Hello all you new readers/followers/reviewers! I'm so happy you are happy! I love this chapter. You can thank your fellow readers over on Dishie's Stash for this early post!

As always, thanks to Cintia, my favorite beta-girl and to Kriszta … God knows how this story would wind up without her!

We are winding this down, now. Only about four more chapters. I can't believe it.

Now … Phuck you Phil!

CHAPTER 25:

"I received a phone call in the middle of the night on April 25, 2008. It was one of Edward's first assignments out of college. He went to cover a skirmish in Egypt," Esme recalls. Looking forward at nothing in particular, she begins again. "The camp where Edward was stationed was blown up, and many people died that day.

"I immediately turned on the news and saw my child's face plastered on the screen indicating he was an American caught up in the mess. I cried for days, waiting to hear word on whether they had discovered his remains in the rubble." Tears of the memory begin falling from her eyes.

"Oh, Esme, that must have been a very difficult time. When did you learn he was alive?" Bella asks, placing her hand on top of Esme's.

"Almost two weeks later, the magazine phoned after finding his credentials lying near his body. He was taken to the local infirmary, if that's what you want to call it. He remained unidentified because he had no ID on him. Finally, someone recognized him, and that's when I was called. We worked night and day to get him returned home to us. It took a while for his wounds to heal, but once they did, I thought he would give up his obsession, but he didn't. He turned around and went right back."

"Good lord, that must have been awful," Bella consoles.

"The moral of the story is, life is short, Bella. You need to decide if all of this pent-up anger is worth it. Is this something you can't forgive?" Esme asks the question that everyone has asked.

"I'm trying, Esme. That's all I can offer right now," she replies, still thinking about Esme's story.

"Well, if that's all you can do, then we will have to accept it, right? Now, I hope to receive an invitation to your opening since you will be featuring my son's work. I have much of it in my home already. He's very good," Esme brags with a mother's proud smile.

"Yes, I know. I've seen it. I've seen him in action, too," Bella responds.

"Will you be in town long enough to have dinner with Carlisle and me? I know he would like to meet you as well."

"I'm sorry, but I can't, Esme. This is a short trip for me. I'm heading to San Francisco tomorrow morning and then on to L.A. But, absolutely, you and your husband are invited to the opening. I'll make sure Seth sends you an invitation."

Once they are back at the gallery, Bella hands Esme a business card.

"Here's my card. I hope you call me once you arrive in New York. Maybe we can have lunch or cocktails … or both," she says, giggling along with Esme.

"I look forward to it, Bella. And please, try to find a way to forgive him. It simply breaks my heart knowing his is broken. It's a mother thing," she explains.

"I'm doing my best, Esme," Bella replies reassuringly.

"Then that's all I can ask. See you at the opening."

"Yes, you will, and thanks for the basket of scents. That was very kind of you."

~.~

After returning to the hotel, Bella digs through the basket, finding everything from perfume to bath salts. She even finds products from Esme's newest line, which Bella also loves.

Deciding to utilize what Esme gave her, she pours liquid into the large tub for a nice relaxing bath. After sinking beneath the bubbles, Bella lays her head back against the porcelain and recalls the story Esme told her this afternoon.

Although Bella may be angry at Edward, she in no way wishes any harm to come to him, and she shudders at the thought. Meditating the negative energy out of her body, Bella unexpectedly falls asleep.

Feeling the warmth of the liquid surrounding her body, Bella hears the muffled popping sound off in the distance. Standing to focus on the noise that is now getting louder, she tries to see through the murky distance. Once the fog disappears, she sees Edward standing in front of her in a red long-sleeved t-shirt. It's when she floats closer to him, that she hears the noise clearly now, only it's right next to her ears.

That's when Edward doubles over, and after a moment he stands up straight and looks sadly into her eyes. Bella notices the color of the shirt again only it's riddled with holes. Bullet holes. Edward's eyes are cold … distant. Blood is seeping out of the holes in his chest, covering his body in crimson.

"Edward?" Bella shouts, holding her hand out to him. He doesn't take it. He simply shakes his head.

"Goodbye, baby," he whispers, disappearing into the smoke and sound of gunfire.

Bella screams, witnessing his death, and when she feels the warm water rise past her chin, she looks down at her bathwater. It's turned the same color as Edward's shirt … and her body is lying in a bath of Edward's blood.

