STRUGGLES

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. She also makes the banners for each of my stories.

"From what I know I do believe that instead of being charged with attempted murder I'm going to tell the District Attorney that your case is nothing more than self-defense. However, with Norma Harrison that is a different case altogether."

With that being said, Asher said his goodbyes and left. Everyone else breathed a sigh of relief, but, still wondered if it was truly over with.

CHAPTER 43: LOOKING TO TOMORROW

The two remaining occupants of the hospital room were silently looking at one another trying to think of something witty to say, but, having a hard time coming up with something. Bella had no idea where to begin to thank this wonderful man for all that he had done for her. And, Edward, although an experienced womanizer of sorts, was having a hard time trying to come up with an appropriate remark to begin to ask this remarkable woman before him to give him a chance to win a place in her life.

Charlie had left to inform everyone of the detective's decision that he believed that Bella had acted in self-defense. And, that Asher was going to make this recommendation to the D. A.'s office. Charlie also wanted to let them know about Edward's sudden appearance and how he took control of the interview and had handled Asher in a very professional manner. And, that it was done in such a way that Charlie knew he would never have been able to accomplish. He was damn proud of both of the young people for the way they had conducted themselves during that Q&A session with Asher.

"Mrs. Harrison…Mr. Cullen…" Both Bella and Edward began at the same time and stopped at the same time. After pausing to wait for the other to continue and nothing happened, they both began laughing at the entire situation they were finding themselves in. Once they both had managed to regain control, it started again with both speaking at the same time. This caused them to stop immediately.

With a sweeping of his hand, Edward indicated for Bella to go first and she did, "Please call me Bella. And, I want to thank you so much for all that you've done for me. Words, the appropriate words, that I need to be able to express the depth of how much I appreciate everything seem to be beyond me at the moment. So, the words 'thank you' I suppose will have to be enough for now." She spoke with barely contained emotion sounding in her voice and showing in her eyes.

Also, Bella noticed that as she spoke thanking Edward for all of his hard work for helping to clear her that a slow growing pinkish color was appearing at the tips of his ears to only spread into his facial features and traveling down his neck. He was blushing from the praise this woman was giving him. Something that doesn't normally happen to him since he took any praise from other clients as his proper dues. But, her praise was also giving him hope that his request of being given a chance to be a part of her life might be received favorably.

Edward looked at the woman before him and studied her for a minute before speaking, "Okay, I'll be happy to call you Bella, but, only if you'll call me Edward."

Bella smiled and nodded her agreement as she unconsciously reached her hand towards him. Once she realized what she was doing as Edward was raising his hand to connect with hers, she quickly withdrew her hand. She acted as if she was afraid of completing the connection with the man that she felt was her sanctuary. It was the connection she felt with him through his voice and touch even when she was unconscious that had made her feel safe, loved and secure.

"Mrs. H….." Edward started to say, but, stopped when he noticed her reaction with a raised eyebrow, then he continued, "Bella, I noticed that you seem to be hesitant with me and I am wondering why. You don't have to fear me; I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you in any way.

"I know that it might be too soon to be mentioning what I'm about to say, but, I would appreciate it if you would consider what I'm about to ask of you." Edward paused, and Bella had an impression that Edward was afraid to voice his request and was taking the time to try to find a way to make his request.

"Edward, you can ask me anything." She quietly told him in a near whisper, but, it was loud enough for him to hear her words.

"We have a few loose ends that need to be tied up before all of this is really over. However, and I understand that I might be asking this too soon, I would like for you to take the time to get to know me; the personal me, I mean.

"I feel a deep draw to you and I hope that you will give me a chance to explore this feeling; this connection that we each seem to feel towards each other. You've admitted that you felt something for me, without saying the words outright, when you told me how you felt through some of your actions.

"I do realize that you might deny that you feel anything drawing us together out of fear because of the past. That you might reason that what you're feeling was your imagination or just appreciation for my being your attorney which does happen with some clients out of appreciation due to the trauma they suffered, and the attorney helped them out of a bad situation, however, it isn't.

"Bella, I feel it the same as you do. I felt it the first moment I walked into your room and saw you for the first time. You were unconscious at that time, in a coma, and all I could do was drink in your beauty and make a promise that I had never made to anyone before. I promised that I would get you cleared of all charges, that you would know peace.

"All that I want, if you can see your way to do it, is to be given a chance to be included in your life however you feel comfortable doing. I want to explore this feeling, to let it grow stronger, which it's doing without any special help, and to deepen into something everlasting. My feelings for you are telling me that you are my 'everything' and that I'll never be happy with anyone else.

"Please, Bella, please, give me, no, give us a chance. I have never asked a woman this before, but, I'm asking you now. And, if it would help, I'll drop to my knees and beg for the chance. What do you say, beautiful lady, will you give our feelings a chance? Give us a chance?"

Bella didn't know what to say. His words made her want to accept, but, her experience with Frank taught her caution. He was asking things of her that she had dreamed about with him in her safe place, but, somehow never imagined that he would ever feel the same. What should she do? Give him and the feelings he professes to feel and that she knows she feels a chance? Is it really possible for them to have a future beyond just friendship together?

Closing her eyes, Bella drew in a deep breath. She was afraid to say yes because if what Frank had told her was true could it lead to someone being hurt or killed? But, if she said no, she could possibly be losing a real chance for true happiness; something she never experienced with Frank.

