Here she is, the last chapter. There will be an epilogue after this, (I won't make you wait as long as you did for this chapter).

An extra special thank you to my team: Nic, Sri and Iris. They have been instrumental in getting me through the past few months. This chapter wouldn't exist without their support. I love all of you girls, so hard. Thanks for finding me in this crazy fic world.

Well, holy moly me oh my

You're the apple of my eye

Girl, I've never loved one like you

Man, oh, man, you're my best friend

I scream it to the nothingness

There ain't nothing that I need

Well, hot and heavy pumpkin pie

Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ

Ain't nothing please me more than you

Home, let me come home

Home is wherever I'm with you

Home, let me come home

Home is wherever I'm with you

"Home" - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

October 31, 2007

We're having a great time handing out Halloween candy at Edward's.

I haven't slept in my condo in three weeks. I don't even think of it as home; it's just my condo. Home is where I am with Edward. We spent a few nights at my condo when I first closed on it, but we both seem to prefer Edward's. It feels like we're building a home together here. I use my place for work, which has been steady since starting on my own. I'm making more money than I thought I would, and the work is increasing enough that I may need to hire a junior programmer to ease up my workload. I'm determined to succeed, but I'm not willing to sacrifice my relationship this time.

We're settled on his couch, enjoying the leftover candy, and watching Buffy because we still need to finish the series since starting it together last year.

"So I've been thinking…" Edward starts as he pauses the show. "You know how you work at your place during the day but then work here at night?"

Uh-oh. Is this when Edward tells me I'm not achieving that work-life balance I've been aiming for?

"Why don't you just turn one of the spare bedrooms into an office here?"

"Then I wouldn't have any reason to go back to my place."

"That's what I was thinking. Why don't we make you being here official? You could lease out your place like we've talked about before…" He trails off.

"You don't think it's too soon for us to officially be living together?"

"Bella," he says, laughing lightly while taking my hand, "we're pretty much living together now. The thought of not spending a night with you?" He jokingly shudders.

I don't want to make the same mistakes I did in the past. Jeremy and I moved in together pretty quickly, too, but I know I ended up living with Jeremy because of convenience, not love. Living with Edward is all about love.

"How quickly do you think I can find someone to lease the condo?"

Edward doesn't answer with words. The candy and Buffy are forgotten about as we celebrate our new arrangement.

November 6, 2007

"Oh, Rose… She's perfect." And she is. This little squirmy bundle I'm holding in my arms is absolute perfection.

"A daughter, Bella. A girl."

Not once during her pregnancy did Rose bring up any concerns about having a daughter, but now that the reality is here, the anxiety is all over her face.

"I know, Rose." She's worried about her for all the reasons we know it's dangerous to be a girl: the unkind boyfriends, the preying strangers, the absent fathers. Rose and I bonded over these things. I shift little Ella so I can reach out and hold her mother's hand. "I can't see the future, but she's got you and Em for parents. She's just about the luckiest fucking kid I know."

Rose smiles and squeezes my hand. "You know we're going to have to cut back on the fucking swearing now, right?" We laugh together, but there are tears, too. I just let them fall, content to leave my hands holding people I love instead of wiping them away.

We sit in silence until Ella starts to wake up. "Oh, thank God. Pass her to me. I think my boobs are going to explode." Rose reaches out, and I'm happy to pass Ella along before she starts to cry. Emmett arrives as Rose has a boob out, trying to get her daughter to latch on, and I half expect him to make some sort of sarcastic remark, but the look on his face is pure admiration. He's completely smitten by the scene in front of him. Ella really is the luckiest girl.

I feel pretty lucky myself. I have Edward and two of the greatest friends in the world, who have seen me through the darkest of times and helped keep me sane. They make great mothers, and they'll be fantastic role models for me when I decide to become a mom.

"I have some news," I start, now that Ella is contentedly nursing. "In the new year, Edward and I are moving in together. I know that seems fast—"

"Bella! I'm so happy for you."

