AN: Welp! Here we go...
First of all THANK YOU to everyone who's read and supported this story, through reviews, tweets, posts of facebook etc... You really made it a lot of fun, and I am going to miss posting weekly.
Just as RFF Edward and Bella I've been lucky to have dear friends help me SO MUCH, and this story would not be without them. Packy, Kristen, Meg and Mel. THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU!
Won't drag this sob fest, so yeah... final chapter here we go!
Chapter 32. Next Big Dream
~o~
NOW
~o~
Chief Sound Studio. Seattle, Washington. Sunday, May 11th 2014
~o~
Bella stands at the front door of the house on the hills, now home to Chief Sound—Edward and Bella's freshly finished recording studio named after Charlie. It's been four months since the renovation started, and today is the first time she will see it all finished.
She takes a deep breath, not ready to knock yet. She hasn't been at the site in the last two weeks, at Edward's request—he wanted to add some final touches as a surprise to her.
She has a surprise of her own in her hands.
Before she gets herself together to knock, he opens the door. He is in dark jeans and a Metallica t-shirt. No shoes. Just socks. His hair is damp and it looks like he just showered.
"Why are you standing out here?" His smile is radiant even though his eyes look tired. "What's that?" His eyes dart down to the brown paper wrapped, 30x40 frame that she holds next to her.
"Some… decor…" She shrugs, taking a step closer to him. "Hi…" Getting on her tiptoes, she places a kiss on his lips. "I've missed you."
Not only did Bella have to stay away from the site for the last two weeks, but Edward has also stayed at the new studio the past few days, finishing whatever he was doing in there. So, they have only seen each other briefly in the last week.
"Hi…" He breathes out through his nose, his hands cupping her face. "I've missed you too."
He tucks some of her hair behind her ears, looking lovingly at her. Neither of them are able to contain the smiles on their faces.
"Are you ready?" He runs his hands from her face, down her arms, until they close around her wrists.
"I'm ready."
He grabs the wrapped frame in one hand and her hand in the other and pulls her inside.
The studio is everything Bella had dreamed and more. Edward shows her around, pointing out the final touches and how he set up the control room after the last of the equipment was delivered.
As they step into the live room, it's hard to believe or even tell which part of the house this was before. It has been completely redone; the floors, the walls, even the ceiling have been redesigned for the best acoustics they could achieve in that space.
The last time Bella saw this room, it was finished, but empty. Now it's filled with some of Charlie's instruments, as well as new ones, microphones, a couch, a fuzzy white carpet and even decorations filling the walls.
"The carpet was Jazz's idea."
"Oh my God, Edward!" When her eyes meet the back wall, her hands cover her mouth—Charlie's hats are arranged on hooks, decorating the wall, in the same way they used to hang in his basement in Forks. "When did you—? How did you—?"
He comes from behind her, wraps his arms around her waist, and sets his chin on her shoulder. "The first time I walked in here, I knew that's where his hats would go."
She turns around to face him, as tears spill from her eyes. "It's perfect." She brings his face to hers and kisses him with everything she has, wrapping her arms around his neck.
With his arms still around her waist, he lifts her up to him, deepening the kiss.
"Want to see the rest?" He breaks the kiss for air, resting his forehead on hers.
The studio tour ends at the back of the house, the room with the view—the lounge. This is the space where the least amount of work was needed as it was just a room to chill and write music. A fresh coat of paint and new furniture did the trick.
"Jazz did the interior design here too." Edward snorts, pointing at Jazz's art displayed on the wall. Bella's piano is on the other end of the room, against the exposed brick wall that also housed the fireplace. The space above the fireplace is still bare. It's where Edward's gift is going to go.
"I have just the perfect thing to go there." Bella rushes to the hallway where they left the wrapped frame.
"Need help?"
"I got it!" Bella struggles to reach with both hands, but she finally manages and brings the frame to him.
He eyes her suspiciously, cocking his head to the side. "What is this?"
She almost buzzes with excitement as he tears the paper apart. He holds the frame in front of him with both hands, inspecting each picture in the memory board.
She put it together herself, had drawn out the dates, and scraped together all of the pieces. It's probably lame and cheap, and it obviously looks handmade—childish even. But she hopes he knows how much each of those moments depicted there meant for her, mean still, and how she wants them out in the open, displayed on a wall, and not hidden in boxes.
"Bella…" He balances the frame on his thighs, as he runs his fingers on the hundreds of pictures and items that made up the memory board. Pictures of him on the drums, of them playing together, of their gigs. Movie tickets. Concert tickets. Even Edward's hospital bracelet from the aftermath of their first gig ever. "Is this the stuff from your box?"
