(A/N: So, music plays a huge part in the emotions I convey in my writing so, here are the songs I listened to while writing. They may or may not have swayed my emotions. XD On Call – Kings of Leon, Arizona – Kings Of Leon, Seventeen Forever – Metro Station, (How funny.) Fashion, Glam and Coke – Mickey Avalon, Sunburn-Muse, Closer – Nine Inch Nails (YES! THIS SONG PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN HOW EDWARD THOUGHT OF ISABELLA!) She Had The World – Panic at The Disco, This is For Keeps – The Spill Canvas, (which pretty much sums up the whole chapter…sort of.) Don't Trust Me – 3Oh!3 (which has nothing to do with it, I don't think.) The Night Will Go As Follows – The Spill Canvas, Fever Dream – Iron and Wine, I'm Yours – Jason Mraz. (isn't that it? XD)

Oh, by the way, I'm sorry for the wait, guys. I've been really busy what with school and my final projects and just. everything. So, I'm so sorry and I hope this chapter makes up for the wait. *wiggles eyebrows in a suggestive manner*

Disclaimer: I'm not Stephenie Meyer.)


I spent many days with out seeing Lady Isabella and as the date of the masquerade drew closer, the day of my wedding did as well. Nights were a different matter entirely. I'd spent as many nights as I could in Isabella's bedchambers. I loved watching her sleep. I loved her.

I now knew that it would be absolutely terrible to marry Lady Tanya, however I didn't see any way I could have possibly gotten out of it. I found myself awaiting both the masquerade and the wedding with baited breath.

The rest of my life would be a complete and total disaster and I wasn't exactly excited about it. Why couldn't my father have arranged the marriage to be between the woman I loved and me? Of course life shouldn't be that grand.

My whole life I'd been the goblet-half-empty kind of person. I'd never exactly seen a reason to be an optimist. Nothing had gone so spectacularly wonderful to change my opinion either.

People seemed to think that I'd taken my life as royalty for granted but that wasn't the case. Being part of a royal family hadn't been all parties and fun. It was work for everyone. Generally, after a long day my father, King Edward I wasn't particularly enjoyable to be around. His red-faced ranting made it rather miserable to spend time with him.

I was a practical person about nearly every situation thanks to that. I always looked at situations and thought of the worst possible outcome, that way, when something turned out better than I thought, I was pleasantly surprised. So, maybe I was an optimist in a strange way.

The worst possible thing that I could imagine in the situation I was in was if Tanya happened to out live me. I knew it was a cruel thought that I desperately wanted her to die before me but I knew I simply couldn't tolerate a lifetime of her.

She was one percent opposite of the kind of woman I wanted. Firstly, she was blond - strawberry blond, not at all my type. I was the kind of man who preferred brunettes. Tanya had large green eyes - once again, not my cup of tea. Mostly everything about her drove me mad. Everything about her from her obnoxious laugh to her self-centered ways made me nearly angry.

I was still consumed in thoughts of Bella. I realized more than once that I desperately wanted to kiss her full pink lips. I wondered if she'd taste as good as she smelled. She always smelled wonderful, floral. I knew that I should have stopped my thoughts of Isabella at once, but I was too far gone. I remembered how both when I talked to her and when I saw her sleeping, I had wanted to reach out and touch her cheek. I wanted to know what her skin felt like.

I had to be a gentleman though; it would be very improper of me to do such a thing. I feared that after a while it would be hard to control myself, it would be hard to refrain from reaching out and stroking her cheek. Which, I knew would cause a delicious rosy blush to come across her face. It would be so impossible not to just lean forward and press my lips to hers. I knew they would be soft and warm against my mouth and it was teasingly tempting each time she spoke. I was captivated by the way her lips moved.

Though I had reason enough not to see Isabella I couldn't stop myself as I climbed onto Chester's back and passed the gates again heading speedily to the Swan Manor.

I felt rebellious as I rode through the woods that night. It was like I was going to return home and receive a majuscule* that said something about someone knowing what I was up to - and surely it would be complete with the punishment I would have to endure. It was a risk I was more than willing to take.

