A/N: Happy Valentine's Day! Thank you guys so much for all the amazing reviews--you are the best! Longer note after

Chapter 13: Happy Ending

Six months later

BPOV

Today was the day. The day we would see Mike Newton again. Surprisingly, I could hardly wait. I knew we were going to cream him, yet again.

After everything happened between Edward and Mike in the Megacorp case, I filed a request for change of counsel. Emmett, as managing partner of the firm, agreed, and took Newton off the case. Even though Edward would not be helping me at all on the Megacorp case because we were screening him from conflicts with his prior firm, the disdain Newton had for me as well as his reckless ethics were reason enough to remove him from the case. We ended up settling and my clients were so grateful.

Less than a month later, Newton was fired. Emmett had replaced Edward with an up and coming young attorney and Newton started to play the same tricks on him. Apparently, Newton really wanted to become partner and he was trying to pick off the competition, so to speak. I didn't feel bad for him, at all. Given the way he tried to break up Edward and me, I still pretty much hated him.

When Newton was fired, Tyler even severed all ties with him--finding his job with Emmett more important than his twisted friendship with Newton. Tyler ended up being a decent guy, although I still think Edward had something against him. Edward had told me about his time at the firm, but it seems that it did more damage than even he realized. He was truly compromising himself every day that he worked there.

Edward and I, however, were stronger than ever. I was a bit skeptical of working together but it was seamless. Jasper, Edward and I all had our own cases but we all used each other for advice, help and support with ease. They were both great at letting me bounce ideas off of them and I hoped I was an asset to them, as well.

Today's case was, in fact, the first case on which Edward and I were co-counsel. Usually I am a mess during trial prep, but somehow having Edward with me during the process made everything so much easier. We were just so in sync-- I trusted him implicitly as a lover, and now, as an attorney.

And, so, walking into the court room today with Edward by my side made me more confident than ever. I was happy that he had no qualms about letting me be lead counsel--he was happy to take second chair. He didn't second guess my decisions and he didn't try to use our relationship to his advantage. We were truly a team.

Newton had set up a solo practice and was probably taking advantage of clients more than ever with no one to check up on him. He had refused to attend any settlement conferences in this case and Edward and I were quite happy to take this case to trial if for no other reason, than to beat Newton. I couldn't wait to see the sneer on his face when we won.

Although we were still adversaries, it seemed more and more that any cases we had with Emmett's firms were settling. Emmett and Rosalie had quickly become great friends with Edward, Jasper, Alice and I. It was kind of funny considering how different we all were, but it worked. I felt like I had a second family with them-- and with Carlisle and Esme.

After spending four months redecorating our office to "incorporate" Edward into the design (whatever that meant), Alice now had another project she was working on. The past weekend Edward and I had finally decided to officially move in together. He was at my condo so much already, anyway, that it seemed like a natural fit for him to move in with me. As such, Alice had taken it upon herself to completely redecorate my place--with a lot of help from Rosalie. I really didn't care what they did, as long as I still had my big kitchen. Alice knew both Edward and I so well that I was sure she wouldn't disappoint. And I was really happy that Edward and I were making the move official.

Esme and Carlisle had bought a house just a few blocks away from my our place (I was still getting used to saying that!), and I couldn't wait to have them over for dinner and I knew Esme felt the same. She was doing better than ever and I suspected that as soon as she decorated their house, she would be helping Alice and Rosalie decorate for Edward and me.

"Are you ready, love?" Edward asked, snapping me out of my daydream. I smiled, as always, at the sound of his voice. Just like velvet.

"Edward, I think I'm beyond ready. Let's get this done." We were seated at the plaintiff's counsel table, with our client, waiting for Judge Smith. Newton had yet to show up but I saw his poor client sitting at the defendant's table, looking angrier as each second passed.

Edward readied all of our exhibits as I was going over my opening statement once more in my head because we had stipulated to a bench trial which meant there would be no jury, and hence, no jury selection.

