Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

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A/N: Welcome back and 'Hello' to my new readers. I apologise profusely for my tardiness in updating…

My thanks to mpg for her help, and to twicrazreader for her well-timed encouragement! If you need some handholding, find me on Twitter – Boydblog

~0~

~~Bella~~

I was sitting next to Edward at Laurent's. Everything was identical to when I'd been there with him that night, the only difference was that his hand was on my knee slowing sliding up, his long fingers gripping and then swirling in a hypnotizing pattern.

This is a dream.

I glanced around the room to see the two ladies—Shelley and Sue—both with knowing smiles.

Then Laurent called Edward to the stage. I watched as Edward stood and walked confidently to sit at the shabby upright piano.

'This song is for the beautiful girl sitting at the table down the front. It's called Episode; it's an original composition. I hope you'll give me your feedback,' Edward looked straight into my eyes, 'For you, Bella.'

The way he sung the words to Episode elated me with pride and infused me with wonder.

His performance was inspirational. He seemed to be in his own little world, but then, he'd make eye contact with me, and it was my world too.

I was so warm, so comforted by his love and attention; it was the complete opposite to what I had felt that night. Back then I'd thought everything was about the song, about his happiness that he had the words to his perfect musical composition.

But in my dream, I remembered it differently.

What I should have seen that night—what I was seeing now—was Edward's love for me, not the song?

He's in love with me.

There was no way I could deny it.

Edward smiled and stepped off the stage to approach me. He leaned at the waist, his lips almost brushing my earlobe.

'Thank you for bringing me here. You'll never understand how much it means to me,' he sighed, the warmth of his breath sending shivers over my entire body. Then his moist lips touched my cheek, lingering in a soft kiss. It sent a wave of pleasure through my skin and into the pit of my stomach. He stepped back to look into my eyes.

'Come with me,' he said seductively.

Dream Edward slowly stood straight, his eyes never leaving mine, and then he held my hand and guided me towards the side of the bar to the restrooms.

Rather than freak out, like I had that night, I simply followed and let the feeling of Edward's intimacy envelope me as we walked into the ladies'.

I stood in the dingy room, the dirty mirror, the cool air; everything was the same as the first time I was there. But instead of having a panic attack, I was calm in the knowledge of Edward's love. He was there with me, standing behind me, his lips kissing my neck, his arms holding me tightly.

'I love you, Bella. You're mine, my soul mate, my lover, my best friend. You're the woman of my dreams. I always knew I'd find you.'

The desire ignited. I could feel myself throbbing with desperate need, need for him to touch me, to love me, to claim me.

I turned to kiss him, softly at first then everything shimmered and—like the smoke from an extinguished candle—the scene swirled and curled into nothing as I opened my eyes.

I had been dreaming, but now I was awake and Edward was fully clothed and kissing me, as I lay naked in the bed. Sudden awareness made my heart ache, as I realized it was very early in the morning and he was dressed to leave for work. Our secluded, love-filled weekend had come to an end and reality outside this idyllic cottage was imminent.

Edward.

"I have to go. Emmett will be here any minute." He whispered against my mouth.

"I want you," I pleaded as I continued kissing him.

I knew I had to let him leave, but I was so worked up, so completely peaking from my dream, that I wanted a release. I needed Edward. Now. It was the emotion of my revelation and his soft, wet lips that made me feel insatiable.

His hand dipped under the thin sheet that covered my naked body and he touched me, teased me, worshipped me with his long and attentive fingers until I was panting and quivering from exhaustion and pleasure.

Everything after my climax became a warm and surreal dizziness, yet I could still hear his soft whispers in my ear.

"I'll be thinking about you all day; about loving you properly tonight. It doesn't matter where we stay, here or the hotel, as long as we're together. Keep your cell phone with you, OK?"

Edward pulled the sheet up under my chin and kissed me again.

"Go back to sleep." He whispered and then pulled away.

