Hi guys! Back again with a new chapter... So, Bella and Edward are finally alone again...

As always, thanks so much to all those who read, followed, and reviewed the story. I really appreciate it.

The story is complete. So, it will have daily updates. This story is not betad. So any mistakes are my own. Hope you like it. Please review and let me know.

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Chapter 20

Present

When we finally reach my building, I'm deep in thought. Edward pulls me out of them when he calls, "Bella, we're here."

"Oh," I say. I make a move to get out.

"I'll walk you home." He says, and then gently leads me up to my building. We walk towards the elevator, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back. My nerves immediately shoot up remembering the elevator ride from before.

"Uh, I can manage from here. You can leave." I say, hesitantly.

He arches a brow. "Why? You worried?"

I chuckle uncomfortably. "What? No."

"Great." He says simply and smirks at me.

We get in quietly and I press my floor number. Immediately, I move to the opposite corner of where he is standing, so that there is a wide gap between us. He follows my movement with his eyes and gives a short laugh.

Throughout the ride, he looks pressingly at me while I avoid his gaze. Finally, the elevator dings, and I hurry toward my apartment door. When I reach it, I turn and say, "This is me."

I wait for him to say "goodbye" and leave but instead, he leans at the side of my door. "I'm thirsty."

My jaw clenches in annoyance. Without a word, I open my door and enter. He follows behind quietly and then drops on the couch.

I just roll my eyes at him. Make yourself at home, my mind shoots shortly. I drop my heels near the door and start toward the kitchen to fetch him a drink.

"What can I get you? I have water, juice, and cola." I call out to him, perusing my fridge.

"Water is fine."

I walk out with a glass of water and offer it to him. "Here." His attention is elsewhere though, his eyes roaming around, taking in everything in the room. He finally notices the glass in my hand and gingerly takes it. "Thanks."

"Your house is quite nice, but it feels…" He pauses, searching for the right words. "Impersonal." He finishes. "It's like you're barely at home; it lacks your touch."

I frown. I ponder over his words, trying to figure out what he's trying to say. I guess he notices my puzzlement, and says, "It was just an observation, Bella. I didn't mean anything by it."

"Oh."

"It's just that I'm not very acquainted with this grown-up version of you. I still sometimes think of the girl with short hair and a backpack around her shoulder running after me."

One side of my mouth lifts in bitter amusement. "Well, that girl is in the past now." I look away from him sharply.

"Is she?"

"Hmm." I can't look him in the eyes when I say that. My mouth turns up, then. "I, too, remember the moody, bratty Edward and I have to say that you haven't changed at all."

He smiles as well, reminiscing. We're both silent, lost in our thoughts. Finally, he sighs. "Well, it's getting late." He says and gets up.

He starts towards my door and I follow after him. When we're at the door, he turns, steps closer to me, and breathes into my ear. "We will be together again, Bella. I promised you that I'll come back to you, didn't I?" I gasp.

I look up at him, and his gaze makes my heart jump. He lowers and I lean up on my toes. When he hesitates, I pull on his collar roughly. He lurches forward and I mash my lips to his. His hands trail to my back and he pulls me in closer. My hands start to roam from his collar to his neck and up in his hair. His lips pull at mine roughly and I moan.

One of his hand trails down to my waist. He holds me tight and then spins us around, my back immediately to the door. He moves in impossibly closer and I pull on his hair lightly. His hands tighten around me. He curses once and then slowly his lips leave mine, his forehead leaning on mine and his eyes squeezed shut as if in pain.

I'm breathing heavily, my chest rising and falling exaggeratedly. He finally opens his eyes and grins at me. "Bella, you'll drive me crazy one day."

I blush and look away. His hand lifts my chin up. He kisses me lightly, this time. "Good night."

He pulls back with a grin. He opens my door, looks back at me one last time, and then walks out. I stare at the closed door dazedly and bite my lip in an attempt to suppress the grin that threatens to break through.

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I'll see you in the next chapter.

~SunAndMoon42