Finding the Perfect Man

Chapter 25: Trips and Meetings

I shut down my computer, and grab my keys and bag from the bottom drawer of my desk. Making sure I have everything, I get up from my seat and take a couple of minutes to look around my office, wanting to be completely sure I have everything I will need with me. Once I'm sure everything is tucked safely away in my bag, I flick the light of my office off, and shut the door and make my way down the long hallway to the elevators.

"Bella!" I hear Lisa call my name from her office door, and I smile and walk over to her. "I'll see you when I get there, ok?" she says, stepping out and grabbing me in a tight hug which I quickly return.

"Of course. Garrett is picking you up still, right?" I ask her, and she nods her head and tried to fight the smirk that is creeping on her face. "Good. Then I'll see you on Saturday." I say, and she says she will, and yells over the noise of the office for me to call her when I land later on tonight, which I promise I will.

It's been 5 months since Edward came back into my life, and I was taking a big step this weekend. On Saturday, it will be Liv's 2nd birthday, which Edward is throwing a huge party for and as big an occasion as this is for her, it's big for me also, because this will be the first time I meet her.

Ever since Edward left, we have talked for hours on end every night, and kept in contact with emails and texts. Our love, if possible, has grown way bigger than it had ever been before and because of that, I was starting to think of our future together. I wanted to be with Edward for the rest of my life, this was a fact, and this weekend would be my reality check. Edward was no longer a solo deal. Wherever he went, his daughter went and she had to like me for this to be able to work. I hoped she liked me.

As I got into my car, I see the blinking red light from my phone and realize I had left it there all day. I pick it up, and scroll through the missed calls, seeing one from Edward, two from Alice and one from Rosalie. I dial back Alice first.

"Hey, Bella. I wanted to catch you before you boarded." she says.

"Hi Alice. Actually I have another hour before I have to be at the airport." I tell her, and she sighs in relief, and tells me how she had a complete mind fart and couldn't remember what time I had said I was leaving. We talk for a couple minutes as I pull out of the parking garage and make my way home, and then hang up after promising her I would call her when I landed… I would have to call a lot of people when I landed.

I dial Rose then, and it rings a couple of times before going to voice mail. I hang up, and am about to try again when I hear her ring tone for my phone start to play.

"Hey Rose." I say after pressing the green button.

"Sorry…" she says, and I can hear the sink running in the background and then a toilet flush. "I was throwing up again." she says.

After our falling out in California, Rose and I didn't talk for weeks. She called me one day out of the blue, and apologized, explaining to me that she didn't want to see me hurt again, and she wanted to keep that from happening by keeping Edward away. She told me Emmett had invited Edward over the day before and they had talked, and she was able to finally see our side, and decided that as much as she loves me and was scared for me, that it was my choice and she would stand behind me no matter what.

She also told me she had just found out she was pregnant.

"Are you taking your medicine, woman?" I ask her, to which she replies with a scoff and a 'hell no'.

"Bella. How would you feel if the only options for relief of this were to take a pill that would knock you out for most of the day, or something cold that you would have to shove up your asshole?" I laugh out loud as I park in my driveway, and grab my things.

"Ok. So you'd rather barf every 5 seconds?"

We continue our talk, to which she tells me that her barfs have calmed down a lot and says that they should stop altogether once she's a bit more into her pregnancy, and I truly hope they will. I hang up with her after adding her to the list of people I have to call when I land, and tell her I'll see her Saturday at the party.

I look at the clock, and see that I have to leave in just a couple of minutes, so I change out of my work clothes, put on one of those damn comfy velour track suits with a white tank top underneath, and pair it with some sandals, and grab my suitcase and my carry on from my bedroom and make my way out to the car. After double checking to make sure I have Liv's birthday gift packed, I start the car and head off towards the airport.

After checking my bag and making my way through the gate, I call Edward and let him know I'm about to board, and he promises he will be there to pick me up. After telling him that I love him for the eightieth time that day, they announce it's time to board, and I hang up and make my way to the plane, knowing that by the end of the weekend, my life is going to be very different.

IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI

The flight was short and peaceful, being that there was barely anyone on it. Wednesday afternoon didn't seem to be a big day for flying apparently. As I made my way out of the jet way with my carry-on in hand, I started to feel the butterflies that seemed to come out only when I was in or about to be in Edward's presence, and after being without him for 5 months, it was a welcome feeling.

I didn't waste time, and as soon as my feet hit the inside of the airport, I found myself fast walking it all the way to the baggage claim where he said he would be waiting for me, passing slow movers as I came close to them, anxious to see him. I take the escalator down to the baggage claim and as soon as the baggage claim comes to view, I see him.