With arms and legs flailing in the water, Bella jerks awake and notices that she's still sitting in warm water, so she couldn't have been asleep for long, yet she dreamt one of the most terrifying dreams of her life.

Quickly getting out of the tub, she slips into a pair of sleep shorts with matching tank, and an hour later, she still hasn't shaken the nightmare.

Pacing the floor, she has very bad thoughts and can't keep her hands out of her hair. She knows she needs to do it … she won't sleep until she does.

She calls Edward.

~.~

It's six o'clock on Monday, and Edward feels a need for a good physical workout, so he walks the short distance to Emmett's home gym. Pressing more weight than he should, Emmett spots him, allowing him to get some of the stress out of his body.

"Have you heard from her?" Emmett asks watching his friend carefully.

"Naw. She won't call me. I doubt she will even talk to me at the gallery opening. According to Rose, they have a plan to prevent Bella and me from talking to each other." That thought alone makes Edward's chest ache, and he drops the heavy weights into the rests.

"She'll come around, bud. Rosie said that Bella is more embarrassed than anything. She still loves you, man. She'll be back."

"I don't think she will, Em. I think she's done. I think she's not going to get past it, no matter how hard she tries."

"Well, do you want to go out? See if we can fill your lonely nights?" Emmett suggested to his friend.

Edward's head nearly rips off his shoulders he snaps it so hard to scowl at Emmett.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Edward nearly shouts. "You want me to go find solace in someone else's bed? Jesus, Emmett!"

"Well, it might help," Emmett says, rubbing the back of his neck.

"No, it won't fucking help! Jesus Christ, Emmett!" Edward walks to the counter to take a long draw of his bottled water. "It's Bella, Em. It will always be Bella. Don't ever suggest that to me again."

Both men stop talking, and as soon as Edward hears it his phone, he's frozen. "It's her," he says to himself at hearing her ring tone.

"Go fucking answer it before she hangs up, fool!" Emmett says, shoving Edward toward the phone.

"Hello?" he answers. When she doesn't readily answer, he says, "Bella?" She doesn't say anything, and all he hears is silence on the other end.

"Hi," she finally says quietly and sweetly. Her nervousness coming through in her speech and he wants to take that away from her.

"Oh, God, Bella," he says, nearly whining. "How are you? Are you okay?"

"Um … yes. I'm good. I … I had a dream and needed to know that you were okay," she tells him, barely able to speak. "I just needed to hear your voice—to see if you're all right."

"Was it a bad dream?" he asks.

"Yeah. I just needed to know it wasn't real."

"Oh, baby, what was it about?"

"You were … you died," she says, clearly despondent.

"I'm all right. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere," he promises.

"Okay, I … uh … just needed to … well, um, I guess I'll talk to you later. Goodbye, Edward," she stammers. Still feeling the nervousness of speaking to him, she quickly hangs up.

"Fuck!" he shouts, aiming his phone at the wall across the room, but not releasing it from his grip.

Emmett watches as Edward sinks down, sitting on his heels as he looks at the phone in his hand and hangs his head between his shoulders.

"Is everything all right, E?" Emmett asks, bending down to console his friend.

"She had a bad dream. She needed to hear my voice to see if I was okay, and then she hung up," Edward explains, looking at his phone, willing her to call back. Feeling like an idiot, he tosses his phone into his gym bag.

~.~

Nearly a week later, Bella is still in California, and Edward still hasn't heard from her since she had the dream.

Bored, he calls Jasper and Emmett for lunch at Blue Fin. Deciding to take a table rather than the sushi bar, Edward waits patiently for his two friends. Seeing two figures enter the restaurant, he looks up only to see Phil and Seth coming toward him. It took Phil a few minutes to notice him, but ultimately, he did.

To say they were shooting lasers at each other is an understatement.

"Mr. Cullen … it's good to see you," Seth says, beaming at being in the presence of such handsome men.

"Seth," Edward responds, still glaring at Phillip.

"Dwyer," Edward greets dryly.

"Cullen," Phil says, equally as dry. "I hear you and Isabella broke it off."

Edward flinches at the way Philip goes straight for the jugular.

"Where'd you hear that?" Edward asks, sneering at Seth who has the sense to look away.

"Oh, I keep in touch with her. She and I will be attending the opening together," Phil mentions as if it's common knowledge.

