A/N Thanks so much for all the wonderful reviews, PMs, favorite adds, alerts... Everyone is AWESOME! I'm slow about responding, but I'm getting there. :)

Lillie Cullen rocks my sox and is the best beta and friend a girl could ever ask for!

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Theme song for the chapter is Mockingbird by Eminem.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. I don't own Eminem. Any questions?

Bella

I was lost in a wonderful dream about Edward when my phone rang early that Sunday morning. When I awoke, I was disoriented. First of all, I was fully dressed in my sweats and tank top, which I didn't normally wear to bed. Secondly, there was someone else in bed with me, which hadn't happened in a long time. Thirdly, I was terrified that the night before had all been a dream.

I snatched the phone up and answered it without thinking. My stomach hit my throat as soon as I heard the voice on the other end.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Bella?"

"How did you get this number?"

"How I got the number is not nearly as important as how you think I would let this new romance of yours go by unnoticed."

"That's none of your business!"

I vaguely heard Edward's voice telling me to hang up on them. He thought it was the press. Little did he know at that point who it was. In the meantime, Mike was still busy yelling at me.

"You know, Bella, we were just taking some time off from each other, and now I find out you're cheating on me with that fucking rap star? And I have to read it in the God damn newspaper? He probably gave you a STD, Bella! You realize that, don't you? All those mother-fuckers have Chlamydia!"

"I really don't give a fuck what you think, Mike. You're supposed to be leaving me the hell alone, remember?" I heard Edward's feet hit the floor and run out of the room. Where is he going? Oh my God, Mike's stupid ass has scared him away!

"Bella, I never told you we were over. I never ended it. You really need to rethink this and get your ass back home."

"I'm never coming back to you! I don't care if you ended it or not… I DID!"

"You can't end it, Bella. You don't have my permission to end it. You know the deal, baby. If I can't have you…"

"STOP! I don't know who you think you are, but I don't love you anymore. In fact, I'm not sure that I ever did. I'm SO over you, Mike. Why don't you just hop back in the sack with Jessica and have a nice life. I don't love you, I don't want you… in fact… I don't even want you in my UNIVERSE so STAY THE FUCK OUT!"

"You don't know what you're saying. Did he drug you? Is he there right now? Let me talk to him."

"No."

"Bella…"

"No, Mike. You don't control me anymore." I was listening to him spout another string of profanities about how I belonged to him and he'd never allow me to run off with that 'rapper' and I don't know what else when I looked up at Jasper standing in front of me with his hand out. I handed him the phone and buried my face in my pillow. What am I going to do if this was enough to make Edward not want to be with me? I can't breathe without him…

Jasper's voice was calm yet firm when he put the phone to his ear. "Mike, this is Jasper. Do you remember the last conversation I had with you?... That's right, Mike. I did tell you that I had friends who could visit you and that you'd never be heard from again. Do you think that anything's changed? Do you honestly believe that I'm going to continue to allow you to upset Bella like this? She's worked hard over the last few months to get over you. She's had to do a lot of self-esteem building to be able to look herself in the eye every day in the mirror. I only hope, for your sake, that your little stunt this morning hasn't undone all of her hard work. You'd do yourself well to just disappear, Mike. Maybe you should move to south Florida or something. Somewhere far away... You're talking again. Don't you ever learn? I'm not playing games with you. If you call her again, try to see her again, appear in her life in any capacity again, you're not going to like the outcome. I promise that you'll regret it. Now, be a good boy and hang up, forget this number, and never contact her again."

My eyes were wide when Jasper handed the phone back to me. He pulled me off the bed and hugged me, whispering, "Bella, your friends all love you, okay? Nothing's going to happen to you and Mike's not going to be bothering you anymore. If he does, I expect to hear about it immediately."

I didn't know what to say so I just nodded into Jasper's shoulder and whispered, "Thank you." I really had no clue what Jasper had been talking about on the phone, but I wasn't sure I was supposed to know. Rosalie had always suspected that Jasper was somehow 'connected' but it wasn't something that we discussed with Alice. She loved Jasper and didn't care so we had decided long before that it was none of our business. Jasper released me from his hug and headed down the hall towards his bedroom, closing the door quietly behind him. I marveled at him. He and Alice were such polar opposites. It was truly amazing.