I entered the gates of the Swan Manor in a jubilant mood. Life was wonderful. My days had been long and I spent a lot of the hours I had free sleeping, but it was all worth it at night on the nights I would visit the Swan Manor.

I tied Chester to the same tree as usual scanning the manor village for anyone who could see me. It seemed that all the peasants were long asleep. The still of the night was eerie. Usually the night had some noises, but this night was still and dark. Adrenaline pumped through my body as did fear.

Chester made my fears worse as he whinnied when I began to walk away. I cringed, half expecting some guards popping out at me from the dark shadows but nothing happened and I continued on into the main house.

When I reached Bella's room I noted that she was more restless than she had been other nights when I'd seen her. Something was upsetting her and what ever it was, also had me upset. I wanted this beautiful woman to sleep fitfully; I wanted her to never worry. I sat myself in her rocking chair quietly and sat back watching and listening.

I knew she would talk.

Just as the thought escaped the depths of my mind, Bella spoke. "Edward. I miss you." She mumbled.

It made me sad. She missed me? I wished I could have spent more time with her; it just wasn't that simple. "I'm here now." I whispered. I knew my whisper wasn't loud enough to wake her, but I desperately hoped it registered in her subconscious.

She spoke my name sleepily about twenty more times. It made me smile. I was so pleased that this beautiful, glorious woman thought about me.

I suddenly had a terrible urge to cough and it took me off guard. There was no time to repress it and I coughed violently. Bella tossed and was silent for a moment.

I was relieved – she was back asleep. "Edward?" She spoke again. This time it sounded like a question. She suddenly sat up and I was wrong. She hadn't fallen back asleep. I was caught. I didn't know what I was supposed to do but I sat still and stared at her. "What are you doing here?" She whispered in a somewhat angry tone.

I was scared that she was going to be upset with me so I decided to stick with the truth. "I wanted to see you, Bella. I miss you during the days. I don't see you enough and I'm somehow drawn to you. I've been coming here at night for the past couple weeks. I'm so sorry. I know it's terribly ungentlemanly but I can't be away from you." I realized that I rambled and I was slightly embarrassed.

"You…miss me?" She stared across the room at me fidgeting with the blanket. "Why? I…don't understand." She looked down, and I knew the look on her face. It was one I'd worn many times when girls fell all over me. It was a look of self-consciousness.

I moved across the room and sat next to her. "Isabella. You're strikingly beautiful and I'm so drawn to you. I know I shouldn't be. But I am. I just can't stay away. You draw me in. I feel something constantly pulling me in your direction when I don't see you. You…amaze me."

I was leaning in close to her and I didn't realize it until she looked up at me. Our faces were just a breath apart. I felt her breath warm against my face as she spoke. "You watch me sleep?"

I simply nodded. "You talk."

"Oh, hell." She blushed and I wanted to reach out and touch her so I did. I cupped her face in my hand. Her skin was just as soft as I'd thought and the blush made her cheek warmer than I'd expected. I found myself inching closer.

"You say my name. You said you missed me."

"I do miss you." It was all she said and I couldn't find the reason anymore. Nothing mattered. I didn't care who the hell I was going to be married to in months; I didn't care that I would have to attend the masquerade with an annoying selfish wench. All I cared about was Bella.

Bella was the only thing in my thoughts. She was the only thing that mattered. I was with her right now. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers fully. I kissed her softly with all the passion that was burning in me. Her tiny hands twined into my hair and held my face closer and my other hand snaked to the small of her back, securing her to me.

Her lips tasted just as wonderful as I'd thought. I pulled her as close as I could manage and kissed her passionately until neither of us had any breath left.

When I knew I couldn't breathe anymore I pulled back just enough to rest my forehead against hers.

"Edward." She said clutching me tightly.

"Bella." I smiled and kissed her lips quickly once more.

The trouble I would put myself in didn't matter. All that mattered was the joy this woman brought me. She made me feel. In this moment, I realized that my goblet was truly half full. Everything else could wait for now.

(What did you think of this chapter guys? ;)

BTW. * Majuscule: An announcement written in all capital letters.)