"Is that right? Funny, because it's me that she will be showing. Maybe you better check with her again who her date is," Edward retorts sarcastically. "That is if you can find her."

Phil lurches forward, as if he intends to throw a punch, but stops quickly, "You don't know her, Cullen. I've known Isabella since she was in high school. I've shared family dinners with her and her parents. Even better, I have the permission of her father to marry her, and I fully intend to."

"Really? How's that going for you, Dwyer? Has she held you in her arms and told you she loved you?"

Philip visibly cringes at Edward's veiled admission, and the anger is nearly uncontrollable. "She's mine, Cullen. I will make sure of that."

"You see, Phil, that's where you're wrong. She's mine." Edward turns toward Seth who is standing off to the side watching, concern and fear written all over his face. "If you want to keep your job, you might want to rethink who you have lunch with and who you divulge your employer's private life to."

Seth is motionless as Edward's words hit him. He looks down at his watch and then at Philip. "Oh my, look what time it is, and I have an appointment across town. I'm sorry Mr. Dwyer, but I will have to take a rain check for lunch." Both men watch Seth's retreating back as he nearly runs out the door, getting lost in the crowded city sidewalk.

By the time Emmett and Jasper arrive, Edward and Phil are in a stare down that, with one wrong word, fists will go flying.

"What's going on here, boys?" Emmett asks, stepping up to Phil. "Would you care to join us, Dwyer?"

"No, thank you. I have a phone date with Isabella," Philip rubs in.

"Okay, then. See you at my opening," Edward retorts.

Suddenly Emmett bursts out in a fit of laughter and lays his hand on Philip's shoulder. "Oh, God, that's priceless. You think … you think you and Bella are … are …" Emmett finishes with a loud fit of laughter and wiping away at his fake tears.

"Yeah, he's going to marry her," Edward informs his friends. That's when everyone begins to laugh for real this time — everyone but Philip Dwyer.

"See you at my show, Dwyer," Edward taunts as Philip turns to leave.

Dwyer stops in his tracks and turns around, his eyes seething with hatred. "I wouldn't miss it."

"Wow, Eddie, you sure know how to make friends and influence people," Jasper jokes.

"Yeah, well, he's no friend. I don't know what his deal with Bella is, but he has a sick obsession with her, that's for sure," Edward replies, settling into his seat.

"Bella's not the type that would use this situation between you two to tease Dwyer into thinking there's something there, is she?" Emmett asks as his eyes scan the menu.

"No. She doesn't like him. He's rather possessive of her it seems, and she's not that comfortable around him, really," Edward explains. "But she can handle it. She took care of Stephen well enough."

"Well, I for one can't wait until you two settle this spat because I get my new bike in a few weeks, and I think it would be fun for all of us to go out for a long ride," Jasper says, excited with his new purchase.

"Yeah, mine is due to be delivered around the same time," Emmett adds. "I can't wait until I see Rosalie in the leather pants I bought her." Edward and Jasper look up at their friend, and Emmett raises his eyebrows and nods. "Yep. I was going to get the kind that lace up the leg but didn't want you two fuckers to drool."

"Yeah, I don't know if I'll ever have Bella on my bike again. She's kind of …"

"She'll be back, Edward," Jasper consoles his friend. "Alice is certain that Bella will forgive you. She just needs to work through all of this."

"What in the fuck were you thinking, Eddie? On the train?" Emmett scolds. "But in your defense, that must have been totally hot!"

Edward gives them a smirk and nods. "You have no idea."

"Okay, let's order, I'm starved," Emmett says just as the server walks up to the table.

~.~

That evening, Edward is restless after having recalled his conversation with Philip. Feeling the pull to his phone build, he pours himself a double Chivas and downs it in one gulp. After setting the glass down on the bar, he feels the burn of the liquid as it travels down his throat.

Staring at his cell on the kitchen counter, he picks it up, then just as quickly sets it back down. Admonishing himself for his pussy-like behavior, only to pick it up again. Opening the contact list, he sees her name. His finger hovers above it, still fearful of her rejection, he cringes as he presses the button.

One ring … two rings … no answer. Three rings …shit … four …

"Hello," her soft voice answers. Edward's heart skips a beat.

"Hi, Bella," he says, his voice just as hesitant as hers.

