Ch. 21: Reconnect

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

!Citrus Warning!

EPOV

"Does it seem like all our important conversations take place either walking to your apartment or inside it?"

I could help but point this out to Bella as we made our way into the elevator in the lobby. We hadn't really said much since her shift ended, but I didn't think that was a terrible thing. Maybe she just wanted to wait for privacy before she yelled at me for being a moron. I was all for being in her apartment for that.

"I think that's where we feel comfortable. Its home and important conversations usually happen there." She shrugged then continued. "Besides, it's not just mine. It's our apartment, Edward. I mean, you still want to stay here, right?"

She spoke the last sentence quietly as if she was expecting me to say no.

"Bella, I plan on living with you for the rest of my life." I grabbed her hand and brought it to my lips. I savored the feel of her skin against me and immediately questioned by own sanity for leaving yesterday. I could not live without this.

She remained quiet the rest of the way up to our apartment. Once we were inside, she threw her bag on the couch and continued on towards the bedroom. I was unsure if I should follow her or not, so I stood in the living room for a few minutes before she ended my inner debate and softly called my name from inside our room.

I found her dressed in one of my shirts facing the window. Bella turned then and started piling her hair up, just like she always did before bed.

"Are you going to sleep in that, Edward?" She pointed to my clothes.

"No. Are you sure you want me in here? I can sleep on the couch. That's what boyfriends do when they fuck up, right?"

She giggled for the first time all night.

"I think that after last night, I really just want you beside me." She started turning down the covers without looking at me.

It felt like my chest cracked wide open when she said that. I started towards her before I even knew what I was doing and wrapped my arms around her. When I leaned down to kiss her neck, I noticed that she was shaking lightly and soon after I felt a small, cold drop land on my forearm.

I made her cry. Again.

My arms tightened around her and Bella didn't try and muffle her sobs anymore. She shook in my arms, and I felt more of my failure fall onto my arms.

I whispered how sorry I was, how much I loved her, how I would never leave. She didn't respond at first, but finally she turned and faced me.

Her hands were in my hair and her lips were pressed tightly to mine. When she started moving her lips the kiss was rough and needy.

I brought one hand to the back of neck to keep her lips on mine, and the other held her hip tightly. I let my tongue slide over her bottom lip and she took this opportunity to slip her tongue against mine.

Bella pulled the shirt she was wearing over her head quickly and sat back on the bed. I was so shocked by everything that was happening. Surely, she wouldn't want me like this? By the time I came to my senses my jeans were on the ground.

"Bella. We need to talk." I squeaked out as she ran her fingers around the waistband on my boxers.

She stood up on her knees at the edge of the bed and kissed me quickly before whispering, "I need you now. Show me that you won't leave."

That was all it took. I grabbed my shirt and pulled it off before guiding her to the middle of the bed. I leaned over and kissed her deeply.

In no time the last remaining barriers between us were removed. I started to guide myself between her legs when she pushed my shoulder and breathlessly said, "Lay behind me."

I almost said no, but then she rolled onto her side, and motioned for me to lay behind her. I slide into position, like I did every night when we went to sleep, except right now, instead of spooning, her left leg was now hooked back around my hip leaving her completely open to me.

She pushed back against my cock, and I felt her heat and wetness slide along my shaft. My hands tried to still her movements. It was too much.

"Stop or this is going to be over a lot quicker than I would like, Ballerina."

She giggled, but it turned into a moan as I brought my fingers to her center.

"None of that. Just you." Then she pushed back again.

I stopped fighting it and wrapped my bottom arm around her and palmed one of her breasts as I took my other hand and placed myself right at her entrance. I slowly pushed into her and felt her all around me.

My face rarely left its place between her neck and shoulder. I would suck on the skin behind her ear and bring my hips to meet her harder. Her hands were gripping the forearm that was around her stomach, and occasionally she'd tilt her head back and bring her mouth to mine. The whole experience was surreal, and almost like a dream. When we released it was within moments of each other; her climax triggered my own.

For several minutes we laid tangled together, I was still breathing heavily into her hair when she spoke.

"I love you, Edward. Don't do that again. It won't be easy next time. I think it will ruin us if it you leave…"

I kissed her neck softly. "I will never walk away from you. If there's one thing I learned because of this it's that I can't be without you. I need you so much."

She rolled around to face me and moved some hair out of my eyes.

"Where did you go?" Her voice was quiet, but had no sign of sleep to it. She wanted to be close when we talked, like the first time we opened up about our pasts in this bed.

"Really, I just walked around for a long time. When it got dark, I found a bar and sat in there for awhile." I took a deep breath before continuing. "I looked around and realized that my old life was like this. An unfamiliar place filled with strangers. I was completely alone and I hated that feeling. When I was about to leave a woman came up to me."

I felt her whole body tense and she stopped breathing.

"She asked if was alone. God, Bella. I was so alone. It was like she was voicing my thoughts."

