Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this next chapter. I'm in the midst of working on the next chapter of "Three", too, so hopefully that will be up soon. I also hope everyone had a great week! Mine was slow but I had today off to start my weekend and felt somewhat productive even though I also spent a lot of time napping. Oops!

Baseball season has also started since we last talked! The most magical time of the year! If you're a fan, I wish you a happy season : )

… …

I sat back and watched Edward. He moved with a practiced confidence, and when he was like this, his camera lens was really just an extension of himself. I wished that I could see the world with his eyes, but he did make that possible with his photographs. He would show me what he had captured, giving me a glance at the beauty he always managed to see around him.

"Can I see what you've got?"

I had been so wrapped up in watching him that his words startled me, and I sheepishly handed over my camera. I'd only taken a few more photos, and nearly of them were of him.

His mouth curled up into a smile as he began looking through the photos I'd taken, and he peeked up at me.

"Shut up." I blushed bright red, squirming under his knowing gaze.

"I didn't say anything!" he laughed. "Although…"

I shoved him playfully and shrieked loudly when he grabbed me and pulled me into a deep kiss. It felt so good to be with him like this- I deepened the kiss further, not caring that our cameras were between us, and felt lightheaded by the time he eventually pulled away. If just his kisses could do this to me, I was almost scared to think how strong the connection would be between us in the future. But really, I could hardly wait.

"Look, I love this one," he said suddenly, his focus back on the camera. He remained as close as possible to me, like he couldn't bear to step away. "See how you captured the way the light is coming through the trees? It's beautiful."

"I didn't even realize I was doing that. I just aimed and clicked."

I always felt a little embarrassed when Edward talked about my photos- like I was a fraud. He spoke with so much passion and knowledge, while I barely knew anything at all about photography. I loved that he seemed to think I was good, but felt incredibly amateur compared to him.

But Edward pulled my chin up gently, his fingers lingering there as he spoke. "Bella. There is knowledge and practiced skill, but there is also talent. They all matter. Right now, harness this raw, pure talent and it will then shape your knowledge. Skill comes later, with practice, and there's no time limit. Trust the process- I do."

Grateful, I kissed his cheek. "Somehow you always know the right things to say."

"For you, I'll always try."

We spent a little more time there in the meadow, talking and taking pictures before deciding to call it a day. We started back towards my parents' house, hand in hand, and I finally vocalized the question that had been on my mind for too long now. I had been afraid of the answer, and I still was, but knew I also needed the answer.

"Where are you headed after this?"

Edward hesitated, looking over at me. "I promised Alice and our parents that I would spend Christmas in Texas with all of them, and then I go back to Chicago on New Year's Eve to get my car and some of the stuff I left behind. After that, I have to be in Maine for a wedding on Valentine's day- but I'm planning on driving straight there and being in the area for a few weeks before the job."

"Oh, okay."

Although I was glad to hear his answer, it was also bittersweet and a reminder that there was still much for us to discuss.

"But I was hoping that you'd come with me. To Maine. And then…everywhere else."

Happiness swelled up inside me, and I squeezed his hand tightly.

"I would love that."

… …

The next few weeks were bliss. We spent time together as much as we could, but also made the most out of the periods of time we spent apart. I couldn't even assign a number to how many pictures Edward had to have taken, and I loved that he seemed happy to spend a little time with my parents, whether I was there with them or not. Sometimes I spent time alone with Rosalie, but other times, Edward, Emmett, and the babies were there also. Kate and her fiancé still lived in Seattle, so we spent a few days with them there and had an incredible time- they had even booked Edward to do their wedding photos in September.

For the first time, everything felt effortless, but in the best way. Our relationship was fun and easy, but there was also deep passion there that I'd only ever felt with him.

Six years ago, I'd been incredibly drawn to the sexy, older photographer that had dropped into my life out of nowhere. He had been mysterious and talented, but off-limits thanks to all the powerful things that kept us apart. He had been unpredictable when I had craved stability, and had possessed all of the life experience I wanted yet still wasn't ready for. The timing had been completely wrong, and it had brought a lot of heartbreak.

Now, it felt like we were equals, and completely on the same page for the first time.

… …

"There." I looked over at Edward, sprawled out next to me on the couch, and smiled excitedly. "My flight to Maine is booked."

