I DREAM OF RAINBOWS

Disclaimer: The Cullen's, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them.

Once Edward was back home at his house he sat and wondered about his reactions to Isabella Swan. Questioning once again why he was treating her differently from any other woman he had been with in the past. He still believed that once he had his way with her that he would be able to move on the same as he did with all of the other women that he had been associated.

CHAPTER 55: AM I FEELING SOMETHING DEEPER?

Bella let Edward know that she had enjoyed dinner and would be grateful for the use of the apartment, but only under the condition that he would let her know if it was needed in the future. She even offered to pay a rental fee for its use, but Edward refused vehemently to even consider doing any such thing like that. "Like I told you earlier, we maintain the apartment for use of out-of-town guests or clients. You do happen to fall into the area of being a client, sort of speak, so it is yours to use."

Edward gave a slight chuckle as he finished his statement to her and then with a small smile, a quick, soft peck to her cheek, he turned and left, closing the door quietly behind himself.

Over the next several days Edward made a point to stay in touch with Bella and to invite her out to dinner every night. So, as they were beginning to be with each other more, the tension between them seemed to be lessening.

Bella was starting to find Edward more charming than what he had seemed to be when they had first met. She enjoyed being in his company now that he was acting like a human being instead of an arrogant ass. His vast knowledge of things other than the movie industry was fascinating and the way he had of presenting things painted a picture that made her feel like she was there, or at least wanted to go there sometime in the future. And the way he described different personalities of the Hollywood set made them more real as people than just someone you would read about or see on the screen.

He also had a way of making her feel that he was truly interested in everything she had to say. Edward was able to get her to talking about her personal life, her likes and dislikes and what her goals in life were.

After Edward had dropped her off at the apartment that first night, she was in L. A., Bella immediately called Alice and Rosalie to let them know where she was and about the arrangements that had been offered and decided upon in regards to where she would be staying. After listening to all of the squealing from her cousins, Bella invited them over so they could see what her living conditions looked like.

It didn't take long for both women to show up and have a complete look/see of the entire place. Bella admitted to them that the place was something out of a dream. It had four bedrooms with the en suite, a kitchen, living area, the balcony that had the greatest view of the city and the mountains in the distance.

It was then that all three women sat down, and the questioning began about how Edward's attitude had been when he had picked her up at LAX and then at dinner. It was the same after each night that Edward took Bella out for dinner; both Alice and Rosalie had to have all of the details as to where the couple went, what was discussed and how Edward had behaved.

The next day after her arrival, Bella jumped right into work by meeting with Emmett. They began with discussing the actors that would be playing the main characters in the movie, then moved on to discuss the costumes of which Alice had designed. Next, to be discussed was the schedule for filming, both in town and on location.

This schedule was important so she would know when and where she would need to be for any decisions that she might have to give final okay in accordance with the contract she had signed where personal, or script might be concerned.

Bella was finally working into the routine that was slowly being established between working with Emmett and then spending most evenings with Edward. It was getting to the point that Alice and Rosalie were starting to complain that Bella was beginning to ignore them. But the two women would say it with a laugh since they had their own men that they were spending most evenings with as well.

Bella had been in Los Angeles for almost a week when she received a call from her agent reminding her about a writer's conference she had been scheduled to attend. So, with that information she had to say goodbye to her cousins and board a plane back to Seattle so she could pack for the trip to New York.

But before going she debated the issue of saying goodbye to Edward before leaving, however, when she called his office to let him know that she was leaving his PA refused to put her through saying that he was in a meeting with a client. That he had left instructions that he wasn't to be interrupted under any circumstances.

So, instead, Bella told Emmett that since she wasn't needed at the moment that she was going to have to attend a writer's conference, but since she had been unable to get a hold of Edward to let him know about her not being around it was at that point that Emmett said he would make Edward aware of the fact if she wished.

Of course, she knew that Alice would mention it to Jasper since those two were becoming extremely close. In fact, Bella would tease Alice about hearing wedding bells in the near future for her cousin. All Alice would do was to deny it for now, but said, "I'm not ruling it out in the future."

When Bella had started teasing Alice about how close her relationship with Jasper had become, Rosalie pitched in with her agreement and added her two cents into the mix. That was when Bella flipped on Rosalie also. She quickly let Rosalie know that she had no room to talk since her relationship with Emmett was running nearly neck to neck with Alice's and Jasper's.

