Chapter Eleven:

Four weeks later…

Edward and I have been spending a lot of time together over the last month, since I had that panic attack and Riley announced that he needed to go back to London. He left three days after that, and I haven't heard much from him since. All I can hope is that Felix will get his comeuppance soon. I've been trying to not let the whole situation continue to get to me, sometimes it gives me anxiety, but Edward helps to take my mind off everything.

Sigh. What can I say about Edward? Besides the fact that he's utterly amazing, and completely gorgeous, my head is telling me that it's all moving too fast, and then my heart… my heart knows that he's The One.

But then… Do I want to make him give everything up? Everything he knows here in the United States to move to another country, and to become part of a Monarchy. To make him give up his job, which I know he adores and is so passionate about. Is it a sacrifice he will be willing to make?

My fretting is interrupted as Edward walks into the upstairs sitting room, looking sinful in a suit.

Am I drooling?

He drops a kiss to the top of my head as he walks past me. "Hey." He takes off his suit jacket and drapes it over a chair, he loosens the tie around his neck and I am shamelessly checking him out.

"Bella?"

"Huh?" I look back up and see Edward smirking at me, and my entire face goes hot. He comes to sit down next to me.

"I asked you if you'd had a good day. But I think you were too busy checking me out."

I laugh. "I was looking out the window."

"Uh huh." He laughs and puts his arm around my shoulders, and I lean into him. "So, did you have a good day?"

I nod. "I spoke to my Father today."

Edward pulls his arm from around my shoulders so fast I basically fall down on the couch. "Hey!" I right myself and turn to face him, crossing my legs. He's staring straight ahead, wringing his hands. "I just said I spoke to my Dad today, I didn't say you were being beheaded." I say with a grin and poke his side, but he doesn't react. "Edward?"

Finally he turns to look at me with a deep frown on his face. "Did you tell him about me?"

I nod. "Yes."

The frown lifts slightly. "What did he say?"

I smile. "He wants to meet you."

He smiles back at me. "Maybe he will want to behead me after that."

I uncross my legs and move a little bit further forward to wrap my arms around him. "There won't be anything to worry about."

He wraps his arms around me and kisses my hair. "He's the King."

I lean back. "I'm a Princess." I narrow my eyes. "Technically, I could probably have you beheaded if I wanted too." The colour drains from his face and he opens and closes his mouth a few times. I burst out laughing. "I'm only joking, we don't do that anymore! But the look on your face!"

Edward narrows his eyes and for a second I wonder if I have offended him, and then he starts to tickle me. "No!" I kick my legs and try my best to wriggle away from him.

"That wasn't funny!"

I'm laughing so hard I'm crying, and still trying to get away from the tickling but he is strong. "Stop it!" I wriggle enough that I fall backwards onto the couch and this brings Edward down with me, his chest falls against mine and he stops tickling me instantly.

"Take it back."

I gulp, and try to catch my breath from laughing. Edward leans his hips down onto mine and I gasp. He only grins. "Fine, fine. I take it back."

"Good." He leans down and kisses me until I'm breathless.

xoxox

Later on that evening, we're sitting back in the sitting room after dinner. The television is on in the background and Edward is doing some grading.

I am fretting again.

"You are awfully quiet over there."

I look up, but Edward is still paying close attention to his work. "What are you trying to say?"

He stops briefly and looks up at me. "That you never shut up."

I swipe his arm and he laughs. "I'm fine."

He puts down his pen. "That means you aren't. What's worrying you?"

"Nothing." I shake my head.

"Bella…"

I stand up and go and walk over to the window and look out over the back garden.

"Is this because of the conversation you had with your Dad today?" Edward comes to stand next to me.

"Sort of." I shrug. "Most of it is me though."

Edward doesn't reply, obviously just waiting for me to pluck up the courage to talk about what's really worrying me.

I sigh. "I just… I'm worried that you don't know what you're signing up for."

There is silence for about a minute, and I'm too afraid to look at him to gauge to his reaction. He finally speaks and his voice is clipped. "What do you mean?"

"Just that-"

He interrupts me. "You don't think I'm cut out for it?"

I shake my head. "It isn't that."

He turns to look at me. "Then what is it?"

I turn around and go to sit back on the couch, Edward doesn't follow, but continues to stand looking out the window.

"You'll have to give up everything. It will mean moving to England, giving up your job, which I know you love. Moving away from your family, from your home. Nothing will be the same. The press are ruthless and nothing is your own. Everything you do is scrutinised, and shared with the public, whether its broadcast on the television, or in a newspaper or a tabloid. You'll have to make a new life, and can I ask you to do that?"

He turns to face me. "You aren't asking me to do anything, Bella."

I frown slightly and go to answer him but he beats me to it. He comes to sit back down next to me, and takes my hand, threading our fingers together. "Don't you think I don't already know all of that? That I'll be choosing to take on this new life? Yes, I love my job, and yes, I love living here, but Bella…" He sighs and I look up at him. "I love you more."

I blink, momentarily stunned by his admission. "You what?"

He laughs softly. "I wasn't expecting that as a reaction."

I cover my mouth with my free hand, trying to tame down my embarrassment.

"I know that I can do this, and I know that I want to do this with you. I know it's fast, and it feels like we haven't known each other very long… but at the same time I feel like I've known you my whole life. I want to be by your side while you Rule a Kingdom. I've waited so long for you, Bella. I'm not going to give you up, not now. I won't ever do anything to make you doubt me, not like you had done to you before."

By the end of his speech, tears are running down my face. I lean up and grab each side of his face. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

He smiles crookedly. "I'm just incredible."

I laugh and then kiss him. "I shouldn't have ever doubted you. I know that you'll be amazing at this, that we will be amazing at this." He leans his forehead against mine and I grin. "And just so you know, I love you too."

He kisses me deeply, bringing his hands up into my hair. We are both breathless when he pulls away. I look into his eyes and can't help the grin that stretches across my face once again. Edward kisses my forehead and then I lean forward and rest my head against his chest, feeling so content that I don't want to move. And I know that even after hell I've been through in the last two months, I can conquer anything with this man by my side. As a Princess. As a Queen. Together.

And in the middle of all my chaos... there was you.