Author's Note: Thanks again to EKSmith and miaokuancha for pre-reading. Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.

Posting tonight since I have an early staff meeting at work and won't have time on Friday!

Chapter 34

I wake up Tuesday morning feeling both nervous and excited. After waking the kids, I head downstairs to mix up the batter for pancakes while they get dressed. Even Mike joins us for breakfast.

I walk the kids to the bus stop with tears in my eyes, then return to the house to get showered and dressed for the very last time. Mike is just finishing his breakfast when I walk back in the front door.

"I'm going to miss this, Bella," he says quietly. "I'm going to miss you."

"I hope you find your own happiness one day," I tell him sincerely before going upstairs.

After my shower, I quickly pack up my things from the guest bathroom and text Edward before walking downstairs to an empty house. I look around it one last time. I'm sure I'll set foot in here again, but it will never again be my house. As eager as I am to start my life with Edward, I can't deny that the end of my 11-year marriage makes me sad.

Edward's arrival startles me from my thoughts.

"Good morning," I smile, opening the door.

Edward leans downs and kisses me as he steps into the foyer. "All ready to go?"

"Yep, everything is packed and ready."

"No second thoughts?" he asks tentatively.

"Absolutely none, Edward. I'm in this all the way, the hell with what anyone else thinks. If that makes me a selfish bitch in anyone else's eyes, then so be it."

Together, Edward and I fold down the back row of seats in the minivan and stack it as high as we can with boxes, as well as the second row of seats and the passenger seat. Once we can't fit anything more in the minivan, we're ready for the first trip to our new apartment. Edward follows in his rental car, filled with some of the smaller boxes.

After picking up the key from the booking office, we unload the first batch of boxes and then Edward hops into the passenger seat for the drive back to the house. We're able to fit everything else in with just one more trip. I reluctantly let Edward drive my baby over to our new place.

When all of the boxes are inside the apartment, we begin unpacking. While the master bedroom is fairly large, with a king-sized bed, the other two bedrooms are quite small. One has a double bed and dresser, while the other has a futon and a small desk. All of the apartments come with high-speed internet access, which will be great for me. Edward carries my computer and printer into the third bedroom and sets everything up on the desk for me while I put away my clothes in the master bedroom.

Since the apartment comes with a small selection of dishes, we decide to leave my kitchen things in their boxes stacked in a corner of the kitchen, where they'll be readily available if there's something I need. We also decide to leave my books, CDs and DVDs in their boxes in the living room for now. "That wasn't as bad as I expected," Edward says when we're finished.

While I take a much-needed break, Edward runs out to bring back some fast food for our lunch.

"So, I was thinking… maybe I'll fly back to Seattle this weekend?" he asks as we eat our Subway sandwiches in our new kitchen. "After I pack up my things, I'll drive back in the Volvo."

"Do you think everything will fit in your car?"

"Yeah, I think so — I don't have much besides my guitar and a lot fewer clothes than you have," he chuckles.

I stick my tongue out at him. "That's because I had two wardrobes — one for the office and a more casual one for home. Plus the things I got at Alice's shop or in Port Angeles."

"So what do we need to do next?"

"Well, I'm going to contact a real estate agent and start looking for a new home soon. Are you ok if I go see some houses without you this weekend?"

"Sure… I wouldn't want any house that you don't like, so you can take the first pass."

"All right, that sounds good. I was kind of hoping you could meet my kids this weekend, but I don't even know if it's supposed to be my weekend with them… I guess I need to work out a schedule with Mike."

"Bella, about our new house," Edward begins nervously. "You know I can't really help you with a down payment. I mean I got a little bit of money from Ben, but…"

I wave him off. "It's fine. I have plenty of money saved, and I don't mind being the main breadwinner until you're a famous composer."

Edward just rolls his eyes at my optimism.

"That reminds me — Mike and I are going to need to go by our bank and split up our joint account one day soon, too. And talk to our investment advisor about how to split that account. He'll also have to refinance the mortgage in his name only so he can pay me my share of the equity in the house. All these details…" I trail off, shaking my head.

