A/N: This is it, guys! I present to you the final regular chapter of Disguised Intentions.
(So, yes, there will be an epilogue, but more info on that at the bottom.)

This chapter was scrutinized by the lovely IpsitaC77, who gave me all the encouragement I needed and more.

Payton79 made it all pretty for your perusal, just like she has done all through the story.
Silke, I can still recall the night we spent grumbling about, ahem, a certain unfair something. It was discontentment that brought us together, but I'm so grateful to have found you through it, LOL! You jumped on this band wagon right from the start and have supported me throughout. Thank you, my friend! I appreciate it more than I can say.

All mistakes are mine, Twilight isn't. (But you knew that already, didn't you?)

Okay, okay. I'll shut up now and let Bella take over.

CHAPTER 25

POSSIBILITIES AND PROMISES

I floated in the strange limbo between wakefulness and slumber, gradually growing aware of the soft, slow kisses being placed along the slope of my neck. I groaned quietly as warm hands pushed my hair aside to gain access to more of my bare skin.

As much as I was enjoying his ministrations, I made myself turn around to lie on my back so that I could meet his gaze. A smile tugged at my lips at the sight of his sleep-rumpled hair and bright eyes. Judging by his clothes, though, it looked like he was ready to head out.

"Hey," I greeted in a throaty whisper.

"Morning, beautiful," he replied, stroking and kissing my cheek.

I looked past him to peek at the bedside clock and frowned. "Why are you up so early?"

"I just got a call from the hospital," Edward explained. "They're bringing in some trauma patients from a bus accident across town. The situation needs all hands on deck, so I have to go in immediately."

"Oh," I replied lamely, disappointment tinging the back of my mind even as my thoughts raced, worried for the people who must've been injured.

He had been on call all week, except the leave he took to attend court with me yesterday. Since I'd started getting back into my job, the last week had been hectic for me, too. I'd been looking forward to spend the weekend with him, but it seemed like at least today would be a no-go.

"I'm sorry, Bella," he murmured, sounding quite regretful. "I'll do my best to be done as soon as possible. Maybe we could spend the evening together?"

Shaking off my irrational gloom, I smiled to reassure him. "There's nothing to apologize for," I told him, placing a hand on his cheek. "Go, save some lives."

The crooked grin that'd driven me crazy since our first date flashed on his face. "I'll do my best. I've really got to go, so I'll let myself out, okay? You catch up on a little more sleep." Planting a quick peck on my lips, he hopped off the bed and headed toward the door, only to whirl back and peer at me through wide eyes. "Oh, I almost forgot! Has your phone been on silent mode since last night?"

Pursing my lips, I wracked my memory. "Yeah, I guess I must've forgotten to change it back," I recalled. "Why?"

"Well, Rosalie called me when she couldn't reach you and asked me to convey the message that they're coming for you at eleven."

I scowled in confusion, raising myself up to lean on my elbows. "What does that mean?"

Edward just shrugged and said, "Hell if I know, Princess. Whatever it is, I hope you have fun."

With that, he threw me a wave and rushed out, yelling a goodbye that lingered after him. Grabbing my phone, I quickly turned the ringer back on. Sure enough, there were a few missed calls from my sister-in-law. I fell back against the pillow, snuggling under the blanket. Whatever activity it was that Rose – and probably Alice, too – had scheduled wasn't due for another three hours. Catching some shut-eye until then sounded like the best idea to me.

The next time I woke up was from the incessant ringing of my cell, Alice's ringtone blasting through it at 10 a.m. I answered groggily and was told that it was a wake-up call to let me know that I should make myself presentable in an hour.

As I gave in to the demand and left my bed with a reluctant sigh, I considered the situation I found myself in. I couldn't help but smile when I realized that the girls had something planned for the three of us to do together.

The jumble of feelings that slammed into my chest was something that had happened quite often in the past few weeks. On one hand, I felt happy, giddy even, to be spending time with my family. However, it also reminded me of all the moments I'd missed – the dinners I avoided to figure out a way to take Aro down, the holidays I spent working because I couldn't bear to put the past on the backburner even for a moment, the parties I attended, but only with half of my mind focused on what happened there.

Shaking my head, I pushed those mental ramblings aside, choosing to concentrate on the here and now. I stepped into the shower and relaxed under the hot spray, wondering what it was that had gotten Rose and Alice so excited.

