A/N: Welcome back!

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Disclaimer: I don't own these characters :(

(Bella POV)

I've never been in a situation like this. Growing up I was an only child and my parents divorced when I was too young to even realize what was happening. I lived with my not-so-caring mother until I was around ten, then I moved in with my dad. I thought moving in with him would be the fresh start I needed; it would be perfect.

I was dead wrong.

He was no different. He paid me no mind until one day I grew boobs and boys my age were becoming intereseted in me. Then Charlie realized what I could do for him; I could help him in more ways than one. I think I was fourteen when Charlie got word of the Crowley's; their son more specifically. With Tyler only being a year and a half older than me, I'd be good bait. Charlie would benefit.

Anyways, that's not the point. The point is I grew up alone. I feel like I raised myself and I had no siblings. I had a few friends but never stayed in one town long enough to get a best friend. I don't even remember half my friends names and haven't talked to them in years. Maybe they shouldn't even be considered friends.

Now I'm finally getting my life somewhat on track. I'm twenty four and it's sure as hell been a long road so far. But now I don't worry as much. I don't have to worry that I'll be forever alone or that I'll have finicial problems. I don't worry what people think of me or how I'll get a job.

I have Edward and Alice. I have a job that I'd love if it weren't for half the people I work with. I have education though, and I'm sure I can find another job if it comes to that, which it might.

Edward just came back from his therapy session and here's my dilemma; here's the situation I've never been in. No one's really leaned on me or needed me for comfort that really, I'd be willing to give. But just one look at Edward sitting on the edge of the couch with his head in his hands, I surprisingly know what to do.

After dinner is when Edward left and now it's nearly nine thirty and he just arrived home. I sent Alice off to bed a half hour ago since schools tomorrow and I know firsthand how grumpy she can be in the mornings if she has a poor sleep.

I watch Edward sit up and pull his wallet out from his pocket with a huff. He uses his left hand to flip it open and pour out all the coins inside of it. There aren't many, but a couple of bills flutter out and onto the coffee table as well. He pushes them aside and tinkers around with the coins. He arranges the coins into a quincunx.

I lean against the wall in the hallway where I can peer into the living room silently. He stacks the coins next then uses his index finger to slide them away from him. Again his head goes to his hands. He huffs an atrabilious sound before pulling at his hair.

Time for action. I amble my way into the living room and use my knee to push the coffee table aside. Edward must have been really into his thoughts because the screeching of the movement startled him and he looked up at me with a look of surprise.

"Sorry." I mouth to him and sit beside him on the couch. The cushions sink down beneath me, but I ignore it as I pull his hands away from his head. I hold them both in my own. "How did it go?"

The sigh he releases is huderon and I wait paitently for his answer. "Good, actually. I mean not the best, but it couldn't have been fantastic now right? It's just a lot to talk about with some stranger, even though it's hardly a lot going on."

"There's enough going on inside that mind of yours." I squeeze his hands comfortingly.

"I guess so. It's helping too and will continue to help."

"There you go."

"I'm a lot better than I was a few months back. I'm glad I have you." He smiles down at me softly. "Sometimes I think it's just the surroundings. My past, all that icky stuff still here. This is hardly the place I want to be."

"This apartment?"

"All of it." He nods in agreement. "It's... the apartment I lived in while I was alone and going through college. Two blocks away from the house I was raised and a mile away from the cemetry both my parents are residing in." He chuckles to himself humourlessly. "It doesn't fit. The air seems stale to me half the time. It's a nice place, but the vibes not right. I know, I make absolutely no sense. I guess that's why I mention moving a lot."

"Then let's move." I say easily.

He raises his eyebrows. "Just like that?"

"Well, let's find a place first." I smile widely. "Then let's move."

He chuckles. "Okay, now the hard part; Alice, me, you, our jobs, our lives, our friends, our-"

I kiss him on the mouth. "I hate my job." I murmur against his lips. "Alice is young and we can still talk to her about it. We don't have to leave the country."

"Wouldn't that be nice." Edward whispers against my lips as they brush against his again.

"We can start with the other side of town or to the next town. It'd only be a thirty minute drive for you."

"For me? What about you?"

