Chapter Twenty-Five: My Remedy

Bella's POV

"Hi, baby." Riley smiled as he came into my...well our room. He had been slowly moving into the house. Bringing a duffle bag here and there, leaving more of his books around the house. I wasn't sure if I wanted him moving in until we were married because of Brady, but I just didn't want another argument."

"Hey," I whispered as he walked over to kiss me. "Your parents get off okay?"

"Yep, mom said she'd call when they landed." He told me as he grabbed a towel and some new clothes to change into. I heard the shower turn on and settled myself in the chair in front of the window with a good book. It was a book I wouldn't have read unless Edward had suggested it, but after reading it, it became one of my favorites.

After about ten minutes of reading, though I heard someone strumming a guitar. And then...

"Tonight I'm tangled in my blanket of clouds dreaming aloud things just won't do without you." I turned in my seat and pulled the curtains back to see Edward standing in my yard, playing his guitar and singing to me like in a movie.

"If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you." He sang and I could feel the tears forming in my eyes. He really wasn't going to give up on me. He was the love of my life, not Riley and things had to change around here.

He kept singing to me and I wanted so badly to run to him and hug him, but the song was just so beautiful, I didn't want to interrupt it. But, the shower went off and a few seconds later, my bedroom door opened and Riley walked back into the room.

"What is that?" He asked as he came and stood by me in the window. "Bella, what's he doing here?" He asked. "He really needs to..." He started to say, but I just covered his mouth with my hand.

"If you walk out on me I'm walking after you. Another heart cracked in two. I'm on your back."

"He really needs to stop doing these kinds of things." Riley sighed as he closed the curtains when I removed the hand from his mouth. "Does he not know any boundaries?"

"Riley, knock it off." I sighed. All I wanted to do was run down to Edward and say I'd be with him forever. But, I was engaged and Edward had missed his chance. We were still over.

"What?" He asked. "He keeps coming onto you, Bella. I'm your finace, not him."

"Yeah, but would you ever think of doing anything that romantic?" I asked. "Riley, I love you...but ever since we got engaged, you haven't been putting much effort into our relationship." I sighed. "And, that's what ended my first marriage. He didn't try at all."

"Yeah, well I already won you." He said almost in disgust.

Won me?

"You...won me?" I asked. "Was getting me to go on a date with you a contest?"

"A bet." He shrugged, and I could feel the tears prickling in my eyes. He made a bet that he could get me to go out with him? "But, everything has been real, Bella. Ben just bet me I couldn't get you to go out with me because you always secluded yourself and said no to everyone else."

"Yeah, because I didn't think anyone else was worth it." I told him. "Until you."

"What do you want me to say?" He asked. "That by getting you to go out with me I didn't win a bet?"

"That's exactly what I want you to say!"

"I can't lie, Bella."

"Our entire relationship has been a lie." I reminded him. "How could you?" I asked. "I really thought you were different."

"So, how we got started wasn't perfect, but all my feelings for you are real." He told me. "And I don't wanna share you my entire life with that guy."

"That guy didn't place a bet on whether or not I'd say yes to a date." I whispered, slipping the ring off of my finger and holding it up to him. "You did."

"You're breaking off the engagement because of this?" He asked as I forcefully put it into his hand.

"No, I'm breaking it off because I'm in love with someone else." I sighed. "Marrying you wouldn't be fair to anyone." I explained. "You telling me what really happened just gave me the courage to do what I've been needing to do."

"Bella!" He called as I turned and walked out the door. By the time I got outside, he was already packing his things up and getting into his car. I slowly walked over to him and took a deep breath before saying anything.

"Where are you going?" I asked and I saw his body stiffen and when he looked down to see my ringless finger, he smiled. "I wanna hear you sing some more." I whispered and he slowly inched towards me.

"Where's your ring?" He asked, grabbing my hand to double check that I wasn't wearing it.

"You kind of give up the ring when you break up with the man who gave it to you." I whispered.

"You...broke up with Riley?"

"It wasn't fair to be marrying him...when I'm in love with someone else." I told him and his smile widened.

"That someone else?" He asked. "Is he handsome?"

"The most handsome man I'd ever seen." I smiled. "And he's funny, smart, kind, great with my son, and...I'm pretty sure he loves me too."

"He'd be a fool not to." He whispered as he touched his lips against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he placed his on my hips. There was so much we needed to talk about before we could continue, so despite how much I wanted to keep kissing him, I pushed him away.

"What?" He asked breathless.

"Where's Caroline?"

"With Emmett?" He said like more of a question. "Why?"

"You think Emmett would mind watching one more kid?" I asked. "We have to talk."

"I'll drop Brady off, you get the hot dog on his way." He laughed as he got back into his car. By the time I got upstairs, Riley had all of his things packed and ready to go. We didn't speak, but I helped him carry his bags down and I felt tears in my eyes as he drove away.

I wanted to be with Edward, but I did love Riley. And, I trusted him and she shattered it.

Edward was back in minutes and I invited him inside. I made us coffee while he fiddled with his thumbs at the kitchen island. We were quiet for a long time, and I was done with my coffee before he even took a breath to speak.

