Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, they belong to Stephanie Meyer and no copyright infringement is in any way intended. All I own are my ideas.

Chapter 21 – Date Night

BPOV

"Bella the reason I called is about tonight."

When my sleep riddled brain heard this phrase I was instantly awake. All I could do was try to figure out if I had done something to cause him to change his mind. Before I could wrap my mind around the thoughts that were prattling in my brain Edward interrupted.

"Bella, are you still there? Are you okay?"

I realized that in my panic I had started to hyperventilate. Before I answered Edward I took several deep breaths. "Yeah, I'm here. So what did you want to discuss about tonight?" I asked hoping the panic wasn't evident in my voice.

"Well, I know that you are back to work and I just wanted to make sure that you were still up to going out tonight."

I let out a sigh of relief. I really need to quit thinking the worst, I chastise myself. "Of course I do, that is unless you are too tired from working."

"Nope, I have been looking forward to it. Would you like me to pick you up at your office or at your apartment?" Edward asked.

I thought about it for a minute. Although having him pick me up at the office would afford us more time together, I really would like to change before we go out. I must have been quiet for a beat too long because Edward pulled me out of my inner musings.

"Bella, are you sure you are okay?"

"I'm fine Edward. I was just pondering your question. Would you mind too terribly much if we left from here. I really would like to change before we go out. I know we will lose a little time doing it this way and if you would rather just pick me up at the office that would be okay as well." I rambled.

Edward chuckled. "Bella, leaving from your place is fine. I completely understand the desire to change after a full day of work. I would feel the same way. Would it be okay if I just met you at your place right after you get off work so that we can leave right when you're ready?"

"That would be perfect," I told him.

"Great, then I will see you a little after five beautiful." Edward told me.

I couldn't help the smile that graced my face. "I can't wait to see you. I guess I better get ready for work and you should get some rest," I told him.

With that we said our goodbyes and I made my way to the shower dreading my day at work just a little less than I was before. I took my time getting ready so that all I would have to worry about after work was freshening up some. I picked out the clothes I wanted to wear and laid them on the bed so that I could quickly change when I got home.

After filling my travel mug up with coffee I made my way to the office. On my way to work I realized that while I still had some twinges of pain, they weren't bad enough that I had to take anything this morning. The thought that I was slowly getting better brought yet another smile to my face. So far this day was looking up.

When I got to the office I was met with my unending stack of paperwork. However, I was determined not to let it get me down. I knew it wasn't a perfect plan because unfortunately I wouldn't be able to account for phone calls and emergencies, but I decided to make a schedule to help me work through the stack of paper.

Surprisingly two hours into the day I was still pretty much on course with the schedule I had set up for myself. Despite phone calls I had been able to manage multi-tasking so I was seeing a dent being made in my stack of work. Unfortunately, sitting in the same position for two hours meant that my ribs were starting to get sore so I knew that I would need to move around for a while or the pain would continue to get worse.

After a brief break I got back to work. The next time I looked up at the clock several more hours had passed and it was time to go to lunch. I planned on taking a shorter lunch in hopes that I would be able to get out of the office a few minutes early so that I could surprise Edward by being ready to go when he got to my place. Unfortunately my plans didn't work out as I hoped. Instead of getting a short lunch I ended up getting no lunch because the minute I got out of the office my cell phone rang and I had to return to sign checks that they forgot to have signed before I left.

By the time I got done signing checks I decided it wasn't worth trying to go get something to eat. Instead I refilled my water bottle and just sat at my desk and got back to work. I continued weeding through the stuff from while I was gone and it wasn't until Angela stopped by my desk that I realized how late it was getting.

Thankfully I had told Angela about my date this morning when I got in because if she hadn't reminded me I would have been late getting out of the office. I decided to leave my desk as it was so that I could start on the project I was working on in the morning without having to reorganize everything.

I told Angela goodnight and I made my way home. Thankfully Edward wasn't there yet when I got there and I was able to get changed rather quickly. Right after I finished touching up my makeup there was a knock on the door.

Despite the fact that Edward and I have been out before, butterflies erupted in my stomach as I went to answer the door. I took a deep breath before I pulled the door open.

I couldn't help the smile that graced my face when I saw Edward standing on the other side of my door. "Hi, would you like to come in?" I asked.

Edward had a smile on his face and he didn't respond right away. I cocked my eyebrow to let him know I was waiting for an answer. "Oh, sorry. Wow, you look fantastic." Edward told me as he leaned in and kissed my cheek before he came inside.