Once I was dressed in my favorite pair of jeans and a T-shirt, I made my way into the living room and switched the TV on while fixing myself some breakfast. As soon as the news channel came on, I was assaulted with picture after picture of Aro Volturi, the images spanning decades of his life and ending with the one taken outside the courthouse just yesterday. People expressed their shock and absolute disgust toward the heartless criminal they had, until now, considered nothing but a successful businessman and a humanitarian. The media had been running the story over and over since the jury's verdict had been read five days ago. The frequency of the broadcast seemed to have escalated even more after the judge announced Aro's sentence yesterday morning.

With my family by my side, I'd held my breath and trembled in my seat, my stomach coiling into a tight ball until I heard the words that had sealed Aro's fate.

Death penalty

For the second time in the week, my body had sagged in relief, my mind going blank with nothing but those two words echoing inside it.

Throughout the trial, Aro had managed to remain stoic, his impassiveness annoying the fuck out of me. But the moment the judge announced his sentence, the mask had slipped ever so slowly off his face, and the turmoil brewing in his mind had come to light for the world to see.

My eyes had been trained on his expression, waiting for the moment when everything would sink into his brain, and I wasn't disappointed.

.

Shock

.

Disbelief

.

Rage

.

Fear . . . Gut-wrenching, bone-breaking fear.

.

I'd watched it all play across his face, and even as tears welled up in my eyes, satisfaction burned in the deepest recesses of my heart.

All I could think about was the horror, the excruciating pang of betrayal, and the utter despair that must've raged in Mom's soul as she watched her own brother pull the trigger to end her life right before her daughter's eyes.

Nothing, nothing could've made up for that, but watching the defeat and terror creep up in Aro Volturi's eyes did begin to soothe the scars he had left upon every single part of me.

My thoughts were thwarted from travelling further down the darker paths by Alice's and Rosalie's arrival. Rose excused herself to use the restroom, muttering something about the baby lounging on her bladder, which we wisely ignored. Once she returned, I offered them both some breakfast. They declined, claiming to have eaten already, so it wasn't long before we were making our way out of my apartment.

We drove together in Alice's car, and they refused to let me know what exactly our destination was supposed to be. Shrugging, I settled into my seat, letting them take the lead as they obviously wanted.

"Just enjoy the ride, Bella," was what Alice said, and I decided to pay heed to her advice.

Still, the uncertainty made me a little nervous, until we pulled into the gateway to a fancy building.

I glanced at the board out front and couldn't help but grin.

My companions noticed the spring in my step as we stepped out of the car after parking it and walked toward the lobby of the spa. They shared smug smiles at my obvious excitement and approval for their plan.

After giving our names to the receptionist, we were led down an artfully-decorated corridor to the room where we settled in for our Swedish massages. Nothing but satisfied groans sounded in the room while the masseuses worked on relaxing our bodies. My joints felt like the most pliant rubber once I was done, and the delicate scent of the oils was just about the best aroma I'd ever experienced.

Post the massage, we were taken to a different room for the facials. That was the time we utilized to catch up on trivial, everyday things. Even chatting up about the latest movies and the dullest political scandals was something we hadn't done in a while, and today, it left me feeling refreshed.

I should've known something was up the moment Alice insisted we go to her place afterward but thought nothing of it. I'd sent Edward a quick text to let him know I was thinking of him, but he hadn't replied. I assumed he was busy in a surgery and said a quick prayer for the victims of the accident. Basically, it didn't look like Edward would be done anytime soon, so I happily agreed to spend the rest of the day with Alice and Rose.

We sat down to have some lunch, and our conversation bounced from one topic to another, eventually landing on the case.

"I have a question," Rose said, looking a little hesitant. "I didn't ask Em because . . . well, you know how he keeps worrying about me taking on the slightest bit of stress. He would've answered me, but I know he would've fretted silently that I was still thinking about Volturi."

Rose hadn't attended most of the hearings, instead staying at home to rest and avoid the unnecessary hassle, just as the doctor had advised. I knew how curious she was about the little facts, so I waved her on, encouraging her query.

I didn't mind answering it because the past no longer haunted me.

It was a realization that left me feeling quite content.

"Did the defense bring up the matter of the missing bug?" she asked, her gaze shifting between Alice and me. "We deduced that Ricci had planted it on Renee, but then why was it never found?"

I sighed, recalling the moment that issue had been raised in court. "They did try that line of questioning, but Mr. Crowley managed to diffuse it quite well. You see, the recording contained my voice while I cried out for Mom and also some police sirens. It could've easily been dislodged when the officers and the EMT's started to pull me out while I kept holding Mom's hand, or when they cut through the metal to bring Mom out. It must've been a small thing, easy to go unnoticed among all that rubble. Maybe it even got destroyed in the mess," I told her. "It could've been as easy as someone stepping on it."

