AN: Sooo sorry for the late update! My lap top got fried and it is currently getting fixed.
This chapter was beta'd by RandomatGedz. Hope you like it! :)
Living Royal
Chapter Sixteen
Bella and Edward spent the next few days with her parents in Forks, blissfully unaware of anything that had been happening in the outside world. It was exactly what they needed; an escape.
Unfortunately, that escape ended sooner than they had hoped, Bella lamented as they stood by the car one morning saying goodbye to her parents and getting ready to leave.
"I promise to come back soon, mum." Bella gave her word when her mother wouldn't let her go.
"Renee, let the girl go. You're hugging the breath out of her." Charlie told his wife.
"Oh hush, you. I barely see my girl any more. I'm entitled to miss her."
"I'll come again as soon as I can, mum."
"And I promise to make sure she keeps her word, Mrs. Swan." Edward spoke up.
He loved how Bella was close to her parents. He never really had that kind of relationship with his father and mother. He was practically raised by a string of nannies and tutors. He was glad that Bella had a family that loved and cherished her.
Although he was close to his mother, that only came later in his life. And he wouldn't even get started on his father.
As a child, Edward always felt abandoned. His father had strict rules about everything he was allowed to do. He even had a schedule for when he was allowed to see his mother.
Edward suppressed the anger he felt rising inside of him. He glanced at his girlfriend, who was now hugging her father, and smiled. That was the kind of family he'd always wanted to be a part of.
Edward stilled.
He wanted to be part of their family.
He already knew that he wanted to be a part of Bella's life, but a part of her family? That would mean that he wanted to…marry her.
Suddenly, he could see it all very clearly. Bella and him married, Bella pregnant with his child, him carrying a little brown-haired and green-eyed girl.
A strange, but comforting kind of warmth spread through him.
He knew that he was getting ahead of himself. But he just couldn't bring himself to care.
He knew right then and there that Bella was the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
"Well, Edward, it was great meeting you. Make sure you take care of my little girl." Charlie's voice jolted Edward out of his thoughts. He quickly took his proffered hand and shook it firmly.
"Yes, sir. I'll always take care of her." He promised.
They quickly bid them farewell and Edward and Bella got in their car and drove off.
"Edward?" Bella spoke after a few minutes of silence.
"Hmm?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can, sweetheart. You can ask me anything."
"What happens next?"
Edward frowned for a second, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, with your father. What do we do if he remains against us forever?"
Edward reached for Bella's hand and held it tightly in his own.
"Don't worry about my father, Bells. I know exactly how to handle him. I've been doing it my whole life, after all."
"Yes, but what will you do, exactly?"
He shrugged, "I can always threaten to abdicate the throne."
Bella tensed, "What? You can't do that!" She yelled.
"Why?"
"Because I can't let you give something like that up for me."
"If it comes down to it, I'd give up the throne for you. Bella, I'd give up anything for you."
"For God's sake, Edward. Be realistic. The entire country is waiting for the day you become king. They have such high hopes for you. You can't let them down like that." Bella was getting very worked up.
"Hey, it's alright. I said I'd do that of I have to. I don't have to yet. Besides, if I do that, I'd also be depriving the country of an amazing Queen." He looked at Bella meaningfully.
"W-what?" She stuttered. She did not see that one coming.
"Did you really think I'd want to do it without you? Bella, you are my life now."
Suddenly, Bella wished they were alone in his dorm room already. She wanted to snog him senseless right now. It wasn't the possibility of becoming Queen that excited her so much, it was the possibility of spending her life with him.
"I love you." She blurted out, unable to help herself.
"I love you too." He grinned.
They arrived at St. Andrews a few hours later, exhausted from the trip. They quickly made their way to Edward's room, which had become Bella's as well- since she spent so much time in it- and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows.
The next day they barely had any free time to spend together. Between classes and catching up on school work, they were both swamped.
Around midday, Bella and Alice had wanted to grab some lunch off campus but soon discovered how impossible that was when they were assaulted by a barrage of photographers and reporters as soon as they stepped off campus. They quickly turned back around and went back inside the safety of the University grounds, but not before Alice had screamed at them to leave Bella alone. Bella had quickly dragged her away telling her best-friend that no matter what she said to the paparazzi it would only spur them on even more.
When Edward found out what had happened he was less than pleased, to say the least.
"That's it! I've had it with those assholes. It's one thing for them to follow me around, but harassing my girlfriend is crossing the god damn line!" He shouted angrily as he paced back and forth in their room that night.
Bella watched him from her place on the bed, "We knew that this would happen, Edward."
"Yes, but it doesn't mean I can't put a stop to it. Or at least make it better."
"How are you going to do that?"
Edward stopped his pacing to Bella's relief. He was making her dizzy with all the moving around.
"How do you feel about moving in with me?" He spoke excitedly.
"Um, you mean here? I don't think that's allowed, but I already spend all my time in your room, anyway, so-"
"No, Bella. I meant moving to our own place, off campus." He sat next to her on the bed.
"I'm confused, "She replied slowly, "How will that help with the paparazzi problem, exactly?"
"The place I have in mind is pretty out of the way. They wouldn't know where how? to get to it. Also, I was thinking we could get you a bodyguard."
"A what?"
"A bodyguard Bella. You know, those big hulky guys who follow you around and make sure that no one comes near you without your approval."
"I know what a bodyguard is, Edward. I just don't think I need one. I can take care of myself."
