34

Bella couldn't keep the smile off her face, or the tears out of her eyes as she watched Rose and Tanya celebrating their victory with Kate and Angela. The crowd was on fire, cheering for their favorites. And even though Kate and Angela had lost, they were also celebrating. It was the true spirit of PV, something Bella had forgotten about over the years. Charlie used to talk about how he felt when he won, and Bella had always assumed it was the same as when she won a surf competition, and maybe it was, but for her, this was completely new.

"Let's get a picture of all four of you together," Bella called out over the crowd, and Kate, Angela, Rose, and Tanya gathered together, the championship trophy in between them. Bella snapped several pictures, before turning and looking around the crowd, getting as many shots as she could. That's when she saw her.

Renee was standing in the middle of the crowd, but unlike those around her, who were watching Kate and Angela, or Rose and Tanya, Renee was staring at Bella with a wistful expression. Biting the inside of her lip, Bella turned away, tears still burning her eyes. Why did she affect her like that? The woman had abandoned her too many times to count, yet she found herself wanting to know her.

"Hey." Bella turned and found Edward hurrying over to her. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," she assured him. "You ready for your match?"

"Of course," he chuckled, smiling as he wrapped his arms around her. "Though, it's going to be hard to top that game."

"Always the competitor," she teased, placing her free hand in the middle of his chest. "She's here."

"I saw her," he whispered. "Maybe you should talk to her."

"Talk to her," Bella scoffed, but found herself searching the stands for her again, and again, Renee was watching her. "She left me, Edward. Not once, but twice. How could she have left me?"

"I don't know," he said, kissing the side of her head. "Just the thought of not being with you has my heartbreaking."

Bella smiled and looked back at him. "I kind of love you."

"I more than kind of love you."

"Yo, Mason!" Jasper yelled and when they looked, they saw him standing on the other side of the pit. "Let's get ready, man."

"I'm coming," Edward yelled back, rolling his eyes as he turned back to Bella. "Sorry, sweetheart, time to do some work."

"Gonna kick some ass?"

"And take names, too." Edward pulled her against him, his lips covering hers before she even gasp. "Love you more."

"No way," she snickered, pushing him away.

"Yes, way," he cackled as he turned and hurried back to Jasper, who laughed and winked at Bella before they started preparing for their game.

"Oh, Swan," Alice cooed, hooking her arm in with hers. "How'd we ever get so lucky?"

"I don't know, Peanut."

Alice left Bella to reload her camera, which she did. The alarm on her phone went off, reminding her to take her meds. She dug them out of her bag and tossed them into her mouth, chasing them with the bottle of water in her bag. When she looked up again, she once more found herself locked eye to eye with Renee. She gave her a simple wave and soft smile, which her mother returned.

Before Bella could say or do anything else, the chair umpire called Edward, Jasper, Ben, and Garrett out onto the pit to start their game. While Edward and Jasper were wearing black and red, Garrett and Ben were wearing white and black. She hadn't watched much of their matches, but knew the men wouldn't make it easy for Edward and Jasper.

As Bella settled with her camera up to her eye, Edward grabbed the ball and they moved into position. He looked at her and smiled before throwing the ball into the air, jumping, and sending it flying over the net. Ben was just barely able to get under it, keeping it out of the sand. Garrett moved and set Ben up for the spike, but Jasper was ready and sent the ball back down, earning them the first point of the round.

Back and forth, they traded points, neither team wanting to give more than a two point advantage throughout the first set. The crowd was hyped up, and as Bella scanned them, she saw people with signs that supported both teams. Jasper and Edward won the first set 25-23. While they wiped the sweat off their faces, rehydrated, and switched sides, Bella moved so that she had a better angle.

Ben served first to start their second set. Neither Jasper nor Edward were able to get it, earning Ben his first ace of the game. Garrett and Ben were on a mission, determined to win the second set, which they did by a score of 29-27, forcing a third set. It was the first time Bella had seen Edward look worn down, yet there was a look in his eyes that made it clear he wasn't giving up. Not on the title, and not on her. He was champion, and he was going to prove it, and she loved him for it.

Jasper grabbed the ball and started the third and final set, earning him his second ace of the match. The crowd was on their feet, yelling and screaming louder than she had ever heard them before. It was intoxicating, yet too intense and she found herself wanting to run and hide, but she didn't. Her hands were shaking, but she wasn't sure if it was because of Kufs, or the adrenaline that sored through her body.

