Indelible

A/N: Back to the beach…from EPOV. :)

Chapter 39: Future in the Works

As the first full day of our vacation together continues, I'm feeling less serene and relaxed than you'd imagine a man would feel, spending a warm, sunny day on the beach with the love of his life. Instead I'm animated and energized, overjoyed that all our imagined might-have-been's of the past are becoming the will-be's of a real future together.

Of course I agreed, when she suggested I move in with her. That's even more than the "everything" I told her I was looking forward to in moving. Visions of a daily life together flash through my mind like brilliant neon signs, impossible to ignore. But best of all, I know I'm not alone in my excitement. Bella can't stop grinning either.

Our conversation bounces from topic to topic as we enjoy our surroundings—soaking up the sun, cooling off in the surf, and sneaking touches and kisses as we swim and float over the incoming ocean swells. We manage just fine though, keeping up with each other's non sequiturs, random questions, and concerns as we begin to plot our course together.

"Do you still want to come to Chicago?" I think to ask, as we pop up out of the water, after diving under a wave.

"Why wouldn't I?" she asks, smoothing her wet hair back from her face.

"I was just thinking, with me moving in with you, we won't need two households worth of stuff, so there won't be much to pack up—just Masen's room, my study, and my personal things—clothes and such. That's probably all I'll need, really."

She frowns. "What are you going to do with the rest of your things?"

I shrug. "Maybe give some away, and then sell, donate, or throw out the rest."

Her frown deepens. "But the house should feel like ours, not just mine. I don't want you to feel like a guest, living among my things."

I reach for her and pull her close in the water, kissing that little frown wrinkle above her nose.

"Bella, I'm not attached to my utilitarian hodge-podge, and we don't need it cluttering up the house, just to make me feel like I belong there. Home is where the heart is, not where the furnishings are. Hell, I'd be content to sit on the floor and sleep with Fitz, as long as I get to be under the same roof with you." She rolls her eyes and I laugh as we float over a small wave.

"Well, okay, that's only half true—I'd definitely rather sleep with you than Fitz." I reach down, grasping her thighs and lifting her, and tightening her arms around my shoulders, she wraps her legs around my waist.

As if I haven't had a hard enough time maintaining out here in public as it is. She's practically naked, after all in that blue two-piece—all soft skin, long legs, and cleavage. And I know exactly how attractive I find her when she is naked. I also have perfect recall of everything we've done together recently. Nakedly.

I just can't recall what we were talking about a moment ago, now that my libido is all fired up again…

"I hate to say this, Edward, but you'll probably be sleeping with both of us, unless I can get Fitz retrained. He's used to sleeping with me."

I fight to refocus, pushing through the sexy haze of Bella wrapped around me and pressed up against me. We were talking about furnishings, and then I brought up Fitz. And I'd completely forgotten he sleeps with her. He was at Angela and Ben's Friday night, when we slept on the fold-out couch in the den. Now I'm wondering where that leaves me. And Fitz. And now I'm the one frowning.

"Well, as long as Fitz won't have to sleep between us…?" Bella bursts into laughter as another ocean swell lifts us, providing me with a bit of friction I try valiantly to ignore.

"Fitz doesn't sleep in my bed! He sleeps on top of it! By my feet. But I'll get him a doggy bed and work on retraining him," she promises with a smile. "Now let's get back to talking about Chicago… I do still want to come, if you'd like me to."

"Of course, I would." I grin, happy we won't have to wait a month to see each other again. Or to do all the other things we've been enjoying together—with or without our clothes on. "Maybe you can come sooner rather than later, to help me sort through the house. You can help me decide what to keep and what to toss…what will fit, what won't…what you need, what you don't..."

She smiles. "Yeah. And I can start packing up a little while you're at work or organize, if you want to have a garage sale."

"Yeah. But I promise we'll have some fun, too." I smile as I squeeze her butt—it's still right there in my hands, after all. She jerks against me with a little squeal, and I succumb to temptation, leaning in to kiss her, while pressing her more firmly against me. But just as we begin to lose sense of our surroundings, nearby splashing and shrieks of laughter intrude.

Parting abruptly, we turn to see a group of kids passing by a little closer in to the shore—two swimming and two more chasing them on boogie boards, flinging a strand of seaweed at each other. Looking back at Bella, I can see she's blushing, though I doubt those kids were paying any attention to us.

"I'll have to try and remember this is a family-friendly beach," I tell her with a sheepish grin and a wistful sigh.

She laughs, blushing just a little more deeply. "You and me, both."

*I*

Once we've gotten out and dried off a little, we head back down the beach to the hotel. It's late in the afternoon and we decide to stop for drinks and something light to eat, since we won't be having dinner until much later this evening.