"When do you expect the divorce to be final?"

"Mike's attorney said that no-fault divorces typically require the couple to be living apart for two years before granting a divorce—"

"Two years?" Edward interrupts.

"You didn't let me finish," I chide gently. "A good attorney can usually get that waiting period waived if both parties agree in writing, so that the divorce could be final around six months after we file."

"That's better," he says with a smile.

"Yeah… Um, also, I was thinking about maybe trying to go back to work at my old company once my work is finished for my current consulting clients."

"What? Why?"

I shrug. "It just might work out better for one of us to have a steady income — and benefits."

"But you hated your job."

"I hated being overworked, while I had three young children to take care of. I didn't mind my actual job. HR had told me that they'd work with me and find me another position with less responsibility. If they're still willing to do that, I think I'd like to."

"Only if that's what you want…"

"It is."

After we finish lunch, we check out the rest of the apartment complex. Edward is excited that there is a gym so close, where he can continue his regular workouts — at no cost, even. We check out the clubhouse, hoping maybe there will be a piano in there that he can play, but no such luck.

Later, we go for a drive around the neighborhood so that Edward can get his bearings in his new surroundings, ending at the Woodfield Mall. Walking around the entire mall, I stop at a few stores to pick up some things for the new apartment.

By evening, we're starving. There is a Cheesecake Factory in the mall, so we head down there, where we're told it'll be about an hour-long wait for a table. I call the kids to see how their days went while we wait.

After dinner, we order a slice of my favorite chocolate tuxedo cream cheesecake to-go, then drive back to the apartment complex.

We curl up on the couch with one of my DVDs, sharing the slice of cheesecake. It's so nice to just feel normal, spending a quiet evening at home with my boyfriend — with no lies hanging over my head, no fear of being found out. After Edward sets our clean plate on the coffee table, he pulls me closer, snuggling with me until the end of the movie.

"This is nice," he says, echoing my thoughts as he pulls my hair around to my left shoulder so he can kiss my neck.

"You'd better not give me a hickey," I argue as he sucks a little harder.

"You're mine now," he growls, "I need to mark you."

I slide out of his arms and turn to face him. "I am all yours now, Edward. But I'm a little too old for a hickey, I think," I add with a wink.

Edward gives me his patented pout, but then suddenly grabs me around the waist, pulling me onto his lap so that I'm straddling him. I twine my arms around his neck and kiss him softly.

"When you got into your car and drove away from Forks, I never dreamed that I'd hold you again. I can hardly believe it's real," he whispers, shaking his head.

"It is real. I'm real, and I love you," I say, kissing him again and running my hands through his hair.

"You know," I begin seriously, "Esme said something to me at your parents' Labor Day party that really struck me. She told me your life had changed permanently six years ago. I don't mean to be a downer, bringing up the accident, but it was the same year that my twins were born. It's like those two events, happening the same year, led us to each other. You are my soul mate, Edward."

"And you're mine," he whispers, stroking my cheek. "I think fate sent you to me so that I could finally heal from what my parents did. I understand now how my mom could love someone else so much that she could leave me. It didn't ruin my life, because I ended up with the two best adoptive parents any child could've hoped for. I can… I can forgive her now, forgive both of them, and finally let it go."

I kiss him tenderly. "Do you think we're selfish, Edward? Are we everything Jessica said?"

He shrugs. "I think we've done a selfish thing. Some people may never forgive us, never stop judging us. All we can do now is try to help your kids heal and make sure they know how much you love them."

"I do," I whisper. "I do love them. But I love you too, and I can't imagine my life without you in it."

Edward kisses me then and I melt into him. Before long, our kisses deepen until our tongues are entwined, exploring each other's mouths. I'm breathless by the time Edward pulls away from my lips and starts nibbling on my ear.

"I need you, baby," he whispers into my ear. He pulls away then, staring into my eyes. "But if you're not ready…"

I shake my head. "I feel less sleazy now that Mike and I are separated on paper. I want you too, Edward… so much."

