"Guys, this isn't fair!" I protested. "Just because Edward can't find his gift doesn't mean that I should have to suffer!"
"The gifts go together, Bella, and if we tell you about yours, then it'll ruin his surprise," Jasper explained patiently.
"But-" I protested. Alice cut me off.
"The first clue leads to Edward's CD rack," Alice said. "Are you happy Bella?"
Edward was gone before I could even answer.
"Yes, that's better," I answered. "Thank you." I grinned.
We talked about movies until Edward returned a few moments later. He had a new CD with a note tapped to it.
"It's in Bella's room," he read.
We both bolted for the stairs, and of course I tripped. Edward caught me and just carried me up the stairs.
"Any hint what we're looking for?" I asked.
"Not really," he answered. "Look for something with a note on it."
We tore my room apart. It wasn't until Edward checked the loose floorboard that we found the map.
"They marked the meadow," Edward announced after studying it for a second.
"Let's go," I urged him.
"We'll be back in a little bit!" Edward called down the stairs. He picked me up and slung me on his back.
"Wait, how long do we have before the adults come back?" I asked as he got ready to jump out my window.
"Two hours!" Alice called up the stairs.
"Thanks!" I called back.
Edward jumped out the window, then, and we were running.
It was just as amazing as always. I smiled as I felt the wind blow through my hair. I didn't close my eyes like I used to. I was definitely past that now.
The meadow arrived far too soon. I climbed down from his back and we looked around. The moon gave us some light to search by, but we didn't find much for the first thirty minutes or so.
"I wonder what we're supposed to be looking for," I mused.
"Maybe this?" Edward asked. He picked up a small silver key from the ground.
"Let me see it," I commanded. I held out my hand, and he handed it over.
"It doesn't have a note," Edward said.
"It looks like it goes with my box," I said.
"Where's your box?" Edward asked.
"At my house," I answered. I waited for Edward to pick me up to sling me across his back again, but he didn't. He was too busy looking around the meadow.
"What is it?" I whispered, fearing that someone was out there.
Edward sighed. "I have so many fond memories of this place," he answered. He looked at me with sad eyes. "Most of my fond memories here involve you. I had hoped…" he trailed off, leaving me hanging.
"You had hoped what?" I whispered, urging him to continue.
"I had hoped that we could make more fond memories together," he answered, "forever. I'm sorry that I lost my chance."
"I am too," I answered sadly. "I had hoped that we could spend eternity with each other. But you left, and we lost that."
"I'm back now, though," Edward said. "And you still love me. You're still my everything. Why can't we have that back?"
"Edward," I moaned, "Why don't you understand?"
"What don't I understand, Bella?" he asked. "I love you. You love me. You don't love Mark that way. What else is there to understand?"
"What are we supposed to do about Mark? My parents? How do I explain that to them? They think I've moved on. They think that I don't love you anymore."
"We tell them the truth," Edward answered. He stepped forward so that we were only inches apart. "We tell them that we never stopped loving each other. We tell them that me leaving was another misunderstanding. But we've worked through all of that now. That's what we tell them."
"It's not that simple," I said sadly. "My parents will get mad."
"Then they get mad," Edward said. "You're an adult now. You can make your own decisions."
"I don't want to make them mad at me," I said.
Edward brushed a hair out of my face and locked his eyes with mine. "They'll get over it if they see you happy."
I couldn't help it. I never could think coherently while drowning in his eyes or inhaling his scent. This was no exception. I couldn't think. So I pushed myself up on my toes and kissed Edward.
He didn't pull away. He didn't even resist when my kiss turned from almost cautious to greedy. He let me deepen the kiss, though not my much. But it was one of the best kisses we had ever shared.
I only pulled away because I was getting light-headed. I didn't want to faint.
"Wow," I breathed.
"Wow is right," Edward agreed. He didn't need to breathe, but he seemed a little winded too.
"Oh my gosh," I exclaimed, bringing my hands to my face. My thoughts had caught up with me.
"Bella?" Edward asked cautiously.
"Please tell me I didn't just do that," I pleaded.
"You did," Edward said with a smile. "And I must say that I did enjoy it immensely. You haven't really kissed me since the day I came back, and that didn't last very long."
"I just kissed you again," I groaned. "What was I thinking?!"
"I don't think you were," Edward offered. "I think I dazzled you again."
"I know you did," I said. "I would not have done that, otherwise."
"Can I dazzle you again, then?" Edward asked coyly. I tried to glare at him, but it didn't work very well.
I just ended up kissing him again.
And you know what? I liked it. A lot.