AN: Without any more delays, here is the new chapter.


Chapter 12


While the flashes illuminated the whole press conference room, Edward and Bella made their way to the table in front of the dozen rows of chairs that were filled with press workers. Edward wanting the crowd to calm down cleared his throat and spoke.

"Good morning ladies and gentleman. Are we ready to start?"

The occupants of the room silenced and the atmosphere inside it grew quiet. Once the room was in complete silence, one person stood up. Bella was warily observing the whole scene. The person who stood up was a woman with curly red hair, mid height. She looked a little scared, but after a deep breath, her demeanor filled with courage and she asked permission to talk, which Edward, of course, conceded.

"Good morning Your Highness. Miss Swan." She acknowledged nodding. "My name is Emma. I was nominated the spokeswoman of the whole press group here present. We want to apologize for our behavior at the Heathrow airport. We understand that it was because of it that Miss Swan was injured. We hope you can accept our most sincere apology." She finished her little speech and sat.

Edward looked at Bella. Although he was still completely pissed off with the paparazzi, the decision to accept the apology was Bella's'. After all, she was the one injured.

"I accept your apology. I genuinely hope this never happens again, not only to me, but also to everyone else. It was frightening," Bella said calmly while she studied the hundreds of faces present in the room. A chorus of 'Yes' was heard and soon a newfound silence arrived. Diane spoke then, explaining the press that Prince Edward and Miss Swan were available to answer a few questions regarding the engagement.

Hearing this, the ambience in the room turned into chaos, as each one of the journalists present there wanted to ask his own question. Diane finally calmed the whole room and clarified that the questions were to be asked in order, from right to left, first row to last, and one question per person. Some complaints were heard, but the 'rules' were accepted, and the session began.

"Prince Edward when, where and how did you propose to Miss Swan?" the first question was asked by a little man, almost as small as Alice.

Edward let a throaty laugh, but was soon interrupted by Diane, who again had to clarify that it was one question per person, and that question was a 3-in-1.

"Ok," the little man said disappointed. "When?"

"September 13, Bella's birthday," Edward declared. Some murmurs echoed in the room but were cut as soon the next question was asked.

"Good morning. Can you disclose the location of the proposal?" This time Bella answered the question.

"Edward proposed in a garden, Villa Comunalle, in Naples," the next question was quickly asked, as it wasn't answered yet the how.

"I proposed Bella in the garden, with a dinner, and I wrote the proposal in the first page of a book. Bella loves to read" Edward explained.

"Can you tell us what book?" asked a faint voice at the end of the room.

"Sorry, the publishing house doesn't pay me for publicity purposes," Edward said with a chuckle.

In the next 30 minutes, Edward and Bella answered many questions regarding how they met and when. Some questions about Bella's life were also asked. However, both of them had a feeling that the whole session was too calm. The questions concerning a possible pregnancy were yet to be asked – as it was announced in a newspaper; and they both knew that as soon as they would be asked the whole room would lose its composure.

"Prince Edward, rumors were heard that you proposed this soon because Miss Swan is expecting an heir. Is that true?"

Here was the question Edward was dreading to hear. The 250 000£ question.He thought. He didn't want to answer it, because he knew that as much he would deny they would always suspect his denies weren't truthful. Also, because as soon as something was different with Bella – if she gets some more weight, or even she has a bug… something that could be misled as pregnancy symptoms; it will confirm the supposed pregnancy, even if wrongly.

"No. I proposed to Bella because I love her. Some people may think it was too precipitate, but this is our love life, and in it, things take place at the speed we want. All relationships are different, our appeared suddenly, but when it happened was if the whole world around us disappeared and everything felt complete, right."

"Excuse me Sir. Some pictures were taken before this trip and comparing them to others after the trip, Miss Swan is showing more weight, and according to some 'she's glowing'," a bald man said from the left of the room.

"True. She might have five extra pounds, which I really don't mind because it's hard to even notice the difference, but that is certainly owed to the magnificent food we ate while in Italy. Let's just say that everyone that decides to visit Naples, 'La Maddalena' has the best Italian food I've ever tasted. Bella's brother owns it." He added to explain some odd looks. "About the 'glowing' aspect I can only say it's the happiness that we're feeling. I am glowing to, and I'm not pregnant." Edward concluded feeling frustrated by the emphasis they were giving to the pregnancy thing. Besides, if Saturday the doctor hadn't run a small check up on Bella he had never realized she gained 5 pounds.

