Chapter 26- "Reunion"
Hello Dreamers! (yeah, I came up with this name :p )
Here I am with the new chapter, faster this time than other times. xD It is a sweet, fluffy chapter. You will see what I mean. Hope you will like and enjoy it! :)
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Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or anything else that is Twilight or Stephenie Meyer related. Only the story idea belongs to me.
XXX
"Now nothin' can take you away from me And baby, you're all that I want And love is all that I need
We've been down that road before
But that's over now
You keep me comin' back for more
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven."
"Heaven" – Brian Adams
XXX
~Bella's point of view
XXX
Sun rays were stroking my eye lashes gently. The warm covers were touching my naked body. I blinked. I stressed my arms towards the pillow next to me. I palpated the bed, but no sign of Edward. I opened my eyes and scanned the whole room.
"Edward?" I yelled, but I heard no reply.
And it was then that a very nice smell came to me. Was that…omelet? Scrambled eggs? And…definitely fresh coffee.
I got up, put on my robe and went downstairs following the magnificent smell and sniffing like a dog.
I finally reached the source of it.
"Good morning love." Edward greeted me with a seductive half-smile on his lips stirring something above the oven. He wasn't wearing any shirt. Just the pants of his pajamas, which were dangerously low revealing much of the lower part of his waist. I understood that he wasn't wearing his boxers either. I licked my lips scanning him. I got closer to him and hugged him from the back closing my hands over his stomach. I glanced above his shoulder.
"Scrambled eggs it is. Yum!"
He giggled. "And coffee is ready too."
"Yep, I smelled that too."
"Haha, aren't you the puppy with the good nose."
I chuckled and kissed his shoulder.
"Here you go." He put the scrambled eggs in a plate for me and then in a second one for him and placed them on the kitchen table. I served some coffee to both of us and sat on my chair, after I had put it as close to Edward's as I could.
"Still far." He said and put his big hand underneath my chair pulling me even closer and giving me a long kiss on the lips.
I moved my head smiling. We were completely next to each other now.
I took a bite of the eggs. "This is so good! Like always." I took another one. "Oh my God… Seriously though. I am cooking tomorrow. Deal?"
Edward lifted his hands in the air smiling. "Fine by me."
"So, you are gonna be here tomorrow too?"
"It's Christmas Bella. Of course I will be here."
"And the shooting?"
"We all got a couple of weeks off for the Christmas holidays. We'll be back at work at the 7thth of January." He explained and I sighed.
"I will have you here with me for two whole weeks?" I pressed my lips smiling.
Edward nodded. "Seems so."
I opened my arms and put them around his neck embracing him tightly.
"This is the best Christmas gift ever!"
I felt Edward kissing me hair. "For me too."
"Hey Bells, uh.. I wanted to ask you. What was that magazine I saw on the kitchen's counter?"
I lifted my head up and looked him in the eyes. "Which magazine?"
"The tabloid over there?" He motioned with his head to a forgotten magazine on the marble counter.
"Oh! That one." I stood up and brought it to him. "I suppose you saw this then?" I browsed it till I found the page where there were photos of me and Edward at the back yard of our house in L.A. from last summer. Of course all of them taken by paparazzis.
"What's that?" He took it in his hands and started reading.
"That's paparazzis doing their…awful job, which is invading people's private life." I replied and sat back on my chair passing my hands though my hair. "I wanted to tell you, but there was no reason to worry you while you were working."
"No, you never worry me, Bella. I need to know everything that happens in your life. Everything."
"Well, it is nothing, really."
"Nothing? It is ok with me, I have got used to not being able to have a life, but you? Why do you have to go through this shit too?"
"Edward, babe, it is nothing." I took the magazine from his hands and threw it on the floor. "It's ok." And I approached his face and kissed his lips. "Is this really how you wanna spend Christmas Eve? Or Christmas Day? Or any other day with me?"
He smirked and moved his head as a "No".
"Then, forget about this and enjoy the little time we have together before you leave again. Ok?"
"Ok." He said and kissed my forehead. "What would I do without you?"
"Well…" I pretended thinking about it thoroughly. "I don't really know. Thank God you have me."
And we both chuckled. Cause we knew that in some way, we had both affected each other in so many ways. I would be lost without Edward and he would be lost without me.
We kept eating and drinking and then an idea came to me. "Why don't we go to Paris? Like last Christmas. We will celebrate our one year together."
"On Christmas Day, a year ago…"
"You came to my house in Forks…"
"And it all began." Edward added and we both smiled with our foreheads touching. "Paris sounds like a good idea."
