Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. The following story is fictional and does not depict any actual person or event. This story is for entertainment only and is completely made up from my head.

A/N

Thank you to my incredible betas EdwardsFirstKiss, Driving Edward, and the pre-readers from my FB street team Bbmassey88, Karen Cullen Grey, Destapan, Tammy, Sassy98200, Pimm Cullen and Midnight Cougar.

Any mistakes you find will be mine. These incredible people polish up as many of my flaws as possible, but in the end, they're my flaws

I know it's been awhile. RL and my new book took some time away from my writing. However, I'm so excited to continue on with this baby. Let's get reading shall we?

Enjoy and see you at the bottom.

Chapter 21

"Things seem to be going well between the two of you."

"Alice, it's been…amazing."

"You look really good, Bella."

Alice and I had met for lunch around the corner from my office. She wanted to see the new designs for my temporary space. We laughed when I said temporary. Edward already stated the office was mine, permanently.

"He's not letting go of you." Alice smiled taking a sip of wine.

"I don't want him to," I said, batting my lashes.

We both giggled like school girls.

"It's good seeing you happy. Really happy."

"It's weird…I thought I was happy with Jake. Alice, if you had told me a few years ago that we wouldn't be together, I would have laughed it off. We were happy, or so I thought."

She placed her hand on top of mine. "Hey, are you having second thoughts?"

I pulled back. "Oh, no. No! Edward...he is perfect. Perfect for me." I smiled. Alice's frown turned up. "I can't see my future without him."

"Ahh, I am getting goosies everywhere." She cooed.

"I am really lucky…but, maybe perfect isn't the right word. There's something going on with Edward."

"What do you mean?"

I took a large sip of my wine then said. "He is hiding something."

"Like what?" Her brows turned down creating two dark creases across her forehead. She was on guard waiting to see if she would need to pounce on someone. I laughed internally, she may have been petite, however she was protective of the people she loved and would go ape shit if needed.

"I don't know. He barely sleeps, and it's starting to make him moody. Nothing I can't handle, but I'm thinking maybe it's stress from Tanya's dad. All he talks about is paying him back."

"Hmmm, maybe trying to make a clean break from her and her family."

"I thought that too, but there's something more. Anyway, Edward considers Tanya a friend. Their moms are close, he's said. I don't know...I'll figure it out, eventually."

She raised her wine glass at me and said. "I know you will." However, the look in her eyes told me she was as curious as I was.

-C-

"Hey, come to bed," I said entering Edward's office.

"I will be there soon," he said, not looking up.

I pushed Edward's chair back and sat on his lap. He smiled before bringing me closer, as he nuzzled my neck.

"Whatever it is, I am here."

"Hmm, you smell good."

I placed my hands on each side of his face and held his head up to meet my eyes. "Edward, we are in this together."

He nodded then placed a firm kiss on my lips.

I pulled back looking into his eyes. "What are you hiding from me?"

His tired eyes widened. "Nothing."

"Don't lie to me. One thing I won't stand for in this relationship Edward is lying."

"Bella, I don't want to involve you in my problems."

"We are a team. Anyway it's too late. I drank the Kool-Aid."

He chuckled. "You want to know everything about me, huh?"

"Yes. Everything."

"If you came to live with me, you could learn a lot."

"Nice try." I pushed on his shoulders.

He shifted me on his lap.

"Isabella, it will eventually happen. I am not letting go of you."

He looked intense with his eyes narrowed.

I smiled and then kissed between his frown lines.

"Can I have some time to think about when, Edward?"

"Take your time, but not too much time." He lifted my chin. "What's wrong?"

I didn't realize it was that obvious what had crossed my mind. "Call me old fashioned…but I was thinking something else in the future."

He thought for a moment before his lips curled up. "You will be Mrs. Cullen. I didn't want to push you."

"You're not pushing? You're the one asking me to move in."

"I would have asked you to marry me a long time ago."

My breath hitched.

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Is that a promise?"

He kissed me softly, and then laid me down on the desk. "I'd rather show you my promise."

-C-

"You look amazing."

Edward's eyes swept down my body as I checked him out myself.

"I like you in a tux."