My eyes drooped closed. I was so secure in my warm bubble of ecstasy, so satisfied and sleepy that I couldn't fight it. I felt his warm breath and then his lips kissed my cheek. I heard the swift intake of air as he inhaled and then another soft wet kiss on my mouth.

"I love you so much, Bella. Sweet dreams."

When I woke for the second time that morning, I could still feel the impression of Edward's fingers between my legs and his lips on my neck.

I grinned and stretched. I felt so alive and so giddy and happy.

I was conscious that Paul would be on site soon to finish of the bathroom, so I walked in a daze to the shower, the whole time I recalled the dream.

Laurent's.

I closed my eyes and remembered back to that night.

Sitting so close to Edward, talking and innocently touching. His smile, the way he looked into my eyes, the possessiveness he showed when Laurent took more than a friendly interest in me...

Edward loves me. He loved me then. Why didn't I see it that night? Why did I talk myself out what was so glaringly obvious? Sue and Shelly saw it too. Why did I dismiss it so easily?

I knew the answer. I knew why.

Riley Biers.

I'd been carrying that hurt for years. I could let it go. I could finally let go of whatever it was that I was hanging on to, because all that negativity didn't have a place in my mind or my heart now.

I needed as much room as possible, to nurture my love for Edward and encourage it to flourish.

We're going to make a life together!

~0~

~~Edward~~

Turning on my cell was a necessity, however I'd managed to last twenty minutes before actually doing it.

Instead, I recalled my weekend with Bella, every touch, every kiss. My fingers itched with sensitivity, as I recalled how it felt as they had descended to her thighs. Soft, warm skin; so smooth and supple. I could touch her all day, every day, forever. I remembered the feel of my lips on her mouth, her cheek, her neck. In my minds eye, I saw more than just her heated pink blush and a glistening of sweat on her forehead. I saw into her heart and soul. Her eyes, like glass, had magnified and reflected the intense love that encompassed us, as I had given her pleasure.

The car jolting in motion suddenly snapped me out of my memories. I was clenching my fists in desperation, and biting my tongue so I wouldn't yell at Emmett to turn the car around and take me back to her instantly.

Of course, once I did listen to my messages, the anxiety seemed to crawl under my skin like a parasite.

Heidi left me a message stating emphatically that I'm not to make any type of statement when it came to the media reports of my 'association' with Bree.

Carmen, my agent, had called to tell me that she'd heard back from Liam Berty's office; the actress he'd selected to play the part of Georgia had signed her contract.

There was a message from Angela, asking if everything was 'OK'.

Jasper's message was simple, and his voice soft and emotive. He simply said:

'Congratulations. I'm so relieved and joyous for you. I know how intense everything will seem to you right now. Believe and stay focused. I can't wait to meet Bella.'

His words instantly allowed me to calm and get everything into perspective.

I knew Alice would have felt my emotions. Both Alice and Jasper would have known what I was feeling and what it meant to finally be with my soul mate.

I didn't think about how early it was, I immediately called my sister.

"Edward, Alice is still asleep," Jasper whispered, yet I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Thanks for your message. It meant a lot to me."

"How are you feeling?" he asked me.

"Out of body, out of mind. Euphoric and dazed. I assume that's normal?" I asked, only half jokingly.

"Perfectly normal," he laughed. "I've gotta say, I'm glad it's happened for you. It's a relief to know I'll be able to talk to someone about it, other than Alice, of course."

I closed my eyes and grinned like a fool, happy for both of them.

Then I remembered Bella's question from yesterday.

Why in the hell, if he felt this way about Alice, hasn't he proposed to her?

I should have been tactful, but the accusation just slipped unconsciously from my mouth in a curt tirade.

"Why haven't you married my sister? You've been together for four years! I don't understand."

"Edward," Jasper sighed. "I proposed to Alice three months after we got together. I spent my life-savings on the perfect ring, went down on bended knee, the whole thing."