Rose nodded thoughtfully. "That's true. I guess we can only be grateful that it ever existed, right?"

"I'd say," I sighed with a rueful smile.

The rest of the afternoon passed quick and easy as we put on a movie in the DVD player. I still hadn't heard from Edward. That was quite unlike him, and it worried me slightly. However, I knew how busy his day could get, especially when they had a mass trauma coming in, so I refrained from calling him or texting again. I didn't want to disturb him. He would get in touch when he could find a moment to himself.

When twilight fell, Alice and Rose jumped up like two women on a mission and dragged me along, intent to have me join their troop. Though, once again, I wasn't informed about what exactly they were planning to achieve until after several whining inquiries on my part.

"So we're going out?" I clarified once they'd caught me up on what they had in mind. "Just us three girls? And I have to get dolled up in the outfit you picked?"

"Exactly," they informed me simultaneously.

I narrowed my eyes as Rose pulled out my plum cocktail dress from her huge handbag. "How did you get your hands on that?" I almost shrieked, on the verge of being freaked out about the way they were behaving.

Rose just smirked at me. "What? You thought you were the only one with the sneaky spy skills?" she retorted, sharing a quick high-five with Alice.

"Your restroom trip!" I deduced quickly. "You went to bring this with you?"

"Yep," she replied calmly. "Now, come on! No more time to waste. We've got places to be."

I watched with my eyes wide and my mouth hanging open as they started to undress and discussed the best options for their outfits. When they saw I still hadn't moved, Alice nudged me toward my dress. Breathing out a sigh of defeat, I picked the dress up and moved to the other corner to change into it.

Despite my confusion, I couldn't help but smile fondly as I slipped into the fabric. It was the dress I'd worn the first time I'd met Edward. I didn't think I'd worn it for him again ever since. I bit my lip, wondering if he'd be able to make it in time to join us wherever we were heading, but it appeared doubtful.

After working on our hair and make-up, for the second time in less than a day, I found myself being led into Alice's car without any knowledge of our final destination. Confusion and frustration mounted inside me, and I barely suppressed the urge to cry out loud, shaking Alice and Rose until they fessed up about what was going on.

They explained that the spa had been their idea of relaxation now that the trial was finally behind us. That seemed logical.

But our attire now suggested that we were heading some place fancy.

Was it dinner?

Or clubbing?

I didn't know what else we could be doing, given that one of us wouldn't be having any alcohol.

I was so lost in trying to figure it all out in my brain that I failed to notice where we were until Alice stopped the car. I looked out to find that we were standing right in front of a familiar building.

I turned my gaze to them, silently asking for an explanation.

"Go on," Rose said, throwing me a wink. "You've been here before. You know how to get there."

"What about you guys?" I asked, feeling a little lost.

That seemed to be the theme of the day.

"Our dates are waiting for us someplace else," Alice chirped and shooed me away. "So you need to get a move on or else we're going to be late, young lady! Have a wonderful time! You deserve to let loose after all this time."

"Details tomorrow," Rose added, waving me away, and I scowled, but opened the door to step out of the car.

"Love you, Bella," they both sang before leaving me standing right there on the pavement.

I must've stood there for a whole minute, expecting them to be back. When that didn't happen, I forced my muscles to thaw and started to walk toward the main door. I remembered what Rose had said, so I headed over to the familiar elevator.

Once on the right floor, I stepped out and looked over at the door to my right. My lips twitched, understanding finally dawning on me as I walked through it and along the corridor. The sound of my heels clanking against the dark hardwood floors and the nervousness bubbling in my stomach left me awash in a wave of nostalgia. It'd been just a few months since my last visit here, but given everything that'd happened in that time period, it felt as though a lifetime had passed since then.

I reached the hostess' desk, only to stop short. Pulling my phone out of my clutch, I glanced at the screen, but was disappointed to find no responses.

Surely he wouldn't leave me stranded here.

All this effort couldn't have been for nothing.

The hostess threw me a polite smile, probably wondering what I intended to achieve by simply standing in the middle of the hallway. I returned the smile and then looked away quickly. That turned out to be a good decision because as soon as I turned, the door I'd just walked through swung open again, and my eyes landed on a sight that took my breath away.

Edward strutted over to me, his features bearing a huge, carefree grin, one side of his mouth pulled up just a tiny bit more than the other. He was wearing the same pinstripe jacket, shirt and jeans as the first night that I'd met him. His hair was its usual chaotic self, the messy copper strands gleaming slightly under the ceiling lights. His gait oozed confidence as he came to stand in front of me.