She looks at him, hands over her mouth, preventing a squeal from escaping, and gives him a little nod, thrilled that he remembers the stuff from the box. The stuff he had only gotten but a glimpse, many years ago when she promised she would maybe let him see all of it one day.
His face goes serious then, and he walks to the fireplace, setting the frame on top of the mantel.
When he turns to look at her, there's that crease between his eyebrows, and his eyes scream a million things at her. He closes the distance between them in two strides, and his hands cup her face while simultaneously his lips are over hers.
The air comes out of her in a huff as he catches her by surprise, his lips devouring her mouth. "This is everything." He pants against her lips. "This means everything to me."
"You like it?"
"Do I like it?" He pulls his face away from her, looking incredulously at her. "I fucking love it. And I fucking love you."
"I fucking love you too." She smiles deviously at him, pressing her body against his.
"Don't…" He pulls back with a groan. "You know what that does to me. And there's still more to see."
She stands in the lounge room, looking around, still a little flustered. They've seen everything. She looks up at him, confused.
"Want to see the upstairs?" His eyes crinkle and his lips stretch into a grin as he stands proudly in front of her.
"What?" Suspicion creeps into her. She thought the surprise was the finishing touches, the instruments being here already, Charlie's hats against the wall. But the way he's standing in front of her, it seems he has more up his sleeve. "What's upstairs?"
"The attic." His smile is uncontainable. His ears are bright red. He looks nervous. He is so adorable.
Since the day they purchased the house, she has not been back up there. Their plan was to turn the attic into an apartment for them, eventually, but that had not been in the initial budget. Or at least that's what he told her.
"C'mon…" He extends a hand to her. "I want you to see for yourself."
Her mind replays every time the attic has come up in conversation, how evasive he has been. She knew the appliances were moved up there "for later" but she had no idea what else could be up there.
He takes her hand in his and pulls her to the spiral staircase.
"Oh, Cullen, what did you do…" She trips in her haste to get upstairs, and she hears him chuckling behind her. The air leaves her lungs as she takes the final step.
The attic has been completely renovated. And not just walls and floors, but there's an actual bedroom, a living room, a kitchen! A little breakfast nook. The fireplace is working and gorgeous. So much light comes in through the skylights.
She feels like she could pass out.
"I thought we wouldn't be able to do this for months… or a year?" Her eyes roam the room, loving everything they land on.
"I-I wanted it to be a surprise. Do you like it?"
"Edward, it's beautiful. This is amazing." She walks to the fireplace, running her fingers over the white mantel, taking everything in. "I love this so much. It's so perfect!"
She turns to him with tears in her eyes as he stands in the middle of the living room, their living room. He stands there, his hand pulling at the back of his neck, a tired smile on his face, and eyes just for her.
"I can't believe you did this."
"Everyone helped me."
"They're all in on it?"
"Even Esme…"
"How much did this cost?"
"Don't worry about it."
"How much did it cost you?" She brings her hands to his face, her thumbs running over his cheekbones and down his jaw. All the nights he spent here instead of with her. All the times he showed up at her place, completely beat. He had worked his ass off to make this happen for her, for them. She couldn't be prouder of him. She couldn't be more in love with him.
She sets her hands on her hips, looking around the place again. "I can't believe I made you a memory board and you built us a freaking apartment!"
He laughs loudly, reaching for her waist, setting his head on the crook of her neck with a long exhale. She wraps her arms around his neck, melting into him.
For a while they're lost in their little bubble, their bodies swaying in a music-less dance.
"So... want to break in the new bed or…" Bella asks after a beat.
He groans playfully into her neck. "I do…" He takes a deep breath. "But if we do that, I don't see us leaving this room any time soon. So, there's something else I want to do first."
"What is it?"
"I want to see how our live room sounds with you in it."
~o~
The air is buzzing as Bella connects her guitar to the amplifier. Chills run through her body as she looks around the room. It feels like deja vu. Like she has been here already. Like this is where she was meant to be all along.
Edward sits at the drums, facing her, seemingly just as affected by the heightened air in the room. He pulls a baseball cap from behind him, from Charlie's wall of hats, and puts it on before he brings the tip of his drumstick to the brim of the hat.
She takes a deep breath in preparation and smiles at him wholeheartedly before she begins to play. The guitar solo fills the space, and when Edward joins in on the drums, the room vibrates.
They try a couple different songs, and then they go to the control room together.