"I know you can, sweetheart. This is just a precaution. In case one of those bloody photographers decides to cross the line."
"But, don't you think it would be weird if the Royal Prince doesn't have bodyguards while his girlfriend does?"
Edward grinned, "How do you know I don't have body guards?"
"Um, because I've never seen any?"
Edward got up and pulled Bella with him. He opened the door and yelled, "Felix!"
Suddenly and almost out of nowhere a huge mountain of a man dressed in a dark suit and shades appeared. He stopped in front of them.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Felix, meet my girlfriend Bella. Bella, this is Felix my bodyguard."
Bella cowered back into Edward's chest. ''Um. Hello," She mumbled quietly.
"Ma'am." Felix greeted her with a small bow.
''That'll be all. Thank you, Felix." Edward dismissed him. Felix bowed again and disappeared back to where he came from.
Edward led a stunned Bella back to their room and shut the door behind them.
"H-how? What? Where?" Bella was unable to form a coherent sentence.
"Felix has been with me all the time since I've been to college and before that, even." Edward answered her unspoken question.
"But why haven't I seen him before?"
"Because it was my request that they stay hidden at all times unless there's an urgent reason for them to make their presence known."
"Oh." Bella sat down suddenly feeling dizzy.
Edward kneeled down by her side. "Bella? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm just surprised that's all."
"So you're not totally freaked out yet?" He asked, suddenly worried that all of that had been too much for her.
Bella realized how worried he was. She reached out and ran her fingers through his hair to comfort him.
"No, not yet." She smiled.
"So, about moving in together…" Edward pressed the issue. He held his breath waiting for Bella's answer.
She leaned down and kissed him chastely, "I'd love to move in with you, Edward."
Edward whooped loudly and picked Bella up swung her around. They both laughed loudly as Edward tripped and they landed on the bed. Edward landed half on top of Bella.
The laughter quickly faded as they stared into each other's eyes feeling as though they could see into each other's souls. They kissed agonizingly slowly. They wanted to prolong the moment as much as possible. Of course, it did not stop there, as their clothes were quickly discarded and hands were searching and touching everywhere.
That night they slept next to each other peacefully, dreaming of a future that was so close they could almost taste it.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
They were woken early the next morning with a loud banging on the door.
"Mm, don't answer, they'll probably go away." Edward mumbled, his face buried in Bella's hair.
"What if it's important?" Bella hesitated.
"Bella Swan! Open this door, right now or so help me God."
"Ugh! Alice." They both mumbled at the same time.
"I'd better go see what she wants before she wakes the whole floor." Bella said. She quickly got up and put on the short and pants that she'd thrown on the floor the day before, in her haste to get Edward naked.
"Yes, Alice. What is it?" She scowled as she held the door partly opened, trying to hide Edward who was still lying in the bed completely naked from any prying eyes.
Alice stood with her hands on her hips, "First of all, is that the way you greet your best-friend after being away all weekend? Second, you can let me in, it's not like I'm going to see anything I've never seen before."
Bella couldn't help but giggle. She pulled her best-friend in for a hug, "Hey, Alice. I missed you."
''Missed you too, Belly." Alice chirped using her chosen nickname for Bella.
''So what brings you by this early in the morning?"
Alice's cheerful mood evaporated. Bella could sense that something was wrong.
"You girls can come in, now. I'm decent." Edward called out from inside.
Bella glanced behind her shoulder to see that he had put on a white shirt and a pair of pyjama bottoms. His hair was still in complete disarray from sleep.
Bella opened the door for Alice to walk in and then she walked over to Edward and tried to fix his hair for him. If she was being completely honest, she'd admit that it was simply an excuse to run her fingers through it. She loved to do that.
"Morning," Edward smiled adoringly at her.
"Morning," She stretched on her toes and kissed his cheek.
"Alright, if you guys are done making goo-goo eyes at each other, can you pay attention please?" Alice's voice broke through their bubble.
"Hello to you too, Alice." Edward greeted her.
"Yes, yes, hello. Now can you two pay attention?"
"What's wrong Alice? You're starting to worry me." Bella frowned.
"Did you happen to see any newspapers or magazines since you came back?"
"No, we came straight here and we've been busy with classes ever since." Edward replied.
"Well, brace yourselves then." Alice warned them before she showed them the cover of a tabloid magazine she'd been holding with her.
Bella blanched as she saw what the headline said.
Bella Swan dumps highs school sweetheart for a chance with Prince Edward.
Jacob Black tells all.
"Oh no, he did not!" Bella seethed.
"Oh yes, he did." Alice replied. "Your sleazy ex-boyfriend told the press that you dumped him for a chance to date Edward."
Bella could not believe that Jacob had the nerve to do something like that. She thought he was her friend. How could he?
"That fucking asshole." Edward hissed angrily. "If he thinks he can mess with us then he's completely delusional."
Edward grabbed his phone from the nightstand and started dialling.
"What are you doing?" Bella asked.
"I'm calling my father. We need to release a statement to counter whatever that asshole's been saying or we'll never hear the end of it."
Bella's shoulders drooped, "This is never going to end is it?"
Edward put the phone down for a minute and held Bella close, "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm going to fix it, I promise." He kissed her temple.
Bella nodded and then looked at Alice who'd been standing quietly for a while.
"Alice, we're going to need your help looking for a house."
AN: Reviewers get to run their fingers through Edward's silky sexy hair! You know you want to! ;)