"What?" I didn't believe that Alice would have refused him.

"She accepted, on one condition."

"What was the condition?"

"That she couldn't possibly marry me until you had found your soul mate. She said she couldn't have a wedding without you there as best man, and your soul mate as her maid of honor. Once she meets Bella, the date will be set."

I was a split second from bursting forth in uncontrollable laughter, but it didn't come, because I knew Alice, and I knew Jasper was telling the absolute truth.

Alice has always been a hopeless romantic.

"Jasper, I'm sorry, that must have been—"

"It's fine. I'll love your sister to the end of time. Marriage is a piece of paper; she and I both know there's no rush to make it official. In our hearts we're bound to each other more profoundly than a certificate of marriage could convey."

In that second I imagined Bella in a white dress, smiling and throwing rose-petals at Alice. Then I imagined slipping Grandma Platt's solitaire diamond on Bella's finger.

It's going to happen. I'll make it happen, one day.

"I want Bella to come with me to L.A. as soon as possible." I blurted. "I want everyone to meet her."

"Everyone?" he asked cautiously.

"Family. I want to protect her for as long as I can." I knew I didn't need to elaborate.

"Ben and Angela know about you and Bella, don't they?" he asked me.

"Yes, in a round-about kind of way," my stomach sunk when I realized I hadn't spoken to Ben since the gig. I need to call him.

"Ben invited me to the studio to record some back-up vocals. I just want to make sure I don't put my foot in my mouth."

"Ben knows that I'm in love with her. I just think it's better for Bella the longer we keep a low profile. If I could, I'd tell everyone she's with me. I'm scared that she won't be prepared for all the attention. It's making me feel sick."

"She's probably a lot stronger than you think," he said confidently.

I knew in my heart, he was right. Bella could be strong; together we would be strong. Yet was I prepared to take the risk? Would my 'celebrity' status and all that came with it, be too much for her?

~0~

~~Bella~~

When Paul the contractor arrived, he smiled shyly at me and told me he'd make sure the work on the bathroom would be finished within four hours or so.

Knowing that he had wanted to ask me out didn't feel as weird as I had first thought. He was very attractive. He found me attractive. Maybe Kate was right; maybe I hadn't seen myself clearly before.

I felt desirable now. Edward had made me feel desirable, and...worthy.

A proud grin covered Paul's face when I thanked him for the amazing job he'd done.

I walked up to the main house, passed the pool and the fragrant rose bushes to see Kate with a steaming mug of tea, sitting at the kitchen table in front of her laptop and a portable phone wedged between her ear and her shoulder.

"Yes, of course. I hope you have a wonderful trip and we look forward to your arrival on the twenty-third. Thank you, bye!"

I caught her attention as she disconnected from the call.

"Bella!" she squealed as she saw me.

She stood up and gave me a one-armed hug, using her free hand to support her growing bump. "Well? Tell me everything!" she demanded.

I smiled, and I'm pretty sure I blushed as I recalled Edward touching me before he left.

"He loves me."

I said it with a shaky voice, but it was a statement of fact, and Kate instantly beamed at me with understanding.

"And you talked about everything?" She questioned.

"Yes. In fact, we talked about staying here, well I mean in the cottage, instead of the hotel. Edward will pay you whatever you ask. Can we stay, please? Just until you need to move in there when the baby comes?"

"You don't need to pay us," she said, but not in a tone that indicated she was offended. "Bella, the strangest thing happened mid-morning on Saturday," she said cryptically and motioned for me to sit at the kitchen table.

"We got a couple of bookings within the space of an hour. I thought maybe it was just coincidence and it didn't really alert me, but by yesterday, after the fifteenth booking, I started to panic. I thought that maybe someone knew Edward was here and leaked it somehow. Emmett assured me that couldn't have happened.

