A/N Made some slight changes to the first chapter since their was confusion. Edward and Bella did not travel back to Chicago together, but they do live there since in the first chapter, the met in a bar in Chicago. So just some clarifications and reminders that I sometimes too forget, and I hope you guys can forgive, I'm sorry for any continuity errors. Thanks to my Beta Sunflowerfran, and I hope you guys are still enjoying :)
"Good morning you two," Alice was the first to chirrup as Bella followed Edward out of the tent.
"Good morning," Bella answered as her eyes warily slid to Edward. Apparently, he was worried about nothing.
"Hey! There they are. The two love birds finally left the nest!" Emmett bellowed from across the camp.
"Yup, we did." Was Edward's answer, as he raised a hand in acknowledgment before zeroing in on some camping chairs to fold; efficiently leaving Bella alone as her brother walked straight towards her.
"So," Jasper started with a sigh, his eyes sliding towards the man Bella had no doubt was going to be in question, "You guys finally caved, did you?"
Bella tried her best to perceive the comment as supportive, but she heard the bite behind his tone. "Yes, but I'd hardly say it was caving, Jazz. More like finally accepting what both of us had been avoiding for years."
Her brother nodded, "Well good. I'm happy for you Bella. Now this wedding can go off without a hitch."
Bella shifted her weight as she crossed her arms, "Is that why you're happy for me? Because now he and I can't cause a scene at your wedding?"
"No, but I have to admit, that is an unseen benefit. It would kill Alice if you guys started fighting again."
Bella rolled her eyes, "You know, you're not talking about just anybody here. You're referring to your best friend and sister."
"Exactly, which means if this doesn't work out, then that means the collateral damage is that much bigger."
Bella crossed her arms, "I can't talk about this right now." She turned, intending to do anything to avoid what she most wanted to say to her brother right about now.
"Why?" Jasper made the mistake of calling after her.
And instead of leaving it like she usually would have done, Bella spun on her heel and said, "Because you're acting just like our mother."
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Emmett and Rosalie grimace at the bombshell she had delivered.
Alice cast a glance between her fiancé and once best friend, before finally going to Jasper's side.
Bella could care less if he was now mad at her, as she started rolling up her bedding and clothes, mostly avoiding the other set of eyes she knew had been watching her the entire time.
It took a while for everyone to pack up camp, between the multiple tents, bedding and the plethora of everything food and beverage. But finally, it was time to say goodbye to their private little paradise in the woods.
"Ready to go?" Jasper asked her hesitantly as Bella took one last look at their inlet from the beach.
Bella turned, her eyes finding an apologetic looking Jasper, and Alice's hopeful face waiting inside their truck. "No, uh, I think I'm going to ride with Edward."
"Bella, I'm sorry if—"
"It's not because of what you said, Jazz. Edward and I just have a lot to talk about."
Her brother nodded before he left her without another word.
Bella just gave the water one last look before she trekked across the worn grass and silent trees.
"I'm surprised you didn't leave already," Were Bella's first words as she climbed into Edward's, rather attractive Jeep. His quiet eyes watched her the entire time, and she wondered if he sensed how her mind went to a certain activity that they had once committed in the back of a previous vehicle he had owned.
Edward let out what might have been a small laugh, "I had an inkling you didn't want to ride with Mr. and Mrs. Perfect."
Bella smiled, "They're not married yet."
"No, but I'm surprised it took this long. They remind me of Rose's parents, so in love that it's a wonder they held out until after college."
"Yeah, I guess I wouldn't know, would I?"
"That's not what I meant Bella." He shook his head as he followed Emmett and Jasper's cars onto the grassy driveway. "You know, sooner or later you have to stop beating yourself up about it."
She let out a long sigh as she looked out the window. They were third in the line of cars. It seemed as though her friend group couldn't help but naturally pair up. And now that she and Edward had followed suit, she wondered even more why Jasper was so hesitant to be glad for them.
"You keep saying that," He was silent; waiting for her to continue, "I just meant, I barely know my brother and Alice the way you do, I hardly know Em and Rose, and I grew up with them during summers here. Sometimes I feel like an outsider."
"You want to know a secret?" She turned from the window to find Edward watching her again, "We all feel like outsiders, Bella. Do you know that we only get together about once a year? When Christmas rolls around, we try to meet up, but it's not the way it used to be in high school, and it never will be. We all grew up, acquired responsibilities and grew apart. You aren't the exception but the majority."
They continued to bump along the forgotten road, and Edward continued to ease her more than he knew, "I think that's why Jasper was so hard on you. For once in our lives, we have a chance of all being together again, of reliving old times. And I think he's scared of anything ruining that. Even his best friend."
"So you think he's worried that we might decide we can't make a relationship work, and I'll leave for a second time." Bella finally understanding the cause of her brother's concern.
Edward nodded. "Yes, but I can say this; we will make it through this wedding, we will make it through your mother, and all the nosey questions that other people will no doubt have. And I can promise you one thing, we will prove them all wrong, Bella."
She got the sense the words were more or himself than her. And Bella knew herself a coward not to bring up what her mentions of reality did to him: how he had closed down after a night of emotions, both good and bad.
So she just nodded, because her lips were starting to wobble, and she was afraid if she opened her mouth, her voice would break from the gravity of what he just promised her.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The rest of the ride back to the cottage was uneventful. Of course there was some meaningless road rage between Edward, Emmett and her brother, but otherwise, they made it home with no hiccups.