I glanced at my watch and realized we would be starting any minute now, as soon as Judge Smith entered the court room--before I could complete that thought Judge Smith entered the court room and the bailiff asked everyone to rise.

I couldn't believe Newton's nerve at being late but I quickly put him out of my head as Judge Smith called our case number.

"Miss Swan, Mr. Cullen, would you approach the bench please?"

I looked at Edward and he shook his head before we approached the bench. I really had no clue what Judge Smith needed to speak to us about privately.

Typically, counsel approached the bench to talk to the Judge outside the presence of the jury or to clarify an objection if it related to misconduct on the part of the other attorney-- since there was no jury in this case and Newton wasn't here, I had no idea of what to expect.

I was amazed at the informality as Judge Smith spoke. "Did you guys hear?"

Edward and I were both so stunned that we didn't speak.

"Your honor, hear what?" I asked, in hopes of clarifying what the hell was going on.

"Mr. Newton was arrested last night. Apparently he was running a meth lab out of the basement in his office. Needless to say, I don't think he'll be showing up for trial today since he has a bail hearing on the 3rd floor in fifteen minutes."

I covered my mouth with my hand, not in disbelief, but in an attempt to keep from laughing. I knew I couldn't look at Edward either because he would just fuel my laughter.

"Your honor, we had no idea. How would you like to proceed?" I tried to sound as professional as possible.

"Well, as both of you know, not showing up for trial is a pretty inexcusable violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct. With that in mind, I'm going to grant you default judgment and allow Mr. Kotteakos to find new counsel and challenge the judgement, if that's what he decides to do. Sorry you guys prepared everything for trial but I don't think we should delay trial yet again to substitute new counsel . . ."

"Thank you, your honor."

And with that, Edward and I walked back to plaintiff's counsel table and Judge Smith orally entered the default judgment against Mr. Kotteakos. I still couldn't believe what had just happened and I was dying to leave the court room so Edward and I could talk freely.

After the judgement was entered, Judge Smith banged the gavel, calling the next case and dismissing us.

We took a few minutes in the lobby outside the court room to tell our client what a default judgment meant and we scheduled an appointment for the next day to go over the details at our office.

Finally, Edward and I were alone, walking down the same hallway where we had met just six months ago. I wanted to hold his hand but I figured we should wait until we were at least outside of the court house. Instead, I just smiled at him and he was looking at me with the goofiest look on his face that all the laughter I was holding inside burst out of me.

I could hardly catch my breath to speak, I was laughing so hard now, and I couldn't stop because Edward was laughing just as furiously.

I finally calmed down as we made our way outside of the court house.

"I can't believe it, can you?" I asked Edward.

Edward took my hand as if he could read my thoughts, before speaking. "No . . . that was . . . incredible. Just desserts, I think."

"True, but still. I feel bad for Mr. Kotteakos. Even if he is a sleazy business man, no one deserves to have an attorney like that."

"Oh Bella -- and that is why I love you. Your heart is so big and so open to everyone. Don't worry, Mr. Kotteakos will be fine. He'll get new counsel and hopefully this time, his counsel will be smart enough to settle."

"I'm not worried Edward--we're an unstoppable team. And now, it seems, we have a whole day off. I mean, we could go back to the office... but I think we should celebrate our dear friend Mike Newton today--what do you think?"

He laughed. "I wouldn't let you go back to the office right now, no matter what you said. We definitely deserve this day off. What do you want to do?"

"Well I thought, first, we could go back to our place and change. We'll see how we feel after that."

Edward kissed my hand and winked at me, clearly understanding my meaning and just getting me like he always did.

"You always have the best ideas. Lead the way, love."

. . . And so we walked to our place, hand in hand.

Fin.

A/N: Aww, I can't believe it's over! Thank you guys so much for the amazing reviews-- this was my first fic and you guys were so incredible! Also, thank you so much to my amazing beta, Jenn! ILY!

So, now on to the good news-- I've decided to write a 3-shot epilogue/sequel of sorts. It will involve a wedding. That's all I'll say. So look for it soon (mayyyyybe this weekend, maybe!)

Please review!