"The curiosity was killing me so I asked the next person that emailed a booking where they heard about the B&B. She responded almost immediately with a link to a review on a travel website based out of Seattle." Kate paused and looked at me with a huge smirk, then turned her laptop towards me to show me the web page.

My words were there, somewhat abridged, but on the features page. I mentally thanked Eric (and his girlfriend Samantha) for getting it published so quickly.

Kate looked so pleased, and I was ecstatic that I'd fulfilled my purpose. I was indirectly helping Kate and Garrett financially by increasing their occupancy...the day just couldn't get any better.

"How did you do this? I'm so excited, it's exactly what we needed, some free promotion to bring some new travellers to the place. I could simply kiss you!"

"You don't need to thank me; it was just an honest review. You and Garrett have been so accommodating." I thought back to how utterly forlorn I was that night I turned up on their doorstep and met Kate for the first time. "You've been a wonderful friend and letting Edward and I stay in the cottage…I can't even tell you how much it means to me! Being alone with him all weekend, it was..."

What could I say? There were no words to describe what I had experienced with Edward; every time we touched, or talked, or just lay holding each other.

Time and time again the term 'soul mates' wafted into my consciousness. I was never what I considered to be a 'New Age' romantic, but even I couldn't think of another way to describe what I felt for Edward. I wasn't religious either; the thought of having a 'soul' seemed kind of unbelievable.

Kate started boiling the kettle to make me some tea.

"I'm so happy for you. You know that you're positively glowing right now. I want you to stay, at least until I'm ready to be released from the hospital. Junior should be safely inside baking for another two weeks. I haven't had one of those Braxton hicks contractions for 24 hours, so that's a good sign, and it would be so comforting to know that you're just a few meters away, if this little one," she patted her bump affectionately, "decides to come early. Mum's not due to arrive until a day before my due date, so having you close would be a load off my mind! You'd be doing me a favor!"

Kate and I sipped tea and talked about how lucky we both were having Edward and Garrett.

A part of me lamented that Edward and I would never have a simple, non-public life, but it was a brief thought.

Kate was wonderful to talk to, but speaking with her about Edward just made me more keenly aware that I had to tell mum, dad and Jessica.

Mum would be fine, she'd be happy for me.

Charlie would probably take the news well. To Charlie, Edward Cullen was just a kid that had been to Forks High, and he knew and respected Edward's parents.

Jessica Stanley on the other hand...

My childhood friend had supported me daily through my obsession with a boy that was out of my league. She'd been my rock, when he hadn't given me the time of day after that high school party.

Jessica had endured me obsessively justify why every spare moment I spent at his bedside after his motorcycle accident, and then she had supported me through the highs of a brief relationship and then the depressive low of him breaking my heart.

Jessica was also a massive fan of Edward Cullen, the Hollywood actor. She wouldn't be able to keep quiet. She'd tell everyone...it would get around our circle of friends like a bushfire in summer!

It would be better coming from me. She'd lose her shit if she saw a pap photo of me with Edward in six months!

I will call Jessica today, I mentally asserted. Then I remembered something else that I needed to do as soon as possible.

"Kate?" I asked sheepishly. "I have a favor to ask you. Can you give me the name of your Doctor? I need to get a prescription for the pill."

~0~

~~Edward~~

The morning went by in a blur. That was until I had to film a scene with Rosalie.

Thankfully we didn't have to interact too much. We were using the wire harness. Most of it was just a few feet off the ground and in some instances Rosalie's body-double filled in for her.

Even though I'd done some wire stunts before, I'd skipped training to spend the weekend with Bella.

I tried not to let anything get me down. I wanted to stay in my head, where the memories of my time with Bella over weekend were fresh and new. I couldn't stop thinking about taking her to L.A., to my condo, but also to my parent's house. Subjecting Bella to my mother's and Alice's excitement would be necessary. I knew Bella would instantly connect with both of them. She'd already integrated into Ben and Angela's lives with complete ease.