"Miss Swan," he murmured, his eyes shining with warmth and something different than usual, something darker . . . something that sent a shiver of desire and anticipation down my spine. "I'm sorry I'm late. The traffic really put a kink in my schedule. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

"No," I breathed out, still a little dazed by the sight of him. When he raised an eyebrow, I managed to focus on enunciating my thoughts a bit better. "No, I just arrived a minute ago," I replied.

"Perfect timing, then," he told me, his intense gaze traveling down the length of my body. "You look absolutely stunning, Bella."

Despite the fact that he had been giving me similar compliments for several weeks now, I couldn't help the blush that bloomed over my face. When he leaned in and kissed my reddened cheek, like always, I knew he loved having that kind of an effect on me.

"Shall we?" He held out a hand, which I took immediately.

After giving the hostess his name, we were led to our reserved table. Dismissing the waiter's efforts, Edward held my chair out himself, making sure I was settled before taking his seat.

"So what's all this?" I asked curiously. Judging by the clothes and the restaurant I could guess that he was trying to recreate the evening of our first date. However, I still wanted find out, in his words, what thoughts were running through his mind as he planned this.

Edward raked a hand through his hair and chuckled lightly. "I was just thinking about what you said a while ago. We didn't start out right. I mean, the date was definitely the best one I've ever had, but I doubt thinking about ways to sedate you while we debated our desserts makes it an ideal situation."

I giggled along with him, amused and relieved at being able to laugh at the entire incident now.

"So, yeah," Edward continued. "You organized the movie date we had at home, but then we got so busy with the trial that I didn't get a chance to reciprocate. Now that Aro's despicable shadow is finally out of our lives, I thought about what I wanted to do for you. At that point your words came to my mind, and I knew that I wanted to give you a do over. I wanted us to . . . well, not exactly start out again, but make some new memories here."

I reached across the table to take his hand. He laced his fingers with mine.

"I think that's a lovely idea," I approved, and he smiled. "Alice and Rose were in on it?"

"Absolutely. The emergency at the hospital was very much real," he told me. "Last night, I was trying to think of ways to surprise you with this, but I came up blank. If we wanted to do things just like that first time, I would've needed to tell you to wear this dress, and as soon as I did that, you would've known what I was up to. You're sneaky that way." I shrugged unrepentantly, and he shook his head before continuing. "When I realized I couldn't see you all day, after all, I requested their help. I think it turned out alright."

"Oh, yes," I admitted. "I had no idea what was going in until they dropped me off here."

Edward squeezed me hand happily. "Then my purpose is served."

The waiter arrived to take our drinks orders, and we both settled on water for now. I knew why I wanted to keep my head clear tonight. When the waiter left, Edward's gaze locked with mine, and I realized that he probably had the same thought. My skin burned at the heat of his stare, my lip wedging between my teeth at the thought of what was to follow.

Edward cleared his throat, taking a sip of his water before asking me, "Did you have a good day at the spa?"

"You organized that?" I asked and then snorted at myself.

Of course he did.

"Well, I asked Rose and Alice to help me out with which place to choose because, you see, I don't have much experience with French Tips and bikini wax myself."

I smacked his hand while he chuckled. "Smartass," I muttered.

"Always." He winked saucily. "Anyway, to answer your question, yeah, it was my idea. Was it a good one?"

I sighed contentedly. "It was wonderful," I gushed. "It felt amazing to be allowed to just relax and pamper myself after so long. I can't even remember the last time I bothered with much except a quick trip to get my hair cut at the salon down the block."

When the waiter made an appearance again, we managed to divert out attention from each other long enough to peruse the menu. After we ordered our dishes, we were once again left alone.

I heard the sound of a chair grazing the floor as it was shifted and turned to glance at the family of three that'd just arrived at the table next to ours. The woman gently chided the child for his antics and pulled out his chair noiselessly for him to sit. The boy did so with a toothy smile. Somehow, with his disheveled brown hair and his wide, impish grin, he reminded me so much of the childhood photograph of Edward with his cape and sword. The memory brought a question to the forefront of my mind.

"Oh! I meant to ask you earlier, but it completely slipped my mind," I said, and Edward leaned forward curiously. "How did your parents end up coming to the final hearing? Don't get me wrong, I was very grateful for their desire to stand by me. I just didn't realize that you'd been talking to them."

Since Edward and I had gotten together, Esme had contacted me twice, and we'd had lunch together. She was kind, smart, and warm – the kind of person in whose presence one simply couldn't be uncomfortable. We'd talked a bit about the trial and about my past, and she had taken it all in stride, giving me her compassion and support. She'd mentioned Carlisle in passing while sharing some of their anecdotes, but neither of us had ever alluded to his strained relationship with his son.

