Chapter 29: Long Way Home

Giant thanks to Kristan for beta-ing. Without her, I'd never know the word 'cheque' looks foreign to some. What can I say? We Canadians love our French spelling ;)


The tune that is yours and mine to play upon this earth
We'll play it out the best we know, whatever it is worth
What's lost is lost, we can't regain what went down in the flood
But happiness to me is you and I love you more than blood

Bob Dylan – Wedding Song

x.x.x

A year and a half later…

It's June. It's been 2 years since Jasper, Emmett, and Bella's initial arrival in Forks. Edward and Bella are 24.

x.x

"Bells!" Jasper's voice came from down the hallway and just as I opened my mouth to reply he shouted out, "Hey, Bells!"

I rolled my eyes, chucking a pair of flip-flops in my suitcase and silently counting to three. "Yes, Jasper?" I called, trying to sound as patient as possible and fighting a grin as I heard the sound of something heavy hitting the floor.

"Have you seen my…" his voice trailed off, and I heard what sounded like a loud thud followed by an "unf."

"Uh, never mind. I found it! Thanks!"

"Yeah, no problem," I laughed, tucking my make-up bag into the suitcase beside the flip-flops. I turned and did a quick sweep of the room, satisfied that I'd packed everything I would need. Flipping the top shut, I began struggling with the zipper of my new suitcase. I'd never appreciated how the years of use had broken in my old one. This new suitcase certainty lacked the character of my old bag – it was plain, boring black with a shiny silver zipper, but the size of it accommodated my growing collection of clothes and personal items. I would be amazed if it would even fit in the trunk of the Mustang.

Once I finally got it zipped up, I heaved the suitcase off the bed and wheeled it down the hallway, wondering why after so many years of moving my life from one place to another I'd never thought to buy a suitcase with wheels. I marveled at the ease of which it followed dutifully along behind me – the thing was frigging ingenious.

"Hey, Jazz," I said, poking my head in the door of his bedroom and immediately laughing at the scene before me. His room was a disaster – it seemed his entire dresser had been dumped on the floor, his suitcase sat on the bed and was already overflowing with clothes. He was squatting down in the middle of the mess, lifting up one end of his mattress as he peered under it, obviously searching for something. I cleared my throat and fought a grin, but I could feel my lips twitching in betrayal, "Do you, uh, need some help?"

He glanced up, looking slightly dazed. "I can't find my wallet."

"And you think it's hiding under your mattress?"

"I don't know where else it could be…" he dropped the mattress, running his hands through his curls in distress. "I had it this morning…" He turned in a slow circle, like he hoped it would magically appear before his eyes.

"Hey, how about you focus on packing and I'll see if I can find it," I offered.

His shoulders dropped and he looked at me like he was about to kiss my feet in gratitude. "Thanks, Bells."

I waved him off, "No problem. And hurry your ass up, we've got to get going soon. Emmett will pound your head in if you're late."

"Yeah, yeah. This is a lot harder when you have so much shit," he whined.

I laughed. "Remember, you're only packing for two nights."

He simply pointed at my giant suitcase.

"Jasper…" I said warningly, pulling the heavy suitcase back down the hallway with me.

"Just admit it, Bells – it takes a lot more work for you to be as pretty as me," he called down the hall. I rolled my eyes and flipped him the bird, and even if he couldn't see it I was sure he knew the sentiment was there.

I found Jasper's wallet on the kitchen table, right beside his keys. I laughed to myself as I picked them both up and shoved them in my pocket, and then went to go retrieve my guitar from the living room. After that I wandered aimlessly around the house as I waited for Jasper, chewing on an apple and checking under the couches and in random closets for something I might have forgotten. I was sure that the Bella and Jasper from two years earlier would have been killing themselves laughing at how stressed we were packing for a simple weekend trip. I mentally told them to shut it as I tossed my apple core in the compost. Those two losers had it so easy.

Jasper finally emerged from his bedroom holding his old bag in his hand and looking slightly less frazzled. "Ready?" I asked, flashing him a grin.

"I think so…" He dropped his bag on the floor and pulled his garment bag from the closet by the door and slung it carefully over his shoulder. His eyes met mine. "Are you?"