It wasn't my family that I was worried about though, it was the thought of getting her to L.A. without the prying eyes of the media and leeches.

When I had five minutes alone in my trailer, I called Alice.

"Hey, you know...keeping Jasper waiting all this time to marry you, is completely wrong on so many levels."

"Edward–" she started, but I cut her off.

"Let me finish, Alice. I understand why. I couldn't even think of Bella not being with me to watch you marry your soul mate."

"Thank you for being reasonable. Now I just need to know when you'll be in the country and not jet-setting across the world making movies! Jasper said you're bringing Bella to L.A.?" She asked excitedly.

"Yes, I was thinking this weekend. If that's OK with you?"

"Of course, it's more than OK! I've been waiting almost eight years to meet her!" She laughed. I knew she could sense my happiness.

"Thanks Alice. I want to say 'sorry', for all the times I made fun of your gift. I'm eating humble pie right now."

"Don't apologize. I knew you'd never believe until... Well, I know you believe, and Bella is 100% the girl I dreamed about. I just feel it! Email me when you have your flight details. I'll let mom know, she'll kill me if we don't give her enough warning. I'm sure she'll be baking up a storm for days."

The feeling of calm and contentment washed over me when I thought of my parent's house in L.A., and my mother's cooking. Last time I'd been there, I was so anxious about speaking to Bella–and of the possibility of losing her –that I'd somberly played the melancholy song from Bella's playlist...and barely interacted with anyone except Jasper; playing my guitar and drinking dad's whiskey.

That seemed like a lifetime ago, because she was with me now; I didn't lose her.

I won't lose her.

I felt cocky and proud then. Was it obnoxious of me, knowing that my girlfriend was beautiful, selfless, talented and sexy, and that she loved me? The thought of living a life with her, sharing everything I am, and everything I own, made me so dizzy with happiness.

Marcus had to chastise me a few times for playing the character too upbeat. I was supposed to be brooding and at times, indifferent. I had to really focus to get my head back into the character.

Rosalie didn't help. She didn't speak to me except when reciting her lines, but 'huffed' and 'sighed' in an obviously frustrated way.

I felt sorry for her.

She was beautiful, but she was lonely and friendless. Her arrogance and self-assertiveness had always seemed to work for her, but she wasn't a happy, well-adjusted person. I started thinking about how different she would be, if she found someone that didn't take her crap, that respected her enough to call her out on her bullshit, and give her a different kind of support; an encouraging view of life, from a totally different perspective.

I caught sight of Emmett by the catering trailer. He was talking to one of the makeup girls, and Rosalie was staring at the exchange with a simple sadness that spoke volumes.

Maybe I should tell him. He's the type of guy that would worship her, but cut her down when she was selfish or unkind to other people.

Even contemplating the thought of pushing Emmett to Rosalie seemed ridiculous to me; like I was giving-in to her bratty demands.

Maybe I can just tell Emmett and let him decide?

Or maybe, I should just let fate takes its course...

~0~

~~Bella~~

Bella Swan: Hi mum, you're online?

RenDwyer: Bella, it works! I have no idea what I'm doing with this thing!

I smiled and visualized my mum sitting at home on Phil's laptop.

Phil must have set up Skype for her, there's no way she would have worked it out on her own.

Renee was just as techno-phobic as Charlie; they were so alike it was scary.

Bella Swan: How are you, how's Phil? Did you buy a boat?

RenDwyer: Not yet, but we still plan on sailing around the Whitsunday's over the Christmas holidays. How are you? How's your writing coming along?

I thought I'd chicken out about telling her, on Skype, that I was in love with Edward Cullen, but as soon as she asked me how I was, I realized I needed to tell her. I'd never had the luxury of being able to discuss my relationship with Riley with her, and I didn't want to repeat that mistake.

Bella Swan: I'm in love. I've met a man and I'm insanely in love!

RenDwyer: What? You've only been in Canada six weeks! How can you be in love? Isabella Marie Swan, can you video call me on this thing please?

