Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all things twilight…

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

.Edward guided me expertly through the hospital corridors. For a moment I had forgotten that Edward worked here, but I was glad because his familiarity with the layout brought us to Nessa's room much quicker than if I were navigating.

I gasped as I took in the sight. Nessa was hooked up to a million IVs, there was an oxygen tube on her face and her hand was covered in plaster. She had a few scars on her face but they looked minimal to her other injuries. And she looked tired, beat. There wasn't the familiar spark in her eye, searching for adventure and excitement.

I rushed to her bedside.

"Oh, Nessa! I was so worried." I went to grab her hand but it was covered in plaster so I didn't.

Nessa laughed. "Ah, Bella. No need to worry about me."

"I came as soon as I heard."

"I know."

"Have your parents been in? I gave that man their details and everything."

"No, they're on their way. They were out of town. Now I feel bad."

"Don't say such a thing. You're hurt. Are you feeling pain? Do you need anything? Ice chips?" Nessa laughed then groaned, obviously feeling the pain of moving her body too vigorously. Edward placed a hand on my shoulder, trying to get me to calm down.

"How you feeling Nessa?" he said, concern riding in his voice.

"Well, I've been better."

"I'm going to check with the doctor. See how you're actually doing."

"Oh yeh. That'd be good. At least one of us will know what the hell they're talking about." Edward left the room and so I was alone, with Nessa.

"Look Bella. I'm really sorry." Nessa started.

"Hey, none of that right now. This is about you. What happened last night… was a thing of the past."

"No. I still have to make it right. I knew you liked him. Even if you didn't realise, I could tell."

"Wait, what the hell are you talking about? How did you know?"

"Bella, even if you didn't realise, it was so obvious. The way you looked at him. Your eyes were always filled with such joy, intensity and…I don't know. It was like you were longing for him. And you've always been so comfortable around him. He brings out the best of you and you're always so happy with him. It gets rather nauseous. You're like an old married couple already!"

"But Nessa…"

"And don't get me started on how much Edward was into you! He never wanted to kiss me yesterday. I don't think he ever really wanted to sleep with any of the girls he ever did because he only has eyes for you, Bella! And I'm sorry that I took advantage of him yesterday. I guess I just wanted to feel a man desiring me. It hurt when he hardly paid me any notice."

"Oh Nessa. I'm so sorry!" I said, trying to maneuver around any of her injuries to hug her. My eyes were tearing up and my voice cracked.

"Bella, don't you cry or you'll set me off. And you better tell Edward you love him or else I'll have to do some big damage."

I tried to laugh through my tears. "Actually…" I led on.

Nessa gasped loudly in disbelief but quickly groaned at the pain of movement. I helped her settle back down before she started interrogating.

"You already confessed? He already confessed? You're together? Stop holding out on me girl! Spill!"

"Well, if you'd just let me get a word in."

"Oh shut up. Just tell me everything."

"Well, after last night, we kinda had a fight."

"Oh." she said, disappointment dominating her tone.

"It was the worst fight we'd ever had. Just everything that seemed to have bothered us at all in the past just came out and we screamed and shouted. It was very intense.

But then…I'm thinking it was an accident, like a heat of the moment thing. Well he said he loved me and well…then there was a whole night of relieving the sexual and emotional tension between us."

"In other words, you had wild, hot sex all night." Nessa said plainly. It was a rather derogatory way of saying it but it suit its purpose. I burst out laughing as I said this and Nessa was all smiles.

"Ohmigosh, Nessa! I can't believe it!" I said, going to hug her again.

"I can't believe it's taken this long. You can be so thick sometimes."

"Yeh. Well nothing's that certain yet. We haven't exactly…talked. You disturbed us."

"Oh, damn that. Always interfering am I?"

"Well, it was a very good interference before. Now this is just an inconvenience." I joked, but Nessa quickly recovered from her laughter.

"What's wrong?" I asked, worried.

"Oh nothing. It's just…you're not wearing your glasses anymore." I hadn't noticed until she'd pointed it out. They were probably still by the couch from where Edward had thrown them the night before.

"You look good without them Bella. Actually, no. You look better without them. You don't need them, you never did." For the second time since we'd started talking, I was tearing up again. But our sentimental moment was interrupted as Nessa's parents came rushing in, worried looks on their faces.

I gave Nessa a quick kiss and a promise to see her soon before ducking out of the room. Edward was waiting by the door.

"She'll be fine. And that's from a medical point of view."

"Oh thank goodness." I said, embracing him. I don't' know if it was for gratitude or just needing to be in his arms again.

"She went into surgery earlier because she had a small case of internal bleeding. But it was very minor and she'll make a full recovery from that. Otherwise she sustained a broken arm, a broken rib and a few cuts and bruises everywhere else. All easy to recover from. So there is nothing to worry about." he continued as he swung an arm around my shoulders, leading me outside.

It was just after three when we finally reached home and I was exhausted. I flopped down on the couch next to Edward snuggling into the side. He shifted his weight uncomfortably until he found he was sitting on my glasses.

"Oh." I looked at them. He gave them to me and I held them in my hand, recalling Edward's words to me last night and what Nessa had said today at the hospital today. I didn't need them. Nor did I want them anymore. I chucked them onto the coffee table and returned to Edward's embrace.

"I'll chuck them out later."

"Oh." He merely said. I was glad he didn't ask for any more explanation but I have a feeling he understood what I was doing anyways.

We sat in a comfortable silence, me snuggled up to his side and his arms around me. I relished in the feeling of being in his arms, something I had found was really very nice.

But I couldn't help but feel a little insecure. There were things we had to sort out first.

"Um, Edward. We have to talk." I said, sitting up. He looked at me with a reluctant look on his face.

"Oh it's not that bad. It's just…if I'm not mistaken or if I was actually more drunk then I remember and imagined it…"

"Bella I love you. Does that answer your question?"

"Oh…yeh." I said, stunned at his…bluntness. He chuckled.

"It's just…I've been holding it in for so long. It feels good to just say it out loud. I feel so free, so happy. I love you Bella and I'm not afraid to say it." I giggled a little before planting a kiss on his lips.

"I love you too Edward." I said as I pulled away. The sides of his mouth turned up into a gorgeous smile that reached all the way to his beautiful eyes. It was more than just an admittance to him, but to myself as well and as the words left my mouth, I realized exactly how true they were. I loved Edward. So much. Yes, it had taken so long to figure out. More than twenty years. But they had been a blissful twenty years where I had been able to spend almost every moment with Edward.

I knew him like I knew no one else and I knew he knew me better than I even knew myself. I couldn't imagine my life without him, I needed him, depended on him and what's more, wanted him so bad. And now, he was mine? Well, isn't this the life? Isn't this the happily ever after that all the fairytales promised? Well, it seems like I actually got mine.

And I wouldn't have changed our story one bit. Because yeh, we had our problems, we had our fights. But in the end, all that trouble led me to this. To love. To Edward. And so, it was all worth it.

it's not over yet!