"Absolutely," I grinned, tossing him his wallet as I brushed past him. With one hand I pulled the handle from the top of my suitcase and picked up my guitar case in the other, the Mustang keys jingling in my pocket. Taking one last look at the condo behind me, I pulled open the door. "Let's hit the road."

x.x.x

Edward.

"Edward, dear, I could really use a hand with these flower pots…"

I slipped my phone back into my pocket after checking the time for the hundredth time in the past hour and I walked over to where Esme stood in the driveway. Her hands were on her hips as she faced the gigantic cluster of large, overflowing flowerpots that had overtaken the front lawn. She had one finger pointed out toward the group of flowers and I couldn't tell if she was trying to count them or silently threatening them to behave. At this point, the latter definitely seemed more likely. I laid my hand gently on her shoulder before bending down the lift the first heavy pot. "I'm on it, auntie."

"Thank you, sweetheart. Now, Rose is down at the beach, she'll tell you where she wants them. I'm thinking one at the end of every row… but she might have changed her mind. I know the podiums she rented weren't as tall as she was expecting, but I'm sure they'll do if she still wants…" her voice trailed off as she went back to scolding the remaining flowerpots. I waited until I was out of earshot before I started laughing. For the sake of everybody's sanity, I hoped Alice never got married. Or at least she'd have the decency to elope.

"Hey, fucker," I said, hip checking Emmett as I passed him. He was hiding outside the gazebo at the side of the cabin, sucking back a cigarette. "Esme wants you to move flower pots."

"Dude," he groaned, rubbing a hand over his close-cropped hair, "I just set up like three-fucking-hundred chairs. Give me a sec."

I glanced over my shoulder to make sure Esme hadn't followed me and dropped the flowerpot to the ground when I saw the coast was clear. "All right. Smoke?" I asked, holding out my hand.

He obliged, grumbling to himself as he slipped one from his pack. "I thought you quit."

I shrugged in response as I lit it, absently rubbing my forehead with the back of my hand. "Why are you hiding out back here?"

Emmett just gave me a look, his eyes narrowed.

"What?" I laughed.

He gripped the railing of the gazebo so hard I thought he might snap it. "My family. Is driving me. Insane," he ground out.

I couldn't help it – I doubled over laughing. "Man, what did you expect when you invited them?"

"Oh, I don't know… maybe that they'd show up the morning of, have a couple drinks, and then peace it back to Idaho. I didn't think they'd take refuge in my house all fucking week!"

"Aw, they're just trying to help. They miss you." I eyed him and added, "Somehow."

"Fuck you," he laughed.

"I'm just kidding, man," I chuckled. "But where's Rose? She's been handling them pretty well."

"She just left for her hair appointment or some shit," he replied, rolling his eyes. "I swear, the woman is spending more time getting herself ready than anything else."

"But it'll be so worth it," I reminded him, clapping him on the back. "Dude, you're getting fucking married tomorrow."

The sloppy, goofy grin that I knew so well overtook Emmett's face. "Dude, I'm getting so married tomorrow. I'm gonna marry that girl so fucking hard."

"Damn straight," I grinned, taking a drag of my cigarette. "So, when's the best man getting in?"

"Fucking soon, I hope." Emmett put out his cigarette and rubbed his hands together. "He's supposed to be supplying the beer for today. And no hard feelings about that whole best man thing, hey? I know-"

"Hey," I said, holding up my hands to stop him, "We've been over this. You made the right choice – Jasper's a good guy."

Emmett nodded in agreement, then looked over at me with a devious twinkle in his eye. "So, you excited to see Bella?"

I opened my mouth to reply just as Carlisle came barreling around the corner. He kind of jumped when he noticed us, but relaxed when he realized who it was. "Oh, it's just you guys," he sighed, running a hand through his silver-blonde hair. He cast a nervous look over his shoulder as he approached us.

"You look like you're running from somebody," I commented, laughing at his skittishness.

"Just… avoiding. Edward, promise me you'll never let Alice get married."

"Already on it."

Carlisle shook his head, "Esme is losing her mind."

"Aw, I feel bad, you know," Emmett said, "Rose would have been just as happy to get married out in the park-"

Carlisle waved him off. "No, no. Esme loves this. She's just…" he twirled his finger at his temple, and mouthed the word crazy.

