(A/N): Thanks to my beta RandomatGedz for getting this done in record time as usual :)

Disclaimer: Me do not owns Twilight :(

Living Royal

Chapter Twenty Three

A few weeks passed and Bella and Edward got more and more busy with classes as the exams approached. They had a hard time studying around each other in their house because they would keep distracting each other so they both tried joining a study group together but that turned out to be not such a good idea either as they still couldn't keep their eyes or their hands off of each other. So, they ended up joining different groups in an effort to actually get some study time. Unfortunately, that diminished the amount of time they spent together.

"I miss you." Edward whispered to her as they were snuggled together in bed one night.

"I miss you too. There's only one week left and then we'll be free." She replied, nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck.

"Yeah, one more week. Seven days. One hundred and sixty eight hours…" Edward mumbled.

"Okay, okay, I get it." Bella giggled. "Oh, I almost forgot. Alice called a while ago, she invited us to a party she's throwing to celebrate her and Jasper's anniversary."

"Their anniversary? How long have they been together?" He asked.

"Four years and counting."

"Wow. I didn't know they were together that long."

"Umhm. They were together all through High School."

"Hmm, how do you think we'll celebrate our fiftieth anniversary?" Edward asked.

"Why the fiftieth?"

"Because we'll probably be old and wrinkled by then."

Bella snorted, "Speak for yourself! I will never grow old. I will stay eighteen forever."

"You'll always be beautiful to me." Edward looked at her with pure adoration.

Sometimes, Bella wondered if all of this was a dream. If someday she'd wake up only to find out that she was back in Forks and none of this had ever happened. No St Andrews, no love, no…Edward. Her heart clenched at the thought. She never really thought she was the kind of girl who would ever become so attached to a guy, but look where she was now, in the arms of the most sought after guy in the world and he loved her.

"You're daydreaming again. Here I am trying to get lucky tonight and you're not even paying attention. Way to hurt a man's ego." Edward teased.

Bella punched him playfully.

"Ow, that actually hurt." Edward rubbed the spot where she had hit him

"Stop being such a baby. I didn't even put my weight behind it."

"Spoken like a true Police Chief's daughter."

"Yup, my father taught me well, so you'd better be careful."

"What are you going to do?" Edward leaned closer to her until their faces were centimeters apart. "Are you going to handcuff me?" He wiggled his eyebrows looking so much like his brother Emmett that Bella couldn't help but laugh loudly.

"What? I was being very serious." He said trying to look innocent.

"If my dad could see you now, he would definitely re-think giving us his blessing."

"Don't even joke about that, Bella." Edward said mock seriously. "The man owns a gun."

Bella snorted again. She really had to stop doing that or Madame Victoria was going to give her a hard time the next time they had a lesson.

"Yeah, right, like he's going to shoot the Royal Prince."

Edward shrugged, "Stranger things have happened. Besides, he's very protective of you. I would be too if I had a daughter as beautiful as you are."

"Wow, you really want to get lucky tonight, don't you?" Bella chuckled.

"Oh, I wouldn't mind. After all, I've got the prettiest, smartest, most amazing girlfriend in the…"

"Oh, shut it you!" Bella giggled as her lips met his.

-LR-LR-LR-LR-LR-LR-LR-LR-LR

Thankfully, exams were over a week later. Alice was running wild; planning the anniversary party she was about to throw and Bella, of course, was required, as her best friend, to run right along with her.

The day before the party, Bella was doing some last minute shopping for Alice and had dragged Edward along to the shopping centre. They separated when Bella headed to the lingerie shop to buy a gift for Alice; Edward quickly made excuses as he flushed scarlet and went on his way to the electronics departments. He said he'd meet her in a few and fled as soon as the words were out of his mouth.

Bella shook her head in amusement. Edward was always very forward when it came to sex but somehow he blushed at the idea of shopping for lingerie? She was about to turn around and head inside the shop when she bumped into someone accidentally.

"Oh sorry. I wasn't looking," Bella apologized to the young woman.

"It's alright. Some people are just naturally clumsy." The other woman snarled.

Bella was taken aback by the animosity that was radiating off of the woman standing in front of her. Had she met her before? She took a closer look. The woman was about Bella's height with blonde hair and dark blue eyes. She looked like she belonged on the cover of a glossy fashion magazine. Bella didn't remember meeting her before but she still looked slightly familiar.