I couldn't help the blush that graced my face. "Thank you, you look wonderful as well. I am just about ready to go. I just need to grab my purse and we can leave." I told him.

"Okay," Edward replied.

I had dropped my purse in the kitchen when I got home. I made my way in there and grabbed it and returned to the living room where I left Edward. "I'm ready." I said.

Edward came over and stood in front of me. He offered me his arm after he placed a chaste kiss on my lips. "God Bella, it is so good to see you. I have missed you."

I giggled because I had missed him too but it was nice to hear him say it. "I missed you too Edward."

After I locked up Edward walked me to his car and held the door open for me to get in. Once we were both settled he started the car and pulled out into traffic. "So, where are we going?" I asked.

"I thought we would go to this little French restaurant that my mom likes to go to." Edward said with a smile.

"That sounds nice." I told him.

The drive to the restaurant was a comfortable one. We talked a little bit about work. I told him that I felt like I was drowning in paperwork since I got back but that I felt like I was making some progress in the pile. He told me how his shift at the hospital was.

When we got to the restaurant he once again came around to open my door for me. He kept my hand in his as we made our way to the hostess stand. I must admit I was a little surprised when we were met at the hostess stand by a nice lady who was old enough to be my grandmother.

I took the opportunity to look around for the first time as we were being led to our table. The restaurant had an upscale feel to it but it also had a cozy family feel as well. I mentioned this to Edward after we had been seated and he stated that it was a family run business.

I smiled as we looked over the menus. After we had ordered silence fell over the table for the first time. I looked at Edward and he suddenly seemed to get nervous. I wasn't sure what he would have to be nervous about, but I kept telling myself that there was nothing to worry about.

I let the silence linger for a few minutes before I decided to break it. "So, it looks like there might be something you want to say," I said as I raised my eyebrow at him to help alleviate the tension that had fallen over the table.

Edward chuckled and it appeared that I had effectively broken the tension. "Yeah, there is." Edward said sheepishly.

"Well," I said with a smile.

Suddenly Edward's face got serious. "Bella, are you okay?"

I couldn't help the confused look that graced my features. "Yeah…I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" I asked suddenly nervous as to where this might be going.

"Oh god Bella, I didn't mean it like that. I just….I don't know how to say this," Edward said as he ran his hands through his hair.

I was still confused as to what Edward was asking about me being okay but I refused to let the panic that was starting to rise take control.

"Well, the doctor in me has been worried about your injuries. Especially now that you have gone back to work."

"Edward, I have been feeling fine. I do have to get up and move around every few hours or I start to get stiff and sore, but I haven't even taken any meds today for the pain. I promise, I am doing what my doctor said and I am taking it easy," I told him a little relieved that this was what he was worried about.

"That's good to hear," he said. I continued to watch him after he told me this and he was squirming in his seat. Obviously there was something else that he wanted to say.

I started to get a little exacerbated that he wouldn't just tell me what was on his mind and I started to wonder if the only reason he brought me out was to quiz me about whatever was obviously on my mind.

When he still hadn't told me what was really on his mind a few minutes later I excused myself to go to the ladies room. I knew if I didn't put some distance between us for a couple of minutes I would likely tell him to take a hike and I would walk out. Sadly, my ability to deal with bullshit lately had drastically diminished. I had to put up with it from my brother and at work. I was not prepared to put up with it from Edward as well.

After I had sufficiently calmed myself enough to trust myself not to snap at Edward I made my way back to the table. "Is everything okay?" Edward asked as I took my seat.

"Everything is fine," I told him with a tight smile.

I know he could tell that everything was not okay but he didn't say anything further. Thankfully right after I got back to the table our food arrived. I asked the waiter for a refill of my wine before I started eating.

I could tell that Edward wanted to say something but he didn't say anything. We ate in an awkward silence. When we were done the waiter asked if we wanted dessert and I declined. After the check was paid we made our way back to the car.

The ride back to my place was tense with neither of us speaking. Once Edward had parked outside of my apartment building I turned to him. "Thank you for dinner," I said before I got out of the car.

Edward, who hadn't said much of anything was surprised when I turned and got out of the car and started to make my way towards the building.

EPOV

I had been looking forward to this dinner since I dropped her off after the fiasco at my parent's house. I still didn't know what exactly had happened but I did know that I wanted to ask her.

Despite knowing that I needed to find out what had happened on Sunday, I was so excited to see Bella again that I couldn't sleep. I spent part of the day cleaning my apartment before I was finally able to get a few hours of sleep. When I woke up I got ready and made my way to Bella's place.