He's standing there near the carousel looking absolutely amazing in baggy jeans, a white t-shirt and sneakers, with his hair in it's usual messy yet sexy state and in his hands he holds the most beautiful bouquet of long-stemmed yellow and pink roses, baby breath scattered through out it and as soon as I hit the bottom step on the escalator, I practically fling myself through the air, and run to him.

I drop my bag to the ground just as out bodies' crash together, and I jump, wrapping my legs around his waist as his arms move around me to hold me up as I nestle my face into his neck.

"I love you. I missed you so much." I whisper into his neck and then pull back, holding his head in my hands and taking a good look at him. It felt like forever since I had seen him last, and I needed my fix of him.

"I love you too, baby." he whispers, inching his face closer to mine before crashing his lips against mine, filling me with fierce passion and spilling out all of the love he had for me into it. Our tongues glided gently together, and I moaned into his mouth, tasting him after going without it for so long. I never wanted to go this long without him again.

We finally break apart, and he gently lowers me down his body allowing me to feel every ridge and dip of his body, and a burst of need flows through me when I feel his bulge against me through the front of his pants. I stifle a groan, and he hands me my flowers, which I bring up to my nose and inhale, smelling the sweetness of the roses mixed with the earthiness scent of the foliage mixed in. He bends down to grab my bag and together we make out way to the carousel to wait for my suitcase to come out.

"How was your flight, baby?" he asks, and I tell him about it as the bags start to come out. I point to mine when I see it, and he quickly scoops up the lavender suitcase, popping up the handle and rolling it behind him as he holds my hand and we make our way to the parking garage.

After settling my bags inside the trunk of his Infiniti FX50, we walk around to the front where he opens the passenger side for me, before going over to the driver's side and starting the car. I look into the back seat, and smile when I see the pink and brown car seat behind my chair, and see the scattering of tiny hair bows and finger foods all along the seat.

"Sorry about the mess." he says when he gets in and spots me looking back.

"It's ok." I say, and then reach back, and grab a tiny yellow bow in my hand and hold it up. "This is adorable." I say, and he chuckles and begins to back out of the space.

"Yea. I do her hair all of the time, but she always rips out the bows."

I had seen pictures of Liv, and she was the spitting image of Edward. She had his hair color and his eyes color, and even had his pouty lips, and I knew when she grew up that Edward was going to have to have a gun near the door for any guy that tried to take her out.

"She's with your parents?" I ask, and he nods his head.

"Yea. She'll be spending the night with them tonight, and then you can meet her tomorrow. I didn't know if you would be ready to meet her tonight, so I figured we'd spend tonight together and then pick her up bright and early tomorrow morning so you guys can meet each other." he says, and nod, and let out a deep breath. I hadn't known what I was going to do when I saw her, and it made me feel a little better that I would have the night with Edward to prepare me for meeting his daughter.

We drove back to his house in silence, our hand intertwined as we listened to the sound of the wind whooshing by us and every so often, looking over at one another and giving a smile. We soon pull into his driveway, and he opens his garage and pulls completely in. My eyes meet his as he shuts the car off, and I see in them what he must see in mine: want, need, love.

We exit the car, and meet in front of the door leading into the house, deciding that the bags can wait until morning to be brought in.

Right now, the need to be with one another is much more important than my clothes.

IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOII

His scent surrounds me as I start to wake up, digging my face deep into his pillow and breathing his sweet scent in. I feel his warm body pressed up against mine, and his nose buried deeply in my hair, his soft breaths ticking the back of my neck.

"Mmm are you awake, love?" he whispers against my skin, and I nod slowly as he begins to move his hand up and down the side of my body causing goose bumps to rise under his touch.

Last night had been amazing. We spent the entire night cherishing each other's bodies, bringing one another to the end and back numerous times, using all of our energy professing our love to each other physically. We didn't fall asleep until the sun had already risen, and even though I didn't get but 3 hours of sleep, it didn't matter. We were together right now and I didn't want to waste time sleeping when I could be enjoying his presence.

"Are you hungry?" he asks, and I turn around in his arms, facing him, and bring my lips to his.

"Yes. Very." I say, and he chuckles, and nods his head. After placing one last kiss on my lips, he moves out of bed, revealing his glorious nude form to me, and walking over to the dresser drawer against the wall. He pulls out a pair of plaid pajama pants and after slipping them on, he reaches back in the drawer and pulls out a t-shirt and shorts and places them on the bed.

"We'll get your bags in after breakfast, ok?" he asks, and I nod and slip out of bed and begin to dress as he walks out and into the kitchen. I join him once I'm in his clothes, and find him over the stove flipping French toast and frying eggs. I help him with the food, despite his protests, and we eat together at his table. After we've finished, he insists on doing the dishes, so after he brings my bags in from the car he gets back to the sink as I shower up and dress in a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. He comes back to the bedroom as I'm fastening my black beaded sandals, and he quickly showers and dresses.

