Disclaimer: I do NOT own any Twilight stuff or any relations to The Buffalo News.

Here is the twelfth chapter. The last update was six days ago so I am glad. This is a three day weekend for me so I am hoping to write- write- write- and post soon. Again No guarantees. Just being honest.

Bella's POV

I woke up to my alarm going off at six in the morning.

I lazily got up and headed for the bathroom. I turned on the lights and was blinded instantly.

"Agh!" I groaned.

I grabbed my toothbrush half blind and added toothpaste. I started brushing my teeth when Alice came in.

"Hey I'm going to pack your workout bag so that we could meet at Kate's after work." She informed, while still wearing her pj's.

"Mhm." I grunted.

I closed the door and headed for my morning shower. After spending fifteen minutes in the hot water I got out, and wrapped myself in my towel and headed out of my room.

Alice had my outfit for the day out and ready.

There on my bed were plaid texture pants and a white ruched pleated shirt. I walked over to my drawers and pulled out my undergarments.

After putting on my pants and blouse I walked over to my closet and pulled out my leather booties.

"Hey can I do your hair?" Alice walked into my room wearing a plaid texture tube top dress with tights and black heels.

"Are we supposed to match?" I asked laughing.

"No but…" She chuckled. "We do look good, so…" She shrugged.

"I suppose." I walked over to my vanity and plopped myself on my vanity stool.

"So what's for the agenda today?" I asked.

"Well if you get off work early then I thought we could meet at Kate's around… two?" She commented.

She had been waiting for the curler to heat up and was now ready to start on my hair.

"I have to see because I have paper work to catch up on and then if a story comes up I have to schedule all that in. But if there isn't anything, I'll be there." I told her.

She had finished my hair and started on my makeup. She gave me a light smokey look and I was ready to go.

"All your workout clothes are in your bag." Alice informed me as she left down the hall.

I picked up my bag and purse and walked downstairs.

I dropped everything on the table on the side of the door and walked into the kitchen.

I grabbed my coffee mug and filled it up with the coffee that Alice had brewed. I prepared it how I liked it and grabbed a banana muffin from the pantry.

"Alice I'm off." I said, looking up the stairs.

"Okay!" I heard her yell back.

I grabbed my keys and bags and left.

---

"Morning." I greeted as I walked into the newspaper office.

"Good morning." they greeted back.

"Bella." I was setting my stuff inside my office cubicle and turned around and saw Jimmy one of the editors rushing to me.

"What?" I asked.

"Paul was asking for you to go into his office once you arrived." He informed.

"Do you know about what?"

"No clue." He said and left.

I sighed and walked over to his office. Paul was the head of the newspaper and basically the boss.

I was about to knock but since the door was half open he saw me and gestured for me to walk inside.

"Bella I had you come in because I have a proposal for you." He started. "One of the executives of L'Sean Enterprise has arranged a press conference discussing the contributions to the local charity event."

"Yes I am aware of that." I stated. "Cris is covering that event.

"Not anymore. I wanted you to do it because it is a big issue that needs to be addressed and assessed properly. There are a lot of people with doubts about the contribution so there needs to be explicit details."

"What about Cris?" I asked. I didn't appreciate when people got hands on stories about events and issues that would later be relocated.

"I have discussed this with him and he is fine with the changes." He explained.

I sat there thinking over it but I still wasn't sure.

"The deal is that if your story is good enough, which it probably will be, gets the front page and you also get a primary salary raise and a full month's vacation."

"Basically this story comes with bonuses." I equated.

If I took on the story I would not only get my thirteenth story on the front cover but I would earn three dollars more. I didn't actually need the raise in salary but I did want the vacation. If I was going to be spending time with Edward I would need vacationing time, not to mention that I planned on going back to the ranch.

"Just one thing." I asked. "Can Jasper do the story with me? He can get the raise." I compromised.

I could tell that Paul was debating the deal.

"Sure." He agreed.

Jasper had plans to propose to Alice but wanted to save enough money so that he could give Alice her dream wedding. This just about worked perfectly.

"Great than we will cover that story." I stood up and stretched out my hand.

He shook it. "I'll have those press passes ready by nine. Remember the meeting is at eleven so call Jasper and let him know."

I nodded and headed back to my office.

I picked up the office phone and dialed Jasper's number.

"Hello?" He answered on the third ring.

"Hey it's me." I said, letting him know.

"Hey me." He responded.