"Where are we finically? We went through this last time we paid the bills, which was what, a week ago?" I smirk and pull back to look into his eyes. "We're doing good."

"Stable." He nods.

"I want to put my resumes out though. I hear Snyder Public School is may need a new teacher since their fifth grade teacher is retiring. There's also Geogrian Elementary just in the next town, Greenview. Plus, those towns are a bit bigger and have more than one school. Alice wouldn't have to be where I am even though I like having her there."

"Okay." Edward replies as he absorbs all the input. "Okay." He repeats.

"We'll look into it."

"Soon."

"Soon." I agree. "Until then..." I wrap my arms around his neck.

"Don't get me started." Edward places his hands on my hips as he let's out a throaty laugh. "'Cause I won't be stopped easily."

"That's okay." I kiss his neck hungrily.

"I warned you..."

...

I don't know how late it is, but I don't really care either. As Edward and I lie in the darkened room - our room - with the nothing but the sound of our breathing filling the air, I don't have another care in the world. A good thing about our relationship is how we actually communicate. We spend hours on end just talking, saying what's on our mind and compromising. I see firsthand how stressful Edward can rally himself up to be and how much everything is impacting him. I think he's right; we need change. A new environment, a fresh start. But we also need to get over some obstacles.

My job, the past, Crowley, my dad... Those are all obstacles that are preventing us from moving on. But we'll get through it, I know we will.

It's nice having times like this though, where we can just be together and not have to worry. Putting the stress at the back of the mind is a hard thing to do but needs to be done at times. There has to be some peaceful times.

How can I help Edward through this? Does he know I'm by his side always? I can't just sit back and watch him go through this. Of course I am going through a handful myself, but Edward's trying to hold himself together, he's bottling everything up. How can I help him? I can't just tell him to continue therapy or that it'll be alright. I want to do something.

I move my head from his shoulder and sit up Indian style. I hear him roll onto his side to face me and I reach behind me to turn the lamp on that's resting on the nightstand. A faint glow fills the room and I can see Edward's features now. He has knitted eyebrows in what I guess to be confusion along with a sleepy expression that I can't help but smile at. "Roll over." I tell him.

He raises one eyebrow.

"Onto your stomach." I urge and push his shoulder. He keeps his eyebrow raised but rolls over for me. The minute he's flat on his stomach I crawl over to him and sit on the back of his thighs.

"Bella-" He grumbles into the pillow. "Bella, what are you doing?"

"Giving you a back massage." I reply swiftly and rub my hands together hoping the friction will warm them. I place either hand on his shoulders and he groans at the contact. I smile in success. "You know, unless you don't want me to."

"I'm not stupid." The pillow makes it harder for me to understand him, but I get the gist of his sentences. I laugh at his remark and continue to rub my hands over his shoulders breaking the tension and rolling the stiffness out of them.

"You know what I think?" I ask him after a while of silence.

"I wish." He murmurs. He turns his head to the left so he's not talking directly into the pillow, but his voice is a sleepy garble. He sounds completely in bliss. "What are you thinkin' baby?"

I lean forward to kiss in between his shoulder blades and sit upright again. I let the tips of my fingers trail down his skin feather lightly. I trace up and down his spine and I hear him purr deeply in approval. I smile wider. "I'm thinkin' tomorrow is Friday."

"You are thinkin' correctly."

I snort. "Yeah, yeah. What I mean is, maybe we should take the day off."

"Huh?" Edward's voice comes out in the middle of a yawn.

"You know, get off work. Call in sick." I prompt and rub his back harder digging more into the muscles to loosen the tension from built up stress. Oh, Edward Cullen. I love you.

"Be rebels?" He mutters in reply.

I laugh through my nose. "Sure, if that's how you want to put it."

"Hmm, bad ass. That's sexy on you." He smiles lazily at me over his shoulder before flopping back down to his pillow. "It sounds fun. I didn't take a day off work yet. I get paid holidays too..."

"Well gosh, I was prepared to have to convince you more."

"Want me to disagree with you?"

I stifle a yawn. "No, no." I move up to his shoulders again with my hands. His bare skin under my hands is warm and smooth. His tight muscles leave ripples through his skin making it a journey for my hands to travel across. I lick my lips. "What do you want to do tomorrow then?"

