Seriously/Honest (21)

I picked up the phone dreading the voice I knew would be on the line.

"Hi, Carlisle."

"Edward…you just couldn't help yourself could you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Really? You gave Caius all the money he asked for?"

"What was I supposed to do? Wait until Caius harmed her irreparably?"

"No, just wait until we caught him."

"Well, I can tell how good that is going."

"Edward, we are working as hard as we can."

"And he is working even harder to cover his tracks so you can't find him."

"We'll find him Edward, I promise."

"I believe that you will eventually find him, but Bella means too much for me to just let you take a chance with this."

"Sometimes you have to trust other people, Edward."

"Well it's too late for that now. I made one mistake though."

"What?"

"I let him actually take all the money out of the account."

"Wait, maybe we can track where he made the withdrawal from. Can I have the account number that you gave him?"

"Sure, it's 132653-94."

"Well, your mistake may have been helpful. It will take a while to figure this out because Europe has slightly different banks and we have to trace it but we might find her. Keep me posted on e-mails. Please, don't send them any more money."

"I can't guarantee that Carlisle. The amount is what it is dependent on."

"Well, try to hold back for as long as you can, I'm sure they are still feeding her by the way."

"I hope so…"

"Just relax Edward, it will all work out."

"Well, I've thought that before, and been wrong."

"This time it will, I feel good about this break in the case. My guys will get right on this. I'll call as soon as I have something."

"Thanks again Carlisle. I really owe you one."

When I got off the phone, I felt a little hopeful that we might actually get Bella. I wasn't kidding though about the thinking something would work out when it didn't. I've thought that our relationship has been wonderful for every step of the way. Unfortunately, Bella apparently disagreed because the one night she decided we needed to talk was one of the worst nights of my life. I hadn't even noticed anything wrong…

"Hey, Edward." Bella greeted me in a sad sounding voice.

"Bella, what's wrong?"

"Can we talk?"

"Absolutely, what do you want to talk about?"

"I feel like our relationship is dying."

"What?"

"I feel like it's lost its passion and fire and it's just dead and dying in the water."

"I love you so much more than I did the day I met you. In fact, I love you more and more each day we are together."

"Edward, I'm not saying that we don't love each other, I'm saying it feels like we've been married for ten years rather than only dating for two and a half."

"So, how do we fix it?"

"That's why I want to talk."

"Well, I could buy you stuff, like flowers or jewelry more often."

"Edward, that's not going to solve anything."

"Oh, do you not like those gifts? I could take you more places spontaneously."

"Edward, spending money on me isn't the answer. I've told you before what I think about you only fixing things through money. Relationships involve work; we can't just keep putting it off."

"I don't honestly think that there is anything wrong with our relationship. I feel no routines. We go out on dates. What is the real problem here?"

"I'm confused. You know I have commitment issues I'm trying to work out. Your parents acceptance of me makes me think that you want to marry me and I don't know if I'm ready for that. I can't really handle anything else on my plate."

"Why do you keep bringing up marriage? I told you that I would wait until you were ready…I will, I promised."

"Why do I feel like this then? I don't even understand."

"Perhaps you just need reassurance. I love you more than you can possibly imagine. You have filled my life with light just by being alive."

"And you have made me feel whole and loved again in a way that I never thought would be possible after I was made a fool of before."

"See, it's working. You are smiling again."

"I am…maybe you're right and we do still have the fire and spontaneity in our relationship. I just think I'm actually more scared maybe that you might leave me."

"I also promised you that I would never leave you. I keep my promises. I really won't leave you…I already know that being without you isn't living so I will never do that."

"I just find it amazing that someone feels so incredibly passionate about me. I love how you make me feel and I am so happy to have found you and I'm sorry that I thought there was anything wrong."

"Look, we actually worked something out. It does feel good to do this without buying a gift, just talking, you and me."

"I'm glad you feel that way."

I pulled her into my lap on the couch and began to slowly kiss her lips and I felt her respond by kissing me back in a way that made every bone in my body ache with the feelings I felt for the beautiful woman in my arms.

AN: Next chapter we will have a birthday surprise of sorts…please Review this!