All characterizations, plot lines, backgrounds and details belong to the author. Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight.

Thanks as always, to my incredible beta xrxdanixrx, who also made the BTN banner. Check out her latest story: Washed Up. XO BB

Special thanks to my good friend, Lattecoug! *sending hugs*

Thanks to Robbsweetangel, my Twilighted beta. We miss you, hun!

A million thanks to my dear friend and partner in crime, MizzezPattinson who pre-reads this story. Much love, hun. Your support means everything to me. XO

Thanks to all who are reading, reviewing, and recommending this little story. Yes, I am well aware of the space between these chapters. I live it every day as I try to rewrite what I lost. Thank you for your patience.

Let's check in with Bella.

Chapter 25

Bella

"So, raise your glass if you are wrong in all the right ways!" Leah's slurred voice belts out above the pulsing music as she stands on the table inside Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse.

She's on her seventh, or it could be her tenth Cosmo. I've kind of lost track, and she shows no signs of slowing down.

The liquid sloshes over the rim of her glass, spilling onto the worn wooden floor as Emily, Alice, Rose, and I urge her on. I'm actually amazed that she hasn't passed out yet. She's usually a lightweight, but she's definitely on a roll tonight.

I on the other hand, stopped at my second beer–unheard of for me-but I have places to go and people to see later on tonight. Well, one place and one extremely tempting person. The last thing I want to be is wasted on Edward's last night here.

That thought alone is sobering. It's hard for me to imagine him not being here. He has come to mean so much to me in such a short period of time. Maybe I could…

"Bella!" My wandering thoughts come to a screeching halt as Leah shrieks, pulling me up by the arm and urging me to join her on the table. I don't need for her to ask me twice. Drunk or not, I'm table dancing.

BTN

"Are you sure this is the right way?" Rose asks, laughing as she stumbles along behind me while I lead them down the trail to the cabins in the park.

Any chance we had of sneaking up on the boys is long gone. You can hear us miles away, I'm sure.

"Trust me," I call over my shoulder while we trudge our way along the darkened path.

A chorus of giggles answers me as I finally see the clearing up ahead. Emerging from the trees, I tilt my head immediately to the side, narrowing my eyes, unsure if what I'm seeing is actually a figment of my extremely over-active, and let's face it, horny imagination.

Under the muted light of the low hanging moon, submerged waist deep in the small lake, Emmett, …Jasper-and yes even Edward-splash each other as their laughter echoes through the clearing.

I feel my mouth drop open at the sight of their backs turned to us, their skin illuminated by the pale moon. The giggling of Alice and Rose abruptly stops as they practically fall out of the woods beside me.

"Holy fuck, I must be wasted. I'm seeing things," Rose slurs, leaning against me.

"Let's go!" Alice shrieks, running full tilt, peeling off her shirt in the process and dropping it on the picnic table. "Jazzzzzz!"

"Alice!" I hiss. Of course she ignores my feeble attempt to stop her, pausing only to kick off her stilettos into the sand and rake her jeans down, practically flying into Jasper's arms as he turns and offers her a smirk.

Emmett and Edward turn to face the clearing, and I have to remind myself to breathe. A few lazy ripples lap against them as my eyes rake up Edward's lean torso, the water dripping from the ends of his hair onto his face.

He offers me a shy smile and then lifts his hand from the water, crooking his finger at me. "It's just like a bath, Isabella," he calls to me. "Come on in."

I blow a wayward strand of hair from my face and try to catch up to Rose, who has decided to just run in, completely clothed.

My gaze stays locked to Edward's as I kick my sandals off, pulling down my jean skirt and making my way across the cool, sandy shore, clad just in my boy shorts and black tank top.

The water breaks against my skin. Like a bath my ass! I feel the goose bumps rise immediately as I move across the sandy bottom, holding my arms up and making my way to him.

"It's freezing!" I yell, and am answered by a splash of water from Edward's direction. He chuckles, grinning while he wades towards me. "Is that the way you want to play?"

"No." I feel his hand slide around my waist, easing me against his chest. "This is the way I want to play." He pulls me deeper into the water, my feet becoming weightless as his lips press eagerly to mine.

My legs wrap around his waist, my hands sinking urgently into his soaked hair as I deepen the kiss, trying to press as close as humanly possible. I'm never going to survive him being gone for any length of time. I know this now.

I slide my tongue eagerly with his while his hands move to my hips, squeezing gently. The lingering tang of beer drifts to me, and I feel him lift me further, moving to shallower water.