We laughed and Carlisle leaned against the gazebo, obviously eager to take a break. "Hope you don't mind, but I'm going to hide out here with you guys for a bit. Hope I wasn't interrupting anything."

"Naw, Edward was just about to tell me about how excited he is to see Bella."

Carlisle's eyes lit up as he turned to me. "Oooh, Bella."

"Knock it off you guys," I groaned, rolling my eyes. "Yeah, I'm excited to see her but… it's nothing. We're just friends."

"Yeah. Friends," Emmett scoffed.

"Yeah. Friends," Carlisle echoed.

I looked at Carlisle, my eyebrows raised, and he just grinned sheepishly back. I shook my head, stomping my cigarette out with the toe of my shoe, "You know what? Whatever."

"No way, man. I heard you guys have been talking," Emmett said, his voice suggestive.

"Ooooh, talking." Carlisle leaned in, rubbing his hands together eagerly.

I gave Carlisle a look that was probably similar to the look people gave Emmett when he tried to use big words in the wrong context. "I thought Jake was the gossip around here," I muttered.

"Hey, man, I'm Team Edward all the way. It ain't my fault that Rose let it slip," Emmett said defensively.

"There's no team, Emmett. We're just friends. Friends talk."

"Yeah, friends," Carlisle said, waggling his eyebrows at me.

This time, I couldn't help but laugh. "Uncle, you know I love you, but I swear to god that if you don't shut it I'll rat you out to Esme."

With that, Carlisle straightened up and clamped his mouth shut.

I turned to Emmett, the well rehearsed lie already on my lips, "We're doing this for the sake of your fucking wedding, you douche. Otherwise you'd be dealing with the wrath of Rose when Bella punches me in the jaw for so much as looking at her while we're walking down the aisle. And that, my friend, was all your doing when you picked Jasper to be the best man. You should be thanking me right now."

Emmett just smirked, all arrogant as he clapped me on the shoulder, "It's almost like I knew what I was doing, huh?" He tossed a grin back at me as he began to walk away, "And for the record, I think it's you who should be thanking me. Douche."

It took every ounce of strength I had not to laugh as I watched him walk away. Carlisle was eyeing me as I struggled to keep it together and just shook his head, almost sadly, as he muttered, "You know, I don't think I'll ever understand you kids."

"That's okay Carlisle," I said, patting his shoulder and laughing when I could no longer hold it in. "For your sake, I hope you never do."

x.x.x

Emmett and I spent a good part of the afternoon moving each planter to the backyard. With Rose gone to her hair appointment, we were left with Esme and Chelsea, Emmett's mom, directing the placement of the pots down to the last inch. One hundred and fifty planters – that's how many we moved. One hundred and fifty planters, of various shapes and sizes, overflowing with a variety of flowers in all different colors. And yeah, the task would have been easier if Emmett and Alice hadn't gotten wasted last summer and decided to take the wagon for a ride off the dock. Yeah, that shit doesn't float. And also makes transporting anything from the front yard down to the beach a real bitch. Which was why there was no way I was doing it without Emmett's help.

A Hundred. And. Fifty. Flowers.

It was starting to look like the goddamn Queen was getting married.

About halfway through the job my phone buzzed in my pocket and I heaved the planter I was carrying carefully underneath one arm as I freed my phone from the front pocket of my jeans. I couldn't help that my heart rate picked up as I read the simple words on the screen.

So, you excited to see it? ;)

It was from Bella. And just like that I'd forgotten about the sweat dripping down my forehead and the aching in my muscles from moving so many damn flowerpots and suddenly I was standing there grinning like an idiot.

Bella had taken up texting lately. I mean, it in no way compared to hearing her voice on the other end of a telephone line or actually seeing her face in person, but it felt good to her from her, even if it was impersonal and just letters on a cell phone screen. Because when it came down to it, we were talking. We were communicating. It was good morning and good night and I love you when we needed to hear it and couldn't pick up a phone.

And honestly, before all this happened again I couldn't remember having a conversation with Bella that didn't involve a condom or a bottle of beer or us just flat-out screaming at each other.

