Author's Note: Nice reviews are better than chocolate, unless maybe you're licking that chocolate off someone.

Five

I love you, I adore you, and if you stay with me, you'll never want for anything. You –

"So you live near here, right? Or was that a different park?" Bella sat, leaning her back on a wide tree trunk. Orange, red, and yellow leaves scattered, making her look even more vivid. She stretched her legs out in front of her, ankles crossed; she played with a red leaf that had fallen onto her lap. Edward faced her, sitting as close as he could without making her uncomfortable, leaning on his left hand.

"It's this park, I actually live right down the street," he gestured in front of him to the old brownstone buildings. She turned to where he'd pointed and regarded them closely, nodding as if she approved, she faced him.

"They seem really nice."

"I can bring you up there later if you want, I'll make you dinner," he said hopefully, don't push your luck.

Bella's cell phone rang, again. She was awfully popular; although Edward had a feeling it was the same caller over and over. She took out her phone and looked at the caller ID; she sighed and stood up. "I should take this." She answered it and took a step away. Edward could tell that she was trying to sound upbeat.

"Hey… I told you I'd be out all day…Just sightseeing…Oh, I don't know how late I'll be out…" She sighed again and bit her lip; Edward wondered if she realized when she did that. "I know we're leaving tomorrow, no I – ok, I'll talk to you later." She hung up.

Edward could feel anger like a rock in his stomach; he unclenched his jaw when she slumped back down against the tree. He flexed his fingers and she smiled halfway at him. "He just worries, you know."

Edward inched closer and took her phone out of her hands, putting it on the grass. "I know it sounds cliché, but you don't have to put up with that." The look on her face told her she'd heard that before.

"I know," she released a breath. "I'm breaking up with him when we get back to New York. I tried to once before, but I was touring and by the time I was finished, he'd convinced me it was a mistake to leave him. I'm stupid, I know."

He took her hand, moving his thumb over the top, "you're not stupid." He looked down at their hands. He took a deep breath and mumbled, "I'm stupid." Edward pulled her face to his with his free hand, pressing his mouth to hers. She tasted like strawberries. He felt her linger there on the border between rational thought and pure sensation; he traced her bottom lip with his tongue hoping to sway her thinking. She fell into the kiss then and Edward filed that bit of information away for later. Please, let there be a later.

It wasn't until Edward felt her shiver against the cold that had been inching closer all afternoon that he finally pulled away. He put his forehead to hers, holding the side of her neck with one hand, and laughed lightly to himself. She pulled back to look at him and he gave her a lopsided smile; she moved closer, curving her back into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder. "I'd give you my sweater, but I don't have anything underneath it."

"You should do it anyway," she blushed, speaking before she'd had time to edit her thoughts. She felt quiet laughter on her skin and then he kissed her shoulder where it met her neck.

He rubbed her arms to warm them and then stood, taking her with him. She turned and snuggled into his body, her face in his chest. "You smell like coffee," her voice was muffled by his sweater. He rested his chin on top of her head and closed his eyes, let this be real.

All day Edward had looked for the woman with the blue coat, terrified that he'd see her, that she'd laugh and say, "you didn't really think I'd let you stay here, did you?" He was very aware that this could disappear at any second, leaving him with what? A world without Bella, a short glimpse into the life he took too long to go after.

"I should go," Bella pulled away then, the heat of her still present on his chest. She looked down at her hands.

"Don't go."

"I have to; I can't do this to Mike. I –"

"You're going back –" he was very still, as if that would make her change her mind.

"No, no," she huffed a laugh and looked up at him, taking one of his hands. "I have to break up with him before …He at least deserves the truth."

"I'll go with you."

"That's ok, for all his talk, he's pretty harmless. It'll be ok; he'll probably just go back to New York as planned."

Edward inched closer, "does that mean you won't be going back to New York as planned?" He couldn't hide the hope in his voice.

She sidled up to him the rest of the way, feeling his gaze like a touch. "I don't know." She answered honestly, if apologetically.

Edward leaned his head down and kissed her cheek, lingering there, "that's ok." His mouth hovered near hers, but he knew he wouldn't kiss her again until she felt it was right. Instead, he pulled her into a hug and kissed her temple, inhaling deeply, trying to create a memory of her scent. After a while, he let go; she seemed as reluctant as he was. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you? I really think I should, you don't know how mad Mike may get and –"

"I need to do this myself. I don't want him to feel bombarded with everything and if you're there too…" She let her statement trail off. Edward thought she worried too much.

They said their goodbyes, Bella agreed to call him after she talked to Mike. After he walked Bella back to her car, Edward took his time walking leisurely down the street. He tried to remember everything about the day, the colors, the way Bella looked when the breeze swept her hair back. He saturated himself in it.

It wasn't until he started walking down his street that he saw her. She had the same coat and umbrella as before, her hair was styled the same way. He had an urge to both go to her and run for his apartment. Instead, he stood rooted to the ground, waiting. She approached him on the sidewalk, looking strangely benevolent. She stopped in front of him. "Things are going well, are you happy?" She paused, but didn't let him answer before continuing. "I'm glad. But you know this isn't your place." She paused again, holding his gaze; she raised her hand and brushed a strand of hair off his forehead. To Edward it felt almost motherly. She smiled gently as if she could see something that Edward didn't have to show for it to be true.

"Please, let me stay here," he could hear the pleading sound to his own voice, but it didn't surprise him.

He could see something in her eyes, but he didn't know what, it was like for a moment she wasn't there. "I'm almost finished here," she touched his hand again the same way she did at the cemetery.

"No, please," Edward took her hand in both of his, stepping forward. "I want to stay here! You don't understand I can't go back now! I can't be without her!" He could feel his voice taking a frantic edge. "I love her, soul crushing, life changing love, can't you see that?"

The woman's expression didn't waver; she pulled her hand back. "I've said all I have to say here." She crossed the street before Edward could react, before he could even gather the strength to stop her. She moved into the park and out of his view, leaving Edward defeated, thinking about a future he'd never have.