(A/N): Major thanks to my amazing Beta RandomatGedz who finished editing this chapter super fast, so I can get it to you guys right away :)

Disclaimer: Twilight character belong to Stephenie Meyer. Prince Edward, however, is ALL MINE :D

Living Royal

Chapter Nine

"Alice, will you settle down already? You're making me dizzy." Bella asked her best-friend, who was currently moving in a flurry of activity around the room.

"I don't understand how can you be so calm? Your Royal Boyfriend is sending his private jet to get you tomorrow, so that you can go to his birthday and meet his parents, who just so happen to be King and Queen!"

"We're not boyfriend and girlfriend…yet." Bella protested.

"But you want to be. Who wouldn't? Besides, how many women do you think he's gone this far just to invite them to the Royal Palace?"

"That's just it, Alice, there could be hundreds of women that he's done this for before. How do I know?"

"Well, the only way you can find out for sure is if you get to know him. And you can't do that with your whole hot and cold attitude. Just loosen up and give him a chance; A real chance. Not the kind of chance where you watch his every move waiting for him to mess up so you can run away."

Bella's shoulders slumped, "You know me too well, Ali."

Alice jumped on Bella's bed and laid down next to her, "That's what BFFs' are for, sweetie."

"So, have you decided what you're going to wear for the meet and great with the King and Queen?" Alice asked.

Bella groaned, "Alice, I'm too nervous to think about that right now. Can you just pick anything out for me, please?"

"You think that anything in your wardrobe would do? Honestly Bella, have I not taught you anything?" Alice shook her head in disappointment.

"Apparently not."

"We have to go shopping, right now! Come on, we don't have much time." Alice proceeded to pull on Bella's hand and drag her outside.

About three hours and what seemed to Bella like several hundred shops later; Alice finally seemed satisfied with their excursion and declared that they had gotten everything they needed.

Bella could only sag in utter relief.

The one thing that seemed important to her about the whole outing was Edward's gift. She'd given a great deal of thought about what to give someone who seemed to have everything. It took her a lot of time to decide, but she finally made up her mind and she was happy with her decision. She only hoped that Edward would be as well and wouldn't consider it an insult.

Bella spent the night tossing and turning, worried about what tomorrow might bring. She hadn't heard from Edward since he called her a few days ago to tell her about their travel arrangements, which worried her even more.

Why hadn't he called again after that?

Maybe he was too busy with classes? Who knows?

By the time Bella finally managed to fall asleep, she had convinced herself that all would be well.

What could possibly go wrong, after all?

She was tired of worrying. She wanted to let it all go, and live in the moment for once in her life.

She decided to do just that.

The alarm clock woke Bella up early the next day. She hadn't gotten much sleep since her mind wouldn't let her rest the night before.

She reluctantly got up from her warm cocoon. She glanced at Alice in the bed next to her and typically found that her best friend was dead to the world. Not even an earth-quake could wake Alice Brandon up.

Bella shook her head in amusment as she started getting ready for the day. She was supposed to meet Edward in two hours.

She got dressed in a pair of black leggings, a grey and black top, and grey boots. She prepared her bag, adding a few extra items of clothing. Alice had taught her to always prepare for an emergeancy. She also packed the dress she would wear for the ball.

She grabbed her warmest coat and was about to head out the door when she heard a knock. She opened the door and her breath caught when she found Edward standing outside her room.

"Uh-hello, I know that I'm a bit early, but I couldn't wait to see you."

Oh dear God.

"If you're not ready, I could leave and come back again later, I don't mind..." He rambled on.

"No, no. I'm glad you came." She smiled, "I'm all ready to go and...I couldn't wait to see you too." She finally admitted.

His face broke out in an endearingly boyish grin.

"Shall we?" He extended a hand.

Bella laid her hand in his and they walked together downstairs. While they walked hand-in-hand across campus to get to Edward's car, Bella noticed that a lot of people stopped in their tracks and openly stared at them.

It's true that this is the first time Bella and Edward were officially seen as a couple, but did everyone have to stare like that?

"Pretend they're not there." Bella was snapped out of her thoughts when Edward whispered softly in her ear.

"What?"

"Pretend that no one's here, that's what I usually do when it gets too much." He said.

Bella nodded mutely. She imagined an abandoned campus where everyone was either at class or having breakfast at the school cafeteria. Her and Edward were walking alone, no body was staring or pointing or gossiping about them.

It worked.

It actually worked.

"Told you." Edward said when he noticed Bella's triumphant smile. She squeazed his hand in silent thanks.

They finally reached Edward's car. An Aston Martin. Yes, you heard her, an Aston Martin.

They got in and Edward drove them to the private air strip where the private jet was waiting for them. This had gotten way beyond surreal for Bella. Aston Martins, private jets, and Birthday balls were not part of her everyday life. But it seemed as though they were about to be.

She didn't know whether to rejoice in this new development or be wary of it.

"Penny for your thoughts." Bella looked at Edward who was staring curiously at her.

"Um, I was thinkng that this is all quite new to me. You know the private jets, the formal balls.."

