Lots of stuff happenin' this chapter. I have one more chapter written after this one, and plan to write a few more plus an epilogue. I'll post a chapter tomorrow, and hopefully have the next up by Wednesday or Thursday…

Thanks everyone who took the time to let me know how they're feelin' about the story so far. I'm so glad you guys are enjoying this!
Banner for this story can be found on my profile page.
Once again, I do not own Twilight.

P.S. Those of you interested in my Oneshot Inked Inc., well, it's now a Twoshot!

Song Rec: Easy to Love You by Theory of a Deadman

And: Hanging by a Moment by Lifehouse

See ya at the bottom!

"Hey, what can I get you?" I ask the next customer, not bothering to look up from the register where I was rolling pennies into the little sleeves you have to use to turn them into the bank.

Stupid little fuckers if you ask me.

"Ten minutes of your time." I don't even have to look up to know it's him. I could tell the moment he walked into Sue's. I could just feel it. Like this weird tummy-flippy thingy. "Please Bella?" He whispers, his hand reaching out to still my own.

I look up at him, but he isn't looking at my face. Rather, he's smiling and looking at my arm. My wrist, to be exact, where the coffee charm bracelet rests, reminding me of him every time I look down.

Damn thing.

I drop my pennies and hide my wrist- and the jewelry- behind my back. "I'm working, Edward." I say, when all I really want to do is hug him.

"I already talked to Sue." he shrugs sheepishly. "You're actually on break now." I glare to my right where Sue is- not so subtly- watching and listening to us. "Please, Bella. I got your letter and the... Money. Just please, let me explain my side of the story."

"Ten minutes." I tell him seriously and shed my apron, coming around the counter to meet him. He smiles brilliantly and rests his hand on my lower back, opening the door for me like the perfect gentleman he is.

God I miss the feeling of him touching me.

"I thought we could go for a walk?" he clears his throat nervously.

"You okay green eyes?" he smiles at my nickname while I grimace at my slip up. Be cool and distant, Bella. You're supposed to be moving on, not falling harder.

"I'm fine." he chuckles. "Um, so yeah. I just wanted to start by getting something out."

"Okay." Jeez, he's gonna give himself a fucking hernia. "Just breathe." Is he hyperventilating? "Edward-"

"I never liked Marie." he blurts out.

"Do you want to sit?" I ask, concernedly. He shakes his head. I think for a moment as we walk; he's silent as he gives me time to digest what he's said. "So you didn't like Marie…" I trail off, not sure what he's getting at. I still have to force myself not to cringe at the sight of him and… her. I know now that Marie has nothing beyond friendship in her mind when she thinks of Edward, but still. I don't like the thought.

"When we met... I had just met Marie the night before. It was kinda a set up by Alice, I think. I met her and she was just... A girl. She was pretty, and I was interested in friendship. Maybe a date or two, but... There was no click," He snaps his fingers to reiterate, "Nothing special. When I ran into you, of course I thought you were her. I had no reason to believe otherwise. But when I looked at you... I felt something. And I had no idea why. Then you told me you were, well you, and I knew that I needed to see you again."

"So you lied about liking my sister to spend time with me?" I don't know how to feel about that. Is it sweet, or creepy? I think it's sweet, actually. I mean, this is Edward we're talking about. He doesn't have a creepy bone in his body.

"Not at first. At first I really did want help getting close to her. I think the idea of using her as an excuse just kind of got to me." he looks over to me nervously. "And then... the idea of the arrangement just kind of snowballed from there."

"So you didn't really need help to get girls to date you?" Duh Bella. This is Edward. With his looks and personality? He probably has to beat chicks off with a stick.

No Edwards too nice to use a stick. Maybe a pillow?

"No," he snorts. "I did need help with that. "Tanya really did a number on me." we walk in silence for a bit, both of us deep in thought. I eye his hand swinging next to mine and wonder what he'd do if I reached out and grabbed it.

I can't stop my gaze from running across the features of his face; his angular nose, slightly pouty lips, and shining emerald eyes framed by long and dark lashes. God I love him.

Why is he telling me all this? "So, what happened next?"

"Next? You actually agreed to spend time with my sorry ass. And I was over the moon, believe me. And then time went on... And I realized that you were more than just a beautiful girl." I blush at that, and so does he. "You were- No. You are perfect, in your own imperfect way." his eyes squint. "Does that make sense?"

No. "Yes." I clear my throat. "So when did you meet her?"

"Meet who?" he asks, carefully threading his fingers through mine and tugging me down the street Em and Rose's shop's on.

"The girl." I prompt; he gives me a blank look. "The girl you love so much? The one who's worth 'chasing after'?" I use air quotes, referring to his note.

He just smiles and looks away, continuing to guide us further down the street. "About four weeks ago, if my memory is correct."

I do a mental calculation. Four weeks ago is around the time we met. Did he meet her before or after? Who is she?

And where the hell are we going?

As if he could read my thoughts, he pulls me to a stop just past Em and Ro's music place. Which is closed, by the way. Probably so they could recover after Robert Pattinson's visit.