"What? No warnings about moving too quickly?" I really thought Rose would have something to say; she's usually my voice of reason.

"What am I going to say? It took you two a year to go on a date, Bella. I'm glad you're finally starting to move things along." She winks at me. "I've seen the way you two look at each other. He's the one. He's brought out the best in you. Look how well your business is doing in two months. I've never seen you happier or more confident."

I notice Emmett nodding out of the corner of my eye, but he says nothing.

"Look, I know in the beginning I warned you not to get too wrapped up in him, but you are. And he's equally wrapped up in you. I'm so glad you're finally happy, and he's worth it. You're worth it."

December 8, 2007

I've secured renters for my condo for February, but Edward and I decide we want to spend our first Christmas together in our own place, which means I officially moved in today. It may have been the fastest move in all time. Or the longest. Over the past months, most of the things I need have drifted over here. Today, I brought the minimal furniture my apartment had—I never got around to decorating much—and dropped off anything we didn't need at Goodwill. It took us the morning.

We're currently just out of town at the local tree farm, holding hands and trying to find the perfect tree. Edward makes everything better. I've never particularly liked Christmas. Growing up, they were rife with tension. Charlie screamed because there was too much money spent on Christmas, or he was pissed because there wasn't enough money to keep up the illusion. For a long time, the best Christmas memory I had was the time Edward called. But here we are. We're together, and I'm a giddy fool.

"Here they are! White pines." Edward's been going on about the pros and cons of different trees, and it's honestly been an education. I didn't know there was anything to know beyond evergreens Christmas trees. Turns out that there's a whole lot of variety. Edward tugs my hand and pulls me off the main path into a sea of soft-green needles. The snow starts to gently fall, and Edward turns to me. "It's a sign. Our tree is nearby."

I can't help it. I lean in and kiss him. He's so frigging adorable right now. I don't pull away until there's the sound of someone coughing nearby. Damn it. Caught making out in public, but I can't quite muster up guilt. I'm so in love with this man that I don't care who knows.

His cheeks are slightly pink, maybe from the cold or from getting caught in a public display of affection. I know without a doubt this is the man I'm going to spend my life with. If I were a braver girl, I'd get down on one knee right now in the middle of Edward's white pines. Instead, I brush the gathering snow from his beanie and then follow him to find our tree.

March 2008

If I'd known how much more I was going to enjoy this, I'd have done it years ago. It's been hard work, but I'm good. Once word got around I was starting out on my own, people sought me out. In six months, I've become busy enough to need two employees and space for us to work in.

It's nearly midnight, and the office is dead. I've sent everyone home for the night, but there are a few things I need to do to have the weekend with Edward. I'm happy I'm nearly done and really looking forward to going home to Edward. I message him to tell him I'll be less than an hour. And then, because I'm feeling saucy, I send a second message.

Last year around this time, I knew I was falling in love with you. I couldn't stop thinking about you. The only way I got through meetings was imagining you under the table with your mouth on me.

He doesn't reply to either message, which means he's still out or away from his phone.

It's likely for the best, anyway. If he had replied, we would've spent half an hour sexting. It's way better if I spend that time getting work done and then go home to the real thing.

I'm about to shut down for the night when my phone buzzes. A text from Edward.

Come open the front door.

I barely have time to turn the lock before he's on me. In a single move, he's spun us around so my back slams the door shut.

"Fucking Christ, woman. The things you do to me."

I'm pinned against the door and he hasn't even kissed me, yet, so I know he means the text message.

"You like that I thought of you that way?" He moans a little as I nip at his neck.

"You were falling in love with me. A year ago."

"I was figuring it out a year ago. I fell before that—"

Anything else I was going to say is cut off as his mouth moves to mine. His passion overtakes me, and I move a leg over his hip so I can grind against him. Suddenly, I can't get close enough. His hands stray down my body, stopping when he gets to my hips so he can lift me off the ground. I'm pinned between him and the door again, but I want to move against him.

