AN: As always, I credit these characters to Stephenie Meyer and thank her for the use of them.

This is the last chapter. Read, enjoy, and review – and please read the note at the end. Thanks for all the kind reviews.

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Paying the Piper

"Holy crow!" I moaned as I saw Edward standing on the porch with a scrawl across his face as he watched us approach. If the weather were to mimic Edward's expression, I would have seen dark rolling storm clouds.

Emmett took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry Bella, it will be okay." Emmett reassured me.

As a watched Edward, I saw his expression change. His face relaxed and a slight smile played across his lips. It was like watching the sun breaking through the storm clouds he had created.

Maybe Emmett was right; maybe Edward realized there was nothing to be mad about, and then it dawned on me. "Emmett, what did you say to him?"

"I didn't say anything." He said innocently.

"Okay then, what did you think at him?" I knew he said something even if it wasn't vocal.

"My thoughts were, 'don't yell at her . . . she's happy and unhurt . . . she's had a great day, now don't ruin it; as it is, she has had a hard enough time already.' At least that was the gist of what I thought. Now, how he perceived it is something else."

"Well, we're about to find out." I commented as I watched Edward walk toward the truck. As soon as Emmett stopped, he reached up and opened my door. I saw his beloved crooked smile spread across his face.

"Bella?" He started with a slight growl, but it sounded more playful then threatening.

"Edward," I beamed. 'Play dumb,' I thought. "What a pleasant surprise. I thought you would be gone until tomorrow."

"Plans change." He was smiling, but there was a hint of anger swirling around the edges of his eyes. "What have you been doing? I heard you were studying with Alice, but Alice is in the house, and it looks like you've been out with Emmett."

"Yeah, Emmett took me out for a little while. You know, all work and no play . . ." I trailed off waiting for him to ask the crucial question, or maybe he already knew what I had been doing with Emmett. Maybe he got it out of Alice. Maybe that was why he looked so thunderous as we drove up.

"Bella, you'll never be dull." He replied.

I just stared at him uncomprehending.

"It's the end of the comment you were making. 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.' You'll never be dull Bella. If anything, you are a bundle of surprises, like the one that awaited me when I arrived home." He stared deeply into my eyes, and my breath caught in my throat.

I felt myself falling into a pool of deep butterscotch, and there was no way to pull myself out. In fact, I had no desire to pull myself from that beautiful pool.

I felt my shoulders gripped tightly. Then a heavenly voice whispered, "Breathe Bella," into my ear.

I heard myself inhale deeply; I realized I had stopped breathing as the air rushed into my lungs. "Oh!" was all I managed to say.

"Bella, sweetheart, what have you and Emmett been doing?" He continued to look at me, but this time I resisted the desire to fall into his eyes. If I did, I knew I would find myself drowning again but not as I did the day I dove off the cliff; that was a painful drowning. No this time it would pleasant and peaceful, and instead of sucking in water, I would just stop breathing.

I then realized he was asking me to share the truth with him. He wasn't yelling or becoming upset, so I adverted my eyes from him and whispered, "Emmett took me riding."

"Riding what Bella?" He coaxed.

"My motorcycle."

"And did you have fun?"

That question surprised me. Maybe he wasn't angry anymore, maybe Emmett was right; maybe Edward had listened to Emmett thoughts. I took my courage in my hands, looked up into his eyes and felt a smile spread across my lips and rise up my face. "Oh Edward, it was fantastic. I enjoyed every moment," and there I should have stopped, but I couldn't, "even when I fell off . . ." and that's when I realized I had gone too far because I saw a dark cloud rising in Edward's eyes. I had to stop it before it ruined my day. What Emmett had thought at him was absolutely correct; he would ruin the beautiful day I had had. "Edward, Emmett made me wear a helmet, elbow and knee pads, and gloves. Even when I fell, I didn't get hurt. He was with me every moment making sure I would be safe." I looked at him, almost begging him not to get upset with me. "I truly did have a wonderful time," I finished.

"Are you sure you didn't get hurt Bella?" He asked talking my hands. Then he turned them palms up. "And how did this happen if you were wearing gloves."

I felt a slight smile creep across my lips and looked down. Edward put his hand under my chin and raised it up so my eyes met his. "I fell when I got out of my truck this morning," I said quietly and I watched his eyes as the merriment filled them.

"What am I going to do with you Bella? You dive off cliffs, ride motorcycles, and run around making friends with werewolves. What will you think of next?" At least he said it all with a smile.

His smile gave me the confidence to ask, "Take you for a ride on my motorcycle?" I decided if I framed it as a question, he would accept it better than if I made it a demand.

"Is that what you really want?" His tone was still light.

"Or you could take me for a ride first." I smiled into his eyes. I loved the way his eyes looked, and at that moment, I saw all the love and happiness I felt reflected back at me from him.

"Only if you wear your helmet."

"What, don't trust your own driving?" I quipped brazenly. I wanted to let my hair blow in the breeze, and I wanted to feel the wind full on my face.

"Yes, but if you should decide to drive back, then I want your beautiful face protected."

"And if I let you drive back, can I go without the helmet?"

He paused before he answered. I wasn't sure if it was because he was unsure of my safely or if he was just making me wait to hear what I wanted to hear. "Yes," he finally answered.

I grabbed his hand, "Let's go then." I began walking toward the back of Emmett's truck so he could get the motorcycle out, but stopped short as I noticed the motorcycle was already out and waiting for us. I looked over toward the house and saw Emmett on the porch with a grin spreading from ear to ear. Then he gave me a little wave just before he turned and rushed into the house.

Edward straddled the motorcycle and I got on behind him. I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist and laid my face against his back, and then I inhaled deeply reveling in his scent. I had missed his unique heavenly aroma more then I even imagined while he was gone. "Edward," I whispered softly, knowing he could hear every word.

"Yes love?" He asked.

My heart skipped a beat at his endearment. "Whatever you do, don't go anywhere that Charlie might see us. I promised him I would return home promptly if you came back early. Not only am I breaking my promise, but if he sees me on my motorcycle, which he thinks I've disposed of, then he will kill me before you ever have a chance to change me."

Edward just chuckled and said, "Hang on," which caused me to tighten my hold, and then we were flying down the road with the wind caressing my face and blowing through my hair.

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That's Bella's side of the story; however, I am toying with the idea of writing this from Emmett's PoV and Edward's PoV. I have been very aware of what they were both were doing throughout this story. They are both very vocal characters, and they kept me informed of their side of the story as I told Bella's. Now this may sound odd, but it is true. These characters have become part of my family, but very unintentionally. So, my question to all the readers of this story is, do you want to hear either of the other PoVs and if so, let me know. I'll put this up for a vote and see if anyone is interested.