"I'm gonna book tickets." I announced hopping out of my seat unexpectedly. "After I take a hot bath." I left a quick kiss on Edward's lips and left walking, although it looked as if I was practically dancing.
XXX
The journey to Paris was calm. I spent most of my time sleeping in Edward's arms. I woke up only to eat and drink something and then back to sleep. We managed to find airplane tickets for Christmas Eve, so that we wouldn't miss Christmas Day. We had to pack our things fast of course, because we had booked them at midday and our flight was leaving at 5 o'clock in the evening from L.A.X. But we managed to be on time. We packed a few clothes and decided that we would buy anything else we needed at Paris.
Once we took the first glimpse of the French capital from above the clouds at around two o'clock -local time- in the afternoon, all the sweet memories I had from this place flooded me. It was the nicest feeling dripping like honey from my heart, filling me with joy. My fingers intertwined with Edward's, as we were both glaring outside the plane's window. Paris would always be a special place for us. A milestone for our relationship.
Once we stepped foot on this magical city, we decided to go and buy some grocery, food and drinks for home. When we returned from all this shopping, we were so exhausted and so jet lagged that we went straight to bed and fell asleep immediately. So, you can say that our Christmas Day was practically spent in the dream sphere, since we slept for thirteen consecutive hours.
The next morning, at about 7.30, I woke up and saw Edward still sleeping blissfully next to me. I left a kiss on his cheek and stroked his hair. He groaned a little without opening his eyes.
"Eddie…" I kissed his shoulder.
"Mmm…"
I bit my lip smiling and moved my head.
"You should wake up my love. We've slept for many hours."
"Mmmm…" A louder groan this time.
"Ok. You asked for it." I mumbled and went above him. He was sleeping with his belly against the mattress, so I practically laid on his back.
Edward smirked. "Hmmm…Ok, you have my attention now." And he tried to turn his head a bit, so that he could see me.
I leaned my head at its side and we managed to see each other's face. "Hey. Good morning!"
"Hello my pretty girl. How are you?"
I hugged him from the back. "I am great! You?"
"I'm..awesome."
I furrowed an eyebrow. "That good huh?" And kissed his cheek. "We've missed Christmas, Eddie…"
"Who said that?"
"Um…the calendar?"
Edward giggled. "We can always celebrate our Christmas today you know."
"What? This is…not possible."
"Why? Because the calendar says so?" With a sudden movement, Edward turned us around so that I was lying on the bed now and he was on top of me. I let out a small scream. "And I say that Christmas is today." He put some flocks of hair out of my eyes. "Do you believe me?"
I nodded and stroked his face. "Always."
"Then get ready, cause there are many surprises to come."
He stood up ready to leave the bed. "Hey hey, not so soon." I grabbed his hand and brought him back to me. I crashed my lips on his and stroked his strong abs with one hand and his back with the other.
When we ceased kissing, we were both panting. "I hadn't kissed your lips today." I said and flushed a bit, when I saw his beautiful canny smile being formed on his lips.
"You are incredible." And he hugged me. For some reason, I didn't want this embrace to end. I could stay like this forever. Feel him in my arms, his breath on my skin, his voice in my ears. Something made me want to never let him go. A dark feeling that baffled my mind. I moved my head and tried to shake it away instantly.
"We could stay here all day long…" Edward said and I could feel him smiling against my skin. "Or we could get up and go do some shopping to decorate the apartment and make it look a bit more Christmasy." He lifted his head up and stared at me. "What do you say? And cook a turkey or something for our Christmas meal?"
I grinned. "This sounds really tiring and reaaaaaally awesome. I'm in."
Edward laughed. "Let's go." He lifted me off the bed and we went to eat breakfast and then start all the work we had to do. Go shopping in Paris and then return home to do the rest.
At around midday, we were finishing decorating our Christmas tree. The rest of the living room was full of Christmas candles and ornaments. Christmas songs could be heard from the CD that was playing on the stereo and Edward and I were singing along.
"Ok. Ready to put the star on the top of the tree?"
"Yes!" I declared enthusiastically.
"Alright."
I held the star with Edward and I lifted myself to my feet to reach the top.
"And…" A small push. "There it is! Oh wait." Edward searched for something. "Now it's ready." And he lit the Christmas lights of the tree.
"Perfect!" I said and put my left arm around his waist and my right arm on his stomach.
"Merry Christmas, Bella!"
"Merry Christmas, Edward!"
And we kissed.
But suddenly…
"Who is ringing the doorbell of your apartment in… Paris?"
Edward shrugged. "I have no idea."