And it felt so new again – not like where were picking up where we left off but like I was getting to know a whole new person. Which, when it came down to it, was exactly what I was doing. I couldn't deny the way I still felt about her, or how she continued to be the center or my world even after all this time. But we had been trying as hard as possible to keep our relationship quiet ever since she boarded that plane out of Jacksonville. We'd known going into this we'd be spending our fair share of time apart. But we'd been talking – shit, we'd been talking every single day since then. We both had a lot of stuff going on in our lives and hardly had a spare few hours to make the drive out to visit each other. But we were talking and teasing and texting and basically just missing the hell out of each other every single day.

But this weekend, everything was changing. And it would finally all be worth it.

I grinned as my eyes scanned the text message one more time. So, you excited to see it? ;)

I licked my lips as I typed out a reply. It's my dick, isn't it?

A second later the phone vibrated again. You wish, Cullen.

I laughed. Bella got a new tattoo. And I was eager as hell to find out what – and where – said tattoo was. Aw, come on, I wrote back. Let a man dream a little, won't you?

Would you really want to stare at your dick all day long, Cullen? She replied. I laughed when two seconds later a second text came in. Never mind. Stupid question. So what are you doing?

Just slaving away. Em says to tell Whitlock to get his cunt over here, we need the manpower.

I am not using that word.

I grinned. His words, not mine. Prude.

Pig.

I almost ran smack into Esme, trying to walk and text at the same time. I apologized to her, hastily typing a good-bye text. I gotta go. Duty calls. You coming here?

Jasper's just dropping me off at the spa. I'll be back with the girls for the rehearsal. See you soon.

I shoved my phone back into my pocket, trying to concentrate on the directions Esme was giving me on what to do with the flowers in my arms, but the only thing I could see was the words on my phone. See you soon. Soon.

It had been too fucking long. I felt like I hadn't seen her in forever. But I would. Soon.

x.x.x

Bella.

"Bella, dear, please tell me you've told Jasper." Alice raised her eyebrow from the station beside me as Cheryl, her manicurist, worked at filing down her nails. We were sitting in Perfect Image Salon and Spa in Forks where Rose was getting her trial make-up applied by a stylist and Alice and I were getting our nails done while we waited.

"I did – ow," I winced as Ronnie, my heavy browed, scowl-faced nail-technician jabbed me with her razor-sharp cuticle clippers.

"Stay still," she scolded in a thick European accent.

"Sorry," I muttered. Making extra sure to keep my hand in place, I glanced over at Alice, "I did tell him, Al."

"Then why hasn't he said anything to me?" Alice frowned.

I shrugged, but then froze when I realized my hand had twitched with the movement. Ronnie's hunched form glared up at me and I widened my eyes in exasperation.

"You got me. We talked about it a few weeks back. I think he must be in denial or something."

"Are you serious?" Rose called from where she was sitting across the room in a tall salon chair getting her make-up applied. "Has Jasper still got issues with you guys being together? Because I swear to god, if he thinks he can-"

"Rose," I cut her off, laughing. "No, it's nothing like that. He's fine with everything. I think he's actually happy for me. He's just being Jasper about it and refusing to really talk about anything."

"You think he'd be a little bit more excited," Alice said, sounding slightly hurt.

"He is, Al," I assured her. "Trust me, he is. You should see what he did to the spare bedroom."

"What did he do to the spare bedroom?" she asked, suddenly bouncing in her seat.

I looked over at her, grinning. "Trust me, you'll see."

"Bellaaaa," she whined. "Tell me."

I looked at her pleading face, her lower lip jutted out as she stared over at me with wide, hazel eyes. "Please?" she asked innocently.

I huffed, and Ronnie yanked my hand a little to hard to the side as she filed down one of my nails. I glared at the top of her head before turning my attention back to Alice. "He's going to kill me," I muttered. "It's supposed to be a surprise."

"Oh, come on, Bella," Rose said, "It's girl time. You can't keep secrets when it's girl time."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Fine. You really want to know?"

"Yeah!" Rose called and Alice just looked over at me with wide eyes as she nodded her head.

"Promise you'll act surprised?" I asked, and Alice began nodding more rapidly. "Fine. He built you a studio. Just like that one you had at your place. Bit smaller, but he wanted you to have something so it'd feel like home. Happy?"

"Oh my god!" Alice squealed, and I think it took every ounce of her energy not to start jumping up and down. "He really did that? He built a studio? Just for me?"