As I looked at Edward now, he shifted slightly. "I just . . . Throughout the trial, everything about your parents got rehashed over and over, and, as a result, this thing between my dad and me has been nagging at me," he confessed quietly. "I know you tried to tell me this earlier, too, Bella, but in the last couple of weeks, it really sunk in that if I don't . . . I never know when I might not have another chance to mend fences. I've seen people die so often – first, in the army, and now in the hospital. They're gone in the blink of an eye. Despite that, I guess I never really thought it would ever hit close to home until I saw how you ha—" He broke off abruptly, his wide growing wide in horror. "Fuck, what am I saying? I'm so sorry, Princess. I didn't mean to be so damn insensitive. I do—"

"Hey," I interjected. "It's alright. I understand what you're saying. No one wants to think about death that way. We want to bury our heads in the sand for as long as possible," I stated, probably a little bluntly, but I knew Edward would understand what I was trying to say.

He stared at me, obviously scrutinizing my expression, and I smiled softly to let him know that I truly wasn't mad.

He pursed his lips and blew out a breath. "Exactly," he sighed eventually. "I'd been deliberating it for a while, but the day before the hearing, I finally gathered the determination to go and visit Dad at their home. He was . . . I'd say he was shocked to see me, but that would be an understatement," he admitted with a hint of amusement in his voice. "I told him I wanted to talk – no yelling, no walking away, simply airing our points of view. Hours later, I guess we both realized how silly and futile it was to be carrying on grudges for things that have happened years ago."

"Does that mean things are getting better between you guys?" I asked him hopefully.

"You could say that," he replied with a shrug. "I mean, I'm not going to be manning the grill in his barbeque parties anytime soon, but we're on the road to recovery. I hope it leads to somewhere good."

I squeezed his hand. "I hope so, too."

"It's just . . . we've been growing apart for a long time now. Things won't get resolved simply because we had a conversation, but . . ." he trailed off.

"But you're starting to realize that it's worth the effort," I finished for him.

He smiled. "Yes. And that's the end of that conversation. I promised myself I'd show you a good time, and talking about this stuff is as far from that as it gets," he complained.

"I don't think so. Inane small talk or clubbing or whatever else you had in mind isn't my idea of a good time. Talking about things that matter, things that help me to get to know you better . . . that's time well-spent, I believe."

He leaned forward to trace a finger along the apple of my cheek. "You do make a fair point, my Princess. Each day that we spend together, and I get to discover everything that makes you you, makes my life infinitely more interesting," he murmured. "I plan to do that for a very long time, you know."

I was sure he could feel my skin heat under his fingertips as blood rose to my cheeks at the low, husky tenor of his voice and the sincere meaning behind his words.

"I'd like that," I whispered back, a shy smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

Our food arrived then, and as Edward intended, we moved away from the heavier topics. The atmosphere was light and carefree as we talked and bantered about things here and there . . . yet there was an undercurrent of electricity between us that never seemed to recede.

When our eyes met and held as I wrapped my lips around my spoon, when his fingertips slowly ghosted over the back of my hand, when his knee deliberately grazed mine under the table, I knew I wasn't alone in what I was feeling.

The hunt for evidence, the grueling trial, the sentencing . . . it was all behind us.

It was time to focus on nothing but us now.

The rich sound of his laughter, the gentle sheen in his emerald eyes, the soft warmth of his touch, and the deep timbre of his voice hit something deep inside of me, tugging at my heartstrings and pulling me toward him. And as his scorching gaze bore into mine, I knew I was ready to take that next step . . . to give in to the invisible thread that seemed intent on bringing us together.

Dessert was an interesting affair with meaningful, heated glances, smug smiles and playful winks as he devoured his beloved trifle, and I stuck to my guns with a piece of chocolate pie.

Once we settled the check, there was a silent urgency in our steps as we made our way to Edward's car. I was acutely aware of his hand burning into the skin of my arm as he waited for me to be seated before shutting the door for me. I swallowed thickly when he took his seat and revved the engine.

Other than asking if I wanted to spend the night at his place, to which I replied in the affirmative, the ride was spent in silence. I'd have liked to say that it was a comfortable silence, but it wasn't. The prickle of . . . something that lingered in the air between us was making me quite worked up, and judging by the tautness of the tendon at the side of Edward's neck, he wasn't faring better, either.

I watched his rigid grip on the steering wheel and pictured the way those hands felt against my skin.

I watched him lick his lips as he drove and recalled the way it felt when his tongue mingled feverishly with mine.

I watched his copper hair glint in the soft light emanating from the dashboard and yearned to feel those unruly locks wrapped around my fingers.