Of course, Alice and Rosalie were quick to come back to question Bella about how things were standing between her and Edward. Bella was quick to answer, "Not that's its any of your business, but Edward hasn't even gotten pass first base as yet. So, there!" in a tone that was joking, but had an undertone of something that neither Alice nor Rosalie were able to identify at that moment. It sounded almost wistful as if Bella was falling for Edward and was wishing for more but was afraid to allow things to progress further into a deeper relationship because of Edward Cullen's past attitude.

Alice, the forever enquirer of all things none of her business, was quick to ask, "Bella, are you wanting something more from Edward other than friendship and a night out? You know, maybe like a one-night stand or more?"

"Alice, I don't know. I feel like we should be more to each other, and before you ask me anything about that all I can say is that it's just a feeling I have and not one that I can explain, but with his prior behavior and attitude being what it was along with his reputation, I never felt comfortable or trusting of him. But now in a very short period of time, I mean not even a month since he had acted like an ass in Seattle, he is being charming and attentive. I question the truth of how real he is being now, or if it's all just a façade to try to get his way about something.

"I don't know how else to explain it." Bella honestly answered her cousin's question.

After Bella had finished speaking, all three women were silent, each lost in their own thoughts remembering how Edward had been not too long ago in the past and then comparing him to how he is acting now. What could have happened in an almost overnight transformation that could have brought about such an extreme about-face?

The conversation moved on to other things until it was time for Bella to say goodbye then she made her way back to the apartment and on to LAX to catch her flight to Seattle.

XXXXXX

Edward got together with his brothers after work for a drink since it had been a while of being able to do so due to all of the conflict in the last several weeks between everyone. It had been an uncomfortable time for everyone, but now, hopefully, it was all behind them.

The conversation flowed in an easy, relaxed manner touching upon a variety of subjects including Bella, Alice and Rosalie. Each brother discussed how serious their relationship seemed to be getting and how satisfying it was to have found the lady of their dreams.

Edward didn't exactly express the same feelings for Bella; he couldn't since he, himself, hadn't been able to identify or to put a name to what he was feeling towards Bella. He still felt that if he could have a night with her then his obsession with her would fall to the wayside like with all of the others he had listed in his little black book. But he would be damn if he would tell all of this to his brothers. He knew what they would have to say back to him where Bella was concerned. They would jump his ass and then bad feelings would be the results. He didn't want that anymore if it could be avoided.

Edward asked Emmett how his new project was coming to which Emmett told him just fine. That was when he told Edward about Bella leaving L. A. that afternoon. Edward's reaction wasn't what any of the three had anticipated.

"What the hell did you say?"

"I told you that Bella was flying back to Seattle and wouldn't be back for a week or two. Why? What's the problem?' Emmett asked being a bit puzzled by Edward's reaction to that information.

"How do you know this, and I don't?"

"Edward, it's no big deal. Why are you making it into one?" Jasper asked since he was just as puzzled by Edward's reaction as Emmett was. Jasper couldn't see where it would matter one way or another. After all it had been Alice that had told him, and he didn't see that it was a big deal.

"Surely she could have taken the time to tell me before leaving." He remarked in an angry undertone to his voice.

"From what Bella told me, she did try but your PA wouldn't put her through since you were in a meeting and had stated that you didn't want any interruptions."

"The hell you say! I had no meetings today."

"Edward, all I can do is tell you what Bella told me. That was why she asked me to make sure that I let you know that she had to leave but would be back as soon as she got through with the writer's conference that she was obligated to attend." Emmett calmly explained to his brother.

"Did she say where this conference was being held?" Edward demanded to know as he was getting ready to get up as if to leave.

"Yeah, in New York City."

"Okay." Was all he said as Edward rose from his chair, turned, and walked out of the club leaving his two brothers behind with puzzled expressions clearly written upon their faces.

Emmett and Jasper looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and then Emmett asked, "What do you think all of that was about?"

"Em, I'm not sure, but I would say that our brother has deeper feelings for Ms. Isabella Swan than what he even knows."

The two brothers remained drinking a bit longer before leaving to make their way back home. Neither one being aware that Edward was heading for LAX to head for New York.

But before leaving he made a stop by his office to leave a message for the company's Human Resource department to find him a new Personal Assistant. Then he called his current one at her home but received no answer, so he left the message, "You're lying ass is fired!".

A/N: Is Edward starting to feel something deeper for Bella? Is Bella wanting a deeper relationship with Edward? Is she correct in being cautious about what Edward's motives might be since he has done an about-face suddenly? Do you think that Edward was right to keep his feelings to himself about Bella instead of talking to his brothers?

Thanks for reading and looking forward to hearing from you.