"Hi …"

"I, um, how are you? I was worried about you after your phone call the other day," he says, rolling his eyes at his lame excuse for calling her.

"I'm fine. It was just a bad dream. A nightmare, really. How are you?" she asks, changing the subject.

Edward tries to feel her out to see if she wants to talk to him or not. Not too sure, he presses forward.

"I'm good, I guess," he replies. "I was just thinking of you, so … hearing your voice is good."

"Yeah?" she asks quietly.

"Yeah," he replies just as softly. "I miss you, Bella."

"Me too," she says hesitantly and nearly inaudible.

"Really?"

"Yeah," she replies in a whisper.

"I'm glad. Anyway, um, I was wondering if you would mind if I, uh, just called you sometime. You know … just to say hello, or chat or something?" he asks, hating his own timidity and hesitation.

"Yeah, sure, I guess," she replies with a hint of caution in her answer.

"Really? I mean, okay, good. Well, I guess I'll let you go. I'll talk to you soon then?"

"Okay, bye, Edward," she says with as much hesitancy as Edward feels.

"Bye, baby." Bella flinches hearing these two words because they are the same words he spoke in her dream.

Bella hangs up her phone, closing her eyes feeling somewhat pleased to have spoken to him. Still not certain of where this is going to go, she does feel better knowing she's released some of the anger she felt prior to talking to Esme. Maybe by time the opening comes, they can actually have a decent conversation in front of the press.

~.~

"Oh, Edward, these are really, really beautiful. Where did you take these?" Rosalie asks, engrossed in the new batch of photos spread out on the table.

"Italy. When Bella and I were playing tourist. On the days that she hauled me to the museums, I took these," he answers sadly, recalling the romantic trip with Bella.

"Well, I think I like them all. Would you email them to me? I'll talk to her and let you know if she wants to include them. We could have a black and white section separate from your colored photos. Does that sound good?" she asks, preoccupied with the pictures.

"Whatever you two want to do. I'll leave that up to the professionals. Um, Rosalie, I want to show you these as well," he says, reaching into his messenger bag for a large envelope. Pulling out a small stack of photos, he spreads them on top of the others.

"Edward …" Rosalie whispers. "You've captured her perfectly."

"I know. I love this one," he points out. "It was the weekend we went to the Catskills. We hung out in this meadow when I took this of her. And this one," he pulls out another from beneath the pile, "is when we were on a stop in Italy. She wanted to get out and look out over the countryside. She just stood there … perfectly … and I took the picture."

Edward wistfully stares at the picture of Bella in a white knitted sheath. Her hair was in a messy braid that she wrapped around her head that was adorned with a crown of small white flowers.

"Beautiful, isn't she?"

"Yes. She is," Rosalie replied watching Edward speak about Bella. She can see the love pouring from his eyes.

"I talked to her, you know," he says sadly.

"Yes, I know." His head snaps in Rosalie's direction, wanting to hear something, anything, about Bella. "I spoke to her last night. About the show and stuff."

"Stuff?" Edward asks, questioning Rosalie's broad term.

"It's good you two talked, even if you both danced carefully around the one subject you need to talk about."

"I know. Baby steps, Rose," Edward says remorsefully.

"She sounds a lot better these days," she says randomly. "It's like her spirits have been lifted a little bit. You know she's coming home, right?"

Edward's heart sped up double-time. "No, I didn't. I haven't spoken to her since I called her four days ago. I didn't want to over-extend my welcome to phone her. I thought I would call her tonight though."

"Good idea. I think she comes home tomorrow."

"Really?" he asks, his eyes wide with excitement. Rosalie nods absentmindedly as she continues to review the photos.

On his way home from getting dinner, Edward plays over the scenario in his head of what he intends to say to Bella. It's six thirty and since Jasper and Alice are coming over tonight at seven thirty to watch a new movie that just came out, he decides to call her as soon as he gets home.

Pacing the floor from the kitchen to the living room and back, he frequently stops to check his watch, nervous knots in his stomach, he picks up the phone.

She answers on the second ring this time.

"Hello," her soft voice answers.

"Hi, Bella, it's me," he replies apprehensively. "Do you have a few minutes to talk?"

"Hello, Edward, um, yes. I was just packing. I have an early flight tomorrow."

"Oh, yeah? Where are you going?" he prompts her, not wanting her to know that he knows she's coming home.