I took in a deep breath. There was no backing out now.

Of all the people I needed to tell about Edward, I thought my mother would be the easiest. Maybe I'd been wishful thinking. This is massive news to Renee, because as far as she was concerned, I was still an innocent virgin, who'd never had any sexual experience beyond reading one of her Jilly Cooper novels at age fifteen.

Bella Swan: Sure, just click on accept when it asks you.

I adjusted the screen on my laptop and tried to plaster a happy smile on my face, all the while I was so anxious for what she would say to me.

"There you are," she beamed once she could see me.

"Hey mum, you colored you hair? It looks fantastic!"

"Thanks baby, I love it too...Wait, no distracting me. You've met a man? You're in love? How old is he? What does he do for a living? Is he Canadian? Are you being safe?"

I realized just how much I'd missed my mum's quirky personality, her familiar American drawl—still prominent after all these years, yet tinged with a warm Australian lilt to her words.

My smile was genuine, because I wanted to tell her all about the man that had my heart, my soul, and my body. He'd have me forever.

If anyone could understand the enormity of me being in love with Edward, it would be Renee. She followed Phil, taking me—still a toddler—and relocating to a country on the other side of the world. She followed him because she was in love with her soul mate.

She looked cautious yet excited for me, just like I knew she would be.

"Yes, I'm completely in love. He's twenty-three. He's not Canadian he's American. He's a musician, and an actor. Yes, I've been using protection..." I covered my face with my hands as I remembered just how many condoms Edward and I had used over the weekend, and then my excitement at filling my prescription for the pill. Kate had instantly made me an appointment with her GP, when I asked her earlier in the day.

"I love him, he loves me." I admitted.

"I sense some trepidation, Bella," she said.

When I looked up, she looked confused.

"He's kind of famous, so we're only telling close friends and family. He wants to protect me from any exposure to the media, for now."

"Famous?" she questioned. "What's his name, what kind of actor is he?"

Here goes.

"Edward Cullen. I met him in the hotel bar. He was composing a song. I wrote the lyrics."

I knew Renee would know of Edward Cullen. Telling her about the song just flowed from my lips. I wanted it to sound like a natural thing, even though only Edward and I knew how completely unnatural it was for me to have slipped into that freaky trance and written those exact words to Episode.

I believed Edward when he told me we were meant to meet...why else would that have happened to me?

Renee's squeal distracted me from trying to decode every detail of that night in my head.

"Edward Cullen? Bella, he's gorgeous! I'm reading that novel, what's it called...um, you know, the one that will be made into a movie. It's the new book in my reading group."

I watched as her face moved out of view and when she reappeared she was holding a well read paperback.

"Wait! Bella, all the magazines here are saying he's dating an actress called Rosalie, that they've been a couple since they made that movie together a few of years ago."

And then I saw that look of doubt and pity in her eyes. It was the same expression she couldn't hide from me when I told her I was in love with the popular boy at school, the one that didn't give me the time of day.

Is this what will happen? Every time I claim that I'm Edward Cullen's girlfriend and that he loves me, people will doubt it? People will think I'm delusional because they believe whatever is written in print, whatever story is written for them to consume?

I knew Jessica would doubt, but my own mother? I wasn't prepared for her not to believe me.

A surge of anxiety flushed my skin.

Just this morning I was anxious about people knowing he was mine. Now I was anxious that people would never believe.

"It's not true. The magazines write these things to increase circulation. Edward and I are together and he loves me."

I tried to sound confident in that assertion. By the look on her face, I didn't think she was convinced.

"I'm meeting his family soon. I'm going to tell Dad, and Jessica. I know it's gonna be hard, but if it means I get to try with him, I will. He's the one, mum. He's it for me. I love him so much!"

I hoped my mum would recognize why I used those particular words. She'd told me, time and time again, when I asked her why she left Charlie that she knew he wasn't it for her, and when she found Phil, she knew instantly, he was the one.