By the time we made it to his place, I was a bundle of nervous energy and sheer anticipation. We barely managed to make it through the elevator ride without touching each other, but the way Edward looked at me through the corner of his eyes left no doubts as to his feelings at the moment.

They echoed my own.

Our footsteps clanked loudly in the empty hallway as we walked out, and then finally, finally, we were at the door. Edward unlocked it, and I entered first.

Placing my palm against the wall to steady myself, I slipped my heels off and placed my clutch on the side table. In the silence of the large room, my heart was pounding in my chest, my blood hot and lustful as it galloped through my veins.

I drew in a sharp breath when I heard the door close behind him.

Slowly, I turned around to face him and found his sharp gaze already intent on mine. He, too, had removed his shoes and also unbuttoned his jacket. My eyes hungrily roved across the sight of him, sexy and utterly beautiful, from the strands of his disheveled hair to the sliver of his bare chest peeking through the topmost undone button of his shirt.

My feet had a mind of their own as they took a step in his direction. He mirrored my movement until we stood in front of each other with just inches of space between us.

I lifted my hand, laying it on his chest before bringing it up to the side of his face. Tipping my head up, I met his eyes and looked deeply into them, committing this moment to memory.

His arms encircled my waist, drawing me closer until my chest was pressed firmly against his.

I couldn't wait any longer.

The desire to lean in and crush my lips against his flared hot and irrepressible inside me.

"Kiss me, Edward," I whispered, my fingers knotting in his hair to pull him closer. The words were barely out before his mouth was pressed against mine.

Without wasting another second, I parted my lips, our tongues tangling and caressing to explore each other in the exquisite dance that had become quite familiar in the past few weeks. His fingers glided across my back, sending warm ripples of pleasure down my spine as they pushed the fabric of my dress aside and made contact with my bare skin.

His mouth continued to lavish mine while he unzipped my dress. I let my hands explore his chest, tugging at his shirt until I pulled it out of his pants. We broke apart for a moment, gasping for breath, and I kept my eyes on his as I took my time, slowly sliding the straps of my dress down each of my arms. His hungry eyes followed my actions until the only thing holding the cloth to my body was my fist clutching it over my chest. His breath hitched when I loosened my grasp, allowing the fabric to fall and pool at my feet. Edward held out his hand and helped me step out of it.

"Jesus, Bella," he gasped huskily, his eyes taking me in from head to toe.

Standing there, clad in nothing but a few scrapes of black lace, I felt no hesitancy or insecurities clouding my senses. The glint of pure, undiluted longing in his gaze chased everything but my own desire out of my mind.

His palms splayed across my back, he pulled me flush against his chest, claiming my lips in a kiss fiercer than ever before. A low groan rumbled in his chest as we kissed, his entire body grinding against mine. I slipped my arms between us and attempted to unbutton his shirt with my trembling hands, wanting nothing more than to feel his warm flesh against my own.

I managed to get most of them done, but the last two buttons gave me a lot of trouble. I pulled away from his lips with a huff, grabbing tight hold of the cloth on both sides before ripping them open. Looking up, I found Edward's intense stare fixed right at me, not even caring about the damage to his shirt.

I barely had time to push it off his chest before he leaned down to place one arm around my waist, the other curling around my thigh. A shocked giggle tumbled from my lips as he quickly lifted me up into his arms. Unable to wait out the distance to the bedroom, I latched my mouth onto his neck and jaw, placing alternative kisses and nips over his stubbly skin. Edward moaned, tightening his arms around me as he stumbled to push open the door to the bedroom with his feet.

The soft sheets felt cooler than ever against my heated skin as he laid me on the bed. He wasted no time in ridding himself of his pants and boxers before hovering over me, showering hot, wet kisses over my neck and shoulders. My back arched as he reached lower to palm my breasts through my bra, the slight roughness of the lace scraping deliciously against my taut nipples.

Before I knew it, his nimble fingers reached around me to open the clasp and tug the cups down, a squeaky gasp escaping my throat when he encased my nipple in the warm wetness of his mouth. My fingers scratched his back, making him hiss sharply as he devoured first one and then the other breast with equal vigor.

His hard length was pressing insistently into my waist, and I whimpered and pushed my pelvis up against it, eager to feel all of him against my skin.

Edward pulled back slightly to look into my eyes. My chest heaved with heavy breaths while his hand travelled down my neck. Smooth fingertips caressed each breast, slipping between them and moving lower, tracing my navel with the lightest of touches before ghosting them over the lacy fabric below. Languidly, he slid his fingers in beneath the hem, his eyes falling shut with a groan at the wetness he encountered there.

