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… …

Our relationship was a long one. We had met when I was in college, when my brother Ben was interning for Edward's re-election committee for Congress. My parents had disapproved at first, given that Edward was ten years older than me and in the public eye, but they quickly warmed up to his charm and the way he obviously loved me.

"Edward is certainly…dashing," my mom said, nudging me gently. Last night, Edward had showed up with a huge bouget of roses and then had whisked me off for a night in Martha's Vineyard, on his family's estate there. He knew that my parents were staying with me, and that there was no space for that. He thought of things like that. It had been the most magical night of my life, and I had realized that I really loved him.

"He is," I blushed. "I don't know…it all seems too good to be true, Mom."

She tsked at me, pushing my hair back off of my forehead. "Don't put him on a pedestal, Bella. He comes with downsides, too."

"I know. I know that."

But it was hard to remember. He put stars in my eyes and made me feel weak in the knees. He was older, so smart, and powerful politically. He was dominating sometimes, and a little bossy. The press hounded him, and he was ten years older than me with a huge amount of ambition. Sometimes the whirlwind was more like a tornado. It could be destructive.

It didn't matter, not anymore. I was so in love that I would take him with all the pros and cons.

What had started as hushed conversations and secret sleepovers at my tiny studio near NYU had quickly turned into me accompanying Edward to official events and being photographed by the press. Of course there was scrutiny around our relationship, and none of the tabloids, or Edward's team, believed that it would last.

But here we were, almost exactly ten years later.

… …

Edward's long legs carried him quickly across the room towards me. "Darling."

I smiled up at him, unable to contain my excitement. "It really happened." He reached me and pulled me into a kiss, never caring that his family and staff were in the room. The man hardly had a private moment. "Mr. President."

"Stop that."

"I'm just teasing," I said, running my hands over his suit lapels. "How does it feel?"

He let out a deep breath and looked around us. "Completely surreal."

"I'm so proud of you."

"So are we, dear," Esme chimed in, positively glowing. "I never had a doubt."

Edward chuckled. "Thanks, mom. Not even during the smear campaign?"

I winced, remembering a few months ago when the GOP had dug into Edward's military past and into our relationship and turned it into a media storm to be reckoned with. It had been incredibly painful for Edward, who had always known that his actual military record and what he had done didn't match official records. He had been called an instigator and a liar, and far worse.

Then they had brought our relationship into it, going so far as accusing Edward of being a part of Epstein's ring…totally ignoring the fact that I had been 21, not 17, when we had met. Anything they could do to twist it into something ridiculous, they did. It had been a painful time for both of us.

I was surprised he could laugh about it now, but also proud of him for it.

But Edward had preserved, and now he was the President of the United States. I knew it would sting for him to have to work so closely with those who had slandered him, but Edward had run with promises of strong bi-partisanship and working across the aisle. He believed our country was so fractured that it was the only way to become strong again. I agreed with him, and so did Americans. Now to actually accomplish it.

… …

Our reunion was brief- Alice pulled me away so that we could get ready for the inaugural ball. My hair stylist and makeup artist were already set up and waiting for us, and wasted no time getting started.

Everyone had said that I would need a stylist, so I reluctantly hired one despite my own ability to pick out my own clothes. Luckily, Lucia appreciated my eye for style and let me be as involved as I wanted in the process, especially for something as big as what I would wear to the ball. I had insisted on something modern, demure but sexy. Edward and his team wanted to remind the US that he was the youngest President to be elected in history, and that modernity would be a centerpiece of his time as President. He was only 41, which to my 31 year old self sometime sounded so old. But in this political world, he was practically a baby.

I had also wanted blue- not only the color of the Democratic Party but Edward's favorite color on me. Lucia had even supplied me with matching La Perla lingerie to go underneath the dress.

It was a periwinkle kind of blue, with a high scoop neck and sleeves that reached my wrists, and the gown pooled out behind me. The sequin covered fabric clung to my body in all the right places, had an opening in the back, and looked phenomenal on me.

Alice and I got ready side by side, laughing and talking like we always had. I was lucky that our families had so lovingly welcomed the ones we loved into their lives. We were like one big happy family. I knew that they were waiting impatiently for me and Edward to get engaged, especially now. But we had agreed that things were perfect the way they were right now.

Of course, that had been a few years ago now.

… …

Thanks again! It reiterate in case you missed it- Bella is 31 and Edward is 41.

There hasn't been a single president since Buchanan, so there isn't really something I can go off of for protocol and such regarding a First Girlfriend. So I'm winging it. Just please keep that in mind!