I collapsed on the side of the bed in tears. How the hell Mike had gotten my number was a mystery, but the fact that he'd called and tried to ruin my time with Edward made me so angry. I heard Edward running back up the stairs and heard him talking to Rhianne on the phone. I looked up and noticed he was holding the newspaper with shaking hands. There was a large photograph of Edward and me climbing into the limo the night before on the Entertainment page. Edward sat down next to me so I did the first thing that came into my mind. I threw my arms around him. I wanted to hold him close to me forever. I was so relieved that he was still there and I never wanted to let him go. He dropped the newspaper and ended his conversation with Rhianne. I pushed my head into his chest and held him as tightly as I could. When his arms encircled me, I felt my body relax into his touch.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I shouldn't have…" One thing I didn't want was Edward feeling as though he needed to apologize to me. I knew that his life was a public one. I didn't care. I loved him.

"I don't care about the picture in the paper. Please don't apologize. The last 24 hours have been the best in my life. I don't want it to end."

He held me away from him and used his finger to tip my tear-streaked face up to look at him. It was a gesture that I would grow to love more and more over the years. His eyes held a strange light and then he suddenly blurted out, "It doesn't have to end. Come with me."

The light in his eyes changed as soon as he said it and I got the impression that he regretted saying it. I was confused. My mind was reeling and I wasn't really sure what he was asking me. It must have shown on my face when I asked, "Where?"

He started to speak, but hesitated slightly. "On the tour. Come with me. I can… You don't have to, Bella. Please understand. I just… I'd like to have you near me. Every time I think about the next few months of being on tour and only being able to email you or talk to you on the phone, a hole opens up in my chest and threatens to swallow me. I can't explain it. I'm not sure I want to. All I know is that my desire to have you with me overrides all rational thought that I have and… I know it sounds crazy."

I stuttered when I responded to him. He thought he sounded crazy. I thought he sounded like an angel sent from Heaven to rescue me from myself. I was still in a state of utter disbelief that the whole thing was happening. "You… you want me to go with you on tour?"

My mind continued to reel with the possibilities. I wasn't really sure that he meant it. I mean, I knew he meant it, but was he just saying it because I was upset? Could I even hope that he loved me as desperately as I loved him? Was there a remote chance that he felt the same pull towards me that I felt towards him? It was unexplainable. It was as though he was a part of me that had been missing forever. I felt complete with him next to me. Just having him in the next room made me feel empty and alone. All of my delusions about EC Velvet were gone in the moment that I met him. He was Edward. He was the beautiful, wonderful man that I had been corresponding with for weeks on end. He was insecure, unselfish, sweet, funny, talented, and beautiful. And I wanted to be with him, at any cost, forever.

The rest of that Sunday passed far too quickly for my taste. It was a wonderful day and we had a great time just hanging out together. The best moment of the day was when we both admitted that we were in love with each other. My heart soared when I realized that he really did feel the same way about me as I did about him. I still didn't think it was possible, but I felt fulfilled just the same. Alice was hysterical when she bounced up to her bedroom to announce to Jasper that "Bella and Edward love each other! Isn't that GREAT!" I could have died.

Edward blended in with my friends so well. Jasper, Emmett, and he seemed like they were not only friends, but brothers. They all hit it off famously and I was so thrilled. I just kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Nothing in my life had ever been as perfect as it was with Edward around.

After lunch, Edward had taken me up to my room so he could call Abby. One of the most wonderful things about Edward was the way his demeanor changed when he talked to his little girl. It only served to make me love him more. I never even thought about how difficult it might be to step in and help someone raise their child. All I knew was that I wanted to see Edward like that every day. It was obvious that Abby was the apple of his eye and I longed to meet her and see him with her.

That night, we had snuggled into bed together and talked. The sexual tension in the air had been obvious. We both wanted each other. Badly. Fortunately, we both had enough desire to do the relationship right that we waited. His kisses were scintillating and I could feel them all the way to my toes. My body burned with desire for him and my heart burned with love for him. Everything just felt so perfect with us together in each other's arms.