The complaints after this last affirmation were huge and it took a while to get the room calmed. Bella was trying to be understandable, but it was getting difficult when the media was stabbing her with those lies.

"I don't believe it. Miss Swan is glowing, and she gained weight. I still believe she is pregnant. Besides Dr. Morrison was seen leaving the palace Saturday afternoon," said the same bald man. He was starting to fry Edward's patience.

"Yes," Edward snapped. "Dr. Morrison was here because Bella has a sprained wrist, which by the way was caused by your people," Bella placed her hand in Edward's thigh trying to calm him, as he was starting to lose his calm demeanor.

"However, there are already public statements from members close to the Royal Family that attest Miss Swan is pregnant. What we don't understand is why you keep denying it. It's no long judged a child off the wedlock," another journalist affirmed.

"She. Is. Not. Pregnant." Edward snapped while glaring at the press members. "I hope she will eventually, but right now she is not."

"How can you be so sure?" it was the first time Bella was in this kind of meetings, but she could finally see why sometimes people could make wrong statements. These press people got so much on the nerves of the one subjected to the interview that it was easy to snap and say something not intended. Which she did.

"I really shouldn't say this, but I hate lies, and I don't think it's fair the way you're trying to make me look like. You are deceiving the person I am, making me the bad guy here, creating all these lies about me. It was impossible for me to be pregnant before Edward proposed because…"

"Bella, no!" Edward tried to interrupt.

"…I was still a virgin until the night of the proposal."

"Is that really true? You're 24, certainly had a boyfriend before Edward…" Edward was still stunned that Bella was capable to finish her sentence. Was she crazy? They'll never let her go before she answers all their questions…Bella seeing the look of disbelief and pain in Edward's face leaned and talked at his ear.

"Sorry. It was the only way they would stop these blasphemies," she kissed his cheek lightly. Before Edward had time to react, she was already answering the journalist. Even if Edward was a little pissed at Bella's confession, he was also amazed by the courage she had, in order to make such confession. He heard her explaining of the events that led her to finish her High School and attend University with summer courses included, in her haste to finish her degree.

"So, you're not pregnant?"

"No." Bella said exasperated. "Even if you want to make it real, it is not possible. It is only five days since the proposal, so even if it eventually happens, you'll certainly won't notice in my weight for the first couple of months. So please, drop the subject. I'm not pregnant for now. I hope to be one day, and be able to give Edward, and the family, the joy of produce an heir to the country, but for now, even with our 'speedy' relationship, is too soon."

The press seemed to be finally satisfied with Bella's last statement. Some trivial questions about the marriage date and honeymoon location were also made, but both Edward and Bella refused to answer, as they hadn't decided anything.


After lunch, Bella and Edward returned to their room, as they were both exhausted by the morning events.

Edward was still baffled by the persistence of the journalists, and the courage his beloved demonstrated while answering their questionnaires. However, he had a feeling the media was feed with the lies by someone very close to the family and that was what was bothering him so much. On her side, Bella was a little apprehensive due to the behavior that Edward presented during the lunch. He had been quiet, pensive – too quiet and pensive. Was it because her statements?

"Edward?" she nudged him with her elbow as they were cuddling on the bed. Her gesture startled him from his musings.

"Yes love?" he used the moment to turn Bella, so that they could be face to face. After she was directly in front of him, he placed is finger under his chin, as she was still looking down. Those chocolate brown pools were showing apprehension, and Edward remembered he had been quiet ever since they left the media room. "Sorry," he said. Observing the emotions changing in her eyes, he realized she didn't understand what he could be sorry for.

"I've been quiet. It wasn't my intention, but I was thinking about the whole event in the media room. And the thought that someone inside the Palace is feeding the media with lies about us has yet to leave my mind," Bella released a deep sigh she didn't know was holding.

"I thought you were mad with me, because of what I said," she said sheepishly. Edward caressed her face with the back of his hand and kissed her sweetly on the lips.