I pull back only to graze my lips down his neck. "Edward Cullen, have you been drinking?"

He laughs as I feel the water slowly disappear, moving my lips back to his.

"Mmm… Only two, Isabella. And they were well spaced out."

"Always responsible," is my mumbled response.

A series of cat calls and whistles from the lake fade as I bury my face against his neck. He struggles, carrying me across the sand, making it only to the porch before I feel the sting of the wood against my lower back, his lips pressing firmly to mine.

"I missed you… God help me, I missed you so much." His words come out in a choked whisper, his fingers trailing down my face. He rests his forehead against mine, his glasses fogging slightly from his panted breath.

I cup his cheek in my hand, my thumb sweeping over the wet skin. "I'm here. I'm always going to be here."

He nods, and without further warning, scoops my legs up and takes the steps to the screen door, kicking it open.

BTN

The morning mist is just starting to burn off the lake when I make my way out to the wrap-around porch. The screen door bangs slightly behind me as I stretch and breathe in the fresh air.

My muscles ache… a good ache from a man who I know I have fallen completely in love with. I lean against the railing of the deck, staring blankly into the woods, wondering how I'm going to handle this goodbye.

I feel the tears well up at the mere thought. I'm not going to handle it. That's the truth. This is a feeling that I know comes rarely in a lifetime, and then only if you are extremely lucky.

I decide to try to focus on that; the fact that I got to experience something that some people never do.

I feel him before I see him. The warmth of his arm envelopes me from behind, his free hand brushing the hair from my neck as his lips press gently against my skin.

"I don't like waking up to find you gone." His sleepy voice is barely audible as my body molds back to meet his.

I turn quickly in his arms, curling my fingers around his shoulders and gripping the fabric of his grey t-shirt. "Then don't go," I whisper, burying my cheek against his chest. "Please."

He tightens his arms around my waist, lowering his face into my hair. "I have to, Isabella."

My fingers hold tighter to his shirt as the tears start to fall. "No, you don't."

He pulls back, his fingers skimming under my chin, tilting it up, looking down at me in a way only he can.

"Come with me," he whispers, his thumb brushing the tears from my cheek.

I try to shake off the melancholy to focus on our last few hours together. Smirking, I lift up on my toes and sink my fingers into his messed hair. "Yes, sir."

He shakes his head slowly, skimming his nose against mine. "I want to play a game," he murmurs.

"Mmm..." I nip against his bottom lip. "This is sounding better all the time."

He pulls away, tugging gently on my arm and leading me around the deck to the back. "I mean an actual game, Isabella."

"Mhmm." My eyes fall over the lean contours of his back, hidden of course by his grey t-shirt. He stops beside a round, pine patio table, motioning with his hand to the chess board that has been set up. "Oh, you really mean an actual game," I mumble, looking up at him.

His brow furrows. "What did you think I meant?"

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from answering that question. His mind is clearly set on this, and so I'll humor him... for now.

I move in front of him, my hand sliding across his torso, lingering for a moment on the band of his pajama pants before I sink down into the Adirondack chair. I prop my elbows up on the table, resting my chin against one hand, glancing up at him as he closes his eyes and takes a few breaths.

"The game, Edward?" I prompt, trying to contain my smirk.

"Yes... the game." He seems to compose himself and takes the seat opposite me, studying the board carefully. "Have you played before?"

I nod. "Mhmm..." A look of surprise overtakes his face. "Charlie and I used to play all the time."

His eyes widen for a moment at my words. "Oh... I didn't realize you were versed in the game."

I chuckle, leaning forward, sliding my fingers over a pawn piece. "Not just another pretty face, remember?"

"I didn't mean to imply... I'm sorry, Isabella," he whispers, staring down at the board.

I reach across the table, lacing my fingers with his and squeezing gently. "Let's see just how good you are, Edward," I challenge. He smiles back at me, his eyes locking with mine. "I will warn you, you're looking at the 2005 Cooper Landing Chess Master."

His mouth drops open for a second as he stares in disbelief. "The what?" he asks.

I laugh, moving one of the pawns forward. "Granted, my only competition was Jake and Dad, but still."

He chuckles, looking somewhat relieved by that and leans forward in his chair. His eyes narrow, his long fingers pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose before he settles them over one of the black pawn pieces.

My mouth goes dry watching the innocent movement. Even with my competitive streak, there's no way I'm going to let this game last very long.