Monday morning came way too soon. I knew that he would have to leave for Portland and I would have to make a decision about whether to go with him or not. He hadn't brought it up again and I didn't know if I should. I wanted to go, so much. I couldn't bear the thought of him being away from me for months, but I also couldn't see myself just leaving everything I had ever known behind to walk out into the unknown and risk being hurt. It was just so unlike me.

We awoke early and he got in the shower while I rushed downstairs to fix him some breakfast. I giggled when he arrived in the kitchen smelling, once again, like my strawberry shampoo.

"I'm sorry, Edward. I intended to go get some of Jasper's shampoo so you wouldn't have to smell like a strawberry field."

He grinned at me with a crooked grin that melted my heart. "I have my own, Bella. I just like smelling like you."

I laughed. Aloud. For a long time. "What will the other guys say?"

He shrugged and laughed with me. "Probably that I'm toast."

We ate breakfast in companionable silence, but the pink elephant in the corner was staring at both of us. There was tension in the air about Edward's eminent departure. Alice and Jasper had both left early so we were alone at the house. When breakfast was finished, he helped me clean up and once the dishes were all in the dishwasher, he grabbed me around the waist and spun me around to kiss me. His kiss was soft and sweet and while he nibbled on my lower lip, the tears started to fall.

"No, no, no, Bella. Please don't cry."

"I'm sorry. I just…"

"I know, me either. Please consider coming with me? Even just for a short trip. Even just to Portland tonight. Bella, please?"

His green eyes were pleading with me. I wasn't sure what to say. How could I say no? How could I say yes? How could I not say yes?

"To Portland and then we'll see what happens after that, okay?"

He hugged me so tightly that he picked me up off the ground. "Absolutely, Bella. We'll play it by ear, right?"

"Right."

I called Alice to tell her where I was going and she was not at all surprised. Sometimes it was as if she could see the future or something. She just always seemed to know what was best. I packed a bag, not too much. Edward was busy making phone calls while I showered and got ready to go. When I appeared in jeans and a blue and white blouse, Edward swept me up and kissed my forehead. "You look perfect, babe."

He didn't have a car there and I wasn't sure what the plan was to get to Portland. I was slightly embarrassed to take him in my beat up Toyota, but I offered.

"I have a better idea," he said with a grin. We left in the Toyota and went to Rose's dealership. I wasn't sure what he had in mind, but when he walked out with the title to a brand new F430 Spider in metallic Blu Abu Dabbi with a charcoal interior, I kind of freaked out.

"Edward? Ummmm…"

"First rule of Edward Cullen. I collect cars. Second rule of Edward Cullen. Don't argue with me when I spend money on you. Third rule of Edward Cullen. Get in, put your seatbelt on, and hold on to your ass."

I stared at him in confusion for a split second before I climbed into the car. What does he mean about spending money on me? I wondered as I fastened my seatbelt.

Rose watched as we tore out of the parking lot with a smirk on her face. I was terrified. "How fast does this thing go?"

"Wanna see?"

"NO!"

He laughed and went faster. I don't know how he didn't get a ticket driving from Seattle to Portland, but he managed to make it without. Once I realized that his driving skills were better than average, I relaxed, but only slightly. He made the two hour and fifty minute trip in about two hours. I managed to not look at the speedometer. Instead, I watched the muscles in his arm ripple when he shifted. I watched the contours of his body as he alternately relaxed and tensed in response to the traffic. I watched the set of his jaw change each time he glanced at me and smiled.

We pulled in to The Amphitheater at Clark County in Ridgefield by two in the afternoon. The tour bus was parked there and Rhianne walked out of it to meet us as we drove up.

"Nothing like showing off, is there, Edward?" she said with a chuckle.

"It's for Bella," he said, climbing out of the car.

I stared at him. Is that what he meant when he said not to argue with him when he spent money on me? "I don't… I can't… it's not for me, Rhianne. I could never handle a…"

Edward glanced at me and cut me off by saying, "Don't you remember Rule Number Two, Bella?"

