge to turn around and continued walking. She did, however, let a grin take over her face so large that it spread from ear to ear, not caring that it probably made her look like a silly, lovesick teen.

Hugsy started to get squirmy again and Bella stopped to set him down on the ground. On reflex, she glanced back at Edward. She smiled at him and watched as he smiled back and she knows that whatever will or won't happen when he shows up after thirty minutes, will be worth it.


This is the chapter where everything comes together. There's no EPOV because if you go back to chapter 1 - the EPOV in that links up with the ending of this. Essentially, all EPOV/italic parts should make sense now.

I adore, adore everyone reading this, alerting this, plus the ones that leave me their thoughts. I'd love to hear more - whether you thought this was corny, lame or somewhere in the middle...

souplover9 is a really great beta *insert something witty and not at all lame/weird that I can't think of right now*

Next chapter: The morning after.