Disclaimer - All recognisable characters belong to their original owners. I do not make a profit from writing this; I simply do it for my own amusement. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter One

Bella

I stood on the steps of my childhood home and watched as Jasper moved the last box of my belongings over to Edward's house… or what was now mine and Edward's home. It was easier getting vampires to move things than it was to hire movers.

"I'm going to miss you so much," I told Rose.

"I'm going to miss you too. But this is a good thing - you and your fiancee are moving in together!"

I smiled and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a hug and squeezing her tight. We'd lived together since we were children. Now would be the first time since my parents died that I would wake up in a house where Rose wasn't there.

Tears formed in my eyes - not because I was sad. I was ecstatic to be engaged to Edward and I was thrilled that we would be living together. But I was crying because I really would miss Rose. It didn't matter that we would see each other at work and there was no doubt I'd be popping over to visit and she'd come and see me… but it was different.

Rose pulled back from the hug and let out a shaky breath.

"This is a good thing, B." We hared a smile "Now - if Grandpa were here he would go and give Edward a little talk, but as he'd not, it falls to me; so excuse me." I let Rose go and watched as she walked over to where Edward and Emmett were chatting.

Their relationship had changed since I first met them. They were now friends. Edward valued Emmett's advice when it came to royal matters and Emmett looked out for Edward, telling him the latest news in the vampire world and keeping him abreast of the movements of vampires. They now joked and laughed together. So much had changed.

Rose went over and Emmett gave her a kiss before he came over to me.

"So - we finally get the house to ourselves, huh?" he teased.

I shook my head. "Come here." I grabbed him around the waist and pulled him into my arms, squashing my small frame into his large cold one. His arms came around me and it reminded me a lot like hugging Jake; except Emmett was significantly colder.

"I'll take care of her, Bella," Emmett began, "you don't need to worry about that."

"I don't." And I didn't. Emmett and I had become closer. I no longer saw him as the 'Beast', the man who I needed to protect my cousin from. He was Rose's boyfriend… partner… significant other - they all seemed so trivial. He was her soulmate. He was made for her and she him. He took her moods like a champ and fought right back. He made her feel safe and he loved her. He had stood by her side the year I went missing and never doubted her. What more could I ask for? He was her Edward.

"And I know I don't need to tell you to take care of Edward - you've been doing that since the day you met him."

We shared a smile, separated and then turned our gazes to Rose and Edward. They were stood next to each other talking. Rose said something that made Edward shake his head and laugh. Emmett heard it as his lips quirked up in a smile.

When Rose and Edward walked over to us, Edward wrapped his arm around me as Emmett did the same to Rose.

"We should head home," Edward said. I have to admit, hearing him call what used to be his home our homemade my heart beat a little faster. "We've got to get you unpacked."

There hadn't been a lot of things to move. Edward's home was furnished already so most of the items I had taken had been clothes or things that had sentimental value; a few pictures and my Star Trek DVD collection to name two.

I nodded.

I looked at Rose and couldn't resist one more hug.

She wrapped her arms around me and we stood like that until I felt like I was going to burst into tears. I really would miss her.

"Go on," she encouraged. "It's the next step."

"I'll see you at Black's on Monday?"

"Absolutely." She beamed.

I pulled my car keys out of my pocket and turned to Edward.

"Let's go."

Silently, we got into the car, me in the driver's seat and him in the passenger. As I turned the car around and drove up the drive I saw Rose and Emmett waving in the rearview mirror. My eyes flickered from the road to their shrinking forms.

"Are you sad?" Edward asked. "We don't have to move in together…"

"I want to," I reassured him, reaching across the cab and taking his hand in mine. "I'm just going to miss her so much. We've always been together." I paused. "But I am really excited to start the next part of my life - with you." I squeezed his hand in reassurance. "I can't wait to see what the future holds for us."

Edward smiled and pulled my hand up to his lips. He pressed a cold kiss to the skin on the back of my hand.

"Whatever the future holds - as long as I'm doing it with you - will be fantastic."

He was right. It would. The future was ours. When Edward asked me to marry him I knew the answer before I said it. Edward was it for me. I didn't want anyone else. I didn't need anyone else.

McCarthy Residence

Rose watched as Bella's truck drove away. She waited on the steps until the taillights were gone and without a word, she headed back into the house. Rose ascended the stairs and went in Bella's bare bedroom.

The furniture was all still there but no belongings were left in the room.

Emmett came up behind her and rested his head on her shoulder, wrapping his large arms around her waist and holding her close. Rose laced her fingers with his.

"I'm going to miss her," she said quietly.

"I know," Emmett mumbled against the skin of her neck.

"But this is good - she and Edward getting married, it's wonderful."

She felt Emmett smile.

"Maybe we could make a few more changes around here?" he suggested, turning Rose slightly so he could see her face.

Her eyebrows scrunched up as she waited for him to elaborate.

"For the past few weeks I may have been moving some of my things into your bedroom…" he trailed off and his face was that of a naughty child being caught doing something they shouldn't. "And I was wondering I could maybe move in with you?"