I shook my head and laughed. I knew I wasn't going to win that one. I decided to negotiate that later. I figured it would be easier to convince him later on that I wouldn't be able to handle that car. Besides, I didn't need a car. I had my Toyota… didn't I? I remember the smirk on Rosalie's face when we had driven away in the car and pulled my phone out of my pocket. I had a new text message from Rose. It read: Enjoy your new car, Bella. See you when you get home.

Edward chuckled in my ear and kissed my neck as he put his arm around me and led me into the tour bus. From the outside, it looked like just about any other bus. On the inside, however, it was a different story. I was in shock as we stepped up into the bus and it was like walking into a luxury apartment. There were large flat screen televisions, big leather couches, a galley, two bathrooms, complete with showers, nine bunks with curtains that closed for privacy, and in the back was Edward's room. His room had a queen size bed, a closet, a big flat screen television, DVD player, his own satellite television control and a private shower and toilet area. The whole thing was decorated beautifully and I was completely amazed. Edward took my small bag and placed it on what looked like a dresser built into the wall of the bus.

"What do you think of my home away from home, Bella?"

"It's great. I never dreamed they even built such things!"

The most amazing part of it was, there wasn't just one bus, there were two. Edward explained to me how they split the busses up so that everyone would have a little more room. Since he was the star, he got the biggest bus with the most amenities. They had all voted and allowed Rhianne to have to bedroom in the other bus because she worked so hard to keep them all in line. The rest of the guys and the bodyguards took the other bunks and there was room in Edward's bus for Mary and Abby to each have a bunk right outside his bedroom. He said that he thought he might just let them have his room though, depending on what happened.

After our tour of the bus, Rhianne stepped in to let us know that we were going to be having company in about twenty minutes. Edward's eyes lit up and I knew that meant it was almost time for Abby to arrive. I was excited, yet afraid to meet her. What would she think of seeing her daddy with someone other than her mom? It must have shown on my face because Edward took my hand and said reassuringly, "Don't worry, Bella. She'll love you. She's four. It's really not going to freak her out very much and she's heard me talk about you."

It wasn't much longer before the limo pulled up next to the bus. Edward and I stood, hand in hand, waiting for it to stop. As soon as it did, the back door opened and the most beautiful little girl piled out of the back. She had long curly hair that was lighter than Edward's bronze, but not quite blonde. Her eyes were the same shade of green as Edward's and her little lips were obviously her daddy's.

"DADDY!" she screamed as she ran to him with her arms out. I released Edward's hand just in time for him to catch her, pick her up, and swing her around. Both of their laughter rang through the air and I couldn't help but laugh too.

A lovely middle-aged woman with short dark hair climbed out and walked over to me with a pleasant smile on her face. "Hi! I'm Mary, the nanny. You must be Bella," she said, putting her hand out to shake mine.

"Um, yeah. I'm Bella. Nice to meet you."

"You, too. She kinda likes her dad, don't you think?"

We looked over at Abby and Edward who seemed to be in their own little world speaking their own little language. Finally, Edward turned to me with Abby in his arms and said, "Abby, there's somebody I want you to meet."

Abby pointed at me and looked up at her daddy. "Is that Bella, Daddy?"

Edward nodded and smiled. "Yes, baby, that's Bella."

Abby immediately started fighting Edward's arms. "Put me down, Daddy!"

Edward put her down and looked at me with a grin as Abby ran over to me. She put her arms out for a hug and I reached out to hug her back. She jumped into my arms, surprising me. I caught her and her little arms encircled my neck, squeezing tightly. "I like you. You're pretty."

She was about the most beautiful child with the most beautiful personality of anyone I had ever met. I squeezed her too and whispered, "I'm not as pretty as you, Abby. You're beautiful."

She giggled and leaned back to look at me. She put her hand on my cheek and her little face took on a very serious look. Her eyes bore into mine for a brief moment and then she said, "I'm glad my daddy loves you, Bella." And just like that, we were a family. She struggled and I put her down. She ran to the car to get something out and Edward pulled me into his arms and kissed me.

"I told you she'd like you," he whispered.