"I'm flying home in the morning," she informs him. "I guess I need to get ready for the, um, your show," she says, touching on the subject for the first time between them.

"Oh, do you need a ride from the airport? I'd be happy to pick you up," Edward offers.

"Thanks, but Phil has already offered to pick me up. I appreciate the offer, though," she says.

Edward snarls, trying not to hiss into the receiver. Just what he didn't need is that fuckwad, Phil, making another move on Bella.

"Oh, okay, well, if you change your mind, the offer is still on the table."

"So, Rosalie sent me your new round of photos from … from the meadow and Italy," she stammers. She will always have fond memories of that time with him since Italy is where they declared their love for each other.

"Yeah? So you like them then? Did you and Rosalie decide which ones you wanted to use?" he asks with a mixture of curiosity and excitement.

"Yes, I think we have a good selection. I've given Seth the ones I wanted blown up, hoping they will sell that night," she says, folding the last of her clothing before zipping her suitcase.

"Do you have a favorite, Bella?"

"Yes, the one of the vineyard in Italy particularly. But, I like them all, really. It's hard to decide upon a favorite. You really are talented, Edward," she compliments, taking a seat at the edge of the bed.

Edward turns around when he sees Jasper and Alice walk in, and he asks them to wait for a minute until he winds up his phone call.

"Do you have company?" Bella asks, hearing a woman's voice in the background.

"Yeah, Jasper and Alice just got here to watch a movie. I guess I better go," he says reluctantly. "But remember, my offer to pick you up is still there if you need me."

"Okay, Edward, thanks. I guess I'll talk to you later," she says.

After several seconds, both of them begin laughing when neither one ends the call, so Edward speaks first.

"Are you going to hang up?" he chuckles.

"I was waiting for you," she giggles.

"Okay, on three, we hang up at the same time," Edward suggests.

"Okay," she agrees and waits for him to count down. When he says 'three' Edward quickly hits his end button and lays his phone down beside him on the couch.

"Was that Bella?" Alice asks sitting next to Jasper on the love seat.

"Yeah," he answers through a sigh. "I've lost her Alice. Phil told me that she was his, and that he intends to marry her. With her not able to forgive me, and with Dwyer stuck to her like glue, he just might. I'll never get a chance to tell her."

"Tell her what?" Jasper asks, chewing on a grape that Alice put in his mouth.

"That I wasn't laughing at her. That she consumed me then just as much as she does now. That I've never allowed anyone inside … ever … like I did her. That I have fallen completely and irrevocably in love with her, and she can't make me take that back."

"Oh, Edward. I'm so sorry," Alice says, coming over to sit next to Edward now. "She loves you, I know she does. She's just a little lost is all."

"Yeah, lost into the arms of another man. That ass has no clue what kind of woman she is. How passionate she is," he groans, laying his head back on the couch. "How passionate she was with me and … when she was with Anthony. Especially when she was with Anthony. I would give anything to have that again," he confesses. "I just fucking miss her, Alice."

"I know you do. Just give her some time. She'll come around," she says, holding his hand.

"I don't think so. I think she's in the friend zone with me. I think Dwyer is going to win her heart, and she'll forget about me," he turns his head toward Alice. "If she still loves me, she won't for long, Alice. I've lost her."

What Edward doesn't know is that laying on the seat next to him is his phone that is still dialed in to Bella's cell phone. His call was never disconnected and she never hung up, and she's sitting on her bed two thousand miles away, listening to Edward pour his heart out to her own best friend. Listening how he thinks she doesn't love him anymore, and how he believes that she may fall in love with Philip Dwyer.

Hearing that they are about to begin their movie, Bella disconnects the call and lies back on her bed. Looking at her phone, she scans her contact list and presses send.

"Hello," he answers.

"Hello, it's Bella. I, um, I don't think I need you to pick me up at the airport tomorrow. I have a ride. Edward will be meeting me, but thanks anyway, Phil."

After she hangs up from a near argument over who is picking her up tomorrow, Bella types out a text.

My flight lands at eleven-thirty, is your offer still good? ~ B

A/N: I like this chapter. Hope you do too. Some of you are interested in the .pdf version of In Plain Sight since I removed it from FanFiction. I still have it over on TWCS and FP, so you still have time to get it there. I'll be pulling it from there shortly. Till next time….