Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter song: I want you- The Royalty
I arrive at Bella's at two thirty, having rushed to grab a bagel on the way over. Thoroughly out of breath, I collect my tumbling thoughts and knock thrice on the wooden door. The taps have dull finality as they ring in the silence and the rhythm of my heart accelerates as I'm filled with a cold sorrow. I feel like I've been punched as the anticipation of seeing her is shot in the heart by her absence. I long to hear something, anything other than the obstinate silence that hangs limply on the other side of the door. I pray for entry to my sanctuary but am met instead by the harsh realisation that no angel is going to come.
In a last ditch hope that she may indeed be indoors, I scramble around, trying to find a suitable sized pebble for the next task. Finding what I'm looking for, I make my way to the west of the modest block, count two windows up from the tiny square of green that constitutes her garden and aim.
Tick. No reply.
Tick. Silence.
I've nearly given up when on the third throw, a figure appears at the door.
"What," they hiss, obviously pissed at whoever has interrupted their evening.
"Bella?" I call loudly. I hope I've got the right room and feel a tight panic constricting my lungs as I realise I may have just angered a stranger. I prepare myself for a quick getaway but am lassoed back by a familiar voice the brings a hesitant smile to my face.
Hers is confident and beautiful and knocks me agape.
"Edward, come on up," she says, gesturing for me to make for the window.
Not one to let my girl down, I find the drainpipe next to her window and set my foot on the ground floor windowsill. Hauling myself up towards the window of my haven, I scuff my shoes hopelessly and manage to fall down twice. When I finally make it to her sill, I am greeted by a woman doubled over in fits of hysterics who appears to have witnessed the best joke ever. Pouting, I land in a heap on her floor.
"You should've seen your face," she comments, renewing her laughter until she once more becomes incoherent, muttering odd syllables between individual laughs.
I arrange my limbs into my best superman pose and decide that I couldn't resist. I lean in and her laughter subsided, filling the room with a heavy silence full of anticipation. I reach for her hips and began to tickle her. Laughter returning in full force, she collapses into her bed, carrying me with her.
"I missed you," I murmur, ceasing tickles.
"Mmmn, me too," she replies, tilting her head towards my lips. I've long since given up trying to take things slow, I can't resist her in anything so I press my lips eagerly to hers and feel my perspective on the universe shift into place again. I hadn't noticed it shift out of place at all but she always has a completing effect upon me.
When my craving for her has been numbed, I broach the subject of this evening. I'm hesitant with my declaration, knowing that she'll be nervous to meet my family. It'll be worth the persuasion as my parents will thoroughly love her almost as much as I do. Almost.
I clear my throat abruptly and begin in my softest tone.
"Bella, honey. You know I saw Carlisle at lunch?" She nods. "Well he wants to meet you this evening. It's nothing to worry about, just dinner at the family home and a chance to say hello to my parents, and Emmett, if he's not out with Rose of course." I downplay.
"Shit. Edward, I can't do this. What if they don't like me? What do I wear? What do I say? What do I do?" She appears on the verge of hyperventilating so I pull her gently into an innocent embrace. I can feel her heart trying to beat its way through her ribcage so I place light kisses across her forehead and hair, whispering sweet nothing's to calm her racing anxiety.
"Bells, it's nothing, don't worry, they'll love you, you're beautiful," I insist. Her pace returns somewhat to normal and I cradle her face between my hands, caressing her as if she were a fragile glass statue.
"Ok, I'm overreacting I know. I just don't want them to hate me. A parent always wants the best for their children and, well, look at me. They'll think you deserve far better because well, look at you. Anyone can see what a catch you are. And to be honest, I'm a bit of a letdown." I can see in her face, in the endless reflections of her eyes, that she believes wholeheartedly in these blasphemous words she is saying. It genuinely sends icy pain to my core that she can't see how heart-breakingly beautiful she is. Even I can't fathom her beauty but at least I can see it. I pull her downward eyes to face mine and force the corners of her mouth upwards. The smile doesn't touch her eyes but at least it's there.
"Listen to me," I pause. "You are so beautiful, intelligent, funny and amazing and my parents are going to love you, ok?" I say, but she knows that there's only one answer to the question.
"Yes," she mutters and finally the smile creeps into her brown orbs. I can't resist any longer. I lean my head and kiss her, showing we with actions what I know she'll never fully believe, that she is the best part of me.

Thanks for the continued support guys, it really means a lot! I've got a mega-chapter on the way but knowing me, it'll be forever until I upload it, sorry :/ As always, SM owns all and DFTBA xxx 3