He wrapped his arms around me. "I like the blue dress, but I'll like it better when it's off."

I pushed him away. "We can't be late for your mother's party."

"Yes we can."

Edward pulled me into him hard and kissed me, before leaving me breathless.

Before I could say anything, he slapped me on my ass and said. "Come on, you said we can't be late."

-C-

This was the first time Esme had invited me to her home. I was nervous, and felt that I needed to make a good impression. She had always been friendly, enough. But I knew she had concerns about our relationship. Edward said she needed to get used to him not being with Tanya, and I was concerned about how long that could take.

I didn't realize how long until I saw Esme and Tanya laughing animatedly by the fireplace. Esme looked over and her eyes smiled at Edward; then she looked toward me, her expression unreadable as she walked over.

I made a promise to myself to work whatever it was between us out. I didn't want the kind of relationship I had had with Jacob's parents with Edward's.

"Bella, that's a lovely dress." Esme kissed me on both cheeks.

"Thank you and I love yours."

At that moment, I was glad that Alice insisted on picking out my attire for the evening.

"Son." Carlisle walked up from behind us and shook Edward's hand. "Nice to see you again, Bella," he said as he kissed my hand. Carlisle was a charmer, like his son.

"Is this the other woman I heard so much about?"

A tall, older man said, pushing his way between us.

"Bella, this is my grandfather."

He shook my extended hand as he looked me over.

"Nice to m-meet you," I said, looking at his scowl.

Edward had told me how much he admired and respected his grandfather. He also told me how hard he was on him. Jessica and I have had a few lunch dates, and she told me several times that he could be brutal. I tried not to show any bias, but what she said would have made anyone not like the old man.

However, it did shed light as to why Edward was always so hard on himself. His grandfather wanted Carlisle to be like him, and when he wasn't, he groomed Edward to take his place.

I was still trying to figure out if that was a good thing or not. Edward might not realize it, but it seemed like he was dealing with more stress than normal, and that was affecting him.

I started researching stress in men and came across depression; thinking that Edward may suffer from some type of mental illness.

I haven't felt comfortable bringing it up, but it will be just as soon as I figure out how to do it delicately. It seems men have social stigmas when it comes to the topic. Unfortunately, the more I read, the more I thought of Edward.

"Edward, Bella." Tanya's voice rose above the group.

I smiled at her nervously as all the faces were staring between us.

-C-

Edward had finally told Tanya about us, when she came to see him at the office a few months ago. She found us in a compromising position when she barged in unannounced, and I felt badly about it.

Her masked wavered for a split second before plastering on a smile and excusing herself out. Edward asked if he could speak to her and I insisted. She had always been cordial to me, and I didn't want her to hurt as much as I knew she was. Then I remembered the manipulation she was so good at, and the stress Edward was under because of her, that I was sure. My empathy soon left.

Later that evening when I asked how their talk went, Edward said they would be fine. They seemed to be able to remain somewhat friends, but if I were Tanya, I wouldn't have been able to only accept his friendship. The moment her masked faltered, I knew then that she was far from being over him.

-C-

"Edward," Tanya said, kissing him on both cheeks.

"Hi, you look good," he said patting her shoulder.

"Thank you." She smiled.

Hearing him compliment her didn't sit well until he pulled me in closer.

"Hello, Tanya," I said looking up at her.

She looked stunning, as always.

She looked me up and down, not offering her normal air kisses. "Nice dress."

"Mom, I am going to show Bella around the house." I heard at my side, before Edward pulled me away from the glaring eyes.

Edward maneuvered us through the crowd. When he said party, I had no idea it would be so lavish. However, knowing a few things about Esme and Edward's family, I wasn't too surprised.

He pushed me through a door that looked to be an office.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes, why are you asking?"

"You have had that same smile plastered on your face since the moment we walked in, and your jaw looks like it needs a break."

I laughed and then released the breath I was holding. "That obvious?"

He then kissed me.

I moaned into his grip and felt all my muscles relaxing.

"I know it's an unconventional situation, being here with Tanya and her family."

"No, it's not a normal thing to be with the home wrecker—"

He wrapped his arms around me tighter. "Hey, there was no home for you to wreck."