"Um, I said I was sorry." Bella was starting to get irritated.

"Well, sorry doesn't cut it." The nameless woman said before turning around and walking away.

That was strange.

Did I do something to her in another lifetime? She wondered sarcastically.

Bella decided to forget about the incident and continue with what she was doing so she could spend the rest of the day with Edward. They hadn't had a full day to themselves in some time, which was partly the reason why she had asked him to come along with her to the shopping centre. The second reason was that she needed help carrying the bags. What else were handsome strong men useful for?

"Hey," Bella heard Edward's voice. She turned to find him walking her way as she exited the shop. "Are you ready to go?" He asked.

"Yeah, I think I've got everything."

He grabbed her free hand and they walked outside together. He always did that when they were out in public. Bella guessed that it was a protective move on his part. She loved that about him. Thankfully, though, he didn't need to be overly protective these days since the paparazzi's interest in them had lessened considerably. They weren't such a novelty anymore. Bella was still careful to wear her engagement ring in a chain around her neck, just in case.

Edward always winced when Bella took her ring off every morning. It broke her heart to see the look on his face and she hated that she had to take it off too, but they had to do it, for now anyway.

The next day was Alice's party. She dressed carefully in something pretty but conservative as per Madame Victoria's previous instructions.

You never knew who could take your photo at any time and you need to always look presentable. That was according to Madame Victoria, anyway.

She decided on a beautiful cream colored dress that she owned for a long time but never really got a chance to wear. It wasn't exactly conservative, but what the hell did that word even mean nowadays?

Edward looked delicious in a dark blue shirt and black pants. Yum.

Edward grinned and winked at her. Did she say that out loud?

"Like what you see?" He asked.

"You know I do." She kissed him chastely with the intention of pulling back right away, but that strategy never worked when it came to kissing Edward. He pulled her closer to him and deepened the kiss as she moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Edward, we're going to be late." She mumbled between kisses.

"So?"

"So, you know, Alice is going to keep calling us until we show up there. So even if we do stay we won't be able to concentrate on anything." Bella chuckled.

"Damn that evil pixie." Edward scowled.

"Amen." Bella laughed and pulled him out the door to their car.

They arrived at Alice and Jasper's apartment, the one they bought a few months after Edward and Bella moved in together, fifteen minutes later. They were just in time as the very first guests had started to arrive.

"Bella! You're here!" Alice accosted her as soon as she was in the door. "Your dress is fabulous. How come you never wore it before?" She frowned at Bella. There was nothing that Alice hated more that haute couture going to waste. Alice was dressed in a gorgeous pink baby doll styled dress.

"I guess I never had a special enough occasion to wear it too." Bella smirked.

"Touché." Alice giggled. "I knew there was a reason you were my bff."

"Happy Anniversary, Ali." Bella hugged her best friend.

"What, no hugs for me? I'm hurt, Bells." Jasper came strolling into the hall.

Alice invited them in. Bella hugged Jasper to make up for her forgetfulness and he and Edward shared a one armed hug.

Edward and Bella mingled among the guests. Most of them were friends and class mates, it was considered a last get together for everyone now that exams were over and everyone would be heading home soon for the holidays. Edward had his arm wrapped around Bella keeping her close to his side while they spoke with a group of their friends when Bella noticed a familiar face across the room.

It was the girl from the mall! What the hell was she doing at Alice's party? And why was she currently standing there doing nothing but glaring at her?

"Babe, are you okay?" Edward whispered in her ear when he noticed that she was preoccupied.

"Um, yeah. It's just…that woman over there keeps glaring at me and I can't figure out if I know her…" Bella stopped talking when she noticed that Edward had paled the moment he laid eyes on the other girl.

She looked back at the girl and found that she was smirking.

What the hell?

"Edward? Do you…do you know who she is?" Bella asked hesitantly, already dreading the answer.

Edward swallowed hard.

"Irina."

(A/N): As my beta RandomatGedz said after reading this…Dun Dun DUN! :D

So who do you think Irina is? Will she cause more trouble? I know that everyone hates cliffies but it's just been sooo long since I ever wrote one, I missed it :D

Link to Bella's dress is on my profile and don't forget to add me on FB (Dee Pattinson)

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