"Let's sleep in." He suggests and pulls the pillow closer to him. "Our beds pretty comfy, I think we should appreciate that, you know? I don't want to give it a misinterpret thinking I don't enjoy it's comfort."

"Oh yeah, don't want to upset the bed." I play along.

I watch his hand rub the pillow. "She has feelings too."

I laugh. "She?"

"Mmm-hmm." He hums. "That feels really good." I go back to tracing his spine.

"Get to bed." I smile and kiss his shoulder blade. "I love you."

"Love you."

...

We both going with the plan; calling in 'sick' to work. Just calling the school was a relief even though I knew when Mrs. Thorne picked up the phone in the office that she wouldn't be impressed, I couldn't find it in me to care. She probably knew I was faking and I didn't care about that either. I would've shrugged if we were talking in person. Really, I would have. And when I called, I didn't even make a sick voice or cough. I did yawn, but that was because Edward and I slept in a bit and I rolled out of bed and grabbed the phone.

Literally.

But now, hanging up the phone back onto its charger, I walk back to my - our - room and see Edward laying his his back, the sheets down in a rumpled mess by his waist and his cell phone resting on his stomach. "I'm very, very sick." He jokes. "I had to call into work and tell them I couldn't make it there today."

I smirk playfully at him and amble over to the bed. I crawl on top of the sheets and sit Indian style facing Edward. "Really?" I play along, "Me too. Mrs. Thorne didn't sound all too impressed either.

He chuckles, "Is she ever?"

"Touche."

"So..." Edward let's out a comfortable noise as he stretches his arms over his head while still laying down. "What's on the agenda for today? We can do whatever you'd like."

I let out a sigh and look aimlessly around the room. The curtains are closed, blocking out any morning sunlight trying to break through. I finally shrug.

"Hmm, we'll go with the flow." Edward rolls onto his stomach. "The basics; starting with breakfast?"

"Good idea." I pat his back. "Now get up."

He groans.

"Edward, you suggested it."

"Breakfast in bed." He suggests in a mumble. "Room service."

"What do you want for breakfast then?" I offer. He rolls over and looks at me before shaking his head.

"Okay, I'm getting up. Let's go make breakfast."

...

For breakfast I decided to make crepes. Don't ask me why, I was just in the mood for them and Edward's never had one. In my opinion, that's all but impossible; how could he have never had something to delicious? Obviously I made some and made sure that Edward had two of his own.

In the end, he loved him.

I knew he would.

By noon we left the house and drove uptown just to get out of the house. Don't get me wrong, we both like the apartment and it's nice to spend time there, but this is one of the opportunities we get to go out in public without having to worry so much. It's not like I really care anymore; if someone sees us that's not my problem. If they don't like it they don't have to look. If I get fired from my job because I find Edward very, very (and I mean very) attractive, then so be it. I love him. End of story. That rules over anything else. I ask Edward if he'd be okay with stopping off and dropping my resume off at a few nearby schools and boards and he jumps at the idea. We both seem to be on the same page of moving now.

We stop at a bookstore and I quickly sprint inside. Just the aroma of books makes me giddy. Just thinking of all the covers, all the hidden stories with vibrant characters and sweet endings... We may be here for hours. It's a good thing Edward enjoys reading too.

"What section do we start at?" He asks placing a hand on the small of my back to guide me into the store further. It's a small bookstore with only one check out and there's not many people inside. Seeing as it's a work day and lunch time, I wouldn't expect the place to be crowded. I see a few seniors and one mother with a stroller and apart from that there is just Edward and I. Oh, and the check out lady who's chewing a big wad of gum and blowing big, pink bubbles.

Yuck.

"Anywhere. We'll be here for a while." I rub my hands together. "I really want a good Nora Roberts book to read, Angela says she just read this one trilogy of hers..."

"Let's dig in then." Edward says happily and leads me over to the closest aisle of books.

I have a feeling it will be a good day.

Maybe Edward and I should take more days off.

A/N: I wouldn't mind giving Edward a back massage...

Want some Crowley drama or Charlie drama next? I have both ready...

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