He went to the door and opened it without even asking who it was. Which was really strange for Edward, he never did that. There was always the risk of a criminal or -in Edward's case- paparazzis.
But again… Do paparazzis knock on famous people's doors?
"Hello guys!"
"Merry Christmas Edward!"
"Hey! Merry Christmas bro!"
Wait. I know this voice.
"Emmett?" I mumbled and walked fast to the door.
"Bella! Merry Christmas my talented cousin!"
"Rose! Oh my God!" I ran to her and hugged her. "Emm you crazy man!" I punched him on his arm. Which, of course, was not meant to hurt him, as Emmett was extremely bugged up and strong to feel my girly punch.
"Hey Bella! How are you doing?"
"I'm great! How do you…?"
"Merry Christmas everyone!" A cheerful Alice walked in the apartment holding hands with a smiling Jasper.
"Alice! Jas! What… What is happening here?" I asked with a voice full of excitement and hugged them both.
"I guess, we have visitors." Edward smirked and shrugged seemingly innocently.
"Come in! Don't stand at the door." I invited them in, but the moment I was ready to close the door.
"STOP!" Edward yelled at me and I froze at my spot opening my eyes widely.
"What?" I asked looking directly at him and not moving.
"Were you going to close the door at your best friend?"
Oh it can't be!
I turned my face instantly. "Angela! Oh God! I can't believe it!"
Angie was standing at the door along with her boyfriend Ben, both smiling, although Ben looked a bit out of his water. He didn't know all of us well. Except for me that is. But he would get to know us better now that he had come to Paris and that he lived permanently in New York.
"I've missed you girl!" I told Angela, as we were hugging.
"Me too loca!"
"Loca? You don't forget that nick, do you?"
"Never!" She said and tickled me.
We both laughed and after I greeted Ben too, I turned to Edward.
"You knew about this, didn't you?"
He pressed his lips trying to suppress a smile. But his eyes gave him away.
I approached him, stood at my toes and whispered in his ear. "I love you!"
Because he knew I did. But these little things that he did, made me love him even more. Made me feel like the luckiest person on Earth. And who knows. I might be.
I kissed his cheek and he smiled to me. I took him by the hand and we walked in the living room along with the other three couples.
"I have to say, the view is splendid." Angela, who had never been to Paris before, said with her mouth wide open, while she was staring at the city from the living room's French door.
"I know right?" I went and stood beside her. "Do you see this building over there?"
"The hotel?" Angela asked.
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Well, that was the hotel that we stayed during the shooting of "Magic Illusions." I confessed to her.
It took her a while, but then her face lightened up and then flushed. "Oh wait! Is this the hotel that you and Edward…"
"Ssshh!" I made her hush, as her voice was many octaves louder than usual. "Yes, that's the one." I almost whispered. "Edward bought this apartment so close to the hotel, because as he told me, he wanted us to remember those nights at Paris." I snorted and crooked. "Yeah, like it's ever possible for me to forget them."
My friend bit her lip, while she was staring at me.
"What?"
"Don't you see it?"
My eyebrows joined. "See what?"
"All these," She pointed with her hand to the whole city which was being unveiled before our eyes. "all these are your dreams coming true."
I stayed quiet for a while considering her words. It was all I could ever ask for. All I could ever dream of. And much more than that if I could be honest with myself.
"And you deserve this Bella. We all do. I deserve the life I have now in New York with Ben. You deserve your life with Edward. This is as good as it can get. This is our own paradise on Earth."
"Girls, you'd better come here, otherwise no more beers will be left for you. Emmett has drunk them all."
"Shut up, Ed!" Emm replied and punched Edward on the shoulder.
I laughed and I put my arm over Angela's shoulder as we were walking to the rest of the crowd. "You know that I am really lucky to have you as my friend." I told her and a warm smile was formed on her lips.
"Same here. Very very lucky."
"Ok guys. First of all, thank you all for coming. I know this man here must have contributed a lot to that." I said and gave Edward a pretentious half look. "But I am really glad that you are all here. Let's make this a memorable Christmas guys. Merry Christmas everyone!"
Edward handed a glass of beer to me and Ben to Angela and we all raised our glasses to drink to that.
XXX
The next four hours went on with the apartment full of people talking, laughing, singing Christmas Carols, cooking (the girls) and watching TV (the boys). Roger, who we had managed to take with us in France, must have been the luckiest dog on Earth that particular day, as he was running all over the place and played with everyone. They hugged him, they talked to him, they stroked him, he had the time of his life.
"Edward, will you come here please?" I yelled and after a few minutes he came to the kitchen.
"Yes?"