Edward reached across and grabbed Bella's hand, "I know that you're worried, Bella. It takes time to get used to it, but I know you will. At least I hope so."

Was he saying what she thought he was saying?

He wanted her around for a long time?

Bella wanted to do a little victory dance, but she didn't want Eward to think he was taking a lunatic to meet his parents.

"I hope so too." She said.

Edward lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it just above her knuckles.

Bella's insides turned to mush for the hundredth time since she met him.

Edward continued to hold her hand as he drove and Bella was happy to keep it that way.

"So, tell me about your family," Bella asked, trying to break the silence but also because she was curious, "I mean, I know of them, but just tell me more about them."

"Hmm, let me see. My parents, Carlisle and Esme are great. My mother is the most loving and compassionate person you could ever meet."

Bella knew now who Edward took after.

"My father is pretty strict when it comes to the monarchy. He has tried grooming me to become king ever since I was born, but I don't think he's done a very good job."

"Why do you think that?" Bella asked.

"Because, I still don't think I'd make a very good King."

"I think you're wrong." Bella disagreed.

"Really? Why is that?"

"Because, you're intelligent, compassionate, caring and all those are qualities that make a great king, not just a good one." Bella said with great conviction.

"I hope you're right." Edward smiled lovingly at her. Her words had made him insanely happy. If that was really what she thought, then what he had planned for her at the Palace would not go to waste.

They arrived at the air strip a few minutes later and boarded the jet.

Bella looked around the inside of the jet. It looked more like an apartment than a plane to her. It was also very immaculate.

I could live in a place like this.

"Tell me about your brother." Bella demanded as they sat down in their seats and strapped themselves in preparation for takeoff.

"You're very curious today." Edward chuckled.

"If you don't want to talk about it..."

"No, Bella. It's alright. You can always ask me anything you like." He assured her, "Emmett is probably the best brother anyone could ask for; despite the fact that he can be a pain in my ass at times."

Bella chuckled; she could tell that Edward really loved his little brother.

"And don't let the fact that he's my younger brother fool you. He's much larger than I am and very protective. He's also always been the rebel, while I'm more subservient. That's part of the reason why he joined the army."

"What's the other part?" She probed further.

"Emmett had a ...falling out with dad."

"Because of Rosalie?"

"Yes, Emmett met Rosalie in school. They went to the same secondary school and they started dating a couple of months before graduation. My father let it go because he thought that it was a simple fling that wouldn't last, but he couldn't have been more wrong. Rosalie and Emmett fell in love and were inseparable all through school and even after they graduated."

"And your father didn't approve of that?

Edward shook his head.

"Why? Just because Rosalie is a...commoner?" Saying that word brought back the hurt she had felt before when they were at the bar. She brushed it aside, though.

"Partly, but also because..." Edward hesitated. He had been so forthcoming before, but she felt like this was something he really didn't want to talk about so Bella decided to give him a break.

"It's alright, Edward. We don't have to talk about this."

"I don't want to keep anything from you. If we're going to have relationship, then you have to know everything there is to know about my family."

Bella was stuck at the word 'relationship', so it took her a few seconds to respond.

"You still don't have to tell me everything now, Edward. I mean, if you end up telling me all your family secrets now, then what are we going to do for the rest of this trip?" She teased him, trying to break the sudden tension that had prevailed.

He chuckled, "Oh, I can think of a few things we can do, Miss Swan." He said in a husky voice.

Bella blushed, as usual.

"I love it when you do that." Edward said softly.

"Do what?"

"Blush." He raised his hand and brushed his fingers across her cheek.

Bella found herself moving forward as though being pulled by an invisible magnetic force. Edward was leaning closer too.

A second later, his lips were on hers and Bella opened her mouth automatically to receive his tongue. They both moaned, and Edward started undoing his seat belt, when he was done with his, he worked on hers until they were both free. Next thing she knew, Bella was lying on her back on the couch they were both seated on and Edward was lying on top of her.

Things were progressing fast.

Too fast.

Edward's hands moved up and down against Bella's sides as their mouths moved in unison.

They were so engrossed in each other that the outer world seemed to disappear.

Until a knock came from the door separating them from the Pilot's cabin. They broke apart instantly. They sat up quickly, breathless, and started fixing their clothes and hair. Instead of being completely embarrassed though, they had huge smiles on their faces.

"Come in," Edward called out a few seconds later when they were both done.

The co-pilot looked in on them to announce that they'd be landing in a few minutes and asked that they put their seatbelts back on.

That was quick. Were they that out of it through the entire flight?

Bella and Edward glanced at each other surreptitiously, and when they both caught the other staring, they burst out laughing. Edward caught Bella's hand in his and kissed it, lingering a bit more than usual.

"I'm really glad you're here with me, Bella."

"Me too."

(A/N): Hello, everyone! Again, I can't tell you how much I loved each and every one of your reviews! Thank you all for your awesome support!

Bella's travelling outfit can be found on my profile!

And nooooow, tell me what you think! :)