At first, they sit side by side, each on a chair, as Edward plays around with the controls and shows Bella's different mods of the song. He brings up her vocals, then sharpens her guitar solo.
Bella melts on her chair as she watches him work with such focus and dedication. When she sees his hand rub on his neck and shoulder for the second time, she gets up from her chair and stands behind him, rubbing his shoulders while he continues to work.
When he's happy with the settings, he lets it roll, leaning back on the chair as their song plays. He rests his head back and closes his eyes, his hands rest over Bella's. As the music plays, he taps his fingers over her hand to the beat of the song.
The smile that appears on his face is one of utter joy, of accomplishment, of triumph.
Bella leans over and places a kiss, first on his forehead, then on his lips. He exhales through his nose, wrapping his hands around her neck and pulling her to him.
The song ends with her on his lap, but as she tries to deepen the kiss, he inches away.
"I want to try one more," he says with a pleading look and she groans, which makes him smile in response. "C'mon, we'll go upstairs in a bit."
Bella inspects his weary eyes, feeling a bit dejected, wondering how he has so much self-control. She knows it is not lack of want, as she can feel him stirring in his pants under her. She wants to love him. She wants to take care of him. She wants to show him how much this means to her.
Lifting her effortlessly from his lap, Edward subtly rearranges himself with a faint grunt. And then they're both off the chair and walking back into the live room.
Edward says he wants to try one of the newer songs they have been working on, one they wrote together. It has more of a blues-rock feel than anything they've done before, and it's heavily influenced by Charlie's passion for '70s music.
It's also a lot of fun to play.
Bella humors Edward with one more song, but when he wants to try it again, she decides she'll try something else instead.
Knowing him, he's probably killed himself over the past few days, getting everything ready for today. He's made their dream come true, but she knows it has come at a price. She can see it in the slight slump of his shoulders, how he rubs his neck, and how he hides a yawn into his elbow.
He probably dreamed about christening this room with her, to have their songs be the first ones that get played here. She gets it. But they've done that now. Now she has different christening plans of her own.
During her guitar solo, she purposely makes her way closer to Edward, giving it her all, playing right in front of him. When she looks at him, his eyes are avoiding her. His jaw set. His eyes on the door. His focus on the beat of the drums.
In a gutsy move, she reaches even closer, one leg hitched on one of the drums, and her guitar hoisted on her hips. She improvs an even more intricate guitar riff, and when she looks at Edward, he's staring at her, mouth parted, eyes hooded.
When he misses a beat, she smiles, lowers her leg, and circles around him to the other side.
"What are you doing?" He groans, but continues to try to play, a smile twitching at the corner of his lips. This time, her right leg is hitched, with her foot over the drum, and the guitar arm pointing away from him, so she can get much closer. If he would just… lean back…
When he turns to look at her, the look in his eyes tells her she's won. He still tries to keep playing, while he leans his head back. She goes in for the kiss, and this time, it's her who misses a note.
They both stubbornly continue to play, while their lips are connected, pushing to see who would break first. They both miss beats. They're both out of tempo. And the song is a mess.
Bella giggles against his lips, letting go of the guitar, as Edward is off his seat, drumsticks dropping on the floor, knocking the hi-hat down as his arms reach for her.
His arms are around her as she steps back, removing the guitar strap. Drums and guitar behind them, his body bends into hers, his hands reaching under her legs, pulling her body to his.
He must trip on a cable or something, because they're falling. She braces herself to him, expecting to hit the floor, but his hands break the fall, and her head is gently rested on the fluffy carpet.
His lips are on her neck while her hands reach to pull his shirt off of him. He finishes the job, his hair pointing in every direction as his head pops out of the shirt.
"What you do to me…" Deep green oceans stare down at her, so intense and so full of love. "How you affect me…" He drops to his elbows, closing the distance between their bodies even more. "I will never get over it."
"You don't think you affect me just as much?" She runs her fingers over his shoulders and down his chest. "I've been trying to have my way with you all day."
He laughs into her neck, while his hands reach under her shirt to unclasp her bra. Her hands go exploring as well, undoing the buttons of his jeans, finding him straining in his boxers.
When she releases him into her hand, he hisses in her mouth. "I won't make it to the bedroom."
"Me neither." She pulls her skirt up and pushes her underwear down, grabbing him again, and lining him up where she's already dripping for him.
"Fuck…" He moans as he enters her raw, and it is glorious.
Pushing her shirt and bra off of her, his lips find her nipple. He takes his time with both of them, nibbling and suckling, making her squirm on the floor, while remaining impossibly still inside of her.