"I have a story for the both of us. You interested, because I sort of already included you." I explained.

"What is it about?" He asked.

"It's the L'Seans Enterprise charity press meeting. Paul gave us the story."

"What about Cris?" Ha asked.

"Apparently he's okay with it but I am still going to go talk with him. So you on?"

"Yea. What time is it at again?" He asked.

"It's at eleven. Oh and you get a raise if we get this to be front page." I informed him.

"Seriously?" He asked stunned.

"Yup, so get yourself down here fast!" I commanded.

"On my way." He said and hung up.

I picked up my coffee mug and walked to Cris's cubicle.

"Hey Cris." I greeted.

"Bella." He said in shock, spilling his coffee.

"Sorry I didn't mean to startle you." I said as I handed him napkins.

"Its fine I wasn't paying attention."

"I wanted to ask you about the L'Sean's story." I informed.

"Don't worry about it, I was actually going to give it to someone else but Paul beat me to it." He said.

"Oh. Okay, I just wanted to make sure…"

"It's fine." He interrupted.

"Okay then." I nodded and walked out of his cubicle.

---

Jasper and I were walking into the conference room in the City Hall where the conference would be taking place.

We showed the lady at the door our press passes and were let in.

"Where are we sitting?" Jasper asked.

The room hadn't filled up yet but I was sure more reporters would be coming.

I walked us over to where we would have a good chance for asking questions.

The conference wouldn't start for another twenty minutes or so, so we sat and prepared for it.

Jasper had the camera in his lap and was making sure it was all okay while I took out my tape recorder.

"Bella?" He asked.

"What?"

"Your phone is vibrating." He said.

"I don't have my phone." I said, remembering that I had forgotten my phone in the car.

"I grabbed it for you, here." He said, handing me my phone.

"It's Edward." I said with a huge smile plastered on my face.

I got up and walked into the hall way.

"Hello?" I asked very cheery.

"Morning beautiful. How's your day been? He asked.

"It's been good. Jasper and I are waiting for a press conference to start. How have you been?" I asked.

"Oh I won't take up much of your time then, but I have good news. It seems that I can be in Buffalo no later than tomorrow." He said.

"Really? When is your flight?" I asked.

"Soon." He said.

"Bella." I turned and saw Jasper waving for me to go sit down.

"Edward I have to go. The conference is about to start." I said sadly and frowned at the wall.

"It's fine. Can I call you later?" He asked.

"Definitely!" I exclaimed.

He laughed. "I'll talk to you tonight then. Take care."

"Bye." I said and hung up.

I walked over to my place and sat down.

"What did he say?" Jasper asked as L'Sean's president and attorneys got ready.

"He will be here soon." I said with a smile.

"I'm happy for you. I don't really know him and you guys haven't spent that much time with each other but I know he makes you happy." He said.

"He does." I smiled.

"The press conference will begin shortly." A representative for the company informed.

I got out my tape recorder and my note book.

"May I have your attention please? We have called this press conference on behalf of L'Sean's Enterprise regarding the charity event. I, Sheryl Longstaff, as the representative for the company have the honor to inform everyone that this event comes with outstanding outcomes for everyone." She spoke.

"This will be good." I heard another reporter say.

"Now may I introduce Mr. Kole L'Sean." She gestured to a man who seemed to be wearing an Armani suit. He was very well kept and dressed for someone who spoke of how humble and ordinary they were.

"Thank you Sheryl. Good morning everyone, as you may know I am Kole L'Sean, President, owner and head executive of my father's Enterprise Company. We are gathered here to discuss the events of the charity event that will be taking place here in Buffalo next week."

"This Charity event is for the benefit of everyone. The event constitutes for donations made to our local shelters and hospitals. Some of the worlds greatest Enterprises and CEO's will be attending this event."

Someone came up behind Kole and whispered something to him.

"I apologize for not being able to stay here any longer, as I see I have some work to do still; I leave you with Sheryl, whom will answer any questions." L'Sean said, stepping back from the podium.

"Thank you for everyone's time as you may know Mr. L'Sean is a very busy man and needs to cut his meeting short. I as his representative and with his attorney by my side, will be taking questions." She informed to us all.

"How is it intended for the donations to come about?" A reporter asked.

"There will be auctions from some of the top companies contributing to this event." She answered.

There were several other questions asked regarding the guest list and events happening that night.

---

Jasper and I had gone to a café near the newspaper after the conference to grab something to eat.