"I'm sorry." He finally whispered. "I know I've said it a million times, but I am so sorry, Bella."

"No, I'm sorry." I argued. "I should have never slept with Jake...anyone would have been better." I mused. "But, I shouldn't have slept with anyone."

"I hurt you...we weren't together and I had no right to be angry with you for sleeping with him." He whispered. "I should have let it go and taken you into my arms and promised it would be okay."

"But you wouldn't have had to if I had just gone home."

"But you wouldn't have had to go home if I wasn't such a fuck up and hadn't broken up with you." He argued. "I loved Rosalie, and I always will. She was my first love and she's Caroline's mother." He reminded me. "But, that doesn't mean that I can't love anyone else, and that doesn't mean no one is good enough if they aren't her."

"No," I whispered. "It doesn't."

"But, it was a bad night and I was acting like a spazz." He told me. "And, I may put her on a pedestol, but she wasn't perfect." He giggled. "She had her share of spazz attacks."

"Really?" I asked.

"Especially when she was pregnant." He shrugged. "The point is, I've been foolish to put Rosalie above everyone else. Whether I like it or not, she's gone and there isn't anything I can do to bring her back." He sighed. "But, you are here and you love me just as much as she did and I should have been embracing that rather than pushing you away."

"Yeah, but I should have just let you be you." I sighed. "I mean, I pushed you. I told you it was time to make a choice and I had a hunch you wouldn't pick me."

"But I should have." He smiled. "Rosalie wouldn't want me to be unhappy and she would not want me pining for her." He told me. "That was one of her biggest pet peeves."

"What was?"

"When people pined and pouted over people they couldn't have." He whispered, grabbing my hand. "But, I mean it when I say that I love you, Bella. I love you so much and these last few years have been complete hell. Caroline was miserable. I was miserable. Things without you just aren't good."

"I love you too." I smiled. "But you have to promise we're a team." I whispered. "And that you're going to be here with me and not off in la la land wishing your life away."

"I promise." He blushed. "I'm yours, Bella."

He leaned in and this time, I let everything just happen. His lips gently brushed against mine, but I grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him tighter into me. He laughed at my eagerness and placed his hands back on my hips.

He stood up and picked me up in his arms and set me down on the counter top. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he worked to get the shoes I was wearing off.

"Not...here." I reminded him when he went for the hem of my shirt. He picked me up and carried me back to the bedroom and gently laid me down on the bed. He pulled the pants I was wearing down my legs, revealing the lacy, black thong I was wearing and threw them on the floor.

"Fuck," He whispered as he caressed my outside thighs. I sat up and pulled his t-shirt over his head and threw it onto the floor with his jeans. Riley had a nice body, but nothing compared to Edward's. He was perfectly sculpted everywhere. Like a fucking statue. But, it wasn't overdone either.

He was perfect.

I grabbed his neck and pulled his lips to mine and lied back down as he fell on top of me. He began to grind on me, turing me on. I moaned in his mouth as his erection ground into my clit and I had to practically hold my breath to keep from coming.

"Oh...god!" I moaned as he began sucking on that sweet spot on my neck. It always made me go crazy for some reason and he had me bucking my hips to meet his. His lips moved to the tops of my breasts and I was very happy I decided to wear the v-neck out with Jasper this afternoon.

He pulled the shirt down, revealing my breasts and for a second, I thought he was going to actually rip my shirt. I lifted my arms up and he forcefully pulled it over my head and I swear I heard a growl. He kissed the tops of my breasts and I reached behind me to unclasp my bra.

He pulled it down my shoulders, leaving me almost completely naked. The only thing seporating us was his jeans and my thong. I reached for his belt buckle and clumsily undid it and pushed his jeans and boxers down together. He pulled back and stepped out of them before coming back to me again, not missing a beat.

"I...want you inside me." I whispered in his ear. I heard him moan and then I heard fabric tearing. When I looked down, he was holding two pieces of black fabric and I just shook my head at him. I grabbed him and pumped his cock a few times before he positioned himself at my entrance.

"I love you." He whispered before he slammed into me. I'd forgotten how good he really was, and then he had me screaming. I grabbed a hold of his hair as he thrust into me and I thought I was going to go crazy. He had me coming in seconds, but he didn't stop.

"Fuck!" He moaned as our bodies became coated in sweat.

"Edward!" I yelled as he spread my legs further apart, giving him more access. He continued to thrust into me until he was hitting my g-spot, making me come again. I could tell he was close by the way his eyes were shut and his mouth was pursed together.

"I want you to come inside of me." I whispered in his ear and that's all it took. He stilled inside of me and I could feel him spilling inside of me. I pressed my hand to his cheek as he fell limp on top of me.

He eventually pulled out of me and rolled on to the empty part of the bed. He pulled the blankets over us and pulled me close to him. We laid there together in silence for a long time. But, I didn't mind it. I loved when we were together. It never mattered if we were talking or not.

"Bella?" He whispered as he kissed my bare shoulder blade.