"Tell that to my ex in-laws and my parents."

He placed a soft kiss on my forehead letting his lips linger across. "I'm sorry you have to go through that."

"I expected it." I looked up at him. "My dad wants to meet you." His eyes widened. "Don't worry, he will love you."

"Have you told your mother yet?"

"No! Not until the divorce is final. I don't trust her to not say something to Jacob. My dad is good at playing clueless. He would never tell my mom about you."

He pushed me back, staring into my eyes. "My parents will love you. My dad already does I'm sure, and Mom just needs to get over the fact that her plans for me wasn't my plans. She wants what's best for me, and she sees that you are that." He kissed me. "She is happy for us, Bella. She may seem a little less enthusiastic, but she is happy for me."

I nodded.

He took a deep breath. "Well, let's do this."

-C-

The night went as expected. Tanya's parents ignored me. I was fine with that. I wasn't all right when Tanya pulled Edward into several conversations reminiscing about past childhood events. She would touch his arm every so often while she talked animatedly.

I told myself that I was not going to be the jealous one here. I had won the Grand prize. Every day with Edward sure did feel like that. Even though the grass may not always be greener on the other side, the grass under my feet was green.

Edward looked at me, rolling his eyes, over the conversation he was having. I wasn't eavesdropping, only ogling the handsome specimen before me.

Esme soon after took me away and showed me some pictures of Edward around the house when he was a child. She loved her son, and I hoped see was genuinely happy for him.

When we returned, his grandfather started chatting me up, and I watched as Esme smiled and whispered something into Edward's ear. My heart skipped when he smiled and looked directly at me.

Edward caught my eye and everything around us faded away, until his grandfather elbowed me, and told Edward to get him a cigar.

Esme scolded the old man, and he cussed under his breath saying something extremely chauvinistic. That's when Edward decided he had enough and told everyone goodnight.

-C-

We held hands during the car ride home, enjoying the silence as we headed back into the city. By the time we arrived home, Edward and I were exhausted. That didn't stop him from seeming anxious.

I suggested a hot shower or a steam, and he surprisingly agreed, only if I joined him.

He didn't have to ask me twice.

-C-

After a very pleasant shower, he told me he needed to work.

"Edward, can we talk for a moment?"

He pulled on a t-shirt and looked at me. I sat up on the bed, patting it for him to come and sit.

Crawling up he kissed my nose. "What's up?"

"Aren't you exhausted? Your eyes are so dark."

He shook his head. "I need to look at some investments that Kirill sent to me tonight."

"Are you joking? Why would he do that?"

"Bella, I'm the boss. Work doesn't end at five o'clock on Friday."

I crossed my arms. "I know that smart-ass. I'm concerned with your health."

He huffed. "I am fine."

"No you aren't. Maybe you should see Laurent."

"I said I am fine." He snapped.

Drawing in a large breath, I paused, trying to control the rising heat inside me. "Edward, I love you. Something is not right. You never sleep. Sometimes you walk around here like a zombie. There are days where it seems as if the world is lost to you. I am lost to you. Talk to me, please."

He lifted my hand and kissed it. "You are very perceptive."

"You wanted me to know everything about you," I teased, trying to lighten the tension. "When you aren't one hundred percent, I'm not one hundred percent. We are a team, remember?"

"Look, I am a workaholic, you know that. I can run hot and cold a lot." I rolled my eyes. "You know that, as well. I promise you, I have already spoken to Laurent. Bella…" He chuckled to himself. "Tanya, never even asked." He ran his hands through his hair.

Hearing her name wasn't a smart move on his part, but I let it go.

"I am working on it, Bella. Okay. I promise you I am working on my issues."

"It would be nice if we could work on them together."

"I will do better. I just want you to focus on getting rid of the jackass once and for all. That's the only thing you need to focus on. I want us to have a clear path to our future."

"Edward, I want that too. I worry about you."

He crawled over me. "Let me worry about us, and I will take better care of myself, okay?"

I ran my hand through his hair. "Thank you." Whatever it was we would take care of it.

"I love you, Isabella." He kissed my neck.

"I love you too, Edward.

***Chaos***

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