"So how are we making this front page?." Jasper spoke in between bites.

"We just have to write a very good written report." I said, taking a sip from my Dr. Pepper.

He nodded and continued to eat.

I had brought my lap top with me and so I started writing my story in between bites.

"Why don't you write it when we get to the office? It's a quarter to one." He said, checking his watch.

"I know that's why. I have to meet Alice at two and I want to be able to talk to Edward for longer than twenty minutes. I need to practically pencil him in and that's not fair." I said irritated with myself.

"I can type it if you'd like." He said taking a sip of his drink.

I looked up from the screen. "I actually had in mind if wrote this one and you the one covering the event details." I advised.

"Yea that's fine." He said.

--

After we were finished eating we headed back to the office.

"Bella, Jasper meeting now." Paul was walking into the meeting room just as we stepped into the building.

I looked over at Jasper and rolled my eyes. At this rate I wouldn't be able to meet Alice in time. I hadn't even written half of the story yet.

---

The meeting was forty five minutes long. We discussed a bit on the topic of L'Sean's and how that was going. We also discussed other stories and some changes that were going to be taking place.

By the time we got out of the meeting it was past two. I walked to my office cubicle to call Alice and tell her I wouldn't be meeting up with her.

"Where are you?" that was the first thing Alice said as soon as she answered.

"I'm sorry Alice. Jasper and I got assigned the L'Sean story and we have been in meetings mostly all day. I am so sorry. I do want to go because I need to relieve myself of all this stress but I still haven't even written the story." I tried to cram all of what I needed to stay before she interrupted me.

"I understand. It's fine. But next time you aren't getting off that easily missy!" She warned. I laughed and was glad that she understood.

"Thanks Ali, you're the best." I blew a kiss into the phone and laughed at the reaction Jasper gave me.

"I know!" Alice was too modest. I giggled. "Well I will be taking this workout today and I will go shopping for you later. Bye!" Alice hung up, not giving me a chance to protest.

"We love her don't we?" Jasper laughed and sat down.

"Yes we do." I nodded and laughed.

Jasper and I went through some points about the story and soon enough we had our story.

I sent it to Paul and waited with Jasper.

"I knew you two could pull it off. It's a magnificent story. Front page." Paul congratulated us and left.

"It's almost five." Jasper informed me.

"Yea I want to go home and bake." I said. Baking always calmed me down when I was stressed and I felt like having chocolate.

"Okay." He laughed.

We picked up our stuff and headed to my car.

We drove in silence to the loft.

"Alice." Jasper walked inside and looked around to see where she was.

"Guess she's not home." I said throwing the keys in the key bowl and placing my laptop down.

"I'm home." Alice was just getting home as well.

"Hey you." I said as I walked to the computer desk to look at the bills that had come in. I groaned.

I left the two lovebirds making out and went upstairs to change.

I unzipped the bag that Alice had packed for me and opted to wear what was inside. She had packed the black yoga pants with the red insets below the knee along with that, was a matching red racer back top. I slipped them on and tied my hair in a ponytail. The curls that Alice had done earlier this morning were still intact making my ponytail have more volume.

I walked into my closet and pulled on my sneakers.

I walked back downstairs and saw the couple still making out.

"I don't want little fashion kittens running around this place quite yet." I said, taking things out of the cabinet for the cake.

They broke apart and Japer had turned beat red.

Besides making a black forest cake I was going to make chicken stir fry with pasta and steamed vegetables for dinner.

I was going to start out with the cake so that it could cool for me to frost it faster.

"Alice want to help me?" I asked.

"What would you like me to do?" She sat on top of the counter rocking her feet back and forth.

"For starters, get off the counter." I laughed. "Can you start preparing the vegetables for the stir fry and boil some water for the pasta noodles please?" I asked.

"On it." She hollered from the fridge.

I was adding the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients for the cake when the door bell rang.

"Got it." Jasper stood up from the breakfast bar stool and answered the door.

"For Isabella Swan." I heard a man say.

"Right here." I grabbed a towel from the drawer and whipped my hands.

"Can you sign here please." the man asked Jasper.

He signed while the man brought in a bouquet of several flowers.

"Thank you." I said.

I walked to where the man had set the flowers and looked over at Alice, who was by my side in a blur.

I bit my lip and searched for the little card.

Soon It read. It was from Edward.

"Soon. What does that mean? That is so not romantic. But the flowers are." Alice gushed at the flowers and turned around to glare at Jasper.