She circles her legs around him, her ankles linking above his hips, pushing him even farther, signaling she was okay and so fucking ready.
Moving in and out of her slowly and in control, he continues to kiss every inch of her exposed skin.
Bella's hips meet his thrusts, while her hands fist his hair, desperate to have all of him.
His hands reach under her back, pulling her to him, as he sits with her on his lap, their bodies connected. Her head drops back, a moan escaping her lips, as her body adjusts to him filling her this way.
"Jesus…" His face is between her breasts, breathing her in, kissing her whole.
Once her skirt is pushed up and out the way, his hands clasp on her hips, fingers digging into her ass, as he paces her moves. Up and down. Still in control.
Increasing the pace, he moans into her neck, his hands moving to her back, holding her to him. Bella's moans get louder as she feels the pressure intensify just below her stomach.
She pushes softly on his shoulders, so that he lies down flat on the floor and she's on top of him, riding him. She stills for a second, her eyes closing, as he reaches the deepest part of her. When she opens her eyes, he is staring at her in awe.
"You are so fucking beautiful." The need in his eyes is explicit, and it matches what she feels at the spot where their bodies connect.
His hands caress her legs, up her thighs, until they clasp on her hips. When she starts to move, his eyes roll back, and his fingers dig into her skin.
She doesn't manage the control he showed before. Pretty quickly, her movements turn erratic and her walls are closing on him while the pressure under her belly radiates through her body. He lifts his knees behind her, and she rests back on them, completely spent.
Sitting up, his chest is pressed to hers again, and his lips are on her. "I love watching you come undone like that."
She feels almost limp on top of him, as she rides the waves of pleasure that course through her body. He lovingly holds her head in one hand, while the other is on her back, letting her have this moment. But she can feel him tense, and still so hard, inside of her.
"Turn around for me, baby," he says into her neck. "I won't be far behind."
He helps her maneuver her shaky legs over him, so that now she's facing the opposite way, and then moves her forward, so she's on her hands and knees.
He starts slowly again, with his hands on her hips, as Bella feels the familiar pressure reappear and build up in her stomach. Soon after, he's pounding into her, finally letting go, as she comes again.
~o~
When Edward opens his eyes, brown chocolate pools are staring right back at him. The sweet smile on her face and the blush on her cheeks warms him up inside.
"Were you watching me sleep, Swan?" he asks, clearing his throat. He must have dozed off as they are still on the fuzzy carpet, him in just his jeans, while she had put his shirt on. "What time is it?" He pulls her to him, hiding his face in her neck. He could stay there all day.
"Not sure…" She has her fingers in his hair, tracing patterns behind his ears. He pulls back subtly, holding her hand in his and kissing her wrist. If she keeps that up, he will fall asleep again.
"You look really tired." The concern in her eyes is palpable, honest. He knows she worries but she really doesn't have to.
"I'm fine." It's the truth. He is fine. He's never been happier. Of course he is tired. It's been a few sleepless nights after months of hard work, but it has been all more than worth it.
"Want to eat?"
"Bella, I'm fine." He laughs through his nose, closing an arm around her, so she rests her head on his shoulder. "Let's just stay here a little longer."
"Okay…" She traces patterns on his chest and down his abs, her fingertips featherlight against his skin.
They're quiet for a while, until she speaks again. "Edward, this is amazing… what you've done here."
"You know it's all for you, right? It's all thanks to you."
"That's not true."
"It is…" He pulls her back so she can look at him. "You're the only reason I went to school. If you hadn't pushed me to get a degree, just in case, I would have had nothing. Sound engineering was just me getting lucky."
She shakes her head, smiling at him, before he continues. "You made me apply for financial aid. You worked it all out. I honestly just wanted to be with you and make music with you, but you always pushed me to be more."
"Maybe I just gave you the little push you needed." Her eyes are bright and pure, and she looks so happy and proud of him it makes everything worth it. "You've worked so hard, Edward. You still work so hard… at everything. You deserve all of this. You deserve everything."
"You are my everything." His hand runs over her arm, to her face, where his thumb rubs on her cheek. "You're all I need."
She props herself up on her elbow, reaching over him for a kiss. Her fingertips scrub over his jaw, and she seems lost in thought when she smiles, shaking her head.
"What?"
"When I was putting together that memory board, I saw that picture from when we played at 29Pounds last year. Do you remember that?"
"Yeah…" He raises his eyebrows at her. Of course, he remembers. He remembers every moment they've shared.
"We played so well that night. It was really one of our best performances. So… in sync. I don't know… It was really great. Right?"