Ben scored the second point, Garrett the third and four, Edward the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth. Ben had the ninth, and it in that moment, Bella saw something shift in Edward. He had always been a power player, strong and determined, but in that moment, she saw him turn into something more, a hunter. He took the ball and set it soaring over the net, earning him the tenth point of the match. It was over from there. He never let Ben and Garrett earn another point, and as Edward blocked Garrett's attempt to spike the ball, he scored the fifteenth and final point of the game.

Edward and Jasper had won the men's title. They were the champions.

Unlike when Rose and Tanya won, Edward and Jasper didn't embrace each other. Edward was across the pit, his sweaty arms lifting her off the ground, his lips crushing down against hers. Her hero, her love, her champion.

—BHBD—

"Swan, shake a leg! They're going to be here any minute," Alice yelled, banging on her bedroom door.

Bella rolled her eyes and walked over, pulling the door open. Alice was standing in front of her wearing a light pink halter dress that only she could pull off.

"Calm the fuck down, Peanut. I'm ready."

"Oh, Swan, look at you," Alice cheered, clapping her hands together. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks," she said, grinning, smoothing the front of the royal blue strapless gown Alice had gotten her. It fit perfectly, as expected. "You picked me out a beautiful dress."

"Oh, it has nothing to do with the dress. You look happy."

"I am happy," she murmured, biting the inside of her lip. "Even if the trial doesn't work."

"No negative thoughts tonight!"

Bella laughed. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry." She took a deep breath and followed Alice into the living room, stifling her gasp. Jasper, Edward, Carlisle, and Esme were all standing in the living room. Jasper and Carlisle were wearing black suits with white dress shirts, Esme in a stunning red spaghetti strap dress that hugged her curves perfectly, but it was Edward, as always, that took her breath away. He, too, was wearing a black suit, but instead of a white shirt, he was wearing a black one. His hair had been tamed, but it was his smile that had her feeling weak in the knees.

"Wow," he murmured, whistling under his breath. "Sweetheart, you look . . . exquisite."

"Thank you," she whispered, feeling her cheeks warm. She tilted her head toward the kitchen. "I'll be just a moment."

Though he tried to hide it, Edward frowned just as Bella turned and walked into the kitchen. She pulled her meds out of the cabinet and popped them into her mouth before chasing them down with a bottle of water. When she turned back toward the living room, she found her husband leaning against the entrance to the kitchen, a smile resting on his lips.

"Why are you smiling?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Do I need a reason to smile at the love of my life?"

"No, I guess not." Bella walked over to him, placing her hands on his chest. "Are you sure we have to go to this party? We could stay here and enjoy the nice, quiet house. Just you and me."

Edward's grin widened and he placed his hands on her hips, pulling her flush against him. "As much as I would love to stay here, with you, naked, in bed, we are going to this party."

Bella groaned.

"Oh, come on, sweetheart," he snickered, before turning serious. "This could be our last chance for a while to have some fun."

"I know," she whispered, blinking back her tears. "I'm kind of scared."

"Me too." Edward leaned down, his lips brushing across hers once, twice, a third time before sighing. "Let's get out of here."

"Alright, alright," she laughed, leaning toward him as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

Esme and Carlisle were standing with Alice and Jasper, all four looking nervous, like Bella was suddenly going to take off running. Maybe they were. She just wasn't a big party person, but this was Edward's last event with PV for a while, so she would go, because it was important to him, and he was important to her.

"What are we waiting for?" Bella cheered, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "Let's go party!"

Though they all cheered and hurried out of the house, she could feel the tension around them. Their lives were all changing, and Bella was at the center of all of it. Edward tightened his arm around her waist and led her out of the house, up the path to a silver Volvo.

"Another loaner?" she asked when he opened the passenger door for her.

"Actually, no," he confessed. "I bought it this afternoon."

"Why?"

Edward placed one hand on her hip and the other on the top of the car. "Because I can't drive your jeep, very well at least, and I figured you might not always be up to driving, once you start the trial tomorrow. So, I bought a car."

"Just like that?" she asked.

"Well, not just like that," he chuckled. "Took a bit to sign all the paperwork and get the money transferred over, but yeah, just like that."

"Hmm, okay."

Bella slipped into the car, watching Edward hurry around and climb in behind the wheel. The drive back to the beach was made in a comfortable silence. The parking lot was already filled to the brink when Edward pulled up, miraculously finding a spot right next to the entrance. She didn't want to think what he had to do to reserve them such a prime spot, and she wasn't going to complain. Though she tried to hide it, her body ached from the events over the last couple days.

"Can you believe this, Swan?" Alice giggled as she, Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme caught up with them.