"No love. I'm not mad. In fact, I'm still perplexed by the courage you demonstrated on that room. You fought for yourself, for your dignity, and I couldn't be prouder of you," he kissed her again to reinforce his feelings. Bella grabbed the opportunity to deepen the kiss, and a few minutes later, they were completely engaged in a frenzied make out session.

Edward disentangled himself from Bella and looked at her face. The pure lust in her eyes and the goose bumps and flush in her skin were the indications he was looking for, and a final nod from the amazing woman lying beneath him was enough. Bella was already understanding what he wanted – as it was the same as she; curved her body until her breasts were right below Edward's face.

He misunderstood her move, as he decided to attack her breasts immediately, and Bella's intention was that he had enough space to untie the bow on the back of her blouse. However, the pleasure from his move was bigger than the irritation from his misunderstanding, and she quickly resolved the issue by unmaking the bow herself. Edward realized immediately what she had done and smiled sheepishly. Bella released a throatily laugh that was quickly interrupted by a moan of pleasure, since Edward had already loosened the blouse and was sucking directly on her pebbled nipples.

"Bella, I love you, but this is not going to be lovemaking," he whispered hoarsely on her ear. His hands were working quickly, unbuttoning Bella's skirt. Bella nodded in comprehension, as she too, was feeling the intense need for Edward. She quickly pushed him on the chest, which made him retract, a hint of hurt crossing his eyes. She kneeled on the bed and removed her shirt, following by the removal of her bra. Edward understanding her stood up quickly and undressed completely. He was observing Bella extracting the final pieces of her clothing while stroking his cock. Bella raised her eyes to look at Edward and she felt the pool of want, growing even more in her underwear that she quickly removed.

She crawled near to Edward and the look of her, on fours, in the middle of their bed almost made him cum. Bella rose seductively on her knees and grabbed his neck kissing and nibbling his earlobe. "Edward, I want you to fuck me," she moved her head and made the same path until she got to his other ear, "Hard and fast."

Edward groaned at the sound of her words. Who was this woman, and the hell happened to his bashful Bella? Not that he was complaining, as her demeanor was making him harder than before, if that's even possible. "Love, I want you on fours. Now," he bellowed. A shiver of lust run through her skin and she promptly took position. Seeing her for behind was one of the most erotic images he has ever seen, and he couldn't stop himself to attack her. Edward quickly kneeled on the bed and grabbed her hips forcefully. He lowered his hand until it reached her pussy. "Oh god," he groaned, "You're so wet."

"Only for you, Edward," Bella moaned. Then she turned her head around until she was looking him in the eyes. "Now, stop talking and fuck me good," she demanded. It was not necessary to repeat it twice as Edward thrust into her hard. They both groaned at the sensation of being together again.

As opposite from other times, Edward didn't give her time to readjust his size, as he was already pulling out to thrust hard into her again. The grunts and groans of pleasure echoed through the room, and certainly the hallways, too, but it was not time to worry.

"Fuck Bella. You feel so good," Edward grunted while pounding into her. At this rhythm, he wasn't going to last long.

"Harder Edward," Bella moaned below him. He complied, and not five thrusts after, he was ready to come. "Come with me Bella. Now," he roared. His demand has the ignition to Bella's most powerful orgasm until now. Edward kept thrusting – one, two, three, four times. Bella's orgasm was already dying down, but as soon as she felt Edward cum inside her, another powerful one shot through her body.

"Edward," she shouted, as he kept going until both of their orgasms subsided, and then they both dropped into the bed, exhausted.

A few minutes later Edward disentangled himself from Bella and turned her until she was looking at him. "Love, this was… wow. Really no words," Bella giggled and nodded. Yes, it had been absolutely amazing.Edward kissed her again and immediately his member started to stir again. Bella noticed and wiggled her eyebrows in a way that made Edward laugh.

"Bella, before starting round two, do you have any idea for the wedding date?"

"Edward…," she said sweetly. "We have time to discuss that on another day, now" she grabbed his dick and stroke it, "put this monster to do what it does best," and kissed him deeply. The rest of the afternoon was spent in similar occupations, christening repeatedly the bed, the couch, the walls, the shower, and even the floor. Hummm.


AN: This was it. I hope you liked. I want to thank all of you that took some of you time to read and review my story. Please let me hear your opinions! See you soon.

Catarina