Chapter Twenty- Five

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting to hear you say that," Edward said, leaning down to press his cold lips to my forehead. I closed my eyes and sighed, letting the tingling sensation Edward was creating to linger were his lips were, even after he pulled back. "It seems like forever since I've heard those words."

"Mason needs a family," I said with a slight smile. "And I'm willing to do that, with you, for him. I've missed you, Edward, and I can't demy that anymore. I guess, when I was telling people I didn't love you anymore, I was just trying to convince myself of that. Like it was the best thing for Mason, for me, for you. But I've realized that I was just tricking myself."

Edward grinned madly with happiness. "I've always hoped that was the way it was. I hoped you really did love me, that you're feelings for me didn't go away. I know my feelings for you didn't vanish at all."

I smiled wide. "Good."

Edward stayed with me the rest of that night, and it felt just like old times. I was in his arms, sleeping, while he watched over me protectively. Of course, when the morning came, he left so Charlie wouldn't come into my room to wake me and see him there, holding me, and wonder what the hell was going on.

I tried to keep a straight face as I got dressed, but I was just so happy to be out in the open about my feelings for Edward, that the smile that appeared on my lips was not going to go away anytime soon. So I just smiled and dressed and Mason slept, and then, right before I was about to pick Mason up out of his crib, I saw a note.

I picked it up and brang it to my face to read.

Dear Bella,

I'm sorry I left so early, but I didn't want Charlie to see us together. I made sure to give Mason a kiss, and even changed his diaper so you woulnd't have to. I hope you don't mind.

Today I want to drive you to school. I will be outside your door at seven thirty in my car. And don't worry, I made sure to get the perfect carseat for Mason.

See you soon,

Edward

I smiled and crumbled the paper, throwing it into the bottom of my garbage contained so Charlie's wouldn't find it. Then I picked up Mason -who was smelling fresh and clean, thanks so Edward- and then headed downstairs.

Charlie was sitting at the table with his coffee and newspaper, as he always is at this time in the morning. I smiled at him and grabbed a granola bar from the cupboard, balancing Mason on my hips as I did so. I ate the bar in three big bites, then quickly drank a juice box from the fridge.

"Any plans for this evening?" Charlie asked, not taking his eyes off the article he was reading.

I shrugged. "As of right now, no."

"Ah," Charlie said, looking up now to see me. "Don't make any plans. I ws hoping me and you could go to dinner down at the Cavern to catch up. It's been a while since we;ve had a good talk. Mason can go, too."

I nodded and smiled. "Sounds good." I leaned down to kiss his cheek. "I'll see you later."

Nodding towards Mason, Charlie said, "Put a hat on him, it's cold outside."

Laughing, I said, "Alright."

"Oh, and make sure you let your car warm up a little this morning before you go. It was cold last night."

"It's alright," I said. "I'm getting a ride with someone."

"Oh," Charlie asked, his eyebrow lifting. "With who? If you don't mind me asking."

I tried to keep my voice flat. "Just Edward, that's all."

I could tell by the way Charlie's face dropped that he wasn't too keen on the idea of Edward driving me to school. It paranoid him to have me going to the Cullen's mansion with Mason, so this, Edward driving me and Mason to school, was sure to send him over the edge. But I just held Mason, focused on breathing and blinking, and waited for him to say something.

"Are you sure that' such a good idea?"

I was expecting yelling, kicking and screaming, so I was a little taken back by his response. "Yeah. I mean, how bad can it be, right?" I laughed, my lame attempt at a joke had failed miserably. "Look, it's just a ride to school..." I paused. "And a ride back. But I think I'm going to go to the Cullen's house after to see the rest of the family."

"Bella." Charlie let go a big sigh, and I knew a lecture was about to come. "I know the last thing you want me to give you is a lecture on how to run your life. You're a grown woman now, with a baby, and I respect that. But I need to know that you're doing with you want to do, and not what you think is best of Mason or Edward or anyone else but yourself."

"I'm sure that this is what I want," I told him. "What I told you, about still loving Edward, I wasn't doing that because I thought it would be the best for my son, but because it was what's best for me. I love him, Dad. And I know he's hurt me in the past, and he has his reason's for doing so. Remember what you always told me when I was little? You told me to live each day as it's own and never hold grudges. Well, I'm taking that advice, and I'm going to go to school, confident. I'm going to ignore the slams that Savannah throws my way, and I'm going to walk with my head held high, because I know what Im doing is best for me. It's best for me, and for Mason, and for Edward. I know it is."