"Well, unless he starts designing clothes anytime soon, yeah, it's just for you."

Alice's eyes widened. "Oh my god. Could you imagine if Jazz started designing clothes? I bet he'd be amazing!"

I rolled my eyes. Oh dear lord. Jasper was going to kill me.

"Alice, honey, I'm pretty sure coveralls and grease stains are like so three seasons ago," Rose said calmly, helping to quell Alice's excitement before she started to go overboard.

Alice frowned. "Yeah, I suppose you're right." I stifled a giggle and Rose just looked over at her friend in disbelief. She caught my eye and mouthed the word 'crazy' and I nodded, thankful that we'd reined that ludicrous idea in before it was too late. Perhaps Jasper would let me live to see another day after all.

"So do you have everything packed?" I asked Alice, trying to keep her mind off the Jasper-clothing-designer-extraordinaire track. I could almost see the evil gleam in her eye and words like 'power couple' and 'dynamic duo' floating around her head in little word bubbles.

"Puh-lease. I've been packed for months, Bella. What about you? Did you bring everything you need down with you?"

I nodded. "I left you all the big stuff, though."

"Same," Alice said, "Well, except I'm taking my wok with me."

"Your wok?" I snorted. "Al, do you even know how to use it?"

"Sure I do," she sniffed. "Well… at least… I plan to learn. Probably."

"Alice," Rose called from across the room, "I hate to tell you this, but I'm pretty sure Jasper's getting the short end of the stick here."

"Why?"

"Bella can cook," Rose stated and Alice looked up, her eyes narrowed. Rose quickly began to backtrack after seeing the look on her best friend's face, "But, then again, you can sew. And nobody knows better than me how annoying a pair of holey overalls can be…"

"Whatever," Alice said, waving her off. "Jasper won't even notice how the food tastes – he'll be too distracted by how incredible the condo looks after I get through with redecorating it."

"Hey!" I objected, "What's wrong with the décor now?"

Alice widened her eyes, looking over at me. "Seriously, Bella? What décor?"

I gaped at her in mock hurt. "You cut me deep, Alice Cullen."

"Bella, come on. A thrift store lamp and a couple of glass vases filled with rocks don't exactly count as award-winning décor."

"Some of the vases had flowers in them," I pouted.

"Yeah. Silk flowers. Honestly, Bella."

"You guys, do we really have to talk about this right now?" Rose whined from across the room. "It's the eve of my wedding and I don't really want to discuss how my best friend is leaving me in like, less than 48 hours."

"Oh, come on, Rose," Alice said, rolling her eyes. "I'll probably be here more than I am there anyway. Besides, I thought you were on the winning end of this trade. Bella can cook, remember?"

Rose could only narrow her eyes at us as her make-up artist began applying a coat of lipstick.

By the time mine and Alice's shiny new French manicures had dried, Rose was all finished up. She looked gorgeous. The make-up was fresh and clean – just a hint of black-eyeliner and subtle lash extensions and pink, shimmering cheeks. She had been planning on just doing her own make-up but her future mother-in-law, Chelsea, had insisted. And apparently nobody said no to Chelsea McCarty. So, with only a few hours left until the rehearsal and less than twenty-four hours until the ceremony, we'd booked some impromptu girls time at the local spa.

I think it was probably good for Rose to get away from the set-up for a bit. From the sounds of it, Esme and Chelsea had everything under control. Unfortunately, our couple hours of girls' time meant it would be just that much longer until I'd be seeing Edward again. But this was Rose and Emmett's day, so I shut my mouth and did what I was told. Besides, when you've been waiting this long, what's an extra couple of hours, really?

Well, apparently, it was torture.

Esme had asked Alice if we could stop at the grocery store to pick up hamburger buns on the way to the cabin. Which would have been fine if Alice hadn't taken twenty minutes debating the benefits of poppy-seed verves non-poppy seed buns. And then whole wheat verses white bread. And finally, finally, after Rose and I convinced her to get an assortment of breads, the cashier hard a hard time taking his pervy little eyes off Rose long enough to bag our purchases and count out the correct amount of change. And when we got back to the car and loaded everything in the trunk, Alice decided she wanted to run back in and get nail polish so we could all paint our toes that night. And then Rose decided she needed a travel-sized hairspray just in case her hair-do didn't last the entire day. But finally, after I was beginning to think that we would never leave, Alice and Rose had made it back to the car and we were on our way to the cabin.