"Yeah?" He wrapped one of his arms around me and pressed a kiss to my temple.

"I get in to Portland late on the night of January twentieth."

"Late, huh? How are you getting to the hotel?"

I scoffed at his teasing, but he knew how much I loved it.

"I'd walk if I had to."

"Well, you know I'll be there to pick you up…with bells on. I've wanted this for a long time."

I curled closer to his side, touched by his words. "To have someone with you again?"

"Nah, to have you with me."

I melted as he pulled me closer still. His hands were everywhere, but it felt like I was made to be touched by him. It felt right, and for the first time, I wasn't nervous or anxious about physical intimacy at the beginning of a relationship. With Alec, and even with Edward back when I was younger, I'd had so many reservations and sometimes flinched under the unfamiliar touches. Now, I craved it.

But we were in my parents' house, on their living room couch. Now was hardly the time, and we both knew it. So we gradually moved apart again, and settled for twining our hands together and squeezing tight. This was enough for now.

… …

We had finally gotten some of the logistics sorted out for the future, and I was getting more and more excited with each passing day.

No, this wasn't a white picket fence or a perfectly planned life. But it was a life together.

I was looking forward to traveling, but even more so because it would be with Edward. It was still a little daunting, though, considering I'd never been in the car for more than five hours at a time and would soon be traveling halfway across the country. After the wedding in Maine, we were headed to Virginia for a family photo shoot, and then to Texas to take newborn photos.

There would be some time for breaks or exploring along the way, but I was looking forward to the long break we'd be taking in Texas- after taking newborn photos for Alice and Jasper's baby. It had been ages since I'd seen Jasper, and even longer since Alice and Edward had been in Forks together. I wanted to be a part of Edward's family, though, and hoped that we could all become close.

Our relationship "status" had been up in the air until now- it just wasn't something that we had talked about. We had just wanted to be together, and obviously knew that we already loved each other. I sometimes felt a little silly being so in love with Edward when we hadn't done much physically, because in the past, it was the other way around. Now it was something deeper- we'd fallen in love as friends first and now we were ready to build upon it.

I had wondered a bit, but my nerves were squashed when Edward swiftly put the matter to rest in a conversation about the upcoming wedding job.

"They won't mind if I come along, will they?" I'd asked, hoping the couple wouldn't. I was excited to see Edward at work. "I don't want to blindside anyone."

"Nah, I emailed the bride the other day and told her I was bringing my girlfriend, and she said the more the merrier," Edward had said easily.

And that was that.

… …

It was harder to say goodbye than I had anticipated.

After all, I had left before. First for Seattle, and then all the way to Chicago. But back then, I had already felt lost. Now, I had found myself again and it was harder than ever to leave now that I knew how much I had connected with my roots.

Edward had left over a month ago for Texas and then Maine, and I missed him every moment that we were apart. Christmas and New Years were especially hard, but he was never more than a phone call away.

Just as he had left in the early evening on a flight from Seattle, so was I. I had driven him to the airport for his departure, but it was my parents that made the drive for me.

"I'll miss you, Bella. But I'm sure you'll have the best time," my mom said, holding back tears as she hugged me…again. "Send us pictures, and call whenever you want. I want to hear all about it. And tell Edward we said hello."

"I will," I promised.

"You still have that pepper spray I gave you?" My dad sounded like he was teasing, but his eyes were suspiciously wet looking.

"Yes, I have it," I assured him. "All three cans."

"Make sure Edward takes care of you," he mumbled gruffly.

"He will."

In the past, their emotional goodbyes had embarrassed me. Now, I wanted to hug them for even longer. By the time we parted for good, all three of us were crying and not bothering to hide it.

It was a long flight, but I managed to read and sleep for most of it. I had thought I would be more nervous- after all, I had just packed up and gone across the country, and wouldn't be back home until summer for Kate's wedding.

But I wasn't nervous- especially when Edward met me at my gate with a grin and a deep kiss.

This was home.

… …

Thank you again! Let me know what you thought.

Yes normally in our post-9/11 world, you usually cannot meet people at their gate anymore unless you have your own ticket. However, I was just reading the other day about airports that are starting to let you go through security and enter the terminal without a ticket to shop, eat, pick up/drop off loved ones, etc. So in this world, they're at one of those airports!