Chapter 5

With morning came many revelations. Bella woke up to Edward still next to her. She couldn't help but blink a few times, making sure it was still real. That he was there with her and that it wasn't all a dream. This was proof it wasn't all in her head, and she couldn't help but look up at him smiling.

"Good morning love," he said and pushed her hair behind her ear.

"Morning, I didn't think you'd be here." She said honestly and he sighed, realizing she didn't trust him.

"I couldn't leave, you needed me and I honestly haven't felt this peaceful in years."

"Neither have I," she said and snuggled closer to him. "I haven't slept this while in I don't know how long." She said and he kissed her forehead. "Did I say anything interesting?" She asked and he laughed.

"Nothing I didn't already know, just that you loved me and missed me."

"I said that before I went to sleep." She giggled and leaned up to look at him. "I do love you, but I think we have a lot to work through before I am ready to get married." She said honestly and he just nodded.

"I think I already know that before I asked. But can you blame me for trying?"

"I guess," she said and kissed him. It was suppose to be light and soft, but it was anything but. Neither could ignore the electrical shock they felt when their lips touched. Both amazed at how easy they feel back into that comfort level they once had with one another. As Bella leaned into the kidd, Edward pulled her closer, missing the way he felt when he held her in his arms. He pulled her on top of him and burried his hands in her hair. Bella waited for him to pull back, but he didn't, he was too wrapped up in the moment for that -- wrapped up in her. Then the door opened and Edward moved Bella off of him.

"Sorry," Chrissy said and quickly closed the door.

"I'm going to kill her!" Bella nearly screamed. "The one time you don't start with your rules…" she started to rant and he kissed her softly.

"Calm," he said and went over to the door to let Chrissy know it was ok to come in. "Come in, Bella I'm going to get some breakfast for us. Chrissy, would you like anything?"

"No, I'm fine." She said and Edward kissed Bella goodbye and disappeared through the door. The moment he was gone Chrissy unleashed her interrogation.

"Spill, did you say yes?"

"Nope, I tried to run away actually but he stopped me." She said and sat on her bed. "He didn't expect me to say yes. He was making the gesture to prove he wanted commitment and wasn't running away again."

"Well you're crazy to not take him off the market and marry into that family. One he is beyond gorgeous, two he loves you and three did you see that house? You'd never want for anything."

"All I ever wanted from him was to love me."

"Again, you have that. And why didn't you tell me about Carlisle?"

"Sorry, I just didn't want to talk aobut it. You don't know our history, but it was a bad break up and I didn't see any of the Cullen's from the time they left when I was in high school. It was hard to talk about so I played it off like it didn't matter and wasn't a big deal." She said and shrugged and then noticed what Chrissy was doing. "Why are you packing, I thought you were staying here for thanksgiving?"

"I was, but I got a flight out. There was a cancellation and you have Edward so I don't feel bad about ditching you."

"Thanks, but have fun. I know you miss your family." She said, knowing Alice had something to do with Chrissy's 'miracle last minute seat' to Detroit. "Do you need a ride to the airport?"

"Nope, Alice offered. She even gave me a make over last night since we weren't really tired. She's really too sweet."

"That's Alice." Bella said and hugged her friend goodbye and waited for Edward to return. He came in with coffee and bagels -- her favorite.

"Where's Chrissy?"

"As if you don't know, she miraculously got a flight." Bella said and took her coffee.

"I didn't…" He started and she watched as he tried to stifle a laugh.

"Not you, Alice. This still doesn't mean I'll come for Thanksgiving." She said, refusing to give in, she had principals to stick to and for once was not letting him dazzle her.

"Of course it does." Emmet said as he bounded through the door with Rose right behind him. He immediately went over to Bella and wrapped her up in a hug, almost crushing her.

"Easy Emmet, she's human." Rosalie said seeing Bella in pain.

"Sorry, but we were sent to get the next Mrs. Cullen." He joked and Bella rolled her eyes.

"I told him no." She said and started to eat her bagel.

"Of course you did, you never accept the first proposal." Rosalie said and sat down next to her.

"Or the second, third and fourth if you're Rosalie." Emmet grumbled and Rosalie laughed.

"Well if you would have gotten it right any of those times then I would have accepted." She said and put her arm around him. That's when Emmet got up and started to walk around seeing how small it really was.

"So how do two people live in here, its so small."

"It's a dorm, the bathroom is down the hall and the cafeteria/kitchen is in another building. You are only suppose to sleep here." She said and then watched Emmet shake his head. "Besides, it's a co-ed building so it makes life a little interesting."

"What do you mean 'co-ed'?" Edward asked and Rosalie started to laugh.

"Didn't I mention that? I mean I thought you'd understand, you've been to college." She said and watched Emmet and Edward both look at each other, the reality of Bella's 'living arrangements' coming to light.

"Bella you should just come to our house and stay, this is just wrong." Emmet said and shook his head.

"Nope, I like it here." She said definitely. "And I never agreed to come for the holidays."

"Alright, but then we'll all have to come here and I can't guarantee anything will survive." Emmet said and Bella threw her phone at him, which Edward caught with ease. Both smiling at her.

"Stupid vampire." She said and went to get her bag from the closet, knowing she wasn't going to win this argument. She packed a bag to stay at the Cullen's for the holidays, refusing to move in permanently. As they headed down to her truck, Edward pulled her towards his Volvo. "I can drive."

"True, but there's no guarantee your truck will make the trip and there is no sense in taking two cars."

"Then let me drive your car." She said and watched his face. "It's jut a car and I promise to be gentle. So no fear." She said in her most innocent voice as she held out her hand to get the keys.

"But…" he started to protest but she cut him off.

"Your Volvo or my truck, either way I'm driving." She said and he surrendered his keys. As they made their way there, Edward hated their slow pace -- 55 mph. "I'm not going over the speed limit so stop pouting." She said without even looking at him, laughing to herself at the way they had been acting all morning -- like an old married couple.

"Just a little bit, Bella I could have ran there and back by now."

"Don't care, your family ambushed me and you dazzled me into agreeing to come so this is my time. I needed to relax and think about all that's happened over the last two days. Something I can't do when you are driving 120 mph." She said and he reached over to grab her hand, taking it in his and lifting it to kiss her knuckles.

"You know eventually you are going to have to say yes. And I have an eternity to wait." He said, smiling as he thought of her one day agreeing to marry him.

"Ya well I don't have an eternity." She said and he continued to smile.

"Maybe.." he said, too low for her to hear and looked out the window, content on where they were and thankful for another chance to win and keep her heart. As he lulled into the possible visions of their future -- all the images twirling around in his mind he couldn't help but smile and enjoy the slow ride. She was right -- it was relaxing and that was just what the doctor ordered after the years of hell and depression without her.

Bella was consumed in her own thoughts. She thought about what he said, and knew eventually she would say yes -- just not now. She meant what she said when she told him she wasn't ready. They had things to work through, trust to rebuild and a life to plan together. But of all that uncertainty, one thing was clear -- she loved him and he loved her. And in the end, nothing else mattered!

~~The End~~

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A/N : Alright that's all folks! I know its short and kind of open ended, but when I was writing the story, this is the ending I seen so I went with it. One day I might write a sequel, but right now I'm happy with it and will leave it here.