My forehead rested against hers.

"Did you stay with her?"

"Never. That will never happen, Bella. I told her that I wasn't alone and left. That life was never for me. I would have never gone with her. It was just that when she asked…I only thought of you. You are the only woman I've ever wanted this way. There will never be anyone else for me, Bella."

She shook her head. "But, you didn't come home."

"No. I slept in an alley. I was too scared to come home."

I started explain more but Bella cut me off. "Never do that again."

I agreed and finished telling her about my time away. She was concerned for Carlisle, but said that she figured he had lost someone close to him.

"He has that look in his eyes, Edward. He misses someone. I always knew that."

Of course she would notice, because if Bella was good at one thing, it was reading people. She was just too kind to call us out on our shit when we acted ridiculous.

We talked about Jacob, and Bella told me that she wasn't going to try to build a friendship with him anymore. She said that he ended their relationship a long time ago, and she wasn't going to worry with it.

She told me that only Alice and Jasper knew that I had left, but with the show at the bar tonight, Emmett figured it out, so Rose would know soon enough.

I would face all of them and say I was wrong. Even if they were mad, I could deal with it. All that mattered was Bella forgave me.

I started drifting in and out of sleep while Bella spoke. I hadn't slept well last night and being in bed, being warm, and being next to Bella was a wonderful combination.

I'm not exactly sure when I fell asleep, but I woke up the next morning to bright sunshine coming through the window.

Bella groaned next to me and pushed her face into my shoulder. I pushed her hair back and smiled when I saw that she was awake. I leaned into her and kissed her softly.

"I love you." I ran my fingers across her check.

"Umm. I love you, too."

This time she kissed me. It turned passionate quickly and Bella pulled back and laughed.

"As much as I want to continue this, you have somewhere to be." She glanced at the clock. It was almost eleven-thirty.

"I don't either. I just need to be with you." It was cheesy, but I really had no idea where I needed to go. So I kissed her again.

"Do you not remember anything that Emmett told you before we left last night?" Bella whispered against my lips.

"Ballerina, I could have agreed to give him our first-born last night and not remember it today. I was completely distracted last night."

Bella propped herself up on her elbow then looked down at me with a strange expression on her face. She bit her bottom lip before she looked away.

"What? What did I say?"

She was smiling when she looked back at me.

"That's the first time you've ever mentioned a definite future with me. You know the possibility of kids…one day, with me." She shook her head. "I'm being silly, sorry."

I closed my eyes for a moment and understood what a big deal this was. I was moving forward. I touched her chin and turned her to face me.

"It's not silly. I want everything with you, Bella. One day, we'll get married and have kids…or kid. I'm not too sure if I want to commit to several until I try out one first." She laughed at me and leaned in for another quick peck.

Her voice was breathless as she finally explained my plans for the day.

"You are meeting Emmett and Jasper downstairs at noon. It's tux day." Then she jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom.

"Fuck me." I slammed my head back down on the pillow.

Today I was getting fitted for the tux I would wear to Jasper and Alice's wedding next weekend. I hated the thought of wearing one, but looked forward to seeing Bella in her dress. I was told that it was a dark blue and strapless. I was more excited for that dress than the whole wedding.

Somehow I managed to get out of the apartment and to the lobby on time. I really don't know how I did it; I spent at least twenty minutes trying to talk Bella into taking a shower with me.

The guys were waiting by the door looking as equally as excited as I was. They didn't mention anything to me about leaving, so I figured I was in the clear for today. We were almost to the Jeep before Emmett punched the shit out of my shoulder.

"Son of a bitch!" I stumbled into the side of the vehicle and groaned as Jasper slapped the back of my head really fucking hard. Guess they weren't letting it slide.

They left me leaning there in pain as they climbed into the Jeep. After I had gotten myself together, I managed to pull myself into the backseat. They were both laughing at me as I tried to roll my shoulder and winced.

"Don't do that shit again, Ed. It will hurt worse next time." Emmett shrugged then backed up the truck.

Jasper turned and gave me a small smile. "Don't worry. Em fucks up a lot. You'll get him back in no time. I bet before the wedding."

Em flipped him off and continued driving to the tux store. I'm sure it had a name, but I couldn't remember it. The only thing that I knew was that some old guy was probably going to measure my inseam and get really close to a part of me that only Bella should touch.

When we arrived, an older lady showed us to the fitting rooms to try on the suits that Alice had ordered. Mine fit pretty well, and I was kind of surprised by how nice it looked on me. If I was excited about Bella in her dress then maybe she'd like me in my suit? I could only hope.

Truthfully, the whole process was over very quickly, and thankfully there was no inseam work. It wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined.

On the way back to the apartment, the guys were talking about the bachelor party. Jasper wanted quiet and calm; Emmett wanted strippers because that is what bachelor parties always have, according to him. I was with Jasper. There was no way in hell I was coming home to Bella smelling like a hooker.