"Here we are." he drops my hand and covers my eyes.

"Edward," I try to pull away but he shushes me.

"Just trust me Bella." How could I not trust the man I love so desperately.

"I do, Edward." I tell him softly, placing my own hands on top of his over my eyes. He lets out a sigh and kisses my head tenderly.

And it feels like heaven.

But why is he kissing me?

He walks us forward and pulls open a door. There's a jingle that alerts our presence. "Edward."

"Sh. Trust, remember?" So I stay quiet. We walk a few more feet and stop. He leans down and whispers, "Are you ready?"

I'm so captivated by his sheer presence that all I can do is nod; afraid my voice will betray my emotion. He takes a deep inhalation of breath. "Just promise me that whatever I say, and whatever you think... Just promise me that you'll never hate me."

"What? How could I hate you?" I ask, just as quietly. I try to tunr around to face him, but he stops me by pinning my back to his chest.

Holy mother of god; were touching.

"Just promise me, Bella."

"I promise." he takes our hands off my eyes, and I'm blinded by the sudden re-emergence of light to my eyes. Eventually I adjust and...

We're in the bakery I saw through the window yesterday. Only from the inside it's... so much better.

Exactly what I've always imagined owning. Everything from the white molding running halfway up the wall separating the brown and pink striped wallpaper and cotton-candy pink walls, to the bronze tables and chairs with brown cushions. The floor is a dark brown wood and the display counter runs the whole length of the back wall under the counter.

"You're so quiet." Edward whispers, reminding me that he's there. Reminding me that this is someone else's dream, not my own.

"This is amazing..." I'm too in awe to say much else.

"You like it?"

"It's exactly what I pictured in my head whenever I thought of my shop." I turn to face him, but never take my eyes off the surroundings. "Who owns this? Think they would hire me?" I ask, only half joking.

"I don't think you'll have a problem working here." he tells me cryptically. "Come this way." he pulls me over behind the counter and into another room. It's the kitchen. Huge pink Kitchenaid mixers and pink ovens.

"Where in the world did they find pink ovens?" I muse aloud.

"It wasn't easy." I look back at him and he's smiling. Just... Watching me with a content smile on his face.

"You helped or something?"

"Or something." His cryptic-ness is really starting to chap my ass. "Check it out." he pulls back a pink cupcake print drape revealing a huge window that looks into the main room. "So people can watch the stuff being made."

"That's amazing." I peer through the window, falling in love with every aspect of this building. It's then that I notice the curly brown letters painted on the pink wall across from us. "What is that? It looks like it says..."

No.

I'm seeing things. I look up to Edward, but he won't meet my eyes.

I leave the kitchen, still not believing what I'm seeing. "Sweet Treats," I whisper, barely audible. I notice a painting behind the counter.

Staring at it, confusion and wonder masking my vision, I run my finger along the canvas portrait of my Gram and I mixing a batch of cookies in her kitchen, flour and cookie dough flying everywhere.

"Marie found the picture... I just thought, you know, with what you told me about you and your Gram... I didn't think the place would be complete without some piece of her." Edward whispers, right behind me.

"You did this..." I trail off, motioning around the bakery.

"All for you." He tells me honestly. "It's all yours." I can feel the tears in my eyes as I spin around in the middle of the room, taking in everything. "Do you... Like it?"

"Like it?" I ask him incredulously. "Edward this... I don't even know what to say. And it's all mine?" it's like he literally went into my mind and created my dream bakery. How the hell did he know I wanted pink ovens for christ sake? "Edward, I can't accept this."

Am I dreaming? I feel like I am.

He shakes his head, "Yes you can. And you will. This is your dream Bella. I want you to be happy."

"Why?" I cross my arms as the tears slip freely from my eyes.

"Why what?"

"Why would you do this? It must've cost you..."

"I bought the ovens, the mixers, the tables, and some hardware. And Bella, you're worth every penny. I told you in that note that the woman I'm so in love with is worth chasing after, that she's worth the world. And she is." He pauses, seemingly pondering what or how to say something. "Somehow you've become my everything, Bella." he takes a few steps closer to me and wraps his arms around my waist. "I love you so much." His green eyes aer so full of seincereity and… Love. Love for me. He loves me?

He loves me. All this time… he was in love with me!

He must take my silence to be a negative reaction.

"I know that you probably think this is too sudden, but-"

I cut him off. With my lips.

And I'll be damned if it isn't the best kiss of my twenty eight six. I pull away so only our noses are touching. "You love me?" I ask, needing to hear it again.

He blushes, but holds my eyes. "So much."

"Edward-"

"You promised me... No matter what I said, you wouldn't hate me." his voice is pleading.

"I could never hate you, Edward." I kiss him quickly again. Quickly but sweetly. "I love you too damn much."

One, two, three… AWWW! He built her a bakery! (Some of you guessed this way early on)

Edward finally grew the balls to tell her and Bella finally opened her eyes. I hope you guys are satisfied with the way things turned out :)

Lemme know!