Hi guys! Back to the present... There will be another one today, cause the next one is really short...

As always, thanks 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 24

Present

BPOV

I look up at the clock and notice that the day is almost over. I shut off my computer and pack up my desk. When I finally walk out of my office, I notice Edward leaning against his car. My heart does a little flip flop at the sight of him. I take a deep breath and then start walking toward him.

He grins widely and then opens the passenger door for me. I get in without a word.

When I'm strapped in, I turn toward him. "Why do you keep appearing at my work?"

He just smiles. "I'm taking you out on a date."

My eyes widen. "What? Edward, I…"

"You can't run from me forever, Bella." He says before my scrambled mind can come up with an excuse.

I sigh. "Okay."

Edward and I are sitting across from each other at dinner, sneaking covert glances at each other. Why am I so nervous? I suddenly feel like the old Bella who's out on her first date.

This time when I look at him, our eyes meet. He smiles and says, "The way you're looking at me right now reminds me of the old Bella."

My brows lift in surprise. "How am I looking at you right now?"

His smile widens. "Like you're in love with me?"

I look away immediately. I stay silent for a long time and then say almost in a whisper. "I am."

His hand grabs mine softly. "Bella, I—"

"Don't say it." I interrupt him. I look him in the eyes and say seriously, "I can't hear it right now, Edward. I want to trust you. But…" I falter.

He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment. When he opens them, I can see the unshed tears in them. "I was wrong, Bella. I broke your heart and I regret it every single day." He squeezes my hand once. "I regret that I left you, I regret that I got scared, and I regret that I gave up on us so easily."

"I regret it too, Edward. I regret being scared too."

His eyes search for something in mine. "Are you still scared, Bella?"

My breath hitches. I hesitate for a while before I say, "No."

A small smile graces his lips. "Neither am I."

We are both silent again. Finally, I look up at him, biting my lip. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why didn't you ever come home in these three years?"

He extracts his hand from mine at that and immediately turns away from me. He swallows once and then says, "Carlisle."

My brow furrows. "Mr. Cullen?"

He nods stiffly. "After all these years, I feel like I've finally paid my dues and freed myself from him. So, I don't need to see him anymore."

I hesitate. I wet my lips once and then ask softly. "Is it… Is it about your Mom?"

His eyes shoot to me in surprise. "Hmm." He says simply.

"I have known for a while now that Mr. Cullen has been holding a grudge against you about something. That's why he has always mistreated you." My eyes go to his hand clenched tightly in a fist. I squeeze his hand lightly and he links our fingers together.

"He… um… he blames me for my mom's death."

I gasp. "What?"

He shrugs and then looks away again. "Since the day I woke up in the hospital, Carlisle has hated me for being alive instead of Mom."

My eyes squeeze shut in pain. My mind flashes with the image of the small boy I remember lying in a hospital bed, all alone, with neither his mom nor his dad beside him. My heart constricts at the image and my hand squeezes his even tighter.

"Bella?" His voice calls to me softly and I finally open my eyes. He stares back at me with concern. "It's okay. Carlisle and I have severed our ties. It was over between us anyway. So, don't you look at me with those pitiful eyes. Okay?"

I simply nod, unable to say anything else. Then something comes to my mind. "Paid your dues, what do you mean by that?"

He stares at me intently for a while. I see so many emotions flashing in his eyes, but most of all I see is regret. "I should have been brave, Bella. When he found out about Paris, Carlisle came to see me. He used my fears and my guilt against me. So, when you asked me if I was leaving, all I could think was Carlisle and I hesitated. I couldn't be brave enough to tell you that I'm not going."

His face contorts in pain and I want to wrap my arms around him, to hug him. But I remain still. "So, he asked you to go to Paris?"

"Yes. I have always done what he asked without any question because I felt like I wronged him. I felt like I owed him. When he asked me to go to Paris, I realized that he didn't just want me to go for the internship. He just wanted me gone, away from his family, his life, and from him. So, I did. I disappeared from his life."

"Edward, I… why didn't you ever say all this to me?"

He smiles solemnly. "I just want to forget it all, Bella. All of it."

This time when I look at him, I see a whole new Edward that I never realized was there underneath the cold and indifferent Edward.

"I love you, Edward," I say finally.

He opens his mouth and I quickly cover it with my hand. "Not now, Edward. Give me some time. Please."

He nods and then takes my hand that covers his mouth in his. "Fine. I'll wait, Bella." He lightly kisses my hand and smiles softly. "As long as it takes, I'll wait for you."

Edward and I are walking up to my building with his fingers still intertwined with mine. Occasionally, he lifts our joined hands up to his lips and lightly kisses mine. We reach my elevator and he smirks at me.

I look away nervously. We enter inside silently and I quickly press the floor number. He leans back to the wall and shifts me so that my back rests against his chest. He wraps around my waist and then his chin rests on my head. I sigh happily and close my eyes. We stay silent the whole ride. We get off at my floor and walk up to my apartment, still holding hands.

I open my door and look at him nervously. "Umm. This is me." I say, needlessly.

He chuckles lightly. "Won't you invite me in?"

My throat goes dry. I wet my lips nervously and his eyes drop to them. He starts to lean in and I squeeze my eyes shut in anticipation. He softly presses his lips to mine once and then pulls back. My eyes shoot open and I see him smiling lightly. "Good Night, Bella."

He turns and starts to walk away. I stare at him puzzled until he disappears into the elevator.

I finally shuffle inside and then lean my back at the closed door. So, are we really dating again?

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I'll see you in the next chapter.

~SunAndMoon42