OMG! I was just SO excited to write this chapter. Sad, but excited. Just to warn you guys, there's a few chapters left and then...I'm afraid this story is ending. *sniff* So enjoy it whilst it lasts. Thanks for reviewing!!

Chapter thirty-six.

Just for a second, nothing existed apart from us. It was just Edward and I in Tifins forest. There was no thought about Carlisle's death, no thought about me leaving, no thought about anything apart from us.

"Bella", he whispered in a breathless voice. I took a step back and watched him. Really looked at him this time. My head was spinning and my heart was pounding once more. Edward was off Starlight and on his feet in a matter of seconds. He had managed to break the frozen grip and run towards me. As soon as his arms surrounded my body, I finally unfroze from my rooted spot.

"I am so sorry, Bella. I'm really sorry", he whispered, full speed whilst burying his face into my neck. His breath hit my skin and made me shiver slightly. "Oh god, you're freezing, how long have you been waiting here? Here, put this on."

Without letting me get a word in, he pulled back, took off his jacket and was wrapping it around me gently. I said nothing and just stood there. Although I could've moved, I didn't want to. I felt like I was dreaming.

Edward smiled sadly at me; he tucked a piece of loose hair behind my ears and closed his eyes. It was then, that I noticed a small purple bruise above his left eyebrow.

"Hey, what's that?" I asked, as his eyes flew opened. My voice was slurring with sleep and slightly croaky because I hadn't spoken since yesterday. I gently ran my finger over the small mark.

Edward winced and grabbed my hand to steady me.

"How did you get that?" I whispered, curiously, staring at the bruise, willing it to go away. It wasn't there when I last saw him.

"Emmett hit me", Edward muttered, turning away.

"What?" I cried, appalled. Emmett didn't seem like the type to fight his brother. In fact, he was just the opposite today. The hug that he had given me made me feel warm. Some hope in no hope.

"And I'm glad he did", Edward carried on, he paused, biting his bottom lip before carrying on, "else I'd probably still be in my room, cooped up, feeling sorry for myself and letting you freeze in a dangerously dark forest."

"It's not that dark", I muttered, shrugging.

Edward smiled sadly once more. His piercing green orbs took me a trance and I couldn't look away. I had waited so many hours here for this. I wanted to be strong. But what was the point in waiting when I would be leaving soon?

"I'm sorry", he whispered once more, "I'm such a jerk sometimes Bella…and today…well, my behaviour was unacceptable. I'm really sorry."

"Edward, you have nothing to apologise for", I told him, shaking my head, "you're grieving your father's death and here I am skipping off to Europe. If I were anything better than a friend I would stay here. I would help you move on."

Edward didn't say anything after that. He took hold of my hand and led me toward the lake again. We sat there for a couple of minutes in silence. I leaned against his shoulder, breathing in his scent and registering everything I could in these last couple of hours that I had of California left. My eyes drooped again, heavy and lidded with sleep but I kept them opened.

"Aren't you going to ask?" Edward said softly, budging me with his shoulder. I sat up and looked at him. I had nothing else to ask for. He was giving me what I wanted. This was what I wanted. Just a proper goodbye. No words were needed to be said, really. As long as he came I knew that he loved me. I couldn't doubt that. It was sacrilege if I doubted mine and Edward's love for eachother.

"Ask what?" I croaked out. Edward turned his whole body to face me. It was like any other night before Carlisle's death. We would be here, sat on the grass, facing eachother and talking about everything and anything.

"Ask which method of suicide I'm going to use when you leave me tomorrow", he explained, looking down at his fingers playing with mine. I snatched my hand away immediately.

"Don't you ever say or even think of anything concerning death again", I hissed at him, fuming with anger but proud of myself for not using any profanities.

Edward looked unshaken. He was staring down, avoiding my gaze at all cost and biting his bottom lip. "What's the matter with you? Are you seriously talking about suicide?"

The look I gaze him was incredulous. Mostly because I couldn't believe that the happy Edward, the Edward I knew had actually said something like that. And also because the thought terrified me more than it angered me.

"I'm not going to live if it's living away from you, Bella", whispered Edward, looking up after a couple of minutes. His eyes were bright and sparkling again. But this time not in a sad way. Excitement shone and glimmered in his green hypnotic orbs. I was confused.

"Edward…I can't stay here", I explained to him, "I'm…I don't have a choice. I have to go home, Edward. But we'll make it, won't we? Distance won't matter, right? Even if I have to go to London…"

"Then I'm not far behind you", he said simply.

Not far behind…

He'd be following? He'd be coming too?

Edward looked at me and I looked at Edward for what seemed like a million years. Eternity plus one. His words hovered around us for a few moments, enough time for me to work out what he had just said. But it didn't make sense to me anyway.

"You're definitely coming over in summer?" I asked him, remembered what he had just told me before. But he hadn't told me that he discussed it with his mother, Esme. She might not agree. Especially not after Carlisle.

"No", said Edward, shaking his head gently, "in summer…I can't fly over to London."

Disappointment washed through me and I didn't try to hide my expression as my face fell. Prickly heat burned at my eyes and I wanted to cry so much. I wanted to lash out and tell anyone and everyone that it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair.

"Why not?" I asked him, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Because…because Esme's booked tickets for her, Emmett and I to go visit Aunt Tatiana next week", he said casually.

My eyes widened. My jaw dropped. Edward smiled crookedly and my heart was no longer racing at high speeds; it had stopped beating altogether.

"I spoke to my mom and she thinks a little time away is best for us", he explained gently to me, "I love you Bella, I'm sorry if I've been an idiot. It's just that…I thought I was prepared for my dad's death, I knew it was going to happen but I just…I don't know. I just thought that isolating myself would help."

