Author's note: Thank you for all your feedback on Chapter 13! I enjoy reading what you all think about the story as well as where it could go in further chapters. I hope you enjoy chapter 14 and some Edward time.

Disclaimer: Unedited.

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"They got all the right friends in all the right places

So yeah, we're goin' down

They got all the right moves in all the right faces

So yeah, we're goin' down

They say everybody knows, everybody knows where we're goin'

Yeah, we're goin' down"

All The Right Moves - OneRepublic

…

"Merry Christmas, Bella." The clock has just struck midnight and on cue, small snowflakes are falling from the sky.

Even though it's a holiday, Bella and I have decided to spend it separately again. It's supposed to be a part of this just dating thing we agreed to. She spends the day with her Rose in Seattle and I will spend mine doing who knows what like we did for Thanksgiving.

We're not ready to reintroduce ourselves to our families and I am really in no hurry to do so. It's simple when it's just the two of us, hiding away from judgements and opinions on our once failed relationship. It's really none of their business anyways.

We've found our own routine that is working for us. I spend my day at the shop and she spends hers at Charlie's or Rose's. We usually end our evening together, in the apartment or a simple dinner and movie.

Either way, I have enjoyed just dating Bella. It feels refreshing to learn the way she smiles when there's a happy ending to a movie or cries when it is sad. How she ties her hair up when she's frustrated or in deep thought but uses the tools to get out of those feelings. Even how her body reacts when we have to pull away from each other because we agreed that we wouldn't have sex for a while without defining what "a while" meant.

I will never regret the feeling of being inside her or being able to tell her I love her in that way, but sex has messed a lot of shit up for me and her. I want this time to be almost perfect and I know if we don't get to know each other emotionally and mentally, the physical will ruin everything.

"Merry Christmas," she whispers as she looks at the snowflakes falling around us. They aren't sticking to the ground yet but it won't be long before they do with how cold it is. "Sorry I didn't get you a present."

We're standing at the front door, facing each other. Her nose and cheeks are pink from the winter wind. She looks adorable in her hat, gloves and bomber I bought her as a gift.

I shrug because I really hadn't expected anything from her. I just knew she was going to freeze to death if she kept leaving her house in a light hoodie and nothing to cover her hands or ears. "It was the least I could do," I tell her, smiling and leaning forward to kiss her lips.

As hard as it is for me, I only allow my lips to touch her for a split second. "You have a long ride in the morning." I remind her.

She looks as disappointed as I feel but she nods before giving me a wavering smile. I watch as she slowly takes her keys out and unlocks the front door. She steps in even slower then finally turns around to face me. She's pouting like a child and it makes me smile.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow." I kiss her forehead one last time before turning away and walking back to my car. She kills me every time we say good night to each other.

Her eyes invite me in and her soft touch dares to undress us both.

She waits to close her door until I am in my car. Our eyes find each other right before it shuts and I am reminded how much of a tease she can be.

My car heats up quickly and soon I am on my way back to downtown Forks. The snow is getting heavier and I'm thankful I got new winter tires for my Corvette. I should really look into getting a truck.

The sound of my phone ringing echoes throughout the car. I was hoping it would be Bella calling to talk to me the rest of my drive like we usually do, but it's a phone number with an international area code.

Fuck.

I feel my stomach drop and I panic slightly, trying to also focus on the roads that are getting more slick by the minute.

Or does he?

Fuck.

What could he want? It's been a year and I have tried to stay low key, even that time I went with Tanya. It wasn't a big win nor was it underground. I knew he would keep tabs on me for a while, but now?

I can do two things right now. Ignore the call or answer it. It's after midnight and if I ignore it he may think I'm sleeping. But knowing him, he is persistent and if he wants to get in touch with me, he will.

All I can think of Bella and how she would feel about my ventures after we divorced. The person on the other side of the phone was a prime example that my past would catch up with me eventually. The fact that it could affect Bella and how I have to keep her out of this.

I let the phone ring and soon the call ends with a missed call message. I'm hoping that he doesn't call back but within the five seconds it takes me to pull over, he calls again.

"Fuck," I say, taking multiple deep breaths.

I damn myself for being such a fool years ago. I was coming off the high of being freshly divorced and I didn't know what to do with myself. I wanted to leave the country and go figure that out.

I decided that the East side of Canada may be a nice start. On the day I was set to leave, I had a layover in the local New York City airport. Due to storming, the flight was cancelled and I chose to stay in a hotel instead of sleeping in the airport.

I also decided to go to the casino that was advertised on the hotel's brochure of things to do. It was late and even though I was on a later flight tomorrow, I still wanted to get up. I hadn't gambled since the accident with Bella. I had no interest and honestly it had made me sick.