"Can you help us set the table? The turkey is ready."
He sniffed the air. "Oh yes it is. But… wait. There's something else too." He sniffed the air again. "Yes! It's chocolate cake, isn't it?"
I moved my head giggling. "Unbelievable." I took the cake out of the kitchen. "It's ready now."
"Oh yeah." Edward reached out for it, but I hit his hand. "Ouch!"
"You will eat it at dinner."
He lifted his hands up. "We'd better get setting that table."
"Thank you." I told him and sent him an air kiss. But as if that wasn't enough for him, he decided to smack my ass in front of the rest of the girls. "Edward!" I yelled at him, but he just winked and left.
"Hmm… That was interesting." Alice stressed the last word with a mischievous tone in her voice.
"That was gross." Rosalie added. "Totally unnecessary."
"Oh yeah. As if Emmett doesn't do things like that to you all the time." Alice teased her.
"Well… We… I mean he…"
"Nice try, Rose." Alice stuck her tongue out to my cousin.
"I think it is nice seeing them so in love." Angela was heard. "You expect a move like that from Edward, since he was never a shy guy anyway." We all looked at her surprised. "I've been hanging out with Bella too many years my dears."
We all burst into laughters and we took out some plates, the red wine, the glasses, the bread, the salad, the turkey and the silverware.
"What are you laughing about girls?" Jasper entered the kitchen.
"Nothing Jas." Alice spoke seductively as she was approaching him.
He was stepping back, when she started getting too close with that canny look in her eyes and that half-smile on her lips. "Oh oh! What is going on here?"
"Nothing is wrong babe." Alice replied.
Jasper had nowhere to go. He had reached the wall. "Um… Alice. Alice what are…?"
"Let's show them some passion." She approached his lips and Jasper was looking at her shocked. It was obvious that this was so not them.
"Take this to the table my love." And Alice handed him the big wooden bowl with the salad, which she was hiding behind her back.
We all started laughing loudly, especially with Jasper's expressions.
"You women are devilish creatures. I swear you are." He mumbled on his way out of the kitchen.
Alice returned to us and we did high five. Like small children playing and having fun.
"And now we know that Jasper isn't that kind of guy." Alice admitted and took the wine and some glasses.
"Yeah, it comes as no surprise." I said.
"I thought he wouldn't." Rosalie added.
"You know…" I took some slices of bread and put them in a tray. "There was a time that I saw Jasper arguing with Edward about business matters."
"They did?" Alice sounded shocked.
"Yes. Apparently, Jasper wanted Edward to audition for a movie which Edward didn't like. Or something like that." I opened the door with my left elbow.
"I would have never guessed that." Alice whispered while she was walking next to me.
I pressed my lips and moved my head.
We brought all the things on the table and after ten minutes we were all sitting comfortably around the Christmas table.
"Before we start," I said and stood up. "I would like to propose." Everyone raised their glasses including me. "Here's to a Merry Christmas with all you amazing people. I wish every and each one of you health, happiness and success in your professional lives."
"Cheers to that!" Everyone said and we drank a bit of our wine.
"Now my turn." Jasper stood up. "Except for all the things you wished for, for which I agree and wish the same to you all as well, I have one big announcement for you two." And he pointed to me and Edward. "It's about your film."
My cousin Rosalie stood up instantly as if electricity had passed through her body. "Hey! I was gonna say that!"
"Well, I am saying it first though, aren't I?" Jasper threw her a "You lost" look, which -of course- infuriated my cousin.
She talked through her teeth. "We had agreed I would say it first!"
"Hey hey guys." Edward stood up and motioned them to stop. "Will anyone tell us after all?"
They both lowered their gazes. Jasper was the one to speak. "I learned a few days ago that your movie guys, "Magic Illusions", will…"
"Will probably be nominated for an Oscar!" Rosalie interrupted and continued Jasper's sentence. He turned and threw her a killer look. But she didn't even notice him.
"What?" I managed to say with my jaw hanging.
"Who said that?" Edward asked looking as surprised as I was.
Jasper decided to reply. "Still rumours, but someone from the producers told me the news too. So, I suppose they must have learned it from a reliable source."
"Oh my God! This is awesome!" I yelled and put my hands over my mouth. "I mean…It's THE OSCARS!"
Edward approached me and hugged me tightly. "And you give me this chance, through your book, to live this experience."
I put my hands on each of his cheeks and looked him in the eyes. "No, Edward." I moved my head. "I wrote the story but you and Alice" I looked at her too. "And the whole cast and crew brought it to life. If it wasn't for you, we would never live this." And I pressed my lips on his. "So I thank you for taking that decision to audition for my film." I smiled and bit my lip. He smiled back at me and I fell in his arms inhaling his scent.