"It was… I remember the different riff you did for 'Brianstorm.'" She had absolutely killed it.
"Remember we went to the '80s karaoke bar afterward with Jazz?"
That's when it starts to get a little blurry.
"You sang Bryan Adams," she continues, stifling a laugh.
"I did no such thing." The memory is faint, but he did, actually—multiple songs. Fucking tequila.
Bella giggles, her whole body shaking with her laughter.
"That was exactly one year ago last night." Her face turns serious and he knows why. That was the night. That was the first night they slept together.
"That's crazy," he says, feeling a little uneasy. It doesn't feel like a year ago. It feels like a lifetime ago.
"Isn't it?" She lies down next to him as the both stare at the ceiling. "I just think it's monumental. I fucked it up so badly after that, yet here we are, making this dream come true. Together."
"Here we are…" He reaches for her hand and intertwines his fingers with hers, bringing her hand to his chest.
"So, on to the next dream?" she asks, turning over to him.
"We still need to work really hard to make this dream work though…"
"I know… but… you know what I mean? Don't you have any next big dreams we can start working on?"
With his arm under her head, he turns to look at her.
"I've got a couple…" he adds coyly, smiling at her.
"Tell me!"
"Not a chance, Swan."
"Why? C'mon, you can tell me!" She sits up next to him, poking his side. "Please?"
He shakes his head, closing his eyes.
"I guess you leave me no choice…" She moves over her leg to straddle him. "But to get it out of you."
He sits up as well, wrapping his arms around her. "I'll gladly let you try." He seals her complaints with a kiss.
"I want to know…" She trails kisses on his jaw, moving to his neck. "What's your next big dream?"
"You'll just freak out, and there's no need for us to go there yet." He falls back onto his back, his arms crossing under his head.
"It's big and scary then."
"It's pretty big."
"What is it?! A Grammy?"
His laugh shakes his whole body, and it resonates in the room. "Not even close."
"A platinum record?"
"You are so cold…"
Her whole demeanor changes then, and she stares right into his soul. "I won't freak out, I promise."
With her eyes staring back at him as deep pools of melted chocolate, he can't keep it in anymore.
He props himself up on both elbows, staring right back at her. "I want you to say yes when I ask you to marry me."
Her breath catches in her throat. Clearly this is not what she expected him to say.
It's like his heart stops, like time stands still. She's not moving, and it doesn't look like she's even breathing.
He sits up, grabbing her face in his hands. "You promised you wouldn't freak out." He kisses her softly, eyeing her expectantly. "Besides, I'm talking waaay down the road, okay? Not anytime soon."
The smile that spreads on her face and the way her eyes shine for him tell him he has nothing to worry about.
She kisses him eagerly, fingers rubbing on his jaw. Things start stirring inside his pants at the feeling of her on his lap, when she leaves his lips to whisper in his ear. "I will say yes."
She pulls away to face him, and the smile on her face is contagious and so fucking beautiful. "You know… down the road… or whatever." She lifts herself from his lap, extending a hand to him. "Let's get you something to eat."
He takes her hand and gets up as well, his whole body sore, but nothing can keep the smile from his face.
"Just don't go buying a ring yet. Okay?" She points a finger at his chest, seemingly unable to stop smiling either.
"Okay…" He laughs through his nose, desperate to seem nonchalant. But she sees right through him.
"You've already bought it, didn't you?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
"Yes! No! I don't know… okay, no, don't tell me." She does the little wringing of her fingers and the little dance with her feet she does when she's nervous or has to pee. "Okay. Food?" She changes the subject abruptly and turns to leave.
His hand closes around her elbow, stopping her mid-step and turning her to him. "Hey," he says softly, inching closer to her. "Breathe." She obliges, taking a deep breath, her eyes focused on him. "Way down the road, okay?"
"Okay…" She takes another deep breath.
"Like after a Grammy or something."
She laughs then and he knows she's back. She wraps her arms around his neck, and he pulls her up, her legs crossing behind his back automatically. He won't ask her until she's ready, but he will ask. Esme's ring has already been resized and updated, and it sits in his nightstand upstairs. When that day comes, she will say yes, and it will make him the happiest man on earth because they'll finally have their forever.
The End
AN: Well, there you have it. Hope you've enjoyed the ride. I'm marking it complete because as of now I have no immediate plans for an epilogue, but maybe one day?
I do have another story in the works, so follow me on Facebook for teasers about that (and a lot of fangirling about The Procedure?) link is on my bio.
Until next time!