When her eyebrows quirked up, Emmett began to panic (it was quite an unfamiliar feeling to him). "I mean I sleep in your bedroom every night…"

As Emmett rambled on about the reasons why they should move into the same bedroom, Rose found him rather endearing.

"…and I should have asked you, yes but it's just-"

"Emmett?" Rose cut him off. "I know you've been moving your things into my bedroom."

If he could have blushed he would.

"You weren't that great at hiding it." She kissed him. "I'd love for you to move in with me."

He beamed and kiss her hard.

Everything was going well in the McCarthy/Hale household.

Masen Residence

There comes a point in every single person's life when they realise that they can no longer put a particular task off. That time at had come for Edward.

He ran his fingers through his hair and picked up his phone, dialling the unfortunately familiar number.

It was answered after the first two rings.

"Edward!" The voice greeted. "I'm so glad that you've finally decided to talk to me." He cringed. "It's been too long since our last phone call."

"I am sorry Caius," Edward began. "Life has just been very hectic lately." Not a complete lie - he and Bella had been busy celebrating their engagement.

"It's completely alright, Edward. I understand how busy life can get. But I assume you're calling about that meeting we've spoken about."

A few months ago, Edward was meant to call Caius back to talk about the coven - he never did. He knew it would catch up to him but he had been hoping that an over the phone conversation would have been enough.

"Is it not something that can be done over the phone?" He might as well ask.

"We've not seen you since your coronation - it would be nice to talk to you in person and see how you're getting along."

Edward knew he had been backed into a corner.

He closed his eyes in frustration and then opened them. "Of course - when would you like to see me?"

"Tomorrow?" Edward hadn't been expecting that. "You can travel early in the evening, stay at HQ during the day when we can chat and then travel home afterwards."

Two nights away from Bella - he could do that.

"That sounds fine, Caius."

"Will you be bringing your lovely… what should I call her? Partner? Lover? Blood bag?" He knew the last word was an attempt to anger him and wind him up. He wouldn't take the bait.

"Bella - she's my fiancee." That would be news to him. "No, she has her own commitments here." And Edward didn't want her near Caius. He was a snake.

"Very well - I look forward to seeing you. I'll send an email confirming everything."

"Okay, Caius." Edward didn't even say goodbye as he hung up the phone.

He leaned his head back against his chair, tension running through his body.

He felt his body begin to relax though when he heard Bella's footsteps through the house and then heard her enter his office.

"Is it done?"

He nodded and Bella rounded his desk, settling herself into his lap and wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"I'm going tomorrow - it'll be for two nights and then I'll be back."

Her fingers ran over his skin in soothing patterns.

"Are you sure you can't take Liam and Diego with you? Or even Carlisle?"

Edward shook his head. "Caius would see it as a personal insult. It's better if I go by myself." Edward's let his fingers slip under her t-shirt and teased the warm skin of her waist. "Why, are you going to worry about me?" His mouth quirked up in a smirk - the idea of Bella worried about him (a vampire) was rather sweet.

"I always worry about you," she told him.

"I worry about you too," he countered. "Are you going to be alright with Nessie?"

"We're going to have a blast," she informed him. "Rose and Esme are coming over and we're going to watch movies and talk about you men," she teased.

"Sounds fun - I can stay away longer if you like?"

"Don't you dare," she told him. "You come back as soon as you can."

"I will," he promised.

The Next Evening

Edward smiled as the pilot who was taking him to Arizona, and consequently, the Volturi Headquarters exited the plane and held out his hand.

"I'm Garth and I'll be your pilot this evening, sir."

"Nice to meet you, Garth."

"There isn't a flight attendant as it's such a short flight but I can show you where everything is."

Edward was going to say no but the smell of sweat and anxiousness rolling off Garth made him agree. No doubt he had been told to cater to him and threatened if he did anything less.

Garth smiled and took Edward's small bag from him. He showed him onto the plane and where everything was.

It was only a small plane. There was a couch, a table, some single seats, a television set into the wall, a fridge, counter and microwave. Even that was all too much. Edward had a book in his bag he was going to read.

Garth proudly showed him the blood in the fridge - freshly acquired human blood and Tru Blood. Edward wouldn't need any; Bella had fed him before he left and he'd given her some of his blood.

"Are you ready to go now, sir?" Garth enquired and Edward nodded his head.

"I'm ready whenever you are."

"Great! If you get yourself settled, I'll head upfront and get us to Arizona." Edward nodded his head as Garth closed up the door to the plane and climbed into the cockpit, humming a tune to himself.

Edward sat down and pulled his phone from his pocket. He sent a quick text to Bella to let her know that he was just about to take off.

He got a reply within forty seconds. It was a picture. Bella, Rose Esme and Nessie were all smiling at the camera. They had popcorn on their laps and from the looks of it were all dressed in their pyjamas.

The caption read 'Missing you x'.

He smiled.

Garth's voice came over the cabin as he let Edward know they were about to take off.

Edward pulled his book from his bag and opened it up. He had three hours to kill - he hoped it was a good book.

Thank you for waiting for this. I hope you enjoyed, and I'll see you all in two weeks.