Forty-five minutes. That's what I kept telling myself. Forty-five minutes, and we'd be there. Forty-five minutes and I'd see him. And I was sure it only felt like Alice was taking her sweet time getting there.

x.x.x

We pulled up to the cabin just in time for supper. Other than the vehicles parked along the driveway, the front yard was empty. As I climbed from the car and closed the door behind me, I perched my sunglasses on the top of my head and paused, just breathing it all in. I couldn't believe it had been two years since I'd been here.

My eyes automatically wandered to the small guesthouse off to the left of the cabin, still practically concealed by towering spruce trees. I smiled, and in my mind I could still see Edward standing at the door in the darkness, scratching the back of his neck, just looking so hesitant and unsure.

We'd come a long way since then.

"For someone who was in such a hurry to get here, you're sure taking your sweet time," Rose said as she passed me, her arms loaded with grocery bags.

"Oh shut up," I replied, "I'm just taking it all in."

"Well take it in a little faster. Em's texted me like seventeen times wondering where we are. Apparently our big strong men are starving."

I rolled my eyes but went to grab the rest of the grocery bags from the trunk while Alice pulled out her overnight back and threw it over her shoulder.

"Excited?" she asked me as she slammed the trunk of the car shut.

"Yeah," I said, automatically turning and scanning the yard to see if Edward had noticed if we'd arrived. But there was no sign of him yet.

"Oh, give me those bags and go find your man, Swan," Alice giggled, holding out her arms for the grocery bags.

"You sure?" I asked.

"Definitely. I got to have my big reunion with Jazz at the spa and you guys had to watch. Now it's your turn."

"Thanks, Al," I grinned, quickly passing her the bags. I started jogging towards the cabin, easily catching Rose and then passing her. I waved as I jogged by her and she shouted out something about my vagina and Edward's pants and I laughed, flipping her off as I neared the house. I raced down the path that ran along the side of the cabin, past the wooden gazebo that sat in the shade of the tall trees. I felt like a child – a child racing to catch the ice-cream truck, but lucky for me what I had in store was so, so much better than a frozen summer treat. I could smell barbeque and hear voices and laughter and music and then finally, finally I was there.

It seemed like the moment I paused as the edge of the back patio, his head lifted. Our eyes met across the small crowd, and instantly a smile lit up his entire face. My heart pounded wildly and I felt like the matching grin on my lips would crack my face right in half. He excused himself from whomever he was talking to and began weaving around people as he made his way towards me, his eyes not leaving mine once.

It was like neither of us could move fast enough. When I couldn't wait for him to get to me I raced to meet him. I was swept up into the embrace of his arms when we collided, my arms around him, his arms around me, my legs around his waist, our lips not hesitating, anxious to reunite.

"Hi," I said, breathless and afraid that, if he hadn't been holding me so damn tight, I might actually float away.

"Hey," he said and never, ever had I seen a smile on his face so big. And I just couldn't stop the smiling. I kissed him again. His fingers dug into my back. And that thing, whatever the hell it was that happened to me every time we were this close began to take over my senses. I wanted to climb on top of him, drag him off to the guesthouse, find some privacy in the trees, something, anything. And as it always went when I was with him, I couldn't get close enough. The world around us faded into the background until we were the only two left on the entire planet. The only thing I could sense was him and the longing and the love and the months apart. And the realization that this was it. We would never have to be apart again.

It was a familiar voice from somewhere behind us that was the first thing to break through our happy little bubble. "Fuck you, just friends."

Finally, I pulled away, feeling dazed as I looked down at Edward. His gaze didn't leave mine and somehow the grin on his face widened.

"Emmett!" I heard a woman's voice scold.

Edward and I broke out into laughter, and soon, it seemed that everyone around us joined in. I slid down Edward's body as he set me on the ground, the moment not gone but paused, if just for now.

"Your hair," Edward said, watching me with his face tilted.

"Yeah. You like?" I asked, pulling my fingers through my textured, shoulder length cut.

"Love it." He kissed my forehead. "Love you."

"And I love you."