"Jesus, Bella," he gritted, stroking my folds and making my back rise off the bed. I moaned, unashamedly loud, as his finger slid up to rub a few circles over my clit, his other hand wrapped around my waist to hold my writhing form. Slowly, caressing every inch of my skin along the way, he slid my panties down my hips and my legs, tossing them aside before returning his attention to me.

With my eyes shut, I was reduced to nothing but a trembling, whimpering, needy mess in his arms as his fingers pressed, pinched and caressed, driving me closer to the release I could feel coiling in the pit of my belly. My legs stiffened, a rush of heat pulsing along my skin and my head thrashing from side to side, and I knew I couldn't hold out any longer.

I reached down to still and grasp his hand, pulling him up to meet my gaze. My own body protested at the loss of contact, but I knew I didn't want to come this way.

Not tonight.

"What's wrong?" Edward whispered anxiously. "Did I hurt you?"

I shook my head, feeling something warm and bright settle into my chest at the soft concern in his voice. His eyes scanned my face, looking for any signs of a lie, relaxing only when he found none.

"I want you," I rasped, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and drawing him closer. I leaned up to press my lips to his ear, whispering against his skin to say, "I want you inside me, Edward."

I felt the air leave his lungs in a whoosh, a little more of his weight settling upon me as he caught on to what I wanted.

"You sure?" he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine.

I nodded, saying nothing, but parting my legs further, allowing him to settle between my thighs. The warm, smooth hardness of him pressing against my sensitive folds made me gasp and shiver in anticipation. In that moment, I couldn't be more grateful for being on the pill. I wanted nothing, not even a fucking piece of latex between us tonight.

"Fuck, I want you so much, Princess," he whispered roughly, dropping his head to place a long, open-mouthed kiss on my neck. My body arched toward his, my aching nipples rubbing against the hard planes of his chest and making us moan at the contact.

He raised my legs to wrap around his waist, and I looked up, my heart warming at the tenderness in his eyes. He leaned in to mold his lips over mine, sucking my bottom one between both of his before letting his tongue dip into my mouth. As I reached out to swipe mine along his lip, I felt his pelvis slide forward until just the tip of his length pushed into me.

Our kiss broke as we both gasped, his head falling to the curve between my shoulder and my neck. He thrust slowly, sliding in deeper and making me whimper at the sensation. I lifted my hips slightly, feeling my walls stretch and clench deliciously until his entire length was sheathed inside me. The surge of pleasure building within my body began to mount higher, and I soared in its embrace as Edward started to move inside me.

Fingers roamed over warm skin, mouths sucked and nipped and kissed, working each other into a frenzy with their sinful assault as we moved together, desire quickly spiraling into an aching need. He continued to thrust into me, consuming me, pulling back almost completely before filling me again. The sounds of our bodies coming together filled the room with our mingled gasps and spurred me on, bringing me closer and closer to the edge.

"Oh, God, Edward!" I gasped, when his fingers trailed down the length of my body, sliding over to stroke and rub against my folds. Jolts of pleasure rushed through my senses with each pass of his touch.

"You feel so good," he rasped as he picked up pace, his rhythm faltering, growing erratic as we both neared the brink of our release.

My fingers grasped his hair, my nails probably digging into his scalp as I felt the first wave of heat burst through my abdomen and spread across my skin. Edward hissed at the pain, but didn't slow, pushing into me harder and faster until his breath fell in rapid gasps, matching my own.

When his fingers pressed down on my clit, I felt the shudders of ecstasy ripple through my body and cried out sharply. My heart thudded hard and fast in my chest as I surrendered to the sublime sensations. I tossed my head back and gripped onto his shoulders as my body arched, my muscles quivering at the waves of pleasure surging along every fiber of my being, the warmth of my release chasing every coherent thought out of my mind.

All I saw was Edward's gaze intent and burning into mine as he watched me shatter in his arms.

All I heard was the deep tenor of his groan as he felt my walls clench around him.

All I felt was the tremor of his muscles under my touch as the pleasure coursed through him.

His body tensed and shook under my fingertips, and then relaxed with a moan as he spilled inside of me. I felt his warm weight settle on me as he sagged, and encircled my arms around his shoulders, drawing him close.

Once we'd managed to catch our breaths, Edward gently rolled off me, shifting to lie on his back before wrapping an arm around my body and pulling me flush to his chest.

My eyes fell shut as I soaked in the comfort of his embrace. I smiled at the feeling of his hand on the small of my back, his fingers spread wide, inching toward the swell of my ass.