Seated at a table beneath an umbrella at the poolside bar and grill, we order chips and salsa and a chicken wrap to share. While Bella sips at her margarita and I drink my beer, we dig out our phones, compare calendars, and work out a timeline for her to come to Chicago.

We're leaving San Diego this Friday, June 21, and Bella decides to come the following Friday and stay through the first week of July. She'll have to clear it with Eric Yorkie at the Forks Forum, but she's confident she'll be able to get most of her first Focus on Forks page done ahead of time. If all goes according to plan, we'll only be spending two weeks apart after that, and then I'll be in Forks.

With our drinks and food finished and our plans made, we decide to head back up to our room. We need to clean up, and Bella wants to try to contact Eric so she can book her flight if he's agreeable. That will still leave us with a couple hours free before dinner, and I'm already thinking about how we might possibly pass the time.

*I*

On Tuesday morning, Bella is still sleeping like a champ when I wake up a little after eight. But we had a lot to celebrate last night. Besides my move and our decision to live together, Eric gave Bella the green light, and she booked her ten-day trip to Chicago. So, after champagne with dinner and a drink at the Sunset Bar, followed by a celebration of a more intimate nature in our room afterwards, I'm pretty sure Bella needs her sleep. So, rather than disturb her, I get out of bed quietly, tiptoe off to the bathroom, get dressed, and head downstairs.

I check out the bike rentals first. Last night we talked about getting out and about for a little exercise today, and we agreed a bike ride sounded fun. Armed with information to report back to Bella, I head off to the little coffee shop and bakery on the hotel grounds next.

On the way there, I decide to call into work and talk to Tia Hernandez in HR. She gives me a rundown of what I'll need to do prior to leaving, tells me she'll email me some forms to fill out, and adds that I need to get a brief letter of resignation to her as soon as possible, so she has it in writing. I can fax that to her from the hotel, so I put that on my agenda for today. And then I pick up breakfast.

When I get back upstairs, Bella is still in bed, but she rolls over, soft brown eyes blinking, when I steal into the room, softly closing the door behind me. She looks all warm and cozy, making me wonder why the hell I thought getting out of bed was a good idea.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," I tell her as I set our breakfast on the table and begin organizing what I brought.

"Good morning. You went and got breakfast?" she asks, yawning halfway through her question.

"Yeah. I checked out the bike rentals and then I picked up some coffee, orange juice, and bagels. I couldn't remember whether you liked butter or cream cheese, so I brought both."

"Thank you." She giggles as I turn and head across the room to her. "I can't believe you're really wearing that shirt."

She's talking about the Seattle is for Lovers T-shirt she gave me on Sunday. It may be a corny, touristy souvenir, but the sentiment says it all: Seattle is where we reclaimed each other.

"What? I like it. I'm partial to the slogan."

"Same here," she says with a soft smile as she rolls onto her back, stretching her arms up for a hug.

"Well, maybe you should wear yours today, too, then," I tell her, slipping off my flip-flops and scooping her into my arms as I sink back down onto the bed. "We would look fantastically awesome together on a tandem bike."

She blinks and bursts into a wide smile. "A tandem? Are you serious? They have them here?"

"I am and they do. Have you ever ridden one?"

She shakes her head. "No. Have you?"

"Nope. But I wouldn't mind taking our relationship to that next level." She laughs and I can't resist kissing her.

"Well, nothing says 'soulmates' quite like a tandem bike ride—in matching shirts," she says. "But before I get dressed, I think I should go brush my teeth, and you should get undressed…" She smiles and waggles an eyebrow suggestively, as she starts tugging my shirt up. I can't help it. I laugh outright. She's just so cute. And she knows exactly how to charm the shirt and pants right off me.

"I like where you're going with this, my little soulmate." Rolling to the side, I start peeling off my shirt.

"Don't go anywhere," she says, pointing a finger at me as she climbs out of bed.

I just shake my head and snort a laugh. As if.

*I*

We finally get around to our bagels and coffee, only it's cold coffee now. But Bella suggests we pour it over ice and pretend we wanted iced coffee all along. My woman is not just lovely, she's brilliant and resourceful, too.

Once we've eaten, we go get ourselves a tandem bike and a map of the area with suggested routes, and we head out for a ride—looking like a pair of silly soulmates.

We cruise the coastal bike trail around Coronado Island and stop off at the post office in town, so Bella can mail off her mom's birthday gift and card. Then we head south along the Silver Strand—a seven-mile sandy isthmus along San Diego Bay, connecting Coronado to Imperial Beach. The ride is mostly flat and fairly easy with little wind, and we have quite an entertaining time during our first-ever tandem experience.

By the time we return to Coronado, we've had about twenty miles of tandem touring in the sunshine, with a few brief stops along the way, and now we're hungry and thirsty and ready for lunch.