I chanted in my head: please believe me! I need your support this time!

"Bella, that's just so...if you're sure, if he is the one, then I'm so happy for you! I just want you to be happy," she smiled and clapped her hands together.

The rest of the conversation went well. I told her about Edward's connection to Forks. I told her about Ben and Angela, and how they invited me to drive with them to Forks for Thanksgiving. The only awkwardness in the conversation came when she told me she didn't think that Jessica could keep it a secret, and maybe I should rethink telling her right away.

"It's up to you baby girl, but I think you can wait a while longer. I love Jessica to bits, but she's never been reliable keeping secrets." She said.

However, Jessica had kept the secret of Riley's affair with me; maybe she would keep this secret, if I asked her to?

The anxiety of making the decision to keep it from Jessica kept me stressed most of the day, until I decided I could put it off until tomorrow.

There wasn't any answer when I called home to Forks, so I was off the hook telling Charlie for another day as well.

I was relieved that out of the three people I needed to tell about Edward, at least I'd told my mum.

It was surreal sitting at the dining table in the cottage—in the same chair Edward had sat at when we'd…connected on Saturday morning.

I could feel the rising flush of heat engulf my throat and then cheeks when I remembered how erotically intense it had been.

I tried to calm myself enough to call Eric, to thank him for placing the feature. It was more difficult than I expected.

But Eric put me at ease, laughing about how I 'owed him for life' now, but how he would always take care of his 'baby sister'. Our conversation was short; he had a deadline…

So I sat and got caught up in my memories of Edward, reliving our perfect and secluded weekend. Being alone with him, with no fear of having to face people judging us, or questioning our love, or interrupting our time to absorb each other—I knew it would be short-lived. I tried to block the worry and hold on to the bliss of Edward, yet a slither of dread was making my limbs feel heavy.

When my phone rang, and I saw the display, all my anxiety melted away.

"Edward," I said shyly.

"I miss you. I've missed you all day," he whispered. "Only a few more hours and..."

His words held an air of anticipation. I recalled the way he had touched me this morning and the promise he made before he left.

'I'll be thinking about you all day; about loving you properly tonight.'

"I miss you too." I was unable to conceal the desire in my tone. "Kate said we could stay here."

"I wish I was there now," he said.

"Did you speak to your lawyer, about Bree?" I asked.

"Yes. He told me not to make any comment. I'll just ignore it, like I would any other fabricated story. He won't get involved unless someone writes something specifically regarding the legal implication of the age difference, or anything else slanderous."

"I suppose it makes sense to ignore it. I mean it's so ridiculous that you and her..."

I stopped myself from speaking, because even though it was the most ridiculous thing to me, it would be completely plausible to the general public.

"Bella, I want you to come to L.A. with me on the weekend. I need you to meet my parents and my sister. Will you come? Please say 'yes'."

"Yes," I said instantly. My heart pounded and I felt light-headed.

I'm going to meet Edward's family!

"You don't know how happy that makes me. I'll arrange the flight for Friday night. I've got to go. I love you."

"I love you too. Bye." I said softly, and then he was gone.

I tried to imagine what it would be like to go to L.A. with Edward.

Would we sit next to each other on the plane? No. We'd be in public, so we'd act as if we didn't know one another.

I wondered what it would be like to talk to his sister. I had an image of her in my head; dark hair, gorgeous hazel eyes and skin as pale as Edward's.

What if she doesn't like me? What if I make a complete fool out of myself in front of his family? What if they think I'm not good enough for him?

I knew I could sit there for hours and make myself sick with worry, so I tried to focus on writing instead.

Kate had written down her wifi password, so I connected and downloaded my emails.

Jessica had emailed me!

From: Stanley, Jessica
To: Bella Swan
Subject: I am in love!

Hey Bella,

Oh my God! I'm in love!