"No, Em. Just forget about every movie you've ever watched that had a bachelor party in it, okay? I will go out, but I just don't want to go to someplace like that. It's not me, man." He shrugged and looked out the window.

I couldn't help but add in, "Rose would have both your heads if she found out you saw strippers."

We all laughed at the truth of that statement. Hopefully, it would keep us away from whatever Emmett had planned.

I spent the rest of the ride thinking about Bella. She would be home waiting for me. I wanted to cuddle with her again. Last night had been amazing, and honestly, so intimate. I loved feeling her against me like that.

I tried to calm my thoughts as we walked into the building. After telling the guys we'd see them at the bar later, I got off the elevator and made my way to our apartment. I opened the door and started kicking off my shoes. I had some plans to fulfill, and could hear the television so I knew she was home.

As I made my way down the hall, I started speaking and removing my shirt. "Ballerina, take a shower with me? Then let's nap!"

As I reached the entryway into the living room, I was struck by several things at once.

A baseball game was on T.V.

Bella wasn't sitting in her chair.

And probably the most important thing, the person sitting on my couch was Charlie Swan.

"Fuck!" I gripped my shirt to cover my chest and backed into the wall, knocking down a picture of Rose and Emmett. "Shit, sorry, Chief. I was just…I had no idea you were going to be here."

He closed his eyes and turned back to the game.

"Put your shirt on, Edward. Then go get me another beer." I immediately went to the kitchen to retrieve whatever he wanted.

When I got back and handed him the drink he spoke again. "I don't normally have this many so early in the afternoon, but I'm going to give myself a little treat for having to look at you half naked."

He raised his bottle up and took a long drag.

I didn't know how to begin, so I asked the obvious questions first.

"Um, where's Bella?"

He snorted and looked me right in the eyes. "The shower."

I swear I turned bright red and my eyes focused completely on the baseball game. He cleared his throat before speaking.

"I came up here to take you two to dinner. I was planning on apologizing correctly. However, I never thought you would run into the apartment like you did, so now I need some calm time."

My back was rod straight, and I was taking the smallest breathes. Only I would have Charlie Swan come to say he's sorry and ruin it by insinuating shower sex. I heard a small coughing sound and looked at the Chief, when we made eye contact he began laughing hysterically.

I was mute. I had no idea what was so funny. When Bella walked in a second later she looked between us and cocked an eyebrow at me. I answered her unasked question.

"I don't know, but I'm pretty sure he's laughing at me."

He stopped and took a deep breath.

"Edward, this is why I like you so much. Any other guy who came in here like you did a second ago, I would have been boiling mad over, but you…"

"How did you come home?" Bella whispered and looked at me with wide eyes.

Charlie started laughing again.

"Both of you make the same face. You look like you got caught with your hand in the cookie jar. Your eyes get really big and you start blushing. That's probably the only reason I remain sane while dealing with this situation." Charlie stood up and looked at us, shaking his head. In that one movement he went from Charlie back to the Chief. "Well, let's go and eat. I'm starving."

There was a steakhouse about twenty minutes away that Charlie really wanted to eat at so he drove us in Bella's truck.

We managed to have a very nice dinner. The Chief never addressed this weekend or the fact that I lived with Bella, but he made me feel included. He would ask my opinion on baseball or agree with me about the troubles of wearing a suit to an outside wedding. Bella watched us talk and would add comments occasionally. It was nice. It was the dinner I wished I had with Charlie this weekend.

I appreciated this second chance more than he would ever know.

After we ate and went back to the apartment, Charlie left to go home. He said he'd call Bella later and he would see me in my monkey suit at the wedding. I was more than happy for the way this afternoon turned out, even if I didn't get my shower or nap.

Bella and I changed quickly before having to go to work. I was playing tonight so I was excited, but I knew that I would probably be singing the equivalent of a mixed tape for Bella. My feelings were too raw right now and it would definitely carry over.

I kissed her lightly before making my way to the stage.

That night I avoided Rose all together, and when I did meet her eyes finally, she just shook her head.

Carlisle wasn't there, but I didn't think he'd come back around for a couple of days. We all need space sometimes.

The biggest surprise happened at the end of the night.

As I was packing up my guitar, I saw small feet out of the corner of my eye. I looked up at Alice and smiled. She looked a little nervous and was wringing her hands together.

"Is everything alright, Ali?" I stood up and grabbed the handle of my case.

"Yes. I just wanted to ask you something."

I nodded my head for her to continue, and she bit her lip.

"Will you play at our wedding?"

A/N:

So Edward and Bella are back on track.

Charlie really does like Edward and thinks

he's good for Bella. After all, they have the same "guilty face".

What are your thoughts on the bachelor party? Next up is that, plus a little wedding detail!

Let me know what you think of this chapter. It gave me a hard time for some reason.

See you next Tuesday!