Picking up some street tacos and sodas from a little Mexican café, we ride to a nearby park for an impromptu picnic lunch. Sitting on a shady patch of grass, we have a clear view across the bay to downtown San Diego in the distance.

I'm sprawled out in the grass, already done eating lunch, and Bella is just finishing up, when I get a call on my cell.

"I should probably take this—it's my mom," I tell Bella, sitting up and looking at my phone.

She nods. "Sure. Go ahead. Do you want me to…?" She gestures over her shoulder with her thumb.

"No. Stay put." Reaching over, I pat her leg as I hold the phone up to my ear.

"Hey, Mom."

"Hi, Edward. Dad's here, too. I have you on speaker."

I feel a twinge of concern. It's not unusual to get both of my parents on the line at once, but today is Tuesday, and Dad is usually out playing golf.

"Hi, Dad. Is everything okay?"

"Hello, Edward. Yes, everything's fine. I just got back from golfing and we decided we'd try and give you a call." That's when I remember it's after three thirty, their time.

"Oh. I was wondering what you were doing home. I forgot about the time difference. What's up?" My eyes flicker back to Bella, watching me for clues as she hears my half of the conversation.

"Nothing, dear," Mom says. "I was just putting Masey's favorite pot roast into the oven for dinner later, and that got me thinking about him and wondering how everything's been going. And when I mentioned that to Dad… Well, we decided to give you a call. Is this a bad time? Are you busy?"

"No, this is fine. I was planning on giving you a call today, anyway. Everything has been going really well." I wink at Bella and we exchange a smile as I begin filling in my parents.

"We got Mase settled in his dorm on Sunday and he and his roommate seemed to hit it off. He's met a lot of fellow students already and he's been keeping busy. I think he's really excited to be there. And he's already seen Bree twice, so I'm sure that's a big part of it."

Mom laughs. "Leave it to Masey to find himself a college girlfriend before he's even started school."

I chuckle. "Yeah. It is kind of funny how that worked out for him."

"Well, we're glad to hear he's happy and settling in," Dad says.

"How about you, Edward? Did you have a nice time with Bella?" Mom asks.

I'd told them the plan—that we'd spend Friday night at Bella's in Forks and then Saturday and Sunday together in Seattle before she had to leave for San Diego. I also told them about Renee Dwyer's seemingly implausible offer. They just don't know I finally took her up on that offer.

"I had a wonderful time with Bella," I tell them, smiling at her. "I'd say we both had quite an amazing time together. And…we still are, as a matter of fact." I grin now and Bella smiles back at me. But then she starts chewing on her lip, probably worrying how they'll react to this bit of news—as well as the other news I have to impart.

"Bella didn't go to San Diego?" Mom asks.

"No, she went. But I took Bella's mom up on her offer and I followed her." Still smiling, I reach over for Bella's hand and she quits chewing her lip and gives me a tentative smile.

"You're in San Diego?" Dad asks, but Mom starts gushing before I can answer him.

"Oh, sweetheart, you decided to go, after all! I had a feeling you'd quit talking yourself out of it and just go. Didn't I tell you that, Carlisle?"

"You did, dear. And clearly you were right. So, Masen was okay with you leaving, Edward?"

"Oh, Carlisle, of course he was!" Mom answers before I can. "I told you it would be just like taking him to the playground as a child—the minute he saw there were other children to play with, he'd be off and running."

Bella's smile is less tentative now, because even though I can't get a word in edgewise, I'm smiling and nodding as I listen. Not only is Mom right about Masen, but this is how three-way phone conversations with my parents always go—they talk to each other, while talking to me. Now I have to sift through what was said and respond to the parts addressed to me.

"So, yeah… I realized Masen would be fine on his own, once I got him settled, and he was completely okay with me leaving to join Bella. I've kept in contact with him and like I said, he's been keeping busy. So, Bella and I are in San Diego together until Friday, relaxing, reconnecting, and…really enjoying ourselves."

"And each other," Bella whispers, giving me a conspiratorial little grin. I stifle my laugh and nod wholeheartedly as I begin sliding my hand up her thigh with wicked intent, but she halts my hand's movement with a giggle and a blush. So cute.

"Oh, Edward, that's wonderful," Mom is saying. "We're so glad you and Bella were able to get a little more time together."

"Yeah. Same here. But we want more time together. And we want…more…together. So, that's the other reason I was planning to call you today… I've decided to move to Forks so we can be together."

"You're moving to Forks? Oh, my goodness, Edward...! You two must have really gotten quite serious! Carlisle, he's moving to Forks!"

"I heard him, dear. What about work, Edward? You had a promotion coming up. Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

"I've never been surer about anything, Dad. I'll find work, and if it means a career change, so be it. As much as I've enjoyed my job and the satisfaction it's given me, I want more in my life. Anyway, I've already given notice and my last day will be July 18. I'm hoping to move that same weekend."