From that second on for the rest of the day, things were never awkward or out of place. Edward, Abby, and I spent the rest of the afternoon together. We played games, we took a walk, we had supper, and we watched "Dora the Explorer" together. One thing that struck me about Abby was that she was incredibly intelligent for her age and she seemed to be quite well adjusted emotionally for all the garbage she had been through with her mother. The only down part of the day was when her mother called Edward. Abby, Edward, and I had been laying on his bed watching Dora when she called his cell phone. He got up and stepped out of the room, but I could still hear him when his voice rose. I turned up the television a little bit so that I could try to keep Abby from hearing, but fortunately, Edward went outside.

"Do you like Dora?" Abby asked, not taking her eyes off the big television screen.

"Yes, I like Dora. My friend Emmett likes to watch Dora sometimes so he can learn some Spanish words."

She looked over at me questioningly and said, "Who's Emmett?"

I pondered how much to tell her and decided not to hold back. "Emmett is my very good friend who is the boyfriend of my best friend Rosalie. They live next door to my other friends Alice and Jasper who I stay with."

"Oh!" she exclaimed happily, and went back to watching the show. Apparently that was all she needed to know.

Shortly thereafter, Edward opened the door and wiggled his finger at me. I glanced at Abby and got up.

"Abby, Mary will be in shortly, okay? Daddy's going to have to go work soon."

"Alright, Daddy, love you!" she sang.

"I love you, too, baby. You'll be asleep when I get done so I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy! Bye, Bella!"

"Bye, Abby!"

I started out the door when I felt her little hand tugging at the hem of my blouse. I looked down and she had that serious look again. "Will you be here tomorrow, Bella?"

I glanced at Edward in a panic and he answered for me. "We don't know yet, Abby, but if not, we'll see her again soon, okay?"

"Okay!" she said, and threw her arms around my thighs. I giggled and picked her up to hug her properly. "I hope you stay," she said solemnly.

"We'll see, okay? I might have to take care of some things at home, but if I do, I'll see you soon."

It was bad enough to think about having to leave Edward for any amount of time, but then I had to face leaving Abby too. I tried to put it out of my mind as we passed by Mary on our way out of the bus. I knew that Abby would be well taken care of, but I felt very protective of her. She was so beautiful and so innocent that I didn't want her to ever have to witness anything bad again.

Once Edward and I were alone he said, "I'm sorry about that. I don't want you to stay with me because you feel guilty about my daughter asking you to. I want you to stay with me and go on tour with me because you want to, Bella."

"I want to, Edward. I do. It's just… there are some things I feel like I need to take care of at home first. I'll have to either take a leave of absence or quit the university, I need to put my things in storage, there's Alice's wedding…"

"Bella… It's possible to do all those things from the road and I would never keep you from Alice's wedding. Please consider just staying with me? You won't need anything. Whatever clothes you need, I'll buy. I'll put the Ferrari in a trailer and we'll take it with us, or I'll send it back to your house. I just really… need… you with me… I think."

Edward and I stood there in the parking lot staring at each other for the longest time. I knew that I wanted to stay with him. I just didn't know if it was the right thing to do or not. Finally, I just blurted it out.

"I'd love to go with you, Edward. At least for now. Besides, I'm not letting freaking Emmett teach me to drive the Ferrari." I felt like a weight lifted off me when I finally agreed to stay with him. I knew it was what I wanted to do, but I hadn't been sure that I should say yes. Once I said it, I knew it was right. I was both thrilled and terrified as I didn't know what to expect while on the road with Edward, but I also knew that everything would be fine as long as he was with me and I was with him. I could also see that Edward was relieved. He obviously had been very worried that I wouldn't want to go with him. He was so adorable when he was being insecure. We joined hands and headed in to find his dressing room together and I knew that it would be the first of many nights we would take that journey together before a show. I was happier in that moment than I ever thought I could be.

End Note: Obviously, we are at The Amphitheater in Clark County north of Portland. Yes, there ARE VIP passes for this show. YES, we are headed to California next. Sacramento, San Francisco, LA, and San Diego. :) REVIEWS = LOVE and VIP Passes! Come on down and get yours!!! Lillie? You got the Scoobymobile gassed up for our California trip BB?