I hadn't expected her to be ready when I got there so I was pleasantly surprised when she came to the door in her knee length sapphire blue dress. She was so beautiful that I stuttered over my words as I asked her if she was ready to go.

The trip to the restaurant was pleasant. It wasn't until after we had ordered that things started to go downhill. Everything I wanted to ask her was coming out wrong. I could tell that I had annoyed her with my questions and I couldn't seem to find the words to ask her what had happened before we left the house on Sunday.

Unfortunately, my stupidity seemed to make things worse and the awkwardness increased tenfold. We ended up eating in silence and an uncomfortable one at that. The drive back to her place wasn't much better as my brain tried to figure out how to salvage what was designed to be a relaxing wonderful evening with my girl.

I found myself so lost in my head that it wasn't until Bella slammed the door when we got back to her apartment building that I was jarred out of my stupidity. I quickly pulled the keys out of the ignition and scrambled out of the car to follow her.

"Bella," I called to her as I tried to catch up with her.

Thankfully she stopped, but when she turned around the look of anger on her face stopped me dead in my tracks.

"What? Do you have something to say to me now?" she spat at me.

I realized how much of a dick I had been to her and I wanted to slap myself for taking a wonderful night and basically ruining it.

"Baby, I'm sorry. Can I come up so we can talk?" I begged.

She looked to be debating my request for a few minutes before she let out a sigh and motioned for me to follow her. Once we got into her apartment she motioned for me to take a seat on her couch.

Sadly, instead of sitting next to me on the couch, Bella took a seat across the room from me. If I hadn't realized how much I had fucked up before, I knew now.

"You wanted to talk," Bella said.

Before I began, I ran my hands through my hair. "Fuck baby, I have messed everything up tonight. This is not how I envisioned the night going." I told her.

Instead of saying anything Bella just gave me a look as if to say 'you think.'

I ran my hands over my face and took a deep breath. "Bella, baby, I cannot apologize enough for how badly I have messed up. I was just nervous and ended up making things worse than they had to be."

"Edward, why don't you just tell me what you have wanted to tell me all night. If you want to end whatever this is between us then fine, just tell me. You don't have to stay with me because of my injuries," Bella said.

I hadn't realized that she might think that. Fuck, I had messed up even worse than I originally thought. Stupid, fucking, idiot I chastised myself. Of course that is what she thinks. After all even her own brother has turned on her.

In an effort to prove to her that her thinking was wrong, I got up from my place on the couch and went over and kneeled in front of her so that I could look her in the eyes. "Baby, that is the last thing I want to do. I love you Bella and I am not going anywhere. Fuck, I have been nervous because I have wanted to ask you what happened on Sunday at my parents' house. I know Alice and Jasper did or said something to you and I wanted you to know you can talk to me about it. I'm here for you baby," I tell her.

We sit there for a few minutes looking in each other's eyes before tears start to fall from Bella's eyes and sobs start to wrack her body. I take her in my arms and rock her gently until her tears are under control.

BPOV

I was so angry with Edward when we got back to my place. The longer he refused to say what was on his mind the more my mind started to convince me that he was just trying to find a way to break up with me.

When he told me he was trying to find a way to ask what had happened on Sunday and that he was there for me I couldn't stop the tears that fell from my eyes.

Edward held me until my tears had subsided. When I finally got control of myself I told him what Alice and Jasper had been talking about. Edward was livid after I told him and he kept telling me it wasn't true. I wanted to believe it but the insecure part of me couldn't help but wonder.

Edward told me that his parents had noticed how Alice and Jasper had acted and they were both upset and disappointed. I told him that I didn't want them to be mad at Alice and Jasper because they were family while I was not. This made Edward furious.

"What do you mean you aren't fucking family?"

"Edward, Alice is your sister and their daughter and Jasper is her husband. All I am is Jasper's kid sister." I told him.

"Bella, you don't see yourself clearly. You are important to my parents not only because you are important to me, but also because you are such a kind, caring, and strong person. I don't want to hear you say that you aren't family again."

I couldn't help it, the tears started to flow again. Edward continued to hold me and eventually I must have fallen asleep because I woke up as Edward was tucking me into my bed.

"Don't go," I pleaded.

"Are you sure you want me to stay?" Edward asked.

"Please, Edward I don't want to be alone tonight." I told him honestly.

Edward then stripped down to his boxers as I changed into my pajamas and made sure the apartment was locked up. I set the alarm and got into bed. Edward pulled me into his chest and I started to drift off to sleep.

Right as I was about to fall asleep my eyes popped open as I remembered our conversation from earlier in the evening.

Holy shit, did Edward say he loved me?