A/N: I don't own this, we all know who does. If I did, Rpattz would be off paying my electric bill for me. It sucks...paying for the air conditioning that you HAVE to have if you're gonna live where I live. With Rob's Twilight money, he might actually be able to afford it, and not have to pinch pennies elsewhere. :D

This is unbeta'd, so any and all mistakes belong to me. I need to watch a good movie, I haven't seen any in a while. I know you wanted to know that. :D

This is for my wifey, Mrs. Robward. She leaves me cute quotes and lyrics in her reviews. I love them. :D

Thanks to Luxure & EdwardsBloodType for prereading this. "Oh, my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch a long, lonely time..." Oh good heavens, that movie. Lux, you're too young to remember this 'cause you weren't even BORN yet, but EBT...did EVERY party the last couple months of your senior year have this movie playing somewhere in the house? Oh my goodness, I think I watched it like 5 times in one week. Ugh...I liked it, until it came out on video. :D

**disclaimer **

This story is a bit taboo. But it's getting better, I think. :D

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… Chapter Thirty Two - Blocks … Edward …

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"I'm off in 45 minutes. Do you want to stay here, or maybe we could..." you ask. I can see how nervous you are.

"Can we leave? Can you go early, since I already paid?"

You nod, telling me you just have to check with Marcus first.

As I sit, waiting, I wonder where we'll go.

What will I say when we get there? My mind is flustered, scrambled.

I wasn't expecting this today, seeing you. I'm not ready. Not prepared.

Yet I can't bear to let you go. What if I don't find you again?

"We can go, I'm all settled up."

"Okay."

I duck my head in, tell Peter I'm leaving. He doesn't know, understand. I promise to explain Monday.

It's cool outside. Spring is here, but it's still chilly. You're wearing a long coat, cinched up tight around you.

Just seeing you like this, I'd never guess what you have on underneath.

"Um, where do you wanna go?" you ask, your eyes not meeting mine.

"I have an apartment, or we can go to yours. I mean, do you need to get home? Do you have a babysitter or anything?"

Your eyes widen, and I wonder. Am I supposed to talk about Claire? I assumed she was with you, but maybe not.

"Yeah, Mrs. Cope. Um, okay. We can go there. If you want, I'll meet you."

"Alright."

You tell me the address and I punch it into my phone, asking for your phone number, too.

I turn toward the parking lot, and you start off on the sidewalk.

"Bella, where are you going?"

Your hair flips around your shoulders when you turn.

"I walked. It's just a few blocks, and it saves gas. Plus parking isn't free around here, so..."

"You do this very often?" I ask, horrified at the thought of you walking home alone in the middle of the night.

"Yeah, unless it's raining or snowing or something."

You turn, keep walking.

"Ride with me. I don't want you on the street alone."

Your head shakes, you try to refuse.

"Please, Bella."

After a few tense moments, you sigh, walk toward me.

I open the door for you.

I'm thankful I don't still drive my same car from high school. That could be awkward, all the memories we had in that.

After a few minutes, and the realization that a "few blocks" is actually a mile and a half, we pull up to your building.

It's not in the best area, but I've seen worse.

As you turn your key in the main door of the building, you speak.

"Claire will be sleeping. We just have to keep it down. And I need to change my clothes, so just give me a minute when we get in, okay?"

I nod, following close behind you.

A couple flights of stairs later, we're at your door. It's the same as all the others, except for the little puppy stickers on it. They must be from Claire.

I'm oddly excited about the prospect of meeting her, knowing her. Is she like you?

Your apartment is cozy, warm. Quiet.

"Bella, dear. You're home early! Why, Claire just went down a little while ago, and I was going to—oh! You're not alone."

The woman looks at me. I can tell from the look on her face that she's curious why you've brought me home.

Do you often bring men home? I don't even know.

"Mrs. Cope, this is Edward Cullen. He's a friend of mine from a long time ago. A friend of my family, really."

"Well, pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cullen. Bella, are you sick, dear? You're home early, and you never come home early."

You smile, your eyes soft as you look at this woman. I can tell she's important to you.

"I'm fine. I just got done a little early, is all. I saw Edward and we thought we'd come back here to talk, catch up. Everything is fine, don't worry."

Mrs. Cope smiles, hugs you before saying a quick goodnight and leaving.

"You can sit down, I'll be right back."

You hurry toward a door, I'm guessing your bedroom.

There are pictures around the small living room, a few of your five older children.

Most are of Claire. From every age.

And the one thing about them that gets me most is simple.

She looks exactly like me.

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A/N: Oh boy...wonder what's gonna happen...

Klrtwiluver FanFic started a secret group over on Facebook. If you want in, find her over there & friend her, or on twitter ( at KlrTwiLuver ) and she'll let you in. There are videos, pictures, songs...all kinds of stuff. I think the crazy theories everyone has are my favorite part. I love it. :)

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