I pull off the tie from around my wrist, slowly twisting my wayward hair back into a ponytail, studying the board. The gentle breeze from the lake drifts to me, the only sound heard is the lapping of the small waves against the shore and the occasional rustle from some unseen animal in the woods.

I take my time deciding on a move, feeling the penetrating heat of his gaze as I brush my foot against his leg, starting at his ankle and moving up slowly to his inner thigh.

I hear him take a sharp intake of breath as I move another pawn forward before raising my gaze to his.

"I know what you're doing, Isabella," he says, the corners of his lips turning up slightly.

"I'm playing chess," I say decisively, trailing my foot higher up his thigh.

"You don't play fair," he breaths, closing his eyes for a moment before looking down at the board.

I press my foot against the bulge in his pajama pants. "Never said I did."

He clears his throat, moving out the rook, studying the piece closely before finally locking his eyes back to mine, his eyes blazing from behind his glasses.

"The rules of chess clearly state—"

I tilt my head to the side, leaning forward, half out of my seat already. "Fuck the rules."

His eyes widen as I push up all the way from my chair, practically launching myself around the table and into his lap, knocking over chess pieces in the process.

My lips are on his frantically as I try to straddle his waist, my hands seeking out any flesh they can find. His arms wrap tightly around me, his palms smoothing up under my shirt, answering the kiss with matched enthusiasm.

"Isabella… we're outside," he murmurs between kisses.

"Don't care." My hand drifts down between us, palming over the fabric of his pajama pants against his length, a desperate whimper escaping me.

"Is it wrong that I don't ,either?" His voice sounds raspy as his lips trail down my neck.

I shake my head, leaning to expose more of my neck to him, desperate for each touch. "No."

I feel him shift the chair out further from the table, the action causing his erection to brush against me, a needy moan escaping from me.

His hand skims to the back of my neck, his fingers easing into my hair as I arch back, his mouth settling on my shoulder. My hips seem to grind against him on their own, the ache I have for him intensifying while my hand sinks below the band of his pants, my thumb teasing in circles over the head of his shaft.

"Edward…" His lips find mine again, a new passion spiking while his hand moves to my ass, his fingers toying with the back of my panties. His hips lift from the chair as I stroke firmly down his length, my tongue sliding eagerly with his.

I am overcome with emotion about this week, about the feelings that I know I have for him, about losing this incredible man who has come to mean so much to me.

I fight back the tears, knowing it will only cause him to worry, and bite against his lip. Slipping off his lap, I grip the sides of his pajama pants, hauling them down his legs and pushing them to the side.

"Isa—" A deep groan finishes my name while I sink between his legs, my tongue flattening down his length as I take him deeply into my mouth.

My palm presses against his inner thigh, squeezing in time with my movements, while my free hand trails to cup his balls. Glancing up at him only spurs me further, and I watch his head fall back, his eyes clenched shut with his mouth dropped open. His chest rises and falls deeply as my tongue trails against the underside of his shaft, his fists balled tight.

I slip my hand from his thigh to reach for his hand, guiding it into the back of my neck, where his fingers tentatively graze against my skin. The sensation sends a shiver through me, and I hum around his shaft, taking him back in, feeling him twitch with each stroke of my tongue.

His fingers gently press against my neck, almost as if he's testing himself while I increase the pace. His eyes snap open and lock to mine, his hips rolling forward, while I slide my hand back to his inner thigh, squeezing harder.

"Isabella…"

I know it's a warning, but I ignore it, swirling my tongue around his tip, his hips thrusting forward as I close my mouth around him once more. My name falls from his lips as he pulses and releases, his fingers tugging only slightly on my ponytail, his breaths coming in pants while I eagerly taste him.

My tongue lingers over him, and I feel his muscles relax as he lets out a long, slow breath. Turning my head to nip against his inner thigh, I lean back, staring up at him while he tries to compose himself. His fingers slide from my neck around my shoulder, coaxing me back into his lap, and he wraps his arms around my waist, burying his face against my neck.

I can feel his heart thunder beneath his shirt as I press closer, and I slowly ease my fingers into his hair, holding him to me, not wanting to let him go.

We sit like that for a while, feeling time slipping away from us.

"Isabella?" he finally asks, his lips pressed against my skin.

I close my eyes and press closer. "Mmm…?"