When he kisses me again, the rest of the world ceases to matter. I feel Edward's hands on my bare back, touching me gently as he slowly raises my sweater. "Up," he whispers, and I quickly comply, raising my arms so he can pull my sweater over my head.

I pull his lips back to mine as Edward reaches behind my back, unhooking my bra. As I wiggle out of it, he suddenly pushes me down on his hard cock before taking my nipple in his mouth and suckling gently.

I slowly move over him as I tug upwards on his shirt. Edward finally pulls away from my breast long enough for me to remove his shirt, before attacking my other breast with his gifted tongue. My hands are in his hair, holding him to my chest as I continue to rock slowly.

"Damn, baby, I'm not gonna last if you keep doing that."

"We have all night, Edward — no one to stop us," I reply as I crawl out of his lap, kneeling on the floor in front of him. I tug at the buttons on his jeans, motioning for Edward to lift up so I can pull his jeans and boxers down his legs.

"You don't have to do that…" he trails off, but I can see the pure need in his eyes.

I shrug. "It's not completely unselfish — you'll last longer for round two," I say with a wink, before licking him from base to tip.

I swirl my tongue around the head of his cock before taking him into my mouth, using my hand to pump the part that doesn't fit. Just a couple minutes of long strokes and swirls and I can hear the pants that mean he's close.

"God, this is gonna be so embarrassing," Edward whines as he tries to hold back.

I reach down with my other hand and massage his balls, and seconds later he releases down my throat with a loud grunt. I watch the pleasure on his face with nothing but love before pulling away with a very satisfied grin.

"You are going to kill me one day," he says breathlessly. Closing his eyes, he leans back, resting his head on top of the couch as his breathing slows, while I stroke slowly up and down his muscular thighs.

Suddenly he sits up, removing his jeans the rest of the way. Standing, he holds his hand out to help me up. "Time for a little retribution," he growls, leading me by the hand to our new bedroom.

Once we're standing beside the bed, Edward opens the button on my jeans and pulls down the zipper. "You had better be naked in 20 seconds," he says, grabbing the bed covers to pull them down. "God I'm going to enjoy this king-sized bed…"

When my very own sex god tells me to get naked, who am I to waste time? I'm lying sprawled on the bed 15 seconds later, as Edward crawls on top of me, kissing me fiercely. I try to pull him down onto me, but he pulls away and starts kissing his way down — first my collarbone, then circling my nipples with his tongue, kissing down my stomach.

I cry out when I feel Edward's tongue right where I'm aching for him. He teases me with long licks for several minutes before he begins flicking his tongue, like a cat drinking from a bowl of milk. When his fingers join in, I'm lost, screaming out my orgasm.

"Careful," he says with a crooked grin, "Or our new neighbors may think I'm killing you."

"Our neighbors are going to think I'm the luckiest woman alive," I pant.

Edward laughs before crawling back on top of me. I can feel him hard and ready to go against my thigh. "I love you, Bella. Happy Valentine's Day," he whispers before sliding home.

I wrap my legs around him, pulling him closer to me. He can't be close enough. My arms are around his back, stroking, pulling him ever closer. I lift my hips to meet his thrusts, kissing his shoulders, his neck, anywhere I can reach.

I feel Edward's arms underneath my shoulders, lifting them up as his pace quickens. I'm so, so close.

"Let go, Bella," he whispers, kissing me firmly.

Moments later, I am screaming his name. Three more erratic thrusts and Edward pulses inside me, moving slowly for a few seconds before he stills. He tries to pull away, but I am wrapped around him, not letting him go.

"Baby, I'm going to crush you."

Reluctantly, I release him and he pulls out of me, flopping onto his back.

I am a spineless jellyfish, but I force myself up and off the bed so I can clean up in the bathroom. I walk back into the bedroom and slide into bed, cuddling up into Edward's side with my head on his shoulder. "I love you so much, Edward," I say, kissing his bare chest. " I know this is right — this is where I belong."

"This is where we belong," he replies, kissing the top of my head.

A/N: This was the final chapter. An Epilogue will follow on Sunday, and I promise it addresses both the good and the bad.