"Jesus." He threw his arms over my shoulder, tucking me into his side as we turned to face our spectators. Front and center was Emmett, his beer raised to us and grin on his face. "Well cheers to you, you fucking liars."

"Emmett!" I heard the same woman's voice scold. I turned to see a tall, dark-haired woman standing off to the side, her arms crossed over her chest as she frowned at Emmett.

Emmett scowled at the woman. "Aw, come on, ma. Knock it off."

"I don't care how old you are, you will watch your mouth around your mother."

"Ma," Emmett huffed, and the woman who I now assumed to be Mrs. McCarty waved him off and sauntered off to help Rose with the hamburger buns. Emmett muttered something under his breath as he watched her go and then turned back to us.

"So what the fuck?" Emmett demanded. I heard a loud sigh from across the patio and I choked back my laughter.

Edward shrugged casually. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, it's just I could have sworn that earlier today you promised me the two of you were nothing but friends."

I looked up at Edward in faux surprise. "You never would have said that."

"No, I never would have said that," Edward agreed, looking at me with the same astonishment.

"Oh, come on," Emmett practically whined. "You did. We were standing right outside the gazebo. Come on."

Edward just shrugged, doing his best to look at Emmett blankly.

"Oh please. Somebody tell me what the hell is going on!"

I raised an eyebrow, not taking my eyes off Edward. "So… you mean he doesn't know?" I tilted my head in Emmett's direction.

Edward shrugged, still playing along. "I don't know. Emmett, don't you know?"

"Know what?" he begged.

Edward and I looked at each other and shrugged, eyes wide. "I guess he doesn't know."

"You guys!" Emmett practically roared. I had to fight to keep my expression straight as Jake passed us, glancing at Emmett, who was almost rolling around on the ground in agony.

"Bella!" Jake exclaimed, stealing me from Edward's grasp and picking me up in a hug. "Long time no see, chica. How's things?"

"Things are… amazing," I said, grinning over Jake's shoulder to where Edward stood.

"Good to hear. You probably wouldn't believe it, but folks at the bar still ask about you."

"Why wouldn't I believe it?" I asked. I placed my hands on my hips and raised an eyebrow smugly. "I was a star in that town."

"Sure you were." He patted my back patronizingly. I shook him off and punched him playfully on the shoulder.

He grinned down at me. "Speaking of which, Miss Superstar, you need to come play a show for me one of these days. Since you'll be so close now."

"You bet, Jake. I'd love to." I grinned as he pulled me in for another hug. "Oh! One more thing. Do you remember that truck you were going to sell Jazz a few summers back?"

"Old Flash?"

"Uh… sure? Do you still have it?"

"Her."

"Huh?" I blinked up at him.

"Her. The truck's a her."

"Oh…" I tried to find an appropriate response, but came up blank. Instead I shrugged and pulled a slip of paper from my back pocket. "Right. Well. Is it – she – still for sale?"

"If you really want her."

"I really do." I unfolded the check and held it out to him.

He glanced down at piece of paper and a smile lit up his face. "Well, in that case. She's all yours!" He held out his hand and as I shook it I couldn't help but laugh. I could hear Edward huffing and muttering under his breath in the background, but I ignored him. He wanted to buy me my own car in the worst way. But there was no way I was going to drive some stupid little tin can car for him. Not when I had Old Flash.

"So I assume you're all packed and ready for the big move?" Jake asked.

"What move?" Emmett asked desperately, still sounding like he was in serious pain.

"Oh, I'm moving to Seattle on Sunday. I'll be living with Edward. It's no big deal," I said, waving Emmett off and turning back to Jake.

"No big – no… big…" Emmett sputtered. "But you said you were just friends!"

Jake jerked his thumb in Emmett's direction. "What's his problem?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Who knows? Pre-marital breakdown is my best guess."

"Ah." Jake nodded, slapping Edward on the back as he began to move on, "Well, I'll see you guys in a bit. Tell Em to keep his shit together, hey?"

I laughed, waving as Jake made his way toward the barbeque. Emmett seemed to have mostly recovered by the time I turned back to him. He was sucking back his beer his eyes narrowed at me as he drank.

"What?" I asked, shrugging innocently.