"Are you ready to meet her?" he asks as we drive down the road towards his parent's house. I nod my head and put on a smile even though I'm nervous about this. Not only would this be the first time meeting Liv, it would also be the first time meeting Edward's parents.

"Don't be nervous, love. It'll be fine." he says as he pulls off of the road and comes up to a large, iron gate. He lowers his window and leans over towards the keypad jutting out from the wall next to the gate, and enters some digits. The gates squeak as they open, and he pulls in when there's enough room and comes up to a circular driveway in front of one of the biggest homes I'd ever seen. I stay frozen in my seat, looking up at the massive house in front of me as Edward gets out and comes around the car, pulling my door open for me and holding out his hand.

"You ready?" he says, and I gulp down loudly, and look at the house once more, trying my best to keep my nervousness at bay as I nod and look over at him.

"Yea. I'm ready." I tell him, and we move forward, walking up the brick steps and stopping in front of the large black double doors. He reaches forward for the gold knocker, and knocks three times before stepping back, gripping my hand tightly in his. The door opens and I come face to face with the woman I had seen that day in the mall so long ago.

"We weren't expecting you guys this early!" she says with the wide smile that I recognize as the same one Edward has.

"I couldn't wait to see my girl." Edward says smiling, and leans down to kiss his mother on the forehead. He pulls back from her, and looks over at me, squeezing my hand one last time.

"Mom, this is my Bella. Bella, this is my mother, Esme." he says, and I hold out my hand for her to shake, not really sure if that the right thing to do in that moment but too scared to try anything else. She looks down at my outstretched hand, and giggles before walking forward and pulling me into a tight, motherly hug.

"It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you." she says, and then pulls back. "Come in, come in. Liv is eating breakfast with your father." she says, and then turns to lead us to where, I assume, the kitchen is. Edward and I follow hands still tight together, and as we turn the corner and come into the light-filled kitchen, I see an older man, Edward's father sitting at the table drinking coffee and reading the paper.

"Hey dad." Edward says as we walk up to him. His father looks up from his paper, and gets up from the table, a smile on his face as he walks over to us.

"Son." he says, grabbing his hand in his before turning to look at me.

"You must be Bella?" he says, grabbing my hand and bringing it up to his mouth. "Edward was right, you are stunning." he says after placing a kiss on the flesh on the back of my hand. I begin to blush and Edward chuckles, and then looks around.

"Where's Liv?" he asks, and his father points to a door and says she's washing up from breakfast. The door in question creeks open then and out she comes, curly bronze hair bouncing with each step, eyes down at her hands as she dries them with the small towel in her hand.

"Liv. Look who's here." Carlisle says, and her head shoots up and lands on Edward and I. Her face brightens as a large grin spreads across her face and she takes off running towards him as she chants 'Daddy, Daddy'. He leans down, scooping her up in his arms and pulling her close to him.

"Hey, princess. I missed you." he says, and I can't help but smile at seeing him with his daughter. After their hug, he places her back on the ground; arm still wrapped around her and he turns her towards me.

"Liv. Remember my friend I was telling you about? This is Bella. Can you say Hi to Bella?" he says, pointing up at me. Her eyes look up and land on mine and my heart tightens when I see her. Her photos hadn't done her justice. She was the most beautiful child I had ever seen in my life. As our eyes were locked, I don't know what comes over me, but all nervousness I had felt before was wiped away and I find myself kneeling in front of her, taking her tiny, dimpled hand in mine.

"Hi Liv." I say.

"Hi, Bella." she says. "See my toys?"

I nod yes, and go with her up to her room where she shows me toy after toy, and explains to me how everything works as I just sit there in complete awe over this little girl. She was special, and although I wasn't sure how this would go before, I knew now that there was nothing to fear.

By the end of the day, after we got back to Edward's house and Liv ate and washed up, it was her bedtime. Edward and I brought her into her room, and he put her in her bed and walked over to her little bookcase.

"What do you want me to read, baby?" he asks her, and she shakes her head.

"No you. Bella read." she says, pointing over at me and I look over at Edward and smile, holding out my hand for the princess book in his hand.

"Ok, then." he says, showing an exaggerated look of defeat which makes me giggle. I take a seat on the edge of her bed and start to read to her. By the end of the book, she's sleeping soundly, so I shut the book and take it over to the bookshelf. I turn back around, facing her bed, and lean down to her, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Sleep well, angel." I whisper, and reach down to bring the blanket over her more. I stand up then and make my way to the door, where I turn and look over towards her again. The feeling inside of me when I look at this little girl is indescribable to me. I feel the need to protect her, to watch over her. I want to watch her grow, and watch her learn…

I want to be there. I have to be there.

:)

Next chapter will be the birthday party, plus a little drama which I love... :P

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to review. Also, I just got a Facebook page, the link is in my profile. So, go add me! :)

-xoxo Ana