But at that moment, I chose to tell myself that I would really start fresh tomorrow.

I chose to go to a casino owned by The Volturi Family, notorious gamblers in uptown New York. They own their own casinos, bars and clubs where they gamble all night but still make more money than the President himself. I'm pretty sure there's more than gambling but I never asked or was involved.

I hadn't done much research on the opinions of the place but I had time and feelings to kill.

It was a five star place named Mistero. The dark aged Victorian style decor was beautiful and fitting for the name. It was full of rich New York City people dressed in nice suits and gowns that made me feel out of place in my jeans and tshirt. The drinks were delicious and their menu looked decent. The mood was light for once and everyone looked like they were having a good time.

The itch to play came quickly and soon I was gambling as well as winning. People were surprised that someone looking like me was actually good.

Aro saw me play and was intrigued at the amount of money I had won in such a short period of time. He offered me a job for him. Play, wager and win large amounts of money and get paid a large percentage of it.

I should've said no and left for Canada. I didn't need to get myself caught up in the addiction that led me to lose my wife. But without her, what else did I have to lose and they were offering me a lot of money.

I missed my flight in Canada and was set up in a large condo on the outskirts of New York City. I would go to the casino once or twice a week but the big bucks were out of state and underground.

Illegal.

But the adrenaline was wild… too wild.

But years later I am still trapped all because of my temper, pride and inability to say no to the amount of money I was going to get. I had just finished my apprenticeship and got a divorce. The savings from before was running low and I really didn't want to work for anyone. I knew it would take at least a year before I was ready to get my own shop and this job would help me do that.

I had a plan and Aro was able to help me begin. But then I fucked up and he made it very clear before I came back to Washington that I will always owe him for cleaning up that mess. I made a deal with the devil and have been stuck in hell ever since.

My phone continues to ring after ignoring the second call, I take multiple deep breaths before answering.

"Hello?" My voice sounds strong, good.

"Ah, Edward." Aro's voice is thick with an accent that is far too beautiful for a man this evil. "I haven't seen you in so long."

"Yeah, I've been busy." I am short with him. I'm not in the mood to play his game.

"So I've heard." I can hear him snicker. "Your new needle parlor looks like it is bringing in great business."

So he was still keeping tabs on me. "What do you want?"

"Don't sound like you're happy to hear from me." He laughs. "Hearing from me always means more money for you."

Fuck. "No." I am stern.

I can't do this to Bella. I can't mess things up with her. I just got her back and I will do anything to keep her.

"I will be in Seattle for a couple of weeks in April. There's a get together there and there's another family who has challenged us and invited us for a game."

A get together is a cover word for an underground gambling ring. One of the many other illegal activities The Volturis were involved in. Families all over the nation would challenge them and they never said no. In my days with them, I was the tool that led them to many wins and more money than they truly needed.

"No." I raise my voice a bit so he knows I'm serious.

Tanya and I only went to the casino once more after the first time we went. I wanted to buy some new equipment for the shop, thinking it would help boost our clientele. It also helped us do the flash event.

"Remember when I told you that you will always have a debt to pay." I can hear the challenge in his voice and I try not to let it affect me.

Why couldn't he choose before Bella was back in my life to hang the past in my face? I would have done it so I could finally cut ties with him and his family.

"I can't." I waver because I really can't.

Things with Bella have been amazing and she doesn't even know what I've done in between divorcing and opening the tattoo shop. She has no idea how I had enough money for that shop without any financial debt.

"I'm sure you haven't made plans so early in the year. It's in four months. Move your schedule around." He acts like I don't have a business to run. "Unless you're planning to go on a small vacation with the gorgeous little brown haired female you've been keeping close to, she looks much like your ex-wife."

My stomach sinks and I feel breathless as I clench the steering wheel. Cars zoom by me and some blow their horns at me.

He knows about Bella, something I worked so hard to keep from him. He knows I was married but he never cared to look up who she was. I was compliant and they never needed an incentive to get me to play until now.

"She needs to stay out of this." I clench the steering wheel, rolling my neck. I can't let him get to me but I will not let him bring her into this.

"I can't, not if she's the reason why. Does she even know about me?" I sense a smile in his tone. I stay silent which only ignites him and intrigues him more.

"I'll do it if you keep her name out of your mouth and stay away from her. She stays out." I would do anything to keep Bella safe and away from Aro. The only way to do so is to finally cut my ties. This one last game will seal an ending to that past. I will never hear from him again after this. "And when this is over, I am out for good."