"Hmmmm?"

"I know this is very sudden and not very romantic since we're in bed, but..." He began babbling. "Will you marry me?" He asked and I felt my body stiffen. But, in a good way...in a surprised way.

"Yes." I whispered as I turned to face him. He was smiling from ear to ear and I knew I'd made the right choice in choosing him. The way he looked at me...Riley never looked at me like that. Even after we got engaged.

"I don't have a ring." He said as his cheeks turned red.

"I don't care." I whispered as I kissed him. "You're all I need."

"You two are getting married?" Caroline asked the next morning at breakfast. Edward and I decided to tell the kids first since it would affect them the most.

"Yes, we are." Edward sighed as he grabbed my hand. "How do you feel about that?"

"You're...going to be my stepmom?" She asked, turning to me. She looked a little unsure, but I could tell she was happy. I only nodded and she screamed and stood up and walked over to me, hugging me tightly. "I've always wanted a mom." She whispered, bringing tears in my eyes.

"Brady?" I asked after she sat down.

"This is...really weird." He sighed in confusion. "What happened to Riley?"

"Riley and I talked and...we just weren't right for each other, monkey." I explained. "I'm sorry."

"No!" He screeched. "This is great...but weird."

"It is a little weird." I smiled. "But, we just want you two to be okay with everything because if you aren't, there's no wedding."

"There better be a wedding!" Caroline interrupted. "There has to be."

"Then, a wedding there shall be." Edward laughed. I sighed in relief. Our kids were okay with it. No one else had to give their opinions. Now that we knew Brady and Caroline were okay, nothing would stand in our way now.

"I just have one question." Brady said.

"What's that?" Edward asked.

"When did you two even get back together?" He asked. He was smart for a thirteen year old...or an almost thirteen year old.

"Last night." I laughed.

"Didn't you get engaged last night?" He asked again.

"Let's just say we shouldn't have broken up in the first place." Edward shrugged. "But, that's behind us and we're just looking forward to the future."

The four of us spent the rest of the morning together until Jake came to get Brady for an early birthday fishing trip. I didn't tell him because I knew he'd try and ruin it for me and I honestly just wanted to be happy for a day if that was possible. Edward was going to leave Caroline with Felix, but she begged to spend the rest of the day with us.

"You wanna come ring shopping?" Edward asked.

"Duh, I'm a girl." She shrugged. She sure was getting this whole teenager thing. I only prayed Edward knew what he was getting himself into with her.

"Hey, Miss Duh. Watch it." He warned. "Would you like to pick out your own ring?"

"Me?" I asked.

"No, Caroline." He laughed. "Of course you."

"No, I wanna be surprised." I laughed. "You two go. I wanna go see Jasper anyway."

"Okay, say hi for me." He said before gently brushing his lips on mine. I watched as they drove away after dropping me off at Jasper's and since I knew he was swamped, I just let myself in.

They had welcomed their second baby, Paige Kimberly, in January and they were having a hard time adjusting. Paige had a milk allergy that made it impossible to breastfeed her which made Alice and Jasper alter their child raising ways. And, it didn't help that this time around they had a two year old boy running around the house.

"Aunt Bella!" Nathan called as I walked into the living room. Paige was screaming and I could tell Alice was getting fed up.

"I don't know what to do." She cried as she stood up and started pacing. "She won't stop crying and I've done everything I can think of."

"Where's Jasper?" I asked as I let Nathan back down.

"Showering." She yawned. "Paige was asleep when he went in, but then Nathan got into the pots and pans in the kitchen and woke her up and now she won't stop crying."

"Here, may I?" I asked, holding out my arms. She gave her to me no problem and I just rocked her gently until her eyes grew heavy.

"How'd...you do that?" She asked. "I always do that and nothing happens."

"Maybe she just missed her Aunt Bella." I laughed as I heard footsteps on the steps. Jasper called Nathan for his nap and the little guy raced off towards his father. Once Nathan was in his room and Paige was in her bassinet, it was finally quiet to talk.

"What's up?" Jasper asked as Alice made coffee. "Where's your ring?" He asked once he noticed my naked finger.

"Riley and I broke up." I shrugged. "We just weren't right for each other."

"Let me guess...you and Edward are right for each other?" Jasper asked and I only nodded. I knew Jasper wasn't in love with him anymore, but he just needed time to warm up to him again. Plus, other than Jake, Jasper loved everyone I did. He trusted my judgement.

"You're happy?" Alice asked.

"Really happy." I nodded.

"Then, that's what matters." She smiled as she poured my coffee. "So, when's the wedding?"

"How'd you guess?"

"You have that look on your face." She laughed. "Jasper said I looked like that for about a month after he asked me." She told me and I saw him blushing. "And, why would you be here if there wasn't huge news?"

"Hey, I'm over here as much as I can be." I defended. "But, you're right."

"As long as he loves you, I don't care who you end up with." Jasper sighed and gave me a tight hug. "I'm proud of you, Bells."

"Thanks, Jazz." I whispered as I held onto him tighter.