"Hmm." She groaned and walked into the kitchen.

I Smiled at the flowers and looked over to where the ones I had gotten earlier were. They were still beautiful.

I walked back into the kitchen and finished up the cake.

"Alice hand me the vegetables. The chicken is almost done." I requested.

Alice had been telling us about her day and her funny incident that happened while she was at work.

"Buzz"

"I got it again." Jasper got up from the stool and went to the door.

"Delivery for Ms. Bella Swan." A women's voice said.

"Yea." I heard Jasper say. "Thank you."

Jasper closed the door and appeared in front of the breakfast bar with what seemed to be a huge bouquet of red roses.

"OMG!" I heard Alice squeal.

I walked over to Jasper and took the roses form him.

I inhaled their delicious scent and smiled.

"I love them." I said more to the roses than to anyone.

"Here." Alice placed a vase filled with water on the bar. I placed the roses in the water and grabbed the little card.

Not soon enough-- Edward

Alice and I both looked at each other and squealed loudly with much excitement that the neighbors knocked on the wall.

After our little dance Alice and I rolled on the ground in laughter.

I heard the door ring again and I jumped up.

"I got it." I screamed.

"Can you please keep it down?" A little old woman was standing outside the door.

"Sorry." I said and closed the door slowly.

As soon as I closed the door Alice, Jasper and I went into hysterics.

The door buzzed again not even five seconds after the last ring. Oops!

As I opened the door I was ready to apologize to the little old lady when I saw Edward holding a red rose.

"They say that a dozen roses signify a rose for each month in a year. But this one rose I have here, is for the special person who captured my heart many years ago."

I stared at the rose he had in his hand as he spoke.

"I missed you." He whispered.

"Edward!" I threw my hands around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"You're here! I missed you so much." He set me on the ground just as I was about to wipe away a tear that trolled down my cheek. He swept it away gently with his finger and cupped my chin.

If he was going to kiss me he was being too slow. Sure it was romantic but damn, I'd been away from him long enough.

I closed the space between us and he enveloped me in a deep velvety yet passionate kiss. I felt my body weaken as soon as his tongue gained entrance through my lips and intertwined with my tongue. He steadied me as he put his arm around my waist and deepened the kiss even more. I kissed him passionately with every ounce I had in my body. I ached for him.

"Mghmm!!" I heard someone clear their throat causing me to step back and stumble. Luckily for me Edward still had his arm around me.

I looked past him and there was a mini crowed outside the loft.

"Congratulations honey. He is a very kind young man. Good looking and a great kisser from what I've witnessed." The little old lady said.

"Thank you." I said shyly. Everyone outside clapped and cleared out.

Edward laughed and brushed his hand along my cheek that was probably burning with embarrassment.

I buried my face in his chest and dragged him inside.

"Damn! I thought you two were going to eat each other out there." Alice teased but ran to me and hugged me.

I laughed at Jasper who was shaking his head.

"Bella what was it that you said earlier as you walked downstairs?" Jasper taunted.

I stuck my tongue out at him and hugged Edward.

"I missed you so much." I said and took the rose from his hands.

"Soon just wasn't soon enough." He said, kissing the top of my head.

"The cake!" I screeched. I looked over at Alice and saw the same freaked out expression.

"The chicken!" We said simultaneously.

We ran into the kitchen to check on the food.

I opened the oven and thankfully the cake hadn't been in to long. I turned down the heat from the oven and walked to Alice who was trying to blow the steam away.

I grabbed a spatula to stir the stir fry.

"It's not bad. The veggies just got a little more charred." Alice shrugged her shoulders.

The guys were sitting on the bar counter and looked at us and started laughing.

Alice and I looked at each other and huffed.

"What?" Alice and I both said in unison.

"Nothing…" Jasper tried to speak in between laughs. "You should…"

"What?" Alice and I were getting irritated.

"You should have seen your faces when you guys thought about the food." Edward finished for him.

"The chicken was burning!" Alice shrieked.

"Forget it Al." I shook my head.

The timer for the cake went off. I slipped on my mitten and took it out for it to cool.

"Do you want me to start on the frosting?" Alice asked.

"Ah yea can you please." I was at the stove preparing the pasta and steamed vegetables.

"I thought Alice couldn't cook." Edward assumed. "No offense." He clarified after the death glare Alice gave him.

"She isn't a master chef but she can manage." I set forth.

"Thank you." Alice squeezed me and smothered frosting on my nose.