He chuckles like he doesn't believe me. I have never been serious about anything except tattooing and Bella. This is about Bella for me. The end of my connection to Aro will keep Bella safe and I will never play a game of jackblack for money again.

"I will be out." I am louder than I should be but he needs to understand I am done.

He doesn't falter. "I will see you in April."

The call ends and I am left with the sound of the engine and my heavy breathing. I am shaking and tensed so tight my muscles ache. I feel hot and angry at myself and the inconvenient timing of the shit.

I slam my hands on the steering wheel thankfully missing the horn. "FUCK!" I yell feeling no relief as I try to release the overflowing amount of feelings.

I put my car into drive and move forward to turn around and head back to Bella's. I need to make sure she is okay first.

It doesn't take me long to get there. I contemplate knocking on the front door so I can actually see her. All of the lights are off and there's no other cars but mine around. She's probably sleeping but I know I won't be able to leave until she is visible to me.

She's going to be grumpy and confused but my heart aches at the thought that maybe she really isn't inside.

I park behind her car and get out quickly. The snow is finally sticking to the ground and I am glad I wore my boots tonight. The automatic light turns on when I get to the front porch. I ring the doorbell and knock on the door. I don't want her to be scared but I also don't want to make sure she hears me.

It takes a full minute before I can see lights turn on. I can barely hear footsteps getting closer to the door. "Bella! It's Edward!" I say through the door.

There's only a moment before I can hear the locks on the other side unlocking. The door flies open and a sleepy Bella opens the door then quickly unlocks the screen door with one hand. In her other is an all black nine millimeter pistol. I watch as she handles it carefully, pointing it away from the both of us.

"Edward?" She looks panicked. "What's going on?"

"Uh…" I don't want to tell her everything that's going on yet, not until I wrap it around my head myself. "The roads are bad, is it okay if I stay?"

It's not a lie, the roads are definitely getting worse now and I am sure it's worse near my apartment.

"Oh." Her eyebrows furrow. "Of course."

I sigh a breath of relief but give her a smile. "Thanks." I lean in to kiss her cheek, she still seems suspicious of me, as she should be. But she is not in any danger and that's really all that matters. "I'll sleep on the couch if you want me to."

We've still been working on our boundaries and I think it's helped a lot. Our communication is better and I feel like I've broken down the thick wall I created. She has for me too and while I have a feeling she will leave if I tell her everything, she will leave. She will leave if I don't but I am trying to share her things with me in a way that doesn't bombard her or bring up unwanted thoughts about our past.

"I have an air mattress." She giggles. "I couldn't stand sleeping in a twin size bed anymore but I'm also broke. You can sleep there too if you would like?" She says more like a question.

I give her a smile, happy that she would want to move a step forward in our relationship. "If that's okay."

She nods, grinning. "C'mon, I'll get you a blanket."

Her happiness even after being woken up has washed all fear and anger from me. I feel like everything that has happened in the past hour will finish without an issue and I can finally be rid of the past. My addiction can rest in hell as I walk the earth will Bella.

But I am not naive and nor is Aro. He will let me out but it will not be easy.

But for now, sleeping next to Bella comforts me. I can ignore my problems so I can be close to her.

The air mattress sits in the middle of the living room. The TV is perfectly over the fireplace that is lit and gives extra warmth to the room.

"Here you go," Bella says after coming down the stairs. She hands me a large, grey comforter and two pillows. We were never able to share the same blanket without fighting in the middle of the night so we always had our own.

I take my shoes and jacket off quickly before pulling my jeans and tshirt off. Bella is only in a shirt and underwear so I don't feel awkward about it.

We wrap our comforters around ourselves and lay down. She uses her phone to turn off the lights, a new feature suggested by me. The TV lights are bright enough so we can still see each other or anything else we need.

"Good night," she says quietly.

"Good night." I close my eyes and feel my eyelids get heavy.

After a few minutes I still can't fall asleep due to Bella's shuffling around on her side of the mattress. She will lay still for a few seconds and then move again. She's always had a hard time falling and staying asleep which is why I didn't want to wake her.

"Come here." I bring my arms out of my comforter, opening them to invite her towards me.

"Are you sure?" She sits up quickly.

I nod and she moves swiftly into my arms. Her warm body feels nice against mine in a way that is soothing. Our bodies melt into each other perfectly and I can feel her tense body relax. I run my fingers along her back and feel as her breathing gets heavier then turns into a light snore.

I then allow myself to drift asleep, finding solace in the fact that she is asleep safely in my arms.

…

Author's note: Who all thinks everything will be okay? Leave a review and tell me what you think!