"My desk," I say, panting against his lips. He doesn't answer, but we move from the door to my office down the hall. I'm still wrapped around his waist, and my mouth has moved to his neck. Once we move through the office doorway, Edward lets me down. I'd be disappointed, but he's removing my sweater. My pants come off next.

"Your chair." He says before he's kissing me again. We advance backward until I'm behind my desk. I lean against it and try to pull Edward down on me, but he pulls away. "Your chair," he repeats, pulling me off the desk and turning us around. "Sit," he commands, and I obey. Now he's the one leaning on the desk. "You were saying?" He smirks at me. Damn tease.

I'm in no state to tease back. "I used to imagine you under the table with your mouth on me." He kneels in front of me. His hands trace up my legs and back down, bringing my panties down.

"My mouth where? Here?" He kisses the inside of my knee.

I shake my head no. I'm at a loss for words. He's teasing me again, and I love it.

"I can't hear you, Bella. What about here?" He kisses the inside of my other knee.

"No," I say breathily.

He places my leg over his shoulder and then runs his hands up the inside of my thighs. When he gets close to where I want him, his hands move away and over my hips. He palms my ass and pulls me to him. He hasn't shaved, and his scruff scrapes my goose-pebbled skin as my thighs move by his face.

"Here?" he asks, turning and kissing the top of my leg. His cheek scratches against where I wish his mouth was.

"Closer," I manage to say, and then I moan as his lips ghost over me. He's holding my hips firmly, preventing me from pressing into him.

"Here?" His breath washes over me, his mouth teasing my pussy with his question.

"Mmm…." I can't form words. I'm so mad with desire for this man.

His lips press against me. His hands move, and he spreads my legs more. That's when his tongue finally makes contact. It's a good thing we aren't trying to be stealthy in my office because I'm coming undone. His mouth moves over me as his fingers enter me, and I'm moaning again. His free hand wanders over my body until it finds my nipple. His fingers pinch and play while his tongue licks and flicks. It's too much. I fist my hands in his hair and cry out with pleasure.

When I finally settle down, Edward stands over me still fully clothed. I'm completely naked and still sitting in the chair. It's incredibly sexy. I need him in me. But first, I want to reciprocate. I lean forward, cupping Edward in one hand, kissing him through the fly of his jeans.

"Get on your desk," he commands, pulling me gently away from him, and I comply.

Our hands are frantic on his belt and then his fly. Edward doesn't even bother to remove his pants and enters me as soon as his cock is free.

I always think I can't love him any more than I do, that things can't get any better, but then he does something that proves me wrong. Right now, it's the feeling of his clothes against my naked skin. It's the look on his face as he watches himself move in me, as if he still can't quite believe this is happening. It's how I feel, too. It feels good, better than usual, and the usual is pretty fucking amazing.

I watch him move in me.

Naked.

Oh, fuck.

"Edward!" I put my hands on his hips to try and get him to stop thrusting against me. "Edward, stop!"

He stops immediately. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"Condom." The pill and I don't get along, so Edward and I have always used condoms.

Until now.

"Fuck."

"Did you bring any?"

"I did."

He makes no move to grab one.

I look him in the eyes, "This feels really good."

"It does." He looks back down to where we're still connected. This conversation hasn't taken the wind out of his sails. Maybe I'm about to.

"I'm not sure I want a baby, yet."

"Yet?" His eyes snap to mine.

This is the one topic Edward and I never talk about. He once asked me if I wanted kids, and I said no… but I was with Jeremy at the time.

"With you, I think I do."

"I want that. So fucking badly. With you." Edward leans in and kisses me. It's full of passion as he pulls at my bottom lip and then pulls back quickly. "Sorry. I should pull out."

I do some quick calculations in my head. It should be okay. And besides, what's the worst that could happen? Something that could actually be pretty great. I buck my hips against him, pulling him closer with my legs.

"You could, but don't."