"We will let you know once we know for sure, but it seems like it is true." Rose said and sounded equally excited with us.
"Ok ok." I took Edward hands in mine. "I need to thank you all of you. Alice, Edward. You guys couldn't be more perfect to portray Diane and Roger. I am really happy to have casted you for these roles." Alice tried to protest and I understood what she was going to say. "I know what you are gonna say. I've thanked you too many times already for playing in this movie, but seriously now, don't expect me to stop anytime soon." Everyone laughed and an idea of what seem like a tear shined on the edge of Alice's eye. "And since we share good news, I have some to share too." Everyone turned their heads to me and waited impatiently. "Rosalie informed me a few days ago that my book, my second book" I corrected myself. "is going to be officially published during the next months." I announced proudly and went on. "My company loved the story and agreed to publish it, so now we have the procedure of choosing the cover, typing it, checking it, printing it etc. which will take a while, but I don't mind it at all." I moved my hands.
"This is great news Bella!" Angela said smiling widely. "I am so happy and proud of you. I knew you would make it to the top one day. See?" She pointed to me. "I was right."
I nodded. "Far away from the top, but yeah. I should have listened to you girl."
"Congrats Bella." Jasper said and touched my shoulder. "You deserve it."
"Thank you Jasper." I smiled to him, maybe a bit more widely than I should, but I couldn't help it. It was hard for me to believe this new self of him.
"Well done big gurl!" Emmett came and practically squeezed me in his arms.
"Damn Emm. I will suffocate!" I talked comically, as if he was drowning me.
"Ohhh I would never do that to you little sis." He replied laughing.
Edward's brother liked me a lot, he felt me like his family. Which always made me proud and happy.
After everyone congratulated me and returned to their seats to start eating again, Edward brought his chair closer to me and leaned in. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
I smirked. "Because I wanted to surprise you."
His lips were lifted at their sides. "Well, you did it."
I batted my eyelashes under his intense stare and shoved him playfully. Edward chuckled.
"Merry Christmas to all of us!" Angela said and we all repeated that wish and continued eating our delicious meal.
XXX
"Bella, I have to admit, your idea was fantastic!" Alice told me and held Jasper tighter.
"Yes, sailing on a boat though the Seine at night is a magical experience." Angela added sitting next to Ben who was smiling friendly.
Edward kissed me on my cheek. I turned and looked at him. I gave him a crooked smile and then stroked his face. "I am so happy that I am here with you again." I remembered we had done this last year too, but this time was even better, because of all the good news that we had shared earlier that day during our belated Christmas meal.
Some musicians were playing beautiful French music with their instruments on the boat. The night was cold, but the sky was clean and starry. There was a light breeze touching our faces and whispering a soft melody in our ears.
"I can't think of a better woman to have by my side on this or any other boat that sails the Seine every day."
I bit my bottom lip and leaned in, resting my head on the part of his body right next to his neck. He held me tight, putting his arms around my waist.
Suddenly, I saw it. "Edward look!" My finger was pointing to a bridge only a few meters away from us. "It's our bridge." I explained and hoped that he would remember.
"You mean, the place of our first kiss?" He gave me my favourite crooked smile sounding cocky and proud of the fact that he actually proved me that he hadn't forgotten.
I nodded smiling widely. "And of our first photo too."
"Oh yes…Hmm… Let's see if I remember that one too…" And he put his hand in his pocket, searching for something. Then, he took his wallet out.
"Look what I found!" He said pretending to be surprised.
I leaned over him and saw it. "Our first photo…" I took it in my hands and inspected it, stroking the place that Edward had put tape on to hold the photo back together. I still remembered the day I threw this torn photo on Edward's face and then stormed out of his hotel room in this exact same city, being extremely angry with him, but mostly and secretly with myself for giving in so easily to my urge and desire for him.
"You kept it…" I whispered and kept staring at us.
"Of course I did."
I lifted my head up and asked him. "Why this photo?"
His lips lifted on their sides. "Because this is our first photo ever. This is the night that it all began."