"I can't," she laughed and looked around. The blenchers had been removed and a large stage had been placed on the north end of the pit and a dance floor was covering the rest. "I wonder why they decided to have a party this year. They've never had one before at the end of PV."

As Bella spoke, Alice, Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme avoided her eyes, which just confirmed that she and Edward had been left out of something — something big. But she couldn't find it in herself to care. They loved her, and as Edward said, this was her last chance to cut loose and have some fun before life got hard — or harder, anyway.

Edward slipped his arm around her waist and nudged her after everyone. Bella couldn't keep from smiling as they found themselves in the midst of a rocking party. There was a live band on the stage, a local band she had heard play at JJ's a few times back before life got hard. Bella spotted James and Laurent dancing close to Angela and Ben and Kate and Garrett.

"Damn, Swan."

Bella laughed and looked over her shoulder, finding Seth and Tanya standing a few feet behind her with Rose and Emmett, who looked both excited, yet uncomfortable.

"You clean up nice," Seth added, smiling.

"It's been known to happen," she quipped and looked from Tanya to Rose. "I didn't a chance to say it before, but congratulations on the win. You two were amazing. One of the best teams I've ever seen."

"Oh, thanks," Tanya said softly.

"Yeah, thanks, Bella," Rose murmured. "So, we hear you're starting a new trial tomorrow."

Bella shifted her eyes to Emmett, who frowned, before she nodded. "Yeah, I, um . . ." She shook her head. "Kind of my only chance, so . . ."

But before Rose or Tanya could say anything to make things less awkward than they already were, the band stopped placing, drawing everyone's attention to the stage, where Felix stood with Marcus Masters. She had only met the man a few times, mostly when she was little and she would come to the PV with her father. Charlie and Marcus had been partners until Charlie retired to raise her and Esme.

"What a couple weeks," Marcus said with a bit of a laugh, echoed by the crowd around them. "In all my years with PV, I've never quite experienced a tournament like this one. I'd like to congratulate our tournament champions: Tanya Clearwater and Rosalie Hale, and Edward Mason and Jasper Whitlock. Your matches were the two highest scoring games in the history of PV. Congratulations!"

He lifted his glass of champagne toward the four of them, which the crowd turned and mimicked his actions.

"And to our runner ups," he added, turning toward where Angela and Ben stood with Kate and Garrett. "While you may have come up just a bit short this time around, you did not make it easy for anyone."

"No, shit," Edward groused, and Bella almost laughed.

"Congratulations to you, as well." Once more, everyone turned and lifted their glasses to the four of them, causing Bella to laugh when they turned red with embarrassment. "We'd like to take a moment to honor someone else who connected with PV. Isabella Swan."

At the mention of her name, Bella's eyes widened and she gasped, looking around at Edward to Jasper, Alice, Carlisle, and Esme. "The fuck?" she whispered.

"Please join us, Miss Swan," Marcus said, pausing when Felix leaned over and whispered into his ear. "My apologies. Mrs. Masen."

"Go, Swan," Alice hissed, nudging Bella toward the stage.

Feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment, she slipped her hand in with Edward's, knowing she would need his support as they waded through the crowd and slowly made their way onto the stage. Felix was grinning like a fool as he stood behind Marcus, who shifted his body so that he faced Bella and Edward, yet still spoke into the microphone.

"Isabella," he said, and she was surprised to see him becoming emotional. "Watching you over the last couple weeks, seeing the struggle, the love, the passion inside you has been amazing. You've touched each and every one of us connected to PV, and we thank you for everything you've done." Marcus paused, his lips trembling before he said, "As we understand, you're about to enter the fight for your life."

Bella tensed, feeling Edward tightened his arm around her.

"We with PV would like you to know how much you are loved and appreciated," Marcus added. "We've come together and raised $500,000 to help ease any expense that might come up."

Bella gasped, looking from him to Felix and then to Edward, who looked just as shocked.

"In addition," Marcus said, drawing her attention back to him. "PV would like to offer a donation of one million dollars toward the development and research efforts to find a cure for Kufs, in the name of your father, Charles Swan."

Bella brought her hand up to her mouth, unable to keep the sob from slipping out.

Marcus walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Your father was the best man I'd ever known, Isabella, and while he lost his battle, he would want you to fight, and PV will be fighting along with you."

"Thank you," she sobbed. "Thank you so much."

And as Bella lost control of her emotions, letting Edward pull her into his arms and hold her, she heard the sounds of the people of PV clapping not just for themselves, but for Bella and her quest to live.

Thank you for all the reviews. Things are about to get serious.