"That's just a month away!" Mom gasps. "This is all happening so quickly."

"This does seem a bit rushed, Edward," Dad agrees.

"Maybe. Or dreadfully slow, if you consider all the time we've lost," I tell him, but I'm looking at Bella as I speak. "But the amazing thing is, we've gotten a second chance. And I don't want to waste any more time. Like you've always said, Dad… 'You envision what you want for the future, and the steps you'll have to take to get there, and then you just start taking those steps.' Only I don't have to envision what I want for the future…I'm looking at her."

"Oh, sweetheart…" Mom's voice trails off, sounding all emotional.

Bella's eyes have gone a bit shiny and her bottom lip is trembling as I reach up and caress her cheek.

"I love you," she murmurs, covering my hand with hers.

"I know," I whisper. "And I love you." I lean over, stealing a quick kiss.

There's been some shuffling on the other end of the line, Dad's voice saying 'here,' followed by the sound of Mom blowing her nose, so she's definitely emotional.

"I'll be closer to Masen, too, Mom," I think to point out. "And we can always fly back for visits."

"Oh, I know," she says, still sounding a little choked up. "And of course we're going to miss you and Masey like crazy, Edward. But I'm just so very happy for you. I think you've had Bella on your mind for a very long time…" Mom's voice trails off as she blows her nose again.

"I have," I agree, nodding and smiling softly at Bella.

"So, she's there with you right now?" Mom asks after a moment, her voice sounding slightly more composed again.

"Yeah, she is. We just got back from a long bike ride out by the beach and just stopped for some lunch in a park."

"What a nice way to spend the day, but we didn't mean to interrupt you…"

"No, it's fine. We've already eaten."

"Oh, I see. Well, we were looking forward to seeing Bella when she came to visit, but now with you moving…"

"She's still coming to Chicago. She'll be there the first week of July to help me sort and start packing."

"Oh, wonderful! That's very sweet of her. Well, we'll let you get back to your day together. Have a good rest of your trip—both of you. Please tell Bella we said hello, and that we're anxious to see her."

"Thanks. I will, Mom."

"And let us know if we can do anything to help you, Edward."

"Thanks, Dad, I appreciate that. I guess I'll probably see you both sometime this weekend. We can talk more then."

"All right, sweetheart. Take care. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, son."

"Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad."

Ending the call, I smile at Bella. "Well, that's done."

She nods, still looking a little uncertain. "How did they take it?" she asks. I smile as she starts chewing at her lip once again. But I just reach up, freeing that sweet little lip from those tormenting teeth.

"Well, they didn't seem too surprised I decided to come to San Diego…"

"You'd already told them about that?" Bella asks.

"Yeah, a couple days after the fact. At the time, I didn't think I'd feel right about leaving Masen…but we both know how that turned out, given everything that happened between us." She smiles, nodding.

"Of course, they were really surprised about me moving. They thought it seemed rather fast, but I don't know, does it seem too fast to you? I don't want to be rushing you into anything."

She hesitates for a moment, before answering. "No, it doesn't seem too fast to me, really. I mean, if we'd just met, yes, but…"

"But we didn't just meet," I finish for her. "We already know each other. I mean, to me, it was kind of like we…continued…sort of."

"Yeah, exactly. So, I don't think we have to worry about what we're getting into. I trust this." She grins. "You don't scare me, Edward Cullen."

"Well, good," I chuckle. "And I feel the same way about this. But anyway, my mom got a little emotional—probably partly because of the shock, but mostly because she was happy for me. She said that, in fact. My dad was a little more reserved and concerned—mostly about work—but he's always been a little more cautious. Mom also said to tell you hi, and that they're looking forward to seeing you. And Dad said to let him know if I needed their help—which I probably will."

Bella nods. "I liked what you said," she says after a moment. "About knowing what you want for the future. And the way you said it… That was actually very touching."

I smile as I lean close and wrap my arms around her. "I want you," I tell her, although I know she's already quite aware of that. "More than anything else, I want you." I tip her face up to mine and kiss her, feeling good about the sudden inspiration I had, while speaking to my father. It was partly for her, after all. Although Bella is not nearly as timid and shy as she was as a teenager, I think she still feels a little intimidated by my father. But I don't want her to feel that way. As a father of my own college-aged kid, I understand a little better now, where he was coming from. And I hope she does, too.

"You know, even if my parents disapproved of my decision, it wouldn't matter. It wouldn't change a thing for me. But fortunately, they don't disapprove."

She smiles—really smiles—and so do I.

A/N: Well…? Esme did most of the talking for the Cullens, but mr. bannerday and I double-team our kids on the phone just like that. :)