My heart skipped a beat. I swear I could hear it singing and feel it dancing all at the same time. I bit my lip while my cheeks caught fire. I tried to find any words. Any words to express the way I felt. Damn I was a writer. This means I knew how to express myself correctly. But still words wouldn't come easy. The things I wanted to say were stuck between my lips and couldn't get out. I knew however, that I was better in writing than in words. And better in actions than in words too. And then I knew. I knew that there was only one way to show Edward how much I cared and loved him. I put my hands around his neck bringing his face to mine, my lips touching his, transferring all the unspoken things I wanted to say and just couldn't. And we kissed. We were kissing while the boat we were on, was passing under the same bridge that we gave our first kiss something more than a year ago. In my head I could see myself kissing Edward shyly, but passionately for the first time that chilly night of October and in the meantime, I could feel us holding each other tightly at that exact perfect moment we were living in.
"I love you!" He told me and our foreheads touched.
I kept my eyes closed hiding his words deep down in my soul. "Till my last breath. And if there's life after that, I will keep loving you even then."
We gazed into each other's eyes and smiled blissfully lost in our magical place that we had created for just the two of us.
"Happy one year anniversary to us!" I wished.
"I hope this is the first of many more blissful and happy years with you." Edward added and kissed my forehead softly.
XXX
"Oh my goodness! How much talent did all these people have!" I said in awe after seeing all the marble statues, all the paintings from much older times that I had only read in books and study about them at school. "Can you imagine that there were so talented people who made these incredible masterpieces?"
Edward put his arm around my shoulders, leaned in and whispered in my ear. "They are as talented as you are."
I lifted my head up and saw that he was staring at me with that half smile on his lips. I bit my bottom lip and put my arm around his waist.
"Rose called me." Edward announced.
"And?"
"They will be waiting for us at that café called La vie est belle." He spelled the last words with a perfect -and kinda sexy- French pronunciation.
"That's great. It's a shame they didn't want to come at the Louvre too."
Edward snorted. "We won't get to know Emmett and Rosalie today."
He was right. They wanted to stay alone and walk around Paris exploring every little magical corner which was hidden inside it. Although, to be honest, both me and Edward knew why they really wanted to be left alone. It was almost unbearable for anyone to stay around them, when they were all cozy and flirty with each other.
"Bella, I loved your idea of coming here." Angela said walking next to us and holding hands with Ben. "I've read all these things in books about these monuments and now I got to see them in real life. To see how they really look!"
"And to almost touch them." Ben added and furrowed his eyebrow with a sly smirk on his lips.
I laughed secretly, but tried to contain it.
"I didn't wanna do something bad! Just touch that ancient Greek marble statue of that beautiful woman. I don't see how is that bad." Angela said and put her hands on her sides, her mouth lifted up at its corner pretending to be hurt.
"Until that museum guard gave you a vicious look and a warning in French and you decided to step back and hide behind me." Ben added and embraced Angela. My friend pouted and lied comfortably on his chest.
I giggled and kept walking with Edward giving the other couple a little private space.
"I feel like the happiest woman in the whole world." I confessed to Edward lifting my head up to watch him.
He gave me a sexy crooked smile. "And I am the luckiest man in the whole universe."
I leaned on his shoulder keeping moving forward to the place we were going to meet my cousin and Emmett along with Alice and Jasper. The latter had decided to visit the Eiffel Tower.
After taking the bus and walking a bit more, we reached our destination; Monmartre.
"I've missed this place." I said as we were walking between paintings of many wanna-be talented artists. The smell of fresh paint was everywhere. Some paintings had vivid colours, some others darker. Some were pictures of beautiful sceneries, mountains, houses, countryside, rivers, forests. And others were pictures of people, so well painted, that you felt as if they were actually following you with their eyes as you were moving.
Then my eyes fell on this magnificent painting and I exhaled. "Edward! Look at that one!" It was the picture of a calm sea and a beach. There was a palm tree on one side. A woman was leaning on it and a man was standing right in front of her with his hands on each side of her holding the palm tree, his head only a few inches from hers. It was a matter of seconds till their lips would connect. But that was left to everyone else's imagination to think about.
"I love this painting!" I dragged Edward from the hand and showed him the one I was talking about.
"It is… really nice." I could hear a slight laughter in my fiancée's voice. He was fighting to suppress a smile.
"Hey!" I hit his shoulder playfully. "I am serious!"
Edward laughed even harder. "Ok. Ok." He lifted his hands up as if he surrendered. "Let me see it thoroughly."
He took his time and examined the painting. After almost a minute, he spoke. "I agree. It is amazing. I love the colouring and the whole concept of it. The romantic atmosphere and kinda sexy too, if I may say."
I furrowed my eyebrow and couldn't help a smirk. "Sexy?"
"Yeah." He said simply and crossed his hands over his chest. "I mean, look at them. It is obvious that this girl is in for a treat."
"How you mean?"