Em pulled the bottle from his lips with a pop. "Oh, you know what," he growled. "You know, whatever. Keep secrets from Emmett, like it's no big. I mean, you two are only in my wedding party, but whatever. Bella's moving in with Edward, but by all means, keep this information to yourselves. It's not like I would want to know or anything. It's not like it's a big deal or anything. I mean, I don't even care—"

"Emmett." Edward cut him off, practically doubled over laughing at his friend. "Seriously, chill out. We were just messing with you."

Emmett blinked. "So you're not moving in together?"

"Oh, no, we're definitely moving in together." Edward straightened and put his arm back around my shoulders, pulling me against him. "It's just that we didn't really tell anybody. I mean, Alice knew but that's only because she's moving in with Jasper -"

"What. What?"

"Uh…" Edward glanced at me and I shrugged, fighting back a grin. "Alice is moving to Vancouver. She's going to open another store…"

Emmett looked like he was about to pass out. "I think I need to sit down… or do some shots or something," he said faintly. With that, he turned around and stumbled through the crowd, beer bottle clutched in his hand like a life preserver.

"Aw…" I said, watching him go. "That was a little mean, don't you think?"

"Naw. It was mean when he replaced my lecture recordings with audio of him and Rose fucking. What you saw right there was just well deserved."

"Did he actually do that?" I groaned.

"Yeah. I can let you hear them to you later if you want."

I gagged. "I'll pass. But seriously – you still have them? Why?"

He grinned mischievously. "Blackmail, of course."

"Ah. Well, of course." I was going to have to warn Rose. See if she couldn't try to keep Emmett in line for the next twenty years or so.

Yeah. Right.

Edward and I joined Jasper and Alice at the buffet-style dinner that was set out on a few tables next to the barbeque. We filled our plates with hamburgers and all the fixings, laughing about how easy it had been to get to Emmett as we meandered down to the dock. We all sat on one side, toes in the water and full plates in our laps.

The set up along the beach looked amazing. It was simple, really. White chairs were placed in the sand, colorful flowers lining the long aisle and leading down to the lake's edge where tomorrow Rose and Emmett would stand and tie themselves to each other, forever. Water lapping their toes and a calm, glistening lake and towering mountains would be their only backdrop. And then later, it would be dinner and dancing on the beach as we celebrated the union of two of our closest friends. It was going to be amazing.

Alice let out a long breath from beside me as she chewed on a fresh carrot. "I can't believe Rose is getting married," she said wistfully.

"I can't believe you're moving to Canada," Edward countered.

"And I can't believe you're moving in with a girl who isn't related to you." Alice looked over at her cousin, smirking.

Edward flipped her off before pulling his sunglasses down over his face and leaning his weight back on his hands behind him. "I can't believe we're all getting our shit together."

"Yeah, it's only been two years," I scoffed.

"For some," Alice said, pointing her fork at Edward and. I "For others, it's been, what? Seven years? Nine?"

Edward and I looked at each other. "It's been too long. Oh my god," I laughed, resting my head on his shoulder. Doing the quick math, I realized that in a few months it would officially be nine years since we first met. "We were such a mess, weren't we? Did it really take us that long to get here?"

"It really did," Edward said, reaching back and placing his hand over mine, giving it a gently squeeze. "But hey, we're here now. That's what matters, right?"

"Yeah," I agreed. Because now felt good. Now felt really, really good.

"So, when can we expect you two to talk that walk down the aisle?" Alice asked, leaning forward to see our reactions. I laughed. Edward didn't.

Silence fell over our small group and my eyes widened as I looked down, suddenly very interested in the remaining food on my plate.

"Really?" Edward asked, finally chuckling as he looked down at me over the top of his sunglasses. "That's all I get? Laughter?"

"Well it's nothing we've ever really discussed," I said. "I mean, yeah, eventually. I'm only twenty-four. And you're still in school."

He shrugged. "I'll be done in December."

"Then we'll talk about it then," I said, settling back on my elbows.

"It's a date," he promised, lips near my ear. I smiled. And it was a date I never dreamed I would look forward to. But now… well, now I was living a life I never dreamed I would. So yeah, when the time came… I'd marry him.

But right now this was all I needed.

x.x.x


A locket? A tattoo? A wedding? And one chapter to go.

I'm still debating the epilogue... idk idk.

Much love.