I couldn't speak. I couldn't say anything. This really felt like a dream now. I was wondering if I had accidentally fallen asleep whilst waiting for Edward in Tifins forest. What he was saying…it was what I wanted to hear.

"We'll be going there for a little over a month", he carried on explaining, "then…if my mom thinks it's best…there's a chance we might move permanently."

My eyes widened again.

Edward in London.

With me.

Forever.

We'll be together. In London. My boyfriend and my home.

"But I'm not too sure about that", he said quickly, "we'll just have to wait and see…Emmett's ok with it too. He wants to start again. And you know, he'd follow you anywhere."

Pause.

"Well…go on, say something."

Pause.

"Bella?"

Silence.

"Look, I'm sorry. You probably don't want me to stalk you around and –"

I sprung off my feet and jumped on Edward, our lips crashing immediately. He fell backwards onto his back, shocked but responding to my kiss automatically. I moved my lips against his, moulding eachother into the optimum shape. The kiss was passionate and urgent, breathless and exciting. My eyes were squeezed shut as I felt Edward's hand wrap around me, pulling me on top of him and placing me in a certain place.

Our bodies were pressed against eachother, the warmth, the heat, the rhythm, it was all perfect. I traced his bottom lip with my tongue and both our lips parted. I moaned out Edward's name, shivering and enjoying his soft touched. His finger played with the side of my waist and one of his hands was entwined in my hair just like mine were with his. In one quick movement, he flipped us over so that he was now on top.

"I love you", he whispered as we parted to gain breath, "Oh Bella…I love you so much."

"I love you too", I told him before pulling his head down. We kissed and embraced eachother for what seemed like eternity plus one again. Waves and jolts of pleasure ran through my body and all I wanted to do was be there with Edward. All I wanted to feel was his lips on mine and his tongue in my mouth. I wanted to enjoy the sensation of his fingers caressing my body and stroking my skin. I loved the way he gently nipped at my neck, occasionally licking at the sensitive spots.

--

There were no tears when Edward and I parted at four thirty that Saturday morning. He rode me back to my house, watching to see if I got all there way there before turning around and disappearing through the trees. I stumbled up the drainpipe through my window and collapsed on the bed, my eyes weighing tons…

Only to be awoken a couple of hours later by an over cheerful half-sister with a stupid grin on her face.

"Get out. GET OUT!" I had screamed at Jessica as soon as she shook me awake. Startled by my morning greeting, she retreated immediately without another sound. I closed my eyes again, hoping to get some more sleep but unconsciousness never found it's way back to me.

I woke up at eight thirty, tired and weak. When we finally left for the airport, everyone was silent. Jessica didn't speak in the car, which was a first. Charlie had an odd expression on his face and Lauren had her 'sympathetic' look on. I merely stared out of the window, my thoughts drifting a couple of hours backwards.

My eyes took all the visions that blurred past us and I tried to remember every bit of California I could. The good and the bad. Edward, most of all.

Finally, the airport had appeared in front of me and I was walking into it, checking in my luggage and waiting as my flight got called out just in time. The plane was boarding.

"Well…bye Bells, it was good to have you here for a change", my dad sniffed, hugging me awkwardly, then patting me on the head.

"I'll miss you dad", I whispered to him.

"Bye Bella! Say hello to Alice and Rosalie for me", Jessica trilled, squishing me into a hug and kissing my check.

"Yeah…sure", I told her, nodding seriously. Lauren bit her lip and patted a bit over her heart.

"I'm glad you came, sweetie. Come back anytime you want", she told me, thankfully not hugging me either, "We'll all miss you, deeply."

"I'll miss you the most!" boomed a voice, making my head snap up immediately. I looked up to see Jasper, Emmett and Edward striding through the crowd towards us. Emmett was waving maniacally whilst Edward and Jasper merely looked embarrassed.

"Thought you could escape without a goodbye, huh?" Emmett teased, scooping me up and squeezing me dry.

"No, she thought she could escape without seeing you", muttered Edward, rolling his eyes, "put her down! Everyone's staring, you big goof!"

As soon as Emmett had placed me on my feet, I launched myself on Edward, throwing my arms around his neck.

"Now we know who her favourite is", mumbled Jasper, chuckling.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked them all, untangling myself from Edward. He kept hold of my hand. I realised my dad, Lauren and Jessica were still there watching us all but I tried to block them out.

"Came to say goodbye", explained Emmett to me, "Edward decided to come out of the comfort of his room, finally. It was all my doing". He jabbed a finger towards his chest proudly.

"He punched Edward into sense", Jasper elaborated, "literally."

Edward rolled his eyes. "If I were a violent person, I wouldn't be the only one with a bruise, Emmett."

"Flight J2817 is now boarding, last calls", an operated voice called out overhead.

"Oh! That's me, I have to go", I said quickly, straightening myself out and taking in a deep breath.

Suddenly, Emmett, Jasper and Edward had squeezed their arms around me murmuring 'goodbyes' and 'I'll miss yous' all at once.

I practically ran towards the plane gate, handing in my ticket and passport just in time. I couldn't help but look back. Charlie stood, his eyes puffy, with Lauren and Jessica. They all bore sad faces.

Emmett was waving at me, whilst getting whacked by Jasper who was looking furiously embarrassed.

Edward stood out, like he always did. His bronze hair, and lovely greens. Standing awkwardly between Emmett and Charlie, he lifted his hand up for one last wave and a sad but definite crooked smile.

Glad? Sad? Bad?

Anything? Few chapter left so review while you can!

Thanks for reading.

xXx