"As long as that's what you th-"

"It is. It's what I know, Dad."

He gulped. This wasn't what he wanted to hear. "Be safe on the way to school. Remember your seatbelts. I'm off to work."

I didn't say anything else as Charlie left the house. I stood at the window and watched as he left in his cruiser, breathing heavily and slowly.

"Well, Mason," I said, bouncing him slightly, "that was much easier than I thought it would be." I laughed slightly and went to the fridge to get some water. And, just as I was about to grab my jacket, I heard a horn beep from outside, so I quickly grabbed Mason's hat and stuck it on him, and headed out the door where Edward was waiting in his familiar silver Volvo.

I took a breath and opened the door, stepping out into the cold. At that moment I was glad Charlie had reminded me about Mason's hat, because it was freezing. I scurried to Edward's car and opened the back door.

"Need any help?" Edward asked when he saw me fumbling with the strap of the carseat.

I shook my head and yanked a ittle on the strap, releasing it from the death grip. "No, it's fine. I got it now." Quickly I buckeled him up and got into the front seat next to Edward.

"Good morning," I said as he started to back out of the driveway.

"Good morning to you, too," he said happily. "I see you've recieved my little note I left for you."

I nodded. "Yes. And thanks for offering to drive me to school. I'm really grateful."

"Too bad Charlie doesn't feel the same way." He turned towards me and smirked, then looked back to road and continued to drive.

"What are you taking about?" I asked, confusedm my head cocking to the side. "Charlie didn't seem to mind all that much. I mean, yeah, I had to convince him to let you drive me, but if he didn't want you to, he wouldn't have let me out that door."

He tapped his fingers off the steering wheel. "Trust me," he said smoothly. "I read his mind as he was leaving and I was on my way. He's not excactly happy about me and you spending time together." When I sighed, he looked at me again. "But I think he'll get over it."

I laughed slighlty and turned my head to look out the window at the green trees and bushes passing by. In my mind, I was thinking about how people would react at school when me and Edward showed up in school together. Would they react the same way they did when me and Edward showed up together th first time, all those months ago? Or would they just let it pass and ignore us, like it didn't even happen? I was hoping the second option, but with my luck, I didn't think that would be likely to happen.

Just ignore it, I thought to myself. Ignore it and walk in there proudly. It'll all blow over in a few days, then everything will be back to normal.

As we approched the school, the clouds suddenly split and a ray of sunshine fell through. That was followed by many more splits in the clouds ans many more lights of sun, the sky turning a wonderful blue color.

"Great," Edward said sarcasticly with a sigh. "Isn't this just lovely? I'll guess I'll just have to drop you off."

"Or," I said, letting the word drag on, "you could take me with you."

He looked at me. "I can't let you miss school, Bella."

"Remember what you told me when we first met? You told me everyone deserved a break, a skip day. I chose today."

The corner of his mouth rose up a section. "Are you sure?"

I nodded. "Positive."

A full fledge smile. "Well, then..." He quickly zipped the car around to do a U- turn, nearly banging into the guardrails, but still somehow managing to make the short turn. "Where shall we be going?"

I laughed. "Well, there's this one special place I would like to go to. I haven't been there in a while..."

"Say no more," Edward said smoothly. "I know right where to go."

--

Edward did know right where to do; our meadow.

"Did you ever come here? When I was... away?" he asked once we were seated on the soft, moist ground. Edward had taken off his coat an laid it on the ground so Mason could lay with us. He was sparkling, as usual, and it felt so right to be there with him. He was just so... amazingly perfect.

"Once. I went once, a while back," I told him truthfully. "But all the memories were too overwhelming and I didn't go back again. It feels good to be here, though."

Edward cupped my cheek with his hand, using his thumb to run across my cheek. "I never stopped thinking about you."

I sighed, leaning my face into his palm. "I feel like I shouldn't be saying the same thing, with everything I said to you. But the truth is, I never really stopped thinking about you either, Edward."

We lay back down on the grass, feeling the moister soak through our clothes. My head was lying on Edward's arm, my hand on his firm, toned stomach. Beside us, Mason slept soundly, his small chest rising and falling with each breath he took.

We just stayed in the meadow for what seemed like hours, even though in reality it was a little over fifty minutes. I stayed in Edward's arms and we spoke about how glad we were to be able to express our love for each other again, how grateful we were that we were going to get to be a family, an actual family.