"I aint saying your welcome." I joked.

-

"Can you two be of some use and set the table please?" I asked Edward and Jasper.

They had been sitting on the stool discussing 'men' stuff.

"Sure. Why not." Jasper shrugged in protest.

Alice and I served up the food and placed them on the table that the guys had set.

"There's a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge. Can you go get it Bella?" Alice asked.

I nodded and walked back into the kitchen.

"Need help?" Edward walked in behind me and grabbed me by the waist.

"Your hair smells good." he said.

I laughed. "It probably smells like burnt." I turned around and faced him. "Alice curled it this morning."

"No it smells like lavender and freesia." he kissed my forehead.

"Any time now." Alice popped her head in.

Edward let go of me and I grabbed the bottle of wine.

Alice grabbed the glasses from the cupboard and walked out with us.

Usually Alice and I sat on either side of Jasper when we ate, now it was the same but Edward was here this time. We ate and chatted about how Emmett and Rosalie weren't moving any more and on how Edward yet had to set up his loft.

"I want to toast." I said, raising my glass.

"I toast, to having Edward not just here- here, but in having him back in my life." I paused and looked him in the eyes.

"I also toast in having the greatest friends in the world." I looked to Jasper and Alice and smiled. "But most of all, to sitting here the people I care for and love deeply. Jasper and Alice have been here in what seems like forever. I don't know where I would be with out you two. And Edward, for giving me a part of my life back and for filling the space you took from me." I said.

"You're going to make me cry." I looked at Alice whom had tears welling up.

We all laughed and clinked our glasses.

"Cake time!" Alice cheered. "How about we clean the table and you get the cake ready."

I walked back into the kitchen and started frosting the cake and adding the cherries.

Once I was finished frosting it I grabbed the vanilla ice cream from the freezer and walked to the family room; everyone was sitting and chatting. Since it was still September it was sort of chili so they had the fire place burning.

"I got the plates." Said Jasper.

As soon as everyone was sitting I started serving everyone cake and ice cream.

Edward was sitting on the couch while I was on the floor on a cushion, in front if his legs.

We ate our dessert and talked about Edward's plan for his surprise. Apparently the little old lady had been walking down the hall way when he heard Alice and me squealing and laughing. He had asked her to participate in the little scheme.

After eating, talking and cleaning it was nearing past nine.

"I have to get going. Paul messaged me earlier and said that we have meetings from eight to ten." I snickered at Jasper's comment and nodded.

"I have to get going to." Edward said, putting his coat on.

"Where are you staying?" I asked confused.

"There's a hotel near my loft." He explained.

"No way." I said.

"You can stay at my place I have an extra room and from what Bella told me it's near your place." Jasper elucidated.

"How about Edward stays here, I go with Jasper!" Alice was bouncing in front of me with a huge smile on her small face.

"It's not a big deal it's just until I can arrange my loft." he clarified.

"No, why don't you stay. We don't have a guest bedroom but the study has a very comfy pull out couch." I said.

"It's true. Bella always falls asleep there after a long tiring day." Alice chuckled.

"I'd feel bad if you had to stay in a hotel when you could be staying here." I said with a frown.

"Alright." he gave in.

"Good night!" Alice rushed Jasper out the door and Edward and I were left alone.

He took off his coat and embraced me in a hug.

We swayed back and forth together for a while.

"Let's get you to bed." He said.

"But I'm not tired." I complained.

"Is that why I'm the one sustaining you?" He asked. It took me a second to realize he had me in the air.

"Heehee!" I chuckled.

"Let me get you some blankets." I said and ran upstairs.

--

After I came downstairs with blankets and pillows I saw Edward sitting on the couch with his eyes closed.

I made sure that everything in the kitchen was off and that the door was locked.

I walked to the couch and plopped the pillows on the ground next to him. I was about to cover him with a blanket when he grabbed me by the waist and sat me down.

"You tired go to sleep." I said, trying to stand up.

"Stay with me for a minute." He said.

I sighed and curled up next to him and covered us with a blanket. The warmth from the fireplace and the blanket was making me fall asleep and before I knew it, I was.

(A/N) OMG! I hope you guys liked it!!!! I am very proud of this chapter. You have no idea how excited I was when I was writing this. SO Edward is finally here! Now I can start writing all the juicy stuff I have in store for them two. I have lots of ideas and plans for them but if you have an idea too and would like to share by all means go ahead.

Please review and let me know what you think!