"In at least a minute, he will be kissing her hard and she will put her legs around him. That tree will possibly witness some really steamy moments between these two."
I opened my eyes widely. "Oh my God!" I spelled out silently. "Are you serious now?" I whispered. "Are you suggesting that…"
"That they are gonna have wild, mind blowing sex. Yes."
The way Edward spoke, so naturally, without any fear and hesitation, made me blush and lower my head. And secretly thanked God that the guy who had made it and now had it for sale -and was constantly watching me and Edward talking with a very suspicious and confused look on his face- didn't speak English, but French. At least I hoped so.
"Ohh…Look how good you look with your cheeks all red." Edward stroked my cheeks with his knuckles and then kissed them both. "I love to tease you. Because I love the effect it has on you." His canny smile made me smile too and flush even more. I hugged him and then left a quick kiss on his lips.
"I am thinking of buying it and putting it over our bed. Wouldn't it seem so nice?"
Edward scratched the hair on his chin thinking about it. "Yeah, I can picture it over our bed. It would suit a lot. The colours are quite similar to the bedroom's and the bed's."
I clapped happily and fell in his arms hugging him tightly. "You are gonna love it! I'm sure."
Then I went to the artist and asked him for a prize for the painting with the few French I could remember. In five minutes, he had packed it for us and we were on our way to the café we would meet the rest of our company.
"I can't wait to show it to the girls." I sounded really excited and Edward kissed the top of my head.
"I love it when you get so excited over small things."
"Bella! Over here!" Rosalie waved to us from a chair at the corner of the typical Parisian café "La vie est belle".
We went closer and sat there waiting for Alice and Jasper and Angela and Ben -who had stayed behind- to join us. We ordered something to drink and soon enough everyone had come and the conversation had started to get heated.
"What do you have there Bella?" Alice asked me checking on the package I had put beside me.
"It is a wonderful painting that I just bought for our house in L.A." I explained and unraveled it for them. "Look!"
"Wow!" Alice exhaled.
"It really is wonderful." Rosalie agreed.
"It looks so good. Enjoy it!" Angie said.
"Thank you very much! I am actually really proud of it. I can already picture it in the house. I have figured out where to put it." I didn't say the place I had in mind of course, cause I knew what would happen next. They would laugh and tease me and I would blush and feel awkward.
"I loooove Paris." Alice announced stressing the name of the city. "I think I could live here forever."
"Uh..Now that you talk about living in a city…" Jasper started talking and then paused.
"Yes?" Alice tried to make him continue.
Everyone in the group had stopped talking and was focused on them. I know. Indiscreet, mean, not our business, blah blah blah… They were our friends and we cared. That gave us the right to…eavesdrop…Kind of…
"Jas?"
"Well…I was thinking, what about going to L.A.?" He suggested and bit his lip. I rarely saw Jasper so hesitant.
"L.A.? You mean as on…holidays?"
"No." He took a deep breath. "As for… permanently. You and me. Like Edward and Bella did. To live there permanently."
A light sound of surprise was heard from all of us, including Alice.
"What? Los Angeles? You and me? Moving in together?" Her face was serious, but I could see her eyes smiling.
"Yes. You and me moving in together in Los Angeles, Hollywood or Beverly Hills or anywhere you like. I don't care. As long as I am with you." He stopped and looked in Alice's eyes for any reaction. "I love you, Alice. Only you. Always you. I want to be with you every day. A few hours are not enough for me."
I saw a few tears running down Alice's cheeks. I seriously was on the verge of crying myself. I never thought that Jasper was capable of being so romantic and spelling out his feelings like that. I guess Alice had managed to make that more sensitive part of him emerge on the surface.
"I… I don't know what to say! I-I…"
"OH. MY. GOD! SAY "YES" ALICE! "YES" IS THE WORD YOU ARE LOOKING FOR!" Rosalie exhaled totally fed up.
Alice looked at us, then at Jasper and finally said. "I would love to live with you." And smiled as widely as she could.
Jasper leaned in and kissed her lips and we all applauded. People around us stared, but who cared? It wasn't like they would see us ever again.
"Can you believe that Jasper had it inside him?" My question to Edward was rhetorical.
"As a matter of fact, I can."
I turned and gazed at him furrowing one eyebrow.
"I've known him for many years, Bells. I know him better than anyone else." Edward explained and I understood that he was probably right. He was spending many hours every day talking to Jasper, either in person or through the phone. It was quite normal that he knew him very well, as well as Jasper knew him.
I leaned my head on his shoulder and intertwined my fingers with his. Edward kissed my hair.
"Can you believe it? First us moving in together, then Angela and Ben, now Alice and Jasper. We did a good start, didn't we?"