He leans back, adjusting his glasses before tracing his fingers down my cheek. "We need to start thinking about what's going to happen when—"

I silence him, placing my fingers over his lips, quickly shaking my head. "No talking about that."

His brow furrows. "But—"

I press my fingers harder against his lips as he smiles slightly against them. "Shh… Just take me inside and love me."

"I do love you, Isabella," he whispers, resting his forehead against mine. "I love you so much it scares me."

With his words, the floodgates that have been holding back my emotion break open completely, and I feel the tears start to fall.

I frame his face between my hands. "And I love you… more than I thought I could ever love someone." He wipes my tears gently, and I cling to him as if my life depends on him. It kind of feels like it does.

I finally untangle myself from his lap, bending to pick up his pajama pants and extending my free hand to him. "Come with me," I say, trying to mimic his voice. He grins, taking my hand and squeezing it as he stands. "There's a game I want to play… and it's not chess."

BTN

"Are you really sure about this?" I ask, standing on the dock and pulling the aging red life preserver over Edward's head.

He nods, adjusting his glasses. "Your father wants to take me fishing. How can I say no?" he whispers, glancing up the dock as I hear dad's laughter drift to me. "He probably wants to discuss my intentions."

I try to hold back a laugh, taking a step back from him. "What is this? 1875? And what intentions? If he wants to know what those are, I'll be happy to tell him you intend to make love to me on the—"

"Isabella!" he hisses as Dad comes to a stop beside me.

In typical fashion, Dad is wearing his faded, beige fishing hat that still has the very first hook I used as a kid stuck to the brim. His red plaid shirt hangs open over one of his many Lodge t-shirts. He says it's his lucky fishing shirt.

He eyes Edward closely before slipping on his sunglasses. "Ready to go there, Edward? It'll be a quick trip. I know you have to take off soon. Jake's getting the plane ready for you, so that should give us a bit more time," he says.

"The plane?" Edwards asks, the color draining from his face. "But we're to drive to Anchorage."

Charlie slaps Edward on the back, thrusting a fishing pole into his hands. "Pfft. That will take a couple hours. This gives you more time… with me." He flashes a smile and chuckles, stepping into the boat and setting his fishing gear down.

Edward looks at the fishing pole as if it's from another planet before glancing down at me. "I guess I'll see you in a while?" he asks nervously.

I laugh, curling up on my toes to press a kiss to his lips. "I'll be here. Catch a big one for me."

He hums, leaning forward. "I've never thrown a fishing pole in my life. What if I do something wrong?" he whispers, a look of momentary panic on his face.

"You can't do anything wrong. It's just fishing, and Dad's a great teacher," I urge, reaching to squeeze his free hand.

Edward nods, looking apprehensively at the boat while Harry ambles his way down the dock, carrying his gear. "Got room for one more?" he calls out as Dad starts the boat.

"Always! Hop in, Harry!" Dad says excitedly, motioning to Edward while Harry places his gear down. He unhooks the back of the boat from the dock and climbs in easily.

"Come on, Edward," Harry says. "I don't bite… much."

Edward grimaces slightly, nodding, and moving to the edge of the dock. He hesitates, looking like he has no idea how to get in. I step forward, taking his fishing pole and passing it to Charlie.

"Behave," I warn him, watching as Edward takes a tentative step in.

Dad smirks at me, setting the pole down with the others. "Always do, kiddo."

I shake my head at Charlie, watching as Edward loses his balance slightly, righting himself before plunking down on one of the seats, gripping the side of the boat for dear life.

I release the knot from the bow, tossing the rope in and pushing it away from the dock, standing at the edge while Dad slowly turns for open water.

Charlie gives a wave over his shoulder to me. "Thanks, Bells! Three go out… let's see how many come back!" he yells before revving the engine.

Edward whips his head to me, a worried look on his face as Charlie takes off across the lake.

I wave from the edge of the dock, smiling and hoping that helps to calm him, watching while the boat disappears around the bend in the lake.

I watch until the waves from the boat fade away completely, and the echo of the engine can no longer be heard. My smile fades, and the steady tightening in my chest that started a few hours ago intensifies slightly as I turn to make my way down the dock.

Our next goodbye won't be this easy.

Chapter end notes:

Raise Your Glass- Lyrics byPink, Max Martin, Shellback, 2010

Have you figured out the pattern for Bella's chapters yet? Numberward is handing out gold stars for those who have.

Up next: A fishing trip and a goodbye.

Twitter: CarLemon