Time was up all too soon, and before I knew it, I was sitting back in the silver Volvo, driving down the highway with the wind in my hair. Mason was awake, but quiet, just sitting in his carseat glancing around, wondering where he was and where he was going.

"I should probably get you to school," Edward said, driving.

I shook my head and gestured outside. "And waste all this beautiful sunshine? Nonesense. Take me wherever you want to go."

"Only if you insist." Again he looked at me with smirk on his face. I laughed lightly, and he turned back to watch the road. "I was only planning on going back to the house, though. Is that alright? No one's home. They're probably gone hunting, enjoying the weather."

I nodded and tucked some hair behind me ear. "Yeah, that's fine."

By the time we got to the Cullen's mansion, Mason had fallen back alseep again. Edward placed him in a little basinet he had set up for him in the living room, and then the two of us went upstairs to his bedroom.

I crawled to the top of his bed and lay down, my head resting on one of the satin pillows by his headboard. I rested my hand on my stomach and closed my eyes, breathing in and out slowly. When I opened my eyes, Edward was next to me, proped up on his elbow.

I smiled. "You have a very comfortable bed," I told him. He just grinned and leaned down to kiss me, his sweet kisses becoming a little more intense. I gently ran my tounge along his bottom lip, begging for entrace to which he glady obliged.

Edward rolled over so he was supporting himself with one hand above me. His other hand was holding my cheek as his thumb ran along my cheek bone slowly. I couldn't help but let a slight moan linger from my lips as his hand started to run down my sides to rest at my hip.

I reached up and placed my hand on his chest, my eyes closed as I traced the pattern of his abs. I focused on that for as long as I could before my hand made it's way down to his belt. I let my fingers linger there for a moment, hesitating before I managed to undo it, carefully.

He seemed pleased as he smiled against my lips, moving the one hand on my hip, up a little to grasp the hem of my shirt, moving his hand under it. I moaned into his mouth at his touch and he moved his hand up further, cupping my breast in his hand. I groaned, throwing his belt next to the bed as I moved my hand to his button. I undid it without any trouble and he helped me get his pants off in one, fluid motion.

It reminded me so much of the night that Mason was concieved and for some reason, it didn't hurt to think about anymore. I was happy again and Mason could have a family. A mother and father who loved him... and each other.

Before I knew it, all of our clothes had floated to lie on the floor, to our right. He prepared himself, just like he had that one night, almost 9 months ago, to enter my body, makng me surge with pleasure. He lined up and carefully took his lips from mine, moving them to my ear.

"Tell me if it hurts, okay?" he whispered, his words drifting in one ear and out the other.

I nodded reluctantly. "I will."

He smiled my favourite, crooked smile and I smiled back, tangling my fingers in his hair as he kissed me again, with so much passion my lips hurt. He then moved in ever so slightly, and I moaned, tilting my head back a little while arching my back. He moved into me carefully, starting off slow, becoming faster. My breathing sped up miraculously and he groaned into my mouth, his tongue tangling with mine. Almost like they were dancing together.

His hands caressed my body, lovingly as he somehow still managed to keep himself up, hovering over me so our bodies were touching, but no weight was laid on me. I had one hand tangled into his hair and the other tightly – to my standards, in a death grip on his arm that I was totally unaware of.

He moved faster and faster, yet he stayed within my comfort zone as my body started to tense after about 10 minutes. I felt my body start to reach it's own climax and Edward as well, tensed. He moved faster, yet gently and I untangled my fingers, sliding it down his arm sensually, taking his hand in mine as he stretched his fingers, waiting for me to intertwine them, which I did, willingly.

He smiled against my lips and my back arched more, pushing him further inside of me as I moaned loudly, forgetting to stay quiet because of Mason. Edward chuckled, deep throatedly and pulled back momentarily.

"Remember, Mason's sleeping, Bella." he mused.

I turned a deep red, but before I could say anything, his lips were back on mine.

He pushed in once more as I kissed back. I felt my body release then, as did his and we both moaned. It felt so, so good just to be able to be with him like this. I knew in my mind that it was too soon, but I also knew in my heart that it was the right thing to do.

For now, it was just Edward and I, and for the first time since Edward left, I truly felt loved.

--

A/N- First of all, I want to thank my best friend Becca for writing the end of this chapter. Without here, you guys would be having to wait another while.

Also, I'm sorry if it seems like Bella and Edward are rushing into things. But remember, their relationship was already established before he left, so all that needed to be done was let the feelings resurface. And now that they did, I figured I should add that scene in for those who have wanted it.

Please, review!