I heard a slight laughter coming from Edward. "You know who is next right?"
Both our eyes fell on Emmett and Rosalie, who were -as usual- acting very intimate in public.
"Hey Em." He turned to me. "I think that it is your turn now." I moved my head towards him and my cousin.
Emmett didn't understand the meaning of my words at first, but when he did, his forehead was full of wrinkles and his eyes became small, almost impossible to see their colour.
"Jesus Christ!" And he pretended to shiver at the thought.
"Hey!" Rose punched his shoulder. "Living with me is that bad to you?"
I gave Edward a nudge at my cousin's reaction. We had hit a sensitive spot right there.
"Well.. no. That is not what I mean. It is not about you. It is…the whole idea of moving in with any girl. Not you in particular."
Uh-Oh. Emmett's explanation just made it worse and didn't convince Rose.
"That sounds so… unfeministic."
"Uhh…I don't believe that's even a word?" Emmett said to Rose in an attempt to sound funny and make her forget the real reason of this conversation.
"Emmett!" She scolded him and turned her back to him crossing her hands over her chest.
Edward's brother had already begun pleading her to excuse him and saying countless nice words to make her listen to him. I moved my head chuckling. That was so typical of them.
"They'll be fine." Edward told me sure of his words.
"I never doubted that." I replied and left a kiss on his neck. "They are destined to be together. They just haven't realized it yet."
Edward nodded. Then his face became serious and I saw him staring my lips. He put his hand on my neck and then on my face stroking my cheek with his thumb. The moment he bit his lip and smirked was the moment that I decided that I had had enough. I approached him and kissed his lips with an urge I had never felt before. All of a sudden, my heart started rising its beats, my boiling blood burnt my skin and every sound was lost.
We had only a few more days left. Edward would spend all the holidays with me here in Paris, including New Year's Day and then he would have to return to Montréal for the rest of the shooting of his film. He had informed me that it would take almost a month. So, I hoped that he would come back to me in February. Until then, I knew I would be counting the days like a prisoner who does a countdown of the days till she sees the sunlight free again. Till she "smells" her freedom in the air.
"I love you more than you can possibly think." I whispered panting, our foreheads touching.
Edward's lips were lifted on their sides. "I love you much more. My love. My Bella."
I looked him in the eyes, letting his gaze get into my soul and touch my heart, leaving that warm feeling inside me.
I didn't reply. I put my arms around his neck and brought his lips to mine again with force. If I was running out of time with him till the moment he would leave again, then I would have to make the best out of it. We would make memories to help us get through one month that we would have to spend away from each other.
And then…
And then perhaps, we would start organizing that wedding of ours. We hadn't talked about it much yet, we just wanted my book to come out and Edward's shooting to end and then we would talk about it thoroughly.
For now, it was only me and him. Only us.
And Paris.
XXX
Chapter end notes: As I told you, it was a pretty fluffy and cute chapter. :) Hope you liked it. It seems that things go very well for Edward and Bella. A probable Oscar nomination, Bella's book is going to be published too. All these are so exciting for them.
A small question for all of you now. Would you prefer a happy or a sad ending? Because, this story is coming to an end in a few chapters and I would like to know what end would you like to read. Because I have two in mind.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who leaves reviews and special thanks to those who like and comment on the facebook page of this story. You are all great guys! :)
Till next time. :)
~ImaginaryWitch
Replies to comments of non-fanfiction users: C x: Haha! Yeah… Can Edward be my boyfriend too? :p I will try to get him out of my mind and these lines and put him in real life. ;) Thank you for reading and commenting dear! x
giota: Giota giota.. One of my very fave readers. :3 I am really glad you liked the previous chapter, hope you liked this one. :) I suppose the story will end in… a few chapters. 4? 5? Maybe 6? Somewhere there. I miss it too, but I guess I will have to move on to another story. We will see. Thank you SOOOOOO much for your kind words once again. You are great! Means a lot to me. P.S. I know I kill you with the hot chapters. ;) Sorry for that. xD xx
fatsoula1980: Ok, I know I have replied to your reviews again, but I wanted to thank you here as well. Because you did all this effort to leave comments on so many chapters and tell me your thoughts and you were very kind, so this is the least I can do. Thank you a lot! Means a lot to me, really! :) I am glad you like the story and I hope you will keep liking it in the next chapters. :) x
xxHopes4everxx: Aww thank you dear! You are so nice and kind. I am glad you liked the chapter and I am sorry it took me so long to update. I was too busy. Thank you for reading and reviewing! :)