Austin has been staying with me every night. I can't believe it. He's so sweet and he's soooo into me! He takes me out to dinner almost every night. Friday night, he picked me up from work and had a beautiful bunch of roses for me. He took me to The Rocks for cocktails and dinner. He bought me a really lovely Pandora bracelet for the one-month anniversary of our first date! It must have cost a small fortune!

Oh and you'll never guess who we saw on the other night. Remember Peter Dodds from school? He ended up marrying Charlotte Morris and they have a baby! Peter looked so haggard, and had the beginnings of a receding hairline. He tried to make his life sound awesome, but it sounded pretty crappy to me. He moved to the burbs and bought a McMansion. He used to be so hot when we were in school and now he just looks pathetic, tired and a little overweight. I don't know what I ever saw in the guy. Austin is way cuter!

I stopped reading.

Jessica frustrated me so much. Everything she wrote was about what Austin bought her or where he took her, nothing at all about him, about his personality, or about what she admired in him, apart from his looks.

I'd never thought that she was so shallow. Her comment about Peter made me fume. The bitterness in her tone was so obvious to me. She'd been devastated that Peter chose to kiss Charlotte at that game of spin-the-bottle at that party! Peter was married and in love, and Jessica couldn't even see past herself to be happy for him and Charlotte? What makes her the expert on his life and how he had chosen to live it?

She'll never understand what I have with Edward, she will never comprehend how deeply in love I am with him, and he with me.

I just knew it. I knew she would judge me and have a perception of Edward not based on fact, but based on what she'd seen written in one of those trashy magazines. I could almost hear her whining voice, gossiping to our friends about how I was delusional and mad to think that Edward Cullen, the American actor that's dating a Hollywood starlet, would want boring bookworm Bella Swan!

Then I realized I'd done the same thing. I'd convinced myself that Edward wouldn't—couldn't—really want me. Had my poor self-esteem rubbed off on everyone else? If I didn't believe it 72 hours ago, how could I expect Jessica to?

I've been so blind.

Maybe Jessica wouldn't believe, until she saw a picture of Edward and I together in New Idea magazine?

I closed the email. Mum was right. I couldn't tell Jessica.

Not yet.

Edward wouldn't be back to the cottage until very late, and I knew I wasn't in any state to write a single word. I decided to ask Kate if I could use her car. I needed to drive back to the hotel to get some more clothes, and I thought I should return the rental car that was sitting unused in the basement parking lot.

The only thing I wanted to think about was spending the night with Edward in this comfortable cottage, and traveling with him to L.A. to meet his family.

I'll just take every day as it comes.

I parked Kate's car just down from the hotel entrance. I was ticking off my mental list as I walked into the foyer: pack my jeans, clean underwear, and my bed-socks. Maybe my cozzie, I can use the pool. Take the rental car back.

"Miss Swan!"

I looked up to see Mike walking towards the concierge desk. He was smiling.

"Hi Mike! Call me Bella," I smiled back, as I met him at the desk.

"Sorry, Bella. Force of habit, I guess. I have a message for you."

I watched as Mike flicked through some envelopes and pulled out one to hand to me. It simply had my room number and name scrawled on the front.

"Thanks Mike. Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Kate loaned me her car, it's parked out front. I need to take the rental car back. Can I park her car in the basement for an hour?"

Mike smiled widely at me. "I can do that for you, Bella. I'll arrange to have the rental car returned and I'll personally move Kate's car into the parking garage. All I need are the keys. It's all part of the service." He said suavely.

"Mike, I think you're severely under-appreciated! Thank you." I pulled Kate's car keys out of my bag and handed them to him. "I'll just have to get the rental car keys from my room," I said. "I'll run up now."

"No hurry, Bella."

I turned to walk towards the lift, simultaneously opening the envelope when I heard someone call my name.

"Bella!"

When I turned, I had to blink twice to comprehend. I was in mild shock.

What's he doing here?

~0~