Lying there in his arms, no shadows of the past could cloud the blissful brightness in my mind, no gut-wrenching memories could claw their way into my thoughts, and no pain or doubt could encroach upon the emotion brewing in my chest. It was something I knew I'd never felt before, and yet it was achingly familiar. It tingled along my nerves and danced along my senses. As Edward's fingers drew light circles over my shoulder, it surged between us, like a charge of attraction, a hint of passion that'd grown into something stronger, something all-encompassing, something that felt like . . . everything.

I turned my head, resting my chin on his chest to look into his eyes. The adoration and contentment I saw in his gaze sparked the embers of the feelings burning inside me, setting me alight and making me glow in their blaze.

"What?" he murmured, leaning down to peck my nose first and then my forehead.

I smiled. "I'm thinking mushy thoughts," I replied flippantly, though inside, I was feeling anything but.

"Well," he drawled. "Never thought I'd see the day, Princess. If I've managed to reduce Bella Swan to mush, that's some serious talent right there."

"Don't pull a muscle patting yourself on the back," I retorted, raising my eyebrows sarcastically. He rolled over to push me onto the bed and hovered over me.

Leaning on his elbows on either side of my head, he pressed his lips to mine.

"My thoughts are pretty much along the mushy lines, too," he whispered against my lips, making me smile and blush happily.

My hand rose to rest against his face, brushing away the matted hair due to the beads of sweat on his forehead. I bit my lip as a thought played in my mind, and Edward didn't miss it.

"What are you thinking?" he asked, and I only hesitated for a beat before replying with a question of my own.

"Wi-Will you come with me to Forks to-tomorrow?" I stammered, suddenly a little nervous.

When his eyes flashed to mine in surprise, I knew I didn't need to say anything else. He knew the significance of the date.

It was the day I'd lost my father forever.

It was the day I always visited the cemetery where he had been buried right next to my mother.

All these years, it was the one day I'd allowed myself to stop fighting the past and drown in its memories.

This time, though . . . this time there was nothing to fight.

I'd already won the war.

This time, all I would do was go see my parents and talk to them about anything and everything. Just like any other girl.

And I wanted Edward by my side.

As I watched him now, his features melted into a soft smile. "I'd be honored to meet your parents," he murmured, rubbing his nose against mine.

We chuckled when a sudden yawn slipped past my mouth. Completely sated, I rose from the bed and walked over to the restroom despite my jelly-like legs. After cleaning up a bit, I eagerly returned to the bed and slipped into Edward's arms. He confirmed the time at which I wanted to head out so that he could set the alarm accordingly.

I turned onto my side and he curled himself behind me, hugging me close to his chest.

With his soft, even breaths lulling me toward a deep, restful sleep, I closed my eyes and let my mind wander over what would happen tomorrow.

Alice would bring Jasper, excited as she was about showing him the little town where she grew up. They'd come with us to the cemetery, too, because I knew they wanted to pay their respects.

Obviously, Emmett and Rosalie were coming along, and they were going to bring a sonogram picture that they could leave there for Mom and Dad.

Didyme had expressed her desire to visit the cemetery again. The last time we had taken her there, she had shed innumerable tears of guilt and despair at everything she had lost. This time, I hoped that, with the trial and the verdict behind us, some of the burden she'd carried in her heart would have eased. I knew that, despite everything, coming to terms with the death penalty for her son would never be easy, but I had no doubt that she would cope with it as best as she could. We would all be there to offer her our unconditional support as she did so.

And I . . . I would take Edward to visit the resting place of the two people who made me everything that I was today. I knew they would've loved to see the man who fought tooth and nail and risked everything, including his life, to help us gain the justice we all had sought.

But the most important part was that this time, I'd be able to tell my mother that I'd begun to fulfil my promise to her – to be strong and to never settle for anything less than my true love – and would continue to do so as long as I lived.

A/N: First up – EPILOGUE – YES, there will be one, so don't take me off your alerts just yet! I'm marking this story complete today because it might take me a few weeks to write and post the epilogue, and the story is all wrapped up now. However, I promise to give you that peek into their future!

As I keep saying, I can hardly believe that we've made it to this point. I can still recall exactly how this idea started to take shape in my head, and it amazes me to see how it came to fruition.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the fabulous ladies who have helped me in various ways throughout this journey – Anton M, IpsitaC77, Dazzled Eyes22, Patrizia, Ninkita, PixieKat, purpleC305, Fallingsnow Winter (Jennifer). I couldn't be more grateful for the time and effort they spent editing/pre-reading/creating lovely banners for me.

I'm not saying anything akin to goodbye to all my lovely readers, yet. ;) I'll save that for next time.

xoxo