Finally, opening her eyes, she looks at Edward and answers him, "Edward, I don't know what to do. I don't want to hurt you, or, do something that could cause you or someone else close to us to be harmed." And, as she says the latter part, she sees that Edward is about to speak so she holds up her hand to forestall him. "Please, let me finish.

"I'm wanting to say yes because you're right, I do feel an attraction and a connection to you. A deep connection that I've never felt before with Frank or anyone else and am at a loss to be able to explain.

"So, I'm not going to say no at the moment, but, I'm not going to say yes, either. I'm going to ask you to wait until all of the current mess surrounding Frank has been completely resolved.

"Also, I'm going to ask that you allow us to be friends for the moment, please."

Edward had listened to what Bella had to say, and the truth of what she had said wasn't unexpected. However, he did feel some elation because she was willing to be friends. To Edward that meant that she was going to give him a chance to become a more permanent part of her life. And, with that in mind, he knew that he was going to have to make some damn big changes in his life so he would be in a position to get things moved from friendship to a forever-ship.

Changes like job and residential locations needed to be accomplished almost immediately. He was determined that as of today he was going to make the call to his current law office. This was going to be one of the biggest cases he was going to have to pitch. Edward was going to propose opening a branch of their law firm in Seattle with him overseeing getting it up and running.

Next, he would be asking Alice to close his apartment in Chicago and have everything shipped to the penthouse here in Seattle. He was fairly sure, that under the circumstances of him wanting to move back to Washington, that his parents would let him use the penthouse to live in. True, it wasn't Forks, but, it was still closer to them than when he was living in Chicago.

And, Edward was pretty sure after having observed his sister's reaction to Bella's cousin, Jasper, that Alice would be making some changes in her place of residence as well. In Alice's business she can work anywhere, and he felt sure that when she found out what he was planning to do that she would definitely be on board to do the same for herself. She could open a branch of her designer business here and hire a manager to handle the one in Chicago.

Edward realized that he had been silent longer than he should have been after seeing the downcast expression on Bella's face. He knew that he needed to rectify that immediately. "Bella, please, lose the sadness I see on your face and in your eyes. I'm not going anywhere and I do understand your hesitation. Being friends for now, well, that's fine with me. It'll give each of us a chance to really get to know one another." He concluded with a sincere smile on his face and showing in his eyes. His whole manner was one full of confidence and by seeing the clearing of Bella's features he knew that his reassurance worked as he had hoped it would.

XXXXXX

It had been a few days since Edward and Bella had had their private discussion and that Asher had talked with Bella about what had happened the night Frank died. During that time several things had taken place. Charlie had informed everyone else about how the interview between Asher and Bella had gone. Edward had talked with Alice before telling his parents his intention of moving to Seattle. And, his plans had received encouragement, excitement and approval from his sister.

Alice and Jasper had had a private discussion concerning their relationship, and the conclusion was that Alice would be taking up residence in Seattle as well. She was going to return to Chicago to tie up loose ends for both Edward and herself and then return to Seattle. In the meantime, Jasper was going to begin looking for an ideal location for Alice to set up shop in Seattle.

Everyone was as excited as Charlie had been when they were told of Det. Asher's intentions. The fact that this whole mess was nearly over and that Bella was going to be cleared of murder. It was difficult to understand completely why Norma would kill her brother instead of filing charges against him. Surely it would have been better all the way around to have gone that route instead of the one she had chosen.

Carlisle and Esme were especially excited about the news that both Edward and Alice were moving to Seattle. They were more than happy to let their children use the penthouse for a place of residence until they had found a place of their own, if that is what they were wanting to do.

Also, everyone was excited about the news of possible relationships developing between Edward and Bella and between Jasper and Alice. But, before anyone could get completely carried away, Edward did remind them not to get so excited that they forgot that Bella wasn't completely in the clear just yet and that he and Bella were just starting out as friends. That some loose ends still needed to be tied up. That did momentarily put a damper on their spirit, but, it didn't last long.

XXXXXX

Later that afternoon Det. Asher came by to speak with Bella and it just so happened that Edward was there visiting with her. So, the news Asher delivered was uplifting for both of them and would be for everyone else also.

"I just wanted to stop by and let you know the D. A. accepted my recommendations especially after the results of the DNA test had come back confirming that the blood found in the downstairs powder room was Norma's.

"Norma had been arrested for murdering her brother and for the murder of her cousin, Alma Johnson. The detective that was investigating that case found the evidence to prove that Norma was the one that killed her cousin.

"Now, the D.A. isn't going to file any charges against you since he accepted that you were acting in self-defense." It was here that Asher paused, but, showed signs that he still had more to say.

"However, you are both going to be witnesses for the D. A. when Norma Harrison goes to trial due to the two charges of attempted murder that has also been filed against her.

"Now, that I've delivered my news I'll be going. A speedy recovery Mrs. Harrison and I hope you'll be able to get over all of the abuse you endured during your marriage. Not all men are like your late husband."

So, after shaking hands with Bella and then Edward, Asher left the room.

Edward and Bella looked at each other in a stunned state. It was hard to believe that it was all over just like that.

A slow smile began to appear on Edward's face and he leaned forward to quietly tell Bella, "Well, my friend, the mess is all over. So, I guess you have to accept that I did as you had requested. Now, we can get down to really getting to know each other and start moving towards that forever that I want for us."

A/N: Our story is coming to an end. All that's left is the epi.

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