"So what do you guys want to do for our last day here?" Alice asked the group as they worked on unpacking coolers, suitcases, and tents.
At the reminder, Bella frowned at Edward; he just gave her an attempt at a smile.
"There's no question; we need to go out on the boat." Emmett ordered, giving each and every one of them stern looks, "So grab what you need; we're leaving in fifteen."
"So bossy," Bella giggled, giving Emmett a good-natured shoulder shove as she passed him on the way inside to drop off the bags she carried.
"Hey, I'm just trying to organize a plan. If I didn't, it would take ages!" He called after her.
"See now how hard it is?" Alice murmured as she joined Bella's side and walked into the cottage.
"It was never easy all agreeing when we were young, I didn't expect that to change now." Bella joked, but when she turned to Alice, a certain degree of sadness had taken over.
"Oh Alice, I didn't mean it like that…" Bella stopped herself, dragging a hand through her hair. It seemed as though that phrase was embedded into every conversation she had.
"I just don't want you thinking Jazz and I aren't happy. We are, it's just—"
"You're afraid it won't work out between Edward and me. And then what, right?" Bella finished the thought that was clearly written on her friend's face.
"We just don't want to give you a reason to stay away. We've missed you all these years. More than you know."
'"I know," Was all Bella could say, her eyes drifting outside to see if Edward was anywhere to be seen. "But your wedding is going to be so much fun. And we have the bachelorette party to look forward to!" Bella was doing her best to cheer Alice up, but apparently, it wasn't working.
"You're right. Well I guess we should hurry before Emmett takes off without us," Alice answered with forced humor before she disappeared down the hall to join Jasper, no doubt.
Huffing out a sigh, Bella quickly went to her room to put on her bathing suit, only to find Edward standing there in the middle.
He turned when he heard her enter, his eyes falling on the suitcase he still held in his hands, "I took the liberty of bringing your bag in from my car."
"Thank you." A subtle reminder that they were soon going to have to leave each other.
"I was just going to change and then head down to the lake for one last boat ride. You coming?"
He nodded; suddenly dropping her bag like it was hot coal. "I'll leave you to it then."
Bella shook off the strangeness of the encounter, quickly shedding her clothes to slip on her favorite bikini before heading down to the lake to say goodbye.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The boat ride was sullen and morose, which should have been expected since everyone had to go back to their respective homes in a few short hours.
Rosalie was living in Denver at the moment, Emmett not far in Salt Lake City; still, a far cry from Jasper and Alice in Grand Rapids. Bella and Edward were not too far living in Chicago, but still more than a day's worth of driving or a short flight if you wanted to pay the ticket. All of them were sad to see each other go.
"I'm so glad you came, Bella. I'll see you soon." Alice gave her a tight hug and kiss on the cheek before leaning against their stuffed sedan; not having a long drive to the other side of the state, but still not wanting to make themselves more upset by staying in the now empty cottage.
Jasper came to take his fiancé's place in a long line of goodbyes. "I'll see you before long Bells?" He gave her a stern look wrapped in humor.
Bella gave him a big smile before pulling him in for a hug, "Yes, it's only a month, right?"
"Right." He released a deep sigh and shook Edward's hand as he came to stand beside Bella. "And I'll be seeing you as well, brother."
Edward nodded, "Bye Jasper. Take care of my sister until then."
After Emmett and Rosalie had detangled themselves from their own farewell, they came to say goodbye to everyone else.
"Bye bitches," Emmett announced with a wave and one last kiss on Rosalie's cheek before he was the first to depart.
They all waved as Rosalie climbed into her parent's, chic Mercedes. Carlisle and Esme had left during their camping trip but wished them all safe travels.
Then there was one last wave of hugs shared between siblings before Alice and Jasper piled into their car and left Bella and Edward standing in the drive.
"So," Edward turned to her, "When does your flight leave?"
"7:30" She answered with pressed lips.
He nodded, "So you'll have plenty of time to get to the airport. Good."
Bella knew this was useless small talk, but she also didn't mind staying in their bubble for a little longer.
"Are you sure you want to drive all eight hours by yourself?" It was her turn to ask.
He shrugged, "I've done it before, and I'll do it again, no need to worry about me."
Bella pulled her lip between her teeth, not knowing what to say or do next until.
…
His lips were smooth but demanding as they threw everything into this unexpected kiss knowing nothing would ever be the same once they left that drive.
"Bella," Edward hissed as she opened her mouth in welcome, his arms snaking around her lower back.
And all she could do was revel in the feeling of her soft against his hard, the roughness of his stubble against her cheek, the silkiness of his tongue stroking hers and the pure wanton pleasure of feeling him pull her closer.
"I'll see you soon?" She finally pulled back to look into those green eyes piercing into hers.
"You're never getting rid of me. I hope you know that. " He smiled before placing a chaste kiss against her lips, then another before removing his arms from around her.
Bella tried not to pout as he took a step back, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
He gave her another blinding smile before stepping forward to give her one last quick kiss on the cheek, "See you in the windy city."
She nodded, "Goodbye Edward."
"Bye, Bella."
Finally, she forced her legs to recede into her own vehicle before watching him back into his car, still waving to her as she pulled out and onto the road ahead.
A/N There was also some confusion as to how aloof Edward acted after the tent, and then they were kissing, and at this point the physicality of their relationship is WAY ahead of the mental and emotional aspects. Theses two are a little backwards, but they'll get there! Thanks for reading and reviewing :)
